My Thoughts.

[joni]

it is almost 2008. Another year beginning,2007 ending.The older we get the faster they come and go. So much happening in this world we live in. People scoff at us for reliving what we call the good ole days. Well I say let them. We can remember the good and bad times in Danville. So many good people and friends now gone on to hopefully a better place. Remembering being able to walk the streets safely and being carefree. Life is what you make it, so I will continue to love Danville for what it was and what it is. Good people working hard and making the best of what they have. Our city government being maglined for what they try to do. Heck if they do, heck if they don't. It is always easier to cast blame when you are on the other side. We have so many young ,talented and smart young people in Danville. They don't need to hear the negativity from people. The young people of today have a lot to cope with. We need to encourage them, not discourage them. I better sign off. Just sitting here on New Years Eve thinking. Maybe that is not a good thing. LOL Anyway, Happy New Year to all. God Bless. Jo Ann

[Guardian Angel]

AMEN.................well said Jo Ann...........

[Oliver]

Gee, more than well said. And this is the 1st post I've read in 2008,what a treat! Thanks!!

[Butterfly]

You are so right !  It's easy to sit back and complain, not so easy to get off your duff and do something about it !    I also think a positive attitude goes a long way in helping to turn things around.  These are hard times for a lot of people, but hopefully 2008 will be better.......

[joni]

Good morning my friends. Have been house and doggie sitting for my daughter and family while they flew off to sunny Cancun. Their oldest daughter getting married in Dec., so they wanted to have a family vacation before new son in law comes on the scene. They are such a happy, fun loving family. Work hard,attend their church faithfully and a very loving family. I feel so blessed by my entire family. My husband and I decided early in our own marriage to try to teach all three of our children the best moral, spiritial way of life that we were able to. Of course we made mistakes, very few can say that they don't. But they all three turned out well. A strong work ethic. Have raised their children the same way. They too have made mistakes, as Granny has pointed out, LOL, but all in all it has been all right. The world today or as my son points out the people in it, has so much for parents and children to deal with. I feel there is too much giving, not enough disipline,and a general feeling of  trying to keep up with with everyone else. That is where I think parents should step in. The feeling of, do it anyway, we may not be here tomorrow seems to be the attitude of the young. Sorry to go on. just my thoughts on this beautiful day in Jan.

[Oliver]

I hear you. Parenting really is a mixed bag. So much of what is funny in the "Zits" comic strip is very real. (Mine are 15, 17 and almost 19 and I'm beginning to appreciate more when they were 5,7 and almost 9.)

[Butterfly]

I so agree with you Joni !  Much more to deal with than when we were young parents.  I have two sons, both are great parents.  I worry that my youngest cares too much about keeping up with the Jones or having the best of everything right now !  All we can do is set a good example for them and hope for the best.

[Guardian Angel]

I think there is more peer pressure than there was when we were growing up.  At least that's how it appears from my view.   

Our parents set good examples and then let us make our own mistakes.  They were there if we needed them but only for support.  I don't ever remember being bailed out of a mistake.....

[Bingo]

 don't ever remember being bailed out of a mistake.....

Isn't that the truth?  And maybe the reasons why we are able to problem solve our own lives. I sometimes get bombarded on all sides by our kids, what should I do? Do you think?  etc etc

I think ours are past the ages of peer pressure being as large a factor as it was in their teens. Our oldest daughter scares me, the way she spends $$$, they just bought a lot for the same price her younger sister paid for a very nice new four bedroom home. As BF said, she and her husband too want the best of everything.

Of course I am getting to the point of lets do it today cause it seems that every week, and for sure every month or so, someone we know is seriously ill, has become disabled, or has passed away. Makes me want to do everything I want to do while I can do it.

[joni]

I watch the news every a.m.,with my morning coffee in hand. This morning the first report was on last night's so called Debate. I say that because in no way are they debates. I wonder what our country is coming to. All I saw was two seemingly intelligent people trying to out talk each other, slinging slurs. There was no way anyone else could say anything. They seem to focus on just two people, leaving the other candidates just standing there. Mind you, I am not taking sides at all, I just think it is a shame they can not just talk about the oh so many issues that are facing our country .I blame in part the moderators who seem to let it spin out of control. The one remark ABM made, I don't know which Clinton I am running against does ring true. I so far ,have not seen any one from either party that I want to put the future of my children and grandchildren in their hands. It is daunting to me. There is so much wrong, it is going to take someone very strong to try to put it right.And this foolish bickering is not the way to set the tone for that. I don't argue politics, do not know that much about it. I am basing my feeling's on what I am seeing and hearing. I don't want to waste my vote. Hopefully will not have to. Thanks.

[Guardian Angel]

It's probably going to get worse.  This is what I hate about campaigns.  Why can't they just stick to the issues, push their own ideas and forget about personal attacks.  Reminds me of the forums....

[joni]

 :wink:LOL

[joni]

I spent this last weekend visiting my grand daughter and her fiancee at their college.He graduates this spring and she will be a Senior. It is so refreshing to sit and share ideas and thoughts with the young people at the school. We covered every topic possible. The students all lean toward voting for Obama because of his younger more idealistic views toward change.They want a newer fresher approach.They are saying they think Hillery will not be the right choice and that they think Bill would be too much involved and that they do not want another Clinton in the White House. And they do not even discuss Mc Clain, saying he is a good man ,but too old to start the job. We talked about the morality among today's youth. They say it is true. today's youth are somewhat out of control. Now granted, the group I talked most to were the young people in my grand daughters Bible study group. They are all so busy, that was almost the only time there was a group of any size at one time. Not to say they don't enjoy life and their college years, but the group I talked to are concentrated on education and a  better way of life. I also talked to a small group that party and live for the good times. They are good people, their prioritys are just somewhat different. They will no doubt turn out fine. We talked about family. They all agreed their families ,for the most part are their anchors. There is a lot of, as they call it,hooking up for the moment, not serious commitments. They treasure their friends both at school and the ones at home.They complain about rules from parents and school regulations,but do honor them for the most part. God enters in a lot of their lives, while some just ignore that part.Some commented that ,while at home, they were expected to attend church and abide by the rules, but here they can do as they wish, within reason. All in all it was a interesting time of give and take. They were interested in my thoughts and the kind of structure I was raised in and what was expected of me when I was their age. They laughed and said ,what a square life!!! I told them .yes, but I know I was happier with my life than a lot of them are. They agreed. They invited me to visit with them any time I visited.  And I plan opn doing just that. All for now.

[SpiritMan]

Personally, I think the world would be a much better place if people would just sit down and listen to other people without any preconceived notions. But that requires listening without judgment. To realize that different doesn't exactly mean wrong, it just means different. Thanks for a great example of that, joni!   

[Guardian Angel]

Thank you for sharing Joni.  I have those kinds of discussions with my grandson.  I try hard to remain neutral and not judge his choices because I know that he must make his own decisions.  I get the same reaction from him about my life that you got from some of those you talked to, but the fact is he listens and I can't help think that he carries away some of the things that I thought were important in my life no matter how square he thinks they were.