And all of us are joined together by many things we have in common every one of us has 2 ears and only one mouth because we're supposed to listen twice as much as we talk listening is very important.

So I thought I would share first, a story with you today.

That has to do with listening.

But before I share it.

I want to make sure that everybody is awake and listening.

So if I say Ho.

I want you to say, Hey Ho Ho Ho this story.

Is it old story?

It comes from a long trip?

Yeah.

So time ago.

Along time ago.

Along time ago, they say there was someone named Turtle.

And Turtle was a Turn.

And there was one thing in those days turtle like doing more than anything else he likes to talk.

He was always talking and talking talking and.

Talking.

In fact, he would talk when there was nothing worth talking about.

He would say only Colonel came out walking around is I am walking around.

I'm moving 1 foot and another foot and another foot and another foot and I'm walking when I'm talking and I'm talking about walking and I'm talking about talking about walking and talking.

You see my point turtle was always talking and talking and talking and.

OK.

Now this one day or turtle woke up and began walking around and talking of course, he saw something there was a big tree hoe.

And that tree had no leaves why were there, no leaves on that tree.

Because it was fall and the trees leaves fall off in fall but that tree was not empty it was full of.

Birds there were so many birds in that tree that turtle was really interesting, he said.

Oh Nikki Nyland buried in that tree and went to his parents are going to do I trade.

It would like to know very much.

But those birds are going to do, and I'm talking about wondering what those birds are going to do in that tree who are all gathered together and I wonder what they're going to do internal just kept talking and talking and talking and talking.

Now in that tree there was one little bird who was a helpful little bird.

And that helpful little bird heard what Turtle said.

And that Little Bird said.

Gentle wants to do.

But we parents are going to do so I will find out and tell him right now.

And that bird hope.

Flew out of the tree hoe and landed in front of Turtle Ho and looked up at him ready to tell Turtle?

What those birds were going to do and shirtless in a needle bearing his home down from the tree is sitting on the ground and looking at me and I'm looking at the bird.

That's looking at me and I'm talking about looking at the bird.

This looking at me that little bird that flew down from the tree that is sitting on the ground and looking at me and.

Turtle just kept talking and talking and talking and talking while that little bird waited very patiently, but to Turtle Stop Talking No.

He just kept talking and talking and talking and talking and that little bird realized it would have to do something and so.

It took a deep breath.

In a really loud voice so loud.

Is anyone injured out there so loud that that turtle just shut his mouth in surprise and stop talking and very quickly that little bird, said turtle you want to know what we birds are going to do.

We're getting together to fly together 2 place?

Where it is warm and there's lots of good food to eat.

Turtle heard what that bird, said it triggers said Oh can I come with you.

I like places where it is warm and I'm very good at eating food also I would really like to come with you to that place where it is warm in there is food.

In fact, I travel and very good at eating food.

I can eat hard food and saw food and pulled forward and warm food.

Indeed, I am very good at even talking about food.

I can even talk while I'm eating food in general, just kept talking and talking and talking and talking.

Well, that little bird patiently waited for turtle to stop, but to turtle stop.

Oh God, No.

He just kept talking and so you know what that little bird did.

He took a deep breath.

Once again once again, it really loud voice and this.

Once again turtle stop talking that little bird, said Turtle.

I have an idea wait here and I will come right back.

That little bird flew up into the tree.

I spoke too, too big birds and those 2 big birds listened and they agreed.

And pretty soon down from that tree came flying not 1 bird but.

3 and they landed in front of him and those 2 big birds will holding between them between their feet a stick.

And they landed in front of Turtle.

A Turtle said Oh little berries come back from the tree and there are 2 big birds with their little bird and they have a stick and they're sitting in front of me and I'm looking at those three birds through down from the tree to have a stick that are looking at me and I'm talking about looking at those birds and threw down from the tree.

They have distinct they're looking at me and turtle just kept talking and talking and talking and talking.

And once again that little bird realized would have to do something and be ready and it really loud voice that little bird made that sound and once again turtle was surprised he stopped talking closed his mouth and that little birds had turtle if you can grab on to this stick and not let go.

We will take you with us and Turner said.

Oh, I'm very good at biting down on things in fact when I bite down on things.

I never let go until I'm ready to let go and they shove this stick in his mouth I said.

As soon as he bit down on that stick he stopped.

Talking.

And those birds those 2 big birds holding that stick began to flap their wings.

Little bird, said turtle hold on don't let go and those birds rose up into the Sky with turtle holding on to that stick.

Carried up into the Sky with those birds.

Oh yes was wonderful turtle thought.

I'm going South.

He thought but he did not say that and he was watching the ground underneath him.

He was thinking.

I didn't know I'm so easy to fly.

But as they went along those birds kept flying Ho.

Anne flying Ho an flying Ho.

And that.

Turtle.

Began to wonder something now you young people Have you ever gone anyplace or gotten in the car maybe to go someplace really neat like a wonderful amusement park or some real special place where they've got ice cream and candy and really cool things.

Well, that's Experience we've all had.

But Have you ever noticed when you get in that car and start going and your parents keep driving and driving and driving and you're still not there.

There's one thing that you want to ask them it is.

When are we going to get there and that's what turtle wanted to know he wants to know when are we going to get there, but could he ask or God?

He had to hold on to that stick but then he got an idea.

Now you may not know this, but there is something called American Indian or Native American Sign Language like this is bird.

And this is yes.

And this is no I'm doing a little there's tree for example, and turtle decided he would ask his question using sign language, but not human sign language, he would use turtle sign language, which is every turtle can tell you is far superior to human sign language.

And so looking to his right, he thought that word which pretty short.

I'll ask him and he held out his foot and it perfectly clear easy to understand turtle sign language, he asked.

When are we going to get there?

With that bird just kept flying internal thought water Scooper bird.

Very rude.

He looked over to the other side, I thought well this bird look smarter only ask him.

And so in perfectly clear easy to understand Turtle Sign Language travel stuck out his other foot and asked when are we going to get there?

With that bird just kept flying Ho internal thought just wine Luck Cuckoo Bird merge.

But this time, he held out all 4 feet and it perfectly clear easy to understand Turtle Sign Language asked wing me going to get there.

But those birds just kept flying and turtle lost his temper and he said.

When are we?

Because as soon as he opened his mouth and let go of that stick.

He started to fall down down down.

Tord the ground far below.

Luckily for turtle just then, they were flying over a big swamped.

He landed in that mud curse.

Flat so hard that his shell got all cracked you know it's still crack to this day.

But he crawled down dug into the mud fell asleep.

Select all through the winter, when the snow came down.

And when the sun shone down in spring that snow melted away turtle crawled out and looked around, and the first thing he saw was a tree full of birds and he looked at that tree.

And he did not say a word.

And ever since then you can check and see if this is true you will never find either a turtle talking or one flying S with the birds again.