Monthly Archives: June 2006

The Great Divorce
By: C.S. Lewis
First Time I Read It: Summer, 2001
Number of Times I’ve Read It: Countless

Kenneth Tynan said of Lewis: “How thrilling he makes goodness seem – how tangible and radiant.” That is the essence of Lewis, in all his works. I had read several other of this works prior to reading “The Great Divorce” in the summer of 2001. But the philosophical possibilities presented in this treatise struck a cord that still causes me to gluttonously devour every word each time I open my now tattered copy. Almost every page is saturated with the ink used to underline ideas articulated in a way only Lewis can.

To write each quote here would take forever, so I’ll limit it to my favorite:

“For every attempt to see the shape of eternity except through the lens of Time destroys your knowledge of Freedom. Witness the doctrine of Predestination, which shows (truly enough) that eternal reality is not waiting for a future in which to be real; but at the price of removing Freedom which is the deeper truth of the two. And wouldn’t Universalism do the same? Ye cannot know eternal reality by a definition. Time itself, and all acts and events that fill Time, are the definition, and it must be lived. The Lord said we were gods. How long could ye bear to look (without Time’s lens) on the greatness of your own soul and the eternal reality of her choice?”

The Westing Game
Category: Book
By: Ellen Raskin
I first read it in: 6th Grade
Number of times I’ve read it: 3

Last night I was at the local Barnes & Noble, and came across a table with a sign: “Summer Reading.” My heart lit up like a firefly as I gently carressed each paperback: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, The Trumpet of the Swan, Super Fudge, Charlottes Webb, and then . . . The Westing Game.

It’s a classic mystery with intrigue & adventure. The mysterious death of an eccentric millionaire brings together an unlikely assortment of heirs who must uncover the circumstances of his death before they can claim their inheritance. Anyone who needs a good book for the summer, why don’t you try it. The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin.

I remember my first thought when they put Olivia on my tummy after I delivered her at the hospital. I thought: “Oh, she looks like herself.”

I was quite startled by this fact. Before this moment all babies looked alike it seemed to me. But Olivia didn’t look like the other babies. She looked like . . . well, she looked like herself.

About a month after we found out we were expecting, Wyatt and I had to give our “welcome to the ward” talks in sacrament meeting. I introduced us, and told the ward we were having a baby in October. Now mind you, this was in April. I think I was only like 10 or 11 weeks along. Wyatt then got up, and in made his additional comments to our introduction, stating that “apparently we’re having a girl” because I (Andrea) “just knew it.”

I had declared long before we had even considered starting our family that our first would be a girl. A declaration I stuck to throughout the pregnancy. Wyatt often teased me about this, asking how I knew. But it wasn’t a how. It just was. I don’t remember ever not knowing. I always felt a very strong connection, even as a young girl I remember knowing this. I just did.

And it was a girl. A baby girl Olivia, and she looked like herself.

Wyatt’s family came to town for the weekend. Jena & Lance drove out from Missouri, Wynn & Heidi flew in from Arizona, & Wade drove down from Idaho. The only one’s missing were Jacob & Melinda! On Friday we didn’t do much. We just hung out at Lois’s during the day, and that night Lois babysat all the grand kids while we went to dinner & a movie.

Saturday was free fishing day (no license required), so we decided to get up early and go fishing up AF canyon. Wyatt, Lance, Olivia & I were the only ones that went. The creek was pretty high still from runoff, so there weren’t many fish to be had. But it was beautiful (and I only go to take pictures anyway!)

In the afternoon we all went to the pool. All the different toys there were a real hit with the kids. Susannah even braved the big water slide by herself a couple times (once she even had to be fished out by a lifeguard!). It was fun to play with all the nieces & nephews.

On Sunday we had dinner at Jared & Velda’s house. Lois even managed to get everyone to pose for a family picture. Unfortunately my camera was dead, so we only got one shot! But it turned out fine.

It was great to have everyone in town, and a lot of fun!

Wyatt and I have been hard at work on our house the past month. While I was in Washington, Wyatt put a new roof on the house. He had a job in college roofing houses for his brother-in-law’s company. They lent us the equipment, and Wyatt and several friends and family members busted it out while I was gone (thank goodness I was gone!).

We had an old tar & gravel roof that Wyatt had to tear off before he could put down the new roof. But it looks much better! And best of all, it won’t hail gravel onto my lawn everytime it rains!

Then when I got home I went to work on the yard. I weed-eated the entire back to get ready for seeding. Wyatt’s brother, Jacob came and helped us put crown molding up in the living room, family room, and upstairs bath. Then Wyatt and I decided to finish the basement family room once & for all (Wyatt & Jared framed & sheetrocked it last fall). We painted the room a light cream color. We finished putting trim on, and blinds in the windows. We caulked, sealed & painted the crown & trim. Writing it down it doesn’t seem like much, but it took about 3 days.

Next we’re tackling the downstairs bathroom! But I think we’re going to take a break for a few days first.

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Before	After

Today Olivia and I were invited by our cousins, Anna & Jameson, to kick off the summer by going to the local pool. We went to the one by Jameson’s house in Lehi. It was so much fun! At first Olivia was intrigued by all the noise and chaos and watched the goings-on with real intent. We rode the lazy river around, & Olivia & I braved the slide, where we both got splashed & wet. Then we got out for a bit. After a nice lunch of smooshed bananas, and Jameson taking a short nap, we got back in to the lazy river. This time Olivia seemed to have the hang of this “pool” thing, and took it upon herself to SPLASH everyone around her with great enthusiasm.

Jameson & Anna

We spent the afternoon in and out of the water. The Lehi pool was very baby friendly, with several baby areas only a few inches deep. Olivia sure did have a lot of fun. Thanks to Jameson & Anna for inviting us along.

Playing in one of the swings in the baby area.