Changing environment, learning new language and new culture,being a wife and a mother, living far away from families and friends, I have come to share my views, thoughts, feelings, ideas on so many things that I cherish.

December 30, 2013

My Prayers For the New Year

~New Year Prayer~


Dear Lord, I'd like to thank you
For helping us through this year
Guiding us through the many trials
The struggles and the fear.

Thank you for your blessings
For our families and each friend
Just one more short message
To you I'd like to send.

You have blessed each one of us
As each day slipped slowly by
Given us times of laughter
Been with us when we cry.

Thank you Heavenly Father
For your love and tender care
May the New Year bring more blessings
That each of us can share.



Wishing you and your loved ones
peace, good health, happiness and
prosperity in the coming New Year.


 

December 27, 2013

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop



Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

December 18, 2013

December 05, 2013

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop



Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

November 30, 2013

How To Treat Others: 5 Lessons From an Unknown Author

           Five Lessons About How To Treat People

                             -- Author Unknown




1. First Important Lesson - "Know The Cleaning Lady"

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.


2. Second Important Lesson - "Pick-up In The Rain"

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console colour TV was delivered to his home.

A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.


3. Third Important Lesson - "Remember Those Who Serve"


In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "50¢," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "35¢!" she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.


4. Fourth Important Lesson - "The Obstacles In Our Path"


In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand - "Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition."


5. Fifth Important Lesson - "Giving When It Counts"

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the colour returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

November 29, 2013

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop



Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

November 26, 2013

Instructions for Life

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involves great risks.

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three R's
    Respect for yourself
    Respect for others and 
    Responsibility for all your actions

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship.

7. When you realise you've made a great mistake, take immediate step to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change but don't let go of your values.

10. Remember that sometimes, silence is the best answer.

11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go some place you've never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
1.Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. 2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson. 3. Follow the three R’s: - Respect for self, - Respect for others and - Responsibility for all your actions. 4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. 5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. 6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship. 7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. 8. Spend some time alone every day. 9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values. 10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. 11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time. 12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. 13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past. 14. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality. 15. Be gentle with the earth. 16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before. 17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other. 18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. 19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

See more at: http://www.idlehearts.com/?p=51
1.Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. 2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson. 3. Follow the three R’s: - Respect for self, - Respect for others and - Responsibility for all your actions. 4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. 5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. 6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship. 7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. 8. Spend some time alone every day. 9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values. 10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. 11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time. 12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. 13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past. 14. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality. 15. Be gentle with the earth. 16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before. 17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other. 18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. 19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

See more at: http://www.idlehearts.com/?p=51

November 13, 2013

Rules Kids Won't Learn in School

Rule #1. Life is not fair. Get used to it. The average teenager uses the phrase "it's not fair" 8.6 times a day. You got it from your parents, who said it so often you decided they must be the most idealistic generation ever. When they started hearing it from their own kids, they realized Rule #1.

Rule #2. The real world won't care as much about your self-esteem as your school does. It'll expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself. This may come as a shock. Usually, when inflated self-esteem meets reality, kids complain that it's not fair. (See Rule No. 1)

Rule #3. Sorry, you won't make $50,000 a year right out of high school. And you won't be a vice president or have a car phone either. You may even have to wear a uniform that doesn't have a Gap label.

Rule #4. If you think your teacher is tough, wait 'til you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure, so he tends to be a bit edgier. When you screw up, he is not going ask you how feel about it.

Rule #5. Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity. They weren't embarrassed making minimum wage either. They would have been embarrassed to sit around talking about Kurt Cobain all weekend.

Rule #6. It's not your parents' fault. If you screw up, you are responsible. This is the flip side of "It's my life," and "You're not the boss of me," and other eloquent proclamations of your generation. When you turn 18, it's on your dime. Don't whine about it or you'll sound like a baby boomer.

Rule #7. Before you were born your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning up your room and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are. And by the way, before you save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents' generation try delousing the closet in your bedroom.

Rule #8. Life is not divided into semesters, and you don't get summers off. Nor even Easter break. They expect you to show up every day. For eight hours. And you don't get a new life every 10 weeks. It just goes on and on.

Rule #9. Television is not real life. Your life is not a sitcom. Your problems will not all be solved in 30 minutes, minus time for commercials. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop to go to jobs. Your friends will not be perky or as polite as Jennifer Aniston.

Rule #10. Be nice to nerds. You may end up working for them. We all could.

