Hmmmmmmm

Yesterday was my oldest grandchild's birthday.  She turned nine.  In her mind being nine is very, very different than being eight.  She says it's a much more complicated year and it also marks a new season of being much more fashionable.  Well, she was decked out in sunglasses, a hat like her Aunt Miriam wears, necklaces and a casual but chic top, stretchy capris and sneakers.  And, she was feeling it big time!  (Just setting the stage here.)

In the midst of the conversation, she says to me, "paPa, are you going to be alive when I grow up?"  I say, "Well, I'm planning on it. She says (with a tone of give-me-a-break in her voice), "How... can you plan on it.?" "Well, you are nine now and nine more years makes you what?"  "Eighteen, she says." "Well, eighteen is considered being grown up in a lot of ways and nine more years isn't that far away." Then it happened.  She then asked,  "Then how old will you be? About 99 or 107?"  Silly child.

A Sign of the Times

http://www.ehow.com/video_4984803_tutoring-fifthgrade-math.html

For those of you who don't know, I teach 5th grade math.  A big part of 5th grade math is getting them ready for Algebra.  I try to present myself in a manner that connects with the student on his/her terms.  Here is a video that will show you what I mean.  Let me know what you think about the look?  For those who have known me for years, I have I changed?

The Original Proverbs 31 Lady...

This lady is a servant to all.  She is an example of what it means to give tirelessly to others.  She has spent the last 2 weeks helping 2 different generations grow, adjust, be happier, be more rested and hopeful.  She did it all with a genuine smile on her face while being patient and kind and selfless. 

She will now come home and continue the same.  She gives all she has...and sometimes, more than she has.  She will leave, someday, an enduring legacy.  Little Juliet, grow up to be like your Meme. She is my wife.  I am happy and honored to be able to walk through this life with her.  Here's to Meme and Mom.  Here's to Pam.

Love always,

Mike
Welcome home.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what is a video clip worth??

This might as well be Kentucky.  Just substitute the Pacific Northwest with South Central Kentucky, and Deer Crick with Bowling Green.  The rest is is accurate.  I've been stuck in the house all day.  At least my wife gets to spend her time with the new granddaughter and Stella.  It's just James, our Yorkie, and me....2 slackers.  Enjoy the clip.  Oh, and make sure you have your sound turned on.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx6u0iiMQKg

This man is a natural!

I am so thankful for Nate and how the Lord brought he and Miriam together.  I have watched him with Stella, and now with his second daughter Juliet.  He is patient and kind and consistent.  He is quiet-spoken and gentle.  My daughter is blessed to have him as her husband, and my granddaughters are blessed to have him as their dad.  I'm on the other end of child-rearing now, but I have a feeling that I'm going to learn a few things by watching him.

Bless you, Nate, and thank you.

Jack summed it up today!

"I really like being a kid."  "Why, Jack?" He answers me with a tone that indicates that I should know..."Because, I don't have to deal with anything!"

 I'm thankful that is true in his young, little life as I think about the children of Haiti and other parts of the world.

Meet 'Dawg.' He owes me big time.

Look into those eyes. You can almost see the story hidden deep within. It was the wee hours of a 2009 summer morning, 2:30 a.m. to be exact. Our phone rang. My wife answered. It was her dad calling to tell us that someone was swimming in the pool. He was really panicking and afraid. I went right over to check on things. (We live across the woods from them so that my wife can visit them daily and help when their in-home caregiver leaves for the day.)

As I cautiously drove over, I found my father-in-law standing on his gazebo, holding a flashlight emitting a light no brighter than a glowing candlewick. He was standing there in his pajamas looking like Albert Einstein, with his white and wild hair, yelling toward the pool with growls and shouts of "I'm going to shoot!" LOL, has he ever pulled the trigger on a gun in his entire life??? This is the retired college professor/musician who has been at his craft, professionally, since he was 15 years old. He brags to this day about never having another job in is entire life other than being a musician. So, there he was...in all his dreadful, fearsome glory. Got the image?

I walked toward the pool, a bit spooked myself at this point, as David said to me, "Do you hear them, Mike? Do you hear? I heard them talking. There's somone swimming in the pool!" And....yes....I DID hear splashing. I had no choice but to make myself walk up to the edge to see who it was and what was going on. Strange thing was that I clearly heard what sounded like an adult feverishly swimming around, but there were no other sounds...no talking, breathing, etc.

I shined my light over into the edge of the pool to see...You-Know-Who at the top of this page. He had fallen, or jumped...we'll never know, into the pool and could not get out. He looked at me with such fear in his eyes. He was exhausted. He was soon to drown. Who knows how long he had been in there.

