Teen Court

Tonight several of our home school friends sat in on a session of Teen Court at the Plano Municipal Courthouse.  Teen Court is a voluntary program, which offers young offenders are brought before a jury of their peers.  The offenders have already pled guilty and this is strictly the sentencing phase. 

They are prosecuted, defended and tried in a court room setting by teens.  By volunteering to have their case tried in Teen Court the offender avoids fines and keeps their juvenile record clear.  All of the participants have had special training and work  up thru the ranks of jury and then as a lawyer. 

The offenses are class C misdemeanors and are paid thru community service hours.  Tonight we heard several case of disorderly conduct, theft under $50, criminal mischief and minor in possession.  It was interesting to follow the process. I think it was an eyeopener to the kids that Texas has a zero tolerance policy on alcohol, meaning tonight a young man was sentenced to 24 hours of community service for being in the area where others had alcohol.  The heaviest penalty we saw tonight was a young man sentenced to 60 hours of community service for stealing a $45 pair of shoes from JCPenny's. 

There was no Perry Mason moment where anyone broke down on the stand, but it was amusing as the offenders offered the lame excuses as to why they were in such circumstances.

And let them judge the people at all times.

 Every great matter they shall bring to you,
but any small matter they shall decide themselves.
So it will be easier for you,
and they will bear the burden with you.
Exodus 18:22

The Lighthouse

I am a big fan of live theater.  One of our first dates was to symphony in Tulsa.  There are very few live productions that I don't recommend, but here is one!   The Dallas Opera and the Dallas Theater Center opened the Lighthouse at the AT&T Performing Arts Center's Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre.  It was a date night for Jon & I to get out of the house, alone.

The theatre itself is very industrial, lots of cement, open pipes, very modern, not my style, but I can appreciate that it was very chic. 

The opera is based on a true story, the three protagonists of The Lighthouse have been locked up in the small isolated space for months and their relief crew is long overdue.  The three are suspected to be victims of foul play, and the opera centers around the investigation.

The story was suspenseful, well played, magnificent voices, phenomenal orchestra, so what's not to like right?  Most operas even if there is an 'indisgression' it is down played in the polite society setting!  This production took a vulgar turn that ruined the experience for me.  One of those moments that added nothing to the story just cheap bathroom humor, very disappointing!   

I'm sure it was performed in the smaller setting to appeal to a select group, but I think in the future we'll stick to the more mainstream Opera House production!

Sixth Floor Museum CSI Day

Along with the other fun things Caleb gets to do with the Sixth Floor Museum's Youth Advisory Council today Caleb participated in their CSI Family Day.  It's an annual event at the museum for youth 8 to 18 can examine a mock crime scene and study evidence like fingerprints, hair, documents and eyewitness testimony.  The kids try to solve the hypothetical crime examine the crime scene, they receive a police report and then travel station to station performing forensic analysis. 

The Sixth Floor Museum partners with the University of North Texas Forensic Science Club to encourage students enter the field of forensics.  Caleb was one of the 'eye witnesses' for the kids to question.  There were even Dallas Police present adding to the ambiance! 

There were so many children at the museum!  I saw buses from as far away as Joplin!  The entire event was held on the seventh floor where all special events are held at the museum.  I didn't take very many photos, there was something 'stalker-like' in photographing other people's children!

And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?”
And after they had searched and inquired, they said,
“Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”
Judges 6:29

Drama Club Practice

Ryan and Abigail

The date is getting closer and closer for our home school group's drama performance.  PEACH is performing, "The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ring."  Caleb is the Stage Manager and Abigail has the role of Rose Einstein, a brainy, free-spirited geek.  I love the picture above, it shows how shy and introverted those crazy home school kids can be!

he answered and said:
“I am young in years, and you are aged;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to declare my opinion to you

Job 32:6

Volunteering at the Sixth Floor Museum

Jack Ruby being transported

Part of serving on the Sixth Floor Museum's Youth Advisory Council is putting in volunteer time.  With this being spring break for the area school system, the council members met up at the museum office to scan documents.  Many of the museum's artifacts and documentation are slowing being put on the website for viewing. 

I'm sure they weren't scanning autopsy reports but what a fun job! Caleb said his pile of papers all pertained to Jack Ruby.   

A copy of what was written was to be
issued as a decree in every province,
being publicly displayed to all peoples

Esther 8:13

If You Give a Mom New Flooring . . .

So a couple of weeks ago the girls and I went to see "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" that funny story that gets painful more complicated with each request.  That story ran thru my mind today, you see several weeks ago Jon purchased new hard wood flooring for our kitchen, dining and pantry.  Awesome right?! 

Jon  and Caleb did a BEAUTIFUL job laying the flooring!  It looked so lovely, but then that progressed to 'if we have pretty new hardwood floors, we should really get new baseboards.'  And of course with new flooring and baseboard the walls were looking dingy so we should re-paint.    Well, if we're going to re-paint this would be the perfect time to paint the ceilings also.

Well, if you have new hardwood flooring, new base boards, newly painted walls, fresh ceiling we should really update the four doorways that come together in these areas.    And if your going to freshen up the doorways, you really can't leave out the window treatments! 

So now that there are new hardwood floors and new baseboards; freshly painted ceilings and walls; updated doors and new curtains; then the cabinets start to look dated.  After all; everything is moved out of these rooms anyway. 

And believe it or not my dishwasher went out during this whole process so now their is a lovely new stainless steel dishwasher, and if you are going to replace one appliance . . .

When everything is put back together I'll post pictures!  Everyday it looks better, and I am so pleased with the progress!  But I don't think we'll replace any more flooring anytime soon!

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,        

Colossians 3:23