Make Them Count

Today was a sad and shocking day in the aviation world, a world that my family is now part of. Two news copters collided mid-air and plummeted to the ground killing all four passengers involved. It happened right here in Phoenix... really close to Allen's house. Many of you may have heard the story. It really hit home for us over here. We heard about it around one-o'clock and turned on the TV. We sat there glued to the images before us trying to contemplate what may have happened. I have always felt a lot of emotion and sympathy when I learn of a tragedy, even when it involves total strangers. Today it was even worse. The helicopter world is pretty small, and I guess with Spencer very near to being a pilot, I felt connected somehow to the people who had died. I know that death is not the end, but I do ache for the families and friends who are left behind with nothing but questions. I can't imagine what it must be like to send a loved one off to work never to see them again. Would I be at peace knowing that I had shown all the love I could have, or would I feel regret that the last words we had exchanged were something mundane like, "You better leave or you're going to be late." I guess it just makes me want to try harder in every moment to show love and caring to my husband and all the people that I feel so blessed to have in my life... even when I'm stressed, because I really never know how many more moments there will be in this life. I need to make them count.

Beets: It's Whats for Dinner

Tonight for dinner, Kevin made us an authentic Ukrainian meal called Borsch. It's soup. It was super tasty. The ingredients are beets, onions, cabbage, potatoes, tomato paste, pork, and water. You let it simmer for hours and all the flavors meld together. Then you serve it with a dollop of sour cream. Now, I'm not very fond of beets or cabbage, so I had my doubts. However, I was pleasantly surprised. It really helps to have the fresh beets. I think my dislike for beets came from eating the canned kind once. And let me tell you, it only took once for me to loath them. But, the fresh beets are actually pretty good and the combination of all the flavors was surprisingly complimentary. And to top it off, it's beautiful. I know, it's food. But seriously, the beets and tomato paste make the whole thing a deep scarlet color. Talk about an impressive dish! So if anyone is looking for a good meal... Beets: It's Whats For Dinner! he he (I'm so cheesy)

She's Growing Up

Today Jadelynn made the transition from a crib to a toddler bed. Luckily, I don't have too much to report since she took to it like a fish to water. She acted about the same as with her crib, unlike Braden who, upon being introduced to his "Big Boy Bed", jumped on it, ran from one end to the other and flipped over the foot board only to land on his head on the floor. Jadelynn has always been an easy going sleeper for me. I place her in her crib, I put a blanket on her, give her a pacifier (which I know in my heart I should stop offering her) and say, "Goodnight Jade" and she just lays there until she falls asleep... no standing up... no crying, whining... nothing but sleep. It's beautiful. So I'm knocking on wood now that she'll keep it up. So far so good. She looks so tiny on that toddler bed. I'll probably start missing the crib when she finds out that she can get out of bed, but whatev... this is just one of many steps she'll be taking. What can I do? She's growing up.

Phoenix Art Museum

This is an ode to beautiful things. I went to the Phoenix Art Museum tonight. I don't recall ever going to an art museum before, so as far as I know, this was a new experience for me. What an amazing place! It is filled with exhibit after exhibit of so many beautiful things. I took a tour about the development of the color red in art. It was so fascinating to me to learn about all the different things that people have used throughout the ages to form paint... red clay mixtures to ground up plants to ground up insects to oil paint to acrylic. Throughout time people have found more and more things to use in art and more and more techniques to use it. Why? What is it about art that draws people. It is in peoples nature to want to create beautiful or thought provoking images. And for those who don't create, to look on and take in the beauty. It was simply amazing to me to imagine the time and effort it would take to develop such talents as would produce the works that I saw tonight. I encourage everyone to go to the art museum sometime. Take a date. Take your kids. Go by yourself. Whatever, just go and enjoy the amazing talent that is displayed. My recommendations are the Chinese Ming Dynasty vases and the Firefly display for those who have access to the Phoenix Art Museum. Also for those in the valley, Tuesday night from 3-9 are free of charge. Yeah Phoenix Art Museum!

Hurray for Reunions!

I went to San Diego this weekend for a Dudley family reunion. I got to see some family members that I haven't seen in about 10 years. It was great! It's like meeting people for the first time since I was a teenager when I had met them last. A lot has happened to everybody since then. While we were there, we also had some time to see our cousins on the Beach side which is always a joy. We went to the beach to celebrate Jessa's B-day and had a total blast. The kids loved the water and the sand. Even Jade, my cautious girl, was running toward the water by the time we had to go. The trip made me want to move there until I realized that we didn't have a couple mil for a house! But, we'll be there again soon for a Beach family reunion. I can't wait! Hurray for reunions!

