Staying With the Group

So, my little boy went on a field trip with his Preschool class. On the way to school, I talked to him about staying with his group, and not wandering off. At the end of the day, his teacher told me that his leader had a bit of trouble keeping him from wandering. Not my little guy! Ha! Didn't surprise me a bit. Here's how the conversation went on the way home...

Mom: "Son, I told you that you needed to stay with your group today."

Son: "I did, Mom!"

Mom: "Well, I heard your leader said you wandered away from the group."

Son: "Nuh uh! I didn't! I just went behind the tree!"

Mom: "Well you know son, it's hard for the leaders to keep all of the preschool kids together."

Son: 'Well, it's hard to stay with the group!"

I was not agreeing with him on this one, and he could tell, so he pipes in....

"It's hard staying with the group when your brain is telling you you want to go behind the tree!"

Mom: "Okay, you're right.... it's hard staying with the group."

Who can argue with that one?

Maira

A friend of mine died last Sunday... just a couple of weeks after she found out she had cancer. It was all so surreal. My brain just could not wrap around the fact that she was gone. I never got to see her when she was sick; never got to say good-bye. I still have her big round Tupperware that I never got around to returning. It just didn't seem real.

The last time I saw her was at my Pink Poker Night. Every so often, I host this fun-filled night. We play poker, our chips are Hershey's Kisses, or any good wrapped candy. We laugh a lot, sing along to Elvis, or Donny and Marie, Sonny and Cher... you know... the good stuff we grew up listening to. If someone is losing, we share our winnings. We need to relearn the game each time... we would definitely frustrate men! Whoever is on the winning streak gets to wear the princess crown, and everyone is dressed in pink from head to toe. (The date on the picture above is incorrect... I forgot to reset it on my camera.)

Maira raised the bar on the whole, "dress in pink" thing. I opened my front door, and there she was, looking like a bottle of Pepto Bismol! Not only was she completely in pink, but she had made a pink wig out of yarn! That night was her night. She won continuously! We kept telling her how lucky she was. Here it is just two and a half months later, and she's gone. My heart is heavy.

After Maira's beautiful funeral, a few of us went out for lunch. We had a glass of wine, and made a toast to Maira. While praying over our meal, Rachel told Jesus to tell Maira "hello" from us. As soon as she said that, a vision of Maira flashed in my mind. It was Maira in heaven. She was dancing joyfully, the way she always did, with a tambourine in her hand. She was with some others, singing and dancing away.
Jesus said, "Hey Maira! Robyn, Rachel and Lisa say, 'hello'!"
Maira stopped, turned to Jesus and yelled, "What?!"
"Robyn, Rachel, and Lisa say, 'hello'!"
Maira's beautiful grin flashed across her face, and she said, "Oh! Tell them 'hi'!!!"
She then went back to dancing and playing her tambourine.

I know she is the life of a party in heaven, just like she was here.

As for the next Pink Poker Night, there will be a chair for Maira. On it will be the Princess Crown. It will be retired... forever Maira's.

What A Coincidence

This is quite a story...

John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, two of our Founding Fathers, worked together and were willing to give all they had for freedom. Although they disagreed on many political issues, they did agree on this.... that freedom is worth the greatest sacrifice. They were willing to put differences aside, and fight for a common cause.

Here's the amazing coincidence... both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day, within a few hours of each other.

The date?

July 4, 1826

Exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was voted on and approved by the Continental Congress.

Got shivers?

Never To Be Silent

I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure
suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

~Elie Wiesel

Hero

Recently I read The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers. Wow. I was astounded by the war that is going on in our country. Young students are fighting for their lives day in and day out. It's no wonder that they couldn't care less about English and Math class. Erin Gruwell is an amazing teacher who changed the lives of many students. I challenge you to read this book; you'll be glad you did.

We need more teachers like Erin Gruwell. She is a hero, as are many of her students. God bless you, Erin.