Its October at the Schardts! And TCU Homecoming! The Oliviers are on their way here and we are super excited about the weekend!

The Innocence Project

In class last night, we watched a video on the Innocence Project. This project is focused on exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and justifying the unjustified litigation system. The video is incredibly humbling, somewhat depressing, moving and urges me to act.

I had never heard of it. Honestly, I never really thought about it. Why would I? Wrongfully accused? It triggered a lot of emotions. Both good and bad, from anger to deep empathy. The video shared the perspective of the family, the wrongfully convicted, from start to finish. I think it's very important to be educated on this topic. Sadly, I just started last night.

I feel very uneducated/disinterested in politics, government .... but have this far off understanding that I need to grow, learn and spend time in what's going on. Everyone says that you must have a voice in the political system, of what you believe in how the government runs... Anyways, this is one area that hits home. Maybe because this video helped me see how this bigger system is crushing lives.

I am going to an exoneration conference tomorrow with those who have been exonerated. I am terrified of the emotions I will feel in hearing their personal testimonies...

Last week I got to be apart of this. These types of days remind me why I'm a good fit for my job [for now].

Largest US sting on drug cartel arrests 300-plus

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - In the largest single strike at Mexican drug operations in the U.S., authorities arrested more than 300 people in a sting that demonstrates an upstart cartel's vast reach north of the border.

The tentacles of "La Familia" extend coast to coast and deep into America's heartland, with arrests announced Thursday in 38 cities from Boston to Seattle and from St. Paul, Minn., to Raleigh, N.C.

Drug deals went down in Oklahoma parking lots, suppliers were advised to weld drugs into tire rims for transport, and in the Dallas and Seattle areas, dozens of children were removed from houses where authorities found drugs, guns or cash derived from drug sales.

Perhaps more than any other cartel, La Familia projects a Robin Hood image. The Drug Enforcement Administration said the group is "philosophically opposed to the sale of methamphetamine to Mexicans, and instead supports its export to the United States for consumption by Americans."

Mexican police say the gang uses religion and family morals to recruit. The gang has hung banners in towns saying they do not tolerate drug use, or attacks on women or children.

One of the gang's alleged recruiters, detained last spring, ran drug rehabilitation centers, helping addicts to recover and then forcing them to work for the drug gang or be killed, according to Mexico Public Safety Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna.

La Familia is rarely mentioned in the same breath as the handful of other Mexican gangs that control the flow of drugs into the United States, fueled by Colombian cocaine suppliers. The Sinaloa, Juarez, Gulf and Tijuana cartels have roots that go back many years, even decades.

But in its short history, La Familia is believed to have emerged as the biggest supplier of methamphetamine to the United States and, increasingly, a peddler of cocaine, marijuana and other drugs.

Complaints that were unsealed across the country portray an organization that spread deep into Middle America, down to small-time sales.

In Colorado, authorities seized 8 kilograms of cocaine, 3 pounds of methamphetamine and $313,785.

A federal grand jury has indicted 11 members or associates of La Familia from the Western Slope in Colorado, and six of them have been arrested so far, prosecutors said.

In Oklahoma, authorities seized about 20 pounds of methamphetamine, two pounds of cocaine, six weapons and several thousand dollars. They identified Ruben Garcia, 29, as a major supplier in the northeast part of the state.

Agents spotted Garcia and his partners dealing drugs over several months at restaurants, grocery stores and Wal-Mart parking lots in the Tulsa area, according to court documents. In one tapped phone call Oct. 9, Garcia counseled a supplier in Mexico who helped arrange a shipment in McAllen, Texas, that the easiest way to smuggle drugs is welded inside tire rims of vehicles.

Court records do not list an attorney for Garcia.

In North Carolina, targeted cells operated from the Raleigh area to the eastern cities of Rocky Mount and Greenville, a region with a large Hispanic population to help the targets blend in and quick access to three interstate highways. They made four arrests Wednesday but totaled 49 arrests over the past year.

In Nashville, after more than a year of surveillance, agents converged on a home when two people arrived in a Toyota Camry from Atlanta Aug. 14, according to a complaint. A search of the vehicle discovered hidden compartments that "contained nine similarly wrapped packages, each of which were the size of a kilogram of cocaine." One package tested positive for cocaine.

Inside the home, agents found drug ledgers, a money counter and a loaded pistol. At another home, they found about 50 pounds of marijuana, several loaded handguns and two bulletproof vests.

Texas Child Protective Services removed 20 children from houses in the Dallas area when authorities executed 44 search warrants, said James Capra, the DEA's special agent in charge in Dallas. All the homes where children were found had drugs, guns or cash derived from drug sales.

The sting reached into small towns hundreds of miles from Mexico.

