The Sound of Freedom

Several years ago I had a young man, ask me what the sound of freedom was; since he was simply using the question to disrupt the class I simply ignored it and went on with the day’s lesson. But something inside of me raised that question again this weekend as I work to plan the Veteran’s day assembly “What is the sound of Freedom”.


Memories: we all have that special smell that can bring back volumes of memories of warm summer days and fresh watermelon, or the warmth in our hearts when we smell the turkey coming out of the oven on Thanksgiving Day. Those are tangible memories ones that come back easily or can be felt or touched but how do you define the “sound of freedom”??? Some of you may raise your hands and say “The liberty bell” or “The Star Bangle Banner” and the list can go on and on of sounds you have heard from childhood that to you represented the freedoms we all enjoy …….but what is the sound of freedom?

I narrowed my list down to two: The opening of a textbook – symbolizes the sound of our freedom through education. Try listening to 30 textbooks opening all at once to study today’s lesson. The book sees no difference in your sex, color, economics, religion or lifestyle – it is freedom that brings insight. I thank God for the freedom to hear the sounds of education that so many have fought and died for, and which other countries so deny to their people.

My second sound may cause you to stop and think I hope it does. As most of you know I grew up Air Force. To some that may not mean much given that you stayed home while your parent served but for our family we went where ever dad was stationed. I bring that up because military life even for the children was completely different than for those of you growing up non-military. And for the most part the differences we minor – I grew up “on base” you grew up in a neighborhood, I went to a school “on base” you went to public schools.

So where is the “sound” difference?? Movie theaters……….yes I said movie theaters. I know some of you are saying “well she finally lost it” but hold on…

In the military, when you went to a movie, there were rules that had to be followed and here is where the “sound” comes in. At the beginning of every movie they played our national anthem – all they had to play was the first two notes of that song and every man in that theater SNAPPED TO ATTENTION – seatbacks snapped up and……….. you have no idea how “freedom” sounds until you hear over 200 military combat boots snap together. The sound is almost deafening. There is a ……it is so hard to describe – the feeling rumbles in your heart it is so strong and it implants itself into your whole body that these men, these boots are there to protect, defend and to secure your freedoms. It has been almost 45 years since I heard that sound – I can still hear it and it brings a smile to my face and warmth to my heart. I wish each of you could experience that feeling. Today there is a small sound that echoes when you see a military parade, or when a young man is given a metal, and yes………the sound of the quiet tap when they lay another soldier to rest. I hope each of you has a “sound of freedom:” because remember in some countries the people are deaf.

God bless our men in the military, God bless our country, and by far God bless the “sound of freedom” today and always.

Remember our Veterans this Thursday Nov. 11, 2010, but more than that remember them everyday.

                                              Spring break vacation

Baseball and ??Snow??

How to describe a 7 day period that I have been waiting several weeks for is hard, especially if you live in Oklahoma.

Spring Break March 2010.  We left very early (4am) on Sunday March 14th for vacation. - three nights in theTunica/Memphis area.  The picture on the left is a beautiful glass blown design that greets guest at the GoldStrike Hotel.  The glass looks so fragile.  

Arrived Sunday afternoon, took a nap, rested, and played a little. Monday we went touring the area – down to the Town of Tunica, and then out to the Riverpark area where they have ecotrails, and a small museum/history. Mike was fascinated by one of the old propellers.

Tuesday was “My” day as I finally made it to Beale Street in Memphis. And of course I forgot my camera. I did take some pictures using my cell phone and as soon as I figure out how to download them I will post them. I loved the evening. We walked up and down Beale Street, ate some great BBQ at a place called “Pigs with Attitude”. And then spend over an hour listening to a band called The Plantation Allstars – OMG they were so good. The blues just resonated through them – It was everything I imagined.

Long long drive back on Wednesday. Thursday was just a kick around day – laundry, banking and getting some school work done.

Friday my sister and I took a short trip to Miami Oklahoma to watch our nephew Josh play Baseball for Northeastern Oklahoma A & M. We bought the NEO t-Shirts so of course we wore them to cheer on the team. It was a beautiful day – forgot the sunscreen so our arms got a little red but I love color in my skin. Doesn’t even matter what the score was it was more important that we were there, we were supporting the team, and we got to see Josh.

Saturday northeastern Oklahoma was hit with some pretty strong winds and lots of snow. We got about 5 inches of the wet stuff. Woke up this morning and it was snowing again, but it is quickly melting. I guess Mother Nature had one more blast of winter to get out of her system. I have no idea what is up with her but I have reached my limit with the snow this year.

