Another SoWis Adventure

This past weekend I was able to visit friends and attend a wedding. Such visits are always too short, and yet so much can happen in two days that it makes the heart full. I made it for Courtney's graduation party on Friday night. I'm so proud of her accomplishments... she's a dedicated person, with a gift for children. I know she'll impact the lives of the children she teaches in a very positive and permanent way. I was thankful to be able to spend some time with her family and her boyfriend, Estu, who is from Indonesia. I also met some of her very cool friends, and we had an epic evening of playing instruments and making the night festive!

I was also able to visit with Christopher, who's back from Uganda, ...but only for a short time. He'll be off to work for NOAA and leaves for basic training at the end of July I believe. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that he has an adventurous streak. I'm sure he'll enjoy tracking weather and chasing hurricanes. Speaking of which, did you know that it's national hurricane preparedness week? ;)

The tulips in the Dunn's front lawn never cease to catch my eye.... or a shot from my camera.

Estu and Courtney during a walk to Starbucks. ;)

These pretty things look like poppies to me.... but I'm not sure.

Estu said this tree would make a good photograph. He's a photographer himself... and he was right about the tree.

Estu is headed back to Indonesia tomorrow and during the last few weeks has been looking for things made in the U.S.A to take home to his family as presents. Alas, most everything seems to come from foreign countries, especially China. I snapped this picture because he discovered the coffee grounds were from Indonesia. Maybe I should move there.... since they can actually grow coffee!!!! ;) Hehe

Courtney & Estu... trying to decide on who would get which cake pop. ;)

 Estu had a graduation ceremony the day after Courtney's. It's a nice photo of the two of them.

Since I missed the ceremony, Court sent me a cap & gown photo. :)

Sadly Courtney's actual graduation ceremony was at the same time on Saturday as my friend Amanda's wedding. Therefore, I reluctantly hopped in my car an zipped over to the wedding (only an hour from Courtney's which was nice!). The weather was cold and cloudy but the warmth of friends at the wedding made everything cheery again! I was able to witness a beautiful, God-centered wedding as Amanda married Justin. What a rare thing to witness and in spite of the frigid wind, rain and even SNOW, it was a beautiful, heart-warming wedding. PLUS.... it was a bonus because I was able to visit with my favorite Gitto family! Katie, Laura and Rachel are so dynamic, and unique and their company is so encouraging and fun!

Amanda's daddy walks her down the isle.

Amanda and Justin. You'd never guess the weather was bitterly cold by those smiles on their faces.

We witnessed their first kiss.... a precious moment, indeed.

Mr. & Mrs. Becker!

The Gitto family.... taking up a whole row! I love this family to pieces!

Laura was looking lovely, of course. She can make a grey dress come alive with excitement!

Katie and I were able to spend a good deal of time visiting that evening and the next morning. This girl inspires me with her humility and servants heart. A lot of people tell her she's perfect, which frustrates her greatly. She says in return, "...but I'm not perfect. I'm a sinner just like everyone else."

The park where the wedding was held was lovely. Bridges, water... quite picturesque.

The three Gitto sisters: Rachel, Laura and Katie. Everyone assumes Rachel and Laura are twins but actually Katie is Laura's twin. Rachel is the younger of the three.

Overall, it was a wonderful visit. I'm already counting down the days 'till I can go back. Visiting with friends can be dangerous as it makes you start to wonder why you have to work and for what purposes you're really living your life. It's true that we must work all the days of our life and enjoy the portion we've been given (Ecc. 3:22), but honestly I'd rather be broke and spend time with the people that I love that spend my days toiling away to put a penny in the pig. *sigh* ....it's these moments that teach us to find a balance. Anyway, I'm just glad my old Honda made it there and back without any breakdowns!! I have so much to be thankful for. Until next time...

So many things to say...

Hello and good evening! I'm up later than usual tonight as my phone storage is getting close to full so I must download pictures off of it to the computer. The process takes a bit of time so I thought I'd blog a bit.

I've had a longer work week than usual. Spring planting just finished today on the farm where I work. They started last Sunday (not yesterday but the Sunday before), and everyone's been working odd schedules and longer hours. I can't complain as the bigger paycheck will be nice. Still, I'm glad things will be going back to normal. I think the cows will be happier too. :)

The weather and landscape has really burst into new life since I blogged last! I keep going to my gardens to check the progress of the little plant shoots coming up. The hosta plants have really taken off and my ferns are starting to un-curl. They remind me of little dragons before the pop into their leafy shape. Unfortunately the goats ate my irises to the ground. They've continued growing and have made good progress but I don't think we'll be seeing any flowers this year. OH.... and did I mention the weeds?! So much chickweed. I know it has fantastic medicinal properties but I wish it would grow somewhere besides my flower gardens. *sigh*


Anyway, can you tell I'm excited about gardening?! I've barely been able to wait for Mother's Day because that's when the majority of the greenhouses start to open. It's tradition to go flower and plant shopping with my mom, sisters and Grammy. One of my favorite thing to do!

Well... I really should be working on writing an article for the newspaper. I've been so busy with work and life that I've missed getting an article submitted for the last two editions. I'd like to have one ready for the June edition. My dilemma is usually narrowing down my subjects of interest. There are so many good topics to write about, yet what can I actually portray well and cover accurately? So.... that's where I'm at right now.

It reminds me of a TED Talk I watched recently that perfectly describes my habit of putting off important things 'til the last second:

Looking Forward, Looking Back

March has almost whisked itself away and in a few days it will be April already. I'd thought the long wintery months were behind us but a blizzard brought over a foot of snow. I should have known because March usually brings one last heavy snowfall.
I've been thinking about Colorado a lot these past few days. It was this time last year that my bros and I were enjoying the excitements of that gorgeous state and the company of my Aunt and Uncle. We did so many memorable things that I believe it may have changed me in some ways. I'm not sure how but I suppose magical things happen on vacations like that, in ways that cannot be reversed. Change and growth in this case is good.
This year has been quite different and promises big excitements. Like new babies, new business ventures and I feel that it will not be a disappointing year. ...but I suppose I won't know 'till next year when it's all done and over with. I'm sure next year is only a few days away since time flies faster the older I get. Which is exactly why each day must be taken advantage of, to be used to it's full purpose. 

Anyways, enough vague rambling about time. Granted, I love blogging because it is the one places where I am allowed to be vague, ramble and not be responsible for my bad grammar or random thoughts. Programmers haven't updated the blogging world by adding like-buttons or heart-buttons or videos that play when you scroll past and overwhelming business like they've done to Facebook. I suppose Facebook has always been a bit silly, but as much as it has become necessary to have lately in order to keep in contact with people, it's become a circus of nothingness. People spend more time sharing video clips and memes than they do updating their "status". I used to think updating your "status" was a bit much but I'd gladly take that any day than the constant entertainment and information that has nothing to do with the people are who sharing and posting this stuff.

Or maybe I'm just getting old. Next year it'll be a decade since I joined Facebook. I've been weighing the pros and cons of deleting my account lately. Maybe the real fix would be to not log into my account so often. Delete the app off my phone so I don't have easy and constant access. Deleting Facebook itself is like burning your address book full of names, addresses. It's like choosing to live in a world where you unsubscribe to the local prayer chain and newspaper, saying, "I don't need to know if your baby died, if you're moving to Texas, if you were married yesterday or if you have photographs of your life events to share."
It's these things that I do want to know. The important stuff. Without that social media connection it seems I find out about the relevant information months later. I cannot convince myself which extreme is better.... not just yet.


Lately I've been drawing and painting a good deal more than I have in the past. I'm really enjoying it.. especially the painting part as it's something I haven't done more of and each time I dabble in it my paintings improve. It's exciting to see the evolution of my understanding of the art. I also was given an easel... which is a new experience. I'm currently working on a painting of a New York City street scene in the morning. I'll share it when I'm finished.

Child Sexual Abuse

This is the most recent article I've written for a local newspaper. It's such an important and ignored topic. I hope this article encourages more discussion and effort towards preventing and stopping child sexual abuse.

Why Parents Should Be Brave
Five steps for dealing with child sexual abuse

Last month, a sting operation was conducted in Eau Claire, WI in which 8 men were arrested for soliciting children for sex via online avenues. Stories like this make the news for one day and dissipate as quickly as they come to our attention. Yet, 1 in 10 children are abused before the age of 18, so why is the issue of protecting the innocent from abuse such an ignored topic? While there are efforts being made to raise awareness and prevent this violence, sexual abuse is still grossly under-reported. There are plenty of sources that help to educate children and parents on avoiding predators and sexual abuse. However, predators often do much damage before they are detected. The question we are afraid to ask is not 'how do we prevent our children from being harmed?' but rather, 'what should we do if and when they are?'

