Cross Fit Athlete

Our granddaughter, Lauren practiced Cross Fit in college, now out in the 'real world', she is back at it in Kennet Square. We are proud of her for being named Athlete on the month for April. 

Not finding much computer time, but am seeing lists of different things. Hope to show you some soon.

Buddies?

I love this picture of Caleb and Bryce at the farm class. I'd really like to know what they were thinking and saying. Little children are interesting to watch while they are learning friendship skills. Just getting acquainted is a stretch sometimes. Caleb is doing quite well with his people skills.  He is in the process of learning to put the interests of others before those of  himself.  That is not a natural tendency, but a practice God honors.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others  better than yourselves."  Phil. 2:3

On the home front, we are getting our hardwood floors refinished this week. Furniture is being moved from room to room. Everything is in upheaval...not sure if and when I'll be able to post a blog, but I will be trying. Hope to get to it most evenings.  

Life's Pedals

Caleb is lacking the practice in pedaling that he will need to get his first bamboo bicycle, so he can go riding with the family.  He knows how to balance a bicycle, having learned that last year. But he hadn't learned to get those pedals moving. When he can put the pedaling and balancing together he'll be ready to go.

"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give." Winston Churchill

Spring Sprung

Spring has sprung up right outside my door. Don't know of any tulips I have enjoyed as much as these right under my nose. A glorious gift of God, their large red bowls are perfect.

I've gained a few pounds since February. Now I'm wondering what I can wear that looks all right and feels good as well. In the past I would worry about things like that. However, the word of our Lord is a comfort. It shows me what is important and that is I must trust in God. He is the one who clothes even the flowers of the field. Oh how glorious they look. I will not be concerned, for God will take care of me.

Matthew 6:27-29

²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

Indoors/ Outdoors

This was taken of Caleb back in March here in Ohio.  He was  being good about it, but I know he would have rather been outdoors playing than inside looking out. Little boys are like that. 

Today I had to be outdoors when I would have much rather stayed  inside where it was warm and dry.

Actually there were a (very) few short times today that were close to pleasant if one was wearing a rain jacket. The sun peaked it's warm rays from behind the heavy clouds those fleeting moments.  

It is near the end of April. At this time of year, one expects spring, for some reason, but many years we are still in for some pretty unpleasant cold. Since it was so wet and  cold today, the brightly colored tulips were rolled up tight with little points at the top of each flower. I'm hoping to see them open back up tomorrow to take in the warmth of the sun.

I'm also hoping that people rise up and do something about the lax borders and an FBI and CIA that have been letting too much information go to waste. It is not enough to just know there are certain  jihadists within our borders. The individuals must be put out and kept out. If they don't like us so much that they want us dead, then let them live elsewhere.

I choose to worship the creator God who loves us and wants the best for us,  not a god filled with hatred. I choose the God who gave us the Psalms. I trust in His word.

May you be encouraged:

Psalm 91

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he^[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

Forget the Bubbles

Forget the bubble bath. It is nothing compared to this bathtub paint. What fun this is. Look at the happy Easter Bunny colors. Caleb had a big time painting the tub and himself. This is nice, clean fun. It makes me want to be a child again...that and those shoes with the twinkling lights in them. A second childhood is sounding pretty good right now.  lol

From my youth I remember, Liar, liar pants on fire.

Oh by the way, did you hear the White House speech on the sequester this morning?

Duck Eggs

I am praying that mother duck returns and hatches her little ducklings.  We have way too many Canada geese here, but way to few ducks.

You can read the story by clicking on the page to see it larger.

As exciting as this was for me, it was actually set back in significance when tonight after life group, the guys proceeded to disassemble our piano  so that it would go through the living room  door. We want  to store it there while our floors are being refinished \ in the great room/ kitchen.

We women were on pins and needles expecting any time that the piano would fall on them, especially when Dave crawled under it to screw off the legs. It would not fit through the door any other way.  It just didn't seem right to remove the legs with someone under the table. But they had thought about that and used a  couple of kitchen stools to keep it up and stable.

I don't know what you call the back part of a baby grand, but  they had already moved that part.  Now the pieces are leaning against a wall and I'm wondering how I will survive the floor refinishing project.

