Hardin County Museum Barn Project

I am a huge history nerd. If you've known me for more that 10 minutes you will know this. I've been working on getting a Master in History degree to go alone with my Master in Education degree because well I'm crazy. This is my last semester and I am down to this week and next and I am done. One of my classes is Public History Administration and I absolutely love the class. I've learned so much and I am hoping someday to be able to use this information. Part of the class was we had to partner with a local museum and develop some kind of project with them. Of course I chose the Hardin County Museum, because why wouldn't I? When you live on one of their properties its kind of  a given. My project for the semester was/is to raise money to have the floor of the barn here at the farm museum concreted. Last year a new roof was put on the barn and now it is time to turn attention to the floor. The back of the barn has several supports that are crumbling and need to be replaced as soon as possible. The rest of the floor needs to have the old concrete removed, the floor leveled, and new concrete poured. The purpose of this project is first and foremost to preserve the 100 year old barn. Secondly, it is to make the barn more usable for the museum and the community. Finally, it is to make it more handicap accessible for visitors in wheelchairs and those who have other physical issues.

The cost of the concrete work is $37,893.00. My fundraising goal however is $45,000.00. Why more? The museum would like to be able to use the barn for not only its own programs and events but also be able to rent it out for events such as weddings, reunions, and company picnics. The extra money would allow for a water line to be run to the barn which in turn would allow a sink with running water to be installed in the kitchen area of the barn. My purpose of all this is to ensure that the barn is as usable as possible and will help to generate some much needed income for the museum. Also, if in the future the museum decides to build a brand new museum and move from its facility uptown, the barn will be ready for more events. The barn and the property itself is currently being used as the site for the Kenton FFA Chapter's learning lab and it also is used for their farm education day. By fixing the barn, more events such as these will be possible.

To help raise money for this project I have created a gofundme.com account. This link: http://www.gofundme.com/hchmbarnproject is that page. If anyone is interested in giving you can do so here or money can be send directly to the Hardin County Museum who's link is: http://www.hardinmuseums.org/ marking it Barn Project. Any little bit will be greatly appreciated and will help. Thanks and wish me luck!

Top 10 Favorite Books

A friend recently put forth the question of what were my top ten favorite books and why. I am an avid reader and have a wide variety of tastes so narrowing down my huge list of read books to just ten is extremely difficult but I am going to give it my best shot. Some of these will not just be a single book but a series. These are by no means in any particular order and are subject to change at any give time depending on the day but for now this will have to suffice. I've listed the book, author, and my reason for liking it. So enjoy!

1) Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom- If you have not read this book, pick it up and read it. Its not very long but it is extremely powerful. It is the story of a man (Morrie Schwartz) who is diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gerrig's Disease) and how he comes to terms with his impending death. This book will make you laugh and it will make you cry but most of all it will make you look at yourself and gets you thinking about how you would handle death if it was staring you in the face. I absolutely love this book. Morrie himself wrote a book entitled Letting Go in which you are able to really understand his thoughts, hopes, and fears. Both are excellent.

2) Beauty by Robin McKinley- This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I first read it when I was in middle school and it has forever been one of my favorite books. I don't know what it is about this version of the story but it just strikes a cord with me. I've probably read it a dozen times or more and every time I read it its like reading it for the first time.

3) Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen- The author of this book looks at 12 different high school history textbooks and the ways in which they teach history. This book looks at the continued "lies" we teach our kids about history. For example, Christopher Columbus being the first to discover America. I like this book because the author gets to the truth behind some of the most untrue historical stories. As a teacher, this book pushes me to not fall into the trap of continuing this trend.

4) The Lady Emily series by Tasha Alexander- This is a mystery series set during the Victorian Era in London, England. The series is set around Lady Emily, a woman who's husband of two weeks comes up missing in the first book and her journey to discover what truly happens to him. This is a great series because for one its got mystery and history rolled into one. What I also like about this series is Alexander does a great job of describing the society constraints placed upon women of this time period and Lady Emily's rebellion against what was deemed as proper.

5) The Grimke Sisters of South Carolina: Pioneers for Women's Rights and Abolition by Gerda Lerner- I read this book as part of my women's history class and loved it. It is a biography about Sarah and Angelina Grimke, two women from a slave holding family who left their home, moved to Pennsylvania, became Quakers and worked with abolitionists. They would be the only white, Southern women to do so. Both women were steadfast in their beliefs and it would be Sarah who would become one of the first women to connect the abolition of slaver to women's suffrage. Both women would work tirelessly for both.

6) The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling- I know, its cliche but I absolutely love this series. Every time I read them I find something I didn't catch before. I've read them all at least 3 times.

7) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak- When I first picked up this book and started reading I was a little disappointed because it wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I kept reading and the book became so much more than what I expected. I couldn't put it down and loved every page. So often times we read stories about Jews children being taken in to protect them from the Nazis but this story is about Leisel, a girl who's parents were sympathetic to Communism. Such a powerful, powerful book. Someday when I have my own classroom, this book will be required.

8) Forever Queen and I Am The Chosen King by Helen Hollick- These two books are part of The Saxon series by Hollick. The first book is about Emma, a young girl, married to a brutal Saxon king who is overthrown by Viking invaders. To save her crown and her kingdom, Emma married Cnut the son of the Viking invader, saving her neck and her crown. The second book is a continuation of the first book but focuses on Harold Godwinnsen and his reign as the last Saxon king of England. While these books are both almost 850 pages it doesn't feel like it. Hollick is an amazing writer and I love both of these books. Its a time period that isn't talked about much and even though these are fiction, it is obvious that Hollick did her homework.

9) Charlotte's Web by E.B. White- I remember reading this book when I was in elementary school and loved it then and love it now. Its truly a short of unconditional love and acceptance.

10) The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson- I had to read this book for a class and I am so glad I did. Its the first book in a trilogy. The story is about Jenna, a girl who wakes up from a coma following an accident to find that she and her parents have moved across country and she has lost a year of her life. Soon Jenna discovers things aren't what they appear. What is great about this book is that it brings up so many great ethical questions. I don't want to spoil anything if you decide to read it but its very very good and it makes you think, what if that was my child?

Wow that was harder than I thought! Like I said at the beginning this is subject to change because I'm always reading new stuff. Hope you enjoyed!

Chasing the heart of God

I was just scanning through my Facebook newsfeed and saw on a friends post something that struck me. The line read: "Stop chasing hearts that don't want to be caught." How true this is. So often times we chase after the hearts of people and things that have no interest in us. I see this a lot with teenagers, especially girls. They focus all their energy on catching that one particular guy's attention because they think that they will be incomplete if that person never notices them. They lay their self worth on the opinions of others. I see it in adults as well. They chase after the heart of success, the heart of fame, the heart of fortune, and so often times the heart of acceptance from the world. Instead of focusing on their own heart and what God wants for them, they focus on things they have no control over.

I am just as guilty. I have chased after the heart of someone who didn't want to be caught. I have also chased after situations and things that were not meant to be mine. I wasted time and energy trying to seek thinks I wanted when I should have been focusing on what God had planned for me. The heart I should have been chasing was God's. Jeremiah 29:13 states: "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart".

That's how it should be for all of us. Our focus should be on chasing the heart of the one who wants to be caught by us, Jesus. He patiently wait for us to stop chasing the hearts of meaningless things and to realize that we need Him. This past Sunday the speaker at our church spoke on this. Jesus places peace and salvation in our grasp, all we have to do is stop chasing those things that cause us turmoil and grief and reach out and take the one thing that will give us peace. 

I challenge you to not chase after the hearts of those things that can't and won't be caught but to chase the heart of the One who willingly waits for you to find Him. 

A Soldier's Deck of Cards

I just got on Facebook to check on what people were up to and a friend of mine's mom sent me a video. I'm posting it on here because its very cool and I want to share it with people. I will not look at a deck of cards the same way.

Watch and enjoy!

My Dad

It seems only fitting on this beautiful day to write about my dad. I am blessed beyond measure to have an amazingly loving and caring father. He has been there for many of the struggles in my life and has been a solid support through everything. Growing up, my dad lived with an alcoholic father. While Grandpa was never abusing in his drunkeness he was absent for a lot of my dad's activities such as sports, choir concerts and other important events in a child's life. It wasn't until my dad was an adult that my grandpa finally got the help he needed and got sober. When Grandpa was battling dementia in the last years of his life, it was my dad who helped Grandma care for him. I know it was hard for Dad to put Grandpa in a home and I thank God that the last memory of my grandpa my dad has is of him being wheeled to watch tv, him turning around and telling Dad he would see him later.

Being a firefighter, my dad was absent for some of my brother and I's activities in school. There were birthday and holidays in which he had to work. At the time, I would be sad that he wasn't there but I always knew that it was part of his job. Dad expressed one time feeling bad for missing our stuff and I reassured him that Chris (my brother) and I both understood. He was working so that we would have food, clothing, and a roof over our head. While he was away for some things he was always there when it mattered most. He spent many a time on a hard bed in a hospital room as I recovered from back surgery. He was there to help me struggle through my math homework and study for tests. He ran for school board to help insure that the schools would be handicapped accessible for not just me but other students with disabilities. He was the one to give me my high school diploma. He has been involved with the museum for over 30 years and he is the one who has instilled the love of history in my life. He does so much for other people and asks nothing in return.

