Comfort and Joy

Today I spent the day being surrounded with comfort and joy.

The comfort and joy I am referring to are my three friends, Tina, Brenda and April.

We all gathered at Tina's house with the hopes of eating some lunch and then going for a walk to enjoy some sunshine.

Instead, our afternoon turned into a wonderful day of talking and visiting about a variety of topics.  We did eat, but by the time we thought about going out for a walk, the sun had disappeared behind some rather stormy looking clouds.

We arrived at Tina's house at about 11:30 a.m.

We departed Tina's house at about 7:30 p.m.

For eight hours I was surrounded by comfort.  Comfort from lifelong friends.

Tina and I have been friends since we were four years old.  Her mother babysat me the year I attended kindergarten.  We have been friends for about 47 years.

Brenda and I were in school for the first time in kindergarten.  We attended school together off and on through grade school to high school. 

April and I met when April was in third grade, and she started attending Sunnyside Elementary.  We were the very best of friends for many years, and in the past few years have rekindled our lifelong friendship.

I am so grateful for the chance to spend a whole day talking to people who have known me almost my entire life, and who I trust, and who are comfortable to be around.  There is nothing we can do that would jeopardize these friendships. We have seen each other through many different times in our lives, and have accepted it all.  We are a comfort to each other.

And the joy comes from talking about our lives.  We shared about people in our past, raising kids, the trials of parenthood, and looked at old photographs that brought back a flood of memories.

An old high school yearbook created more laughter and memories, and reminded us of classmates from the past.

We all agreed that the last twenty years have gone by way too fast. 

I cherish these times with lifelong friends.  What a blessing to sit for hours and hours, visiting and talking, and sharing comfort and joy with one another.

April and I got some fortune cookies when we stopped and grabbed dinner at Panda Express before heading back to Kellogg.  My fortune was very appropriate for what happened today:

Black Clothes

I am so sick of wearing black clothes.

And gray clothes.

And brown clothes.

It seems like for months and months I have been clothed in these dark colors throughout winter.

I need COLOR.

I need so escape the wintery grayness, and start to embrace the colors of spring.

My living room needs some color.  I have bright yellow walls, but everything else is brown, and it seems exceptionally brown this spring.

My living room is crying out for some color.

I have never felt this way about my living room before in the spring, but I sure am this year.

I have added a few things....some fake forsythia branches in a vase.

A brightly colored painting was moved to a wall in the living room from the kitchen area.

I need some brightly colored curtains.

I need some throw pillows with some pizazz!!

I might purchase some potted flowering plants and set them all over the living room.

Today at Kellogg Middle School, the principal declared it, "Life's A Beach" day, and a lot of faculty and students dressed in Hawaiian clothes.  Now that helped lift the spirits.  I even got to wear my special orange crabby earrings  (and got quite a few compliments on them I might add!!).

I need to make my living space colorful and beautiful.

I need to get creative.

Cultivating Sibling Relationships

Today is National Sibling Day!!

I have been fortunate to be surrounded by many people who have great relationships with their siblings.

And, unfortunately, this isn't the case for everyone.

I, myself, am very fortunate to have a good relationship with both of my siblings.  About seven years ago, we started blogging, and through our writing, and a series of "sibling assignments" that helped us understand a little bit about one another. 

We also have enjoyed one another's company in the last few years during our "sibling outings" that first started out as day trips, and during the last two summers we have taken longer trips together.

I hope we can continue doing this in the future.  It is a really fun and special time for me.

My husband Paul also has a great relationship with each of his siblings.  He enjoys the times he spends with each of them.  Recently, we were all together for Paul's sister's birthday celebration, and all four of his sibling's were all together.  This, unfortunately, doesn't happen that often.  They enjoyed their time together.

My three daughters have grown up with parents who enjoy their siblings, and I think it has rubbed off.  At least if their Facebook National Sibling Day posts are any indication today.  As a mother, it is such a blessing to have your three daughters love and appreciate one another for the people they are, and that they enjoy talking to one another, and being a part of one another's lives. And they have no hesitation to share their feelings with the world.

Here is a sample of some of the things they shared about one another:

Molly's Post:

National Siblings Day. WARNING SAPPY SISTER STUFF COMING. Zoe: My biggest critic  Distance has served us well dear sister, and you have developed into one of my best friends. For two people who hate talking on the phone we sure talk on the phone with each other a lot. Your creativity, artistry, and talent astound me. You are a strong, intelligent, beautiful, hilarious and wonderful sister. Even though you have a stone cold heart and never cry. (Just kidding I have a particularly tearful voice mail that proves otherwise.) I want you to know that I deeply appreciate your opinion even though it often doesn't seem like it. You know I was worried about you when you went off to college. But I had no reason to. You are doing just fine.  Love you zozo. Cosette: When you were a few days old I didn't understand how anyone thought you were cute. You looked like an alien raisin baby. Being the youngest you have had to go through a lot of torment from us older siblings. And that sucks and I want to say i'm sorry. You never deserved any of it. You have grown into such a great woman. (Ew gross you are still 5). Your passion for school confuses me in the best way possible. You inspire people constantly, and your enthusiasm is unmatched. It's really weird that you are 18, and I need to remember that you are an adult now and can make your own grown up decisions. You are such a talented musician, singer, actress, and athlete. It's almost not fair. You are going to do great things in college, and great things further on in life. Love you Coco loco. Cooky cooks. Little alien baby.

Zoe's Post:

OH boy. National Sibling Day, huh? Well.. I guess it's about time I get served some recognition! But also, I suppose- I might as well say a little something about these sisters of mine. After all, they are pretty great. And I rely on them quite a bit. Not only because I have an awful memory and so without them I would have no recollection of my childhood- but also because they literally two of the coolest ladies I know. Molly- you beautiful, wonderful, nerd. I could write a lot about how special our relationship is- but then I know you would read it and start crying, and so I will keep it short! Thank you for always being there when I need to vent- or geek out about a TV show. Your courage and passion for your job is truly inspiring and I am so very proud of you. 
Cosette- You know, I think I might finally be starting to unravel the mystery that is my baby sister. Thank you for opening up to me and letting me be your friend. You have the sweetest, most compassionate heart- and I can't wait to watch you blossom in college next year. It's nice to know that no matter what I do- you've always got my back and are willing to love me unconditionally. 
I love you both dearly, and decided that instead of doing the impossible and choosing one photo to represent our relationships- I would simply take a handful and put them all into this album. I think it's a fairly good representation of our feelings! Not to mention it highlights each of our awkward stages!


Cosette's Post:

National Sibling Day is here. I just wrote an huge entire 4 paragraph post... And it all just disappeared.. Anyway, let's see how much I remember about these two incredible ladies. Molly: My big sister. I knew we'd have an interesting relationship since I came out of our mother and you thought I was an alien raisin baby. Thankfully that phase left and it went into the, 'Hi this is my brother Cody' phase. Now, we just happen to be in the 'Hello this is Cosette and she has the best boots  Molly, you are truly inspiring and I love you. You're strong, and beautiful, and oh so talented. I will miss you greatly when I'm away in a few short months, but we will have many chats, and google hangouts, and I will come and visit. I'm sorry I kept you up, I hope you sleep tight 
Zoe: Zoe, I'm honestly kinda glad you went away to college, for numerous reasons, but one being that we have become so much closer since you have. I love being able to open up to you as well. Zoe, you are one of the most talented people I know. You're beautiful on the inside and out, and yet I know you might be critical at times I know that it's just a factor of your love for your little sista  You're amazing Zo, and I love you.
These two wonderful, God loving, incredible woman are the reason I am who I am today. They fill me with hope, love, and wisdom. I don't know what I would do without them. Thank you for being the best big sisters a little sister could ask for. I love you and can't wait to continuing growing old with you 

What great people I am surrounded with in my life.

Running

I really surprised myself this morning.

My normal routine in the morning is going on a walk with my friend Nikki for about a half an hour or so.  When the weather is nice, we do a loop around Kellogg.

When the weather gets snowy and icy, we walk inside Kellogg Middle School.

Last week I suggested to Nikki that we start going to the track and running some.  She has started running to get ready for Bloomsday in Spokane, and I felt like adding some running to our morning routine.

I didn't have high expectations today.  I can't even remember the last time I did any running for any length of time, not on the treadmill.  I had been walking fairly consistently, and Paul and I were doing the Fit in 90 DVD's, so I had been being somewhat active.

