Why do we let our emotions get so wrapped up in something so trivial. Being in youth sports has shown me the good and bad sides of a lot of people. Eventually I saw it for what it truly is, trivial!
I need my energy back, I have been so tired lately and it is because of the foods I am eating. Mainly the soda pop! Tomorrow is going g to be all water!
God Bless!
When the Choir at this weekend’s Graduation sang their song I would of never guessed that I would be visiting them later that weekend! Thank you all for your love and commitment to our country.
God Bless all the fathers!
I know I have talked about this before but I want to touch on it once again. I have been guarded my whole life. I grew up in a small southwestern PA town, Graduated with 60 other kids that grew up in that same small town. All we knew was in those walls, those roads, those people, and all our problems. Our perspectives of the world where very narrow. Having been part of several graduation celebrations thus far this year I see more and more how what we think the world is based on is defined by our perspective of the world. No two people look at the same rainbow the same. We all see it differently from our own perspective through our own life experiences. I am nearing 40 and am finally beginning to understand that there is more to this world then the small town I grew up in. I am not the only one struggling with these problems. My eyes are opening slowly.
Back on the road tomorrow! We plan to swing through Arlington, Sis wants to see the changing of the guard. I have never witnessed it in person either.
God Bless.
We have been playing hop scotch with the storms the whole way! An hour out now and it’s still raining. Almost there! God bless.
Bronco baseball season has come to a bitter sweet end. As always this time of the year makes us glad that we no longer need to follow the team around but sad that we will not have anymore baseball till next year. Softball is still going strong though!
Eating today was ehhh. But as I promised better then yesterday! We are getting ready for a quick family trip and are trying to wrap up several small projects around the house!
The weather here was perfect today! Really nice, the cicadas are still screaming but it is getting better!
I got to catch up with an old friend tonight. It was good being able to share our memories and compare our perspectives now that we have been apart for so long!
My daughter’s softball team slaughtered a very good Carnegie team this evening, it was a pleasure watching the girls come together and play so well! Congratulations sis!
Today’s eating was not good, I did have several trigger foods. Tomorrow will be better. I am going to spend more time then I have been on my blog entries and get back to answering the beginners questions for OA. Stay tuned, if I haven’t bored you to death yet I am sure to don’t soon! God bless.
What am I entitled to? First, what is entitlement?
The right to guaranteed benefits under a government program, such as Social Security or unemployment compensation.
I have seen what this thought process has done to our country. I have seen how entitlement is pulling at the fiber that out country is based on. What I mean by this is that we have raised an entire generation that thinks the government owes them something. Or worse yet, society owes them something. I was not brought up this way nor do I subscribe to that ideal. No, I have worked for everything I have! I was given assistance from my community after the wreck but those people didn’t owe me anything, they were led by their moral compass to help a person in need. I do appreciate the help when it was needed, and I do understand that there is a place for the government to step in and give assistance, however like I am sure you have heard so many times before I am dog tired of the people living off of the handouts that are meant to get you back on your feet. I don’t know how to fix the problem but I for one am trying to do my part by teaching my children that this is not how you should live. You need to work for your living.
I am proud of my children and all that they are doing. Yesterday morning both Julianne and Kenneth walked in the Memorial day parade, later to start the program Julianne sang our nations anthem beautifully. They are on their way to becoming great people, I hope that I was able to give them the tools they need!
Last week I renewed my resolve with the Lord and began the Apostles fast. I am trying to stay Vegan but have on occasion had cheese and an egg or two. But for the majority of the week I stayed true. This weekend was one of the better weekends I have had in a while. And I didn’t go overboard yesterday. I am losing weight again, this time though I am trying to do it moderately. I know losing it quickly doesn’t work for me. Today I had a Juice for breakfast but the second juice I did not drink, I let it get warm by not putting it in the fridge in the morning, once it was warm I was concerned, and not to mention I could not drink it. Rather I did have a bag of popcorn, The last bag. There are no more bags left in the dwindling goon vending machine. Dinner was a salad and a bowl of Honey Nut Toasted Oats. Not a great dinner but better then most I have had!
