http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=158348990848143
This video is 16 minutes long and is Gianni giving a talk in Australia about her life. I love her words to the men in the room (and women) and I love her testimony of God and Jesus. Very inspiring.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Ed Week Notes, part 3
Last batch of quotes from my notes:
28-*How close people felt in their neighborhoods is the factor in neighborhood crime rates, not their economics.
28-*Testimony--the story of your experience with the Savior.
29-*We have a tendency to get hung up on food--focus should be on the Savior. Be zealous about kindness, charity and not the food you eat.
29-*Elder Boyd K. Packer said, "Learn to use moderation and common sense in matters of health and nutrition, and particularly in medication."
30-*Elder Neil L. Andersen said, "For most, repentance is more a journey than a one-time event. It is not easy. To change is difficult. It requires running into the wind, swimming upstream. Jesus said, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.' Repentance is turning away from some things, such as dishonesty, pride, anger, and impure thoughts, and turning toward other things, such as kindness, unselfishness, patience, and spirituality. It is 're-turning' toward God. "
31-*You are less likely to have an allergy to white wheat (25%) than red (55%).
31-*Have a 72 hour emergency kit at your workplace as well as at home.
32-*Avoidance slowly eats away at your self-esteem. Push yourself to be vulnerable. This allows you to learn that you can handle whatever happens and that even the most difficult emotions can't destroy you.
32-*Challenge perfectionism--striving for the process rather than the product.
33-*Children don't want to play as much as they want to create.
33-*All work should be slightly fun. Work = creativity time.
34-*Two things you need to know. 1-Some things are dangerous. 2-Speaking in church isn't one of them.
34-*Your attitude is the aroma of your heart. If your attitude stinks it means your heart is not right.
35-*Whenever you compromise, evil always wins.
35-*We can't dabble in sin without becoming overrun by it.
35-*Don't want to just be delighted to hear [the words of General Conference], but must be delighted to do.
35-*Pres. Howard W. Hunter said, "If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right.”
36-*Elder James E. Faust said, "We need not become paralyzed with fear of Satan’s power. He can have no power over us unless we permit it. He is really a coward, and if we stand firm, he will retreat."
36-*Elder M. Russell Ballard said, "Spiritual power over the influence of Satan comes to us by keeping the commandments of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Because He loves you and wants you to come home to Him, our Father in Heaven has given you a conscience that tells your spirit when you are keeping the Lord’s commandments and when you are not."
39-*For emergency preparedness reasons, never let your vehicles get below a 1/2 tank of gas.
40-*One study comparing men to women: Took a math test. Then tried on swim suits and took a math test. Men's test scores were no different in both groups. Women did worse on the test after they tried on the swim suits.
40-*Intuitive eating-eat when hungry, stop when full.
40-*Think of your body as a tool/instrument and not an ornament.
40-*More women suffer from bulimia and anorexia than have cancer.
40-*Our focus should be on our health, not our weight or size.
And there you have it. Highlights from Ed Week. It really was fabulous. I don't know how many new things I learned this year, but the things I heard, whether old or new, strengthened me and renewed my spirit. Now the challenge is to hold on to that...and General Conference being next weekend is just the booster shot I need. Can't wait!
28-*How close people felt in their neighborhoods is the factor in neighborhood crime rates, not their economics.
28-*Testimony--the story of your experience with the Savior.
29-*We have a tendency to get hung up on food--focus should be on the Savior. Be zealous about kindness, charity and not the food you eat.
29-*Elder Boyd K. Packer said, "Learn to use moderation and common sense in matters of health and nutrition, and particularly in medication."
30-*Elder Neil L. Andersen said, "For most, repentance is more a journey than a one-time event. It is not easy. To change is difficult. It requires running into the wind, swimming upstream. Jesus said, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.' Repentance is turning away from some things, such as dishonesty, pride, anger, and impure thoughts, and turning toward other things, such as kindness, unselfishness, patience, and spirituality. It is 're-turning' toward God. "
31-*You are less likely to have an allergy to white wheat (25%) than red (55%).
