tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64317951708640140242024-03-13T02:40:34.483-07:00living restorationUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-4458572612695826892015-06-17T17:19:00.001-07:002015-06-17T17:19:41.399-07:00A Lower Impact Society?<div class="MsoNormal">
Jared Diamond, author of <i>Collapse</i>,
a book exploring the reasons for the collapses of past societies, is cautiously
optimistic that we won’t face a world-wide collapse* (first world societies).
One reason for his hope is that the risks we face are not out of our control
because they are ones we are generating ourselves and we can choose to stop
causing them and start solving them. His second reason is the “increasing diffusion
of environmental thinking” occurring around the world. The third reason he gave for
his hope is that we have the opportunity to learn from past societies to a
degree not available to any of the past societies that had collapsed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He outlines within each “hope” the barriers or obstacles
standing in the way (political will, consumption footprint, lack of long term
thinking and willingness to reconsider core values). I’ll admit to often being
skeptical that these barriers can be overcome, but I choose to keep the same
hope because I’ve met so many people actively and passionately pursuing the
restoration of broken policies, people, and places.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
*A collapse could be anything from a decline in the standard
of living to widespread starvation. The causes for collapse are complex. The
natural environment is deeply connected to stability or fragility. Check out
Diamond’s book for the scoop. <o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-2430336126594485462014-12-23T18:37:00.000-08:002014-12-23T18:37:00.873-08:00If you listen to one interview...This interview struck me and I was reminded of this blog...it is still here! Looking for some hope that restoration is possible and happening? Listen to this interview: http://www.ttbook.org/book/reforming-lapd<br />
<br />
PowerfulUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-44435105549572476382012-12-31T13:46:00.000-08:002012-12-31T13:46:45.321-08:00Books in 2012Technical books aside, I made a list of the books I read in 2012. It's not extensive, but glad to have made these happen...<br />
<br />
In random order (you will see I stuck with some authors):<br />
<br />
"The Last Week" by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan<br />
"The First Paul" by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan<br />
"The First Christmas" by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan<br />
<br />
"The Search" by Tom Brown Jr.<br />
"Case Files of a Tracker" by Tom Brown Jr.<br />
<br />
"Why Evolution is True" by Jerry A. Coyne<br />
<br />
"Lies My Teacher Told Me" by James Loewen<br />
<br />
Those are the ones I remember...I recommend them all!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-77297215960611705032012-10-21T18:19:00.001-07:002012-10-21T18:19:45.466-07:00election season
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sick of the political mumbo jumbo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Can’t even comprehend the amount<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of money spent, wasted on show<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are third party voices <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But they can’t even be legitimate choices<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because if I don’t choose bad, over worse<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Worse may be elected and steer us even further off course<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Undecided means trying to decide if it’s worth it</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good question if you live somewhere other than Florida or
Ohio</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or since there is little to be expected, from either Obama or
Mitt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-597088063472076972012-07-11T21:11:00.000-07:002012-07-11T21:11:41.905-07:00And then I was 30Turning 20 was just fine<br />
Getting older was on my mind<br />
Grand Adventure<br />
And becoming more sure<br />
<br />
And then I was married<br />
Love, I've learned, is a fragile seed<br />
Too many have been unable to make it germinate<br />
We've worked hard, me and my mate<br />
<br />
And then I was a dad<br />
A daughter, I've learned, disarms you when your mad<br />
Emotions I never knew <br />
Family adventures now too<br />
