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Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Spending time with our children, in joy and love
49 comments:
- Mary R. said...
It is not hard being home with 2 little children. Mine were 2 years apart, and if anything, it is easier having two at home close together in age, because you are in the swing of things. You will enjoy it! It is terribly sad that small babies are put in day care. I was a little bit older when I started having children -- I was 34 when I had my first -- and knew how fast time flies. Before you know it, they are grown and gone. Don't listen to those detractors. Just do what you know you are supposed to be doing.
- April 07, 2010
- Mary R. said...
Oh, I see that you have The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer on your Wishlist! It is a fantastic book -- best enjoyed while your children are young. I bought it years ago and have read it several times. Her book, "What Is a Family" is also a classic and a "must have." So many good ideas in both for raising a family.
- April 07, 2010
- Star said...
There were three versions of this post on my list today. I presume you have edited it a couple of times? No matter, I found the right one at last and was pleased to see that you are expecting another child. I am to be a grandmother in October, for the first time, I might add and so will follow your progress with added interest.
I agree with you about spending time with the children while they are growing up and it really is up to you how you do it. The more effort you put into child rearing, the more enjoyment you will get out of it so run with it and all will be well. I know how hard it is. I brought up three of my own but eventually they do grow up and you get your time back so enjoy it while it lasts. It is only transitional.
Blessings, Star
- April 07, 2010
- Jodi said...
Well said, as usual, Anna. :)
Until recently, I honestly thought all mothers who weren't home with their children would really like to be. I have since discovered that's not the case.
Of course there are many women who greatly desire to be home, but there are also many who would rather be at work. That's truly sad to me. As challenging as staying home may be at times (financially, emotionally, and otherwise), I would never *want* to leave and go back to work outside the home. I understand *having to*, but I don't understand *wanting to*.
- April 07, 2010
- Autumn said...
Mac is only 18 months older than me, and Collin is only 2 years younger. Mom raised all 4 of us at home. And now, my siblings are my best friends.
Little Shira will love to be mommy's helper with the new baby, and you will love having them both.
People are silly. You are wise.
- April 07, 2010
- Sharon said...
Thank you for this post! I, too, have had to remind myself that efficiency is not the "point" of these precious years while my children are small. Life does move more slowly, but I wouldn't miss these precious moments for anything.
- April 07, 2010
- A Joyful Chaos said...
The art of joyful motherhood is something to never take for granted. I find some days to be much more sucessful at that than others.
We had three toddlers at one time and those years were wonderful. The thought of daycare didn't cross my mind, I didn't even like to leave them at their grandparents when ever I had to go to the doctor.
Days will be busier but it is so worth your time being with all of your children. Which I know you realize.
- April 07, 2010
You are so right about keeping little ones with you! Raising your children is the most important job you will ever have. The years when they are young fly by so quickly and I pity those who have missed those times for the sake of a bit more money.
As an aside my sister and I are 14 months apart and have always been very close. My mother said we were great entertainment for each other and that it was actually easier for her!
- April 07, 2010
- Phebe said...
Oh, Anna, thanks for taking time to write this post. It made me smile and want to go thank my husband right now for the chance to stay home with my little ones. It's nice to remember that we can enjoy the journey, and not miss the journey in pursuit of our goals...
- April 07, 2010
Ummm....I am a mother to 9 month old twins(#3 & #4). If we had shipped our older boys away after having Asher and Leland then we would of had NO help. "Family" didn't offer anything. Not that we expected it. Canyon(9) checked the mail, helped in the kitchen, picked the garden, bounced the babies, brought me needed items to change the babies, took care of Trenten(5).
We conceived the twins naturally and people assumed we were finished having children because we are at "risk" of conceiving twins again. When someone is brave enough to ask if we are going to have more they are always shocked when we reply. They ask if it's twice as hard and honestly it is NOT. They often wonder if the older two are jealous and they are NOT. The older boys LOVE their baby brothers and beg to hold them. They love feeding them little bits of food. They are very helpful and are always thinking of their brothers. Our first two boys are so close. Trenten is always saving treats to share with Canyon. People often comment "I'm glad it's you and not me" when they notice we have twins. We always reply "We are too".
We enjoy having our children with us. We feel lost with out them. They are not burdens! They are blessings.
- April 07, 2010
- Lady M said...
