Republished on Hoosierpundit

While searching the web I found myself republished on another blog. Click on the title link to see another blog by Scott Fluhr. It's a political blog with a lot of good articles, at least for those of us concerned about Indiana politics, as well as what's going on in Washington.

The original articles can be found in the archives under congressman.

Either way it was a pleasant surprise, Kudos Scott, thanks for the link.

Remember Look Up, Live Life, and Be Thankful.

Kevin

Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania

Nestled in the hills of Leonard Harrison State Park in North Central Pennsylvania, and way the heck out of the way from anywhere, is the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.




We found this little hot spot on a Trucker Atlas (for those of you who have never seen one of these, it's a huge atlas, bigger than your steering wheel so you can read it going down the road, driving a truck that weighs enough to kill anything you hit, trying to find your way around a scale house). We were in the area (within 60 miles of our hotel, 20 minutes from our job site) and decided to take a drive.

It's a neat little park with the Grand Canyon as the main attraction. It host miles of trails to enjoy, which we did a smaller one just to take in the fresh Penn. air.

The best part of this trip was spending time with friends. Eddie, Dave, and I travel and work together on a regular basis, and even though I'm the Boss (jefe) we are all friends. Dave and I sat on a log for a short rest and watched a deer graze in a small clearing, as we discussed life. It's nice to just relax even for just a short time.

Here's what I don't understand: Now this is just my personal observation, but most people I know aren't very adventurous. Most people don't seem to venture off the beaten path for little moments like these. Now don't get me wrong, I know several outdoors man, and people that camp, and I think that's awesome, but most people like 'the A/C clicker command center' of the living room.

Life is a gift that was meant to be lived. At the end of the day when I lay down I like to think back over the day and say, "today was an awesome day!" Besides if we get past thinking of just ourselves, there are people out there whose lives we can change even if for just the day, by reaching out to them and sharing small trips like these.

I hope today finds you adventuring the globe, sending picture texts, listening to something great on the Ipod.

If you find yourself adventuring drop me a pix and location.


Total cost for this trip, including diesel fuel, soda, and water bottle: $13.74

Remember Look Up, Live Life, and Be Thankful

Kevin

Pioneer Coal Mine

Pennsylvania, Coal country. Ever wonder how they actually mine coal to turn into the energy that we use? About a month ago I took a small journey into a mountain and found out.





Here's our story:



While on a business trip I ducked off the interstate with a couple of friends to a small eastern Pennsylvania town near Bloomsberg, PA that had a coal mine as a tourist attraction.




Pennsylvania is full of coal mines both working and abandoned. This particular mine was working around the time of the depression, and if memory serves was made into a tourist attraction back in the 60's. Anthracite Coal is the cleanest burning coal that can be found and can only be found in a 500 square miles area in Pennsylvania.







Here's what the trip underground was like:







Once inside, the guide showed us what coal mining was like "in the old back days" (a direct quote from my nephew). Coal was drilled by hand in very tight areas to place a charge to blow the coal apart. Then the coal was loaded onto carts pulled by mules and hauled to the surface.



We learned a lot about how coal was mined, but also about how families survived during this era. As I had time to reflect on my thoughts of the day, I had one thought come back to mind. The families of miners and of this era gone by were real families. The kind that eat supper together in the evening around the dinner table. Not with Chinese take out, but real food. When families went through hard times like the depression, friends, and neighbors stuck it out with them, and helped them through. In today's day, many of us don't even know our neighbors. Or maybe just the ones next door that has the stupid barking dog, but what about the one's down the street. We are to busy to know them. We are so wrapped up in our own little worlds that we don't have time to maintain a relationship with them.



I said this a thousand times, we must slow down and look outside of our little boxes. The coal towns across the Appalachian Mountains have felt the turn of the economy many times over the past hundred years. Without them we might be reading by candle light.



If we would spend a little more time with our families around the dinner table, and with the people around our neighborhoods we just might find something special. The track we are teaching the Y generation is of complete self centeredness. How do we change things? I'll tell you what my Dad told me a few years ago, when we were discussing the youth of America. One child at a time.





We live in the best country in the World. I don't say that arrogantly because I'm an American, I say it because where else can anyone get a college education, or own a business? It only takes hard work, the opportunities here are endless. I've been to other countries, the third world type, both as a soldier, and a missionary and trust me, we never knew we had it so good. Read about the Holocaust survivors, or WWII veterans that liberated countries in Europe. We have it good. I'm both proud to have served with the 101st Airborne and to live here in the USA. But these kind of opportunities also requires much responsibility. What are we teaching? What we do and What we say really does change how our society sees things.

Search 'your' world and find time to relax. Reflect on what footprint you are making as you journey through this life. I hope to make our country and our society a better place. At the end of life's day I want to say I did all I could, and I spent my life well. That I made a difference.






I enjoyed my trip back in time and into the mountain. If you are ever in PA, stop by for a visit. It cost less than a lunch for one at Applebee's, souvenir included.



Remember Look Up, Live Life, and Be Thankful.


Kevin

Adam's Falls

While on a recent trip through Pennsylvania I stopped off for a short Hike in the northeastern part of the state in a state park. Adam's falls is a trail along a small river through a Hemlocks forest.

As with most waterfalls of any size, they carry a certain majestic quality about them. A couple of friends of mine were with me to admire the view.

Hiking and being in the outdoors in general provides a nice break from the normal grind of life. The quiet and solitude it provides is like a refreshing rain for me. Life, at least my life, is always full of pressures, deadlines, goals, and busy, busy, busy. Life's balances seem to always end up tipped to far one way. So when I get a chance to nock off for a few hours and get away, I try to take advantage of the time. Which is how I found myself walking in the hemlocks. Just watching the water rush over the cliffs, hearing the constant roar, and feeling the mist in the air is an awesome place to sit and relax.

Life shouldn't be such a rush. At least here in America our priorities have tipped the scales to a materialistic society. This has driven the cost of living up through higher labor costs and manufacturing expenses, leaving us with a perpetual drive to make more and more. It doesn't take much thought to understand that this kind of life will lead to an unrealistic end. I'm not much of a materialistic person. I enjoy experience over things. Adventures instead of shopping, and for the majority, places like Adam's Falls, PA are free. All you need is a bottle of water and a good pair of shoes. I would rather collect pictures and experience than something I keep for a few years and then sell in a yard sell for pennies on the dollar. Or use as a tax write off at the Goodwill.

I find myself most in tune both with myself and God when I can get away from the noise and be quiet. I love early mornings before the world is awake and moving. Before the sun is shining and the dew is still in the air. I can find peace. I like to start the day early with a daily reader. I'm working my way through a book by Andrew Murray on Prayer. In times like these I talk to God and ask Him to show me direction for my life. My heart is torn because what makes me happy and fulfilled is helping people. And this is really what I think my purpose is supposed to be in life. But life cost money and we must spend out time working. But my thoughts in quiet moments always end up on the face of orphan children in Haiti, or one of many pictures I carry in my heart from the places I've been.

I try to take life day by day. My wife will argue the point because I am a planner and like things to be organized and all loose ends tied. But really I have found today has it's own troubles. I try to live each day the best I can. Taking advantage of each moment and making the best of them. As I write this tonight, I'm planning an excursion for tomorrow to see another place of God's beauty, but you'll have to come back to read about it.

I hope each of us find time to search our hearts, find God's peace, and then decide to do something positive with it. Never miss the opportunity to make a difference.

Remember Look up, Live life, and Be thankful.

Kevin

UP Coming Posts:

Pioneer Coal Mine

Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania

Mother Teresa