tomato soup and the evolution of lunch

Soup from a can.

Who knew lunch could get so interesting?

Mixed with some milk and cream of course, and accompanied by some crackers for dipping.

That was my lunch today.

With my lunch, I decided to catch up on some news.

I turned on the computer, and clicked on my internet browser...

(20 years ago I would have crinkled my eyebrows at that sentence and mumbled "huh?")

The first thing I saw was the Google doodle tribute to Nicolas Steno.

I had no idea.

Happy 374th birthday to a guy who unassumingly made a difference.

I'd like to think that many people do it his way... quietly pursuing the things that interest and motivate; along the way making improvements to knowledge and progression without fully realizing the impact.

Of course you can't read something on the L.A.Times blog page, and not get pulled into something equally unique and attention-grabbing--like:  

the case of the confiscated cupcake.

Somehow, this cupcake caper just seemed so unjust.

Ironically, however, it also gave me more faith in our airport security friends.

And... have you ever heard of 

the Doomsday Clock?

(Who comes up with this stuff?)

My biggest question after reading about how the hand on the clock has jumped around over the years 

is 

"Why is there no mention of nations turning away from God in all of this?"

Finally, and kind of funny, is that a respect for God and a desire to do His will has been making headlines in the world of sports.

Whether or not you're a Broncos fan, it's been hard to turn on a radio or TV without hearing the name of Tim Tebow.  I wonder if the Tim Tebow fans will have enough impact globally, that we might be able to set the Doomsday Clock back a few more minutes?

And with that, lunch is over.

I have some napping to catch up on.

New Year's priorities, you know.

visiting the sick

I woke up early this morning and baked some bread.

I hired myself a driver.

I called him "James."

I also recruited him as my companion, and an honorary member of the Relief Society.

We spent the morning in a flurry of happy visits.

today my mother-heart is hovering over Panama

so I wrote a nice, LONG letter.

XO

There's nothing like getting a nice newsy letter when you're far away from home.  Actually, there's just something about getting a letter in the mail no matter where you are.  When I was a missionary, receiving mail was like having Christmas morning whenever it happened.  I still love mail--both sending it and receiving it.

If you would like to write a letter to my big boy, just leave a comment here or email me, and I'll pass along his address. 

demolition

The landscape at the old homestead is changing.

 phase one:

old play fort

ballisters tapped out

phase two:

bridge and supports down

 phase three:

structural support coming down

 phase four:

pile of lumber, ready to be re-purposed

coming soon:

Mr. Dub's

Blacksmith Shop.

The little boys had their day.

Now it's time for the big boy to play!

almost done!

a BIG thank you to Aunt Johann and Uncle Paul... we have ALL enjoyed spending time at the puzzle.

some accounting

-Enrique and I spent the better part of the first half of our day visiting dad in Northboro.

-Mom is in Utah with Alana.  She is due and pending... (hooray for new babies!)

-Dad is still sick.  I told him if he were my child, I would haul him back to the doctor.

-We watched the movie Inception together.  We liked it.  It was intense.  Onion-y. 

(layers, baby.) 

-All of that was way better than making a smoothie for breakfast that I had to throw out (because it had shards of plastic in it... have you ever accidentally thrown ice on top of your little clear plastic blender lid thingy and not noticed it was there in the bottom, waiting to be sliced to smithereens?), slipping on a hanger on the mudroom floor and falling HARD! on my knees (ouch) and finally getting to the store (after a desperate morning with frothy powdered milk as the cereal option) and FORGETTING the milk! 

Someone save me.

-I did get to go ice skating with my little boy this afternoon, and THAT was grand.

the inaugural skate

it was COLD yesterday!

and the day before that... 

HELLO 8 degrees Fahrenheit; 

you make puffy winter coats seem threadbare.

the good news:

the ice was frozen

and the rink was READY for skating.

HOORAY for winter!

(thank you, budding photographer Mesquite-the-Magnificent)