Here's hoping

that I won't have to point back at this blog post someday and say "I told you so!"

I can see the political reaction to the Ft. Hood shootings and Nidal Malik Hasan going two different ways. 1, the government will crack down on teachers of Muslim extremism. They will follow money trails from "peaceful" organizations like CAIR and harshly punish any money that gets spent for violence. Tax-free statuses should be revoked. Clerics will be more closely monitored.

2, civilians and soldiers' access to firearms will be restricted. Veterans will come under suspicion of possibly going postal. Studies and research will be done on whether or not military service makes you more likely to be violent. People will try to draw the link between Ft. Hood and the Beltway Sniper Shootings as a military connection instead of the obvious Muslim connection.

Obviously, I hope option #1 happens. Considering our current political environment, I'm very afraid that #2 is what will happen. But, as the title says, I'm hoping that I won't be proven right.

The weather here has been absolutely beautiful!! I just got back from a brisk 30 minute walk and my chest feels the better for it.

Vernise passed away Sunday, late. Her funeral was Wednesday in Fayetteville. Samuel and I house sat for the Kelleys while they went. I got a lot of reading and journaling done. It feels good to have some of my thoughts sorted out.

Hebrew classes are picking up speed. The rest of the class is beginning to understand phonics. I can tell that, for a lot of them, this is the first foreign language they've tried. They're still asking why questions, as if language has any kind of rhyme or reason to it. I told them they had to have faith like a child to accept things just as they are. :)

We continue to be amazed by how many people are praying for Dad so constantly. Thank you everyone! I know they're a help!

Meditation #17

From John Donne's Meditation #17:

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the lss, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of they friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

News from Afar

News from Afar
Originally uploaded by Purple Palindrome

From my Flickr...

Dad called this evening.

This pictures shows where we talk to Dad when he calls. The Army told us to always switch to a non-remote land line to talk to him to cut down on the chance of taps. This phone in his and Mama's room is the only non-remote land line phone we have.

The telecommunications where he is are really pathetic. The internet is irregular and slow. The phones break up, have time limits, and randomly cut us off. But he's really faithful to call and email regularly, which is a really good thing for this little gal. I need his support and wisdom so much. Today we talked about my job hunting and some alternatives to what I'm doing now.

Dad is such an amazing person and I'm so grateful to have him. Sadly, he's not a photographer or a blogger and he has expressed no interest in even just reading a photo stream. So, I doubt any of y'all will get to meet him or get to know him and you're the poorer for it. My sympathies.

Fringe

Fringe
Originally uploaded by Purple Palindrome

I think phrases such as "kinda out there on the fringe", "the fringes of society", etc. are such a great word picture. Certain behaviors are ok with a culture, but just barely. They still make people uncomfortable, but they're not outlawed. People who engage in fringe behavior are allowed to, but they're generally distrusted. They're on the edge, just barely part of the rug, but still dangerously close to the bare floor--they're the fringe.
My fringe behaviors include, on occasion, homeschooling, drinking raw milk, not shaving, and when I'm in Taiwan eating raw vegetables and swimming in the ocean.
So, what do you do that's on the fringe?

Nocturne in C Sharp Minor

I'm listening to Joshua Bell's Romance of the Violin. I believe it was a Christmas gift a couple of years back. I particularly like Nocturne, Track #3.

Vernise, he Teague's grandma, Mrs. Kelley's mother, had a stroke Friday. She's having a really rough recovery. Some of her symptoms include restlessness and disorientation which translates into her not sleeping, trying to get out of bed on her own and thus falling. This is dealt with by always having someone sit with her. We, as in the Bavidos, have gotten to help out with this a couple of times and are on call. The poor Kelleys really need their rest so I really hope they don't hesitate to call us. Another problem is getting enough liquids and nourishment down her because she's been having trouble swallowing. Please be praying for Vernise and her family.

The job hunt continues. I had a job interview earlier this week for a legal secretary that I've already been turned down for. I have an interview next week for a volunteer coordinator position. I emailed a reminder or followed up today with a career services position for a tech school. I need to send off a resume tomorrow for a case manager position. Praise God, I'm doing much better on the motivation and not-getting-discouraged/depressed in relation to job hunting.

I've discovered that when left to set my own schedule that I sleep from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. and am most reflective and thoughtful between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. I'm not really sure when I'm the most productive--perhaps the early afternoon?

I continue to be shocked and horrified by my own selfishness. Mrs. Teague had asked me to get her copies of the Bavido originals that had been read at our poetry festival. I completely forgot that BonnieJean, Isaac, and Dad had read their own compositions and just printed off the ones by me that had been read. How terrible am I?!

Let's guess

My last blog post said I had 2 big things to blog about. Since then I have caught the influenza and have been busy coughing my lungs up. A side effect of coughing up my lungs is complete loss of brain power. I can't remember what else I was supposed to tell y'all about.

Dad called yesterday and today and emailed me! I feel loved!

I find myself expressing loneliness over missing Dad in odd ways. I seem to be seem to have a much higher emotional idling speed, if that makes any sense. It's like my emotional cup is already full with missing Dad, so practically anything will make me spill over---as in tears or anger. I think this is why not having a full time job is bothering me so much. There's just not enough faith and patience to encompass it all around. I think this calls for what's called "growth". I just need more faith and patience.

Ken Ham was at FBC of BA this weekend. I made it to 2 different talks. I'm pretty familiar with his materials (but's it's always good to hear again!), so the only new thing I heard about was a research study he and a behavioral science research group did on the people in their tweens who went to conservative churches through high school and then stopped going in their 20s. I went out on a limb and bought the book summarizing the study without asking Mama with her money. She's ok with it now though.

I got a henna tattoo at the State Fair Saturday when I went with Naomi and Caleb. It's a star of David with a cross in the middle on the inside of my arm just below the elbow. I wanted it up on my forearm, but it was so cold that the lady wouldn't let me take my jacket off, so I had to pick a spot reached by rolling up my sleeves.

I started Hebrew classes Monday night at the Tulsa Jewish Community Center. I was disappointed to find out that the beginner class works only reading and writing Hebrew, no speaking. But, I liked the teacher and the attitude of all the other students. I caught onto this first lesson really fast, but I think that's because I'm already familiar with a vowel-point system from Arabic lessons with Amani.

I need to get somethings printed and ready to mail in the morning, so I'd better wrap this up. I still had 2 other big things to write about, so I shall just have to continue this later.