<br />
And then I was 30<br />
Life, I've learned, brings many things I don't currently see<br />
Time to capitalize <br />
Giving it a try, shall be the prize<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-78671107008014958302012-01-02T17:14:00.000-08:002012-01-04T09:06:42.470-08:00Looking back<p>Some pictures of Ayla taken over the last year. So beautiful!</p><br /><p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG4k8gmgpos">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG4k8gmgpos</a></p>P.S. I couldn't get the video to work on this blog and on youtube, they muted the music because of copyright issues, so you'll have to enjoy the video in the above link without music.<br /><br /><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-62985773452987332252011-08-29T19:05:00.000-07:002011-08-29T19:17:33.638-07:00Thanks for getting arrested!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAZGwZ7PFnNdzJfk56F1ULrMGltW4CSNRfcuvBcw9JkzC2yWF_Roqo0R_jMalntc-JtMS5VrVR4R3NG3UWqT0w2QWohhOfSHfLMxp5nQRq5cdNEGlqiBWHc6yNJraCl7ZUs50Lm5JKmY/s1600/THANKS.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646466748115287906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAZGwZ7PFnNdzJfk56F1ULrMGltW4CSNRfcuvBcw9JkzC2yWF_Roqo0R_jMalntc-JtMS5VrVR4R3NG3UWqT0w2QWohhOfSHfLMxp5nQRq5cdNEGlqiBWHc6yNJraCl7ZUs50Lm5JKmY/s320/THANKS.jpg" /></a>
<br />
<br /><div>Hundreds are risking arrest in Washington D.C. to protest the Keystone tar sands pipeline that Exxon Mobile plans to build from Canada to Texas. I wish I could be there...this pipeline can't be built! I am thankful for, and support, the sit-ins that are taking place. My daughter, niece and nephew are glad there are people who will sacrifice for their future. I hope Haven, Ayla, and Asher's heros will include people like those acting out with peaceful civil disobedience in D.C. Check out this website: <a href="http://www.tarsandsaction.org/">http://www.tarsandsaction.org/</a> and stay alert about how you can voice your opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline project. </div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-20801212732736126712011-08-04T19:01:00.000-07:002011-08-04T19:10:45.881-07:00community garden wildlife<div align="center"><strong>A bear</strong></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637187443740386658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlOB65EtHSQGRLWvIypTr6C8ZX9AhkEl1KG1mUuswJmFdAkpK64A9GBDVsvDwXgiypM2rS__oyoZ-ngyS7dZhjiWKm7dQQyToDJCyzdGrrrUuhprEdPCb9biGM5HFrY_N49zgdTv-v50/s320/IMG_9872.JPG" /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>A monkey<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637187449405116130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMT02WIF1gIjpnG3J9p0VEZjY-r2h49g5I2hAufrwo5Z5GDNx47exaAxyRDToNylX61V0RQAJYu2VJ9NZSEifpxi_8DU9F6DHcN62IVtETrchMr0OUBCHgfiGZtEgd92v8Va_XamRnGlM/s320/IMG_9873.JPG" />And an Ayla<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637187460712410338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKmblpD-iqX3uSRGCAmOegc-rTE8NDSH-vM8FjzH4q2BPm_41PK6bWBXXWd0rL3EjeA-I6og3zytdGOQ4T2rIK5LoZruF1WvoN-RdS9NErSuBLW_Z43Hus4Sbvu2nPXdKBLaDtg69ZZA/s320/IMG_9919.JPG" /></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-28076149036171269552011-08-02T17:23:00.000-07:002011-08-03T15:35:39.803-07:00buzz, I'm in peevedI received an email from a MI congressman cheerleading today's Senate vote 74-26 approving the budget control act of 2011. I could throw-up. I think I know why a bee will sting even if it means its death. I get so perturbed with the PR campaigns and the foolishness that are deeply polarizing this country. The verbiage coming from the conservative right wing is for the most part a garbage dump with a grand opera exterior and the rest of congress, save a few progressive representatives and senators, are playing in the same trash can symphony. Their clanging and banging is so noisy, I think people rarely hear anything else; like, every president, for the last several decades (right and left leaning), has asked for a debt ceiling increase. This year's increase had no reason to be so monumental, so grand and epic that something had to be done...or ELSE!<br /><br />Yes, we need to reign in our spending, and our spending of what we don't have will eventually lead somewhere harmful. But the charades of the last couple weeks and this supposed fix is silly, if not worth stinging (in a non-violent resistance sort of way). The government is not to blame! So many people quickly use that language, an easy out from the work of engaging with and understanding the world. Very little trickles down from the rich, the supposed "job creators." If we keep blaming the government and turning a blind eye to corporate regulations, undue incentives, illegal environmental and labor practices, and very limited taxation, our country will continue on the same downward spiral to join the bee on the ground.