Desert Rat

I have never met anyone besides me who really appreciates places like El Centro California or Yuma Arizona. I’m sure there are others who love those desolate desert places…I just haven’t met them.

What more can I say about the desert, except that I love it. I love the sand, the heat, and the wind; the way it blows through my hair and kisses my cheek. I love sitting on a balcony or patio of an elegant hotel, my husband holding my hand as we sip coffee or iced tea and watch the palm trees gracefully bend in the warm dry caressing breeze. This is my perception of the perfect priceless get-a-way.

My husband Terry not only understands this love but has been gracious to indulge my obsession and allow me to pursue my passionate love for the desert. I know that secretly in his heart he probably refers to me as his Desert Rat but he seldom complains. However, I do remember a testy response to my question as we ate our lunch on the Patio of the restaurant at The Westin Mission Hills resort in Palm Springs.

“Why does everyone keep asking us if we’re okay out here?”
He couldn’t contain that slight look of amazement as he wiped the flowing perspiration from his forehead.

“Good grief Val, it’s 105 degrees. Haven’t you noticed we’re the only ones out here? They probably think we’re crazy.”

In defense of my erratic behavior, I will point out that I grew up in Phoenix Arizona. Many of those days hit the triple digits but I don’t recall doing much complaining. Perhaps the emotional trauma due to my being transplanted to San Diego California around my 15th birthday has slightly deranged my perception of desert life. Well, that’s always been my excuse…and I’m not changing it now.

My brother Bob knows I love the desert. He and his wife Terri have been on their “Lost in America Tour” traveling the country in their beautiful, huge coach for the last couple years. Recently they sent me a great book called
Vanished Arizona: Recollections of My Army Life, the story of a New England Woman by Martha Summerhayes (Author), Dan Trapp (Introduction)

I found this a fascinating read on the personal history of Martha Summerhayes during the 19th Century in the American West, the recollections of her life on the Frontier and Arizona. It includes some wonderful black and white illustrations of historic scenes of Arizona and some personal letters and correspondence. It a Softcover. 307 pages. Measures 5 1/4 by 8 inches.

Thanks Bob & Terri…See you soon…!Your sister…The Desert Rat

"Good dog...Bad dog"

My Good friend JoAnne mentioned that the two furry members of my family are not on my blog. Well…actually I am lacking in several areas there… I’m still trying to play catch-up when it comes to blog content. However, since it was mentioned, I thought I would plug in a few lines about our two Jack Russell terriers…commonly known in the Frost household as “good dog - bad dog.” Look at the picture I bet you can figure out who is the good dog. The eyes are definitely windows to the soul for our Daphne, commonly known as Daphodile, the baby, sweetness, baby-pie and Rocky, Aka the Rocket, Rockodile or Beelzebub.

Daphne can commonly be found gazing adorably at her mom and dad or feverishly licking their faces trying desperately to do what is good and right in their eyes. The Rocket, on the other hand, can be found anywhere you don’t want him to be… for instance perched on top of the 4-drawer file cabinet in the office or dismantling the table so that he can get the chew-stick that he shoved under it so he could ─ dismantle the table.

In the morning when I get ready for work Daphne lays contentedly in one of the two doggie-beds in the bedroom. One faces the bathroom with a view of the shower. The other is next to my make-up table. The one Daphne gets to lie in depends on where I am at the moment. If she is in the one facing the shower when I go in, Rocky moves her out so he can keep tabs on me. So she moves to the one by the make up table. Later when I sit down to blow-dry my hair suddenly he’s standing over her willing her out of her spot with that stony gaze. She often turns her back so she can’t see him look at her. That’s when he gets pro-active and will actually step into the bed between her and the wall, place his feet firmly on her body and then lays down as he stretches his legs until he shoves her out of the bed on to the floor. I try to keep him from bullying her but the second my back is turned in the shower or head upside down blow-drying…he gets his way. Poor baby!

The bullying is exactly why I insist that they have separate rooms at the Bates Motel.
Okay…for clarification the “Bates” is what we call the doggie care center where they stay when we go out of town without them. My hubby feels really bad when they can’t go with us and always apologizes. “Poor little guys…daddy’s sorry you have to go to the Bates!” It’s an okay place but we do hate to leave them…though it is sometimes nice to get a rest. I don’t think Rocket and Daphne appreciate being left but the kennel keeps coming up with new and innovative ways to make us more comfortable about their stay. The last time we left them was for my High School reunion in Phoenix.

