tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50678565072041844172024-03-12T23:20:56.806-07:00Heritage Dance EventsVictorian Era Dance Calling, Music, Living History, Special Events, Education and LifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-21098307016219856772018-01-01T13:08:00.000-08:002018-01-12T23:10:51.645-08:00Making Changes<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsowtNA6Q5-iJ4M19DA4pyzXzaXfdDTablTiWBRT0DTbsemlfbxvXJggwWOqEKo8H85ku_p8FXYERCOLXIvDyo1h_i3cER3JRvogAIU_ta32uQe2nT7yHw1OukS9e9LR2DVUBAokBYxq4/s1600/IMG_1524lite+HDE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsowtNA6Q5-iJ4M19DA4pyzXzaXfdDTablTiWBRT0DTbsemlfbxvXJggwWOqEKo8H85ku_p8FXYERCOLXIvDyo1h_i3cER3JRvogAIU_ta32uQe2nT7yHw1OukS9e9LR2DVUBAokBYxq4/s200/IMG_1524lite+HDE.JPG" width="133" /></a>I love new beginnings! As a homeschooling mom, I always
looked forward to September when we would open pristine books and delve into a
fresh curriculum as we began new projects and a new schedule. The first of
January is another anticipated new beginning for me. The rush of another
wonderful Christmas is past, the pine needles are swept up and the decorations
are put away. The house feels oddly sparse yet incredibly open to new
possibilities and a list of new projects for the year ahead, somewhat like a
blank piece of paper or unpainted canvas.<o:p></o:p></div>
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January is also a good time to look back on the past year
and contemplate changes for the new. This past year, we added a new grandson to
the family and our youngest daughter became engaged. Next summer we will be empty
nesters after 30 years of raising children. Not long after that, my husband
will retire. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6aooJq_7xmz0HOOtexz5xH5yyFcV44JHQw1zEDVvPSeCVUdwhpDnQFgMhDyjTjeBdON85FfPmyGp2he8GlQmS0DPtSuiGCbHyzkwwu-CVoR-bQbkAvjlGO3ViSdg1pqtBAXO2QovKjgg/s1600/IMG_1533litecrop-0014X6lite+HDE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6aooJq_7xmz0HOOtexz5xH5yyFcV44JHQw1zEDVvPSeCVUdwhpDnQFgMhDyjTjeBdON85FfPmyGp2he8GlQmS0DPtSuiGCbHyzkwwu-CVoR-bQbkAvjlGO3ViSdg1pqtBAXO2QovKjgg/s200/IMG_1533litecrop-0014X6lite+HDE.JPG" width="200" /></a>In 2018, my hope is to spend more time with friends and
family, get to know my new son-in-law-to-be, plan a fabulous wedding with my
daughter, and build strong relationships with my two grandsons. All this takes
time, but I believe caring for the ones you love is the best way to spend one’s
life.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgViSPEkrFNxdbBHMiQYFEKq2yi99zL512d1-rVK4INcc5Fpw5227hYNXT3Ksh1DZbtZ8Sj2tXq3oY1xdNNh6NQ0BO7Q3P-PGdZs6vpTw7nIp_RlsUSb2NVKHry4Fg0DPAEsLp-lBkAU9FF/s1600/IMG_4253-001youtube.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgViSPEkrFNxdbBHMiQYFEKq2yi99zL512d1-rVK4INcc5Fpw5227hYNXT3Ksh1DZbtZ8Sj2tXq3oY1xdNNh6NQ0BO7Q3P-PGdZs6vpTw7nIp_RlsUSb2NVKHry4Fg0DPAEsLp-lBkAU9FF/s200/IMG_4253-001youtube.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Of course, the time must come from somewhere, and I believe
the good I am doing as a high school and college tutor opens doors of possibilities<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span>for my students, so that
will continue on. Also, building community and creating memories for local
families through Heritage Dance Events is something few can do, so I will
continue to organize and create Grand Balls for the people in my town.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPgD3lVO-E1ELMUSH1CLuhMIpE6Cu_5pBYr6iEUHOA0rxD-2IsO4MyVcymde9f4vGDq_q8OyieifF1sZYDvByMMRhpwGdYXIqtXIJyKcNGV2q8tYBNypHjjfzwOWBjWIgB3CqeTCkzZt_/s1600/Popular+8+Note+Songs+Cover+with+Segoe+REDO+2-001+Gray+border+web+redo+HDE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1600" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPgD3lVO-E1ELMUSH1CLuhMIpE6Cu_5pBYr6iEUHOA0rxD-2IsO4MyVcymde9f4vGDq_q8OyieifF1sZYDvByMMRhpwGdYXIqtXIJyKcNGV2q8tYBNypHjjfzwOWBjWIgB3CqeTCkzZt_/s200/Popular+8+Note+Songs+Cover+with+Segoe+REDO+2-001+Gray+border+web+redo+HDE.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUQeumenz9-k4FsJvbOwnptAKAem1nuh4MPknEeNBkuz-TTqQ2ehTxoTvUJnxV8_xmi3c9K1UFT35A8tJf1WRqklfDMrJuaFjovYRWJcpCcsAYA4O_bRY86FHuhvgGlfUkIazrG2VCasj/s1600/AdobeStock_107241817+blog+22+Hde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUQeumenz9-k4FsJvbOwnptAKAem1nuh4MPknEeNBkuz-TTqQ2ehTxoTvUJnxV8_xmi3c9K1UFT35A8tJf1WRqklfDMrJuaFjovYRWJcpCcsAYA4O_bRY86FHuhvgGlfUkIazrG2VCasj/s200/AdobeStock_107241817+blog+22+Hde.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a>Up-a-do Unlimited will continue on too, but perhaps not at such a rapid pace. It has been two and a half years since I imported the first
xylophones and created the initial twelve page song pattern book. I have
learned a lot, meet wonderful people and created something that I hope will
touch people’s lives for years to come. I
will continue to write books, teach, dance and spend more time with family and
friends. I am looking forward to a joyful year, and wish you one as well!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Happy New Year!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Debra Newby<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-11434290469946016382017-12-14T22:09:00.002-08:002017-12-14T22:10:45.873-08:00Product Manager VS Project Manager<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3ip4qEkoQrYIevblsBDNqTUnIGSKWWfGYBuLFxXayrtMdW1xGXbGBB7ef4YLjqTiwQWUF-Jw5dlgWpqeZnhzNBHiWOe_kkbTOnSif6rxGZLA9oleWYQPd7otC7XBcKWYDlntUBP_idoG/s1600/AdobeStock_122701268+Blog+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1600" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3ip4qEkoQrYIevblsBDNqTUnIGSKWWfGYBuLFxXayrtMdW1xGXbGBB7ef4YLjqTiwQWUF-Jw5dlgWpqeZnhzNBHiWOe_kkbTOnSif6rxGZLA9oleWYQPd7otC7XBcKWYDlntUBP_idoG/s200/AdobeStock_122701268+Blog+22.jpg" width="200" /></a>I like to take classes and learn new skills. Recently, I
started an online class that taught students how to be a Product Manager. Since
I am the Product Manager for Up-a-do Unlimited, I thought it might be helpful.
The class really focused on phone app products, which is not my forte, but I
did learn something interesting. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPb33kcbJrTw2elcS007q3K2D5stCIoeFtTGR-iPN1Zw_eDSk6EJ5SNt4FczJyOh6Km9Ne5x4-JcgUQMvc8BoUXPcbvYUs0kGzGMXoZYFHDRPt_TAhkxVgS2q-otK-iDGSOTnfQelxz5U/s1600/AdobeStock_107241817+blog+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPb33kcbJrTw2elcS007q3K2D5stCIoeFtTGR-iPN1Zw_eDSk6EJ5SNt4FczJyOh6Km9Ne5x4-JcgUQMvc8BoUXPcbvYUs0kGzGMXoZYFHDRPt_TAhkxVgS2q-otK-iDGSOTnfQelxz5U/s200/AdobeStock_107241817+blog+22.jpg" width="200" /></a>A product manager is one who develops a product, contacts
clients, actively monitors social media and is ultimately responsible for
meeting the short term and long term sales goals of the team. In contrast, a
project manager takes on a specific task that has defined time and money
constraints, breaks the task into manageable pieces, and completes each piece
to finish with successful whole. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32Tvoxw7xhgXc8vWx3RQD6Ga7-GG7AHLc7qiuwhdu5cK_yZwrGN6Y7DTwN0el5q3s-_XXKLH8bl-X9iTjYmjTPfs89YcwEy5CctTLi6FNtBG2j3hWNcChqaynkFqR6_oChgRTxZKw3Ws2/s1600/IMG_4254-003+blog+22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32Tvoxw7xhgXc8vWx3RQD6Ga7-GG7AHLc7qiuwhdu5cK_yZwrGN6Y7DTwN0el5q3s-_XXKLH8bl-X9iTjYmjTPfs89YcwEy5CctTLi6FNtBG2j3hWNcChqaynkFqR6_oChgRTxZKw3Ws2/s200/IMG_4254-003+blog+22.JPG" width="200" /></a>When I am working on the Up-a-do Unlimited business, I am a
product manager. When I am putting together Heritage Dance Events or helping
tutoring students complete their specific tasks, I am a project manager.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Which would I rather do? I actually prefer being a project
manager and checking each successful event off my list of things to do. What
does this mean for the future of Up-a-do Unlimited? I am not sure. We have so
little time here in life, and carefully examining how we spend our moments is
paramount. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdGSMZRl8mbccqv7w6B8ChfR72SC0RcqAPucZJOOp5DYR2BlyBVo1JINlPK4qyAN7ByuZsIpxUJaacUay7FBrP0Fk49x3Y4vphicpjRjq9FuK179cZBml2_6Bmhw1Y52qcEprDE9xtgsP/s1600/AdobeStock_83956643-001+blog+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1387" data-original-width="1600" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdGSMZRl8mbccqv7w6B8ChfR72SC0RcqAPucZJOOp5DYR2BlyBVo1JINlPK4qyAN7ByuZsIpxUJaacUay7FBrP0Fk49x3Y4vphicpjRjq9FuK179cZBml2_6Bmhw1Y52qcEprDE9xtgsP/s200/AdobeStock_83956643-001+blog+22.jpg" width="200" /></a>Which do you think is more important? Selling Up-a-do
Unlimited xylophones, organizing social group-dancing Heritage Dance Events, or
tutoring students and helping them find success? I would love to hear your
thoughts, and you can email me anytime at <a href="mailto:HeritageDanceEvents@gmail.com">HeritageDanceEvents@gmail.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Debra Newby<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.upadounlimited.com/">www.UpadoUnlimited.com</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.upandovered.com/">www.UpandOverED.com</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.heritagedanceevents.com/">www.HeritageDanceEvents.com</a></div>
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<o:p></o:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-86018952468605678842017-11-06T22:32:00.004-08:002017-11-06T22:33:27.641-08:00Language Exploration <div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzV5IH41WTyO-tmTM59WQ3_NPHy-kImOcsjSIeEkNZ2Eev3jqDY-Moie6So1fJo9pKfyjpX74IB29mwuqTgYk5_2rL0X3L3JHNIuKhFhl6YhVb35WKmx4NOzJKEkB5svsUT2bPCo3B9iRO/s1600/IMG_1162-001+crop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzV5IH41WTyO-tmTM59WQ3_NPHy-kImOcsjSIeEkNZ2Eev3jqDY-Moie6So1fJo9pKfyjpX74IB29mwuqTgYk5_2rL0X3L3JHNIuKhFhl6YhVb35WKmx4NOzJKEkB5svsUT2bPCo3B9iRO/s200/IMG_1162-001+crop.JPG" width="133" /></a>My daughter tells me that my 22 month old grandson talks
more to me than most other people. It is possibly because I have endless
patience for monosyllabic conversation with very cute, three-feet-high
munchkins. But I think it is more likely because I find the progression of
language riveting and will help him explore language for hours at a time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxblPEyGHdAbM0_H5JyVmTSwXqbi6hZ3Ob2DanQBLA3CjKS1hakeXlD0ktcnCKIV1_Cg6nwTTimSrKZq9FCk6FqvsNECNAI1Hdb1plXrGuLpXu_rh1jYeCJVgRCqIIa5E5eayr9cXdauJv/s1600/IMG_1262-001+crop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxblPEyGHdAbM0_H5JyVmTSwXqbi6hZ3Ob2DanQBLA3CjKS1hakeXlD0ktcnCKIV1_Cg6nwTTimSrKZq9FCk6FqvsNECNAI1Hdb1plXrGuLpXu_rh1jYeCJVgRCqIIa5E5eayr9cXdauJv/s200/IMG_1262-001+crop.JPG" width="133" /></a>When my grandson initially began to speak, the first thing
he called me was “Bam Bam”. He could hear the “a” sound and the “m” in
“Grandma,” but the other letters were not accessible in the beginning. A few
months later, he began to call me “Drum Drum.”
