inspiring

http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw

Robby's Night

Someone sent this to me.
I had to share.
> True Story Worth Reading !!!
>
>
>
> At the prodding of my
> friends, I am writing this story. My name is Mildred
> Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music
> teacher from Des Moines, Iowa. I've always
> supplemented my income by teaching piano
> lessons-something I've done for over 30 years. Over
> the years I found that children have many levels of
> musical ability.. I've never had the pleasure of
> having a prodigy though I have taught some talented
> students
>
> However I've also had my
> share of what I call 'musically challenged' pupils.
> One such student was Robby. Robby was 11 years old
> when his mother (a single Mom) dropped him off for
> his first piano lesson. I prefer that students
> (especially boys!) begin at an earlier age, which I
> explained to Robby
>
>
>
> But Robby said that it had
> always been his mother's dream to hear him play the
> piano. So I took him as a student. Well, Robby began
> with his piano lessons and from the beginning I
> thought it was a hopeless endeavor. As much as Robby
> tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm
> needed to excel but he dutifully reviewed his scales
> and some elementary pieces that I require all my
> students to learn.
>
> Over the months he tried and
> tried while I listened and cringed and tried to
> encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he'd
> always say, 'My mom's going to hear me play someday'
> But it seemed hopeless. He just did not have any
> inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a
> distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her
> aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled
> but never stopped in.
>
> Then one day Robby stopped
> coming to our lessons.
>
> I thought about calling him
> but assumed because of his lack of ability, that he
> had decided to pursue something else. I also was
> glad that he stopped coming. He was a bad
> advertisement for my teaching!
>
> Several weeks later I mailed
> to the student's homes a flyer on the upcoming
> recital.. To my surprise Robby (who received a
> flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital. I
> told him that the recital was for current pupils and
> because he had dropped out he really did not
> qualify. He said that his mother had been sick and
> unable to take him to piano lessons but he was still
> practicing 'Miss Hondorf, I've just got to play!' he
> insisted.
>
> I don't know what led me to
> allow him to play in the recital . Maybe it was his
> persistence or maybe it was something inside of me
> saying that it would be all right. The night for th e
> recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed
> with parents, friends and relatives. I put Robby up
> last in the program before I was to come up and
> thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I
> thought that any damage he would do would come at
> the end of the program and I could always salvage
> his poor performance through my 'curtain closer.'
>
> Well, the recital went off
> without a hitch. The students had been practicing
> and it showed, then Robby came up on stage. His
> clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked like he'd
> run an eggbeater through it 'Why didn't he dress up
> like the other students?' I thought. 'Why didn't his
> mother at least make him comb his hair for this
> special night?'
>
> Robby pulled out the piano
> bench and he began. I was surprised when he
> announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21
> in C Major I was not prepared for what I heard next.
> His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced
> nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to
> fortissimo. From allegro to virtuoso. His suspended
> chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never
> had I heard Mozart played so well by people his age.
> After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand
> crescendo and everyone was on their feet in wild
> applause.
>
> Overcome and in tears I ran
> up on stage and put my arms around Rob by in joy.
> 'I've never heard you play like that Robby! How'd
> you do it? '
>
>
> Through the microphone Robby
> explained: 'Well, Miss Hondorf, Remember I told you
> my Mom was sick? Well, actually she had cancer and
> passed away this morning and well. . She was born
> deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me
> play. I wanted to make it special.'
>
> There wasn't a dry eye in
> the house that evening As the people from Social
> Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into
> foster care, noticed that even their eyes were red
> and puffy and I thought to myself how much richer my
> life had bee n for taking Robby as my pupil.
>
> No, I've never had a prodigy
> but that night I became a prodigy . .. Of Robby's.
> He was the teacher and I was the pupil for it is he
> that taught me the meaning of perseverance and love
> and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a
> chance in someone and you don't know why.
>
>
>
> Robby was killed in the
> senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal
> Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995. And now,
> a footnote to the story.
> So many seemingly trivial
> interactions between two people present us with a
> choice: Do we act with compassion or do we pass up
> that opportunity and leave the world a bit colder in
> the process?
>
> Thank you for reading this.
>
> May God bless you today,
> tomorrow and always.
>
> *********
>
> If God didn't have a purpose
> for us, we wouldn't be here!

unreal

look at this photo of Cedar Rapids.. the flood waters alone are unreal but look at the perimeter of the photo.

reminds me of what Christopher Columbus thought the world looked like!!!

