My middle daughter was inducted into the Oklahoma Indian Student Honor Society tonight.
It was a nice ceremony. The prayers were offered in Native and English languages. There were attendees from all over the state, freshmen in high school through college age. Dinner was provided us (the parents) by our local Indian Education rep. which was a nice perk. It would have cost 20.00 a head.
We were impressed with the quality of students in attendance. They gave out three scholarships to graduating seniors and then each of the inductees were presented a certificate, a copy of the creed, and an Eagle pin.
All they ask of these students is to make their heritage a priority - giving recognition where it is deserved - and to keep doing excellent work.
It was a nice evening with husband and daughter. I hope there will be many more like it in the future. : )
To my dear sister, Guitpicken.
May your day be filled with lots of joy!
LOVE YOU!
Me? Inspired? Yes. Inspired to write my own thoughts. No.
Here is what this mother has to be thankful for today. The heart of my daughter! What I share today are her words, not mine! (See below!)
She struggles with language output, processing, social/peer relationships, low muscle tone, loneliness, etc. But there is one thing I am confident of at this time. She is CLOSE to God and her heart is very pure and is filled with HIS joy. What I see from this piece isn't a perfectly written English essay. (The assignment was to write an Admiration/Hero essay, to do many certain things like to include a simile in the first paragraph and explain it somewhere in the writing, to have a strong thesis, smooth transitions to next paragraphs, etc. etc.) What I see is a picture of a girl who is resilient!
Thank you for the gift of this daughter and thank you that she has learned to be strong in the face of her many struggles.
He Is An Example To Me
He died on the cross to forgive me and to give me hope and a future! The person I admire the most is God’s son. His name is Jesus. I believe that God and Jesus are one. Jesus has given many miracles and blessed people. He is always there for me when I need Him. His love for me is like dew on the grass, beautiful and shining, but only He knows the exact amount. His ways are an example of how I should live my life every day.
The most amazing examples to me are in the stories of Moses. When Moses went down the river, God heard Moses’ mother’s prayer and answered her prayer. He did this so Moses could grow up and save the Hebrews from Egypt. God’s plan worked well. This story also had God send plagues to make pharaoh’s heart hardened until pharaoh changed his mind to let them go. Then God wrote the Ten Commandments which He wrote with His own finger. I have learned I am breaking His commandments if I disobey any of them and that there are consequences when I do. The commandments were written because God loves me and He wants the best for me. Jesus gives these examples which help me realize that God is powerful and in control. He does not want me to hurt because He loves me and cares for me.
God also wrote two awesome stories that help me think about the choices I make and about living life with passion. The first story is about Jonah and the whale. When Jonah chose to go a different way instead of the way God instructed, Jonah ended up in the belly of a whale. This was his punishment for disobeying God. Jonah prayed for forgiveness. After a few days in the belly of the whale he was spewed out . Then Jonah went the right way and told others about God. Then there was Daniel. When he was young the chief official gathered people to serve the king. The king wanted them to eat from the king’s table. Daniel chose not to and asked for vegetables and water. The king had a dream and Daniel stepped up to interpret the dream. In the dream something bad happened to the king. Daniel’s friends were not faithful to the king and they didn’t want to worship his gods, so he threw them in the fiery furnace. But this king, King Nebuchadnezzar, found favor in Daniel because the dream he interpreted came true. Daniel had a passion for the Lord and was obedient to God in everything. He didn’t worship idols or follow the king. Then there was King Darius. He became Daniel’s friend. Some of King Darius’ men convinced him to change rules. They caught Daniel praying to God, which was disobeying their rules, and reminded the king that he had to follow the edict. The king was distraught because Daniel was his friend. The administrators reminded him he couldn’t change the law. Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den because he remained faithful to God. These examples show that there is truly only one God and that if I am passionate about doing things His way, I will bring honor to God. I want to live my life that way. I want to be faithful always.
His birth and the miracles He performs have shown me that I am to be in awe of Him. Jesus was born to a virgin named Mary. He was born so we might worship Him and bring Him joy. He was baptized by John the Baptist. When Jesus walked on earth he performed many miracles. He walked on water and calmed a storm. He healed people. He provided food for them. He told many stories with lessons to help us understand right from wrong. He even raised people from the dead. I am not able to do these things. I wish I could. The reason these things are important to me is because they show me His power and His love for me and others. These help me everyday to have faith in things I can’t understand because I know there is sometimes a bigger plan. They also help me realize that there are others around me that might not understand why He would do these things. Being in awe of Him has helped me see that I have a lot of potential and reasons to live my life a certain way because someone watching me might want the peace and joy that I have. Because I have joy, I want to praise Him and worship Him. I choose Him. I have hope. His greatest miracle was dying on the cross and being raised from the dead. This shows me that I am forgiven and loved.
