Poetry Tuesday...

Dressed in silken attire,

Skirts floating and swaying in the breeze,

Their jeweled petals flirting and toying

As they appeal to passersby.

Their fragrance demands my presence

And their beauty radiates an aura-

Delicately charming all of nature:

Flowers…



Memorial Day~

He performs a deep cleansing breath prior to extraditing the military plane. His body and soul consumed with the horrid and callous images of war. At long last, in an upright position he props himself on the cane at the peak of the stairs determined to descend autonomously. He vacantly gawks out at the nameless faces displaying patriotic signs that welcome home those remaining in his troop.

Absentmindedly, he reaches down to touch the leg that is no longer there. Medical personnel who led his nine month rehab had termed them phantom pains although the indignant remembering’s were anything but ghostly. Recollections of that gloomy day driving the Humvee invaded his thoughts. He and the six men accompanying him had been conducting monotonous combat operations; the ever present jokes of the enemy attempting to lighten the atmosphere.

The abrupt strike by indirect enemy fire explodes in his mind recurrently as demons of regret attack and take up residence. The final acceptable image is that of his best friend in war with a far-reaching smile though his eyes unoccupied with the effects of warfare. Those cinemas are hastily swapped by the blood spattering rain as loss of life and limb exist permanently in the interior.

He’d been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for rescuing one of his men from the burning vehicle but what hero leaves most of his men scattered across the adversary terrain of Iraq?

As he moves his remaining leg to inaugurate his descent of the flight of stairs, he apprehends that over time, his awareness of the opponents has changed; the enemy is no longer the Iraqi soldiers but the enemy is within.

As you and your loved one partake in all the activities of this Memorial Day weekend, remember to pause and give thanks to all those who gave their lives and fought for our freedom.

"Freedom isn't free"

by Anonymous

Finding my Heart's Desire...

 
It appears every year around this time, my thoughts drift toward endings. May seems naturally jam-packed with conclusions as we as teachers bid good-bye to students within our care.

This year is no different as congratulations are offered to my students graduating from elementary school and boarding upon the voyage into middle school as their bags are overflowing with worries and trepidations.

As most of you already know, I too will be launching a journey of my own back into the self-contained world where my heart’s desire resides with each and every one of those Kindergarten students with special needs. My luggage is packed as well although not with fears but great anticipation and happiness as I head for home-the precise dwelling where I belong.

“Keep your heart open to dreams. For as long as there’s a dream, there is hope. And as long as there is hope, there is joy in living.”

Anonymous

Facts of Five...

...and Weekly Re-cap~

If you are a new follower let me give details of Facts of Five. It was a model I used when I taught students with special needs in a self-contained classroom. I presented a category such as ‘Five Cartoons’ or ‘Five flavors of Kool-aid’ and the students had to consider an idea that fit the group. It was fun and thought generating yet in the meantime, I was able to get to know what was important to my students.

So our category for today five events to recap my week…

talking with Kindergarten and First grade....

1.)      On Monday, I had the delightful opportunity to spend the day at Chesterbrook Academy as a visiting author. The children and staff were warm and receptive as I read stories from my book- Life through the Eyes of a Hurricane” Doggie-Dog!, talked with groups of children on the writing process and shared my publishing experience. Thank you Carol Risucci for the invitation for an occasion to share and make new friends.

The Kindergarten children were inspired to write their own books which were Awesome!

2.)      My book became an E-reader on Amazon.com. Gosh, seriously, this entire experience has been tremendous. Thank you all for sharing in this! 

3.)      Nicholas participated in his final band concert as a 7^th grader…Where does time go? I recall the first day he came home to practice the clarinet and with that first squeak, well, the second and third too, I wondered if he’d ever master the instrument. Well, much to my amazement and enjoyment, I relish hearing him make sweet music.

Nicholas, music teacher: Ms. Gorham, and Emily, a friend of Nicholas'

4.)      It’s official! I received my letter of transfer to my new school, Holly Springs Elementary School. This confirms my new position as a Cross-Categorical Kindergarten teacher; God is good!

5.)      Although the first week of track out has been tremendously rainy, the wet weather has prompted us to hibernate indoors with good books, writing, planning, family activities and much needed quiet times together. Life is good!

Angel-Kitty helping me scrapbook~

“Time enjoyed wasting is not wasted time!”

Never say Never....

Technology is amazing! Although truth be told, I’m not yet certain how I feel about it, nonetheless, innovative gadgets are here to stay I presume.

I remember being exasperated with my mom for her inability to work her VHS player or the remote control that accompanied her new-fangled television. I recall the thought that reverberated in my head; how can she not stay up with the times? Why is that so difficult?

Fast forward to today where I sheepishly admit to being my mother’s daughter. I request the services of my thirteen year old to salvage the frequent damage I do to the T.V.’s as a result of my, well let’s say, lack of inherent skills in the know-how of operating a remote control. I DO know how to turn the box on and off with the POWER button; that’s good, right?

I can hear you now, why are you telling us this? Well, because I’m partaking in a movement where I will, let’s say, ‘eat my words.’ I declared I wouldn’t put my published book on an e-reader since I acclaim a personal thrill out of holding a manuscript in my hand and flipping through the pages.

AGHAST! I must tell you that on Wed, May 16 my book, Life through the Eyes of a Hurricane: Doggie-Dog! will be released on Amazon Kindle for the price of $9.99. So spread the news and enjoy the endearing and energetic Hurricane on your Kindle.

Don’t mind me, I’ll just be here consuming these parched phrases- and in the meantime a final word of warning, NEVER say NEVER!

Happy Mother's Day!

My sister and Mom trying to console me....

Dear Mom,

 Another Mother’s Day is upon us, although I don’t need a designated Hallmark day to extend what’s in my heart for you.

