Happy Memorial Day and Happy Birthday Son!

I stand and salute you who have given me freedom but especially my father in law who was 1 of 8 left in his platoon in the Battle of Anzio and marched with General Patton in World War II, my father served in the Air Force, a lot of my high school classmates who were in the Vietnam War, a friend's son who was in Desert Storm, a lot of my daughter's and son's friends who are in our current war, and the 5 boys who are currently still stationed in Iran and Korea and who re-upped because they believe in what they are doing.

A heartfelt THANKS from the bottom of my heart! I wish you a safe return and another care package is on its way!

Another important event today is my son's 27th birthday! My how time flies!

Inspirational Sunday - Seek to Give

I just love this amazing website. This is one of the pictures there. The website is: http://greatday.com/motivate/

Here is a message from there:

Seek to give

Whatever you desire for yourself, desire it for others as well. That will help to take you beyond the constraining influence of your ego.
There is nothing of any value to be gained by taking from others. For anything you take away from someone else can just as easily be taken from you.

Instead, choose to become the living embodiment of that which you wish to have. Give energy and focus and action to your dreams, and those dreams will come to life all around you.

The more people who benefit from your positive thoughts and efforts, the more quickly those efforts will bring valuable results. To experience great abundance, be a channel through which that abundance can flow.

Make a positive difference that extends into the lives around you. Create value that goes beyond you.

It is by giving that you make room to receive even more. Seek to give what you wish to have, and it will surely become real for you.

-- Ralph Marston

Top Ten Dirtiest Places - #3

With our busy schedule when hubs asks what's for dinner, my answer is either what are you cooking for me, what restaurant are we visiting tonight, or what do I have frozen in the deep freeze? Who wants to cook after working 12 hour days? Most of you know that I try to cook on my lighter days and freeze portions. It is much easier doing this for 2 people than a full family. We do go to a restaurant at least twice a month but we never ever do fast food places mainly because you are leaving your health in the hands of teens. I have nothing against teens. I just don't leave my health in their hands. Some of my sisters worked in well known fast food places and the stories they brought home was enough to turn me off fast food places forever. Working in an upscale restaurant myself as a waitress to supplement income to help pay college bills, I know how kitchens work. This is why I rarely trust restaurants and their food.

What's wrong with restaurants? One of the many things is Hepatitis A. There is a vaccine that is given to children at age 2 but it is not currently required in most schools. This is a great vaccine because it protects us against the most common form of hepatitis, Hepatitis A. Most cases of Hepatitis A are traced to restaurants. How? Hepatitis A is transmitted fecal-orally. In other words, someone's unwashed hands contaminated with feces likely made your salad (if you think the restaurant restrooms can be dirty don't ever step foot in the employee's bathrooms as they are seldom cleaned).

Another huge thing to worry about is E. coli. It too is another fecal contaminant, and some strains can cause Traveler's Diarrhea (aka Montezuma's Revenge).

Don't forget the ice in restaurants, too. Remember the report not too long ago a middle schooler did for an award-winning science project? She proved that fast food ice is dirtier than toilet water 70% of the time.

Then there are cockroaches, mice, and other critters that run around the kitchen and storage areas. Plus many foods we eat have insects or insect parts in them that we don't see. The Department of Health and Human Services has set a standard called the Food Defect Action Levels, which (to quote a publication) "are set on the basis of no hazard to health... These levels are set because it is not possible, and never has been possible, to grow in open fields, harvest and process crops that are totally free of natural defects." So have you tasted something crispy lately that shouldn't be crispy?

As I said I worked as a waitress. I know personally of kitchen terrorism. I have seen things that make me never ever want to dine out. I never piss off my server no matter how bad they are. My revenge is the tip way after I get my meal and then I avoid that restaurant for months just in case they remembered me and they always remember a bad tipper no matter how well deserved it was. I make sure to pay those checks in cash so they don't have my name. I don't really want to gross you out but suffice to say, that Seinfeld episode involving Poppy and his unwashed hands is right on. I don't know about your area, but several Chicago news programs have given us an inside view of hidden camera visits behind the scenes in restaurants. Dropping food on the floor and the 5 second rule along with the cook picking his nose are mild. I have seen far worse and this is at a supposedly upscale restaurant.

