I haven't spoken specifically about my job much on here because I always think there is a fine line that I don't want to cross on that subject...meaning I don't want to break any confidences or say too much. But boy, do I have some good stories I could tell some day...and maybe I will once a few more years pass.
By the way, I am currently an Official Court Reporter for the State of Illinois (finally) working in my home county (yeah). I have been a court reporter since passing my state test in 1996. (Man, that makes me sound really old.) So yes, I do see and hear a lot of 'stuff,' but I don't see and hear everything, which most people assume. There was a murder (literally a block from the courthouse) a couple years ago and I don't think I knew about it for a day-and-a-half. Just because I'm over here in the courthouse doesn't mean I know what's going on. Usually, unless there is a court case in the courtroom where I work, I don't know about it. There is a whole gob of court going on in the other courtroom weekly that I never hear about, and I don't want to.
I have an office behind the main courtroom by myself. The judge is an office just around the corner from me. I see people coming before he does, but we're not in each other's face or space. This side of the courthouse is pretty quiet except on our busy court days. The chief judge's administrator is on the other side of the courtroom, and although I can hear her sneeze or cough, I can't see when she's picking her nose. (haha, Kathy!) I/we have our 'own' bathroom, which is so nice compared to other places I've worked. Technically it's in the jury room, but since we only have juries about once a year, the remaining 300 days or so, it's our potty.
No one really bothers me up here and I like it that way...if only I could keep people from calling me for random information, such as, "I need to get my birth certificate from Cook County, can you help me?" "Nope, you would need to call Cook County." OR "Yeah, I need a copy of a death certificate." "From Clark County?" "No, Lake County." "Okay, well, this is the judge's office, and second, this is Clark County. You need to call Lake County." I'm not joking, I get these calls all the time.
I have worked with a lot of good people, mostly women, but I must admit that I'm thankful that I work alone. I know that I can be hard to get along with and I'm sure I would have problems getting along with others on a daily basis if we were in each other's face. I guess I work well alone...which is funny because I feel like a very social person. The thermostat is in my office in direct line of site and I watch it like a hawk. Having come from a courthouse that was always cold, I am so thankful for that. And the judge I work with has never once complained to me about the temperature, which is awesome.
Over the next couple of weeks, I will give you a little insight into my job and my duties, and what it's like to be the silent one in the courtroom when you know I have so much to say :)
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Glorious Day
The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter. Psalm 74:16-17 (NIV)
Oh man, it's early April and I am already being attacked viciously by bugs. I was outside a lot this weekend and now I'm paying the price. I have seen several snakes already too, and yuck, how I hate snakes. I suppose we'll have a ton of those slimy things crawling around. Honestly, I can live with mice if that is all snakes are good for. We've found two ticks so far...on Lane. I haven't seen any on the dogs yet, but it will be a matter of time. I know the insects are going to be simply dreadful this year. Lane and I get bit like crazy. Jay and Madolyn get the poison. I suppose we have the better end of the deal on that one, but it's still annoying.
Yesterday was Easter Sunday and you know they say that if it rains on Easter Sunday, it will rain the next six Sundays...it didn't rain. My fear is that it may not rain for a long time. Normally, I'm okay with that, but since the weather this year has already been so out of sorts, it makes me a little nervous. It could be a very dry, hot summer.
Weather is one of those things that controls a large portion of my life, which is crazy, because weather is one of those things that I absolutely have NO control over, not even a smidgen. I suppose I can control the climate in my car, but that's about it...and really, no, I can't even do that because last summer our passenger side air/heat controls went berserk. It will randomly blow hot (like fire) air out even if you have it on A/C set at 60. I normally wouldn't notice, but we were driving through Mississippi last August in the blazing heat and I was sweating profusely at times...which is so unlike me.
