- If you are looking for Brian and Mesia's blog, you are indeed at the right place. Yes, the blog looks different, that's because we changed it!
- Because of changing the layout of our blog, there were some formatting errors that occurred. In transferring our previous posts, there were some slight problems that arose. So hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here on out.
- The picture of me working on the dishwasher in last week's blog was not photoshopped. Yes, I do have a tool in my hand (again, not photoshopped) and yes, the dishwasher works!
- Because we changed the layout of the blog, some of the pictures and paragraph structure may be messed up. Sorry if that's the case. I intend to watch it over the next couple weeks and see if I can correct it, but if there are continual problems we'll have to change it do a different layout.
In the 1930's the high, elite, upper class members of society would keep their jewels and precious belongings in the top drawer of their bedroom dressers. This resulted in the aristocrats using the phrase "Top Drawer" when engaged in social conversation among their sophisticated and wealthy peers when referring to things of pristine worth and sophistry. Nowadays, the phrase has diluted down to simply refer to things that are of "top quality." This week, we engaged in the finer, intellectual and sophisticated things of life. Our week was truly, "Top Drawer."
As always we begin our story with Monday. During the day, Sam and I decided to go and indulge in the intellectual side of nature. Right down the street is the Lake Eerie Nature and Science Center. They have a small handful of animals on exhibit. Sam loved the ducks running around and the big goose that came over and looked at her. She also loved the fish tanks, but unfortunately, all the other animals were asleep. We may go back tomorrow with Mom and Alex. I didn't take a lot of pictures, because she couldn't see most the animals in her stroller, so I had to get her out and hold her to the cages. But, here are a couple.
Usually on Monday evening we have our weekly family home evening, but we had to move that to Tuesday this week do to a contest we were having in our home. You see, Mesia was scheduled to give a training presentation at work Tuesday morning and Alex was scheduled to give a report on Abraham Lincoln to her class also on Tuesday morning. So the girls wanted to play "Public Speaker Idol" and I was Simon. For those new followers to our blog who have never met me, let's just say I know a thing or two about public speaking. So, the girls wanted to give their presentations and see which would be this year's Public Speaking Idol. The neighbors watched through window with their cell phones in hand, ready to text the word "vote" and their favorite contestants number to my cell (Mesia was #30 and Alex was #11). All evening they gave their reports, it was usually met with my critical responses, which were all given in a British accent. All evening long, Sam and I gave our opinions on draft after draft; "Quit slouching!" "Hands out of the pockets!" "When did you pick up a lisp?" "What is that twitch, and why are you crying now?!?" And those were just Sam's criticisms. I had to compensate and switch to more of a Paula Abdul role because Sam was so tough on them. So my comments were mainly directed at how adorable their outfits were.
The next day both gave their presentations. Since Sam and I could only be in one place at one time and since we didn't wanna go through security at Mesia's office, we went to Alex's school to drop off our Lincoln bust that Grandpa Dave made. The word on the street was that Alex did extremely well. Her teacher kept interrupting Alex during her presentation with "Your Grandpa really made that?" Then she took the bust to every other teacher in the 5th grade hall to show them. Alex got 100% on her oral presentation and is awaiting her grade for her written report--Great job!!! Meanwhile, Sam and I were waiting at the office to get the bust back. All the ladies fussed over her and one lady said "Oh, she is soooo cute, she looks just like her Daddy." Then slipped me her phone number. I said, "Ma'am, you'll have to write it on my hand, because when I put this in my stack back home, I'll lose track of which one is yours." Ha ha, just kidding! But really though, it almost happened. :0)
Mesia also did awesome. She had some compliments given to her by her supervisor and she is scheduled to train again in a month. I'm proud of my girls standing up and doing the job they did! Way to go!
Tuesday was more relaxed than Monday. Since the speeches were out of the way, both Mesia and Alex were able to have a relaxing evening. So for our family home evening this week I decided that we needed to return to our roots. In the 1800's and early turn of the century it is commonly agreed that parents talked about the Constitution of the United States in the home with their kids and since the 1930's, that habit has become virtually extinct. So we studied the Constitution, not so much the articles, but the origins of the document as well as the first 10 amendments--the Bill of Rights. I felt it important that Alex and Mesia know what our basic American rights are as well as how revered our Constitution should be. So we talked a little history to set the scene and talked about the character of the framers of that document. The analysis of the Bill of the Rights was surely in order because now, whenever I screw up, Mesia will now understand what I mean when I say "Your punishment violates my 8th amendment right (right against cruel and unusual punnishment)!" And of course, we always follow our lessons with an animated video of a scripture story.
