Grateful!

   What a week!!  Michelle and I had a few minutes to talk today right after I came home, and she suggested I blog something about November "grateful" updates.  I had to ask her what she was talking about.  Apparently, many have taken to a daily update of "grateful for.." on Facebook and other social network sites.  Good idea.
   After talking longer about this with Michelle, I am grateful that my wife and I see so much eye to eye on things.  She and I try to laugh at the ironic humor that fills our lives.  And we do enjoy irony.  Example would be this picture.

  Now, I don't drink wine, and I am not promoting drinking for anyone, but I still found this to be very funny.

   That being said, we talked and laughed about the idea of doing sort of a tongue in cheek version, since real life is full of positives and negatives.  So we hit on the plan of sharing some "Negs", as "Big Bang Theory's"  Howard Wolowitz would call them.  "Negative Compliments", or in this case, "negative expressions of gratitude".

   Here goes:  I am grateful that the coldest night of the year so far, (hit 19 degrees),  came 6 days AFTER we got new chicks in the farm houses, rather than the night before, when it would have been impossible to heat up to the required 90 degrees with a broken heating system.  And a previous week with Michelle and Ben both sick, so all repairs, prep and most of the housework was done by yours truly after school hours.  Had to prioritize and feed/water and air systems were top.

   I am grateful that of the three damaged heating units in that building, only one of them broke beyond repair as I was disassembling it for replacement.

   And I am grateful that last night, after 7 1/2 hours of standing at the top of a 10 foot ladder, breaking down, and then re-assembling a heater unit, it fired up, and I didn't have to spend the entire night shifting small electric heaters back and forth in the chicken-house to keep 6 day old chicks from dying of the cold.

   Gratitude.....See, now that wasn't too hard. :))   

Change

   Two major changes this week.  Okay, maybe not major, but changes nevertheless.  Changing the clocks.  And the change of seasons. 
   I'll start with that semi-annual dance of trying to make more use of daylight hours, by saving some for later.  Actually,  not so much semi-annual any more.  I don't know, should I use the phrase semi-annual, even for things that happen at weird intervals, but still only twice a year, or is there a better phrase?  Anyway  the change is tonight.  It used to coincide with the Church's General Conference, at least within one week of Conference either way.  I don't remember when exactly, but within the last few years, it was "adjusted" to earlier in the spring, and later in the fall.  If I am smart, I will use the change "backwards", and get an extra hour of sleep.  If I am "normal", I will probably stay up a bit later than usual, and feel it all day tomorrow.
     As a history nut, I understand the origins of the practice, but I am also one who believes it is a practice that is no longer useful.  Does it serve any real purpose anymore?  Is someone making money off of it?  Does it really help "save" daylight?   Or is it still useful saving energy by shifting lighting and heating concerns in "afterwork activities"?  I love the old joke about the old Indian man when told about Daylight saving time.  Responds with "only the government would believe that cutting the end off the blanket, and sewing it to the other end makes the blanket longer".
   The other change is much more fun.  Fall.  Has long been high on my list.  Warm enough to still do stuff outside, but cool enough that you can still do stuff outside.  Yes, I enjoy hot sunny days at the lake.  Don't have a boat, and family has never been invited to spend the day on a boat, but a good long swim and some cliff jumping is a great time!
   However, off the lake, outside activities in Arkansas require sweating.  I love the fact that we are green.  I love not feeling like water is ever a real worry.  I wish it could come without the high humidity.  Oh, well.
   Fall, on the other hand, allows many of those same outdoor activities, with less humidity, more common breezes, and general weather patterns that I just love.  Oh, and don't forget the colors.

 

This year, the change was fast.  We had a fairly long summer.  It stayed warm unseasonably late for our part of Arkansas.  It had been somewhat dry, so many of us worried that the Fall change would be minimal.  It does affect Fall tourism in our state, since many travelers come to see the leaves change.  These pictures show why.

 

 

 

 

It happened this week!  Last week, there were some hints of change.  The gums and maples were slowly shifting to tones of red, other trees were losing their bright green of summer, and changing over to tones of yellow.  But the dominant view was still green.

 

   Then, we have had some rain, the temperatures dropped into cool ranges down into the 40's at night, 50's through mid 70's in the day, and this week.......THE CHANGE!

 

Monday, the picture was normal.  Tuesday, still mostly greens, but by Halloween  the picture had changed, and now many of the trees behind our house are nearly bare.  Leaves will fall for weeks to come, and the colors will still be nice, but the view was Thursday, Friday and today.  By this time next week,  who knows?  Winter will come, and with it other natural beauties that give this great state its nickname.  We ARE the Natural State!

