A Sunday Drive on Friday

When I was a boy I can remember a few times when my Mom and Dad would decide to go on a Sunday drive after worship at our Church. I remember going to Silver Dollar City in the early 1960’s and it was nothing like it is today.  At that time it seems like we just drove up and walked in. I do remember a few drives that was just driving around to see different places.

Well; anyway I woke up yesterday morning [Friday] trying to decide if I needed to go to the Church office for further study prep and prayer or if I would just stay at the house. I decided on staying, and I did do some review, and praying over the text, and studying.

Along about the time I was winding things down I decided I wanted to go to Aurora for a cheeseburger at Sonic; so I asked my wife (Madge) if she would like to go and eat lunch. I knew she would not turn down an opportunity to go out and eat.  She said “Sure”.

The lunch date quickly turned into a drive.  While we were eating I asked Madge, maybe I stated to her, “Let’s go on to Timothy and Sarah’s, and see how the work on their house is going”. She was all for that.  They live in Stott’s City, west of Mount Vernon a few miles.  On the way I told her “We are taking a Sunday drive on Friday”.

As some of you know I retired from School Bus driving at the end of the 2018 – 2019 School year; from the Cassville R-IV School District. From September 2003 through May 17, 2019 I drove a bus to supplement our income.  I also enjoyed it until around the 2016 – 2017  School year.  I am now retired.

Several have asked me, “Do you miss driving the bus?” My answer to that is “NO!” I do miss the friends I have made among the other bus drivers, and some of our talks around the tables in the garage.

If it were not for retiring from the School, I would not have been able to take a Sunday drive on Friday.

I am still thankful to the Lord Jesus everyday for the strength, and life He gives, for the family and friends He has blessed me with.  I have plenty to do; and too much have left undone that I need to get done, so I know nothing of boredom.

I look forward to taking more Sunday drives on Friday.

From the banks of Flat Creek,

`tim

Ronald Reagan and Freedom

“We were sent here to move America forward again by putting people back in charge of their own country, to promote growth to give individuals the opportunities to reach for their dreams, to strengthen institutions of family, school, church, and community, to make the United States a stronger leader for peace, freedom, and progress abroad, and, through it all, to renew our faith in the God who has blessed our land.”

Ronald Reagan  12/12/1983 12:00:00 AM

It is Snowing

We have not had much snow for a few years in Southwest Mo., but we are getting enough today.  So much so, in fact, that the Cassville School District has already canceled classes for January 16, 2018, and I received the call shortly after 11 a.m. on January 15.

The following are some pictures my wife Madge tool just outside our backdoor…

and one more…

I am not a real fan of cold Winter weather, but it goes with having seasons, and I thank the Lord our Creator for them all.  Snow is beautiful because it covers all that is unsightly, ugly, and messed up.

From the banks of Flat Creek

`tim

New School Year

The new School Year began in Cassville, MO on August 17.  I also started driving a different route.

I now drive the Jenkins route, and though I am pretty familiar with the area, since I do live in the Jenkins area, I am finding myself having a bit of trouble with some names of my kids.  Remembering their names.

As it is in most communities people move away, and new people move in.  There are only  about three families I am I am familiar with from my years of living here growing up.  One family is cousins, another is nephews, and another is a native of the area.  I just remembered a fourth family, and they are distant relatives.

One thing about it; I will not get lost.

I hope all who are reading this have a great new School year, and great days ahead.

From the banks of Flat Creek.

~tim

Predictions

I am not a fan of prognostications; especially early ones.  A farmer cannot make a decision to not plow the ground because it looks like it might rain; or even if the weather people have predicted that it is going to rain.  The field would never get plowed.

What set this off I guess is because our School for which I drive a School bus, cancelled school today with only rain falling; upon the prediction of ice and snow on the way.

I know it is a safety issue.  We do  not want to get caught on the road with hundreds of children on the school bus, with a possibility of sliding into the ditch or another vehicle.

I will applaud their decision when the ice and snow, or snow and ice come.  I just do not like making decisions like this based on the predictions of faulty people, and their man made equipment.

It was probably a good decision, but that is yet to be seen.  From the banks of Flat Creek.

-tim

It is Officially Summer

Is it officially Summer on June 20, 2012?  It begins at 7:09 p.m.; according to the Old Farmers Almanac.  I am writing this at 5:50 a.m. so Summer does not begin until 6:09 this evening.  For many it has already started.

It started for many children when school let out for Summer break.  It started for many adults on Memorial day.  Summer actually begins when the sun reaches its furthest Northern trek.  That is for us who live in the Northern hemisphere.  For those down under Summer is during our Winter.

Let me leave you with this little bit of info from THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC;

“Did you know that the solstices and the equinoxes this year occur earlier than in any year since 1896? This is because the year 2000, which was an “extra” leap year (the first time in four centuries that such a change was made), combined with 2012, a routine leap year, to create a tweak of time that jump-starts the seasons this year.”

