For Primary Teachers

Laurie was released from the Primary Presidency today, the president is moving.  She wanted to do something for the teachers, so she decided to bake blueberry muffin and then she wrote this poem (and she says she's not creative).  BTW, she was called to teach the 14-15 year olds in Sunday School!

Such precious souls to you are given,

to guard and guide and keep.

They look to you with trust and hope,

These little ones you teach.

God know his flock, the ones who talk,

Those who wiggle or giggle or whine.

But He knows they’ll hear His truths so dear,

When faith, love and patience combine

So look to Him, Your Lord and friend,

And trust His Spirit He’ll lend.

For those He calls he qualifies

And ever will attend.

Boogey boards and the beach!

On Huntington Beach with our sand castle!

With temperatures getting cooler, we decided to go to the beach before it gets too cold.  Friday afternoon we headed southwest and went to the beach on Saturday!  We went to Huntington Beach – where we went with the Tadds in 2009.  We had lots of fun playing in the waves, boogey boarding and sunning.  It was in the mid-70s, but warm enough and though the water felt cold at first, it was easy to get used to.  I was taking pictures, when Katie and Line were out playing in the waves and I decided to take about a minute of video to hear the sound of the waves, etc.  When we were looking at it later, we could see dolphins breaching in the background!!!  Later, when Katie and I were boogey boarding, we saw them in the crests of the waves, out about 40-50 yards beyond us – the late afternoon sun was shining through the backs of the waves and we could see them.  At first we thought they were maybe seals, but then we could see the dolphin shape and motion – and then the video confirmed it was dolphins.   I’ve added a link to the video - the dolphins are at about 27 seconds and 42 seconds. It was a fun little trip!

Just Killing Time

Started this one over a year ago and set it aside to let it "mellow" - irony that you will understand by the end of the poem!

Just Killing Time

“I’m killing time” – it’s often said

as though it weren’t a crime

And most, I’d say, do it each day

in every hill and clime

Weapons vary, motives too

results are just the same –

Time is dead and can’t come back

no matter remorse or shame

Time is the stuff ‘which life is made

some portion comes to all

Each must decide how much to use

how much to let just fall

And killing time is often fun

there’s much to entertain

while we sit back and just observe

as such our lives don’t change

There’s not to show for time we’ve killed

No corpse, no blood, no gore

No line is penned, no music scored

No art to sit before

No house is cleansed, no food prepared,

no place is seen, no chore

We lounge and watch what others do

We never leave our shore

In years to come, when looking back

what memories will swell,

The ones where we’ve just lazed around?

The ones with time spent well?

Time we can use to learn, to grow

To master some new skill

To touch the hands of those hung down

To lift, to build, to fill

That’s not to say that recreate

Is bad, is waste, is wrong

‘Tis a matter of how it’s viewed

does it bless and make us strong?

But if our lives are focused

on fun, on merry, on mirth

then time it is, we’re out to kill

when time could lead to birth

Of gardens, paintings, poetry

paths trod, vistas viewed

There really is no limit

to a new life, a life renewed

So when you start to thinkin’

what to do to just kill time

dust off your dreams, get up and go

you’ve mountains yet to climb!