Rules for High School Girls (But boys can use these as well)

 Allie’s Rules for High School

August 3, 2014 by Sandra Stanley

        A few nights ago I had an encounter with my 18-year-old daughter that will be imprinted on my heart forever. I walked into her room; she was sitting on the floor with her laptop. Immediately obvious was her determined focus on something she was typing. I asked what she was working on so seriously. She looked up and said, “Mom, tell me what you think of this. These are Allie’s High School Rules. I’m giving them the ninth graders.”

        To give you a little context, Allie served as a small group leader to middle school girls on Sunday mornings at our church. That group is entering Milton High School as freshmen in a couple weeks. Allie has poured lots of time and energy into these girls over the past few years, and loves them so much. Having just graduated from Milton herself, she has a fresh perspective on exactly what they’ll be encountering over the next four years. She decided to put together a list of “guidelines” that she’s hoping will help them navigate the sometimes treacherous waters of high school.

        As Allie began reading her list to me, I found myself crumbling (in a good way) on the inside. By the time she reached the end of her list, I was sitting on the floor with eyes flooded. I was overwhelmed and amazed at her maturity and strength. I knew she had made good choices throughout high school, and had traversed some hard things in ways that demonstrated her love for Christ and desire to obey Him. But to hear the “rubber meets the road” advice she put on paper was incredible. In that moment, I LOVED her messy room too!

So, I’m going to share 20 of “Allie’s Rules for High School” with you! Some of them are inside jokes she has with her girls, but you’ll get them anyway. Pass on to any rising high schoolers you might know!

1. Surround yourself with people who build you up, not people who tear you down.
2. Treat your kisses like you have a limited supply.
3. Guard your heart. Seriously… your heart is precious.
4. Stay vertical/no buttons and zippers (or Velcro). In other words, set your boundaries and stick to them.
5. Have an accountability partner and be willing to tell HER everything.
6. Be so so so so so so so SO SO SO SO careful who you date.
7. If you’re wondering if you should break up with him, break up with him.
8. If your girl gets broken up with, go buy her a stuffed animal, a blanket, candy, and lots and lots of ice cream. (Other gifts are acceptable.)
9. Pray, PRAY, PRAY! Don’t ever forget how much you need God.
10. Have a quiet time. It may seem like a hassle, but it will help you stay close to God.
11. Be nice to your parents. They love you and want the best for you, so if you disagree with them, just realize that they are a lot smarter than you…sorry about it.
12. If you find yourself lying to your parents/other adults in your life, backtrack and get out of that situation IMMEDIATELY. You are somewhere you do not want to be.
13. Never be afraid to say no. It’s better to be a wimp than dead.
14. When you fall on your face, get back up and keep moving (literally and figuratively).
15. Journal so you can look back and see what God has done in your life.
16. Even when you don’t want to, GO TO CHURCH!
17. If it’s not classy, don’t do it.
18. Don’t judge. Even when people are doing things you don’t agree with, show them love.
19. Pause before you speak… this will prevent a lot of problems.
20. Selfies are for faces.

Dell Rapids Coach Speaks Out

Dell Rapids Coach Speaks Out

April 30, 2002 11:00 pm

Column by Roger Toland, Journal Sports Writer

        There is probably not a high school coach in the state who has not dealt with parental "input" during his or her coaching career.  Many respected coaches have been forced out for various reasons, such as not playing the right kids or not winning enough games.

        Mick Hoglund, head boys basketball coach at Dell Rapids, has had his share of problems with parents, but he took matters into his own hands and wrote the following letter to his hometown newspaper:

        "My parents were really old-fashioned. They showed me the value of school and all it had to offer. They let me fight my own battles. They never put anyone down. Never. I fought for what I achieved.  I was responsible for being part of the team, following all the rules and doing the right thing. If I didn't, I had to answer to my parents, teacher and coach. The teacher was always right, the coach was always right, and my teammates needed me. Simple rules. If I was smart enough to make the grade or good enough to make the team, I did it without my parents. As an adult, I still follow the rules my coaches and parents set for me. I respect them. I still make mistakes, but I don't blame others.

         I estimate that through middle school, high school, college and graduate school I had 18 different coaches and over 65 teachers. I adjusted to different styles and personalities and learned from each of them. However, here is how to get things done in Dell Rapids: If my child's performance is not what I had planned, someone is going to pay.  You know who you are. Here are some points to ponder for these people:

* How long do you plan on doing this for your child? Will trying to fire 18 coaches and 65

    teachers get you what you want?

* What kind of message are you giving your child? Blame others for your actions?

* What is going to happen when you're not around? They will blame you when you are not there

    to bail them out.

