Papers, and Conferences, and Classes... Oh My!

Well, it's definitely been a busy February. (I can't believe that Monday will be March!) 
A few weeks into spring semester and already I am sick of writing papers for one of my classes. Oh well... what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. (Or so I've heard...) This weekend I am in Murray for the UCET  (Utah Coalition for Educational Technology). I was able to meet up with a good friend and her husband who had me over to their house for dinner last night. (Let me clarify that... they DID NOT have ME for dinner... they merely cooked dinner and invited me to join them... :-)  ) Then this afternoon after my day of classes was over this same friend took me to The Cheesecake Factory. Can I just say... mmmmmmmm! Delicious! (I may have to break down and go again one of these days when I am in the northern reaches again.) Tomorrow, I head back to the rural reaches again... it'll be good to get back home. Right now I'm listening to someone running up and down the halls and slamming doors... kinda wish they'd get tired and go to bed... whoever it is. 
Anyway... it'll be back to school on Monday. Hopefully March will be a little less busy... maybe.....

President's Day

I will admit that anything with a hint of patriotism creates within me tender feelings. My eyes fill with tears and my heart pounds when I hear the National Anthem, and any number of songs about America. I stand when I see a flag, and find my heart full when I see a soldier serving to uphold my freedoms.  You might wonder why I'm rambling on patriotism today - I  mean  - it's not the July 4th or anything. But today is a special day. Today is President's Day. Named to honor the births of two honorable, yet human men whose birthday's fall during the month of February. Neither one was a perfect man and both had flaws, as we all do. Yet, the more I learn about the strengths and weaknesses of these men the more I admire them for all that they accomplished despite their blunders and mistakes.  I truly see the hand of "divine providence" in the creation of this country. How else could a country started by a revolution against a vastly superior world power and torn apart nearly a century later by a civil war have survived? Given the differing personalities and opinions of those who founded, then later re-united this country it is amazing that it ever succeeded.  Only the guiding hand of an all knowing, ever powerful yet loving God could have helped this country succeed and thrive. My wish on this day is that we never turn away from the Father who loved us so much he gave us the freedom to choose liberty or death knowing that some of us would never make it back Home. May we all do our part to keep this nation free - a nation "under God" by our words and our deeds. So, Happy Birthday George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. And thank you.....

It's still looking a lot like Christmas...

Woke up this morning to another couple of inches of snow and spent an hour or so shoveling my porch, sidewalks, and part of my driveway. I have to say that in my 13 years here in Rio Verde this is the most snow I have seen. It's also been the coldest for the greatest amount of time. I think we have been consistently below freezing for probably 80% of the winter so far. That being said, I am grateful for the snow - we need the water.  (If the weather makes me want to sing Christmas songs all over again - well, that's only natural... ha ha ha!)