31-*Have a 72 hour emergency kit at your workplace as well as at home.
32-*Avoidance slowly eats away at your self-esteem. Push yourself to be vulnerable. This allows you to learn that you can handle whatever happens and that even the most difficult emotions can't destroy you.
32-*Challenge perfectionism--striving for the process rather than the product.
33-*Children don't want to play as much as they want to create.
33-*All work should be slightly fun. Work = creativity time.
34-*Two things you need to know. 1-Some things are dangerous. 2-Speaking in church isn't one of them.
34-*Your attitude is the aroma of your heart. If your attitude stinks it means your heart is not right.
35-*Whenever you compromise, evil always wins.
35-*We can't dabble in sin without becoming overrun by it.
35-*Don't want to just be delighted to hear [the words of General Conference], but must be delighted to do.
35-*Pres. Howard W. Hunter said, "If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right.”
36-*Elder James E. Faust said, "We need not become paralyzed with fear of Satan’s power. He can have no power over us unless we permit it. He is really a coward, and if we stand firm, he will retreat."
36-*Elder M. Russell Ballard said, "Spiritual power over the influence of Satan comes to us by keeping the commandments of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Because He loves you and wants you to come home to Him, our Father in Heaven has given you a conscience that tells your spirit when you are keeping the Lord’s commandments and when you are not."
39-*For emergency preparedness reasons, never let your vehicles get below a 1/2 tank of gas.
40-*One study comparing men to women: Took a math test. Then tried on swim suits and took a math test. Men's test scores were no different in both groups. Women did worse on the test after they tried on the swim suits.
40-*Intuitive eating-eat when hungry, stop when full.
40-*Think of your body as a tool/instrument and not an ornament.
40-*More women suffer from bulimia and anorexia than have cancer.
40-*Our focus should be on our health, not our weight or size.
And there you have it. Highlights from Ed Week. It really was fabulous. I don't know how many new things I learned this year, but the things I heard, whether old or new, strengthened me and renewed my spirit. Now the challenge is to hold on to that...and General Conference being next weekend is just the booster shot I need. Can't wait!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Ed Week Notes, part 2
(the numbers in front of the quotes and thoughts is the lecture number)
15*Revelation happens when we are pondering in a state of readiness.
16*Spiritual healing takes place in Sacrament Meeting--mostly during the administration of the sacrament.
17*Elder Scott said, "When you encourage students to raise their hand to respond to a question, while they may not realize it, they signify to the Holy Ghost their willingness to learn."
17*Elder Neal A Maxwell said, "The same God that placed that star in a precise orbit millennia before it appeared over Bethlehem in celebration of the birth of the Babe has given at least equal attention to placement of each of us in precise human orbits so that we may, if we will, illuminate the landscape of our individual lives, so that our light may not only lead others but warm them as well."
17*When it comes to things like seminary over swimming--you don't give kids choice when it deals with spiritual matters.
17*Pres. Ezra Taft Benson said, "When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives."
18*Feeling the Spirit should be like sitting on a tack--it should make you jump up and do something.
19*Elder Neal A Maxwell said, "The gross size of our talent inventories is less important than the net use of our talents."
21*Parents are not judged as parents by what their children do. We are judged by what we do and what we become as parents (ie growing closer to Heavenly Father). Children have agency. Just have influence and seek the Spirit as best we can.
21*We don't get stronger when we sin and repent. Repenting just gets us back in the "weight room." Resisting temptation gives us spiritual strength--that's why Christ is a spiritual giant.
22*Make covenants when in your strength and they help to sustain you when you are weak.
22*President Thomas S. Monson said, "How many times has your heart been touched as you have witnessed the need of another? How often have you intended to be the one to help? And yet how often has day-to-day living interfered and you’ve left it for others to help, feeling that “oh, surely someone will take care of that need.”
"We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we’re doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the “thick of thin things.” In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important causes."
22*President Thomas S. Monson said, "I may have walked where Jesus once walked, but what is more important to me is that today, I can walk where Jesus would walk if He were still with us. I can listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and minister to those the Savior would minister to today."
