August 28, twenty something years ago, my niece was born. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAIMIE. I still am planning on a bow fishing expedition!
August 28, 2004 a rental truck pulled out of my driveway, a good friend Lynn came over to help do a final clean up, I stopped by the gym for a few goodbyes at a volleyball match, and I headed out to Michigan. I pulled into town on a dreary rainy day and the trees lining the street were already turning colors. I could only think "What have I done?" But it's been a very good move. I was given a box of Schwan's Gold 'n Nugit bars as a gift!
August 28, 2006 I bought my Honda Fit. It was a great car as it had an amazing amount of room and could haul anything!!!
51 weeks ago today, August 28, I left on a 16-day trip to Israel/Jordan/Egypt--an unbelievable trip of a lifetime. To celebrate I drank a glass of Squencher, an electrolyte replacement drink.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
House Project
This is my house project for the summer. Eight years ago I replaced the old carpet on the front step which is about a 4'x4' area in front of my door. The carpet had been chewed by a small creature at the bottom and it was fraying on the edge. The condo association doesn't look kindly on that and I was more than ready to get rid of it.
Hence my idea to remove the carpet and paint. Renae pulled the carpet off one evening before I had the chance to take a picture of it. Below is wit the carpet off. My thought was to use the pressure washer and an adhesive solvent to remove the leftover adhesive. For future reference--it doesn't work.
The second night I put on a solvent but I let it get too dry so I wasn't very successful that night either. The third night I used two different kinds of solvent and kept the adhesive moist to scrape as much as I could off. I was much more successful and below is the step ready for paint.
First coat of paint put on over the weekend.
The next two are the second coat with tri-colored flecks. I'm not sure if the flecks will last.
I'm glad it's over. I may be painting again soon, but for now it's done.
A side highlight was getting to talk with numerous neighbors each time I was out working.
Poem
Am finding this very powerful this a.m.
Say not my soul, “from whence can God relive my care?’
Remember that Omnipotence has servants everywhere.
His method is sublime, his heart profoundly kind,
God never is before his time, and never is behind”
This was in Spurgeon's Morning by Morning. It's interesting that my IPod Touch needs to be synced to a computer with the correct date and time, but then God knew it was the right time for me to read this today and not two days ago.
Say not my soul, “from whence can God relive my care?’
Remember that Omnipotence has servants everywhere.
His method is sublime, his heart profoundly kind,
God never is before his time, and never is behind”
This was in Spurgeon's Morning by Morning. It's interesting that my IPod Touch needs to be synced to a computer with the correct date and time, but then God knew it was the right time for me to read this today and not two days ago.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Grandma Hemmer
Today would be my Granda Hemmer’s 110th birthday. She died in the fall of my senior year of high school. Labor Day weekend that year the youth group at church went on a camping trip. I’d never been camping and really wanted to go, but Mom and Dad said I should go with them to visit relatives in IL. When Grandma passed away several weeks later I was glad I had made the trip to see her for what would be the last time.
There is much to be said for this wonderful Christian lady. Her husband was killed early in their marriage when their children were 18 months (my mom) and 3 months old. She raised her young children through the Depression and moved in with her mother and single sisters. She was a widow for 50 years and 1 day. She did much through her church to help the unfortunate around the world. And she cooked.
But today I think about the many different things that happen that make me think of Grandma Hemmer. Whenever I hear “emphysema” or “asthma”, I think of how a lady who never smoked a day in her life suffered from both in her later years.
Yesterday at the farmer’s market I saw the biggest cinnamon rolls. I thought, “It doesn’t matter how big they are, they will never be as good as Grandma Hemmer’s!”
When I garden I think she would be proud of me. I remember her big vegetable gardens along with the beautiful flowers she grew around the edges. And when my garden gets too weedy I think, “Grandma Hemmer’s garden would never look like this!”
When I get hungry for molasses cookies I think of Granda Hemmer.
On the few occasions I putz around in the kitchen cooking various things, I think it’s my grandma coming out in me.