What can we do? Well, I never ever have ice in my drinks. I will order bottled water. How many of you check your local health department for any restaurant violations? Health departments and other government agencies that inspect restaurants have this data online. The problem with cleanliness in restaurants is the human factor. Humans on this planet have varying degrees of personal hygiene and integrity, and unfortunately, restaurants have no way of determining this when someone is hired. Personally I consider the IQ factor of the average employee of said restaurant. If that IQ is below average, you are at risk.

Now you see why I cook large helpings and freeze most for quick meals at the end of my busy days.

Top Ten Dirtiest Places - #2

Isn't that a pretty hotel room? Doesn't it look clean? Don't let looks deceive you. Just as we can 'pretty up' our house for guests....so can hotels/motels. Hotel/motel rooms are notorious for zillions of germs. Do you really think those maids clean? Their idea of clean is do clean the whole floor (or more) within the shortest amount of time. Disinfectants? Nada. You are lucky to get things wiped down and the carpet swept. For goodness sakes....don't bring a black light with you. You won't want to see what that room looks like under black light (for those not in the medical field or watch shows like CSI.....one uses a black (ultraviolet) light to find bodily fluids like semen ...imagine what it might say if you put it in the bathroom.

Hotel/motel rooms are supposed to be cleaned every day. They do change the sheets and towels...that you can tell. BUT when was the last time that bedspread or blanket or pillow was laundered or cleaned? Probably never. I have been in $500.00 rooms and they are no cleaner than the local Motel 6 with a vibrating bed. Yes, I took a black light to a few hotel rooms once just to see what I could see. I saw plenty!

I know we live in a world of germs but come on....standard hotel rooms in Chicago are at least $200.00 per night. Now a typical hotel has say 1000 rooms. That is $200,000.00 per day. You would think one could get a clean room. Don't count on it. Want to know where most adults pick up warts besides gyms? Yep hotel rooms.

What to do: complain if the room you walk into is not visually clean when you walk through that door. Bring your own sanitation (a large can of Lysol works wonders). Make sure before you take your shoes off, before using the bathroom, before laying anything down on the bed, or before unpacking your suitcase that first take off the bedspread and put it in a corner you don't plan on going to. Then you open said suitcase where the Lysol can is and take that can of Lysol and do the following: spray everywhere - the phone, the night stand, the headboard (you would be surprised at how much those lit up under black light), the lamps, the carpet, the clocks, the bathroom counters, toilet, bathroom floors, faucets, bathtub and shower areas, airconditioning unit vents, door knobs, bed (yep the bed especially - Lysol kills bedbugs), pillow, counters, desks, drawers, chairs, tables, etc etc etc. Use it all. You will need it. I always pack a minimum of 2 cans of Lysol. I rarely have the maids enter my room. I only ask for new towels and exchange them with the maid myself. I don't allow them to enter my room.

Remember....you might not be the only one who gets into hotel sex! Envision what went on in that room before you. Think the worst! Pack accordingly!

Top Ten Dirtiest Places - #1

Think of all the dirtiest places you visit per week....do you ever wonder how clean the places you go are? You have a right to be worried. I thought I would go through the top 10 places that you should be leery of, one per blog post:

#1. Public Toilets....most public toilets are dirty. Contrary to what your mother taught you, germs typically do not enter the skin on your rear from a toilet seat but who wants to sit on them anyway? I know my mother taught me to use either the seat covers or drape toilet paper around the seat, then squat, hover, and don't touch. Even this doesn't protect you from the germs lurking in the restrooms. Germs do enter our body through the nose, eyes, and mouth, and are usually transmitted from our own contaminated hands and fingers. Want to know where those germs are? The faucet handle in most bathrooms have 400 times more germs than the toilet seat. Other places: the toilet seat, the floor, the door handles, the toilet flusher handle, the sink, etc. Every time you flush that toilet, it splashes contaminated water everywhere. Watch your fellow restroom person. Do they wash their hands? With soap and water? Do they wash their fingertips? Statistics show that only 1 in 4 people will wash their hands after they go to the restroom. And only 1 in 100 will use a paper towel to open the restroom door after they just washed their hands. Those of you who washed and then opened the door with your clean hands: you just picked up nice wee buggies who are just waiting for you to blow your nose, put your hands to food and eat those germs. And those same statistics show it isn't children who are doing it. It is grown adults. Beware of kissing a woman after she's been to the restroom. She has usually freshened her makeup after using the facilities and transferred those germs to her makeup and lipstick. I actually did a study once on how many of my patients washed their hands after they went to the bathroom. I numbered the trifold towels. One day I put in a pretty feminine smelling soap and another day a masculine soap then measured how much was left vs how many went to the bathroom that day. I was shocked at the results. Out of the 20 patients who used the bathroom, only 5 trifold towels were used, and only 3 squirts of soap were used of the feminine soap but 5 squirts were used for the masculine soap. You would think there were more males than females, right? Nope. All females.