Rule #11. Enjoy this while you can. Sure, parents are a pain, school's a bother, and life is depressing. But someday you'll realize how wonderful it was to be kid. Maybe you should start now.

You're welcome.

November 05, 2013

NOVEMBER FOOD FUN

November is the time to give thanks for all the great things in life. Whether its the smile of a child that causes your heart to skip a beat or sunshine on a cold winter's day, take some time every day this month to be thankful for all the little things that make you happy. No need to wait until Thanksgiving Day, start now!


 

National Diabetes Month: Did you know over 79 million people in America are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes? Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, blindness, dying from heart disease or stroke, and amputations. Excess weight is a big risk factor for developing diabetes. Help stop diabetes by committing to practising healthy habits including:
  1. Eating a healthy breakfast.
  2. Limiting the amount of junk food and sugary drinks you keep in your house.
  3. Getting a good night's sleep.
  4. Engaging in physical activity every day.
  5. Paying attention to food portion sizes.
 
Child Safety and Protection Month: With time off from school for the holidays and lots of cooking on the family "to do" list, kids are eager to be a part of the kitchen activities. This means safety is even more important. Knives, hot ovens, and hot stovetops can all cause unnecessary harm in the kitchen. Cooking has activities for all ages. Read our Kids in the Kitchen article for suggestions of safe, age-appropriate kitchen activities.

Food safety is also super important to cooking great meals.  Undercooked meats, improperly stored food and lack of hand washing can lead to food poisoning or something worse.

 
Hanukkah begins  - Nov. 27: Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a celebration in the Jewish Faith.  This holiday commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple after it was reclaimed from the Syrian-Greeks more than 21 centuries ago.  Fried foods are traditional fare during Hanukkah, commemorating the miracle of the Hanukkah oil that lasted eight days when it should have only lasted one.


 
November 28 - Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving brings us together as families, friends, and neighbors to gobble up a fall feast, share special times, and officially kick off the Holiday season. Make your family a turkey dinner that is delicious and healthy with MyPlate. Here are a few tips to help create a MyPlate-inspired Thanksgiving dinner: 
  • Make side dishes with plenty of brightly colored vegetables
  • Use whole grain bread to make stuffing
  • Use fat-free or low-fat milk and cheese for ingredients
  • Serve fruit pies or fruit crisp for dessert

Try these recipes for a healthy Thanksgiving dinner: 
 


What's In Season: The fall harvest includes apples, bananas, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, cranberries, garlic, ginger, grapes, mushrooms, parsnips, pears, pineapple, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, winter squash, figs, pomegranates, turnips. For seasonal recipes and fresh facts, check out the Peas & Carrots Blog post.

  
Holiday Season Kickoff: Food plays a big part in creating holiday traditions and memorable stories.  Whether you prepare the recipes you grew up with or are looking to start new holiday food traditions of your own, make an effort to include the season's freshest fruits and vegetables in your dishes. Our article, Starting Family Food Traditions, tells you a little bit about our family's traditions and gives you ideas for new traditions to share with your family.
 


 
 
 
For more information on healthy eating for you and your family, subscribe to Fresh Baby

October 31, 2013

Light Of Jesus On Halloween

Frost is on the pumpkin
Chill is in the air
Leaves are gently falling
Swirling here and there.

Many different faces
Costumes in the night
Gremlins, ghouls and goblins
Causing quite a fright.

Vampires in the darkness
Hobos in the street
Ghosts are ringing doorbells
Time for trick-or-treat.



Candles in the window
Faces all aglow
Painted little munchkins
Put on quite a show.

Full of tricks and sorcery
Warlocks in the night
Lamps are shining brightly
Makes for quite a site.

Lots of spells and magic
Witches do appear
Riding on their broomsticks
Halloween is here.



They say that it is harmless
Nothing more than fun
But Satan won't surrender
Until his work is done.

Razors stuck in candy
Poison found in treats
Children must be wary
Of everyone they meet.

Wild and crazy parties
Hosted by adults
People bent on mischief
Belong to deadly cults.



Yet our little children
Wander in the night
Dressed like little demons
Cannot see the light.

The evil that is lurking
Goes about unseen
Is covered up with candy
And all things in-between.

There is a world of darkness
That lurks within the night
Dungeons, ogres and dragons
Is not a pretty sight.



We need to read the Bible
The scripture quoted there
The wicked ways of pagans
Is found most everywhere.

Look to the "light of Jesus"
This year on Halloween
The peace you feel will be so real
Like nothing you have seen.


