Early this morning, we recieved a phone call informing us of a friend of ours that shot and killed himself last night. My mind can't help but return to our last conversation, the last time I saw him. It was mid June, he actually recognized me. I wasn't paying any attention, just trying to get groceries loaded in the car. I saw a guy approaching me, but since I wasn't far from the cart return, I just knew that's where he was going.
Then I heard him call my name. Turning toward him, I looked at a shell of my friend. (Little background..we went to higschool together, were in the same youth group, I went to his wedding, been a part of both baby showers, couple of cookouts,ect. Not somone I chatted with weekly, or even monthly, but still one I would call friend)
Formalities aside, we talked about our families, he was divorced, had married again and had just spent some time in jail. We talked about our upcoming reunion, chatted about some folks we had seen, some we were looking forward to seeing again.
He shared how the only time he felt good was when he drank.
It was a quick conversation, but one that will be burned into my memory for years to come.
I invited him to church, his response was that he couldn't come, the guilt of not living up to his family and God's expectations would be too much.
We shared a goodbye hug. I was burdened for him, and now today,my heart just aches. I ache as his friend, and I ache for his family.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Dreaming Dreams
Last evening Sweetie and I sat with friends and listened to a speaker talk about How to Live your Dreams. He talked about how we are all faced with choices and if there is something we want to do we need to picture that goal in our minds eye and GO FOR IT!
Aren't motivational speakers something? They just get ya all psyched up and ready to jump out of bed in the morning and change the world, or at least try to change your world.
There are many opinions on how to do this, whether it is a certain product or activity or place to visit. If your family wears this brand of clothing, uses these products, drives this vehicle, all will be well in your world. How does a person choose?
I don't know about you, but I do strive for some of these products, for myself and my friends and family. We are even blessed enough to have a few of these "things" and have gone to some of the places talked about. It was fun, and when it was over, we set new goals.
While it is exciting to go and do, and have new things, I believe it is equally important to make the best out of the situation you are in currently. Is there a way you can help someone in your community? Is it a neighbor, a coworker or a friend? Do you take the time to see behind the mask they are wearing?
If we succomb to the worlds eye view of what will make us happy we will never be content, because there will always be a newer and more efficient model coming in just as we finally get the original item. (and most likely we still have to finish paying for the first one!)
Learn to enjoy the time we have with one another. Turn the electronics off! Talk to each other! We are losing precious time, time we will never get back with our friends, neighbors, and family.
Set small goals for yourself. Something that you can achieve in a shorter period of time. This will keep the disappointment down and depression at bay. With several small goals accomplished, you will have the self esteem needed to pursue and achieve the big ones too.
Another point I would like to make is.. time changes goals. One thing we can bank on is that life is full of change. Month after month, year after year, there are few goals that stay the same.
This country's current economic situation is depressing. We know several folks who are out of job. Losing a job, or two, losing your home..are huge crushing blows to a person and thier family. Everyone is affected.
How can we Dream our Dreams in this economy? How about looking in the mirror? Count your blessings! That will perk you up in this depressing time.
As I look over the last few months I see a change in everyone around me. Folks are helping folks. There is a bigger sense of community. Coupon sharing, harvest out of local gardens is being shared instead of sold, people cutting thier spending, more eating at home than in restaurants. More staying home instead of out and about. I've seen more people hanging out in backyards, on the front porches..talking to each other.
May God open all our eyes to these changes so we may embrace them as yet another opportunity to grow our faith, another opportunity to shine as He wants us too. It's amazing how much more quickly I achieve something when I take the time to help someone else out first. Who's life will you change just by giving of your time, and your abilities without asking for anything in return?
Aren't motivational speakers something? They just get ya all psyched up and ready to jump out of bed in the morning and change the world, or at least try to change your world.
There are many opinions on how to do this, whether it is a certain product or activity or place to visit. If your family wears this brand of clothing, uses these products, drives this vehicle, all will be well in your world. How does a person choose?
I don't know about you, but I do strive for some of these products, for myself and my friends and family. We are even blessed enough to have a few of these "things" and have gone to some of the places talked about. It was fun, and when it was over, we set new goals.
While it is exciting to go and do, and have new things, I believe it is equally important to make the best out of the situation you are in currently. Is there a way you can help someone in your community? Is it a neighbor, a coworker or a friend? Do you take the time to see behind the mask they are wearing?
If we succomb to the worlds eye view of what will make us happy we will never be content, because there will always be a newer and more efficient model coming in just as we finally get the original item. (and most likely we still have to finish paying for the first one!)
Learn to enjoy the time we have with one another. Turn the electronics off! Talk to each other! We are losing precious time, time we will never get back with our friends, neighbors, and family.
Set small goals for yourself. Something that you can achieve in a shorter period of time. This will keep the disappointment down and depression at bay. With several small goals accomplished, you will have the self esteem needed to pursue and achieve the big ones too.