Our attitude has always been "why have them if you are going to give them over to be raised by someone else the better part of the day". It is not too hard to raise children together. My children are 11, 9, 1 and due in Oct. While the older 2 bicker at times, they are each others best friends. They LOVE their baby brother and are excited for the next little one to get here.
When my older 2 were little, there was a season where I worked part-time at nights outside the home. I have to say, sadly, that was my favorite job of jobs and if I ever had to work outside the home again, I would like to go back there. BUT - I HATED having to leave my family 4 nights a week and part of Saturdays. Granted, they were having fun with Daddy (and they have a great relationship with Daddy!), but I felt like I was missing all the fun, lol! Thankfully, God brought me back home full time and I do not miss working (even though I enjoyed the job) and I do not miss the hassle that went with it.
I hear my SIL say every year at the end of summer that she cannot wait until school starts because her children are driving her nuts. And yet, it is not like she spends all this time with them. She works 3-4 days a week and has them in all kinds of week long programs the whole of summer break. It breaks my heart for them and she has said this in front of them. I often wonder what that does to their self-worth.
So yes, women have been taking care of more than one child at a time (including a baby) since the beginning of time, lol! You can as well. And if I can (Had our first at 30 and the 4th will come when I am still 42), anyone can!
- April 07, 2010
- Persuaded said...
I actually felt my stomach drop when I read the words "put Shira in day care"...
Lawsy girl... don't scare a body like that!
- April 07, 2010
- momto9 said...
having two little ones at home is a DELIGHT!!!! I just can't imagine shipping one off....how sad!
- April 07, 2010
- THE Princess Bombshell* said...
I had four under the age of 3. It's tiring. It's hysterically funny. It's challenging. It's irreplaceable. It's loud. It's cuddly.
Not impossible.
People who say it is have other issues. The number of their children and age-spacing have nothing to do with it.
- April 07, 2010
- Walters Inc said...
Spot on Anna! My son was just born on March 29th and my daughter is 23 months old. While my days are full I would not trade this for the world. What a blessing children are. Too often they are viewed as an inconvenience and baggage. When in reality they are entrusted to us as precious cargo. They need our guidance and love to grow and learn.
A lot of people here in my neck of America say the very same things that folks in your area say. It is a universal problem. Your blog though is a wonderful support of Godly motherhood and it is lovely to have you around. Also, when your # two gets here you will be so much in love with the children it will not really seem like work. There are stressful times but the delight outweighs it for sure.
- April 07, 2010
- Bobbi said...
Here in America I get a lot of pressure about daycare... in order for the child to be "socially" where they should be...and "academically" up to speed before AGE 6? Craziness...pure and simple. Children are a blessing from the LORD...and may God help me on the days that I do not view them that way! There is a holiday song that has a line that makes me cringe, "The Moms and Dads can hardly wait for school to start again." Good grief...it's only a week long holiday, at best. You can't enjoy your children for such a brief time...for shame!! You have it right Anna...Shira and baby ? will be blessed as the outcome!!
- April 07, 2010
- mamajuliana said...
My second and third child were 10 months apart and I would have never thought of putting one in daycare to make it easier.
Sure there were some rough days-but that is part of being a family-part of being a 'Mother'. There were days that saw a dirty house and laundry that didn't get finished...but we were all together.
Daycare as a convenience is sad in my opinion.
- April 07, 2010
Mrs. Anna, I have never commented on your blog before but have been a faithful follower for about a year. I have a daughter who will be two tomorrow and a baby boy who is six weeks today. Yes, it gets harder with two, but oh what joy there is in having your children with you all day! Your post was so refreshing, reminding me to take it slow and treasure everyday because all too soon it will be over.
- April 07, 2010
- Thursday's Child said...
My son is 6 years older than the twins. He was a big help to me when they were younger and still is. When they were born we were homeschooling and it was a challenge but not the struggle that people always assumed it was.
Now big brother is in q8 visiting their dad, whose still working there, and the twins and I are enjoying spring break being home in Lebanon, just the 3 of us. They're exhausting and can drive me batty, but I wouldn't have it any other way. {They're also my extra pillows in bed this week. ;) }
- April 07, 2010
- Homemakers Cottage said...