Nine arrests were made in Monroe, Wash., with a population of about 16,000 and home to the state's largest prison about 25 miles northeast of Seattle. None seemed to be doing any retail drug dealing, Monroe police Cmdr. Steve Clopp said.

"I would say that they were well-integrated members of the community," Clopp said. "A lot of them keep up the everyday appearance of work and family."

In the Inland Empire, a cluster of east Los Angeles suburbs where 25 people were arrested and 156 pounds of methamphetamine seized, most suspects are illegal immigrants from Mexico who came to the United States to work for La Familia, said Stephen Azzam, DEA assistant special agent in charge in Riverside, Calif.

Methamphetamine was shipped from the Inland Empire, an area with three interstate highways, to cities including Atlanta and Chicago, Azzam said.

La Familia is known as unusually violent, even by Mexico's standards.

After the arrest of one of its leaders in July in Mexico, the cartel launched an offensive against federal forces, killing 18 police officers and two soldiers over a weekend. In the worst attack, 12 federal agents were slain and their tortured bodies piled along a roadside as a warning for all to see.

"They are one of the most violent, if not the most violent, cartel in Mexico right now," said Michael Braun, who retired as the DEA's chief of operations last year.

La Familia operates methamphetamine "superlabs" in Mexico that produce up to 100 pounds of the drug in eight hours, a sharp contrast to small-time labs in the United States that have supplied American addicts, said Braun.

The organization was founded around 2004 and really took off in 2006, Braun said.

The arrests in places such as Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles suggest that its U.S. distribution network is sophisticated, said Scott Stewart, an analyst at the Stratfor consultancy in Austin, Texas, who follows the Mexican drug trade.

"Those are beautiful interstate (highway) hubs," Stewart said. "It's looking they have ramped up very quickly."

the Office

Michael Scott:	What topics, can you use for small talk?
Andy:	Golf, stock market, Dave Matthews--
Michael Scott:	Yes, what else?
Creed:	Small things. Peas, ball bearings, dimes.
Michael Scott:	No.
Meredith:	The weekend.
Michael Scott:	Yeah! That's good! Come on up, Meredith. Come up here. Let's do a little something. [Meredith gets to the front] So Meredith and I just started conversing, and I will say, "so Meredith, how was your weekend? What did you do?"
Meredith:	Well I caught my son taking a dump on the upper-part of the toilet... he calls it an "upper decker."

...."he said to me I was a tree in a story about a forest, and that it was arrogant of me to believe any differently. And he told me the story of the forest is better than the story of the tree..."

-says Donald Miller of Victor Frankl

Discernment

Some things may legitimately be alleviated, others necessarily endured. May we be wise enough to know the difference. - E. Elliot

happy birthday cam-cam!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my niece Campbell!!!!!

::: Donald Miller :::

Donald Miller just came out with a new book, What I Learned While Editing my Life : A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. Scott read it in less than 2 days and asked that I read it next. He says I will love it. Page 6 and I've already taken away an interesting thought/idea.

"You got a feeling when you look back on life that that's all God really wants from us, to live inside a body he made and enjoy the story and bond with us through the experience."

I really like the way he says this. It's so simple...and to me, is so true. I appreciate the simplicity of this because life is so full of complexity and questions and misunderstandings; but this sentence makes life seem so simple. "bad" things can and have happened to me, but it is all apart of my story. He knows my entire story, beginning to end, and there is good and bad. But what good story doesn't have both?

When looking at my life as a "story" I know that there are more chapters to come, and that it is important to look at all of the chapters as a whole, instead of focusing on one that might not be so pleasant. I am most definitely bonding with him through my experiences. I am thankful.

the towering separation

I'm in this strange, uncharted place, where I feel like I am sitting in a chair, watching the world go fast by me. I wouldn't say I feel lost, as I'm confident of the path I've taken to understand what lights me on fire in work, with whom I want to share and do life with, and knowing through experience what life is not about. I don't want to say I know what life is about in entirety, because I think that unfolds as the journey continues.

I wouldn't say my life has slowed down in terms of the nature of my job or the hours of school I'm taking [in which they have increased], but I guess the rhythm of my life is steady and narrow. I can't stray from the path. My flesh fights this. I want to plan, like I previously posted, take control, or deviate from the path I've chosen. I love change, adventure. So in this narrow path, I'm trying to be intentional on deepening my understanding of neglected thoughts/emotions/compartments of my life.

The sermon last night was on merging the towering separation of spirit filled thoughts and life's thoughts. Surprisingly, I had embarked on this thought process this past month or so, how we must, to experience the fullness of Christ, give him all of ourselves [thoughts, desires, emotions, activities, chores]. I still do not know how to fully do this.

