Saturday's 5K Run Postponed!

Workers from Muscatine Public Works Department put up the flood gate Monday afternoon on East Sec-ond Street in Muscatine. The rising Mississippi River causes Mad Creek to also over flow its banks.

The HNI 5K Run that I was supposed to run this coming Saturday has been postponed due to the flooding of the Mississippi River. As you can see, the water is rising and the floodgates are going up, but I really don't know how good they'll do, as the water is already on Mississippi Drive and heading towards 2nd Street.

The floodgates remind me of a verse we are memorizing in school: Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Our discussion around the table included answering what is a tithe anyway? We (the kids mainly - they're so smart!) came to the conclusion that God really wants our obedience. A tithe can be the money we're entrusted with, but it's beyond that - giving Him your best in everything you do. Look at the promise He gives if we just test Him in that principle. The floodgates reminded me of that promise...what does that look like, for the floodgates of heaven to open?

Culver gets a $13000 raise

The following is from a Des Moines news channel (8) website - short and concise. My comments follow...

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Gov. Chet Culver and other top elected officials could be in for a pay raise.
A bill approved by the Legislature in the final hours of the session calls for a double-digit increase.
If Culver signs the bill, his salary would jump by about 10 percent from $130,000 to more than $142,000. That would make him the 12th highest-paid governor in the country.
According to a 2007 study by the Council of State Governments, governors' pay ranges from $70,000 in Maine to $206,000 in California.
Proposed raises for other elected officials would range from 11 percent to 23 percent.
Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal said officials didn't ask for a pay raise, but lawmakers felt it was time to bring their salaries in line with a midpoint range recommended for public employees.


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Ok, did I already say this: We need to vote these people out of office! C'mon! Sure, let's vote for a pay increase all the while, what we hear on the radio, in newspapers, on tv is the immediate doom of the recession. And just how are you going to pay for your pay increase of more than 10%? Hmm, let me guess...."fees" or taxes? Why not just raise both?

By the way, WHO gets a 10% raise anyways? Have you ever gotten that much pay increase in one year? That's ridiculous! I can understand a nice raise if you've actually worked for it....like bringing in more business, creating more profits, getting more customers. But, public lawmakers? What have they done lately, except take away more of our personal liberties.

Yes, Iowa is filled with people who actually voted for these folks. And I'm afraid they'll actually continue to vote for them.

I'm calling for a revolution. Let's get these guys out of office and bring in some 10 year olds who have more common sense than this. Not only would they do a better job, they'd probably even do it for free!

Barnstormers Game

On Saturday, April 26th, we headed West to Des Moines to watch the Barnstormers stomp all over the Stockton Lightning in AF2 Football. The girls loved the game. We had front row tickets provided by Dan's work and got to experience the game up close and personal. The players would touch our hands after big plays. The atmosphere at the game is incredible - very testosterone filled, right down to the scantily dressed "cheerleaders." I don't know how much cheering they were doing. Brooke said they were, "unappropriately dressed." The drunk guy sitting next to me had his cowbell dinging the entire time, so I'm just today starting to regain hearing in my right ear. If you can get past the drunkfest, the Hooters display, and maybe expanding your vocabulary with new words, the actual game is entertaining, competitive, fast paced and downright fun! I recommend it as another American experience.

Do Over

I was listening to a radio broadcast this morning and it was pretty insightful. The speaker concluded with a column by Erma Bombeck and I quickly went to the computer to look it up so I could reflect upon it. When asked if she could do her life over, would she do it differently, Erma first responded, "No." But, then, like all sensible women, she changed her mind! Here's what she wrote:

If I Had My Life To Live Over
I would have talked less and listened more
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded
I would have eaten the popcorn in the "good" living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed
I would have burned the pink candle sculped like a rose before it melted in storage
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "later, now go get washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I love yous"...more "I'm sorrys"
but mostly, GIVEN ANOTHER SHOT AT LIFE, I WOULD SEIZE EVERY MINUTE... LOOK AT IT AND REALLY SEE IT...LIVE IT...AND NEVER GIVE IT BACK.
-- Erma Bombeck



How fitting, then, that on a day that I was reflecting about my own life and how it's probably half over - if I live to the average age of most Americans - that there was a death in our own household....yes, I regret to inform you that Knick Knack died today. He was born January 19 of this year and died only 4 short months later. Moriah was saddened, but she and Brooke set out quickly to lay him in peace. A short memorial service was performed and he was buried peacefully under the cherry tree.


