This year's 'Awkward Family Photos'

I think explanations may take something away from these little jewels....

Merry Christmas

Thousands of years ago, a baby boy was born to very young, poor parents in a barn. There were no silver stars layed in marble, no lines of weeping adorers, no sparkling crosses in the night sky, or towering churches to celebrate His arrival; just a few shepherds and the animals. Straw, flies, dung, and dirt...this was the first breath taken by our King.

The baby was taken to Egypt to keep Him safe from those who wanted to kill Him.

When it was safe, the boy was brought back to Israel. In the temple in Jerusalem, He taught important, smart people...and they were all amazed at how well the boy knew our Heavenly Father.

He grew-up in Nazareth. But I didn't go there. I was told by locals, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?"

As a man, He taught in view of the Sea of Galilee. He taught the people about loving each other, and becoming one. He fed them. And healed them. And cried with them. He walked on this water.

He came to this river. It has a silty bottom, with lots of slimey rocks in it. Here, the only perfect person to ever live was dipped below the dirty water by his cousin, and lifted out again. He did it to show us how to become like Him.

One week before He died, He came through the gates of Jerusalem where he was greeted by the inhabitants waving palm branches. I'm sure that they hoped to receive the healings, and prayers, and bread he had offered to those in the North of the country. And He gave it to them.

But, in the days that followed, he found himself on the outside of those gates, on the Mountain of Olives, looking down on the city, "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem...how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!" He needed them to understand that the bread was more than bread, and the healing was more eternal than eyes, and skin, and blood.

The time had come. So He prayed in a garden; perhaps these trees and an angel were his only witnesses. This is the place where he bled, and cried, and felt alone. This is where He made it possible for everyone to be healed, not just the people who lived in Israel 2000 years ago.

That night, a friend that He love very much, helped take Him away to the people who would kill him. They hurt him first. And then made him walk to the spot he would die.

They took him to the 'skull mountain', Golgotha, and nailed Him to a piece of wood.

He died. And was put in a nearby borrowed tomb. On the third day, a girl sat in front of the tomb, crying. "Why weepest thou?", He asked her. And then he spoke her name.

This story about a little baby born in a little town, became a story of how every hurt can be healed, and every dead thing will be made alive again.

(the dead sea)


Beginning with a single star shining over Israel, we were told the story of Light of the World.

(all pictures taken by Karren Wilde)

Soccer: Go Lions!

I wish I could report that Cam coached a group of serious athletes this fall...

...but it would be far more accurate to say that Sonya's goofy dad and some of his little friends had a lot of fun playing in a field...

I would be proud to tell you that Sonya was the MVP of her team; that she had spirit, and passion, and a deep love for the sport...

...but I'm still a proud mommy in telling you that we had to invent new soccer rules with Sonya...like, "No hugging and holding hands on the field", "No picking flowers" (and other things), "No climbing trees"

Dance Recital 2012 - I Love Paris

Sweet Sonya...she loves to feel pretty...

Lady and the TRAMP

This is our little version of The Giving Tree:
There once was a trampoline who loved a girl.

One day the girl came and the trampoline said, "Come girl, come and bounce on my surface with every single kid in the neighborhood. Pile on as many little children you can find, and be happy." So the girl found T, Syd, Andrew, and Emily...and the tramp was happy.

The girl stayed away many rainy days. One day the sun came out and the tramp said, "Come girl, find a heavy grown adult relative, and run as fast as you can on my slick surface, and I'll try not to kill anyone so you can be happy." So the girl bounced with Uncle Bee-baw, and the tramp was happy."

The girl stayed away many days. One day, the tramp noticed the girl playing in the back yard with some CRAZY WILDE children. "Come girl," beckoned the the tramp, "come bring all your insane cousins over." And the girl did, and the tramp was happy.

The girl always loved the tramp. The tramp loved the girl, and every friend/ relative/ stranger of the Wilde Family.

And the tramp was happy, but not really.

Good-bye to our old friend. You selflessly gave your life for our entertainment. We hope you don't take it personally that we ripped your broken body apart and sold it for scrap metal. We love you, and miss you:-)

One last thing...

This Hawaiian Banyan tree is cool enough to warrant a post, but the man who took the picture offers a sweeter memory. This is a small park in downtown Lahaina. It is filled with people who are homeless. Cam asked one of the residents of the park to take our picture. Afterword, he introduced our family to the man, shook his hand, and thanked him for taking the photo. Simple. Then he left me and Cole to take Sonya to the bathroom. The homeless man sat with me for a moment and said, "you have a good guy. Not very often do people talk to me like that."

I am proud of my husband. He's awkward. But so am I. Sometimes, I wish he were more gentile when in the company of people I would like to impress (like Senator Hatfield, or Dallin Oaks- remember those, Cam? ;). Cameron sees no difference between the president of the united states, and a homeless man in the park. He will look both in the eye. He will not pretend, condescend, or worship. It is a genuineness I have come to admire.

National Park Stamps...

Cam openly laments my lack of enthusiasm for the National Park Stamp Program. It's true, I don't get it. Sonya and Cam run here and there collecting ink blots to put on pieces of paper. It's kinda cool, I guess.

But sometimes, I'm like: "Whoah! Did you just see that giant wild peacock?!"

...and they're like: "No, but we did see that awesome painted sign!"

And then sometimes I find something cool like this...you can actually see the whole shape of Maui in the background; where the older volcano meets the younger one. But there's no stamp for that...

...so attention is turned to this rather HIDEOUS (I mean 'functional') lighthouse, instead.

I'm glad that Cam and Sonya have this collection to bond over. I'm sure Cole will join in the fun in a couple of years. And I will happily ride along.

Surfing Goat Dairy

So the Islands may be famous for tropical birds, whales, fish, and porpoises; but the Wilde family came for the goats!

These tame little goat babies quickly made friends with our Wilde babies.

Daddy and Cole practiced their 'milking hands' before moving on to real thing.

Cole: "Don't mind me Miss, I'm a professional."

Sonya, Cam, and I ate some AMAZING fruity chevre with some local produce. Cole, however, was far more interested in the plentiful ruffage.

Sonya walked away from this little farm feeling like a true CowGirl...well, GoatGirl...ah...who are we kidding? We all know the real reason for this trip: the stamps! Yep, Stamp Girl! But that's another post...

And there's a beach!?!

Yep! And it is a very lovely beach. And it's only 30 feet from your bedroom door.

You can go horseback riding on this beach!

You can run on this beach after snorkeling in it's waters all afternoon!

You can even scream and complain on this beach! (I would be upset too...notice there's only one person without a floaty- and he's the one who can't swim!)

Or you can just sleep on the beach. It's vacation. Sleep as long as you like.