Flat Stanley Comes to Arizona!

There you have it, folks. Mr. Stanley has braved the summer heat and visited the fair state of Arizona. Most visitors come in the winter when the weather is a comfortable daytime-shirt-sleeve temperature and a balmy evening-light-jacket temperature. But, no, not Flat Stanley. He wants all Arizona has to offer.

Our hats go off to this gentleman and our invitation goes out to all stalwart fans: come experience the real desert first-hand; come enjoy the lighter crowds due to a lack of tourists; enjoy phenomenal prices on exotic resorts; bring your arthritic bones to dry out in the desert heat. Bring chaptick and water, too.

Welcome, Flat Stanley!

• The saguaro cactus is the largest cactus found in the U.S. It can grow as high as a five-story building and is native to the Sonoran Desert, which stretches across southern Arizona and northern Mexico.
• A saguaro can store up to nine tons of water.
• It is a protected species and you could spend more than a year in prison for cutting one down.

• Arizona's disparate climate can yield both the highest and lowest temperatures across the nation in the same day.
• The hottest temperature recorded in Arizona was 128 at Lake Havasu City on June 29, 1994. The coldest was 40 below zero at Hawley Lake on January 7, 1971.
• Rainfall averages for Arizona range from less than three inches in the deserts to more than 30 inches per year in the mountains.

Let's hear it for Stanley!!

Photo by Jeannal Baker

Just had to share a friend's photos of a blooming cactus in their yard in Sun City Grand, AZ. The flowers are large and waxy and last only one day. Spectacular!

Jeannal Baker

Solutions

Parenting. For the toughest job on the earth, there is no required training or preparation: no diploma, certificate, degree, or license. Most anyone can become a parent, whether they are skilled or not.

In last week's blog I shared some of my outrage over child abuse. As a volunteer on a Foster Care Review Board in Arizona, I read many cases that break my heart. Fortunately, by the time a child enters foster care and I'm reading their story, they are safe physically and most often, emotionally. Foster parents (and grandparents) are angels God uses to save children. I admire them greatly.

Parents whose children are taken from their care, are offered support services to help them establish stable, loving homes. Many take advantage of these services and do get their children returned. However, too many go through the motions just to fulfill a requirement or ignore the help altogether.

Parents whose children are in foster care are offered:

• Parenting classes
• Substance abuse services
• Psychological counseling
• Daycare
• Transportation to therapy sessions
• Parent aides to teach one-on-one parenting skills
• A case manager to oversee their progress

This is great and I'm glad our state has these services available. However, why not establish some training, education, or skills BEFORE the baby comes?

Advice to young people:
Get your own life cleaned-up and strengthened before becoming a parent. Make sure the home you're establishing is stable, safe, and loving. Take classes, read books, learn about child development--not just a child's physical needs but their emotional and spiritual needs, as well.

Possible training for parenthood:

• Books

Read everything you can about the task of parenting. Check out the author for his/her credentials. Do their philosophies make sense? Do they mesh with your values? Does their plan for child-raising fit your personality? Is the plan do-able? Most importantly: are children's needs and well-being emphasized?

• Classes

Take parenting classes at churches, the YMCA, Community Centers, schools. Anywhere they're offered.

• Mentors

Seek mentors, both official and unofficial. Find a family that seems to be working--not perfectly but stable and happy. Become friends, ask them for advice, model what you like about their parenting and discard what doesn't fit you.

• Respite

Breaks from the 24/7 of parenting are almost impossible to get, but they are valuable in helping parents stay strong for the lengthy task of raising children to responsible adulthood. You're blessed if you have extended family nearby who can help. Alternatives are friends or trusted babysitters. In my own family, the more children we had, the more important it was for my husband and me to get away on dates or quick weekend trips. Think creatively. Perhaps you and a friend can swap services so everyone benefits--even the kids.

We all feel anger when we read of parents neglecting their children. We should do what we can to encourage parents to take precautions BEFORE their children need the foster care system.

* * * * * * *

If you want to serve the children of Arizona, consider becoming a CASA volunteer or a volunteer member of a Foster Care Review Board. Click here for more information on two worthwhile programs:

CASA

Foster Care Review Board

Quail Family

I was at the dining room table working on my laptop when I looked up, and there by my patio door was a family of quail--two adults and five tiny chicks. They were feasting on the colony of ants gathered near the screen door.

How exciting. I think they would have come in the house if the door had been open! Fairly quickly, the adults flew up on top of our fence and squawked their commands. The chicks followed obediently. When Mama and Papa flew into the next yard, I thought, No way can those babies get over that six-foot fence. But sure enough, they flew--awkwardly--and joined their parents in the next yard offering up juicy bugs.

Ours is a quail-friendly yard: no dogs, no kids, no huge desert tortoise (our neighborhood has one), lots of bugs, and Bermuda grass with abundant seed sprouts. We often get quail visitors and it makes me smile every time.