Anna, I experiened similar questions when our second child and daugther, Emily, was born almost 4 years ago. She and our oldest are 2 1/2 yrs apart, and it just seemed reasonable to most people that we would enroll Amy (her big sister) in a preschool of some sort.
I have NEVER regretted keeping them both at home. Now we have 3 children, ages 6, almost 4, and almost 2, and are expecting another baby later this summer. We have a house full and, yes, sometimes a handfull! I homeschool and stay at home full time, so the kids and I are ALWAYS together.
Whenever I feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or like I can't enjoy my days at home with busy little ones, I realize it's time to reprioritize. The Lord has never failed to guide me, bless my efforts, and restore joy and peace to our bustling little home.
Kristy @ Homemaker's Cottage
- April 07, 2010
- Ganeida said...
I have 5, including identical twin boys. At one point I had 3 under 3 ~ & no daycare anyhow where I live.
Of course staying home with multiple children can be done. It's how our foremothers did it. What has changed is our perception of motherhood & our *rights*. Selfishness is at the root of this movement of women out of the home ~ & for the record I'm not naturally the domestic sort. Far more likely to get our ego stroked working outside the home than changing diapers & scrubbing floors & raising a generation that honours the Lord. Put in the hard yards when they are litte & do require so much physical work & you reap the rewards later during the teen years. Our children need US, not some daycare worker. That requires our TIME ~ not our money, not our resources, our time.
Keep walking the road less travelled. You will have your reward.
- April 07, 2010
- mhutchinson said...
Wow, what a post! So well said.
My youngest two are 14 months apart girl and boy, they are so so close. They lead eachother around by the hand all over the house and yard. They are sincere best friends, so far ;)
You can do it, it will be a joy!
I love it too! Yesterday, I went up the little hill, under the pine trees where the kids have a sleeping bag laid out to *make* their fort (they are only 3 and 4 years old)..I sat down with them and was so intrigued to see what they do up there all the time. They always go up there together and I learned their secrets! It was awesome! (and so much fun!) When's the last time you or I laid under a tree and breathed deeply-absorbing the tranquility all around us?
- April 07, 2010
- M said...
I agree with Lady M--Chris and I had the Boy because we wanted to HAVE him. He's ours.
And don't you think, maybe people are over-thinking it a bit...I mean, it is tiring, and it is loud and messy, but my Boy sets the pace for play, he's played with some new cups I bought for him all.day.long. He brings me toys and I show him how they're "supposed" to work and he corrects me and shows me how to actually play with them. We name things constantly, we read, we run, we jump out and surprise each other, we tickle and laugh and cuddle. It's not impossible by any stretch.
I can honestly say it's the funnest job I've ever had.
- April 08, 2010
- Gothelittle Rose said...
Hee hee, wait 'til homeschooling starts!
I'm glad to see summer coming up, honestly glad and excited. Lil Bernie will be 7 and Lil Tricia is just about one year old. Daycare would never have occurred to me. After all, what AM I here for?
Holiday is when I don't have to push the schoolwork and we can all just hang out together without the stresses of everywhere we have to be or do. I couldn't imagine waiting for holidays to end so that we could send the kids off again.
- April 08, 2010
I'm sorry, but that's hysterical! I'm so glad that poor misguided lady was talking to you and not me - I don't think I would have been able to keep from bursting out laughing.
Two small ones is as challenging as it gets. With number three it's easier, and more so with numbers four and five. (I only have five, so I don't know about six and up.) How can this be? Well, they keep getting older, and if they've been home with you, learning from you, they're more and more of a help.
Can you imagine Shira in daycare? You'd have to get up when the clock said it was time, whether you were ready or not. Then force feed her breakfast if she wasn't hungry, wake up the baby and drag him or her along to take big sister to daycare. Back at home you'd have to recover from the violent beginning to the day, and do all the housework (because of course you'd have so much time to spare with one in day care - grin). In the evening, you'd have to work dinner preparations around going to get her, hauling the baby along again. Then she'd bring home all manner of new and exciting words, behaviours and illnesses for you to suffer through!
If you're able to stay home with your own children, daycare is a ridiculous idea. I'm so glad you're able to put it all down so graciously - great post!
- April 08, 2010
- Rose said...
Shira and Baby T are very blessed in their parents.
- April 08, 2010
- messy bessy said...
