Time Out!

Will be taking a couple of weeks to do some traveling....
My brother, Dockie and wife Annie P. will be traveling with us.
Flying to Los Angeles and then driving to Las Vegas for our anniversary...
From there we go to the Grand Canyon and on to Cheyenne, Wyoming for a walk down memory lane with Dockie and Ann. Dockie was stationed at Warren AFB when he and Ann got married.
Then on to Washington state to visit nephew, Randy.
From there back down the Pacific Coast Highway for over a thousand miles.
From sea to shining sea.....that’s our America to explore in the days ahead....
Enjoying.......The Good Life!

Put It To Rest!

I am so mad!
I am so angry!
I am furious!
Someone I ‘trusted’ let me down!
......Going the second mile, again and again, with this individual......did not seem to matter in the long run....
Truly I have forgiven.....only God knows my heart.....
but suddenly a bright light appears here now.....in my thinking!

.......Just because you have forgiven someone......doesn’t mean that you have to have ......a relationship with them!
I heard a teaching on this one time....by Joyce Meyers....and immediately her words on this subject spring to life in my remembrance!
Therefore, I will....Put It To Rest.....and merrily go on my way ....
Enjoying the Good Life!

Jesus said it best....”Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!”

Clarification.....

For you ‘animal protection’ readers....
the ‘tuttle’ that Joshua was ‘throwing into the pool’....
WAS NOT A REAL TURTLE......
It was his favorite ‘plastic’ bath tuttle......
Guess I took too much for granted thinking anyone would KNOW that I would never make a child’s game.....OUT OF A REAL TURTLE!
I stand corrected.....
Let’s Laugh......NOW!

Let’s Laugh Now!

Life really is fun, if we only give it a chance.
Countless moments of serendipity are constantly alive to us and inviting us to participate, if we but have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to respond.
Everyday life has its own hidden fun and comedy.
As John Powell said, “Blessed is he who has learned to laugh at himself, for he shall never cease to be entertained.”
When we can laugh at ourselves and our own situations and the life around us, it actually produces physiological and chemical changes in our bodies that bring about a greater sense of vitality, health, and even healing....

...Job 8:21 says..."He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”

excerpts taken from....The healing of Joy and Laughter.... by:Tim Hansel

Write Now!

Writing about ‘spontaneity’ seemed to cause it to happen more!
Seize The Moment.....made me look at more ‘precious moments’.
Whatever I write about.....seems to be reiterated again and again.

Over the week-end, going to our boat just for relaxing from the ’traffic life’, there was relaxation, peace, Florida Herons and Cranes on our boat docks and serenity. Just what the ’Dr.’ ordered!
Lo and behold, having coffee on our docks early on Sunday morning with my brother Dockie and Annie P.....along came a ’bee in the bonnet’ idea from Dockie...“I need to take my big boat to my house across the lake (3 boat hours away) in order to properly fit the new Gell-Coat tops I’m making!”
Annie P. says, “No Way!” “ We have too much to do to prepare for our upcoming trip next week.”
Spontaneity and flexibility won!
The guys, Charlie and Dockie, untie the lines and wave good-bye, smiling from ear to ear.
Annie P. and I ’head out’ each in our own vehicle.
Seems like.....we had been ‘had’!
See pictures of ‘tops in progress’.....Link #1....“will show finished product shortly“....says Dockie.

P.S. Worked to my advantage....was able to visit my sister, Shyrl, in the hospital. Also, family.....Sister Joyce, Blake and sweet cheerleader, Brittany, arrived at hospital for a visit as well.....
Later Patsy, Bonnie and Becky come for an unexpected visit to Dockie’s dock....Pammy too!
Yep, you never know what ‘you’re gonna get’...as Forrest Gump says......

Let’s Go!