 



Halloween/Holiday Fun

This week has been fun.  Michelle is slightly on the mend.  Ben is slightly LESS on the mend, but "mending"?  I really wish I could make their lives better when they are sick.  I do try to take care of cooking, laundry, chicken houses (as needed), etc., but I can't sew, and I can't do Ben's homework.  I was "under it" last week, but still had to run the tractor in the chickenhouses, so I am grateful that we are not on a superfast turn-around.
   Michelle's bout with asthma/....whatever? has had her coughing so hard and long, that she has pulled muscles in the abdomen.  That means she wakes up screaming in pain, anytime she shifts in bed, and she qualifies as a "flopper".  It is finally getting better, so she is currently sleeping.  I will wait a few more minutes before I go lay down, so that she can get "deeper" in.
   Ben has missed so much school this last week.  He will be very busy trying to catch up.  I am glad we have the Doterra oils.  They have been so amazing for me, that I can say they have actually CURED my allergies. The various oils and blends have really helped Ben and Michelle stay out of the hospital.  The house has smelled very nice too.  We have gone through a bunch of Deep Blue for muscles, On Guard for general immune system boost, and several others, which individually smell very good.  Together, we have ranged between extreme Christmas to life in the woods.  Oh, and maybe there are a bunch of citrus trees, and a vast groundcover of peppermint.
   Other fun this week.  Halloween is such a fun time of year.  We have been sort of a "stick-in-the-mud" family because of the "sicko's", but we actually got to have Michelle home for Halloween.  She has been in Branson nearly every year since we hooked up with her Branson friends, the Duttons and the Bretts.  This year, she went up earlier, spent two days, and had it such that she was home.  And sick.
   We are very comfortable doing Home family nights, when outside activities are normal.  There was not really an option to try trick-or-treating.  It was OK.  We bought a good sized bowl full of candy, intending to share it with anyone who showed up in costume.  Our road is not a through road, and few families out here, so traffic is light.  One of Michelle's clients came by with her little man in costume.  He got a good sized handful, and we "sampled" for the evening, as we watched Halloween movies.
   Just love "Hocus Pocus", with Bette Midler.  One very talented lady.  Corny movie, lots of fun.  We also watched "Beetelgeuse", with Michael Keaton.  Also a funny "ghost" movie.  The night was about perfect.  Had been rainy, clouds were moving and almost wispy.  We only lacked a big, full moon to have the quintessential spooky Halloween night.  Still loved it!

What is the World ComingTo? Part 2

I left my thoughts with parents and responsible adults needing to make sure that values are a part of our lives.  My parents, and most of the adults around me taught by example.  I was not always the perfect student.  "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all", was something I heard from my Grandparents, my parents and many of the adults that I looked up to.
     "The Golden Rule", a timeless teaching in human interaction was something I saw modeled everyday.  I was not always the perfect mimic.  "love thy neighbor as thyself".   The list of wise tidbits of humanity and compassion could go on, but most of us have heard them.  Sometimes, I guess, the trick is when we choose to live them.
     Most of us have probably been bullied at some point in our lives.  I know, from personal experience, that it is not fun.  There were a couple of periods in my childhood, where I experienced the pain and frustration of being bullied.  I don't remember it being long-term, and ongoing, but I recall it growing to a point where my bully moved from verbal "assaults" to one day where he really wanted to fight me.  He was bigger than me, and I was pretty scared, but not inclined to run away.  What 5th grade boy wants to be identified as "chicken"?  Not looking forward to the pain, but gonna stand my ground.......and fight?   It never happened.
     As the bully started pushing me, and I realized how close this was getting to a fistfight (for no reason), a flash of color from behind me ended the situation (kind of).  My friend, Preston, who had seen what was going on, came flying in from the side and body checked my assailant.  As the captain of our school flag-football team, a star on our basketball team, and pretty much an all around athlete, nobody messed with Preston, but pretty much everyone liked him.
     Preston planted one good shot to the bully's nose, and announced that if he wanted to pick on anybody, he, Preston, was always right here, and ready to go.
     Now, the shot to the nose may not have been totally necessary, but I can also say that no one ever had a problem with that bully during the rest of our school years. I was so glad that someone had seen my dilemma, and stepped in to help.  So many victims wish for help, but can't see a way that "asking" doesn't worsen the problem.
     And, sometimes, victims reverse roles.  It wasn't right at the same time, but a bit later, that I became the bully.  I was not alone, but that doesn't excuse my involvement.  Our church congregation had changed, and there were some boys my age that had been in other congregations.  They went to different schools, and some of my friends went to school with them, and thought they were really cool.  They were not always friendly to those of us that didn't go to their school.  So I tried to fit in other ways.
     We had one boy at church that was in the school's equivalent of special ed.  He was friendly, but kind of socially ............ trying to find a kind way to put it.  Socially "less comfortable than the average teenager."  His family had many struggles financially, and so he didn't fit in with our new group dynamic.
     We were not nice to him.  I was not nice to him.  I wanted to fit in, and for awhile I ignored what my parents had tried so hard to teach me.  I played along with the derisive comments, the snubbing, the laughter at his expense, all the while seeing that it hurt his feelings.  But I didn't stop, and I didn't step up.
     I am ashamed to say that I never stepped up on his behalf.  But I learned a hard and valuable lesson.  One day, at a Scouting event (of all the places for such an ironic occurrence), we (the group) had gone under the bleachers to sit in the shade while we ate.  This young man (I DO remember his name, but will simply call him Joe, since some of my readers may know him)came under the bleachers to sit with us.  We told him no, that nobody wanted to sit with him.  The things we said got more hurtful, and then we took a more aggressive posture, standing up and "shunting" him away from our spot.  Joe was obviously hurt by our behavior, but we continued to taunt him.  I don't remember every single word, or even if one of us started to push Joe physically, but I do remember Joe reaching his breaking point.  He was crying, and lashed out and hit one of the boys in the face, and then ran away.  I don't actually remember if he hit me, but in my memory, I felt bad enough that he may as well have hit me.  I really felt like I deserved it.
     I don't remember seeing Joe at church the next day, and before the week was out, Dad informed me that Joe's family had needed to move, because his dad had finally found a part-time job in another community. I knew they were poor, but I hadn't been aware that the family was truly struggling to eat. Considering our lunchtime behavior at the Scout event,  I felt so guilty for weeks, that I could hardly even look at my "friends".  I felt sick over the way we had treated "Joe", and I often wished that I could apologize to his face.  I have no idea where he is today, but I often think back on what that time taught me, and hope that I get a chance some day to apologize in person.
     I learned, for me, that "social power" derived from belittling others is hollow and distasteful.  I fear that society's portrayal is one that promotes the "power" and tries to fill it with a false concept of "winning".
     I remembered that this was not how I wanted to feel, because I knew how it felt, and I should never be involved in making others feel that way. I got reminded of the Golden Rule.
     I learned that some actions are regrettable.  I would not look back and say I can identify many real regrets in my life, but that one day under the bleachers is definitely on the list.  I knew I should stand up and tell the others to quit.  I KNEW how much words can hurt, and I STILL joined in the taunting.  I KNEW that this was not how a Christian young man, or a dedicated Boy Scout should behave toward others, and I DID NOTHING!!  And I regret not immediately calling, visiting, seeking Joe out to apologize.  I pray constantly that his parents and other true friends were able to keep him involved in church, where his church group (the ones that should have been his strength and support) were driving him away.  I decided then, that I would never allow someone to be bullied in my presence without stepping in, even if only to offer the victim a friend, and the bully a new (and more difficult) target.
     I read reports that some of these bullies feel no remorse.  In one case, the local sheriff didn't decide to press charges against the bullies until he read a facebook post that the girl was glad that "so and so had 'offed herself'  and she didn't give a ......".     I pray that bullies feel remorse, almost as much as I pray that the "Scotts" of the world realize that we need to stand up.  Be a friend to the bullied, stand against bullying.  Show compassion for those around us, by imagining how we would feel, and what it would mean to have someone step to our defense.  It doesn't always take a "Preston tackle", but it may be the difference between life and death for a victim on the edge.  Life is a fragile thing, and facing it together makes it easier and more enjoyable.
     WE ARE THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION: What is the world coming to?  Where are we going to take it?  What are we going to make out of it, by our example more than our words?  What is this world coming to?  We have to decide!

