After sending my son back home and sleeping 9 hours, I finally got past the stress of dealing with the Colorado snow storm. I was settled in a nice room and ready for the conference to begin. This was a rather large international conference with over 8000 people and 400 sessions, but I didn't feel overwhelmed because I was able to connect with people I knew from GA, AL and TN.
The Keynote speakers over the next three days ranged from educators to Earvin "Magic" Johnson to a couple of Australian explorers named Cas and Jonesy. It was quite a show and I also got to attend many sessions with good ideas that will improve some our work processes.
On the last night in Denver, we were invited to attend a private rodeo, the highlight of which was the young trick riders who rode horses while doing various gymnastic feats. Overall, it was a very good trip, but after 7 days I was oh so happy to get home at 12:50 am on Thursday morning. The next 8 hours of sleep were heavenly.
Psalm 24:33 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest;
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Mountain Adventure
My son and I got up at 2:30 am last Thursday and took a 6 am flight to Denver, Colorado. It was blue, beautiful and 74 degrees. We drove to Colorado Springs and took a three hour tour of the Air Force Academy (his dream college). We saw the chapel, dorms, classrooms and heard about basic training, parachuting, flying gliders, and what a cadet's life is like. He was still fired up about it, so we will be seeking an appointment in a few years.
The next morning, we were tourists and drove up as far as we could on Pikes Peak. We got to around 13,500 feet. It was 28 degrees with snow all around. I got a photo of him knee deep in the snow. The day was sunny, so we took a stroll through The Garden of the Gods, a park with many unusual towering rock formation, most of them red. Next we headed to the Broadmoor Seven Falls which cascades down a 1,250 foot box canyon. We walked up 224 steps to the top. It was quite a journey for me since I rarely do more than take a walk to and from my car.
I spent the evening rearranging his flight home, as well as hotels because Colorado was in for a winter storm the next day. We left Colorado Springs at 9 am Saturday heading to Denver. There was already 3-4 inches of snow on the car and winds were 25-30 mph. I drove up the interstate for 60 miles with about 15 miles of white-knuckle driving - when it was so white I couldn't see the car tracks in front of me, much less the lane marks. Thankfully we made it downtown in just under 2 hours. I checked into my new hotel and after a couple of hours, we headed to the airport. We were so afraid the flight would be cancelled, but it flew out on time as my son headed home.
That was a relief, but it was still two hours before I got back to the hotel. I had to return the rental car, shuttle back to the airport and taxi back to downtown. It doesn't sound too difficult, but driving from the airport to the rental place was confusing in the snow with some signs covered in the white stuff. I took a wrong turn and was lost in a snowstorm. Fortunately a DOT truck was behind me. I flagged him down and explained my predicament. He smiled and said, "Just follow me." My prayers were answered as he lead me to the rental place.
Back at the hotel, my son called to tell me he landed in Atlanta. It was a relief to hear from him and to finish the day. What a fabulous adventure we had with God protecting us every step of the way.
Psalm 36:6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast.
The next morning, we were tourists and drove up as far as we could on Pikes Peak. We got to around 13,500 feet. It was 28 degrees with snow all around. I got a photo of him knee deep in the snow. The day was sunny, so we took a stroll through The Garden of the Gods, a park with many unusual towering rock formation, most of them red. Next we headed to the Broadmoor Seven Falls which cascades down a 1,250 foot box canyon. We walked up 224 steps to the top. It was quite a journey for me since I rarely do more than take a walk to and from my car.
I spent the evening rearranging his flight home, as well as hotels because Colorado was in for a winter storm the next day. We left Colorado Springs at 9 am Saturday heading to Denver. There was already 3-4 inches of snow on the car and winds were 25-30 mph. I drove up the interstate for 60 miles with about 15 miles of white-knuckle driving - when it was so white I couldn't see the car tracks in front of me, much less the lane marks. Thankfully we made it downtown in just under 2 hours. I checked into my new hotel and after a couple of hours, we headed to the airport. We were so afraid the flight would be cancelled, but it flew out on time as my son headed home.
