HaPpY BiRtHdAy

To my eldest!!! 18 today. WOW!

I love you sugar bear!

Pictures my sister wanted

Ok, here they are...please excuse the mess...

http://thetaggs.smugmug.com/Family/TheTagg-Family/2010-House-Pictures/10861010_3oGvA#757746312_rydcN

it's only been  4 months since you asked...

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Doing well enough to get by...

I have noticed a trend. Not only in my kids, but me as well...We often do just enough to get by. Rarely do we make an effort at every thing we do to do the absolute best we can. I know when I fail at this it's usually due to thinking, "I can finish later"..but, sometimes it's, "Oh, someone else will finish that up". Once in a while I may do a bit extra on something that might draw attention to how much I do...but, usually, it's something I might enjoy doing anyway. It's like trying to get rewarded for obedience..when it's actually, I am choosing to do something that I want to do because I like it..and, oh yeah, it just happens to be something I am supposed to do. Then, make it look like you're suffering....oh, the agony of doing this thing I like...:-)

 

Even though this has become quite prevalent in my household lately...there are those rare and shining moments. The moments that go above and beyond. For example, my oldest son...on his own initiative cleaned Wally. (Wally is our trash compactor named after the famous Wall E from the Disney movie)...That's a job. And, unbeknownst to us, causing this horrific stench. We would come home and go, "Whew, that's nasty." Then we'd search around and think..aha, we found it. The wife left a sock near the counter...But, even though we got that out...we'd walk in the kitchen and wrinkle up our noses. Not any more, my son nailed it and did an absolute wonderful job on it.

 

We do have those moments...how do we have those kind of moments even more? Or maybe the question is better stated, how do I encourage everyone to go above and beyond? To see beyond just tasks that we need to do and see the end goal so that we can all work toward it?

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Predator v. Prey

I was thinking about the act of listening this morning while the pastor was praying and a thought occurred to me. Do I listen with all of me? Do I listen, so often like I ask the kids I coach, as a deer that thought it heard a predator? That led me to "am I listening like I am prey?" Isn't it that important? So, my pastor is praying am I am thinking about being prey...

But, isn't our relationship with the Lord that important? Doesn't life actually reflect a predator and prey type of scenario? Aren't we actually prey? Yes, we are. So many times I fall into complacency and feel like I am secure where I am. I actually stop listening for predators. I get used to my surroundings and get too comfortable. That seems to be dangerous doesn't it?

My father in law is a great hunter. He has many trophies of very large varying specimen of game. I suppose that those critters that now adorn his walls were at one time either hidden very well, or wise to hunters ways to allow themselves to develop those trophy like qualities...a deer isn't born with enormous antlers..I suppose it's time that allows them to get to their size. The only way they can enjoy time enough to develop such attributes...through cunning, wisdom and awareness. What happened that they are now a trophy instead of still wandering the pasture?

Are we the same? Are we the target of a hunter? Absolutely...and this hunter also seeks trophies.

How do we ensure that we do not end up on the mantle of our enemy? I heard some anecdotal saying...an ambulance driver stated, "do you want to know which of the patients I drive to the hospital survive? The ones that keep watching, they keep looking around, they stay aware." There may be no proof regarding that statement, but don't you just know that there is some truth to that? If the deer didn't let it's guard down, it may still be alive. If it didn't get used to the sound of that deer feeder, if it didn't lazy and just want to pick up the "free" corn.

We are being hunted. The hunter is the most crafty hunter that ever existed. It will require us to be aware, ever mindful and ever moving forward. That we do not become complacent or look for shortcuts or easy ways out. The hunter has "deer feeders" of all sorts that he uses to draw us out. His blinds are the highest quality...he's almost undetectable..

Almost. We have a savior, a guide, a watchman, an educator, that trains us up to be able to identify this hunters crafty schemes..

All we have to do is seek him like we are prey and he is our protector, shepherd....

Thanking God for swelling, cuts and bruises...

