The Stars at Night are Dull not Bright . . .

I've been in Dallas, Texas for a few days -- annual conference of the American School Counselor Association. It's been warm, muggy, and hazy in the heart of Texas -- the stars are difficult to see at night because of the haze/smog.

I will be home tomorrow and can't wait to see my family. I usually do some kind of presentation at the conference -- below is a description of this year's.

20 Years and Staying the Course
All Practice Levels
All Experience Levels
0.125 CEUs

School counselors know the specifics
of putting a school counseling program
in place, and they are excited about it.
But maintaining program momentum is
challenging to say the least. Hear from
district school counseling leaders about
their success in sustaining their school
counseling program for 20 years and their
secrets to staying the course.

Judy Petersen, Guidance Director; Leigh Ann
McCann, Guidance Coordinator, Granite School
District, Salt Lake City, Utah

Father's Day

The father of my children is a pretty good guy. We have been married for a long time and have three great kids. Karl has always been and will always be there for the kids -- school work, any event, homework, yard work, project work, business ventures, and even house work now and again. When the kids were young, Karl took care of them pretty much Monday through Thursday evenings while I either went to school or taught evening classes. We passed each other in the driveway many afternoons for many years. As the dad, he always did what was needed and if he had to go somewhere -- the kids always tagged along. The daughters were the best for many years -- they loved to play ball and watch ball games, read historical non-fiction and fiction, listen to and collect all types of music, go to concerts, and pretty much hang out with their dad. About the only things they didn't like about their dad were the long explanations about historical events and places.

Once the son came along and began to grow into a walking talking person, good student, sports enthusiast, and video game junkie -- the dad moved into a new life dimension. He makes time to be with the son in every aspect of his life -- even scouts. The daughters, now married, have moved to the status the "opening band" in their dad's life and the son has become the "main event" (I think they are okay with that -- they are still part of the concert). Through it all --Karl will always be the best dad ever -- I know that for sure! Happy Father's Day!

Summer Drink Sale

So, I stopped at McDonald's on the way home from work to refuel on a diet COKE. When the cashier said $1.06, I said, "I thought I had ordered a large." The cashier set me straight that he got my request for a large and that it's $1 soft drink summer at McDonald's. How great is that?!?! My dad told me not to drink more than 2 liters of diet COKE a day because it could be harmful to my health. I don't think I am there, yet.

Great kids make a great trip . . .

Returned yesterday morning . . .

All home safe and sound . . .

Experiences of a lifetime . . .

Love my KIDS (Haley, James, Lauren, Natalie, Meranda, Emily, Willie, Parker, Hannah, Eva) . . .

Great kids (travelers) make the best trips ! ! !

More to come . . .

School's out for Summer, Alice Cooper

"Well we got no choice
All the girls and boys
Maken' all that noise
'Cause they found new toys
Well we can't salute ya
Can't find a flag
If that don't suit ya
That's a drag

School's out for summer,
School's out forever
School's been blown to pieces

No more pencils
No more books
No more teacher's dirty looks

Well we got no class
And we got no principles
We ain't got no innocence
We can't even think of a word that rhymes

School's out for summer
School's out forever
My school's been blown to pieces

No more pencils
No more books
No more teacher's dirty looks

Out for summer
Out 'til fall
We might not come back at all

School's out forever
School's out for summer
School's out with fever
School's out completely"

Wyatt -- 3 weeks old!

Count your blessings . . .

Just when you think you can't do one more thing or take on one more challenge -- just stop and look around. There is always someone, somewhere, whose challenges are far more difficult.

• A young parent came to my office this morning needing some help with a school document she needed for a credential from the Mexican Consulate. She dropped out of high school at 16, had a baby who has been very ill since birth. He is now 5 and not much taller than Elliott. His little legs are so skinny, they look like just walking could break them. He had a breathing device around his throat and terrible scars on his left arm. His lower lip and chin were somehow molded together. I helped her, and sent her on her way.


• Late tonight I got a phone call about one of the senior sisters in our ward -- Grandma Carol. She had hip replacement surgery a week ago today and has been recovering very well in a rehab center. However, she had a seizure sometime today and fell. She pretty much destroyed her hip replacement and broke her pelvis, severely. Rather than a return home in a couple of days, she is now in a hospital facing surgery and a very long recovery.

I am very blessed and I think of my blessings every hour of every day -- family, good health, nice home, spiritual significance, excellent job, and more! I am reminded tonight of a song from White Christmas called "Counting My Blessings Instead of Sheep" --- When I am worried and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall asleep, counting my blessings. When my bankroll is getting small, I think of when I had none at all, and I fall asleep, counting my blessings . . . It's a simple little song, but has a big strong meaning.

(Music and lyrics by Irving Belin, 1954 -- the year I was born -- it was sung in White Christmas as a duet by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney.)