Googling Life Struggles

At a Glance

Who: Me
What: Wondering today if God really loves me.
Why: "Christian" by name leaves me feeling lost and alone.
Remembering: I am adopted--that makes me wanted, looked for, chosen, and my adoption fees were paid.


Google is a funny tool God loves to use to send answers to human questions.

Today, I Googled "knowing the Fathers will" knowing I'd left out the apostrophe. Immediately Google asked me if I meant "Father's". Just as I prepared to click on the one I meant, I saw "An introduction to your heavenly Father" and chose it.

"Father's Love Letter" was there. (Had I originally typed "Father's" I would not have seen this site--I checked.)

Somehow, I think growing up in a religious family is one of the most detrimental things that coul have happenedd to me. (Religious families are parented by a parent or parents who go through the motions of knowing God, while acting more like the other guy.)

As a result kids are warped by the lack of connection or the severance of a connection with God, and it is a major struggle to find Him and connect or reconnect.

When I once Googled "What must I do to be saved?" Google said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved."

I believed but still felt so disconnected.

The Father's Love Letter today reminded me that I am child who was stolen by the enemy and given a phony birth certificate. Thank God for the letter that reminded me that Someone loved me so much He came looking for me, sent His only biological Kid with the money to pay for my adoption.

I was adopted by a King!

I was wanted, looked for, chosen, and all adoption fees were paid. And, my birth certificate was changed the moment I believed it!

I'm the King's kid--heir to all of His best stuff--His promises, His blessings--everything, forever. The enemy cannot get me back unless I DECIDE to go back to him.

What a thought.

Still Dazed

At a Glance

Who: Me
What: Looking at my first semester
Why: Panic sets in because the term is almost over, and I still have work to do.

The panic is finally setting in. We are counting days, and I still have work to do. YIKES!

I hate this point in the term. Absolutely hate it!

All term I've struggled to do papers, projects and exams and have chanted to myself, "I think I can, I think I can" over and over, just like that little engine from kindergarten.

I was doing great! I really was.

Right now, however, I'm feeling more like the little red caboose chug-chugging behind the train. The smokestack on my back as I come around the track is out of steam. I don't even have enough steam left for the "choo!" at the end.

Guess I'd better switch back to the little engine and start my first song over or make the second verse the same as the first. (Help me somebody!!!)

"I think I can, I THINK I CAN!"

One thing is for sure, I have to be able to say "I thought I could" when the last class of the last week is over. I have to make it successfully into the station.

No matter how tough the ride.

Come on, Girl, we're almost done. WE CAN DO THIS!

After all, a new term looms on the horizon.

Party Crashing at the Pres's House

At a Glance


Who: Michaele and Tareq Salahi
What: Official gatecrashers
When: Obama's first State dinner
How: Secret service/security failure
Mother's Conclusion: "I think they need a spanking," according to Christina Lamb, Times Online reporter.


How do you get your picture taken stroking the chest of the vice-president of the United States at a by-invitation-only affair at the White House? Walk in looking like you belong.

According to an early report by Times Online reporter Gates Withell, a former cheerleader and her wine-lover husband pulled off the stunt despite the fact that we are post 9-11, with a president who has repeatedly had death threats.

The desperate housewife donned her sari, her husband donned his dinner jacket and waltzed right past every security checkpoint.

People have commented "There was a breakdown between the social office and the secret service." Are you kidding?

Initially the Secret Service said president was never in danger. I guess they do not consider a handshake is close enough for "danger."

Others said said it was a comedy of errors. Hmmmmm.

I find it incredible that two people, who were not listed on the official guest list, not only gained entrance to the event in the White House, they made contact with most of the highest people in our government.

Had they chosen to do harm, this country could have been without its president, vice-president, white house chief of staff and whoever else the Sahali's came in contact with--not to mention the possibilities of harm to India's prime minister and his wife.

What this incident did more than anything, as far as I am concerned, is show the world how easy it would be to get inside the security circle that should be around our president, our White House. I am especially concerned since it has been reported that the Sahali's are offering their "how we did it" story to the highest bidder.

After all, the hijackings of September 11 did not begin on September 11.

Then, there are the people don't want this couple punished.

Strange.

If someone entered my gated community, got past the guards at the door, and my private body guards, crashed an RSVP-only party at my house, then brazenly played "show-and-tell" to the world about how they breached my security, I would want them punished along with the people who allowed them access to my home and my family.

And I'm not the president of anything.

When the Ducks Met the Wildcats

At a Glance

Who: University of Oregon Ducks
What: Defeated University of Arizona Wildcats
When: November 21, 2009


There are times when you just have to love a Duck--even if you are a Beaver fan!

If you are an Oregonian and love football, you have to love it when your state has an unexpected victory.

I started watching the game just as Morgan Flint's field goal attempt hit the crossbar and bounced through the uprights. It was a 43-yard kick that almost missed.

Oregon was in trouble.

Come on, Ducks! Let's GOOOOOOOOOO!

I guess Arizona had planned to run down the clock until the pass into the end zone was picked off. Oregon had a chance.

Oregon had the ball on their 20 with just over three minutes remaining.

As the clock ticked down, the Arizona fans began to cascade out of the stands like a crimson waterfall. They hovered like vultures around the rim of the field--watching--waiting.

The Wildcats had the Ducks in their fangs, and they could taste the victory.

However, (I love that word) in three minutes and five seconds, the Ducks completed 15 plays and scored with six seconds remaining.

In the remaining six seconds the score was tied.

