Do you remember me?

“When you remember me, it means that you have carried something of who I am with you, that I have left some mark of who I am on who you are. It means that you can summon me back to your mind even though countless years and miles may stand between us. It means that if we meet again, you will know me. It means that even after I die, you can still see my face and hear my voice and speak to me in your heart.
For as long as you remember me, I am never entirely lost. When I'm feeling most ghost-like, it is your remembering me that helps remind me that I actually exist. When I'm feeling sad, it's my consolation. When I'm feeling happy, it's part of why I feel that way.
If you forget me, one of the ways I remember who I am will be gone. If you forget, part of who I am will be gone.” --Frederick Buechner

Where have I been?

I dunno seems like forever since I have been around. I was looking around online and found the coolest thing. The spiral scouts. Oh yes....

Focus and Goals:

SpiralScouts has been established:

• to provide an opportunity for minority faith families to interact with their children

• to encourage minority faith children to interact with each other

• to instill in our children the concepts of inclusivity, the balance of gender energies, acceptance of differences in beliefs, other useful cultural customs and values, and an Earth centered spiritual worldview

• to promote the growth and development of interpersonal skills and life skills in these children.

History:

SpiralScouts began as a Pagan Scout group in 1999. The Aquarian Tabernacle Church in Index, Washington was looking for an answer to other organizations that teach or require children to believe certain tradtions. In 2001, SprialScout International was formalized and SpiralScout Circles are now found across the United States and Canada and the program continues to grow.

FireFlies, Ages 3 to 8:

The FireFly Promise:

I promise to serve the Wise Ones,
To Honor and respect Mother Earth,
To be helpful and understanding toward all people,
And always keep love in my heart.

SpiralScouts, Ages 8 to 14:

The SpiralScout's Oath:

A SpiralScout shall:
Respect all living things; be kind and courteous;
be honorable; be mindful of his/her words;
seek out knowledge in all forms; recognize the
beauty in all of creation; offer assistance to
others; value honesty and truth; honor personal
commitments; and respect the Divine in all things.

PathFinders, Ages 14 and up:

The PathFinder Pledge:

I pledge myself to the FireFly Promise, the SpiralScouts's Oath, the fulfillment of all my commitments, made to myself as well as others.
I pledge to serve all my brothers and sisters in every way on our many journeys around the sun together as I find my way through the world.

Membership Criteria:

Membership is open to children of all faiths who are 3 to 18 years old.

SpiralScouts Uniform:

• Activity Uniform: Forest green polo shirt with khaki bottoms (short, pants, skirt or skort) and the SprialScouts neck cord.
• Dress Uniform: Forest green long sleeve oxford shirt with long khaki pants or skirt, and chocolate brown capuche.

Activities:

SpiralScouts activities and learning is based on pagan, earth-based beliefs. Through camping, songs, crafts, wood lore, service projects and other scouting activities, children learn about respect for the Earth, themselves and others. They learn about the balance of energies, explore other cultures and more. They earn badges to wear on their uniforms.

Find a Circle or Hearth:

SpiralScouts International is a growing organization. To find a group near you, check their Web Site list. If you cannot locate a local group, consider starting one!

Why Spiral Scouts:

SpiralScouts offers children of pagan families and families who practice other minority religions an opportunity to participate in activities, volunteering, study and growth. If you would like your children to participate in scouting more closely aligned to your faith, SpriralScouts is a good choice.

An Officer's Life

You wonder why he pulled you over and gave you a ticket for speeding.
He just worked an accident where people died because they were going to fast.

You wonder why that cop was so meanHe just got done working a case where a drunk driver killed a kid.
You work for 8 hoursHe works for up to 18 hours.

You drink hot coffee to stay awake.
The cold rain in the middle of the nite keeps him awake.

You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He goes into work still hurt and sore from the guy he had to fight the night before.

You drink your coffee on your way to the mall.
He spills his as he runs code to a traffic crash with kids trapped inside.

You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket before you leave the house.
He makes sure his guns are clean and fully loaded and his vest is tight.

You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He watches his buddy get shot at, and wounded in front of him.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks down the highway looking for body parts from a traffic crash.

You complain about how hot it is.
He wears fifty pounds of gear and a bullet proof vest in the middle of July and still runs around chasing crack heads.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He runs out before he gets his food to respond to an armed robbery.

You get out of bed in the morning and take your time getting ready.
He gets called out of bed at 2 am after working 12 hours and has to be into work asap for a traffic homicide.

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.He holds the hair of some college girl while shes puking in the back of his patrol car.

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
His shift ended 4 hours ago and theres no end in sight.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He can't make any plans because on his off days he still gets called back into work.

You yell and scream at the squad car that just past you beacuse they slowed you down.
He's in the driver seat of the squad car, going to cut somebody out of their car only to find out that their dead when he gets there.

You roll your eyes when a baby cries in public.
He picks up a dead child in his arms and prays that it was crying.

You criticize your police dept and say they're never there quick enough.
He blasts the siren while the person in front of him refuses to move while talking on their cell phone and doing their makeup.

You hear the jokes about fallen officers and say they should have known better.
He is a hero and runs into situations when everyone else is running away in order to make sure no one else gets hurt and lose's his life doing it.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He would take a bullet for his buddy without question.

You sit there and judge him, saying that its a waste of money to have them around.
Yet as soon as you need help he is there.

A friend sent this to me and I was moved.

Where is my mind

Welcome to the winter months, and I'm starting to feel like a bear. Knowing that I have things to do is not helping me one bit. I am in desparate want of just curling up into a ball, reading a book, and not doing any of the things I should be doing. I will also be in need of a cup of cocoa.