He was able to add in the “r” sound but still needed to keep the
syllables the same. Just last month, I became “Grandma.” All the letters are
working now!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTH-td8k71c26cjMbdD97pcgdW_WU5Ycjucl6HkDO31vtPyyWMNt0YgVYOmUBdAWbMsjMHr0NjOkT_cAvPxJ_ogrHB1ERPrm1SzBciI7O9nnLmtXPOCd5CgWXfufg7O6fFR9Z5IWZOBDS/s1600/IMG_1266-001crop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTH-td8k71c26cjMbdD97pcgdW_WU5Ycjucl6HkDO31vtPyyWMNt0YgVYOmUBdAWbMsjMHr0NjOkT_cAvPxJ_ogrHB1ERPrm1SzBciI7O9nnLmtXPOCd5CgWXfufg7O6fFR9Z5IWZOBDS/s200/IMG_1266-001crop.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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I enjoyed listening to my own children explore language many
years ago. One of my favorite memories is of our youngest daughter, two years
old at the time, at the dinner table, trying unsuccessfully to get a word in
while her siblings talked on and on. She finally stood up and announced, “MY
talking to you!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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She was eventually able to switch out the adjective for a
pronoun and a linking verb and went on to become a technical editor for a geo-environmental
engineering consulting firm.</div>
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You never know where the exploration of language will take
you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-86958034773909203152017-10-10T22:14:00.000-07:002017-10-10T22:21:38.970-07:00Evensong<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12q-XwSELFqdcmxAZwqo8-pK-QEPDRcTsuR4Hh8ywSnvzWkGaYifnq0R0XfhQbQz9zDdkxfvNbKSyCYtUFANdXx2hp55ODxQ_6Cv5UJxusYeMojttMs9kpSOyQJr8MEiCjpY7xcRg6tlK/s1600/20170923_144332-001lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12q-XwSELFqdcmxAZwqo8-pK-QEPDRcTsuR4Hh8ywSnvzWkGaYifnq0R0XfhQbQz9zDdkxfvNbKSyCYtUFANdXx2hp55ODxQ_6Cv5UJxusYeMojttMs9kpSOyQJr8MEiCjpY7xcRg6tlK/s200/20170923_144332-001lite.jpg" width="150" /></a>A few weeks ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to see
England through the eyes of my youngest daughter as we took our long awaited
post college (for her) Mother/Daughter trip. Both of us are musicians and
hearing Evensong services at Westminster Abbey in London and at the York
Minster further north were high on our priority list. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Evensong is a service that is often sung from the Book of
Common Prayer. It has been part of three principal liturgies of the Anglican
and Episcopal tradition since the year 1549 when the Book of Common Prayer was
first authorized for the Church of England. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fi8CWHuOQTGdRcKi64EVcVmyuWO33T5s5flTi6NhVbu33WNB03zgnwDLch91zPuHtBi2rmrNHJqRkgevRW0azMbBuRefGUWZkfqMFzcpqt70hLnm9rHDb2qNvC9HdZi8jhODzwz-BOZy/s1600/20170924_125259-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fi8CWHuOQTGdRcKi64EVcVmyuWO33T5s5flTi6NhVbu33WNB03zgnwDLch91zPuHtBi2rmrNHJqRkgevRW0azMbBuRefGUWZkfqMFzcpqt70hLnm9rHDb2qNvC9HdZi8jhODzwz-BOZy/s200/20170924_125259-001.jpg" width="200" /></a>The Westminster Abbey choir is composed of men and boys,
while the York Minster Choir includes girls as well. All of the children who
sang at the York Minster were members of the Minster Preparatory School which
was established in 627 AD.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_OmVSSDSrTQXYX200wCUsPklFpbx9tj4PWNo_FevK4M4QriMykeCh8nLSAFh4HCgy2yLsu20AZsi21jgcGa0VCQ5Mm4juI496rTBiQllH1misC6oNfRIhpa-cvcd9fjFUu4DLY7RtXNQ/s1600/IMG_2415-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_OmVSSDSrTQXYX200wCUsPklFpbx9tj4PWNo_FevK4M4QriMykeCh8nLSAFh4HCgy2yLsu20AZsi21jgcGa0VCQ5Mm4juI496rTBiQllH1misC6oNfRIhpa-cvcd9fjFUu4DLY7RtXNQ/s200/IMG_2415-001.JPG" width="200" /></a>At both Westminster Abbey and the York Minster, we
arrived early to wait in line so we could be seated in the quire (choir stalls)
directly behind the choir. Deep voices of the men harmonized with the high
sopranos of the children while the great pipe organ played and filled the
church. The music was heavenly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxJ0UN30A-zNnfCzjxmN0Uo339-G4NFKESSrjoYw9zCdqyyawoaV3hMT7Y5mGWx8q8vnqf2HpacoIsYHxq2_RouEsBo1Y8tsrMRzeNOIdc1EC-Rp6HP13Gm189jcmmtCKP2rA5eASPWhs/s1600/IMG_2738-001+crop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxJ0UN30A-zNnfCzjxmN0Uo339-G4NFKESSrjoYw9zCdqyyawoaV3hMT7Y5mGWx8q8vnqf2HpacoIsYHxq2_RouEsBo1Y8tsrMRzeNOIdc1EC-Rp6HP13Gm189jcmmtCKP2rA5eASPWhs/s200/IMG_2738-001+crop.JPG" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0g9ZRzUkuXPyh7qqE-G_n8Pwx0M2X6dOY-evgKV8_KLRJCIZRRVSvWyUbRUuJ7UrNv_autI0e8bl3po-HBbJs8YdzDn352yG5oCZfj1UqBTzKNZElL77bRYKL5PovZoGRFUmElHz2wtM/s1600/20170919_165021-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0g9ZRzUkuXPyh7qqE-G_n8Pwx0M2X6dOY-evgKV8_KLRJCIZRRVSvWyUbRUuJ7UrNv_autI0e8bl3po-HBbJs8YdzDn352yG5oCZfj1UqBTzKNZElL77bRYKL5PovZoGRFUmElHz2wtM/s200/20170919_165021-001.jpg" width="150" /></a>As an added treat, before the Evensong service at the York
Minster, a wedding took place, and we got to clap and cheer for the happy
couple as they exited the building.</div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNuKIFmc4JXwblWyrVNzkGGnxnGwnnMP4tV5PP_mGqoi2X3NIqxhuiLzds5-4a_eei7sRgeSnfnA7tjHIQG-2A68JG9WCXb4EUXznUprMZ-Pl8yZWH7cj2z8IV010eLQzavSfKGJhhBS_/s1600/IMG_2740-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNuKIFmc4JXwblWyrVNzkGGnxnGwnnMP4tV5PP_mGqoi2X3NIqxhuiLzds5-4a_eei7sRgeSnfnA7tjHIQG-2A68JG9WCXb4EUXznUprMZ-Pl8yZWH7cj2z8IV010eLQzavSfKGJhhBS_/s200/IMG_2740-001.JPG" width="200" /></a>So much has happened at these cathedrals for almost a
thousand years. Babies have been christened, couples have married, monarchs have
been buried, and people have sung and worshipped God.<br />
<br />
And they still do today.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-51786960093758464482017-09-05T21:31:00.001-07:002017-09-05T21:32:18.577-07:00The Community Gathering<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidN4p1ue5nRhxOK_JxZsJmOAdGz9e_RVRGUqD-igR5TR2l-7Gdb7m8DtHxVacWK-x-_8lJZiwpWeW61Ro3R2aK-tqRI0badQh2gx0spcgb406S3ke9xRjCaarsO_5eVPXNLUBwcLT9ayUl/s1600/20170810_180224-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidN4p1ue5nRhxOK_JxZsJmOAdGz9e_RVRGUqD-igR5TR2l-7Gdb7m8DtHxVacWK-x-_8lJZiwpWeW61Ro3R2aK-tqRI0badQh2gx0spcgb406S3ke9xRjCaarsO_5eVPXNLUBwcLT9ayUl/s200/20170810_180224-001.jpg" width="200" /></a>I live in a small town surrounded by several other small
towns. And our small towns like music – a lot! Every town has a weekly summer
concert in the park series, each on a different day of the week. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwxJlGzNPkNAbRVLNqr6uiWSh8UREJlr4EdJzjhVz934J09cBDNAhVOrvBrnK9IuAjhpHa4KY4mGxYBVB-pFUy3afjNpw0JFIGfSdq0yAwrRXhT2IEhPHVKMEwq5oPuSXu1G1yhglepY9/s1600/20170810_180930-001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwxJlGzNPkNAbRVLNqr6uiWSh8UREJlr4EdJzjhVz934J09cBDNAhVOrvBrnK9IuAjhpHa4KY4mGxYBVB-pFUy3afjNpw0JFIGfSdq0yAwrRXhT2IEhPHVKMEwq5oPuSXu1G1yhglepY9/s200/20170810_180930-001crop.jpg" width="200" /></a>If you enjoy
live music, you can head to Atascadero on Saturday night, Templeton on
Wednesday night and Paso Robles on Thursday night. If you want to drive a ways
to a larger city and listen to music in a historic mission plaza, head to San
Luis Obispo on Friday nights. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I love music and attend a lot of these concerts with family
and friends which allows us to build relationships and community. (… and eat.
We bring BIG picnics.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqhNSbNOjInsTnYqaxI7IG5IGEdaSmL6YbTS9PF4ZHuhNAsmuFCvLzV0oQdGVjqpr9yDThkGZM5VhlAm3VLR3HexbxdKp8jyq2zk84qhRVJ1FXuba5VmYuO-1fqJ_o4GC0Sk72PdYBfMw/s1600/20170810_180252+lite+straight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqhNSbNOjInsTnYqaxI7IG5IGEdaSmL6YbTS9PF4ZHuhNAsmuFCvLzV0oQdGVjqpr9yDThkGZM5VhlAm3VLR3HexbxdKp8jyq2zk84qhRVJ1FXuba5VmYuO-1fqJ_o4GC0Sk72PdYBfMw/s200/20170810_180252+lite+straight.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82Vixu6q6JIWjroR5Oxga_Ujd-GzhTr18Ei5brF29fXq_F_H6dNaX2BDeal-ue5Czx6mwoalapyuvm4ylIwsohYpN_fdvUqyrasuLRy_51Efy06Y9h8BRGJq9v_bW8Xu1VNlzc8jr4MRW/s1600/20170810_180145-001+straight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82Vixu6q6JIWjroR5Oxga_Ujd-GzhTr18Ei5brF29fXq_F_H6dNaX2BDeal-ue5Czx6mwoalapyuvm4ylIwsohYpN_fdvUqyrasuLRy_51Efy06Y9h8BRGJq9v_bW8Xu1VNlzc8jr4MRW/s200/20170810_180145-001+straight.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
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There is just something about a setting sun, a cool breeze
and music you can tap your feet to that opens the door to good conversations
and good memories. <o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-21999749910488917222017-08-02T15:28:00.001-07:002017-08-02T15:32:41.919-07:00Living History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xkYiTgs3Y0EEPpkXOYEDpKPSSDr6YGZeV-j3c83PaTNXI8G7L-xqcwqItWjpg705op0og1ywfQJOUHCgK3NnFn8Z55gF4AeU4SGLH2y-wAxVEdykKwZ5YDnMAGFDiLlIl4A4d8OpBoYD/s1600/20170627_111732+lite+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xkYiTgs3Y0EEPpkXOYEDpKPSSDr6YGZeV-j3c83PaTNXI8G7L-xqcwqItWjpg705op0og1ywfQJOUHCgK3NnFn8Z55gF4AeU4SGLH2y-wAxVEdykKwZ5YDnMAGFDiLlIl4A4d8OpBoYD/s200/20170627_111732+lite+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJqaQQgoKjc9YGarjcdkCW2bNMWCQL40NVuCGSDYGHI1SVC8siRxhGFCkErza0DHTZGNlWXBrGrrXuZOiJ716tOrwTbrFgXzZ6kiIUii8-AarJVXYBwNezWz69CcffZMPsXDFOXg2rL3I/s1600/20170627_113025+lite+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJqaQQgoKjc9YGarjcdkCW2bNMWCQL40NVuCGSDYGHI1SVC8siRxhGFCkErza0DHTZGNlWXBrGrrXuZOiJ716tOrwTbrFgXzZ6kiIUii8-AarJVXYBwNezWz69CcffZMPsXDFOXg2rL3I/s200/20170627_113025+lite+2.jpg" width="112" /></a>My family and I have been historical reenactors for many
years, and I delight in visiting living history farms wherever I am traveling.