Why am I so enamored of quail?

• They travel in close-knit family groups, often in a long conga line
• The little ones obey Mom and Dad--one squawk and they respond
• Dad often sits atop the fence keeping an eye out for danger while his family eats
• They run funny

Protective Parents and Obedient Children: quite the formula for success.

I do some volunteer work with the Foster Care system in Arizona. It breaks my heart when I read of children abused or uncared for by their own parents. A thought that runs through my mind is, "Even animals instinctively care for their young. It's only the human animal that..."

Several years ago, Disney put out an entertaining documentary called Bears. While watching I was mesmerized at how adept Mama Bear was at teaching her cubs to hunt for food. God created that instinct. It's in humans, too, but we need to tap into it and take precautions to preserve it.

I am outraged when I read that humans sometimes choose:

• drugs over children
• alcohol over children
• boyfriend/girlfriend over children
• own selfish desires over children
• Etc., etc., etc. (Sadly, there are many etceteras)

Even the animal kingdom will fight to the death for their offspring.

Juicy bugs and grass seeds--doesn't get much better!



Encouragement for Single Parents...

Parenting is the toughest job you'll ever have. It's 24/7, no vacation days, no sick leave, and no certification requirements or training workshops. Professional development often comes in the form of trial and error and/or commiserating with other parents who may be just as perplexed as you!

The benefits? Priceless. Nothing speaks like the smile of a child, whether it's your own or someone else's. Nothing speaks like a child holding your hand, giving you a hug, or sitting by your side reading a book to you. Nothing grabs your heart like the love of a child.

I used to tell my high school students (many who were just a few years away from having children), to learn parenting skills watch old reruns of the Andy Griffith Show. What? Yes. Once you get beyond the black and white format of the show, there are some real nuggets there.

Think of it. Andy Taylor (Griffith) was a man before his time as a single dad in the late 1950s and early 60s. Of course, he did have Aunt Bea. Wouldn't we all love to have an Aunt Bea cleaning our houses and baking cookies in our kitchens? But, look at the attributes of Andy as a dad to dear, sweet, loveable Opie:

• He's calm & never overreacts (quite a contrast to the Don Knotts' character).
• He's consistent. Opie knows even a staged temper tantrum won't get his dad to cave. (That's a great episode.)
• He's not afraid to teach Opie responsibility. (When Opie kills a mama bird, Andy makes him hand feed the babies until they can fly away.)
• Andy Taylor follows up discipline with loving interaction.
• Sheriff Taylor spends time with his son. Opie knows he's the most important person in his life.

I could go on and on, but you'd accuse me of watching too much television. I haven't seen the show in years, but it was my lunchtime entertainment when I was a stay-at-home mom eons ago.

This brings me to a special group of parents: single parents. Theirs is a tough job:

• They are stretched to the max
• They endure family stresses some of us can't imagine
• They have the same fears all parents have about their children becoming responsible adults
• Much of what they do, they do alone

A group really overlooked is single dads. Single moms have more support programs and more publicity for their struggles. Let's face it--there are more of them. However, there is a growing number of men with 100% custody of their children. The resources for these men are limited. Even in the church single moms get support not available to faithful fathers who are trying to do it all alone.

Take heart single dads: we admire you and I hope to advertise your plight so there will be more support for the tough job you are doing. When  you're at your wit's end and need encouragement, pull up some old Andy Griffith reruns.

Sadly, Andy Griffith died on July 3, 2012. Many fans miss Sheriff Andy Taylor and Matlock.
Click here to view a delightful photo gallery of the Andy Griffith Show.

Mayberry just isn't the same!

How to Read a Book!

Dear Readers,

I know, I know. You know how to read a book. But are you getting your money’s worth? Let me explain.

There are nuggets in a book you might be overlooking. E-books usually start the reader off with Chapter 1, but there is a lot of solid information before you even get to that spot. Consider this:

• The Cover – the cover of a book is responsible for grabbing the reader’s attention, making them pick the book up from a shelf or click on it electronically. Publishers and authors spend a lot of time coming up with just the right one to interest the reader. You, the reader, get a hint about the book from the cover, so don’t overlook it when starting to read.
• The Copyright Page – this is the page with tiny print of boring stuff. It is, however, quite important—more than to satisfy the publisher’s legal department. If you’re reading a non-fiction book, it’s vital to know when it was published. If it gives you information to improve your life or health, you want it to be current. If it’s fiction, it’s good to know when it was published because then you can appreciate the time period of the writing.
• Disclaimer - I love the statement about this being a piece of fiction and “names have been changed to protect...” Sounds like the old Dragnet show, doesn’t it? It got me off the hook with my novel when I used Beaver Island, Michigan, as a setting for part of the book. I fictionalized its use—keeping true to the flavor of the island and its residents but making up some things.
• The Publisher – this lets you know if it’s one of the big Five or a smaller publishing house. Not necessary but nice to know. Also, is it distributed in other countries?
• The Dedication Page – I like to read this because it hints at someone who is important in the author’s life. I had my dedication to my husband, Bob, written thirty years ago. It took me that long to come up with a novel to go with it!

