Sunday, January 25, 2009
OK< seriously - facebook is amazing. I have found dear friends that I had lost contact with and it's great to get in touch with them again. :)
Saturday, January 17, 2009
A Cherokee Legend: Two Wolves
I came across this story (one of my favorites) while cleaning my bookshelves. A lesson in life for me.
A Cherokee Legend: Two Wolves
A Cherokee Legend: Two Wolves
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.
"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Here is the same story, but it is called "Grandfather Tells" which is also known as "The Wolves Within"
An old Grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice, "Let me tell you a story.
I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do.
But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times." He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me. One is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him, and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.
But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger,for his anger will change nothing.
Sometimes, it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."
The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"
The Grandfather smiled and quietly said, "The one I feed."
"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Here is the same story, but it is called "Grandfather Tells" which is also known as "The Wolves Within"
An old Grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice, "Let me tell you a story.
I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do.
But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times." He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me. One is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him, and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.
But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger,for his anger will change nothing.
Sometimes, it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."
The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"
The Grandfather smiled and quietly said, "The one I feed."
Saturday, January 10, 2009
It was requested of me by friends from long ago to post some pictures of my immediate family, so here goes: Above is my brother Brian with his daughter and son, Madison and Chad at a Seahawk vs. 49er game in Seatle. Below is Brian with song Boston and Chad.
Here is my dad and mom
Here's my younger sister Allison and moi!
Below is Jimmy, Jacob and Zach (my sister Rachel's kids) with Solomon and Jerricho.
Here's Rachel and her oldest Jimmy.
That's all I have. :)
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Our Christmas
Our Christmas went well. It was awesome to see my sister Rachel and her family. I am so thankful that she makes the effort to come up every 1 or 2 yrs. It's time that we go back down to Cally and visit her.... we will find a way!
We spent Christmas at my parents house. This was Jerricho's first Christmas so he didn't know what was going on but because he is so smart -- after the first present -- he knew exactly what to do, and was very excited to open more. So excited that he squealed LOUDLY (as those of you who have met him know he can be quite loud) and kept saying "WOW" every time he saw a new present. It was so funny!
Solomon of course totally believes in Santa, in fact he was so worried each time he got in trouble leading up to Christmas, that he thought Santa wasn't going to get him anything. I had to reassure him that I was sure he'll get something. I have to say it was convenient to use that over his head a bit . . . hmmm.
Jerricho and Solomon loved hanging out with his cousins. Jerricho had a blast just keeping up with the boys (ages 15, 12 and 9). He would crack up (that true belly laugh of his) just watching them wrestle around (which was constant). It was fun to see. It was good for Solomon to have other boys to mess around with also.
Allie and her family came over to the house often to be with us Rachel and family. They live in Parma so it wasn't much of a drive -- except with the snow and ice on the roads it made it a little scary. Coltin (age 3 1/2) was just like Jerricho trying to keep up with the older boys.
All in all there were 6 grandsons at my parents house this past 5 days. Have to say it was noisy but fun to see their carefree childlike fun. Keeps us young.
We were only missing Brian and his family. Brian and Angee were planning on a quiet Christmas by themselves with their kids going to OR. to see their other dad, but the weather wouldn't permit them go to OR. so they had the kids with them. Which they enjoyed I'm sure. If they had come here, there would have been 8 boys and one girl!
We also remembered the true meaning of Christmas and in Solomon's nighttime prayers he mentioned that "Christmas was about Jesus and that we should remember him and give presents to each other because the wise men brought presents for Jesus. I can't wait for my presents." We'll he's getting there.
Jerricho just liked playing with our kid friendly Nativity Scene. :)
We spent Christmas at my parents house. This was Jerricho's first Christmas so he didn't know what was going on but because he is so smart -- after the first present -- he knew exactly what to do, and was very excited to open more. So excited that he squealed LOUDLY (as those of you who have met him know he can be quite loud) and kept saying "WOW" every time he saw a new present. It was so funny!
Solomon of course totally believes in Santa, in fact he was so worried each time he got in trouble leading up to Christmas, that he thought Santa wasn't going to get him anything. I had to reassure him that I was sure he'll get something. I have to say it was convenient to use that over his head a bit . . . hmmm.
Jerricho and Solomon loved hanging out with his cousins. Jerricho had a blast just keeping up with the boys (ages 15, 12 and 9). He would crack up (that true belly laugh of his) just watching them wrestle around (which was constant). It was fun to see. It was good for Solomon to have other boys to mess around with also.
Allie and her family came over to the house often to be with us Rachel and family. They live in Parma so it wasn't much of a drive -- except with the snow and ice on the roads it made it a little scary. Coltin (age 3 1/2) was just like Jerricho trying to keep up with the older boys.
All in all there were 6 grandsons at my parents house this past 5 days. Have to say it was noisy but fun to see their carefree childlike fun. Keeps us young.
We were only missing Brian and his family. Brian and Angee were planning on a quiet Christmas by themselves with their kids going to OR. to see their other dad, but the weather wouldn't permit them go to OR. so they had the kids with them. Which they enjoyed I'm sure. If they had come here, there would have been 8 boys and one girl!
We also remembered the true meaning of Christmas and in Solomon's nighttime prayers he mentioned that "Christmas was about Jesus and that we should remember him and give presents to each other because the wise men brought presents for Jesus. I can't wait for my presents." We'll he's getting there.
Jerricho just liked playing with our kid friendly Nativity Scene. :)
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Time to Update
Last week was the last week of school. I had a busy month at work as Decembers always are. We recorded a school Holiday CD, took a Choir field trip to the Assited Living Home to carol for the elderly. This last week we had our 1st/2nd grade Christmas program *which Solomon was a part of* and the Choir and Xylophone Ensemble Concert. They went well without any "noticeable" mistakes. Friday we had the school sing-a-long. So now I can breathe . . . except, WAIT, I am still painting my house! Almost finished though. Taking a break today.
That's about it!
That's about it!
We're so Proud.
OK, so Solomon was in the school music Christmas program (me being the music teacher/director of course), and this is the picture we get of him! Does the apple fall far from the tree or what? :) Can you believe it? LOL. That's my boy.
Monday, December 22, 2008
School's OUT
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Programs are over.... now I can enjoy being home with my family.!!
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can breathe now.
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can breathe now.
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