School Days!

Summer days are here! School is out or almost out and there are happy children and happy teachers! What do you remember about your school days?  Who was your favorite teacher,  or your not so favorite teacher?

I really don’t have one specific teacher that stands out to me as being my favorite, but there were several that I did like. In elementary school my 3rd grade and my 5th grade teacher were the ones I liked the most. They just were so sweet, patient and caring. I still remember though the day that I was so upset, for the first time ever my 3rd grade teacher had yelled at me.

We had went to the Philadelphia Zoo for a field trip. We all had stopped for lunch break in a picnic area of the zoo. I had been done eating and was sleepy as I sat in the shade of a big tree. I leaned up against the tree and before I knew it I was asleep. I don’t believe I was asleep long, but long enough for my whole class to be gone! Yes, there was not a classmate in sight and I was scared! I decided it was up to me to find my class so off I went.

To this day I remember so vividly walking around feeling so lost as foreign languages were being spoken all around me. Finally I heard my name and I turned my head. I knew that person, it was my classmate and behind them was my whole class. I was hugged and also given glares as I was told that they had to miss seeing the elephants because of looking for me! They found me just in time to get on the buses to go home.

It was when we got on the bus to get home that the “yelling” happened.  As a 3rd grader, I am sure it sounded more loud than it really was. My teacher was just wanting to know why I hadn’t stayed where we all had been for lunch. Why had I walked away, for hadn’t I been listening when she told us all that if we got separated from the group, to stay in place and they would come get us.  Oops! I had forgotten that! Or why hadn’t I said anything to one of the workers there about being lost? Well, that question was easy, none of them looked trustworthy enough to me!  I can well imagine now that she had been pretty frantic, and I fully understand her yelling.  As bad as I felt for disappointing her there is another thing that I will always remember. That would be the comfort of her tight hug!

So what is one experience of your school years that will always stay with you?

 

 

Friday’s Super Short Stories!

Make the most of your time between the Sunrise and the Sunset of your days!

Conversation with a good friend adds wonderful flavor to any meal!

If had to do over again, what subject would you dread a final exam in? Feeling relieved that school finals are wayyyy behind me!

As a bonus for today, I have included this song. There were several great suggestions yesterday when I asked for songs to go with my post about children growing so fast. Thank you! I knew my readers could think of some, since my brain had been too tired to work at the time. I chose this one only because it was new to me and I thought it might be new to a lot of you as well. It also was the one that choked me up the most, I saw mykids in the pictures and yes the memories rolled down my cheeks. Enjoy!

 

Mama’s Roses

This painting is from Pinterest and was done in 1908 by Waterhose.  It’s called “The Soul of the Rose”

 

She breathed in the scent of the sweet rose. Taking deep breaths she tried to stop the butterflies from having a party inside her stomach. Oh how she longed for yesterday, to go back to an easier time. Her life now seemed to be more full of questions than of answers.

These days life seemed to be taking her on quite the ride. Sometimes she could relax, and breathe and take the time to smell the roses, but other times she felt like she was hanging on to the caboose for dear life as the train sped down the tracks.

Speeding down the tracks and sometimes heading  for what seemed to be dark tunnels. She would stretch forward trying to look for the light.

This place held so many memories, she was afraid to step out and go somewhere new. Taking another breath of the sweet rose, she quieted the butterflies inside of her, telling them it would be okay. She was embarking on a new day, a new adventure and there was a part of her spirit that as eager to soar.

Memories came back of when she was a little girl. Planting roses with her Mama, digging in the dirt and eagerly waiting to see the flowers bloom. So many days they had spent working side by side together in the flower garden.

The years passed and her Mama got older. It got harder for her to walk around as much.  Juliet would clip the roses and bring them inside for her to enjoy. They would share cups of tea and talk about memories of days past, savoring the time together, as the wonderful aroma of the roses filled the room.

The roses were like her Mama, their fragrance spilled out for others to enjoy as they passed by. Her Mama’s fragrance of gentleness and love also overflowed, touching all who knew her.

This place was so special, but now her sweet Mama was gone and it was time for Juliet to move on. To be thankful in her heart for all the yesterdays and to move on to embrace enchanting tomorrows.

Courage rose up in her as she deeply breathed in one more time the fresh scent. She would forever carry inside of her the aroma of her Mama’s sweet, blushing pink rose.

 

 

Friday’s Super Short Stories!

Tap dancing on thin ice can be a challenging act.

Footprints in the sand will be washed away, but the footprints that someone leaves on your heart will last forever.

Sometimes the most craziest, outlandish things, can have a beautiful story behind them! Would you be seen with this cat? 

