Over the last few weeks, I have been journaling or blogging, I should say, on this site as part of my Summer English Composition class. This is my last blog and is supposed to be reflective. I did have a little bit of trouble trying to find things to write about. Sometimes it was a stretch to get down what I did; sometimes the words and thoughts came easy, still yet other times, nothing at all. I discovered that there are some great websites out there in the Internet that give great blogging or journaling ideas, as well as the ones for assignments from the instructor.
My process was to try on my own to figure out a topic. When that did not work I would try to find one on many of the locations to get ideas. Sometimes it took quite a while to find one I liked. Other times I was able to do it right off. I then thought about and free wrote a little about what I wanted to say in the blog. I finally would go to my new blog screen and started typing. Once finished typing, I edited it and then posted the new post.
My next step in the blogging was to read and comment on other student blogs. Try as I might and that was very frustrating, I could not get any of the replies to student to post on the blogging sight. I asked for help and none could be found. So the thirty extra points that could have definitely been used are all for naught. That was what I hated about it other than the fact that I had to write. I did like doing the interview with my sons. That was fun.
I guess I have grown as a writer in that I can write things that I had not every tried to in the past.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Interviews of my boys
I thought it would be fun to interview my kids this week. One of them did the same to me for a school project so I thought I would turn the tables on them.
The first son interviewed is my almost 18 year old son. He told me his favorite food is Mexican, El Jimadors quesadillas, specifically. His favorite sport is baseball although he does not have a favorite player. His favorite game is Halo something or another. His favorite subject in school was history. He could not pinpoint a favorite song he said he has over 20 favorites. His favorite musical instrument is the snare drum, but any drum would do. His favorite book is the last Harry Potter book. His favorite movie is Fireproof. His favorite place to go is to the shooting range. His hero is every military man and woman, current and past. His best friends are Chance, Joe and Lance. He would like to learn auto repair so he doesn’t have to ask me to help. When he “grows up” he is going into the military to work on the B2 Bombers. Final answer for him was what animal he would be. He had to think about it and decided he would be a lion because they rule the jungle.
The second son interviewed is my 14 year old son. He told me his favorite food is very thick crust meat pizza. His favorite sport is football. He has played this for going on five years now. His favorite game is Grand Theft Auto. His favorite subject in school is art. His favorite songs are anything AC/DC. His favorite musical instrument is the guitar. His favorite book is anything with cars or trucks in it. His favorite movie is Hangover. His favorite place to go is to the woods. His hero is every Dan Marino. His best friends are Hence and Corey. He would like to learn auto body. When he grows up he is going into the military to drive the trucks and do demolition. Final answer for him was what animal he would be. He said he would be a dog.
The third son interviewed is my 10 year old son. He told me his favorite food is McDonalds. His favorite sport is football. His favorite game is Star Wars. His favorite subject in school is religion. His favorite song is Amazing Grace the John Newton version. His favorite musical instrument is the hand bell. His favorite books are the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. His favorite movie is Prince of Egypt. His favorite place to go is to Sunday School. His hero is Jesus. His best friends are Corbin, Leo, Trent, and Nathan. He would like to learn to cook. When grows up, he will be a pastor, probably for youth. Final answer for him was what animal he would be. He said he would be a lamb.
The first son interviewed is my almost 18 year old son. He told me his favorite food is Mexican, El Jimadors quesadillas, specifically. His favorite sport is baseball although he does not have a favorite player. His favorite game is Halo something or another. His favorite subject in school was history. He could not pinpoint a favorite song he said he has over 20 favorites. His favorite musical instrument is the snare drum, but any drum would do. His favorite book is the last Harry Potter book. His favorite movie is Fireproof. His favorite place to go is to the shooting range. His hero is every military man and woman, current and past. His best friends are Chance, Joe and Lance. He would like to learn auto repair so he doesn’t have to ask me to help. When he “grows up” he is going into the military to work on the B2 Bombers. Final answer for him was what animal he would be. He had to think about it and decided he would be a lion because they rule the jungle.