October 23, 2013

Wonderful Wisdom


When questions linger,
When doubts arise,
I need only to ask,
To look in Your eyes.

Knowledge and wisdom
You freely give,
Indeed You provide
All I need to live.


 With light and love
You instruct and guide;
With compassion and care
You stay by my side.

Never in the dark
Need I walk alone,
Your light You shed,
As I am Your own.



Your wisdom You share
Freely with love;
Many treasures You prepare
In Heaven above.

So of You and for You
My heart does sing,
For I rejoice in wisdom
You always bring.



I celebrate the light
On my path You shed,
I marvel that by You
I am faithfully led.

Yes, knowledge and wisdom
You freely give;
Lord Jesus, You alone
I need to live!

October 18, 2013

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop



Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

October 17, 2013

Some Fall Crafts For Kids

A fall party just isn’t complete without some fun crafts! Kids of all ages will love getting together to craft these 5 fun ideas. What’s even better is that they all double as great fall decorations!


These adorable paper plate scarecrows are perfect for kids of all ages!

Paper Plate Scarecrow***



More scarecrow fun! Kids can get super creative with their craft stick scarecrows!
Craft Stick Scarecrows***



Each of these adorable trees is guaranteed to be unique when kids use their hand to make it!
Hand Print Foliage Trees***



Kids will have just as much fun making these masks as they will wearing them!
Pumpkin Plate Mask***


Add some more fun guests to your party with these adorable leaf people!
Leaf People

October 14, 2013

Happy Columbus Day


Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.

Columbus Day first became an
official state holiday in Colorado in 1906,
and became a federal holiday in 1937.

As in the mainland U.S., Columbus Day
is a legal holiday in the
U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

In the United States Virgin Islands,
the day is celebrated as
both Columbus Day and
"Puerto Rico Friendship Day."

~**~
God bless you!
Have a safe and Happy Columbus day!
~**~


The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee,
and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee,
and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)

October 11, 2013

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop



Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

September 30, 2013

Schultüte - Sugar Bag

Creative Monday ( Schultüte - Sugar Bags)

 I made this for my daughter. In Germany, Schultüte is a must for every first grader. They take it on their very first day at school. The Schultüte is usually filled with sweets and presents. I filled up the Schultüte with these: I didn't and most people no longer fill up this big cone with only sweets. So I decided to get some things she will need for school and she loved them all.  


All ready for school

 

September 26, 2013

Some Purifying House Plants


I love house plants, not only that they beautify your home and make it more welcoming, they also help in cleaning the air. I can't imagine living in a house without plants (not even my kids used to pull them out as toddlers).

In addition to the dangerous chemicals used to make carpets, couches, paint and dry wall, our homes can be filled with chemicals from everyday household items and products. Things like pressed wood, facial tissue, paper towels, plastic and rubber, to name a few, frequently contain traces of chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.

Although I have so many beautiful looking house plants at home, I didn't know that some of these household plants acts best as natural purifiers than the others and here are some:



1. Bamboo Palm: According to NASA, it removes formaldahyde and is also said to act as a natural humidifier.

2. Snake Plant: Found by NASA to absorb nitrogen oxides and formaldahyde.

3. Areca Palm: One of the best air purifying plants for general air cleanliness.

4. Spider Plant: Great indoor plant for removing carbon monoxide and other toxins or impurities. Spider plants are one of three plants NASA deems best at removing formaldahyde from the air.

5. Peace Lily: Peace lilies could be called the “clean-all.” They’re often placed in bathrooms or laundry rooms because they’re known for removing mold spores. Also known to remove formaldahyde and trichloroethylene.

6. Gerbera Daisy: Not only do these gorgeous flowers remove benzene from the air, they’re known to improve sleep by absorbing carbon dioxide and giving off more oxygen over night.


Source: liveinthenow.com

September 23, 2013

Here Comes Autumn

Autumn Season

Autumn Season written with love by Bernice Ward.........please remember to share this greeting with your family and friends..........

Autumn season is here once again
Such pretty trees of red, yellow and gold
The autumn winds are strong and chilly,
As the leaves fall, it's a beauty to behold.

The leaves fall and break from the trees
Oh how nice stepping on the crunchy leaves
Listening to the sound of the autumn wind,
God created everything from beginning to end.



Summer is over, the flowers have faded
The grass is not growing as tall
The leaves break and fall to the ground,
A shifting change, God's hand is in it all.