This week is a busy week for us, it is the last week of school! Everyone will be bringing all of there school stuff home, KJ graduates the 6th tomorrow and Sis is taking finals. I hope everyone has a great week! I am focused on getting the pallets cleaned up at work, I busted several today during lunch and cleaned the nails from them this evening after Kenneth’s baseball game, only 2 of those left then we a re in the playoffs! Our win last week propelled us into 7th place out of 9! This will give them better seeding in the playoffs! Julianne is just starting her season of rec softball, I can’t wait to see the girls play!
Thanks for reading! God Bless.
With summer fast approaching and the school year coming to a close in all of the local schools it has become Graduation season. From houses of higher education to the local kindergarten classes, it seems everyone is graduating from something or another. I was blessed to be able to attend my brother Rodney’s eldest boy’s Commencement Ceremony.
Kyle graduated in the top 20 of his class from a local Catholic High School. I asked what his next step was going to be. He is going to attend Penn State in the fall to study Law. As I sat high above the speakers during the program I was glad to here that most of them did mention our Lord Jesus in their addresses, but was surprised by the message shared by the keynote speaker. Mr. Raymond A. Hartung JR. addressed the graduates with wisdom that comes from age, he was introduced as an accomplished accountant. He had worked with Westinghouse and Tribe Total Media, he held Vice President at one point but now was retired and was glad to address the people there present today. His message included three points that he felt would have benefited himself had someone spoke about these topics during his commencement program. During these three points he mention that the graduates should remain foolish enough to believe in miracles. These words surprised me. Is not the teaching of Christ and our faith in him based on the miracles he performed while he was with his disciples? Does this make me foolish to believe in these miracles? Am I foolish for being a follower of Christ himself. I think not!
As we drove from Soldiers and Sailors Hall in Oakland I addressed the car, my children, wife and parents were present at the time. I asked, From all the speakers today what did you take from their address? Cheryl was first, It was refreshing to hear them speak of Christ in the school setting. The inclusion of faith in the school is what she took from the addresses. My daughter had no answer for the question, my son answered that he was impressed by the fact that all of the speakers had notes but really never looked at them. The quality of the addresses is what he took from the program. My father mentioned the story told by the Assistant Principal which included her recent experience of placing herself in a different location within the normalcy of her life and how this changed her perspective. I’ve been sitting in the wrong pew, was my fathers answer. My mother’s answer was much like my fathers answer, she remember the Assistant Principal’s message. She described not liking the idea that we all become comfortable in our own surroundings, enough so that it controls our actions, such as sitting in the same location ever Sunday in church. This was a loaded question! I already had my answer and seeing as I already knew what I wanted to say I waited till last to see if anyone else had the same perspective as I. I brought up what was said about remaining foolish enough to believe in miracles. When the words were spoken I wrote them down because I did not want to forget to mention it later. I always carry a pencil for just the occasion. This started a conversation in the car about perspective, my mother felt as though I did not take the message as he meant it to be taken, this may be the case however, I know what I heard and I know how it made me feel. I explained my point and that each of us see the world through out own tinted glasses. I tried to express that we see things from our personal perspective using the accumulated experiences of our lives as a litmus test. This changes how each of us see things. I am sure that with age the volume of experiences increases but I am afraid that our ability to accept different perspectives or at least tolerate them also erodes with age.
Today’s eating was good! No breakfast, lunch was with the family after Kyle’s graduation. I had a Caesar Salad, then a plate of Cajun Alfredo that came with Blackened Chicken, KJ got the Chicken, we also shared a side order of fries. For dinner was another large Salad and 1 piece of the left over Lasagna Stromboli from last night. We did stop at the Ice Cream shop on the way home, I had a small chocolate cone.
Tomorrow is memorial day. Jules and KJ need to be at the parade at 10:00 but we have memorial day service in out cemetery at 9:00. The family is coming over at 3 for a picnic! I love having the family over for the holidays, it is great to see everyone and count the blessings given to us. Have a great memorial day! God Bless!