That was a relief, but it was still two hours before I got back to the hotel. I had to return the rental car, shuttle back to the airport and taxi back to downtown. It doesn't sound too difficult, but driving from the airport to the rental place was confusing in the snow with some signs covered in the white stuff. I took a wrong turn and was lost in a snowstorm. Fortunately a DOT truck was behind me. I flagged him down and explained my predicament. He smiled and said, "Just follow me." My prayers were answered as he lead me to the rental place.
Back at the hotel, my son called to tell me he landed in Atlanta. It was a relief to hear from him and to finish the day. What a fabulous adventure we had with God protecting us every step of the way.
Psalm 36:6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Sea Creatures
Spring Break plus a bored child equals find something to do. That something turned out to be a trip to the Georgia Aquarium with friends. It had been 10+ years since my last visit, so the admission price was quite a shock. However I soon discovered that many improvements had been made and I was thrilled with the result. Highlights included a dolphin show, a sea lion show and a 4D short movie.
Aside from the dolphins and sea lions, there were beluga whales, penguins, whale sharks, manta rays, stingrays, eels, turtles, exotic fish, jellyfish and the list goes on and on. Each one was unique and fascinating to see. The sea creatures were a reminder of the amazing abilities that God used to give us this wonderful world.
Genesis 1:21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
And I saw that it was good. It was a great day spent rediscovering God's sea creatures and making great memories with my daughter.
Aside from the dolphins and sea lions, there were beluga whales, penguins, whale sharks, manta rays, stingrays, eels, turtles, exotic fish, jellyfish and the list goes on and on. Each one was unique and fascinating to see. The sea creatures were a reminder of the amazing abilities that God used to give us this wonderful world.
Genesis 1:21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
And I saw that it was good. It was a great day spent rediscovering God's sea creatures and making great memories with my daughter.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Miracles and God's Will - Part 2
We began the week in full recruitment mode to save my son's JROTC program at the high school. I spent several hours Monday evening helping to draft a letter for parents describing the benefits of the program. On Tuesday, my son and two other cadets visited the middle school and had 52 8th graders sign up. It was the miracle we had prayed for! The size of the group had increased from 73 to 125 and they were told the program could continue with 100. My son was ecstatic! Everyone was amazed and thrilled. Recruiting continued as letters were passed out to parents in the car rider lines and there was even more interest. It looked so promising. However...
The parents received an email on Friday indicating that the high school was notified of a decision by the Air Force to deactivate the unit. The administration said it was final. Our hopes were crushed and I was furious. The principal gave the cadets one week to increase enrollment, they surpassed the mark, then the administration let them down by not fighting for the program.
Ephesians 4:25-27 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.
These verses describe my Friday evening so well. I felt that we were lied to about saving the program. I was angry but I didn't go into Mama Bear mode. I took a very long walk and put a lot of thought into voicing my displeasure in the treatment of our students. I spent hours Friday night writing to the school board and superintendent asking why this happened. I was not rude, but I did ask some questions about how this was handled. I finished the emails just before midnight and went to sleep.
It hurts so much that the students were lead to believe that the school wanted to keep the program, but the school failed to hold up their end of the bargain. It's definitely a lesson in how the world treats you. But we saw our students' efforts and they saw their parents' efforts. Together we made a great team and never gave up. We are all disappointed, but the students saw first hand how to fight for somethings you believe in.
The parents received an email on Friday indicating that the high school was notified of a decision by the Air Force to deactivate the unit. The administration said it was final. Our hopes were crushed and I was furious. The principal gave the cadets one week to increase enrollment, they surpassed the mark, then the administration let them down by not fighting for the program.
Ephesians 4:25-27 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.
These verses describe my Friday evening so well. I felt that we were lied to about saving the program. I was angry but I didn't go into Mama Bear mode. I took a very long walk and put a lot of thought into voicing my displeasure in the treatment of our students. I spent hours Friday night writing to the school board and superintendent asking why this happened. I was not rude, but I did ask some questions about how this was handled. I finished the emails just before midnight and went to sleep.
It hurts so much that the students were lead to believe that the school wanted to keep the program, but the school failed to hold up their end of the bargain. It's definitely a lesson in how the world treats you. But we saw our students' efforts and they saw their parents' efforts. Together we made a great team and never gave up. We are all disappointed, but the students saw first hand how to fight for somethings you believe in.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)