May God give us peace.

Ducks in a Row

I suppose, Caleb is demonstrating his organizational skills. He has all his ducks (match book cars) in a row.  It is an ability we should all develop  for ourselves.

I am an organized person, except that I have way too much stuff. I'm concerned at times that I have some type of hoarding disorder, but then would I recognize it in myself? Let's put it this way. I have way to much stuff, some I'm afraid to get rid of because if things get bad I, or someone I know, might need it. Yes, I believe that is a little crazy, yet I keep things like that.  There are other things  I think are too good to throw away, but I don't know anyone who would want them.  Once in a while I take a few bags of things to Goodwill, but I should take more. It's not that I'm buying that much anymore, but I have in the past.

Okay, I've been on a tangent. What I want to say is that one would think that the FBI would be organized enough to keep track of those in the country who have already been questioned about their terrorist activities. Are they too busy singling out Bible Thumpers and those who have gun collections, and then lose track of the terrorists?

It seems amazing to me that the older Tsarnaev, had gotten so much attention from many people and was interviewed by the FBI and yet he managed with only a green card to leave the country for six months last year and then reenter the country.  

It also shakes my belief in the system when people who are terrorists are not treated as such, but are given trials meant for ordinary criminals.

There is so much that confuses me about this whole thing...and there is a nagging feeling that these two were not the only ones involved.

After the attack in 2001, there were many signs around the country saying, God Bless America. Now we need signs saying God Forgive America.  I may make one.

Circles

In March, Mommy had Caleb practicing making crayon circles in his 'school' book. We are happy he is a  serious student.

Sorry, my mind is a blank  tonight.


I Peter 3:21  "... and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,"

I'm not sure why I was led to use this verse tonight, but it is one of many in the New Testament on baptism. The subject is treated very seriously and should be studied.  I would suggest that one who wants to  serve God should read everything the Bible says about water baptism.  Don't worry about what you hear from others, just read what the book says.  There have been many changes  concerning baptism since the Word of God was written.
The ones who wrote the Bible were inspired by God and 'penned' what he wanted us to know. We don't have to add anything, as a matter of fact there is a warning against that near the end of Revelations, the last book in the New Testament.

Colorado Sun

It seems like more than usual temperatures have been extremely varied up and down.  But from what I understand, that is the norm for Colorado. There is a really big range between their highs and lows. One would think it would not be an agreeable place weather wise to live. But, the extremes seem to be short lived and then they are back to the nice warm and especially sunny days. There is something about the sun out there. When it is in the 40s and the sun shining brightly, it is warm enough to wear shorts and t-shirts. I'm not sure how that works, but I've been there and seen it for myself.

I didn't ask what the temperature was on March 7th of this year when this picture was taken of Caleb, but obviously, it was plenty warm.

This morning it snowed here...at least I heard it did. I didn't notice. I've been cold all day inside. The temperatures outdoors have been mostly in the 40's... although my thermometer indoors says 70, I've been cold.  Who knows...must be age...I could use some of those western sun rays.

I couldn't help notice today while we were out that there were a few more flags. However, I remember from 9/11 there were signs in many yards saying:  GOD BLESS AMERICA. Since that time, we have lost ground there. It is no longer PC to expouse a relationship to the Lord. We might be called Bible Thumpers. How very sad.  God save us!

War Horse

Last evening, Ron and I went to Cleveland with friends to see War Horse ( part of the Key Bank Broadway Series)  at  the lovely Palace Theatre.  The Broadway Buzz before the show with Joe Garry was very informative.

 From the mid section of the third row, we had a great perspective, yet I failed to understand it well. Some of the actors, while trying to speak in accents, did not enunciate clearly and were difficult to understand.

Joey, the large horse puppet manned by three people, was intricate and certainly wonderful for a puppet, but I KNOW I would much rather see a movie  with real horses.  And from  the third  row, I would have been able to see a horse's big soft eyes, the part of the animal that grabs my heart.

In my opinion, you might want to see the play because of it's originality. But to enjoy the story and landscapes, I plan to watch the movie.

