Happy Halloween!

My little stinker

A Whale of a Tale

According to this article, PETA is now suing Sea World on the grounds that they are violating Amendment 13 rights by "enslaving" their killer whales and forcing them to perform for Sea World's profit. Just a few questions regarding applying human rights to animals came to mind after reading the article:

1. Do animals deserve human rights if they have no accountability?
2. Could the same argument be made toward any pet owner? (No doubt PETA members have pets...)
3. Does this mean we can prosecute animals that kill people (or other animals)?

I was remembering a time a few years ago, when I was leaving a zoo and protesters were handing out literature on the evils of zoos. I thought about their argument, and I decided that these people might be a little short sighted in their argument. I can't think of a better way to produce affection or love of animals, than to make them accessible to the general public... and especially children.
After my son saw a Sea World show, his love for orca whales blew through the roof. Obviously, I believe that animals should be cared for appropriately, but these Sea World shows just might be the best PR the orcas could ever hope for.

2 More Days...

... until I can rid myself of the bulk bag of candy I bought for our church party, and I will finally have some peace and quiet from it calling my name in the pantry!!

Ponderings During the World Series

It took me about 23 years of life on this earth to buy a pair of white pants. Until then- while I was often tempted to buy them- I could hear them taunting me from their clothing racks, "Buy me, I dare you. I can't wait for you to stain me within the first 10 minutes of wearing me! What will it be first? Spaghetti sauce? Ink? Dirt? Bwahahaha!"
Contrast that with...
Major League baseball teams, who have chosen white as their pant color of choice for playing a game that involves diving around in grass and clay.

Obviously, they don't clean their own uniforms.

Design Friday: Then & Now

I saw this commercial while watching the World Series the other day (Go Cards!). I thought it was such a creative idea. In my research on the commercial, I also became aware of this website - dearphotograph.com. So cool. It is amazing to ponder on the passing of time, how  things change (or don't), and the memories we are walking in everyday.

Life Sculpture

Chisel in hand stood a sculptor boy

With his marble block before him,
And his eyes lit up with a smile of joy,
As an angel-dream passed o'er him.

He carved the dream on that shapeless stone,
With many a sharp incision;
With heaven's own light the sculpture shone,-
He'd caught that angel-vision.

Children of life are we, as we stand

With our lives uncarved before us,
Waiting the hour when, at God's command,
Our life-dream shall pass o'er us.

If we carve it then on the yielding stone,
With many a sharp incision,
Its heavenly beauty shall be our own,-
Our lives, that angel-vision.

-George Washington Doane

How To Be a Good Mom

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part-or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."

-M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God"

The Power of Music

A little boy named Diego was introduced into my son's class at school a few weeks after the first day of school. Diego speaks little English, and causes frequent disturbances in class. While he never personally bothered my son, my son still found Diego's outbursts unnerving. I tried to help him understand how Diego might be feeling, but Diego remained a frequent complaint in our home.
While driving in our car, I had some children's music playing in the CD player. A song came on whose lyrics included the line, "If you don't talk as most people do, some people talk and laugh at you, but I won't! I won't! I'll walk with you. I'll talk with you. That's how I'll show my love for you." After the song was over, the following conversation took place:

My Son: "That song gave me an idea."
Me: "What?"
My Son: "I'm thinking that I could be a better friend to Diego."
Us: "Why?"
My Son: "Because he doesn't talk like me."

He then went on to ask my husband to teach him a few Spanish phrases that might help him talk to Diego. Since that night, my son has become somewhat of a defender for Diego. In the length of this short song, my son had gained a new compassion for Diego that I, alone, had not been able to help him realize.
My son has always been very tuned into conversations and lyrics- even when you think he isn't. This sweet conversation again reminded me of how important it is to be careful of what messages are being sent to our children through the music we play. Music really can shape children's thoughts and attitudes. What are we teaching our children, when we aren't teaching them?