Endless Bliss

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

GO CELTICS! 2008 NBA CHAMPIONS

This blog was actually originally posted on June 2, 2008 when the 2008 NBA Finals began. Scroll down to view the outcome...

Win or lose? This Thursday, June 5th, starts the 2008 NBA Championship Finals; Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers. Byron is so "pumped" right now that his team is there to play an old rival. Some say it is a rematch to the best rivalry of all time. Last time they played in the finals together was back in 1987... GO CELTICS! (GO green team, GO! -Tiegan and Kennedy)
1987: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson

Dig those short shorts?

NBA SERIES 2008:

Game #7: Not necessary

"NA NA NA NAH, NA NA NA NAH, HEY HEY HEY,

GOOD-BYE!"

Wow! What a game! Byron is so HAPPY! (And I'm happy because he's happy!)

WHA-HOO!

GAME 6: 131-92 Celtics Win!

BOSTON CELTICS: Series 4-2

NBA Champions 2008

Kungfu Panda

Today, the girls and I went to Century 14 in Roseville to see, Dreamworks premier movie, Kungfu Panda. They have seen the promotional sculpture, of Panda, in the Galleria for weeks now. So I thought it was a no-brainer to take them to see what all the hype was about. The computer animation, brilliant colors, featured story line, and depicted asian culture all enhanced this wonderfully funny movie; not to mention, included a great talented cast. (Photo below.) The movie lasted an hour and thirty-one minutes which was not too long and held the girls' attention for the most part. (Kennedy wanted to sit on my lap for the last 20 minutes.) Any lull in the movie to storytell was quickly followed by hero vs. villian action. The girls loved it! They were thrilled to be at the theaters!

Kungfu Panda Movie Synopsis: Enthusiastic, big and a little clumsy, Po is the biggest fan of Kung Fu around--which doesn't exactly come in handy while working everyday in his family's noodle shop. Unexpectedly, chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Po's dreams become reality when he joins the world of Kung Fu and studies alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five-Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey-under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu. But before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung is headed their way, and it's up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat. Can he turn his dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master into reality? Po puts his heart-and his girth-into the task, and the unlikely hero ultimately finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths.

(Part of the cast: Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Jack Black)

Click on arrow to play video:

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My thoughtful neighbor, Andrea, who lives two doors down on my left, emailed me this list of FREE summer movie showtimes. So I thought I would pass it on to you. It started today! Doors open around 9:00 a.m. and viewing begins at 10:00 a.m.

FREE summer movies:

Location: Olympus Pointe 12520 N. Sunrise Avenue, Roseville ,CA 95661 916-772-1246

06/17/2008-06/18/2008 Rugrats the Movie (G) Nancy Drew (PG)
06/24/2008-06/25/2008 Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (G) Shrek The Third (PG)
07/01/2008-07/02/2008 Charlotte's Web (G) Flushed Away (PG)
07/08/2008-07/09/2008 Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (G) The Second Junglebook (PG)

07/15/2008-07/16/2008 Wallace and Gromit (G) Hook (PG)
07/22/2008-07/23/2008 Muppets Take Manhattan (G) Stuart Little (PG)
07/29/2008-07/30/2008 Everyone's Hero (G) Bratz (PG)
08/05/2008-08/06/2008 Adventures of Pipi Longstocking (G) Alvin & The Chipmunks (PG)

08/12/2008-08/13/2008 Doogal (G) Are We There Yet? (PG)

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope

Leisure time is limited. But somehow, somewhere in our evenings, we manage to squeeze in some time to read as a couple. We, originally, heard about "this true story" about Laura Van Ryn and Whitney Cerek on the national news back in April/May of 2006. We were instantly intrigued and shocked by this case of "mistaken identity." We first thought, "Oh, my!" That means one was buried under the wrong name. And the other in coma, being cared for by the wrong family. We are only a few chapters into the book. (And I have to tell you, we haven't yet made it through an entire chapter without tearing up as some point. In Chapter 2: We had to finish reading the chapter silently by ourselves.) As the book unfolds, we'll be back here to comment. I have quoted the "hook" below. THE HOOK: (Back cover sleeve reads as follows)

Five lives were lost in a tragic accident involving a Taylor University van, and one young woman, severely injured and comatose, was rushed to the hospital.

Five funerals were held. Families, faculty, students, and communities grieved their losses and joined in prayer and hope as the young woman, Laura Van Ryn, fought for her life in a hospital bed. The national news spread the story, and people everywhere shared their grief and the hope.

Five weeks passed for the Cerek family. Believing they had buried their daughter, the Cerek's clung to their faith and worshipped God through their tears, learning to look forward with hope to an eternal reunion with their lovely daughter, Whitney. They spent weeks of mourning and grief surrounded by loved ones, slowly moving toward healing.

Five weeks passed for the Van Ryns. Keeping a constant bedside vigil over their precious daughter, Laura, they sat and prayed and hoped. Confronted with tubes and surgeries, vital signs and healing signs, they rejoiced at each tiny advance toward recovery. Their friends and church and family members, along with a steady stream of students, celebrated with them at each sign of Laura's healing.

