Tuesday, July 01, 2008

  • Please pray!

    We had a pool party with twenty-two younger girls from church.  During one game, some of the girls landed on top of me after jumping in the water.  Yesterday, we went in to get an x-ray and found I have acromioclavicular separation (separated shoulder) - my collarbone has pulled away from my shoulder bone.  My activities have been severely limited and I am in a lot of pain.  The predicted recovery is 3-4 weeks with therapy.  There is absolutely nothing they can do for it in the meantime.

Thursday, June 26, 2008



  • WARNING: NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART


    At our church, once a month, we have what's called 
    Fellowship Meal.

    It's potluck style, so everyone brings a dish.
    My family was in Oklahoma for the weekend at a Voice of the Martyrs conference.

    My brother Ryan and I were home alone. 



    We headed to the Asian market, Ryan's idea.  And found what we were looking for right away...

    Word of Warning: Never leave RJ and Ryan home alone for more than fifteen minutes, let alone a full weekend.


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    We bought a dozen baby octopi.

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    I searched the web for recipes and actually found a ton.

    There are a lot of sick people out there.

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    They had to be de-beaked.  (Definitely watch the videos to get the full scoop )



    In red wine sauce

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    All cooked...



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    The heads popped open during cooking - Ryan's pointing to the brains

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    The full dish: noodles, tomatoes, and

    OCTOPUS



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    THIS is how we put it on the table at Fellowship Meal.


    The shock was far better than we expected.  People were all quietly trying to avoid the smelly dish, wondering what on earth the tentacles were... and then I proclaimed, in a fit of sadistic laughter, that it was Ryan and me. 

    With a "ISN'T IT DISGUSTING???" from me, all broke loose. 

    It was a hit.  Ten of the twelve octopi were gone.  Kids everywhere were daring their friends to eat more than them.  Ryan and my friend Christian ate the heads off immediately at my table and just about gagged.  I think little Patrick D. ate the entire octopus completely.  Everyone was dying laughing. 

    Noah with pet Doc Oc...

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    Hannah K. eating number 2 tentacle

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    If Hannah K. could do it, then Hannah D. had to also.  Look, Mom!  Watch me down this thing!

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    It was gross.  Victory!  Ha ha ha ha.


Saturday, June 21, 2008

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

  • Brad is out visiting right now 

    And it seems like everywhere we go (on this trip it was on TWO occasions), we get pizza.  Whether it's out shopping, at a conference, or just hanging out, we eat pizza.
    So, in honor of all of his visits, I shall post the

    PIZZA PICS

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    Just finished eating pizza at the mall

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Saturday, June 07, 2008

  • Mort got married today!!!

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    I got to play the piano while people ate and socialized at the reception

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    Aaron was all nice and serious, but Mort squished the cake in his face!

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    The flower girl and her little sister (Mort's nieces)

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    Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Palmer!

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    We all rang bells when they walked out of the church

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    My family afterwards - we had to get a picture of us all dressed up for the wedding

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My Favorite Books that You should Read

The Giver by Lois Lowry
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
The Messenger by Lois Lowry
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Persuasion by Jane Austen
A Gown of Spanish Lace by Janette Oke
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Thr3e by Ted Dekker
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by E.G. Speare
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw