Be careful how you judge others.

Safe and sound!  Since I didn't go, I'll let the pictures tell the story.  There will be more photos to come, once they are downloaded/developed, but for now…this will have to suffice! Hans, Sam D., Tom D., Steven and Jake. Gabe, Daniel, Forrest,Warren, and Joseph. Jerry, Tom and Nick on left, Sam R., Max and Mike on right. Scott on left, Ernie and Thomas F. on right…plus another couple of strangers in the back:)  This is the really old guys raft! Here we have Wesley, Ceasar, Gabe and Cyrus! These photos are from Mountain & River Adventures.  There will be more to come from other attendees of the trip. I think that it would have been totally "fair" if I would have been able to go off to CHA or some crafty retreat.  Instead, I got to face my own dangerous adventure…cleaning my workroom!  All parties survived.&#

When I am involved with the Scouts, it is usually behind the scenes…prepping for projects, picking up supplies for camp-outs, sewing on merit badges or patches – that Mom kind of stuff.  The moms just don't go on most of the activities.  So when retired Sergeant Major Bill Paxton called to check on our up coming Eagle Court of Honor for Mike and Tom and invited the troop to a special performance of the US Marine Drum & Bugle Corps – families included – Scott jumped at the chance and he set the plans in motion.  Three cars full of family members and Scouts left the church about 1pm on Saturday, March 20th, 2010.  When we arrived at the MCRD (Marine Corps Recruit Depot) San Diego, we got through the gate and then everyone had to pile out of their vehicles, open all their doors, hood, trunk and compartments while they were searched.  We were greeted by Sergeant Major Paxton, and guided to our reserved bleachers.  He spoke with the boys about the importance of being good Scouts and working to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.  He then introduce one of the few surviving men that was at Iwo Jima…I unfortunately have forgotten his name.  Scott spoke to the boys about the men and women in uniform and the importance of their service.  He pointed out men with Purple

That is a good motto for anyone.  But it takes on special significance when you are the mother of Boy Scouts and wife to a Scoutmaster.  Not only do I love when they go camping and the girls have the house all to themselves, but look at all the colors in those merit badges!  You know how I feel about color!  Seriously, I love the opportunities the Scouting program gives to young men that might otherwise totally focus on nothing other than themselves, and there is far too much of that in the world.  Scouting has been around for 100 years.  The Boy Scout Law states:  A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. Their motto is: Be Prepared!  Their slogan: Do a Good Turn Daily!  Sounds like lofty goals to me!  I was watching a TV show with a panel of "experts" and they were discussing how a Boy Scout had gotten in trouble with a union, stepping on a union member's toes…probably doing a "good turn" without charging the person or persons for it.  I didn't catch the whole segment.  I honestly don't remember the show or any of the experts, but they spoke quite disparagingly about the scout program in general…"who does that anymore?"  I would have to argue whole-heartedly about THAT dumb statement!  What parent wouldn't want their son to grow