Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2011

Hey Y'all:

On Monday we will celebrate the birth of MLK the great African American Civil Rights leader who had a dream that is in many ways coming to pass. Although we still struggle with racism in America we certainly have come a long way and we have a ways to go before everyone is treated equally.

Last year my son and I participated in a volunteer event with Hands On Network and truly enjoyed ourselves. This year we won't volunteer but we will spend the day working on crafts and projects in honor of Dr. King.

Here's a video you can share with your kiddies so they can celebrate Dr. King.



Until next time...
MUAH

Books to Start Your Year

Hey Y'all:

At the top of each year I like to read books that will help guide me through a successful year. 
I just finished reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho which I found to be quite life changing, inspiring and spiritually uplifting; I thought it fitting to share my list of books for the first 3 months of the year with you.

1. The Bible I think it's important to get spiritually in tune at the to of the year so why not read the bible again? There are great study bibles and sites that will help you organize your reading for the year. I just started today and play to be consistent throughout this year. 
2. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is about the journey of a shepherd boy named Santiago. Santiago, believing a dream to be prophetic, decides to travel to the pyramids of Egypt to find treasure. On the way, he encounters love, danger, opportunity and disaster. One of the significant characters that he meets is an old king named Melchizedek who tells him about discovering his personal legend: what he always wanted to accomplish in his life. And that "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." This is the core philosophy and motto of the book.
3. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne The Secret explains, with simplicity, the law that is governing all lives, and offers the knowledge of how to create - intentionally and effortlessly - a joyful life.

Happy Reading.

Until next time...
MUAH

The English Language and 1st Graders

Hey Y'all:

Now that my big boy is a reader it's interesting to see the learning process. He now has a reading log and must read 15-20 minutes solo per night. We are having fun with this and finally have the opportunity to read all the books I've collected over the years pre-motherhood.

A few nights ago he was reading Thomas and The Castle (yes my 6 yr old is still a die hard Thomas and Friends fan) he was doing well until he got to the word know. "Mommy what's this word?"  I proceed to pronounce the word for him. He looked at me rather perplexed and said "that's not NO. No is spelled N-O, that word has a k in front so it's kaaa-nooo" I explained that the K was silent and that the word was know. He looked down at the page said ok but when he read the next passage that had the word know in it he said it correctly out loud then said 'kaaaa-no' under his breath.


Until next time...
MUAH!

Wordless Wednesday: Super Heros Pray Too!

The Walk....

Hey Y'all:

Welcome to 2011! I won't do the whole "this is my year, I'm going to do great things" bit although I totally believe that this IS my year and I AM going to do great things this year. However that's not what this post is about at all.

Just in case you haven't turned on the news over the past week or so you may have missed that the northeast was given a special after Christmas/Kwanzaa treat... more then 20 inches of white powdery snow.

While it was coming down it was beautiful, especially since I was home warm in my pjs watching it fall. The following day however it wasn't as pretty and it was a nightmare to navigate through the streets of New York cities outer boroughs. Thankfully I didn't have to worry about going to work the day after the storm but I did venture out two days later and my oh my did I regret it.

My commute to work took 2 hours longer then normal but my trip home was an even more joyous adventure; I had to walk 2.5 miles home from the train station! I'd like to take this time to thank all the property owners who shovel in front of their homes and business. It makes a huge difference to those on feet and not wheels. I walked because the bus wasn't moving and my patience for crowded buses is quite limited. I can't take the folks who have loud conversations on the phone, people who insist on cursing the driver like the traffic/snow is their fault and I especially have no patience for ignorant people who play their music on their mobile phone without using their earphones! If you follow me on Twitter you can attest to the fact that those are just a few of my public transportation pet peeves.

While I walked I had a chance to get in touch with myself again; which I try to do at the end of every year but my quite time has been limited lately. During this forced walk I had a moment to appreciate me! I learned a couple things about myself during my snowy commute -- I am very determined women. When I realized that I wasn't going to catch a bus I didn't freak out I just started walking and slowed down for a change. I realized that I have great balance! I am a little over weight but I impressed myself by not falling in the snow! I self entertain well! Now I know where my children get it from; during my walk I sung a few songs to myself and played a couple games to keep me focused on making it home without loosing it. When I'm quite I pray; I thought of all my blessings in 2010 and had a chance to reflect on how good God has been to my family. My walk was like a breath of fresh air, the temperature outside was nice and hearing my feet crush the snow was oddly comforting.

I think we all should take self reflective walks every now and then, especially those of us who work outside of the home and are on strict schedules. Quite time is valuable time.

Happy New Year everyone, all the best to you and yours during this new year.

Until next time...
MUAH!