King David reclined in his room, he walked along the roof of his palace, from afar he saw a great beauty. This beauty was betrothed to Uriah the Hittite. King David called for the company of Bathsheba. Knowing that she was not his to have he laid with her, they conceived that night, Bathsheba sent word of her pregnancy to the king. King David made a plan to send for Uriah and allow him to be with his wife. Uriah was a great soldier of King David’s army. He came to the palace and asked why was he brought from battle. The King made conversation with Uriah, as King him how the battle was progressing. At the close of the evening King David told Uriah, go to your wife and wash your feet, Uriah left but did not go to his home. When asked by the King, Why have you not gone to your wife? Uriah explained to King David that his men were at battle and it would not be righteous for Uriah to recline at home in his wive’s company. This foiled the Kings plan, David tried once more, this time he had banquet with Uriah, he served drink and soon Uriah had his fill. Once again the King told Uriah to go be with your wife. Even in Uriah’s intoxicated state he held fast to his beliefs. He declined and spent the evening as he did the night before at the palace gate.
The time had come for Uriah to return to battle. King David sent a message with Uriah for Joab. In the message David explained to Joab, place Uriah in the front where the fighting is the fiercest then withdraw from him so that he might die. Joab lead his men close to the city and the men of the city came out to meat them in battle. This battle costed the lives of several in David’s army including Uriah. When Joab sent word of the battle to the King he had prepared the messenger for David’s anger. Joab explained if the King is angered at word of the fallen soldiers explain to him that Uriah the Hittite also fell in battle. Upon hearing the report form the messenger King David did not become angry, rather he told the messenger to send message back to Joab, do to not let this upset you, the sword devours one as well as another. Push into the city and destroy it. David told the messenger do this to encourage Joab.
Upon learning of her husband’s death Bathsheba mourned the loss of her husband, when her mourning was complete King David sent for her to be his wife, she lived in the palace as such. The Lord who held King David in high regard was not happy about this.
The prophet Nathan tells David, Because of your sin the sword shall never depart from your house, all your sons shall perish, your wives will be taken from in in the light of the sun, you laid secretly with the wife of Uriah now I shall do the same to you before all of Israel, And so it was done. David lived out his days paying for his sin, watching as all built up in the Lords favor was taken from him.
This story is taken from 2 Samuel. I have taken some liberties and did not copy it directly from the text, it is how I envisioned the story and how I tell the story. I have used this in several different ways. First as an example of a true soldier, a real team player if you will. Uriah had the opportunity to recline in his own bed but rather laid on his mat at the Palace gate with the servants of his King. He did this because his people, his team were spending the night in tents on the front lines of battle. It was not right in his eyes to take advantage of the offer while his team could not. I have explained this to my youth football team. This may alarm you but I assure you as I live and breath I had decided that I was going to share my faith with my soldiers. I did subdue the adult side of the story but the moral remained strong and true. I also used the story to describe how we are weakest when we recline at our own table. When we feel as though we deserve the rest, we are inclined to reward ourselves. King David fell victim to this in this story, In the spring time when Kings go to battle the King found himself reclined at the palace enjoying the spoils of war. He deserved the company of Uriah’s wife Bathsheba, he fell weak as he was reclining. King David knew it wasn’t right but this did not stop him. I believe this is why the Lords Punishment was so severe. This is how I explain every time I have rebounded from weight loss. I feel entitled to the rewards of weight loss, I lost the weight, I no longer need to be concerned with what I eat, Like King David each time I sinned against my own body I was punished, more severely each time. I allowed my self to recline and become week when I needed to be strong.
In keeping with the traditions of my Church I was able to keep the fast today. I had a juice for breakfast, and another for lunch. At lunch time I have been removing nails from the pallet wood that KJ and I busted apart. I did not have any other food while at work! Dinner was a large salad, french dressing and croutons. Cheryl made a pizza pull apart, essentially a bunt cake pizza, I pulled the cheese and meat from it and has the bread with the salad. I have been drinking more water as well. I made my step goal today, AS A matter of fact I blew it out of the water, my goal was set at 4769, I have 7267 steps, Cheryl and the Kids worked down stairs this evening. Julianne started washing rocks, then Cheryl and I also washed with her. The rocks are for the rock wall in the basement. KJ started getting ready for Memorial day and Cheryl pulled the tarp off the pool, getting it ready to go. So today was a great day!