This summer on our trip through Texas, we happened upon the Lyndon B. Johnson
State Park and Historical site. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The farm was originally settled by the Sauer-Beckmann family
in 1900. This turn-of-the-century Texas-German farm family went on to have ten
children, one of whom served as midwife at the birth of President Johnson. The
family sold the farm to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and it was opened
to visitors in 1975.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSZyjaJrz0OhSCA4xTTQXpskO7XjylQU4D6TG5F-PXVl5jEsawMlsUHNC2locwDGPAlByQX50JIV1oQCCYDxAleMq23IBBXCHWiI03BSoU-lsxUoCDY111r2njMgKv9-JnymObZIUR74Y/s1600/20170627_112515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSZyjaJrz0OhSCA4xTTQXpskO7XjylQU4D6TG5F-PXVl5jEsawMlsUHNC2locwDGPAlByQX50JIV1oQCCYDxAleMq23IBBXCHWiI03BSoU-lsxUoCDY111r2njMgKv9-JnymObZIUR74Y/s200/20170627_112515.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikD4Hw3puxYs-KunQwXzAwZR1QHd4OhdlXchiuIOWPBkRNhzLiB5mbiJqJP7Pb1_tpk4-V20A8u0mKvI98BOpFjMw1sZH5KVPF-I7qn_KkI24NIALNzy5TTQQZquPsdyC2_qgUk1LcScuK/s1600/20170627_112959lite+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikD4Hw3puxYs-KunQwXzAwZR1QHd4OhdlXchiuIOWPBkRNhzLiB5mbiJqJP7Pb1_tpk4-V20A8u0mKvI98BOpFjMw1sZH5KVPF-I7qn_KkI24NIALNzy5TTQQZquPsdyC2_qgUk1LcScuK/s200/20170627_112959lite+2.jpg" width="200" /></a>Costumed interpreters carry out the day-to-day activities of
an early 1900’s farm by feeding animals, gathering eggs, cooking meals, tending
the garden, canning and butchering. Although I have visited many sites like
this farm, I always find I still learn something new. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkd7pG9kFbhsaEv7vWZRNQfLOy-3F2ye7HmOtcBt07WJfCv2_sPbu-og19YqWqrCu5QHgAr5nWOd5LbENs3fgrLLvYTchk1QvdaY-cjtS5LjmvsZorx_3Lk_lGCdDeh4t8zPzsklSfkLMj/s1600/20170627_114614-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="897" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkd7pG9kFbhsaEv7vWZRNQfLOy-3F2ye7HmOtcBt07WJfCv2_sPbu-og19YqWqrCu5QHgAr5nWOd5LbENs3fgrLLvYTchk1QvdaY-cjtS5LjmvsZorx_3Lk_lGCdDeh4t8zPzsklSfkLMj/s200/20170627_114614-001.jpg" width="111" /></a></div>
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Here is what I learned:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrSxEHr1EWT4jvY7r4oLENGioyRG0HtRVeRoKaoILalTTXHhyphenhyphenTEH-LCI_iJQQAYmGpvHFfzVym5L8YR8pnqWK_b_5qV2-iwoOdhCyM7Ldsdyzin33wLKoeBTde_8NwS7ZsnqT_UJ07Hv6/s1600/20170627_114931-001+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrSxEHr1EWT4jvY7r4oLENGioyRG0HtRVeRoKaoILalTTXHhyphenhyphenTEH-LCI_iJQQAYmGpvHFfzVym5L8YR8pnqWK_b_5qV2-iwoOdhCyM7Ldsdyzin33wLKoeBTde_8NwS7ZsnqT_UJ07Hv6/s200/20170627_114931-001+crop.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>If you put a small ball of cotton on a string and tie it to
the top of the screen door, the bounce of the cotton will keep the flies off
the screen and discourage them from coming in the house.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>It is important to work smarter and not harder, especially
when you have ten kids. (These ten kids, by the way, had their own bunk house
away from the main house.)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Filling pin cushions with hair from a lady’s brush helps keeps
the steel pins lubricated and keeps them from rusting.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>You can store meat for up to a year if you submerge it in
lard.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>If the lard goes rancid, you can use it to make soap.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Use EVERYTHING! Turkey feathers make a good broom.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Beauty is important. Put up blue wall paper in the parlor if
you can. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>After all the hard work is through, it is still important to
remember where your help comes from.</li>
</ul>
<div>
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YR3Gc18dn-uJS_L3c9cwwHDaHeo66XPoHXad93-bO5ux9EKwaw8nSaO0JOB_FjjmLQcRylmPrFGgSpmjYJHQHOfT4ePC5WzTKT0QOuZta7BJaqPkAK4Iydm5QovHmYaKcqZm7inqLkBY/s1600/20170627_115316-001+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YR3Gc18dn-uJS_L3c9cwwHDaHeo66XPoHXad93-bO5ux9EKwaw8nSaO0JOB_FjjmLQcRylmPrFGgSpmjYJHQHOfT4ePC5WzTKT0QOuZta7BJaqPkAK4Iydm5QovHmYaKcqZm7inqLkBY/s320/20170627_115316-001+crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;"> I will lift up mine
eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Psalm 121.1</span></h3>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-92014919228953244962017-07-16T20:15:00.000-07:002017-07-16T20:18:22.403-07:00Waco – A Transforming Experience<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrABQK_8EGlFXY-iX35JfSznh4P8ourRIKaACWIImB6RzZd8AENVFPEpoLRLdM_qIazUMfLy2Km7SCgcfHf8lAat1sdensouNAh7HifsqYSoIzy3Bg5YpBEXQoA1iK_8bE7mlgaaooGaX/s1600/20170629_142135-001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1279" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrABQK_8EGlFXY-iX35JfSznh4P8ourRIKaACWIImB6RzZd8AENVFPEpoLRLdM_qIazUMfLy2Km7SCgcfHf8lAat1sdensouNAh7HifsqYSoIzy3Bg5YpBEXQoA1iK_8bE7mlgaaooGaX/s200/20170629_142135-001crop.jpg" width="159" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehxoWPG-XzBC88EutyBfRG29LTW1ym6-5hl6K3THNcJBjPi_FqfBgRd57tEbeLV3Ylo1868pp1iM_bO45RrMm_E_irymedeE-JyXo-EqF6Su85N_pzENZAw5ttKHuLEQpRKJ4AuTItdfH/s1600/20170629_172855-001+FIX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehxoWPG-XzBC88EutyBfRG29LTW1ym6-5hl6K3THNcJBjPi_FqfBgRd57tEbeLV3Ylo1868pp1iM_bO45RrMm_E_irymedeE-JyXo-EqF6Su85N_pzENZAw5ttKHuLEQpRKJ4AuTItdfH/s200/20170629_172855-001+FIX.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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A dear friend of mine moved to Waco, Texas, three years ago.
I really did not know much about Waco except for a vague recollection that
there had been an odd cult there, a factory explosion and perhaps some UFOs. (Wait,
maybe that was in New Mexico.) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZ3PQ3GQabwFpd2L3YgjbAYJPF9ajYx6VgoddRPAS_CJz8IyJQmNBSE2ZD3aD4bu5hrIGIJm67maYaZd19ptkVnH6yl41UQzBrpBVDpmdTE4icrxjSYJwbScasb0Ny3_GoJ29smhqNLZf/s1600/20170626_133551-001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZ3PQ3GQabwFpd2L3YgjbAYJPF9ajYx6VgoddRPAS_CJz8IyJQmNBSE2ZD3aD4bu5hrIGIJm67maYaZd19ptkVnH6yl41UQzBrpBVDpmdTE4icrxjSYJwbScasb0Ny3_GoJ29smhqNLZf/s200/20170626_133551-001crop.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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My interest in Texas increased in February when my son moved
to Dallas to begin a new career. While looking for ways to learn more about
Texas, I came across the HDTV show Fixer Upper. In the show, Chip and Joanna
Gains help people choose a house, and then they help them fix it up into a
lovely, welcoming home. In addition to home design, they have opened a
community gathering spot in downtown Waco that includes a store, bakery and
gourmet food trucks. They have created a historic Bed and Breakfast and have a
restaurant opening soon.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvUonewcMSR4cG7dLlzvlvMIYnb5xABsQV5dFmZxuegSHa8YkgIAPb24lmqqMhdCJeeDEsXtbsthyk7eNGa28b-2A0esIuH8pVlMy0ts8sRBJS-X1IDR-SgiEF9ZtP9YWDVT2vULfnOja/s1600/20170626_134649-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvUonewcMSR4cG7dLlzvlvMIYnb5xABsQV5dFmZxuegSHa8YkgIAPb24lmqqMhdCJeeDEsXtbsthyk7eNGa28b-2A0esIuH8pVlMy0ts8sRBJS-X1IDR-SgiEF9ZtP9YWDVT2vULfnOja/s200/20170626_134649-001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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I visited Waco last month, and the “Can Do” mentality of the
people there surprised me. I live in California where the prevalent culture is
that everyone is entitled to more and more from the government, schools and
community. But here, I witnessed individuals counting on themselves to make the
difference.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAyJ6iKDGGCr0uhyphenhyphenw106cJpif7L3SI5SfLKQng81xiRIl0awrjkBw8IhiO_Lig5jqBecJ-Ju-AfLLDbX4CawxWIerGiYgE4y92ZXt7iW4e3Nk2hqtn6JWv5yTh135HXtkL8yyapYUii3I/s1600/20170630_093111-001+lt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAyJ6iKDGGCr0uhyphenhyphenw106cJpif7L3SI5SfLKQng81xiRIl0awrjkBw8IhiO_Lig5jqBecJ-Ju-AfLLDbX4CawxWIerGiYgE4y92ZXt7iW4e3Nk2hqtn6JWv5yTh135HXtkL8yyapYUii3I/s200/20170630_093111-001+lt.jpg" width="200" /></a>Walking along the river that runs through town one sunny
morning, I discovered that it used to be a place filled with crime and drug
deals, but through a concerted effort of the community to clean up the area,
along with the partnership of the local law enforcement, the river trail is now
full of walking mothers, biking teens and jogging athletes enjoying the shady
paths. As we took our walk, we came across a Waco police officer – on horseback!