God’s love for me is the reason I live each day. I want to follow the commandments the best I can so I can show other people I care. I want to make wise choices and live my life with passion because others are watching. I want to be found faithful so I might show others I’m confident in my future with God. God is love and His love inspires me to share it with others. It is beyond measure.
Well, it was bound to happen. In sixteen years of parenting we've never experienced dealing with a broken limb. Today, that all changed. My early to rise daughter wanted to go for a morning bike ride. Knowing her friends weren't up yet I encouraged her to stick close. Five minutes after departing the house, there was a persistent knock at the front door. The shadows outside were multiple and for a minute my heart took a giant leap with fear. I opened the door and didn't recognize the face that was stuck inside my foyer. This gentle voice looked eye to eye with me and said, "Your daughter is hurt. She's broken her arm." Just like that. Seemed like the blinking of an eye!
I called the pediatrician's office and the recording said to go to a minor emergency in cases such as this. So I slid some shoes on, threw on a hoodie, and off I went. Thankfully I'd already been out earlier in the morning to drop my middle daughter off for a water conservation project she's working on or I might not have been ready to meet the people I would encounter in the hours to come. I looked LOVELY (N O T) but it didn't matter if my hair wasn't all brushed, my make-up wasn't right (even smeared a bit under the eyes) and I wasn't FULLY clothed, if you know what I mean. Not that it mattered what I looked like. I was staring at an arm that wasn't shaped much like an arm at the moment...
I attemped to call hubby who was working at American this morning. Then after several more tries, I tried my brother-in-law, my sister-in-law, my mother-in-law, my husband's work, my husband's boss, my friends, etc. HELLO! Anybody?!?! (Dear Sister of Mine, is THIS "Alone?" If so, I finally got my ALONE time.) The rest of the family was all at a major "run" in town. Even my two year old and four year old niece and nephew were running. SO, MULTIPLE attempts at hubby's phone went unanswered...but thankfully right as I was pulling in at the Urgent Care, he called, first laughing at my "persistence in calling" and asking "did you need something important" was the question he asked. He was there in about ten minutes. LOL!
The doctor that greeted us within ten minutes happened to be a man I'd bowled against a couple years ago. "Knowing" him calmed me a good bit. They treated her well there. They first dealt with her heart, then her pain (hefty pills after her adamant refusal to take a shot in the hip), then her brokenness. They even noticed she was "faint" and took time to rub wonderful cream on her arm - cream to keep her from having an upset stomach. (Um...it didn't work after the heavy stuff was administered later.)
They quickly figured out that she is best cared for if one explains EVERY bit of the process, because she wants to know all the details. They tended to that nicely. She knows all about the radius and the ulna, joints, x-rays, and all the different equipment. It just doesn't seem right talking to your ten year old about some stuff, like connective tissue and the like. LOL!
After looking at the breaks on x-ray determined it was best for them NOT to set it there but rather to get to an orthopedic doctor at the hospital. They made the call and arranged for him to come on in then proceeded to prepare her for transport. She had lovely road rash all over the right side of her body (head to toe!) and her left side only had the broken bones and a few open wounds right at the wrist level. LOTS of neosporin.
I do want to throw in some extra special kuddos for this Urgent Care doctor. He'd received a phone call right after we arrived. His own 12 year old was on her way in. She'd been playing soccer - the goalie - and apparently her leg was broken. Maybe that is why he determined to get an orthopedic doctor to the local hospital? (As opposed to us driving to "town" to a much bigger facility. We have TWO new hospitals in our town.) I have to commend him for staying focussed on us (and his other patients with varius ails!) while wondering what his own daughter was facing. We actually briefly met - in the portico out front of the hospital - as mine got out of the wheelchair, he put his daughter right in it. We never saw them at the main hospital (and would have because it's small) so evidently their outcome was a little better and something he could set/treat on his own.
Our new hospital is beautiful, not that I wanted to see it or take note. There was ONE person working the desk in emergency. There were two people in front of me in line and no one waiting. Ours appeared the most "urgent" at the moment so we were taken back within five minutes. Not bad, huh? Then the waiting began and we were there several more hours, but hey! The nurse was tremendous. She, too, took great care to explain to this precocious ten year old of ours everything she was doing and the reasons for each step. My daughter actually got a kick out of tricking the machine that reads heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse oxygen levels, etc. It kinda entertained her while waiting for that ortho. doctor to arrive.
LONG STORY SHORT, she had to be put out for them to set her arm. We later learned that one of the drugs she was given was also known as the "date rape" drug. WOW. After seeing the affects on her, I can see why it's so dangerous. The procedure didn't take all that long. She was so out of it, making all kinds of amazing faces and gestures. They said when the doctor actually got the bone right into place, my daughter gave quite a lovely drugged smile, as if to say, "Yeah doctor, you got it just right." We were thankful it was well accomplished and that no surgery was required. As she was coming out of it, evidently she had presence of mind to tell them she had a bad bike wreck and that the bad part was that it wasn't even her bike. Worry wart. THAT's my girl.