<br /><br />Options exist for maintaining (even expanding) many government programs for the poor, the middleclass, the environment, the elderly, research and cultural progress without increasing debt. Today's vote severely limits one of the leading means for this---taxing the rich to help pay for the common good. The other one is limiting defense (war) spending, how much talk of that have you heard?<br /><br />DerekUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-21323211531785201562011-07-27T19:42:00.000-07:002011-07-27T20:08:55.726-07:00I salute Tim DeChristopher<div>I needed to take the effort to, in some way, recognize a superstar who today was sentenced to two years in jail. Part of restoring what is right, is redefining our role-models and renaming our aspirations. It is imperative now more than ever that we continue to dialogue about how to stand up for what is right and just and do so without violence. Tim DeChristopher did just that with <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/07/27/280263/climate-activist-tim-dechristopher-given-two-year-sentence/">his act </a>of civil disobedience. Getting arrested is not something grand to achieve, but it may be a good measuring stick to the level of impact you are having. And for those who love to fight, an equally important measuring stick is the level of violence that is a part of your civil disobedience---Tim's was a zero.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634234375753869586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgil4EpIJt0F6PhPan2StfcehRdduigtH37oIejFHm2rkltbvSULNtsomWPagV-0-U8t9YFB93PBL78kz0mAMXSqcvO9abGMku1CVmjjNIn8Kzk721Az6vXtAC5g6fZk31x26DVuLp9bBA/s320/IMG_9756.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-67898674435882074722011-07-04T11:36:00.000-07:002011-07-04T11:41:30.932-07:00summer days<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625568617263855586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWC-juR9QHuX2qbQMU5rPhwcIE4HSpeijrVoxTK6SSjO9bCuIW4mDXX4psQcnFDcyj7DDU3jceXLINsTcatevNne37IQ84sTWiDkxagtvtuEsHZVVYI6fe9Ns9Lye1nmRRL10vD9HfXk/s320/IMG_8855.JPG" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQdeienJUJkNbTjlqOX8389Od32FmtM6up9Cdk-HZK4ct_7fPIoqtGC1QH2BORBoNHcavT6QLv9JievsDAlKrRsLEsnZqQq-SJqCvaiXwueTEtDVKH1AEm1R1mZF3wio3CF4S_qfTBr4/s1600/IMG_8896.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625568586743064258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQdeienJUJkNbTjlqOX8389Od32FmtM6up9Cdk-HZK4ct_7fPIoqtGC1QH2BORBoNHcavT6QLv9JievsDAlKrRsLEsnZqQq-SJqCvaiXwueTEtDVKH1AEm1R1mZF3wio3CF4S_qfTBr4/s320/IMG_8896.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-74561221467615288962011-04-14T16:45:00.000-07:002011-04-14T16:51:05.075-07:00<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxAFf_hv5msEjh3fJrnmm0wPvbVb6yPK3ZQWlLW_Zq2mQnQNw4OsMJd5znNJj1dZqydhlmQMbZVAtU3rJFmQQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxoBwNkWMiXB82ZDOKTLnqGcttdDp38DwW3Bf2G_L8Db88c6Vc8RUqM0JceJS7yjUUBXQNrJTtcoTqr9HAFOw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-11193085320329734192011-02-12T17:44:00.000-08:002011-02-12T18:01:04.012-08:00Oh happy days!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdhGzqS0_t7yxtWpRf0R6CSQbU0G4Dx-aSdv7ITwqQE0fqdacEC21YA5hYI7Mld4NesUjR-vQd4jgSPBIXV6lvhBwUVVJuF1HIbuzNgkz1-GJ9vvNE8WhbOXD3Fp30NQc95qGqsu4tF0/s1600/IMG_7610.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572984582426010530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdhGzqS0_t7yxtWpRf0R6CSQbU0G4Dx-aSdv7ITwqQE0fqdacEC21YA5hYI7Mld4NesUjR-vQd4jgSPBIXV6lvhBwUVVJuF1HIbuzNgkz1-GJ9vvNE8WhbOXD3Fp30NQc95qGqsu4tF0/s320/IMG_7610.JPG" /></a> that's what daddy says about weekends...and I say everyday - Ayla<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-50402820721290966082011-01-17T18:53:00.000-08:002011-01-17T19:04:48.958-08:00a day to consider our violent pastOne step and we are on our way. Step after step, eventually some 60,000 years later, here we are today—a vast tapestry of beauty, both diverse and intimately connected. Everyone alive today is roughly 99% similar, genetically speaking. We can all trace our ancestry to the same clan, maybe even the same mom and dad that lived in African approximately 200,000 years ago. I recently watched a National Geographic documentary on <em>The Genographic Project</em> that explained how our ancestors started the migration and consequent diversification from