Where Do YOU Stand?

#2020Violence #2020Riots #2020RightToAssemble

Communication works both ways. This is true. In regards to the riots, protesters, and other actions taken across our Great Nation over the last few weeks.... Here's my take on it. 

    Law breakers and those who commit criminal acts are no longer protesters. They have broken the law. The law will react. The thing about that is if it is in the middle of a protest, people seem to forget that police are afraid for their lives too. They have families at home who count on them to do a job. Their job just puts them in harms way every day. They are human. 

Yes they wear a badge and "have power" and should use it wisely. 

    People who want to be heard should also use the power of their voice wisely and be heard in a legal manner-- the right to assemble and be heard doesn't include violence or hurting other people or vandalism, or blocking roadways. KNOW the law and what you are stepping into when you join a protest because the action of one person in the group can become the voice of the entire group....then you have guilt by association. This leads to the voices that wanted to be heard getting lost in the violence and the turmoil that ensues and we are all right back to where we started. 

    People are people no matter what side they are on. both sides get scared. Both sides react. Both sides make good and bad decisions.  The media (and Social Media most of all) focus on what gets people's attention and what gets them heard.... and then things escalate.... and here we go again. Yes I believe in freedom of the press. This branch is also to be held accountable. They are required to fact check their sources before they publish. Social Media has NO such requirements. How many times have you posted something only to have a friend post back with a link to snopes.com or some other source that says your copied post is wrong? Most people (myself included) don't always (rarely) take the time to check to see where the information came from. We just share because it's out there and it's posted so it must be true. We post according to how things make us feel. When we are outraged, we want to share so others will share so the act of violence or criminal behavior will somehow stop...or because we want to help catch someone who broke the law...or because that was so cute and so funny that we want others to share in that feeling too (the motivation is sharing your feelings if you missed the connection in all of those instances).

    Assemble. Be heard. Share your thoughts, feelings, and ideas! In doing so, Be calm. Be rational. Be patient. Be the voice that IS heard. Change happens but sometimes takes time and effort...to be seen and heard the right way. To be heard is important...even imperative! Be the voice you want remembered-not the voice that stirred violence leading to more violence. Don't be a law breaker in the process of trying to do the right thing. The right thing for the right reasons in the right way doesn't generally cause vandalism, or panic, or fear, or innocent bystanders to get hurt. It generally leads to change. 

    People have made these events across the nation about George Floyd and others. It isn't. George Floyd's family is a "God-fearing" family so says his brother at the site where his brother died in a vigil recently held.  Sometimes people only need a cause in order to act. Sometimes those actions aren't in the interest of the group but they become the things others read about and remember. I prefer to be remembered in a positive light-not as a criminal with a record that follows me the rest of my life. One uneducated mistake will stay with you. One positive turn in the right direction will stay with you. MLK preached change. He did so peacefully with love. He set an example. He is remembered as a great leader and man. "Martin Luther King Jr was an American Christian minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movements from 1955 until he was assassinated in 1968." He left a legacy. He left an example. He left us change!

    God's first commandment was to "Love one another". You do that and all the violence disappears. Research George Floyd and what the man stood for. Research the work that he was doing in the neighborhoods he was involved in. He wanted peace and education for neighborhoods that know fear and violence every day as a way of life HERE IN OUR GREAT NATION. He was trying to make a way for some of them to get out of that fear and hate ridden places full of violence. Do you really think he would want violence committed in his honor? Look him up. See what others have to say about him-those that knew him. Then decide if the violence done "for his cause" or "in his name" would be appreciated by George Floyd himself. Then decide---for Yourself. 

    Don't forget to put yourself or a family member on the other side of the line from where you stand to see how you would feel if you were in another position. Because you may find a family member or friend on the other side at some point through this mess of miscommunication. See the entire picture--their side and yours and look at the pros and cons of each side. Be educated in your decision ---not just in the riots and protests arena but in all arenas of life. Love one another. Love is easier than hate. It gives more benefits than hate. It creates more friends and lasting relationships than hate..... Love one another. Talk to one another. Communicate. Be heard. Use your voice--educate yourself and vote! Assemble with love at the center so forward motion can be had.... so we don't walk in circles of violence.

    People are people. The color of their skin doesn't matter. When you see an x-ray, can you tell what race that person is or what color or what gender they are? When blood donations are made at the blood banks, they don't classify them by color, race, or nationality, or gender. They classify them by A, AB, O positive or negative. 
A persons heart and intentions are what should matter more-not the color of their skin or what you can see on the outside. This is my commandment, that you love one another..... 

I know this is rather long. I know people will have plenty to say regarding this post...communication goes both ways. Post your comments respectfully. You deserve to be heard. None of us need to be disrespectful in being heard. Thank You. God bless and keep you.

Oklahoma did it Anyway

The following is going around facebook. I had to stop and see if this was true or not, so I searched the internet and found it posted on several blogs and different places (websites) so then I went to www.snopes.com and according to that website, it is TRUE. 

so.... here is one more blog to share this legislative info for Oklahomans and anyone else in cyberspace.

"Think Arizona almost did something horrible? Well "Oklahoma is doing it anyway,"

From Glenn Stanfield:

Oklahoma is the only state that Obama did not win even one county in the last election... While everyone is focusing on Arizona ’s new law, look what Oklahoma has been doing!!!!

An update from Oklahoma :

Oklahoma law passed, 37 to 9 an amendment to place the Ten Commandments on the front entrance to the state capitol. The feds in D.C., along with the ACLU, said it would be a mistake. Hey this is a conservative state, based on Christian values...! HB 1330

Guess what.......... Oklahoma did it anyway.

Oklahoma recently passed a law in the state to incarcerate all illegal immigrants, and ship them back to where they came from unless they want to get a green card and become an American citizen. They all scattered. HB 1804. This was against the advice of the Federal Government, and the ACLU, they said it would be a mistake.

Guess what.......... Oklahoma did it anyway.

Recently we passed a law to include DNA samples from any and all illegal's to the Oklahoma database, for criminal investigative purposes. Pelosi said it was unconstitutional SB 1102

Guess what......... Oklahoma did it anyway.

Several weeks ago, we passed a law, declaring Oklahoma as a Sovereign state, not under the Federal Government directives. Joining Texas , Montana and Utah as the only states to do so.

More states are likely to follow: Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Carolina's, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, West Virginia, Mississippi and Florida. Save your confederate money, it appears the South is about to rise up once again. HJR 1003

The federal Government has made bold steps to take away our guns. Oklahoma, a week ago, passed a law confirming people in this state have the right to bear arms and transport them in their vehicles. I'm sure that was a setback for the criminals The Liberals didn't like it -- But....

Guess what........... Oklahoma did it anyway.

Just this month, the state has voted and passed a law that ALL drivers’ license exams will be printed in English, and only English, and no other language. They have been called racist for doing this, but the fact is that ALL of the road signs are in English only. If you want to drive in Oklahoma , you must read and write English. Really simple.

By the way, the Liberals don't like any of this either

Guess what...who cares... Oklahoma is doing it anyway.

If you like it, pass it on, if you don't then delete it...Thanks Guess what : they people I'm sending this to , will send it on. Well, at least the ones who love and believe in freedom will.

- - -

And I did."

Other blogs listed in my search for substantiation:

Marmel.com posted it and dated it 11 months ago...Feb 2014!

Check out OKC Talk! March 2014

Forwards from Grandma: August 2014

and now in January 2015...it's going around on facebook so I thought I would post it here.

Enjoy!

Have a great day! :)

Thank You Card - Fitness

Well...I braved the elements yesterday and made my gym day. My partner on the other hand was smart and stayed home where it was warm and the weather was even more beautiful (because the snow is easy to enjoy when you are warm and toasty with a cup of joe tucked inside...which she texted me while I was on the treadmill). My workout was good. I did 2.25 miles on the treadmill at an incline of 1. I also opted for bootcamp with Diane who is one of the best trainers I have seen at 10 Gym and who is (I think) the only trainer to survive the company change from "All American fitness" to "10 Gym". she was rather surprised to see me there in her class area and actually asked if I was going to take her class. Of course I answered yes to her inquiry.

It is nice to be recognized. It was nice for me that it surprised her that I would take her class. She has been there for over 2 years because I have been a regular on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays since April of 2011. This April will mark my 2 year anniversary of a regular gym routine. That is an all time record for me...and hopefully will continue to be. My gym partner and I took Diane's bootcamp class a year or so ago...and let me tell you---it kicked our butts! However, yesterday...(granted --it is a year later)...the class gave me a great workout. It was a nice change up with my gym partner being gone.

Today, I am definitely feeling the workout..and in places I don't usually feel sore. this is a good thing. Diane didn't have us use any weights or props of any kind. everything we did in bootcamp was using our own weight. My traps are sore. My triceps are sore. My latts and obliques are sore. It was a good workout.
I told Diane I enjoyed her class and at least this time it didn't kill me. She returned the surprise back to me when she told me she hadn't seen anyone make the progress that I had on their own. I figure as a trainer you would see all kinds in the gym. I have to admit here that I haven't actually done it on my own. It takes that first year with accountability to someone to keep you in the routine. After that, hopefully you have figured out that your day is better, your stress is lighter, and you feel better about everything when you workout as opposed to when you don't. This then becomes your motivation. In my case, it has been my gym partner and friend who has worked right along side me for her own goals who has kept me accountable long enough for me to learn that valuable piece of information.

Thank You Diane for the recognition and for your own hard work for others....

Thank You Colleen for being my gym partner and giving me the short term accountability so I could learn the long term motivation....

Thank You to my Husband for being my extreme-long-term example and coach through all things fitness....