We know who holds the world in place
Who gently holds us in His hands
We too are living in the autumn of life,
Autumn winds blow, but God understands.



Yes, we feel the gentle chill of fall
We smell the scent of lovely flowers
With summer past and autumn here,
We give God thanks for His love and cheer.
~**~ 



Bernice Ward ©2005

September 20, 2013

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop



Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

September 16, 2013

Birthday Inspirations


It's my birthday today and I'm happy and thankful. How can I believe that it's been a whole year since I celebrated my last birthday. I can still remember my outing with the ladies as if it was yesterday. I  woke up this morning with no plans. I don't just know what to do or even what kind of cake to bake but I'm heading to the kitchen right now to bake whatever:-). It's gonna be a rainy day today (it's raining already) so I think I'd also make something warm for my family and friends that will come over this afternoon. I'm definitely going out with the ladies tonight. I don't know what they are up to this time around but I'm so much looking forward to it.
Just to say that the rain won't stop me today, I want to share my today's inspiration with you.

Radiance In The Rain

When gray is the day,
When the rain is falling,
When no longer I hear
The song bird calling,

When winds are cool,
When clouds cover the sun,
When it seems deep darkness
Enshrouds everyone,

I remember Your brilliance,
I embrace Your love,
Though it be dark outside,
I feel light from above.

Though storms are ‘round me,
Though thunder roars,
Though puddles are forming
As torrential rain pours,

The day is shining
So bright in my heart,
For I am with Jesus,
Never to part.


So I ask one and all
To join me in this song:
When the storms clamour,
The Son shines all day long.

The winds may be cool,
But we are kissed by the Son;
His love pours upon us,
Yes, every one.

Though gray is the day,
Though rain is falling,
We are basking in Sunshine
As Jesus is calling!


Carolin Garvin

September 10, 2013

On The Brighter Side Of Life

Parents Jokes & Quotes: Kids on Love 

This is absolutely hilarious. I thought I had cracked my ribs while laughing. Kids are just innocent creatures. Read for yourself :-)

Kids' advice on Love 
 
     Questions concerning love and wisdom were posed to a group of children 
     ages 5 to 10)
     
      WHAT IS THE PROPER AGE TO GET MARRIED? 
     
     "Eighty-four. Because at that age, you don't have to work any more, and 
     you can spend all your time loving each other in your bedroom." (Judy, 
     8) 
     
     "Once I'm done with kindergarten, I'm going to find me a wife."  
     (Tommy, 5) 
     
     WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE? 
     
     "On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually 
     gets them interested enough to go for a second date." (Mike, 10) 
     
     
     WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE? 
     
     "You should never kiss a girl unless you have enough bucks to buy her 
     a big ring and her own VCR, 'cause she'll want to have videos of the 
     wedding." (Jim,10) 
     
     "Never kiss in front of other people. It's a big embarrassing thing if 
     anybody sees you. But if nobody sees you, I might be willing to 
     try it with a handsome boy, but just for a few hours." (Kally, 9)  

     
     
     THE GREAT DEBATE: IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED? 
     
     "It's better for girls to be single, but not for boys. Boys need  
     somebody to clean up after them." (Lynette, 9) 
     
     "It gives me a headache to think about that stuff. I'm just a kid. I 
     don't need that kind of trouble." (Kenny, 7) 
     
     
     CONCERNING WHY LOVE HAPPENS BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE: 
     
     "No one is sure why it happens, but I heard it has something to do  
     with how you smell. That's why perfume and deodorant are so popular." 
     (Jan, 9) 
     
     "I think you're supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but 
     the rest of it isn't supposed to be so painful." (Harlen, 8)  
     
     
     ON WHAT FALLING IN LOVE IS LIKE: 
     
     "Like an avalanche where you have to run for your life." (Roger, 9) 
     
     "If falling in love is anything like learning to spell, I don't want 
     to do it. It takes too long to learn." (Leo, 7) 
     
     
     ON THE ROLE OF GOOD LOOKS IN LOVE AND ROMANCE: 
     
     "If you want to be loved by somebody who isn't already in your family, 
     it doesn't hurt to be beautiful." (Jeanne, 8) 
     
     "It isn't always just how you look. Look at me. I'm handsome like 
     anything and I haven't got anybody to marry me yet." (Gary, 7) 
     
     "Beauty is skin deep. But how rich you are can last a longtime." 
     (Christine, 9) 
     