Africa 60,000 years ago. I was struck by how important and magnificent this information is to those of us alive today. We are all the same—our differences are merely skin deep! There is no such thing as race; biologically speaking, we are of the same family. This news is warming, touching and just as some of the New Yorkers interviewed in the film were moved, so was I. Now in the midst of this truth, lest I fail to look around and see the dander and hostility that permeates humanity because of our superficial but very real differences, I (we) must turn and face the difficult question, how do we resolve our differences? How do we, as family, get along? Is peace only achievable through violence? There are more people alive today than ever before and consequently—for the good and bad—there are more differences than at any time in history. Maybe I should back up and ask, “Should we even try to get along?” I’d hope the answer to be common sense to most of you, even if you can’t find the exact words to answer why; for those who would choose to make a case for the answer being no, you’ll have to make a case that justifies the last 6,000 years of recorded violence.<br /><br />So what are your thoughts? Can the knowledge that we are all very similar and linked ease tensions or even hate? I know everyone already has at least some conception that we have a common ancestor, but I am talking about seeing for yourself the steps unveiled by tracing concrete steps all the way back to our common ancestor, thanks to genetics. See for yourself, explore <a href="https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/lan/en/atlas.html">this website</a>! There could be hang ups, for sure; among them, for some, will be the very concept of evolution that this genetic and biological information is rooted in. For many of my friends and family this may be a derailment. How unfortunate! This true story of our relatedness, brought to light by evolutionary research, is part of the reason I am so fascinated and supportive of learning and <a href="http://biologos.org/questions/category/harmony">teaching evolution</a>. It is not evil, nor humanistic; quite the opposite. It provides more detail and reveals more of the wonderful breadth, creativity and power of the Creator! Still, that conflict aside, some may point out that the barrier is that certain groups of people don’t share the same beliefs as themselves and because of this they can’t be the same…to seek common ground and admit similarity is compromise. Really? Is peace something only attained at the sacrifice of values? It seems the options are co-existing or annihilation (the natural end to escalating violence)? What sounds better to you? - derekUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-60156355153467099942010-12-21T20:41:00.000-08:002010-12-21T20:58:43.227-08:00a belated updateSorry we haven't posted anything in months! It's not like you would be missing anything...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553364189826729922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWqdT8Y3C3Gd-sljtwuFZEFFPcnhkzAY2p7L6fW5fNFud0SXO1EwTpTpwnC2L4sH4yCan2ksX4ctvqpoYPYz0lcRkVPqqjtNDO_ESyinvZJmDKTpvylxbLBsC7q4wiA_Ur7ljpHYdoek/s320/IMG_7123.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-4IgHmM6Ra3x_TvN4yPMYdA4XTz_8W0XmzvW9HsjUqO5m7jKHjGfU08IVq8G8KvjsJb02mdLp4jw_G9ciIZOmbz23u0EYb6RV1S_gW1ddimoxNMm-Y0RE8uLDOauNyeuTgjX_r_Q2As/s1600/IMG_7162.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553364205031450322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-4IgHmM6Ra3x_TvN4yPMYdA4XTz_8W0XmzvW9HsjUqO5m7jKHjGfU08IVq8G8KvjsJb02mdLp4jw_G9ciIZOmbz23u0EYb6RV1S_gW1ddimoxNMm-Y0RE8uLDOauNyeuTgjX_r_Q2As/s320/IMG_7162.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7oaFQToQleDbWsDieHqIsJoKoldJu7XNJHbyrLMJn05EPJjuQJBz7cB88t3KRGNvkehHFFMA_D08B5MlR3qPOA47dNSuA6iYj_jxud3N9eD3uUEt6pcrDpsbX2kOudwJskIyyW9_JJ0/s1600/IMG_7232.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553364195806240530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7oaFQToQleDbWsDieHqIsJoKoldJu7XNJHbyrLMJn05EPJjuQJBz7cB88t3KRGNvkehHFFMA_D08B5MlR3qPOA47dNSuA6iYj_jxud3N9eD3uUEt6pcrDpsbX2kOudwJskIyyW9_JJ0/s320/IMG_7232.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVlInldIn7XpQaJTFr9iOOb1krHkE6IHoX8haK6op4vz02OOQ453NpSu9S87CF_I_HwUVpmtT6tudxnwpUXpxPUafj2ATny6Y-ALsV_D6o79fOHkfIY8IqoXDj0uKHSef0Bve_oEV_EQ/s1600/IMG_7054.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553362642756910786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVlInldIn7XpQaJTFr9iOOb1krHkE6IHoX8haK6op4vz02OOQ453NpSu9S87CF_I_HwUVpmtT6tudxnwpUXpxPUafj2ATny6Y-ALsV_D6o79fOHkfIY8IqoXDj0uKHSef0Bve_oEV_EQ/s320/IMG_7054.