1. Believe and protect your child.
Only 4 to 8 % of child sexual abuse reports are suspected to be false and of the children who are abused, 60% never tell anyone. While it's true that children of single parents or adolescents from broken homes are more likely to be candidates for abuse, it doesn't mean sexual abuse can't happen in healthy, happy homes. One of my friends from a stable family talked of the kid who started out as a best friend and became an abusive enemy. This friend said he was abused from age 6 to 10, before he went to his parents for help. A parent of a victim gave me this advice, “If the problem is at school, your child stays home. If the offending party is a relative, you don't go to family gatherings. You remove your child from anywhere the offender might be.”

2. Getting past your pride.

If a child has been abused while under your supervision, you may feel guilty for failing to protect your child. Shame comes from knowing that you let the wolf into your safe-zone and left your child vulnerable. Pride comes into play as we try to protect our reputation and the image of a perfect family. Guardians are mortified that abuse has occurred under their watch and in many cases a child's pleas for help are often ignored by parents who would rather live in ignorance. Please, do not be one of those parents who allows abuse to go on because stopping it would make you or someone you know feel uncomfortable!

3. Nobody is above justice.

The last thing a parent wants to do is call the police, create a wave of scandal, and press charges against someone that they cannot actually prove has done anything wrong. Still, the best thing you can do for your child is expose the perpetrator and ensure that every effort has been made to achieve justice. It should be noted that if a person aids or abets a crime they are usually considered just as responsible as the actual offender in a court of law. Do not be a party to another person's crime. If an offender is a spouse, child, relative or someone you care about you can aid them by making sure they get proper help and cannot hurt anyone again, even if this means they'll serve time in a correctional facility. Whether or not justice can be attained, taking this step will give your child the confidence of knowing that you care. 

4. Utilize your soapbox.

We live in a society where people don't want to rock the boat. Yet, the people who molest children are successful because they're confident that none of their victims will reveal their wickedness. Some parents hide under the illusion that they don't want to make their child feel any more uncomfortable by telling the world of his or her wounds, but in reality secrecy only protects our egos. The male friend, whom I mentioned above, told me that his parents notified the police of the situation, however as the abuser was just under 12 years of age, they could not prosecute. The victim's parents took steps to warn other families who associated with the offender's family. The best way to hinder a pervert is to inform those who will listen of the perpetrator's behavior. Alerting others has the potential to save other families and children from going through similar trauma.

5. Seek professional help.

One victim told me that he was better off than many of his acquaintances who'd been molested, because his abuse hadn't been kept a secret. His immediate family, extended relatives, and friends knew of his abuse. It wasn't comfortable having his injury be made public but because people knew what he'd gone through he didn't feel isolated or abandoned. Children need to know that they don't have to go through hardship alone. They need support, council and guardians who will do everything in their power to take down the perpetrators. It is important to know that most victims of sexual abuse during adolescence do not become abusers. Though for many, being sexually abused is the start to a lifelong spiral into the darkest nightmare imaginable. For these reasons it is often wise to seek out professional counsel for yourself and your child. If a child has been sexually abused it is best to contact social services and the police.

Dealing with child sexual abuse is a heavy matter that takes careful consideration and diligent pursuit of the facts. No journey is identical, other than the end goal of healing and recovery for the abused. Some people use their scars to help others to bandage their wounds and heal their hurt. Over all we discover that others have shared our sorrows and if we stand together, we don't have to let our past dictate our future.

Statistics in this article are taken from www.d2l.org. Darkness to Light is a well-cited website and an organization created for the recovery, prevention and awareness of child sexual abuse.

For 24/7 confidential support, contact an abuse hotline:
-USA National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
-RAINN: Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network: 1-800-656-4673
-Crisis Text Line: text 741741

Birthday Surprises

This past Wednesday the birthday celebrations began. I met with my friends Sandy and Jae for a fun day of food, shopping and climbing a large hill overlooking the city! It was wonderful!

I had decided at the beginning of this month that I was getting too old for birthday parties and I didn't need to have any special attention on my birthday. I planned to let it pass like a normal day. Then on the 22nd, my birthday, I was able to spend the day skiing with a large group of friends! It all fell together so perfectly and unexpectedly.

Good friends from SoWis came up, and we carpooled together in their van up to the ski hill. A few other friends from my area met us on the slopes!

 With some of the group at the top of the "mountain". 

 My bros and I.

 The entire group of friends gathered for a picture at the end of the day.

