Alive and well

We started last Friday with a trip to the coast with some friends who were visiting from Utah. The day was very fun, and the kids were having a blast. Then when it was about time to head back home, the kids wanted to jump in the waves one last time. They headed out into the water just as they had been all day. Abram and Jake took 10 steps farther than the others, yet were still only up to their belly buttons. Instantly a rip current took them 20 yards north, where in the incoming tide started churning them and bashing them against the big rocky point we had been near. There was nothing we could do to help them. Mark and our friend started running when they saw the kids swept away, Mark trying to get there over the rocks, and our friend headed through the water. I couldn't see anything from where we were, and for about 2 minutes I thought both of my boys were dead.

There was a man fishing on the point who saw this all happen. He threw down his pole and rushed to drag my boys up the barnacle-covered rock to safety. The tide would throw them against the rock, and then pull them back out. He was finally able to get both of them by the hand and save their lives. He led them up and over the huge rock hill where we could see they were fine. Their legs were ripped to shreds from the barnacles, but they were alive. That was a very overwhelming emotion to hug my boys after I had nearly lost them.

This man who saved their lives asked Mark and me if we are Christians. We told him we were, and he told us his story. He had been at home and received a very strong inspiration that he should go fishing on the point that afternoon. He had no reason to go fishing on a hot afternoon, but he listened to his prompting and went fishing. He said he understood now why he was there. He told us if he had not been there, our boys would be dead.

How can you thank someone for saving the lives of your children? What can you say to him? We will forever be grateful that he heard and listened to God's prompting to go fishing.

What did we learn from this experience? Plently of things. Obviously that we should be more careful at the coast. More importantly is this: When Heavenly Father tells you to do something, just do it. You never know when YOU are the answer to someone's prayers. Don't ever second-guess yourself.

That experience was traumatic for all of us, but we are fine. Abram's knee is very painful, and Jacob's legs look like he was dragged....well...over a wall of barnacles. But we are all more grateful for each other and for the time God has given us to be with each other.

book talk

I got an email from my sister (who also loves books) telling me about http://www.goodreads.com/ where you can see what not-yet-dead authors have contributed to literature, and what people are reading. I realize that my last book post may have sounded much different than I intended it to. I was not trying to insult living authors or those who read their books. As I told my sis, I know there are people today writing the classics of tomorrow. But I have just been in love with the classics for my whole life, and I like to stay where I'm comfortable.

So I'm going to give the living authors a genuine shot. I know that using a human/vampire/werewolf love triangle story was not the smartest place for me to test the waters of the world of living authors. I should have listened to Noah when he asked, "Why would anyone want to read a book about an apple?" My sis suggested Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I'm going to do it. Just like jumping off the cliff in Belize. Scary and unfamiliar. But once you're in the water, you just want to do it again. I'm sure it will be the same.

But first I'm going to finish 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus.

I am a cheapskate

Our dental office recently decided to invest in a radio communication system where the employees wear a clear earbud attached to a radio. There are lots of times it is just so inconvenient for an assistant to walk up front to see if a patient is there, or to check with the front desk on a patient's insurance benefits, the hygienist to tell Mark she is ready for an exam, etc. One of our assistants previously worked in an office with this radio system, and she swears by it.

So I did some research, found the semi-custom earbuds, clear security headsets, and decided on a certain Midland radio to use. I bought the radios for $49.99 a set at Joe's here locally, because for once I could't find an online deal to beat the store price (plus shipping). I bought their last 2 sets Friday, but needed one more set.

Forward to Sunday morning as Jill scours the ads from the paper at the kitchen table. I notice that the same radio set is on a sale this week for $38.88. No way can I let that happen to me. I knew I had some time Wednesday to return/re-buy the radios. I called the store and they pulled their last set off the shelf to hold for me.

Forward to Wednesday morning as Jill scours the ads from the paper at the kitchen table. There is a NEW Joe's ad for the 4th of July, with a coupon for $25 off your purchase of $100. Oh, yeah. That's what I'm talking about.

So I went to the store, and nicely explained to the cashier what I had in mind. The cashier read the coupon, and told me he would do the same thing. So I returned 2 sets, and then bought 3 sets at $38.88, which then let me use the $25 coupon. 6 FRS/GMRS radios for $91.64 rather than $150. I'm a happy girl today.