Never Forget

Eleven years ago today a tragedy hit our country.  We were knocked down, but we didn't stay down.  We will never forget the events of that day.  I will never forget.  The emotions are still raw.  This morning at school we had a moment of silence before the pledge.  I got so emotional.  I couldn't say the words of the pledge--I could only mouth them so no one would know that I wanted to cry.  The evil that exists in our world today makes me so sad.  But thinking of this beautiful, blessed country that I am privileged to live in makes me proud.  God bless America!

Quite the Surprise

Last school year was my first year teaching Seminary.  We studied the Old Testament and oh what fun we had!  Probably the most fun for me was finding and making cool objects and visuals to enhance our studies.  Case in point is this awesome golden calf that I made while we were studying Exodus, Moses, the Children of Israel and the Ten Commandments.

It was super easy.  I just bought a cow pinata from the party store and spray painted it gold.  I actually used it a few times throughout the year when we talked about the "idols" in our lives that distract us from what is really important.

This past Sunday one of my graduating seniors came up to me.  He had just returned from a European trip with the high school band.  He said that while he was in Switzerland he saw something that made him think of me and our Seminary class.  Naturally I was really touched that he would think of ME while on his grand adventure in Europe.  And then he said that he bought it for me.  I said, "NO, you did NOT!"  "Yes, I did!" he said.  So he pulls out this box.

And then he opens it and shows me what was inside....

A Golden Calf!!!  I couldn't believe it.  I was practically jumping up and down with glee.  How cool is this?!  I told him I will treasure it forever, and I will!

I'm hoping I find an opportunity to use it while teaching the New Testament this year.

And here is a final picture of Mama Golden Calf with Baby Golden Calf.

See, it doesn't take much to make me happy.

Lizard Rock

My friend Dee and I have been taking a hike early on Saturday mornings on our nearby Wildwood trail.  There's one trail that takes you up to a place called Lizard Rock.  When you get to the top, you have the most magnificent view of not only our little town of Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park but also into Santa Rosa Valley.  Last Saturday the sky was so clear and the views were stunning.  I wish I had had my camera with me, but Dee managed to get these shots of me with her iPhone.  I won't post these on Facebook because I look HIDEOUS, but I need to document that I actually made it to the top.  Yay me!!

Teaching Moment

I was reading in Matthew 5 this morning and came across this little gem:
27 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

My girls have talked about seeing the movie "Magic Mike" about male strippers, so I proceeded to send this email message to my children:

" Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
Lesson for today--this is why I can't justify going to see "Magic Mike."

Then Kayla instant messaged me:

Kayla: oh.my.gosh. make me feel bad enough about wanting to see magic mike!
me: i'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty. i just saw a teaching moment and felt I should share it. we all have our free agency.
Kayla: hahaa yeah exceot you make me feel guilty by doing so!
*except
Kayla: i think this whole "i teach seminary thing" is detrimental to my life hahahaha
 
Oh, the joys of parenthood! :)

My Baby Boy

As of last Friday, this kid is officially a senior in high school. 

When did that happen?!

Here's the same kid just yesterday.

The next year is gonna be a tough one.  You may be finding me crying daily. 

Don't mind me.  Just go about your business.

Life is Hard

I'm starting to believe more and more as I get older that I think I may suffer a little bit with depression. Some days I just don't want to face anything life has to offer. And then I chastise myself. Who am I to complain? Yes, life is not what I thought it would be, but I am so blessed. There are people hungry and sleeping on the streets. That is not me. I just get so frustrated that I feel that I can't plan beyond today because I feel like I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop. It breaks my heart when my kid says, "I don't have to go on that Scout trip. I know we can't afford it. It's not a big deal." But it is a big deal. I want my kids to be kids and have life experiences. I want to go and do things and not worry that we won't be able to meet our financial responsibilities if we do. I don't want to have to worry about the car breaking down and then life would come to a screeching halt because it would suck up all of our meager resources to fix it. I want to be able to take my kid to the doctor for a physical and not worry that it's going to take me the next year to pay that bill off. I want to be able to take off when I have days off from work to visit my daughter living in Utah. I miss her and want to just go hang with her. I don't want to be the ward charity case. I am humbled and so grateful for all the help and assistance given my family over the years. But I want to be the giver. I want to be the one making the anonymous donation to help a family or individual in need. I want to have friends over for dinner and not worry that it will kill my grocery budget for the month.
I want, I want, I want. I sound ungrateful and pathetic. I've thoroughly depressed myself even more. Once I get out of this funk, I will post about all that I'm grateful for. I think I'm long overdue.
Thanks for letting me vent.

Cookie Jar

Listening to this song by Jack Johnson on my ipod this morning it really struck me.  This is who we are now, our society.  No one takes responsibility for anything.  Someone else is always to blame.  But the "blood IS on our hands."  We are the captains of our own lives--no one else.  Stop making excuses!  Man up!

I would turn on the TV
But it's so embarrassing

To see all the other people

I don't know what they mean

And it was magic at first

When they spoke without sound

But now this world is gonna hurt

You better turn that thing down turn it around

"Well it wasn't me", Say the boy with the gun

Sure I pulled the trigger but it needed to be done

Because life's been killin' me ever since it begun

You can't blame me 'cause I'm too young

You cant blame me, sure the killer was my son

But I didn't teach him to pull the trigger of the gun

It's the killing on his TV screen

You can't blame me, it's those images he sees

Well you can't blame me says the media man

Well I wasn't the one that came up with the plan
And I just point my camera what the people wanna see

Man it's a two way mirror and you can't blame me

"You can't blame me", Says the singer of the song

Or the maker of the movie which he based his life on

It's only entertainment and as anyone can see

It's smoke machines and make-up, man, you can't fool me

It was you it was me it was every man

We all got the blood on our hands

We only receive what we demand

And if we want hell then hell is what we'll have

And I would turn on the TV

But it's so embarrassing

To see all the other people

Don't even know what they mean

And it was magic at first

But let every one down

And now this world's gonna hurt

You better turn it around turn it around