Thank you for reading! I’ll talk with you tomorrow, by all means leave a comment or a like, please share the blog if you enjoy it. Thanks again.
I have been blessed with a high level of comprehension. I have seen people struggle with this and wondered why, and how would one improve their comprehension skills? After reading several articles on the subject it seems as though I am not the only one that wonders about this. Apparently comprehension is a life skill that is very difficult to teach. Several factors play into why one student is better at this then another, but in my mind it all boils down to abstract thought. If a person can relate the text they are reading to something, anything then the text becomes enjoyable and the reader is drawn in. When the text is riddled with words the reader struggles to define, that reader quickly losses interest and turns to something else. This is evident to me more so now then ever. The larger ones useful vocabulary is the better I feel their comprehension skills are. They do not have to pause to understand the words in the text and can take in the piece as a hole rather than stopping to understand what a word means and try to figure out how it fits in the text.
At work we communicate with the manufacturer thru a system call Contact Management. This system breaks each instance down to subcategories to be sure the right people are handling the problem. The challenge to this system is that the spoken word carries with many nuances that allow the speaker to infer meaning by changing the delivery of the word. This is lost all together with contact management. Also here in the blog setting the writer needs to be skilled to purvey the proper tone of the writing or risk losing the reader amidst the confusion. At times I feel the information world suffers from this, people infer their own situation to a piece of writing, in most cases our first instinct is to be defensive. This almost always leads us into defending our position when the writer did not intend to put the reader on the defensive, this can be best demonstrated by the constant Facebook drama that finally drove me away from Facebook. The medium does not lend itself well to these volatile conversations. When people that have problems expressing themselves with spoken words try to describe the same feelings and thoughts with written words nothing good can come of it. Unless I am asked to look at something there I would rather not visit it.
Last week was a mediocre week at best. I had completely abandoned the goal book buy Wednesday and never even stepped foot into the basement. As far as experiences and family matters, last week was a great week, I was entertained at both Julianne’s and Kenneth’s spring concerts. I was able to help my wife and got to see her hard work pay off in the color run and I was introduced to new things!
This week I set one goal and only one goal! Eat better. Today I achieved that goal. As I introduced you to the Apostles Fast yesterday I began that journey today. I have offered the sacrifice of not eating meet to our Lord so that he can show me the strength I have to conquer these cravings. Today was a very successful day, Breakfast was Juice, Lunch was Juice, Dinner was 4 small potatoes and a large salad, croutons and french dressing. Nothing else crossed my lips this day! I prayed for strength this afternoon as I sat at my desk craving the popcorn only feet away from me. I asked for something to take the thoughts of it from my mind. I listened to several podcasts about the Apostles Fast and why it is celebrated. I explained what it was yesterday but to add to those thoughts, I am beginning to see the ebb and flow of the Liturgical year, the Fasts leading to the Celebrations, the Celebrations leading to Fasts. It is a cycle meant to keep us centered, to teach us about the will of God and to put aside our personal will for his. I have been learning so much recently that I am excited to share these thoughts with you each time I write an entry.
In short I hope I am skilled enough that you, my readers are enjoying my thoughts. I do enjoy writing and this surprises me as much as it does some of you. I hope you continue to come back to read my ramblings and I hope that maybe some of my trials and tribulations help you in your struggle some way. Thank you for liking the posts and most of all for reading them. If you are enjoying this so far don’t be afraid to like the post or to challenge my writing, I appreciate positive criticism and look forward to challenging conversations. If you are moved to share my words please do so, the greatest gift I can be given is to have made a positive impact on my fellow brothers and sisters! May God bless each of you! Thank you.
Kendall Rush's Weight Loss Journey 