Nature's miracle: please work!

A few weeks back, I promised myself that I would blog three minutes per day. That seems so do-able. Still, I don't get it done. Why? Well, for instance, last week Brad was in Panama and Nicaragua. Usually we hold it all together pretty well while he was gone, but not this time. The washing machine died, the kitchen sink plugged up, the guest toilet handle broke, and Mack peed on the dining room  rug. Everything has been rectified except for the rug. So far I have spent $75 on "Nature's Miracle" solution, which usually takes care of the odor. I think I am going to have to spend more this time...Argh.

My last lecture revisited

I'm reading Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture" book, and find it quite interesting. At the same time, it generally strikes me as being "worldly". He seems to be a great guy; successful, happy, loving husband and father. Yet....it feels strangely empty.  

This led me to think: what would I want to include in MY last lecture?  I'll have to think about that....stay tuned.

Edit: I want to revise my earlier opinion. There are many people in this world who do their very, very best with what they have been given. Randy Pausch http://www.postgazette.com/pg/08267/914333-298.stm   was one of those people.  I'm pretty sure he faced his Maker with the words, "I have not a single bit of talent left; I used everything you gave me." (paraphrased from Erma Bombeck, humor writer that also died of cancer).  

Those of us who have been given the fullness of the gospel have an even greater motivation to live life to the fullest, to live a life filled with gratitude.

Another of those people that I have always thought did their very, very best with what he was given was Peter Popov, Adam's trombone teacher when we lived in the Dominican Republic.  He had faced tremendous problems in his life: he grew up in Communist Bulgaria, was in a plane crash where he lost the sight in one eye, he suffered the death of his wife. He came to the DR as a professional trombonist with the Dominican National Symphony, seeking a better life for him and his daughters.  When we met him, he had saved for a couple of years to get enough money to bring them to the DR to be with him. I'll never forget how excited he was when the day came that they were to arrive; he was just beside himself. We were able to meet them right away, and they were BEAUTIFUL girls: Vessela, age 19 and Jivka, age 15.

And then tragedy struck.  Just a week after they had been in country, the girls went to a disco. Some men followed them home, and when Peter tried to defend his daughters, he was stabbed to death.  

It was such a terrible catastrophe, but through it all, I couldn't help but reflect on what I knew of his life, and I just knew that he was received into the Savior's arms, with the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Hello? Hello? Is anyone home?

Nope. 

Brad is in Honduras, Adam, Marie, Spencer and Emma are at the Cummings playing Mom and Dad while Mom and Dad Cummings are away.  That leaves lil' ol' Laura and Valerie at home. Just two people.  This house isn't used to that!

Celebrating Spencer!

sweet boy
Originally uploaded by katie_wride

This is the month of Spencer, as celebrated by Valerie and anyone else who wants to join in. This is one sweet boy, topped off by his never-ending curiosity. As he told his dad, "I want to learn EVERYTHING!"

32 years ago...

Brad and Valerie Wride September 3, 1976
Originally uploaded by ValerieBW

Look at those baby faces! I wonder what we would have thought that day if we had seen where our lives were going to take us. I think we would have been pretty excited!

September already?!

Lucketts  Fair, Grandpa left (waaah!), Busch Gardens, Katie left (boo hoo!), school supply shopping, gym workouts. Ok, now I'm caught up; I can move on.

Laura started tenth grade today. Does that seem weird to anyone besides me? She was nervous of course, but came home saying it was "Fine". Whew! Fine is good.
Here is our sophomore beauty: (she was thrilled that I was taking the traditional first day of school picture)