Woods and I walked around White Rock on Saturday and a conversation of how clear joy is compared to happiness came up. As of late, I've witnessed her surrender her life to a place of joy. Clearly, for both she and Lindsay, life is not as they would choose, with such hardships, being only 25. They are explicit examples of how His joy disables fear, despair, and grief.

Anyways, all that to say, E.E. writes "Let us remember, however, that the Shepherd Himself sometimes makes us lie down. Some of the "delays" are His own choice for us, so we must not always chide ourselves when the pace is not what we thought it should be. We must learn to move according to the timetable of the Timeless One, and be at peace".

I can't even say I'm lying down. I'm just where I've always wanted to be. Obviously, I'm feeling deep conviction or contemplative thoughts upon the control God has over our lives, but I see His workings in those around me [and myself, of course]. I see the unexpected turns, the tumultuous times, that provide deep, abiding relationships [if chosen], and it makes me so very, very grateful.

::: bhg :::

better homes and gardens. i used to think this magazine was useless, but now i have a subscription. here are some great sites in this month's issue that i thought i'd share...

Pies

100 Holiday Tips

enjoy!

Anita

We sent our landlord our 60 day notice for move out.

Can you believe it?

The Anita days are coming to an end.

:: to a quiet mind ::

Most of my friends can attest to my ways of planning. Jason Meyer and I used to sit on the floor hallways between classes at A&M, dreaming big of our futures. Our jobs. Our relationships. Our cities we'd live in. What a sweet time. Now he's studying law ... with a big heart, to do good for the world. I don't think him going to law school ever came up in our conversations. My, how we cannot attest to know our paths.

I do like dreaming, planning, and of wanting more.

Elisabeth Elliot quotes "What may be tomorrow's cross I never seek to find. My father says, Leave that to Me, and keep a quiet mind" ....

To the balance - of a quiet mind & a heart that seeks more!

a blog post about two things that do not relate to each other at all.

The first is this image. I LOVE the bright color contrast of the sofa against the wall. Two great colors. The excitement I feel for the new job opportunities that the Lord is presenting matches the excitement I feel for this image!

Image found here

::: colorado :::

Scott and i are in Colorado for about 6 days. We just hiked a small 4 mile trail through the hills of Bergen Peak. It was so much fun! Its great to be able to exercise outside in the beautiful scenery, instead of inside on a elliptical. :) I am thankful. As we were walking, I was thankful for my health, my legs that are in fabulous shape (muuahaha), and the time in the mountains.

The Schardts are hanging with ...

..the Haks in Colorado.

My people are together, in the mountains.

Co-Managing

Michael Scott: Mmm--well to be fair, Jim... James. Jimothy? [Jim nods] To be fair, Jimothy-- ah that sounds weird. Are you ok with being called Jim?
Jim Halpert: I am.
Michael Scott: Alright. Jim, to be fair, the conversation wasn't about planets.

this make me laugh, big time.

Team Hanson

Yes, there is a baby in that satchel. And yes, that's Jack. He's 1 1/2 years old now, brothering 2 week old Hudd Gabriel! I got to spend about 24 hours with the Hanson family and am realizing how much work it is...and how well they do family life.

Thanks for sharing your time with me. I'm glad I got some time in, to hold the new babe, watch Jack run around, and learn of your ways Laurel/Jeff. I love you and am thankful for all that you've become. You do life abundantly. Oman sure is lucky . . .

My nieces!

I stopped by Dottie's tonight on my way home from school. I enjoyed her stomping feet pounding on the wood floor, running from room to room. She's silly, fun, and so happy.

Upon arriving home, I found my other cutie niece's pics in my inbox. Cara, Brian and Cam lived in Montana in a cabin for 2 months, and just spent two weeks in Hawaii. I would like to be their live in nanny. Look how cute this girl is. She's turning one this month! I miss you Cam!

His Light

I entered through three locked doors, that required authorization before entering, to interview a 16 year old boy today. He was covered in tattoos {i thought through the age limit of acquiring tattoos, wondering who on earth tatted my boy. i claim him as 'my boy' due to him being on my caseload}. He carried a grim expression, that quickly communicated down my spine, that nothing was to relieve him from his pain. He's been in a juvenile facility for the past few weeks, surrounded by white walls, locked doors, walking with his hands behind his back, everywhere he goes . . . locked down.

Yes, I've seen a lot in the past three years of working for child protective services, but there are some things that take me by surprise/change me. It was my first to be at a lock down facility, where there is no escaping. They have no choice. I've even been to jail. But this "jail" is for kids. Teenagers. Teenagers just like my old Young Life kids, who I would beg and plead for to not be in a facility like this.

