LOSS OF FOCUS 2 of 2

Wait where was I? Doesn't have to be shiny to get me off track. Just could easily be morning

Roll mental camera...

Just a few minutes after Connor got side tracked on the "dials" the eyes started to get foggy yet again. Connor is a pretty sharp kid but by 9pm his brain pretty much shuts down. He was tasked with reading a short story and picking out the series of three words that meant the same as "always". Those three words were "all the time".

Connor got "all" right off the bat, but it went downhill quickly from there. He kept searching and searching for the other words. I knew he was getting frustrated when he started pulling out his hair, so I chimed in with, "remember the words are in a series."

The blank stare was upon us.

So I asked him what the word "series" meant to which he replied, "you know, in a row, like 1234." "so then if "all" is correct, then what are the other 2 words?" I said.

I actually heard the wind whistle through his ears.

"if the 3 words are in a series and "all" is correct, then the other 2 words must be?" I hinted further.

Nada, squat, no mas, zilch, dial tone, he had nothing left. Brain had checked out for the night. I finally broke down and showed him what he was missing. Connor's brain shuts down at night but I am the other way around. I can stay sharp until the wee hours of the morning, but get me up early and I am a drooling wookie that can only manage a loud grunt as an answer to a question.

It may not be the time of day or that shiny thing that distracts you from what is important in life. It may just be life that is the distraction. My focus comes and goes way to easy, I need some ritalin for the soul.

Do you have a bit of that ADHD when it comes to focusing on what is important?

Is your life the distraction?

What time of day does your brain not want to function?

LOSS OF FOCUS 1 of 2

That blank stare that tells anyone who looks that the lights are not on, the wheels aren't turning and the hamster has turned in for the night. Yep been there.

Roll mental camera...

Connor, my nine year old, was doing his homework the other night after we got back from Nebraska. It was late but he really wanted to get it done.

Soon he asked me to come over to help him. He needed to fill in the missing word in the following sentence, "The repair man turned the (blank) to adjust the TV's picture." Now for my generation or older that question would be pretty easy, but for a nine year old this was dang hard. He has never seen a TV with a dial on it.

Even after I hinted around and he finally guessed the word he couldn't refocus on his work. He had lost his homework mojo. He was off on a tangent asking questions about old stuff and how it worked back then. That one word took him off track.

Do you find that to be true in your life?

Headed one way and then "oh look something shiny," and off you go?

Yep me too.

Miss Me?

I know I haven't posted much the past few weeks. I could blame it on a bunch of different things but I really just didn't feel like writing. I didn't want blogging to become a burden I didn't enjoy so I took another break after last Monday. Can't promise I won't take another. But as long as I enjoy it and have something to write about, I will write.

RAISING MEN

There has been a lot of talk lately about the raising of men, as opposed to raising boys. Lots of books being written like "Raising a Modern Day Knight" by Robert Lewis and one I really want to read "The Broken American Male" by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach.

It is not that I mind my boys staying kids as long as they can, because I don't. But when they do grow up I want them to be mentally and physically strong Christ followers. I also want them to be confident in what they do. But where do you draw the line between trusting in the Lord and trusting in themselves?

I heard Rabbi Boteach speak on the 700 club not to long ago and I agree with many things he says about our male youth. He said that many young males are being psychologically castrated when they are young and grow up not knowing how to be a man.

I think God placed us on this earth to be a warrior, and it is up to all of us fathers and mothers to make sure that we keep that spirit alive. I want my sons to be able to stand in the face of adversity and know that their faith in God and determination will lead them through. (All the while being a gentlemen, because you don't have to be a chauvinistic pig to be a warrior.)

Can I have an AMEN!

Do you feel that this generation of young males are learning to be men?

Is it still important for men to be in that alpha role?

Are your boys on their way to being warriors?

FRIDAY UNSCRIPTED

SO I FOLLOWED THE RULES OF BLOGGING AND TOOK THE MANDATORY 3 DAY BREAK THAT COMES AFTER YOUR 150TH POST.

What... you mean you didn't read that rule. Well you better hope the post police don't come after you.

Had to be back for Friday to post these 2 pictures. One should make you laugh and the other smile. So enjoy

REDNECK FIRE ALARM

Have to post this one of Shelly's it was awesome.
(Click on this one because it looks better big)

RAINY DAY FUN

THE FAIR

For my 150th post I thought I would write about an Oklahoman's favorite time of the year. The State Fair is a season in itself to most Oklahomans. They shortened it a few years ago from a massive 16 days down to a mere 11 and we were not happy about it. So most people make up for that by cramming 16 days worth of fun into about 6 hours. I just like to sit back and watch.

Roll mental camera...

Growing up if you wanted to ride the Midway rides you had to buy tickets and shell out 4 on this ride and 5 on that one. But in this new era of over indulgence the tickets just don't cut it anymore so the wrist band was born.

For a mere $25, one person can ride all the rides you want for the entire day. What a bargain (I'm kidding). But Connor my oldest sure enjoyed it. He jumped on every ride he could and tried his hardest to be the cool rider by raising his hands and cheering the whole time. But on a few of the rides he bit off more than he could chew.

The one ride that went upside down and spun around while dropping 30 feet turned him a bit pale. I could see the look of terror on his face as he blurred past me. But by the end of the terror rides he had usually shaken the fear and was back to full enjoyment. Well at least he always said how much he loved the ride after it was over.

I wear a wristband like that but it cost a whole lot more than $25. Jesus dying on that cross has given me a wristband to wear for eternity. I don't have to worry about times when I bite off more than I can chew. Sure those times can be terrifying, but I know that He will bring me out of it and into full joy. Just glad mine lasts more than a day.

Do you have your wristband on?

What feeling does it give you?

Do you have a ride that gave you the look of terror?

FRIDAY UNSCRIPTED

To finish off this week I thought i would throw at you some mildly crude humor. If you don't think this is funny there is something seriously wrong with you. Enjoy and have a great weekend.

Make sure to come back on Monday as Roll turns 150.

A man kills a deer and takes it home to cook for dinner.

Both he and his wife decide that they won't tell the kids what kind of meat it is, but will give them a clue and let them guess.

The kids were eager to know what the meat was on their plates, so they begged their dad for the clue.

Well, he said, 'It's what mommy calls me sometimes'.

The little girl screams to her brother,

"DON'T EAT IT, IT'S BUTTHOLE."