And the greatest of these is love.

It is important to remember the lessons we are taught by those we love.  Jonathan taught me to live every moment.  Sometimes we forget what is important, but when loved ones are in peril, or are gone, it is most important that we never forget the lessons they taught us or what would really be their wish for those left behind.  When you feel like hiding, come out, when you are weak, find the strength, when you feel like giving up, fight, when you feel like hating, love, and when you feel like crying, laugh and know that there is no greater love or joy than that which is the true and great joy of knowing such unconditional faith, hope and love.  

Every once in a while I have a pearl...

Not often, but it does happen...

I am rewriting a course for CSU, which incidentally is one of the most tedious things in the world, but it is important, and I need to get it done.  So, each unit has different parts, and one of those parts is a course summary.  I am summarizing unit 2.  Part 2 of unit 2 deals with federalism.  This is what I came up with as an intro...

What is also of prime importance and also often overlooked is Federalism.  The bigger the federal government becomes, the farther away from Federalism we may drift, and lest we forget we are the United States of America.  Several sovereign nations that came together and agreed to be joined as one, retaining certain rights for the benefit of the people, the states and the nation as a whole.  We the people of these states are our own individual sovereign nations bound by the laws of our state and our federal government, but we are not subjects, we are free states each that must protect and defend our liberties, our state’s liberties and the liberty of our nation.  The more we allow the government to take over, the less sovereign we the people become. 

Inspiration

I haven't posted for a while, and I guess I was just waiting to be inspired.  Well, yesterday I was inspired.  We went out in the gulf on Ben's boat, and the water was beautiful.  It was the same clear, emerald wonder it always has been.  The beaches were pristine.  There were booms and clean up crews ready to fight the oil, but from our vantage, it was perfect.  Our first catch was a huge flounder, followed by countless red snappers we could not keep as they are not yet in season and one king mackerel.  Releasing them back to the wild to die another way.  Kevin saw a shark when we were fishing our last rig.  He said it was about 6 feet long and 3 wide.  There seemed to be more supply ships at the rigs and a helicopter even flew to one as we were leaving.  We were planed out, headed home, the water a darker blue, signaling the evening tide, but the sky was still blue, and the beach was still white.  We passed 2 beach weddings on our way into the pass, all of us wondering, how much longer will all of this last.  We hope the ocean current continues to pull it out away from the coast, but with Mississippi and Louisiana already lost all we have is hope that our beautiful gulf will survive.  Pictures to follow...

Troa-ayh !!!!

I am so excited that daddy will now be working in Troy.  The first time I can remember him being that close to me in waaayyyyy toooo looonnnngggg!!!  30-45 minutes away!  :))))  YAYAYAYAYAAAYY!!!!


Now when mom gets down here I will not be able to contain myself....Then, next up, Les, and the girls and then I will be home <3

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Fun Sites!

http://www.uncrate.com/

http://noblepig.com/

http://userealbutter.com/

http://www.travelblog.org/

http://hotair.com/

Pickles...

I am taking recipe suggestions for pickle making.  Gramma Bishop used to make the most awesome sweet pickles.  Pretty sure they mostly consisted of Alum, but they were awesome.  Also, I am interested in making some super zesty dills.

xoxoxoxoxooxoxxoxoxoxo

Obsessing over the bike ride...

Ok, I have been obsessing over the bike route I took in the triathlon in the 7th grade in California.  I remember running through Santa Barbara, swimming in the Pacific, the tar in my bathing suit, then climbing over the mountain on the bike, then coasting down the hill by myself overlooking the beach and the ocean.  I can see the blue of the ocean and the greens and browns of the landscape.  That was in one day, but it seems like such a long journey.  I think I might have figured out the bike route, but at the risk of sounding like a weirdo, I may send a FB message to one of the few people I can find from those days.