We thank our God tonight that the two perpetrators of the bombing at the Boston Marathon will now receive their just punishment...at least the  first one will and I forseee that the younger of the two, having been caught tonight will have to answer for his wickedness.

The more I think of it though, I really feel badly for these boys. According to reports, they were clean living boys, who had they been Christians, would have been encouraged to love their enemies and not to kill them. After living a full life here, they would  have inherited an eternal home in heaven with God, where there is no sickness, and no pain.

Because they heeded the Islamic call for jihad, it  is not a happy ending.  They will be extremely disappointed.

Speaking of war and disappointment...Congress voted down the extra stringent gun checks, so our lovely president went over their heads again today and made it law.  Guess we don't really need Congress anymore, since he has just taken away their power and our freedom. 

 To make it worse, he did it while we watched and prayed  for the search in Boston.

Gorilla Butt

I am so thankful for a hubby who is trying to cook now and then. After  forty some years cooking for a family, I'm done. Well, not exactly, but I really don't look forward to it very often. Ron still likes to eat, especially breakfast. Instant oatmeal with raisins just doesn't do it for him; so he has learned to cook bacon and eggs.

While John and family were here, Ron was very helpful and fixed the morning meal each day. All I had to do was clean up. He might not be the neatest guy in the neighborhood, but at least he is helping and our family is not starving in the mornings.

If you noticed the title and are wondering what that is all about, Gorilla Butt is the name of the coffee beans Ron gets from our friend Steve, who brings them from Honduras.

 I'm not a coffee drinker, not because of that name; but had I been one, those beans may have turned me away from drinking joe. I just can't imagine why in the world anyone would have named anything to be ingested with a name like that. It doesn't really sound appealing.  I don't know if our guests drink it just to be nice,  if they have a sense of humor...or if they just NEED that cup of coffee in the AM.

This evening we picked up friends and headed to Cleveland for the play War Horse.  We stopped on the way to eat at Creek side, which is our favorite place to eat before a play.

 While we were there, the FBI  released the pictures at 5:20 PM, of two who are most likely the ones who perpetrated the Boston Marathon bombing. Their web site crashed not long after the announcement was made. Obviously many people have checked to see those pictures. I'm praying that someone recognizes them and they are apprehended quickly.

Three's Company..

These pictures show how much Caleb was enjoying the water before we got the bright idea of turning on the jets.  In all on one second, John hit the jet control knob and water blasted  through the  air and Caleb jumped out of the tub. Day before yesterday, you saw him on the side of the tub contemplating the evilness of that water gone wacko. He was not getting in again.

However, when we got the idea to join him in the tub...or more accurately for him to join us there, we were successful in getting him back to the water...but even that was not easy.

 In the News:  To me, at times like this when we all feel more vulnerable, it is a comfort to know that we can go to God for shelter, as  under the wings of an eagle.   And we know that whether or not we 'catch' the one or ones who perpetrated this dastard and cowardly 'bombing' in Boston will be punished by our God in heaven. Even if some way he/they were to escape judgement here on earth, God will give them their due in the afterlife...and to their surprise it won't be virgins, 

but they will be with Satan in a fiery furnace.

I don't want anyone to end up like that, not even cruel people who would carry out such a hideous act against their fellow man.  I will pray that the one, or ones guilty will see their evil ways and turn from their wickedness and to God for forgiveness.

I pray for all those who were injured. I also ask that God  comfort their families and friends and the loved ones of those who died. I also ask God to comfort those who have been told that this is a new norm for our country. God, please save us from that type of fear.

Art in the Sun

If you 'tuned in' to see more about the bath story, sorry...I haven't gotten that  done yet.  But I've been working on Caleb pictures. Hope I never run out of those.  Here he is on a Sunday morning with his art project before going to church.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. However this week was quite a bit different. There is lots of snow.
That is Colorado. They get some big swings from hot to cold and back again.

I didn't get as much done at the computer today. Thanks to my doctor, I'm back to exercising now and of course cleaning, etc.  Tonight I'm tired...somewhat more shaken than before the Boston Marathon 'event'.

May God deliver us.

Bath Time Gone Wrong

Since I don't use my tub often (it takes too long to fill it), it took me a while to realize it was the perfect bath playtime tub. However, because I don't use it often, we had a rough beginning. We had gotten Caleb in the tub and the water was running. He had been cautious at first, since the water came out like a waterfall. Then his dad came in a thought he would make it a little more fun. He turned on the jets.  A jet of water spurted  past Caleb and up the wall. He was out of there like a flash and determined to never get back into that unruly body of water. His mom tried to comfort him. His dad tried to comfort him. Then I got an idea.  We could get into the tub with him...fully clothed of course. And that is what we did.  He still was leery, but finally relaxed a little and played in the bubbles.

I found this in my inbox this morning:

"Insufficient Funds

Insufficient funds!  What an ominous phrase.  In the great gallery of famous phrases, “insufficient funds” hangs in the same hallway with “the IRS will audit your account.” “A root canal is necessary,” and “Let’s stop dating and just be friends.”

You’re overdrawn! You gave more than you had to give. You spent more than you had to spend. And guess who has to cough up some cash? What do you do if you don’t have any money? What do you do if you have nothing to deposit but an honest apology and good intentions? You pray that some wealthy soul will make a huge deposit in your account.

If you’re talking about your financial debt, that’s not likely to happen. If you’re talking about your spiritual debt, it already has. Your heavenly Father has covered your shortfall. In God’s house you are covered by the roof of His grace! "

Lucado Max

Catchy title, right?  You bet. Max does a great job each day with his message.

You can get his weekday email at MaxLucado.com.

Having lived in Boston and attending the marathon on Patriot's Day, I am praying for all those involved with the terrorist 'bombing' at the end of the 'track' today.  Please join me in prayer that as a nation, we will turn back to God and that He will save us from those who would do us harm.

Ladies' Retreat

Cinnamon, Carrie, Memphis, Lou Ann, Jan and Emily

Ladies' Retreat is something we girls look forward to all year.  Not long after retreat is over, planning begins for the next year.  All that work pays off, for many women come back year to year, some traveling to get to the Cuyahoga Valley.

This year was no different. There were inspiring speakers, singing,  games, mixers, crafts and then our talented Jane presented her Hilarious Half comic routine that  tested the limits of sanity. We got a little nuts and laughed like crazy.

We have been taking group pictures for years and this year, because of threatening rain, we posed inside.  It wasn't as scenic, and a few people were pretty much hiding behind others. We still got a fairly good photo.

Several of us younger [sic] girls in the front row decided we wanted to spice up the picture a bit.

Oh, it is okay. As you can see we did behave for the first shots.

Mason and his dad have a good time. I've had these pictures since St Patrick's Day.  Think I'm behind in the scrapbooking? It's worse that you think. I need to do a book of my hubby's family. I would also like to do a book of my family life from 1951- 1961. But on top of that, I could also make at least one more book of the first four children's early childhood.  

We had Ladies' retreat this weekend at the Cuyahoga Vally National Park. I'm starting to nod, so must get to bed before I actually fall out of this chair. 

Tomorrow, I'll be working on getting some pictures together for the Ladies' Retreat History book which Paulette has made for us over the last 35 or so years. Am also hoping to get a copy of the group picture that Sali took this afternoon.

Good night. 

Snakes

What is it about boys and snakes?  Or perhaps I should say, what is it about girls and snakes. I know I'm making a generalization and I know lots of countering examples, but back in the old days, as they used to say, there was a difference. Girls despised snakes and trembled while boys wanted to grab them.

The day Caleb was patting this snake, I was feeling so very glad the man holding it had experience and would not let that slithering thing loose.

Once when we lived in Massachusetts and I was gathering big rocks to build a wall, I encountered a snake.  If I've told the story here before, I'm sorry, but it shows my fear of snakes. I would say phobia, but that is an unreasonable fear.

As I bent down to pick up a large stone, the front 18 or so inches of a snake shot up at me.  the rest remained in a coil. He didn't strike. I consider that a miracle. I froze in fear and he just stayed there as still as I was.  Finally after getting a great look at him and somehow mustering enough nerve, I took off running for the house. Once there, I pulled out my snake book (I had two boys at the time)  and identified that fellow. Although it looked exactly like a copperhead, I didn't believe it was . Surely there were no copperheads in Massachusetts. So I called the wildlife department to get some help. Yes, it was a copperhead. I never ever went out in my yard again as long as we lived there.

From what I read in the news these days, I believe all the snakes have gone to Washington, DC.

Climbing

Caleb certainly enjoyed his day at Amazone. He didn't bother to play with the younger kids like himself, but chose to chase the older children. His mom was keeping a good eye on him, crawling through the tunnels, etc with him.

 You can get an idea of the immensity of it all by the pictures.

Speaking of immense.  Have you noticed the difference in the economy of Texas versus that of the rest of the country?  Governor Perry attributes that  to low taxes and less regulation. In other words, 'freedom' is good for the economy. We've seen it before during the depression when regulations held back a recovery. 

 We should learn from history, but those who refuse to study history (I do admit that while I was in school, I didn't like the subject. ) fail to recognize the lessons learned in the past. Many of these things have happened over and over again ...but here we go again.  We have allowed, even helped, each generation get more spoiled that the last, each generation expecting more and more to be given them, until other people's money runs  out and the whole system fails. 

One decision Governor Perry has made makes me want to move to Texas in spite of the heat there. That is, he says he is turning down the Obamacare Medicaid expansion.   He said it is a federal 'bait and switch' that will leave states holding the bill.

Quiet Time

I had hoped to write about Texas and Governor Perry tonight, but a big lightning storm is moving in and I'm shutting down the computer.

Pretense

Am I in my second childhood, or does this come along with grandmotherhood? I like  to pretend.

While Caleb was visiting...it seems  so long ago now... we did a little shopping at Toys R US, very little, so as not to spoil him and being considerate of luggage space.  The highlight of our trip was a ride right inside the  door. Caleb noticed it...of course. We rounded up a quarter  or two and he jumped into the driver's seat.  Here's where my love to pretend comes in. I grabbed a few pictures that would make it look like he was actually on Sesame Street. The photoshopping was fun...Cookie Monster decided he wanted in the picture as well.

Now if only I could pretend  that the youthful little Korean leader was playing golf instead of making war threats. Well I guess I could pretend, but  he  keeps reminding us that any day now he might bomb all our Toys R Us stores. Yikes!

Tough and Reslient

Whenever Caleb is here, we drag out his dad's old toys. They are 3o years old.  Back then they made them well. Most are Fisher Price and are made of heavy plastic. In the top pictures, he was trying to make the propeller go around. He figured it out, but it was hard enough for him to squeeze that he couldn't make it spin fast and he was getting frustrated. 

When these toys were new, as was Margaret Thatcher  as the Prime Minister of the 

United Kingdom. She was tough and resilient like those toys.

She was witty as well as wise, and I quote, "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't."

Here is one I've heard a lot and didn't know to attribute it to Margaret Thatcher., " If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman."

This one reminds me of what is going on today in our political scene:  "I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left."  I wish that people realized that today, because that is exactly the tool they use...discredit everyone  by whatever it takes. It doesn't have to be true. It just has to be repeated  enough times by enough people. Thus... 'talking points'.

Go Artistic Using PSE

I really enjoy the creativity that is possible with PSE (Photoshop Elements). In case you don't know about it, it is a cheaper version for digital scrapbookers, etc who are not likely to buy  Photoshop because of the prohibitive price charged to companies.  You might think it isn't very good, because of the difference in  price...approximately $100 while the price of Photoshop is about $600.  I would assume that, if I didn't know better.  There really isn't a lot of difference and PSE is easier to use.

I would advise anyone wanting to do digital scrapbooking or simple editing of photos to buy PSE. 

Above is an example of one of the artistic things that can be done.  Go ahead, click to enlarge it and take a look.  You may or may not like the affect, but surely you would admit it adds some interest to the layout.

This is our grandson Caleb and his dog Rado. If you knew how many years Rado was an 'only child', you would appreciate the way he has taken to Caleb. I love these boy/dog photos.  

Today has been a rough one in this household. Don't take me wrong...there's nothing tragic, but there are irritations.  What is the saying?  things happen in threes? Well we have three 'worries' for the day. I am praying that God works them all out before long so that we can keep our eyes on the one who will lead us home.   

May God bless you with peace and comfort.

Have your cell phone?

If you enlarge the layout, you can read the story behind this picture.

Twasn't long ago that a person could get in a car and drive across the country without a cell phone. Yes, it was really possible.  But now I can't run down to the corner grocery without mine. What if something would happen?  Of course everyone else has one and if something did happen,  at least 6 people would probably call for help.  We have turned around and gone home several times to get a phone...even when another person, or persons, in the car had one in a pocket or purse.  Pathetic, isn't it?  We are so attached, so dependent. Oh that we could be as dependent on God, making sure we had Him with us on every outing and keeping Him close at hand at home as well.

But instead of keeping Him near, way too many are trying to escape His sight...as if they could.

Something new in the news (I guess it should be new, hence the name 'news') is the decision by a federal judge to allow the morning after pill to be bought by any girl, regardless of her age. It just doesn't make sense. Parents have to make sure our young children get vaccinations and have medical care. We are responsible to see they get an education, etc. But when something this big and life changing comes along, a parent doesn't even have to know about it.

Doesn't it seem frightening that a mere child in elementary school can buy drugs that will kill a baby, and not need any kind of medical supervision?  or moral support? There is a lot of side effects caused by morning after pills.

Dr. David Samadi, Vice Chairman of Mt Sinai's Department of Urology said the pills often cause bleeding. He also said, It affects hormonal changes and must be done under doctor supervision...not just on your own.

When children are young, they rarely have what it takes to make decisions that will affect their whole lives.  With peer pressure it opens the door for them to become sexually active at younger and younger ages. It will not be healthy for them to open themselves up to all the sexually contracted diseases as well.

Somewhere here we've left God and His word out of the picture.

Pray that  this decision is over thrown by others who are much wiser than US District Judge Edward Korman.

Much Needed Haircut

I fought this for quite some time. Hadn't had my haircut this year until a couple of weeks ago. Then I told her to just give it some shape. I wanted it to get long...why? I don't really know. I just got a good start on it when me hairdresser was in Wales for long while.  

Yesterday, I couldn't stand it any longer. I'm used to waking up and shaking my hair back into place, if indeed it had moved during the night.  No hair spray. No fuss. But with the longer hair, I found out why people say 'bed hair'. Yikes! Mine looked like someone turned a mixer on, in it every morning. Too much work  trying to get it to look fairly good.  Not worth the time...I am getting older, you know. I have better things to do...

Now that I'm satisfied with me hair, I wish there were some quick fixes for a nose that won't stop growing. 

 Enough vanity.  On to the news. 

President Obama sparked a controversy when he called California's Kamala Harris the 'best-looking attorney general in the country.'  

She is the lady on your right.  

More questions were raised when Michelle called herself a 'single mother'.

I have no comments , opinions perhaps, but no comment at present.

Schools

The first video game I knew about was Pac Man, if you can call that one. I remember staying up late at night playing it because the kids fought over it all day. I would put them to bed and sit there for hours wearing a blister ... I think it was on my thumb. I can remember what the big yellow case looked like and of course, Pac Man.  But that is all I remember. 

At that time, we would have never thought that some day two years olds, ( Caleb had just turned three.) would be playing games on a small flat  hand held telephone! 

 I also remember our first portable  phone. It was made by Motorola in the early 70's.   

   

                     

We bought it so that we could have it when we were out in the boat.  It was the size of maybe 25-30 of our cell phones today and had an extendable antenna on it.  We had another antenna on the roof of our house.  The phone would work as long as we weren't too far from that antenna. I don't remember how far that was, but I'll guess only about a mile. 

The game came out a few years after that... back in the old days...1980.  

While watching America Idol tonight, I saw a commercial for home schooling using  a computer.

It is sad how many people now find it better to school their own kids than to send them to public schools. Of course  our youngest would have been homeschooled, it we hadn't been able to send him to a private, Christian school...and that was back in the 80's.

While many of us are eschewing public schools, one of  our schools along the border with Mexico is teaching Mexicans. Yes many immigrants now live in the US and many illegal aliens as well.  But the school in Naco, AZ  has 60 elementary age kids...who actually live in Mexico.  Each day, they all come together across the border unattended and after school, return on the same path.