Here's what I find so ironic about comments like the ones you describe: Think of even the best daycare situation. (Of course, I don't know Israel's set-up, so I'll just use US examples.) How many children are there per each "worker"? Six? Five? Or even more? (Here, I've heard of places with 10 kids per provider.)
And not only that, but here anyway, daycare work is a low-skill, low-pay job (although perhaps not in Israel). Certainly daycare workers have thorough background checks and have to truly love children and even have some training, in some places. But these jobs do not necessarily attract people with any particular education.
Why is it that daycare workers can put in long hours for low pay with far more than 2 children assigned to them each day, and still be superior to the children's mothers, who LOVE THOSE KIDS MORE and gladly do it from their hearts? Who have a HUGE vested interest in making sure that the children are polite, kind, disciplined, socially graceful, etc? Where will you find a daycare worker who lies awake in the middle of the night, stressed out because little Johnny isn't learning to share like she hopes he will?
Actually, I must confess, every time I go to the grocery store and get the alarmed questions from people who see me with 8 gallons of milk in my cart, underneath all the other food that keeps us going for a week, I am so tempted to say, "I'm the general manager of a small Catholic infant development center, but I also work in the food service department."
I could even get business cards!
- April 08, 2010
- Amanda said...
Bobbi, I get the same sort of pressure here in the US! So many moms I know lament the fact that their kid is 'missing out' on the social benefits of daycare. Crazy stuff for sure!
Anna, I'm expecting my second baby too! I'm due in November and while the first trimester is rough on me my 21 month old son has been such a help. He is becoming mister independent and with simple guidance from me can help a lot with simple tasks like clearing the table and putting away toys. He's even potty trained now and on occasion when he has an accident he knows the drill and tosses his wet clothes down to the basement to be washed later by me. He doesn't mind that I've slowed down either and we have some great cuddle time on the couch in the mornings :)
My sister and I are 18 months apart as well and we were so close growing up. My mother kept me home from preschool specifically to keep my sister occupied (not that I think she did right by holding me back, but it shows how much easier she found it to have two little ones rather than one). I've nannied for as many as 4 kids at once and always found it an exciting challenge, certainly not nearly as difficult as everyone makes it out to be. I'd get the most amazed and pitying looks from mothers wrangling their 1 or 2 children when they saw me at the library with 4, 2, and 5 month old boys. I enjoyed it and look forward to the day when I (God willing) have four children of my own with me each day.
- April 08, 2010
I completely agree with you, Anna! My sister and I are 16 months to the day apart, and have been best friends all our lives. Neither of us were ever in daycare - one parent was always home with us and my grandmother was happy to watch us. As a result, I have strong relationships with all of them. I don't think I was socially or academically hindered by being home - I entered kindergarten ahead of most of my classmates and graduated high school at the top of my class.
I'm not planning on having children for at least a few years, but when I do, I think that it's important that either I or my husband stay home with them, at least for the first few years.
- April 08, 2010
Lovely, very lovely!
- April 08, 2010
- Analytical Adam said...
As in Christianity feminism has been a problem in religious Judaism for a long time as the male leaders sad to say would rather a woman be involved in the congregation of something else rather then be in the home being the helpmate of the husband because sad to say they are threatened by men who work and use their analytical skills and critical thinking skills in the workplace and the men in the religious skills are not allowed to develop skills to work and the women focus on this and they are allowed to have this envy of men which again leads them to make them decisions that are bad for their own children. That is why envy is considered such a serious sin and this is a double dose for honest Jewish men. Some woman feel envy that men have somewhat more control in the outside world even with gov't forcing companies to hire women and Rabbi's feel threatened by men who do work work and use their skills in the supply and demand world which requires thinking and questioning and experimenting and doing things to make things more efficient.
If feminism wasn't a problem women would want to be home with their children. I suspect many of these women are married to men who they don't really respect either which is why they don't trust their husbands to stay home with their kids.
I am depressed because most religious women have been brainwashed by feminism and are focused on a career and don't want to be for their children.
- April 08, 2010
I find that when people in obviously the same condition offer a counter-intuitive point of view, they're merely shoring up for themselves that earnestness indeed is behind the rhetoric, to assure themselves that the person to whom they're talking to isn't going to bail out at the last moment when things become too difficult and trying, and that there is honest intention of dogged pursuit.