I remember so much about that year so vividly.  Then I remember going to Chattanooga for the summer and just knowing I needed to stay, but now I can't figure it out.  I wouldn't trade that time with Grandma and Grandpa Littell, which ended up being way too short, or the time with Les and Dad, but then I think, how could I leave out there?  All of the opportunity and beauty and most importantly, mom!  I loved the school I went to, but I can't imagine not going to Baylor.  I guess I should just be thankful I got to experience and be exposed to both.  Also, now I have more of an appreciation for wine country than I did when I was 14...go figure :)

Everything about the years between 6-9th grade just stand out like a movie.  I remember the rest, and I am sure I have forgotten a lot.  I am thankful for the friends I developed over this time, and some of them still remain among my best, and I think I went home because I needed to be home during that particular time.   At least now I can go back and re-explore.  A few years ago, I drove through Solvang, and it did not look the same.  Maybe I should keep my memory of some things...

I think this might be where we ended up at the end of the triathlon...
http://www.winecountrycycling.com/html/bike_to_beach.html

My 3 Day Walk Blog...

No, I am not becoming a blog addict.  I made this 3 day blog to help me track my training, articles and team motivation.  I have one team member so far, and I am so thankful for her!  I hope to have more team members!  Make sure and pass on the donation info to anyone you would like!

Thanks!
http://takingalongwalk.blogspot.com/

Spring has sprung...

I don't think I have been so happy to see Spring in a long time.  I am always happy when it gets here, but this winter was so terrible (weather wise).  Nothing was fun.  Field trials were horribly cold and rainy, people didn't attend.  My write ups were terrible, due in large part to a lack of inspiration.  I am not being Debbie Downer either.  Nobody had fun this year.  This is a hobby for me, so if it is not fun, what is the point?

Then, when Kevin and I went to see mom, it was bitterly cold by New England standards.  Again, visiting with family was nice, but we are looking forward to going back when we can walk around outside.

So, this brings me back to the bike.  It is fun, it is not torture like trying to run fast enough to keep your heart rate up (this is a challenge for me and my hibernating heart rate)  You can bike faster, longer and for a farther distance than walking or running.  There is something childlike about it that just makes you smile, like making Kraft Mac and Cheese for dinner.  Not uber-foodie gourmet mac and cheese, but real, neon, skinny noodled, box and powder mac and cheese.

It is like drinking an ice cold Coca Cola Classic (NOT DIET) out of a green glass bottle.

I have gone over a month with only one diet drink, and I haven't gained any weight.  I do drink less soda though.   Trading one or two real cokes a day (if that many) is a happy trade to gallons of DC with artificial sweeteners, plus they taste better.  I am growing increasingly distasteful of artificial fillers and "diet" products.  Low fat milk is one thing, but "fat free chemical" food is not necessarily better for you, especially since they often add more sugar or whatever, and you end up eating more because it is not what you want.

Suddenly, childhood favorites are making a comeback in my mind.  I want to hike around in the woods, play in the dirt and ride my bike.  I am also looking into participating in the Susan Komen 3 day walk in Atlanta this summer.  There is a bike for the cure, but no where around here...may be time for a road trip.  There is also a St. Jude walk, but the details are not out for that one yet, but I would LOVE to do that one for sure.  Looking for team members if anyone is interested.

Then there is canning.  I am suddenly interested in learning to sew and canning.  I was canning some BBQ sauce the other day.  (First time I ever canned anything) and I just kept having floods of memories of great grandma (Randa) Littell and my grandma Vivian and watching Grandma Randa make applesauce, and Grandma V make bread and fruit salad...

Something about spring has renewed my interest in being outside...

http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCGlobalPages.jsp?pageName=komenforthecure

http://www.givethankswalk.org/

The Triathlete...

I think I want to train for a triathlon.  To start maybe, I could be the bike person, then find a runner and a swimmer.  Eventually it would be cool to do all three, but there are alligators in the Alabama River and sharks in the ocean.  The Tennessee River might be ok…I did a triathlon in California.  I remember bits and pieces of it.  It was awesome.  I still can’t believe I biked around Santa Barbara, swam in the Pacific and rode my bike over that mountain.  I can still remember the uphill and downhill stretches.  So pretty…I will go back and visit soon!  (and by soon I mean, when I have the money…) 

Unlimited Philosolove...

Of course the postings are not limited to Philosodad…My wonderful motley crew of family and friends create such an interesting and bazaar tableau, that everything together coincides like a big fabulous can of mixed nuts…