More Penguins

MORE FUN!

More penquins & Surprises this Sunday

Don't miss the early morning surprises this Sunday at Laurelhurst - 10 a.m.

Here are a few more penguin pics: More next week!

1st Penguin Pics - WOW

The contest is to take pics. of our ARK penguin and then get them to me, Bruce. Here are our first ones to come in - Fun.

Kids Count - more words from kids; Amazing ideas

More from the weekend: 4-8 yr. olds commenting on "What does love mean?" (thanks Pam for sending this to me)

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine-age 5

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day" Mary Ann - age 4

"You really shouldn't say ' I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." Jessica - age 8

Great tips, ideas, and other parenting "stuff"

From my mentor, Dr. Steve Stevens (Lists to Live by for Every Caring Family)

Meaningful Touch ideas:

Hold hands during mealtime meals.
Make Hug sandwiches. Surprise your unsuspecting children.
Declare a "100 Hugs Day" among your family. Keep count.
Wrap your arms around your kids in church, while waiting in a line, or while watching TV.

Affirming your Children

Indiscriminate praise doesn't motivate - it confuses. When your kids are acting out, don't believe flattery will help them. Praise ONLY when behavior or character reflects your desire. DON'T DELAY PRAISE, it means less. Catch them in the "act." Be specific ("I like the way you just shared your toy - wow! Did that feel good?")

Love this Quote:
"Live your life so that when you're old, people will know that you -loved others clearly -loved your family dearly -loved God completely." Bruce & Stan

Jazz in the Park - Nice Smiles

Our Jazz in the Park was so much fun and a lot of people in the neighborhood dropped by - what a fun Sunday afternoon (Thanks Will and our amazing set-up team)! The musicians knocked themselves out sharing and even tearing down gear in the dark. We'll do it again!
So, the music was "way cool" and the food and friendships so, so good! Here are a few pics. - enjoy!

Penquin Contest Begins - You can be part of the fun!

Penguin fever had begun! We started our contest this week by giving out three penguins (we are doing a series called ARK right now) and we will have more penguins to loan out this coming week. Be watching for more on how to play, and WIN big!!

Tomorrow: the first of our pics. of our Jazz in the Park (so, so, much fun)!

Also more dog stories to cry yourself to sleep to . . . (my second dog was a very cool dog named Husky).

My dog "Lucky" (Kleenex reading zone)

It all started when I named her Lucky! Why did I choose that name? Looking back, I certain that my seven mature years of life could not have had anything to do with her tragic fall from grace.

I lived for three glorious years on the banks of the Snake River in Easter Oregon. Being about a quarter mile from the river, possessing my own fishing gear, spotted pony, and bow and arrow, I was destined for a famed life of adventure

Lucky learned fast, “sic’em” meant he was to run with all speed to his master’s pant leg and furiously hang on for dear life –what a fun game!

“Thank you Master Bruce for teaching me such a wondrous trick!”

Every summer my father, with the help of other “Zane Grey” types, would drive the “little doggies” (Old West lang. for "cattle") into the Snake River and force them to swim to a lush island for summer grazing. It was a Kodak moment as grown men brought their best horses and coolest hats and played “wild, wild west” again. This was to be the day Luck lost her luck.

The big cowpoke rode a magnificent Palomino stallion and when he saw my dog Lucky, he whistled my dog, with a shrill note of confidence, then tossed out that famous two syllable command, “sic’ em.”

With all the natural dog-obedience within her, Lucky raced over and took a healthy snip at the Palomino’s heels. Suddenly everyone was treated to a free rodeo show as Sir “Cowboy” hollered and hung on for a seven second free bucking-bronco ride –If that $10,000 video show had existed and camcorders had been invented I would have been a rich kid! I was laughing, Lucking was still attacking and no one noticed my father dismounting and reenacting a History Channel special of the “David and Goliath” fight! The big rock locked onto it’s target (my dad had a good arm) and little Lucky suddenly felt the incoming concussion against her head. Lucky let our a yelp and ran straight down to the river. She leapt in; swimming around and around in a mad circle for about five minutes. Lucky was never the same again. A couple of months later my father informed me Lucky had died of “lead poisoning.” Yes, I did cry for my tragic loss. It was several years later that I understood what lead poisoning meant.

There’s a favorite book title that has stuck in my head for a long time; it simply reads, “Hurt people Hurt people.” It's so true. I didn’t know how to train my little dog. My ignorance hurt Lucky.

“There is a way that seems right to a person . . .” says the wisest man who ever lived , “but the end is death..” (Proverbs 14:12) I’ve often thought, “every moment I’m free to choose 'my way.' ” But there is always a choice that if followed to its end will bring death. How many people have I hurt without even knowing it? How much can I trust the many choices “I think” are best?

So who’s got your back? Who’s your trainer? I sure hope it’s not me! My luck isn’t so good.

“We love because He first loved us!” I John 4:19