*  You will be surrounded by people you don't even like. Think about it. Look around and watch

    your back. You are next.

        You are the beginning of the end of your child's success. Wake up! I have put myself up for a great deal of scrutiny in writing this. However, it seems that we teachers and coaches in Dell Rapids are already fair game for public bashing. Get your facts straight. Don't say things that aren't true. I thought I might as well tell it like it is. Come to think of it, I could tell you some amazing stories. Hundreds of silent parents who are doing the right things are getting a bad reputation. That is a fact.”

        A few will read this and come up with an excuse and write a rebuttal, but deep down you all know that I am right. Maybe I am old-fashioned, but I will follow my father and mother's examples. History has proven that your children will follow yours. Do your job. Let teachers and coaches do theirs.

Hoglund deserves an A-plus for his comments, which need to be taken to heart by many parents and fans. You could substitute "Dell Rapids" for nearly any other school in the state.  Why don't we let the coaches coach, the parents parent and the fans be fans!

21 Problems All Sarcastic People Will Understand

1. Your sense of humor could be described as an “acquired taste.”

2. Sarcasm slips out of your mouth so often that you often forget you’re doing it.

3. You have to tell people when you’re being serious, because they’re so used to you making jokes.

4. And since your default is sarcasm, you have a hard time turning it off when others need you to.

5. You’re never more on point than when you meet a fellow sarcastic person with whom you can 

    trade quips.

6. Tough love has always been your thing, but no one else seems to like it.

7. It takes a LOT to get you excited.

8. And even when you do get excited, you still express it with sarcasm, which confuses everyone just 

    the same.

9. Saying something sarcastic makes you feel better immediately afterward, even if the person you’re 

    talking to doesn’t get it.

10. You’ve had to say the words, “I’m just kidding,” at least once a week.

11. In fact, you’ve learned the hard way that ending thoughts with “Just kidding!” is probably the 

      safest thing to do.

12. When you meet someone and you instantly hate them, you have a super hard time hiding it.

13. It’s gotten to a point where you mock others openly without even realizing you’re doing it.

14. People often say that you have an “attitude problem,” but those people clearly suck.

15. Your way of dealing with emotions is through sarcasm, which can sometimes work and other 

      times…not so much.

16. And you have a hard time with compliments, in general.

17. People immediately know how you feel about something, whether you want them to or not.

18. You’ve been called out for fake laughing before… oops! 

19. When you meet someone who isn’t sarcastic, it kind of feels like talking to a baby.

20. Sometimes you worry that you’re the only one who thinks you’re funny…

21. But actually, the real problem is that you’re the funniest person in the whole damn room.

Meditation Advice For Beginners In 10 Basic Steps

1. Take a seat – while you can certainly meditate while standing, most teachers recommend being seated on the floor, legs  crossed – you can also use a cushion for support!

2. Close your eyes – the purpose is to eliminate or distance ourselves from distraction as much as possible,

    so that we can focus on what is happening within the mind.

3. Breathe – every practice starts with a renewal of concentration on the breath – try not to think, and

    simply let air flow in and flow out naturally.

4. Observe – as your breath deepens, pay attention to the body’s signals. Relax your back, neck, and

    shoulders as needed. Give yourself time to “settle in.”

5. Let the mind wander – lots of beginners report “racing thoughts” syndrome. That’s fine and normal.

    Relax. With time, the mind will find its balance.

6. Start within – once you’re feeling calm, begin to focus on the whole self: mind, body, and spirit together.

    Expand this space with thoughts of compassion and love.

7. Move away from “I” – focus thoughts and intentions on loved ones, friends, family, and teachers to

    cultivate what is known as Loving-Kindness Meditation.

8. Get a rhythm – for many, this can mean using aides like malas (meditation beads) to count repetitions of

    certain mantras.  But you can always start out by saying “peace,” “courage,” or any other intention you

    wish to nurture.

9. Be patient – if any of these steps feels rushed or unnatural, that’s all right. You’re allowed to practice

    more than once, and you don’t have to get the right “feeling” every time.

10. End when you’re ready – meditation doesn’t have to close on a specific word or phrase; simply opening

      your eyes will signal your completion.

Small Town Nebraska High Schools

10 Ridiculous Things that Happen at Small Town High Schools

March 14, 2014

     The author’s “small town high school” was in Oregon, but it’s safe to say several of these apply to small town Nebraska.

1. You graduate with the exact same people you met on the first day of kindergarten. Small towns tend to be insular places, which means–at the risk of sounding dramatic–few new people come in, and no one ever leaves. Your class roster doesn’t change much in 12 years (which is why the arrival of a “new kid” is such a momentous event), and it’s not uncommon to go to prom with the kid who barfed on you in second grade.

