Besides her teaching opportunities, Shelly has also found writing poetry to be an outlet
for her thoughts. Some of her blogging efforts have included not only her poems but
offered poetry challenges to those of us that interact with her. She even got me to write
a few lines. She recently released a collection of her poetry that has been well
received. If you want to see more about that online, you can go to Cyborg-Chimera

Through poetry readings in public places in Shanghai, social his work has come to the
attention of some of whom she is in fellowship. One of these ladies has a husband who
owns a company in Shanghai. In an effort to make a long story short, Shelly was
approached by this couple with an idea of using her poetry to create a line of lamps that
are unique works of art. The couple knows an artist whom they wanted to have paint some
depictions that sprang from Shelly’s haiku’s.

The line was launched a week ago and Shanghai to a crowd of 80 invited guests. Everyone
that was there seemed to be very appreciative of the art, both of the poet and the
painter. To see more of this in PDF go to Shelly’s blog or you can
see the information that is posted on YouTube: Dark til Dawn
Some one-of-a-kind items are now no doubt gracing homes and offices in Shanghai. Who
knows where others may end up? Some amazing doors have opened up for Shelly over the 16,  nearly 17 years of her foreign service.

There are thousands of helpless children in this country, as well as in foreign lands, who need assistance from able families who a good and, particularly in my mindset, Christian home. There is no better way in this world to express our religion than to open our homes and our hearts, and pocketbooks, to foster or adoptive children.

If we do not assume this responsibility, we must each ask ourselves if our religion is proper.

James 1:27 ”Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Interstate Plastics is a company that takes pride in offering quality products and attentive service to its customers. The company produces plastics materials that can be used in a wide range of applications. Whether you are in search of acrylic tube, or sheets or rods, and whether you are needing only standard sizes or a customized size, Interstate can provide for all your needs!

Playing the World Champion Phillies and facing Cliff Lee may could have presented a much bigger problem, but the ‘Stros got nine hits in the four innings that the lefty lasted. The biggest blow came off the bat of Wandy–as unlikely as that sounds. With the bases loaded in a scoreless game, Rodriguez took the first five pitches he saw and found himself with a full count. He fouled off four pitches before lacing a line drive into the right filed corner for a two run double. He scored moments later on a hit by Kaz Matsui. The four runs was more than enough.

Wandy had the Phils under his heel for the night and the Astros wound up with a 7-0 win! It was all topped off by a huge fireworks show sponsored by Marathon Oil. Very nice night at Minute Maid.

There are times when you should not make quick judgments, when you should be judicious in your actions. But the sooner you act to avoid temptation, the better. Dallying over a decision and rationalizing over a situation puts your final verdict in jeopardy, because the scales tend to tip to the side of the half truths.

When the alarm clock goes off in the morning, don’t argue with it, get up. You are the one who made the decision last night what time to arise today.

Make a stand, act decisively. You will begin to like yourself better. Don’t put off till later what you can do now. Something important may come up later! And if not you can rest when you are through, without the task still in front of you.

Proverbs 6:9-11 “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. So Shall thy poverty come…”

Today at noon my wife and I went to a luncheon hosted by the local Rotary Club to honor the Teachers of the Year in our school district. We were invited as guests of Edna Meeks, who was being honored as the best teacher in one of the five high schools in our district. It was conducted at the South Shore Resort & Convention Center, a very nice venue.

There are thirty nine campuses in our district, and each was represented at the fete. Edna was one of three finalists to be Secondary Teacher of the Year for the entire district. She was not the ultimate winner, but she will receive a signed proclamation from the Governor and a $500 bonus check. But I happen to know that Edna does not excel as a teacher for the kind of recognition she received today. She is so selfless and absolutely loves the role she plays in the lives of young people. She counts it a privilege to be a teacher.

The event caused me to think back about some of the teachers that meant so much to me. My all time favorite, Edna Earle Tucker, was my fifth grade teacher. I think she would like Edna Meeks!

In shocking news from the African Continent, a conspiracy of grand magnitude has been revealed. What had been considered a romantic story of the Circle of Life is now shown to be one of savage treachery.

Documents discovered in the residence of mystic baboon, Rafiki, have been translated into English. Among the contents of the find were communications between Rafiki and the think tank, “Nants Ingonyama”, which translates as “Triumph in the Pride Lands”. The documents reveal that co-conspirators in the plot included, Zazu, the chief of staff for Mufasa; and Nala, the young lioness in love with the Prince of Lions, Simba. Though his name had been redacted on the think tank’s website, strong evidence points to the fact that Simba himself was also in on the scheme.

Rafiki was the initiator of the plan, and he was able to utilize young Simba’s ambition and impatience to his advantage. The shaman baboon knew that the prince could not wait to be king. He devised a wicked construct that would actually leave the baboon with unprecedented clout within the framework of Simba’s reign.

First on the agenda was the need to be rid of the reigning king, Mufasa. Rafiki tantalized Mufasa’s brother, Scar, with the possibilities of ruling the pride lands. Scar bought into the plan, not knowing that he was actually a pawn in the devious plans of Rafiki and the conspirators. They did not just want Simba to be king, but also the hero of the Pride.

The plan was to get Scar to do the actual killing of his royal brother. He was manipulated by the shaman into thinking he was to trick Simba into leaving in shame over his part in the death of his father. But Simba was only feigning guilt. His banishment was simply to allow the situation in the pride lands to diminish to the point of extremely dire. Much of this part of the plan was accomplished by Zazu, from his administrative position.

When the circumstances reached the dismal stages, Nala was sent to fetch Simba to return to overthrow the ineffectual Scar and take his place, not only as King of the pride lands, but its adored savior!

I understand thoughtless jokes that were not intended to hurt. I think most of us make them. Special Olympics is one of my favorite charities, and I am not an Obama fan, but I would really like it if his slip and his apology would help get us past the constant call for someone to resign when they make an inappropriate comment they should have kept to themselves.