My goal for the next 9 weeks of school……….lesson plans, worksheets, whinny kids, sunshine and MORE BASEBALL!!!!!!

Train in transition part II

Just for fun Mike laid out his blue board, and put some buildings up to give me a perspective on what it might look like. You have to imagine the mountains on the top and apparently there will be a river next to the Casino on the main level........ Thanks to Mike's favorite Uncle Jim we have wonderful buildings and memories........... Don't forget to click on the picture to see it up close.

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Train in transition

For those of you who regularly check in to my blog forgive me for using my space to share pictures of my husband building his train table.  It is just easier for the family and extended family to see his progress without having to email everyone picutres. 

Since his retirement Mike has been working on a design for his "O" gauge Lionel train.  He has had the train since 1956 and is just now taking it out of storage.   It has taken over the spare room and continues to grow each week.   He has architectual drawings of where the train will feed in and out of tunnels, through the town, drop off goods and pick them up. 

So far he has a table that is set on wheels so he can work on all sides, his base table, and this weekend he created the upper mountain tracks and the tunnel.  The "M.K.J." is set to go full speed ahead  early this summer............with prayers.
(click on a picture to see full size and more detail)
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New weather Pictures

Since my blog yesterday we have had an additonal 9 inches of snow~~~

There are some beautiful trees across the street - hope you enjoy these pictures.  With 9 inches of snow, one lane bridges, and few "working" buses I doubt we have school on Monday.  Remember there is still a 1/2 of ice under all the snow.  We are "stuck" here in Sperry but have plenty of house projects, and as usual I have plenty of papers to grade and lesson plans to write.   Just took Sweet Potato Pecan Bread out of the oven.  Sounds good with some coffee.........

Will keep in touch.

** be sure to check out the difference in the two pictures of the patio table from earlier yesterday  morning's blog  and today **

ANOTHER snow storm...........

Well it’s been a long time since I have seen a winter like this in Oklahoma. But here we are again with ice and snow. (see previous blogs) Thought we were going to miss out on the blunt of the storm, and to some extent we were as we only got about ½ inch of ice, but this morning around 9:30 it started snowing and it is still snowing and expected to continue until late evening. So far we have about 5 inches of snow on top of the ice. We are lucky that we still have power, full refrigerator and things to do around the house. Hopefully we will be able to get out tomorrow or Sunday – then they are predicting another “something” for Monday. At this point I think they are afraid to use the “snow” word again……….ha ha ha

Teddy Bears and Love

Teddy Bears and Memories

This week our FCCLA group has been collecting Stuffed Animals for DVIS and Nursing Homes and I thought it was time to maybe clean out my closet for some “Slightly used” Teddy Bears. So while I was at work I had Mike take them out and lay them on the bed for me to decide which to save and which to donate. Well………..I knew I had some bears, but I had no idea I had that many!!! They took up the whole bed, and of course Mike had them staged just perfectly. I remember walking into the room and the first thing that popped into my head was “Love”. Look at all that love. I never remember thinking – what a mess – or how did this thing get out of hand – or have they been multiplying on their own. – but love.

Each of us has memories of that favorite thing we carried everywhere when we were growing up -  for my brother it was his beanie hat, for my grandson Jason its his donkey and for my grandson Kevin it was his monkey. But I never remember having anything I had to carry around, maybe I did but I am so old I can’t remember. But I do know that if I had 30 minutes to pack up before disaster I would for sure grab the largest stuffed bear on the bed. Why?? Because it symbolizes me hugging me, me hugging family, me hugging God. That’s the whole thing about Teddy Bears isn’t it?? That we as humans can hug something – we can connect our bodies with something else. We have that need to touch, hug, embrace, and confirm our existence with someone or something else.

So what is a Teddy Bear and why are they so important in our lives?

A Teddy Bear is Love,

A Teddy Bear hears all our pain as we cry

A Teddy Bear hold us when we are sick

A Teddy Bear is the best defense in pillow fights

A Teddy Bear protects us on cold and rainy nights

But mostly a Teddy Bear is the one friend, family, and life line that will never judge, never criticize never forsake or abandon us and will always be the last thing we see in the morning and the first thing we see when we go to bed. But most of all the Teddy Bear is the smile that makes life happy. For me life is easy – I don’t need jewelry, I don’t need flowers, but apparently what I do need is another teddy bear.

( did I give some away……..no, I couldn’t because each held a special memory – this one I got for Christmas, or this one I got when I graduated college, or these are all from my brother-in-law………and so the story goes. But I will buy a new one and donate it so that some child can feel its love, and an older person in the nursing home can have fond memories return to hug.)