I enjoy reading the Acknowledgements Page only after I’ve read the book. I don’t really care who helped the author along the way until I’ve read their work and feel a connection to them. My publisher wanted me to put that page in the front of my novel but I insisted it go at the end. Hopefully, my readers got to know me a little through my writing, and then cared a smidgen about what and who inspired me. If not, then they don’t have to read it.

Book Discussion Questions. If an author has included this, you might look at it. I was able to personalize my novel through these questions. Some readers commented they liked how I applied the book’s themes to their lives.

There are lots of ways to read a book. I want you to get the very most out of a reading experience. It can be delightful.

If you’ve read my novel, would you leave a review on Amazon or Barnes and Noble? Thank you. Also, I invite you to visit my website. Click here: website

Happy Reading!

Some Thoughts on Harper Lee's New Novel

Disclaimer: I taught To Kill a Mockingbird for many years in the high school English classroom. It is my all-time favorite thing to teach. Every time I took a group of students through this novel, I saw something new. I loved watching them read ahead in the book and then sit mesmerized during the movie. I am very biased about Harper Lee's writing. Nevertheless, I would like to share a few thoughts about her new novel, written in the late 1950s but just published last week. I will try not to spoil the story for anyone who hasn't yet read Go Set a Watchman.

Some thoughts:

• Harper Lee was a woman before her time. She was a white, southern woman who was color-blind to race, and that was an anomaly in the late 1950s.
• The book could not have been  published in its present form back then. It would have caused a firestorm. I think it needs the perspective of the Civil Rights Movement and whatever progress has been made since then. (I realize more progress needs to be made on this front.)
• Her editors wisely advised her to rewrite the novel (which she did as To Kill a Mockingbird) from the point of view of the children. Doing that naturally softened the tone, smoothed over the cynicism, and made the theme very powerful.
• The novel gave me insight in to some of the fears the southerners were facing at that time. They feared a loss of their lifestyle, comfort, and shared equality. They feared change. They felt the Federal Government was infringing on states' rights. Whether or not these fears were justified, remains debatable.
• Atticus had to help Jean Louise "cut the umbilical cord," because she had an unrealistic view of her father. He knew she needed to find her own voice, her own conscience--in essence "set her own watchman." She had placed him too high upon the pedestal, and he knew that would not serve her well throughout life.

A key to understanding the theme of any novel is to look to the title. Go Set a Watchman references a Bible verse from Isaiah 21:6:

"For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth." (KJV)

A similar verse can be found in Ezekiel 3:17:

"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me." (NIV)

In ancient Israel, a watchman's job was to stand atop the city wall and report on a battle or announce the arrival of a messenger or enemy. In the spiritual realm, the prophet served as a watchman warning the people of Israel to turn from sin to God and righteous living.

Some questions to ask:

• Whom do I put on a pedestal? Whom do I admire so much I cannot see their true humanity? Is there an Atticus in my life?
• Do I set a watchman over my own conscience? Have I established a strong set of values for moral living?

Harper Lee does her best writing when looking through the eyes of children. Her scenes of Jem, Dill, and Scout playing in the backyard took me right back to my own childhood. Her descriptions of child's play are amazingly accurate.

I will read this novel again, because I believe there is more to be gleaned.

I would love to hear from those of you who have read it. Do you agree? Disagree? Have any other insights I've missed? Leave your response in the Comment section below.

Thank you.

Church and State

Concerning the separation of Church and State:

In Sweden, everyone must pay a tax to the Lutheran Church--whether Lutheran in belief or not. However, only 1 or 2% of the population attends the Lutheran Church regularly. If you want to get married or buried in the church, your taxes must be paid up.

It really hit me how fortunate we are to have separation of Church and State. I would hate for my government to tax me for a certain religious institution of their choosing. I want to select my own pathway to worship the God whom I believe is Truth. It is a freedom--freedom of worship--that is extremely important.

So, there you have it. I loved visiting the European cities and learning about their history. I was especially moved by the continual reminder of the devastation those countries endured during both World Wars. I learned a lot but I also came away appreciative of the freedoms I have as a citizen of the United States.

To see the four oil paintings done by Norman Rockwell in 1943, reflecting FDR's Four Freedoms State of the Union Address of 1941, click here: Four Freedoms. Think how important these freedoms are to our lives:

1. Freedom of Speech
2. Freedom of Worship
3. Freedom from Want
4. Freedom from Fear