A graceful, kind Marian Robinson Dies

 Marian Robinson, mother of former first lady Michell Obama died May 31 at the age of 86.  She watched over the Obama daughters during the 8 years the family lived in the White House.  What a graceful, loving, caring woman, a role model for us all.

Waterfall after the storms

 After the storms and rain, here is the waterfall 1 1/2 blocks from our home. 

Holy Trinity Sunday

 

This weekend is Trinity Sunday.

Holy, Holy, Holy. These words point us to God’s transcendent sovereignty, and fearsome majesty. Jesus and the apostle Paul each talk about God as accessible as a parent, and as approachable as a good friend. On this Trinity Sunday, as we celebrate God’s three-in-oneness, we remember how inadequate our language for God can be. In scripture, music, liturgy, sermon, and prayers, we gather to worship our unfathomable God.

What Really Is Memorial Day?

 Memorial Day: A 3-day weekend? Beginning of Summer plans? Traffic jams? Sales? Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor the loved ones who have gone before, particularly the men and women who have died while serving in the military, both in war and during peacetime.  

Flox, Rocks, and a Deer.

 Flox, rocks, and a deer. Burton and I took an early morning walk on the Meredith Willson/Music Man bridge last night. It flows over Willow Creek, just a few blocks from our home. There is a water fall just around the bend.  A fine experience after the terrible storms across Iowa the night before.

Over 240 graduates

 Jackson Everist, our grandson, was among the 243 graduates of Mason City High School (Iowa) Sunday, May 19.  Here he is receiving his diploma.  Also pictured is Jackson receiving his plaque for having a 4.00 grade point. He is placing it on the wall among the plaques of 4.00 students going way back to mine in 1956, my sister's in 1954, and Jackson's sister Jennaya in 2022.

  

Jackson's Graduation

 Grandson Jackson Everist graduates Sunday from Mason City High School, the school from which I graduated, and from which my father graduated in 1917.  Friday night was Jackson's graduation party. His parents, Joel and Rachel and his sister, Jennaya (MCHS 2022) are pictured with him. Red and Black are the Riverhawks colors.

Jackson graduates with a 4.0.  He has won many awards, for music, theater, student senate, All-State, and Model U.N.  He will attend North Iowa Area Community College next year to begin to discern his field of study and vocation.  Rachel and Joel teach there.

70th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education

 

Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark Supreme Court decision that declared “separate but equal” education unconstitutional in the United States – remains one of the most consequential court cases in American history.

As the nation commemorates the ruling’s 70th anniversary, the case may have paved the way for more equal and integrated schools, but fierce – and continued – opposition to integration means the ruling in no way assured the end of segregated education in the United States.

Although progress has undoubtedly been made over the decades, research shows many school districts today are racially segregated because they are divided along residential and economic lines. 

Recent policies have resulted in more intensely segregated schools, where 10% or fewer students are white.

Just Western Civilization?

 Iowa will be required to include specific topics and themes in its social studies curriculum under a new law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds Wednesday.

The state's social studies standards would be required to include instruction on government, civics and "exemplary figures and important events in Western civilization, the United States and the state of Iowa."

Opponents believed that "Western civilization" be replaced with "World Civilization"

How can we build peace in the world if students don't learn about the whole world?

What Became a Tradition

 Here we area: Jackson, Jennaya and I planting annuals in Joel's and Rachel's backyard.  It started when Jennaya was two and she "helped me."  When Jackson came alone, he was still crawling, but soon he began to help by watering. Now Jennaya is turning 20 and Jackson 18.  We have planted together all these years.  It's only 5 minutes by car to their house now that we live in Mason City.  When we lived in Dubuque, we drove 3 hours to hear the Spring Concert of Mason City High School Choirs with Joel directing and Rachel playing piano.  Then we would stay over and plant flowers.  Who knew planting "annuals" together would become a tradition?

Graduations 68 years apart

 Our grandson Jackson graduates next week from Mason City (IA) High School.  I graduated from the same high school in 1956.  Here is a picture of graduates from my class meeting for our monthly supper gathering, tonight, 68 years after our graduation.

Ascension Day

 

Thursday, May 9, 2024, is Ascension 

Teacher Appreciation Week

This is Teacher Appreciation Week. Why not just a day?  Because it takes more than a day, a week, perhaps years to appreciate those who teach, support, encourage us.  Some have become our role models. Thank you.  Thank you!

Being Different Together

 On the matter of campus protests, polarization, lack of community within our country, some of you have heard me say and write many times that we need to create trustworthy environments to be different together. And in our Diaconal Litany, "Give us the grace to be different together. How are you doing that? Now is the time. Great is the need.

Fifteen posts from former presidents

 I have posted words of the 15 most recent former presidents in order during recent days on my blog.  I began with Herbert Hoover and have come forward to now when our current president is President Joe Biden, who is holding office during very challenging times.  I have lived during the terms of 15 presidents. I was born when Franklyn Roosevelt (FDR) was president.  Words matter. Actions matter. The kinds of leaders we have matters.

Words from Donald Trump

 Words from former presidents: 15. Donald Trump (2017-2021)

I cannot post words from Donald Trump. They would not be appropriate for my blog.

Words from Barack Obama

Words from former presidents: 14. Barack Obama (2009-2017) 

"There's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United State of America."

"America is the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores . . . the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him too. The audacity of hope!"

"Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity."

Words from George W. Bush

 Words from former presidents: 13 George W. Bush (2001-2009)

"The pictures of the airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness. . . .These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed; our nation is strong."

"You know what's interesting about Washington? It's a kind of place where second-guessing has become second nature."