My Dear GBoys!

I have missed you very-very much on my 6-week trip from Colorado to California, Oregon, and Washington, so I wanted to share some of the fun stuff I've been invited to do! If you want to try a few of these things together when I see you next week, I'm all in! Hold onto your hats...because you may be surprised at all the cool adventures I've had with family and friends.

For example, we made our own Chap Stick, makeup, homemade ice cream [YUM!], and sauerkraut [I can hear you saying, "Aahh, no thanks, GGRR!"]. I even made a Garlic Braid [that's when you twist six homegrown garlic plants to look like a rope].

We went to an island to walk in the rain forest and to have a Clam + Oyster Feast [Ok...that wouldn't be your first-choice for lunch!]. Another time, we chased clams in the sand on a Sound, which is a deep arm of the ocean that creates islands/ inlets. I could imagine you two having a blast and laughing.

We went to a lady's house to buy eggs, which had been laid by non-caged chickens and to a family's farm to buy fresh, organic vegetables (no bug spray on them!). We went to a Co-Op (that's a small Community-Operated store) to get ingredients to make our own peanut butter, but we haven't gotten around to that yet. Sure hope we do!

We picked and ate wild blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, aronia (a berry for making jam) and plums [so delicious fresh off the vine]. I even picked and tasted currants (like a raisin) for the first time.

We dug in a backyard garden for fresh potatoes, beets, cabbage, tomatoes, and chard (like lettuce) for our dinner, and we ate pork and beef from some farmers who are nice to their animals. We made organic popcorn the old-fashioned way on the stovetop...not in the microwave. [Wild idea, huh?]

I know these two will be among your favorites, because they involve B-A-C-O-N! I made Mock-Rumaki (Fake Room-Ä-key), which is a baked treat, usually for parties. We used almonds tucked inside sweet dates that we wrapped in bacon. [Well, in all honesty, I know you would both grab the bacon and run away--especially if we made it the real way with liver inside!]

I am sending a pic of the fun-fun puzzle we are working on. It's making me cross-eyed, though, so I wish you Puzzle Wizards were here to help.

You already know that I got to visit GR8 for a week, so I'm sending some fun pics now. She misses you and says that she sends you trainloads of love! Aunt Mo, Uncle Kent, Minoo, Sahba, Sina, Gramar, the Davises, and all fam at the wedding are sending hugs, too.

And I saved the best ones for last: I unplugged my cell phone and laptop, just to sit still at times and listen to Jesus talking to me. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G experiences, like when we do our "10-Second Silent Prayers" --but much longer. And I've been practicing the eight names of God you helped me memorize before I left: Two names that start with F: Father and Friend. Two names that start with P: Protector and Provider. Two names that remind us to be thankful: Creator and Savior. Two names for helping us make decisions: Guide and Shepherd. Two names that include "of the world": Light of the World and Joy to the World. Thanks, Dudes! Be thinking of your two new favorite names, so we can add them to our list in August.

C U soon to hear much more about all you two have been doing with your mom, dad, and friends this summer. You know that you are always in my prayers. Check out the deer (below) that eats apples off our trees each night--usually he stands on his hind legs to grab them!

LOVE U SO,

GGRR