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I (Aaron) recently visited a nutritionist. I had been sick for six weeks with only a two day break at some point and it looked like the latest sickness had no intention of giving up on me so easily. Having visited the doctor and hearing that there was not really anything that conventional medicine could do, I spent a chunk on money on a nutritionist. She gave me something that she said should take care of the cold I had and scheduled an appointment for the next day. Besides that six weeks of sickness, I had been sick every other week for almost the entire school year to date. I knew I needed a change and I was desperate.

I was well in a day and a half-no kidding. Then, after the appointment, I started a special diet that cut out the majority of the foods that made my life worth living. Being a fairly determined guy, I stuck with it. But four days into it I was so fatigued I thought I was beginning to slide into a coma. When I thought I could not continue I started to feel much better. I have been well for over a month now.

About a week ago, my wife also went to the nutritionist (compliments of our tax return). She has just started the new diet and is doing well. When I use the term “alternate lifestyle,” I think of vegans in this category because they have such a strict diet that there are few places they can eat out and few people want to have them over for dinner*. We are not vegetarians, but our diet is strict enough so that there are few places we can go.

For instance, we do not eat wheat except I can eat sprouted wheat. We eat nothing white: white bread, pasta, rice, sugar in all its forms except xylitol and stevia. We eat no dairy except I can now have goats milk or unpasteurized raw cows milk.

*Footnote: Canibles very well may want vegans over for dinner since they are cage free, hormone free and vegetarian fed.

Can you believe I just finished writing a 50,000 word novel in 28 days? It was one of those “Someday I should write a novel” sort of things. I just decided that someday would be this month. I received a lot of encouragement from the NaNoWriMo staff, including the book that Chris wrote on the subject mentioned on their website. My wife was also very supportive. There were a great many distractions this month. The whole family was sick for Thanksgiving and remained sick for over a week. We were involved in church projects and our personal lives were at times very hectic. But for the rest of my life I can say that I wrote a novel once. I did not say it was a good novel, but a novel nonetheless. Wohoo! I did it!

Well, I just passed the 18,000 word mark. That’s 73 pages if you consider a page 250 words. Wow, have I got a lot to say or what? I’m into week two and I still enjoy doing this. I was given the idea that by week two I should we wondering what in the world I am doing. I’ll admit, some such negative thoughts did cross my mind, but I have so many fun ideas of where I want to book to go that I just can’t wait. I love writing this book because I want to know what will happen at the end. It is so much fun.

A romantic plot started to develop when my wife went on a trip with the kids and I was left at home for five days. I really missed her, so I guess I wrote her into the book. LOL. Well, I have to go meet my wife in the city. If I feel secure enough I may even post part or all of the story online when I am finished.

I have officially signed up for NaNoWriMo 2007. This stands for National Novel Writing Month. If you are unfamiliar with this, it is a program where average people get hopped up on caffeine and, within the space of 30 days, write a 50,000 word novel. Sign-ups began Oct 1 and the writing is for the entire month of November. If all goes well, I shall write 50,000 words of somewhat readable prose.

We’re finally back from vacation! We drove 2,900.8 miles in 2 weeks. We left California on Sunday night, July 29th, drove to Oregon, Washington and Idaho, and we returned Sunday afternoon, August 12th.

If I could sum up the trip in a phrase, it would be “Precious Family Memories”! We were creating precious family memories with our children, as well as recalling memories of generations before us.

When we arrived at Aaron’s parents’ home, I enjoyed looking at old photos of Papa Rick’s childhood in Mancos, Colorado and Clarkston, Washington on the Snake River. It was fun hearing stories how he met Aaron’s mom at church in Lewiston, Idaho. How appropriate to hear those stories just prior to our trip to Clarkston, Washington and Lewiston, Idaho.

Sunday, August 5th we arrived in Clarkston, Washington, at the home of Uncle Paul and Aunt Deanna Stewart. Uncle Paul is Nana Cathy’s brother. Aaron lived with Uncle Paul and his family when he first came to California in 1990. Our 6 1/2 hour drive from Portland, Oregon ended up being 9 hours (after all the potty breaks, “shopping” in Walla Walla).

They had hosted a Stewart Family Reunion that evening. We were tired, but very happy to meet cousins from Grandpa Stanley Stewart’s side of the family. The next day, Aunt Deanna took us on a nice driving tour, where we were able to take pictures of Clarkston High School (where Papa Rick graduated) and Lewiston High School (where Grandpa Stan, Uncle Paul, Aunt Deanna and Nana Cathy graduated)! I was so jazzed to see all this. I was getting to know Aaron’s family roots!

Monday night Uncle Paul hosted the Tannahill Family Reunion. Cousin Carmen Johnson came with her recently compiled book of her genealogy findings. The book is over 450 pages long. The book begins with her Great-Grandparents’ generation, which includes Aaron’s Great-Grandfather John Lyons Tannahill and Great-Grandmother Sarah Rachel Kelly Tannahill. Aaron’s Grandma “Sally” has plenty of pictures in the book, mainly because Carmen’s Grandfather Oliver Richard was her twin brother. It was a delightful evening, but by Wed. all I wanted to do was take a nap. Somehow I was able to remember lots of names and faces, thanks to my digital camera and good note-taking.

When we returned to Scottsburg, Oregon, Aaron’s Dad showed me a box of photo albums and miscellaneous items which belonged to his oldest living sister. 83 year old Aunt Jean is in Oklahoma, now living in a rest home. Her friend sent him the box, a treasure trove of history. I found late Uncle Jim’s journal from his time serving in the army during WWII. Another great find was a hand-written compilation of Uncle Dean’s postcards and letters during his service in the Air Force at the same time.

Now that I’m home, I feeling inspired to record Aaron’s family history, as well as my own, for the benefit of my children and my children’s children. I realize that not everyone is too interested in their heritage or roots, but sometimes someone stumbles upon something interesting and their curiosity is sparked.

This trip was so fast, yet so incredible, that I’m still thinking about it. What will I want my children to remember about this trip? The beauty of family, the beauty of nature as displayed along the Columbia River, the beauty of God in His creation at Crater Lake…