The Friendship Journey

The kids sat around the table reminiscing about the times when they were little, the games they played and the fun they had.

Our families got to know each other when our children were only toddlers. 4 toddlers running around, amidst us adults trying to have a conversation. Many conversations were interrupted with, “No, don’t touch that!, don’t throw that.”  or “Mommy we’re hungry, Mommy he hit me! ”

Many times of “No, I don’t want to go home, can we stay just 5 minutes longer?”  “Please let them stay!”, and 4 pairs of eyes giving you their best puppy dog faces!

We watched our children grow up together and we remember the first night when we realized that they  were old enough to all be left alone together for an evening.  No sitter was needed, while the four of us went out for dinner alone. It was quiet, we could hear ourselves think.

The kids were thrilled that we left them in charge, and loved the extra money given to order pizza.  We were happy for some peace and had joy when we came home and the house was still standing. A win-win situation, (though we do remember the broken window that one time!)

Sleepovers, birthday parties, graduations, time keeps passing and the friendship keeps growing stronger. We been through many joys and have shared many tears at the different paths that life has taken our families down. We have laughed until we cried and cried until we laughed. Oh the memories that friendship brings.

Friendship is a blessing, a blessing indeed!

The Power of Books

I must be in a nostalgic mood this week. I did a post on toys and games from my childhood on Sunday and today my mind has drifted back to books that I loved when I was little. I had many favorites throughout my childhood, but 3 specifically came to my mind today.

Frog and Toad were best friends and I enjoyed reading their stories over and over again.

If there were mishaps, it usually happened to Toad. Poor Toad! Their stories brought laughter, and you could also clearly see the strong friendship they had.

I still have these books and there was one chapter from this book called “The Letter”.  Toad was sad, for day after day he watched for the mail and day after day passed without him ever getting a letter. Frog got the clever idea to write him a letter. He wrote it and  gave it to the snail going down the road. He asked the snail to deliver it to Toad’s mailbox and the snail said he would.

Frog  then went to Toad’s house to watch out the window for the mail and Toad thought that was very strange of him. Toad told him how it was useless for he never gets any mail.  Four days later the snail finally arrived and Toad got his letter, which made him so very happy.

You can’t help but feel happy for Toad, can you!

This is a fun story about a witty mouse and how he outwits a weasel, who caught him, with the intention of making Mouse Soup to eat. I of course cheered on the little mouse. I re-read this story a lot  too. I may have known what was coming, but I still can remember how much I would laugh each time at the wit of the mouse.

 

 

Little Bear stories warmed my heart, for he was such a sweet little bear. He could be good at getting himself into trouble at times, but you always knew that he was very loved by his family.

It was fun thinking of the warm, happy feelings that these books brought back to me. It made me realize how memorable books really can be and how even simple stories can touch your heart and leave an impact.

I really intended this to be just a story of some  favorite books of mine when I was very little. I couldn’t help  but see some of the similarities though to “The Odessa Chronicles.”

I smile at how one of the earliest books that I loved to read was about friendship, the stories about Frog and Toad. That is a strong theme in “The Odessa Chronicles”. I laugh too at the wit behind “Mouse Soup” for  “The Odessa Chronicles” definitely has its share of wit in it.  Plus the “Little Bear” stories warmed my heart with love. and the characters from me and Colin’s book have totally filled my heart with love.

Not only do these books have similarities to the book Colin and I wrote, but they describe my life as well!

Love, Friendship and Wit are all strong threads that run through my life!

One just never knows how strongly we can be influenced by what we read, listen to, or see. What books do you remember reading when you were very young? Feel free to share below, would love to hear!

 

 

No Batteries Needed!

I was thinking back in time today of the toys and games that would entertain me for hours when I was young. All these games and toys had one thing in common. They didn’t require any batteries!  Thought I would share some of my favorites with you and hopefully bring you a smile as you think of what your favorites used to be. All of the pictures are  from Pinterest.

The first toy is from when I was really little and it held my attention for long periods of time. How many of you can remember the fun of this toy? This is very close to what mine looked like. It was great lining up as many marbles as I could and seeing them race down together, making a clattering noise as they rolled!

I can still remember the joy of getting a brand new box of crayons! The fun of coloring things whatever color you wanted to make them. Letting your imagination flow!

 

This next game was a part of summertime fun. Fun, safe darts to throw in the yard.