22*Jerry Johnston of the Deseret News wrote an article about Pres. Hinckley. He said something like, "President Hinckley longs to be where I am now. I can live out Pres. Hinckley's fantasy...I have no clue what I'd do if I were in his shoes, but I do know what he'd be doing if he were in my shoes." (out among the people serving)
24*Urgent tasks are those which call for haste, immediate action, or application of pressure. Vital tasks are those which have great meaning, significance, worth, consequence, influence, or value. They deal with preparation, prevention, planning, relationship building, and personal growth. We feel great, we feel the Spirit, and we feel contentment when our day is spent on vital tasks and not urgent ones. The urgent will diminish as we pay attention to the vital....You feel fulfilled as you schedule the vital into your week.
26*If you fear, you don't act, and that's what faith is--acting.
27*Elder Boyd K. Packer said, "Things of the Spirit need not—indeed, should not—require our uninterrupted time and attention. Ordinary work-a-day things occupy most of our attention. And that is as it should be. We are mortal beings living in this physical world. Spiritual things are like leavening. By measure they may be very small, but by influence they affect all that we do."
OK, we're 2/3rds of the way done. Lectures 28-41 will be posted in the near future.
15*Revelation happens when we are pondering in a state of readiness.
16*Spiritual healing takes place in Sacrament Meeting--mostly during the administration of the sacrament.
17*Elder Scott said, "When you encourage students to raise their hand to respond to a question, while they may not realize it, they signify to the Holy Ghost their willingness to learn."
17*Elder Neal A Maxwell said, "The same God that placed that star in a precise orbit millennia before it appeared over Bethlehem in celebration of the birth of the Babe has given at least equal attention to placement of each of us in precise human orbits so that we may, if we will, illuminate the landscape of our individual lives, so that our light may not only lead others but warm them as well."
17*When it comes to things like seminary over swimming--you don't give kids choice when it deals with spiritual matters.
17*Pres. Ezra Taft Benson said, "When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives."
18*Feeling the Spirit should be like sitting on a tack--it should make you jump up and do something.
19*Elder Neal A Maxwell said, "The gross size of our talent inventories is less important than the net use of our talents."
21*Parents are not judged as parents by what their children do. We are judged by what we do and what we become as parents (ie growing closer to Heavenly Father). Children have agency. Just have influence and seek the Spirit as best we can.
21*We don't get stronger when we sin and repent. Repenting just gets us back in the "weight room." Resisting temptation gives us spiritual strength--that's why Christ is a spiritual giant.
22*Make covenants when in your strength and they help to sustain you when you are weak.
22*President Thomas S. Monson said, "How many times has your heart been touched as you have witnessed the need of another? How often have you intended to be the one to help? And yet how often has day-to-day living interfered and you’ve left it for others to help, feeling that “oh, surely someone will take care of that need.”
"We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we’re doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the “thick of thin things.” In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important causes."
22*President Thomas S. Monson said, "I may have walked where Jesus once walked, but what is more important to me is that today, I can walk where Jesus would walk if He were still with us. I can listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and minister to those the Savior would minister to today."
22*Jerry Johnston of the Deseret News wrote an article about Pres. Hinckley. He said something like, "President Hinckley longs to be where I am now. I can live out Pres. Hinckley's fantasy...I have no clue what I'd do if I were in his shoes, but I do know what he'd be doing if he were in my shoes." (out among the people serving)
24*Urgent tasks are those which call for haste, immediate action, or application of pressure. Vital tasks are those which have great meaning, significance, worth, consequence, influence, or value. They deal with preparation, prevention, planning, relationship building, and personal growth. We feel great, we feel the Spirit, and we feel contentment when our day is spent on vital tasks and not urgent ones. The urgent will diminish as we pay attention to the vital....You feel fulfilled as you schedule the vital into your week.
26*If you fear, you don't act, and that's what faith is--acting.
27*Elder Boyd K. Packer said, "Things of the Spirit need not—indeed, should not—require our uninterrupted time and attention. Ordinary work-a-day things occupy most of our attention. And that is as it should be. We are mortal beings living in this physical world. Spiritual things are like leavening. By measure they may be very small, but by influence they affect all that we do."