I literally get up in the morning and have to see what the weather is going to be like to plan my day. Can I walk outside, will I need a heavy coat, a light jacket, long pants, short pants, long-johns, closed-toed shoes, open-toed shoes, many layers? I could go on and on. I almost always carry a sweatshirt with me because restaurants are always freezing and only a freezing cold Sarah is worse than a hungry Sarah...both cause me to shake and be grouchy. It's not good for those around me.
I need the sunshine to fuel my mood. Seriously. A gloomy day is the worst. I don't suffer from serious depression or anything, but something as simple as the sun, even on the coldest day, is medicine for my soul.
The past couple months I'd give a daily weather report to my kids, which started out something like this: "Heavy coat today." "Okay, a sweatshirt should do it." "You don't need a coat at all." And then finally ended with: "Yes, I know it's March, but you can wear shorts, it is 85 degrees." I fought it for a couple weeks, but caved. Why not? It was HOT and my kids are both fireballs so I was just making them miserable by having them wear their long pants. (Our school has a/c now...boy, are we spoiled these days or what?)
My closet is too small (are they ever big enough?) so I have to rotate clothing...I finally gave in on that one too and brought down the summer totes from the attic. They are still sitting in my bedroom, partially transferred, but I made the first step. Of course, now the judge says it's my fault the temps dipped a little...because I started switching out my closet. Sorry, I, too, was starting to sweat a little in my long-sleeved sweaters and wool or corduroy pants.
So I will continue with my daily weather advisory to my kiddos and I'll try very hard not to worry about the weather that is coming our way. God knows what we need when we need it. He will bring the rain when He sees fit. I will finish sorting through my closet and making the switch. I will deal with the snakes and the mosquitoes...ugh. I will continue to drag along my sweatshirt.
This Easter weekend was beautiful and so is today. It is a tad bit windy out, but the sun is beaming. I think God is too. After all, His Son is alive :) Oh, glorious day.
Oh man, it's early April and I am already being attacked viciously by bugs. I was outside a lot this weekend and now I'm paying the price. I have seen several snakes already too, and yuck, how I hate snakes. I suppose we'll have a ton of those slimy things crawling around. Honestly, I can live with mice if that is all snakes are good for. We've found two ticks so far...on Lane. I haven't seen any on the dogs yet, but it will be a matter of time. I know the insects are going to be simply dreadful this year. Lane and I get bit like crazy. Jay and Madolyn get the poison. I suppose we have the better end of the deal on that one, but it's still annoying.
Yesterday was Easter Sunday and you know they say that if it rains on Easter Sunday, it will rain the next six Sundays...it didn't rain. My fear is that it may not rain for a long time. Normally, I'm okay with that, but since the weather this year has already been so out of sorts, it makes me a little nervous. It could be a very dry, hot summer.
Weather is one of those things that controls a large portion of my life, which is crazy, because weather is one of those things that I absolutely have NO control over, not even a smidgen. I suppose I can control the climate in my car, but that's about it...and really, no, I can't even do that because last summer our passenger side air/heat controls went berserk. It will randomly blow hot (like fire) air out even if you have it on A/C set at 60. I normally wouldn't notice, but we were driving through Mississippi last August in the blazing heat and I was sweating profusely at times...which is so unlike me.
I literally get up in the morning and have to see what the weather is going to be like to plan my day. Can I walk outside, will I need a heavy coat, a light jacket, long pants, short pants, long-johns, closed-toed shoes, open-toed shoes, many layers? I could go on and on. I almost always carry a sweatshirt with me because restaurants are always freezing and only a freezing cold Sarah is worse than a hungry Sarah...both cause me to shake and be grouchy. It's not good for those around me.
I need the sunshine to fuel my mood. Seriously. A gloomy day is the worst. I don't suffer from serious depression or anything, but something as simple as the sun, even on the coldest day, is medicine for my soul.