The second son interviewed is my 14 year old son. He told me his favorite food is very thick crust meat pizza. His favorite sport is football. He has played this for going on five years now. His favorite game is Grand Theft Auto. His favorite subject in school is art. His favorite songs are anything AC/DC. His favorite musical instrument is the guitar. His favorite book is anything with cars or trucks in it. His favorite movie is Hangover. His favorite place to go is to the woods. His hero is every Dan Marino. His best friends are Hence and Corey. He would like to learn auto body. When he grows up he is going into the military to drive the trucks and do demolition. Final answer for him was what animal he would be. He said he would be a dog.
The third son interviewed is my 10 year old son. He told me his favorite food is McDonalds. His favorite sport is football. His favorite game is Star Wars. His favorite subject in school is religion. His favorite song is Amazing Grace the John Newton version. His favorite musical instrument is the hand bell. His favorite books are the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. His favorite movie is Prince of Egypt. His favorite place to go is to Sunday School. His hero is Jesus. His best friends are Corbin, Leo, Trent, and Nathan. He would like to learn to cook. When grows up, he will be a pastor, probably for youth. Final answer for him was what animal he would be. He said he would be a lamb.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
What would I do if I won the lottery?
Today, while hanging out with some of my friends, one of them talked about another friend who had recently won a very large amount of money playing the lottery. We started all talking about what we would do if we one the lottery. There were many different thoughts such as trips, purchases, savings, donations , etc. So I got to thinking, what would most people do if they were to win the lottery. I think most people that is a no brainer—they would spend it! Mindsets such as this one can and have gotten people in trouble financially and legally. How many people in the country have won the lottery or big amounts of money, get a taste for the good life, spend all their money on unnecessary things, and go bankrupt? I have heard of many, I even had a cousin who did this twice, is still playing the game, is still losing most of the time. When he does win, he just puts it right back into the lottery.
What would I do if I won the lottery? I would spent some but not all of the money after taxes. I would donate some to my church. I would buy land and build a house. I would put money in a good retirement fund for my wife and I. I would put some of it into small college funds for my sons and future grandchildren. I would pay off all of my debts, including school loans. I would also put some of it back into the community especially into the Lutheran High School that is growing here in my city. I would pay to build a football field. The rest of it I would put into savings and use it sparingly. I do know that I would not squander it no matter what.
What would I do if I won the lottery? I would spent some but not all of the money after taxes. I would donate some to my church. I would buy land and build a house. I would put money in a good retirement fund for my wife and I. I would put some of it into small college funds for my sons and future grandchildren. I would pay off all of my debts, including school loans. I would also put some of it back into the community especially into the Lutheran High School that is growing here in my city. I would pay to build a football field. The rest of it I would put into savings and use it sparingly. I do know that I would not squander it no matter what.
Friday, July 15, 2011
New family addition
We have a new addition to our family. I got a new great-nephew today. He is the son of my niece, or my brother’s grandson, or my mom’s great-grandson. Any way you cut it we have a new baby. As I have said before, my family is very close knit so every new addition is as special as the members we currently have. He joins his big brother who is two years old.
My wife and I had babysitting duty this morning while the new baby got here. We love my great-nephew Ryder. He has been the light of everyone’s eyes for the last two years. He loves us just as much as we love him. He is even attached to my future daughter-in-law. He plays with my sons and knows everyone’s names and has me wrapped around his fingers. Anything he wants, I will pretty much give him. My mom is the same way.
The new baby, Jaysyn, is so handsome. We are going to really have to make sure both boys get equal attention because as I experienced with my sons, you can’t show more attention to one than another. Ryder did not really care too much for Jaysyn. He looked at him and said let’s go. He was done, ready to go. We all thought it was funny, his mom and dad did not. I said give him time. There is so much going on and his mom does not look like she typically does, so that is throwing him off. There were also a lot of people in the room that he was nervous about so many people. Ryder will be a good big brother when Jaysyn gets home. He will have to learn to share his mom and dad, which will be a big change for him.
Thanks to God for another healthy life on this earth.
My wife and I had babysitting duty this morning while the new baby got here. We love my great-nephew Ryder. He has been the light of everyone’s eyes for the last two years. He loves us just as much as we love him. He is even attached to my future daughter-in-law. He plays with my sons and knows everyone’s names and has me wrapped around his fingers. Anything he wants, I will pretty much give him. My mom is the same way.
