Spend a weekend at The Shack.

Thank you Kevin for suggesting that I read The Shack by William P. Young. (http://www.theshackbook.com/, amazon)

Without giving away more than you would read on the back cover, the main character, Mack, gets an invitation to meet God at the shack where his youngest daughter was brutally murdered. He accepts the invitation, and is changed forever.

Most people know that I read quite a bit. I read mostly fiction. I read for enjoyment. I love words, and I love a good story. For me, this book was not just another book. It was not even just an outstanding book. It was an experience.

While reading this book I felt so loved, and so uplifted, I felt like I was the one invited to spend the weekend with God.

It is a work of ficiton, but reading this book teaches us a lot about the true nature of God.

When reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel, I cried at the end reading the second version of Pi's story not just because it was so sad. I cried because I felt that the existance of a second version killed any chance that the first wonderful story was true. (Some days I feel this makes me a pesamist. Some days I feel it shows I was silly to get that wrapped up in a work of fiction... again.) Halfway through reading The Shack I realized, in spite of the information in the Forward, this isn't a true story. The thing is that it didn't matter. What I learned about God and humanity by reading this book is true.

So... Experience The Shack as soon as possible.

(Later, read Life of Pi. It is a wonderful, wonderful story.)

We love thos nieces to pieces.

This weekend Chris and I went home for a couple of occasions.

First, my nephew, Corban, made his Confirmation. It is a big deal in the church. The Bishop comes down for the mass. If you thought mass could be confusing with all of the sitting, standing and kneeling, try being a bishop. He has to keep track of all of that as well as know when to take his little pointy hat on and off. It could be very tricky. Luckily, he has an assistant who follows him around to adjust his hat and even his microphone if need arises.

Nobody messed anything up. Everybody received the Holy Spirit and a nice meal afterward.



Corban is getting so big. He is officially a high schooler now. He is taking Summer Bio at the High School. In the picture above we have Corban, Brother-in-law Todd, Sis, and our eldest niece, Emily.

Emily is also growing at an incredible rate. She has had to adjust her bike seat twice in the last two weeks! Even with all those new inches she can still turn all the back flips she wants, on and off a trampoline.

The other big event that brought us home was the birth of our newest niece, Abigail Barbara Elizabeth Espinoza. My older bro Jeremy and his wife Eleasha are very proud parents. Abi was born on May 29th.

As you can see, she is just adorable. She has incredibly long fingers. I know everyone says that about every new born, but it is truer for Abi. At a week old, she is keeping her pretty blue eyes open and starting to hold her head up already.

Almost one-year-old Kloe, who we call the Klo or Klonus, is quite happy to have a younger cousin. She is more adorable by the day. My younger brother, Jesse, has proven to be a great Daddy. There isn't anything he would not do for his little girl. See below how he holds really still so she can have a nap.

After this small rest both Kloe and Daddy were up again for a quick diaper changing contest with Jeremy and Abi. I don't remember who won, but a good time was had by all. This weekend's competitions were really just preliminaries for the big Father's day cook out next week anyway.