R-E-S-P-E-C-T please

Is it too harsh for me to assume that a school that would allow girls to wrestle competititely while hundreds watch might not respect my little daughter when they promise to educate her?

Perhaps they don't have a choice when a girl from their district wants to wrestle? Do they have to provide her a wrestling suit (and a little undershirt to wear under it) and the weight room or a jump rope (oh, wait, that's boxing, but maybe that is next) ? But perhaps there is someone in the district who might stand up and demand some respect for humanity, for a girl's reputation, innocence, much less for the respect of young girls in general.

I tried to ignore the fact that Minnesota has allowed girls to wrestle for quite a few years now. I even tried to ignore the front page article on the newspaper in our mailbox. I'm not sure the sick feeling in my stomach will ever go away.

I guess that makes the school decision a bit easier. Check this one off the list hands down.
Without question.

Right now I'm rather ashamed to call this town my new address. And here I thought our old town had a seedy reputation. At least that was long ago back in Prohibition Days when they had the reputation as only "wet" rail stop in the three state area.

Lest you conclude I've become a bitter old prude in need of something strong to drink, here's what John Piper says about it.

non-toy entertainment II

And while Bennett and Priya were tying up chickens, Sam was in the house just six feet away from where I was, quietly doing something.

"Something" was eating peanut butter out of the jar with a spoon. The quietness in which he was accomplishing it was the clue.

They don't need toys, I guess they just need a parent who pays more attention.

non-toy entertainment

Who says kids needs specially formulated toys that are age specific? Well, at least mine don't. Not when they can develop their fun out of non-toys.

This morning, when I went out to check on Priya and Bennett, who was visiting with his little sister and mom, the two were seated on a bale in the hoghouse, observing and discussing whatever four-year-olds observe and discuss I guess.

One brown hen was locked in the pet carrier complete with a small dish of feed and straw. They were waiting on her to lay an egg, they said.

Another speckled hen was tied with a twine to the hydrant. Yes, tied around the neck like a dog. I've never seen a hen on a leash. I don't think she was very happy.

Gratefully, we don't know any animal rights activists personally.

II Peter 1:4-9 (or some serious conviction)

"For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence [this would indicate more than half-hearted effort that says, "While I'm convicted I need to work on this, it's much easier to do what I'm already doing and just think about what I should be once in a while.] in your faith supply moral excellence, [hmmm...moral excellence. That would probably include doing what I say I'm going to. Using my time wisely even when nobody is around that could question it. Doing things that point to the excellence of Jesus instead of the excellence of myself. Using my words to uplift, admonish, pointing to Jesus as the example and judge and not just me.] and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness and in your brotherly kindness, love. [how interesting in this sequence that godliness isn't the first thing to work on. No, it's moral excellence, then knowledge, then self-control, then perseverance]
or if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowlege of our Lord Jesus Christ. [I think I can safely deduct from this that useless and unfruitful would apply to me and my situation if I refuse to work on these qualities]
For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

moonlight

In my obsession to get fresh air, I sometimes have to sacrifice sunlight, which means taking a walk at night.

It's good we live on a gravel road because of course it would be a little silly to walk down the shoulder of a major highway at 9 o'clock at night. Of course, the hog truck and two accompanying vehicles who were on the gravel last night while I was, probably wondered about why I was pushing a running stroller down the road at that time. Sam was in the stroller and snow pants and boots go on top of footed pajamas quite nicely to keep him warm.

But the moon was so bright and the wind was only a small sharp breeze.

Like the Nike running poster I had once says, ..."the roads are always open."

family photos II

Recall those pictures you've seen in old books of a group of people or kids standing around to show off how tall a particular snow drift got after a killer blizzard, here's our version.

Except there isn't a snow drift.

They never had smiles either, like us.

The real story is that we had tried to take a small walk with the wagon down the road and curtailed that activity due to the incessant wind that was still bitter even if the sun made it seem slightly warmer. I lifted Sam and Anneka out of the wagon and took it back in the garage. When I came back, they were still standing there in the same positions, so I asked Priya to go stand with them for a picture. She had been ranting and raving about some other injustices and wasn't completely obliging to my request.

family photos

We tried a series of pictures in front the Christmas tree...with the tripod. (Anneka could have done better pointing and shooting)

This may have been one of the best of them. Mainly because I look odd in most pictures and this almost completely takes care of my face but does show my new sweater. Faces are mostly the same, clothes change.

Well, at least Mark and Anneka look decent. And this is also payback for the dozen or so family Christmas pictures I ruined as a child.