Spontaneous...
Impulsive...
Instinctive...
Automatic...
Deliberate...
Voluntary...
Flexibility...
Out of all these ‘similar’ words, I prefer.....SPONTANEOUS!
Spontaneous applies to that which is done so naturally that it seems to come without prompting or premeditation......
Being flexible does not mean being ‘wishy-washy’.....to me!
To some it may seem so....
Having many years in a military atmosphere, planning and regimentation became second nature for our family....
Spontaneous events were fairly uncommon.
‘Tis different now!
I love ‘spontaneous’ moments, events, activities.......
Just now as I write this I received a phone call from our son, Chuck, trying to make tentative arrangements to meet in St. Cloud to see ’Aunt Shyrl’ in the hospital tomorrow....
Chuck is in the golf course business.....weather affects his jobs tremendously.....
Our conversation went something like this...
“Mom, can I call you back tonight about meeting in St. Cloud tomorrow...
The rain may cause me to cancel today’s ‘job’ which I might have to do tomorrow....but if it rains tomorrow too.....then we can meet in St Cloud for hospital visit and lunch....”
There you have it....now we both have to be flexible and spontaneous as well. Just goes to show that the Forris Gump philosophy of ....“Life’s like a box of chocolates.....you never know what you’re gonna git!”
is a continuous walk.....of faith....daily!

Seize The Moment!

Easy to say!!!
Stop what is ‘absolutely necessary to finish meal’.....or stop ‘doing your duty’ and play an endless game of ‘throw tuttle in pool’ with 2 yr. old Joshua.....seemed frivolous in making the ’weighty decision’......but Joshua won!
He absolutely fascinated me as we again and again took the pool net and retrieved his ’beloved floating tuttle’....
I watched as he listened to my instructions as how we must unloosen the screwed end of the pole in order to lengthen it when ’tuttle’ went too far.
Soon he was balancing himself midway of the fairly heavy 9 ft. pole and by himself, to gauge to what extent it must go in order to ’net tuttle’.....
My orders from him.....‘hands off‘....once he could do the job alone......
His muscle coordination, agility, and perception intrigued me tremendously since the pole was ’heavy’ in comparison to his 30 lb. ‘electric’ body.
What a moment in life when a two year old....or a 16 or 40 year old....learns their own....strength and ability!
Wouldn’t have missed it for the world...
Next, he wants everyone to stop and ‘see him’ save ‘tuttle’.
Everyone being Pops and Britt....
Learning was exciting for him.....’showing off’ was a ....MUST!
What a moment in life that I would not have wanted to miss for anything.....
Joshua smiling, laughing, ‘being proud’ sealed in my memory....forever.

Joshua and all of us....will have moments of pain, sadness, disappointment and perhaps even.....despair.
Yet yesterdays memories were ‘seized’ and sealed as a moment in time of pure and joyful innocence of life at its best.
It did not add to my bank account....it did not elevate my ego....no noble deed was accomplished.....except....
......pure and simple joy and delight in life....the good life.....
Isn’t that what life is really.....all about?

Use It...or Lose IT!!!

Scientists are finding that the mind, like the body, needs an exercise program.....There are all kinds of brain-training programs nationwide because the young and old alike.....are experiencing.....plain ole...forgetfulness.
One called, “Brain Upgrade” at New York’s Open Center or “Boost Your Memory Power” at Pasadena City College emphasize the need to actually work at a discipline for our ’brain’.
A professor of Neurobiology at Duke University Medical Center, Lawrence Katz, has written a book called...”Keep Your Brain Alive.”
Prof. Katz states, ”More and more emphasis is placed on keeping your body in shape and ’fit’ and now we must address the same issue for your brain.”
One study showed that individuals begin forgetting at age 35.....forgetting, misplacing car keys or glasses...
Explanations for why we forget are numerous, to say the least!
The general consensus says it’s.....information overload because we must remember more than ever before. Today, we must know unlimited numbers or passwords, Social Security, personal identification numbers, fax and cell phone numbers. etc. etc. Another study showed that Americans sleep less and experience more stress....both factors affecting memory.
The juggling of many tasks....which attribute to our everyday lives, can cause memory overload.
“We end up multitasking, and that’s the biggest reason we can’t remember,”
said Dr. Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institue.
This ‘authority’ suggests ways to form a much-needed discipline for ourselves. Some Tips are:
Get this....Talk aloud when you put down your keys or glasses and want to remember the location. Tell yourself exactly where you put them. Later, you’ll remember hearing your own voice speak back to you....(I haven’t tried this one..)
Another, Vary your mental workout. Unfamiliar situations and challenges stimulate the brain. Try tying your shoelaces or brushing your teeth with your left hand if you’re right handed.
Also, start a healthful brain diet: Drink six glasses of water each day, eat low-fat foods and plenty of fruits and vegetables, avoid fried foods and take the vitamins E and C. If you smoke, quit. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
And last, minimize stress to maximize memory....set realistic expectations and take relaxation breaks at regular intervals.
All good advice, huh!
Sounds like ‘work’ to me.....or a new discipline of the brain...
Oh well, guess we must....Use it or Lose it, our brain that is.....
....I’ve used mine enough in writing this page so I MUST take a break and treat myself to a wonderful cup of Cappuccino on my patio....
Guess what? I’ve got brain cells I’ve never even used before....
Think I will save them till I ‘really need them”!
Like.....tomorrow!