2. Half the people in your class have the same last name. And at least three-quarters of the class are cousins. In fact, the yearbook might be more accurately titled “the family tree.”

3. The FFA wields an impressive amount of power and popularity. Whether or not your family actually lived anywhere near a farm, it was a smart move to join the Future Farmers of America.

4. Eighth grade promotion is as lavish as many college graduations. I will never forget the time my friend Laila and I were discussing the details of our 8th grade promotion dresses and hairstyles in front of our friend Lydia, who went to a big school in the city. “What is 8th grade promotion?” she asked, and we were both stunned. “It’s when you graduate from middle school and you buy an expensive gown and get your hair done and walk down the aisle and get a diploma,” we explained. Lydia was totally perplexed. “Who cares about 8th grade?” she asked. People in small towns, that’s who. I got rid of my college graduation gown, but you betcha my promotion dress is still hanging in my closet.

5. “The woods” is a perfectly normal location for a party. Want to get drunk and shoot guns and make out? So does everyone else! Meet us in the forest half a mile off the highway–take a left at the big rock.

6. Line dancing is part of the Physical Education curriculum. Forget yoga and archery, when it’s time for PE, you put on your crusty uniform and line up in the gym to do the grapevine to the “Watermelon Crawl.” And trust me: when you’re 26 and go on a road trip and find yourself in a rural dive bar with a juke box, these skills will come in handy.

7. Getting stuck behind a tractor is a perfectly good excuse for being tardy. Driving a tractor to school is an even better excuse (“I tried to get here in time for the test, but my combine tops out at 26 MPH.”)

8. The football coach is also your history teacher and the librarian is also the lunch lady. Teachers at small schools have to wear many hats. Some of those hats are not necessarily supposed to be worn simultaneously, but whatever.

9. If you have older siblings, your reputation begins wherever theirs left off. Here’s how it works: on the first day of class, the teacher is doing roll call and they get to your last name and pause. They look up and say, “Any relation to (older sibling’s name)?” you say yes, and then the teacher will either inform you that your sibling is a perfect human specimen you can never live up to, or sigh dramatically and mutter, “Oh good, another one.” Upperclassmen will also make sure you inherit any of your sibling’s nicknames.

10. Senior pranks often involve farm animals and/or manure. Both are so plentiful, it just makes good sense to utilize them, you know?

Full article written by Winona Dimeo-Ediger

4 Directions

http://www.interluderetreat.com/meditate/4direct.htm

The Four Directions

---

"See, I fill this sacred pipe with the bark of the red willow; but before we smoke it, you must see how it is made and what it means. These four ribbons hanging here on the stem are the four quarters of the universe. The black one is for the west where the thunder beings live to send us rain; the white one for the north, whence comes the great white cleansing wind; the red one for the east, whence springs the light and where the morning star lives to give men wisdom; the yellow for the south, whence come the summer and the power to grow. But these four spirits are only one Spirit after all, and this eagle feather here is for that One, which is like a father, and also it is for the thoughts of men that should rise high as eagles do." Black Elk (1863-1950) Oglala Sioux holy man

---

      When a Native American prays to the four directions, it is a prayer to the spirits of the world, to life and the Great Spirit that encompasses the four directions and everything that is. The Medicine Wheel is a symbol that incorporates the four directions. Its spokes point east, south, west, and north. The four quarters are colored red, yellow, black, and white representing the races of man, the seasons, and the stages of life from childhood to old age. The circle is the earth, the moon and the planets. It is the circle of life and all creation.
      The simplicity of the symbol is profound. It is four directions. One could divide the world into 8 points of a compass, 360 degrees, or an infinite number of directions, but four is perfect. We humans KNOW four directions. We see forward, but not back, and facing forward we have two sides. Four directions are part of our biology and our psychology. They are archetypes of the highest order. As such they are powerful carriers of  symbolic meaning.
      Native American traditions may vary somewhat in the terms they use to describe the meaning of the four directions, but the sources of the meaning are the same.

East is where the sun rises. The eastern spirit of sun or fire brings warmth and light. It is the place of beginnings. Its light brings wisdom. It is the power of knowledge.

South is the sun at its highest point. It is the direction from where warm winds blow. South is the spirit of earth, the power of life. It represents peace and renewal.

West is the spirit of water. It is the direction from which darkness comes. It is the power of change, the place of dreams, introspection and the unknown. The west signifies purity and strength.

North is the spirit of wind. The cold wind blows from the north. It is the power of wisdom. Here we take time to reflect on what we began in the east, in the morning, in our youth.

