This is an awesome book. I liked it better than Kite Runner. I learned a lot about Afghanistan and it's history from both Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. A Thousand Splendid Suns focuses more on women - relationships between women, including mothers and daughters. And while a lot of the story is sad, there is also a prevailing feeling of hope.
We participated in a classic Utah tradition by making the trek up to Lagoon last weekend, or as Eli likes to call it, "Magoons." We took the kids last year also, but before that I think the last time I was at lagoon was ninth grade lagoon day. And I admit, it was not quite as white-trash as I remember. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised. We had a great time. I won't make fun of any of you (Angie...) for having season passes. We spent most the day in kiddie-land, but my sister and I decided for old-times we needed to go on Colossus. It did me in. I was still feeling yucky the next day. The classic lagoon moment was when I was standing in line and noticed the couple behind me had matching hot pink shirts on. His shirt said, "I'm hers," and her shirt said, "he's mine." Now that's the lagoon I remember.
In keeping with the prepardness theme, I went to the welfare square cannery this week. I have to tell you, I love the cannery. If you've never been, you should go. You can just show up, you don't need an appointment. So I went down with my mom and my mother-in-law (incidently, two of the most prepared, organized women I know). It's great, you just go into this huge warehouse and get the big bags of whatever you are going to can - wheat, rice, oats, etc... and bring them to your "station." Then you fill up your cans and seal them with this really cool machine (that's my favorite part). It's fun and it really doesn't take very long to get a lot done. Plus it makes you feel industrious, domestic, obedient, prepared...I'm not sure what the word is, put you feel good. And I think the cans are convenient because I keep them in my basement and just bring one up at a time to use. So that's my plug for the cannery. And by the way, I did make some wheat bread last week. My neighbor just bought a wheat grinder so we tried it out. The bread turned out good. The good news is maybe I will use that bucket of wheat I bought!
So I'm reading the fifth book in a series called "The Great and Terrible" by Chris Stewart, and it's pretty intense. I guess you could say it's a book about the end of the world. The series actually starts in pre-mortal life and follows several characters from the "war in heaven" to the "last days." When my mother-in-law told me about the series, I must admit, I thought it sounded a litte hokey. But I decided to read them anyway and they are really good books. If nothing else, they make you think. It gives you kind of an interesting perspective on life. It has also made me panic a little about food storage and being prepared. So last week I bought my first bucket of wheat, I feel like a true mormon mother. I have a long way to go. This quote by Pres. Ezra Taft Benson kind of puts it in perspective - “The revelation to store food may be as essential to our temporal salvation today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah.” So lets all get on the ark and remember "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."
Happy Birthday Eli! Eli turned four last week and it was an awesome day. I must say, it is so fun when your kid is old enough to understand birthdays, and get all excited for the "big day". I must be old, because I was way more excited for Eli's birthday then my own this year. Eli woke up early on his birthday, came into our room and tapped Blair on the shoulder (we were still asleep) and asked, "is it my birthday?" We took Eli and his cousins to Classic Skating. They had a blast on all the bouncing things. We also had a party with family that night. "Aunt" Tracy made Eli an awesome R2D2 cake (that was his request). And everyone spoiled him with lots of fun toys. Eli is an amazing kid, and I am lucky to be his mom.
Eli also "graduated" from preschool this week. He did a great job in the program. Here is a picture of Eli and his teacher.
I wanted to let you all know that our LIVE RICH team was a huge success. The race was awesome. There were about 50 people who ran on our team in honor of Rich, including several who flew in from out of town to race. We raised about $30,000 for cancer research! How awesome is that? There are so many good people in this world. Thank you to everyone who donated.
Rich had planned to go to the race and be at the finish line to greet the LIVE RICH team, but unfortunately it was the night before the race that he went to the hospital with pneumonia. But saturday my whole family went straight up to the hospital after the race and we were able to tell Rich all about it. He was so excited to hear all the details. I really think he hung on for the race.
Rich was and is an inspiration to me and has taught me through his example what it means to "live rich." 
Richard Kimball Lloyd, a loving and gifted husband, father, brother, son, and friend returned to his Heavenly Father on Friday, April 25, 2008, after a courageous and inspiring battle with brain cancer. Rich was born July 25, l972, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Kimball and Elaine Lloyd. He graduated from Skyline High School and the University of Utah, where he gave his class commencement address in 1996. He met his sweetheart, Marianne Monson, on a study abroad program in Jerusalem in 1994. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 20, 1997, and were blessed with three wonderful sons, David (8), James (6), and Joshua (3). Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Boston, where Rich attended Harvard Business School. After graduating with honors in 1999, Rich and Marianne moved to Austin, Texas, where Rich worked for Dell. In 2006, Rich left his position as Director of Global Marketing at Dell to begin his dream job as President and Chief Operating Officer of Peruvian Connection in Tonganoxie, Kansas. Everywhere they lived, Rich and Marianne easily made life-long friends who have continued to love and support them throughout this difficult year. Rich certainly lived his own creed: "Life is about people, not about things." His recent battle with cancer taught us what it means to "Live Rich." Rich loved his service as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Trinidad and Tobago from 1991-1993. He was a dedicated member of the church throughout his life, serving as elders quorum president, early morning seminary teacher, and most recently, as a member of the High Council of the Lenexa, Kansas Stake. He cherished his time spent working with the youth of the church and was always a missionary and ambassador of the gospel. Rich was a talented pianist, often composing and arranging musical numbers that brought great joy and inspiration to many. His love of life and valiant testimony were reflected in his spirited music. Rich also loved sports and passed this passion on to his sons. One of his greatest joys was playing ball with his boys. He was an avid University of Utah fan, but also learned to love the Boston Red Sox, Texas Longhorns, and Kansas Jayhawks. Unquestionably, Rich's greatest passion in life was loving and serving his family and his Savior.