Last night my mom reminded me it would be Grandma’s birthday today, but every year the first time I write the date on August 2, I’m reminded of Grandma Hemmer.
There is much to be said for this wonderful Christian lady. Her husband was killed early in their marriage when their children were 18 months (my mom) and 3 months old. She raised her young children through the Depression and moved in with her mother and single sisters. She was a widow for 50 years and 1 day. She did much through her church to help the unfortunate around the world. And she cooked.
But today I think about the many different things that happen that make me think of Grandma Hemmer. Whenever I hear “emphysema” or “asthma”, I think of how a lady who never smoked a day in her life suffered from both in her later years.
Yesterday at the farmer’s market I saw the biggest cinnamon rolls. I thought, “It doesn’t matter how big they are, they will never be as good as Grandma Hemmer’s!”
When I garden I think she would be proud of me. I remember her big vegetable gardens along with the beautiful flowers she grew around the edges. And when my garden gets too weedy I think, “Grandma Hemmer’s garden would never look like this!”
When I get hungry for molasses cookies I think of Granda Hemmer.
On the few occasions I putz around in the kitchen cooking various things, I think it’s my grandma coming out in me.
Last night my mom reminded me it would be Grandma’s birthday today, but every year the first time I write the date on August 2, I’m reminded of Grandma Hemmer.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Chicken, Chicago, and Values
The mayor of Chicago says Chick-fil-A's values aren't Chicago's values yet he worked as chief of staff for a president who opposed gay marriage until earlier this summer and is from Chicago. So maybe Chick-fil-A's values are Chicago's values?
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
My Thoughts on the Penn State Punishment
For two days I’ve been considering the NCAA’s punishment of Penn State for their coverup of Jerry Sandusky’s pedophilia. Emotions run high on issues like this.
These are my thoughts on the situation:
Jerry Sandusky is a monster, and he deserves every punishment he receives and more. Thankfully God’s love, grace, mercy, and hope reaches even to a monster such as he is.
Joe Paterno was a man who did many good things and influenced a generation of young men positively, but he hid a monster and unfortunately that is what he will be remembered for. He certainly has been spared his humiliation as a result of his illness and death; it is sad for his widow and children to have to live with his public disgrace.
The Penn State former president, former athletic director, and Paterno all are monsters for covering up Sandusky’s actions.
Honestly, I’m not sure the NCAA should have penalized the school for what is a criminal proceeding. Sandusky’s actions and the coverup did not give Penn State an unfair competitive advantage. If the NCAA is trying to reign in a school where the football program had too much power and influence, then they really have to go after almost every college football program that plays under the NCAA logo. Do they not think Alabama, Michigan, USC, Baylor, Auburn, Michigan State, Texas, Florida, Ohio State, Oregon, Florida State, and on and on and on are not influenced the same by their football programs?
Punishing Penn State current players, coaches, and community for the misdeeds of those no longer with the school just seems wrong. It is as if a parent tells a child, “You cannot go to any slumber parties because 10 years ago your older sibling stole candy at the local grocery store.” Yes, consequences are felt by more than the perpetrators but there is a difference between punishment (punitive action for violators) and consequences (general fallout and effect).
If the NCAA had to punish PSU, I don’t have a problem with the monetary fine. I think PSU should have been ahead of the game and pledged any football proceeds from this year to charities that support victims of pedophiles. I don’t know if the wins could be vacated from Paterno and not the school, but the players of the last 10+ years are being punished for what they did not have a part of. So now the players from those years didn’t win any games? That just doesn’t seem right. Current players who had no idea of what had occurred are now penalized with no post season play? How does this punish the people who actually did the wrong thing? Again, the feel just isn’t right.
Too often it seems the NCAA punishes the people who didn’t commit the wrongdoing. Too often a head coach allows his coaches to recruit in violation of NCAA rules then leaves for another school before the NCAA hands down the penalty. He is free to start new and often do the same things just at a different school while the school and new personnel and players are punished.