My true expectation today was to jog a lap, then walk some, then jog again, then walk.

But I exceeded my expectations.  I started jogging, (very slowly, but it was jogging), and made it around once, twice, three times, four times......eight times!!  I couldn't believe it.  I jogged two miles this morning, and, if I had more time, I bet I could have gone even longer.



Back when I actually did run consistently, my kind of running was slow and far.  I remember those Sunday afternoon runs in Meridian when I would run for 1-2 hours.

My favorite race to compete in was the half-marathon.

But that was a long time ago.  Right now, I am just thrilled that (as my sister-in-law Laurie often says), "I thank God for legs that can run." 

I have no idea how long I ran, time wise, because we didn't time ourselves.  Which I think was good.  I think just jogging around the track as far as I could was good.

So, it will be interesting to see how it feels the next time we head to the track.  I am really excited now to get back to running.

And beating my expectations this morning was an incredible way to start the day!!

Dreams

Dreams are a funny thing.

Last night, for instance, I know I had strange dreams, but I don't really remember any of them.

Yet there are dreams from my childhood I remember quite vividly.

One of the earliest of my dreams may sound a bit strange, but dreams tend to be a bit strange.  When I was about 6 or 7, I had a dream that Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street kidnapped me and put me on a boat.  I remember being stuck in a type of elevator door, that was horizontal on the floor, instead of verticle on the wall.  And, I remember a case of Campbell's soup being knocked over, and I was sucked into the cardboard box.  Yes.....kind of weird.

And fascinating.

Fascinating that the dream has stayed with me over 40 years.

I remember another dream being chased through a building by someone with a gun, trying to shoot me.  I think those happen often.

I don't know about you, but I have certain "stress" dreams, dreams that I have when I am under stress.  My usually involve missing a final test.

Sometimes I will dream about being back in my sorority in college. That has happened more than once.

When I doze, I often have dreams where I can't open my eyes.  This must happen when I am only sleeping lightly.

I know you can look up meanings to things in your dreams, but I don't ever do that when I have interesting dreams.

I have friends who have dreams and they believe the dreams are telling them something.

I do believe that.

And I find it fascinating.

I rarely have nightmares.  I think I have had them over the years, but I can't remember that last time I had a nightmare.

When we were first married, Paul used to have a dream that would disturb his sleep.  I could tell by the changes in his breathing when he was having the dream.  One day he shared with me what was happening in the dream, and through sharing the dream, he figured out what the dream was about.  Once he figured it out, the dream never returned. 

Fascinating.

Our mind is an interesting thing.  It produces images and feelings and emotions even as we sleep.  I like that we can't control our dreams....they just happen.

I believe my dreams are always in color.  I have talked to others who claim their dreams are in black and white.

Well, my eyes are getting heavy, and it is time to go to sleep.  I hope I dream some good dreams tonight, and remember them as well.

Time Off

I am really tired tonight.

I think it is because I have had some time off.

Spring Break.

For the last week, my family here in Kellogg have all been on Spring Break. 

It was a pretty relaxing time. 

I traveled a little. 

A trip to the University of Idaho for Vandal Friday to get daughter Cosette registered for her classes.

A trip to Spokane to see Sister Act with some great friends.

Shopping in Spokane with Cosette to get buy a prom dress.

Doing some cleaning up around the house.

But, overall, just a lot of relaxing.

Maybe a bit too much.  Because today at work I did a lot of catch up work...nothing too strenuous, but I am now exhausted.

I guess I am  not used to the routine of work.  It is amazing how quickly we can lose that routine.

And it doesn't help to have a cat snuggled up next to me.  She is making me rather sleepy.

So, time to go to bed.  It is a little early for me (about 9:15 p.m.), but I have an early morning with my walking partner, then taking one of the dogs in for surgery tomorrow, and I am in 9th grade Earth Science classes tomorrow, showing them how to play "Financial Football".  The 8th graders loved it.  I hope the 9th graders do, too.

