One, Two, Three, Like a Bird I Sing

I've got a few things to blog about tonight. As I am wont to do (Dad, that "wont" was for you and a reference to D&C 127), here's a numbered list:

1. Our latest Netflix selection was "God Grew Tired of Us," a documentary about the Lost Boys of Sudan. I didn't know their story that well so I was intrigued by the subject. Jen and I both watched it and both of us really liked it. It was an eye opener for me -- not only as a bit of a history lesson, but the reaffirmation that all the "stuff" we've got here in America doesn't always amount to happiness. The subjects of the movie made the comment a few times that all Americans do is work work work -- there isn't any time left for family. There were a few funny scenes, especially right after these Sudanese people arrived in America. There first experiences with escalators, light fixtures, airplanes and airplane bathrooms, etc., were very funny. Check it out.
2. I did a first today: I started a project, did 3/4 of it, and then started over. Ever since I xeriscaped my side yard, I've had a dirt pathway leading to the backyard. I found 20 or so 7x14" pavers in my backyard and got some more from Jen's dad and decided to make the paver pathway. I built a retaining wall, kinda leveled the pathway, put down landscape fabric, staked in the edging, poured and leveled 5 bags of sand, and started laying pavers. After doing that much, I stepped back and wasn't happy at all. The whole thing was curved! It was disgusting! So I pulled out all the pavers. Next week I'll remove the sand and re-lay the edging. That was where my problem was. Ugh. What a waste of an afternoon.
3. Mother's Day is on Sunday and I've got a couple of great ones in my life: my own mother and the woman I married in Oct. 2001, who is now the mother to my adorable three daughters. I was lucky to have my mother. She's pretty amazing: she had a kid nearly every 2 years from 1970 to 1995, giving us a total of 11; she taught me seminary while I was in high school; she taught me some pretty invaluable life lessons about money and looking out for others (Mom, remember the basketball shoes?); and she never worked out of the home while I was growing up and was my constant at home, always there to talk to and provide input. I couldn't have asked for a better mom. My wife is also an excellent mother and my daughters will someday realize just how good they have it. Jen is so involved in their lives, gives them a lot of attention, and is the constant they need in their lives. I've spent over 60 nights (and 95 days) away from home on work travels in the last 5 years and she's been the one to be home alone with the kids and deal with those long days while I'm gone. I couldn't have asked for a better wife and my kids couldn't have asked for a better mother.
4. One last thing: my sister Gillian "officially" got engaged last night. Her beau Kevin gave her a ring and used my brother Ammon as a prop, but it didn't work out quite as he'd expected. They are set to be married later this summer.