On another completely different note, we attended the 5th grade band/orchestra concert tonight where the 10-11 year olds performed their last concert of the year. In just seven short years, all these families and parents in the audience will be attending commencement. What a thought. How much more these kids have to learn. How much more we parents have to learn! So little time. Seizing the moment begins now.

Culver Signs Increase in Iowa Vehicle Fees

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880422024

Culver Signs Increase in Iowa Vehicle Fees - That's the headline in newspapers across the state today as a result of the tax happy overpopulated Democratic House and Senate we have in the statehouse this year. Not to mention our Tax Happy Governor. Call this what it is: A TAX INCREASE!

This is why people need to wake up and vote for a balanced field of power. Put a Republican back in the office of the Governor. Put some sensible people in the Legislature. Oh, did I say sensible? I guess most sensible people are out actually working for a living and too sensible to go into politics.

On top of this "fee" that's really a tax hike, they also passed the SILO bill. C'mon! Where are they going to stop? Can you believe they actually used the idea that this will make school districts "equal" with one another. Hmm, where have I read that idea before? I think in Philosophy 101 when we were studying Karl Marx. My question, and I've posed this before in numerous different situations, although primarily with children, is, Is equal always fair?

The communities that value local education will, as in times past, rise up, roll up their sleeves for their schools, work concessions, start Booster organizations, and organize fund raisers. Some communities lack that stamina or those go-getting individuals or businesses for economic support. By equalizing the playing field, won't those "richer" communities still be rich?

Oh, I see what the Democrats' next proposition will be....the money that those "rich" communities raise for their schools, teams, bands, activities, and so on, should actually be first given to the State, so the State can then divvy it up to make sure the proceeds from the Bake Sale go to communities who lack the means to hold a Bake Sale themselves.

For example, in my community in Southeast Iowa, we have an annual Cake Auction. Yes, Cakes are auctioned off. It has become quite a social event to see which cake can garner the highest bid. I believe one has sold in the several thousands of dollars in the past. In fact, it becomes quite a competition among bakers to see who can produce the tallest, fattest, best spirited cake. So the $17,000 it raises shouldn't go to the Athletic Program of just this one school. That's not fair!!! What about that little school down the road just 15 miles or so? It's Athletic Program needs money, too. Let's take a portion of that $17 grand and give it to that little school. That would be fair, now wouldn't it?

Ok, I see what you're going to say. These are taxes we're talking about, not charity. People HAVE to pay taxes. Taxes should be dolled out equally.

In the end, equal is still not always fair. There are going to be communities that are still going to have bigger and better equipment. Better and brighter teachers. Nicer and plusher buildings.

Do with what you have and Get Over It.

This latest fee increase and tax are just an example of the tiny steps our representatives are taking away from individual liberties and capitalism and giant leaps toward socialism.

Goings On

Here's baby Case before he got his 6 month shots today. He's showing you his new tooth! He's also quite happy in this picture. After 11:30 am today, he wasn't happy anymore! By the way, he's now 19# 7 oz and 28" long. On the chart, if he continues to grow this way, he's headed toward a height of 6'2".

Here's studious Haley working on our history lesson of the day, which happens to World War I.

And here's Brooke working on her answers to questions regarding blockades, Germany, Britain, and America's involvement in WWI.



Finally, here's Moriah in deep discussion. The question was something like this, "If everyone is so against war, then why are there so many wars?" She was debating both sides of the issue, which is always entertaining to listen to and often very insightful.

Of course, these pics were taken before they got the opportunity to go outside in the "boiling hot weather" today - I believe it reached 81 degrees! Swim suits were donned, the hose was spraying, and shrieks were heard for blocks. It has been a good day.

