The worm has turned

We have sold my beloved Seinna and given away our beloved Shaggy. I loved the car more that the pig, but it stands to be mentioned. Goodbye to plenty of room to fit groceries and/or luggage. Goodbye to a place for stashing treats in the armrest. Goodbye to all the closing compartments clearly designed by a woman. Goodbye to having the car I really want. We now have a Pilot. It is beautiful. And, appearantly I look "hot" in it. That is what Roy told me. I had to put one of the seats down to fit the stuff we needed for an over-nighter in Midway. LAME. I am still coming to grips with my loss (& gain I guess). To help me get over this change, try not to mention it in the future. I am working on having a positive attitude. However, I would like to send a long letter to Honda and ask them what they have against convenience and closable storage areas. They would probably write back and tell me that I sound like the kind of person who would like a mini van. To end on a happy note, Shaggy doesn't have to have his ear bit and bleeding anymore by Scooby.

wow what a cave thing

We had a great adventure this afternoon. We went to a cave that had crystal clear water in it.  It was the first cool water we have felt since we got here.  It was heaven!  We followed a narrow corridor into another chamber where the water was about 15' deep.  I have never seen such clear water.  It was so clear that it was hard to tell where the surface was when we first got in.  It was a nice way to cool off after a hot day.  

Grandma and Grandpa Boren

My lesson in Gospel Doctrine this week is about the Kirtland Saints and the sacrifices they made to build the temple. I decided that I would talk also about modern day members and the sacrifices made to attend the temple. I asked Mom to send me Grandma and Grandpa's story, because although I knew the basic outline I was hazey on some details and I thought it would be a good story to have written down. It is really touching and I wanted to to share it with you all.


Mama and Daddy joined the Church when they were young adults and met at church. They eventually got married, even though Mama’s family was against it. They were very active in the Church and by the time they had three kids, they wanted to be sealed in the temple. There were no temples in South America at the time, so they sold some of their belongings, rented their house and booked a passage on a freightliner from Buenos Aires to New York City. I was three years old.

As a side note, Daddy was a CPA and doing very well in Argentina. They lived in a beautiful 2 story brick house, Mama had several fur coats, jewels, season tickets to the opera, a maid, etc. There was a least one maid—I remember Maruja, the maid that we had when we left.

Our trip was over Christmas, because my earliest memory is of receiving from the ship crew a Christmas present. They gave Hugo, Sylvia and me each a little model of a boat. I remember mine falling over board. I also remember seeing flying fish. We arrived in NYC sometime the first part of January 1952.

From NYC we took a train to Salt Lake City. We were sealed in the SL temple. There is an article with a picture of us in the Deseret News (or maybe the Church News) about the whole thing.

I’m not sure if Daddy bought a car or how we got to Mesa, Arizona—but that’s where we ended up. Mama and Daddy had a lot of good friends there that had been missionaries in Argentina, including the one that baptized Mama. The plan was to earn enough money to go back to family and friends in Argentina (that’s why they didn’t sell their house).

Daddy couldn’t speak English and so he couldn’t work as a CPA. In those days, there weren’t many people in the states that spoke Spanish, like there are today. We were definitely in the minority. He ended up driving a tractor in the cotton fields that were owned by one of his friends. A few months after we arrived, Nelson was born (April 30) and not long after that Mama got polio. It was a horrible time for my parents. Pretty much alone (without family—Mama was very close to her 5 sisters and her parents and that was a horrible sacrifice for her. In fact, I have often thought that it was so traumatic to her that it contributed to her depression) in a foreign country, they didn’t speak the language, they were dirt poor (something they were not used to), Mama deathly ill (in fact they pulled all her teeth, she was 32 and wearing false teeth-- and Daddy had to learn how to do therapy to help her walk again) and seemingly stuck in a hopeless situation. But I never heard them complain about their decision because being sealed was so important to them.