While hubby was in the shower I checked my email. There were two separate emails from the Pet resort; one from Daphne the other from Rocky. Each read. “Since we can’t call you, we thought we’d send you a picture to show what a great time we’re having.”

I must admit I could barely stop laughing. Whoever took the pictures did a great job of catching the personalities and the attitudes of these two sweeties. I’ll let you judge for yourself…good dog…bad dog. Can you tell?

Please Save Me

Help me please...Norman is scary!!!

I'll Get Even for sending Me to the Bates

Oh Norman...Norman...where are you??? Heh...heh...heh!

Staying On Course

“One of my favorite quotes is sometimes God calms the storm…Sometimes God lets the storm rage and calms the child.” ~Author Unknown


Read Matthew 14:22-33

I heard a story about a man who grew up with a passion for flying. His fervor drew him through many areas of skill. He was a test pilot, and a military pilot who flew the latest in jet aircraft technology. One day while he was in the air he received a call from the controller. There was a young pilot in the air. He was in the clouds, lost, disoriented and very scared. The controller told the seasoned pilot that the young man was in serious trouble and he was the closest to him and asked if he could help him. He immediately turned in the direction of the small aircraft, and pulled along side bringing his craft to a crawl next to the tiny craft. Locating his frequency He identified himself and said “look to your left”. The terrified pilot looked and saw an amazing sight hovering at his left wing, a beautiful, modern sleek fighter jet, flaps up, landing gears already lowered and locked. The fighter pilot saw the tears of relief flood the young face. Then he spoke to him in a calm, authoritative manner.

“I’m going to pull in front of you and I want you to do one thing and only one thing. Keep your eyes on me. Follow me… do everything I do. If I…turn you turn. Wherever I go… you follow. I’ll go slow and keep an eye out that I don’t lose you.” So the Jet pulled in front of the Cessna and they headed through the clouds together. Soon they dropped through the clouds Ahead right below them was probably most beautiful site that scared pilot had ever seen– the runway. The emotional meeting on the ground made a great impact on the old pilot. He realized that at that very moment of their meeting in the air he held the words of life and death. God had given him the ability, the knowledge that allowed him to lead someone safely on a path towards home. Could his entire life’s training and purpose have been directed to save one life? Could that be our purpose…?

This story stands out to me one, because my hubby is a pilot…two, because of an event that happened at the company he flies for occasionally.

A young pilot had completed his training and was scheduled to go to Los Angeles to take his test for his pilot’s license. To do that, they go on a solo flight. The instructor briefed him on all the flight protocol needed for him to make a safe flight and pass his test. Part of the procedure is checking the weather details and watching for unsafe conditions. Flying up the coast he ignored an oncoming weather pattern that was a flight hazard. He flew into a fog bank became visually disoriented and crashed into the ocean. The people who lived in the crash area said that one moment it was clear…the next you couldn’t see your hand in front of you. The short sad truth is the pilot didn’t follow the guidelines that his instructor had given him on when to proceed, when to change course…or when to turn back…it cost him his life.

It’s the same in the spiritual realm…we have the bible…the instructor…but too often we’re following our own plan. For the unsaved…the wrong plan is a matter of life and death…eternal life. Following our own plan is just as detrimental for us even as Christians because we’re out here in the midst of the storm barraged by waves of disaster sinking in a sea of problem. The fog settles in and the only way anyone gets through it is by following our Savior. Even working at a church where most people think it should be safe we find Satan is often lurking. We know the devil will sneak in everywhere he can and if we let him he can bring that storm in so quickly that it surrounds us and we’re lost. I need to follow my Savior Jesus daily not just at that decision moment but ongoing every day so I can stay on course, especially with all the storms going on around us now.

I need to remember that the entire purpose of my Savior coming to earth, teaching, suffering, dying on the cross was so that I would have a clear direction and path toward home….even through the storms of life.

Matthew 14:30
“But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out saying ‘Lord save me’.”