Renovations Continue

And the renovations in the attic of our 3-story 102 year old house continue. Nearly 5 years ago we moved into a beautiful ginormous house and immediately my DH installed insulation and rewired the 2nd floor. He's been working like crazy to finish the attic into a family room space.

Below: He's standing in my new laundry room! I can't even wait! Mounds and mounds of laundry will have their own dedicated space instead of sharing space with 3 girls in a 2nd floor bathroom...which I was very grateful for that my DH put in nearly 5 years ago, moving the then laundry from our mud room. But, we've outgrown the bathroom - a laundry room....whoo-hoo I am truly excited!!!

Soccer

Well, yesterday was our first soccer date. Brooke started soccer this year and seems to really enjoy it, although her face got really red from all the running, and this morning she said, "I can hardly move my legs!"

At the risk of sounding like an old person, back in my day soccer was something we just played in p.e. class. How has it turned into this huge sport that has overtaken parents' weekends in every town across the nation? How has it become a normal part of a child's childhood?

Needless to say, Dan and I need to brush up on soccer rules. We had no idea why Brooke wasn't crossing the middle white line or what offsides is.

Earthquake!

I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumbling down tumbling down, tumbling down...

Ok, so the sky's not really falling, but I did feel the earth move! It was 4:36 am this morning and the bed was shaking, there were some strange noises, and I thought it was a shaky bed - I was in a half sleep stage.

This morning, around 10:18 am, the girls and I felt an aftershock at the dining table where we were doing school. I had a full cup of coffee and thought it would spill over the rim. It resembled being on a boat.

So, as my DH pointed out, this house that's now 102 years old, has withstood a tornado and now an earthquake in less than 12 months! What's next?

Reading Programs

Hi -


Below are a few websites I'm looking into regarding remedial reading. A friend of mine who homeschools is having trouble finding suitable material for an 11 year old who needs some help excelling from behind the curve. I'm in the beginning of doing some research....





http://www.tampareads.com/ This looks like a program that will use a combination of phonics and vocabulary building to create a foundation for reading. K-6 materials and there's some free pages they allow you to download before ordering their program, which looks to run around $100.





http://www.readinga-z.com/ I stumbled upon this website and it's got a wealth of information and books. It looks really good! I downloaded some free materials to use myself.

Publik Skule

My DH found this hilarious column the other day about sending (or not) your children to our public schools. This was written following the attack of a teacher in a classroom last week by students. None of the bystanders took any action to help save their teacher, who suffered major injuries in the attack.

Hmm, why did I quit teaching???

Actually, it's not a surprise to me to see that kind of terrorism by kids. And, frankly, I didn't feel safe at my job as a middle school science teacher. The reason kids think they have the right to pummel their teacher is due to the lack of enforcement on minor infractions, which inevitably leads to major infractions. In this case, I'm willing to bet the administration gives out a pop to a kid who normally misbehaves day to day, but when "caught being good" the kid gets a reward. What about those kids who always do right? No pops for them. "They don't need reinforcement," as I was once told - by an administrator, of course.

One day in April last year, you know, towards the end of the school year, a girl who was a "troublemaker" in most of her classes except for mine, decided to act out in my class. Surprised, because she'd never done anything so rude before in my classroom (she and I actually had a decent relationship and I thought I had her respect), I was left with no other option that to kick her out of my class. Kicking and screaming, it was necessary for me to actually escort her to the principal's office. Having calmed down a bit on the walk down the hall, I turned to her and asked her, "You've never behaved like this before in my presence, what's up? Why are doing this?" And her response - I literally quote her word for word - was, "Because I can."

"Because I can." That's why kids do what they do. They can. They do. They get away with it. And if they stop goofing off for a day, let's reward them with a Mountain Dew! Who-hoo!

Long post - I guess I had to make up for the lack of them. Hope you find the article as disturbing, yet as insightful as I did.