I slowly reached out toward him to assure myself that he wouldn't bite. I grabbed both of his front legs and pulled him out. He was instantly my best friend.

Dawg, as he was named by Dr. Livingston, my 85 year old father-in-law, now lives at their home and he sleeps on a couch that they placed in their garage for him to be comfortable. He has his on electric heater, sometimes rides on the golf cart and now has this look on his face most of the time.

Oh, I guess I should show you a picture of 'Albert' (hair tamed)...here he is with the whole family!

I'm tired ok!!!!!!!! That concert took it out of me.

A day in the life:

During class today, I loaded my nerf blaster and told my students that I had put a needle in the tip of one nerf dart. I proceded to ask for volunteers who would be willing to try for a free 'H1N1 shot' by their math teacher. What?? What's that you say? "What does this have to do with math?" It was a lesson in probability of course. It was hands-on and very interactive and I had everyone's attention. So there.

Who knew the Wii cow racing game was so thought-provoking.

Three of our grandchildren, Rachel and Brendan's, spent the night last night. This morning they were playing the Wii game where you are riding on the back of a racing cow...what a hilarious idea. Clara says to Jack, as she is constantly off the path, running over trees and into things, "So, this is what driving is like. I wonder if Mom ever drives like this?" Clara continues, becoming very confident with all of her victories and says, "This is just like driving except there's no radio or wheel (steering)." As Clara continues to run into the panel fences along the path, trying to jump them, Jack says, "Doesn't that hurt their teats when they jump like that?" Clara says, "No, they are protected by their legs." Jack says, "Oh." So, there you have it!

I know what you are thinking...

"He hasn't blogged for a couple of days. He has already given up." Well, as much as I like my reality, it takes a lot of time to live it out. I have a challenging concert coming up and it's the first week back at school, so my blog has had to take back seat to teaching and practicing. You see, I don't have the blogluxury of having my smart, awesome and cute grandchildren around me providing me with fresh material. No. I have to reach deep down inside and puuuulllllll out something that is blog-worthy. So, lest you think my daughters are just sooooooooo talented, remember...MY GRANDCHILDREN are providing them with easy, fresh, interesting bloggetry. By the way, Jack, way to go with the reading!!!! And Clara, I think you are right about onions. I do think they use their fumes to fight back. And, Hannah, you are awesome...how many parents have their children experiencing what you share daily on the other side of the earth!!!! Hmmmm....Since Miriam isn't currently blogging, maybe I should collect Stella-isms for my blog. Now there's an idea.

My Reality Show

I live in juxtaposed, contradistinct worlds I guess. Maybe most of us do. However, I split my time these days hanging out with 4th and 5th graders teaching math and also preparing for upcoming concerts as a professional musician with Orchestra Kentucky: worlds that are about as opposite as can be. In addition, and most importantly, I spend my time being an awesome, simply awesome husband, father and grandfather (ok, maybe not always so awesome...sorry family). Seriously though, I'm coming off the holiday high and returning to reality, and you know what, I'm thankful for my life and I what I have been given to do. I like my reality. I have taught long enough now to have students who are married and have their own children and just this last week I received a note from one who thanked me for the impact I made on her life. Wow. What more could someone want? Why am I telling you this? I just want to go on record by saying at the outset of this new year that I: 1) Love my wife; 2) I love my children; 3) I love my grandchildren; 4) I'm thankful for my job and having the opportunity to make a difference in this world; 5) I'm thankful for musical opportunities; 6) I'm thankful for my friends; and, 7) Most importantly, I'm thankful that the Lord knows me through and through, yet still loves me. Let's all evaluate honestly and we'll see that we have a lot for which to be thankful.

Have a great first work week this 2010!

This is my mom and guess who?

Yep, you guessed it. Stella!!!! Gran, as she is known by our girls, and now by her great-grandchildren, is posing here with our currently youngest grandchild. Hmmmmm.........

The party is over!

Tomorrow Miriam and Stella (and Juliet) go home. Nate had to go back earlier for work. The house will be empty and the Christmas tree will come down. School starts back on Monday and 'normal' will return. It was a bittersweet holiday time. Hannah and family are so, so far away, but we are thankful for Skype. Rachel and family resume schooling and normal schedules. It was a stretching time for our family in many ways. Later this month we get ready to meet Juliet. That will make 8 grandchildren! Five girls and three boys. Soon, she will be a part of all that is normal in the Thurman family.

Happy New Year!!!

Wow. It was Dec. 23rd, 2008 the last time I blogged. I wonder if that has caused my readership to lose interest?