I can close my eyes picture Jesus saying these words to me “Don’t worry…keep your eyes on me. Follow me… do everything I do. If I…turn you turn. Wherever I go… you follow. I’ll go slow and keep an eye out that I don’t lose you.”

Jesus saved me. Even when I’m off course He is there for me.

The best Part of the Day

How often have do we make the decision that we are too busy to start our day with God or even spend time with him? If we really believe that he is abundantly able and willing to provide for our needs why don’t we consider that he will provide the exact amount of time for everything we need to do each day. The time we give him each day will be used for Him to advise and guide us in every aspect of our life including time management. He’ll help us to weed out and choose the good things. And we might even discover that when we get rid of the things that steal our time and give us no benefit, we'll have more time for what we want to do.

In Luke 10:38-42 when Martha was upset with her sister for sitting at the feet of Jesus, he spoke to her. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Remember that the time we spend with Jesus never takes away from part of our day. It only adds to it...the best part.Don't let anything take that away from you.

More From The Desk of Chaplain Dale

Hi Everyone!

It’s hard to believe that the decade of 2000 will be over in just 29days! It seems like yesterday that we were all looking forward expectantly to the dawning of the new millennium, and now we’re already 10 years into it!

Ten years ago I had my hands full with the possibility of a Y2K meltdown. I had been tasked with the project of “Disaster Preparedness” for Horizon Christian Fellowship and Horizon Christian Schools. I had the responsibility of formulating and implementing a plan of action to keep approximately 1500 children, staff, faculty and employees, on two separate campuses, safe in the event of a natural or man-made disaster…food, bedding, clothing, toilet facilities, communications, security, etc…etc…and all without the use or availability of electricity! No small task!

I bring this example up because at the time, I was overwhelmed. The enormity of the task was beyond my capabilities. I had to trust God and ask for His wisdom and direction for every part of that very complicated and complex directive. In essence, I had to pray…

Now, ten year later, I find myself in the same waters. God has called me to a ministry that is way beyond my capabilities. The complexities, nuances and burdens are more than I’m equipped to handle. So what am I to do? Pray….

So much has changed, and yet nothing has changed! The answers still come from the same source…God. And He promises, “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all of your heart.” “Trust in me with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Me and I will direct your path!”

The source is still Him.

The source is still prayer.

2010 is just around the corner…a new decade…and a chance to watch God do “exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or think!”

May you have a blessed and VERY Merry Christmas!

Your servant,

-Dale

From the Desk of Chaplain Dale

A good friend of mine Dale Lowrimore is a San Diego Police Department Chaplain. This is a copy of the article he wrote for the Police and Sheriff magazines that will come out this month.Here It's definitely a great message worth passing on.

December 2009

“I don’t know of a single foreign product that enters this country untaxed except the answer to prayer.” (Mark Twain)

Over and over in the Bible we are entreated to pray. The word “prayer,” and its derivatives are used 545 times in the Old and New Testaments, and there are hundreds of examples of prayers being offered and answered through the entirety of Scripture.

But what is prayer? Please allow me to give you another quote, this time from Francois De La Mothe-Fenelon (1651-1715):

“Tell God all that is in your heart, as one unloads one’s heart to a dear friend. People who have no secrets from each other never want subjects of conversation; they do not weigh their words, because there is nothing to be kept back. Neither do they seek for something to say; they talk out of the abundance of their hearts, just what they think. Blessed are they who attain to such familiar, unreserved intercourse with God.”

You see, this is what prayer is…simply talking with God!

Now I must admit, there are aspects of prayer that I don’t quite understand or comprehend. But this should in no way hinder or impede my willingness to spend time talking to my heavenly Father. In fact, I stand in good company…the disciples of Jesus didn’t quite understand prayer either because at one point they said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray!” (Luke 11:1). It is from their inquiry that we have the model of “The Lord’s Prayer” that is so familiar to millions of Christians around the world.

