Oh, so THAT explains it!!!

Today we were told the following story:

When God created dogs, they were given 20 years to spend their time napping on the porch and barking at passing cars. Dogs decided that was far too much time for this task, so they decided to ask God if they could just do it for 10 instead; He agreed and the dogs gave God back 10 years. Next God created monkeys. They were given 20 years to be spent goofing around acting silly and entertaining people. The monkeys also decided this was twice as much time as they needed for this task. The monkeys struck up an agreement with God and returned 10 years. Cows were created next and God gave them the task of being a beast of burden and serving people. The cows were to toil in the baking sun, battering winds and endure the freezing storms for 50 years. Of course, the cows felt this was far too much time to be engaged in such activity and offered to give God back 40 years, choosing a 10 year lifespan instead. When God created man, he was to grow in health and vigor, exploring God's creations for 20 years. Man felt that 20 years seemed hardly adequate for this task and asked God if perhaps, man could be granted the years the the others had given up. God assented, and that is why man is healthy, vital and inquisitive for 20 years, spends the next 40 years in toil and labor for others, then spends10 years playing and acting silly for grand kids, and finally does 10 years of napping on the porch and barking at passers by. . .

The picture was taken on our bike ride last week. The maple trees are just beginning to change in a few places.

Kaili is still lethargic and will be headed back out into the thick of it tomorrow. She and Dax have their first seminary class in the morning. I think she is really overwhelmed by the 1500 person student body of strangers and I wish there was a way to make it less scary for her. She will need everyone's prayers this week as she makes another attempt at it. . .