OK, we're 2/3rds of the way done. Lectures 28-41 will be posted in the near future.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Finally getting around to some Ed Week notes
Semi-random chunks of stuff (sounds appetizing, doesn't it?) (the numbers refer to the lecture number):
1*We follow someone because we want to go where they are going...we follow Christ.
2*Clutter is emotional noise and it screams at you and you can't hear the Spirit.
2*If you are afraid to get rid of something just ask yourself, "What's the worse thing that could happen if I get rid of this?"
3*For internet safety: teach children how to log off immediately if anything questionable appears. Don't stay up past your spouse (and vice versa). You may need to make rules about friends' phones in the bedrooms.
4*Many are making it financially hard to serve missions by doing things like buying large homes with big mortgages at retirement so their families can have a "gathering place."
4*Wilford Woodruff said that he lives every day as if tomorrow is the end and he's still planting cherry trees.
4*Richard L. Evans said that one of the greatest calamities in the world would be the calamity of sitting around waiting for calalmities.
7*Father in Heaven doesn't bless us for the arrival. He blesses us for the trip.
8* Our level of progress and perfection equals the degree to which we can be tested.
8*Our tests are often things which make no sense and may seem contradictory (otherwise it's not much of a test--ie a non-smoker with lung cancer).
8*Without tests our faith would turn to apathy. The tendency is to become complacent and lose our faith if we aren't tested.
8*George Q. Cannon said, "If there is a point in our character that is weak and tender, you may depend upon it that the Lord will reach after that, and we will be tried at that spot, for the Lord will test us to the utmost before we can get through and receive that glory and exaltation which He has in store for us as a people."
8*John Taylor quoting Joseph Smith said, "You will have all kinds of trials to pass through. And it is quite as necessary for you to be tried as it was for Abraham and other men of God, and (said he) God will feel after you, and He will take hold of you and wrench your very heart strings, and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit for an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom of God."
9*Elder Snow in the Devotional said: The Lord expects us to learn and progress here even from the mundane things. Show up-work hard-pay attention....We are not simply to be acted upon (we must act)....Teach one another--expanding our own knowledge isn't enough....We won't always be with our kids, but Heavenly Father will ....Be a participant in church lessons--read lessons beforehand so the Holy Ghost can act upon those in attendance. You get more of the Spirit when class comes prepared to act and not just be acted upon.
10*The level of misery in any relationship is equal to the amount of distance between expectations and reality.
11*The major vehicle of influence you have with your children is your relationship with them. It's not your talent or your skill, though it is better to be talented and skilled than not....Our knowledge and our skills also enhance our influence when first, our hearts are right.
11*Since we are not perfect, we rely upon repentance to qualify us for our work. This means that to worry about being imperfect, or being guilty, or being incompetent is (with few exceptions) a waste of time!
11*It is more productive to ask, "What now?" rather than, "What if only...?" or "Why me?"
11*You can only teach what people are willing to receive....We can never decide what others will do; we can only decide what we will do.
11*Having a broken heart is like breaking a horse--it follows anything the Master asks.
12*The Savior's in the journey, not just in the end.
12*Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Lord has probably spoken enough such comforting words to supply the whole universe, it would seem, and yet we see all around us unhappy Latter-day Saints, worried Latter-day Saints, and gloomy Latter-day Saints into whose troubled hearts not one of these innumerable consoling words seems to be allowed to enter. In fact, I think some of us must have that remnant of Puritan heritage still with us that says it is somehow wrong to be comforted or helped, that we are supposed to be miserable about something.
Consider, for example, the Savior’s benediction upon his disciples even as he moved toward the pain and agony of Gethsemane and Calvary. On that very night, the night of the greatest suffering that has ever taken place in the world or that ever will take place, the Savior said, 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid' (John 14:27)."
13*Julie B. Beck, "The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life."
13*What stops us from turning our will and life over to the care of Jesus Christ and God? Perhaps it is because we don't trust them. We are afraid that if we do what He asks, He might ask us to do something out of our comfort zone.
