Take two minutes to watch this video:

Take one and a half minutes to watch this video:

But I did observe the school.  The girl using a makeshift broom to sweep the dirt playground.  The boys who, without a working restroom, used the playground instead, regardless of who was present.  The girls who did the same.  And the smiles on the kids' faces.

I did get to go inside after hours where I snapped a quick picture of the fifth grade classroom.  Observe a few things:

• the glossy "chalkboard" painted on the wall
• the tired old Disney characters adorning the wall
• handmade benches and tables

That's about it.  There really wasn't anything else to see in the classroom.  Now compare that with the 21st Century classrooms in Joplin, Missouri:  the cleanly painted walls, the white boards, the technology.  Restrooms with running water, hallways with electric lights, and even computer labs are last century's advances.  Nowadays, we sport gyms that double as storm-safe shelters, iPad labs, SMART Boards, and a fully-functional internet are at our fingertips.  We have had hot lunches, after school programs, and extra-curricular classes for many decades.  We have air conditioning, playground equipment, and walking trails.  In short, the amenities offered by Joplin Schools far surpasses the amenities that Central America offers.

I don't know what that means for the kids who are somehow making across our southern border, and I don't need to comment on their current situation.  I just know the conditions from which they may be coming.  We take so much for granted.

That being said, I can never forget the faces of the Honduran children, and I often wonder if they have even survived in their situation to this date, less than 20 years later.  In spite of their living conditions - the sewage and solid trash in the streets, the dirt floors in their houses, and the thin material that counted as their clothes - they still smiled.  They weren't scared to speak to me, greeting me with buenos dias, every morning (or simply, bueno), and they weren't afraid to work hard.  A single piece of candy lit up their faces.

I wonder how those kids would have reacted to an American school.  I wonder how far they could take the opportunity.   I wonder how much they would appreciate the things we often take for granted - so much more than a piece of hard candy.

When we break apart the skills involved in reading comprehension, we are constantly amazed at how many skills there really are.  We use the same skills when we watch TV shows, listen to music, and view advertisements.

They are everywhere:  in magazines, in newspapers, on the radio, at the movie theater, and on television.  It is important that we protect ourselves from marketing "tricks", which are intended to "hook" the viewers/readers/
listeners.  Perhaps the product is cheaply made.  Maybe it isn't as it appears.  Is it worth the price?  Is it something you need?  Let's dive right in to a commercial and hone our reading skills along the way.

The commercial below is for B-O-L-O-G-N-A.

I had an interesting experience, Tuesday.  I sat on the back deck of my house, with trees gently blowing in the background, and I video-chatted with a couple of people in New York.  About a week ago, I was contacted by a casting agent from a major New York television production company.  They wanted an expert in a particular area - someone passionate about a particular topic - and they wondered if I would be interested.  I thought about it, and finally figured, even if I didn't make in onto the show, I could make some contacts and get an experience I hadn't experienced before.

So we arranged to video-chat on Tuesday.  After I showered, shaved, and brushed my teeth - and practiced my smile - I was ready for the call, Tuesday morning.

When they were finished asking questions - and I finished rambling through my answers - as interviews generally go, they asked if I had any questions for them.  I asked about the timeline for the project.  They indicated that they were going to attempt to shoot the episode during the first part of August, but they might actually move it to an earlier date.  It would be a single day of work to capture the videos they needed.

I'm not giving out details about this little venture until I know something for sure, but thought some might find it interesting to know how I am spending a little bit of my summer vacation.  Outside of a bunch of sweaty yard work, spending time with family, both in and out of town, participating in Vacation Bible Schools, church camp, and planning other church activities, and some writing, this has been the most unusual of our summer activities.  With a month left in the summer break, we intend to make the most of it:  I have a couple of book-signing events in front of me, and we have some other plans.  I may need to go back to school just to have a break from all the activities of the summer of 2014 (If you believe that, you don't know me very well.).

Hopefully your break is full and meaningful, as well.