She ended up sick as a dog, I guess from the meds. Better than what could have been. I'll take it. (She has many severe allergies and thankfully didn't have adverse reactions to any meds - THANK THE LORD - because previously her eyes have swelled shut, her lips have swelled and turned inside out, and she's had other amazing reactions before, so this was GOOD!) Today's were minor reactions - itching around the eyes - but it was problematic because when she was heavily medicated she wanted to claw her own eyes out. Other than that, she asked me to scratch the eyeballs (seriously!), the lids, and underneath. It didn't last long. I wonder what the allergen was.
Now for her heart...
She was due to play in a "monster concert" where there are eight pianos at a time performing "duets" the've learned. Heck, she won't be playing the piano for quite some time now. AND, she has been anxiously awaiting word on who her new basketball coach will be. She's supposed to begin practices this week, but now that's on hold, too. Can't wait to see what God has planned for her instead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OH! I was also very sweetly touched again the neighbor who took the time to show care this morning. We formally met in my foyer this afternoon when she came by to check on my daughter. She knew...because her own son had done the same thing...and she just wanted to express herself. She brought a LOVELY card stating how God puts just the right people in the right place at just the right time (which had been my very thought all day about HER!) and a huge Hershey bar for my daughter. Just downright loving and caring. My daughter has known her (because she has the son) but sadly I've never met the person who lives just houses away, til now!
We rearranged the living room furniture and put the LazyBoy in there. Figured she'd sleep better/elevate the arm easier in that spot. She's fast asleep now. Can you believe I would stay this? But it's been NICE being able to "baby" her a bit today. She's such an independent young girl. Today she's let me feed her, fix her hair and clothes, help dress her, help bathe her, nurse her, and otherwise nurture her. I miss my "baby" if you want to know the truth. I'm sad it has taken something such as this to make it so I can care for her as I used to. (OKAY, well, so what if she figured out the sling before I did, or if she figured out the new fangled ice pack clip before I did, or if she ...)
Mischief?
Contributing to the delinquency of a minor?
Or rite of passage?
The subject is TP-ing. Which is it?
Our little town has some very strict rules. There is a curfew -- 11:00 weeknights, midnight on Friday and Saturday. There is also a police force that likes youth to be held to a very, very high standard. Also, it's considered a criminal misdemeanor here. Or youthful mischief. There are several other ordinances that this offense would fall under.
Have you participated with youth in TP-ing?
Would you?
My feeling is that as long as it is done in fun, not to be mean to someone, then it is okay.
Do I feel GUILTY about encouraging kids to "break the rules" on something like this?
The answer is a resounding YES. I'm SUCH a "rule keeper" that even this is difficult for me to encourage. Honestly, it's hard to even have fun. I admit the planning was fun. The pre-paper kaper pics were a BLAST.
NOW, here is an area I struggle with. When dealing with a group of teens, there seems to always be one that wants to take things a little too far. For example, petroleum jelly and soap. THIS I do not approve of for these purposes. The actions of one quite likely will ruin it for the majority who innocently just want to have fun. ALSO, what about when one person in the group just has to admit that "we did it" or "they did it" blowing the whistle? What is the purpose of that? Come on!!!!!!
This is random, I know, but it's ponderable.
BY THE WAY, I have some very, very fun memories in my teens of handling such paper kapers. One time my sister's friend was driving a small group to such a kaper. ON the way, we deicded to just pull in our high school to show my boyfriend, who was from another high school. He'd never seen my school. So here we are, driving on the campus, not even thinking about the TP we'd stockpiled. We drove through once without any issues. BUT, we decided to drive on through again. THIS time we were stopped by campus police. (Ummm...picture this...security behind us, us driving as slowly as possible to a stopping point JUST to give us time to stuff as much TP under the car seats, up our pant legs, and wherever else would could fit it. You see, it would APPEAR we were going to TP the school. !!!!!! LOL! We survived that close call.
Then there was the time we were getting our Sunday School teacher's house only to have them yell out the window at us, scaring the beegeebies out of us! LOL!
But the most memorable was a time we were doing a job just off a major road. While we were at work ( a LOT of us taking care of business) one car on the major road nearby honks when they pass us. (We are in plain view, afterall.) But then what happened was NOT good. Another car slowed down to watch and razz us and then another car rear ended it. We'd inadvertently caused a wreck!!!!!!! All in the name of innocence!!!!!
There were more stories...
It's not something I did a lot and it was ALWAYS something I did with friends from church. Never school friends. GO FIGURE!