My dad is an amazing man. He has taught me so much. He has never allowed me to give up and he has always pushed me to be a productive member of the human race. He taught me to fight for what I know is right no matter what other people may say about you. He has encouraged me to follow my dreams and to work hard to make them come true. My dad may be goofy and sometimes he may drive me nuts but I love him. They say that girls marry the man that is most like their father and I hope that is true. I hope someday I will have a husband who possess all the qualities my dad possess and he will be as good a father to our children as my father as been to me and my brother.

So to all the fathers out there: You are the example in which your daughters will compare every man she dates. For your sons, you set the example of how they will treat women. Its a big responsibility. Children need their mothers but they need their fathers just as much. I hope you all have a Happy Father's Day. To my dad: thank you for everything you do. Thank you for loving my mother and thank you for loving Chris and I. You are the best.

My thoughts on Shane Burcaw's book Laughing at my Nightmare.

Two days ago I was on netgalley.com looking through the books listed and came across a book entitled "Laughing at My Nightmare". On the front of the book is a young man in a wheelchair and I knew from the moment I saw him that he had muscular dystrophy. His name is Shane Burcaw and the book is about his struggles living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a type of MD. I read the synopsis and requested the book and was granted a copy. I started reading and was instantly hooked. Shane's open and honest story about his living with SMA totally struck home. Throughout his book he uses humor to help cope with the inevitable fact that he will continue to get weaker. Shane is totally dependent on people to help him do everything from brushing his teeth, getting dressed, going to the bathroom, even turning over in bed at night. Throughout all this he laughs.

Why did this book hit home? Because I too have MD. I was diagnosed at the age of 4 with myotublar myopothy but in recent years and as research had advanced, I have discovered that this diagnosis may not be accurate and while I'm not 100% certain, I think I fit more into the SMA category. As I look at Shane I see myself. His posture in his chair is like mine, his weakness in certain areas of his body are like mine, even the medical issues he has dealt with are the same. But its not just about the physical difficulties that struck me about this book. It was the emotional and social struggles he faced that felt familiar. Shane discusses his worries about making friend when he went to school, being unsure if kids his own age would accept him because of his chair. I have dealt with the same issue. I remember my first day in middle school being terrified that other kids who weren't from my elementary school would make fun of me because of my chair. Being the only student in a wheelchair in regular classes tends to stick out. I remember other kids being assigned to help me with things and some of them being not so thrilled about it. Shane talks about kids his age breaking off into pairs as they grew older, going to dances and on dates. While I had an amazing group of friends who always made me feel included, I always felt left out because I never had a boyfriend and finding a date for homecoming and prom was a nightmare. ( Thanks to my cousin Sean for stepping up and taking me. You are my hero forever.)

Another big part of Shane's book that struck me was he didn't identify himself as being different than anyone else. Even when he went to MDA camp, he felt different. Something I felt as well. I was never treated different at home by my family and I was expected to act as if I were am able bodied person. I was never pitied and wasn't allowed to feel sorry for myself. (Thank you Mom and Dad). I was expected to be part of society. This concept seemed to not be part of the other kids who went to camps at lives. I loved MDA camp don't get me wrong, but sometimes I just felt like the odd man out.

The final thing that really struck home for me in Shane's book was his discussion on relationships. I've never had a boyfriend and as I get older and my friends are getting married and having families, I sometimes wonder if that is going to be part of my life. Shane talks in his book about people, especially the opposite sexes, view of someone who looks the way we do. This is the part where people who know me are going to be like "oh there is nothing wrong with how you look" but just go with me here people. I weigh 65lbs. I lean forward almost 90 degrees and my head tilts back so I can see. I'm sorry but I look different. People stare especially kids and it hurts and sometimes I think, is there any man out there who is going to see past that? I don't know, that's not something I can answer but it stick in my brain sometimes. Shane, in his book, talks about meeting his girlfriend Shannon, and it gives me hope. I know everyone keeps telling me that he is out there somewhere but at this point I'm starting to think he either fell off his horse or took a left at Albuquerque.

My point in writing this blog is first to encourage you to read Shane's book when it comes out in October. While there is some language, his message is clear, Laughing at yourself is the best way to cope. He has even started a non-profit which helps raise money for MDA research and he speaks all over the country. The second reason is because I want to start sharing my experiences with people. God has been the solid foundation in my life and I want to share that but I also want people to know that even though I live my life on 4 wheels I am just like everyone else (and even cooler than some) jk. So read, think, and enjoy. If you wish to comment please do, just be respectful of not just me but anyone else who may be reading this.