Don't judge

This poem was in the Iowa City Press Citizen in Feb, 2008. It is worth repeating.
DON’T JUDGE
Don’t judge people you hardly know.
You don’t know what their day has been like.
You don’t know what their life has been like.
Don’t judge.
Don’t judge someone who seems
As if she’s overreacting.
You don’t know if she’s lost someone.
Or fighting over nothing.
Don’t judge
Don’t judge someone who’s different
He’s probably one of the nicest people you’ll know.
Or the funniest
Or the smartest.
Take time to get to know people.
Walk with them.
Talk with them.
Share their thoughts and their sorrows.
Maybe they don’t dance through life
As you thought
Don’t judge.
Written by Lealia Xiong, Guilford, Conn. And published Feb. 2008 in Dear Abby.

Alaska State Fair Pumpkin

When I visited Alaska (Wasilla/Palmer to be exact); my son and his wife and my grandchildren attended the Alaska State Fair. They grow 90 pound cabbages and you can see the huge pumpkin behind the girls.

I will also take pictures next weekend at the Anamosa, Iowa PumpkinFest.

Left to right is Jacob, Emma, Sarah and Katelyn.

Six random things about me

From Kellee Clark; I received a "tag." Name six random things about yourself and respond to my blog LifeinIowaandbeyond.blogspot.com.

1. I am living less than 30 miles from where I was born (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and where I grew up on a farm (Anamosa, Iowa)
2. I graduated from Capitan, NM high school in a class of 13 as my mother took a job at Ft. Stanton, the state TB hospital when I was a sophomore.
3. The Anamosa class of 1958 is having a reunion on October 4 and they, bless their hearts, always ask me to come.
4. Oct 4 is also Pumpkin fest and our class will ride in the parade that afternoon.
5. I am so proud of my sons, Tim Clark who teaches school in NM and in NM National Guard (just came back from duty in Louisiana); Major Terry Clark in Ft. Drum, NY and Troy Clark who is a city police in Anchorage, Alaska. I also have two step-sons, Drew is in NJ and Dan is in Muscatine, Iowa.
6. And of course, my loves are grandchildren, cats, husband and love of what God has done in my life.

tag:
altwclark@yahoo.com
onealaskanlady@yahoo.com
coldiniowa@southslope.com
angelonaglide@hotmail.com
artsbycsr@aol.com
veggiegal@netins.net

The rainbow in Alaska greeted me on August 28

My Alaska family was all there to greet me on August 28. We had a wonderful meal and was greeted by a beautiful Alaskan rainbow!

I had sooooo much fun

I just returned from Alaska where I baby-sat for 4...yes, I said 4. Jacob will be 2 in October, Emma will be 5 the next day, Sarah is 9 and Katelyn will be 12 in November. I will share more pictures later but here is "Grandma" and her Alaskan group...

I'm back and had a great trip

I will be posting new pictures soon. It was an awesome experience to baby-sit with 4 kids under 12 for about 10 days. I had a blast. Mom and Dad Clark went to Austria and left Grandma with an almost 2 year old, almost 5 year old, a 9 year old and an almost 12 year old.

We'll get pictures and stories...and yes, I was in Wasilla where my son, Troy Clark and his wife live when they announced Sarah Palin. It was an interesting two weeks of pros and cons. Troy and Elicia live between Wasilla and Palmer and do have a Palmer, Alaska address. Very interesting.

Talk soon, Roberta

Trip to Alaska

The trip to Alaska was uneventful. Had a great chinese meal with Elicia, Troy and kids after I landed. It was a new experience not to get even a pretzel or peanuts....only water! That was different on the trip up.

I managed to get home from the airport last night and this morning, even found Katelyn and Sarah's school. The schools are close but not together.

Now, Emma, Jacob and I are home and after lunch and naptime for the kids, we'll be on our way back to get the girls from school.

More later, did not bring my cord so I will have to scare pictures once I get home. Went to the Alaska State Fair on Friday. Where else would they have reindeer at the fair?

Love to all, Roberta