So what should you do? Line that toilet seat. Hovering is ok if you can do it but recognize that falling off balance and grabbing the seat or the wall is the worst thing you can do. Take toilet tissue and open the stall door. Then throw it in the toilet. Go to the sink and with plenty of soap and running water, lather up well and rinse well. Use paper towels to shut off the water, more to dry and keep one to open the restroom door. Discard the paper towel in the garbage usually placed right outside of the restroom doors. Be careful of your purse. Don't set it down on the floor or on the back of the toilet. Hang it on the hook and hook it on your arm when washing your hands. Never ever set it down!

Children Now Caring for Their Parents

Since 2007 when FIL suffered his first stroke, I have become their major caretaker. MIL and I never got along but now I am her bestest friend (probably because I do everything for them). It has been frustrating to watch their decline and although we have tried to help out (taking over major holiday meal preparation, going to doctor appointments with them, going to visit and giving respite care), it just wasn't enough, especially with FIL's vascular dementia which was increasing. It all came to a head right after Christmas of 2008 when we admitted FIL for an altered mental state dementia with severe WWII flashbacks. He was in the hospital for a few days then was transferred to a psychiatric dementia lock down unit for medication and evaluation. We checked in an angry male who never raised his voice yet had been hitting his wife. During this same time, we found out MIL suffered 2 minor strokes, with one involving her speech. With speech therapy she recovered fairly well and was able to continue living on her own.

Some dementia patients like my FIL have sundown syndrome which I will discuss another day. This is why we had to find somewhere for FIL. FIL though, we had to put in a dementia home. What we came across was divine intervention. The home is a standard ranch home in a regular neighborhood. The only difference is there are 2 live-in caretakers and 5 dementia patients in the 4 bedroom home. The atmosphere is amazing. Calming music is played. Heavenly mouth watering home cooked food is made. The caretakers and owners have this magical calming attitude about them that just is passed on via osmosis.

In FIL's room, I made a mural of family pictures with the names of the people in the pictures under them. Half the board was for the caretakers to write on the date. I had written in his name and the date to start them off. I had also written on a piece of paper his name, his wife's name, his children's names, his grandchildren's names, and that all of us knew he was there and would visit him often. I had it laminated in plastic so he could carry it in his pocket so he had a constant reminder of all these things.

As soon as we one walks through the doors of this group home, there were people who understood him and his care. Usually when we go to visit, FIL is sitting at the table, talking to 3 other male residents and putting together a 30-60 piece puzzle in the only way dementia patients can, eating cookies and having a 'beer' (root beer but they swore it was Polish beer). I always swear that I am tape recording their conversations because it is hard keeping a straight face and to not laugh totally out loud. Mind you none of them had any short term memory yet there were 3 males sitting at that table talking and playing cards discussing nothing yet having this amazing time. Not one single sentence uttered made any sense and the conversation was so disjointed one would admit themselves after listening to them after a few minutes.

Yesterday I got a phone call from one of the owners stating that FIL was having a hard time breathing. I had them go ahead and call 911 and said caretaker went with FIL in the ambulance until I could get out to them. I then called a neighbor to go to MIL's house and I timed my call to when she was there to let her know he was being transferred to the ER. Neighbor took MIL. Son and I took off (I am in a cast and unable to walk or drive - that story still to come).

We spent most of the day there but basically FIL's chest xray was normal, his blood work was about the same, and his EKG was the same. So they called his bad cold just a good case of bronchitis and put him on antibiotics. We are to take him back in a week to the doctor.

This is not the first scare for us with any of our parents but for me it was just a reminder of a month ago when I lost my mother because she was having a hard time breathing. Logically my brain tells me that this is the circle of life. But emotionally everything we are goes back to our parents. And so when our parents die, a large part of our lives as their child dies too. A line gets crossed over and we become the adults, and we know then that our childhood is behind us. It's funny because I had thought that occurred when I left home at 18 and when I married at 25 but it wasn't until my mother died, that I realized I was no longer a child. Maybe it's just a month after her death but this scare today just brought up so many memories of that week after she died.

