Joey-Natalie-Slade-Naomi

This is us with Sagar. We love her and are going to miss her because she is moving to California. She mentions all the time in conversation how important karma is. Well, Joey and I must have good karma because she was so sweet. She gave us her new $600 couch for free. We were blown away. I really love our new couch and can't believe she gave it to us.

3 comments:

Noell said...: Yay, I am so glad that you have gotten back to posting. I was missing seeing how my Natalie was doing esspecially after all the time I got to spend with Alise last month. What a beautiful place you found to live! I esspecially love the entry and the new couch!! Your entry about sharing the gospel with your friend made me think of the woman who shared our campfire in Hana; sure miss you girl. I am so happy to see you two loving life together and making the most of it! Much love ~ The Larsens; April 8, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Nichole said...: Nat and Joey...I miss you :(; April 9, 2009 at 8:19 AM
The Allens said...: I love your new couch!! That is so fun. You and Joey are good missionaries yourselves. That's awesome to have a great neighbor she sounds so nice. We do miss you guys!!; April 9, 2009 at 10:12 AM

"Beautiful Like the Darkness Between Fireflies"

Every evening on Richmond's boulevard, our front yard, between the hours of 7:oopm & 8:30pm, the sidewalks are filled with the magical glow of fireflies. There are so many that it is almost as if walking in a fairy-tale. Joey and I try to go on a walk every night at this time and we just watch and enjoy the glow. It is fascinating. I feel like a child again. Last night we were sitting on the couch and Joey caught my eyes following a flying bug. Joey assured me it was just a moth, when suddenly it lit up and glowed! It was a firefly in our house! It must be good luck.

WHALES!

I love whales. Why? Christmas 2006 we woke up to sunshine and glassy water on the west side of Maui. I don't even remember opening presents that morning. We were out on the boat as a family and ready for a Christmas packed with tropical adventure. I was wakeboarding when I noticed that everyone on the boat had become disinterested in me and were anxiously looking to my left. They signaled that they were going to drop me. I thought I was left for the sharks and was less than calm until finally they turned to pick me up. It was a family of whales they had spotted. We watched as they sun bathed on the surface, a mother, a calf, and an escort. I think it was my dad who jumped in the water first. Then several of my siblings followed with their snorkles and soon the adrenaline was pumping as we were swimming with the whales! We were screaming and scared and so excited. I have never experienced anything more thrilling. The calf kept trying to swim closer to us, and he was easily bigger than a car! At one point the escort was about 30 feet under us and we starred him in the eye. You could see every detail. Breathless is the only word to describe it.