The Squirrels are coming!

Yesterday there's the cutest baby squirrel in the yard. All the girls love it and want to cuddle it and name it "Sweety" or some such thing.

But this squirrel is different. It shows no fear. It looks . . . smarter than the average squirrel.

I grab a broom and push it over to a near by tree and call it a day.

This morning I hear a loud "squeak-squeakin'" from the front of the house.

It's back! And it's trying to break in! I try to knock it off the screen with a broom to no avail. I assumed it wandered off while I was in the shower. But it will be back, I know it will.

I'll try to be ready.

For the families of students at Virginia Tech

A thread was started at forum I frequent asking for prayers after the shooting at Virginia Tech. A member there (lokhup) posted the following:

May we all take a breath and wispier sorrows to all those affected,
May we all look at the sight of a sunrise and imagine those souls being lifted to heaven,
May we all hear the sound of angels as they say thank you and goodbye,
May we all pray that the earth will heal our pain of innocent lives being wasted and enlighten our minds that love and kindness of heart is the true path to this life.
Together we can expand to fill the void and our thoughts can make a better world.

Care for the living
Tend to them when they are dying
and pray for them when they are departed.

Wow. Just Wow.

Otter Pops - a post for my sister

Every once in a while I see something that takes me back to my youth. Most of these memories include my sister, The Sister. Flintstone vitamins and "mandatory fun" are the first things that come to mind but every once in a while I'm surprised.

Yesterday was one of those days.

While wandering the local market I saw Otter Pops on an end cap. These are frozen, flavored, sugar water. They have no redeeming qualities from a parent's point of view.

As a child though, I loved them. So, for $0.89US, i got a taste of my childhood.

You don't get value like that too often these days.

So. Here's to you Sister!

Home of the Otter Pops (with music!)

Star Wars as a silent film

Brilliant!

Puppet Show in Bloomington

Miriam and Thaddeus put on a puppet show for The Sister and I. It's fun to see what they'll come up with once they start feeding on each other. In any case, we enjoyed it.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

What a great time of year. Everyone comes together to try to be their best.

My father-in-law was one of Santa's helpers this year (again) and took we took the opportunity while he visited to get some pictures.

Have a great new year!

Santa and my girls

Gwendolyn gets respect!

It seems like it's video week here . .

A friend captured Gwendolyn's entry at the Elm Grove talent show.

The microphone was off for the first half of the performance but she didn't mind too much.

The beautiful woman playing the role of a background singer is my wife, Susan!

It's recital day!

Miriam:


Gwendolyn:

RomanDA Breaks 4 Boards

My friend David sent me a video of him breaking some boards. One MORE reason not to mess with him! Look at the poor guys face when the board hits his hands.

Barenaked Ladies fan video

I haven't posted in forever so we'll just ease into it.

One of those bands I like but never get around to buying had an air-guitar competition: here's a video of the results:

Gene Cole has died

My brother-in-law's father passed away yesterday. Gene seemed a good guy and will be missed.

My thoughts go out to Gene's sons, their wives, and kids.

From an email from my sister:

It is with deep regret that I announce the passing of Gene Cole, Jason’s dad. He died peacefully this morning in the company of some of his family after staying up late watching the Seattle Seahawks win on Monday night football and getting up early to play his computer. For anyone who knew Gene, I don’t know that he could have scripted anything better.

. . . .

Gene always felt like lighting a candle was an excellent way to wish for something or send good thoughts someone’s way. Tonight we talked over a candlelit dinner, reflected on life (Gene’s and ours), and marveled at how truly blessed we are.

Happy Halloween Gwendolyn and Miriam!

Miriam's Storybook parade

She posed the whole way around the parade route. LOL


 

Pumpkin carving

The little girls and I carved some pumkins. They turned out pretty well.

 

Halloween '03 : The last year I dressed up

I know I'm going to regret this.

In 2003 there was a contest at work with basketball tickets on the line. Michelle had wanted to go to a game and this seemed like a good oppertunity to score some tickets.

The night before Susan and I had gone to a Halloween party with her dressed as Leia and me as Luke.

I didn't think either costume would win on its own . . but a combination might.

And it did.

Was it worth it? Yes. And I'd do it again for her. 

Miriam's Tap Class

I think all little girls look cute in tutus but mine especially so.


 

My Sister Sarah

When I started this blog I made a list of things I wanted to talk about. Some of them were lost because they weren't timely. Some faded away because my interests changed. One was too hard every time I started it.

I'm going to try again and this time I think I'll make it. I think it may take more than one post. It may take a lifetime of posts. It's worth the effort. And it might bring my sister Sarah some joy to see me struggle over it. I'm going to kind of creep around it for a while and see where it takes me.

I thought of her the other day. My mom had given my little girls a pile of Sarah's magazines when she was a kid; Zooboks. We were looking for animals that started with the letter 'A' and out fell pin-ups of Antonio Banderas, Liam Neesom, and I don't remember who else. Stuffed into these kids magazines. It cracked me up.