He greeted us with his slow, Texas drawl, spoke with us a moment and then
plodded along to make sure all was well and safe.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I visited Antioch Church while in Waco and discovered that
members of the church go out into the schools each week to read with the
students. This has caused a significant improvement in testing scores in the
Waco schools while providing the students with friendship and mentorship too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2lO4rmDZWCpiaxJwboqI4706meVONAazqepaHQ4XJ2zpoq6sZTyIo4p_WlVx_VZUGeFJNNb2xzZH4vGVIr9djkjS6gYYE7sJ_ayVKmeB5KMb1ZXbSt1LqlLk9K8iwootPPfSBYtIDF_E/s1600/building-blog-header-generic-778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="777" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2lO4rmDZWCpiaxJwboqI4706meVONAazqepaHQ4XJ2zpoq6sZTyIo4p_WlVx_VZUGeFJNNb2xzZH4vGVIr9djkjS6gYYE7sJ_ayVKmeB5KMb1ZXbSt1LqlLk9K8iwootPPfSBYtIDF_E/s200/building-blog-header-generic-778.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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We went to breakfast in the worst part of town one morning
and ate at Lula Jane’s. The bakery is owned and operated by Nancy Grayson, whom
I had the delightful opportunity to meet. She excitedly told us that she was
building small, ecologically sound homes in the depressed neighborhood
surrounding the bakery and selling them for what they cost her so that she can
take the money and build more, providing improved housing in the neighborhood
which encourages others to fix up the area too. While she is not busy cooking,
baking and building homes, she works with the students Rapoport Academy Charter
School which she founded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6sViq_Lc55p3lc0ibE0qfg_mF2aeJATPutipjN3H2qQlmHcu50jg1IXufXdbVtoyRjIre6iGEmrr8IKbLPQh6UyhVCW8sL2WgkthzO_Z9n1U-gbXRXWKniZYT_69EXRTYIfMFzwMqtx8/s1600/20170630_111157-001+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6sViq_Lc55p3lc0ibE0qfg_mF2aeJATPutipjN3H2qQlmHcu50jg1IXufXdbVtoyRjIre6iGEmrr8IKbLPQh6UyhVCW8sL2WgkthzO_Z9n1U-gbXRXWKniZYT_69EXRTYIfMFzwMqtx8/s200/20170630_111157-001+crop.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAaIO13hBGLkeVqXEB0OsqkPjT3sHOCovwBA1KrMpoC1wJ0K8juA05KlYhDcSg9KwCcNrMi9qm8CsHDWTzCY6uzQCrrHurikEE9Yqngmbzv2CdOo4F2Mz25b-fCN2-xVsb5536Oj59x06/s1600/20170630_110539-001+ST.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAaIO13hBGLkeVqXEB0OsqkPjT3sHOCovwBA1KrMpoC1wJ0K8juA05KlYhDcSg9KwCcNrMi9qm8CsHDWTzCY6uzQCrrHurikEE9Yqngmbzv2CdOo4F2Mz25b-fCN2-xVsb5536Oj59x06/s200/20170630_110539-001+ST.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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My friend told me that a longtime Waco resident she knows
has observed the positive influence of a community coming together to transform
Texas into a better place, and she said, “I can finally say I am proud to be
from Waco.”</div>
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My son wants us to move to Texas. With two daughters and
many friends still in California, I am not sure I am ready to consider that
possibility yet. However, it was exciting to visit a community that believes
that the Waco citizens have the power and resources to transform their own
community for the better.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-85104398979830910682017-06-19T15:05:00.002-07:002017-06-19T15:11:07.052-07:00Community Connections<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM1ueOj5pszHmNcIzoXeGb2X_stuNsgObpClRAvuI5-Wn-NJ37uRY3GPoD91ykjdsct0vw4iNcg4vLlYZfmTpmt0eGc08pD2jSxUyijpHmSni17RGH3deIM3I3CO22z-ZCWZS6aSs8IQN/s1600/_DSC0242-001+Dance+UP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM1ueOj5pszHmNcIzoXeGb2X_stuNsgObpClRAvuI5-Wn-NJ37uRY3GPoD91ykjdsct0vw4iNcg4vLlYZfmTpmt0eGc08pD2jSxUyijpHmSni17RGH3deIM3I3CO22z-ZCWZS6aSs8IQN/s200/_DSC0242-001+Dance+UP.JPG" width="133" /></a>I am currently reading The Benedict Option by Rod Drecher, a
book given to me by my daughter for Mother’s Day. One of the chapters in the
book discusses the importance of building community ties to stand against the
tide of modernity. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ySQZ9Le56GVf-yG5okRcfyp45xsL4GyfxOLcsa0WouSa4hCFHGdPJGyiGkCJScmB0cAYg2zrt_kWgXqJUZr10BIOuqtbFCpEWUz1p0Ff2rNZ5pvuMcV9Nuy4TWNqdtSKztniiMaEQ_fV/s1600/_DSC0255-001lite+Dance+UP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ySQZ9Le56GVf-yG5okRcfyp45xsL4GyfxOLcsa0WouSa4hCFHGdPJGyiGkCJScmB0cAYg2zrt_kWgXqJUZr10BIOuqtbFCpEWUz1p0Ff2rNZ5pvuMcV9Nuy4TWNqdtSKztniiMaEQ_fV/s200/_DSC0255-001lite+Dance+UP.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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For hundreds of years of history, one of the ways people
celebrated the joy of being part of a community was through dance.<br />
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Today, many
people are lonely. They think they have “friends” because they have received a
lot of “likes” on Facebook, but what they are missing through social media is
the ability to work together with others to create something of great beauty
and lasting memories.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAF38dZfdzp9H9516qfeBPIEoHnanFgD4bMKLmWSYAb8yR3JHPP8IGcCeY9WLhMF6FMuqXFaJhAWNxEXIy6ZwP4YFYevGvb0vTM1q3yQSVkeK9Ni405n0TaEG3DWfMA-F1fhmiSPhPxNcw/s1600/_DSC0290-001Lite+Dance+UP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAF38dZfdzp9H9516qfeBPIEoHnanFgD4bMKLmWSYAb8yR3JHPP8IGcCeY9WLhMF6FMuqXFaJhAWNxEXIy6ZwP4YFYevGvb0vTM1q3yQSVkeK9Ni405n0TaEG3DWfMA-F1fhmiSPhPxNcw/s200/_DSC0290-001Lite+Dance+UP.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCifxUxHuWVHUDMMsdCrLSTw02S41ny4NxI1VuwTp8Ds9RwRVeUK2jfqnvNRvdCaqsoQ8d3sXppqD4vXxn8XgwSDoH3r3oo5lE21A85sUm4fx03Mob_E5jrPmfTnyYgVJW59lw0mvU90D/s1600/_DSC0280-001lite+Dance+UP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCifxUxHuWVHUDMMsdCrLSTw02S41ny4NxI1VuwTp8Ds9RwRVeUK2jfqnvNRvdCaqsoQ8d3sXppqD4vXxn8XgwSDoH3r3oo5lE21A85sUm4fx03Mob_E5jrPmfTnyYgVJW59lw0mvU90D/s200/_DSC0280-001lite+Dance+UP.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Creating large group dance patterns with other people of
various ages and backgrounds seems impossible. But it is not when you have a
dance caller who teaches each dance before the music begins and then calls out
the steps as the dance progresses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnztVZ7n2uK5XelvMOc88Qzko_8dvZXJxrY0wDuFeOdjXLDLpz0qIDZWx3vOeyCyA7F58Y9dmQrUWsLyvw_mOELAHgtF03XCWr68ROdFz9d5yVYlQ4KmMHL7xBUdUGjfw-L-yR-YWza_E/s1600/_DSC0355-001lightstraight+Dance+UP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnztVZ7n2uK5XelvMOc88Qzko_8dvZXJxrY0wDuFeOdjXLDLpz0qIDZWx3vOeyCyA7F58Y9dmQrUWsLyvw_mOELAHgtF03XCWr68ROdFz9d5yVYlQ4KmMHL7xBUdUGjfw-L-yR-YWza_E/s200/_DSC0355-001lightstraight+Dance+UP.JPG" width="200" /></a>I have been a Victorian Era dance caller for eleven years,
and last weekend I asked the families at the San Luis Obispo History Day how
many of them had been part of a social dance before. Only a couple of people
raised their hands. And yet, 300 people stood up to give it a try and were
delightfully successful in making new connections and happy memories with old
and new friends.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For Information on how you can host a community building event like this, go to www.HeritageDanceEvents.com!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-49409582869811131232017-05-31T15:34:00.000-07:002017-05-31T15:47:44.027-07:00Seventy-nine<div class="MsoNormal">
What is it like to turn seventy-nine years old? I do not
know for sure, because I am not there yet, but here are few things I observed
this month when my siblings and I gathered from around the country to celebrate
my dad’s seventy-ninth birthday.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7-JoYYw_uFvvPeBQsjnPuuGXspGQZVjyO1Cp_iF8HIw1Z_uUZA6oge_-rAzXPtXa35RFLcMfYSojTh-Sjp0ZzSu6jO3k57XGosNstdl-ATIH6EiTVAVgS0RQaHfW-8sXWdqXo6vopwO1/s1600/IMG_4298-001crop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1264" data-original-width="1579" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7-JoYYw_uFvvPeBQsjnPuuGXspGQZVjyO1Cp_iF8HIw1Z_uUZA6oge_-rAzXPtXa35RFLcMfYSojTh-Sjp0ZzSu6jO3k57XGosNstdl-ATIH6EiTVAVgS0RQaHfW-8sXWdqXo6vopwO1/s200/IMG_4298-001crop.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my Dad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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1. You are a little more tired. Every day, my dad “reads” the newspaper while
lying on the couch. He often reads it for an entire half an hour with his eyes
completely closed, snoring softly. Resting is important, and when you are
older, you allow yourself that luxury. <o:p></o:p></div>
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2. But you still want adventures: My dad announced on his
birthday that he wants all of us – his kids and their spouses, to take a trip
to Alaska next year. There are always new horizons to explore, if perhaps a
little more slowly than before. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVvOYPPwsra-6CSUzP38u0H-NNHQJ0mK9Nydj5XApfWyVo4zunNqxiz2XSYEeCDhLA699ch0m7p3wrl3101fywDP96NufG_48hD3QpT658KFtRrsauLj_UcNaxnxvmMyOFrA9mD3YaoKd/s1600/IMG_4376crop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVvOYPPwsra-6CSUzP38u0H-NNHQJ0mK9Nydj5XApfWyVo4zunNqxiz2XSYEeCDhLA699ch0m7p3wrl3101fywDP96NufG_48hD3QpT658KFtRrsauLj_UcNaxnxvmMyOFrA9mD3YaoKd/s200/IMG_4376crop.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Dad and my sister</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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3. You continue to like the same things you liked when you
were younger. My Dad has always loved cars. My mother tells the story of when
she was in the hospital to deliver me, my father stepped out for a bit to
attend a classic car show. (This is before fathers were required to help their
wives breath during labor.) I remember being the only kid in the neighborhood
who drove around in a big, black 1930’s Packard because my dad loved restoring
old cars, and he will still discuss cars with anyone who will listen. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVMDoutmBi9LfAKn2gjXlvtX7gM7Xjw4i-9UKlT-zNf23K1aKODD4ZeORKxrwBHMpBdIhSu_-wa_r-NNmVV_uxhFq_kneBVdFVngKyqRkZ6QNIqcc9kMKj7igjs7fB41RncrSXzKaXCS1/s1600/IMG_4355crop2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVMDoutmBi9LfAKn2gjXlvtX7gM7Xjw4i-9UKlT-zNf23K1aKODD4ZeORKxrwBHMpBdIhSu_-wa_r-NNmVV_uxhFq_kneBVdFVngKyqRkZ6QNIqcc9kMKj7igjs7fB41RncrSXzKaXCS1/s200/IMG_4355crop2.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Dad and my brother</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Childhood memories are important. My father had a ceramic
farmer doll dressed in overalls when he was a very little boy. My grandmother,
before she died, restored the doll and then gave it to me. I had the doll for
years, but this year it occurred to me that perhaps my father would like to
have it again. I carefully wrapped it in
layers of tissue paper, and when my dad opened the package, tears streamed down
his cheeks as memories from his happy childhood were relived.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoc1IQdWr3HEdoOsOdnomEbNlowUB184ZpZ36ZxQI9HrY9ZJO2yoXgFZSfvGZxu3rWNDbJLb0ABikR78HPjyuERGXOWABuw1QCup-SeWhuGhFsepGVygXzkh194RCYPTdhoGRWOanSRCI/s1600/IMG_4389-002+croplite.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoc1IQdWr3HEdoOsOdnomEbNlowUB184ZpZ36ZxQI9HrY9ZJO2yoXgFZSfvGZxu3rWNDbJLb0ABikR78HPjyuERGXOWABuw1QCup-SeWhuGhFsepGVygXzkh194RCYPTdhoGRWOanSRCI/s200/IMG_4389-002+croplite.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. You never cease to enjoy the company of family, no matter
what your age. There is no one else who remembers singing those silly songs on
a family vacation to Montana back in the 70’s. Only family know how irritating
you can be, but loves you all the same. Whether you are nine or seventy-nine,
there is joy in being a family.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-90041763334752527162017-04-23T11:22:00.003-07:002017-04-23T11:33:10.067-07:00Beginning Again<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlJ5QsDDhRJUDGqL01__hSku8K8kwrK7ST7bOBHakaCWP-szV5A4BmEaAFmqnQX_fzijh1-dRwCZMNxHv1BK4yND8NLlrnMMnroMBtMD9pDUXVjRASNixFLB3S4FdI_JY9uP18x_atfzr/s1600/20170413_104656-001+4x6lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlJ5QsDDhRJUDGqL01__hSku8K8kwrK7ST7bOBHakaCWP-szV5A4BmEaAFmqnQX_fzijh1-dRwCZMNxHv1BK4yND8NLlrnMMnroMBtMD9pDUXVjRASNixFLB3S4FdI_JY9uP18x_atfzr/s320/20170413_104656-001+4x6lite.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Reminiscing on past events while going through one’s
previous blog posts is a pleasant way to spend an evening. I kept a regular
blog for five years and marvel at the number of people who followed along. I am
not sure any of you are still out there after this long hiatus, but for those
who are, I thought you might enjoy an update.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We left off with the wedding of my eldest daughter and my
venture into full time tutoring. Both of
those endeavors have produced great successes, but the best of all has been my
transformation into someone I had never been before – a grandmother. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1sGTxsbOP4D-CBoSG32cuYBbyeNgbsXhCqNH5diTCoCHOX9md-m2mQRdacVLRbJ6HX9t_8yKBjXpLNU0_tjgtYtVWmKq0IMtkKKOX5BBORdhacTCz0EoQOxzTyh2y4anHacp98GtLzu4/s1600/IMG_4246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1sGTxsbOP4D-CBoSG32cuYBbyeNgbsXhCqNH5diTCoCHOX9md-m2mQRdacVLRbJ6HX9t_8yKBjXpLNU0_tjgtYtVWmKq0IMtkKKOX5BBORdhacTCz0EoQOxzTyh2y4anHacp98GtLzu4/s200/IMG_4246.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My daughter carrying her son<br />
like I used to carry her.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Wee Oliver is sixteen months old now. There is a joy in
being a grandparent that is like none other – you get to have all of the fun
and none of the responsibility! Watching a grandchild laugh and grow is
delightful, but watching your own child parent her young toddler really stirs
the heart. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My friend and fellow grandmother, Dede, said it best:<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OwOlSg4cVhTLuDzOnUO3h68JCJmV0z0etSX8hQpS50HTPscRiijcXLb44QhwniVq1-2m80Iw5klrWIzxOpu2CLVpX2vbnGk8ctaVZ8SMDYVt4tQYZzdg929h-FJenXW7Iayq8qesGpkx/s1600/FullSizeRender-001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OwOlSg4cVhTLuDzOnUO3h68JCJmV0z0etSX8hQpS50HTPscRiijcXLb44QhwniVq1-2m80Iw5klrWIzxOpu2CLVpX2vbnGk8ctaVZ8SMDYVt4tQYZzdg929h-FJenXW7Iayq8qesGpkx/s200/FullSizeRender-001crop.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Parents!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“When you become a parent, you get to relive your childhood.