The past couple months I'd give a daily weather report to my kids, which started out something like this: "Heavy coat today." "Okay, a sweatshirt should do it." "You don't need a coat at all." And then finally ended with: "Yes, I know it's March, but you can wear shorts, it is 85 degrees." I fought it for a couple weeks, but caved. Why not? It was HOT and my kids are both fireballs so I was just making them miserable by having them wear their long pants. (Our school has a/c now...boy, are we spoiled these days or what?)
My closet is too small (are they ever big enough?) so I have to rotate clothing...I finally gave in on that one too and brought down the summer totes from the attic. They are still sitting in my bedroom, partially transferred, but I made the first step. Of course, now the judge says it's my fault the temps dipped a little...because I started switching out my closet. Sorry, I, too, was starting to sweat a little in my long-sleeved sweaters and wool or corduroy pants.
So I will continue with my daily weather advisory to my kiddos and I'll try very hard not to worry about the weather that is coming our way. God knows what we need when we need it. He will bring the rain when He sees fit. I will finish sorting through my closet and making the switch. I will deal with the snakes and the mosquitoes...ugh. I will continue to drag along my sweatshirt.
This Easter weekend was beautiful and so is today. It is a tad bit windy out, but the sun is beaming. I think God is too. After all, His Son is alive :) Oh, glorious day.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Hey, sinner...
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV)
Yeah, I'm talking to you...and me. I heard on my way to work this morning on the local Christian radio station that there was some sort controversy over comments made by Kim Kardashian recently. According to an online article I searched, in summary, she said something about how glad she was to go to church and reflect on her week, that it always made her feel better and she would be lost without church.
Well, Amen to that comment. Of course, that was not what was being said about the subject. Instead several have questioned her faith, asked why SHE would be in church, and laughed at the possibility that she does actually go to church.
What's funny is that I am not so different than Ms. Kardashian myself...I know you're laughing, but what I mean is although I look nothing like her, don't have her wealth (or the image of one) or her fame, I am a sinner, plain and simple. I may not be a Hollywood star or anything slightly close to one, but my guess is that some of our sins are probably very similiar. We are all sinners in the eyes of the Lord. And where do sinners need to be? At the foot of the cross. In church. With other believers.
Who am I to judge whether Kim goes to church, has a close relationship with her pastor, believes in Jesus Christ as her personal savior, feels better after being in church? I can't judge her thoughts, beliefs or intentions just like I cannot judge yours. I admit that sometimes I do that very thing though without a second thought. I can be quick to cast judgment on someone else because they're not doing what I would do or they're not handling a situation the way I think it should be handled.
Our human nature is to sin, but that doesn't make it right...unfortunately, there is not one of us that is without it. My hope is that the judgment of others is not keeping you from attending church. Church is important to the growth of a Christian. Jesus pretty well sums it up for us in Mark 2:17 (NIV): On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Sinners need Jesus, plain and simple. I need Jesus and so do you.
My challenge to you today if you aren't attending church somewhere, take that first step. I invite you to go to an Easter service somewhere this Sunday. You are welcome to join us at my church. We would love to have you. Our Sunrise service begins at 6:00 (I know it's so early:), which will be followed by a delicious, traditional Willow Creek CP breakfast, and then Sunday School. If you're not sure where to go, pray about what church God wants you to be at. You may be surprised at what happens...
Yeah, I'm talking to you...and me. I heard on my way to work this morning on the local Christian radio station that there was some sort controversy over comments made by Kim Kardashian recently. According to an online article I searched, in summary, she said something about how glad she was to go to church and reflect on her week, that it always made her feel better and she would be lost without church.
Well, Amen to that comment. Of course, that was not what was being said about the subject. Instead several have questioned her faith, asked why SHE would be in church, and laughed at the possibility that she does actually go to church.
What's funny is that I am not so different than Ms. Kardashian myself...I know you're laughing, but what I mean is although I look nothing like her, don't have her wealth (or the image of one) or her fame, I am a sinner, plain and simple. I may not be a Hollywood star or anything slightly close to one, but my guess is that some of our sins are probably very similiar. We are all sinners in the eyes of the Lord. And where do sinners need to be? At the foot of the cross. In church. With other believers.