What is the world coming to?

Rebecca Ann Sedwick
Ciara Pugsley
Hannah Smith
Daniel Perry
Joshua Unsworth
Anthony Stubbs
Erin AND Shannon Gallagher (sisters)
Jessica Laney

9 well publicized teen suicides in the last year, linked specifically to cyberbullying.  Out of over 4000 in an average year, these are probably a small portion of the suicides related to bullying, but still a tragic and significant sample of society. Bullies and Bystanders
     It makes me wonder about where our society is headed.  But the evidence is mounting.  Whether it is bullying, mass shooting, gang violence, domestic abuse, etc., etc. ad nauseum.  There is a growing rift that is troubling, but no surprise to many.
     There are too many factors involved to "lay blame" on any one area, unless you are among the billions who do believe that there are forces of evil in the world.  Among many of the world religions, there are so-called "end of the world" scenarios.  Some are more of a "major changing event" concept, but among most of these, there is a growing effort on the part of "Evil" to gain greater strength leading up to whatever event might be coming.
     Now, for those who may be inclined to scoff at religious believers when it comes to this type of thing, I will make a very simple statement.  In the face of growing tendencies amongst our fellow humans, the concept of some major change that will "reset" the values of society as a whole, offers some hope for the future.  You might even say, it gives me some comfort.
     In the mean time, (was that a pun?........totally unintentional, until now!)  In the "mean" time, we feel an obligation to hold the line.  Who was it that said "Evil triumphs when good men [and women] do nothing"?
     Look around us.  Watch your children, your neighbor's children, your students, all of their parents.  Yes, Moms and Dads, I intend to include us in this.  The growth of digital existence plays a role, I think.  There is a noticeable sense of disconnect between people.  The "old fashioned" values of courtesy,  caring and community are diminishing.  Not only are we seeing the human interactions being replaced by digital everything, we are being drowned in a sea of so called entertainment where the attitude of "ME at all cost" is promoted as desirable.  Reality TV!  I could probably stop, .........but no, not yet!
     Rudeness, Total lack of common courtesy, backstabbing, deceit, intimidation, lack of overall decency!  These get ratings, and are being portrayed as necessary to "WIN".  But at what cost to humanity?  And digital telecommunications mean that many of these behaviors can be perpetrated with a sense of anonymity.
     Kids don't learn how to play with each other.  They spend so much time in front of their "digital umbilical" that they think these reprehensible behaviors are normal and good.   And "Stepping in".........  not seen as important, by many.
     Grandparents! Parents!  This is in your realm.  It should be a "natural given" that kids are learning values of compassion, toughness, courtesy, responsibility from their parents, grandparents, church leaders and other significant adults.  Well, we teachers have been effectively eliminated.  In so many ways and laws and policies, our hands are tied, when it comes to teaching any "values", ESPECIALLY if someone else might consider those values "religious".  Most of us still try, but I could lose my job every period of every day if any of my students ever took offense at my "values".
     This one is getting long, so I may need to follow up tomorrow.

     Coming:    Scott the bullied.....Scott the bully!

Weekends! Wish they were longer......oh, wait!

     Sometimes, I wonder if what I post will even be interesting enough for my own family, much less anyone else, but I made a promise to Liz and Colin that I would post more regularly.  I hope that every once in a while I send out a true gem or two, but I guess it's OK to just post my day-to-day occasionally, right?