When you become a grandparent, by watching your own child parent, you get to
relive being new parent all over again.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasrZdHdGJEN2NrVKuO6KeSXOjqecK2deqGWktTVz67lukJ3GGCwNllgNDd2AbAesLNU6yVQjS1-jmCK_UIkhknjJgRVjEpMtSSjic9RTfpCg5LRPKMNJqGEYGijYA0zAmqthvsYKZ9TPh/s1600/16003172_1209844682386678_7240675578898789744_n+Museum-001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasrZdHdGJEN2NrVKuO6KeSXOjqecK2deqGWktTVz67lukJ3GGCwNllgNDd2AbAesLNU6yVQjS1-jmCK_UIkhknjJgRVjEpMtSSjic9RTfpCg5LRPKMNJqGEYGijYA0zAmqthvsYKZ9TPh/s200/16003172_1209844682386678_7240675578898789744_n+Museum-001crop.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandmothers get to play<br />
at children's museums again!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My mind has been flooded with recollections of those past
years of being a new parent – wonderful memories I have not visited in a long,
long time. As a grandmother, I am enjoying the present delights of my grandson
as well as the happy memories of his mother when she was his age, too. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isn’t it interesting? In a way, each new generation allows
the older generations to begin again.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-30073524473795636972013-12-02T21:21:00.003-08:002013-12-02T21:22:05.494-08:00Bearing Fruit<div class="MsoNormal">
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls
into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”- John 12:24<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a homeschooling mother of three, most of my energy over
the past twenty-five years has been focused on the health and education of my
family. I so enjoyed those years, and at times, I wished that my homeschooling
world with three young children would go on forever. But, with the marriage of
my eldest daughter last month, the “Newby Family of Five” is no more. Yet,
instead of being sad at the lost, I am excited and delighted to see the new
life that has sprung up in its place. There is a new family now, made up of a
wonderful young man and my beautiful daughter, who will in many ways over the
years, bear much fruit. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because some old things must go to make room for the new,
this will be my last regular post on my blog. Now, instead of homeschooling
just three children, my tutoring “family” has grown to fifteen students from
around the county who come to my home regularly to be taught and mentored. I
need to focus more time on them, and I want to run with endurance the race that
God has marked out for me so that I have a life that bears much fruit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With heart-felt appreciation for those of you who have read my
blog,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Debra Newby<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-30826247218538109142013-11-26T21:54:00.002-08:002013-11-26T21:55:25.268-08:00The Perfect Wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCVgPj8_ZrbcoMpdX_TeTxu2TuGF0TpxPmkbHFVHvbHNmwhR217zr3Urd0RmBKy4PNWljQi8jEwA-zbL-Ce0L0ZthToghdvWT7_omronevJ_G3DYQ1Xu-edzh2NZv86VkqoC1JvDyG9SM/s1600/_DSC0464-002lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCVgPj8_ZrbcoMpdX_TeTxu2TuGF0TpxPmkbHFVHvbHNmwhR217zr3Urd0RmBKy4PNWljQi8jEwA-zbL-Ce0L0ZthToghdvWT7_omronevJ_G3DYQ1Xu-edzh2NZv86VkqoC1JvDyG9SM/s320/_DSC0464-002lite.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7XhyphenhyphencJ6xSn96pFLddpupDAm96TB-WXGJ2DlcxMOERASfH4JXKWPLXb9HENKHEtz4I46hdoldkFaWGw1i_FWsYT8xZjDWDIk0OkdpqX39VqnNL7z5K1XwCmD6XdTwvhgwC8IwoimugR-d/s1600/IMG_2654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7XhyphenhyphencJ6xSn96pFLddpupDAm96TB-WXGJ2DlcxMOERASfH4JXKWPLXb9HENKHEtz4I46hdoldkFaWGw1i_FWsYT8xZjDWDIk0OkdpqX39VqnNL7z5K1XwCmD6XdTwvhgwC8IwoimugR-d/s200/IMG_2654.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzswp4JkRZgLDQmlrF06Prz9w3jCoZH7Bdh5wwipSwxK9hHHVp91gSOYGVPvJGPoTL5PVvMKfUtjVR_1iO6ig3S-_k8Y8MSlNADGL0BWlDuaAURzFhI3EX6ceORGScBTIY_yJX4AqUmufk/s1600/_DSC0588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzswp4JkRZgLDQmlrF06Prz9w3jCoZH7Bdh5wwipSwxK9hHHVp91gSOYGVPvJGPoTL5PVvMKfUtjVR_1iO6ig3S-_k8Y8MSlNADGL0BWlDuaAURzFhI3EX6ceORGScBTIY_yJX4AqUmufk/s200/_DSC0588.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1kEyQIzoIo_VocewLvrX1Buq241Gpo6I-xh56lJnC693FIjMzTOT4kWgM3H3a_7ySWE6IV02VzlbesMByDmzwzAVdRGJOvaTrOarGN_wl9qnhM6cqwfwBJD7y5ZiryfqRxLEB5jpBq8d/s1600/_DSC0654-001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1kEyQIzoIo_VocewLvrX1Buq241Gpo6I-xh56lJnC693FIjMzTOT4kWgM3H3a_7ySWE6IV02VzlbesMByDmzwzAVdRGJOvaTrOarGN_wl9qnhM6cqwfwBJD7y5ZiryfqRxLEB5jpBq8d/s200/_DSC0654-001crop.jpg" width="200" /></a>After months of preparation, “The Day” finally arrived.
Glue, thread and scissors had been put away. Tables and lights were set up.
Food was made. Friends and family from around the country had arrived. And two
young people stood before God and their community and made a covenant of
marriage. Their parents stood near as the couple wove together three ropes
representing the strength of their individual Christian upbringings binding
together with the third cord of Christ. Their siblings stood at the side
welcoming a new brother and a new sister into their families. It was a day of
celebration as Jono and Melissa began their new life together as husband and
wife.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3un2MiVMCABjn9aZG-80NtO9UdU4SDonBgWaI8BOkzAfdHrz3pZospPJitFzQCsQItUOr_75cWMEYXp7dygOBsgE9EKkTYlQQOCiYIrDWtd9gyM9xh7lOs5pdNufuQ0DAMXvtX96axa-T/s1600/_DSC0608litecrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3un2MiVMCABjn9aZG-80NtO9UdU4SDonBgWaI8BOkzAfdHrz3pZospPJitFzQCsQItUOr_75cWMEYXp7dygOBsgE9EKkTYlQQOCiYIrDWtd9gyM9xh7lOs5pdNufuQ0DAMXvtX96axa-T/s320/_DSC0608litecrop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-22474540506383498052013-10-19T23:03:00.001-07:002013-10-19T23:12:38.264-07:00Getting Ready for a Wedding<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChl_Zr3ZRtpS1jid3A5sKUqXngk1qxvrLbHsr1pXscfrhJ2jw0UOh83VhREsOA8WUlqR-EOEDzqhm2K1NJ_JFFQ5GcSc8mxz3IxvPJEpPl6OU-pJMoArqb-o6AJQNnNm66G-S8AwN4VYt/s1600/IMG_0432-001straightlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChl_Zr3ZRtpS1jid3A5sKUqXngk1qxvrLbHsr1pXscfrhJ2jw0UOh83VhREsOA8WUlqR-EOEDzqhm2K1NJ_JFFQ5GcSc8mxz3IxvPJEpPl6OU-pJMoArqb-o6AJQNnNm66G-S8AwN4VYt/s200/IMG_0432-001straightlight.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjq0ziylvWoRfuJfvuI1LlwRlEYCdQaUhH-7prx6dor6zZ46Aijoko7BEQ4RTNs5cXYLZydpurP8okznHU8QwcSffNFPK9zQiFdgRn1S8c_EcFPomyo8VryhkbCKegJoyncAr0J4ln5N-/s1600/IMG_2642litecrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjq0ziylvWoRfuJfvuI1LlwRlEYCdQaUhH-7prx6dor6zZ46Aijoko7BEQ4RTNs5cXYLZydpurP8okznHU8QwcSffNFPK9zQiFdgRn1S8c_EcFPomyo8VryhkbCKegJoyncAr0J4ln5N-/s200/IMG_2642litecrop.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJe6NXznQ8m0w6YDGa2TGkBTOVlKe4TqKP1JCwuv6QFbVhHl6JsQDhKoYK3MZErwkTMUhkO35PM9H0XM4-A9qxN1k_Nfo1fFYX5sVUXc9EDvIN5iBpN4Qd3m3E2_eJXRr6BsDcQ4U64csn/s1600/IMG_0519lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJe6NXznQ8m0w6YDGa2TGkBTOVlKe4TqKP1JCwuv6QFbVhHl6JsQDhKoYK3MZErwkTMUhkO35PM9H0XM4-A9qxN1k_Nfo1fFYX5sVUXc9EDvIN5iBpN4Qd3m3E2_eJXRr6BsDcQ4U64csn/s200/IMG_0519lite.jpg" width="150" /></a>I sometimes ask my tutoring students if they want to have a
wedding someday. Most answer with a shy smile and a “yes.” Then I tell them
that planning a wedding is a lot like doing an algebra problem. (This usually
surprises and alarms them!) I tell them that you have to take the “math problem,”
break it into many smaller, more manageable parts, work on each part
separately, and then put it all back together into one successful solution. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJNg8f_g6_WZyQPJlgGG-H5JMlLasKNqZb92drNF3T5lCczwGNoxxqyDYvYUZ6488lVmdU4H3Vz9HwQ9j85Cj4X2Py1EOi9GeJ8XOzp84t1qbXqhvrXwjwqBCmYVGJU4OpuA6b9UE-JxG/s1600/IMG_0457-001lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJNg8f_g6_WZyQPJlgGG-H5JMlLasKNqZb92drNF3T5lCczwGNoxxqyDYvYUZ6488lVmdU4H3Vz9HwQ9j85Cj4X2Py1EOi9GeJ8XOzp84t1qbXqhvrXwjwqBCmYVGJU4OpuA6b9UE-JxG/s200/IMG_0457-001lite.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxt5TIw57LPQgqAfMWuzK_xtIgx2fCgIrpd29wD_9qJN8Mk_C4aSw49GPZX49IiETT_tW8ynE04MnF8m0DKRcdVBvCVIJ027uZhp8vwWJp3ZlMGNWaBb2xNUKrHc_ZK-UKB3pxj5EoZK6/s1600/IMG_2596lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxt5TIw57LPQgqAfMWuzK_xtIgx2fCgIrpd29wD_9qJN8Mk_C4aSw49GPZX49IiETT_tW8ynE04MnF8m0DKRcdVBvCVIJ027uZhp8vwWJp3ZlMGNWaBb2xNUKrHc_ZK-UKB3pxj5EoZK6/s200/IMG_2596lite.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
Our family and friends, a wonderful community of amazing
people, have been working on the “parts” of my eldest daughter’s wedding for the
past four months. There has been crafting, cooking, sewing, rehearsals and
showers as we work toward the goal of uniting two young people in the covenant of
marriage. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbEemvcWAL6OP1U7wODGMGBUwZxMWNxyQMkBwMizOt6VyzFr7nd95NI8SamQskJ8Q4A8Iid_MqLOPYseyOh9dWTSIbkfk6xnbuSs2QW-m5hYuKRUu91yXStNnG8iUCACWwnaMK-GiItcV/s1600/IMG_0475-001lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbEemvcWAL6OP1U7wODGMGBUwZxMWNxyQMkBwMizOt6VyzFr7nd95NI8SamQskJ8Q4A8Iid_MqLOPYseyOh9dWTSIbkfk6xnbuSs2QW-m5hYuKRUu91yXStNnG8iUCACWwnaMK-GiItcV/s200/IMG_0475-001lite.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EDMdnY6-6cz8-XW0D2LZklLD7asPz2zeTDItpVVjTyzNl1DrZmF7U7ieTVb_kINTzUTnWGrRnrVVv1L3eq2z16JxvNliiHZyxdV7MtDKeuGsprQvNT44Btc8Uh0l6Tp9ySV33zOBnh0L/s1600/IMG_2597lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EDMdnY6-6cz8-XW0D2LZklLD7asPz2zeTDItpVVjTyzNl1DrZmF7U7ieTVb_kINTzUTnWGrRnrVVv1L3eq2z16JxvNliiHZyxdV7MtDKeuGsprQvNT44Btc8Uh0l6Tp9ySV33zOBnh0L/s200/IMG_2597lite.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7yG_u7ozdj07D3UwnVKuGWALM-m3sU5qT-UCO7s7zAmqAOY987NOU2pDVHkopjCSbggw412R5KUo7PXipAUN9l6OHQq83GP9V6LwAoyrI3xKHDpUeQWATNey9iG5dxH6xKbE46k5C-uV/s1600/IMG_2602lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7yG_u7ozdj07D3UwnVKuGWALM-m3sU5qT-UCO7s7zAmqAOY987NOU2pDVHkopjCSbggw412R5KUo7PXipAUN9l6OHQq83GP9V6LwAoyrI3xKHDpUeQWATNey9iG5dxH6xKbE46k5C-uV/s200/IMG_2602lite.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
Enjoy some of the photo memories of the preparation and look
for some photos of the wedding next month!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-88408653117762221362013-09-28T15:51:00.003-07:002013-09-28T15:58:26.657-07:00Flipping the Classroom<div class="MsoNormal">
Sal Khan is revolutionizing the way we think about
education. He says that our current educational model is based on Prussian
ideas two hundred years old, and this system no longer works because it does
not encourage creative and logical thinking which is needed in our modern-day
information age. He is a proponent of “flipping the classroom” where students
get their information from on-line instruction outside of the classroom, and then<b> </b>the students work with their teachers.
