Missing someone isn't about how long it's been since you've seen them last or the amount of time since you've talked. It's about that very moment when you're doing something, and you wish that they were right there with you.
--Unknown
I divide all readers into two classes; those who read to remember and those who read to forget.
–William Lyon Phelps
"The most influential of all educational factors is the conversation in a child's home." -William TempleWhile many would like to blame the schools and the government for the state of education in our city, state, and country (and they certainly aren't blameless), we must also look to ourselves for some of the failures that we see. Personally, I think that what we teach our children at home is most influential in determining what they believe and are able to achieve.
Guess what?!From August 1st to August 14th, when you purchase five General Mills participating products at Meijer in a single trip, you'll receive a special code.† Enter that code here for your chance to win up to 10,000 eBoxTops® for your school – it's that easy!Plus, when you enter your code, you'll have a shot at winning 100 eBoxTops for your school INSTANTLY. So what are you waiting for?
I had an amazing friend tell me about Khan Academy last year. This summer, I decided to sign my girls up and have them work on their math skills (though there are many other subjects to choose from as well). Peanut and Pumpkin spend 1/2 hour each weekday morning practicing skills that they have previously learned as well as learning new skills. The curriculum includes questions/problems to solve, hints, and even videos explaining topics that might be new to you or your children. Generally, the girls can practice on their own while I am getting other things done around the house. Only occasionally do they have a question that one of the videos or hints doesn't answer for them.Khan Academy is an organization on a mission. We're a not-for-profit with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education for anyone anywhere.All of the site's resources are available to anyone. It doesn't matter if you are a student, teacher, home-schooler, principal, adult returning to the classroom after 20 years, or a friendly alien just trying to get a leg up in earthly biology. Khan Academy's materials and resources are available to you completely free of charge.
"The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson."- Tom Bodett
For every 10 participating Box Tops for Education™ Receipt Rewards products you purchase in a single transaction between 7/21/14 and 8/31/14 at a participating grocery retailer, you can earn 50 bonus eBoxTops™ for your selected school. By 10/1/14 either upload a picture of your receipt to BTFE.com/receipts, or email or text a picture of your receipt to submit@btfereceips.com. A star must be placed next to the date of purchase, the UPC codes for all 10 participating products and the total amount of your receipt transaction, and each starred item must be legible in the photo. After your receipt has been validated, you will receive a reply email or text with a unique code. enter the code at www.BTFE.com/redeem by 12/1/14. All eBoxTops will be awarded directly to the selected school. Only BTFE registered schools can redeem eBoxTops. Each eBoxTops credit is worth 10 cents to the redeeming school. All eBoxTops are subject to the Official Rules available at www.boxtops4education.com. Limit 10 participating BTFE products per transaction. Limit 5 receipts per phone number or email address. Msg & data rates may apply. Must be 18+ to send text. Subject to General Mills privacy policy at www.BTFE.com.
David Gray has announced the upcoming release of a new album, Mutineers. The record is Gray’s tenth studio album and his first in four years. To mark the news, Gray has unveiled the video for ‘Gulls’, the first track from Mutineers to be streamed ahead of release.
To coincide with Mutineers, Gray will tour the UK for the first time in three years. The headline tour, commencing at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on June 23 will include a show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on June 24. The dates follow a run of sold-out US shows across April and May and three sold-out intimate shows earlier this year at Westminster’s Emmanuel Centre. Additional US tour dates will be announced in May.
Recorded in Church Studios, London and produced by Andy Barlow (Lamb), whose brief was to not let Gray “make the same record I’ve made before.” The result is an album that seems to fizz with the joy of its own assembly and finds Gray steering into unfamiliar territory while cultivating a pugnacious but respectful relationship with his own history. “I know I’ve done something here that has an authority that is inspiring me and I don’t have to worry about my past or any of that. The lovely thing about this is we’ve had the time to experiment, and it’s been wonderful,” says Gray.
David Gray captured the world’s attention with his breakout multi-platinum hit White Ladder, the first of three No.1 UK albums, earning him both Brit and Grammy nominations. He has continued to build on this success, with recent albums Draw The Line (2009) and Foundling (2010), both reaching the Billboard Top 10 in the US.
Mutineers Track Listing:
North America Tour Dates & Cities:
This series of posts has truly made me realize just how lucky I really am. When I was trying to decide what to write about for my final day, I was both thrilled and frustrated that it was so difficult. How do you decide on one reason you're lucky when there are just so many to choose from? After much thought, I finally picked one final reason that I'm such a lucky girl. This one reason is like an umbrella that captures so many of the other little things. I am lucky to LOVE and to be LOVED!
Doc loves me and our girls with all his heart. When he looks at me, I can see his love in his eyes. I can hear his love in the kind words he says. I can feel his love in his touch. Even when he is sitting silently reading, I can sense his love in his calm contentment. Every action is done with love. How lucky am I to be surrounded by it? How lucky am I to be the one to be able to give him my love in return?