This comes from their email update at http://www.almanac.com.

Enjoy the Summer.  You have three more months of it.

-Tim

 

Spring 2012 – School is Out

May 17 was the last day of School at Cassville R-IV School District in Cassville, MO.  That is about 11 days earlier than last year.

We had a rather mild Winter, so we had fewer days to make up due to weather, ice, snow and such things.  We only had one snow day, and we made it up by getting out a bit later than scheduled.

Anyway, School is out; Summer is on the way, and boy am I glad to see it.

Have a great finish to Spring, and a whole Summer of warmth, rain, and sunshine.

The Blessings of the LORD of hosts be with you.

-tim

First Accumulating Snowfall this Winter

I was really hoping for no snow accumulation this Winter; especially during the work, school week.  I was looking forward to getting out of school on May 16, but now that is not going to happen; it could be a day or two later now.  A day or two will not hurt.

It is best when that snow fall starts accumulating that the buses stay off the road.  It is safer for the students on the bus, the drivers, and for the schools.  I was thankful that they called me plenty early this morning to inform me by their automated School Reach system.  It is a system which notifies all the drivers, students and teachers at the same time; or near it anyway.  I received my call at 4:35 a.m.  I usually leave around 5:25 when I am riding with another driver into the bus garage.

This is our first measurable snowfall for 2012 Winter.  It is the first school day cancelled due to weather; and I  hope the last.  But who knows about tomorrow.

The snow sure is pretty, covering all the ugly of the  yard, and putting some niceties to the forms of trees.  I still do not like Winter, cold or snow, but I can enjoy it; and be thankful and appreciative of it.

Just sit back, if you can, stay warm and praise the Lord for His beauty.

-Tim

The First Snow

On Tuesday December 6 we got our first measurable snow.  It was in fact the first I had seen this season.  By that I mean I had not even noticed a flake or anything until I got up about 2:30 a.m. and noticed in the lights there was a pretty serious amount of snow falling.  It did end up being less than an inch, but it was hazardous.

We had school that day, but I think there were a few of us drivers who were probably thinking, “What are we doing out here?”  I was probably one of them, yet we just did our job, picked up those kids, and brought them into school.

On the way into the bus the road did not seem slick.  Driving was pretty normal.  The snow seemed to be dry and blowing off the road as you drove over it; however it was packing under those wheels,  I guess, and it became a sheet of ice on some roads.

When I pulled out from Wildcat Drive onto Business 37 by the Administration Building my bus went sideways, and into a sign, breaking out the right rear clearance light, and I noticed later a mark on the sign.  I saw one driver in the ditch on his side on Highway 76 East of what is known as Bates Corner.  I rarely am stressed about driving, but this morning was an exception to that.  It is probably a good thing that I was.

Without further incident or accident every bus made it safely back into school with all the children who rode that morning.

Just to note: our people at the school who make the decisions concerning weather conditions do a good job, and this morning was no different; considering the time and conditions.  It was not slick, then it was.  There was many incidents/accidents that morning, but thankfully not many were too serious; that I know of anyway.

Now safe and warm on the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

I Lost a Kid

To some of you “Kid” is my word for child, not a goat.  I was always called “kid” when I was, and I am still called “kid” by some distant family members who are a few years older.

While driving my school bus yesterday afternoon; I had just departed from the high school picking up my kids there,  and I had a kindergarten boy who, along with a kindergarten girl was standing, turning around in the seat, and I told them both to turn around and stay in their seat.  Well,  I did that a couple of times at least.  When I leave the high school my bus is loaded and there is no room for any more.

I have eight stops in town before I ever leave town to go on the 45 – 50 mile trip out of town.  In town I drop off over half my load.  There are three of those eight stops where 30 to 40 (combined) get off.  This little fella, some how managed to get past me at one of these stops without me seeing him.  When I get to his stop; he is not present.  At the stop, the mother, which I find out is his foster mother, comes to the bus to walk the boy back to the house; but he is not there.  She asks me if she can come of the bus and look.  I tell her she can.  She does, walking to the rear of the bus; but he is not there.

I radio the principal of K- 2 and inform her; and they proceed to seek the child.  I need to leave from this stop, because I have traffic on the street backed up in both directions.  By the time I have all my other kids unloaded I radio in to find out about the boy, and I am told they have found him.

Evidently some kind person; and I am thankful it was a kind individual; has found him walking the side of the road, picked him up and taken him home.  Thank you!  Who ever you may be.

I will learn to watch this little boy much better at these other stops.

-Tim

Summer is Ended…

No Summer has not officially ended; it does have another month or so for the sun to continue its downward trek to the South toward the Autumnal equinox and then to Winter Solstice.  Summer is ended as far as the education or our children and grand children are concerned; at least in many School Districts of Southwest Missouri.

