Inspiring

I've taken a liking to the show "Kid Nation". I know that it's taken some heat in the press of late and that many people are upset that there are kids alone in the desert trying to survive without adults. I have to say that I am so impressed with the children on this show. Thus far they have conducted themselves with amazing intelligence and have accomplished things I didn't believe children of those ages could. I think it's an excellent study in allowing our children to be themselves. As parents I think we forget that it's okay for kids to have hard times and to feel disappointment. In fact, it's necessary. I don't think that as parents we trust our children enough. They seem to be smarter and more capable than we give them credit for.

On the flip side, these children are who they are because they have been taught well by their parents. I guess that's all we can do as parents, teach them what they need to know and then trust that they will use it. I think Kid Nation is an excellent metaphor for life.

I feel great excitement anticipating what kind of adults these children will grow up to be.

Fairy Tales are for Girls

I came across the movie "Cinderella" on ITunes yesterday and bought it for my daughter. I was excited to see it again after so many years and I thought maybe my little girl would enjoy it. After it downloaded I forgot about it for a while and was surprised when my three sons had it on. I could hear their banter from the kitchen. Here are some of their thoughts about the movie:
"Why does she like him,he's ugly."
"That dress is lots better than the one the mice made"
"Oh watch out, she's turning back" (into the maid)
(when the step mother is locking her in her room): "lock her up, lock her up."
(when they kissed) "that's stupid"

I found myself laughing at the view point my sons had versus the one I had of the same movie at the same age.

Boys will be boys.

GFC 8

Here is the newest Good Force Challenge: Pray for someone else. It can be for anyone or anything it just can't be about you. Consider praying for your neighbor, your family members, the leaders of your community or country. Pray for those who are sick or afraid. Pray for those who are abused or harmed at the hand of others. Pray for global awareness or simply for inner peace. If you are uncomfortable praying, meditate. Take a moment to connect spiritually with the world around you and ask for it's protection and direction. Faith is perhaps the greatest force for good.

Reality TV

I was reminded today of the power of a child's imagination. After watching the opening sequence of "Spongebob Square Pants" my four year old son asked me how Spongebob played his nose like a flute. I told him I didn't know and he said, "he must be magic". I chuckled as I went on with my day but I realized that to my son, Spongebob is a living thing. And not only a living entity but also one who has the ability to create music from his nostrils. I feel like there are so many messages to parents today that we should correct our children, teach them the difference between reality and illusion at all times. I know that my son cannot go about his life believing in the actuality of Spongebob, Santa and the Easter Bunny but for today I am happy to know that he just believes.

Life Changing

I am currently reading a book called "Kitchen Table Wisdom" by Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen and it is by far the most profound book I have read in my life. It's a New York Times best seller and I can see why. She does not explore human weakness, she explains it and gives me hope to make my weakness strength (something I believe is the purpose of life anyway). Her writing has opened my heart to better understand myself and my faith and allowing my Heavenly Father to guide me. I am deeply moved by her ability to so beautifully express in writing her wise observations of the human soul. Every page is filled with some wonderful story of change and growth and I have been overwhelmed at the ultimate simplicity of healing. I'll leave you with a passage I read last night.

"Perhaps we are no longer a kind people. More and more, we seem to have become numb to the suffering of others and ashamed of our own suffering. Yet suffering is one of the universal conditions of being alive. We all suffer. We have become terribly vulnerable, not because we suffer but because we have separated ourselves from each other. A patient once told me that he had tried to ignore his own suffering and the suffering of other people because he had wanted to be happy. Yet becoming numb to suffering will not make us happy. The part in us that feels suffering is the same as the part that feels joy." Pgs. 147-148

American Living On

I just read an article by Anna Quindlen entitle "American Forgetting". It's a very well written article with many valid points. I agree with her opinion that America as a super power has made a mess of the response to the Sept. 11th attacks. She puts so succinctly the thoughts about Iraq versus Afghanistan in terms of fighting an enemy. (I'll refer you to her article at www.msnbc.com/id/20657183/site/newsweek/). It is the ending of her article that troubles me. I would like to give some hope to Ms. Quindlen that there are some Americans who have not forgotten. True, I did not stop today to observe a moment of silence for the fallen. I have not watched any special ceremonies or even read many articles about the different memorial events taking place today. No, today I did what many Americans did, I got up and continued on. I made sure my children practiced their instruments, made their beds and did their homework. I packed their lunches and made them wear their bike helmets. We studied scriptures as a family and talked about the love God has for all of us and then I sent them to our local public school. I have filled my day with what many would say are ordinary things but I sincerely feel that it is in these ordinary things that we as Americans best honor the fallen. I will continue to refrain from judging others on the color of their skin or the basis of their faith. I will teach my children to love one another as Jesus loves you and if your friend doesn't believe in Jesus, that's ok. I will teach my children to pray and I will pray myself and when it comes time for me to make my voice heard, I will vote.

Guitar Hero!!

My son got "Guitar Hero" for his birthday and I am addicted. This game is too fun. I have managed to move to "medium" on a few songs which is quite an improvement given that I got booed off the stage on my first attempt. My favorite: "Cherry Pie" by Warrant. This should come with parental warnings that read: "Adults may become addicted and find themselves wasting all sorts of valuable time sneaking in ways to play while the kids are at school and asleep."

My little Kat Von D

My daughter has discovered the joy of art! Well, ok, body art. The other day she completely covered her body with blue ink. What surprised me was her thoroughness. If you looked at each toe, she had taken the time to cover each tiny digit with what appeared to be Chinese characters. I'm hoping that she is a prodigy who speaks in tongues an on her toes was a sincere message of love and peace.

This may be a shock

I want you to prepare yourselves for what I'm about to tell you. This news is astonishing and could very well change the way we live our lives. According to an article by Reuters a new study has found that "Rockers really are more likely to die early".

I know, I had no idea either. They always seemed so healthy and happy to me. I mean sure, you have the occasional head-shaving Diva who runs to rehab or the hot-pursuit-car-chase diva who runs to rehab or the Thirty-days-in-jail diva but I guess they really aren't "rockers" per-say.

I'm feeling extremely moved by this information. Does anyone know if they have a "save the rockers" fund set up for donations?