Wednesday I received an email from my law school. I decided to copy and paste so all may see:
"Dear Brian:
We have received both of your seat deposits totaling $500. We are delighted that you will be attending Cleveland-Marshall in the fall. As a reminder, if you did not get a chance to send us your recent photo before, please do so now. If you did send it, then we do have it. This goes the same for your official undergraduate transcript.
Thank you for choosing us for your law school education, we wish you great success in the pursuit of your law degree.
Sincerely,
The Law School Admission Staff"
First of all, notice the use of the word "delighted" which they use when they found out I chose to drop Harvard and go with them. Notice also, the personal wish of "great success" that they wish me exclusively! AND they signed it with "Sincerely." All these things are highly indicative that they are really looking forward to me matriculating this fall. I think it's also cool that the entire staff wrote this email and sent it to me. Mesia said it's a generic chain letter they send to all matriculating students, but I choose not to believe such filth! I know the entire staff got together and each passed the keyboard around to take turns typing the words composing this email. :0)
Thursday we went to Alex's string symphony at her school. the 5th grade put on a year end symphony to show off their work and talent. It was Top Drawer! We sat and sipped on tea, danced the waltz, and had good conversation with our neighbors of Bay Village. They played their little hearts out and carried great form as their notes tickled our ears. For those who don't know, Alex plays the Viola. She started at the beginning of the year and has done an awesome job! The stage was set in a softer lighting so the ambience would welcome the good natured conversation and dance, so I couldn't get good pictures of Alex actually playing. But the one of the girls is after the concert and after the caviare was served.
You know what, I'm going back to take a close-up just to silence the critics! You'll see....
And here are the really cool water fountains!
As for Alex, today she actually took a field trip to discover the intellectual offerings in the Ford Museum in Greenfield, Michigan. We dropped her off at her school at 6:00am this morning and picked her up at 6:00pm this evening. She said her favorite exhibit was the chair which Abe Lincoln was shot in. She also saw the car JFK was shot in. I asked her if there was anything she saw that didn't have to do with death, and she told me about a 10-seat bicycle. Well, I guess that's happy. She brought home some souvenirs, one was the Gettysburg address, which we will look at framing and hanging it by our Lincoln bust, and two was a stamped penny of her favorite car -- a hot dog wiener car. Don't ask...I didn't.
On a personal note, I mentioned last week I was beginning a sort of creative arts project and that my first creation would be unveiled this week. True to my word, after 2 weeks of working on it here it is. To give you a background let me explain the concept before I post it.
I have always been awed by my dad's artistic skills, but I have never carried that gene. Sam draws better than I do, it's really sad. So after seeing Dad's multiple creations with clay, paint and pencil, I started pondering about what I could offer the world. The one skill I do have is writing. So, I began thinking about what to write about. After a couple days of thinking, it finally hit me. I decided that people are needing inspirational, heart felt christian messages, without a "churchy" feel. Simply put, a piece of writing that gets them to think and remember our Creator and the relationship we should foster with him. My goal was to write story poems, each with a different theme, but all pointing to the principle that through the atonement of Christ, our burdens are lifted. The goal became that the poems would be religiously neutral, meaning, that as long as one believes in Christ, the message should not offend. The poems would not be associated to any particular denomination, but could be read and enjoyed by all. My hope is that through my poems, I may strike a common cord with the reader and no matter how long it's been since they've turned to God, or how distanced they feel, I hope my work inspires and motivates the reader to reexamine and foster their divine relationship to a greater level.
My first piece is dedicated to my wife. She has been by my side through some of the hardest decisions we've ever had to make. She has picked up her life and moved it across the country in support of me and law school. She has stood patient and supportive through my job changes and rapidly changing interests in life. Through it all, we have knelt in prayer over tough decisions and through it all our relationship has been tested and strengthened. To her support and patience I am indebted and give all the gratitude I can muster. The best way I can show my gratitude and love is through the written word, therefore, this poem is in honor of her and the wife she is, but is intended to uplift all who read it. Enjoy
The Decision
There are times as we go through life
when we are weighed down by unwanted strife.
Each burden is different, each one unique.
Some we brush off, some are more bleak.
But there is a problem unlike all others;
it’s when a new choice creates a large bother.
Some choices are easy, some choices hard.
When it’s life changing, it can leave you quite jarred.
I’ve been there before, you might have too,
when a life changing decision’s looking right at you.
You weigh each choice, you look for a sign,
that this choice or that will reward you in time.
But no matter how deep your thinking and ponder,
you come up short and are still left to wonder.
In those times when I’m down and blue,
I remember a lesson from a fellow I knew.
He was a man who minded his own,
but the nicest guy anyone might have known.