Well, that's enough for now. Only 28 more lectures to look through.
1*We follow someone because we want to go where they are going...we follow Christ.
2*Clutter is emotional noise and it screams at you and you can't hear the Spirit.
2*If you are afraid to get rid of something just ask yourself, "What's the worse thing that could happen if I get rid of this?"
3*For internet safety: teach children how to log off immediately if anything questionable appears. Don't stay up past your spouse (and vice versa). You may need to make rules about friends' phones in the bedrooms.
4*Many are making it financially hard to serve missions by doing things like buying large homes with big mortgages at retirement so their families can have a "gathering place."
4*Wilford Woodruff said that he lives every day as if tomorrow is the end and he's still planting cherry trees.
4*Richard L. Evans said that one of the greatest calamities in the world would be the calamity of sitting around waiting for calalmities.
7*Father in Heaven doesn't bless us for the arrival. He blesses us for the trip.
8* Our level of progress and perfection equals the degree to which we can be tested.
8*Our tests are often things which make no sense and may seem contradictory (otherwise it's not much of a test--ie a non-smoker with lung cancer).
8*Without tests our faith would turn to apathy. The tendency is to become complacent and lose our faith if we aren't tested.
8*George Q. Cannon said, "If there is a point in our character that is weak and tender, you may depend upon it that the Lord will reach after that, and we will be tried at that spot, for the Lord will test us to the utmost before we can get through and receive that glory and exaltation which He has in store for us as a people."
8*John Taylor quoting Joseph Smith said, "You will have all kinds of trials to pass through. And it is quite as necessary for you to be tried as it was for Abraham and other men of God, and (said he) God will feel after you, and He will take hold of you and wrench your very heart strings, and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit for an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom of God."
9*Elder Snow in the Devotional said: The Lord expects us to learn and progress here even from the mundane things. Show up-work hard-pay attention....We are not simply to be acted upon (we must act)....Teach one another--expanding our own knowledge isn't enough....We won't always be with our kids, but Heavenly Father will ....Be a participant in church lessons--read lessons beforehand so the Holy Ghost can act upon those in attendance. You get more of the Spirit when class comes prepared to act and not just be acted upon.
10*The level of misery in any relationship is equal to the amount of distance between expectations and reality.
11*The major vehicle of influence you have with your children is your relationship with them. It's not your talent or your skill, though it is better to be talented and skilled than not....Our knowledge and our skills also enhance our influence when first, our hearts are right.
11*Since we are not perfect, we rely upon repentance to qualify us for our work. This means that to worry about being imperfect, or being guilty, or being incompetent is (with few exceptions) a waste of time!
11*It is more productive to ask, "What now?" rather than, "What if only...?" or "Why me?"
11*You can only teach what people are willing to receive....We can never decide what others will do; we can only decide what we will do.
11*Having a broken heart is like breaking a horse--it follows anything the Master asks.
12*The Savior's in the journey, not just in the end.
12*Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Lord has probably spoken enough such comforting words to supply the whole universe, it would seem, and yet we see all around us unhappy Latter-day Saints, worried Latter-day Saints, and gloomy Latter-day Saints into whose troubled hearts not one of these innumerable consoling words seems to be allowed to enter. In fact, I think some of us must have that remnant of Puritan heritage still with us that says it is somehow wrong to be comforted or helped, that we are supposed to be miserable about something.
Consider, for example, the Savior’s benediction upon his disciples even as he moved toward the pain and agony of Gethsemane and Calvary. On that very night, the night of the greatest suffering that has ever taken place in the world or that ever will take place, the Savior said, 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid' (John 14:27)."
13*Julie B. Beck, "The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life."
13*What stops us from turning our will and life over to the care of Jesus Christ and God? Perhaps it is because we don't trust them. We are afraid that if we do what He asks, He might ask us to do something out of our comfort zone.
Well, that's enough for now. Only 28 more lectures to look through.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Andrew's being transferred to Dubuque tomorrow!
