Reflections of the Past Week

This week has been filled with so many events. The first being my birthday on the
first. I was not really excited about this birthday. It wasn't really about the number...I just wondered what I had accomplished in my 27 yrs of life. Sometimes I think it's incredible... Then there are other times when I feel so inadequate and long for so much more...I am sure no matter what age I am, I will continue to feel that (the inadequacies) and longings until they are dispelled or fulfilled. For my birthday I had lunch at Macaroni Grill with a friend. Then I had a great visit with another friend. Later I went to dinner with my family at Seafood Market on Val Vista
and Baseline. It was yummm-oooo. Thank you to everyone for your kind thoughts, cards, and heart-felt gifts (especially your gifts of friendship)!

Then on Thursday, my mom and I drove up to Las Vegas for a family reunion. Some family members came on Friday, the fourth. To celebrate the 4th of July we had a BBQ and then loaded up in vehicles to drive out and watch all the fireworks shows. I think we saw 12 at the same time. Las Vegas does fireworks BIG!





The reunion was Saturday the 5th. It was really great to see my cousins and immediate family. More than that it was wonderful to remember the legacy that was started by my Great-Grandparents, and become acquainted or reacquainted with second cousins, great aunts and uncles, and just spend time with each other. None of our Idaho cousins made it down, but the CA cousins came over and we enjoyed each others company. Even though its all family, its hard to find my place being single, no children, and later twenties. I learned somethings too...When you have a family reunion, it is helpful to do some icebreakers and introductions (yes I know I am such a teacher with the icebreaker comment). But really, it would have helped in the getting to know everyone department. Everyone needs everyones emails so no-one is left out of the communication loop.

Anyways...last night my brother and I drove down to the strip. Our first stop was The Stratosphere where we rode the Big Shot. Such a thrill!!! Then we stopped at Starbucks, I was so thirsty and they charged me .54 cents for a cup. A stupid plastic cup. And this was after I ordered my tall mocha cream frappuccino with a shot of mint syrup (no coffee involved :-) ). Ridiculous I am telling you. But I payed because I wanted ice water soooo bad. After our stop at Starbucks, we went to the Bellagio hotel and watched the dancing water show. The first one was better than the second one, but I will post both videos anyway. The first was God Bless the USA. It touched my heart because of the holiday we just celebrated and my brother is in the Army. I loved every second!!!

Today was church. We sang all three verses of The Star-Spangled Banner. Did you know there were 3 verses? I love the other two verses, and hardly anyone knows them. Then testimony time. I knew we were in for a good meeting when this guy got up and said "The church is like McDonald's, it's the same everywhere you go..." While there is truth in that statement I had to laugh because did he really just compare the church, the Gospel, to McDonald's????? Whatever. I think my fast today was more meaningful than some of my fasts on other fast Sunday's. I was able to really spend some time pondering and praying and thinking.

After church, my grandpa was waiting for us at my aunts house. He is going fishing with my uncle and cousin. So he flew in this morning while we were at church and my cousin brought him over. I asked him a few questions. He met my grandma through a friend. She needed a ride home and they went dancing and hit it off. I asked him why he loved her and he said because she loved me first. Then I asked him how he proposed and he said he made the mistake of saying "if I had a job I would marry ya" the next week he got a job and the rest is history. He was 25 and gram was 19 when they got married. He said he loved going up to her farm and working with her dad. He remembered being a little boy and gardening with his grandpa. He also said that they used to eat cereal with evaporated milk and water and sugar.
Continuing on through the day...
I also got a 2 hr nap- - that rarely happens at home. Then family came over for dinner. Chicken, Steak, Pork Chops, Fish (walleye and wiper that Grandpa caught and brought with him) chips and homemade guacamole...did you know that if you leave the pit of the avocado in the guacamole it won't turn brown? Also on the menu, baked beans, bow tie pasta salad, and for dessert cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory with fresh raspberries.
My cousin invited his friend and wife and 2 little girls over. One of the girls is almost 2 and her name is Lola. She spent a lot of time sitting next to me. We were buds. It was so sweet. My cousins are great and their kids are so stinkin' cute. They are coming over tomorrow and we are going swimming.

Uploading the pics is taking some time...hopefully I will have them up tomorrow!