Redbirds

As I ride my bike some afternoons, I see a lone redbird swoop down in front of me. At times, I have seen more than one. However, one is what I usually see. One afternoon, as I was riding down a different street, a single redbird swooped down and took a swim and a drink in a puddle. I tried to keep still and get a picture, but he quickly flew away. I ride a three wheeled bike, in case you were wondering how I could manage to remain still on a bicycle! I love my bike. The three wheels help me to be able to get out and ride without worrying about falling or something like that. My legs are not so sturdy anymore, and the three wheels on my bright pink bike are awesome helpers to get this old lady out to exercise. If I get tired, I can just stop and rest, while still sitting on my bike. When my left foot decides it is going to slip off of the pedal, as it often does, I remain upright and safe on my bike. I have a route that I use. Sometimes, I ride for 45 minutes, which is the short ride. The long ride is an hour and a half. On those rides, I see lots of wonderful things in my neighborhood. The redbirds are my favorite, though. They remind me of my Daddy. My Daddy knew everything about nature, the woods, animals, trees, etc. He could tell you what kind of fish a restaurant was really serving, when they told you it was trout. HA! He could tell you what kind of trees you were passing by. He loved to look at everything along the roadside as we traveled, whether we were in town or along a country road. He knew all about the birds and their songs. I wish I knew all of the things that he knew about. Daddy grew up in the North Georgia mountains back when the woods were still the woods and the streams and water holes were safe, fresh, and wonderful. He spent a lot of time alone out in those woods learning and exploring. When I see birds now, I think of him. I love the little redbirds that keep fluttering by one at a time. I like to think that when the little bird flies by I am seeing a sign that my Daddy is with me, watching me, and taking care of me. I miss him so much. Thank you, little redbirds for flying into my path and for helping to keep my Daddy here with me.

Is it Summer yet?

Summer...that often elusive time of year that a teacher sees through smoke filled glasses that only clear after reaching the middle or end of that season... Is it here? 

Could it possibly be summer? Not yet. 

I have a few plans for the next couple of months that mostly add up to REST!!

After spending a year with 22 kindergarten children, the word REST has taken on a new meaning!

Ahhh...

The beach...that is always a place to calm the wandering heart. The cool breezes, the warm sun, the roar of the tide, the squeak of the sea gulls, the sand in your feet and in everything you own...all of those wonderful things that keep a person happy can be found at the beach, and that is where I will hopefully be throughout the summer.

Of course, there are my two little darling princesses awaiting my hugs and kisses for the whole entire summer! Those shining faces can calm even the most frazzled of nerves after a hard day at the old mill, so to speak!

Is it summer yet? The sun, the heat, and the flowers tell us that it is. I'm waiting for the real thing to begin, so let it flow like the sunshine of the pretty dandelions that blow in the wind after coming out of their own 'shell'. Come on, summer. I am ready for you!!

Saturday morning

Today is Saturday, and I was up at 6 a.m.! For crying out loud, why? I do not know. It is really quiet around here. The weather is not that great outside, so maybe the atmospheric pressure woke me up and made me get up! ha  The pressure in the atmosphere really does affect your body. Some people do not believe that, but I know that it is true. Migraines are one of the main things that can occur in a person, due to the atmospheric changes when it is ready to storm. You can be affected by it a couple of days ahead of a bad storm, actually. Once the storm hits and the rain finally begins to pour down through the sky, the headache usually goes away. That may sound strange, but it is true. Just ask anyone who gets migraines!!
Our city is preparing for the big day of March 17th. We have the third largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the U.S. It is a really big deal around here. School is even cancelled for that day! There are all sorts of celebrations. One thing that is unfortunate, though, is that many people use this day as an excuse to get extremely drunk and disorderly. That is a shame. The celebration is actually a Catholic holiday, where there are many church services before the celebrating begins. It is a shame that this religious holiday has turned into such a drunken brawl.
With March comes the beginning of spring type activities. It is nice to be able to get outside and ride a bike or take a walk in the sunshine. However, our weather keeps going from cold to hot, cold to hot, etc.  Perhaps the weather will begin to become stable for the rest of our springtime.
The years really fly by, as you grow older. It seems like just yesterday it was the beginning of the school year, and now we are almost at the end of another school year. Wow. As a teacher, I count years by the school calendar. I forget about January to December being the actual year. That is crazy, I know. I think of August through May as a year! haha
Well, I am finished rambling for this morning. Have a great day!