     
     CONCERNING WHY LOVERS OFTEN HOLD HANDS: 
     
     "They want to make sure their rings don't fall off, because they paid 
     good money for them." (David, 8) 
     
     
     CONFIDENTIAL OPINIONS ABOUT LOVE: 
     
     "I'm in favor of love as long as it doesn't happen when The Simpsons 
     are on TV." (Anita, 6) 
     
     "Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I've been 
     trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding 
     me." (Bobby, 8) 
     
     "I'm not rushing into being in love. I'm finding fourth grade hard  
     enough." (Regina, 10) 
     
     
     PERSONAL QUALITIES NECESSARY TO BE A GOOD LOVER: 
     
     "One of you should know how to write a check. Because, even if you  
     have tons of love, there is still going to be a lot of bills." (Ava 8) 
     
     
     SOME SUREFIRE WAYS TO MAKE A PERSON FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU: 
     
     "Tell them you own a whole bunch of candy stores." (Del, 6) 
     
     "Don't do things like have smelly, green sneakers. You might get 
     attention, but attention ain't the same thing as love." (Alonzo, 9) 
     
     "One way is to take the girl out to eat. Make sure it's something she 
     likes to eat. French fries usually works for me." (Bart, 9) 
     
     
     HOW CAN YOU TELL IF TWO ADULTS EATING DINNER AT
 A RESTAURANT ARE IN  LOVE? 
     
     "Just see if the man picks up the check. That's how you can tell if 
     he's in love." (John, 9) 
     
     "Lovers will just be staring at each other and their food will get 
     cold. Other people care more about the food," (Brad, 8) 
     
     "It's love if they order one of those desserts that are on fire. They 
     like to order those because it's just like their hearts are on 
     fire."(Christine, 9) 
     
     
     WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE THINKING WHEN THEY SAY "I LOVE YOU": 
     
     "The person is thinking: Yeah, I really do love him, but I hope he 
     showers at least once a day." (Michelle, 9) 
     
     
     HOW A PERSON LEARNS TO KISS: 
     
     "You learn it right on the spot, when the gushy feelings get the best 
     of you." (Doug, 7) 
     
     "It might help if you watched soap operas all day." (Carin, 9)
     
     
     WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE? 
     
     "It's never okay to kiss a boy. They always slobber all over 
     you...that's why I stopped doing it." (Jean, 10) 
     
     
     HOW TO MAKE LOVE ENDURE: 
     
     "Spend most of your time loving instead of going to work." (Tommy, 7) 
     
     "Don't forget your wife's name...that will mess up the love." 
     (Roger,8)
     
     "Be a good kisser. It might make your wife forget that you never take 
     the trash out." (Randy, 8) 
 
 
 
 
This is from  UC Berkeley Parents Network.

September 04, 2013

5 WEEKS FREE ACCESS to the Reading Eggs programs

Reading Eggs & Reading Eggpress – Where children become great readers


Reading Eggs, Reading Eggspress  and Mathseeds are comprehensive, highly interactive online programs for children aged 3-13 years old.

The Reading Eggs UK Great Literacy Challenge has been officially launched - a nationwide initiative to inspire children to read! Invite your friends and family to take part in this fantastic event and they can receive 5 WEEKS FREE* access to Reading Eggs!


Simply refer or forward this to your friends and families and the recipient can start their FREE 5 WEEK* trial by registering at readingeggs.co.uk/bloggers before 30th September 2013

What's more, for every new sign up Reading Eggs will donate £1 to our charity partner Tommy's. Help fund research into stillbirth, premature birth and miscarriage by supporting this fantastic organisation dedicated to supporting parents-to-be. 

Why should your family and friends try Reading Eggs?
  • Over 90% of parents we've surveyed have seen a significant improvement in their child's reading since using Reading Eggs!
  • Reading Eggs  includes a comprehensive programme of 120 reading lessons, 96 spelling lessons and 20 comprehension lessons developed by a team of primary educators with over 25 years teaching experience.
  • They'll also have access to 200 comprehension lessons and 100 literacy games in Reading Eggspress, an extension of Reading Eggs that further develops literacy from the age of 7 through to 13.  
  • Over 1000 ebooks are available online - including illustrated chapter books, full colour non-fiction books and a range of classics. These books are now available on iPad.

August 26, 2013

9 Tips for Successful Language Learning


As we all know, studying a language is different from living a language.  There is a very directed and purposeful process that occurs when we study a language.