Who am I to judge whether Kim goes to church, has a close relationship with her pastor, believes in Jesus Christ as her personal savior, feels better after being in church? I can't judge her thoughts, beliefs or intentions just like I cannot judge yours. I admit that sometimes I do that very thing though without a second thought. I can be quick to cast judgment on someone else because they're not doing what I would do or they're not handling a situation the way I think it should be handled.
Our human nature is to sin, but that doesn't make it right...unfortunately, there is not one of us that is without it. My hope is that the judgment of others is not keeping you from attending church. Church is important to the growth of a Christian. Jesus pretty well sums it up for us in Mark 2:17 (NIV): On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Sinners need Jesus, plain and simple. I need Jesus and so do you.
My challenge to you today if you aren't attending church somewhere, take that first step. I invite you to go to an Easter service somewhere this Sunday. You are welcome to join us at my church. We would love to have you. Our Sunrise service begins at 6:00 (I know it's so early:), which will be followed by a delicious, traditional Willow Creek CP breakfast, and then Sunday School. If you're not sure where to go, pray about what church God wants you to be at. You may be surprised at what happens...
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Just an ordinary family gathering
Easter of 2010 we celebrated with one side of the family at our house. Of course, we all got up early and did the whole Sunrise service with breakfast at church, came home mid-morning and got everything ready for a big family dinner.
My cousin and his wife were here with their then 2 yr old son. The entire family was all around....and I do mean the entire family...as in family members, dogs, cats, goats, horses, etc. It was a lovely day outside. I remember the sun shining and a nice temperature...although nothing like we've been having here lately.
After we had eaten our too-stuffed-to-move meal, my dad was lounging in the living room in front of the picture window when he commented on the fact that there was a horse stretching his neck over the porch railing as if he were trying to look inside the window. Oh, yeah, that's Woody...he's nosey. He won't bother anything.
The kids pestered and bugged enough until it was time to hide the Easter eggs and start the hunt. Lane and my niece would've been around six, and like I said, my cousin's boy was about two. The older kids went out and hid the plastic Easter eggs in the front part of the yard for the younger ones to find. Nothing out of the ordinary except that those pesky goats kept trying to eat the eggs. No joke, someone would hide an egg, they would turn around to walk away, and a goat would run up and grab it. (They were plastic, but you know goats...) They even put one in the fork of a tree which was about four feet or so off the ground...wasn't high enough, one of the mama goats, stood right up to the tree and using the trunk of the tree for support, nabbed the egg.
Finally, we decided we had to put the goats up. They always ruin everything. Stupid goats. I bet my cousin's little boy doesn't even remember. I know Lane does because we talked about it the other day. Of course, for us, it was just an ordinary family gathering...
My cousin and his wife were here with their then 2 yr old son. The entire family was all around....and I do mean the entire family...as in family members, dogs, cats, goats, horses, etc. It was a lovely day outside. I remember the sun shining and a nice temperature...although nothing like we've been having here lately.
After we had eaten our too-stuffed-to-move meal, my dad was lounging in the living room in front of the picture window when he commented on the fact that there was a horse stretching his neck over the porch railing as if he were trying to look inside the window. Oh, yeah, that's Woody...he's nosey. He won't bother anything.
The kids pestered and bugged enough until it was time to hide the Easter eggs and start the hunt. Lane and my niece would've been around six, and like I said, my cousin's boy was about two. The older kids went out and hid the plastic Easter eggs in the front part of the yard for the younger ones to find. Nothing out of the ordinary except that those pesky goats kept trying to eat the eggs. No joke, someone would hide an egg, they would turn around to walk away, and a goat would run up and grab it. (They were plastic, but you know goats...) They even put one in the fork of a tree which was about four feet or so off the ground...wasn't high enough, one of the mama goats, stood right up to the tree and using the trunk of the tree for support, nabbed the egg.
