Some believe that we are puppets and God is pulling the strings.

Some believe that everything that happens is prearranged by God.

I know you’ve heard that before, and you might just believe it.

I did.  

I’d heard it most of my life, and it seriously affected my willingness to trust God.

I didn’t know it, but I was starving for a loving God.

In time, a loving God found me.

After being drenched in love, I could no longer believe that God arranged our accident, or any accident.

Just so you know, let me tell you where I’m coming from.

I’m coming from the frontage road on a Texas freeway when our car flipped several times, caught fire, and my 7-year-old son burned to death.

That’s where I’m coming from.

And if you think Ryan’s death was a lesson to me from God, no offense, but you’re not thinking straight.

God’s heart was the first to break. God’s tears were first to flow.

“God is Love.”

Now does that sound like a God who would plan an accident that kills a little boy?

I no longer believe that God arranged our accident or any accident.                 

dawn

Bosnia-Herzegovina, as part of Yugoslavia, helped found the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922.    “Budi spreman!”, they cry —  their version of Be Prepared!

All over the world, scouts are shouting their version of the motto.  Personally, I prefer the Armenian translation:    Always Prepared, Elevate Yourself and Others with You.   

The Hirn men, all scouts, understand the importance of ‘being prepare.’  And, thanks to the scout leaders, have also learned the importance of “elevating yourself and others with you.”

Always Prepared is my motto, or my delusion, I don’t know which.  The strongest motto sets you in the right direction, but doesn’t necessarily secure your safety.   Our world trip took us into areas we had never been, without the benefit of cell phone technology, daily weather forecasts, fresh water, meds and transportation.  We did our homework before we left. And though we were ready with bottled water, paper, homeschool materials, and a few meds, we could not anticipate everything.  We understood before we left-Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Syria- were not places we would be going.  In 1992, Ron and I dared not step foot in the Balkan because of the vicious Yugoslavian war.    But it was safe enough when we returned with the kids.  What a blessing the Balkan was to us each!

Some signs are promising:                                                Others, not so much!

We are bracing ourselves for a second US hurricane hit in a month. Harvey left unprecedented damage in Texas, and now Irma is on the warpath.  Nobody in her path can Be Prepared alone. It takes a team of friends, neighbors, weather forecasters, and public service announcements.  But regardless of the warnings, unless you are wise enough to take direction, you may find yourself in the middle of a 10 ft. storm surge.  And no amount of bottled water or canned food at that point is going to help you.

Be Prepared.  Better yet, stay Always Prepared listening to those around you, accepting offers of those out of state who beg you to come away from the storm’s path.   You know who you are!

Stay safe!  Be wise.  And Be Prepared.

Dawn

Ah, Venice!

We couldn’t wait to show the kids this amazing city, which I had visited when I lived in Italy years ago. Someone once said: “The only absolute in life is change.”  Venice had become commercialized.  Many of the natives had become restless during the floods and ‘floated on out of the city,’ while those who stayed endured the pop up souvenir shops and carts.

The charming structure of the city still stands, but it was difficult to find much less talk with anyone who actually lived there.

I’ve always heard: “The best form of flattery is imitation.”  We had been to many of the Venice knock offs:

Suzhou, China  – The Venice of the East

Bangkok, Thailand –  The Venice of the East.  (The other East, I guess)

St. Petersburg, Russia – The Venice of the North.  Ironically, Aselund, (Norway) Stockholm (Sweden), Bruges (Flemish Belgium)  and Amsterdam (Holland) each claim to also be “Venice of the North”!

Of America’s eleven Venices, we had seen:

The Venice of the Southwest – San Antonio, TX

The Venice of USA – Venice, CA

Plastic Venice – Las Vegas, NV (In fact we had a store near the site!)

Everglade Venice – Ft. Lauderdale, FL

You may choose the safe copies:  But Epcot will still never be able to show you the authenticity of the Moroccan, Norwegian, Chinese or Japanese people, the smells and the food, now matter how good they get. Most who work there are Americans, and a burger and fries are always available!     You can also skip the Israel tour and drive over to Orlando FL,  for the Holy Land Experience.   (Not really that ‘holy’, but again safe!)  But unless you jump across the pond into the unknown, you never know what surprises,  knowledge and understanding await you.

Venices are readily available for a visit from you and your family.  But you might want to book your family trip to the original Venice, Italy– first before the experience becomes totally virtual.  Of course when push came to shove, some of us still chose America’s Soft Drink over Chinotto or San Pellegrino.  Coca Cola runs in our veins!

Dawn

Sometimes your best reflections are those you see in somebody’s eyes!

If you didn’t have your glasses yesterday, you still were able to feel the effects of the Total Solar Eclipse.  The air grew thick and seemed to suck up the sound.  Wind stilled, animals put their heads down, cows caught a cat nap, birds lost their tweets and humans got wiggy with boxes.  

The Hirns, along with a couple hundred thousand others, hit the road to ‘totality’ with their special cardboard Solar Eclipse Glasses!

Political correctness was Gone with the Wind.  People laid on the ground and took pictures of the sun putting their cheap plastic solar glasses on top of their cameras to protect their $800 smartphone sensors, while their own irreplaceable retinas were subjected to the rays.   But don’t you wonder what the view of earth looked like from the throne of God? He had to love the part about everyone taking time out of their day to see His light show.  Together.

Families and friends came out of their cubbies to be together, looked through home made solar viewing contraptions (Fruit Loop and Bisquick boxes) and in a single moment of time, nature took precedence over Pokemons.

Some of your most wonderful experiences can be remembered by seeing them through the eyes of those you love.   Which is exactly why Ron and I chose to take our boys away from home to spend 180 days in the real world, seeing the wonders through the eyes of those we love:  our children.

After all, aren’t the best memories just reflections?

The next Solar Eclipse will be in 2024, but don’t wait to make this your next big event.  You have daily opportunities to see life through your kids eyes.  Travel!!!

Dawn

Monday August 21, 2017 will be your opportunity to jump in the car and travel near and far to get the best view of the solar eclipse. Scientists have given their best estimates as to when the full two-minute, thirty-second experience will begin and end, and what part of the country will have the best view.  But you know how that goes.  As far as I know, Noah was the last one to accurately predict an event of nature.  And I know he had outside help.

If you leave home and head into the direct path, you’d better bring your long lens, filters, eclipse glasses,  patience, snacks, drinks and hope to heaven somebody in your family has booked a spot to stay overnight. Because otherwise, you’ll be staying in the wide open spaces.  Every bed in the path of the solar eclipse is booked.  Solid!

The 31,000 residents of Hopkinsville, Kentucky have beefed up security,  added cell towers and stocked up on gasoline, bottled water and toilet paper.  Shortages in these areas are expected and some are easier to live with than others!

The Hirn family necks  have been strengthened during our world trip.  But strong necks or not, we know what not to do:

Never look directly into the sun during a Solar Eclipse.  If you’re tempted, grab a pair of special eclipse glasses, provided free by most public libraries.

Never look directly at the solar eclipse through a pair of binoculars.

Only photograph the solar eclipse if you have the correct lenses and filters.  Better yet, leave the photographs to the pros. 
The best suggestion comes from NASA:    “Above all, don’t forget to put your smartphone down and enjoy the eclipse with your own eyes!”   And always trust those older and wiser than you to tell you when it’s safe to look.

It will be awhile until another solar eclipse takes place, and your eyes are supposed to last as long as you are on earth.  So make sure you pay attention.

But no matter where you stand, the rules apply universally!

Protect those precious retinas!

Dawn