Those teachers now help with the assignments and become mentors and coaches
instead of a lecturers. He believes that learning should be personalized,
students should move at their own pace, and the focus should be mastery. Too
often in a classroom situation, the teacher moves on because of time
constraints, unfortunately before many of the students have learned the
material. It has been interesting for me to see how Khan's model of education coincides in many ways with my view of tutoring.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Khan has written a fascinating book about education and
learning: <i>The One World School House. </i>You
can also view his website at www.khanacademy.org.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-8602137043154190872013-08-20T11:17:00.002-07:002013-08-20T19:18:22.835-07:00Wedding Invitations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pLVaqrgo9zgaF8sRDHvgpBBU0eu_cOZG3BwkxDznmAOqgYUBF4flD1eu9RmokVmdFWl0xaEX6F1gqqIccZ1R8zovluuj7ng1xpeoHV8PXrurhajllz9kww8Ee7GgBDP8qMaNT7hbKNPW/s1600/IMG_2483-001lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pLVaqrgo9zgaF8sRDHvgpBBU0eu_cOZG3BwkxDznmAOqgYUBF4flD1eu9RmokVmdFWl0xaEX6F1gqqIccZ1R8zovluuj7ng1xpeoHV8PXrurhajllz9kww8Ee7GgBDP8qMaNT7hbKNPW/s200/IMG_2483-001lite.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskPuZKQX_exfCp6SnJzt94RIp9R6pO9bRhCOzavNgwYR3BgKzGGhlxUG5GS98KW6FykKv-f7oFxPvyv046bG-xlmp08kMuT3pRRnNwt9_Jp8GCg8-mOVIfK4dPiLsFtDpOdM3cRHz6mkd/s1600/IMG_2479-001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskPuZKQX_exfCp6SnJzt94RIp9R6pO9bRhCOzavNgwYR3BgKzGGhlxUG5GS98KW6FykKv-f7oFxPvyv046bG-xlmp08kMuT3pRRnNwt9_Jp8GCg8-mOVIfK4dPiLsFtDpOdM3cRHz6mkd/s200/IMG_2479-001crop.jpg" width="200" /></a>My lovely daughter is to be married to a fantastic young man in a few short months. Her vision for their wedding is unique and expresses her and her fiance's individuality.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvm2qqRLAztai_HbxGed8eyYinrHdb31z48jRRJY-QBTkhCNURbvoikXopoCJ75FEODmm0I7kPpMhJBsFWoZF4l_tQu3o4fVZZ-KCVN2meR1LIA7wXS9iL2uDph64ZfuA3lcdyMLtMaWQ/s1600/IMG_2484-001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvm2qqRLAztai_HbxGed8eyYinrHdb31z48jRRJY-QBTkhCNURbvoikXopoCJ75FEODmm0I7kPpMhJBsFWoZF4l_tQu3o4fVZZ-KCVN2meR1LIA7wXS9iL2uDph64ZfuA3lcdyMLtMaWQ/s200/IMG_2484-001crop.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvSjSJ3Ih057VGvEeT996SnFJOna2tPCTeXg_1jbrZVtJVkOXod02p8Bh8f8g5u4nHSg6JJFEiJXkQGQmTDX3spOuB1Dq47AvHfXjCggCaHo7Th8kr3W3_2IRX7MbbcUBYzdyq_Tk13kF/s1600/IMG_2478-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvSjSJ3Ih057VGvEeT996SnFJOna2tPCTeXg_1jbrZVtJVkOXod02p8Bh8f8g5u4nHSg6JJFEiJXkQGQmTDX3spOuB1Dq47AvHfXjCggCaHo7Th8kr3W3_2IRX7MbbcUBYzdyq_Tk13kF/s200/IMG_2478-002.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UkyqfIql9yX0hYBpeuGH_pXTRpxqc3vFOW7Xqy5qKjnhs4DPhE7trA62_FZVB6qw3hGB6mHDzMoVx31OoCDQj82jx6LmY381d2_R6Nnlkk3OV3p0doQetxUMFu9ejtWKMgrODHpf5kga/s1600/IMG_2487light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UkyqfIql9yX0hYBpeuGH_pXTRpxqc3vFOW7Xqy5qKjnhs4DPhE7trA62_FZVB6qw3hGB6mHDzMoVx31OoCDQj82jx6LmY381d2_R6Nnlkk3OV3p0doQetxUMFu9ejtWKMgrODHpf5kga/s200/IMG_2487light.jpg" width="200" /></a> Both of them have a deep love of books, and she sought to incorporate that interest into their wedding invitations. Being blessed with many supportive friends and family who were willing to help her achieve this vision, she hosted a craft party where we came together and assembled the invitations. While enjoying homemade cookies and lemonade, we cut and glued the evening away.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6I4nskBYCUDEdpY-fkqWsl4L5yvOKOsyCBZcNcsc_bn6d0cjV5atzMnZGMpa4g4Z12GDqYgh2H0pP1iYLY7lghjxkZCjN5Bw9zCagAFB3d1R47bd4NyW9eb30ikVX56BPAd10BC7MG-t/s1600/IMG_2500-001litefix2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6I4nskBYCUDEdpY-fkqWsl4L5yvOKOsyCBZcNcsc_bn6d0cjV5atzMnZGMpa4g4Z12GDqYgh2H0pP1iYLY7lghjxkZCjN5Bw9zCagAFB3d1R47bd4NyW9eb30ikVX56BPAd10BC7MG-t/s200/IMG_2500-001litefix2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzX6sKr2qF3HvoFRGMBfYmJHjGUMd5nlplPXKLlANAYzz4qXNoa2gf8BcO60K5AEklgdTQyw2PkuqjHtvMPLCOmTL4HkOwOd5rsXiI1-2drV3GEt4G_qjkS8-hHuAumYY8lnvbG2bStcS/s1600/IMG_2500-001litefix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<o:p></o:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-67706020357333724612013-07-10T20:35:00.000-07:002013-07-10T20:37:46.507-07:00First Grade<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn4ZsC6093F_quxHZDs6Mf81lbzgSiSjiKqFyYxqybhA9VrBiD_lUEw8CbnFVMYetDL5L8Pu1SUGCsp6FXFfqShxqTFBzq0pv-oQE3In8344UHc79mb5Gh4E0alRc_mcFEyGV7IeBYvq7/s1600/IMG_8280-001lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn4ZsC6093F_quxHZDs6Mf81lbzgSiSjiKqFyYxqybhA9VrBiD_lUEw8CbnFVMYetDL5L8Pu1SUGCsp6FXFfqShxqTFBzq0pv-oQE3In8344UHc79mb5Gh4E0alRc_mcFEyGV7IeBYvq7/s200/IMG_8280-001lite.jpg" width="133" /></a>Over the past couple of years, I have had the honor and
delight of spending most of my time with junior high and high school-aged
students, tutoring them through a variety of their classes. I have enjoyed sharing my
enthusiasm for many subjects with them, but the subject that the majority of
students want assistance with is math. I am aware of how math builds through the
years, and I know the skills the students will need as they continue their
studies. That knowledge has made it all the more fun to be tutoring a first
grader this summer.</div>
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Every week I get to pull out math manipulatives, pattern
blocks and games and use them to prepare this young boy to think well, enjoy
the math process and be prepared for what comes next. I realize that the
patterning skills he is using will be helpful when he begins algebra years down
the road. Understanding shapes and how they work together will help with
geometry. But most of all, he is finding out<o:p></o:p></div>
that learning is fun, and that will
carry him down the road best of all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-84203964801763716502013-06-19T17:45:00.002-07:002013-06-19T18:24:57.037-07:00San Luis Obispo Classical Academy History Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuefid-QXfFfD56PT5pNA9Hr-3pLk-LW-boGb7uvYX3Al_6e8rsnHTJF9hjmM3XE6MALQEzFKEZl8xkRN4GjLEpFdD7bvQTYLiknYMUFWrHJX6T_KKsoCTSnVpB6YtaxZz4uP6apmzCeQ/s1600/IMG_8571litecrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuefid-QXfFfD56PT5pNA9Hr-3pLk-LW-boGb7uvYX3Al_6e8rsnHTJF9hjmM3XE6MALQEzFKEZl8xkRN4GjLEpFdD7bvQTYLiknYMUFWrHJX6T_KKsoCTSnVpB6YtaxZz4uP6apmzCeQ/s200/IMG_8571litecrop.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiXZnKb2I-kSlJpAO2S7boVwsx1UVBuXVKfeiUGWXCqZK4oO4EA6MMjNeqF-Nvvgt4BeuD4DX5A5o_DMd7X8s3KV-P4TrZxQ97tCtcpU-7g8p4gHCB0kGDo61B12GG1AqpGlwmyP0xmdt/s1600/IMG_8736lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiXZnKb2I-kSlJpAO2S7boVwsx1UVBuXVKfeiUGWXCqZK4oO4EA6MMjNeqF-Nvvgt4BeuD4DX5A5o_DMd7X8s3KV-P4TrZxQ97tCtcpU-7g8p4gHCB0kGDo61B12GG1AqpGlwmyP0xmdt/s200/IMG_8736lite.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYr__Qm4ECRE2cpikeMMpSfZIG4aASkBGfH3HSuVty3egKeGveW5obKf38boX1GYA3r1k4NqZeFysClXWyQdNDnHAtEOeN3xhF5Q8TnBSasytGK58Kj_ZGeelQJaKFg9QHaJYLGmTK_Lpy/s1600/IMG_8526litetilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYr__Qm4ECRE2cpikeMMpSfZIG4aASkBGfH3HSuVty3egKeGveW5obKf38boX1GYA3r1k4NqZeFysClXWyQdNDnHAtEOeN3xhF5Q8TnBSasytGK58Kj_ZGeelQJaKFg9QHaJYLGmTK_Lpy/s200/IMG_8526litetilt.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWiOakJbU9OsLhY5n-AnZjy2KYnHpZGGdWfItUJeFVhUGLtu9keBzxnLMisQEIfV9jbt8XHzzpKQoRzz8luLyg4o2l-k87srpjISAyrmnA10hANbssks5YRQOGLt468oqB9iF0zLRwAvj/s1600/IMG_8599lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWiOakJbU9OsLhY5n-AnZjy2KYnHpZGGdWfItUJeFVhUGLtu9keBzxnLMisQEIfV9jbt8XHzzpKQoRzz8luLyg4o2l-k87srpjISAyrmnA10hANbssks5YRQOGLt468oqB9iF0zLRwAvj/s200/IMG_8599lite.jpg" width="200" /></a>They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. This
month’s blog will consist mainly of photos from a dance I did a couple of weeks
ago. A local private school has a yearly history day where students and their
families come together to learn about a specific time period. This year they
were studying the Civil War. They share food, music, games and dance! I was
told that the estimated number of people expected was 450. Not all of those