Practice:

Take time to make the world your sacred place. Stand in the middle of the circle of life and give thanks to the four directions. Take your time and attune to the spirit and power of each direction. Look at the gifts each direction gives you. Learn and appreciate the symbols for each direction, but then move out of the abstraction of the symbols and make it personal. Deepen your relationship with the four directions and with the whole of life they form together.
Face East and give thanks for the warmth of the sun and the coming new day. Pray for the power of knowledge.

Face South and give thanks for the gift of life on this moist earth. Pray for the power to grow.  Pray for peace in the world.

Face West and give thanks for the water of life. Pray for purity and strength. Pray for self understanding.

Face North and give thanks for the great white cleansing wind. Pray for the wisdom of experience.

March 8th

March 8, 1965 was a good day for the World!  :)


http://takemeback.to/08-March-1965#.Uwvl9l6M56Q

What happened this day in History on March 8^th:

1917 Russia Russian Revolution 8th March, 1917: The beginning of the Russian Revolution (Often Called The February Revolution March 1917 in the Western Calendar ) against Czarist Rule following the lack of food in Petrograd leading to the abdication by Nicholas II and the beginning of the communist party rule in Russia.

1920 Mexico Kidnapping 8th March, 1920: An editorial regarding the possibility of kidnapping in Mexico (or anywhere else) was thought of as not far from the truth. This article was awareness that anybody could be held for ransom.

1921 Spain Eduardo Dato 8th March, 1921: Eduardo Dato, the Spanish Prime Minister, is assassinated

1936 U.S.A. Daytona Car Racing 8th March, 1936: For the first time ever, car racing was done in Daytona. This first race was organized specifically for stock car racing participants, and was considered an early start of what people now know as the Daytona 500.

1942 Java Dutch Surrender 8th March, 1942: This was the day of the Dutch surrender to the Japanese, which lead to the beginning of the end of Dutch power in the East Indies. The Dutch army had officially given in to the Japanese on the island of Java, and two months of fighting had come to an end.

1951 U.S.A. Lonely Hearts Killers 8th March, 1951: The Lonely Hearts killers, were executed in Sing Sing Prison's electric chair. They had deceived lonely widows to gain access to their money when Fernandez seduced the women and then stole their possessions.

1957 Egypt Suez Canal 8th March, 1957: The Suez Canal which connects the Mediterranean and the Red Sea is reopened to international traffic by Egypt after Israel withdraws from occupied Egyptian territory

1964 U.S.A. Chicago Black Hawks 8th March, 1964: The Chicago Black Hawks bumped the Montreal Canadians out of their first-place National Hockey League Spot. This feat was accomplished upon Chicago’s 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on this evening.

March 8, 1965 I WAS BORN!

1965 1st US combat forces arrive in Vietnam (3,500 Marines)

1965 U.S.A. Civil Rights March 8th March, 1965: On the evening of March 7, 1965 a peaceful demonstration was planned on the road to the Montgomery capitol building. The next day, a report was made regarding the unfortunate turn of events that took place which had resulted in the sudden termination of this civil rights march. About 450 African-Americans had shown up to participate in this civil rights march which was organized by major figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr. King (not physically present at March, but a major influence). About a mile into the march, a group of state troopers bearing night sticks, tear gas, shotguns, gas masks, and grenades had broken up the march. About 40 African-Americans involved in the march were injured-some very critically. In fact, John Lewis (head of the Student Non-Violent Co-coordinating Committee) had suffered considerable damage to the skull. Another march was scheduled for the upcoming Tuesday. This second marching attempt was to be lead by Martin Luther King, Jr.

1969 U.S.A. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 8th March, 1969: The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am the epitome of the American muscle car is introduced.

1972 U.S.A. TWA Plane Blown Up 8th March, 1972: On this day, a bomb was planted inside an unoccupied TWA Boeing 707 jet plane. This bomb went off at approximately 3:55 a.m., in the vicinity of the airplane’s cockpit. The bomb was planted aboard this plane in order to gain a 2 million-dollar ransom from the airline. At this time, it was a mystery how the bomb was planted, even though this passenger jet had been search thoroughly before arriving in Las Vegas from New York about a half a day beforehand.

1982 U.S.A. Poison Gas 8th March, 1982: The United States accuses Soviets of using poison gas in Afghanistan.

1983 U.S.A. Nuclear Freeze 8th March, 1983: The House Foreign Affairs Committee called for a freeze of all U.S. and Soviet nuclear arsenals

1985 Lebanon Car Bomb 8th March, 1985: A car bomb in Beirut, Lebanon leaves 175 injured and 45 people dead, the target of the bomb was thought to be a fundamentalist Shia Muslim cleric, Sheikh Muhammad Husain Fadlallah .

