Thank You for my Freedom

A friend posted this on her facebook--I was very touched and wanted to repost it here:

Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock , did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintend, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. 'Ms. Cothren, where're our desks?' She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.' They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' ... ... 'No,' she said. 'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.' And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom. By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms.Cothren’s classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room. The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/ she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.' At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.. Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.' By the way, this is a true story. Please consider passing this along so others won't forget that the freedoms we have in this great country were earned by U. S. Veterans

Last week, my son in law was sworn in by the Army.  I am reminded of the many men and women in my family and those who are friends, that have served our country in various branches of the military, so that I can be free.  I am very thankful for the sacrifice of those who have served and those who have been left behind to pray, so that I can enjoy the freedom of living in this great country.  Be proud to be an American!  Never forget that freedom is NOT free!

Have you ever...

Have you ever had a day that several things went wrong and yet all you felt inside was a feeling of joy and love?  That is what my day was like.  If you asked me, I would tell you that I had a great day.  Several things happened that should have caused me stress, and yet all I feel is the love of my friends and family around me, most of all I feel my Saviors love.  Inside I feel joy.  What an amazing feeling....

Dear Knitting,

Dear Knitting,

I have been thinking that the reason you and I haven't gotten very far on the projects this past Summer was that I lacked motivation, but to my surprise it isn't that at all!  Apparently we just needed to go to a football game.  Yes my little pointy friends, a football game. 

Last school year, we blamed me going back to school, not even thinking about the fact that there were not any children in band for the first time in well over a decade.  Jessica had to choose between a class she wanted to take and one she needed to take as they were both taught at the same time--she chose the one she needed.  See no football game--no knitting at said football game to fill the time when the band is NOT on the field. 

Therefore, it is very important that we attend the football game so that we can knit while the players do whatever it is that they do with that little brown ball.  Last Friday we embraced the football game and knit a baby hat.  I can't wait until next week when we start the birdcage covers at the football game.  Yep, to knit we need football......Oh dear, what will we do when Daniel graduates and there is no more football while waiting for the band to play?

I saw this pansy (they are my favorite you know) and had to share it--the center looks like an angel waiting to bless our day!  Reading in the scriptures we are taught about angels and how Heavenly Father sends angels to help us.  Remember that sometimes the angel Heavenly Father sends to help you, is the person standing next to you, asking "how can I help."  I hope everyone has a beautiful weekend filled with family and friends.

Moment to Moment

A few days ago, I watched one of the Mormon Messages found on http://www.lds.org/  about making moments count.  Neal A. Maxwell said "Moments are the molecules that make up eternity."  The entire point is to slow down and appreciate what is always around you. 

Sometimes I feel that life is moving at mock 4, and I wonder if I will get everything done.  After watching this clip, I realize that it is the moments that count and that we will remember in our later years.  This has been reinforced by listening to Ethel during our visits.  The things she remembers through her senior dementia are small moments in her life.  Some of the bad, but surprisingly most of them good.  Having a number of friends who are in the "senior" catagory, I have discovered that this holds true for most of them.  Thier lives were at a slower pace.  Sometimes I have heard that it is technology that drives our faster pace--I wonder though if it is not more of the "want it all" attitude so prevelant today.  Just a thought.

So for us here at Helm Haven, we are going to slow things down a bit.  Make the moments togther count more for eternal things, and less for transient joys.  To those of you who read this....I wish you joy in your journey of life this week.  Remember to find the joy in each day. 

My little warriors...

Each Sunday I teach 6-9 Sunbeams.  And while my body gets quite a workout each week, they are a joy!  I love teaching these young children.  They are so honest.  A few weeks I was trying to explain my church calling to a friend who is a non-member.  When last we spoke of church things and what I was doing, I was Relief Society President.  She thought I had been demoted, when in fact I feel just the opposite.  So was trying to explain why I felt promoted instead, and had to borrow a term from Mandy.  I told her that I taught little 3 year old warriors for God.  Her reply?  "Good grief Cheryl, you are getting them while they are pretty young!"  To all my parents.....Thank You for sharing your little ones with me each Sunday! 

If ye are prepared....

The day started like any other day, with Bill getting the children up for school at 5:30 am (seminary doesn't start until next week).  The storm last night was fierce, however the sun was up.  It was a bright new day.  The children went to school to find the power was out and some classes could run on the generator--up until the cooks discovered that the freezers how gone out and there was no food to feed the 1200+ always hungry teens.  So they sent them home. 

As I have run my errands, I found that there are many still without power living and working here is St. Joseph.  They say that there 70,000 people in St Joseph and out lying areas without power.  With all of the limbs and lines down, they don't know when the power would be back on.  I feel very blessed that we are not of that number, while just 2 blocks in any direction are feeling the effects of no power and above 90 degree tempratures. 

My home has been opened to those who need a place to stay, and my freezer is being filled with other's food (carefully marked) so it will not spoil.  It is times like this that make me grateful for all I learned growing up.  Preparedness wasn't just something we talked about, it was something we lived and breathed each day.  However that being said--I do not yet have a generator, and if our power goes, it will NOT be a good thing.

I trimmed and set Ethel's hair, adding new earings for the week.  We spent time visiting as we do each week.  She likes it when I read to her from my vast collection of fairy tales on my Kindle.  With her living in the nursing home, I have been able to rediscover the joy of visiting with her rather than the constant difficulty of trying to take care of her needs.  I feel there is a balance to all of that.

Lastly I went to purchase my books for the upcoming semester--oh my, talk about sticker shock.  Even with most of the books being used, it was still almost $600.  As there is still one more class to buy as yet (the books are still in printing).  How much more will it be this semester, I wonder?  Yet, I look at these books with wonder.....I am living my dream of going  school.  Each day is as a long awaited gift that I treasure.