     My mind is still spinning around, tumbling so many things from last week's General Conference, the ongoing Government issues, school insurance, school evaluations, TESS, Common Core, sports (yeah, a bit) and weather, that I decided I am just going to "muse" about my weekend, and save some of the deeper thoughts for another day.

     Start with basic run-down of the weekend.  Justin and Ian home for Friday night and Saturday, Ben off at Briar's, celebrating his 17th birthday.  Pizza and icecream for supper.  Healthfood, I know, but we all love pizza.  Watched a corny, but enjoyable movie called "Warm Bodies".  Sort of a zombie version of Romeo and Juliet.  Had some really funny moments, and a few "comments" about human interaction.  I liked it.

    Saturday,  Kaylee forced my day to begin at 6:30, to take her over to the school.  She and the choir were headed to Beebe for a regional choir workshop.  I like spending some quiet drive time with Kaylee.  OK, maybe not "quiet", but we did have fun discussing the artistry of the sunrise.  It was beautiful!  Soft pastels, interesting shapes, just really nice.

     I got back home about 7:15, but it was darker than when we left, because those clouds had rolled in and piled up.  By the time I had crawled back into bed (yeees, I know, what a slug!) the lightning, thunder and rain had started in earnest.  It pounded hard for a little over an hour.  About 8 am, the power blinked out hard enough to "chirp" our smoke detectors, so I woke back up.  Lazy bum, I stayed in bed until nearly 8:30!!  Still darker than at 6:30.

     Gave Michelle "the day off" from chicken houses, since I had boys to help me.  We are into week .....7?  I think.  Things are looking pretty good, but I had one ventilation system that needed a cable repaired.  We looked at the break, and compared it to several spots of rust along the cable, and decided it would be better in the long run to replace the 200+ feet of cable.  Not too bad a job for me and my two engineers.  We knocked it out in about 1 hour.  

     Weather still just drizzly enough, we kind of made it a movie, facebook and football kind of a day.  Did get sunny as the day progressed, so I sprayed the garden to reduce the bug damage.

     I don't consider myself a "diehard" Razorback fan, so I was kind of surprised at my own reactions as I watched the Arkansas v South Carolina game.  There were a few times I actually groaned loud enough to be heard in the other room.  Arkansas got "spanked" badly enough by the end of 3, that I went out and watched video games and movies with the kids.

     We were having some troubles with our wifi, so I didn't spend much time online, other than 98 minutes to post a short piece in my blog "ein wening Deutsch" uuggh! I also posted a short bit to this blog about the "Burlington Wall".  It was too funny to let slip away.

     Today, like every Sunday, started earlier than other days, so that we could make it to church meetings and such.  Michelle stayed home with farm houses, since I have responsibilities at church, again.  Really enjoyed hearing the members bear witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Loved the singing.  I feel the Spirit so strong during hymns, it always hits my heart.  Also trips the "overflow button", which makes my eyes "leak"?? :)  OK, fine, when I am feeling the spirit, I tend to cry.  It actually bugs me, in a good way.  It makes it hard to sing, but I REALLY enjoy singing, and I used to be pretty good at it.  But there is no denying how the Spirit touches me during hymns.

     ANNNND, then the afternoon.  I love Sunday afternoons (if not always "monday-eve").  Relaxing with the family, reading, visiting the Church website, when our wifi works right, and the nap of the week!  Luv weekends!!

This one is going to be short.
     Last week, on October 3rd, I talked to my beginning students about Germany's National holiday, "Day of German Unity".  To create context, we make sure to spend some time talking about the reason for the rift, the Cold War, and the specific problems in Berlin.
     In our classroom journals, I always start by asking students to write a few lines about what they know of the Cold War and the Berlin Wall. If they don't know anything about it, I tell them, as a "marker", to write that they know nothing about it. Then, they are to take notes on the discussion, and indicate what new things they learned.
     Well, one student, who turned their journal in late, wrote a line that I could not pass up.  She indicated "I don't know anything about the Cold War, or the Burlington Wall".
     Maybe the downturn in Arkansas temperatures, and the number of kids complaining of the cold (74 degrees) had her thinking about coats?
     At the end of the class, her notes had Berlin, the key dates, and several other lines about Cold War tensions.   I love my job!

I just feel like I should post something today, but I have to be honest...I am just not feeling it.
     I prefer to send out well thought out items, preferably one concept, but I think there are just too many things, and my brain is jumbling them together in such a way that this may just come across as a rant.  It really is not supposed to be.
     Little stresses, big stresses, minor inconveniences and looming disasters all making my brain want to just go to sleep at 7 pm, and see if tomorrow shows up looking better.
     School:  I love teaching students.  Sometimes I have those moments like I posted about the other day, but many days, it is just "getting ready" for the next test or quiz, trying to keep up with late work, stressing about re-writing lesson plans for the entire year before end of first 9 weeks (next Wed.) for 4 levels.  Add in there issues of finances, such as health insurance, whether or not to keep paying the 50 USD per month to stay in the AEA or put that back on the dinner table,( in spite of "soap box" emails from reps), and higher with-holdings on each paycheck which actually have my monthly take-home LESS than last year.
     Farm:  Winter is coming, and that always involves a round of repairs and "tightening up" which adds a lot to weekends I would rather enjoy outside.  OK, translate: camping with the Scouts.  Gotta miss Camporee to take care of Farm.  My choice, I know, but it doesn't make me happy about it.  I was hoping things would time out with this flock to make it to Fall Camporee with Ben and the Troop.  No such luck.
     Govt. "shutdown" :  I wish there was a way to make people.....help People?...... get a bit away from all the emotions and start:
      1.  Looking at the real problem.....
      2. realizing that compromise, by definition, means that ALL sides need to to be willing to flex a bit.  It is obvious that each side has something they don't want to budge on, but those two issues DO NOT DETERMINE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE ENTIRE US GOVERNMENT!!!
      3. demanding that media and politicians state their sources for all this highly divisive rhetoric.  I mean, opinion is one thing, but in College English and High School English, making "factual" statements like these we are hearing, without sources would be graded with a very large, red "F".
      4.  Shutting up about blame, and start talking more about talking it through
      5............realizing when collars (their own) are getting hot, and back off for a few minutes...

