U.S. Army Rodeo

I just love living out West! So many rodeos!

This was an indoor rodeo presented by the U.S. Army.

Mutton Bustin' for Kids

A stray bucking bronc

We were at the wrong end of the arena to take pictures of the bulls, but here's a small picture.

The colors go by!

Dear Massachusetts,

Utah thanks you!

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me;

I cannot choose the colors He worketh steadily,

Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper and I, the underside.

Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly

Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver's skillful hand

As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

--Grant Colfax Tullar

A Look Back

While thumbing through my day planner the other day, I realized what a drastic contrast my life is now, compared to a short year ago. While I don’t normally share my "innermost reflections" with the WORLD-WIDE Web, this time, I have a testimony of God’s grace to share.

Last year brought more new circumstances than the rest of my life put together, it seems. God has been very good to bring me safely to the "other side" of many changes, problems, and challenges. With the next few posts, I would like to highlight some of these areas of personal growth and God’s work of grace.

Interestingly, towards the end of this last year, I was led to read Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place in my personal time. In this book, several truths were recurring themes throughout the book. Surprisingly, some of them were exactly the same lessons I have learned this last year. Since Miss Ten Boom puts the ideas in much better words than I could, I’d like to spotlight the book’s examples to explain part of my journey. So, with all of the glory dedicated to Christ, I’d like to share a few thoughts with you in the coming days.

Health Care Travesty!

As a member of Club for Growth, I support their basic principles of limited government, low taxes and economic freedom. Along with drawing together for support for candidates with the same values, they take a proactive approach to fighting legislation like the current health care reform bill.

One of their most recent actions is to create a pledge to be signed by lawmakers, candidates, and citizens who will work to repeal the health care legislation if it is constitutes a federal takeover of health care.

Please consider visiting RepealIt.org to sign the pledge. I don’t have to tell you what an important and consequential event this is, not only for us, but for our children and grandchildren.

Recall the words of the signers of the Declaration of Independence: "And for the support of this Declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." Do we owe any less?

Official Utahn

Yes, I said Utah-an. Not as cool as "Hoosiers," I know. But I'm afraid I have become an 'official' Utahn. Recently, when I went back to Chicago/NWI (Northwest Indiana) area, this fact became apparent to me.

While I was at the SLC (Salt Lake City) Airport, at 7:15 in the morning, I was surrounded by young men with "Elder So-and-so" name tags, who were leaving for their two-year Mormon mission.

There was also the 'official sender-off' guy. Seems like he is always at the airport saying "Good-bye" to the boys leaving.

Upon arrival in Chicago, I was affronted with the huge cultural difference! I did not see one "Elder" name tag. What I did notice were the Jews, the Polish, rude people, the smell of inner city pollution, bossy traffic cops, crazy drivers, even black people! (No offense intended, we just don't have very many black people in Utah.) Each of these is a rarity where I live now.

My first stop was George's Gyros...for Chicago food.

The skyline is beautiful, as well.

But, all of a sudden, I felt a small tinge of something in my mind. I opened my phone and saw the picture I had taken. That would have to hold me over for the next two weeks. I missed the mountains!

I have absolutely fallen in love with the mountains out west! They take my breath away almost every day! Each season, each snowfall, each sunrise and sunset falls just so, and it is the most beautiful sight a person has ever seen...every single time!

Not trying to make anyone jealous here, but I did not notice how flat Indiana was until I moved to Utah.

Someone told me "In Indiana, you can see your dog run away from you for three miles! But, this is God's country!"

So, I guess I'm one of those hyphenated Americans..."Chicagoan-Hoosier-Utahn."

Yep, It's Another Blog

I am very happy to introduce my new blog: Teacher2Teacher! This is designed to be a resource for teachers. Included in the site are ideas for bulletin boards, motivational ideas, games, and other teaching tools.

You can view entries in chronological order. For your convenience, there is also a category list and search box.

This site is a "work in progress" and will grow with time. Part of that will result from user interaction. Specifically, if you have a particular idea you would like to see developed, enter it under "Questions & Comments." Any other thoughts or comments can be submitted here, as well.

I hope this can be a help to all of you.