Day 43: Simple

Simple patriotism can be found in many places: Flowerbeds with a tiny flag waving in the breeze or hay bales seen along an interstate highway with a large flag sticking out of the middle of the hay. Thanks to all who display with the flag with honor. Day 44: Simple Part 2

Mom wanted a simple headstone, mainly because anything else was a waste of money. All we needed was her name, birth date and date of death. It is the perfect answer to her wishes. Day 45: Ready

Omaha was the site of the US Olympic swimming trials. A few weeks before I was there and saw this huge fiberglass swimmer near the Mutual of Omaha building. People took lots of photos there because you simply could not miss this guy in the middle of the hill. Day 46: Food

One of my favorite salads is broccoli salad. As far as I am concerned bacon is the main ingredient. This was what I ate on the road in Yellowstone in July- salad, beef jerky that Wayne makes, cookies, & fruit. Lots of variety and oh so tasty! Day 47: Faces

In my classroom are many non-student faces. I have attention getting animals whose faces are unique- a chicken and a cow. One big face is Albert Einstein smoking a pipe. You cannot have a science room without Old Albert. There is a green monkey I bought in Illinois at a museum gift shop. I do not remember the details about it, but I love the tremendously long arms on this guy. Day 48: Inside

Inside was fairly simple. My favorite item in the classroom is Mr. Skelly. Right now he is INSIDE of a bag to keep dust off of him and to keep the kids from having a little fun with him. Jim Bryan, my high school biology teacher, had one such skeleton and I very clearly remember things we did to it. Skelly will not be subjected to that abuse by sixth graders! Day 49:Hole

Mud Volcano hole in Yellowstone National Park on July 13th. I was not expecting such a huge hole so was a cool view BEFORE the hail started. It is hot, but not near as hot as the geyser area. Glad I got to see it. Day 50:

Today I used my cow noisemaker to get kids' attention. What do you think- Would you stop to listen to this funny looking cow? Day 51: Cool

Sock monkey is making a huge comeback! I saw plenty of teacher decorations in Mardel's for Sock Monkey. I have seen it on t-shirts and Kohl's has them now for $5.00. I sewed them so they would be hanging together, then placed these little signs on them to give kids something to think about. Just saying the three evils would not make much of an impact on eleven year olds. Maybe this display will do the trick! Day 52: Home

I love Chinese art and tea pots. The pots were bought in a grocery store (white one) and a tea shop (black one). Their entire being is a piece of art...can't bring my self to use them for tea. My first year in China I met a young artist at a city tower painting names for an unbelievably low price. Just watching him work was an experience because no two names were the same, not even if he painted two with the same last name. And boy was he lightning fast! He did this one in about 8 minutes. I have never found another guy as good as he was. My Jesus puzzle, was designed by Rev. Richard Mayer, our minister for 26 years. This was a Lent puzzle from several years ago and it definitely has a home in my house and in my heart. Now that school is back in session I will be switching over to the weekly themes rather that the daily ones. Once you get behind on those it takes a lot of catching up (This post took over an hour to upload and explain- cannot do that again!).

Day 42: Spoon

There is a spoon in this bowl, even though you can't see much of it. It is plastic, white, and disposable. It is definitely NOT the most important thing in this bowl...

Day 41: Messy

Paper crafting can get messy. This photo actually shows my table before getting messy. With all of these tools and paper you can definitely get a messy work area in no time flat! I was embossing greeting cards and envelopes on this night. Not much cutting, gluing (using adhesives)or using messy materials. Next time though might be a different story!

Day 40: Ring

With this ring I thee wed...Many people repeat these words every day. How many really internalize the significance of them or of the words repeated just prior to those? So many people think it so easy to get married, yet it is not easy to stay married. It takes work, not just cute gifts, a house your parents gave you, a $50,000 wedding. It all means nothing if you do not honor your spouse and respect him/her as well.

Day 39: Simple Things

There is field across the driveway from our school. This morning I saw a calf and its mother. The disturbing thing is this calf was chewing on a ziplock baggie. This trash could most likely strangle this calf as it tries to digest it. How simple would it have been for the owner of the bag to put in it the TRASH CAN? Think about how your actions affect others!