     OK, .......moving on for a bit.

     Hoping my little car makes it to next week's paycheck with tires.  They are all 4 getting bald, and I can probably replace 2 on this paycheck and the others in Nov.......?
     My garden is looking sad today, and I had no time(during daylight hours) to do anything to help it.  Not likely to get help tomorrow either, as I get grades ready for Term upload.  Hopefully Saturday weather will be OK to work outside.
     Oh, and I worry about Michelle.  She may smack me for mentioning this, but when I leave for school after using the "maneuver formerly known as 'Heimlich'", because she choked on half a cheerio, it adds a significant stress to my day when she doesn't come to the phone.  I remind myself that she may be out checking the farm, but........  A year or so ago, she choked on some broccoli, and the EMT's came in just as she was regaining consciousness.  When she passed out, while dialing 911, she dislodged the blockage.  Not sure how long she was unconscious.  Healthy food?  Really??
     Anyway.........
I will make it.  Please know I try super hard not to be a whiner.  I know many people have problems much worse than these, and my prayers go out to you.  In so many other ways I am blessed beyond measure.  Sometimes, it just feels good to air out the stresses.  Can't pay a shrink, so will you guys be my couch?

The Safe Path

     Listening to the General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this weekend, I felt like there was a "current" of admonition to persevere, to remember that the Lord's Plan of Happiness does not mean a life of ease, it means knowing that blessings await us when we "reach the 'end', if we have stayed strong in our faith."
     What a great weekend!!
     It also made me think about some of the many spiritual and social challenges our young people (and some of us old people) face everyday.  Particularly relevant were the talks by Elder Cook and Elder Anderson, talking about things that create spiritual bondage, and how the decisions we make from day to day, hour to hour can affect our eternal possibilities.
     My mind was drawn back to an experience I had while serving as a missionary in the Zurich,Switzerland mission.
     That beautiful Spring morning, the Elders of our district had decided (with permission from our Mission President), to go into the mountains of the Swiss Alps and enjoy the beauty of God's creation.  We intended to hike a short distance up to a small lake, nestled back against a breathtaking backdrop of granite cliff and deep forest.  The name of the small lake has long ago been forgotten by me, but the experience of that day has stayed with me.
     The weather was brisk, but pleasant, being in the spring.  Although there were patches of snow on the ground, particularly in shadow, the air was pleasantly warm, allowing light pants, t-shirts, and, for other hikers, shorts as clothing options.
     I do not recall the hike being long, but the trail was steep and well traveled.  Many, natives and tourists alike, seem to have shared our plans, as the trail was fairly busy that morning.  Many joined together in sharing the positive reports they had heard regarding this little lake and its surrounding beauty.
     The lake did not disappoint.  In spite of the warm air, the lake was still frozen solid enough that many chose to stroll out across its surface.  The surrounding cliffs and ravines created a thing of great beauty, but one feature caught my attention rather quickly.  Off to one side, from a ravine that ended at the cliffside about 90-100 feet above the downhill edge of the lake, a trickle of water turned to mist in the sunlight.  A native gentleman whom we had met during the climb, explained that this turned into a significantly larger waterfall as the spring thaw progressed, and that the small (very small) stream bed we had noticed on our climb was only what water "escaped" from the main flow due to wind.  The rest he said, disappeared into a deep hole in the mountainside, at the base of the cliff, only to emerge near the valley floor, many hundreds of feet below us.
     As a budding amateur photographer, I was intrigued by this image, and started up the snowy "hill" that surrounded the bottom of  the falls.  Actually, it was just a mound of snow, that had been "protected" from the thaw by a coating of ice.  The climb was maybe 40 feet.
     At the top of this perfectly shaped, snowy "bowl", I snapped a few pictures of the "pit". ( I will have to hunt down my mission slides, and add these pictures, but I wanted to type while the thoughts were fresh. This image is not actually mine, but gives you an idea).  Not satisfied with my angle, I made a decision that has both haunted me, and taught me, from that moment forward.