Today, my youngest daughter was upended on the street accidentally by one of her brothers that was sledding down the street. She was actually thrown down on her face as her feet were swept cleanly out from under her. It was like something you see on funniest home videos....except nobody was laughing. It was a scary moment that I can play back in slow motion in my mind.

I recall yelling out as I saw it coming. Nobody moved, nobody responded. I could do nothing. I can recall wanting her to stick her hands out to catch her self...but, she didn't. I remember clearly seeing her face bounce off of the ice covered concrete. I ran down...blood was everywhere.

I was scared and I needed someone to put the blame on. Someone that could take my wrath for this. But, there wasn't anyone to blame. I feel like it would have been much easier on me if there was someone there that I could rip in half for doing that to my baby girl...but, it was just an accident.

I am sure there are many psychological babblings that can tell me theories on why I felt that way. But, I don't think I need a doctorate to figure it out. I believe it's a desire for justice. My sweet angel was pummeled in the face and I wanted it to be made better. She was undeserving and, technically, I saw it coming, so I should get to call "black, black take backs" and wish to have that removed from history.

As I lay here thinking about justice, I think how it could have been so much worse. So many "what ifs" that make this seem like a piece of pie. I am thankful for swelling, cuts and bruises.

It really messed up my day...but, she's definitely alright and a lot of the swelling has already gone down. I am thankful it wasn't more serious...but, it's a lot tougher when your daughter gets hurt than a son...to me anyway.

It's the little things that matter

One of the things that really salvages my regard for all of humanity are times when I notice nice gestures that are given without regard to receiving credit... Some examples are:
Going to a fast food restaraunt and a guy sees that there aren't many tables and when he gets up he leaves a clean table for the people that are getting it next.

When I have been camping and people have left their extra firewood...

Those are thoughtful gestures that expect nothing in return. However, leaving "something" behind when you exit a bathroom...well, that's quite the opposite.

Be careful what you leave behind. Especially if it's from the behind !!!

Yep, it's in the little things.

The importance of punctuation

Many of us take for granted the little dots and squiggles. However, truth be known, they are extremely important in conveying the meaning the author intends to relay to the reader. There are no age limits in the requirements of understanding punctuation. As soon as someone learns to read, proper use and understanding of punctuation becomes very important. For example, if a 7 year old is reading an Abeka reading book and comes across a sentence such as..."My, but, isn't that fine?" the total lack of following the punctuation rules gives that sentence a totally different meaning and causes a huge disruption during class time.

My butt isn't that funny..

Beyond

Beyond

 

from our view

a moment in time

it passes quickly

both yours and mine

 

we can't see

what is to come

we barely see

what's already done

 

it's all laid out

nothing is hidden

there are no suprises

from circumstances we get in

 

To a mighty God

He sees it all

Our mighty mighty God

Not a sparrow falls

Our God is an amazing God

Beyond time

Beyond the way we think

 

He's not bound

to any limits

His timeless majesty

shines from within it

 

His ways are not ours

His thoughts are much higher

Nothing can squelch

His mighty and blinding fire

 

He's a mighty God

He sees it all

Our mighty mighty God

Not a sparrow falls

Our God is an amazing God

Beyond time

Beyond the way we think

 

 

song by Mike Taggart all rights reserved.  :-P

 

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Continuation of a previous post

The thing that the pups death also revealed was my very restricted ability to interact with people. I found that when they were sad, I didn't know how to respond...to the extent that it kind of made me uncomfortable. One of the girls came by the house the next day with cookies and offering up a "thanks" and I didn't even go to the door. I stood back the in the house and yelled out a pitiful, "Sorry about what happened"..pathetic really.

 

I spent the rest of that day thinking about how poorly I handled that and really wanted to make it right. I thought about what I'd say or what I should have said. Since we bought a sympathy card for them, I thought I could do it when I delivered it. Well, they weren't home then...I have resolved to just doing better next time.

 

But, at least it was revealed that it's something to work on. Another item to add to the ever growing list!

 

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Woah...pretty cool.

Yeah, I'm gonna start looking in the air behind me when I walk outside from now on.