Who remembers playing croquet?  It was a big family game at my home. Many croquet competitions we had. So much fun, even when you got out, you just cheered on the players that remained. Plus sometimes I was glad to get out, meant I could go ahead and get myself a snack. Playing croquet made you hungry! 🙂

Now this next toy used to drive me crazy, but it was fun too. Did you ever complete the whole Rubik’s cube?

So what toys, games, or activities do you remember when you were young? Ones that bring back fond memories. Ones where even though they didn’t  have the Energizer bunny batteries, the fun still went on and on and on!  Take a trip down memory lane and feel free to share them in the comments below.

 

Sharing the Magic

We woke up to snow falling this morning and creating beauty once again. The temps are barely above freezing, but just enough for it to not be laying on the roads which is nice. since I soon have to drive on them.

Watching the snow fall always seems to add a touch of magic to the air. My mind was going back in time as I watched out my window. What “magical” moments do you remember from your childhood? Big moments, small moments, anything that brings a smile to your face and some magic to your heart when you think about it. One of those memories that you enjoy revisiting from time to time.

Here are some memories that popped into my head as I watched the falling snow.

1. Playing in the creek with my friends, splashing in the water and floating down the creek in an inner tube.  (Yes, it is snowing outside and my mind is thinking about summertime! :))

2. Walking into the kitchen and seeing my Mom cooking chocolate pudding on the stove. Ahh! Dessert was going to be good tonight for supper!

3. Being in my best friend’s bedroom and us listening to the Top 20 Country Music songs Countdown on the weekends as we tried to figure out the meaning of life at the ripe old age of 10!

4. Telling my Boston Terrier all about the problems with guys and her listening with great attention and totally agreeing with all I said as she cuddled against me.

What magical moments would you like to share? Grab a cup of hot chocolate and take a little trip down memory lane. Feel free to take us along if you want, by sharing in the comments below and pass the marshmallows please, I need some more for my Hot Cocoa.

 

Going on a Virtual Road Trip!

Thinking back to when my kid were young, I remember going on walks with them. Sometimes along the way we would play a simple game. I would say that we are going on a trip, and  would think of something to take that starts with the letter A.  The next person says something with B, then C, etc.  Each time you say something you have to repeat what has been said before as well. We always would get some fun, crazy answers and it was a fun way to help my kids memory.

With that memory coming back to me this morning I thought I would try something. What would happen if we tried playing the game on here? Let’s go on a trip! Do you think we can make it to Z, I have confidence that we can! I will start with something I would bring that starts with A and whoever wants to jump in with B is welcome too! Or if you really can’t think of something that starts with B, then add more A things. The rules are pretty flexible here.  Be as creative as you want! Our vehicle is enormous and will hold absolutely anything!  That includes any kind of animal. 🙂  You can add several things or just one thing. The only rule is that we have to go from A-Z. Lets see what kind of list we can create!

A –  Accordian (for some music on the road. My Mom used to play one. 🙂

Your turn now. In the comments below add something with A, or start with B, your choice!

Thankful Thoughts

One of my friends posted on Facebook different questions to help you think about what you are thankful for. I thought they were interesting and would like to  give all of you a chance to think about them. Feel free to share your answers on here if you would like.

1. What are your favorite smells?  Flowers, cinnamon, bread baking, salty air of the ocean

2.  What are your favorite sounds?  Laughter, the cooing sounds a baby makes, the waves crashing against the seashore

3.  What is something you use every day that you really like?   my voice 🙂  Now let me explain, when I say I like my voice, doesn’t mean I like hearing it on a recording. For that’s not how I think I sound, does your voice sound normal to you when you hear it?  But I am very thankful for it! I have had periods of time where i have lost my voice for 6-7 days, and I mean totally gone, barely can whisper. When your voice is gone that long, you really realize how much you miss it! I am thankful I have a voice.

4. What is a memory you are a thankful for?  This is hard, because there are so very many.  I think I shared this before on here quite awhile ago, but its one that popped in my mind with Christmas coming closer.  It is a Christmas memory. It is about a gift that  I gave my older brother. We were 10 years apart so in my childhood we spent a lot of time wrestling with each other and yes, he let me win a lot of times. 🙂 One time I accidentally ripped his t-shirt, I was strong for being so little, LOL! It was just an old t-shirt so we kept at it, he didn’t care.  I was probably around 7years old at the time.  This happened one summer. Well he had thrown the tattered shirt at me when we were done and I decided to save it. For Christmas that year I wrapped it up in a nicely gift wrapped box. Seeing his expression when he opened it was priceless!

Your turn now! 🙂

Always remember that no matter what you are going through in life, there is always something to be thankful for. Sometimes it can be harder to see, but the sun is still shining, even behind the clouds.