With a broken heart, I initially asked him why he was there. "Burglary" ... I said "Of a habitation?" .. He said "yes" .. I proceeded to share with him the victimization I felt on the receiving end of a burglary [ha, ha]. He was unfazed [understandably/expected]. I then asked him if he had been there before. Expressionless, "Yes. For aggravated assault" ... I asked to whom he was assaulting. "A guy at school", emotionless. I proceeded with the interview, treating him as he was a child, as I know of all children to be - loved, cherished, and innocent in God's eyes while thinking : If he was my child, what would I say to him? If he was my Young Life friend, what would I say to him? If I was him what could I say to REACH him. to influence him. to provide hope. H.O.P.E. What is hope to a boy locked up?

When trying to be with him, in the present moments I shared with him, I closed with "Why do you think life has you where it has you?" He told me of his family relationships, the abuse he experienced, the harm done to he and his siblings. Abuse alters children's ability to make decisions/understand feelings/function at a child's level. What he said to me, that hit me, was "Miss, this is my life. This is what I was surrounded by. This is why I am here."

I realized I could not share any experience with him. I sure hope I encouraged him to believe and hope for more. If not, I am broken for him, desire him to have the full capacity of life God desires for him, and that he would just know the surpassing goodness of Christ's love.

"You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness to light" ... I plead on behalf of him, to turn the darkness to light. May our eyes be open to the dark, to fight for the light ... to share it.

.. friends for my birthday wishes. for loving me so well. for crawling in bed with me so i could get my last words out of the day (kim pearson). for calling me everyday last week (julie hak). for challenging me & pushing me to be better (laurel hanson & tori thompson). for showing up last minute when in need & being so faithful a.l.w.a.y.s. (lindsay schardt). for waking me up to french toast, beautiful flowers & smiles (my roomies). for eating at Cindi's (kate habicht, haley somers & melanie walsh). for letting me share and be apart of your wedding (joe & melanie berry). for emails/texts/raps (you know who you are). for gifts in the mail (katie coggins). for listening, encouraging, supporting, and making me laugh 3 nights last week (andrew shepherd, shaun menary & natalie jagers).

.. as a new week starts, i'm realizing how long, yet rich last week was. thank you.

Felicity is BACK.

I'm banking on responses...... I know the ladies of Hereford Street during our college days reveled in Felicity, just like Woods and I did. Kim Pearson? Laura Cooper? Meredith Carmichael? .. Matt Rielly?

Anyways, Woods said my birthday gift came in the mail today. Upon opening the envelope of Felicity Season 1 - instant memories came flooding to the surface. I mean, Woods and I were adddiccccttted to the love story of Ben/Felicity/Noel and can't imagine Megan not being in the show. We drove back to Dallas [can't remember what for/holidays?] with Felicity playing on Tori's laptop in my lap, while Woods' drove. We had to stop at Starbucks because we ran out of battery.

This has to be the most thoughtful present. First, we share it. One can't watch an episode without the other. If I were to tell her I couldn't resist and watched an episode without her, there's no telling what kind of prank or guilt trip she'd put on me. Second, this gift is good for life. Felicity is a no-brainer re-watcher for life.

How will I ever afford the rest of the season? You can't just start one and not finish the whole series. . .

Episode 1 of Season 1 ... was amazing. Thank you Woods.

I was touched and moved by Jeff Hanson's speech at his grandfather's funeral. Laurel blogged it and I think it's blog worthy. You can find it here.

::: weekend :::

no more....

no more metal studs, wood studs, steel construction, concrete construction, plumbing systems, HVAC, contracts and law, fluorescent lighting vs. HID's, memorizing tests for building materials and finishes, cabinet construction, fiber knowledge, fire and safety glazing, construction codes for health, safety and welfare ...and the list goes on and on.

at least until i have to remember it for the job :)

gosh i hope i pass.

on a more exciting note, the Frogs won last night!!

abby, my co-blogger, i missed you this weekend.

To keeping things simple on why we work & to not lose focus :::

Two millenia ago at an early-morning breakfast by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus had only one question for Peter: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" (John 21). Jesus did not ask him about his effectiveness, or his skill, or anything but his love. Three times Jesus asked, "Simon, do you love me?" Peter struggled for an adequate response to that probing query. Finally, he blurted out, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Assured of his heart, Jesus gave Peter work to do: "Feed my lambs."

The same question is asked of us. The same work is given to us.

-In Foster's "Prayer"

i'm shopping

::: NCIDQ :::

Katie Boo, Mr. Belding, the Queen of Spexx. This is the email I received from her this morning.

"I received a NCIDQ newsletter from the future…. Look at one of the excerpts!"

{it says Lindsay Schardt, Dallas, TX First one to ever achieve 100% perfection on both sections}

Thanks Katie Lynn {even though I have two right ears}

I take the test tomorrow and Saturday!! So ready to have it over with and so ready to PASS! If I do pass, I'll blog about it in 14 weeks.

At least we are going the the TCU vs. SMU game tomorrow night! That will be funnnn :)