“The Lord’s Prayer”

• “Our Father”…Speaks of intimacy. We are able to speak to God with the fondness and closeness of our own earthly father.
• “Which art in Heaven”…This sends our mind to where God dwells and speaks of His transcendence (i.e. that God is outside of our space/time continuum).
• “Hollowed be thy name”…This reminds us that the One to whom we are praying is absolutely Holy! He dwells in an environment of white-hot holiness!
• “Thy kingdom come”…What is our motivation for praying? Is it to further God’s kingdom?
• “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven”…Are we willing to be obedient to the known will of God as explained in the Bible?
• “Give us this day our daily bread”…This reminds us that God is the one who sustains us; it is He who puts food on our table.
• “And forgive us our debts” (i.e. trespasses, sins)…This is not speaking about our MasterCard bill. This reminds us to come to God and ask for forgiveness for the sins we have committed against Him and our fellow man.
• “As we forgive our debtors” (those who have sinned against us)…Jesus warned us that we will not be forgiven if we are not willing to forgive those who have trespassed against us. (See Matthew 6:14-15)
• “And lead us not into temptation”…This is an unfortunate translation from Greek to English. It can be better rendered, “And let us not be led into temptation.” The first rendering can sound like God sometimes leads people into temptation but nothing could be further from the truth! God does not tempt people. We are tempted by our own lusts and desires (James 4:1-4).
• “But deliver us from evil”…When we find ourselves tempted to sin, that is the very moment that we should pray to our heavenly Father!
• “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen”…Finally, we are reminded that God is the one in control. His kingdom, power and glory are unmatched and will go on for eternity.

Let me encourage you during this Christmas season to contemplate the need for prayer in your life. It celebrates the birth of One who, according to the Bible, was born into this world to pay with his own life and suffering the penalty for our sins, so that we could have a relationship with God, and direct access to Him via prayer. Now He can say to us “Call to me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3… God’s phone number). What a wonderful gift! Take full advantage of it!

May the Lord richly bless you and your families during this wonderful Christmas season!
-Chaplain Dale

Victimology

I just came to the gloomy realization that everyone I know is a victim of sad circumstances and events brought about by hurtful people in their lives. I was beginning to wonder how I could be the only one surrounded by so much drama when I discovered it’s not just me…it is a life phenomena.

People are no long responsible for their own behavior. They are victims. We as a society are pervasively the victims and the product of broken homes, poor parenting, physical and emotional abuse, childhood bullying and substandard education; just to name a few of the plethora of excuses as to why we may not be accountable for our actions.

Does anyone but me notice that when people have issues, regardless of the circumstance, it is always some ‘other’ person’s fault. Regardless of the poor choices and actions of the individual it is always our family member or friend that is right.

We see that continually in breakup of relationships and marriages. A family member can be divorced four, five, even six times. It is always the ‘other’ person who is at fault. What happened to the accountability for continued wrong choices? Why do people continue to make the same stupid mistakes…the same disastrous choices for their lives and then expect people to sympathize with their plight and even better yet fix their situation? As long as you agree that they are thoroughly misused and damaged by the world at no fault of their own, you are a hero. Don’t bother to suggest that they might need to make some changes in their lives. If you even slightly disagree or infer that they might have any part in sabotaging their own life, then they are a victim of your lack of concern and insensitivity, and anything else you may have done over the years to hurt their little Psyche. Be sure that they have kept a list that will immediately surface regardless of how wonderful you were when you agreed with them.

It seems to me that people might continue to make bad choices because it allows them to be a victim. These bad choices produce drama. Drama brings the attention that validates their worth and reminds them and others that life is all about ‘them’. It leaves little time for considering others or concern as to how their actions or choices might affect their life or the lives around them. That’s fortunate for them because they can spend more time feeling sorry for themselves.

Going Home...

There is so much to look forward to when we step into that panoramic view of our past. One of the most exciting events of my recent Alhambra High 69 reunion was the opportunity to visit the home where I spent my childhood years.

As we drove down the street towards the old homestead I felt conflicting pangs of familiarity and sadness. There were so many changes and yet so much remains the same even after 40 years.
We pulled up in front of our old one story ranch-style house. I recognized it immediately even though it was now a pasty white instead of brown. The two palm trees at the front that started out barely 2 feet tall are now twice the height of the house. The two oblong shaped grey block flower boxes that had been at the front of the yard are gone. My mother always hated those boxes because their shape reminded her of coffins. I didn’t like them much myself because the ice plant that drew those slimy slugs. Several of those creepy crawly creatures found their way into the shoes I placed deep insidethe planter hidden from Moms view instead of on my feet. Note to all…always shake out shoes and examine intently when they are stored outside before inserting foot. This is crucial, especially when they are stashed in planter box full of squishy creatures.