And then the shock!

"Okay, Laura, I would like you to write your name for me," the occupational therapist said.

W-H-I-T-N-E-Y

An event that could be seen as pure tragedy becomes a celebration of life's unfathomable gifts and mysteries.

What are you reading?

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Happy Father's Day, Daddy

"We love you as high as the sky and as deep as the sea!" -Tiegan

"Daddy, you're the BEST!" -Kennedy

"Yaayaa daa baabaa yaa maa yaayaa." -Braden

Thank you for praising me when I accomplish something that is important to me.

(Photo taken in Tahoe: South Shore)

A Daddy is a person
who is loving and kind,
And often he knows

what you have on your mind.

He's someone who listens,

suggests, and defends.

A daddy can be one

of your very best friends!

He's proud of your triumphs,

but when things go wrong,

A daddy can be patient

and helpful and strong.

In all that you do,

a daddy's love plays a part.

There's always a place for him

deep in your heart.

And each year that passes,

you're even more glad,

More grateful and proud

just to call him your daddy!

Thank you, Daddy...for listening and caring,

for giving and sharing,

but, especially, for just being you!

Thank you for chasing and playing hide and seek with me. -Tiegan
Thank you for playing catch and ball with me. -Kennedy
Thank you for wrestling with me. -Braden

Love you, Daddy!!!

Tiegan, Kennedy, and Braden

June 15, 2008

My husband...

is the BEST hands-on Daddy to our three young'ins.
loves us unconditionally.
has a very BIG heart.
is a great provider for our family.
is very attentive to our kids.
isn't afraid to cry.
always makes me laugh!
makes us happy.
is very protective of our family.
makes us all feel safe.
sacrafices so much of himself for our family.
loves to play his guitar any chance he can.
is a BIG kid himself sometimes.
is caring and loving.
is silly and goofy.
shares in the responsibilities of the kids' needs and well-being.
expresses himself through song writing the most heartfelt songs about faith, love, life, and children.

We are so blessed to have him in our lives!

LuAnn Comic: A little Father's Day humor

Dream vs. Reality

King Daddy Byron

In honor of Father's Day:

Tiegan and Kennedy: Dad's the BOSS, right MOM?

Friday, June 13, 2008

Braden Gavin, our sweet, A-N-G-E-L, boy

I'm all BOY!

[Lil' digger *Drooling *Wet kisses *Digging in the dirt *Wrestling with Daddy *Giving Mommy hugs * Throwing the ball *Grunts *Bugs his sissy's *Knocks down sister's towers](Photos taken today: June 13, 2008)

Mommy's handsome, sweet A-N-G-E-L boy.
10 months old, 27 pounds.
My secret crush.
Smothered with tons of hugs and kisses!
Happy boy!
Adorable smile!
Teething; bottom two teeth are in, top ones are cutting through.
Puts everything in his mouth; even his toes!
Crawls all over the house.
Plays and adores his sisters!
So far, an easy baby to love and care for.
Enjoys self-feeding himself with his Gerber strawberry, apple, and banana melt aways.
Pulls himself up, stands, walks along the furniture, but will not let go.
Wrestles with Daddy.
Chatter box.
Loves to play in the water.
Giggles.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Camping

Lake Francis Campgrounds

Dobbins, California

For the past several years, we have made it a point to plan camping trips with our kids. The kids all love being outdoors and exploring nature. We want them to experience and appreciate God's beauty as we did as kids. This year we were fortunate enough to also share neighboring campsites with my brother, Tim, and his beautiful family. (Tim and Lisa, you rock!) We spent three days and two nights sleeping under the stars at Lake Francis in Dobbins, California.

Friday (June 6th): The anticipation could be felt before we even left the driveway. In fact, Tiegan and Kennedy were so excited that they could hardly even sleep the night before. The Sienna was packed to the roof with camping gear. Upon arriving at the campgrounds, approximately two hours later, the girls and their cousins, Austin, Caitlyn, and Riley, were immediately on their way exploring for bugs. They collected earwigs, rollie pollies, beetles, grasshoppers, centipedes (which we encouraged to be released right back into nature), etc. That kept them busy until camp was set up and all the tents were pitched. Dinner was B-B-Q. And Tim's campfire was a perfect ending to a busy, fun-filled day. (Kids were happy that they didn't have to take a bath before bed.) Flashlights were a hit and kept them all entertained for hours.

Saturday (June 7th): Everyone was up bright and early ready to begin the day. Morning started off with a hot, delicious breakfast; bacon, eggs, potatoes, and sausages. Kids could hardly sit still long enough to eat. They were anticipating going fishing with Byron and Tim. In just a couple of hours, they caught 6 fish altogether. (We catch and release.) Austin, now 11 years old, fished alone while all four of the girls helped with reeling in the fish. Great memories and experience. After lunch, a game of wiffle ball, follow the leader, big bouncy ball, and frisbee was played. We took a long nature walk deep into the back woods along the designated trails. Hours of playing in the dirt and water kept them content. But the highlight of the day was in the evening around the campfire when each of the kids adorned themselves with glow sticks eagerly waiting to roast smores. Yummy! We adults enjoyed our campfire rendezvous after all the kids were snuggled in their sleeping bags.