Another point I would like to make is.. time changes goals. One thing we can bank on is that life is full of change. Month after month, year after year, there are few goals that stay the same.
This country's current economic situation is depressing. We know several folks who are out of job. Losing a job, or two, losing your home..are huge crushing blows to a person and thier family. Everyone is affected.
How can we Dream our Dreams in this economy? How about looking in the mirror? Count your blessings! That will perk you up in this depressing time.
As I look over the last few months I see a change in everyone around me. Folks are helping folks. There is a bigger sense of community. Coupon sharing, harvest out of local gardens is being shared instead of sold, people cutting thier spending, more eating at home than in restaurants. More staying home instead of out and about. I've seen more people hanging out in backyards, on the front porches..talking to each other.
May God open all our eyes to these changes so we may embrace them as yet another opportunity to grow our faith, another opportunity to shine as He wants us too. It's amazing how much more quickly I achieve something when I take the time to help someone else out first. Who's life will you change just by giving of your time, and your abilities without asking for anything in return?
July 2009 Chester's 4th of July
It’s the Fourth of July Chester!
“Chester, Wake up! It’s July 4th!” Boomer squeaked into Chester’s ear.
“What?” Chester asked, wiping the sleep from his eyes.
“Remember last year? We had a picnic, we played games, and then when it was dark there was a big noise, and then the pretty colors! Do you remember?” said Boomer excitedly bouncing around Chester’s bedroom.
“I remember…” mumbled Chester rolling over and hiding his head under a leaf.
“Chester, Chesssster, Cheeeeeeeeeesssstttterrrr!” Boomer yelled.
“I’m up!” Chester barked.
“Knock, Knock!” said a voice from the other outside of Chester’s front door.
”SIGH, why can’t I ever sleep in, even just a little?” Chester muttered while walking toward the door.
As Chester opened the door, Lily buzzed around the corner and into his front room.
“Good Morning Chester!” she said. “Your Mom told me to tell you she is making a picnic lunch for us, and your dad has sparklers, and…”
“OOOH!” interrupted Boomer. “What is a sparkler?”
Chester yawned. ‘Why was everyone in his house so early in the morning?’
“It’s a stick that sparkles when you light it with fire.” Dart replied as he flew in the front door; landing in front of the group. Dart explained how all fireworks need a spark of fire, that’s what makes them explode and have all the colors.
“Then I don’t think that is a good idea.” Chester said shaking his head.
“What; why not?” Lily asked.
“If it has to do with fire, I don’t want anything to do with it. Fire scares me.” Chester said folding his arms across his chest.
“First off, your dad doesn’t HAVE sparklers; he said he knew there would be lots of sparklers tonight.” Dart corrected Lily.
“Can’t we just watch? We don’t have to touch them do we?” Lily asked.
“No, we don’t, we are only going to watch the skies, just like last year.” Dart replied.
“Can we talk about what we are going to do today?” Chester asked his friends.
Once everyone settled down it was decided they would go on a scavenger hunt for supplies they could use while watching the fireworks. The group split up and agreed to meet at Chester’s parents’ tree for dinner. Boomer and Lily went to look for some soft leaves to lie on, while Dart and Chester went to hunt some snacks for them to eat.
“I know where to find some good fuzzy ones!” Lily said.
“I’m right behind you!” said Boomer as he followed Lily down into the woods.
Meanwhile, Chester and Dart were gathering berries off some bushes when they heard some whispering. Dart motioned for Chester to join him under the bush so they could watch and listen.
“Do you think anyone saw us?” a voice said.
“No, did you get some firecrackers?” said another.
“I sure did!”
“I watched my brother light some like these last year.”
“Let me see!”
Chester could see three boys scrunched down under some trees. Dart motioned to Chester he was going to get a closer look. Dart backed out from under the bush and flew up into a nearby tree. He then waved to Chester to come join him.
Once Chester was high up in the tree with Dart, he could see a little better. The boys now had some smoke around them and little sparks of fire could be seen as they threw little white papers down on a rock.
“That’s fire they are playing with, isn’t it?” Chester whispered to Dart.
“Yes, they are using it to light the fireworks.” Dart said shaking his head back and forth.
“I thought humans were smarter than us. What can we do to stop this before the woods catch on fire?” Chester asked.
“I’m going to go find the Ranger.” Dart said.
“How will he know to follow you?”
“I will bug him until he understands.” Dart said as he flew up into the sky.
Chester sat in the tree hidden by leaves as he watched and listened to the boys’ pop fireworks. He wondered how no one could hear them as there were people on the trails and the golf course today.
Soon the boys grew tired of the popping and started pulling out what looked like sticks and lighting them. The thing on the end of the stick would shoot up into the air, followed by a little trail of smoke. Then a few minutes later a little parachute would float down to the ground. This was scary for Chester as sometimes they would shoot right up into the tree where Chester was hiding.