     I took 3 steps down into the bowl!  I was happier with the angle, feeling like it made the possible pictures more intense and dramatic.  I took my cautious steps back up to the rim, and began my descent down the outside.  I had not taken 3 steps when my foot slipped on the icy surface, and I slid the rest of the way down the ridge, until I came to a stop at the edge of the trail, approximately 30-40 feet below.
     Instantly, the knowledge of my foolishness hit me!  And the relief and gratitude to my Heavenly Father for watching out for one of His missionaries, even when he made a foolish choice.
   Since then, this experience has come to mind whenever I am tempted to try something that may be "just a step or two" away from the right path, or "one time is no big deal".  Shortly after returning home, a nonmember friend invited me to his wedding celebrations, including his bachelor party.  I was not worried about the temptation of alcohol, but I must be honest, I had not even considered the "traditional entertainment".   As my friend mentioned what his cousin had planned for "entertainment" my mind instantaneously flashed two thoughts:  The image of that small Swiss lake, and "one time is no big deal, right?"
     I was spared the need to be concerned further, however, because my good friend Ron, having known me since we were small, understood my beliefs, and in almost the same breath that started this moment of concern, offered to leave his own bachelor party to take me home.
     I realized then, and have felt many times since, that the memory of that small lake serves to remind me that the safe path is one I have been taught from my youth, and that the few small steps we take away from safety have the potential to plunge us into a pit so deep, that rescue seems impossible.
     In a world increasingly revealing spiritual "pits" such as drug addictions, pornography, violence and even apathy, I am so grateful to goodly parents, dedicated teachers and leaders, and most especially my Heavenly Father, who have taught me that there is a divine rescue plan already in place.  But I am also grateful that He reminds me, and has often done so throughout my life, that if I stay on safe ground, I will never know the depths of despair trapped in the pit , hoping desperately for rescue.

I've been meaning to post this one for awhile, but other things keep coming up.  It happened several weeks ago, in my classroom.
     We had a young lady visiting from Germany come visit my classes during the second week of school.  She babysat (in Germany) for a friend of one of the Spanish teachers, during her time working in Bonn.  The young lady's name is Ricci ("rickie").  After introductions, I asked her if she would be willing to introduce herself to my classes, and answer some questions.  I made sure she knew that it was totally her choice, I just wanted her to enjoy her visit.  She graciously agreed to the Q and A.
     It was a good day.  The students asked pretty good questions about family, school, learning English and studying German.  There were a few moments, however, when a teacher just has to fight the urge to do a "face palm".
     One class.....no, fairness to class...one young lady had asked Ricci if any of her friends spoke German............really?!?  Ricci hesitated, before politely explaining that her friends all lived in Germany, and German was their first language.  Another young man asked (not 10 minutes later) how many of her teachers spoke German............again, really??!??  Reply...."all of them?"
     The classes were being pretty good not "jumping" the students with the "face-palm" questions, but this class missed out on the best one.
     The next period, things were going well, same general direction of questions, and then the "big one" ........."Do teenagers in Germany use cellphones?
     I hesitated momentarily, biting my lip hard enough to bruise it, hoping to neither embarass the student NOR Ricci, who paused with a puzzled facial expression as if thinking this might be somehow a trick question.  I need not have worried.  After her split second pause, with the straight face of a seasoned public speaking veteran, she dead-panned her response....
     "No, we just shout at each other."
     I nearly fell over, laughing so hard!!  Even the student who had asked, realized the absurdity of the question, laughed along with the rest of the class, and much learning took place that day.  I do love my job!!!

Now, short addition:  These exchanges are good for all sides, which is why I push so hard to give my students chances and knowledge to travel.  Ricci also had a misconception clarified.  She admitted that she and her friends mostly thought that the American High Schools portrayed in movies and TV were all just as fake and make-believe as many other things in Hollywood.  The huge buildings with thousands of students, high tech labs and classrooms, marching bands, show choirs, big cafeterias and so on and so forth.  Then she walked into Conway High School.Conway Public Schools  and realized, the only element missing from this being "High School Musical"  was kids singing and dancing in the hallways.  (Big smile......MUCH learning was done that day!)

Scream!

Just a light-hearted short moment from my school email.
     Got a short email from the choir director today, that just struck my funny bone.  I will paraphrase it.

     Ladies and Gentlemen on my end of the building.  Thought you should know.. the choir is preparing a concert piece honoring the 50's "B" movier/horror movie genre.  It involves a long solo scream.  All 41 of my girls want the part, so I am holding scream auditions today during X period.  So if you hear bloodcurdling screaming from my room, please know that I am not doing anything bad to my students, and I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Maybe I'm just tired, but I had to laugh.

Someone hit the "hot-button" today!

I will try to be "short-winded" today.  I am just mad enough, I am typing with one finger to keep my words from getting away from me.

     Listening to the TV and radio today, get ready to hear about one of two scenarios. 
     Senate Democrats have "overcome the stubborn Republican fixation on Obamacare and SAVED the USA from a Government shutdown"  or, "Republican extremists in the House of Representatives have shut the USA down, in the fixation on defunding the Law of the Land, Obamacare".
     Why does this make me mad? Misleading political maneuvering.  That's why.  If you believe for a second that our President and the Democrat leaders in the Senate wanted to avoid a government shut-down, you are mistaken.  How can I make this claim?  Look back at the series of Continuing Resolutions sent by the House over to the Senate, which funded, at current levels, EVERY other department, but defunded Obamacare.  IT IS THE SENATE DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE OPTED TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT, if the Republicans don't cave on Obamacare.
     Now, to be fair (as much as possible), I would love to hear from any whose health care issues are showing dramatic improvement due to Obamacare.  Please tell us your story!  For every one who has actual, personal financial improvement in the daily health care concerns, due to Obamacare, I bet we can find you 4 or 5 who are already feeling the damage caused by this Monstrosity being rammed, crammed, blasted down our throats.

     I'll detail our "Obamacare improvements" in another post in the next day or so.