Day 38: Purple: A popular color

Day 38: Purple

Purple is a color of many things I am involved in on a weekly basis. My school, Eisenhower Middle School, has purple as a main color. My LIONS club, Lawton Northeast LIONS, has purple as one of its main colors, and my favorite place in the USA to visit, Alaska, is represented by a purple tee shirt. Between August and May most of my time is spent at school. I teach 6th grade science and sponsor the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which meets once a week. My choice of tee shirt color for that organization is also purple, the color of royalty. Twice a month the LIONS club meets to plan and deliver service projects in the community and the state. We collect used eyeglasses to be used for people in other countries, we place flags in the city at businesses on national holidays, we donate paper products to the Boys' ranch in Perkins, and we provide educational assistance through scholarships and the annual speech contest. Alaska is very close to my heart, especially once I learned about sled dog racing. I have visited there four times, once on a grant, once as a NOAA Teacher at Sea, once for Iditarod Teacher Camp, and once to work in Denali at a hotel. Every time I visit I learn a great deal about the areas where I either work or journey out into the wilderness. The more I learn about Alaska the more I can impart to my students regarding climate, geography, geology, fauna and flora, and history. And the non-shirt purple thing? It is a Chinese comforter cover I found in Shijiazhuang in 2008. It matches the lilac paint on my bedroom walls so I knew I had to buy it. I watched them make it in the store in about 20 minutes. It contains my silk comforter from Shanghai that is the softest comforter I have ever had.

Day 37: Glasses

I could not have seen most of these beautiful sights in nature without my glasses. Now that my vacation is over I will keep these places and things in my memory. Some are from Montana, Wyoming, Florida, and home. Whew, what an adventurous time I had actually staying in this country!

Day 36 Writing

Signage is extremely important in national and state parks. I would much rather take photos of the signs so I do not have to take notes. Unfortunately, sometimes the signs are so scientific that you need a dictionary to understand what you are reading. These signs in the Falling Waters State Park in Florida are very easy to read and make perfect sense to the average visitor.

This sinkhole was supposed to have a waterfall running into it. However there was not even a small trickle of water there, not one drop even. It has been raining in this area since June so you would think a waterfall would be constantly receiving its water supply.

These last two signs I took on my trip back to Texas on Tuesday. Apparently in the south people do not raise a real hissy fit about Christian signs. The Donate Blood one pairs nicely with the Jesus one.

Day 35 Logo

Day 35 LOGO

I do not look at particular logos as things which define me, however I do have one, with several variations, that I know defines a very important part of me. This is the Luther Rose. Each color and individual part of the rose has an explanation which defines what Lutherans believe. 1. First, there should be a black cross set in a heart, which should keep its natural colour. This will remind me that faith in the Crucified saves us. Because: "If you believe in your heart, you will be justified." Even though it is a black cross, which kills us and causes pain, yet it allows the heart to remain its natural colour; it does not destroy the heart's nature, that is, it does not kill the heart, but keeps it alive. Because "The just will live by faith" - but faith in the Crucified. 2. Now, although the cross is black, mortified, and intended to cause pain, yet it does not tend to change the colour of the heart, does not destroy nature, i.e., does not kill, but keeps alive. "For the just shall live by faith,'' - by faith in the saviour. 3. But this heart is fixed upon the center of a white rose, to show that faith causes joy, consolation and peace. The rose is white, not red, because white is the ideal colour of all angels and blessed spirits. 4. The rose, moreover, is fixed on a sky-coloured ground, to denote that such joy of faith in the spirit is but an earnest yearning and beginning of heavenly joy to come, as anticipated and held by hope, though not yet revealed. 5. And around this groundbase is a golden ring, to signify that such bliss in heaven is endless, and more precious than all joys and treasures, since gold is the best and most treasured metal. Christ, our dear Lord, He will give us grace unto eternal life. 6. Put them all together,the complete seal.

Day 34: Taken While Sitting/Squatting

It was, after all, in a state park so there wasn't much sitting around today. I saw lots of mushrooms and fungi and several fun little creatures. My favorite fungus is the Turkey Tail fungus...guess which one it is!

There ere many spiders in our path and Michelle pretty much removed most of the webs. These are not enjoyed by many people, however their body colors are quite beautiful.

For you OU fans...this one is for you.