Have you ever wanted to freeze time for a while? To say: stop world, slow down. Let me catch my breath! I don't know if I really want to be an adult now without parents.

Recipe Thursday - Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients
12 slices bacon
2/3 cup butter
2/3 cup flour
7 cups milk
4 large baking potatoes such as russet
1/4 cup minced chives
1 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
salt and black pepper to taste

The original recipe called for baking the potatoes first. Well, with the invention of the microwave, you can 'bake a potato' in 3 minutes. So you can use either the microwave way or oven way. I have found it doesn't make it taste any different. For the microwave way: I usually clean the potato, then wrap it in a paper towel, then soak that paper towel, then microwave the potato wrapped in the paper towel. The moistness keeps the potato from exploding. Now my microwave has quick settings on the outside panel for baked potatoes...I just press the number I have in there. I would check your own microwave instructions to bake yours in your microwave.

Let the potatoes cool on a cutting board until you can handle them. If you want, you can use a paring knife to peel away the skin (I usually don't) then cut the potatoes into small cubes.

While the potatoes are baking/microwaving, cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat for about 15 minutes until brown and crispy. Drain the bacon on paper towels to remove excess grease. Let the grease in the skillet cool and store it in the fridge for a later use (I use it to make cornbread). Cut the bacon into small pieces.

In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, heat the butter over medium heat until it is melted. Add the flour and use a whisk to quickly mix the flour and butter together to make a paste. This paste is called a "roux" and will thicken the soup. Continually whisk the roux until it has turned a light brown and gives off a wonderful nutty aroma. If the roux burns, toss it and start over.

Now add the milk to the pot, slowly at first (don't burn yourself on the steam!) Whisk continually while the milk is added so the roux does not end up as clumps in the liquid. Once the milk has been added toss in the baked potato cubes and the chives. Bring this mixture to a boil, stirring often to keep the soup from burning on the bottom of the pot. Once the soup reaches a boil turn down the temperature to low and let the liquid simmer for about 10 minutes. The soup should have thickened by this point. Add the bacon, sour cream, and cheese. Mix until the cheese is melted. Add the salt and pepper as needed.

Now you can serve the soup....I always have extra bacon bits, cheese, and chives set aside to put on top. This soup can be stored in the fridge for several days, especially if stored in sealed mason jars (pour the soup in the mason jar while hot, put the lid on, then screw the top on...leave out until cooled and as the soup cools, it will seal the top as in canning). This soup does not freeze well. Store it in the frig.

I usually serve this soup with stovetop cornbread in my cast iron skillet.

Do You Doodle?

A friend's blog prompted this post.

So do you doodle? Did you know your doodling (mindless sketching or aimless drawing when otherwise distracted by other things) can be analyzed a lot like handwriting analysis and can provide an insight into what you are thinking?

I will admit that I doodle, especially when bored. I doodle either flowers or straight boxed lines but I will have to take a look at where I doodle. I will get back to you on that. I would have to say though that I doodle on the left, at the top, and at the right all depending on where I have room on the page.

Take a good look at your doodles: Here are some ways to see your doodler's personality and emotional state of mind.

Placement
On the page, where is your doodle?
If the doodle is on the left side of the paper, the doodler is oriented in the past. This person is private minded, reserved and cautious, an introvert. They will take longer to warm up to others and reveal who they are in public places.
If the doodle is in the center of the paper, the doodler is oriented in the present. This person is said to be professional, an extrovert, someone who seeks the limelight.
If the doodle is on the right side of the paper, the doodler is oriented to the potential or future. This person is public minded, outgoing and socially motivated. They are more concerned with the future than the past or present. They are progressive thinkers who function best as a team player.
If the doodle is placed on the top of the paper, the doodler is said to be a postive enthusiastic thinker. This person is an innovator and consistently devises new approaches, concepts and solutions.
If the doodle is placed at the bottom of the paper, the doodler is a negative thinker with a low level of enthusiasm. They are less willing to share or come forth with any ideas at all.