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5_MxDl-OGSrKbWIuJr8Cb4FoWF47MgL4lho9FuQ6uSdfMSCnL3K6JduGCNjRcKYEEaSueZyZmj_LkvLymWCPqnNReDPg_addZqAtOmEybQea7eiHrXoVoKR-cPXIR73tvn8z5JZ3K8g/s1600/IMG_7038.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553362634941386370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5_MxDl-OGSrKbWIuJr8Cb4FoWF47MgL4lho9FuQ6uSdfMSCnL3K6JduGCNjRcKYEEaSueZyZmj_LkvLymWCPqnNReDPg_addZqAtOmEybQea7eiHrXoVoKR-cPXIR73tvn8z5JZ3K8g/s320/IMG_7038.JPG" /></a> ...ok, maybe that's not true. Adrienne and I wake up everyday excited to watch Ayla play. Unfortunately, we find ourselves in another busy season of life and blogging doesn't get the priority. </div><div> </div><div>Merry Christmas and best wishes to the few faithful who happened to gander.<br /></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-66197806593423228042010-09-20T19:20:00.000-07:002010-09-20T19:31:05.586-07:00we've been busy...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBwFxgVNvW2ZfVmaJ8G0LATpUWc2DXnhhLnTsWwUNNp75HtGwvVaHv7k_-JVVgey2SQXPqnJ7foymTRZuev3vble5qp4QX93CHVNLLgGO-zo4KBi5BVEI772K1tFFoW5vWeNsrp0x6ts/s1600/Copy+of+sept19+044.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBwFxgVNvW2ZfVmaJ8G0LATpUWc2DXnhhLnTsWwUNNp75HtGwvVaHv7k_-JVVgey2SQXPqnJ7foymTRZuev3vble5qp4QX93CHVNLLgGO-zo4KBi5BVEI772K1tFFoW5vWeNsrp0x6ts/s320/Copy+of+sept19+044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519187328680044402" border="0" /></a>...like going to cousin Haven's Birthday party.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBwFxgVNvW2ZfVmaJ8G0LATpUWc2DXnhhLnTsWwUNNp75HtGwvVaHv7k_-JVVgey2SQXPqnJ7foymTRZuev3vble5qp4QX93CHVNLLgGO-zo4KBi5BVEI772K1tFFoW5vWeNsrp0x6ts/s1600/Copy+of+sept19+044.jpg"><span><span></span></span></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-6673590240585765482010-08-18T18:25:00.000-07:002010-08-18T19:02:31.379-07:00the move is mostly over<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">We've handed over the keys for new ones,<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03slIedHijXOzoKvft3NknMgrCQ_7J6175jabk7ZSft91E85dl22fk8g-IvQOPZCL78UeChbHpRJXdPvfbIXreXcaHM0WSUuhANtBCa0p7FFyW3EXSZUIM3defFEuDK4Hm-nlmPEzsMQ/s1600/IMG_6401.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03slIedHijXOzoKvft3NknMgrCQ_7J6175jabk7ZSft91E85dl22fk8g-IvQOPZCL78UeChbHpRJXdPvfbIXreXcaHM0WSUuhANtBCa0p7FFyW3EXSZUIM3defFEuDK4Hm-nlmPEzsMQ/s320/IMG_6401.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506927576187267186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Played with friends,</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUaIwgSuC4jFs-_gQyhdZtnzTcuyb4LQxzZ59CvFDh7NagCyaM44c8yiSWc5tA_NBEzU7zrm9EMvKGnuWUzSe5FwJmU2ZfiDVKHixWjuI5cIPOqfOyOb2a3W9Wq24M5oMr6zRSWspWqs/s1600/IMG_6414.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUaIwgSuC4jFs-_gQyhdZtnzTcuyb4LQxzZ59CvFDh7NagCyaM44c8yiSWc5tA_NBEzU7zrm9EMvKGnuWUzSe5FwJmU2ZfiDVKHixWjuI5cIPOqfOyOb2a3W9Wq24M5oMr6zRSWspWqs/s320/IMG_6414.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506927567085776898" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">and family,<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQh2MZ-72WCDkSVzrNT79zuXuXA_-kjrJv6uu8L48A4oY3_bDUzN1y7x-L95HrS4GuCK5z9RKUKXIBDwAz_wzbNNSl9CJtcQI8GMSPbVW7ATcpYBlyqs7qZpGYKk8Fk1Xa27MsimTXLNo/s1600/IMG_6658.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQh2MZ-72WCDkSVzrNT79zuXuXA_-kjrJv6uu8L48A4oY3_bDUzN1y7x-L95HrS4GuCK5z9RKUKXIBDwAz_wzbNNSl9CJtcQI8GMSPbVW7ATcpYBlyqs7qZpGYKk8Fk1Xa27MsimTXLNo/s320/IMG_6658.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506934281313426018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">unpacked our stuff,</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ilw8QsdNd-kPW2p3Paa1rZw6aZcm3dh6-h8JSYMKiMdRi8sr5N4-iVBJfObVcMbjqLzIsa35FPWqX_O2iTtfnqBLVs2LnSAXASgQPAnnSqb-IYE7rPCU2kH1ygeAFNpc089dbfUrkCQ/s1600/movingIN+004.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ilw8QsdNd-kPW2p3Paa1rZw6aZcm3dh6-h8JSYMKiMdRi8sr5N4-iVBJfObVcMbjqLzIsa35FPWqX_O2iTtfnqBLVs2LnSAXASgQPAnnSqb-IYE7rPCU2kH1ygeAFNpc089dbfUrkCQ/s320/movingIN+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506934300390385394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">and are ready to get on with business as usual.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFg-84NXC4hr9dsTxtBEXVPzXLZMx0G_wzrorgWQf4cS_ZjgTZsJ-RU61NCcgAFKNWVKEzseRXy-uwakqqyQnwcQ335ZvADwaNeIQX2dEz8Na9HfjC-Oj9JudyqNNbDmJ_ZRfOv0m4vQ/s1600/movingIN+027.