So Many Thoughts!

I realized, with shame, that I have not posted anything new for almost a year! Actually... Benny pointed it out. That makes me even more ashamed :(.

Oh, well! It's time to make it up to my nonexistent readers! :).

SO much has happened. A whole year of school, for instance. Also, a lot of important decisions have come into place: Majors, future education, relationships, work, etc. It has been totally crazy.

My fourth and final semester at Sandburg has been both my easiest and my hardest. I have taken all classes that I truly love, and that made it easy; however, I did take 18 or 19 hours. That is a lot of English and Music! I took two independent studies, which was a very big part of the great amount of time I have not had :). Tim also got a new job, this past year, so his teaching instruction in the music department was replaced by James Hutchings, who is, quite frankly, amazing. I feel like I have progressed with him, developing my musicianship, more than with most other music teachers I have had - at least equal with all of them. I wish I could take more from him, but I don't see that happening :). I'm also sad to leave Mr. Burdick, who has been my steady anchor through both years of school. He told me that I took more of his classes than any student he had ever had. I was fortunate: I took six :). He spent the first year trying to convince me to change my major to English, which I did end up doing, to his great pleasure.

In my work life, I still work with Steven, one of my dearest loves and joys. I find myself more inspired by him every day. He reminds me to forget yesterday and do my best at the moment I am currently living :). I work with him again, this Summer, my fourth Summer with him. I am hoping to introduce him to several people, too, who have heard me speak of him.

In my spiritual life, I have recently have several epiphanies which cannot be spoken plainly, I do not think; however, God has been steadfast and patient with me. It has been a hard year, and I would not have made it without the shadow of His right hand.

In my personal life, I have made many new friends - more than I ever thought I would - and I think several of them are forever friends. I am thinking of a couple in particular: David and Benny. Hopefully they will be known better to my other friends and family in future. There are, of course, other friends to be known! Ian, Nathan Scott, Gracie, Er!ka, Cleopatra (Edward), Brandon, Nate, Lanae, Reed, Dan, Beth, Stephenie, and the list goes on! I love people :).

That is all I will write for now. I will try my hardest to keep up with this. If I forget, my nonexistent readers will, I'm sure, put a bug in my ear :).

25 Most Influential Men

I was thinking that people might wonder about the list I did about the 25 most influential men in my life... So I'll start from the top; even though It may take several posts to finish.

First though, I will note that not all of the people in my list are living, nor do I know them all personally. Most I do know personally, and I believe that only one is dead. The list was heavily considered... So, here goes!

Andy Andrews ~ This man I do not know personally. He is actually a writer of historical fiction. I chose him for my list because of one of his books that greatly influenced my views on life. The book is in my top 100 books list "The Lost Choice." It talks much about how every decision that someone makes affects the course of not only their own life, but of others lives.

Frank Baldwin ~ This man I do know personally, and have known of him all my life. He was known to me as a great preacher, and his influence on me has been mostly because of His Christian walk. I have not seen him in many years, but my memories of him are special.

Randall Clark ~ This man is my godfather. I have known him for almost ten years (About half of my life). He was not a Christian when I first met him, but has been for most of the years I've known him. His great wisdom and quiet talks with me have greatly influenced me. He and I are alike in many ways, and he has taught me so much.

Douglas Crossman ~ This man I have known all my life, but do not see often. He is Welsh, and travels a lot because of his ministry (As well as his wife's ministry). He is the kind of person you always remember because of his funny personality. His influence on me has been most noted in his Christian walk and ministry.

Mark Horton ~ This man I know personally and have known him for at least six years. He gave me my most touching compliment, and his encouragement of my ministry has greatly influenced the way that I minister.

Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson ~ This man is not living, nor do I know him personally. His life has greatly influenced the way I live. He once said "Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave"

Jesus the Christ ~ This Man, who is also God, I have known of all my life, but have truly known for eight or nine years. His influence is the greatest of any man, and it is given through His life, ministry, and others of His choosing. To try to explain would be pointless, because there are no words beautiful or wise enough.

Richard Kenny ~ This man I know personally, and have known all my life. His influence on me was noted during a time of personal suffering, when he gave me comfort. He knew my pain when others didn't, and because of his love I am influenced.

Kurt Killam ~ This man I have known for four or five years, even though I have had other brief contact with him, several times, over nine years. His influence was one of a peculiar kind... He was one of few who would talk with me about anything, and seemed to read my feelings. He gave me much comfort and laughter when I felt sad.

Steven Knaack ~ This "man" is actually a boy, and will always be a boy. He has Down Syndrome, and I care for him during the summer. He has given me much laughter and love in his influence. He is a great blessing to me.

Gerald Mershimer ~ This man I have known personally for four or more years. Even though I haven't been in much personal contact, his ministry and Christian walk have greatly affected my personal walk. His caring ways made me feel appreciated and wanted when I needed that badly.

Loy Mershimer ~ This man I have known personally for six or more years. I have corresponded with him often in those years, and his quiet ways of showing God's love in his ministry greatly influenced my own Walk.

That's all I have time for now. God bless!

~Branded with God's seal.

Special Abilities Children

There are many terms used for people/children who are mentally unbalanced... Strait retarded, which is considered unkind; Special Needs, which could be seen as insensitive; Special, which I see as something someone says when they really think the person in question really isn't that special... Slow... "Not all there"... It seems endless. I prefer to call them Special Abilities children. I'm not saying that all of them are prodigies; but they have a way of communicating that I find different from anyone else. There is an innocence in it; a love; a thirst to prove themselves; a forcefulness that others, who don't have experience with them, might find frightening.

The boy I care for is a very "in your face" child. Despite his awkwardness he has a sense of fluency in the way he moves. And when he gets in my face, just to annoy me, I can feel the aura of affection and love in everything he does to drive me crazy. This ability is amazing to me. The pure genuine way he communicates is part of what I love about him. Sometimes I wish everyone I knew was so straightforward!

Words of Wisdom...

A famous apologist once wrote, "If you treat something like an animal long enough it will eventually become one." I use this theory when doing child care. This may seem odd to some, but I've observed that children learn what you expect of them, and then do exactly that and often nothing more. If you don't expect a child to respect and obey you, the child will often do just what you expect.



I take care of a Down boy, and he is very special to me... I do my best to treat him like I would any other child. I expect him to behave, help me with jobs around the house, to be kind, etc. He knows this, and as a result I have gotten a lot of joy in the job. We have made some advances too! He will eat anything I put in front of him, which is something he won't do for anybody else, including his parents. He tests me sometimes, to see if he can get away with disobedience, but being firm is something that I am very serious about.


What you expect of people says something about you... It's an interesting thought.