I didn’t knock on doors to check but as rumored and so appears all our old neighbors have left. The Godich family homes across directly across the street, the Bryce house to the right and the Buetzow’s to the left of it; the homes had all changed mainly for the worse. The Garcia’s, the Woodward’s, the Kurtz’s old houses definitely showed the ravages of time and neglect. Ed Broad’s, who was a sheriff and lived on the corner, was really overgrown with weeds and the old dead shrubbery and dilapidated frame made it a pitiful sight. Wilma and Clyde lived on the let side of us. That house changed owners before we left. The Mulholland’s to the left and the Millers to the right were likely one of the last hold-outs. It was a bit like seeing my grandparent’s place and the neighborhood changes where they lived in Pittsburg California, years after they had passed on. Only this just hit a bit closer to home…no humor intended.

The carport of our old house was empty. Even though we went back later in the day and a car was there I still didn’t have the courage to go knock on the door. However, I did coerce my hubby into taking a cruise down the alley behind the house. The same towering block wall still stood as well as the wooden walk-through gate. The heavy double wooden gate we took the boat through had been replaced with some strange looking blocks that didn’t match the original, but I guess they served the purpose.

I strained to look into the back yard and resisted the temptation to get out and climb the wall to look in. I’ve never been arrested and I didn’t want to use this nostalgic event to change that record. So, there was nothing left to do but power back the moon roof, climb through with my trusty Nikon and try my best to stretch and catch a few strategic shots. I couldn’t see much of the back yard. What I did see was a little depressing but considering the time and changes I had seen, not unexpected.

Many of the windows I could see, especially in what had been my dad’s office, were broken and covered in old decayed multi-hued pieces of rough broken plywood. Where my beautiful rock fish pond had stood, there was a makeshift shack-like structure that looked like it might be held together with carpet tacks. Next to that was the brick and flagstone barbeque. What a disappointment. It was still standing but there had been substandard repairs and most of the bricks had been painted a strange color and were now falling apart.

The original craftsmanship and grandeur of the entire backyard, the huge rocks, the flagstone, the barbeque, and the peaceful pond filled with large beautiful goldfish are nothing but fond memories. It’s all a bit sad but I try to keep things in perspective. I’ve discovered that the great thing about memories is that they allow you to see things as they were…not like they are. In a world full of unmet expectations, unfulfilled dreams and uncertain futures, sometimes that’s exactly what we need.

Phoenix Rising...40 Years of Memories

Like the Israelites 40 years in the wilderness, it's easy forget about God’s blessings because we focus on our immediate circumstances. Inevitably, each of us will face our own wilderness experience, and it’s these difficult times that strengthen our faith and build our character. God promises that His grace is sufficient to guide us through those dry valleys, and that He will be there to provide everything we need.

I’m back… In an earlier post I mentioned being transplanted from Phoenix to San Diego at age 15. Somehow I’ve always managed to end up back in San Diego even though I did spend almost four years in Kansas City Missouri and 9 months in Millington Tennessee. I always thought I’d end up back in Arizona but it’s not looking likely that I will move at this late date. However, I just finished a most incredible desert experience.

After 45 years I finally visited my old stomping grounds in Phoenix. I attended the 40th reunion of the 1969 Alhambra High graduating class. True, I did not actually graduate there because I moved to San Diego but I couldn’t pass the opportunity to see some of my old grade school friends from Granada Elementry. And, it was definitely worth the trip. The Friday night mixer at Marc’s sports Bar & Grill was packed. It was standing room only. and a little chaotic…but fun and a wonderful prelude to the Saturday night event at the 4 Points Sheraton.

The best part of the reunion was connecting with my childhood friend Cindy who lived next door. Glenyce lives here in San Diego. A few years ago I was able to meet with her and our friend Becky for lunch here in San Diego. All that was missing was our fourth musketeer Roberta. Well…she was there with all of us at the reunion. Wow…what a great homecoming for me!