 We’ve had our ebbs and flows as life habitually does; moments we’ve been inseparable and times I’ve imposed distance between us as I’ve struggled to discover my wings and stand on my own two feet. At these times of aloofness, you cast a net beneath me with mounted undetectable tethers to hold me up.

 As your daughter, I’ve fragmented your heart a time or two when you’ve permitted me occasions to discover where I begin and you end. During phases of my life, I’ve separated myself as I’ve struggled with adversity and events of existence within this world but ultimately, you were at the end of the journey with outstretched arms.

 We share many commonalities cementing the bond between us: our love of ice cream, sports, board games, compassion for animals and enjoyment of reading. We have mutual deep empathy for others as well as attitudes toward life, including our strong relationship with God whom we allow to guide and direct our lives.

 Mom, you probably already know my intense love for you since I don’t need an occasion to express this to you. But if ever you doubt, I’m glad to nudge with a reminder-

Happy Mother's Day and I love you!

“The mother-child relationship is paradoxical and, in a sense, tragic. It requires the most intense love on the mother’s side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother, and to become fully independent.”

By Erich Fromm

A Sunshine Award...

Thanks to my friend Tina at Bringing Along OCD for nominating me for The Sunshine Award. I am both honored and grateful and accept this with gratitude. Thanks Tina! I invite you to go visit her very honest blog in living life with OCD.

Here are the rules for this blog award if you are nominated:

·    Include the award logo in a post or on your blog (see the flower photo above)
·   Answer 10 questions about yourself.
·    Nominate 10-12 other fabulous bloggers.
·    Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know that they have been nominated.
·  Share the love and link the person who nominated you.

So here are 10 things about me:

What are your favorite things to do? I enjoy writing, reading, scrapbooking and photography

Where would you most like to travel? I’m not a traveler, but if/when I do, it’s to the beach.

Who would you most like to meet who is still living? Tennessee Vols Coach, Pat Summitt

Who would you most like to meet who has passed away? Anne Frank

What do you think is the hardest thing to do? Watching loved ones suffer be it emotionally, physically or mentally and not be able to do a darn thing!

What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink? Diet Dr. Pepper (cold) or Island Coconut coffee (hot)

What is your favorite charity? Organizations that support Domestic Violence and Child Welfare

What are you proud of? I’m most proud of to be a good wife, mother and person in spite of the experiences I’ve endured.

What ambition do you still have? I want to live at the beach and continue to publish books as well as open my own scrapbooking store.

What is your favorite flower? Purple Irises, Pale Pink Roses

Now I'm suppose to nominate fellow bloggers that are worthy of this award, but truth be told, ALL my fellow bloggers are competent therefore I nominate each and every one of you to accept this award and answer the questions so I can learn about each of you as you've learned about me! 

"Friends are God’s way of taking care of us."

Three Things I Think I Think...Reflections on the A to Z Challenge~

This is the designated day to offer feedback and reflections on the A to Z Challenge so I thought I’d do it in the format of ‘Three Things I Think I Think…’

So here I go…

1.)   I think the A to Z Challenge sponsored by these amazing people is one of my favorite events; this is the second year in which I participated. It allowed me the freedom to consider and implement my own theme within parameters of the proceedings. With that being said, I enjoyed the flexibility as well as the challenge to be creative as I desired to be on any given day!

2.)  I think it is a wonderful thing that so many bloggers participated in this event; WOW! Almost 2,000! Can you imagine? The premise and goal was to visit as many bloggers as possible. Let’s see 1,900 divided by 30 days is approximately 63.3 blogs per day. At the beginning, I thought, I can do that; no problem. But as the days wore on and time constraints interfered, well, I lost steam. So, this brings me to my next point…

3.)  I think it’s impossible to try and visit each blog although as I said, I tried. One of the things I discovered is that I have my interests and genre of blogs I enjoy visiting and definite ones I have no interest in pursuing, therefore, I think one of the suggestions I have for next year is when individuals sign up, you do so by putting yourself into categories that describes your blog. These may be fantasy, cooking, paranormal, writing hints, book reviews, photography, or all about life. You could sign up under one or more groups. This will permit two things- it allows all bloggers to venture into the categories we have an interest and two, it saves times because there are certain directions/blogs I will not even waste my time with reading. 

 In closing, it was wonderful and I made new friends and found new ‘homes’ so I cast out a huge thank you to the promoters of this event! And if you didn’t participate this year, perhaps it’s a challenge you might be willing to embark upon and I’d encourage you to do so!

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.”

By Benjamin Franklin

National Prayer Day~

Every now and then when I pause to pray I begin rambling and my thoughts spew out completely jumbled and muddled. I’m certain this is not significant to God nor a hindrance to my prayers being answered, yet I end up wondering if I mentioned all that I sought to specify in my devotions.

Therefore, in honor of National Prayer Day I’d like to share with you something I was given years ago by my friend Susan (Thanks ShamWow!). I thought it might be helpful for you as well.

Five Reflections on Prayer

1.) Our thumb is nearest us. So let us begin our prayers by praying for those closest to us. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2.) The index finger is our pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, caregivers, and ministers. They need our support, and they need wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in our prayers.

3.) The middle finger is the tallest finger. It can remind us of our leaders. Pray for our president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4.) The next finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It can remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble, or in pain. They need our prayers day and night. We cannot pray too much for them.

5.) And lastly, our pinkie, our little finger - the smallest finger of all, which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Our pinkie can remind us to pray for ourselves. By the time we have prayed for the other four groups, our own needs can be put into proper perspective, and we will be able to pray for ourselves more effectively.

"Pray, and let God worry."

by Martin Luther