This makes sense: as adults, we already understand how language works (grammar, declensions, parts of speech) so we now apply those rules to yet another language. We study the pieces bit by bit and then use them to construct new sentences with these individual pieces.  However, our children shouldn’t be expected to study our language(s).  Talk about boring!

Language living is what we do when we share our language with our children on a daily basis: we surround them with our languages and allow them to absorb these languages over time.  We may point out grammar errors now and then but ultimately we are our children’s example for how to use languages in every day life and we share it with them without expecting them to understand the underlying constructs.

This doesn’t mean that our children won’t reach a point where they too will study their languages (e.g. here in the USA we take many years of English classes to learn about our languages – and we still may not understand it), which is in itself a fascinating subject!

Learning a Language as a Family
As most people know, my family and I are learning Spanish as a second language during our Language Challenge 101 adventure.  Yes, we are spending a lot of time studying it, not necessarily living it (at least not yet) since it is a brand new language for us.  Studying a language is no small task but it can be so much fun to do it as a family.  I highly recommend it!
If you are learning a second language as a family, here are some tips that my family would like to pass on from our own experiences:
  • Playful. It has been particularly important for my husband and me to just let go of the weight of learning Spanish and instead play with it as much as possible.  Our kids have followed our lead and can see that being playful is not only ok, it is the best way to approach it.  We act out the language, crawl on the floor to imitate animals, call out colors in the grocery store.  It is such a wonderful excuse to spend time together having fun!
  • Make Mistakes. Contrary to what comes naturally to us adults, making mistakes in language learning is the best thing that can happen, especially when someone else points them out.  The sooner we give ourselves permission to make mistakes (lots and lots of mistakes), the sooner we can move on to the real process of learning a language.  Plus, laughing at our own mistakes makes for so much family fun.
  • Daily. My family and I have tried to make sure that we are all exposed to some Spanish language every day.  We don’t have a set amount of time.  If the kids watch one Spanish-language DVD, that is fine.  Then we try to use some of the words from the DVD for the rest of the day.  It isn’t our ideal but it definitely helps.  And if we don’t get to any Spanish for a day or two, we don’t beat ourselves up either!
  • Incentive. Rather than approaching Spanish language learning as something we must do, we use it as an incentive.  If we can get in a half an hour of Spanish, then we treat ourselves to a popsicle outside in the back yard (which means even more bonding time) or to something else fun that we’d all like to do.  It isn’t used as a punishment!  It is an incentive and a way to keep ourselves motivated.
  • Speaking. Speak the language as much as possible!  My family and I do this all the time without caring whether the words are correctly pronounced or not and whether we know exactly what all of them mean.  The language is so very lovely and we love to let it roll off the tongue. Often I will put on a podcast of some random dialog while making dinner, folding the clothes or going for a walk and just repeat the words and sentences whether I recognize them or not.
  • Be Inefficient! It can be so hard to get out of our “training” which says that we need to be efficient and moving forward in an accountable way.  Throw that out the window if it starts to discourage you!  This is not school and we have no one to answer to but ourselves and our own family.  I feel how hard this has been for my husband and myself during Language Challenge 101.  Old habits (and language training) are hard to break!
  • Learn From the One Another. One of the best parts about learning a language together with my family has been the give and take between each of us.  Each of us has been in a situation of correcting another family member (including my 5 year old).  It is fabulous!  Not only does this help each of us feel empowered by our language learning, it puts us all on a level playing field where we can truly share in the experience as equals.
  • Learning Styles. We definitely each have different ways of learning.  The joy of learning a language with my family has been seeing how each of us responds to language differently.  Some of us prefer visual input, others audio and some by writing things down.  Sometimes having a translation has been beneficial, other times just listening even when we didn’t understand was most enjoyable.  My husband realized how much he enjoys writing things on index cards and then taking them with him when he walks to the store!  It must be working because his vocabulary is expanding all the time.
  • Emotion. Learning a language can be very emotional – in fact, I believe it should be to some degree to really have an impact.  There is so much more to the whole experience of learning a language than the language itself.  Culture, music, food and more all come along with the language by default and have an impact on us.  And we should remember that as it is very personal, this means we need to accept the fact that each of us will experience it differently and on our own terms.
Those are my 9 Tips for Successful Language Learning.  Can you add a 10th to this list?  Or an 11th, 12th…. and more?  Please share!

What are your experiences learning a language?  Do you have some additional tips?  Do you feel an emotional connection to the language(s) that you have learned?  Please share your thoughts!
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