A real treat was to be able to chat with Sue who is a great social coordinator. I remember her so well from all the track events. She could run very fast…I could too, but she had a good 8 inches in height on me and seemed to be all legs so I couldn’t outrun her but I did make a superb effort even if I do say so myself. Susie Skinner is beautiful and I hoped my hubby wouldn't notice her gorgeous red hair as he has periodically hinted that I would make a good redhead. I’m not so sure about that myself but she looks terrific and just like I remembered her. Denise might be a bit older like the rest of us but I would have recognized her anywhere and Lee Nicholson hasn’t changed a bit either. She still looks like that sweet, 8th grade girl with the innocent smile.

Three of the guys that I remember are Eddie Moed, Richard Abalos and Kenneth Laird. Eddie is quite the character and much more outgoing than I remember from school and Richard Abalos hasn’t changed at all. Ken was the bad boy that all the girls were crazy about. He lived on the next block from me and was good friends with Randy Henson, my first crush and Tim Williams one of the sons of our baby sitter Margaret. Ken gave me quite a bit of info on many of the gang in our old neighborhood. It’s nice to hear what happened with some of the people you grew up with even if some of it is a bit sad. But the sadness is just a part of the nostalgia of moving through life as it is…as we wish it could be...eternally hopeful…forever young in our hearts.

Some of Our Old Gang

Val & Terry

Wayne, Sue, Cindy, val, Terry

Granada Elementry

Amazing Grace in a Desert Place

My Old Elemetry School

No trip to a High School Reunion event is complete without a reminiscent tour of the old neighborhood. It’s strange how tapes just rewind and slowly all the memories come flooding back. Some of those things wouldn’t seem significant to other people but to me blonde and over 50…just the fact that I can still remember them astounds me.

We dedicated the entire Friday before the evening Mixer to checking out the old territory. My hubby was extremely patient as we drove up and down the various streets between 28th and 40th and Indian School Rd and Bethany Home Rd. This was a pretty good sized area and we didn’t actually cover every square foot but we did uncover a plethora of old haunts and memories.

My Old Elementary Schools consisted of Valencia (grades 1-4) and Granada that hosted 2 classes of 4th through 8th. I was one of those that went to Granada for fourth. Now they are Granada Primary and Granada East. My next-door neighbor Cindy was in the second class. I’ll talk more about her in my next blog.

Surprisingly the streets around the schools look the same and even the old Lynnhaven church that we used to cut through their lot to walk to school was recognizable. However there’d be no shortcutting now with all that heavy-duty fencing surrounding the church property. Even with the changes the neighborhood still looked and felt familiar.

I am bold in some areas and a bit of a coward in others. My hubby really did need to encourage me to walk in to the Granada East Office. I’m glad he did because though I had hoped I might be able to look around a bit I was totally surprised that the principal gave me a tour. Most of the classrooms had changed. The old-fashioned windows we gazed out while attempting to tune out the class lessons were gone. No window at all to open, all replaced by present day comfort of the AC we never had the privilege to experience. Though I think I might still prefer the windows. The old multipurpose room where we ate and watched performances no longer has a stage. I was told it had just been a matter of a few weeks that the old tables that folded down out of the walls had been replaced by brand new stationary seating. The lunch serving line had long since disappeared but now there was a lunch café...pretty spiffy I might add. Wonder what my 35 cent a day lunch card would buy now…not even a couple French fries I’m afraid.

I was able to go into the Library and though it had changed it had that very familiar essence. I admit I was not really focused much on my classes or grades at least in the later elementary school years but I have a special feeling for the library. I love to read and I have a passion for books. I think both the Valencia and Granada elementary school libraries played a big part in cultivating that love. Mr. Sanders my English teacher and Mr. Rodriquez my reading teacher were also instrumental in that growth.

