Joe's Writing Contest Entry

Joe made another entry to the writing contest this year, and just like last year, he won his grade level. Thought you would all be interested in his entry.

My Most Prized Possession
Sitting at my desk, I delicately hold my mostprized possession—a small gold chain that oncebelonged to my grandmother. Light observationof the chain leads to close examination, andsmall details of the chain soon become apparent.The way the chain shimmers slightly from thelamp above me, the intricate weaving of the goldlinks that form the chain, and the small engravingpermanently etched on the clasp all becomevisible.
These details soon yield thought, which thenleads to memories. These thoughts are the treasuredmemories of my grandmother: the smells ofher home-cooking, the gentle sounds of hervoice, and the shine of her carefully pamperedhair all linger in my mind. It is at this momentthat I realize that the chain simply serves as areminder of times past: a carrier of what is trulymy most prized possession—my memories.
Joe Laverty GR 8Menwith Hill EHS, England

Some of Mark's artwork

Happy Birthday Pat and Pam!

Hope you had a good birthday and a good year on the way. I love you guys!

Amsterdam

Make a Smilebox photobook

Random Stuff

First of all, Donna - the whole chip adventure - ick - you're a better consumer than I am. I think it's really cool, though, the things that you do with the kids - I need to be more mindful about having small adventures with my guys.

Jonathan is gainfully employed and actually working an enormous number of hours. He is working for Gamer Doc - a game store that just opened. He is in the Jonathan version of heaven right now...

It's been a long time coming, but Tyler is now an Eagle Scout - he passed his last Board of Review with the District. We'll have his ceremony in the spring, but he can officially call himself and Eagle.

My job is going well, but Lent and Confirmation are wearing me out...

Also, I have decided I have got to stop using the words 'I think we should', as I have now completely filled up what is supposed to be my slower down time - summer - with a summer camp proposal. So now for the summer I will be directing a program with 45 kids each week, 6 employees and a $50,000 budget. Right now I am in the midst of enormous amounts of paperwork to get our provisional state license.

Well, nothing too exciting, but nothing traumatic either - and I think that's a good thing!

Blessings

Pam

Chips and Dip Anyone?

The big potato chip (crisps) company here is Walker's. They are currently running something similar to M&M's vote for your favorite color campaign. In this case, it's vote for your favorite flavor. There are 6 to choose from, so Joe and I went out this morning and picked them up. Here are the choices: Builder's Breakfast, Chilli & Chocolate, Fish & Chips, Onion Bhaji, Crispy Duck & Hoisen, and Cajun Squirrel.

We made it through all 6, but it wasn't easy. Pretty different from Barbeque and Sour Cream and Onion. Most, including the Cajun Squirrel, were, well... nasty. No other way to describe it. But, proving nasty is in the taste of the taster, Joe liked Fish & Chips - I gagged. I liked Onion Bhaji, Joe almost spit it out. Julie wouldn't even try them, but she is thinking about foisting them on unsuspecting friends. Rick wants to send them to you all. So if he does - Bon Appetit!