It didn’t end there. When Nelson was two years old, a neighboring teenager throwing dirt clods with friends threw one that hit Nelson in the eye. I was little, but I am sure it was a medical expense nightmare and worry (no Medicaid back then either). Nelson eventually lost all his sight in that eye. On another occasion that I remember, Daddy was given a job as a bookkeeper or something at a car dealership in Tempe (it was called Dana Bros.). Anyway, because his English was not yet good enough they fired him. He didn’t have the courage to tell Mama, because he thought it work break her heart and he didn’t know what he was going to do. So Mama would fix him lunch and he would take it like he was going to work and then sit in the park all day trying to figure out what to do next. (no welfare, food stamps or unemployment back then either—is that a clue as to why I get so frustrated with today’s generation always complaining).

I don’t know how in the world they saved enough money, but in 1954 or 1955 (I need to check on the date) we all went back to Argentina. Daddy got a good job in downtown Buenos Aires. One day however, civil war broke out—they ousted Juan Peron from the presidency and there was shooting and bombing in the capital. Well, Daddy was right in the middle of that mess and I remember Mama so worried. We went to grandma’s house (mama’s moms house) and listened on the radio. Daddy arrived there very late at night with horror stories of the killing and dead bodies he had seen. I think it was that horror that made then decide it was better to return to the states and raise their family there. We went back to Mesa after being in Argentina only 9 months. It wasn’t until 1957 or so until Daddy got a job as a CPA. All those years of struggle and suffering because they wanted the blessings of the temple for their family. The greatest thing I learned from Mama and Daddy is their love for the Lord no matter what is going on. They never complained about making the decision to sacrifice for temple blessings. It was an incredible sacrifice.

Free Guinea Pig with cage available!

Story:

This is Shaggy. His "friend" Scooby is the alfa-male. Scooby must have missed me while I was in France, because he has started biting Shaggy. Last week, Shaggy had a big bloody bite on his ear. I seperated them for a day, but Scooby did it again when I put them back together. Shaggy makes a scared chattering teeth sound around Scooby. Poor poor Shaggy now has an ear deformity. Poor poor me that I have to clean 2 cages now. We need to get rid of one of them. We decided on Shaggy, because he never bites and "we already had a black one". Any of you chicken-lovers want a cute furry loveable black guinea pig?

Sacre Ceur (sp?) with all the other tourist. However, we climbed over 300 steps to the bell tower, where there were only 6 people.

Proof that we were in Paris. It was fun.

Our cubscout troup picking up trash. What a motley crew! I love 'um though.

Andrew is still at it. I am proud of him for sticking with it, even though I am making him stick with it.

Add your initials to what you have done...