The new baby, Jaysyn, is so handsome. We are going to really have to make sure both boys get equal attention because as I experienced with my sons, you can’t show more attention to one than another. Ryder did not really care too much for Jaysyn. He looked at him and said let’s go. He was done, ready to go. We all thought it was funny, his mom and dad did not. I said give him time. There is so much going on and his mom does not look like she typically does, so that is throwing him off. There were also a lot of people in the room that he was nervous about so many people. Ryder will be a good big brother when Jaysyn gets home. He will have to learn to share his mom and dad, which will be a big change for him.
Thanks to God for another healthy life on this earth.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The scariest experience I’ve had
Two years ago, my then eight year old son was ill. We did not know what was wrong. He had stomachaches with the symptoms that go along with that illness. It started on a Friday night and finally by Sunday afternoon he had some other symptoms that worried us. So we took him to the emergency room.
They ran tests including ultrasound, blood work and CT scan of his abdomen. His blood work was abnormal and he was admitted to the hospital. At 2 am Monday morning, his Pediatrician called and told us they found a mass in his abdomen. My wife freaked out. Our doctor told us my son would need to be transferred to a children’s hospital. So at 6 am the doctor was in our room examining him again and asking us where we wanted to have him transferred. The decision was made to go to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. By 8 am, we were on the ambulance heading to St. Louis.
Once we got there, we spent another seven hours in their emergency room. We had so many medical students, residents, and physicians come and go we did not know what end was up. They kept thinking that he had sustained an injury to his abdomen. He kept saying no, just that it hurt and he could not pinpoint an area that did hurt.
Finally, he was admitted to the hospital. The next day they did an MRI and found what they felt was a softball sized tumor on his pancreas. I was terrified. My little boy was so small and all I could think of was that cancer is so rampant in my family; it could not get to my son so young. The doctor told us he would have to do exploratory surgery to know for sure. The surgery was scheduled for the next day. Let me tell you that was the most terrifying and sleepless night I have ever had. Then the day of the surgery came. My little guy was nervous and upset. My wife and I kept telling him everything will be okay. Jesus would be in the operating room with him. He believed us. I was very hard to reassure him when we were crumbling inside. Two hours later the doctor came out and told us the mass they thought was solid was really his under formed lymph nodes had collected lymphatic fluid which did not have anywhere to go. I felt like a million tons were lifted off my shoulders. We cried and thanked the surgeon for taking good care of our son.
Today, he is doing fine. He has been written about in medical journals. We thank God every day for the health of our sons, because we saw some children in that hospital who were in truth much, much sicker than my son.
They ran tests including ultrasound, blood work and CT scan of his abdomen. His blood work was abnormal and he was admitted to the hospital. At 2 am Monday morning, his Pediatrician called and told us they found a mass in his abdomen. My wife freaked out. Our doctor told us my son would need to be transferred to a children’s hospital. So at 6 am the doctor was in our room examining him again and asking us where we wanted to have him transferred. The decision was made to go to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. By 8 am, we were on the ambulance heading to St. Louis.
Once we got there, we spent another seven hours in their emergency room. We had so many medical students, residents, and physicians come and go we did not know what end was up. They kept thinking that he had sustained an injury to his abdomen. He kept saying no, just that it hurt and he could not pinpoint an area that did hurt.
Finally, he was admitted to the hospital. The next day they did an MRI and found what they felt was a softball sized tumor on his pancreas. I was terrified. My little boy was so small and all I could think of was that cancer is so rampant in my family; it could not get to my son so young. The doctor told us he would have to do exploratory surgery to know for sure. The surgery was scheduled for the next day. Let me tell you that was the most terrifying and sleepless night I have ever had. Then the day of the surgery came. My little guy was nervous and upset. My wife and I kept telling him everything will be okay. Jesus would be in the operating room with him. He believed us. I was very hard to reassure him when we were crumbling inside. Two hours later the doctor came out and told us the mass they thought was solid was really his under formed lymph nodes had collected lymphatic fluid which did not have anywhere to go. I felt like a million tons were lifted off my shoulders. We cried and thanked the surgeon for taking good care of our son.
Today, he is doing fine. He has been written about in medical journals. We thank God every day for the health of our sons, because we saw some children in that hospital who were in truth much, much sicker than my son.