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Below is the link to the article, which appears on Townhall.com
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/DougGiles/2008/04/12/don%e2%80%99t_send_your_kids_to_publik_skule_if_you_love_them

Or, you can read the article here below:

Don’t Send Your Kids to Publik Skule (If You Love Them)
By Doug Giles
Saturday, April 12, 2008

Did you catch the video this week of a student kicking the stuffing out of an art teacher in Baltimore, Maryland while the rest of the class cheered the pounding on? Y’know, if that teacher was moi, and some F-bomb dropping Darwinian throwback came over my desk to accost me, I’d grab my handy dandy scissors and plant ‘em in the feral teen’s skullcap, Jason Voorhees style.
From there I would proceed to snag the American flag from the corner of the room (if there was one) in order to stave off the rest of the flesh eating zombies ‘til Jason Statham came in with dual SKSes, spitting 154 grain FMJs, to assist with my safe exit.

As a teacher, I’d have painted on the front of my desk: DON’T TREAD ON ME—and I’d have the moxie to back it up.

Bumming a line from a movie with the late great Charlton Heston, it looks like the public schools (especially in the inner cities) are being run by “damned dirty apes.” The violent and obnoxious students are becoming emboldened in their bellicose behavior within the ridiculously overcrowded Public Stool System, and I believe we haven’t seen the half of this catastrophic snake. Teachers, you’d better have a serious plan in place—other than pushing a panic button—should you be next.

I’m not a prophet or a betting man, but (as stated) I’m a guessing it’s going to get worse. I’m talkin’ way bad (pardon my English; I went to Publik Skule). Mark my words. And I don’t care how much Obama talks about hope, or how many inspirational songs American Idol contestants cover, the dysfunctional die has been officially cast for increased chaos in the inner city classroom. Thank you, liberals.

We’ve got a stack of untamed teens who can’t do arithmetic doing the math and figuring out that they can bank street credit for their constant disruptions and violent attacks upon students and teachers with the penalty for their crimes being (maybe) a milquetoast slap on their tattooed wrist. Maybe. And the perks for their misbehaving? Well, they radically trump the mild and tame thump the delinquent gets on their never-utilized head.

Can you say, “Hello, pandemonium?” I knew you could.

Who the heck would want to be a teacher within such an out-of-control environment? I know if I were an undergrad with dreams of teaching “the next generation” within the Public Fool System, I think I’d switch majors after YouTubing the video of that teacher getting tenderized this week while the class was hooting and hollering.

Yep, I’d be looking for something less threatening like being a mole inside of an al-Qaeda death squad, or perhaps working as ranting Rosie’s personal assistant, or perhaps a vocation in neutering un-anesthetized, unusually angry wolverines.

It’s been four years since we pulled our teenage daughters out of the public school system and started to home school them, and I could kick myself for having waited so long. I owe you, girls. The educational, emotional, spiritual and physical progress they have made has been amazing. I’ve been ecstatically stunned at how they’ve aggressively embraced the new lease on their educational life.

Since we began this program, my oldest has graduated and is now in a great university and on her way to Boardwalk and Park Place. My other daughter is currently cruising through her online honors level classes as a girl uninterrupted.

Yep, it’s amazing that with their virtual schooling they actually get to study the basics, pursue their educational and athletic interests, and do it from wherever in the world they can get online (unlike public schools).

No longer do they have to wait for the 186% overcrowded class to decide to cease fighting and stop cussing and humping long enough that the teacher can teach the students how to write their name so that, later on in life, they can sign for their stuff once they leave whatever prison they’re in.

Classic Quote

Last night, Brooke and I went shopping for a few essentials - diapers, formula, hamster food...you know, essentials for the household. We went to Walgreen's so I could redeem an in-store coupon for Case's formula. In the process, she found a pretty good deal on some Crocks knockoffs. Pink.

So I checked out first (Brooke was going to pay for her own shoes). I got an in-store coupon for $5 off for my next purchase, so I handed the coupon to Brooke. She gets her shoes for about $2. She thinks this is the best store ever now.

So, on the way out, she begins trashing Wal-Mart, wondering why their advertising stresses that you save money when you shop there. Here's the classic quote from someone who cannot hold onto money very long because it's just burning holes in her pockets:

"You can't save money if you spend money."

How true. How true.

A lesson we should all learn and put into practice. So, as much as I'd like to spend that stimulus check we're getting....perhaps I will save most of it instead. Perhaps.