Olivia's Cell

Last week Olivia created a representation of an animal cell out of various foods.  The graham cracker crust is the cell membrane, the grape Jello is the cytoplasm, she used Gobstoppers to create a nucleus, mints for vacuoles, broken pieces of spaghetti for chromosomes, sunflower seeds are mitochondria.

She had a fun time creating this cell and learning to make Jello!

Our New Paint Color

I have been wanting to re-paint the family room for some time now.  And by "I", I mean that I wanted someone else to paint the family room for me!  Well, as luck would have it, my dad was willing to fix the ceiling cracks and repaint the family room last month!  Yay!!!  I love the color we ended up with; it just feels so much more friendly and happy than the color we used to have.  I still haven't bought the fabric for new curtains, but wanted to post the pictures of the painting project before too long had passed.  Thanks, Dad!

This is my dad's super awesome power sander for sheetrocking.  He and his dad developed it years ago and with a duct tape repair on the hose now and then it still works!  If I understand correctly, it sands the drywall or repaired part of the wall, then collects the majority of the dust in that handy canvas bag.  He says that as far as he knows it's the only one like it in the world.  My dad learned the art of sheet rocking and wall repair from his father, whom he worked with and for every day after school when he was a teenager.

More Pictures

A classic toy...

Avery, pretending to be Olivia's "baby". 

 Isn't he cute? 

Look at these handsome boys before church!  This is the first time Avery has worn a tie and he LOVED it.  I couldn't get Alex to give me a normal smile, but at least the picture captures who he really is!

And here are my beautiful girls before church on the same day.

Avery took a nap with me the other day and he just looked so cute with his blankie and Mario, so I risked waking him so I could get a picture.

Avery on his favorite warm-weather toy

Alex hates that we have no sidewalks in our neighborhood.  I really wish we had sidewalks and/or didn't live on a hill.  These factors make me really worry about the kids riding their bikes.

 Olivia on her scooter.  She likes to make roads with sidewalk chalk on the driveway.

Avery

Ashlie

Last week my mom, my sister Aubrey,and I took the kids to the church parking lot to ride bikes.  The kids had a ball playing outside after being cooped up indoors all winter.  (And I had fun riding Alex's scooter.)

 

Just for fun

Just the Girls

Olivia has adopted this fun bandana hair-do because it's simple and keeps her bangs out of her face.  To Olivia and I, our hair is just a pain.  We don't really take any joy from fixing our hair, so we keep it simple!

Ashlie, on the other hand, is always changing her hair style.  Within one day she will change her hair style multiple times.  I can pretty much count on her hair looking different when I pick her up from school than it was when she was dropped off.  She likes to express herself through her hair and clothing styles.

Tragedy in Japan

I can hardly stop watching the video clips available on the Internet of the devastation in Japan.  The estimated death toll rises each day and the circumstances for those still living worsens as the hours tick on without loved ones being located and shortages of basic necessities.

 

The newscasters keep saying that most people couldn't even imagine such destruction being possible from a tsunami and earthquakes.  I think it strikes me as particularly disturbing because, a) my brother and his family live just a short distance from Sendai (in Yamagata), and b) Japan is a highly developed, industrialized country - like the United States.

 If a natural disaster can cause this degree of devastation in Japan it can create as big a problem anywhere in the world.   The nuclear reactors had 3 backup safety systems and all 3 failed at one of the nuclear power plants.  It's a good reminder that God is in charge; nothing humans do to prevent disaster will work without God's consent.

In one of the news clips I watched, the reporter talked about how the people were being kind and courteous to each other, even while stuck in an evacuation center without adequate resources and among many, many other people of all ages.  Considering the level of anger many American's have just from inconsiderate drivers or having to wait in line for 15 minutes or listening to a crying child, I can't imagine that in the United States people would be as courteous or patient.  Japan's altruistic society - where the needs of the group are more important than individuals' needs - has certainly helped make being stuck together in close quarters in horrific circumstances a bit more bearable.   

The damage in Japan is a distinct reminder that our belongings are temporary.  Whether they are taken away while we yet live or we die and leave them behind, our "stuff" can be gone with no warning.  It just doesn't matter now who had the nicest homes or cars or clothes last week, because those things are gone.  Now what matters is having loved ones nearby and safe and having a knowledge that Heavenly Father is mindful of each person and faith that He knows what He is doing.  As it says in the book of Matthew: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal".

I wish I could go to Japan and help somehow.  I wish I could listen to the people talk about what's on their minds or I could help clear out debris and help people salvage what is left of their belongings.  Most of all I wish I could convey to them my knowledge that their loved ones that have died are with their Heavenly Father and that they can see them again.  But here I sit in my nice home, surrounded by everyone I love, feeling helpless and saddened that the Japanese people are suffering such great losses.

I realize that it is a blessing to me and all of us who watch from the safety of our family rooms because we can learn from the destruction in Japan without having to experience it directly.  So I'll hold my loved ones a little closer.  I'll try not to offend or take offense.  I'll try to remember that my stuff isn't what matters.  I'll try to help ease the burdens of those around me.  And most of all I'll be grateful for my testimony that Christ died for us so we might return to live with Him - whenever we are called Home.  I appreciate the gospel in my life and the peace it gives me.  And I'm grateful that these "things" can never be taken from me.

 

"And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen."  - Alma 33:23 (The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ)

A Classic...

When You Thought I Wasn’t Looking

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw you hang up my first painting on the refrigerator,

And I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw you feed a stray cat,

And I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw you make my favorite cake for me,

And I knew that little things are special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I felt you kiss me good night,

And I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw that you cared,

And I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I LOOKED.... and wanted to say thanks

for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

Something's Coming

For those of you who know West Side Story, you'll remember the song, "Something's Coming".  It talks about his feeling that something is coming - right around the corner.  He doesn't know what it is but he can just feel that something is on its way.  I've been having the same feeling, only with a scary twist - I feel like the something that's coming is bad.  I don't know why and maybe - hopefully - I'm wrong, but it just feels like something difficult is coming our way.  Cross your fingers, knock on wood or pray for us because I prefer for things to be nice and smooth, not difficult and unexpected.

Thoughtful, Committed Citizens