Finally, we decided we had to put the goats up. They always ruin everything. Stupid goats. I bet my cousin's little boy doesn't even remember. I know Lane does because we talked about it the other day. Of course, for us, it was just an ordinary family gathering...
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Sorry to disappoint you...
but I'm so lost on Pinterest. I signed up for an account because everyone was doing it and I was told by everyone that I just had to. I did succumb to peer pressure and asked for an invite...I got the invitation about four months ago...maybe even longer. That was the last time I looked at it.
I keep getting these e-mails in my Inbox telling me that so and so is following me on Pinterest. Oh, good heavens, I feel bad because they aren't following much of me, that's for sure. I don't even know what that means. Are they following me as in what I look at? I have seen people put stuff on Facebook from Pinterest, but again, I'm not really sure what they're doing or how or why.
I had a little free time and I popped on over to the Pinterest website today and logged in to my 'account' which, again, consists of nothing more than my name and somehow my Facebook profile picture. (See, I'm telling you I really don't get it.) Am I supposed to be posting clever things that I can do? Am I supposed to be telling everyone else the things that I like by "pinning" it to my "board"? I've seen these terms used in various places in regards to the website so that's why I ask.
I decided I would search out tips for camping. Okay, that was interesting. I found lots of tents that you can hang from trees and suspend in the air to camp. That is a tip I do not need. There is no way that I'm suspending myself in the air inside a tent. I don't even want to sleep in a tent...and I sure don't want to sleep in one that is supposed to be strong enough to hold myself and all my stuff in it way up in the air. There were other tips for extreme camping (which I don't remember putting in my search) that included tents you can attach to the side of a mountain, cliff, rock wall, etc. Again, not something I have any interest in trying...ever.
I continued scrolling and came upon the bare behind of a man...I have no clue what that was about...I just scrolled on past. Again, this was still on the camping subject??? Okay, moving on. There was an idea for a home-made mosquito trap using yeast, but my question here is, will that just attract mosquito's to the location of the trap thereby causing a higher volume...which in turn will mean that Lane and I are bit 2 million times instead of the usual 1 million. I considered trying it, but I think I'll wait for more studies.
I tried a couple different search topics, but didn't come up with anything too exciting from the results. What I have decided is that I already have a head full of ideas that I can't seem to put together and accomplish, why on earth am I seeking out more? The last thing I need is to start collecting supplies for things I will never complete...I'm already a pro at that one (scrapbooking). The scrolling just makes my head spin. My head nearly exploded from overload.
So while I'm not going to think badly of anyone who enjoys a little Pinterest time, it may not be something I put a lot of time into. Here's my plan, why don't you Pinterest followers out there just find really cute stuff, make it and send it to me. That way we both reap the benefits. You see how it comes together and I enjoy the finished product. Perfect. Surely by now, if you follow my blog, you know my interests, so it shouldn't be too tough to find things I'll like. ha.
Again, I apologize if you're following me on Pinterest because I'm not going anywhere. Happy pinning, folks...
I keep getting these e-mails in my Inbox telling me that so and so is following me on Pinterest. Oh, good heavens, I feel bad because they aren't following much of me, that's for sure. I don't even know what that means. Are they following me as in what I look at? I have seen people put stuff on Facebook from Pinterest, but again, I'm not really sure what they're doing or how or why.
I had a little free time and I popped on over to the Pinterest website today and logged in to my 'account' which, again, consists of nothing more than my name and somehow my Facebook profile picture. (See, I'm telling you I really don't get it.) Am I supposed to be posting clever things that I can do? Am I supposed to be telling everyone else the things that I like by "pinning" it to my "board"? I've seen these terms used in various places in regards to the website so that's why I ask.
