Day 57.  Ok, I took this one yesterday.  The pictures I took today didn't turn out as well as I wanted.  I wanted to include a picture of these guys at sometime anyway.  They are really cool dogs and very photogenic.  Each one has a very distinct personality, just like people.  One very serious, one laid back and one hyper.  Sounds  like my kids.  I think that is what makes people, and dogs, so great.  That no one is the same.  If the whole world was just like me, what kind of world would this be?  I try to make my part of the world as good as I can, but, I can only do so much.  It takes many different personalities and temperaments to make life fun and interesting.  In that case I must be having a great life.  I know a lot of  "different" people. 

Day 56.  I call this "le bel age" or the beautiful age.  This is Stacy's grandparents, otherwise known as Mimi and Granddaddy.  They are the most genuine people I know.  There is nothing pretentious about them.  Mimi turned 94 last week.  That means that they are now both 94 years old and have been married for 74 years.  The first time I met them Stacy and I weren't even dating.  So, that was about 28 years ago.  We had a party at work, Stacy and I worked together, and we took the left over chocolate cake to their house.  I was about to find out about Mimi's fondness for chocolate.  Granddaddy (Dugan) wanted a piece of cake but they hadn't had dinner yet so Mimi said he should wait.  He politely went on and noticed that she didn't follow.  He called out to her and asked what she was doing.  "Muffin" was the answer because her mouth was full of cake.  He went back into the kitchen, wrapped his arms around her, picked her up, and carried her out.  "If I don't get any neither do you" he said.  I was sitting on the sofa laughing so hard my side was hurting.  They have been such a stable and wonderful influence in my life.  At 94 years old, they are still beautiful.

Day 55.  What kid doesn't like Legos.  My kids love them.  Especially the boys.  It's a Christmas tradition that started 18 years ago.  They would get a new set and spend all afternoon putting it together.  Of course it started out small but has grown as the kids get older.  I went into Dugan's room one day a few years ago after he had been in there playing for a couple of hours.  He had gone through the tubs of Legos and pulled out the heads.You see, he picks out the sets by what character is in it.  Anyway, he found all the heads that weren't being used and had stacked them together on a shelf.  It was pretty creepy to see them like that.  It was like looking at a collection of shrunken heads.  So, I told him that one day I would take a picture of one of his Lego creations.  I went into his room tonight to take that picture but ended up taking this one.  I began to think of all the different hats people wear.  You know, how many jobs one person can do.  The problem is that if you have too many jobs you can't focus on the one that really needs your attention.  How many hats are you wearing these days?

Day 54.  Today is the 11th anniversary of the attacks on the world trade center and the pentagon.  Yes, I remember that day.  I remember where I was and what was happening.  I also remember where I was when the federal building in Oklahoma City was bombed.  I remember when the space shuttle exploded.  One carried out by foreign terrorists, one by American terrorists, and one a complete accident.  Does the cause of the tragedy make the event less or more tragic?  I don't think so, but evidently I don't think like others.  Anyway, tonight as I was tucking the girls into bed, I came across a little Shamu toy.  We have several different ones.  Each time I see one it reminds me of the great times we have had at Sea World.  And of course the killer whale show is a highlight.  Did you know that because of the incident where the whale drowned his trainer now the trainers don't get in the water.  How tragic that event was for her family and friends.  So now the whole show consists of the whales splashing the audience.  Yuck!  This summer we were able to go to Sea World Orlando and all Annie wanted to do was sit in the splash zone.  I made sure it was the last show we went to and by the time we were out it had started raining.  The rain washed off the whale yuck, so we were all happy.  The best thing about this little toy is that it is at home and so am I.

Day 53.  I went to a meeting today in another town.  On the way there I saw what I thought would be a great picture but I really didn't want to stop on the highway.  So, I went on thinking I would find something later.  I went on through the day and the meeting and didn't have any inspiration for my picture. Then I stepped out of my room on the way down to the van and there was my shot. Nothing spectacular but I thought it was cool. Anyway, the meeting is going good and I'm getting some good info on being a more efficient leader. Now if I can just put it into practice.

Day 52.  Dugan and Maggie celebrated their 14th birthday yesterday.  I wrote about something else that was going on, so today it's all about the twins.  I can't believe they are 14 now.  They have a very unique relationship with each other.  I hear that is common among twins, but it is cool to see it first hand.  Last night we had a lot of fun remembering things they did as they were growing up.  One of our favorites happened when they were three or four years old.  The house we lived in had a play room halfway between the downstairs and upstairs.  The opening was actually in the stairway and we secured it with a baby gate.  We would put them in there to play and lock the gate.  When they were ready to get out they would stand at the door with their little faces poking out over the gate and start calling out for us.  It was so cute to turn the corner and look up and see those faces, side by side, smiling down at us.  Side by side, that is pretty much how they have always been.  It really has been a challenge at times but it has been a joy all of the time.  They are definitely a blessing.  And next year they learn how to drive. 

Day 51.  Today was the season opener for our district's Junior Bible Quiz.  The team that Annie is on won first place.  And she was the second top quizzer.  Seven rounds and seven quiz outs.  If you are familiar with bible quiz you know that this is very good.  Our family has been involved in Junior Bible Quiz (JBQ) for about thirteen years now.  It started with Matthew then the twins and now the youngest.  She really has a knack for memorizing scripture, she just doesn't like to study.  Anyway, she did great today.  Looks like it's going to be a good season.