Pressure
The amount of pressure you put on your doodle tells even more.
Heavy pressure says that you are responsive and have controlled aggression. This doodler may reveal a temper when treated in a manner they perceive as unfair or
incorrect.
Medium pressure says that you have a well balanced nature.
Light pressure says that you are a receptive and sensitive. This doodler is someone who is easily influenced.
Erratic pressure says that you are emotionally unstable. This doodler is someone whose temperament fluctuates and is considered unreliable and untrustworthy.

Practice
Repeating the same doodle, shading the doodle, placing the lines of the doodle, and using color in your doodle also tell you about yourself.
Repeating the same doodle over and over on the same page are in a mood that rules the moment. This doodler is being emotionally and mentally compulsive. This is not the time for the doodler to make serious or impartial decisions where others are concerned.
Shading the doodle states that you have differing anxieties such as fear. You are in a state of negativity.
Coloring your doodle tells you even more about the doodler. Using the color blue states that the doodler is in a calmer reflective mood. Red shows the doodler in a heightened mood. Green shows envy or resentment. Yellow shows financial or health concerns. Brown shoes a need for security. Purple shows inconsistency or self importance. Gray shows impartiality or indifference. Black shows anxiety or pessimism.
Placing a line under your image shows that you are seeking balance while placing a line over the image shows that you are seeking refuge.
When your doodle is composed of various designs, this shows that you have diverse talents, have a good imagination and varied interests. It shows that you are not stuck in the moment or are mentally compulsive.
But a dominant design or pattern will often reveal the source of an issue.
Images
If your doodle is an image, they can be as revealing as the above.
Doodling flowers indicates usually that you are a woman. They show that you have a gentle personality, a love of nature, a childlike innocence. They represent the passive aspect of nature. Doodling roses with sharp thorns though show a betrayal of love.
Doodling faces depends on whether or not the face represents you or someone else. A smiley face says the doodler has a happy-go-lucky nature. Beautiful faces are usually drawn by girls and are usually idealized self portraits and that you are a people person. Ugly faces show a dislike of people and a bad temper. Note: cartoons are artworks rather than doodles.
Doodling parts of faces: If you doodle eyes you are showing a frustrated artistic talent and a wish to be desirable. Staring eyes or eyes shown through keyholes show that you have a feeling of being watched and your privacy is being invaded. Doodling voluptous lips indicate a frustrated desire
Doodling people: If you doodle stick figures you are showing an artistic developement that was stalled very early. Interpretation of people doodling depends on the amount of detail, who the figures are, and what they are doing. More complex figure drawings require a lot of thought and actually leave the doodling art and actually become conscious drawings and artwork.
Doodling houses represent home life. A nice neat house shows you are happy at home. But doodling homes with aymetical shapes, untidy lines or no windowns shows you have an unhappy home life. Smoke coming from a chimney shows a welcoming fire and warmth.
Doodling shapes: Doodling regular geometic shapes shows an organized and efficient mind. Doodling triangles which is a geometically stable shape also shows direction and a sense of purpse. Doodling circles shows a form as an eternal whole. There is no beginning or end and also represents the universe. Doodling squares shows a formal, mathematical, scientific order, and shows you are earthbound. Doodling random or abstract shapes: if you have a wandering line that is not closed you are shoing aimlessness and distraction. A purposeful or closed line indicate unease. Doodling stars show an ambitious person and a desire for self-promotion. Little stars show optimism while asymmetrical stars show excess energy. Doodling mazes show a feeling of being lost with nowhere to turn or being unsure of which direction one has to take. Doodling hearts generally shows you are in love or have a romantic disposition.
Doodling boxes or perspective forms shows an advanced stage of artistic development. Simple 3-D boxes show an order mind and a love of routine and a good sense of spatial relationships. Stacking those boxes indicate great stress especially if that stack is in danger of toppling. Complex 3-D boxes are usually done by artists and designers or anyone who uses technical drawing. The doodler of these are motivated to experiment with design.


So what do you doodle?

Inspirational Sunday - Honoring Your Own Story

It is not the world that is shattering; it is your illusion of the world.
~Author Unknown

I love this quote as it helps me reflect and be grateful for what I have. It's been a rough month for me. First I lost my mother then I had my 6th surgery in 3 years(explanation another day), and now the family that I was born into have become people I don't know I ever want to see again. I keep saying this quote over and over thinking it might just be my view and it is distorted and thinking maybe if I look at it another way, it will change things. It hasn't yet so I keep rereading it and take one day at a time.

