Pray for Japan

Our hearts are broken for the country of Japan. The images of destruction in the wake of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami are startling and disturbing. I have a special affinity for the Japanese as I studied that language for a number of years. I also worked for a few summers at a summer camp in Bend, Oregon for Japanese school kids who would come to the United States to do things like going horseback riding and whitewater rafting. Please be praying for the Japanese people and their leaders as they deal with the aftermath of these disasters.

We have some good friends who live here in the Seattle area but are currently in Japan for work obligations. They live in Tokyo, which thankfully wasn't the hardest hit area, but they definitely felt the quake and were affected. Check out The Millerhood if you want to read a well-written first-hand account of the earthquake.

Bracing My Back and Girding My Loins

I need to mentally and physically prepare myself for about 12 fifth grade boys and girls coming over to the house for Drew's 11th birthday party this afternoon. You read that right - DREW IS TURNING ELEVEN. I had to write it in CAPS just to see if it is any easier for me to digest. Nope. I really can't believe that we have an 11 year old son.

But stepping away from my stage of denial, I'm proud of Drew for the party he has planned. He has invited both girls and boys to the party, and we are going to start things off by going on a hike in a greenspace near our house. Then the group will be divided into 3 or 4 teams and will have to embark on a scavenger hunt. Here are the list of items the teams need to "scavenge":

1. Something orange
2. A coin that was issued on the year Drew was born
3. A piece of string longer than 12 inches
4. A napkin with a McDonald’s logo on it.
5. Something with a Starbucks logo on it.
6. Something written in a language other than English
7. A battery
8. Something that you would get in a hotel bathroom (travel size shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, etc…)
9. An airsoft BB
10. 5 business cards (from different people – not 5 of the same card)
11. One lime
12. Something with the ‘Y’ logo on it (from the YMCA)
13. A balloon
14. A to-go menu
15. A starlight mint (the kind you can get from some restaurants – the red and white mints)
16. Something with a logo of a bank
17. A piece of Bazooka gum (hint: Sweet D’s)
18. A button
19. A Lego piece
20. 20 toothpicks

After that, it will be back to the house for some time playing the Kinect (Drew doesn't know it yet but he is getting an Xbox and a Kinect for his birthday - shhhhhh!), home made ice cream sandwiches (Drew isn't a fan of cake so he and Missi made the cookies and we added in his favorite type of ice cream - coffee - in the middle), and presents. But the fun doesn't stop there: about 6 of the boys will be spending the night and the boys have an airsoft battle planned for tomorrow.

Wish us luck! And I'm sure there will be pictures to follow!

Our Little Capitalistic Entrepreneurs

Lest there be any doubt, our kids look like they will be entrepreneurs when they grow up.

Some context: last Sunday we had one of the nicest days in what seemed like weeks. The clouds dissipated and we were able to accomplish some long-overdue yard work. Drew and Sam were both helping me, and Sam had her friend Kylie over. Kylie lives a few houses away from us, and she and Sam are frequent guests at each others houses.

As first-grade girls are wont to do, Sam and Kylie lost interest in the yard work after a short time, and they decided they wanted to open a rock stand. That's right, they decided they would pick out the best rocks from a gravel area across the street and then sell them to whoever would like to purchase them. Here are Sam and Kylie with their rock stand:



The price started out at $1 per rock, but they quickly lowered it to 4 for a dollar.



Now Drew was being his "I'm almost 11 and way too cool for that" self while helping me with the yard work. But you could tell that he was keeping an eye on Sam and Kylie. And once Sam and Kylie started to see revenues roll in (Missi), Drew sprang into action.

He promptly set up his own competing rock store directly across the street from Sam and Kylie.



Talk about competition! This is like a Stumptown Coffee setting up shop next to the original Starbucks in Pike Place Market! And Drew wasn't just idly sitting in his "rock store" waiting for business - he was yelling across the street trying to get Missi's attention in an attempt to lure her away from the girls' store and to his store. What a ruthless businessman! Well, apparently his tactics worked - Missi made her way over to his store and purchased a few rocks. Here is a short video of their negotiations (the audio isn't great, but you can get the gist):



I loved this whole experience. I loved Sam and Kylie's initiative and creativity in setting up their stand. I loved Drew acting "too cool" and then jumping in to join the "market." I loved Missi negotiating with both of them but judiciously ensuring that each received the same amount of money at the end of the day. And I hope that my kids always follow their passions and dreams, especially if that means that they will be entrepreneurs.