At Last

I have reorganized my Photo Album Page! Click Link #1 to see....
Was running out of room so I removed some photos and shuffled others around. I added a few new ones under ‘Tropical” since the back yard is so lush and green this time of year.
These are especially for you dear friends, The Lujans, in Utah!
Hope all of your summer time....anywhere you are....is awesome.....
Enjoy!

Forever

Have been very busy...... celebrated Chuck’s birthday on Friday night at Kiku Japanese Steak House in Icot Center. Family members galore celebrated together and the food was wonderful....See picture on Link #1.

Next morning, bright and early, Carla and another friend, left Tampa airport for their Youth Leadership Forum in Minnesota, all expenses paid.

Charlie and I took off for our boat at Kissimmee River Park.....loaded with several 4x4’s. We needed to insert new posts in order to position our boat further out into the canal to be assured of water, year round, under our out drive unit. As a result, our dock will have to be extended to the area of the new poles....but that is another weekend activity. Meantime, we are actually ‘walking the plank’ in order to enter The Milagro.
Agility is a must!

Talked to family members and found out the trauma for Joshua that one of his two favorite “gold fish” had died...
I asked Britt how she explained this to a precocious 2 yr. old and she said,
“I just told him that Nemo went ‘night-night’....forever.....”
He didn’t pursue it any further and Britt and “Nana’ breathed a sigh of relief.
For you see.....a two-year-old has no concept of.....forever.
‘Today’ is only a word to them.....as well.
Two year olds live in the......NOW!
They are ’happy’ or ’sad’....NOW!
They are hungry or not.....NOW!
Their little lives exist in the ‘Present’ and they are ’present’ to every moment of the day......
Adults are often living but not ’present’....How many times have we been talking to someone and we know they are not listening.....or simply are not ’present’ to the NOW?
I am guilty as well.....solving tomorrow’s problems while carrying on a conversation with a friend today.
Forever is endless.....Today is ‘the beginning’ ......
When was the last time you flew a kite, went for a bike ride, or made something with your hands?
When was the last time you caught yourself enjoying life so deeply that you couldn’t quite get the smile off your face?
NOW.....is my gift of life.....I will enjoy today.....NOW!

What For?

Given the liberty of expressing myself freely......is a privilege of which I am very grateful.....
Everyone has an ‘opinion’.....everyone is entitled to their ‘opinion’ based on their point of view.....
Not everyone ‘feels free’ or wishes to express their personal ‘philosophy of life’ in the verbal word, written word or other communicating forms.
Art and music gives life to the inner expression of the originator of each piece of art or music......
Beauty is expressed in many ways.....it may be as simple as holding the hand of a precious grandchild while listening, intently, to their chatter.
Doing a ’favor’ for a friend. Serving a loved one a glass of iced tea....
This is an expression of ones philosophy of life....of pure, simple....Love.
Freedom of the heart....to express itself unrestrained.........is sheer....JOY!
Otherwise.....what are we living for?

Why???