Peanut and Pumpkin are love. They see love in all that is around them. They experience love in everything that they do. Their smiles and laughs show all the love that is in their hearts. When I am feeling blue, a hug from my girls always feels so genuine and full of love, that I can't help but feel better. Our girls aren't perfect. They have tantrums, meltdowns, and bouts of unexplainable bad behavior, but they never last long. Just the other day, after dealing with a bad attitude, followed by silence for about 10 minutes, I was given an unsolicited apology and a hug. It appears (so far), that in the battle between anger and love, love always wins out with our girls.
A quote I've often heard about friendship, is also aptly applied to love. "Love isn't a big thing, it is a million little things." For each of those million things, I'm lucky and very appreciative.
I'm lucky to have known my grandparents.
I have one grandmother that is still alive and doing very well. She quilts (She's the one that taught me how to quilt.), tells funny stories, and is even on Facebook. She loves to hear Peanut and Pumpkin play music. She's set in her ways, and a bit opinionated, but she is also very loving and accepting. She may not agree with me, but she will always love me. (It doesn't hurt that I bring her chocolate when I visit.) :-) Grandma used to take us to pick berries when when we were young. I remember soaking the raspberries in water to get those tiny black bugs to float out of them. Grandma always made strawberry jam and blueberry cake with the goodies we picked. Now, she has us pick them and she still does the "making".
While I only have the one grandmother that is still with us, I was very fortunate to be able to know and love my other grandparents as well. I have amazing memories of each and every one of them.
Grandpa loved to tease. He'd chase you around with pliers if you had a loose tooth. He would get lost on every road trip, but you'd never hear him curse. He even let us drive his truck through the woods on his farm when we were learning. He simply sat next to us and laughed. Even though he would tease, he was also very loving too. He often came to watch me play sports. Also, when we were very young he would buy us small pieces of candy when we came to visit. Grandpa was hard working, but always smiling. When I close my eyes and think about him, I can still hear his laugh.
My other grandparents were definitely more quiet. We could sit and watch TV together for hours. Grandpa loved old westerns. I remember racing to be the first to give him a hug when we'd go to visit. I couldn't wait to hear him say, "Hola Mija" as he wrapped his arms around me. He had a stern face and a kind heart. He worked hard his whole life and was willing to give anyone a helping hand. A man of few words, the words he did say were always very important. A simple "Mija" was all I ever needed to know he loved me. I'll always feel blessed and lucky to have heard that on our final visit.
Grandma was an amazing cook. When I think of comfort food, I think of the foods she made for us. Her potato salad was the only one I'd ever eat. She made the most amazing rice. I watched her make it, had her teach me to make it, and have tried for years to perfect it, but I've never even gotten close. In the middle of the summer in her hot house, she'd stand over the stove making tortillas for us all, because that is the easiest way she knew to show her love. When we'd go to leave, she'd sneak us a few to take home, since she knew we loved them so much. Grandma was short, beautiful, and very glamorous. She loved sequin. While I don't wear much sequin myself, my girls have a penchant for it. Every time I see them in a sequin top or shoes, I think of grandma and smile.
I'm lucky to be able to dance!
I don't dance in public often, and I don't dance well, but dancing around the house is definitely one of my specialties. I like to dance while I'm vacuuming. I like to dance while I'm cooking dinner or doing the dishes. Dancing just makes life more fun. When I dance silly, the kids join in. When a romantic song is on the radio, Doc will wrap his arms around me and we'll slow dance.
My three dance partners are the best around - even if we don't have great rhythm - and that makes me very lucky!
I'm lucky to have neighbors that have a dog.
Peanut and Pumpkin want a dog. Doc does not. In our house, majority doesn't rule. Since Doc and I like to travel, a dog just doesn't really fit into our lifestyle.
Fortunately, our neighbors have a dog. Actually, they have two. Their dogs are like our girls' dogs. The girls help feed them, brush them, take them for walks, and just cuddle with them when they are around. Peanut and Pumpkin can get their "dog fix" without the long term responsibility. How lucky is that?!
I'm lucky to be able to volunteer at the school.
My kids are not at home for almost 8 hours every day. I trust teachers and other responsible adults to help them to learn, care for them, and keep them safe. While I generally believe that these adults have their best interest at heart, I still like to know what my kids are doing during the day. I want to know who they're friends with. I want to know that they are happy. I want to know that they feel safe. By volunteering at the school, I am able to get a small glimpse of what they do and how they interact during the part of the day when I can't be with them.
I'm lucky to have the freedom that I have.
I didn't post this on the 12th. I didn't have to. I am free to post or not post. I am free to stay home with my children when they have a snow day. I am free to make cookies with my girls, teach them how to play Battleship, and read Harry Potter. While I do have responsibilities, I am free to make many decisions in my life. There are many reasons that I have the freedom I do. There are many people to thank. I'm very lucky to be surrounded by the people I am.
My husband is kind, patient, and thoughtful.
I am sometimes a bit emotional. Yesterday was one of those times. After a long and difficult day, I was emotional and a little irrational, but Doc was kind and patient. Even though there were a thousand other things he needed to do, he took time out last night to relax and watch a chick flick with me because he knew I needed him. His thoughtfulness makes me a very lucky girl!
