HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD

We had a little birthday get-together last night for dad's 46th birthday (at least that's what he refers to it as). His birthday is actually today but getting everyone together on a Sunday night is MUCH easier than on a Monday night! Here are a few highlights:
It looks like he's spitting on the pie, but it was so windy that the candles went out before I got it to him, so I made him pretend he was blowing them out. This was his 'pretending' face!

A friendly game of croquet can turn into backyard olympics when you have adult males competing against each other.

Carlos and Dormisha's son, Mishaun. How cute is he?! He would hang on to the side of the chair while Danielle rocked him.

Dad has no mercy when it comes to games...not even for mom who kept getting her ball knocked away from the posts. These two were the worst! They spent so much time trying to take each other out that the rest of the group was slowly creeping up behind them.

Danielle being the backyard babysitter.

Dormisha trying to keep up with the competition. She took 6th. Sorry, Goodrich!

Thanks for the backyard, Wayne, and thanks, Dad, for being born so as to give us a reason to come together and celebrate! And just in case you're wondering, the winning took place in this order:

1st place: Wayne

2nd place: Dad

3rd place: Carlos

4th place: Mom

5th place: Dormisha

6th place: Lilo

MUST.....JUSTIFY......

One of my 32 goals this year is to get a really good camera. It's not necessarily a 'need,' but if I find myself focusing on something for more than 6 months, and spending time researching it over and over again, then it's a pretty significant 'want.' The timing is perfect since my other camera consistently turns itself off and sometimes won't let you go back and look at the pictures you just took. At least that's what I'm using for my kick-off reasoning, but I'm still going to give myself a few more weeks to build up some concrete justification! Oh, how I look forward to you, my little Canon Rebel T1i......

LOS ABUELOS

I don't have the chance to see my grandparents that often, but when I do I'm reminded how lucky I am to still have 3 of my grandparents in my life. Here are some pictures of my Grandma and Grandpa Wilkerson (Frank and Billie) when we were at the Oregon Coast last month:

Aren't they darling?! They are amazingly spunky for being in their 80's. Here's hoping for their longevity......

REAL PEOPLE WITH REAL GOOD ADVICE

Regina Brett was a columnist in Cleveland who wrote '45 Lessons and 5 To Grow On' when she turned 50 and it was so popular that they decided to publish it again years later. So much good stuff in 50 little lines:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

PLAYLISTS

I've spent the evening going through the music on i-tunes and creating new playlists (see below). So many songs with so many memories associated with them! That was the song I used to listen to while I was running in Taiwan...... I listened to that song over and over again with that one guy after driving back from a concert.......I sang that song at the top of my lungs, going through yellowstone, on my way to grandma's house....I heard that one almost every day when I was walking down the streets of Chile.... Sweet, sweet memories:

* CHRISTMAS: To be used all throughout the year

* FAST DRIVING: My 'driving up Mt. Charleston when frustrated' playlist

* FAVORITES: Good for any occassion

* HANG IN THERE: My 'sometimes life sucks, but it's not too bad' playlist

* INSTRUMENTAL: I'm a big fan of instrumental music

* LATIN MIX: Gotta keep up on the Spanish

* LOVING LOVE: Because I'm a girl and that's what girls like to listen to

* PRETENDING TO EXERCISE: For that once in a month occassion where I actually am motivated enough to hit the road
* SOAKING IN A BATHTUB: Loving this one - it will be a regular

* SUNDAY MORNING: Keep the Spirit

LIFE'S TYPHOONS

I'm sure most of you have seen some of these images on the internet or news. There was a typhoon that hit the southern coast of Taiwan this weekend and there are still hundreds missing from the mudslides it created and the flooding that came with it. I lived in Taiwan six years ago and have such a special place in my heart for the Taiwanese people, and especially the children we taught.
When I see things like this, and know that it is directly affecting those I have known and care about, it makes me trust in the fact that we have a Heavenly Father who is aware of each of us, and tragedies like this that make no sense to us are part of the experiences he requires that we go through. I write this as I am sitting safely in an office and out of harms way, but I would hope that when my own personal "typhoon" arrives that I would be able to feel that peace that comes from the gospel - and that creates a sense of hope during a time of despair.

CAN'T GET ENOUGH

I've got this recent obsession with Peanut Butter that I can't seem to get over. Peanut Butter ice-cream, Peanut Butter fudge, Peanut Butter cookies, bread with Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter on a spoon. It's ridiculous. I've spent half the morning day dreaming about this Peanut Butter playdough we used to make for the kids in Taiwan during our Kitchen activities.

I guess I should just be happy it's not something more extravagent or expensive...like shoes......

SUDDENLY A STRANGER

I truly enjoy positive airplane experiences where you end up sitting next to someone who is conversationally stimulating. Coming back from Portland today I ended up next to a gentleman named Ace (Short for Horace) who I just laughed and laughed with the entire way home. We bonded over the flight attendant's fixation on our Kindles, and it continued from there. We discussed family (he's married and has a 2-year-old daughter), religious viewpoints and beliefs, travels, goals, etc.. It's delightful how honest you can be when you know you're never going to see someone again. I would have to place today in my top 5 favorite airplane conversations. Experiences like that, however, are always cut short by the inevitable ending - the moment you're ready to get off of the plane. There's the sincere, "it was great talking to you. Enjoy your trip," and then all of a sudden you're both standing up, walking quietly in the same direction towards the baggage claim, suddenly strangers. Awkward! I have to admit that I was sort of grateful for the fact that "Ace" didn't check luggage and was able to say "I'm going to have to make a run for it," to get to his poker tournament that started in less than 20 minutes. Thank you poker tournament! There's just something about post airplane communication.....