I am confronted, often, with this question......
Why do bad people choose ‘good people’ to do ‘bad things’ to?
I do not know the ‘Universal‘ answer.....I only know the answer based on my own experience of life!
My dear ‘Mamma’ had a great deal of common sense wisdom....one of her ‘golden nuggets’ (which is Biblical)....she used to say, ‘Good hearted people put out good actions in their life.....bad hearted people....put out bad things, words and actions....”
Being a ‘good’ person.....ie: “Ten Commandments” written on the heart.....
will always be a ’reminder’ to others around......as to how they should and could be living....As a result....the ’good’ becomes an enemy in the ’eyes and heart’ of the bad thinking person.... Frequently, the ‘bad’ inner person clothes their true ‘badness’ in deep inner secret...personifying and identifying with those that are the genuine ‘real’ person of good, clean righteousness. Sooner or later though.....the truth shows itself in little ways of life.....For a persons thought life can not be hidden....
A murderer does not suddenly wake up one morning....after being a good thinking person....and suddenly decide to kill someone......
.....As a Man Thinketh.....so he doeth.....
.......There is POWER in knowing the truth!
It is better to know the ‘truth’ about someone....even if it is negative.....than to be.....deceived.
Sometimes in family relationships it is like opening “Pandora’s Box” when the ’truth’ comes out! Yet genuine family love can stand the test of the good, bad or ugly of life.......IF everyone has their heart into salvaging the relationship at all cost......
Sadly to say, I have seen it happen time and time again......one family member in total rebellion to good, healthy relationships......chooses of their own free will to alienate themselves from......’real love’.....
The innocent suffer.....often it is innocent children who are caught in the onslaught of pain......but the stable network of the entire families love and forgiveness teaches them that they are not alone in their ’drama of life”....
This is a MUST!
To let go, as a family, of the “Prodigal” is hard.....some people have to learn the value of “good’ by means of living out the ’bad’....

It does not ‘help’ for the family to go into the ’pig ’pen’ so to speak....with the Prodigal...
Just staying home and steadily doing the sane, stable, good clean living of normalcy......is the best course for the well being of all involved.
Some “Prodigals” come to their senses.....some do not!
It is an individual choice and decision.
Peace lies in the fact that.....good people will be good....no matter what....even if bad people do bad things to them!
It is in this that.....Love is Real.

Jesus said it best....Luke 6:45 LB,,,,”A good man/woman produces good deeds from a good heart.
And a evil man/woman produces evil deeds from his hidden wickedness....
Whatever is in the heart overflows into speech....”
So saith Jesus Christ!

Are You Ready?

All things considered.....it seems that life is requiring that we as a family....and perhaps as a nation.....BE READY FOR......ANYTHING!
Predictable is out...I’ve learned that within my own family!
If ‘coping’ skills have not been developed.....problems can be overwhelming. Sometimes it takes many of our family members active involvement in order to deal with situations....good and bad!
We can not just say...”I’ll pray for you!” and walk away.
We must be so committed.....to drop everything at hand on a moments notice....in order to ‘lend a hand’ to a family member....or friend....that needs it immediately. Oh Lord, how ‘inconvenient’ this can be!
Love is costly!
Love’s rewards are......the substance of life!
The Good Life.....
Are YOU Ready for......anything....at any cost....in order to enjoy fully....
...................The Good Life???
As for me and my family......we have been willing...and still are, daily, paying the price for....and receiving the rewards thereof.....The Good Life, as a Christian and......Yes, there is.......More To Come!!!

What ‘More’ Could You Want???

I have been very busy for a week....good busy!
With Charlie away on the island of Puerto Rico...visiting family....I decided to vacation in my own home as if it were a luxury hotel....
First, I redid my back patio with new table and chairs.....fake bamboo with an island name called...Key Largo. I had to put it together with bolts and screws as the entire set was “boxed”...Then, thanks to Chad, a new umbrella with party lights inserted underneath with a timer that comes on at dusk.....for as long as I set it....New commercial outdoor carpet had been installed by my handyman husband only a few weeks before so I color coordinated my ’new island look’.....Now I was finally prepared to relax in my new atmosphere.
Having been given several great gift certificates for my birthday.....I had eating and shopping in mind.
It worked.....I felt like I was on a first-class vacation....for real!
The money I had planned to spend at Gaylord Palms Hotel......bought a simplified version of the same ‘atmosphere’....right to my back door....to use every day of the year!
Having a ‘filet mignon’, with fresh mushrooms, grilled to perfection by my son Chad on Saturday......was awesome!
Joshua was our evening....outrageous....entertainment.....
We laughed ourselves silly......then Brian left and returned with a wonderful surprise dessert....
Yes, I took my vacation..........with family members every day....
Chuck came to town one day and I met him at Countryside for lunch.
Pipato was in town for reserve duty and spent two nights with me..........
On Sunday after church, I visited my sister, Shyrl, in the hospital in St. Cloud. I had the pleasant surprise of finding my sister, Joyce, there visiting Shyrl as well, she too having driven over from Tampa.....Shyrl is recovering, slowly, from a 5 hour surgery to remove part of her stomach from a severe ulcer problem.
We all continue to pray for her swift and full health recovery...
All in all, my vacation was packed with good times, fun and memories galore.....Who could ask for more?

