Procrastination!
Oh- the Teenage Years!

Sigh. For anyone who knows me.. I am not fond of staying up much past 10pm. I will gladly stay up a little late for a good ole hockey game, but for procrastination? UGH! (this was not in the Gerber video!) However, since he is our teen - we are the lucky ones who get to sit up and help him work through it.
 I reserve the right to be a little 'snarky' tomorrow.
What time is it? Oh, almost 2 a.m - and by the time I'm done it will be 2:20ish! And since I believe in tough love - I will not do it for him! I am busily working here on my own computer as he is digging for facts and just enough fluff to fill in the necessary space required to pass! No, we usually wouldn't be working this late, but due to band practice- he was busy from after school til 8pm tonight.
The teen we are speaking of managed to "forget" a paper due today, (insert sigh). UHUH! A whole paper!  Ya know the kind where ya have to site your sources, run it through the program that checks for  copy cats - typed, ect, ect! Sweetie and I are up to ensure that we are getting quality work out of our disgruntled teen!

Once he gets to bed, it will only be for a couple of hours before the "RISE AND SHINE!!" team greets him warmly. We do want him to get started on the right foot! As I pull the finished paper off of the printer ... it is now 3..nite nite!
Since I did get one of these nice "love you!" gestures, it made up for it...mostly!

"Help! My record player is not working!"

" My wife bought me a new record, can Chad come over and help me play it? I can't seem to get the record to play."
This was the main quote from a recent phone conversation I had with our older neighbors across the street. These precious folks, as I have mentioned before ask for our help occasionally. We are glad to give it.  These two have been married for half a century plus some, so they know each other, and which buttons to push and when.  Today, the MRS. bought the MR. a new record, or so we were told. Somehow even when we go over to help, we are the ones that get blessed. Tonight that was with laughter.

When Sweetie went over to "help" this is what he saw:  FOR REAL!  He and Cory laughed so hard, and begged to take a picture - just because no one would believe us.

War and Rumors of Wars

Watch your local news channel and you will see that war and rumors of wars is always touched on, even if only an update on another country's war.
I remember in high school having to write a paper on Iran. I learned a lot about that country then, and fortunately remember some of the details. Basically in the late 80's early 90's we were concerned about Iran then too.  It seems that there have been quarrels that turn into fights, that turn into battles, that sometimes lead a whole country to war.
How very fortunate we are to live here in America. Being an US Army brat I've lived other places, and in other countries. As an adult, I've traveled to many other countries on mission journey's. I am but one of several that have been able to experience other cultures, foods, and ways of life. My eyes have been opened to seeing folks just like us, go without food, shelter, and clean water.
America, land of the free has opened its borders to others so they may also have a chance to experience such luxuries. America has lent money, time, and soldiers lives so help other countries experience democracy at some level.
After listening to the morning news last week, I was struck by the fact that after I turn it off, the situation that is currently going on, the angst of another country and its turmoil are closed to me and the family.
I'm so thankful. When I turn on the water, it runs clear, there is food in the cupboards, and we can drive down the streets safely. It is a true blessing for us to be able to go about our business working, sending our children to school, and traveling about. We don't have to keep our children home because of wars breaking out in the streets. Our homes are secure, there aren't bombs going off, and militia running the streets with machine gun fire being a constant background noise.
I could really ramble from here, but will not. Bottom line, I'm just thankful for our country. Please pray with me for our leaders and the election processes. No matter whether you are democrat or republican, our leaders and the one who is finally picked need to be covered in prayer. Our county is great because of God's grace - freedom is not free!