Sarah Elizabeth Klenke was born on my ninth birthday. She was the best gift I ever got. My parents had had foster kids for as long as I could remember. Kids came and went all the time; it was part of life. Sarah (or Princess at the time) was the smallest one I remember, the newest. I remember (or think I remember) that we didn't have all the equipment needed for such a new baby that she slept in a wicker laundry basket at first. She look a little like a monkey.

I miss her.

On July 7th, 2001 she died in a in a car accident. I had just returned from a vacation in New York. My family had driven and camped there and had just gotten to bed when my father called with the news. I have never felt so lost and empty. I slept for a few hours and then drove to San Antonio to help my folks close up her affairs and prepare for her funeral.

The powerpoint show below was what we came up with to represent her life. It doesn't come close to showing what an amazing girl she was.

Miriam seventh month status report

Last March Miriam burned her face pulling a cup of hot cocoa onto her face. She had second degree burns from the top of her forehead to the bottom of her chin and a few burns on her chest and arm. (Previous post - We are so very blessed)

Since then, we have kept her in a hat and slathered with sun block to prevent any uneven tanning that could become permanant.

She is doing very well and there is almost no scarring. When she gets hot or cries her face pinks up more than normal where she was burned but that too should pass.

I want to thank everyone who has reminded her to put her hat on. Her teachers at school have been great as well as the other soccer mom and babysitters and freinds.

I also want to thank everyone for all the prayers when she was healing. my friends at Wincustomize.com were a real support. 

Bill and Ann's Wedding

Good Morning!

We are gathered here today to witness Ann and Bill making promises to each other. Promises that they have already made in their hearts. Promises that will bind them through both easy and hard times. We are here to support them in those promises. We are here to celebrate those promises with them.

Bill knew that when he first held Ann's hand that he wanted to hold her hand forever. Since he held her hand he has not had a bad day. And Ann has been happier and more at peace than I have seen her in years. They are here, today, to share their happiness with you and each other. This is a celebration of the good times they've had and the good times they are going to have together. Ann and Bill wanted to thank you all for being here.

Who brings this woman to this man for marriage?

Marriage is an act of faith and personal commitment as well as moral and physical union between two people. Marriage has been described as the best and most important relationship that can exist between two human beings; the construction of their love and trust in one, it is a moral commitment that requires and deserves daily attention. Marriage should be a life-long consecration to the ideal of loving kindness, backed with the will to make it last. Life has been a hard journey and, if asked four years ago, neither one of these people would have thought they would be here today. They would have said you were crazy if you had suggested it. But a friendship that began 30 years ago has become a bond that will last the rest of their lives.

We read in "The Prophet":

True love gives nothing but itself,
and takes nothing but from itself.

Love does not possess, nor would it be possessed.

For love is sufficient unto love.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.

To awake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.

To rest at noon and meditate love’s ecstasy.

To return home at eventide with gratitude.

And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips."

May I have the rings?

{get rings}

Let these rings be a constant, daily, reminder of the promises you are about to make. Let them symbolize the unbroken love you two have for each other. May the two of you, wearing these rings, grow in understanding and compassion. May the home you make together be a sanctuary.

Bill, take the ring, place it on Ann's finger, hold her hand, and repeat after
me:
I, Bill, take you Ann, to be my wife, my partner, and my truest friend.
I promise to love, comfort and encourage you.
I promise to be open and honest with you.
I promise to stay with you through the happiness and the pain,
seeing you through the tides of this life.
I will trust and honor you.
From this day forward, your people will be my people.
And as I have given you my hand to hold - so I give you my life to
keep.
{personal vow}

Ann, take the ring, place it on Bill's finger, hold her hand, , and repeat after
me:
I, Ann, take you Bill, to be my husband, my partner, and my truest friend.
I promise to love, comfort and encourage you.
I promise to be open and honest with you.
I promise to stay with you through the happiness and the pain,
seeing you through the tides of this life.
I will trust and honor you.
From this day forward, your people will be my people.
And as I have given you my hand to hold - so I give you my life to
keep.
{personal vow}

Then, by the power vested in me by the Great state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife. What God has joined together, let
no one put asunder.

Bill, please kiss your wife; Ann, your husband.

Friends, family, it pleases me to introduce to you the Englehorns

The (Traditional) birthday unicycle ride

Last Christmas my sister and her husband gave me the 5 foot unicycle that had been on my list for years. I never really expected it but there it was.

It's been eight months and they had not seen me ride it. Either it was too hot or too wet or we were too busy.

But with them moving away soon and a party being thrown for my 34th birthday . . there was no better time. (especially since I had a number of beers by the time the unicycle was mentioned.)

So . . here is me, on the celebration of my 34th birthday . . acting as if I were younger than I am: