Today, I am grateful for the survival of the four crew members of the B-1 out of Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota that crashed yesterday in Montana. My prayers go up for the crew and their families, for the investigative team looking for the cause of the crash, and for the whole squadron and base at Ellsworth, up to and including our friend Col. Kevin Kennedy, the 28th Bomb Wing commander.
We spent over four years stationed at Ellsworth, and I can well imagine the impact this crash will have on the community.
This should be a reminder to all Americans that our service men and women take risks every single day whether they are deployed or not. What they train to do is dangerous, and training accidents happen despite the best-laid safety procedures and checklists, the best maintenance, the best people. We'll likely never know what happened (the Air Force keeps most investigations classified), but whatever the cause of this crash, we can be grateful today that no lives were lost in the air or on the ground, and four families are experiencing the most blessed relief right now.
CBS News Article on crash
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Gratitude Journal #201
Today, I am grateful for a date night with my honey...a wonderful dinner that I didn't have to clean up after, an outdoor concert of great music on a beautiful evening, a moon overhead. I love you, sweetie!
Today, I am grateful for eyes that let me see the beauty in the world...and the ways I can serve.
Today, I am grateful for the mood that has come over me to clean and organize stuff. That mood has been absent for a long time...too long. Time to clean!
What are you grateful for today?
Today, I am grateful for eyes that let me see the beauty in the world...and the ways I can serve.
Today, I am grateful for the mood that has come over me to clean and organize stuff. That mood has been absent for a long time...too long. Time to clean!
What are you grateful for today?
Monday, August 12, 2013
Gratitude Journal #200
Today, I am grateful for 200 weeks, each one begun with gratitude!
Today, I am grateful for my friend Barbara who offered such wonderful encouragement and support when I needed it most last week.
Today, I am grateful for five years of blogging. What a blessing this has been for me! Thank you so much for reading and keeping me going.
Today, I am grateful for five years without a single sip of Coca Cola. Just as I was starting to think that monkey was off my back, Nick bought a Coca Cola t-shirt that makes me salivate every time I see it. I'm keeping strong, though!
Today, I am grateful for the comedy and thoughtful preaching of Mark Lowry. In this clip, he says what I've long thought. He doesn't like the saying "hate the sin, love the sinner." He revises it to this: "You hate your sin, I'll hate my sin, and let's love each other." Amen!
Today, I am grateful for my new car, the beautiful red Mazda CX-9. I'm mostly used to it, and see it as the perfect replacement for my beloved VW Passat station wagon. I'm grateful to George for making me test drive it in the first place.
What are you grateful for today?
Today, I am grateful for my friend Barbara who offered such wonderful encouragement and support when I needed it most last week.
Today, I am grateful for five years of blogging. What a blessing this has been for me! Thank you so much for reading and keeping me going.
Today, I am grateful for five years without a single sip of Coca Cola. Just as I was starting to think that monkey was off my back, Nick bought a Coca Cola t-shirt that makes me salivate every time I see it. I'm keeping strong, though!
Today, I am grateful for the comedy and thoughtful preaching of Mark Lowry. In this clip, he says what I've long thought. He doesn't like the saying "hate the sin, love the sinner." He revises it to this: "You hate your sin, I'll hate my sin, and let's love each other." Amen!
Today, I am grateful for my new car, the beautiful red Mazda CX-9. I'm mostly used to it, and see it as the perfect replacement for my beloved VW Passat station wagon. I'm grateful to George for making me test drive it in the first place.
What are you grateful for today?
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Wisdom for Getting Along
My hair stylist gave me the nicest compliment today. She said, "I can't imagine anyone not getting along with you."
What a sweet thing to say! I do get along with most everyone, although I have been known to lose my cool with magazine-subscription telemarketers and a certain member of our community who holds elected office. There's also a high-school friend, college roommate, ex-boyfriend, and my dad, all of whom decided their lives were better off without me in them.
In the cases of my high-school friend and ex-boyfriend, they were right. But the college roommate and my dad seriously missed out on my wonderfulness.
All those break-ups were very long ago...well over two decades. These days, it takes a pretty serious difference of opinion to set me off. Recently, our Methodist Bible study class got into it over the issue of homosexuality. As you might imagine, opinions ran pretty strong. Pastor took a tolerant ground, I and another student took even more accepting positions, and one person took a very strong stand against. Not once did any of us raise our voices or get nasty, but we all spoke our opinion and listened to the others.
At the end of the class, Pastor announced that she would be on vacation for the next two weeks and asked the student who most disagreed with her to please teach for her. The student is dealing with some health issues, so she asked the guy who argued tolerance to teach the first of the two weeks. Then, during the next week's class, she asked if I would teach the second week because she wasn't sure she could.
That's what Jesus meant when he said, "Love one another as I have loved you." And sometimes, we Christians actually do what He commanded us to do. All four participants in the vigorous debate treated each other with respect and love.
How lovely!
On my way home from the hair appointment today, I was listening to Sirius Radio's 70's channel and Olivia Newton-John's song Have You Ever Been Mellow played. Oh, man. How do I remember all the words to that song? It was so much fun to sing along and annoy the 13-year-old who wanted to listen to Party Rock instead.
One line in the first verse stood out for me: "There was a day when I just had to tell my point of view." We all get like that, don't we? Sometimes we just have to tell our point of view. When we forget that other people have a point of view, too, and that they have good reasons for it (at least to their way of thinking), it's so easy to try to force others to agree with us.
Pinterest comes in handy on this point.
I suspect there are people in my life who think I completely and utterly agree with their point of view in all respects simply because I've never felt the need to argue with them. They are entirely entitled to their opinions, as I am entitled to mine. Rarely do disagreements or arguments result in changed opinions. Our debate on homosexuality at church demonstrated that.
I want to get along with people; I don't want to make them just like me. Besides, even the simplest disagreements have ways of escalating into arguments and knock-down-drag-'em-out fights so very easily. The best way to avoid a fight is not to show up for it.
Besides, it's generally not my job to defend my position. It's my job to love people. Please reference the Jesus quotation above.
With talk television and radio--not to mention the internet--opinions have become news. We've watched government become so polarized by opinion that we simply expect nastiness in all corners of Washington. As we become more and more saturated by media's nastiness, our own civility is being eroded, and our opinions increasingly entrenched. We feel the need to defend our opinions like politicians whose career hangs on them.
But how important in the grand scheme of life, the universe, and everything are all these opinions we hold so strongly?
Sometimes, when someone crosses the line to bigotry or hate or danger or downright evil, we should take a stand, defend the defenseless, speak truth for good.
But how often do we actually encounter those situations when our opinion makes a difference for good? How often are we merely protecting our own arrogant opinion, covering our own insecurity with aggression, or bullying others to agree with us, rather than honestly seeking good?
I wish I knew the answer to that question. I try to pour out grace, love, and forgiveness on those who try to bully me, and (mostly) I succeed. But I also know that at times I start the bad fight myself. Thankfully grace, love, and forgiveness are more powerful than my strongest opinion.
Thank you, Jesus.
What are your secrets for getting along with others? Please share!
What a sweet thing to say! I do get along with most everyone, although I have been known to lose my cool with magazine-subscription telemarketers and a certain member of our community who holds elected office. There's also a high-school friend, college roommate, ex-boyfriend, and my dad, all of whom decided their lives were better off without me in them.
In the cases of my high-school friend and ex-boyfriend, they were right. But the college roommate and my dad seriously missed out on my wonderfulness.
All those break-ups were very long ago...well over two decades. These days, it takes a pretty serious difference of opinion to set me off. Recently, our Methodist Bible study class got into it over the issue of homosexuality. As you might imagine, opinions ran pretty strong. Pastor took a tolerant ground, I and another student took even more accepting positions, and one person took a very strong stand against. Not once did any of us raise our voices or get nasty, but we all spoke our opinion and listened to the others.
At the end of the class, Pastor announced that she would be on vacation for the next two weeks and asked the student who most disagreed with her to please teach for her. The student is dealing with some health issues, so she asked the guy who argued tolerance to teach the first of the two weeks. Then, during the next week's class, she asked if I would teach the second week because she wasn't sure she could.
That's what Jesus meant when he said, "Love one another as I have loved you." And sometimes, we Christians actually do what He commanded us to do. All four participants in the vigorous debate treated each other with respect and love.
How lovely!
On my way home from the hair appointment today, I was listening to Sirius Radio's 70's channel and Olivia Newton-John's song Have You Ever Been Mellow played. Oh, man. How do I remember all the words to that song? It was so much fun to sing along and annoy the 13-year-old who wanted to listen to Party Rock instead.
One line in the first verse stood out for me: "There was a day when I just had to tell my point of view." We all get like that, don't we? Sometimes we just have to tell our point of view. When we forget that other people have a point of view, too, and that they have good reasons for it (at least to their way of thinking), it's so easy to try to force others to agree with us.
Pinterest comes in handy on this point.
 |
| source |
I suspect there are people in my life who think I completely and utterly agree with their point of view in all respects simply because I've never felt the need to argue with them. They are entirely entitled to their opinions, as I am entitled to mine. Rarely do disagreements or arguments result in changed opinions. Our debate on homosexuality at church demonstrated that.
I want to get along with people; I don't want to make them just like me. Besides, even the simplest disagreements have ways of escalating into arguments and knock-down-drag-'em-out fights so very easily. The best way to avoid a fight is not to show up for it.
Besides, it's generally not my job to defend my position. It's my job to love people. Please reference the Jesus quotation above.
With talk television and radio--not to mention the internet--opinions have become news. We've watched government become so polarized by opinion that we simply expect nastiness in all corners of Washington. As we become more and more saturated by media's nastiness, our own civility is being eroded, and our opinions increasingly entrenched. We feel the need to defend our opinions like politicians whose career hangs on them.
But how important in the grand scheme of life, the universe, and everything are all these opinions we hold so strongly?
Sometimes, when someone crosses the line to bigotry or hate or danger or downright evil, we should take a stand, defend the defenseless, speak truth for good.
But how often do we actually encounter those situations when our opinion makes a difference for good? How often are we merely protecting our own arrogant opinion, covering our own insecurity with aggression, or bullying others to agree with us, rather than honestly seeking good?
I wish I knew the answer to that question. I try to pour out grace, love, and forgiveness on those who try to bully me, and (mostly) I succeed. But I also know that at times I start the bad fight myself. Thankfully grace, love, and forgiveness are more powerful than my strongest opinion.
Thank you, Jesus.
What are your secrets for getting along with others? Please share!
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Thanks, Pamela!
Reader Pamela found the Elder commercial, which was for a Konica Minolta biz-hub, meaning my note was incorrect. Thank you, Pamela, for taking the time to find it!
"When I Was Your Age"
Enjoy!
"When I Was Your Age"
Enjoy!
Monday, August 5, 2013
Gratitude Journal #199
Today, I am grateful that Jack asked me to tell him a bedtime story last week, and I was struck with inspiration! We now have a whole series of the most ridiculous stories about the Kingdom of Raihala under the sea, where King George, Queen Susan, and princes Nick and Jack live in a coral castle and have adventures. Jack loves these stories...and so do I. Especially the one in which Jack and his friend Sophie roast a sea snake over a Greek fire and eat it after it tries to sneak up on Jack and bite him. It's funny because the snake dies.
Today, I am grateful for communion in the Methodist church...an open table where all who want to partake are welcome. Except snakes, of course.
Today, I am grateful for beautiful, moderate weather in August. We took Daisy for a walk at 4:00 PM on Sunday and didn't die of heat stroke. Last summer, we couldn't walk Daisy at 7:00 AM without taking bottled water along.
Today, I am grateful for friends who give great hugs.
What are you grateful for today?
Today, I am grateful for communion in the Methodist church...an open table where all who want to partake are welcome. Except snakes, of course.
Today, I am grateful for beautiful, moderate weather in August. We took Daisy for a walk at 4:00 PM on Sunday and didn't die of heat stroke. Last summer, we couldn't walk Daisy at 7:00 AM without taking bottled water along.
Today, I am grateful for friends who give great hugs.
What are you grateful for today?
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Nostalgia and Random Integers
This past week, despite my best intentions, has passed without an essay. It's been one truly weird and wacky week in which I have accomplished a lot, but most of it felt pretty insane, like spending nearly 3 hours at Target trying to buy back-to-school supplies.
Now, there's a topic to write about, but sadly, the resulting essay would be a whine-fest about the good-ol'-days when our moms bought a Trapper Keeper (if we were lucky), a few packs of notebook paper, and pencils. Today, supply lists are top-secret protected files online, not accessible by the parents who need them even when the parents have smart phones. Seriously, here's the message I get when I click on the link:
And don't tell me that Target has lists for area school districts because the schools told me that they would have such lists and. Target. didn't. At least not for my school district.
Whine and complain, whine and complain. In the end, the mom of one of Nick's friends typed the 8th grade list on Facebook for me. What an unexpected kindness.
Let's just reflect on that wonderful kindness and move on, shall we?
I also sorted through my office papers. These things breed, and culling the herd mercilessly took all of yesterday morning. In the process, I found bits of paper with the following notes on them.
1. If something such as wallpaper requires lessons in a magazine to "demystify," should we be doing it?
8. Why does a photo of hair on Pinterest have the caption "good color for fall"? Seasonal hair color? How do people pay for these things?
42. "There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge." Bertrand Russell
61. From Biz Dock ad: "The Elder...he who speaks of floppy disks." Oh, how I wish I could find this ad on YouTube! Remember how much an improvement the 3.5" disks were over the 5.25", or are you not an Elder?
62. Which reminds me of THIS, which is proof that humans are good and wonderful.
3. "When we're up against a struggle and we think we can't keep going, we can change that by praising God. Our chains will fall from us." Don Piper
1567. "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you." 1 Peter 5:6-7
32. "If cellulite looks so cute on a baby's butt, why doesn't it look cute on mine?" Susan Raihala
7. A wish list of stamp sets and inks I wanted to buy six months ago, some of which I surely still want.
Now I can throw all these pieces of paper away. Yay!
My elder son has taken a fancy to physics, largely under the influence of Dr. Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter. With typical 13-year-old confidence, he believed that he could master the subject quickly and began to get frustrated when he encountered equations like this:
He asked me to explain some similar equations, and--proud moment in parenting!--I didn't laugh at him. Instead, I explained that before one can run, one must crawl and then walk, and then build endurance. Only I didn't use a clunky and clichéd metaphor, I really said, "You need to know a lot more algebra before you can follow physics equations." So he asked me to teach him algebra.
We went to Barnes and Noble and bought a book on Algebra 1, which he is beginning with enthusiasm. My son's desire to be a geek is going to make my brain hurt, but perhaps that's a good thing. I used to know all this math (up to and including calculus, actually), back in the Floppy Disk Era, but that disk doesn't run into today's drive, if you know what I mean.
When Nick starts asking me about Chaucer's Canterbury Tales or the death of feudalism, I'm going to score some wins, though. A medievalist mom can dream, can't she?
On an unrelated subject, it's 36 days until Ironman Wisconsin. George and I will drive to Madison, Wisconsin, where we will stay in a lovely hotel just one short block from Starbucks and two blocks from the finish line. I will support my demented husband as he tries, once again, to complete this 140.6-mile race. His current record is 3 Finishes, 3 DNFs. Yes, he's attempted Ironman races 6 times before. De. Ment. Ed.
This year, we are joined by my sister-in-law, Angela, and her husband, Mike. Mike's the demented one in that pair. Angela and I will happily carry their bike pumps and cheer them on as they swim, bike, and run their way to utter exhaustion.
Also, it's just 23 days until school starts. The most wonderful time of the year.
Good times, people. Good times.
And then there's this clip from Ellen I watched last night. Because we all need to cry about sloths, don't we?
Have a lovely weekend.
Now, there's a topic to write about, but sadly, the resulting essay would be a whine-fest about the good-ol'-days when our moms bought a Trapper Keeper (if we were lucky), a few packs of notebook paper, and pencils. Today, supply lists are top-secret protected files online, not accessible by the parents who need them even when the parents have smart phones. Seriously, here's the message I get when I click on the link:
403 - Forbidden: Access is denied.
You do not have permission to view this directory or page using the credentials that you supplied.
I need credentials to access a school supply list? Seriously?And don't tell me that Target has lists for area school districts because the schools told me that they would have such lists and. Target. didn't. At least not for my school district.
Whine and complain, whine and complain. In the end, the mom of one of Nick's friends typed the 8th grade list on Facebook for me. What an unexpected kindness.
Let's just reflect on that wonderful kindness and move on, shall we?
I also sorted through my office papers. These things breed, and culling the herd mercilessly took all of yesterday morning. In the process, I found bits of paper with the following notes on them.
1. If something such as wallpaper requires lessons in a magazine to "demystify," should we be doing it?
8. Why does a photo of hair on Pinterest have the caption "good color for fall"? Seasonal hair color? How do people pay for these things?
42. "There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge." Bertrand Russell
61. From Biz Dock ad: "The Elder...he who speaks of floppy disks." Oh, how I wish I could find this ad on YouTube! Remember how much an improvement the 3.5" disks were over the 5.25", or are you not an Elder?
62. Which reminds me of THIS, which is proof that humans are good and wonderful.
3. "When we're up against a struggle and we think we can't keep going, we can change that by praising God. Our chains will fall from us." Don Piper
1567. "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you." 1 Peter 5:6-7
32. "If cellulite looks so cute on a baby's butt, why doesn't it look cute on mine?" Susan Raihala
7. A wish list of stamp sets and inks I wanted to buy six months ago, some of which I surely still want.
Now I can throw all these pieces of paper away. Yay!
My elder son has taken a fancy to physics, largely under the influence of Dr. Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter. With typical 13-year-old confidence, he believed that he could master the subject quickly and began to get frustrated when he encountered equations like this:
He asked me to explain some similar equations, and--proud moment in parenting!--I didn't laugh at him. Instead, I explained that before one can run, one must crawl and then walk, and then build endurance. Only I didn't use a clunky and clichéd metaphor, I really said, "You need to know a lot more algebra before you can follow physics equations." So he asked me to teach him algebra.
We went to Barnes and Noble and bought a book on Algebra 1, which he is beginning with enthusiasm. My son's desire to be a geek is going to make my brain hurt, but perhaps that's a good thing. I used to know all this math (up to and including calculus, actually), back in the Floppy Disk Era, but that disk doesn't run into today's drive, if you know what I mean.
When Nick starts asking me about Chaucer's Canterbury Tales or the death of feudalism, I'm going to score some wins, though. A medievalist mom can dream, can't she?
On an unrelated subject, it's 36 days until Ironman Wisconsin. George and I will drive to Madison, Wisconsin, where we will stay in a lovely hotel just one short block from Starbucks and two blocks from the finish line. I will support my demented husband as he tries, once again, to complete this 140.6-mile race. His current record is 3 Finishes, 3 DNFs. Yes, he's attempted Ironman races 6 times before. De. Ment. Ed.
This year, we are joined by my sister-in-law, Angela, and her husband, Mike. Mike's the demented one in that pair. Angela and I will happily carry their bike pumps and cheer them on as they swim, bike, and run their way to utter exhaustion.
Also, it's just 23 days until school starts. The most wonderful time of the year.
Good times, people. Good times.
And then there's this clip from Ellen I watched last night. Because we all need to cry about sloths, don't we?
Have a lovely weekend.
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