I am very blessed with friends and people in my life and it is the people that make the difference!
Have a great day!

Goals and Strategies

Summer is almost over...we have just over a month and one week before classes resume. My goal is not close enough to what I had envisioned. This is disappointing but not surprising. The exercise program has been good and consistent. My eating habits, while not bad, have not been the best of help. The two go hand in hand. So Now I have to play catch up. I know the muscle tone is there and I know the composition is changing at a decent rate. Now it's the last stretch of the run, the 8th inning is half over, and here I am....

Back to the old grindstone as they say....time to get serious again...redirect! I have August, September, October, and November....then it's too late. Well, ok let's face it....by the end of November the holidays are in full swing and it may as well be over. We all know how that goes.

Best of luck to those out there who are in the same boat...or one similar. 

Spring Break!

Spring Break is a time to party for most....or that is what it brings to mind for most. Why? spring break is that wonderful time off for vacation during the school year....for those in school or college anyway. It brings to mind movies and images hollywood has created of beaches just opening for the season or skiing in 60 degree weather in ski pants and bikini tops (for some girls)....

For me personally, I can say spring break is a time of family and vacationing or a quick get-a-way. this year, spring break week was a week of projects and get-it-done items. I have to admit, usually that bores me to death and I can't wait to escape the monotony of every day life. this year, however, it felt good to get some old things out of the way in preparation for today and tomorrow!

I have a new flower bed around my tree. I have a clean flowerbed in my front yard. I have plans for more landscaping that can now take place. I can also say, we accomplished it as a family. The party for us comes this summer through that actual three months (or two and a half months) of no school time. I have no idea where we are going this year. I only hope it is somewhere we have never been!

If you enjoyed spring break and are looking forward to summer....post a comment here! Tell me about it.

Safari's Sanctuary is a local animal rescue facility. They are located in Broken Arrow, OK. Like any rescue organization, they require ALOT of help through voluteers and donations and any other way you can support an animal rescue facility. I started this blog because I had a marketing assignment and Safari's Sanctuary was my subject for that assignment. Visit their website at: http://www.safarizoo.com/
Help any way you feel the need....help is always appreciated!

Lori has always been a wonderful hostess to guests and to the animals. Let her share her passion with you as you visit her rescued pals!

You can also check out Safari's on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Safaris-Sanctuary-Zoo/154293717972672

Saint Patrick's Day

Everyone wonders about holidays and where they originated.

It's a great way to share bits of history that make history exciting to children. Why? Probably because they don't realize these little facts are bits of history. St. Patrick's Day being the most recent holiday that coincides with this blog was originally a Roman Catholic holiday. It celebrates Ireland's patron saint and was originally observed only in Ireland; It was in the 1700's when Irish immigrants in the U.S. started the first St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City.


So how did the wearing of green become the thing of this holiday? It's said that blue was originally the color associated with the holiday but over time green took over in popularity. This could be due to Ireland's nickname as "The Emerald Isle", the green in the Irish flag and the clover that St. Patrick used in his teachings about Catholicism.


In reading about this springtime holiday of Erin, I found some other interesting facts as well.


We have all heard about the war between Protestants and Catholics. Sometimes it is hard to understand all the ramifications of it and how big the division really was or is. Not having been to Ireland myself, I am stuck with what I read. In Ireland, the tradition where Catholics wear green and Protestants wear orange on this holiday is still followed by some.


I also found an interesting fact that ties this tradition with some history of the Irish flag.


These colors are associated with the religious sects and are represented on the Irish flag; Catholics with the green, Protestants by the orange, and the white on the flag is symbolic of the peace between the two.


People in Ireland do not wear as much green or celebrate quite as wildly as revelers do elsewhere according to my findings. However, there is apparently a legend that wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns that will pinch you if they can see you.....Hope your Saint Patrick's Day was a wonderful celebration however you chose to pass the holiday!

Side Tracked

Time tends to get away from us all at one time or another.

I tend to find myself easily sidetracked with alot of different interests. Maybe that is one reason my resolutions never come to pass. This year that is changing. I have managed to keep myself in the gym... yeah!! So far that particular goal is working out great. Maybe I am not looking forward to that possibility of "I told you so"-s from anyone who reads any of these posts.....

 My blog posts have fallen behind so this week I am playing catch-up and trying to get things back on track. I did a photo walk alone around Broken Arrow on Main Street and found a few photos to post hoping this would set me back onto the path I chose. My blogs have always been sporadic til 2012. I guess in a way maybe they still are...but at least this year there are more of them.

I have found a few subjects I didn't know were right in front of me like this lion-head. I know it looks like a door knocker....and I would love one of those!! But this is actually on the clock on Main Street in Broken Arrow by the Historical Museum. I loved this little surprise! So I thought I would share it here with you.

Small town walks .... and that walk called life.... still hold a few small yet very worthwhile surprises!

I say " Keep them coming!"