1. Started your own blog (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR)
2. Slept under the stars (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
3. Played in a band (EDH, ALJ)
4. Visited Hawaii (the airport counts, right?) (D/M, EDH, RDR, ALJ)
5. Watched a meteor shower (D/M, RDR, ALJ)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
7. Been to Disneyland (D/M, EDH, RDR. MDR, ALJ)
8. Climbed a mountain (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
9. Held a praying mantis (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
10. Sang a solo (EDH, RDR, MDR)
11. Bungee jumped (MDR)
12. Visited Paris (D/M, ALJ)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (MDR)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (D/M, EDH, MDR, ALJ)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (D/M, ALJ)
20. Slept on an overnight train (ALJ)
21. Had a pillow fight (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
22. Hitch hiked (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR)
24. Built a snow fort (D/M, RDR, MDR)
25. Held a lamb (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR)
26. Gone skinny dipping (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (D/M, MDR, ALJ)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
31. Hit a home run. (EDH, RDR, MDR)
32. Been on a cruise (D/M, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (ALJ)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
35. Seen an Amish community (ALJ)
36. Taught yourself a new language (D/M, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (D/M, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (D/M, RDR, ALJ)
39. Gone rock climbing (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (D/M, RDR)
41. Sung karaoke (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (D/M, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (MDR)
44. Visited Africa (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (D/M, EDH, MDR, ALJ)
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (RDR, ALJ)
48. Gone deep sea fishing (D/M)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (ALJ)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
52. Kissed in the rain (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
53. Played in the mud (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (D/M, EDH, MDR)
58. Taken a martial arts class (D/M, MDR)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen (D/M, EDH, RDR)
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (RDR)
62. Gone whale watching (D/M)
63. Got flowers for no reason (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
65. Gone sky diving (MDR)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (D/M)
67. Bounced a check (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial (D/M, EDH, ALJ)
71. Eaten Caviar (D/M, RDR, ALJ)
72. Pieced a quilt (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
73. Stood in Times Square (D/M, EDH, RDR, ALJ)
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (RDR, MDR)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (ALJ)
77. Broken a bone (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican (ALJ)
82. Bought a brand new car (D/M, ALJ)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (D/M, EDH, MDR, ALJ)
85. Read the entire Bible (D/M)
86. Visited the White House (D/M, EDH, ALJ)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (D/M, EDH, MDR)
88. Had chickenpox (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
89. Saved someone’s life (with others at the hospital)
90. Sat on a jury (D/M)
91. Met someone famous (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
92. Joined a book club (D/M, EDH, MDR, ALJ)
93. Lost a loved one (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
94. Had a baby (M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
95. Seen the Alamo in person (ALJ)
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
97. Been involved in a law suit (D/M, RDR, MDR)
98. Owned a cell phone (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
99. Been stung by a bee (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
100. Made amends with someone who offended you (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
101. Flew in a small Cessna plan with just you and the pilot (D/M, RDR, MDR)
102. Ran out of gas (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
103. Eaten fried okra (D/M, RDR, MDR)
104. Swam in the Caribbean Sea (D/M, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
105. Peed in a swimming pool (hasn't everyone?) (EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
106. Rented a beach house (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
107. Hosted an exchange student
108. Been a Secret Santa to a family in need (D/M, EDH, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
109. Worked on a political campaign (EDH, RDR, ALJ)
110. Coached a sports team (D/M, MDR)
111. Gone kayaking in the ocean (D/M)
112. Been on a nationally-televised game show
113. Been stung by a scorpion
114. Served a full-time church mission (D, RDR, MDR, ALJ)
115. Climb Kilimanjaro (D, EDH)
116. Scuba WW2 wrecks in Chuuk lagoon (D/M)

D/M = Dad/Mom
EDH = Emily
RDR =Renee
MDR = Michelle
ALJ = Lisa

5K

Here are Jen and Michelle in all their glory at the 5K in Salt Lake City. I thought it was pretty great and I think it would be fun if we all did it together next year - there were lots of kids running the race, so maybe some of the older kids could come with us! Great job Jen and Michelle!!!

I thought these were so clever!

Somebody had a lot of fun making these...

The trumpeter

Just in case you didn't see this video that Dad has been trying to show us all - I thought I would post it...this little girl is pretty amazing!


You will need to push pause on Dad's music at the sidebar...

ILSILENZIOA.RIEU.wmv

Here is a video clip that is inspiring.  I hope you can make it work.

ILSILENZIOA.RIEU.wmv

Saturday I went with a friend looking for this cave.  I bought me a headlamp and we headed down.  It was hot and stuffy but really interesting.  I got to a small hole that was just big enough to shimmy through without my pack.  It emptied into a huge cavern.  My friend was to rotund to get through.  I came out absolutely filthy from head to toe and soaking wet from sweat.  When ever I hike here in Guam I carry a small hand towel to keep the sweat out of my eyes.  I didn't know I could sweat that much.  I have a book on Guam's caves that I am going to work my way through.  Evidently there are hundreds here on the island.  The question still remains; when am I going to start acting like my age?  Never I hope!

Mom has finished another one.  She just keeps those little hands going while we watch "American Idol" (which stinks this year) or Survivor which also stinks, but not so bad.