They surprised me by putting a big birthday card on their van windows!!! It was very thoughtful!

We ended my birthday night with a little party of games and food. My sister Emily made cheesecake and lasagna!!! Then the next morning around 10:30, I was going about my morning routine when my very good friends Courtney and Chris (also from SoWis) surprised me with a visit.... and Dunkin' Donuts! I didn't think I'd get to see Courtney for a number of months due to our crazy schedules and  car problems. Chris had just returned home from a two year stay in Africa so it was an exciting visit.

We went out for food and beverages a few times. Visits with good friends are always too short. Oh, and did I mention... not only did my boss give me the day off but his wife made me a cake! She's a pro cake-baker so it was almost too pretty to eat.... but I'm glad we sliced in because it was the softest, most delicious cake I've ever had. It's been a birthday to remember and I feel quite lucky and blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.

The Day of the Lord

I read the book of Amos this morning. It's been a while since I sat down and really read some scripture so it was good to be in the Word. A verse in particular sticks in my mind:

Amos 5:18 says,
Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.

It was an interesting verse to me because I have known so many people who were constantly watching the world news and dwelling on every dark event to make the claim that the day of the Lord is going to happen soon. I doubt you could count the number of times theories have been made for which exact day the "world as we know it" would come to an end, but turned out false.

Now, it's not that we aren't living in the last days. Every day that passes brings us closer to the prophesied catching up of the Church and the days of tribulation.

I simply do not understand how people could consider the times we live in now to be much worse than any of the ages of old. Throughout history there has been horrific events, dark times and ungodliness and evil men. As Solomon said, " Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us."

Events like the WWII, the Holocaust and Holomodor, the medieval crusades, nuclear bombs, communist regimes, genocide, apartheid, slavery, plunder, rape, terrorist attacks, ethnic cleansing, martyrs ... it's been happening since before God flooded the earth in the days of Noah.
 
I'm not saying those last days won't come. I'm not even saying that we aren't living in them. I just think that it's sad to dwell on the evil when every hour that the Lord has not come back is one more that we have to share His goodness and grace with those who've not yet trusted in Christ. 
 
Amos 5:20 says,
Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

It'll be a sad, though very righteous day, when God returns to bring judgement to the earth. It is something we believers can look forward to as it will be the end of our mortal sufferings and we use the knowledge of Christs return as a comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Titus 2: 13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Philippians 3:20-21
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

The day of the Lord isn't going to come at any predictable time. Matthew 24:36 says, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."
It will come like a thief in the night.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
² For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
³ For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
⁴ But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
⁵ Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
⁷ For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
⁸ But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
⁹ For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
¹⁰ Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
¹¹ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

We serve an amazing God. As the scripture says we don't need to worry about the coming end because we are children of the day. We don't need to flee to the hills, stock up on food and ammunition supplies. We can rest in the eternal blessings we have in Christ and live by the faith of God. We live in an age of grace... it's a time to walk in joy and peace and show the love of our savior to an world that is in desperate need of what we have.

My simple point is this: The material things in this life are fleeting. Let's focus on the eternal.

Amos 4:13
For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, The God of hosts, is his name.

Wintry Days

Somehow these wintry days remind me of the bliss of my youth. Not that I'm old ...but I've been a lot younger before. I speak of the days when I was in school, when I'd sit in my room and attempt to study History or Math without getting distracted by writing a poem, listening to music, writing a song or some other form of pleasurable pastime.

 

The beams of morning sun on a January morning strike a cord of reverie it seems. Ahhh..... the days when there was no real responsibility or work to make you timely and always headed out of the warmness of the house.



Apparently, the middle of January can be the most depressing time for a lot of people. The bills from the holiday expenditures are coming in the mail, the stratus clouds keeping the sunshine in hiding and lack of hope for Spring. Maybe those people don't work enough or have enough excitement in their lives? Because it doesn't get me down.



Winter is the time when the whole family gets trapped inside with each other. Just enough to drive everyone nuts at the same time as finally catching up on life. Now that it's too cold to do concrete work the guys are around all the time. It brings a bit of balance to the household and lively fun as well.



I don't like how much cold weather the forecast is predicting. The below zero temperatures aren't very pleasant. However, the sparkly snow is quite lovely. There's always a silver liner if you simply look around and observe the beauty life has to offer.

 

Anyways, I'm off to go do something enjoyable. I crocheted a pair of slippers yesterday as my feet were cold. Maybe today I'll paint a picture....