Chester climbed down the tree a ways so he could see when Dart was coming. It wasn’t long before Chester saw Dart and then the Ranger climbing up through the underbrush. Dart flew to Chester, and waited to see what would happen next. The boys were laughing and talking so much that they didn’t hear the Ranger until he was right behind them.
“BOYS!” the Ranger thundered.
All three jumped back, desperately trying to hide the fireworks behind them.
“We aren’t doing anything officer.” One of them stammered.
“Seems to me you were shooting off fireworks. That is illegal here in the park. Let’s gather all this up and walk it back down to my office. Then I have some phone calls to make to your parents.”
The boys obeyed the officer and gathered up all the trash and the rest of the fireworks and sheepishly started to make their way down the trail to the Ranger station. As the Ranger passed by he looked up to see Dart and Chester. With a smile and a wave he mouthed a “thank you” to them. Chester was thrilled. He had never had a human talk to him before.
“Dart you are a hero today.” Chester said giving Dart a high five.
“We both helped save the park today, Chester.” Dart said. “Now let’s finish gathering so we can go eat, I’m hungry!”
Boomer and Lily were helping Mom chipmunk get dinner together when Dart and Chester arrived. They were putting the finishing touches on a strawberry cake.
“Yummy!” Dart said cocking his head from left to right.
“I helped with the frosting!” Boomer said.
“What did you guys find?” Lily asked.
“We found some marshmallows and graham crackers that someone left behind at a campsite.” Dart said as he and Chester set the supplies next to the tree.
“I found lots of nuts and berries”. Chester said.
As the friends and family sat down to eat, Chester sniffed the air.
“Everything smells so good!” he said, whiskers twitching.
“There is something here for everyone!” Dad chipmunk said as he placed a juice pitcher on the table.
As the sun started to fade, the group was still sitting around the table laughing and joking with each other.
“Mom, this was so good!” Chester said giving her a big hug.
“Glad you liked it, does anyone want cake?” she replied.
Everyone agreed that cake was a great idea. Once the cake had been eaten, and clean up was finished, the friends were ready to lie back and watch some color fill the night sky.
The leaves that Boomer and Lily found were so very comfortable, and smelled so good, Chester was afraid he might go to sleep before all the fun started.
“Dart, do you think we should say anything to everyone about what happened while we were out today?” Chester asked as he sat down next to his friend.
“No, let’s just have fun tonight.”
“What are you two talking about?” Chester’s dad asked.
“Oh, just the adventure Dart and I had today! We got to see the Ranger in action!” Chester gushed.
“That’s nice.” Dad chipmunk said as he stretched out on some leaves.
“OH! I see one!” Boomer shouted. “Look!”
Crackle!
Pop!
Fizz! Pffffft!
Pow! Bang! BOOM!
As the sky exploded with color the group sat together beside the lake and pointed out their favorite fireworks to each other. It was a great ending to another fun holiday.
“Chester, Wake up! It’s July 4th!” Boomer squeaked into Chester’s ear.
“What?” Chester asked, wiping the sleep from his eyes.
“Remember last year? We had a picnic, we played games, and then when it was dark there was a big noise, and then the pretty colors! Do you remember?” said Boomer excitedly bouncing around Chester’s bedroom.
“I remember…” mumbled Chester rolling over and hiding his head under a leaf.
“Chester, Chesssster, Cheeeeeeeeeesssstttterrrr!” Boomer yelled.
“I’m up!” Chester barked.
“Knock, Knock!” said a voice from the other outside of Chester’s front door.
”SIGH, why can’t I ever sleep in, even just a little?” Chester muttered while walking toward the door.
As Chester opened the door, Lily buzzed around the corner and into his front room.
“Good Morning Chester!” she said. “Your Mom told me to tell you she is making a picnic lunch for us, and your dad has sparklers, and…”
“OOOH!” interrupted Boomer. “What is a sparkler?”
Chester yawned. ‘Why was everyone in his house so early in the morning?’
“It’s a stick that sparkles when you light it with fire.” Dart replied as he flew in the front door; landing in front of the group. Dart explained how all fireworks need a spark of fire, that’s what makes them explode and have all the colors.
“Then I don’t think that is a good idea.” Chester said shaking his head.
“What; why not?” Lily asked.
“If it has to do with fire, I don’t want anything to do with it. Fire scares me.” Chester said folding his arms across his chest.
“First off, your dad doesn’t HAVE sparklers; he said he knew there would be lots of sparklers tonight.” Dart corrected Lily.
“Can’t we just watch? We don’t have to touch them do we?” Lily asked.
“No, we don’t, we are only going to watch the skies, just like last year.” Dart replied.
“Can we talk about what we are going to do today?” Chester asked his friends.