How can the NCAA punish the wrongdoers and not the innocent? Any coach involved in an infraction carries the penalty not the school. He is not allowed post season play; he pays the financial penalty handed down by the NCAA. For example, if he goes to another team with his post season ban of 4 years, they are not allowed post season play until that time goes by. Yes, schools probably won’t want to hire a coach knowing there will be no post season play for 2, 3, or 4 years, but he is penalized not the kids who didn’t do the wrong thing if schools don’t want to hire him. If the university president who knew about the wrong doing or it happened under his watch and he leaves for another school, the penalty goes with him.
While there is an easy answer of how to deal with Jerry Sandusky and the other school administrators, there is not an easy answer for how to deal with the school.
These are my thoughts on the situation:
Jerry Sandusky is a monster, and he deserves every punishment he receives and more. Thankfully God’s love, grace, mercy, and hope reaches even to a monster such as he is.
Joe Paterno was a man who did many good things and influenced a generation of young men positively, but he hid a monster and unfortunately that is what he will be remembered for. He certainly has been spared his humiliation as a result of his illness and death; it is sad for his widow and children to have to live with his public disgrace.
The Penn State former president, former athletic director, and Paterno all are monsters for covering up Sandusky’s actions.
Honestly, I’m not sure the NCAA should have penalized the school for what is a criminal proceeding. Sandusky’s actions and the coverup did not give Penn State an unfair competitive advantage. If the NCAA is trying to reign in a school where the football program had too much power and influence, then they really have to go after almost every college football program that plays under the NCAA logo. Do they not think Alabama, Michigan, USC, Baylor, Auburn, Michigan State, Texas, Florida, Ohio State, Oregon, Florida State, and on and on and on are not influenced the same by their football programs?
Punishing Penn State current players, coaches, and community for the misdeeds of those no longer with the school just seems wrong. It is as if a parent tells a child, “You cannot go to any slumber parties because 10 years ago your older sibling stole candy at the local grocery store.” Yes, consequences are felt by more than the perpetrators but there is a difference between punishment (punitive action for violators) and consequences (general fallout and effect).
If the NCAA had to punish PSU, I don’t have a problem with the monetary fine. I think PSU should have been ahead of the game and pledged any football proceeds from this year to charities that support victims of pedophiles. I don’t know if the wins could be vacated from Paterno and not the school, but the players of the last 10+ years are being punished for what they did not have a part of. So now the players from those years didn’t win any games? That just doesn’t seem right. Current players who had no idea of what had occurred are now penalized with no post season play? How does this punish the people who actually did the wrong thing? Again, the feel just isn’t right.
Too often it seems the NCAA punishes the people who didn’t commit the wrongdoing. Too often a head coach allows his coaches to recruit in violation of NCAA rules then leaves for another school before the NCAA hands down the penalty. He is free to start new and often do the same things just at a different school while the school and new personnel and players are punished.
How can the NCAA punish the wrongdoers and not the innocent? Any coach involved in an infraction carries the penalty not the school. He is not allowed post season play; he pays the financial penalty handed down by the NCAA. For example, if he goes to another team with his post season ban of 4 years, they are not allowed post season play until that time goes by. Yes, schools probably won’t want to hire a coach knowing there will be no post season play for 2, 3, or 4 years, but he is penalized not the kids who didn’t do the wrong thing if schools don’t want to hire him. If the university president who knew about the wrong doing or it happened under his watch and he leaves for another school, the penalty goes with him.
While there is an easy answer of how to deal with Jerry Sandusky and the other school administrators, there is not an easy answer for how to deal with the school.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Thankfu Thursday 7/12/12
1. Mmm, fresh veggies starting to mature in the garden. I've enjoyed green beans and broccoli this week.
2. Mmm, fresh blueberries--picked 6 lbs tonight.
3. Looking forward to fishing next week!!!
2. Mmm, fresh blueberries--picked 6 lbs tonight.
3. Looking forward to fishing next week!!!
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