Perhaps, the mother of five was able to give some reasons why she wanted to send her older ones away, but hopefully they were issues for which you'd already decided were insignificant to the benefits of an older sister's care.
Sometimes, those who think they have a lot of experience think that those without a lot of experience need a little self-talking to confirm that plans have been made.
In any case, had someone suggested that to me if I'd had multiple children of pre-school ages, I would have been perplexed as to why it might be an advantage. (I would've said in my head, 'Are you out of your freakin' mind?) There is none closer than siblings to grow old with, unless we're dealing with separated orphans, then one has to make do with what can.
- April 08, 2010
- Jo said...
How did mothers cope in years gone by?? when they had many more children.
- April 08, 2010
I was born in the 50's to a mother who had a career, even though my father made enough money.
I was unwanted and considered a burden, and my mother never spent any time with me or showed any interest or tenderness to me at all. I feel the effect of that to this day.
I am always wistful and envious of people who have had good and caring mothers.
God bless you and your family abundantly, Mrs. Anna. Your children and husband have a treasure in you.
- April 08, 2010
- FosterMama said...
Wow- I can't believe people think that way! I am at home with a 19 month old and a 10 month old right now. It was hard in the first month with 2, but that was just figuring out how everything would work with 2 babies who were so close in age. Now, it's a complete joy and I wouldn't want to be doing anything else. I cannot imagine sending one of them away for hours every day. No way-- we have too much fun!
- April 08, 2010
- Mrs W said...
I have three babies at home right now. I am thinking of one day a week daycare just so I can do my errands, BUT, if we can't afford it or don't want to do it, I can "handle" my three. They are 2 1/2, 19 months, and 7 months. And the two oldest are special needs, but I can still "handle" all of them at home.
- April 08, 2010
- Kate said...
As of late June/early July I will have a 4 year old, a 2 year old and a newborn in my home. Despite having children I am mostly able to keep up with my chores, cook delicious dinners, homeschool my oldest, garden and do yard work, exercise (when I'm not pregnant), spend a little me-time, sew, work on hobbies and house projects, and spend special time with my husband. It isn't impossible. It is just reality.
There are seasons in our lives where we can't fulfill everything on our to-do lists, and that's ok too!
Why get a dog when you're just going to stick him in a crate or kennel the whole time?
Why buy a cake you're just going to stick in the back of your fridge until is goes stale and mouldy?
Why have children if you're just going to put them in daycare for someone else to raise?
- April 08, 2010
- Mary said...
Isn't it a sad thing to see the way the feminist mindset has invaded our culture ? I was married in 1953 and we lived in New York City. We had our first 4 children in 6 years and thoroughly enjoyed them.
We lived in a six room apartment in a 6 story building, so the thing all the Mommies did twice each day was walk the few blocks to the park with all of their children.(for fresh air ???) We Moms sat on the benches that encircled the play area and large sand box and talked together as we kept an eye on our little ones as they happily played together.
In the years we lived there before being able to move back to our home town, I never once heard a Mom express negative thoughts about being home with her children, or even once heard a Mom criticize her husband. How blessed I was to begin Motherhood surrounded by such a positive group of women.They made motherhood a happy, joyous, creative, experience and I learned the same mindset from them.
We were a very mixed group of Mom's since most of the women had husband's who were working on their Master's degrees at nearby Columbia University. I learned SO much from those women - many of whom were from different countries. I learned that there is no set way to raise a child since all their methods seemed to work equally well. The American Moms toilet trained at 2 years, the Mom from the Netherlands said that everyone in Holland toilet trained at 1 year. Her 13 month old was completely toilet trained with no struggles and seemed very well adjusted.
It was all a very good learning experience for me. I laid down my small town mentality and enjoyed the diversity. My daughter spent the night with a Chinese friend and came home asking, "Mommie, why don't we eat soup and rice for breakfast? The Mom whose husband was German went back to Germany with him every other summer and while he studied, took a walking tour of Germany with her 4 small children, carrying her youngest in a backpack on her back.All the Moms said, "That Betsy, she's so terrific !"
The Mom from Indonesia told me how much easier it was to parent back in Indonesia where the extended family all lived in a compound and she had grandmothers, aunts and sisters to help love and care for the children and lend support.
Still, with all of their differences, they one and all enjoyed being with their children and never once considered putting one in day care.
