What I Did During My Summer Vacation.....

Each year, as the school year draws to an end, I have to really force myself to think about the good things I've accomplished with my kids. If I do not do this, I tend to feel overwhelmed with the thought that it's almost over and I haven't done anything or done enough. I always try to think of at least a few of my students who I KNOW I have helped and who will be better for having been in my class. Thankfully, I am always able to think of someone who fits into that category.

At the end of summer, I am again overwhelmed with guilt/frustration/worry that I have not accomplished anything/enough during my time off. I, again, have to really force myself to think of good things I have done so that I don't feel like I have entirely wasted the summer. This post, then, is my list of what I did during my summer vacation. I write it so that I can feel somewhat OK about the summer coming to an end.

1. I visited my Dad and Lynne in Placerville.
2. I went to Costume College and taught two very successful classes there.
3. I organized my craft supplies a bit better.
4. I got rid of some of the clothes and things that I no longer use. (I still need to get rid of TONS more!)
5. I taught Sonja and her daughters how to do wire bead wrapping and how to make jewelry.
6. I got Abby spayed, declawed, and innoculated with the necessary shots.
7. I connected with Marci during the summer (as we always SAY we will do!) and had a lovely day with her in Yuma.
8. I talked Roger into hiring someone to take care of the yard. (Sadly, he did not finish everything he was supposed to do and we are going to have to find a different person to take care of things on a permanent basis.)
9. I visited Jon and Judy Ritchie in Glendale for an afternoon.
10. I had my wedding ring check and cleaned.
11. I read some good books. I haven't had time to read for pleasure for MONTHS!

Sadly, there are many things I have NOT accomplished. My list of things to do seems never-ending. But I AM glad for the things I HAVE managed to get done. And, I look forward, (in some ways, anyway) to another school year.

".....the constitution will hang by a thread..."

Today, a California judge (who just happens to be gay) overturned Proposition 8. This is the proposition that was passed by 52% of Californians last year. The proposition states that only marriage between a man and a woman should be legal. We passed a proposition before Prop 8, that basically said the same thing, but it was overturned. So we got Prop 8 on the ballot and passed it. This means that the majority of Calif0rnians have voted TWICE to declare gay marriages illegal. But, rather than listen to the voice of the people as an elected government official should, this judge has overturned the proposition and declared it unconstitutional. In my opinion, what is unconstitutional is a gay judge being allowed to rule on a proposition when he clearly has a bias. But Satan is working harder than ever to do whatever he can to bring all of humanity down to his level and, obviously, today was a victory for him and just one more sign that the last days are here.

At the end of The Book of Mormon, even the so-called 'righteous' Nephites were not obeying the commandments of God and were unable to live together in peace. Rather than have a king or a Judge, they broke into tribes. I see that happening in our country now. Arizona has broken off from the other states in trying to get our President to do his job and protect our borders. Several other states are following their lead while other states, such as California, are calling for a boycott of Arizona businesses. The state of Missouri has voted to block President Obama's healthcare plan. States are basically breaking off into their own entities (sort of like tribes, no?) because of the overwhelming disgust they feel for the idiot that somehow got elected as our current Preisdent and his lack of doing his job properly. I see all of this as the beginning of the end. It scares me and saddens me all at once.

God bless America and God help us all!