'The Washcloth'

A friend sent me this..
rolled
toooooooo funny

enjoy






I was due for an appointment with the gynecologist later in the
week.



Early one morning, I received a call from the doctor's office to tell me that I had been rescheduled for that morning at 9:30 am.



I had only just packed everyone off to work and school, and it was already around 8:45 am.



The trip to his office took about 35 minutes, so I didn't have any time to spare.

As most women do, I like to take a little extra effort over hygiene when making such visits, but this time I wasn't going to be able to make the full effort.



So, I rushed upstairs, threw off my pajamas, wet the
washcloth that was sitting next to the sink, and gave myself a quick wash in that area to make sure I was at least presentable.



I threw the washcloth h in the clothes basket, donned some clothes, hopped in the car and raced to my appointment.

I was in the waiting room for only a few minutes when I was called
in.



Knowing the procedure, as I'm sure you do, I hopped up on the table, looked over at the other side of the room and pretended that I was in Paris or some other place a million miles away.



I was a little surprised when the doctor said,

'My, my, we have made an extra effort this morning, haven't we?'



I didn't respond.



After the appointment, I heaved a sigh of relief and went home.



The rest of the day was normal ... Some shopping, cleaning, cooking.

After school when my 6 year old daughter was playing, she called out from the bathroom, 'Mommy, where's my washcloth?'



I told her to get another one from the cupboard.



She replied, 'No, I need the one that was here by the sink, it had all my glitter and sparkles saved inside it.'



Never going back to that doctor. Ever.

remedy for contaminated tomatoes

grow your own...

Options

Ok, I admit it.
I am not the most intelligent person in the world but I can understand the different elements of basics in survival on the job.

Follow company policies.
Easiest job in the world.
All that is required is, follow company policy which shadows client policies and supervise someone else in the production of meals.
the "someone else" does all the work, the cooking, the cleaning.
the "someone else" does anything that requires physical labor.
I love it.

What is so hard for some people (staff) in performance.
I have never seen so many different behavior problems with so few staff.
All they have to do is supervise.
Out of 16 supervisors 9 are failing to apply the basic rules of policy that are so simple to adhere to and respect.

Monthly meetings, reviewing the basic procedures to follow seems so fruitless.
Blatant disregard for policy, company and/or facility.
We provide a service at a facility so we have to honor their policies.
Right!!
There was yet another meeting yesterday with the big guy stating, "no more games, folks."
Follow policy or the undesirable thing is definitely on the horizon.
TERMINATION.

Someone told me a few months ago,that it took 21 days to establish a new habit and rid oneself of a bad habit.
When I told her she was nuts when it applied to this group of staff, she said stay on it everyday, trying to pursue an end goal of improved behavior.
Respect for the company policies and fellow staff.
So I attempted that idea.
Right
Then
It was a mutual thought that maybe someone with a softer touch, attempt this.
Right.
Then
It was a mutual thought that the head of the hierarchy, who should not have to step out on staff behavior, try his hand.
Right.
NOW it has come to this.
Due to Human Resource guidelines we have to suffer through before we can actually terminate, it still maybe a while before we can improve our staff.
Paper trails
paper trails
what happened to just, "hey, you have screwed up royally, hit the road jack"!!!

I'm done for a minute again.
it's hot here,
been working my butt off trying to finish the move upstairs.
I think I have got my breathe back.

LOL, read earlier about a creamsicle.
haven't had one in yrs.
Think I will go find some and sick them in the freezer for a treat once in awhile.

Thanks C:)

Prayer

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1).

Dear God, though man-made shelter may fall in the storms and fury of nature and war, nothing can destroy the strong and everlasting shelter I have in the shadow of the all powerful, Almighty God.
Thank You for keeping my soul and calming my spirit.
I pray for those who are being affected by tornadoes, cyclones, and other storms of nature. Please protect them, provide their needs, and comfort those who have lost their shelter and possessions in storms that have passed through.
May every need be met through your grace, mercy, and the assistance of the church, volunteers, and government aid where appropriate.
In the name of my precious Savior Jesus, amen.