So in case you are wondering, YES, I'm guilty. I encouraged it. It was premeditated - for weeks - and there was great effort put into concealing the event. All the girls came fully prepared. One gal even created a special t-shirt with the code name emblazoned on it. HOW FUNNY!
It's a, um, party. YES, I have a dozen 14 year old girls here. I had ALL their parents' permission before this act. And YES, they did a FINE job. They were so excited and thrilled with their work. It's "the wee hours" now and they are still upstairs laughing their heads off. This hopefully will be something for them to write in yearbooks about, remembering this moment in time forever. They probably shouldn't show their volleyball coach the pictures though, huh?
Soooo Sweet.
That's my girl.
She's turning 16 tomorrow. Just yesterday I was praying to conceive and after several years of struggle, the good news of my pregnancy was almost too much to comprehend. God's blessings. He's showed them to me over and over and over again--His hand in her life from the very beginning. He's taught me most through the difficulties.
Her life has not been easy. Her struggles have been many. Her mind is brilliant but her thoughts are tightly trapped inside, unable to be expressed fully by language and processing issues. People who have taken the time to get to know her see it. There has been a lot of meanness dealt to her by teachers and peers. She's been "set apart" in inappropriate ways but the way I see it, God is aware, and HE has set her apart for HIS purposes. There have been many times where her heart has been trampled but she has proved resilient. At times her life seems very lonely. She has never purposed in her heart to hurt anyone though, so I ask the question I've asked so many times. Who has the real problems?
One thing remains true about her, a fact for which I am so proud. Her heart for the Lord is amazing. This girl has mercy, wisdom beyond her years, and the most sincere love I've ever seen. I love my sweet daughter. I pray that she will be blessed with MANY sweet notes and hugs this week. May God's love continue to shine upon her.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/22/ghostley.obit.ap/index.html
What do you remember about her character?
Did you know of her roles outside of Bewitched?
Isn't it amazing that one can feel a sort of attachment to someone like this just because of inviting her to your room via the B&W Zenith. Remember? The one where you had to get up, walk to the set to turn the dial to change the channel, turn up the volume, adjust the rabbit ears, and occasionally watch one of the other two channels when that one was down for whatever reason? That was the set BEFORE the Zenith with the three button remote. That was the remote that "clicked" and the sound changed the channels. (Or sometimes even a charm bracelet would take care of that task!)
OH! And how many of you remember the patriotic music they played at the end of the day when they were shutting down the channels for the evening?
Author Madeleine L'Engle Has Passed
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070907/ap_on_re_us/obit_l_engle
What a gifted author.
The different covers of this famous book are interesting.
What television show stands the test of time?
Jeopardy. The questions are everything from historical to current.
Then, there is I Love Lucy.
Gone is the cliche "Oklahoma is OK!"
We are shining brighter than ever and OK just doesn't do it any longer!
Our state is celebrating their centennial.
http://www.oklahomacentennial.com/
I was snooping around and learned of this fun event today.
How cool is this! It's for real.
A cattle drive!
http://www.cattledrive2007.com/index.html
It has been a fun year so far. The kickoff was last November. We feel a little connected to the celebration.
One fun aspect of the celebration was that our cousin was the commissioned artist to produce the state's centennial poster. The state sent copies to every school in the state and asked them to be displayed. I'm disappointed that our elementary has already taken down the poster (over the summer/never reappeared) but it WAS there! Ours is nicely framed and currently in our living room.
How cool was it for us to find out about this honor as we gathered as a family to celebrate what WOULD have been our great grandma's 100th birthday. Yep! She's dead, but her memory lives on. We had a wonderful party. People brought items that reminded them of her and the items were placed on a table for people to view. We celebrated big with invites, incredible decor, a very artsy looking cake, family videos and pics, and we were all given copies of the poster and were able to have them signed on the spot. : ) (THANKS AUNT NANCY!)
http://google.com/base/a/1288862/D2788807283939338364
(Order your copy here - I get nothing out of it! LOL!!)
ALSO, fun, our daughter was able to sing at a prayer breakfast to kick off events, as well as an event with the governor, a fireworks/laser extravaganza, and the Tony Bennett concert. There are more opportunities coming up like performing at a time capsule event.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/webextra/itemsofinterest/centennial/centennial_storypage.asp?ID=061102_Ne_A1_Conce44233
We feel like the state has done a good job keeping the centennial in the limelight. Thank you to our organizers! I'm impressed! I think this will likely leave the same kind of impression on me that celebrating the bicentennial of our nation back in 1976. I was an elementary student then and such FOND and amazing memories remain. I think my favorite thing of all was that our school made a bicentennial quilt and it was hung in the school. I wonder if it is still there? Different classes had squares to design. It was beautiful. I hope my kids treasure this time.