The following song keeps going through my mind as I write these words.  If you were ever a Lawrence Welk fan, or were somehow forced to watch The Lawrence Welk Show growing up, you will probably remember this song:

Goodnight, goodnight, until we meet again

Adios, Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehn 'til then

And though it's always sweet sorrow to part

You know you'll always remain in my heart

Goodnight, sleep tight, and pleasant dreams to you

Here's a wish and a prayer that every dream comes true

And now 'til we meet again

Adios, Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehn

 

GOOD NIGHT!!!

Mercy

I have been a bit grumpy lately.

I have been feeling unsettled.

I have been negative and out of sorts.

Little things have been really bugging me.

I need some mercy.

I came across this poem on this blog here, and it really speaks to how I am feeling right now.

Mercy

Lord, have mercy
When I stray
As I struggle
through this day

Holy Spirit
Give me direction

Lord, have mercy
When I fall
Help me stand
Not have to crawl

Holy Spirit
Lift me up

Lord, have mercy
When I slip
And unpleasing words
Pass my lips

Holy Spirit
Guide my words

Lord, have mercy
When my heart
Holds a grudge
And keeps me apart

Holy Spirit
Help me forgive

Lord, have mercy
When I doubt
Wondering what
This trial’s about

Holy Spirit
Grant me faith

Lord, have mercy
When I don’t know
How to endure
Pain and woe

Holy Spirit
Impart Your wisdom

 

This song by Michael W. Smith also really spoke to what I am feeling lately.  The lyrics to this song are below if you want to listen to the song and look at the words, too.

 

Lord Have Mercy

by Michael W. Smith

Jesus, I've forgotten the words that You have spoken
Promises that burned within my heart have now grown dim
With a doubting heart I follow the paths of earthly wisdom
Forgive me for my unbelief
Renew the fire again

Chorus
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy 
Lord have mercy on me
Repeat

I have built an altar where I worship things of men
I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You
Now I am returning to Your mercies ever flowing
Pardon my transgressions
Help me love You again

Repeat Chorus

I have longed to know You and Your tender mercies
Like a river of forgiveness ever flowing without end
I bow my heart before You in the goodness of Your presence
Your grace forever shining
Like a beacon in the night

 

 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

James 3: 17-18

Chicago

Chicago, Chicago, that toddling town
Chicago, Chicago, I'll show you around, I love it
Bet your bottom dollar, you'll lose the blues in Chicago, Chicago

the town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down.

 

 

I have had the privilege of visiting some of the major cities in the United States.

 

I have spent time in the following large metropolitan areas:

Seattle, Washington

Portland, Oregon

Los Angeles, California

San Diego, California

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Las Vegas, Nevada

Washington, D.C.

Baltimore, Maryland

New York, New York

Houston, Texas

Denver, Colorado

 

And I think you can guess what city I want to visit next....that is right...Chicago, Illinois.

 

 

 

I really can't pinpoint a reason why this particular city, but it is the next major city I would like to try and visit.

 

And in order to do this, I need your help.  I really don't know a lot about Chicago, so as I begin to plan my trip...(now this could be tomorrow, it could be in a couple of years!!), I would like your input on places to go and things to do in and around Chicago.

 

Let's call this my first interactive post. 

 

So, if you have a suggestion, please leave it in the comments on Facebook, or in the comment section on the blog itself.  I would truly like to know what you enjoyed about your visit to Chicago, and what are some things I shouldn't miss once I visit there.

 

Thank you very much.  I look forward to you input.

Chris Arnade

Faces of Addiction.

This is what Chris Arnade chronicles as he goes into the Hunts Point area of the Bronx, New York.

But it is much more than that.  It may have started out him taking photographs and telling people's stories.

For me, it has helped me understand the people who live in this part of NYC.

By reading these stories Arnade's posts on his Facebook page and tumblr website, it has helped me develop a small understanding of the lives these people live, and the fact that some of them can survive day to day is amazing.

It has me ask the question to myself..."If I had been sexually abused from as early as I can remember, from family members, how would I try and escape the horror?"

Below is what Arnade wrote in a recent Facebook post about many of the people he encounters in Hunts Point:

Almost every woman (and many men) who finds herself addicted and homeless is a victim of childhood trauma. Mostly it's sexual, and mostly it's from a family member.

They flee home because home isn't a home. 

Without a legal route to prescription drugs, or therapy, they turn to what can be bought for a blow job on the street: it provides solace, escape, and numbs the pain. 