Sunday (June 8th): Camp clean-up... returning home, time to pack up... back to reality. Everything fit in the van originally, why not now? Even though none of the kids wanted to leave the campgrounds, they were equally glad to be home; clean baths, no shoes. They slept so hard in their own beds. For Braden, this camping trip was a first for him... FIRST time sleeping in a tent... FIRST time outside under the stars by a campfire... FIRST time going almost all day without a nap. Braden was a TRUE camper, taking it ALL in. Happy trails until we meet again. We are already planning our next camping trip. Who wants to go?

Monday, June 9, 2008

Goodbye, Old Friend

Byron posting tonight: (On a serious note.)

Well, this is where it all began. Back in the 1980’s, I was a huge Boston Celtic’s fan; watching Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish battle, Magic Johnson, and the Los Angeles Lakers for NBA titles. Bird retired in 1992 and two years later, on Mother’s Day in 1994, I bought my best buddy for $20 outside of a Bel Air grocery store in Roseville. I named my new friend, Celtic, who was a Rottweiler-Bull Mastiff mix.

Celtic had the markings of a Rottweiler, but the size of a Bull Mastiff. As a pup, the energetic, little guy would get into EVERYTHING and was full of destruction. There were a few times, I left Celtic with Mom. He tore up all of her throw pillows that were on her couches and ate all of her candles. Once, he even got into some cough drops that were left out. Ever try to pull dried on cough drops from the carpet? Not easy, and very messy!

Celtic also loved wrestling at a very young age. When he was about three months old, playful "C" plowed into Jordan, Mom's dog, knocking her across the lawn. No matter where we were, at home or at the park, Celtic would always turn his attention to Jordan. He enjoyed wrestling with her. Getting after him about being so rough, only resulted in him barking louder and more excited running around.

Celtic loved his home in Sacramento too. The backyard had lots of shade from the fruit trees. He would literally lay under them for hours. Having fruit trees also invites critters into our yard. Ocassionally, you would see him chasing the squirrels that ran across the trees. He also caught a few opossums that were in the back yard. (None were found playing possum either.) Celtic was also sprayed by a skunk. I tried every concoction of tomato juice, vinegar, soap, and special recipes for getting rid of the smell. Nothing really worked but after a couple of months, the smell grew fainter and fainter.

In his prime, he was about three feet tall and weighed about 145lbs. He could palm a regulation sized basketball in his jaws. When playing ball, Celtic could catch a kicked soccer ball in his mouth from 15 feet away. He also loved swimming after ducks halfway across the river, about 100 feet into the middle. I debated several times whether or not to go in after him, for fear of him drowning. Celtic was always around to protect. We took him everywhere; whether it was running by the river, swimming, rides to the store in the car, outside, etc. He was the most loyal dog and faithful protector to me and my family.

As of late, my priorities changed a bit. For the last year and a half, my Mom has cared for Celtic because having three children under the age of five takes most of my time and attention. He wasn't getting the same attention that he deserved. So we tried making weekly visits to Gramma's to see Mr. C. The last year or so his gait has grown slower. His aging body wouldn't allow him to do the things he loved to do once upon a time. His walks grew shorter and his naps grew longer. We recently learned that Celtic had cancer along with several other health issues.

Lately, my family and I have spent a lot more time going by to see him. But watching him lose more and more weight (he now weighs 102 lbs.) and seeing the occasional fall when trying to even walk, we knew it was his time. So today, June 9, 2008 at 5:00 pm, after 14 years of loyal companionship, we made the decision to put, Celtic, to rest. Goodbye, Celtic.

Sharleen here posting now: (I know that was very hard for Byron to write.)

There is a little sadness in the Young household. As you now know, our beloved dog, Celtic, of 14 years was put to sleep today. His quality of life took a downhill turn and rapidly deteriorated. We could see that he was in a lot of pain. This was a heart wrenching decision for Byron to make but he/we knew it was time. Celtic lived a long, good and happy life as our family pet.

The girls knew that Celtic was sick. It was just a matter of time before we said our good-byes! They knew that he was going to go to sleep.

Tiegan: Is he going to doggie heaven, like Jordan? (Jordan was Gramma's dog.)
Mommy: Yes, exactly... Celtic is going to doggie heaven.

Celtic was a part of the family. He was the best dog you could ever want. He was loyal to the hands that loved and fed him. He was playful and always glad to see you. He loved to play ball and was usually not too far from the kids. Even more, he was a terrific guard dog. Most kept their distance, with one look at him and the sound of his bark. We'll miss Celtic. He was a great dog.