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFg-84NXC4hr9dsTxtBEXVPzXLZMx0G_wzrorgWQf4cS_ZjgTZsJ-RU61NCcgAFKNWVKEzseRXy-uwakqqyQnwcQ335ZvADwaNeIQX2dEz8Na9HfjC-Oj9JudyqNNbDmJ_ZRfOv0m4vQ/s320/movingIN+027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506934292871138354" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-30746964435634453822010-07-27T19:27:00.000-07:002010-07-28T21:41:52.588-07:00What's going on?<div style="text-align: center;">Wait a minute, why is our stuff in boxes and where did all the couches go?<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzDLfkMAgBL2tGkxJpaxwKUQHEea8ML5Uk3NpHkk9G8nomdaEZWUjYm1Cy0MSvPcAb-hWuCFDLk7Tf-bKZoo1PIxy5YpZ1u_pKGGv9uZl7N-DcJqnM1N52AoS36Sp4QzDbDBhgyXAjCU/s1600/IMG_6357.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzDLfkMAgBL2tGkxJpaxwKUQHEea8ML5Uk3NpHkk9G8nomdaEZWUjYm1Cy0MSvPcAb-hWuCFDLk7Tf-bKZoo1PIxy5YpZ1u_pKGGv9uZl7N-DcJqnM1N52AoS36Sp4QzDbDBhgyXAjCU/s320/IMG_6357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498780142961139346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHfzDiLn2cSm-VcA3a1WQiddO4ACe9Du_b0D1kKFtEqm3MS1OpuDMxtoiuHjofE9ednsfjv4pnOokPbwD3xf3LuDwfRaDnhxEKrpNILoJ0MdtNpsssvBCym9joVVe-uH2YlnMHDL8I9U/s1600/IMG_6358.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHfzDiLn2cSm-VcA3a1WQiddO4ACe9Du_b0D1kKFtEqm3MS1OpuDMxtoiuHjofE9ednsfjv4pnOokPbwD3xf3LuDwfRaDnhxEKrpNILoJ0MdtNpsssvBCym9joVVe-uH2YlnMHDL8I9U/s320/IMG_6358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498780147756842978" border="0" /></a>Whoa, what did Missouri do to us? We're moving back to Michigan before we get any more hillbilly.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKkZsgoHdZ-LmkGuMDt7CTzSgzByAO-hRMQalClb2RvGD3iKKJLWSV7AZRTxaIoGTurE8r0Uoefrjqktu0SNDk1yoA1kOB7RvGmA5RNULKkLD2ksHbjF8wZM3Z8gUjY2aA1Bldm0JVVo/s1600/IMG_6367.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKkZsgoHdZ-LmkGuMDt7CTzSgzByAO-hRMQalClb2RvGD3iKKJLWSV7AZRTxaIoGTurE8r0Uoefrjqktu0SNDk1yoA1kOB7RvGmA5RNULKkLD2ksHbjF8wZM3Z8gUjY2aA1Bldm0JVVo/s320/IMG_6367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498781248174769090" border="0" /></a>(Thanks Mom and Dad Erlewine for pulling our junk home!)<br /><br />Sad and glad, it's Michigan or bust... Michigan by the weekend!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-21584960487144811532010-07-09T18:44:00.000-07:002010-07-09T19:06:07.496-07:00you think so<div style="text-align: center;">I rebel against it,<br />But, it is right.<br />But it is also wrong;<br />I rebel for a reason.<br />Truth is complicated.<br />It, it isn't one way or the other.<br />It's this...but not quite,<br />Or that, but not the way you lay it out.<br /><br />A little poem that popped in my head on the way to work the other day, sound familar?<br /><br />Oh the cares of a one year old!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1rc92jXW7TfUAWaANIuHZIOugDgDwWfrWKStt-aEVmZhMrrWG9gsxUcZkExwiX5INcbsDq-bQ3iYE6PkR71NGj2f_QgWN52rmfPiuZw7lAoIo0OsJ_tPubZx6caPT8ICnh3MhKLx0K0/s1600/IMG_5977.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1rc92jXW7TfUAWaANIuHZIOugDgDwWfrWKStt-aEVmZhMrrWG9gsxUcZkExwiX5INcbsDq-bQ3iYE6PkR71NGj2f_QgWN52rmfPiuZw7lAoIo0OsJ_tPubZx6caPT8ICnh3MhKLx0K0/s320/IMG_5977.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492090820583605810" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-60107334499612240942010-07-04T18:00:00.000-07:002010-07-04T18:08:52.652-07:00Ayla is One!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWfzZoi7gaZXaFCZDEBVV0FSYEZA7vlMkgq64LQ6HGCL9hT2omuoqFnXUrwi30C6f5mYGd0HCF7VI57jvL9w68tcl4fcfTWGDm4ABPg9awynx65gRL_2AFye1qS3tyHri5F-oolQcb5U/s1600/IMG_5871.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWfzZoi7gaZXaFCZDEBVV0FSYEZA7vlMkgq64LQ6HGCL9hT2omuoqFnXUrwi30C6f5mYGd0HCF7VI57jvL9w68tcl4fcfTWGDm4ABPg9awynx65gRL_2AFye1qS3tyHri5F-oolQcb5U/s320/IMG_5871.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490221486034705874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4IrQkY8h9orBs1xg8uiVqVe53q2nOIXSMwnWAr25E5VL3Up-j0e8rLxkL8VRQxyUNhSxdzvdZCAfc3A6Iub4jnRliOkcT3zqtOp4fJ_vZY576awKVii_kx00hiD8bOmFk_VFUqg48PU/s1600/IMG_5874.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4IrQkY8h9orBs1xg8uiVqVe53q2nOIXSMwnWAr25E5VL3Up-j0e8rLxkL8VRQxyUNhSxdzvdZCAfc3A6Iub4jnRliOkcT3zqtOp4fJ_vZY576awKVii_kx00hiD8bOmFk_VFUqg48PU/s320/IMG_5874.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490221493819950050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2Zdif7E3N1r4XH7VyDdw5yeXnYAxP6KrhHvOggl1Bsi1ju46Bn20BPOKw9mkruNQVoiRZ2GUAWe9y5IYmtIe2KBv45jdPgt88BGrKLpccj5Cr1KhI5n9WeaGC9DWhw09Ay6xcQAaQE8/s1600/IMG_5916.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2Zdif7E3N1r4XH7VyDdw5yeXnYAxP6KrhHvOggl1Bsi1ju46Bn20BPOKw9mkruNQVoiRZ2GUAWe9y5IYmtIe2KBv45jdPgt88BGrKLpccj5Cr1KhI5n9WeaGC9DWhw09Ay6xcQAaQE8/s320/IMG_5916.