Probably the part that touched me the most was our walk out to the athletic field. Even with all the changes I could still see it as it was. I remembered Mr. Nutter and all our P.E. classes, our jumping jacks and wing-stretchers among a ton of other exercises I still recall and do occasionally….quite occasionally. I replayed the relay races and the 50 yard dashes and the hop-step-and jump and broad jump competitions. There we were at recess crowded around ready for 4 square and tetherball. I could even see the volleyball net that I ran into in 4th grade making two huge embarrassing and painful rope burns across my face. It’s uncanny all the strange memories that surface with very little prompting. A tiny flash of memory and I could see the Ball field and all the Little League games we watched on the weekends and summer nights. Even better were our softball teams and the games we played. I still remember my baseball glove and the creative girlie names…”Campus Cuties” at one point and the “Powder Puffs in another era.” How many balls were hit, caught, fielded or missed...too many to count. And plentiful enough to remind me that there was a time that life though challenging…was far less complicated…and often more fun.

Life moves forward, buildings change and people change. Too often people leave…sometimes forever. But we don’t need to worry. The important ones remain as an integral part of our past, our present and our future, because they live on in our heart forever.

Thank you, school staff at Granada East for your kindness in giving me an opportunity to retrace the path to my elementary years. It was a busy day at Granada and you still extended an amazing amount of grace in escorting me through my old memories.

Thank you Mrs. Randall, Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Dundee, Mrs. Svoboda, Mr. Nutter, Mr. Rodriquez, Mr. Pettis and all the other teachers whose names escape me for the moment. Thank you for the memories and the reminder that what we do in life, the choices we make, and the hearts and lives we touch matter. Never underestimate the impact your life makes in the hearts of others.

Thank you God, for the abundant blessings, and the amazing grace and love I have found in this desert place.

A Picture of Health

It was the first week in February 2005. I opened the mailbox and found a card from my sister-in-law that contained a picture of me taken at our last family Christmas get-together. She included a small note that said, “I hope you like the picture.” Well…I didn’t. It wasn't obvious at the time but I believe that picture helped me realize and accept the fact that I had to do something about my weight.

My entire adult life I kept thinking: ‘As soon as this project is complete I will have some rest.” As soon as this event is over things will calm down. "As soon as this holiday is over I’ll lose weight." Guess what I finally learned? There are always more projects…and things never calm down…unless it’s shortly before the storm. And…there are always more Holidays. Once I finally comprehended that this is where I am and I quit waiting to “arrive” I could focus on becoming equipped to make some important changes.

I am 4’10 with a small frame. My highest weight was 206 with a Body Mass Index of 44 and at my largest I wore a size 1X. When I started my weight loss program the nurse weighed me in at 190.5 and I wore a size 18. I took medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and acid reflux disease. Nine months later at the completion of the weight loss phase of my program I weighed 107 pounds, had dropped to a size 2 and my Body Mass Index was 22. My blood pressure averaged 104/64, my cholesterol was 120 points lower and I had no acid reflux.

Truthfully, most of us already know that we need to make a change. We just aren’t ready, willing or empowered to do it. I’ve learned that if I want to change what is happening in my life I need to change what I am doing in my life. If I want things to change, I actually need to make some changes. If I want things to change permanently I need to make permanent changes. We have to change our habits if we want to break the cycle of bad choices and habits that over a lifetime have caused us to succumb to the emotional, social and environmental challenges that reek havoc on our body, our emotions, and our relationships, and shorten our life.

No one can decide to lose weight for you. They can’t nag, embarrass, bully, trick or manipulate your decision to adopt a healthy life style. For me it took that nudge, the deciding moment when I finally understood and accepted that I had to make a change.

Here are some subtle hints that it might be time for you to address a healthier lifestyle:

• 
  You simultaneously take five prescriptions in order to control your blood pressure, cholesterol, acid reflux, persistent back and knee pain, and your bladder. And none of them really seem to work.



• 
  Your doctor uses a multitude of creative terms that mean obese when discussing your medical condition.
  



• Family members begin to ask you questions about your views on burial versus cremation, the location of your important documents, and your stance on organ donation.
  



• Before you leave the house you ask your spouse to check to see if you remembered to put your shoes on.
  



• The word exercise causes you to tremble and hallucinate.
  
  One of the most interesting phenomena’s I observed is how many people are unhappy with their weight and their health yet they are unwilling to eliminate the attitudes and behaviors that are contributing to their unhealthy lifestyle. I’ve watched people in their various programs eating food not on their plan, and they, not-so-secretly, confide to many of their team mates their eating indiscretions…that happen frequently. Each week they have a different excuse for not losing weight. They are frustrated that they’re not losing weight or moving faster towards their goal. It’s because they haven’t come to terms with the changes they need to make to succeed. They haven’t learned that if they want things to change they need to make changes… permanent changes.
  