From Andrew's letter today (white-washing means that both missionaries are new to an area):
Dubuque IPA: /dəˈbjuːk/ is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2008 its population was estimated at 57,222, making it the eighth-largest city in the state and the county's population was estimated at 92,724....
It is one of the few large cities in Iowa with hills, and is home to a large tourist industry, driven by the city's unique architecture, and river location. Also, it is home to five institutions of higher education, making it a center for culture and learning....
Dubuque has received a number of special designations. In March 2007, the city was recognized as one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People" by the America's Promise Youth Foundation. In April 2007, the city was voted 15th in the "Best Small Places For Business and Careers" ranking by Forbes Magazine, climbing 60 spots from 2006. In 2006, Money Magazine named Dubuque as having the shortest commute time all U.S cities at only 11.8 minutes. In June 2007, Dubuque won the All-America City Award, one of 10 cities nationally to do so. In June 2008, Dubuque was named as the "Most Livable" Small City by the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM). In 2009, Dubuque was named the 8th best small metro area to launch a small business by CNNMoney.com.
So, sounds like a nice place. Hope Andrew and Elder Dummer like it there and are successful.
Both Elder Dummer and I are both being transferred on Thursday...
Brother Crouse is taking us down to Iowa City tomorrow morning so that we can be there at 10 am. Okay, and now to the totally crazy part which never happens-Elder Dummer and I are also both staying together and are both white-washing into an area, Dubuque. The way President Jergensen explained it, we were doing so well together that he wanted to keep us together for another transfer, maybe two. And I guess he also needed a new District Leader up there in Dubuque as well. It was a combination of events that lead to this decision. Anyway, so now we know if I'm getting transferred, where I'm getting transferred, and who my new companion will be.
Interesting thing...Waterloo, Iowa City and Dubuque form a triangle...if they didn't have to travel to Iowa City first, the distance of their journey tomorrow would be cut in half.
Dubuque is very near where Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa meet up...it used to be part of the Illinois Peoria Mission before they changed the boundaries last July.
Some facts from Wikipedia:
It is one of the few large cities in Iowa with hills, and is home to a large tourist industry, driven by the city's unique architecture, and river location. Also, it is home to five institutions of higher education, making it a center for culture and learning....
Dubuque has received a number of special designations. In March 2007, the city was recognized as one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People" by the America's Promise Youth Foundation. In April 2007, the city was voted 15th in the "Best Small Places For Business and Careers" ranking by Forbes Magazine, climbing 60 spots from 2006. In 2006, Money Magazine named Dubuque as having the shortest commute time all U.S cities at only 11.8 minutes. In June 2007, Dubuque won the All-America City Award, one of 10 cities nationally to do so. In June 2008, Dubuque was named as the "Most Livable" Small City by the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM). In 2009, Dubuque was named the 8th best small metro area to launch a small business by CNNMoney.com.
So, sounds like a nice place. Hope Andrew and Elder Dummer like it there and are successful.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
labor day parade and pressure canning
Glen, Ryan, and Hannah were in the Labor Day parade, so though it wasn't high on my list of "want to dos," I went...and had a nice time. Turns out I got to sit in-between my sister-in-law Kathy and my friends Jennifer and DonNell. The day wasn't too hot and I got to eat a few tootsie rolls that were thrown from the floats. Here are some photos:
Alex grabbing some goodies.
Ryan (black shirt, black hat, far right) walked with a few others passing out fliers advertising Glen's theatre:
Glen walked the parade pulling his gorilla cart which advertised "Anne of Green Gables" on one side and "Anne of Avonlea" on the other--his 2 main plays this fall. Hannah will be in both plays as it's the theatre 2, 3, and 4 class that is putting it on.
Cousin Ben and Alex watching the parade go by.
The Young Republicans' float...can you spot Hannah?
