Weeds and people

I was out in the garden this morning, running a rake over it to knock out the weeds. So far so good, and it looks really nice, a record for me, usually it is starting to pay the price of neglect as I have helped the kids more in the past with 4H animals. This year they are doing much more, and I have been able to stay ahead of the weeds.
While I was out this morning, I found a plant that looked to be weed free, started to move on when I looked a little closer. Up through the plant were a couple of pig weeds, blended in quite nicely with the flower, easy to miss at first glance. It was then when it hit me, it's just like church. At first glance, things look good, on the surface everyone is as they seem. But get a little deeper, start to get a closer look and you start to see things you hadn't before. Works that way with people, none of us are perfect, but that surface level often turns out to be different once you get a little deeper. Sometimes for the better, but unfortunately sometimes for the worse.  

girls vs guys

Michael used to have a group of friends over often. Just a few more guys than gals, but a nice mix. And while I try to be somewhat scarce, I can't help but hear what is going on, may not understand much of it, but I hear the chatter, and laughter. I didn't realize just how different the dynamics could be when you switch the ratio of guys to gals. Elizabeth has had a group of friends over a couple of times now, tonight they are here and it is fascinating to listen to the difference. When they say that females say about 20k words compared to the guys at around 7k I believe it. Have a house full of teenage girls, and you will quickly know it to be true. They aren't loud or obnoxious about it, but they all talk a LOT and they often all talk at once! Makes my head spin even thinking about trying to keep up. It is a good group of kids, and I'm glad to have them here. I'm going to enjoy the quiet for a bit as they have made a run to wally world, soon they will be back filling the house with laughter which is a joy as well. I am very thankful that my kids have good friends to hang with. Love these girls!!

Just a job?

I recently was asked to visit another school that was having some personnel issues, and behavior issues during lunch. It was an eye opening experience. Behavior was about as bad as I have seen during my 6 years working in the schools. I watched the monitor that was there working, she was short with the kids, grouchy in your face type. Looked like she really didn't like her job, no positive interactions with the kids at all. She acted like she hated her job, and didn't like kids at all. Granted we all tend to get a little shorter on patience as year end draws closer, but this was more than that.
When I initially was thinking about what makes me good at my job, I had thought it was school make up, the majority of kids at my school have involved parents, don't want to go to the office or have mom called about behavior, that their fear of getting in trouble was my leverage. And in a small way that may help. But when I went to the cafeteria that was out of control and had some positive interaction with kids that didn't know me at all, I saw the kids respond. Light bulb moment for me, I realized that it is my willingness to interact with the kids in a positive manner. To talk to them, rather than yell at them. To listen to their stories, get on their level, receive their hugs, high fives and silly jokes like it's the first time I've ever heard it. To correct their poor choices, and offer them a clean slate the next day. Do I get along with all the kids? Honestly no, there are some that rub me the wrong way, but I'd like to think that they can't tell it. Guess to sum it up, I try to treat them like my own kids, and I know I'm doing my job right, when they see me out and about after school hours and they approach me wanting to say hi, talk or even give me a hug. It may not be the most glamorous job in the world, one that people look down on, but I really do love my job.

Living He loved me...

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

Thankful

I'm glad God gives us instincts that just kick in when you need them. No thought needed, adrenalin hits you and you just do what needs to be done. Had just that kind of moment Friday.
My favorite part of my job is being out in the dining room with my kids. Yes, for about 20 minutes everyday, each one of those kids are mine. I was there Friday watching kids, making sure they do what they are supposed to, and not what they aren't. We were having cheese filled breaksticks. Soft bread wrapped around mozzarella cheese. Kids were eating, talking doing just what they should. Next thing I know I have Jeremiah near me, and he is choking. I yell for Lisa, my boss, as she heads my way, I grab him around his middle and give him a couple of thrusts under his rib cage to get the breadstick unstuck. Thankfully it came out and he was ok, little sore he said but ok. Good thing, as Jeremiah is one of my favorites. Sometimes he doesn't make the best choices, but neither do I. Cool thing is, God gives us a second chance, time and time again.

The secreatary went to check on Jeremiah in the nurses office, she asked him how he was, he said he was ok, and "Thank God I didn't choke to death, and thank God for Mrs. Yontz." I thank God for you Jeremiah!

Things that fill my Joy bucket

Watching my kids get along and love each other

First really warm day after winter

Cool breeze on a warm day

Smell of fresh mown hay

Calves running and kicking up their heels in the pasture after being cooped up

Being with my family at a livestock show, working and playing together

Chinese fire drills, getting back in the van with everyone laughing so hard

My PV kids finding me out in public, and stopping to give me a hug or a high five

Music, music and more music

Good sermon on Sunday morning

Leaving an unexpected gift for someone on their doorstep

Watching my kids share their gift of music, on the field and in the concert hall

Baby pigs

Sunshine, blue skies fluffy white clouds

Cut flowers on my table

Quiet time with a good book, and the Good Book

First time in spring driving with the windows down

The words I love you spoken from my loved ones

Hugs

God's still, small voice

The smell of rain in the distance

Thunderstorms

Winter wheat showing signs of life in the spring, greenest thing around that time of year

Eating supper together as a family

One more PET peeve

One of my friends on FB is getting a puppy. Great, they are responsible pet owners who adore their dogs. One of the responses to her post about the puppy someone asked if they were going to keep it intact, (it is male) the poster wanted to know this because "We want to let Maycei have a litter of puppies for our kids to learn from.."
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Let's bring a litter of puppies into the world so our kids can see the miracle of birth? Try a book, a video, oh here's an idea, TALK TO THEM! Shoot, want to watch a live birth, both our county fair and state fair can provide that opportunity, or give me a call I have cows that will calve the months of April and May, come watch with no cost to anyone. But for crying out loud, don't bring more unwanted dogs and cats in to the world.
There are so many times that people dump their animals on our farm, 8 kittens alone within the last year, I get asked all the time if we "need" more cats. NO I don't need or WANT to take your problem off your hands, YOU take them to the shelter and explain to YOUR kids what likely will happen to them there.
We have adopted one dog from the shelter, Elizabeth worked odd jobs during a Christmas break about 5 years ago to earn the money to get Scooter. We have another dog we got from a guy that had a litter, and the third, which I didn't want was dumped here about 3 years ago, big Rotti, that is the sweetest dog. Tried for a couple of months to find her owner, then didn't have the heart to take her to the shelter where I knew she would last 3 days max and that's it.
The best lesson that guy could teach his kids, is to be a responsible pet owner, not one that breeds a dog because they can. Take those kids to a shelter, let them volunteer their time, far bigger lesson to be learned there anyway.