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490221502093834594" border="0" /></a>We celebrated our precious daughter on her birthday this past week. Lots of play and fun. Peace!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-73165323843009274032010-06-25T07:12:00.000-07:002010-06-25T07:37:19.780-07:00last weekend!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqYYmYCV1JMO0n7oYZzu5sgLWVEFfJLKU85yGSVDYceMVaSS8nKIrbvd6Bk42qQ8RW7LA1rpAPV1zzk4UHbhZhCcfRz49Uiusm91dUKdnpfb0mUTpFLutdzT39qiP8jy064L90QaD0YU/s1600/IMG_5780.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqYYmYCV1JMO0n7oYZzu5sgLWVEFfJLKU85yGSVDYceMVaSS8nKIrbvd6Bk42qQ8RW7LA1rpAPV1zzk4UHbhZhCcfRz49Uiusm91dUKdnpfb0mUTpFLutdzT39qiP8jy064L90QaD0YU/s320/IMG_5780.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486716381531724162" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Pictures of the fun we had last weekend. This weekend we are going to the zoo! We have it good!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uOanHrY6XD9pwiFX5oB3hajqUCQYNg133rRotVUIv1giFUtAzSFS_EN-aRYMCbQR-qzu5GU0R9P6IaS4cA4HkIYpKoU0ct7qeB2lH5MsOIrJd-Orp89y8prTnZXbaRnJ_kEHRiMQz9o/s1600/IMG_5726.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uOanHrY6XD9pwiFX5oB3hajqUCQYNg133rRotVUIv1giFUtAzSFS_EN-aRYMCbQR-qzu5GU0R9P6IaS4cA4HkIYpKoU0ct7qeB2lH5MsOIrJd-Orp89y8prTnZXbaRnJ_kEHRiMQz9o/s320/IMG_5726.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486716367388738946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTHoF4t1dO8dTLUWryDvVhxFAIs6JkzRrEAb4Im-Vj8dR13f_AaDjnVPSCCEwJm13E7nFTdpcmZFUy47wwGIt0VUDPwgq1LQbV9xDNLdSWMMtdlS3V3bk6b_6thstNRX5iHyxdewVGpc/s1600/IMG_5774.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTHoF4t1dO8dTLUWryDvVhxFAIs6JkzRrEAb4Im-Vj8dR13f_AaDjnVPSCCEwJm13E7nFTdpcmZFUy47wwGIt0VUDPwgq1LQbV9xDNLdSWMMtdlS3V3bk6b_6thstNRX5iHyxdewVGpc/s320/IMG_5774.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486716351659883986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOva1alk5thm4YZAeQAQ1QRDeXxIHVs28IoN42peykrXWtdYZrbn8dNC_1ZTJlhjS0vDLVsM3QJ8RuHfQrNvkZ6LDqSQvQYnauwpInhFNkyzoqVdbZujXATx6Y8bUkSmjXhQfMkgX7u_s/s1600/IMG_5765.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOva1alk5thm4YZAeQAQ1QRDeXxIHVs28IoN42peykrXWtdYZrbn8dNC_1ZTJlhjS0vDLVsM3QJ8RuHfQrNvkZ6LDqSQvQYnauwpInhFNkyzoqVdbZujXATx6Y8bUkSmjXhQfMkgX7u_s/s320/IMG_5765.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486715433359019042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv01Ar7fQiDjDi3NCv6Bsr-q6MjJB15OQx6F_dHGaGc4Iib1LG5SE8hw8vr8x6T6TkTOIVod0k-EP8kkh2gEp-E7JEnXP9MLlPhz3MrtOSkGDSRHw7iQKN7Z-fiFuzQIm0L7P8c6Y-j8/s1600/IMG_5737.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv01Ar7fQiDjDi3NCv6Bsr-q6MjJB15OQx6F_dHGaGc4Iib1LG5SE8hw8vr8x6T6TkTOIVod0k-EP8kkh2gEp-E7JEnXP9MLlPhz3MrtOSkGDSRHw7iQKN7Z-fiFuzQIm0L7P8c6Y-j8/s320/IMG_5737.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486715420215032514" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-23776509479032844712010-06-03T12:13:00.000-07:002010-06-03T12:36:03.685-07:00Al the artist<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILyjTiNx__h_O2mLCB13EGVMNljoQW_EPYKLmsS6Y0b6SRcB9pr_Apblmu9zG8CAS5Q5ikU4lzhAJXQdGLASbWONIWltVVnrS8ao6rV2JDUQBgELyiy0qS708tVjcO6TblNuo9xArH-s/s1600/Brigg'sAfrica.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILyjTiNx__h_O2mLCB13EGVMNljoQW_EPYKLmsS6Y0b6SRcB9pr_Apblmu9zG8CAS5Q5ikU4lzhAJXQdGLASbWONIWltVVnrS8ao6rV2JDUQBgELyiy0qS708tVjcO6TblNuo9xArH-s/s320/Brigg'sAfrica.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478628786905780626" border="0" /></a>My good friend Alan Briggs painted this beautiful art piece for us. If you haven't read about Alan and his wife's (Julie) story in their blog to the right, 'Road to Adoption' , I encourage you to do so!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-84646890129890609422010-05-30T16:13:00.000-07:002010-05-30T16:20:19.846-07:00in action!<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwuEXtVY_DKIPAhc5yTnurjA2R6-4gd4-GhS2c3RM8S6y2lhJPVREcUnbI4If-5PTKUm0Qv9ohtV10pSrqhZA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Ayla is 11 months old today!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-29133152898211039842010-05-24T10:38:00.000-07:002010-05-24T10:43:31.009-07:00wonderful working weekend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAgwcw-RraBQU0fM-fQ69JP1ZiSy42dvq02kS2kvc0cnn-VSCb2rA01e_gd0UxlTh7V2TyxA7r5lReKKR0T4XgCN-ttMAiUU1UBoTpF-7PWzVD9JZ5LkHAiYBpaCX2HCKaUae6TV7P3E/s1600/IMG_5583.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAgwcw-RraBQU0fM-fQ69JP1ZiSy42dvq02kS2kvc0cnn-VSCb2rA01e_gd0UxlTh7V2TyxA7r5lReKKR0T4XgCN-ttMAiUU1UBoTpF-7PWzVD9JZ5LkHAiYBpaCX2HCKaUae6TV7P3E/s320/IMG_5583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474893535499640514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBx0uOoRcVPHSJvBYuJO487p-ze3CX7p9yJtAXrqqQH-NfvwxrOYK_J86foaldlVpgecY0j_2vgMljqnqFQlBKGkzni2v6-bI7ztiXEdw4TfMNUp75GgRNhYsMDnqREV660d6wvTmZhc/s1600/IMG_5590.