Here's a close up--Cousin Michael (on the left) and Hannah(half-hidden behind the sign and the elbow because she was on the opposite side of her float than from our vantage point)
Now, for my new pressure canner. I used it for the first time last night...my first time ever using one. I had a bunch of ground beef I had bought on sale in the freezer, so I browned it, bottled it, and with some trepidation, pressure canned it. I now have a batch of meat on my shelf. This morning, I used my canner to bottle up some zucchini. I had a lot of dried beans and I think that will be my next project. Or perhaps I'll try bottling some of my banana peppers. It's really kind of fun,,,
Now, for my new pressure canner. I used it for the first time last night...my first time ever using one. I had a bunch of ground beef I had bought on sale in the freezer, so I browned it, bottled it, and with some trepidation, pressure canned it. I now have a batch of meat on my shelf. This morning, I used my canner to bottle up some zucchini. I had a lot of dried beans and I think that will be my next project. Or perhaps I'll try bottling some of my banana peppers. It's really kind of fun,,,
Thursday, September 2, 2010
the last 2 weeks
Arrived home from Ed Week on Saturday the 21st. On Sunday the 22nd, MacAfee downloaded an update...and after that this computer refused to work any more.
Glen brought it in to the Tech Club at the high school and Shiva was able to fix the irreconcilable differences in the programing and after 10 days of using dial-up on our old computer which uses old versions of everything (therefore limiting its usefulness to not much more than checking email), we are thrilled to have our computer back.
We were fine with using the old computer for the most part...it was the fact that Eric started his 3 online classes on Monday that was really making life a little difficult. But, all is well, at least for now.
So, I had a great time at Ed Week. I guess I'll post of few notes at a different time.
The kids seem to be off to a great start to the new school year.
As I mentioned, ERIC is taking 3 online classes: pre-calculus (which it turns out his cousin Megan is enrolled in it, too), English 101, and Psychology 102-psychology of personal and social adjustment. He is also in the WNC production of "Cinderella" where he is cast as a butcher and some other part like a villager. His cousin Michael is cast as the baker.
RYAN is taking French 4 (don't ask me why...since he has only had French I and II, but since the French teacher retired at the end of last year, she is only coming back for this one class to let those who started French finish it...in the past she has taught a French 3/4 combined...why they don't call this class French 3/4 puzzles me, but that's OK and really of no import...just makes me wonder...). He also is a TA for Mr. Holt's Algebra 1B math class. He then has statistical elements, modern physics, English, and psychology (which is something he has been gaining a big interest in over the past many months).
HANNAH starts off her day with a heavy load: English honors followed by Geometry honors followed by Modern Biology honors. She then gets to relax a little in Glen's Theatre II class. Then it's Health, Volleyball PE, and Spanish I. And, since she made the tennis team, she has practice or games everyday after school until 5. Their first match of the year was on Tuesday, however, she didn't play in it. Today they will be in Reno at Galena. Don't know if she'll be playing or not.
ALEX is settling in to his new school, EC Best, but isn't 100% happy...he misses his old friends from Numa. But his teacher is fantastic and he seems to be really enthused about the class work. He did come home from school the first day and said that he had 2 new friends...so as he develops friendships we hope he will feel happier about the change.
GLEN is getting used to the new schedule (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays he sees all his classes for about 45 minutes each; on Thursdays it's a block schedule and each block lasts almost 90 minutes and he has his 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th period classes; on Fridays it's a block schedule and he has 5th, 6th, and 7th classes with school being over early). He starts off at the HS M-Th teaching Intro to Theatre, Stagecraft 2 & 3 (set building), stagecraft 1, and Theatre 2, 3, and 4. Then he has his prep and then he ends his day at the Junior High teaching 2 theatre classes (with his nephew Joseph being one of his students). So Fridays he has his prep, then his 2 JH classes.
My paragraph for me is not going to be about school, but about our book that we read for book club this month. It was The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. WOW. What a book. It's been on my "want to read" list for years, but I tend to shy away from books that I'm afraid will be emotionally hard to take--so I've been putting it off. I will admit that I cried like a fool towards the end...so much so I almost couldn't see the words on the page, but it was so worth it.
I'm so glad I finally read it. What an uplifting book. How inspiring she and her family are. The way they relied on the Lord, tried to listen to His Spirit, served others, and were just plain good. So, I highly recommend it. Makes you think how you'd react if such a thing were to happen today. I believe that reading that book has made it so that if that were to happen today, I'd react better and be a better person that if I hadn't read it. And that makes for a book worth reading.
