What??!

Ok, so we have been living here in this little town of Paradise for 2 years now. We are pretty much used to how different it is from LA. However, every once in a while, I still experience things that trip me out. Let me illustrate. A couple of days ago, I was driving down to Chico and there are a lot of fields on the way. All of a sudden, I saw a cow running down the side of the highway with another cow behind the fence, where they are supposed to be, chasing after her--probably trying to help her come back to the herd. It kind of caught me off guard to see that, so I said a little prayer to help the cow get back to the herd safely. Then, on my way back out of Chico is when I saw what I have never seen before. There was a police car blocking the highway with some traffic backed up behind it. Yes, I have seen a million and one traffic jams in my lifetime, but never have I seen a traffic jam with a loose cow running around and a cowboy on a horse trying to lasso it! Crazy! It felt surreal. Anyway, I never thought that I would have a prayer answered by a cowboy on a horse. :)

Worms

So today it was pouring rain and I was getting the girls ready to go grocery shopping. On our way out, Melia noticed 3 worms floating in a puddle by our door. They were still alive and trying to wiggle their way out. Melia immediately wanted to help them. Melia: "We need to get the worms out of the water because they don't like water." Against my more practical instincts that would tell me that it was more important to just get out of the rain and get to the car, I let her go ahead. I admit it--I am a sucker for all animals in need--great and small. So she tried and tried to get them out of the water unsuccessfully as it continued to rain on us. I tried to speed the process along by grabbing a pen and trying to fish them out myself, but to no avail. I finally told her that we just needed to go. Melia: "But what about the worms, mommy? They need help." Mommy: "I know sweetie, but we just don't have time to help them right now. We need to go." Melia: "Can we help them when we come back?" Well, I know and you know that they would probably not make it that long, but how could I say no to this sweet little girl wanting to help the worms? So I told her we could try if we had time. Up to the garage we went to finally get loaded in the car when what should we happen upon? Another worm in need. So as I got Naiya buckled up in the car, Melia actually got this one out of the puddle and put him on the floor of the garage. Melia (to the worm): "There you go little guy. It's nice and dry in here and this can be your new home forever and ever." As we drove to the store, Melia was so happy that she was able to help the worm and couldn't stop talking about how we needed to hurry and go back home so we could help the worm's mommy, daddy and sister, who were still in the other puddle by our door. She told the check out lady at the store all about how she saved the worm too. I asked her if she wanted to see a picture of her new baby cousin, Jacob, when we got home and she said, "Well, maybe after we help the worms." So when we came home, I let her go to work on helping the worms while I put away the groceries. There were only 2 left in there when we got back. I guess the sister managed to escape or floated down the stream. Anyway, Melia managed to get both worms out and on to dry land. One of them was still alive (barely) and the other had clearly gone to meet his maker. However, she watched over both of them and kept checking on them throughout the afternoon. The one worm managed to crawl away and the other is still lying in the exact same spot. Melia has accepted the fact that he died, but is comforted by the assurance that, if it's not raining tomorrow, we can dig a little hole and bury him. In her prayer before she went to bed, she let God know about her burial plans for the worm. :) Having kids makes me understand more and more why the scriptures tell us to be like little children.

Happy Easter!

We had a low key, but fun Easter this year. We spent the entire day on Sunday in our jammies at home. We watched conference, had a little Family Home Evening about Jesus and the resurrection, painted Easter eggs, had a hunt, made Easter bunny smores, and just hung out and enjoyed our little family. :)


Melia "reading" a book to Naiya from their Easter baskets.


Melia met the Easter bunny at the park and was totally enchanted by him.


You can't really see in this picture, but Bo has a green bean in his mouth and is feeding Naiya "birdie style". It was totally cute!


Naiya and Daddy ready for the egg hunt!


The spoils from her conquest.