Sunday, September 21, 2008

The Zoo

We took a trip to the zoo with Kahlen and Brylie. I thought he might sleep through the entire trip but he woke up just in time for the petting zoo.

Here is my little goat groomer!




This is the first time Collin has really been interactive with the animals at the petting zoo. I don't think we have been to the zoo since he started walking.All the kids had so much fun it was hard to drag them out!





After the petting zoo we rode the train and ate some pretzels!



I was so impressed that Collin was able to put coins into the coin slots all by himself. The first couple tries were a little sloppy but once he got the hang of it there was no stopping him.That has to be some kind of fine motor skill achievement-I knew he was brilliant!!
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1 comment:

  1. Mackenzie's Forever FamilySeptember 23, 2008 at 5:45 AM

    G-Fest is right around the corner. Are you excited yet? Can't wait to meet y'all.

    Megan and Mackenzie

    ReplyDelete

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Guatoberfest Cruise 2009

My soapbox about the Advent Conspiracy

I came across this video on another blog. I have to admit I only looked at it for entertainment value. I assumed with a title like that, it had to be some wacko conspiracy theory and who doesn't need a good laugh. Suprisingly enough it really touched me and made me think. It didn't grab my interest because of it's religious value, because that's not really my thing. I am not the type of person that flaunts religion or believes in pushing your beliefs onto others. It touched me because of it's human value and because it shows me how quickly I forget.

When we were in Guatemala it was truly a life changing experience for a myriad of reasons, only one of which was bringing home a baby! We saw poverty that we could never imagine in this country. I remember thinking when I was there that despite all of the stress of the situation, I was more at peace than I had ever felt in my life. Among other things, there was no pressure to have more...there was nothing to have. People just lived their lives. Families worked together, lived together in cramped housing-if they had a roof over their heads at all-and they were happy! We were forced to enjoy eachother without our "creature comforts" and I loved it. I now remember hoping that once we got home, I would never lose that idea that we don't really need much at all. I realized our society makes us think we need more but we really don't. And after watching the video it makes me realize that I have failed miserably.


I had made up my mind that in order to honor my new found attitude and our sons heritage, we would sponsor a Guatemalan family every year so that they could have food and heat and their children could go to school-things we take for granted on a daily basis. For some reason I can never seem to find the money to do that- BUT- I can find the money to buy coffee every day, sometimes several times a day, Collin will see a room full of gifts on Christmas morning, I can go out to eat, I can do whatever I want for the most part. My priorities have gone right back to where they were before I experienced Guatemala and it makes me sad. That is the reason that I am posting the video in a permenant spot on the blog, so that I am constantly reminded, not only during Christmas but all year to give PRESENCE to my friends and family not PRESENTS and to give back to something that I feel very strongly about. I don't write this to push Guatemalan charity or any charity but to encourage anyone reading this to slow down and take a look at your life and see what means the most to you and see where it takes you.

Advent Conspiracy