So, Anna, enjoy your growing family. I have one daughter who has 8 children whom she home schools. The oldest is now married (and second generation homeschooling) and the others at home range from 6 years to 23 years.
They are all godly young people who have an unusually close bond with one another and the older ones have done well in college and the work force. Two of our other daughters have also home schooled -each with 4 children, and their children are doing great!
So continue swim against the tide, dear Anna, you are swimming in the right direction and blessing other young Moms as you journey.
Blessings to you and your family,
Mary L.
- April 08, 2010
- Val said...
As someone who doesn't have children, I can't comment on the difficulty of raising kids. I can, however, tell you that my own experience as an only child (because of health reasons - my mother almost died during her pregnancy) was sometimes lonely. While I loved having my mother at home with me, I would have thoroughly enjoyed the companionship of a sibling. Even today, in my 20s, I still wish for a sibling....I don't have that life-long friend that so many do. If my husband and I are someday blessed with children, I intend to have multiple, at home, so they can grow up together and enjoy each other's company.
- April 08, 2010
- Stacey said...
What a wonderful post, and of universal relevance. We do not have children, but as a retired teacher, I have had years of experience with families of differing opinions and philosophies, or usually (and sadly) no philosophy of parenting at all. It has always troubled me the number of women and couples who have children with little or no thought put into it, and without really wanting to be around them. Here where I live (in Scotland) we have one of the highest rates of teenage, unwed pregnancy in the world. Can you imagine? I never would have thought if of this little place until I came to live here and saw it with my own eyes.
You are a wise woman, and your child (soon, children!) and husband are blessed by you, I have no doubt. If only every woman (and man) would think and plan and prepare carefully for their little ones, and take the time, as you said, to invest in their little precious lives. Bless you!
- April 08, 2010
- Bethany Hudson said...
The comment that mother made to you is one of the most absurd things I have ever heard (says the young mother of 2 little ones under 3 at home). Sure, it's difficult, but frankly, so was college. And, having them together DOES pay off--my children adore each other! I am actually astonished at how close two babies can be when their friendship is nurtured and expected in the home. I always find these sorts of tidbits of Israeli culture that you share interesting. We have similar attitudes towards raising children in the US, but we go about it a little differently--most people just have only one or two children--and the two children are usually about 4 years apart, so that one is already in school by the time the new baby comes!
- April 08, 2010
We have 3 at home right now. Ages
5, 3, and 9 months. The older ones absolutely adore their baby brother. I can't imagine sending ANY of them off to daycare!
I have never heard someone--especially a mother of a large family--say such a thing before. Wow.
I can slip into the mode of making sure my children are fed, clothed and getting enough sleep pretty easily. It's when I put my own "special time" aside that I really start enjoying my kids. When I focus more on me, the kids become more of a "chore". My children are such a blessing, though. I'm learning every day to enjoy the time we have together. Because all too soon they'll be grown and gone.
- April 08, 2010
- CappuccinoLife said...
Wow. What a sad thing to hear of. :( Nobody has been antagonistic to me, but I've gotten a lot of "innocent" questions from people about why my children aren't in "school" at 2 and 3 years old. "Socialization" and "academics" are hugely pushed for young ages in the US (not that it does our kids any good, from looking at the stats when they reach highschool) from the government windbags to people on the street.
Maybe having two will be hard. I know I have hard days. But the hard days are worth it and the good days are heaven. :D My olders help me with the youngers, the youngers learn from the olders, they enjoy each other, I enjoy them, and most days we get through just fine.
You can do it Anna! I'm sure your children with thrive at home with you.
- April 08, 2010
- Jamie said...
So true, Anna.
I had a friend tell me recently that I was the only one of her friends with small children who didn't use daycare. I was surprised.
This is not to say that I've had an easy time. Mothering can be tiring and very challenging. I have found it hugely so! But it is such an important job.
I now have two children at full time school (a 5yo and a 7yo) and one at home (a 2yo). Our older children are on school holidays at the moment. It takes us a few days at the start of each holidays to adjust to being together again full time, but I so look forward to the holidays.
There are times when I am tearing my hair out and feeling frustrated, but I love having all of us together.
Too soon, they will be making their own way in the world.
- April 09, 2010
- tw-us said...