Jason Chaffetz (R- Utah) has been touring the US- Mexico border recently to  document the dire need for enhanced security all along it.  He says that the children are not tall enough to ride most of the rides at Disneyland and yet they are crossing an international border alone.

Where are our leaders? While about the only thing our federal government is supposed to do for us is protect us, we are now pretty much left on our own to do that. And while that is true, now Americans who have been frightened by the liberal press  are joining those in authority who are trying their best to strip us of guns that our Constitution encouraged for our protection.

I pray it is not too late to take our heads out of the sand.

Keyboards

Music runs deep in the family. Ron's dad played a banjo and sang in a barbershop quartet. His mother was a great  honky tonk pianist who played by ear. He learned to play an accordian as a boy and plays the  piano as  well. 

I took piano lessons for six years, but quit practicing after I found my adult handspan was not adequate.

 Caleb's dad played the saxophone and taught himself to play a guitar while he and Beth were in Bulgaria.

His mom played the chello  from the 3rd grade, through high school.

Caleb had played around with musical instruments including drums, a guitar, Ron's old glockenspiel and of course the piano. I certainly will be surprised if he doesn't do well when he starts lessons, if he even needs them.

He always likes to play around with our piano, but this year he surprised us by quickly turning it on, finding the presets and using them.  I still have no idea how to do that...oh yes, I can turn it on...but that is only because it simply has an on/off switch and I did manage to find where it is hidden.

Last night I was reprimanded for posting a couple of layouts and neglecting to blog. I won't attempt to make up for that tonight. But while I can still hold my eyes open,  I'd like to give my opinion of the PC pronouncement that the  term 'illegal immigrant' is no longer permissible. Now, the term came into being just a short time ago...replacing 'illegal alien', which in fact is who we are talking about. A person can not be an illegal immigrant, because the term 'immigrant' suggests that he/she has come into the country legally. 

Now that we no longer have free expression, but our language is being changed radically to put our brains in boxes that fit with the new leftist agenda, we must understand that we may no longer use 'illegal' to refer to a person, but only an action.  This is as in the newly changed way of referring to a schizophrenic as a person diagnosed  with schizophrenia. 

It is pointed out that language evolves. Yes, that is true, but usually it is over time and not mandated by the press and  media.  

Forgive me if I am not PC. I don't mean to be cruel or rude, but I still prefer to call a rose, a rose and a spade, a spade.

Recently I heard an even better term used for illegal aliens...that is Undocumented Democrats. Okay, I know that is a stretch...but it is funny if you realize why our borders may as well have welcome signs.

Quiet Time

With a boy who has just turned three, there isn't much time to be still. There is too just much to do. But Caleb was winding down, cuddling in his mother's embrace, playing a computer game. It was almost time to crawl into bed. He was tired. It's a sweet time for mother and child.

I'm loving the feel of this page. Doilies are 'in' right now for scrapbooking pages. I'm really not sure how these styles come about. Are doilies in with decorating? I don't think so, but perhaps I've just missed it. They don't seem to go with other looks in model homes I see.  So who decides what the style is for layouts?  Whatever the case, I like the look and in my opinion, it is especially nice with this layout.

Another style that has become popular lately in digital scrapbooking is a copy of  regular paper/ glue scrapbooks which have become simplified with plastic pocket pages, where one just drops photos, cards, etc. into pockets.  On March 24th  I did one of those pages.  It is fairly popular in the digital world, but I don't get the point. It isn't any easier... actually it may be a little harder in some ways...and the look is definitely not as finished as an artistic approach.

It's been a quiet day here, at least on my part.  I managed to change the linens, but other than that, I've pretty much been at the computer. I opened the door twice to accept deliveries, but other than that... 

QUIET. On a regular busy day, I would have dreamed about having a day like this, but sorry to say I haven't appreciated it as much as I thought I would. So back to normal tomorrow.

Wish we could go back to the normal in our world, back to when people were less likely to harm others for fear of being caught, punished and being ashamed. That is gone now. It is a sad time in our history.