He made his decisions like the average joe,
deciding by logic and checking his ego.
But one day this man gets some news on the phone;
it presents him a choice unlike one he has known.
The choice has a deadline coming up quick;
it demands his attention, he begins feeling sick.
He tries the usual logic and thought,
but no matter his effort it’s all for not.
Each choice has its cons and each has its pros.
He’s split down the middle, there’s no way to know.
Each choice requires losing some treasures.
The risk down each path is too great to measure.
So there he sits with his head hanging low,
he’s tried so hard but just doesn’t know.
He sits at the window, looking up at the stars,
recalling his past, reliving his scars.
There at a point where a choice must be made,
a choice big and scary, indeed he’s afraid.
When he was a boy tough times were a snap.
He’d run to his mom to hide in her lap.
Her love and her words made the fears fly away.
He’d dust himself off then run out to play.
But now as a man, it’s all up to him;
the decision’s too big to be made on a whim.
He looks at his options, choice one and choice two,
his head is so clouded, oh, what should he do?
One option he has will start life anew,
but, oh, what will be the consequence due?
choice number two demands just as much;
the unknown is risky, he must treat it as such.
He sits in the dark, and sips on his drink.
He tries to gain foresight, but just can’t think.
He sets the drink down, so upset with himself,
on his way to his room he bumps an old shelf.
He hears something fall, it sounds like a book.
He flips on the light to get a good look.
Pages are ruffled, the spine cracked and old,
and there on the front is a cross stamped in gold.
The cross had a shine, it gave him a wink.
“I haven’t read it in years,” he started to think.
A flood full of memories, way back in the day,
when Mom used to tell him, “Remember to pray.”
“The weight of the world can crush down on your heart,
but amid all your problems, there’s one place to start.
When you feel alone, like your friends are asleep,
there’s always one friend, who’s awake for his sheep.”
“The shepherd, I speak of; that’s your creator.
No other help could ever be greater.
There’s only one thing,” she continued to say,
“in exchange for his help express faith when you pray.”
He opens the book and sits in the light,
maybe there’s words that will aide in his plight.
Time turns to hours, his chest starts to burn;
with each word of each verse, his soul starts to yearn.
He reads of the Christ, the Son of our God,
who prayed to his Father when the winepress was trod.
In the garden alone, he sweat and he bled.
“Let this cup pass,” he painfully begged.
With the weight of world and his friends fast asleep,
he must’ve felt so alone, so frightened and meek.
From the record we see the only friend that would be,
was his Father above, whom he couldn’t see.
The story goes on as he prayed twice more;
three prayers that dark night, three times he implored,
‘to let the cup pass,’ to save him from harm.
He knew what was waiting, the evil, the swarm.
He knew of the traitor, the judgement awaiting,
the cross he would bear, these things were all ailing.
He came to the earth giving nothing but love,
but rejected and hated by his own flesh and blood.
But impressive this man, through all his fears,
through all his wants, through all his tears,
put aside his wish, and Jesus the Son,
Whispered to God, “Thy will be done.”
He sets down the book, his mind thinking deep,
“Three times Jesus prayed, am I greater than He?”
He fell to his knees, his hands pressed his head,
a slight hesitation then “Heavenly Father” was said.
He first gave thanks for the blessings he had.
Then began to explain the point he was at.
“This choice is a hard one,” he said with a tear.
“I’ve weighed all the options and I still feel fear.”
“Here’s my decision, it’s the best one I feel,
but I’ve learned from scripture to submit to thy will.
Please give me the guidance in what I should do.
Show me or tell me, please give me a clue.”
After his prayer he stares at the floor.
He listens and waits for something more.
He resolves in his mind that no matter the time,
he’ll stay in that room till God speaks to his mind.
And after a while his faith proves true.
He has an impression of what he should do.
Comfort hugs him like never before.
Someone else lifted this burden and chore.
He also feels something intense and profound.
A love from above, it is pure, it is sound.
His soul so relieved, his heart beginning to ease,
tears start to flow and drip down on his sleeve.
His mind becomes clear he knows the best choice.
He whispers a “thank you” with a crack in his voice.
He’s learned a lesson he will never forget,
When new problems arise, kneel down at the onset.
Life is easier with God by our side.
When problems show up, there’s no reason to hide.
Just remember this lesson when you kneel down in prayer,
if you submit to his will, you’ll be in his care.
He gives no direction without giving a way,
so when you need help remember to pray.
Oh, what better care could you ever be in,
Than God’s up above, so lift up your chin.
Brian D. Swan
*Matthew 26: 36-46
Have a great week everyone. We love you
The Swans
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