I decided I would search out tips for camping. Okay, that was interesting. I found lots of tents that you can hang from trees and suspend in the air to camp. That is a tip I do not need. There is no way that I'm suspending myself in the air inside a tent. I don't even want to sleep in a tent...and I sure don't want to sleep in one that is supposed to be strong enough to hold myself and all my stuff in it way up in the air. There were other tips for extreme camping (which I don't remember putting in my search) that included tents you can attach to the side of a mountain, cliff, rock wall, etc. Again, not something I have any interest in trying...ever.
I continued scrolling and came upon the bare behind of a man...I have no clue what that was about...I just scrolled on past. Again, this was still on the camping subject??? Okay, moving on. There was an idea for a home-made mosquito trap using yeast, but my question here is, will that just attract mosquito's to the location of the trap thereby causing a higher volume...which in turn will mean that Lane and I are bit 2 million times instead of the usual 1 million. I considered trying it, but I think I'll wait for more studies.
I tried a couple different search topics, but didn't come up with anything too exciting from the results. What I have decided is that I already have a head full of ideas that I can't seem to put together and accomplish, why on earth am I seeking out more? The last thing I need is to start collecting supplies for things I will never complete...I'm already a pro at that one (scrapbooking). The scrolling just makes my head spin. My head nearly exploded from overload.
So while I'm not going to think badly of anyone who enjoys a little Pinterest time, it may not be something I put a lot of time into. Here's my plan, why don't you Pinterest followers out there just find really cute stuff, make it and send it to me. That way we both reap the benefits. You see how it comes together and I enjoy the finished product. Perfect. Surely by now, if you follow my blog, you know my interests, so it shouldn't be too tough to find things I'll like. ha.
Again, I apologize if you're following me on Pinterest because I'm not going anywhere. Happy pinning, folks...
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Horse Bowl and Hippology
If you're like me, you have no clue what that means...I know I didn't until this past weekend. Madolyn joined our local 4H Horse Bowl & Hippology team just after the first of the year. They have "practices" every Monday night and after the very first one, she came home with a huge stack of books. Eeeeeck.
I thought, yikes, if she enjoys this, that will be the day, this won't last a month. Funny thing, she LOVES it. Of course she does because I would probably hate it. They study everything about horses, and I do mean everything. They have anatomy books and models that they use to practice guessing the parts. They have all kinds of horse tack that they quiz each other on. They use color pages and diagrams. She has notebooks, etc. And I think all of that relates to the Hippology part. I say 'I think' because honestly I'm still somewhat lost on the whole thing. The horse bowl part is just like scholastic bowl....and I had never been to a scholastic bowl meet...so I didn't even understand exactly what that meant either. So I just googled the subject matter and got all kinds of hits in case you're interested in learning all about the horse.
This past weekend was the event of the year...what those kids practice for all year long. It was the Regional Horse Bowl & Hippology at a local junior college. The bad thing...we had to get up and be on the road by 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday...ugh!! But we did it, and we weren't even late, which is awesome for us. I actually dropped the girls off and went shopping for a while, got my oil changed, drove around Mattoon aimlessly and finally decided that gas was a tad high to be wandering about with no reason.
I returned to the college and the girls were practicing up for another round of horse bowl. I was told I could go in and watch if I could be quiet...geesh, it's like they know me or something. I sat in the very back and tried to be where Madolyn could NOT see me because she has the habit of looking at me constantly...and honestly, I would be of little help on this one.
Like I said before, I had never even been to a scholastic bowl meet or match or game (what do you call it?) so it's was all foreign to me. (I can't remember, but I'm guessing we didn't have scholastic bowl when I was in school.) Anyway, it was all so formal and rigid, and many times I wanted to say, "Oh, come on that was close," which would've have been a major no-no. No one even had to tell me that, it was understood. Our team did real good the first match I watched. They had already won one earlier and lost the second by just three or four points. The last match was against the hardest team, and phooey, they beat us pretty bad. I think it was the fear factor. I really wanted to give them a little pep talk before going on that it didn't matter how good these kids were normally, etc, etc, but I wasn't their coach...and maybe that's not what you do at Horse Bowl. The overall contest is calculated by accumulative points so that last match killed us. I think we got third in the horse bowl for that age group.