I don't know if it makes me lucky, or dishonest, but my kids think that you're supposed to eat apple slices while watching a movie. :)
From the time my kids were small, I've always given them apple slices when we sit down to watch a movie at home. Apples are crunchy, yummy, and healthy, so they seem like a perfect fit. It wasn't until friends were over that I realized how unique it was that my kids asked if they could have apples and watch a movie. Their friends looked at them like they were crazy when they asked, but were happy to join in the apple crunching goodness themselves.
Customs, habits, and traditions are easy to modify, eliminate or create when you have children. They only know what they're taught, so I think I'm pretty lucky to have children that have so readily accepted some healthier habits.
I'm lucky because my children are also good friends.
When I found out that I was pregnant with Pumpkin, Peanut was only about 8 or 9 months old. While I would have been happy with a boy or a girl, I have to admit that I was secretly hoping that she would be a girl. I wanted Peanut to have a sister, and a best friend because I was fortunate enough to experience that myself with my amazing sister. As of this moment right now, my girls are best friends. Even though they do fight, they love each other. They look out for each other. They enjoy being together. (They don't even like to sleep in separate rooms.) I fully expect them to experience some difficulties as they get older, but at the end of the day, I hope they find a way to remain friends. That would make us all very lucky!
I'm lucky that my parents encouraged my love of reading when I was young.
I love a good book. Mystery, Romance, Historical Fiction, Nonfiction - I enjoy just about any genre. A good book can be a great escape when actual travel isn't possible. It gives the reader the opportunity to get inside the head of another character. It allows the reader to develop a new appreciation for all that he/she has. A book can provide inspiration, creativity, and ideas for getting the most out of your own life.
I may not remember every detail of every book I've ever read, but I do know how books have made me feel. The ability to read allows you to travel anywhere and do just about anything - between the pages of a book.
I'm lucky to have a couple AMAZING friends.
Good friends are kind, thoughtful, helpful, reliable, funny, honest, trustworthy and very hard to find. I guess that makes me extra lucky since I have more than one. We don't agree on everything, but we have a respect for each other that allows us to disagree, but never judge.
I'm lucky to live in a place that people enjoy visiting when they are on vacation.
Amazing sunsets are a regular view for me and my family. I can fall asleep to the sounds of birds singing and waves rolling onto the shore all summer long. We are surrounded by solitude, with fun and excitement just a stone's throw away. Sometimes I wonder if my children realize how lucky they are to live where we do.
I'm lucky to have such supportive family.
My sister lives about 1.5 hours away from us and has two children about the same age as Peanut and Pumpkin. My parents live 3.5-4 hours away. My in-laws live nearby, but they've just moved here recently.
My kids are pretty active. They play soccer, basketball, softball, and musical instruments. They are always involved in camps, games, programs, and other activities. I am always amazed and impressed at the number of events our family manages to attend. In fact, I can't remember an event where there wasn't at least one person other than Doc and I in attendance. With the girls being in 4th and 2nd grade, the games/programs aren't always overly exciting (particularly for non-parents). Most of the programs they are involved with are essentially learning leagues. It doesn't matter to our family. They come to as many events as possible and cheer our girls on. My children know that they are loved and supported whether they are the best, the worst, or somewhere in the middle.
Love and Support - That makes me and my girls very lucky!
I'm lucky that my children have kind and thoughtful friends.
For Valentine's Day this year, Pumpkin's teacher had the children each make one card for one classmate. The children were all assigned a specific "friend" to make a card - to be sure that everyone received one. The child that was supposed to make Pumpkin's card chose not to, so she didn't get one. She came home a little upset, but she wasn't devastated. The next day, she came home with a beautiful handwritten note and picture from one of her friends. It said, "I'm sorry that you didn't receive a card."
What a kind and thoughtful gesture! What an amazing little girl! I am so blessed that my children have chosen friends that care about them and are considerate of their feelings.
I'm lucky to have appreciative children.
The other day, after a regular day - nothing too stressful or abnormal happened, I went into my bedroom and found this on my pillow.
The girls had been working on a thank you note for a friend that had given them chocolates for Valentine's Day. I don't know what inspired them to write a thank you note to me. (Doc received one as well.) I can honestly say that it made what was an average day into an outstanding one. Unsolicited appreciation makes me feel like one lucky mom!
I am lucky because I have amazing parents that love their grandchildren.
Doc and I try to take a mini-vacation every year - just the two of us. It would be nearly impossible for me to leave the girls for any length of time if I didn't have confidence that they were being loved, cared for, safe, and secure. My parents never hesitate to take time off work and drive 4 hours to come and stay with Peanut and Pumpkin. They watch them, take them to do fun things, help them with homework, listen to them play music, and manage all the day to day events for the girls flawlessly (or at least without major incident). My parents never ask for anything in return. How lucky am I? :)
I'm lucky to be able wake up each morning and go to bed each night with my best friend.
Doc and I met when we were just 18 and 19 years old. Barely more than children, we fell in love. Now, at 37 and 38, we are not the same people we were nearly 20 years ago. We've grown and changed, but luckily, we've done so together. I sleep best when I sleep on his chest. Fortunately for me, he doesn't mind that I sometimes drool. ;)
