Idaho Falls Atwoods (at least the important ones)

Here is my family (although a couple months old)

Kati rocks, but Joe is okay

Now, this is my first blog ever, so I just want you all to know of the historic happening here. Secondly, Kati, you rock, I have watched the clip twice already. Joe, it took you a while to add me here, but that I can understand so you are still okay.

The World is an unholy place

So, I had a long political conversation with a bunch of crazies last night at dinner. I love when the term "open-minded" means "like-me-minded." I feel like I do a good job of listening to others' ideas and opinions without cutting them off (you guys are all family, so I don't feel bad about cutting you off, but it's not something I do to people with doctorates too often), and I feel capable enough to comment and disagree while still displaying a healthy amount of tact and understanding.
I was actually being lauded as a "progressive conservative" in their words, and they were very polite and sympathetic about my "unfortunately misunderstood" religion, etc., but as soon as they asked me which issues, as a relatively conservative player in the game, were key for me, and I started right out with abortion, I was the blankety-blank-blank who was backwards, intolerant, and ignorant.
I've been thinking the last few days about this topic: I have never been this alone before--spiritually speaking. On a mission, you at least have a companion to glance at, give the "holy cow, this is completely ridiculous" look, and leave. Here, I just have to stick around and listen and watch everyone drink and whatever all day long. The best days by far of my vacation have all been Sundays. I am a wimp and want to go home where it's safe. I love Utah, small town backcountry life, and having temples and churches on every block.

This is why we love BYU . . .

Joe Buck can watch this over and over and over . . .

How to blog...

So that you are all up to snuff on this great stuff--

I have invited everyone to join g-mail, which everyone should do regardless, it is simply a great e-mail service. Your e-mail address, sans "gmail.com", is your user-name for all google-related content, and your password is the same as well. Once you have an account, you will have a google home-page, with different sections, one of which can be accessed via "my account", or "mijn account", if you are using a computer in The Netherlands. On this section, there should then be a "blogger" hyperlink. use it. You can also easily access your blog via the simple webpage of valatwoods.com.

THE MOST IMPORTANT thing is that you can comment if you exit is the universe, but you can only POST if I have activated you as an eligible author, so as soon as you have a gmail account, like Kimberly Jo, and hopefully her husband in the very near future, e-mail me so I know what it is.

The Season starts in but a few weeks....

Hi everyone. I am just trying to figure out how to do this stuff but it looks like fun. Everyone should try to get on so we can have nice updated things that are going on. This is just a picture of us at christmas time. We love you all

Looks like I am the coolest. Joe is home and we are having a great time. He got in on Wednesday and me and Bryar are so excited to be with him again. Hope you are all doing well.

Kim gets the award for today.

My sister Kim was the first to respond to my e-mail, and I just wanted to let everyone know that she gets the award for...

"Atwood of the Day"

Genesis

While I have been here in The Netherlands, Kati started a small blog to fill the need for "adult conversation." However, true to form, she arranged it so privately that no one could even read or comment on it except myself and Erin Jiles. So, it will probably not encourage much conversation at all.

However, it did give me a good idea. I had tossed around the idea of getting a family webpage together so that as people wander along the far horizons, we could all keep in touch with each other. Shane is in New York, Remington has been in Chicago, and we have the Idaho branch of the family to think of. "Blogging," as ugly as that word may be, would allow us to do just that with a minimal amount of effort and no costs or maintainance. We can put pictures of the newborns and oldborns, talk about Cougar football, or whatever else we desire.

So, as I attempt to get this thing started, and as you read this, please comment to let me know that you have actually gotten this far.