Integrity

     I have had things happen with teenagers in my life over the past few weeks (to say nothing of the ongoing mess in DC) that has made me think about integrity.
     What is it? What does the word mean?  When do we "become"...........OK, no adjective form.   When do we start to show it?
     Webster's defines it as "firm adherance to a code of especially moral or artistic values."  also " the quality or state of being complete or undivided".  I thought long and hard about the additional definition of "an unimpaired condition".
     As a matter of fact, I thought about it so long, I fell asleep for awhile. (Sorry, late Saturday night, early Sunday start does it every time).  An "unimpaired condition" ?  Being complete or undivided makes sense, of course, with concepts of structural integrity.  Most of us probably dwell on the first concept of "...adherance to a code....." and then rely on synonyms for help.  Me, too!
     The list includes : completeness, perfection, wholeness, stability, purity, simplicity and of course HONESTY.
     I think about one of the interview questions for a Temple recommend, asking if we are honest in our dealings with our fellow men.  What spiritual and personal wholeness do we attain when we can confidently answer that question with a "yes"?  And why is it among the list of requirements to enter the Lord's House?  Because it is a personal strength that each of us needs to gain, as we make our way through the maze of emotional, social and moral decisions that have eternal consequences.
     And, you know, like all forms of strength, we are not just "born with it".  No, our nature is actually the opposite.  Won't go into numerous references to "the natural man" in scripture, but they are there.
     Every person finds their way (or not) at their own pace, and by their own choices.  We have all done things growing up, that showed that we we were "divided".  We were split between the desire to have our own way at any cost, and the aknowledgment that other values were more important than our personal desires.  Life experiences and events taught us to recognize that there is a difference, and then we had to start making the choices that either make us "whole" or keep us constantly divided.  A person with integrity still has to make a decision, but they will have an easier time of it, because they will place more weight on what is right, and can still feel good about the decision, even if they didn't get what they wanted.
     On the contrary, a person "learning" or lacking integrity, will have the emotional roller coaster of knowing that their desire can only be acheived by deceipt, malice, violence, force, etc., and whatever, but still wanting it badly enough that they will go against their own conscience.  Then they struggle with the concept of right and wrong versus reward and punishment. 
     I remember a time when I was young, and my best friend and I had ridden the city bus downtown, I think to shop for mother's day?  Anyway, we were supposed to be back at a certain time, and had been instructed to make sure we were home.  We missed the last bus, and decided not to call home because we would get in trouble.  (smile here at my own youthful ignorance of "trouble").  The walk home left us two choices, basically.  Approximately 5 miles, passing through some "troubled" neighborhoods, where 2 young caucasian males would not only stand out, but ........(fill in your own ideas)..... and walking down the freeway easement, which still passed these neighborhoods, but with some vegetation and fences as separation.
     As we were starting down the freeway onramp, trying to work sideways into the brush as quickly as possible, I remember saying to my friend that this was illegal.  He responded that "it's only illegal if we get caught".
     We made it home and got into the trouble we had feared, but we also were grateful that it was the only trouble we ran into.  I think I made progress that day in recognizing the difference in "trouble" from our parents and leaders, as opposed to "trouble" that exists in the world.
     Many of our teenagers watch the examples around them, while trying to figure out which is more important.  Training their conscience to "relax", so they can get what they want, without feeling guilty about it, or following along when their conscience "tells" them that certain behaviors are more "right" than others.  As we follow our conscience, "right" becomes the most important consideration.  When we disregard those feelings, we can only ever "retrace" our steps, or continue down a road that we know (deep down) is contrary to our divine origin and destination.
     Over time, this "house divided against itself" will be lacking in inner strength, and for many who progress down this path, their outward facade will also be one that others eventually see as "unwhole".
     I guess what I have concluded is that integrity basically means this:  We are one with our conscience, even and especially when we are ALONE with our conscience.  When we make "the right" decision because it is right, even with the possibility that no one else will ever know but us, then we have reached that place where we are whole, where we are complete, going through the decisions of life unimpaired.

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!

