Good Night

Today was such a long day. It started off with the eighth graders having their Illinois constitution test then they went on their luncheon. Of course now we have the seventh graders who will become the next eighth graders and you know how they are right now, yes crazy. Crazier than ever. Three more student days. Just three. Right after leaving school I went home, dropped Anna at work, went over my dad's to get mail and stuff. Found out that some of the circuit breakers aren't working in his apartment. We have to go back on Saturday with an electrician. Back home by 8:30, get the baby to sleep. Pick up Anna and then finally my day is over. I'm just winding down now.  How was your day? What are you planting in the lives of the people around you?  Are you letting God guide what you sow? Would God be pleased?I pray that I am planting good seeds. I have had enough of today, I am ready for tomorrow. Good Night.

Stop The Violence

Stop the violence

identify those who need help

silent outcry

impact of witnesses and those injured and the ones who perpetrates the crime.

23 students killed by gunfire. Second largest since tracking gun violence

guns recovered on the streets of the city are test fired to find out if they have been used in other crimes. All shapes and sizes. Days when they have 30 guns retrieved. Fire arm vault is huge. Generally destroyed.

Where do the guns come from. The local area. Someone with a clean background purchases the gun and turns it over.

INDIANA AND MISSISSIPPI ARE VERY LENIENT. JUST A BACKGROUND CHECK AND SOMETHING ELSE.

Students speak with a former gang member. Operation Cease Fire. Many are destroyed and many continue to come in.

They all have easy access to guns. Change the laws. Go after the legislature. Think about the second amendment. Change the home and the family. Make sure we are not holding guns in our own home.

Many students feel the right to bear arms is more important than the life of students.

The Blair Bill. National Registry of all handgun purchased. Every handgun must be registered.

Protest against gun bill raised many obstructions. Many in the NRA have come against Pfleger. This is very unfortunate. Many want to keep the gun.

What about the people hurting.

The educational system failed her child.

She epected more social workers to step in. More social workers to work with the problems of the students. The 5 1/2 hours cannot solve the problem.

We cant blame the public school system alone. Parents will cry out for help and help them raise their child. The community is necessary to help raise the child when the parent is unable to do it.

Parents in the inner city schools are struggling already. The parents need help and the children are being lost. Families are broken. City loads are greater than the suburbs. Enough talking about what needs to be done and more about

Students think its very surreal when they have violence around them. They worry about revenge. Snitching is a very scary thing. Students are afraid to tell the truth.

More males standing up and bonding with the males.

The killings are part of pride.;

We need to invest in our youth.

Team leaders need to come together.

Schools cant do everything.

Communities need to come together.

Community need to monitor the report cards and have assistance where the parents are able to have help monitoring their children.

Encouragement and hope. I see you, I am interested and I know you are their.

We need to come together and help our children. Draw the line, let them know that violence is not acceptable.
Talk to our children about their dreams. Listen to them so they respect themselves and they respect others. We have learned to save the whales and save the elephants, why cant we save our children.

31 CPS students who lives came to an end too early. Its so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

That's the end of the show.

What did I get out of it. People ready to talk about guns, violence and children. People who are in the trenches with the children and know the struggle that has been going on for a long, long time. I heard students who had a voice in the decision. Children who possibly have the solution to the problem because they are part of the problem. Were the students the ones who are the shooters. Only one was a former gang member and he said how guns will continue to come in. The students were afraid of revenge and retaliation. They may know something but the fear of being found out was too great. Fear of being hurt themselves stop many of them from telling the truth. The students have to be willing to tell on the ones with guns and the ones doing wrong. They are the ones who have the guns and get the guns and use the guns. Lets stop them.

You of course seem to be growing in wisdom everyday. You were an important part of the talk, yet you did not dominate the session. You are an over comer and the fact that they mentioned your tragedy with your son in 1998 did not shatter you. You are victorious and a ray of sunshine. Does this seem too positive. I just want you to know that you really did a good job. You were a success and that means a lot to me. You light up my life and I think you are getting the job done by keeping the real focus in the forefront. Thank you for being a positive part of my life.

Good Night

I missed you tonight. I hope you like the book. I found it really interesting and the pictures were so good. I got the book because I needed to know more about the history and the pictures we so good. If you already have it, then share it with someone else. I know you have a huge collection of African American things  this is just one more thing to add to it. I am so tired now, I enjoyed the bible study tonight. I needed that message. Just rest amd relax. Work on God's agenda, not my own. Have a good evening. I will be watching tomorrow.

The Statue Responds

Hello

Yes, the phrase stuck in my mind today. I had a really gritty day and I was able to think about it on my ride into work and back. The Statue. I sit there like a statue. Well there's not anything I can really challenge about that. I always look to you for the truth. Tell it like it is. Make me see the truth. We're talking.  But not talking. Yep, the statue, interesting

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Let it Go, Let It Be

Well I am finally able to sit down and write. I have been grading tests and I had to finish them. Anna finally took a huge stack and that helped a lot. The baby has a temperature. We are concerned right now. When they are little like that you never know what little bug is bothering them. He has gotten all of his shots that he's suppose to have. Its like a little puppy. He has all of his shots, but he's still vurnable to stuff going around just from other children. He had that pool party the other day and he was around a lot of children. This is just initial worry. Everything is going to be all right. I have a book I want to give to you.

Your sermon was very good and right on time. I needed to hear it. I am putting my efforts in areas that I shouldn't. I need to be more of me and to just relax and be comfortable with that. I am what I am. I don't seek others approval. I do what I do because I don't know what else to do. So I will cry until you tell me, let it go let it be. My assignment is to do God"s will. I think my assignment is you. You have a lot of stuff going onthat can be very distracting and discouraging. You are a wonderful man of God. You speak the truth and continue to let God be the judge. Stay focused on the assignment. Don't be distracted by good deeds, and intentions. As my grandma used to say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.  I am so glad I have a place to go when trouble comes. I love the Lord. He heard my cry. Good Night and May God bless you. I'm going to listen to today's service again.

Birthday Pool Party

Today was Austin's pool party. What a day. Thank goodness the rain didn't spoil the day. For a one year old I think he had a good day. I had to leave after the cake. My back was bothering me.  It was a good day, just long. I know they make a lot of money off of the parents on these parties.

How was your day today? I hope it was good. Saturdays are like your day off but you seem to working on something on those days as well. Please let us know how you are doing and how your father is doing.  You are on my mind. Tell me how to make this better. Unity Sunday tomorrow. Graduation also. I wanted to go to the graduation but I don't think Austin can hang for that long. Have a good evening. Relax and recuperate.

Hello and Good NIght

Well babysitting is over. I babysit all day long. During the daytime they are just older. I got to keep the eighth graders who didn't get to go on their picnic plus I had my own class of nutty fruitcakes. That made for an interesting day. By the end of the day we were all ready to go home. Dear Lord thank you that it is finally June 1st. Fourteen more days and then freedom.

How was your day today? You need encouragement and kind words to keep you encouraged. I hope you had some good news today. Something to make you smile and not feel bad. Prepare for the good things that are coming in your life. Have a good night and be truly blessed tonight.