1988 Philippines Corazon Aquino 8th March, 1988: An account of the Corazon Aquino case that took place in the Philippines was given again. A soldier who worked for President Ferdinand Marcos admitted to firing the shot that had taken the life of Aquino.

1991 U.S.A. New Jack City 8th March, 1991: New Jack City, a movie about Harlem street gangs, had aired on this day. Ice-T and Wesley Snipes had starred in this film. At the same time as the opening of this production, violence broke out throughout the country at various theatres. One theory explaining why these theatre violence incidences had occurred had to do with the violent theme of New Jack City.

1999 U.S.A. Joe DiMaggio 8th March, 1999: Joe DiMaggio dies at age 84.
He played his entire MLB career May 3, 1936 ---- September 30, 1951 for the New York Yankees. The only break he had was to join United States Army Air Forces from 1942 - 1946 during World War II
He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955
He was married to Marilyn Monroe in 1954, but they were married for less than 12 months.

2001 U.S.A. Tax Cuts 8th March, 2001: The Republican controlled House voted for the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act ( EGTRRA ) which would create a tax cut of nearly $1 trillion over the next decade.
EGTRRA generally reduced the rates of individual income taxes:
New 10% bracket was created for single filers with taxable income up to $6,000, joint filers up to $12,000, and heads of households up to $10,000.
The 15% bracket's lower threshold was indexed to the new 10% bracket
The 28% bracket would be lowered to 25% by 2006.
The 31% bracket would be lowered to 28% by 2006
The 36% bracket would be lowered to 33% by 2006
The 39.6% bracket would be lowered to 35% by 2006
Additional changes related to the act were passed in 2003.
Like any major changes in a taxation system there are many more complications way beyond a simple few sentences including changes to estate taxes, gift taxes, (IRAs) including 401(k) and 403(b) plans , dividend income taxes just to name a few.

2001 England Bluebird Recovered 8th March, 2001: The wreck of Donald Campbell's boat, Bluebird, has been raised from the bottom of Coniston Water in Cumbria. The wreck had been there since the attempt to break the world water speed record in 1967 in which killed Donald Campbell had died.

2004 Iraq Abul Abbas 8th March, 2004: Abul Abbas, the Palestinian guerrilla leader involved in the hijacking of the Achille Lauro passenger liner in 1985 off the coast of Egypt, died while in U.S. custody in Baghdad, Iraq.

2006 Iran Iran refuses to stop its nuclear work 8th March, 2006: Iran has said that it will continue its nuclear research program with no regard to the actions that the U.N. takes against it. It has also provided a statement to the U.N. Nuclear Watchdog that warns of the U.S. facing 'harm and pain' if it opposes the program. The U.S. has said that Iran has enough nuclear material for ten atomic bombs.

2008 U.S.A. Waterboarding 8th March, 2008: President Bush has vetoed a bill that would explicitly prohibit the Central Intelligence Agency from using interrogation methods including include Waterboarding.

2010 U.S.A. Eric Massa resigns 8th March, 2010: After less than two years in office, a Democratic congressman from New York is resigning in the latest of a series of embarrassments for the party, who had promised to run 'the most ethical Congress in history.' Eric Massa had entered politics after a career in the Navy, and has told staff that he will step down after admitting he had made improper advances towards one of his male staff members.

2010 Somalia E.U. Goes On Offensive Against Somali Pirates 8th March, 2010: The French Navy, supported by European Union aircraft and vessels, seizes 35 suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia in the EU's most successful mission

France 2011 France Stolen Jewels Found in Drain 8th March, 2011: Nineteen million dollars worth of jewelry that was stolen from a Harry Winston boutique, in a 2008 armed robbery, was found in a drain in a Parisian suburb. Police stated that they found three sets of earrings and nineteen rings in a plastic container set in concrete in a home in Seine-Saint-Denis. Nine people had been charged in connection to the theft in 2009 after police found part of the stolen jewelry in another Seine-Saint-Denis home.

United States 2012 United States Toyota Recalls Over 600,000 Vehicles

8th March, 2012: The Japanese car manufacturer, Toyota, has recalled another 681,500 vehicles in the US further hurting its reputation in the country have facing massive recalls in the previous few years. The recall effects 70,500 Camrys, 116,000 Venzas, and 495,000 Tacomas for various serious problems.

United States 2013 United States South Dakota Gun Law

8th March, 2013: The US state of South Dakota passed a law that would allow teachers to be armed in schools. The law, aimed at preventing mass shootings, would allow schools and districts to choose whether or not to allow their staff to carry firearms.