Really enjoyed your article about silence and shed a few tears reading Dan's. The note about Faye was really sweet too. I am going to try to post some pictures from our Bowling Green trip. Hope it works.

A little bit of this . . . from a small town

A few days ago, a few of you may have taken the time to peruse my thoughts on Silence.  After my Dad read it, he decided to put his own take on the sounds of silence.

You see, he writes a weekly column entitled From The State Line for a small paper in West Tennessee called The Paris Post Intelligencer.  Please click on the From the State Line link.  He has a God given talent and a way with words that is most uncanny.

Paris is a small town far removed from the hustle and bustle of big city life.  While I felt deprived as a child I cannot wait to go home as an adult.  Paris now has a Super Wal-Mart.  The small farming community I grew up in is called Hico, long i sound.  There's a stop sign there.  You'll find deer in abundance . . .

Twin does

Doe and buck in velvet

Fawn

 . . . and plenty of farm implements  . . .

 . . . and of course tobacco. 

Why is everything so much better "back home?"  I wish I could take those feelings and bottle them to share with everyone.

I want to take a moment to honor Faye Kennedy.  She was the last living sibling of my Grandfather, Paul "Red" McClain.  Faye was 97 years old when she was returned home this week.

  Can you imagine the changes she had the privilege of seeing her lifetime?

You will be remembered.

What Veteran's Day Means to a Child

I asked the boys what Veterans day means to them.  Maverick quickly said it is about celebrating veterans who come to his school and tell them how the wars went.

Ranger felt it was to celebrate veterans who defended our country

This week their school was able to have a blackhawk helicopter land on school property and the children were given the opportunity to get in and look around.  They had an assembly in which local veterans talked to the students.

Earlier in the 9 weeks, the students were presented with plastic dog tags as awards for reaching their reading (AR) goals.  The boys have worn their dog tags daily.

Many children idolize "army" guys which in my children's view is all encompassing of all branches of military.  My boys get out in the yard and play good guys and bad guys and the good military guys always win.

As a Mother, it is important for me to be honest with my children.  I don't like to sugarcoat things for them.  I want my boys to know why Veteran's Day is important and what it means to be a veteran. 

To me, Veteran's Day means never forgetting and teaching our future generations to always remember. 

Veterans have heard, seen, and lived through things we only see in the movies.  Let's keep them in our thoughts and prayers.  Always.

Local veterans

God bless

Did you ever . . .

This morning I got to school early.  Earlier than any of the traditional age college students.  I sat in the unlit classroom and just listened.  The sounds of a train rumbling by outside made the squirrels and blue jays come to life on this misty cold morning.  Miss Barbara was emptying the trash cans in the classrooms as she struggles to push the big rolling can down the empty hall way and it clicked and groaned on the old tile floor.

A few more minutes and the halls will be full of hopes and dreams, and laughter, and whispers about last night's escapades.  I enjoy the silence.  Did you ever just sit and listen to it?  The silence has many stories to tell but you have to listen carefully.  It tells of times past, of memories forgotten, and on a rare occasion it whispers grandly about the future.

Did you ever just stop and listen?

The silence makes us appreciative.  It makes me appreciate the giggles.  It makes me appreciate the tears.  Listen - can you hear it?  The silence has a voice if you just stop and listen.

Have a wonderful day!

A fun time was had by all . . .Hico Tennessee

Maverick requested mummy cupcakes for his birthday

Nanny

Mistletoe - I can't wait to shoot this down for Christmas!

Hickory nut shell.  Mom says hickory nuts make a wonderful pie.

Watching for the bad guys

Papa and Jackson

Nanny and the boys.  They giggled so hard over this book!

How many papa's would string up a disco ball and position lights in just the right place so Ranger and Maverick can see stars?  Ranger and Maverick have never seen a night sky full of beautiful stars.  Thank you Papa!

Crazy cousins!

Molly and Nanny

My sister Molly - funny, sweet, giving, need I say more?

Ranger cheated by grabbing the stem!

Vulture in the trees

The harvest season is over

Maverick the birthday boy!

Beautiful tree at Price Cemetary behind Mom and Dad's

Fun with silly string!

He just had fun playing in the water!

Maverick's birthday isn't for a few more days, but we had a Halloween / birthday part at Mom and Dad's and had a blast.  The boys giggled, laughed, played, ate, and giggled some more.

Happy birthday Maverick!!!

Culture of Honor

Yesterday in my Social Psych class, we were discussing the Culture of Honor.  Basically, the culture of honor is a pattern of violence that just happens to be centered in the Southern culture.  You can google the term culture of honor if you want more information.  But if you will, just allow me to put my own spin on this term... to me, it is reminiscent of the mama bear protecting her cubs.  Perhaps, in days long gone, we Southerners had to protect what was ours, what we had worked for, and what we died for, or maybe that is just too simplistic...

Is there something intrinsic, something gutteral, something that we're born with that gives us the desire to protect our young with all that we are?  Call to mind a mama bear attacking, growling, clawing, even dying to protect her young from a predator.

Yes, I know, I am taking liberties with the true meaning of the scientist's definition of culture of honor, but I promise, I am winding down to actually having a point for this story ...

A few days ago, I believed one of my children was . . .ahem . . .slighted (to be polite) by someone in an authority position.  This incident was humiliating and degrading and caused him quite a bit of grief.  Remember mama bear?

Now you see where I'm going with my ramblings.  Phone calls were made, more phone calls were made to those in authority positions, meetings were had, and yes more phone calls.  I'm not satisfied.  I'm like a dog with a bone.  I know it's hard to understand without actually knowing what the incident was and for that I apologize, but I don't believe it should be posted here in a public venue.

For me, the culture of honor is a badge that should be worn with honor.  I am mama bear.  I am southern.  I am proud.  I am a member of a community of sorts of like minded individuals who protect what is theirs and that, my friends, is my God given privilege as a Mother.

---------------------------------

What do you think?  What lengths would you, as a parent, go to protect your child?  I try to teach my children to be open minded, to be accepting, to take others feelings into consideration, and all the other things I believe a child should be taught to grow up to be a good, productive citizen.  I have spoken to other parents who have told me those ideals are outdated.  Today's children should be taught to do what it takes to succeed and it doesn't matter who you step on to achieve those goals.  I can't wait to see your thoughts and opinions . . .



And just because I can't actuallly post without a picture

This is the reason I do what I do

Ranger & Maverick

Rainy Sunday

It looked overcast all day and about 4 this afternoon, the bottom fell out.  It lasted about 10 minutes.  But I managed to grab these while it was raining.

Raindrops on dill

A single leaf following the rain drops

Rain drops

Those raindrops made me thing.  I have been so focused on my classes lately - intent on keeping my GPA as high as possible.  I realized, watching those brief moments of rain drops, that I need to direct my focus elsewhere - so I pulled the kids into the bed and snuggled for a few minutes. Of course they were anxious to get back to what they were doing, but we snuggled, tickled, and giggled for a few minutes.

The older I get, the faster time goes by.  It is so important to grab each and every moment possible and soak it in.

Chex mix with bat and pumpkin shaped pretzels - the boys favorite new snack

Sugar cookies with royal icing - lasted long enough to cool on the cooling racks

Mystery cake - this has got to be one of the easiest cakes I've ever made.  Thanks to the fine ladies over at Mennonite girls can cook for this great recipe

Roasted pumpkin seeds - so easy and for some reason the boys say they taste like bacon... Hmmmm I don't get that, but they are delicious!