Cops and Robbers

Last night I went to Ross to look for a cheap swimsuit that would fit and that was modest. Of course, I didn't find one. I headed out to my car. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw two girls standing in front of the windows. They were acting unusually excited about something and they seemed to be interacting with someone inside the store. I slowed down and watched what was going on. There were two other girls just inside the window with a shopping cart full of stuff. They were hanging back from the front doors and being careful to stay behind the shelving. You wouldn't have been able to see them from inside the store, but I could see them perfectly. When the time was right, the two girls outside started waving them frantically. The girls inside pushed the cart quickly through the front doors and started running full speed down the sidewalk away from the shopping complex. The two girls who had been outside ran across the parking lot in a different direction and ran right in front of my car. I called out to one of them, "Are you guys stealing?" She looked at me, made no reply and started running faster. She had fear in her eyes. That answered my question. Those who are reading this know that I am not confrontational. I don't like approaching people especially to tell them they are doing something wrong, but last night something changed in me. I felt like I needed to do something. These girls were probably about 14 years old. They had their lives in front of them like a road and they were making choices that would determine the direction that they would go. The destination wasn't looking good. I hopped in my car and quickly caught up to the two girls pushing the shopping cart. They were starting to head around toward the back of the building where they'd be less noticeable. I pulled up beside them and rolled down my window. Then I asked, "Are you guys stealing that stuff?" They looked at each other and both gave very shaky and hesitant no's. Then I shouted at them as firmly as I could. I said, "You are lying and you know it." "Take that stuff back." "What you are doing is not worth it." They looked at me, trying to decide what to do. I repeated, "Take the stuff back NOW!" One girl then said, "Who are you", hoping to catch me off guard. I replied quite loudly and firmly, "I am someone who cares. It is because of people like you that our prices increase." "Take the stuff back to the store NOW". They started moving and I said, "I am going to call the police". They then took off running in the other direction. That was bad for me, because I was in a car and had to do a three point turn to get out of the alley. By the time I caught up to them, I had 911 on the phone, but they had everything in the trunk of a red Ford Escort EX and a guy in a wife beater who looked about 25 (how appropriate) was closing it up. He must have been more experienced than the girls, because he made sure a piece of clothing was hanging out of the trunk strategically hiding the license plate. So I described the vehicle the best I could as they drove off. Then I went to Target and waited to hear back from the police. I was shaking like a leaf. I guess when you do something out of the ordinary like that, your body decides it needs A TON of adrenaline. For a minute I was worried that I would be suspected of shop lifting... the security guard was keeping his attention on me (I probably appeared extremely nervous and distracted). The police called me back about 15 minutes later. Turns out, they didn't catch them. I really wish they had. It would be far better for those girls to get caught now and change the road they are on than to go deeper and deeper into that world I'm glad I know little about. I wish I could talk to them again. I wish I could have the chance to tell them that they don't have to do it. That whoever that guy is, he obviously doesn't care, because he's making them do his dirty work. I wish I could tell them about being a Child of God. That they will always be accepted by Him... that they don't need to make poor choices to feel like they are part of something. I guess I just wish I could help them instead of simply playing a game of cops and robbers.

I Don't Really Like You

So yesterday Spencer and Kevin went to the store to get some milk. They returned home with some milk and lots of other things... including Oreos. Spencer started making dinner and Braden asked if he could have another Oreo. I told him he could have one more and I took it over to him. Then I stayed next to him and began nibbling on my Oreo. He then said to me, "Can you go to Kevin?" I was like, "What do you mean." He then repeated, "Can you go to Kevin?" I said, "Do you want me to stand by Kevin?" (He was in the kitchen a little ways away) He said yes. I asked him why he wanted me to stand by Kevin. He simply, without any emotion in his voice, stated, "I don't really like you." Then he added as if it was a consolation, "I like Daddy." I said calmly, "Oh, thats not very nice, but if you don't want me around right now, I can leave." (I was trying to respect his need for space and independence). He said, "I don't really want you around." Ouch. I know he is just a kid, and doesn't fully understand the power of words, but despite my efforts to speak reason to my heart, I was crushed. Who knew that I could be injured from those 5 little words; "I don't really like you."

Happy Birthday America!

Happy 4th of July everybody. I've been very stressed lately and really feeling the pressure of things that are not in my direct control. So, it was nice to take some time today and remember one of the many blessings I have... to live in America. I think we are very blessed here. From what I hear about other lands, this is a land of opportunity... A place where anyone can succeed with enough hard work and perseverance. We are not doomed to live the lives of our fathers and their fathers.

I'm pretty sure I always take this blessing for granted (never having lived outside of America or even truly experiencing any other place in my life), but I am grateful for it as much as my limited experience will let me be. Someday I will take the opportunity to live somewhere else with not so much wealth and try to understand more fully what I have. But as for today, I will just say in my heart and out loud with my kids, "Happy Birthday America" (and all that that implies).