Did You Know?

Yesterday was a very hectic day.
Joshua had to be taken to the emergency room upon the advice of his
doctor . He was running a high temperature.
Seems he had a horrible sinus infection with headache....2yr. old no less....but his way of expressing it was....‘ hair hurts’.
Not being able to keep liquids down, the doctor gave him an antibiotic shot which seemed to take effect almost immediately.
Family was in a tizzy....Marine “Pipo’ was in town for reserve day, Brittney went into work but came home immediately after talking to Joshua’s doctor and Nanna and I......prayed continuously.
To see a little one....helpless.....makes one feel....helpless.
Tears were shed over the suffering of our Joy Child.
Which brings me to another point of human emotions.....
As necessary as laughter is to ‘good health’.....so, too, is weeping and tears.
It is okay to cry!
If we ’plaster’ over sadness, hurt, pain, suffering.... until the built-up pressure causes us to explode.....we have failed to utilize one of God’s most valuable emotional gifts.
Tears allow us to release the pent-up strain before it does damage!
Our tears turned to joy before the day was over....
Chad brought food to Lynn and Britt after they returned from emergency room and Joshua ate ‘mashed potatoes’ and chicken nuggets....
When he said, “Bear Shut Up”....we knew that he was on the mend.
Referring to the noisy bear birthday party at Chuck E Cheese ...his “Bear Shut Up” expression of annoyance was a sign of returning to normalcy.
We laughed in relief!
Did you know that.....even.....”Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)
How ’normal’ is that?

Admit It!

When people ask me why I sometimes do crazy, funny, silly things....I just have to admit....”I can’t help it!”
Life can be fun, but WE MUST MAKE IT SO....
I read a quote by someone....”Don’t try to suppress laughter; if you do, it will go down and spread out around your hips.”
Wouldn’t want that now would we???
Last night at Cody’s, the seven of us created such senseless chatter that we all left refreshed. Believe it or not....everyone needed it....
Chad is in the middle of a ’very draining’ business deal, Ashley was very tired and had a headache from the job she ’tolerates’, Joshua was not feeling well at all so Brittney was anxious. Matt needed sleep from his ‘night’ job.
We all had some ’complaints’ to deal with....
Yet a time set aside to share a meal together and laughter .........worked wonders.
I admit it....I NEEDED that......

Pleasant Surprise

My husband, Charlie, called me last night from Puerto Rico.
He was ecstatic!
Making his plans to go to P.R. led him on a ‘wild goose chase’ for the right airline based on when he wanted to go.
Getting a ‘nice priced’ U.S. Airways flight took him through Charlotte, N.C. with a couple of hours layover before leaving for San Juan.
Seems he was strolling down the hallway....killing time....when lo and behold he sees a man that he was very familiar with....or thought it was him.....Going up to him and saying politely, “Sir, can I shake your hand?“
Shaking hands and talking to one of his football ‘greats’ gave him the ultimate thrill of the day....
Mr. Great says...”I see you are a Tampa Bucs fan from your hat....”
Charlie replies, “No, I’m really a Miami Dolphin and U of F fan diehard. It is my wife who is the Buc’s fan....she bought me the hat.”
Laughing and talking about the Dolphins....and their future...soon drew a crowd of other ‘fans’.
Time ran out.....Charlie reluctantly says good-bye to Mr. Don Schula and moves on to his flight.
The after-glow was still apparent while he was relaying the ’fun’ encounter on the phone to me....
Charlie’s ‘inconvenient ’ flight gave him a wonderful.... Pleasant surprise!