P.S. It was pointed out to me that I neglected to mention ANDREW in my post. Other than to say he's doing well and might be transferred next week, I don't really have any news on him. We think of him often and pray for him daily and enjoy his weekly emails. He has 10 months left to serve. It's amazing how quickly his mission is passing by...
Glen brought it in to the Tech Club at the high school and Shiva was able to fix the irreconcilable differences in the programing and after 10 days of using dial-up on our old computer which uses old versions of everything (therefore limiting its usefulness to not much more than checking email), we are thrilled to have our computer back.
We were fine with using the old computer for the most part...it was the fact that Eric started his 3 online classes on Monday that was really making life a little difficult. But, all is well, at least for now.
So, I had a great time at Ed Week. I guess I'll post of few notes at a different time.
The kids seem to be off to a great start to the new school year.
As I mentioned, ERIC is taking 3 online classes: pre-calculus (which it turns out his cousin Megan is enrolled in it, too), English 101, and Psychology 102-psychology of personal and social adjustment. He is also in the WNC production of "Cinderella" where he is cast as a butcher and some other part like a villager. His cousin Michael is cast as the baker.
RYAN is taking French 4 (don't ask me why...since he has only had French I and II, but since the French teacher retired at the end of last year, she is only coming back for this one class to let those who started French finish it...in the past she has taught a French 3/4 combined...why they don't call this class French 3/4 puzzles me, but that's OK and really of no import...just makes me wonder...). He also is a TA for Mr. Holt's Algebra 1B math class. He then has statistical elements, modern physics, English, and psychology (which is something he has been gaining a big interest in over the past many months).
HANNAH starts off her day with a heavy load: English honors followed by Geometry honors followed by Modern Biology honors. She then gets to relax a little in Glen's Theatre II class. Then it's Health, Volleyball PE, and Spanish I. And, since she made the tennis team, she has practice or games everyday after school until 5. Their first match of the year was on Tuesday, however, she didn't play in it. Today they will be in Reno at Galena. Don't know if she'll be playing or not.
ALEX is settling in to his new school, EC Best, but isn't 100% happy...he misses his old friends from Numa. But his teacher is fantastic and he seems to be really enthused about the class work. He did come home from school the first day and said that he had 2 new friends...so as he develops friendships we hope he will feel happier about the change.
GLEN is getting used to the new schedule (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays he sees all his classes for about 45 minutes each; on Thursdays it's a block schedule and each block lasts almost 90 minutes and he has his 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th period classes; on Fridays it's a block schedule and he has 5th, 6th, and 7th classes with school being over early). He starts off at the HS M-Th teaching Intro to Theatre, Stagecraft 2 & 3 (set building), stagecraft 1, and Theatre 2, 3, and 4. Then he has his prep and then he ends his day at the Junior High teaching 2 theatre classes (with his nephew Joseph being one of his students). So Fridays he has his prep, then his 2 JH classes.
My paragraph for me is not going to be about school, but about our book that we read for book club this month. It was The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. WOW. What a book. It's been on my "want to read" list for years, but I tend to shy away from books that I'm afraid will be emotionally hard to take--so I've been putting it off. I will admit that I cried like a fool towards the end...so much so I almost couldn't see the words on the page, but it was so worth it.
I'm so glad I finally read it. What an uplifting book. How inspiring she and her family are. The way they relied on the Lord, tried to listen to His Spirit, served others, and were just plain good. So, I highly recommend it. Makes you think how you'd react if such a thing were to happen today. I believe that reading that book has made it so that if that were to happen today, I'd react better and be a better person that if I hadn't read it. And that makes for a book worth reading.
P.S. It was pointed out to me that I neglected to mention ANDREW in my post. Other than to say he's doing well and might be transferred next week, I don't really have any news on him. We think of him often and pray for him daily and enjoy his weekly emails. He has 10 months left to serve. It's amazing how quickly his mission is passing by...
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