I knew maybe about ten of the 60 questions they asked, which is pitiful. See, I would've been no help. But the ones I did know and they didn't, oh man, it's like watching Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy and shouting at the TV, only I couldn't say a peep, but inside I was screaming, "Come on, you know this." I know it's so much easier to be sitting back and watching, than in the hot seat. My stomach was a ball of knots, I cannot imagine what their's felt like.
It was interesting to me, and I probably should've skipped shopping and watched the whole day (boy, was it a long day) because I need to learn that stuff too, or at least some of it. And I now have a much better idea at what Madolyn needs to practice and study on because I get the idea. I just couldn't grasp it before. Madolyn got third in her division for the Hippology (which her mama was pretty excited about because this is her first year and she just started in January), and she will advance to the state contest here in a couple weeks. A few of the other girls advanced also so it should be fun.
After my weekend education, when I hear someone say "Horse Bowl and Hippology," at least I won't be thinking of horses bowling with a hippopotamus anymore...
I thought, yikes, if she enjoys this, that will be the day, this won't last a month. Funny thing, she LOVES it. Of course she does because I would probably hate it. They study everything about horses, and I do mean everything. They have anatomy books and models that they use to practice guessing the parts. They have all kinds of horse tack that they quiz each other on. They use color pages and diagrams. She has notebooks, etc. And I think all of that relates to the Hippology part. I say 'I think' because honestly I'm still somewhat lost on the whole thing. The horse bowl part is just like scholastic bowl....and I had never been to a scholastic bowl meet...so I didn't even understand exactly what that meant either. So I just googled the subject matter and got all kinds of hits in case you're interested in learning all about the horse.
This past weekend was the event of the year...what those kids practice for all year long. It was the Regional Horse Bowl & Hippology at a local junior college. The bad thing...we had to get up and be on the road by 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday...ugh!! But we did it, and we weren't even late, which is awesome for us. I actually dropped the girls off and went shopping for a while, got my oil changed, drove around Mattoon aimlessly and finally decided that gas was a tad high to be wandering about with no reason.
I returned to the college and the girls were practicing up for another round of horse bowl. I was told I could go in and watch if I could be quiet...geesh, it's like they know me or something. I sat in the very back and tried to be where Madolyn could NOT see me because she has the habit of looking at me constantly...and honestly, I would be of little help on this one.
Like I said before, I had never even been to a scholastic bowl meet or match or game (what do you call it?) so it's was all foreign to me. (I can't remember, but I'm guessing we didn't have scholastic bowl when I was in school.) Anyway, it was all so formal and rigid, and many times I wanted to say, "Oh, come on that was close," which would've have been a major no-no. No one even had to tell me that, it was understood. Our team did real good the first match I watched. They had already won one earlier and lost the second by just three or four points. The last match was against the hardest team, and phooey, they beat us pretty bad. I think it was the fear factor. I really wanted to give them a little pep talk before going on that it didn't matter how good these kids were normally, etc, etc, but I wasn't their coach...and maybe that's not what you do at Horse Bowl. The overall contest is calculated by accumulative points so that last match killed us. I think we got third in the horse bowl for that age group.
I knew maybe about ten of the 60 questions they asked, which is pitiful. See, I would've been no help. But the ones I did know and they didn't, oh man, it's like watching Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy and shouting at the TV, only I couldn't say a peep, but inside I was screaming, "Come on, you know this." I know it's so much easier to be sitting back and watching, than in the hot seat. My stomach was a ball of knots, I cannot imagine what their's felt like.