Once everyone settled down it was decided they would go on a scavenger hunt for supplies they could use while watching the fireworks. The group split up and agreed to meet at Chester’s parents’ tree for dinner. Boomer and Lily went to look for some soft leaves to lie on, while Dart and Chester went to hunt some snacks for them to eat.
“I know where to find some good fuzzy ones!” Lily said.
“I’m right behind you!” said Boomer as he followed Lily down into the woods.
Meanwhile, Chester and Dart were gathering berries off some bushes when they heard some whispering. Dart motioned for Chester to join him under the bush so they could watch and listen.
“Do you think anyone saw us?” a voice said.
“No, did you get some firecrackers?” said another.
“I sure did!”
“I watched my brother light some like these last year.”
“Let me see!”
Chester could see three boys scrunched down under some trees. Dart motioned to Chester he was going to get a closer look. Dart backed out from under the bush and flew up into a nearby tree. He then waved to Chester to come join him.
Once Chester was high up in the tree with Dart, he could see a little better. The boys now had some smoke around them and little sparks of fire could be seen as they threw little white papers down on a rock.
“That’s fire they are playing with, isn’t it?” Chester whispered to Dart.
“Yes, they are using it to light the fireworks.” Dart said shaking his head back and forth.
“I thought humans were smarter than us. What can we do to stop this before the woods catch on fire?” Chester asked.
“I’m going to go find the Ranger.” Dart said.
“How will he know to follow you?”
“I will bug him until he understands.” Dart said as he flew up into the sky.
Chester sat in the tree hidden by leaves as he watched and listened to the boys’ pop fireworks. He wondered how no one could hear them as there were people on the trails and the golf course today.
Soon the boys grew tired of the popping and started pulling out what looked like sticks and lighting them. The thing on the end of the stick would shoot up into the air, followed by a little trail of smoke. Then a few minutes later a little parachute would float down to the ground. This was scary for Chester as sometimes they would shoot right up into the tree where Chester was hiding.
Chester climbed down the tree a ways so he could see when Dart was coming. It wasn’t long before Chester saw Dart and then the Ranger climbing up through the underbrush. Dart flew to Chester, and waited to see what would happen next. The boys were laughing and talking so much that they didn’t hear the Ranger until he was right behind them.
“BOYS!” the Ranger thundered.
All three jumped back, desperately trying to hide the fireworks behind them.
“We aren’t doing anything officer.” One of them stammered.
“Seems to me you were shooting off fireworks. That is illegal here in the park. Let’s gather all this up and walk it back down to my office. Then I have some phone calls to make to your parents.”
The boys obeyed the officer and gathered up all the trash and the rest of the fireworks and sheepishly started to make their way down the trail to the Ranger station. As the Ranger passed by he looked up to see Dart and Chester. With a smile and a wave he mouthed a “thank you” to them. Chester was thrilled. He had never had a human talk to him before.
“Dart you are a hero today.” Chester said giving Dart a high five.
“We both helped save the park today, Chester.” Dart said. “Now let’s finish gathering so we can go eat, I’m hungry!”
Boomer and Lily were helping Mom chipmunk get dinner together when Dart and Chester arrived. They were putting the finishing touches on a strawberry cake.
“Yummy!” Dart said cocking his head from left to right.
“I helped with the frosting!” Boomer said.
“What did you guys find?” Lily asked.
“We found some marshmallows and graham crackers that someone left behind at a campsite.” Dart said as he and Chester set the supplies next to the tree.
“I found lots of nuts and berries”. Chester said.
As the friends and family sat down to eat, Chester sniffed the air.
“Everything smells so good!” he said, whiskers twitching.
“There is something here for everyone!” Dad chipmunk said as he placed a juice pitcher on the table.
As the sun started to fade, the group was still sitting around the table laughing and joking with each other.
“Mom, this was so good!” Chester said giving her a big hug.
“Glad you liked it, does anyone want cake?” she replied.
Everyone agreed that cake was a great idea. Once the cake had been eaten, and clean up was finished, the friends were ready to lie back and watch some color fill the night sky.
The leaves that Boomer and Lily found were so very comfortable, and smelled so good, Chester was afraid he might go to sleep before all the fun started.
“Dart, do you think we should say anything to everyone about what happened while we were out today?” Chester asked as he sat down next to his friend.
“No, let’s just have fun tonight.”
“What are you two talking about?” Chester’s dad asked.
“Oh, just the adventure Dart and I had today! We got to see the Ranger in action!” Chester gushed.
“That’s nice.” Dad chipmunk said as he stretched out on some leaves.
“OH! I see one!” Boomer shouted. “Look!”
Crackle!
Pop!
Fizz! Pffffft!
Pow! Bang! BOOM!
As the sky exploded with color the group sat together beside the lake and pointed out their favorite fireworks to each other. It was a great ending to another fun holiday.
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