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBx0uOoRcVPHSJvBYuJO487p-ze3CX7p9yJtAXrqqQH-NfvwxrOYK_J86foaldlVpgecY0j_2vgMljqnqFQlBKGkzni2v6-bI7ztiXEdw4TfMNUp75GgRNhYsMDnqREV660d6wvTmZhc/s320/IMG_5590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474893138518070642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjyxww6UOv9Fo3P84Q-6mZcAf9ld0TjhyphenhyphenK8SSzaZM2B-cDb7dVq-VSBcTCB3SEiS_GZV87HcVJDIIJQJbkaHP4__LUjLC8t9x8hEOJIHoRM4EjHtViQ2lE7hrKu56069B_TBIVDfGOP0/s1600/IMG_5575.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjyxww6UOv9Fo3P84Q-6mZcAf9ld0TjhyphenhyphenK8SSzaZM2B-cDb7dVq-VSBcTCB3SEiS_GZV87HcVJDIIJQJbkaHP4__LUjLC8t9x8hEOJIHoRM4EjHtViQ2lE7hrKu56069B_TBIVDfGOP0/s320/IMG_5575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474893149501086146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDlqNZt7v9bKLFVd9f2XSTe_4uleCRjUIMzFRzYhzCsgATC2LOgEgsXshmMjnBvBtddqfaKpnt4ekIxIyxGCdsP2xon9gGYkV8s9c99ll0emrRF3JbgcfvupCRS1nYA9YBGTPp1Vnid8/s1600/IMG_5580.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDlqNZt7v9bKLFVd9f2XSTe_4uleCRjUIMzFRzYhzCsgATC2LOgEgsXshmMjnBvBtddqfaKpnt4ekIxIyxGCdsP2xon9gGYkV8s9c99ll0emrRF3JbgcfvupCRS1nYA9YBGTPp1Vnid8/s320/IMG_5580.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474893135565282642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGokgeBr9xS_tm5Xy19zynwJHAOA63ODM36HjYjVDP2I9pzwr8_Rw6ixOoHjk1eB-_3WXG8N4vLBEMneymIWfW_GquoQ5GI6vdpUpwn7f7yXk9753VBaynDO3HEzGuXWEeUsgQxCXnFk/s1600/IMG_5577.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGokgeBr9xS_tm5Xy19zynwJHAOA63ODM36HjYjVDP2I9pzwr8_Rw6ixOoHjk1eB-_3WXG8N4vLBEMneymIWfW_GquoQ5GI6vdpUpwn7f7yXk9753VBaynDO3HEzGuXWEeUsgQxCXnFk/s320/IMG_5577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474893127342135378" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431795170864014024.post-56660567099834273462010-05-17T19:14:00.000-07:002010-05-17T21:02:14.226-07:00a heavy heart"Obama: This is your crude awakening." <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20004705-503544.html">reads the sign</a><br />Wake up everyone---We're all in the same line<br />Who's to blame? <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8674073.stm">It's all a game</a>.<br />My heart is heavy, <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hvFZoZUpZY8UaCLusb6WTLAmgaRA">bad people</a> are to blame<br />But I am bad, it's right to be sad<br /><br />Human lives are expendable, they can afford the wrist slaps<br />Start with the consumer, <a href="http://ems.gmnews.com/news/2010-05-12/Front_Page/Protest_staged_at_BP_gas_station_in_Edison.html">boycotts</a> get my <a href="http://michiganmessenger.com/37506/sierra-club-plans-protest-at-bp-gas-station">props</a><br />But it's give your money to the next polluter, O commuter<br /><br /><a href="http://www.propublica.org/ion/blog/item/epa-bp-to-dispersants-chemicals-containing-toxins-to-fight-spill-gulf-oil">Wrongs</a> don't fix wrongs. Do you ache like I do?<br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126809525">No</a> <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/05/gulf-oil-spill-noaa-skeptical-of-oil-plume-reports.html">one</a> <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/achenblog/2010/05/gulf_oil_spill_in_loop_current.html">knows</a> exactly how much ocean is not blue.<br />Are the ecological costs worth the economic gain?<br />My opinion, you'd have to be <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>insane.<br />I suppose we'll carry on if it's only a spill that kills a krill...or two.<br /><br /><br />Needless to say, I totally disagree with those who think like the author in this <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/dominic-lawson/dominic-lawson-not-such-a-big-spill-after-all-1975641.html">article</a>. We don't understand all the costs involved in disasters like this, whether it's 5,000 or 70,000 barrels a day. Taking the position that the spill is not big is a grave mistake; already, small animals and human lives alike are lost. Profits are the bottom line for big oil companies and the consequences of supporting this system will continue to be unveiled. I could be wrong, there could be suffering if we shut the door to our shorelines and other fossil fuel extractions, but I don't think so. Even so, would it compare to the exponentially increasing havoc we're leveling on our ecosystems? We shall suffer, I mean, we shall see.<br /><br />derekUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0