My Latest Poem

Courage of a Man

How do you measure the courage of a man?
Could it be by looking at his nail-scarred hand?

Or maybe the soldier who goes off to war
Not quite sure what he’s fighting for.

Is it the officer who proudly patrols our street
Never knowing exactly who he may meet?

What about the men who work deep in the mine
Only able to see where their lights shine?

Could it be the firemen who battle the blaze
And seldom receive any praise?

Maybe it’s the man who faces cancer head on
Not knowing if he’ll live to see another dawn.

Is it the man who serves the Lord
While knowing many will not seek His rewards?

The man who faces his own fears each day
Should kneel on his knees and courageously pray.


© Shane Hawk 2006

More of my poetry can be found on my poetry site.

Bubby is a "Terrific Kid!"

This morning Bubby was honored as a "Terrific Kid" during an assembly at his school. Only five children from each class are given this recognition for the entire school year. Their fellow students nominate and vote for those they feel qualify. Our local Kiwanis Club sponsors this program and presented each recipient with a T-shirt, car window sticker and certificate. Terrific is an acronym meaning:

Thoughtful
Enthusiastic
Respectful
Responsible
Inclusive
Friendly
Inquisitive
Capable

Needless to say, Garrett was quite proud of himself as were his dad and I. Of course we always knew he was terrific! Way to go, Garrett.

A joke from our five year old

This comes to you courtesy of Tater Tot. "What is the baby's favorite constellation?" (just pretend you hear the JEOPARDY music playing here.............) Give up already? "The Big Diaper!"

Happy Birth-tine Day!

This year we celebrated Valentine's day a little differently...we had a belated birthday party for my mom who turned 63. Her b-day is actually Feb. 5 but she was somewhere between the east and west coast traveling on that day. I made a nice dinner of spaghetti (with homemade sauce), garlic bread and salad. After we'd eaten, the boys and I made our grand entrance with the cake, candles, song and all. She was pleasantly surprised. Happy belated "Birth-tine Day, Gee!"

36?? Wishful thinking!

What is a Mom really worth?

**This post is dedicated to you fellow SAHM's ("stay-at-home-mom's" for you lay people).

Have you ever stopped to just think what all your "job" entails? I mean really...if you're like me, you provide the following services on any given day: chef, chauffeur, housekeeper, nurse, teacher, hair stylist, CEO, school volunteer, etc. There's a site, salary.com, that has actually taken into account the numerous jobs we perform on a daily basis and calculated what we should be paid for our services in "the real world."

(Click on picture to make it larger)

Considering we are on the job 24/7, 365 days a year and get no sick days, personal days, or bonuses, I think $131,471 a year is adequate. Don't you? Since we all know that's not going to actually happen I guess we'll just have to settle for the pay our mothers and grandmothers received.....satisfaction. Being fortunate enough to share every day with our children and helping to shape them into the adults they will eventually become is pay enough. I will be the first to admit that I don't view every day as a SAHM as a blessing (we all have our breaking points, right?), but the majority of them I do. I am truly thankful that I'm able to be at home to nurse their illnesses, volunteer at school, bake cookies for countless school activities, and wait at the bus stop for them at the end of a long school day. I've been a SAHM for 8 1/2 years and have enjoyed almost every day of it. When this September rolls around and our youngest heads off to kindergarten, I will enter a new season of motherhood I suppose. I'll have 6 1/2 hours a day, Monday - Friday, to myself. What ever will I do? Oh yeah, I know...laundry, clean house, grocery shop...the fun stuff that keeps our family going. Cheers to my fellow SAHM's!

Four things every SAHM needs to know.

Fred, Barney and...Winston?

I was shocked to see a snipet of this 1961 TV commercial today on VH1. I had to check into it and see the whole thing. Who knew Fred and Barney preferred Winston? Makes sense though since Winston was the sponsor of the cartoon in those days. Boy, we've come a long way (thank goodness).

To watch the commercial in its entirety go to metacafe.com.

Could you become a U.S. Citizen?

Okay, I'm no history buff, but I thought I could at least pass a portion of the test that is required to become a U.S. citizen.....WRONG! I only got 6 out of 10 correct. I would have failed! That is so sad. I hope I'm not the only one. Follow the link below (courtesy of blogthings.com) and find out how well you would do. Let me know using the "comments" link at the bottom of this post.

You Failed the US Citizenship Test

Oops, you only got 6 out of 10 right!

Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?

Upward Basketball Banquet

Last night the boys attended their Upward Basketball Awards Banquet. It was decorated in this year's colors, purple and gold. We had a yummy meal of salad, baked spaghetti and dessert. While eating we enjoyed a highlight video of the entire season, which we also purchased of course.

Aren't they adorable? Believe me, they're faking their excitement about hugging each other.

Payton and Coach Stiles.

Garrett and Coach Smith

All of the kids really enjoyed the ventriloquist (as well as the parents). At the end they received their "award"...an Upward basketball ("way cool" Payton said) and an Upward bracelet. Since Upward doesn't give trophies, like last year, I purchased one for each of them. They hated to see the season end, as did we. Although I will be happy to sleep in on Saturdays since there won't be any 9:00 a.m. games for a while!

My Feelings

by: Tater Tot
February 2006

"I feel silly when I make my brother laugh"

"I feel mad when my daddy gives me

spankings and it hurts a lot"

"I feel sad when I can't jump on my trampoline"

"I feel happy when I'm getting a 4-wheeler at Toys-R-Us"

"I feel scared when my mom turns my lights off"

USA Today article...Randy McCloy

Fog lifts for Sago Mine survivor
By Emily Bazar, USA TODAY

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Randy McCloy, like other coal miners trapped in the Sago Mine last month, wrote a goodbye note to his family.

It begins with his full name, written crisply atop a small piece of paper — "Randal L. McCloy Jr." — followed by a series of heart-wrenching farewells to his wife, Anna, and their two small children. "Anna, I love you so much. To my son, trust in the Lord. To my daughter, stay sweet."

The remainder of this article can be read at USAtoday.com.