My Oils

My oils...What in the world does that mean? Well, I have been using Young Living Essential Oils to help with relaxation and calming for quite a few years. I purchased a set of nine oils from a friend of mine many years ago. At the time, I had no intention of becoming a distributor or purchasing them wholesale. I just wanted the oils. Due to legal reasons, I cannot say that any oil 'cures' anything. I can only tell you of my personal experiences with the oils and how they have helped me. I really only used Lavender, Peppermint, and Frankincense for a while. Lavender helped me stay calm when I went to bed. Peppermint helped my many bouts of serious colon issues. Frankincense helped the pain in my legs. I kept the nine oils in my bathroom cabinet for many years, not realizing how all of them could really help. Finally, I became a distributor and purchased another set of oils. This time, there were ten oils in the package and a diffuser. Wow! The oils have made a serious difference in my life. I have many oils now, and I use all of them. If you read the Bible, you will see many references to oils being used. Well, I have many of the Bible oils, such as frankincense and myrrh. I also have the oil that is considered to be the 'gold' that was given to the baby Jesus - Balsam Fir. Just think about this for a minute. For centuries, people in the 'old countries' have used oils for healing. Native Americans used oils and plants for healing. So, doesn't it make sense to continue to use plants and the oils that come from plants for healing, both spiritual and physical? I believe that it makes plenty of sense. I am not talking about some 'mumbo jumbo' tonic water, like some people offer. I am talking about real, completely natural oils directly from plants. I use the oil from the Angelica plant a lot now. This plant is called the flower of the angels, by Germans. The scent from this plant can help you forget about trauma and bad thoughts. Yes, it works for me. When my father passed away, I diffused the Angelica oil all day in my home. I KNOW that it helped ALL of us that day. When I wake up each morning with nightmares, which happens every day, I open my bottle of White Angelica and inhale the aroma several times. The horrible thoughts go away. They really do. I still put Lavender on my pillow each night to help me stay calm. I put peppermint in my navel and on my abdomen to stop stomach/colon issues. I have a very stressful job, and I often have trouble 'coming down' from all of the stressful, emotional, and physical trials of the day. My mind just races and races all day and night. The Lavender helps the race slow down. I also use Lavender on cuts and burns that I often have on my hands or arms. I am sort of a 'clutz' at times! Lavender works better on the cuts and burns than neosporin or aloe. My body is full of aches and pains, due to a horrific car crash 25 years ago. I had many injuries, and those injuries have caused me to continue to have pain throughout my body every day, from head to toe. I now use an essential oil blend called Ortho Ease at night on my legs. If  you know anyone with restless leg syndrome, please give them some Ortho Ease. For me, the restlessness (heebie jeebies) goes away immediately, and then I can sleep restfully. I cannot say that the oils can cure anyone or anything. I can only say that the oils help to alleviate many of the issues that I face each and every day. So, there is my brief story about My Oils. I have many more stories, but I will stop here for now.  I hope you have a wonderful day!!

Kindness

Kind-ness

  The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. A kind act. 

Synonyms: kindliness, kindheartedness, warmheartedness, affection, warmth, gentleness, concern, care, consideration, helpfulness, sympathy, understanding, bigheartedness, benevolence, benignity, magnanimity, charitableness. 

Plural noun: kindnesses

It is a kindness I shall never forget.

I haven't taken the time to blog in recent months. Things always get in the way of my being able to take the time to wander in my brain and express my thoughts. Maybe that is a good thing. I started this blog with one thought in mind, and then I wandered off on a tangent about my work. I cannot post anything about my work, so I put those thoughts in a personal document for myself. 

My original idea for this blog was to write about my dear, sweet family members who are in heaven" my mamma, my daddy, my Granna, my Grandma, my aunts, my uncles, my Grandpa, my cousins, and others for whom the definition of kindness aptly describes. My whole family lived a life of kindness and gentleness as set forth in the Bible. Although each of them was quiet and humble about their own greatness, they each possessed wonderful qualities that showed their faith in the Lord our God, and they all practiced his teachings with grace, dignity, and humility. In other words, they were awesome examples of God's word that we find in the book of Proverbs: Chapter 3: verses 1 - 4.

"My child, do not forget my teaching. Keep my commands in mind. Then you will live a long time, and your life will be successful. DON'T EVER STOP BEING KIND AND TRUTHFUL. LET KINDNESS AND TRUTH SHOW IN ALL YOU DO. WRITE THEM DOWN IN YOUR MIND AS IF ON A TABLET, THEN YOU WILL BE RESPECTED AND PLEASING TO BOTH GOD AND MEN."

I love and miss my family members who are in heaven very, very much. I feel so lost without them. I know that they are all in my heart forever, but I miss having them close beside me to hug and kiss, talk to, and to just have them near me each day.

I guess it has taken me a while to get this entry written, because I get so lost in my mind that I cannot finish it. I actually started this particular entry about a month ago, but I haven't been able to finish it. I will just say that I love my mamma and daddy and all of my relatives who are in heaven. I love ALL of my relatives who are living. Keep your loved ones close. Do not take them for granted, for they will not always be with you.

Be kind and gentle to them. We need more kindness in this world of ours. The wonderful generation that came before us knew all about kindness and gentleness. We should all take after their examples and be the wonderful people that they always were and who they taught us to be.