As I typed in the title of this post I thought that sounds like a verse from the Bible; I looked and it is found in the writings of the prophet Jeremiah chapter 8 and verse 20;

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” (KJV)

No, children you are not saved from the coming of school, classes, math, reading, literature, Social Studies or what ever it’s called nowadays.  No, teachers you are not saved from the hustle and bustle, disrespect, sometimes disagreeable, and angry children.

The Summer is ended for vacation.  Its time to fill the minds of the children with the desire to learn.  Even to learn how to learn.  I think we adults sometimes forget that we all need to learn how to learn.  That must start in childhood.  From the newborn on through adulthood.  As you can tell by my writing; I am still learning; at least I hope so.

Summer is ended… for school students across Southwest Missouri and other parts of the Country; and the grass is growing, greening, and cooler weather is coming.

From the banks of Flat Creek with my rambling; I pray all the teachers, Administrators, bus drivers, maintenance workers, cooks and all have a great, safe, and wonderful new school year.

-Tim

More Rain

It is a blessing to get more rain.  Even as I write this post it is raining.  It sounds a bit windy as well, but that’s okay as long as it rains to give the nourishment to the soil, grass, crops and trees.  God is truly amazing, awesome, and gracious.  Thank YOU Father.

You can tell that schools are preparing to start again.  Specials in the stores for new children’s clothing, school materials such as notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, crayons, etc..  One of the ways I know it is is that I start getting letters from the School that reminds us of Bus Driver training day; which is today; and it begins around 8 a.m.  In one week Cassville R-IV School District will begin; ie., Wednesday August 17, 2011.

I look forward to the new School year, but the Summer sure seemed short.

On the banks of Flat Creek, I am…

-Tim

For Anyone Who is Interested

It has not been too many days ago that we had the first snow fall of the season. It, however, did not amount to much. For that I am glad. It is not that I don’t like snow; I don’t like cold weather, and it seems that the two just happen to go together.

Last night [Sunday] the weather suddenly turned from an almost balmy, warm Spring time temperature in the sixties during the afternoon to freezing and below. From the time my wife and I left our church the temp dropped fourteen degrees, and that was driving a short 17 miles. It only takes us about 30 minutes, with about one third of that time spent driving the last two miles to our home (it is a rough dirt/gravel road).

When I arose this morning, planning to go and drive my School Bus I looked out the window and everything looked pretty good. There was a dusting of snow on the car, but nothing bad. I spent time doing my quiet time and then blogging, and then got myself ready for leaving for town (also 17 miles away) to go and drive the Bus.

I got in the car, and was out of our driveway when my wife called me on my cell telling me “Joe called, and there is no school today” (Joe is our Supervisor for the bus drivers). Because there was no school I saved a little bit of gas.

I saw Joe later in town, and he told me there was a thin sheet of ice on the school parking lots, and that was mostly the reason for the cancellation. While my wife and I were in town it was snowing, and the weather reports are calling for 1 – 4 inches of it by morning. If we get that there will be no classes for Tuesday. Our last day of School for this year was going to be on Friday December 19, but we may get a few extra days, if things continue as they are.

That is one of the problems with Winter. Mostly it is the cold of Winter I dislike. I prefer to be warm, even hot compared to being cold. I like the seasons, and I thank God our Savior for giving me these days. I appreciate those warms days even more.

Have a great Winter, and be thankful to our Lord.

-Tim A. Blankenship

It’s Time Again

There is a thing that seems to constantly sneak up on you. Most of you can probably figure out what I am talking about by the title. It’s Time Again… that the sun comes up a little later of the morning. It’s Time Again… that the sun sets a little earlier in the evening. It’s Time Again… for a whole lot of things.

Can you believe that children are preparing for returning to school? When I was a kid I hated School and loved the Summer break. My problem was that the nine months of School lasted for nine years, and Summer break only for three days. However, It is that time again that Schools will be opening their doors to millions of School children; in the School for which I drive a School bus; that will only be in the 15 hundreds plus range.

Last year at this time I was really wondering if I would be driving anymore due to my high blood pressure, but I did, though I had problems with it a little later and was suspended from driving for two weeks because of it. I failed my physical provided by the School. I then went to my Physician and they worked with me, got my blood pressure down to an acceptable level, approved me for 3 months, but then, I guess it was not controlled.

Now, this year, on the eighth of August I went to the Physical provided by the School and my blood pressure was in the normal range, and I passed. Thank the Lord. For the past six months or so, when I check my BP it has been good, and for that I am grateful.

I guess I enjoy driving 50 or so screaming kids to and from School or something. I enjoy the people I work with. The drivers, the mechanics, and administration are all like a part of a family, and it seems that all are treated with great respect. School has not even started yet, and we have eight Sub drivers. At the end of the School year we only had one. The School gave the drivers a little pay raise, and every little bit helps. Thank YOU Lord.

It’s Time Again… at least about time; for the people on the highways to keep their eyes and ears open for the sight of those big yellow monsters, called School buses, and the little ones who will be riding them.

IT’S TIME AGAIN…

-Tim A. Blankenship