Poverty itself is traumatic. Poverty wrapped in the hell of childhood sexual abuse is a nightmare that lasts a lifetime. 

Next time a friend tells you an addict is lazy, dirty, dumb, weak, ask them, "have you ever been f*@#%d at the age of twelve by your uncle, your father, your brother, your mother's boyfriend, your grandfather?"

Some of the women were prostituted at a young age by their own mothers and fathers.  Some were born to drug addicts.  Most were living in a hell on earth they needed to escape.

And Arnade often compares his own circle of friends in Brooklyn where he lives, and the circle of people he encounters in Hunts Point.

In Brooklyn, the people he knows would have the financial means to get therapy and prescription drugs under the care of a physician to deal with any trauma they may have faced in their life.

The girls who flee their abusive homes don't have this luxury.

Chris Arnade received his PhD in physics from Johns Hopkins University in 1992. He spent the next 20 years working as a trader on Wall Street. He left trading in 2012 to focus on photography. His "Faces of Addiction"series explores addiction in the south Bronx neighbourhood in New York City.

Here is some of his observations comparing the world of Wall Street, and the world of Hunts Point.  This is from an article in the online newspaper guardian.com.

When you're wealthy you make mistakes. When you are poor you go to jail.

Yes, it is like comparing apples and oranges. That is the point though. We have built two very different societies with two very different sets of values. Takeesha was born into a world with limited opportunities, one where the black market has filled the void. In her world transgressions are resolved via violence, not lawyers. The law as applied to her is simple and stark, with little wiggle room.

Mr one-glove was born into a world with many options. The laws of his land are open for interpretation, and with the right lawyer one can navigate in the vast grey area and never do anything wrong. The rules are often written by and for Mr one-glove and his friends.

No, Mr one-glove did not break any laws. Not explicitly, although in 2008, he helped to bankrupt a company that helped to almost bankrupt the global economy. Rather, he spent his adult life moving numbers around on spreadsheets and betting on other numbers. Over his entire career, he has probably lost more money than he made, with the hole from 2008 swallowing any prior profits. For that he has been very richly rewarded. Tens of millions of dollars rewarded.

Takeesha has broken many laws, none open for interpretation. You use drugs (well, not prescription drugs), you go to jail. You sell your body for sex, you go to jail. You can paint a narrative where young Takeesha shakes off her rape at 11, shakes off being sold on the streets at 13, and rallies. She finds the right foster family, takes advantage of the social services offered, and graduates from high school or at least gets her GED equivalent, then goes to college and moves well beyond her past.

Maybe she even ends up in banking, with her juvenile record forgiven. You can paint that story, but it's a fairy tale.

Mr one-glove would probably not approve of Takeesha. He felt everyone makes his own path in life, that raising his taxes to help the poor was encouraging a lifetime of sloth. To him, poverty was because of a lack of trying, a lack of working as hard as he had. Many successful professionals, who forget their benign youth, share that attitude.

Poverty and addiction have a thousand mothers, none of them sloth. Surviving the streets and hustling for the next fix is some of the hardest work around. Takeesha would probably say about Mr one-glove what another addict said with admiration, when hearing about my Wall Street life: "You made tricky money in a tricky world."

Mr one-glove eventually left his company. He is still working somewhere in finance, putting together another portfolio of mortgages using borrowed money.

Takeesha is still out on the streets, charging $50 for men to have sex with her. Or maybe she is in jail. I have to check weekly to see which it is.

I like that following the photographs and writings of Arnade has challenged my thinking.  It has given me a glimpse of a world and culture that I am not a part of, though I know exists.  I have been drawn into the stories and been brought to tears.  I have cheered their triumphs.

Reading these stories had me ask myself a question.  Now it is your turn to ask yourself..

"If I had been sexually abused from as early as I can remember, from family members, how would I try and escape the horror?"

And, as you answer this questions for yourself, I hope it gives us all just a little more compassion, and a little less judgment...because we often don't know the backstory.

 

 

My Two Grandmothers

To kick off National Poetry Month, my sister recently posted on her blog about our two grandmothers and shared a poem called "Lineage" by Margaret Walker.  You can see the post here.