  The first step to a healthier lifestyle is to recognize the need for change. The next is to research your options and come up with a reasonable, reliable and workable health plan and goal for weight loss and maintenance program that will work for you. Then make a commitment to do what is necessary to make the changes.
  
  Pray…seek Gods will and direction for your plan. If you can’t come up with one…ask him to direct you. His plans work. I often discover my own plans don’t turn out that well.
  
  

Where Did All My Money Go?

It amazes me that there are still so many people that don’t understand why allowing the government so much control over our lives is not a good plan. I’ve got a prime example.

Several months ago my son went to court and due to various circumstances he was awarded full custody of his children. They had been living with him full time for several months and he was not paying child support at that time. However, the mother had been collecting welfare for the children though they were not in her care. Unfortunately he did not go to court to have the child support orders changed. When he did go to court and received the new custody agreement he believed the child support order was changed…wrong. He found that out one morning when he when he went to use his ATM card and it was declined. Child support services here had impounded his funds. My son did get an emergency court hearing and within a week the money was returned to his account. Of course he had to take time off work the day the money disappeared to go to the courthouse to fill out papers to appear and then the day of court. That doesn’t help someone who is already struggling as a single parent in this economy. But at least it was resolved…he thought.

President Obama ordered a $250.00 payment for those receiving veteran’s benefits. However, though regular benefits cannot be impounded, the stimulus payments were fair game for government agencies. Instead of a check he received a notice saying that his payment went to the Child support division who promptly sent it to his children’s mother living alone in Wisconsin! Amazing right???? Not as much as the fact that he was told by the agency that he would likely not be able to get his money back. So…He went back to court. He was scheduled for a date for a compliance and visitation review anyway...one that the mother did not attend. When my son told the judge what happend with his check he was flabbergasted and kept asking the attorney representing the county. "Did your agency really do that?" The representative replied “Well, yes but let me explain...”

The judge was buying none of it and also told the very expensive attorney representing the mother that he wanted that money returned by the mother before the next court date. He told the attorney for the County…that this situation with the child support would be fixed…immediately. No excuses...

Keep in mind my son who is already struggling not only keeps getting money taken but has to take time off to fix it. He can’t afford an attorney but they keep taking money to give to someone who not only does not have the minor children but lives 2000 miles away but who has access to a very prestigious and expensive attorney here in San Diego.

Fast forward several weeks later…a money order from the children’s mother finally arrives for his $250.00. He was very grateful since his son has cerebral palsy and needed a new brace. That was two days ago. This morning he goes to pay his rent and the payment is declined because…. It’s beyond my conception of reality but at this point no one should be surprised… The county took $1200 dollars out of his account…again.

So after he called me let me know this latest debacle he’s off to court to try to see the judge so he can get his money to pay his rent. You know…for the place he pays for so his children don’t have to live on the streets. The children the welfare department is so concerned about that they keep taking money to pay for their support…from the person who is supporting them.

Anyone who does not see that the government has been allowed to manipulate and control so much of our economy…our lives…our bank accounts that it is starting to jeopardize our freedom is not paying attention to what is going on around them.

Our taxes are overwhelming…we keep less and less of our income. (Those of us who are still employed) And the government has access to our bank accounts and can take our money at their discretion. Isn’t their something wrong with that? What happened to a free nation and the government President Lincoln mentions in his address?

"that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Well first of all our legislators are denying that we are a nation under God and we are fast becoming a people directed by the government for the government with no concern for the people that they are there to serve. Instead of the people in power serving us…we are catering to them…paying their outlandish salaries and serving their special interests.

At the rate we are going it won’t be long until we are all in bread lines. And will be praying that the pittance that the government allows us to be paid from the jobs they control and allow us to keep, at their discretion shows up and is not removed for our bank accounts. Oh right…we won’t need bank accounts. They will keep it all for us and when we want something we’ll just lean forward so they can swipe our forehead. Just wait…you’ll see…it’s going to happen!