Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

I was watching tv last night before I went to sleep. I stopped at an interview with Diane Sawyer and a university professor. He is a father of 3 small children who is very popular at Carnegie Mellon. He is also dying of cancer. He gave a speech entitled "Last Lecture." I have 0nly seen some of the clips, but I plan to watch it very soon. (There is a link at from his site.) His book, based on the lecture, was just released this week.

He is very thought-provoking and his outlook on life (and death) is amazing....

And I thought I was having a bad day!

Grandparents' Weekend

We flew to Arizona this weekend for a little family time. I left Thursday and took a shuttle to Camp Verde. Wade flew out Friday night and drove to the Starrs. Then Aunt Bev was nice enough to drive me to Congress on Saturday. Gramma and Grampa Baker even came along for the ride. We left Sunday evening after a beautiful desert sunset. I miss it already!

It was perfect golf cart and front porch weather!

Wade also kept lizard watch in an Amish hat....

Home

As I prepare for a trip home this week, I am filled with nostalgia.

All of life is a coming home. Salesmen, secretaries, coal miners, beekeepers, sword swallowers, all of us. All the restless hearts of the world, all trying to find a way home. It's hard to describe what I felt like then. Picture yourself walking for days in the driving snow; you don't even know you're walking in circles. The heaviness of your legs in the drifts, your shouts disappearing into the wind. How small you can feel, and how far away home can be.
-Patch Adams

Concepts, like individuals, have their histories and are just as incapable of withstanding the ravages of time as are individuals. But in and through all this they retain a kind of homesickness for the scenes of their childhood.
-Soren Kierkegaard

Here are some scenes from my childhood (thanks Erika!):

Ray, Erika, and Anne Marie in front of the fireplace at the Ranch

Ray and Anne Marie

The Ranch....

Although it'll never be what it used to be, I like to think about what Maya Angelou once said, "You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it's all right."

Lions and Lambs

What is that old saying? March came in like a lion and left like a lamb? Well, not here in Denver. Yesterday it was almost 70 degrees. Wade and I enjoyed the weather downtown and walked along 16th Street Mall. We also had some beverages at our local tap house Falling Rock. Then we woke up to blowing snow which lasted most of the day.... So, actually, March came in like a lamb and a lion. We'll see how it leaves.

The good news about all the snow was that we have our taxes complete, for the most part....

Happy Spring!

Valentine's fun

We had a fantastic weekend! It started on the best holiday ever, Valentine's Day, on Thursday. (I got a red iPod shuffle!) Friday I had a birthday, and we went downtown to our favorite Italian restaurant with Wade's parents to celebrate. Saturday we prepped for our dinner party. Stephanie, Pam, and Annie came over for a great dinner and wonderful French dessert (thanks, Annie!) Sunday, I went to work for a bit and then took a nap. We pondered going to a movie, but it was snowy so we just stayed home. Today, Wade works so I went to work out and now am enjoying a quiet house before I head back to school. Hooray for long weekends!

New furniture

We got a late Christmas gift... a new sofa, chair, and ottoman. Now, more than two adults can sit down at any given time! It's amazing. You'll all have to come visit now to sit in our living room!

the new Dr. Baker

Photo courtesy of Dr. Susan Unok Marks, NAU

Photo courtesy of Dr. Susan Unok Marks, NAU

It's official! Erika has graduated for the very last time! It was the best ceremony of all of them: she walked across the stage first.

It was great to spend a snowy, holiday weekend back in Flagstaff celebrating with her. We all had a great time!

Thanks Keith, Abe, and Brett for letting us use the house! We owe you!