Getting Into The Christmas Spirit!

Just a little something to get you in the Christmas Spirit! Enjoy!!

We Will Not Forget!!!!

Survivors--Found

-Joan Murray

We thought that they were gone--
we rarely saw them on our screens--
those everyday Americans
with workaday routines,

and the heroes standing ready--
not glamorous enough--
on days without a tragedy,
we clicked--and turned them off.

We only saw the cynics--
the dropouts, show-offs, snobs--
the right- and left- wing critics:
we saw that they were us.

But with the wounds of Tuesday
when the smoke began to clear,
we rubbed away our stony gaze--
and watched them reappear:

the waitress in the tower,
the broker reading mail,
a pair of window washers,
filling up a final pail,

the husband's last "I love you"
from the last seat of a plane,
the tourist taking in a view
no one would see again,

the fireman, his eyes ablaze
as he climbed the swaying stairs--
he knew someone might still be saved.
We wondered who it was.

We glimpsed them through the rubble:
the ones who lost their lives,
the heroes' doubleburials,
the ones now "left behind,"

the ones who rolled a sleeve up,
the ones in scrubs and masks,
the ones who lifted buckets
filled with stone and grief and ash:

some spoke adifferent language--
still no one missed a phrase;
the soot had softened every face
of every shade and age--

"the greatest generation" ?--
we wondered where they'd gone--
they hadn't left directions
how to find our nation-home:

for thirty years we saw few signs,
but now in swirls of dust,
they were alive--they had survived--
we saw that they were us.

Pete the Cat!

As a kindergarten teacher, I loved finding new books, videos or songs I could introduce to my students each year.  So....I've found a new book which has a video I think is awesome for preschool and kindergarten children!!!  If you aren't familiar with "Pete the Cat"...check out the video.  It will have your toes tapping in no time. :)

  

Rockin' In My School Shoes

Here's more information about Eric Litwin, the author of Pete the Cat:  http://www.ericlitwin.com/#!.  Oh, Pete the Cat has his own website too:  http://www.petethecat.com/.

One Of My Heroes!!

Hey Dad,

Happy Father's Day!

Love you lots!

A Dad is a person
who is loving and kind,
And often he knows
what you have on your mind.
He's someone who listens,
suggests, and defends.
A dad can be one
of your very best friends!
He's proud of your triumphs,
but when things go wrong,
A dad can be patient
and helpful and strong.
In all that you do,
a dad's love plays a part.
There's always a place for him
deep in your heart.
And each year that passes,
you're even more glad,
More grateful and proud
just to call him your dad!
Thank you, Dad...
for listening and caring,
for giving and sharing,
but especially,
for just being you!
Happy Father's Day!
--Author Unknown

                                Joining: Follow Friday 40 And Older! and Find New Friends Weekend Hop!!

It's "International Women's Day"!!!

Oh my, I do apologize for my blog being late.  It's been a busy week...but that's for another post.  Today we celebrate International Women's Day ( it's also Women's History Month)!!! 

According to Wikipedia:

"International Women's Day (IWD), originally called International Working Women’s Day is marked on March 8 every year. Nowadays this is a major day of global celebration of women. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements.   2011 International Women's Day has events scheduled to take place in more than 100 countries around the world on March 8, 2011, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. In the United States, President Barack Obama  proclaimed March 2011 to be "Women's History Month", calling Americans to mark IWD by reflecting on "the extraordinary accomplishments of women" in shaping the country's history. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched the "100 Women Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges", on the eve of IWD. In the run-up to 2011 International Women's Day, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is calling on States and other entities not to relent in their efforts to prevent rape and other forms of sexual violence that harm the lives and dignity of countless women in conflict zones around the world every year."

To honor all the wonderful women I know, I would like to share the "New Golden Rule for Women" with you on "International Women's Day":

An excerpt from

Oil for Your Lamp

by Lisa Hammond & BJ Gallagher

Virtually every woman we know has the same problem - she knows what's good for her, but she often doesn't do it. She knows she should eat less and exercise more, but still she doesn't make healthy choices. She knows she needs to spend her time and money more effectively, but good time and money management elude her. She finds herself always putting others first, while neglecting her own needs and wants. She doesn't get enough rest or sleep and her endless to-do list hangs overhead like the sword of Damocles. As our friend Brenda Knight laments frequently, "Why am I always riding in the back of my own bus?"

We don't do the things we know are good for us because we are so busy taking care of others that we neglect ourselves. The problem isn't lack of information - we have plenty of information about the importance of sleep, healthy foods, and exercise. The problem is how we prioritize our lives.

Psychologists tell us that some people are inner-directed and some are other-directed. That is, some people focus on their own internal guidance system for making choices about how to spend their time and energy. Their own self-interest ranks very high on their list of priorities. "What's best for me?" is a key guiding principle in determining where they focus their attention and how they make day-to-day decisions.

And some people are other-directed, which means that their primary focus is external, not internal. They are primarily concerned with relationships, especially people they care about. "How can I help others?" is a key question in how they spend their time and energy. Building and nurturing relationships with loved ones, family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers is the guiding principle in their lives.

Research indicates that, in general, men tend to be more inner-directed, while women tend to be more other-directed. There are exceptions, of course, but as a group, men are focused on themselves while women are focused on other people. Men like to build things while women like to build relationships.

This difference in psychological orientation goes a long way toward helping us understand why we women often do such a poor job of taking care of ourselves. We run around filling others' lamps with oil, but forget to fill our own lamps first. Then we wonder why we're often exhausted, frazzled, stressed-out, anxious and/or depressed!

Now let us take some time to oil our lamps  http://www.oilyourlamp.com/.

Walk That Talk

Just wanted to share this little video with you today!    It reminds me of how important it is for me to "Walk my Talk" each and every day.  Hope you enjoy it and wishing you many chances to "Walk your Talk"!!




Video: http://www.doyouwalkthetalk.com/?cm_mmc=CheetahMail-_-Corp-_-02.04.11-_-WKTKMovie&utm_source=CheetahMail&utm_campaign=WKTKmovieCorp