Isn't it funny how we expect a daycare provider, a preschool or kindergarten teacher, or an elementary school teacher to be able to care for/teach/discipline/manage a whole room full of children, perhaps 20 or more, all of the same age, no less, sometimes without an aide, but we don't think a mother can do that for several of her own children at home, who are of different ages and able to help each other?!
Why is it that if you take care of many children OUTSIDE the home, (other peoples' children, that is) for money, it is something one is capable of doing, but a MOTHER is not capable of doing it because she is home and not paid for it? Crazy.
- April 09, 2010
- ~Ashley~ said...
Wow. Wow.
I'm nearly speechless!
Honestly, I think in *ways* it is easier to have more children than it is just one. They play together, help each other, etc. In some ways, of course, it's more challenging ... but anything worth having is worth that challenge!
I have a 4yo, 2yo, 1yo and am due in August - I think a few days ahead of you. ~smile~
I love, love, love not being alone during the day! I get more done now with three, than I did with one. They love to help me!
But more importantly, I've gotten a wonderful chance to learn what is important and what really isn't.
The nice thing about a growing family, there is always someone who likes all parts of the meal, the edges, the center, the burnt part, the undercooked ... LOL It amuses me to watch my children swap food. We don't allow it often, but sometimes it is just so obvious because they are asking for each other's "dislikes". LOL
Simplify the areas that keep you way from your little ones. You won't regret it!
- April 09, 2010
- Wendy said...
This reminded me of the time when someone told me, "If you don't put your son into the Youth Group at church, he will rebel!" All I could muster in my exasperated state, was a, "No, he won't!"
Time will bear out the rightness of your choices. When your family is close in their hearts, and your children treat each other with love and respect, and can carry on a conversation with an adult and look them in the eye, people will sit up and take notice and ask you, "How did you do this? Why are you different?"
What you are doing is the destination, in a sense. Treasure every day! (Please come and read my blog--I keep thinking of things I have already written, to say here, but that would be so silly:) I hope you do come, and when you do, let me know you've visited! I extend to you and all your visitors a very warm welcome, and the cookies and coffee/tea are always out and I am always excited for you to visit.
Faith's Firm Foundation
www. faithfultojesus.blogspot.com
- April 10, 2010
- Pinkkihelmi said...
It seems that my comment got lost..
I really appreciate your posts.
- April 10, 2010
- Julie said...
Oh, Mrs. Anna, I just popped in here from time away. I am so excited for you.
As a fosterparent there was a time in my life where I had two 1 year olds and a 2 year old. While a lot of work it was one of the fullest times of my life. I loved it!
Now I am expecting my first biological child with five adopted children at home from age 13-4. I often wonder if I will even see my baby except during feeding time. LOL My kids are all so anxious to meet her and help with her.
Even though your daughter is young she will be able to toddle around and help mommy. What a wonderful experience for her.
It's the same way around here. Even in the evangelical church. It's so sad. It seems like everyone wants to seperate families. Schools, churches, summer programs... My DH and I purposefully plan things to do as a family instead of everyone running off in seperate directions.
- April 11, 2010


text:
"Do what makes you HAPPY
Be with those who make you SMILE
LAUGH as much as you BREATHE
LOVE as long as you LIVE"
This saying is above my desk in the kitchen.
It's funny how your life changes, whether you have planned out every detail or flown by the seat of your pants, your plan for life may not have worked out just as you had it planned out in your head as child, teen, young adult or even as you did when you were thirty-something, forty-something or fifty-something. I gave my life to the Lord when I was 7 and my life definitely has not worked out like I planned it but I have to believe it has worked out the way the Lord planned it.
I have always been a planner and organizer but as life has changed, I have had to learn to roll with the punches and be spontaneous. I do my best to do what makes me HAPPY. I strive to be with those who make me SMILE. I LAUGH just about as much as I Breathe and I LOVE open heartedly and hope to do so as long as I live. The Lord teaches us to love one another, to give of our time and offerings and to serve the Lord and others.
When my time comes to leave this world and join my earthly Daddy and heavenly Father in Heaven I want to be remembered as someone who was HAPPY, SMILED, LAUGHED and LOVED among other things.
I encourage you to live life to the fullest! Make whatever changes you need to make to make yourself HAPPY. Remember to LAUGH. Remember to SMILE and remember to LOVE yourself as well as others.
