I found this picture on the Mother Earth News website. About two years ago I had to give up cow's milk because of sinus problems. Goat's milk has been my new best friend. I love the cheese and the ice cream. It will probably taste funny to you if you drink cow's milk all the time, but if you don't, you can't really tell the difference. I was recently thinking about getting a goat, but quickly realized that I would have to milk it everyday. Touching the netherparts of a goat everyday is not worth the money I would save by having one. I may feel differently someday though.

Paul and I are considering getting ourselves snowshoes for Christmas. We already have an annual pass to Mt. Ranier. It's something that we enjoy doing together.

Now reading:

Light from Heaven, Jan Karon

My mom just got this book and she's LETTING ME READ IT FIRST (what a selfless lady), but I have been instructed to finish it before thanksgiving break. This is Jan Karon's final book in the series. Never fear, in 2007 she will start a "father tim" series. I have read the Mitford series about four times and it gets better every time. I'm really not one for Christian books because many of them are done soooooo badly, but Jan Karon has a real depth. I see new things in her work each time I read the series.

Two funny quotes from my classroom:

"Teacher, you know what I love about America?"
"What do you love about America?"
"I love that there's no quicksand."

and-

"Teacher, I'm in love with _______, it's kind of like he dug a hole in my heart and burried himself in it."

Paradise Lodge, Mt. Ranier

I thought this was really cute. This parent wanted to make sure I got her note!

I have a question, when you look at my blog does my profile show up at the bottom of the page? Leave a comment or email me, please.

When I cut and pasted this from our local newspaper, The Chronicle, it didn't come out quite right, but you can get the point. My brother, Kyle, is in the newspaper!

Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Youth program raises money, starving themselves so that others may eat
By Aaron VanTuyl
avantuyl@chronline.com

Leaders from three local youth groups got together Monday morning at the headquarters of Love In the Name of Christ in Chehalis, to hand over hard-earned donation checks.The money was raised through World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine program, and on the receiving end were the Lewis County Food Bank, the Mineral fire department and the Salvation Army. The youths involved took pledges from friends and family members, sponsoring them in a 30-hour fast. Most of the money raised goes to World Vision, a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping impoverished children and communities worldwide. Love INC works with World Vision, taking 25 percent of the total donations raised in its service area and distributing it to organizations in the community. Youth leaders Kyle Tupper (Jackson Prairie Assembly of God), Jim Scott (Oakview Church) and Jennifer Rush (Centralia Bible Evangelical Free Church) were on hand to present a check to Ron Wehnau, pastor-administrator for the Centralia corps of the Salvation Army.Tupper and Scott’s groups held their famine back in April, working with the Shoestring Valley Community Church and staying at the Jackson Prairie building. During the 30-hour period, the youths performed service projects in the community to keep their mind off the hunger.“We thought it was important to do stuff right here in the community,” said Tupper. Tupper and Scott’s group also held a scavenger hunt during its fast, gathering certain types of canned food according to a list. This activity brought in about $646 worth of food for the Lewis County Food Bank. Bush said her group held a car wash during its fast, and raised another $700 on top of its donations.“Our kids worked hard,” she said. Among the three groups, $3,695 was sent to World Vision.“Anyone can make a big difference,” said Scott. “We spend thousands of dollars on stupid stuff. If we were to spend $30 a month, we can save a kid’s life.”World Vision raised $1.3 million, nationwide, last year with the 30 Hour Famine program.The Centralia Corps of the Salvation Army received $452.64 from Love INC and the youth groups. Wehnau said the Centralia branch had about $10,000 in applications for help during the month of November, but only around $600 to spend on helping those people.“The poor in Lewis County are very easily our next-door neighbors, who we don’t even realize,” he said. “Gas prices and food prices going up really put a pinch on people with fixed incomes,” said Carol Druckman, Love INC’s program director.Druckman is working to recruit more local churches to the 30 Hour Famine program.“This year, we hope all 97 churches (in Lewis County) do this,” she said.

These guys are saying, "We saved our wives from lives of boredom."

Paul and I went to Paradise on Mt. Ranier yesterday. We brought along some hot apple cider.