It got me thinking about my two grandmothers, and my memories I have of each of them.

Grandma Woolum was my dad's mom.  She lived the closest, in Spokane, Washington.  We would often drive the 80 miles to Spokane to visit her.  We probably saw her every other month or so while we were growing up.

Grandma lived on Bridgeport Avenue in Spokane.  She loved to garden both flowers and vegetables.

When she was little, she had some kind of falling accident, and had a hunchback.  But you didn't really care or even notice that often, because she was your grandma, and you loved her.

Grandma Woolum had a woodburning stove in her kitchen.  But instead of burning wood, she burned presto logs, which consisted of sawdusts pressed into logs.

Grandma kept her cheese wrapped in foil in her fridge.  She often made banana bread.  She would cook green beans on the stove with bacon and bacon grease.  She made delicious fried chicken.

She had a very small bathroom off the kitchen that smelled of Listerine.

She chewed Wrigley's Doublemint gum, and usually only half a stick.

She was a Gold Star Mother because her son, my Uncle Bill, died in World War II while serving in the Navy.

She lived in Kellogg for quite a while until the Smelter Smoke started bothering her breathing and lungs, and she had to move to Spokane.

I was her "Sugar". 

She had an apartment on the second floor of her house.  Sometimes the apartment had renters.  Sometimes it was not rented, and I could go play on the second floor.

Grandma's husband Lance, my Grandpa Woolum, left my grandma when my dad was about five or so.  I'm not sure if they ever divorced, but they were never together again.  Grandpa Woolum died in 1941 in Pineville, Kentucky.  My dad or grandma never spoke of Grandpa Woolum.  I think my dad was very resentful of his father taking off when he was so young. 

Being a woman in the early 1900's with no husband was much more rare than it is today.  Grandma Woolum did not live with a husband from about 1935 on.

My other grandma, Grandma West, was in the same boat.  Her husband Harry left their family when Mom was about five years old as well, and Mom was raised by my Grandma West, and did not have much contact with her father growing up.  The only thing I knew about my Grandpa West was that he lived in Mexico and had remarried.  He would often send a card at Christmas.  Mom didn't talk about him much.

I remember at some point growing up realizing both my parent's mothers were single mothers raising a family on their own, which is quite remarkable in the 1930's and 1940's.  I never met either grandfather on either side of the family.

Grandma West live in Orofino, Idaho.  Every summer we would travel to Orofino, as my dad would have a week's vacation.  While there, I would usually spend time on my Grandma West's piano.  Actually, my mom always pointed out that the piano was hers, but they did not have enough room at their home in Kellogg to have it a part of our household. 

Grandma West was also a gardener, both flowers and vegetables.  Some things I remember about Grandma West's house was the drop leaf table in her kitchen, and the cookie jar.  She had a basement which contained a large chest freezer where the ice cream was located.

Some of the taste's from Grandma West's house include eating cucumbers covered in a dressing of real cream and vinegar.  Corn on the cob was usually on the menu.

I remember when we would arrive in Orofino, Grandma West would often be sitting in her rocking chair in the window when we arrived at her house.

My mom started smoking while she was still in high school, I think.  Grandma West made it clear she did not want to see my mom smoke, so whenever we visited, Mom would have to hide her smoking so grandma couldn't hear it.

I had two very special grandmothers who raised to families on their own, and were wonderful and loving to my brother, sister and myself.

What a blessing and inspiration they both were to my life.

Kindness

The Book of Galatians in the Bible talks about the nine fruit of the Spirit in the fifth chapter.  One of the fruit is kindness.

The Greek word for Kindness is Chrestotes, to show kindness or to be friendly to others and often depicted rulers, governors, or people who were kind, mild, and benevolent to their subjects. Anyone who demonstrated this quality of chrestotes was considered to be compassionate, considerate, sympathetic, humane, kind, or gentle.

Kindness does not necessarily mean being nice, one can be kind and not nice. Nice is defined by dictionary.com as being agreeable. In contrast, kindness is acting for the good of people regardless of what they do, properly, "useable, i.e. well-fit for use (for what is really needed); kindness that is also serviceable".

Kindness is doing something and not expecting anything in return. Kindness is respect and helping others without waiting for someone to help one back. It implies kindness no matter what. We should live "in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left".