It was interesting to me, and I probably should've skipped shopping and watched the whole day (boy, was it a long day) because I need to learn that stuff too, or at least some of it. And I now have a much better idea at what Madolyn needs to practice and study on because I get the idea. I just couldn't grasp it before. Madolyn got third in her division for the Hippology (which her mama was pretty excited about because this is her first year and she just started in January), and she will advance to the state contest here in a couple weeks. A few of the other girls advanced also so it should be fun.
After my weekend education, when I hear someone say "Horse Bowl and Hippology," at least I won't be thinking of horses bowling with a hippopotamus anymore...
Monday, April 2, 2012
I want to be a Dandelion
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Eph. 6:10-11 (NIV)
So as I was walking, all I could think was how it seems like no matter what you do to those stupid Dandelions, they come back. No matter how much potent weed killer you put on them, they find a new place to sprout and grow. I can take my little weed-digging tool out and dig them up from the root...and the very next week, a new plant will appear nearby. I have even been so careful at times to make sure that there is no way the little seeds could have fallen from the dying Dandelion as I carried them off...because I certainly didn't want them to multiply.
I had to laugh...all this work to try and keep one of God's creations from growing. And really it isn't like it's a thistle or thorn bush. It is a flower with vibrant yellow petals beaming from all directions. It doesn't really hurt anything either. In fact, it even provides food to the bees...and if you have goats, they love them!
I considered it a moment and thought how a Dandelion can be a lot like the life of a Christian. Oh, how I hope we are popping up all over the place, not deterred by the pesky weed killers (aka Satan) or the weed-digging tools (aka atheists and non-believers) that are determined to pick us out one-by-one. How I would love it if everywhere you went, you would see Christians standing tall, reflecting the brightness of the Son, crowding out non-believers and those who want to destroy us, Christians strong enough to not let others prevent them from sprouting new growth. We cannot let the world be stronger than we are...even as the lawnmower blades cut the heads from the top of the Dandelion, the roots remain strong and continue to grow.
I want to be a Dandelion Christian...the kind that is persistent and resilient despite all the forces that are out there against us, standing tall and mighty wearing the armor of God. Won't you join me?
The other day as I was taking a walk, I couldn't help but notice those annoying, resilient, everywhere-you-look Dandelions. In the past, Jay has spent all kinds of time, tracking them down in our yard and zapping them with potent weedkiller. If he saw one poke up later, he would go out and attack it and its friends with a vengeance. We did not want those pesky weeds flowers in our yard and we would not stop until we killed every one of them.
So as I was walking, all I could think was how it seems like no matter what you do to those stupid Dandelions, they come back. No matter how much potent weed killer you put on them, they find a new place to sprout and grow. I can take my little weed-digging tool out and dig them up from the root...and the very next week, a new plant will appear nearby. I have even been so careful at times to make sure that there is no way the little seeds could have fallen from the dying Dandelion as I carried them off...because I certainly didn't want them to multiply.I had to laugh...all this work to try and keep one of God's creations from growing. And really it isn't like it's a thistle or thorn bush. It is a flower with vibrant yellow petals beaming from all directions. It doesn't really hurt anything either. In fact, it even provides food to the bees...and if you have goats, they love them!
I considered it a moment and thought how a Dandelion can be a lot like the life of a Christian. Oh, how I hope we are popping up all over the place, not deterred by the pesky weed killers (aka Satan) or the weed-digging tools (aka atheists and non-believers) that are determined to pick us out one-by-one. How I would love it if everywhere you went, you would see Christians standing tall, reflecting the brightness of the Son, crowding out non-believers and those who want to destroy us, Christians strong enough to not let others prevent them from sprouting new growth. We cannot let the world be stronger than we are...even as the lawnmower blades cut the heads from the top of the Dandelion, the roots remain strong and continue to grow.
I want to be a Dandelion Christian...the kind that is persistent and resilient despite all the forces that are out there against us, standing tall and mighty wearing the armor of God. Won't you join me?
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