Today Erik got to sit in a Blackhawk helicopter.  Needless to say, it pretty much made his week.

Below are some photos and videos from one of the best causes we have supported in El Salvador.  Each year hundreds, if not thousands of Olive Ridley sea turtles come to El Salvador to nest.  Unfortunately, turtle eggs are considered a delicacy here, and many people harvest and sell these eggs.  Once concerned Salvadoran, Mimi Schonenburg, decided to make a difference and started buying recently-harvested eggs for a premium - $4 per dozen rather than the market rate of $2-3.  She then placed the eggs into a fenced off area in the Amatecampo beach and waited for them to hatch.  After the turtles hatch, they are collected and let loose into the sea about 4 pm, when the risk of being eaten by predators is the lowest.

This year she helped raise about 5,000 baby turtles. Even if 1% of them reach adulthood, this cause will have saved 50 turtles.

For more information about Olive Ridley sea turtles, click here.  For those who want to make a difference, please contact Larry Rubey, who can email you more information and let you know how you can help. 

This is the nesting area, with each square holding one nest.

Here are two baby Olive Ridley sea turtles. 

Here Erik gets a chance to touch some of the baby turtles.

I had the chance to go to Richmond, VA for the blessing of my nephew, Hayden Gabriel Larson, which was great.  Mom, Dad, and Lauren drove up from Georgia, so I got to spend time with all my siblings.  Holding Hayden was pretty amazing, and made me think about the first time that I held my two little ones.  It’s amazing how children start so very small and quickly grow up.

Laura, Lauren, Becca, Hayden, Jacom, Chris, Paul

Laura and baby Hayden