I try and be kind, but I think I often come off as nice.  I think being nice is often looking out for yourself, and not making waves, and, as it says above, being agreeable.

Kindness, on the other hand, is acting for the good of the people, no matter what.  You expect nothing in return.  Sometimes, there is too much of me and what I want in my actions of trying to be kind.  That shouldn't be the case.  The fruit of the spirit is all about sharing God's spirit with others.  And God's fruit is all about loving others unconditionally, and putting others interests before your own.

Just think if people tried to be kind, instead of just being nice.  If people truly looked out for others instead of themselves.

I know I often delude myself.  I think I'm being kind, but, if I really examine my heart, my actions were all about me.

Jesus Christ was always kind.  But He wasn't always nice.  Especially when dealing with the Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious rulers of the day.  They kind of ticked Him off.  But those who were needing help, He was always kind to them.

I pray to be more kind.  To look out for the interest of others instead of myself.   To act for the good of people regardless of what they do. 

Because when you are truly and genuinely demonstrating kindness, the Bible says, "against such things, there is no law."

Grade School

I started grade school at Sunnyside Elementary School in Kellogg, Idaho in the fall of 1969.  I was six years old.  I would spend the next six years at this school.

The principal during my six years at Sunnyside Elementary was Mr. Koepl.  He was a very tall man, way over six feet tall, which can be rather intimidating for a grade school student.

When I was in first and second grade, we had our own playground.  Now the third graders came onto our playground for a little while during lunch, but then, at a certain point, we would yell "third graders on the other side", and they had to go over to the big playground.

In first grade I had Mrs. Kirkpatrick. 

In second grade I had Mrs. Cook.

In third grade I had Mrs. Clary.

For some reason, my fourth grade school picture was not in my scrapbook.

In fourth grade I had Mrs. Daiker.

At the end of my fourth grade year, Mrs. Kirkpartrick, Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Clary and Mrs. Daiker all retired.

In fifth grade I had Mrs. Joy.

In sixth grade I had Mrs. Tregoning.

She retired after my sixth grade year.

 

Overall, my years at Sunnyside Elementary School were very good.  I had good teachers who I learned a lot from.

 

Here are some of my memories that stick out:

 

--A burning taste in my mouth while playing on the playground during morning recess due to the smelter smoke in the air. 

--Mungee Day...a dress up day during sixth grade.

---Three classes of fifth graders, and three classes of sixth graders.  There were a lot of us at Sunnyside!!

--A rift between the girls the started in fifth grade, and carried on into the sixth grade.  I think by the end of sixth grade, it was resolved.  If memory serves me right, it had something to do with kids smoking on the playground!!

--I remember being followed home by two of the girls from the other side of this conflict to my friend April's house.  These girls wanted to fight us.  We wouldn't do it.  I made it through my entire 12 years of school without ever getting into a fist fight with another girl.  Not everyone at Sunnyside Elementary can say this!!

--I always ate hot lunch.  I thought the kids who got to bring cold lunch were so lucky!!

--Mrs. Clary read the best books to the class. 

--I was very chatty in grade school, and was sent out into the hall more than once.

--I always walked to and from school.  It was about five blocks.

--The Sunnyside Elementary School building now houses part of Dave Smith Motors, one of the largest (by volume) car dealerships in the country.

--I remember getting some kind of vaccination during school, and the boy in front of me in line fainted.

--I was playing on the bars once and fell off on my head....ouch!!

--Tether ball was always a popular choice on the playground.

--Giant strides....another popular playground item.  I think they have banned them from playgrounds.

--When I first started school, the rule was we had to wear dresses.  But you could wear pants under the dresses.  Eventually, the dress only rule was changed, and we could start wearing pants.  Thank goodness!!

--I had sloppy handwriting.  I did good in reading.  Math, not so much. 

--I remember having the memorize the poem "Daffodils" by William Wordsworth and reciting it in front of my sixth grade class.

--In sixth grade we could be crossing guards in front of the school.

--"White Ruff", "Where the Red Fern Grows", and "Charlotte's Web" were a few of the books I remember teachers reading to my class.

 

Oh, I could go on and on, but I was very blessed to be at a school for six years, and have such a rush of fond memories.