Good night.

Avocados, friends, and the end of summer

I was finally able to get together with a good friend of mine for lunch the other day. Cathy and I have been trying to find a time when we could meet for lunch all summer long, but many things have kept us from doing that. We went to a small litttle sandwich shop that is not far from my house. The people there are really nice and attentive to everyone. The food is good, too.
 It is always nice to get together with a good friend, whether it is for lunch, to go to the beach, or just to sit and talk.
My new granddaughter is doing great. She has grown two inches and gained almost two pounds since her birth four weeks ago! She and her big sister are the lights of my life!!
I found a 'new' food that I just love - the Avocado!  I was introduced to avocados when my first granddaughter started eating regular food, versus just breast milk. At the time, I didn't exactly crave them. I enjoyed their 'nutty' taste, but I didn't really buy them for myself.  This spring, I decided to try out the avocado again. I LOVE AVOCADOS!! I will eat a whole one in a minute!~ My son told me that an avocado is called a 'super food', so that made them even better!  After doing some research on avocados, I found out that they are really good for controlling cholesterol, so that is a big bonus. They taste good, AND they are food for you.  Some people think they have too much fat in them. Well, they have the good kind of fat, not the bad kind. I am going to post a neat link here to show you what I mean. 
We have only four more days of summer around here. We begin our school year this Friday. I think it is a bit strange to begin a year on a Friday! Then, the students arrive the next Thursday to begin their school year. That is a bit strange, too. Whatever happened to starting something new on a MONDAY??!!
I have not been to the beach this whole summer. Other than a quick trip to show my friends the lighthouse, I haven't driven to the ocean at all. Now that is a really strange happening!  Lots of things have been going on, though, and I just haven't been able to make it to the beach. 
I am looking forward to a new year in a new classroom. I am very excited to have a new room with BIG windows for the sunshine to enter the room. My classroom also has a door to the outside, so that my students can go right out onto the playground. I am really going to enjoy the bright sunshine this year. I believe that the sunlight is important for student emotions, attention spans, overall wellness, and cognitive functioning. So, I am gearing up for a successful, fun, energized, enjoyable year in kindergarten!!
As promised, here is the link to the wonders of the avocado!!
Happy "Avocadoing"!! haha

http://www.californiaavocado.com

Old Friends

 Dawn and Dewilla, friends since October 1968 when I moved to Spangdahlem, Germany
Daddy and Mamma came to the four of us one day to let us know we were moving again. We were living in Charleston, South Carolina at the time. I remember them saying, "We have a great birthday present for you. We are moving to Germany on your birthday!" Wow! My thirteenth birthday was going to be celebrated by a trip to GERMANY!
I met Dawn when I got to my new eighth grade class, and we have been friends ever since then. Mamma called us Mutt and Jeff, because Dawn is tall and I am short. Apparently, there was some sort of comedy team by that name in my Mamma's younger days, and she always used that expression to describe friends like us.
We were facing the sun for our pictures. Dawn had on sunglasses, so the sun didn't bother her eyes. My eyes were watering, and I was squinting, so Dawn fixed that. While we were waiting for Kent to snap the picture, she 'shaded' my eyes for me! HA!
Dawn and Kent came to see me this past weekend. Their visit was wonderful. She actually found a neat little restaurant online for us to visit that I never had heard of, and it is actually in my neighborhood! If you are ever in Savannah, try Joe's Homemade Cafe and Bakery. They have been named the number one caterer in Savannah, too. The place only seats ten people, but the food is terrific. We actually went there two days in a row! The first day was just the two of us. Then, we took Kent along the second day to get him all filled up with great food before their trip back home.
My daughter suggested we go to Pearle's Seafood Grille Sunday night, and it as wonderful. I do not eat seafood, so I had a really terrific chicken and pasta dish. Dawn had Rainbow Trout, and Kent had Salmon. They said their food was good, too. This resaurant is located right on the water, with a terrific view.  Dawn is of Greek heritage, so of course we had to go to the Olympia Cafe on River Street for supper one night! Wow! It was awesome. My whole family went to enjoy the great food. I was very surprised when Dawn started speaking in GREEK to the owner, when he came by our table for a little chat. I think he was impressed, too! He enjoyed talking to her. The food was great, but the company was even better.

 On Tuesday, we took a trip down to see the Tybee Lighthouse. Unfortunately, the place was closed. We couldn't get up close to it, but we got a lot of pictures of it in the background. The lighthouse is plenty big enough to be included in pictures from quite a distance away. We stood outside the gate for the pictures. You can see it from the beach, too, and get great pictures of it in the background.
  Then, we walked over to the actual beach for a couple of pictures.

Dawn got this great one of the sea oats.

I really enjoyed our visit! Thanks, Kent, for driving Dawn 'up' here to Savannah! You both are always so generous of your time and love. Thanks for being my 'old' friends.

Forever Friends!!!!!!