It was fantastic to watch the opponent slowly file back into the stands like a videographed waterfall being played in reverse.

Musoli led those Ducks through the first over time, into the second and to victory. I was screaming all the way! Wooooo hoooo!

It kind of reminded me of life.

When circumstances seem stacked against you, and your "enemies" (real or imagined) are enjoying the state of your affairs and waiting to gloat over your defeat....watch out!

There is always the hope, the possibility that you can muster enough energy from your "team" to pull victory out of the mouth of defeat.

You are the quarterback.

Dig down deep and cock your arm and throw. Throw short, throw long. If you have to, run.

Just don't give up the struggle.

Believe in yourself and your "team"------

Follow-up Stories to LBCC New President Story

1. Interview new president about his plans for LBCC.

• Does he plan to focus on the items that were important to his predecessor, Rita Cavin?
  
• Does he have a new vision for LBCC? If so, what is the new vision and does he believe he will have support to accomplish it?

2. Attend a Board Meeting:

• Is the Board in sync with new president?
  
• Ask faculty and staff whether or not they are satisfied with new leadership.

--OR--

Before the end of Spring term:

• Interview Hamann to see how the transition has gone.
  
• What are the plans for the Fall and forward?
  
• Find out what the "buzz" is about the new leader: Interview Faculty/staff to see how well they feel they are faring under new leadership.

If major changes have been evident on campus:

• Ask students/staff/administrators how they are impacted by the changes.
  
• If major changes have been forcast for the upcoming year, ask how they feel they will be impacted.

Hamann Accepts Linn-Benton Presidency

At a Glance

Who: Gregory J. Hamann
What: New LBCC President
When: Selected November 18, 2009
Why: Current president retiring
Effective: February 1, 2010

According to a LBCC news release on Thursday, November 19, 2009, Gregory J. Hamann accepted the offer to become LBCCs new president.

Hamann will assume his new position on February 1, 2010, following the retirement of President Rita Cavin on January 31.

In his news release Hamann said,“It is with a sense of excitement and gratitude that I have been offered and have accepted the position of president at Linn-Benton Community College. This new position represents a wonderful opportunity for me to continue to contribute and to grow as LBCC and I take on the new opportunities and challenges that we now share.”

In addition to serving as president of Clatsop Community College in Astoria for the past six years, it is reported that Hamann, a Minnesota native, has also been a middle school teacher, a college counselor, and an administrative dean.

Additionally, the news release reports he has "worked in student services and administration for 12 years at Whitworth College."

The presidential search was facilitated, in part, by the visit of LBCC Board of Education Chair and Board members, along with representatives of management, faculty and classified employee groups. This group reportedly visited Clatsop Community College on November 12.

The news release says the Board "is pleased that Dr. Hamann has accepted the position and believes he will do an excellent job in leading LBCC to support our students and the workforce training needs of our community.”

"Hamann has a doctorate in educational leadership from Gonzaga University and a master’s in counseling psychology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He earned his bachelor's degree in psychology and social studies at the University of Minnesota," according to the news release.

Hamann also is reported to be "an avid runner and has been known to surf with students and staff at Clatsop."

Mother Nature Acquitted in Katrina Levee Failures

At a Glance

Who: U.S. District Judge Stanwood R. Duval
What: Handed down decision in Katrina investigation
When: November 18, 2009
Why: Years of "gross negligence" by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

In a decision handed down by U.S. District Judge Stanwood R. Duval on Wednesday, blame for some of the flood damage caused by levee breaches after Hurricane Katrina was shifted from Mother Nature to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

According to breaking news report on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow show, it was a "landmark decision" in favor of the people of the lower ninth ward and St. Bernard Parrish.

Richard Fausset reported in the Los Angeles Times today that Judge Duval's decision stated that the corps failed to maintain the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet Canal, which made the resultant flooding in some areas a man-made disaster.

In July 2008, I spoke with survivors of the flooding in the ninth ward, who were still convinced that if the channel had been properly maintained, storm surges would not have been able to breach the levees, and the massive flooding would not have occurred.

They were not blaming the government for other failures; their focus was on the levees.

One was a Charity Hospital employee who was called to work and forced to stay in the hospital or lose her job. "Never again! she said. "If a hurricane is coming this way, I will lose my job. I will not go through that ever again!"

They believe the levees created a death trap in the ninth ward and St. Bernard Parish.

Following Hurricane Katrina, Congress passed laws that provided funding for the operation and maintenance of the wetlands and other projects that would protect the area from future storm surges.

The Corps of Engineers began a study to de-authorize the canal in 2006.

The Deep-Draft De-authorization Report, which the Corps of Engineers submitted to Congress in June of 2008, resulted in construction of a surge barrier to permanently close the channel.

The project was begun in January 2009 and final closure took place in July 2009.

Fausset reported that during the trial "attorneys for the government argued that the Army Corps of Engineers was not liable for the post-hurricane flooding because it was immune from civil lawsuits questioning federal flood policy decisions."

Fortunately for the citizens, Judge Duval concluded that immunity was negated by what he considered to be "gross negligence."

In his report, Fausset sees this decision as a possible problem for the Obama administration.

Billions of dollars have already been promised to help rebuild Louisiana, and President Obama has promised "more attention and care" during his administration than was evident during the Bush administration.

The nation will be watching to see what this administration will do with the thousands of claims that remain.

Will it agree to a universal settlement or decide against it as did the previous administration?

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Add pictures from 9th Ward, 2008