Golden Moments

Saturday, the 19th, we attended a wonderful family party.
It was the 50th Anniversary for Dockie & Ann held at the Forever Florida Ranch....Seemed like a family reunion....
But the thing that truly amazed me was that the place was filled with....young people and children playing, dancing, laughing, and having a ball....
It was a memorable tribute for sure....with the lasting impression of nothing but.....FAMILY FUN OF ALL AGES....
And ....THAT.....is what The Good Life....is all about!!!
See Pictures Link # 1

Judged Fairly....
(Noteworthy e-mail received from Blake)
The Shoe Bomber

Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe
and tried to light it? His trial is over.

How much of this Judge's comments did you hear on TV?
Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.

Ruling by Judge William Young

U.S. District Court Judge William Young made the following statement in sentencing "shoe bomber" Richard Reid to prison. It is noteworthy, and deserves to be remembered far longer than he predicts. I commend it to you and to anyone you might wish to forward it to.

January 30, 2003 United States vs. Reid. Judge Young: Mr. Richard C.
Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.

On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the
custody of the United States Attorney General.

On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison
on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutive with the
other. That's 80 years.

On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years
consecutive to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you
each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 for the aggregate fine of
$2 million.

The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to
restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre
Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.

The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment.

The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further.

This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair
and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence. Let me explain this to
you.

We are not afraid of any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid.
We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is all
too much war talk here. And I say that to everyone with the utmost
respect.

Here in this court , where we deal with individuals as individuals, and
care for individuals as individuals, as human beings we reach out for
justice, you are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are
not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that
reference, to call you a soldier gives you far too much stature.
Whether it is the officers of government who do it or your attorney who
does it, or that happens to be your view, you are a terrorist.

And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not treat with
terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow. But
you are not that big. You're no warrior. I know warriors. You are a
terrorist. A species of criminal guilty of multiple attempted murders.

In a very real sense Trooper Santigo had it right when you first were
taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press
and where the TV crews were and he said you're no big deal. You're no
big deal.

What your counsel, what your able counsel and what the equally able
United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly
as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so
horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today? I have
listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search
your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to
do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing. And I have an
answer for you. It may not satisfy you. But as I search this entire
record it comes as close to understanding as I know.

It seems to me you hate the one thing that is most precious. You hate
our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as
we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we
individually choose.

Here, in this society, the very winds carry freedom. They carry it
everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual
freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that
everyone can see, truly see that justice is administered fairly,
individually, and discretely.

It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously
on your behalf and have filed appeals, will go on in their, their
representation of you before other judges. We are about it. Because we
all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own
liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any
burden, pay any price, to preserve our freedoms.

Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to
long remember what you or I say here. Day after tomorrow it will be
forgotten. But this, however, will long endure. Here in this courtroom
and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done.

The very President of the United States through his officers will have
to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters
can be judged, and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that
evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of
justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of
America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten.
That flag stands for freedom. You know it always will.

Custody Mr. Officer. Stand him down.

How much of this Judge's comments did you hear on our TV sets?

Please pass this around. Everyone needs to hear what the judge had to
say.

Automatic Update

Just opening up my computer this morning and having this pop-up window which says “automatic update”....install now? reminds me that I must do this also in my personal life....
Wish I would wake up every morning....and this would happen.....automatically.....in my thinking!
Yesterday I was made dramatically aware of this process after speaking....for the first time in five years....to my friend, Frances, in South Carolina.
Out of the blue this phone call took place.....and as the conversation flowed the years dropped away but many of our experiences during those five years had to be minimized to a brief sentence.
Life does need....automatic updates....at times my ’mentality’ is....15 years ago!!!...Does this mean I have not benefited from 15 years of experiences that should have taught me many new things?
Sadly, sometimes this is the case!
Then there are times like 9/11 when it is very necessary to survival that I have what my computer refers to as.....Critical Updates....
Society changes.....automatic updates are a must....
In America, security has been threatened in many areas of our everyday life and we have been forced to adapt to changes, which are inconvenient and uncomfortable. Yet it is necessary.....
So I will continue to look for the signs of...automatic updating in my thinking and my life.....
But one thing remains steadfast and totally unchangeable.....
Proverbs 4:11.....says, “I would have you learn this great fact: that a life of doing right is the wisest life there is. If you live that kind of life, you’ll not limp or stumble as you run.”
Simply summarized....”Doing Right” to others....makes It A....continuous... Good Life....