Never confuse the person, formed in the image of God, with the evil that
is in him; because evil is but a chance misfortune, an illness, a
devilish reverie. But the very essence of the person is the image of
God, and this remains in him despite every disfigurement.

St. John of Kronstadt

This quote came through my email, and I've been chewing on it for the past few days. I think they are words to live by.

I own St. John of Kronstadt's "My Life in Christ" but I've not read it yet. I think it is time.

Reunion Time – I’m on the committee for my high school’s 15th Reunion (which reminds me, if you are CHS Class of 1990 - would you email me?). I kind of was grumbling about it, and didn’t have the right attitude going in to it and had decided to not go.

However, I finally started calling people, and have had a great time – I spoke with a guy who went on to become a professional Rodeo rider, who had been in Puyallup (I gave him a quickie lesson on pronouncing it); left a message for a guy who lives less than an hour away from me, and spoke with a friend who I’d not seen since the 10th reunion. However, my greatest blessing has been to catch up with a friend who I’d lost touch with, whose father has just passed away (may his Memory be Eternal). I felt so touched by God to be able to talk to her at this time and share sadness and memories of her dad, tell her that Eddie and his sister are doing ok after their father’s death (may his Memory be Eternal), and to find out she also may be visiting my neck of the woods. Since Eddie tends to not see the hand of God in these moments I want to share on here how much I’ve been smiling about this.

Now, I’m totally stoked to go to the reunion. I think it would be a blast to fly down with Eddie that morning, attend and fly back the next morning (we can arrange a babysitter). Eddie isn’t at all into that plan – so ideas on how to get him excited about it?

Other random thoughts

- We got sweet peas and raspberries in our CSA yesterday – the sweet peas look beautiful on my table, the berries are mostly inside our bellies.
- After Xavier complained about his apple slices being pitch brown by lunchtime (I put lemon juice on them, really) we want to know why it’s pitch black when pitch is really brown.
- Who would name a car The Armada ? Do they not know the story of the Spanish Armada?
- I got a referral check today that I don’t remember the clients. We’ve researched it and it looks like it legitimately belongs to me – so if it was your brother or sister who worked with that agent, thanks! And, this money will pay for the Reunion plan above with no additional debt!
- My mom and dad are in Peru – but got an email that they are having a wonderful time. They sent an email to my brother, sister and me that began “hey Chicas”. I don’t think my brother has recovered.
- My best friend just returned from Ireland where she saw U2 in Dublin on her birthday. I talked to her this morning and she is still on a high from the trip. And, she’ll go to the reunion with me if Eddie bags out (and even if he doesn’t – she and I were friends then and now, and she’s known Eddie almost as long as me)
- The heating and air conditioning is broken in my office – it’s like a sauna in here

Testing the new "upload photo" feature of Blogger (Elizabeth, you were right, it is new! I saw an update about it on the Blogger homepage)so I am boring you with recent scrapbook pages

First page is of my youngest son and his Pinewood Derby car. Paper from Basic Grey - title idea from KNK Club.














Second page is Cedric singing "Let it Be" in his school talent show. Paper is Memories Defined, stencils from Autumn Leaves:

Neon Tetra Babies In March, Xavier decided to spend his birthday money on a fish tank and fish. We've been through several goldfish and a molly or two, so I didn't have high hopes. I also don't interact much with them.

Anyway, Eddie came home with four Neon Tetras and Xavier with two Mollies, who lived side by side in the new tank. Apprantly, tetras are hard to breed and there are tips and tricks all over the web on how to get them to do so. I say apparantly, because somehow, we have created the optimum breeding ground and have new tetra babies all the time. Last count, we were over twenty.

The first batch, you'd have thought Eddie hatched them himself, he was so proud. He's less excited now that they still haven't turned neon so he can't give them away.

So, anyone want a tetra, or ten?