3 years ago I attended the wake of a friend's father. This man helped me in my early twenties when I was in an exploration of who I was. I had an emotionally and physically abusive alcoholic father...but through the help of this father figure, I was able to understand and accept and come to full forgiveness. He showed me I could love myself and by doing that, love others and have that love come back to me hundredfold.

I had always been religious (attending church every day and twice on holy days) but it wasn't until I went through this self exploration that I became spiritual. In many ways, this exploration helped me become a better person. He convinced me that every one of us has a story we can share with someone else. If we are vague about what our story might be, one of the best ways to find out is to keep a daily journal. I’ve been doing this, off and on, most of my life. I don’t set parameters with what I’m going to write; it just has to interest me enough so that I’m willing to expend enough energy to write it. The point is not to write something great or something profound every time I sit to do it — the idea is just to get something down on paper, or now, on the screen. Maybe one day those journals will be published.

Basically, I just sit and start to type — then it’s one word after the other. Whatever is on my mind will somehow find the light of day…which is the interesting part. Often, I didn’t know what was on my mind until I wrote it down.

I believe we all need to honor our own stories. When I take the time to listen, I’m often amazed at how interesting and how beautiful another person’s life is. I think we all need to practice sharing more of who we are. If we all learned to be good at both the telling and the listening, this could prove to be the beginning of the end of conflict between people and eventually, if we did it enough, even the end of war.

But then again I see how my mother was the glue that held my family together and think how will we ever get back together and do I really want to? I forgave but I haven't ever forgotten.

So today I honor my father figure who taught me that even when things around me are going nuts, stop and take a deep breath, and be grateful for even the littlest things. And right now, that is all I can concentrate on - God, the little things, my immediate family, and just taking one day at a time.

Coping and Surgery and Posting

I am still having a hard time coping with not only my mother's death, but trying to physically heal after another surgery that was done last week on the right ankle.

This was yet another problem that had not been seen before. My husband likened it to biting your cheek. Once you bite it, you will continue to bite it because it swells up and it is hard to avoid. Basically that was what I was doing to my subtalar joint. The posterior part was gone - destroyed - by the joint 'biting' the tissues and destroying them with each and every step I took. This was found via an arthrogram that was done 2 days after my mother's funeral when I went to my doctor for assistance with the pain. After medicating me (I have an allergy to the dye they needed to use), the doctor injected the dye into the medial (inside) of the subtalar joint and then under live xrays (called a fluoroscope), he and my husband watched as the dye went through the medial side of the joint and right out the back of the joint. Not one drop entered the lateral (outside) of the joint. This meant that there was nothing staying in the joint at all. I was scheduled for surgery for last Thursday (a mere 6 days from my visit to the doctor).

During surgery, my doctor and my husband checked the upper ankle joint to find it totally stable and therefore the Artelon that they had used to repair that joint was holding and healing as it should and I wasn't rejecting it. They then injected the subtalar joint with a dye called methylene blue. This dye showed them the exact place where the problem was, and how much tissue was involved. They also put my ankle through a stressed range of motion which showed I had a talar tilt of +15 degrees (normal is less than 5 which is why I still felt like my ankle was unstable). My doctor and my husband carefully cut out all the dead tissue then rebuilt the posterior part of the subtalar joint with sutures and Artelon. The rep from Artelon was there taking pictures so I guess I will be written up as this type of injury usually heals on its own. It is rare for it to need surgical repair. (Told you I was unique!)

But I am back non-weight bearing and confined to bed. I don't know when I will be back to posting again. I am trying still to cope with my mother's death along with very intense physical pain, and now with an emotionally devastating pain that I just can't handle being here right now. I am also coping with the knowledge that is ONLY my friends that have even bothered to find out how I am after I had surgery.

I will end this post with these thoughts:

By jumping to a conclusion that was logical but untrue, one can come dangerously close to unnecessary conflict. The Israelites did the same thing. They were ready to go to war because they wrongly assumed that the altar built by their brothers was a sign of rebellion against God (Josh. 22:9-34). To avoid making wrong judgments, we must be careful to get the facts right.

When you’re forming your opinions,
Do it carefully—go slow;
Hasty judgments oft are followed
By regretting—that I know.
—Anon.