     As I was walking through the house this afternoon, passing the TV in our room, which was on, the news was running a segment of President Obama addressing the families of those killed in the Naval Yard at DC this past week.  That is a tragedy, and my heart goes out to those families, along with my prayers.  But what I heard straight from the President's own lips shows well, that he will not let any tragedy go unexploited for advancing his political agenda.
     The short sentence essentially confirmed what every law-abiding gun owner in this country already knew.  This President, and a significant segment of our very liberal countrymen are determined to disarm America, and they will try to use this tragedy as a catalyst for "change".  But there is a huge problem.  They are only talking about disarming law-abiding Americans!!
     We have already heard from the likes of Senator Feinstein of CA, and several others who have shown not only their disdain for law-abiding gun owners, but time and time again have demonstrated their own ineptitude regarding gun safety and use.  Recall the "esteemed" senator waving around a rifle at a press conference a few months ago, WITH HER FINGER ON THE TRIGGER??  Or the barrage of newscasters announcing the use of an AR-15 in DC?  Yet there was no such weapon involved!!?
     I recognize we are having a rash of gun related violence in this country.  But I also recognize that this has nothing, and I repeat NOTHING to do with the millions of legal gun owners and their families.  Particularly when it comes to these mass shootings that make the news around the world.  Yet our so-called leaders jump at the chance (every chance!) to try and disarm our citizenry.  One should ask why?
    Some of my friends have posed this question during conversations, and I want to pass it on to all.  How many of these mass shooting events took place in a location where it was "OK" for law-abiding citizens to carry their LEGALLY OBTAINED AND LICENSED weapons?  I can't come up with one.  How many of these events involved a legally obtained gun, and proper legal use of said gun?  One or maybe two to the first question and ZERO to the follow-up.  Columbine?  Gun free zone.  Newtown?  Gun free zone.  Theater in Colorado?  Signed as a gun free zone.  Fort Hood?  Gun free zone (craziest thing I ever heard, but apparently "normal" procedure at Military installations). Washington DC?  "gun-free" zone (as long as you aren't a criminally minded terrorist sniper).  Naval Yard DC? again, DC is supposedly a gun free zone.
     These perps were not following the law!  In most of the mass shootings all the way back to Columbine High School in the 90's, and even further back, the guns were obtained illegally.  And the way they were used broke so many laws that Congress has worked tirelessly for nearly 3 decades to come up with new laws to replace the broken ones.  They haven't figured out how to enforce those old broken things, so they keep trying to re-invent the wheel.
     Their imminent failure is a simple truth!  No amount of law and regulation will keep evil or sick men and women from breaking a law to commit crimes of this nature in the future. Criminally insane and mentally ill are not the same thing, but diagnosed mental patients will already find it nearly impossible to buy a gun legally.  Those of us NOT insane, should face no such restrictions.  I do not wish to cry gloom and doom, but friends, the ills of society which allows this to happen will not go away simply because we disarm the "good-guys".  It will become worse! 
     Do some research.  Countries and communities with a high level of legal gun ownership have a surprisingly ( or not so surprisingly) low rate of gun related crime.  Switzerland has one of the lowest gun crime rates in the world, "yet" in the neighborhood of 80 % of their households have a gun in them.  Look for local reports ("cuz" the national media will never step outside their own agenda to report...) about shooters who were stopped after injuring a very few, or injuring NONE because a law-abiding CC permit holder was in the area and either stopped them or "STOPPED" them cold!
     And to those who are crying for gun regulations to tighten.  It is not (legally)possible to buy a gun on every corner, as you would have "the masses" believe.  There is already a fair pile of paperwork which is required to legally purchase a gun.  Legal gun ownership is already a highly regulated thing.  To work with a quote from a weekend radio talkshow host, "the people on the left want to take everyone's guns, and the people on the right want everyone to own a bazooka".  He got the first half right.  Those of us on the right, however, just want to be allowed to defend ourselves, our loved ones  and our property.
     When this White House sent guns to criminals in Mexico, it should have raised more concern. Especially when those guns came back across our borders and were involved in the death of US border Agents.  They then cried for tighter gun control laws.  When the same White House sent guns to Syria, it was "to arm the people against an oppressive Government which no longer represents them".   Yet this same White House claims that "there is no good reason for any American citizen to own a gun".  Wonder what the goals of this White House really are, don't you?
     If the Second Amendment is thrown out, and guns are effectively taken away from the citizens of this country, we have much to fear, because ONLY the criminal element will still own guns, and so will the Government.  Our Founding Fathers, and millions of the rest of us, agree; that these two are equally unpleasant ideas.

Where were You?

As I started the day at school, I contemplated spending a few moments with my students remembering the events of this day, 12 years ago.  I figured we would mention the World Trade Center, the brave men and women on Flight 93, the many brave law enforcement and emergency response personnel, as well as the civilians that lost their lives on that day.

I know there are numerous video offerings as well. www.history.com  What surprised me most with the first and second classes of the day, once they realized I WAS going to allow at least some class time for remembrance, was the number of students who actually wanted to share their personal memories of that day.  And that they wanted to hear mine.

Where were we on that day?
I was on my way home from work.  My night shift job at Bosch Power Tools in Heber Springs, Arkansas usually had me coming home around 7:30-8 AM.  We were running a bit late that morning, and, like every other day, Bob and I headed straight to the old chicken house down on Five Mile Road.  It was typical that we would meet our wives there on days we were late, but that morning it was obvious they had not been there yet.

As we were driving up to the new farm houses, now between 8:30-8:45 (Central Time zone), we had to pass our house.  Here came Michelle, waving her arms to flag us down.  She said to forget the chickenhouses for the moment, we needed to get inside and watch the TV because something bad was happening.

What I saw was that a single plane had hit the North Tower, the reporter then followed up (in their live feed) that a 3rd plane had just crashed into the Pentagon, and that the FAA had just grounded ALL flights over or into the continental US.  Then the feeds went back to showing the second plane hit the South Tower, and we knew that life in the US would never be the same.

I remember Michelle and I talking about what food we had in storage, and what we might need if this was the beginning of something major.  We also ran down, while picking up some basics, and made sure that both cars had full gas tanks.  Then we spent the day glued to the TV, as rumors, reports and the odd blend of known fact and speculation painted a picture of the world in potential chaos.

Where were YOU?

Wow!  It has been so long since I posted anything!  I am committed to posting more regularly!!
If any of you have things you would like me to start on, please comment!  I will add some things about recent books I've read, I will continue to update on the farming experience, and I just can't help the more than occassional political commentary.  You may also frequently see just silly thoughts. "sappy" observations about life, and funny family stories.
    If you like things I post, please share them, comments are also appreciated, as feedback gives me not only more to go on, but also a sense of whether or not people are enjoying reading.

Anyway!  Off to bed.  More to come.