folks danced, but we had a large number of people dance for the very first time!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqONetVAJDWzGx4jObXj9GQQdUc9I4Cb6iAPL_-JwxZmkmMfyzqNqA2XoV7FO-eJWUnPKls_MZFA9BG93s8PFsDKoBuz2Xgeg-C9V0s5EDmHLIgEsAjCJaltJHEIyl7-0b7oEVALNPauZ/s1600/IMG_8635lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqONetVAJDWzGx4jObXj9GQQdUc9I4Cb6iAPL_-JwxZmkmMfyzqNqA2XoV7FO-eJWUnPKls_MZFA9BG93s8PFsDKoBuz2Xgeg-C9V0s5EDmHLIgEsAjCJaltJHEIyl7-0b7oEVALNPauZ/s200/IMG_8635lite.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLx0WXOF-gvh71dw-iHZmDkpBTZ3bcabblMvM0fjK0a1I4uufBMxvViszLnWUKgTioHShI7z9rw4HvmWrGg5vKgt97Hx2U2RVUSFKLRoev_-ZkS9KJi4PHxsFisIla9ktXWH_yokyUYU17/s1600/IMG_8745lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLx0WXOF-gvh71dw-iHZmDkpBTZ3bcabblMvM0fjK0a1I4uufBMxvViszLnWUKgTioHShI7z9rw4HvmWrGg5vKgt97Hx2U2RVUSFKLRoev_-ZkS9KJi4PHxsFisIla9ktXWH_yokyUYU17/s200/IMG_8745lite.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijD5fE5rB7WJrUsUFAIZjp1gC0zDXne-hHUsfDkhWJbfC_VaxwI9CAzCg5JMsijgY7Smd8c1yWv8N8oeUWcD8hnPvCnVfEcbXRipNOanxpFPoA16qdwPznu6awSGZrHJwZxFyACSS1zGJ-/s1600/IMG_8701litetilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0M-iybJD6kL1bYQWtJh44z8OgVS_wV2AUZ3vyKIkTzrfDsOsczkPRqFnTJ075gX9psKjAw3uUKb5QSL7ZJfnccR68v-Yp8wpKdyQaUpQFt63B7Hj6DM7ocS0rq2OldDVAYRBwjKRt8UtY/s1600/IMG_8626litecrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0M-iybJD6kL1bYQWtJh44z8OgVS_wV2AUZ3vyKIkTzrfDsOsczkPRqFnTJ075gX9psKjAw3uUKb5QSL7ZJfnccR68v-Yp8wpKdyQaUpQFt63B7Hj6DM7ocS0rq2OldDVAYRBwjKRt8UtY/s200/IMG_8626litecrop.jpg" width="200" /></a><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijD5fE5rB7WJrUsUFAIZjp1gC0zDXne-hHUsfDkhWJbfC_VaxwI9CAzCg5JMsijgY7Smd8c1yWv8N8oeUWcD8hnPvCnVfEcbXRipNOanxpFPoA16qdwPznu6awSGZrHJwZxFyACSS1zGJ-/s200/IMG_8701litetilt.jpg" width="200" /><br />
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The location was a lovely, flat grassy area at Biddle Park
in Arroyo Grande. A ladies’ trio, Atalanta Running, provided the live music. The
dancers were enthusiastic, the weather lovely, and a grand time was had by all.
Although I enjoy hosting my own Balls, calling dances for private events allows
for experiences with new people in unique places!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">All photos were taken by Evan Gillham.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-22447156023272947612013-05-26T09:31:00.000-07:002013-05-26T09:32:29.481-07:00Quiet<br />
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A good friend of mine is fond of saying, “Western
Civilization was built on private tutoring.” It is true that many of the great
minds over the centuries have been nurtured and trained by personal tutors who
focused on the students’ gifts, engaged them in stimulating conversation, and
provided immediate feedback for optimal learning.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Large numbers of age-segregated students in classrooms is a
recent phenomenon historically. Although it is cost effective and provides
parents a place to put their children for much of the day, it is not the ideal
situation for every child.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am currently reading the book <i>Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking </i>by
Susan Cain. Although I am extremely extroverted, I am familiar with introverts
in that I am married to one, and I spent eighteen years homeschooling my
introverted daughter. Introverts enjoy working alone for hours on projects that
engage them. One or two friends over for a play date is often preferred to loud
and overwhelming crowds of children that sap their energy. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many children who struggle at school would benefit from
one-on-one tutoring, away from the distractions and noise of the classroom.
Private tutoring is an expensive option. However, for many children, the
expense is worth the calmer present and brighter future that it brings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-88140135879805515202013-04-14T09:41:00.001-07:002013-05-26T09:33:47.446-07:00Surrogate Homeschool Mom<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
During the Easter break, I had the privilege and honor of being
a homeschool tutor for some students whose parents were out of town for the week. Interestingly, I had never officially met this family before, but they knew that I tutored because they had been to several Civil War Balls.<br />
<br />
The mother of these students did not want her children to miss out on their
studies while their parents were traveling, so she asked me to come and teach
them at their grandmother’s home. She said that she wanted me to work on math
for part of the time, and the rest of the time, I could teach them anything I
was passionate about. Oh, the choices! I am passionate about so many things! I
finally settled on logic, Greek and Latin root words, note taking and starting
a nature journal. We made root word flash cards and played games with them, discussed
the difference between Red Herring, Ad Hominem and Tu Quoque logical fallacies,
and made contour and diagrammatic drawings of shells and leaves. The students
were interested and enthusiastic, and I realized yet again how fortunate I am
to be part of so many people’s lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-837985629093220222013-03-30T21:20:00.000-07:002013-03-30T21:20:17.864-07:00Sewing Bee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTtRHWn2R9uZkZ7e8N62YG-SkZkTEBj9MGIN9hVqIYK1i6H9Dr5X_51s5DO_8iIxV5QH2UVj2lVk22ffyouPjGMUm2z814N8xtx_WN8Y1JC0fDIkEHc7bRzPzgeoTyzNWjOvaXqKfE3E5/s1600/IMG_2155-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTtRHWn2R9uZkZ7e8N62YG-SkZkTEBj9MGIN9hVqIYK1i6H9Dr5X_51s5DO_8iIxV5QH2UVj2lVk22ffyouPjGMUm2z814N8xtx_WN8Y1JC0fDIkEHc7bRzPzgeoTyzNWjOvaXqKfE3E5/s200/IMG_2155-001.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj627pn7u7KX_Bqv_j6VgZu4Y6ANoIGkjigeLo7Uc7kEUO6sDdu4q4Ui5dxLXVeSANSedlYQDFeM6sXjWcyRCpzlElC-efgvHhN2G6B2AKBJ4o76GPsQup3NvjPMOlclRYMEL0sZo4vDGo7/s1600/IMG_2146-001lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj627pn7u7KX_Bqv_j6VgZu4Y6ANoIGkjigeLo7Uc7kEUO6sDdu4q4Ui5dxLXVeSANSedlYQDFeM6sXjWcyRCpzlElC-efgvHhN2G6B2AKBJ4o76GPsQup3NvjPMOlclRYMEL0sZo4vDGo7/s200/IMG_2146-001lite.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVTVW6z_FpOxbUeQEjeHjehg6o_dEutaKb7n7FC4AJUvaYauERHn_D9o9AzkoL60OA9pY3zIYmHqkarQZ6oFDmDJs9aX4Wk71OEOPja3ekL4xLjaLsr35IchsPgg1QhYij0hq9GjbCXnA/s1600/IMG_2143litecrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVTVW6z_FpOxbUeQEjeHjehg6o_dEutaKb7n7FC4AJUvaYauERHn_D9o9AzkoL60OA9pY3zIYmHqkarQZ6oFDmDJs9aX4Wk71OEOPja3ekL4xLjaLsr35IchsPgg1QhYij0hq9GjbCXnA/s200/IMG_2143litecrop.jpg" width="200" /></a>Women have been sewing together for centuries. Mothers and
daughters have gathered around roaring fires on winter evenings, hands busy and
conversation lively. Groups of ladies
have combined their efforts onto single quilts made for dear friends, those in
need or a lucky bride. Today, I had the
opportunity to participate in a modern version of this ancient ritual. At our “sewing
bee,” each lady brought her own sewing machine and project. While the day
included quilting for some, others covered cushions, designed curtains or made a
hammock. But some things do not change. Hands were busy, the conversation
lively, and beautiful and useful items were created.</div>
<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-53462902833557869612013-02-03T09:51:00.000-08:002013-02-03T09:57:28.822-08:00Victorian Valentine's DayFor the Victorians, Valentine’s Day was a day for couples,
true, but the Victorians also highly valued friendship as well. On Valentine’s
Day, in keeping up with the Victorian’s passion for mementos, friendship
jewelry was regularly exchanged. Popular symbols included an anchor
representing hope and the single word “Mizpah” which meant “The Lord watch
between thee and me when we are absent from one another.” Silver coins were
often engraved with fancy designs, initials and commemorative messages, and
these were worn as pins or pendants. The Victorians enjoyed mementos that
reminded them of cherished relationships and happy times.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApPyNgy8qu_bgeYx6xzjukfI-YPlXJq9PfVuw6HKcFS9x_phUaar8xmwo68zDvxQSlv2-jIyLbNHAaDC-9v-o21RaceF0UkCTENCy2dr9ILO1iKeexoodBvqvKXuotOFUjI1Zqu7qn-jR/s1600/Scan0001%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApPyNgy8qu_bgeYx6xzjukfI-YPlXJq9PfVuw6HKcFS9x_phUaar8xmwo68zDvxQSlv2-jIyLbNHAaDC-9v-o21RaceF0UkCTENCy2dr9ILO1iKeexoodBvqvKXuotOFUjI1Zqu7qn-jR/s200/Scan0001%25233.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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As straight laced and rigidly moral as the Victorians
appeared, they were also quite the romantics. Since young ladies were often
shielded by chaperones, it was sometimes difficult for a young man to know
where he stood with his heart’s desire. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Young ladies learned to signal their feelings with various
items of apparel, and the gentlemen quickly caught on. If a lady handed a
gentleman her glove, it meant she accepted him, whereas, if she handed him a
mitten, it told the suitor to give up hope. If she drew her handkerchief across
her check, she was sending a message of love, while twirling the handkerchief
in her right hand meant that she loved another. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbNL85wKB_cMXGyUD-CcEfGrM5wDlgGTPN-muKI3gUkqR1b0NfGjyLLN6-PqC4rmpGqIdBUOtdrQzqAi7lehHUz0U8KYpPqyWbKZSVRlEZcTecNr0gSjdXsXoPvMQwsgOJ5yNNP2mHNBU/s1600/Scan0001%232-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbNL85wKB_cMXGyUD-CcEfGrM5wDlgGTPN-muKI3gUkqR1b0NfGjyLLN6-PqC4rmpGqIdBUOtdrQzqAi7lehHUz0U8KYpPqyWbKZSVRlEZcTecNr0gSjdXsXoPvMQwsgOJ5yNNP2mHNBU/s200/Scan0001%232-001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gifts of love included a painted miniature portrait, a
brooch containing a woven lock of hair or a piece of gemstone of particular significance.