Monday, July 11, 2011
My Collection
I collect Breyer animals. I started the collection when I was five years old and have been getting them every year since then and I am 41 years old now. I got the first one which was the Clydesdale stallion. It was retired in 2005. My grandma gave me that for a birthday present when I was five. I started this collection because at the time my parents owned several show horses and we all really liked them. So my grandma thought this would be a good present. Let me tell you my grandma never expected it to turn into what it is now. I have over 500 pieces ranging from my first Clydesdale stallion to the animal sets. I have multiples of the same animals, just with different paint jobs. I have wild animals such as the deer family, goat, buffalo, elk, moose, and mountain lion. I have farm animals such as the pig, bulls, cows, donkey, and many horses.
I have some special run horses. I have one porcelain Christmas horse. I receive two horses every year, one for Christmas and one for my birthday. I get the yearly holiday horse and whatever special runs may be going on at the time. My parents still give me these gifts because it is hard to break a tradition. My wife refuses to get me any because she hates having to help me dust them all. It is a very long and tedious process but it is well worth it. I get them down and by sons and I talk about them, when I got each one and what special meaning it has for me.
Last year at Christmas, I turned the tables on my mom. For Christmas, I bought her a Breyer. It was the model of Elvis’ horse, Rising Sun. She went crazy. She said she thought she would never see the day when she was receiving a horse.
I have some special run horses. I have one porcelain Christmas horse. I receive two horses every year, one for Christmas and one for my birthday. I get the yearly holiday horse and whatever special runs may be going on at the time. My parents still give me these gifts because it is hard to break a tradition. My wife refuses to get me any because she hates having to help me dust them all. It is a very long and tedious process but it is well worth it. I get them down and by sons and I talk about them, when I got each one and what special meaning it has for me.
Last year at Christmas, I turned the tables on my mom. For Christmas, I bought her a Breyer. It was the model of Elvis’ horse, Rising Sun. She went crazy. She said she thought she would never see the day when she was receiving a horse.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Memories
Well, what a day it has been. First, we did our typical Sunday morning routine: get up, eat breakfast, get showered, and go to church. After church was a different story. We went to my mom’s house to have lunch and spend time with her. Happily, my great-nephew was there visiting. He is 18 months and we all just love that little guy. He is so expressive and has everyone pegged at what they will do for him. He knows I will get him anything. So time was spent with my family.
In the afternoon, my cousin called my mom to tell her they were cleaning out her mom’s house. Her mom would be my aunt, my dad’s sister. Anyway, she wanted us to come and get some personal items that she thought we would all like to have. My aunt is in a long term nursing home and will not be home. So they are selling the house and wanted to get it cleaned out.
The thing that was amazing to me is how I just went back in time to my childhood as soon as I walked into her house. I remembered, with clarity, events with my cousins, aunt and uncle and grandma. We talked and laughed about those events. The memories were great.
My sons had lots of fun too. My uncle had collected die cast cars and tractors. Many of them would be worth some money. My cousin gave all of them to my boys. They were ecstatic. My middle son collects models and was in teenage boy heaven. They also had a box of Bibles they were going to donate. My cousin gave that box to my youngest son who is a “church nerd.” He is planning on being a pastor when he grows up so this was his favorite find of the day.
It turned out to be a great day with family that I don’t get to see very often.
In the afternoon, my cousin called my mom to tell her they were cleaning out her mom’s house. Her mom would be my aunt, my dad’s sister. Anyway, she wanted us to come and get some personal items that she thought we would all like to have. My aunt is in a long term nursing home and will not be home. So they are selling the house and wanted to get it cleaned out.
The thing that was amazing to me is how I just went back in time to my childhood as soon as I walked into her house. I remembered, with clarity, events with my cousins, aunt and uncle and grandma. We talked and laughed about those events. The memories were great.
My sons had lots of fun too. My uncle had collected die cast cars and tractors. Many of them would be worth some money. My cousin gave all of them to my boys. They were ecstatic. My middle son collects models and was in teenage boy heaven. They also had a box of Bibles they were going to donate. My cousin gave that box to my youngest son who is a “church nerd.” He is planning on being a pastor when he grows up so this was his favorite find of the day.
It turned out to be a great day with family that I don’t get to see very often.
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