Flowers, too, had many meanings and could be used to communicate one’s thoughts
and desires. However, the most important were the written affirmations of the
heart. Letters were akin to personal visits and allowed one to express deep
emotion. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Marriage was the ultimate goal of most young adult’s
aspirations, for Victorians felt that only marriage and children could fill a
house with true love. Their model was their beloved Queen Victoria who was a
wife and mother who put her family above the many affairs of state.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many poems of that era reflect this sentiment:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KjGRw3YV2gt3JpV6KWABPXD_SSg4gXGDvvt9Pndcr6fe7-3pDcOePDt56fFYuzqVQM90GPdNksEYKPA-AG8ozDda8GqVNwkY67wkDpIT0q9blWfH9TwGwvncAGFGs2JQwcJpkDOhtuK4/s1600/Scan0001%234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KjGRw3YV2gt3JpV6KWABPXD_SSg4gXGDvvt9Pndcr6fe7-3pDcOePDt56fFYuzqVQM90GPdNksEYKPA-AG8ozDda8GqVNwkY67wkDpIT0q9blWfH9TwGwvncAGFGs2JQwcJpkDOhtuK4/s200/Scan0001%234.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh may you live happy <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rest of your life<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Get a good husband<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And be a good wife.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“I often wished to have a friend<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With whom my choicest hours to spend,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To whom I safely may impart<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each wish and weakness of my heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who would in every sorrow cheer,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An mingle with my grief a tear,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And to secure that bliss for life,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’d like that friend to be my wife.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-50665687298342773002013-01-10T13:19:00.003-08:002013-01-10T13:23:21.815-08:00Painting and Creating<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAS3C2-4ZxN1HpWzF6WiP1BhTHOUngYmmQTjS7Q724RkOV04I6VoYEaApLvRgJpKz_iQPjD6K3Sh7UNykxWfAbsI_wr3NBHYYrb_nvhryrWhkxTj-KFAiCBk223T8LVUwMeyQFpgHJLKE/s1600/IMG_1511-001croplite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAS3C2-4ZxN1HpWzF6WiP1BhTHOUngYmmQTjS7Q724RkOV04I6VoYEaApLvRgJpKz_iQPjD6K3Sh7UNykxWfAbsI_wr3NBHYYrb_nvhryrWhkxTj-KFAiCBk223T8LVUwMeyQFpgHJLKE/s200/IMG_1511-001croplite.jpg" width="200" /></a>We were created in the image of our creator … to create!
Everyone expresses their need to create in different ways. Some garden, some
sew, some fix up old houses or old cars, (some put together Civil War Balls <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> ) and others paint. We
tend to think that painting is reserved for those who are especially gifted and
talented. Knowing that artistic ability is not my gift, I was pleasantly
surprised to find that I could, with help and direction, create a painting that
I enjoy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBVj6jS8Zuv6L2cOz3gjhmf-ZHuGgk79GEFEED73hm4Cm7KKUk-w3C9_CnCNYC5ELjcxVmDLNPB9ujMRkx2WKNmBeioL9GdmmFMErFNFl093Tz9jdAcOxN4rykv2oEED6hOZsWtJq5jDQ/s1600/IMG_1507-001lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBVj6jS8Zuv6L2cOz3gjhmf-ZHuGgk79GEFEED73hm4Cm7KKUk-w3C9_CnCNYC5ELjcxVmDLNPB9ujMRkx2WKNmBeioL9GdmmFMErFNFl093Tz9jdAcOxN4rykv2oEED6hOZsWtJq5jDQ/s200/IMG_1507-001lite.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjr-bnqV8lMdZAzTPl1OBpYd5-_JuGdVBRZJaPrRAfyDusFRxCgqynKQ3i92izPky6fYdnoFW_Rkeago3_MjLF_zSkZlnldZaT8bcdKy_78_S1EGNcsUiJRJt3_EFgrxSstujBYv9SymO/s1600/IMG_1831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjr-bnqV8lMdZAzTPl1OBpYd5-_JuGdVBRZJaPrRAfyDusFRxCgqynKQ3i92izPky6fYdnoFW_Rkeago3_MjLF_zSkZlnldZaT8bcdKy_78_S1EGNcsUiJRJt3_EFgrxSstujBYv9SymO/s200/IMG_1831.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE93kZTGKfTHqciI0KG2hyiG-7V4ZsrnEm5hv5gLo5Vvva0P3hTfEm6cpojk3vTs2qY28sQHnWv4FqFNRgkyDNL4EMHcFUn5496XcvN0HZho-iOHxo-gUf8DIKFRS-26WaLSIfR8bJJrdg/s1600/IMG_1503-001lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE93kZTGKfTHqciI0KG2hyiG-7V4ZsrnEm5hv5gLo5Vvva0P3hTfEm6cpojk3vTs2qY28sQHnWv4FqFNRgkyDNL4EMHcFUn5496XcvN0HZho-iOHxo-gUf8DIKFRS-26WaLSIfR8bJJrdg/s200/IMG_1503-001lite.jpg" width="200" /></a>My sister invited me to her house in Nashville for a week in
October, and there I learned that some studios offer art classes to those that
are artistically awkward and inexperienced. My sister, eldest daughter and I
spent an afternoon creating “Birds on a Wire.” We not only had a lot of fun,
but we walked away with a keepsake that will always remind us of that happy
day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtr2yEJYgWKEi8K2hTVQaYAaddkTIS_OjFLqEdMmDHyr98aq6J2YDX1Y4u1ffL25xcPfJJflAonotJXGR2tlHa22nQE0eiZBlrget8ICnHQf8cxGLdY1aVORoifGo1Os6S0LIJwe3ljdH/s1600/IMG_8102-001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtr2yEJYgWKEi8K2hTVQaYAaddkTIS_OjFLqEdMmDHyr98aq6J2YDX1Y4u1ffL25xcPfJJflAonotJXGR2tlHa22nQE0eiZBlrget8ICnHQf8cxGLdY1aVORoifGo1Os6S0LIJwe3ljdH/s200/IMG_8102-001crop.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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When I returned home, I discovered that my dear artistically-gifted
friend, Deborah Swanson, was offering classes in her art studio. (See <a href="http://www.knoodleu.com/classes_sched.html">http://www.knoodleu.com</a> for more info.) I gathered together with my husband and friends for an evening
of art and history as Deborah gave us the background behind Van Gogh’s “Starry
Night” that we were attempting to recreate. A grand time was had by all, and it
was enormously satisfying to look at our paintings and say, “We did it! We created!”<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-85268136531281786182012-12-10T09:08:00.001-08:002012-12-10T09:16:38.003-08:00Building Community<br />
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Many decades ago, people lived in a society that was
considerably less mobile than the one we currently enjoy. We delight in being
able to load the kids in the car and head for the beach on Saturday and then up
to the mountains on Sunday. This mobility allows us to make friends, attend
church or go to school on the other side of town or even in another city
because it is easy to jump in the car and travel to where we want to go. But is
there a cost to this disconnect from our immediate locale? <o:p></o:p></div>
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When a person has gas and can move around, he is not really
forced to get along with his neighbors or engage in his community. In the
“olden days,” people helped each other with barn raising and quilting bees. And
what really brought the community together was a Saturday night community
social dance. The local fiddlers would rosin up their bows, and as the lively
music played, neighbors of all ages would work together to create something
that was intricate, graceful and beautiful. A social dance where the
participants are weaving in and out with their partners and other couples brings
people together and unites them. You really have to learn to honor and
cooperate with the other dancers for the movements to be a success.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today, there are not many places where the whole family can
come together, including the kids and grandma and grandpa, and share and
interact in a multi-generational experience with not only their family, but
their friends and neighbors as well. People have a deep need to be connected to
others, and it is harder today than ever. Even if a family is all sitting in
the same room, often dad is working on his ipad, mom is looking up information
on the computer, Jr. is playing Xbox and the teenage daughter is seeing what is
happening on Facebook.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have been hosting dances for my friends and family for
many years. In 2013, I want to take that vision of bringing people together,
building community and teaching traditional values and etiquette to the greater public. Therefore, I am offering classes through the Atascadero Recreation
Department this year on Tuesday nights at the Lake Pavilion at 6pm. Later in the year, I will be hosting a Grand Community Ball with the Colony Days Committee for Atascadedro's 100th Birthday. You can find
more information about the dance class at <a href="http://www.atascadero.org/">www.atascadero.org</a>.
I hope you will invite your family, friends and neighbors and join us!<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-14543312891169284292012-11-19T22:59:00.001-08:002012-11-19T22:59:25.965-08:00Dancing in the Rain<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Earlier
this year on a drizzly afternoon, I was wandering about an antique store in
Morro Bay and came across a plaque that said, “Life is not about waiting for
the storm to end. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” I’ve adopted this
phrase as my motto this year. In 2011, the rain poured down on my family (and
our nation), and I found myself not smiling as much, waiting for the rain to
end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
2012, I find that, although the storm has lessened in some ways, it continues
to rain, or at least drizzle, and probably will for some time to come. But I am
learning to smile and dance anyway as I learn to be content in all situations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
found another great quote recently, and it has been attributed to several
authors including Mark Twain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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"You've gotta' dance like there's nobody watching,<br />
Love like you'll never be hurt,<br />
Sing like there's nobody listening,<br />
And live like it's heaven on earth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Next time it rains, look for me. I’ll be dancing.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067856507204184417.post-19606055451894062562012-10-01T13:07:00.002-07:002012-10-01T13:09:29.206-07:00Eagle Scout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmR8zfBe9UEdfR28bUUo6lwj16KR2KPimfPUOUY6DOLLvXmLh1X7zFOzSlEJKLaC1pKJ8J_WAs9r1VGK9LD-17FvDW4zWmFyIWv1h0eft64EBSR5Bcj7mhchlh5-zu4-o9JmoHMaDQTwc/s1600/IMG_7784-001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmR8zfBe9UEdfR28bUUo6lwj16KR2KPimfPUOUY6DOLLvXmLh1X7zFOzSlEJKLaC1pKJ8J_WAs9r1VGK9LD-17FvDW4zWmFyIWv1h0eft64EBSR5Bcj7mhchlh5-zu4-o9JmoHMaDQTwc/s200/IMG_7784-001crop.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BZQYwi65DGQHcdP4lYPVZ9XqtYCaumgeXwYVfgKvEeF2mHEjCZ_uuFu-r0UuhkL9WJe0UKFO5C362YUWuy5uhL9YWcwd4-XqMZprASJrJ7HB3WIxKW5KwgrlFle35hQymf1sFpTfOLAl/s1600/dougECOH-384croplite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BZQYwi65DGQHcdP4lYPVZ9XqtYCaumgeXwYVfgKvEeF2mHEjCZ_uuFu-r0UuhkL9WJe0UKFO5C362YUWuy5uhL9YWcwd4-XqMZprASJrJ7HB3WIxKW5KwgrlFle35hQymf1sFpTfOLAl/s200/dougECOH-384croplite.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2bqValZaoj5EkYIFkcV_WTDO1daBaqGUxKM_ElBVpYHhlJpnTSyB58gPrMDoYQYXfMt_0vi4wAyIIYCLYYw_Lv_tEVqkgGqnvBnmNwEgzm0zFbxOSyi01EEdszYZq7uWM-N1FgO2BLXx/s1600/IMG_7801-001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>My son, who is an Eagle Scout, joined Boy Scouts when he was thirteen years old. Through the years that followed, he took leadership classes, went on campouts and even learned to scuba dive. Most of his dear friends and their younger brothers were also involved, and, slowly but surely, we watched almost all the boys attain the rank of Eagle Scout. Our dear friend Douglas is the newest in our group to achieve this prestigious rank. His parents threw him a party after the Eagle Scout ceremony complete with a delicious BBQ and a dance. Douglas is a veteran of our Civil War Balls and usually attends looking quite handsome in his tuxedo. But there was just something extra special about seeing him dance the Virginia Reel in his Boy Scout Uniform – with his very proud mother.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2bqValZaoj5EkYIFkcV_WTDO1daBaqGUxKM_ElBVpYHhlJpnTSyB58gPrMDoYQYXfMt_0vi4wAyIIYCLYYw_Lv_tEVqkgGqnvBnmNwEgzm0zFbxOSyi01EEdszYZq7uWM-N1FgO2BLXx/s1600/IMG_7801-001crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2bqValZaoj5EkYIFkcV_WTDO1daBaqGUxKM_ElBVpYHhlJpnTSyB58gPrMDoYQYXfMt_0vi4wAyIIYCLYYw_Lv_tEVqkgGqnvBnmNwEgzm0zFbxOSyi01EEdszYZq7uWM-N1FgO2BLXx/s400/IMG_7801-001crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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