Have a blessed day!

subset: commoncrawl


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Elana Young inspires judges with her gifts in Long Beach Giving Project
2010-03-31 · By Editor
By David Stuursma
(David was also one of the Givers in this year's Long Beach Giving Project)
With two weeks and $1000 in their pockets, eight Long Beach volunteers made an impact on the community, each in their own way. And on March 27, the Long Beach Giving Project concluded with tears of joy and warmed hearts as the volunteers stood before an audience of 150 and shared their stories of giving.
All eyes were especially trained on one unique giver. In a gathering of adults, how would a teenager use the money? Elana Young, a 16-year old Junior at Wilson High School, is a consistent, hard-working volunteer for Justin Rudd and the Community Action Team (CAT), the organizers of the Giving Project. On this night, Young faced the crowd with calm eyes and rosy cheeks and spoke of her experience with poise that few possess at that age. The audience marveled at how she stretched her money to unbelievable lengths knowing lives might depend on it.
Young said, "I have met some truly inspirational people who dedicate their lives to making things better. While the project was at times tiring and stressful, it was inspiring and I hope to get more chances to improve the community, one step at a time. By clipping coupons from newspapers and scouring the Internet for usable discounts, I was able to save over $400 and buy more items."
Young purchased 750 diapers and 3,600 wipes for the homeless children who are cared for by the Children Today organization. She delivered 1,600 crayons, 25 coloring books, and 200 mini boxes of Play-doh to the Miller Children's Hospital. And for the Long Beach C.A.R.E. clinic she took advantage of a store's buy-one-get-one-free offer and bought 3,590 vitamins with the hope that those vitamins would help patients who have contracted the AIDS virus, and keep them healthy and strong.
As impressive as Young's gifts were, and those listed here are but a portion, the real meaning went deeper. It was clear that Young became an advocate for each of the groups to which she gave. She knew their stories and their purpose, and she clearly understood the needs they served in the community.
Elana is the youngest person ever to take part in the Long Beach Giving Project. Due to her effort, heart and presentation abilities that reveal a remarkable maturity, a panel of judges awarded her an additional $1000 to freely give away. To hear her story is to know the money is in capable hands. Before the event began, Young submitted this written statement to organizer Justin Rudd: "If I won, I would try to enrich the lives of women who have breast cancer and buy supplies for the animal shelter. I would also try to help the patients at the Veteran's Hospital because they have given so much, and they should get something for their service."
In total, more than $17,000 of goods and services were given throughout Long Beach through the Giving Project. In addition to the eight, $1000 givers, mini gifts of $250 were awarded to 21 individuals at the event who had written in with stories of people both deserving and in need of a hand up.
For more information about the Long Beach Giving Project winners, visit: justinrudd.com/giving.


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Nice looks at Zara right now, lace, flower prints, knee length skirt and mix of feminine and masculine, pretty much the keywords on my mind right now.
November 13, 2011
October 29, 2011
Arizona Muse by David Sims Vogue US November 2011
It's Halloween and I'm suppose to go to a masquerade party tonight, just wish I had a floor sweeping dress like this in my wardrobe. This "War Horse"-inspired spread, styled by Grace Coddington and photographed by David Sims in Vogue US November issue, is incredible beautiful and Arizona looks absolutely stunning, on the other hand, when doesn't she. See all images on Vogue.com.
October 25, 2010
Vogue Paris November 2010
I love these images of Sasha Pivovarova photographed by Mikael Jansson, dreamy, make me long for summer in the countryside, running barefeet, childhood memories and playing dress up, so beautiful!


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What does retouching even mean?
The term 'retouching' makes most people think of photo editing. 'Retouching' comes from the French word 'retoucher' and can also be described as a correction or a touch-up. Photographers have been retouching their images ever since they started taking them. Back then, pictures were retouched by painting directly on the film with brushes: their retouching was analogue. Nowadays, images are retouched digitally on a computer. There are still different kinds of retouching, such as copy and brush retouching. Copy retouching takes other parts of the image and copies them. This method is used to eliminate dust, sratches and other nuisances. When retouching with a brush, parts of the image are covered up with colour, almost as if painting with a real brush.
Retouching photos is a vast field that can't really be explained that easily. It might be a complicated photomontage or a simple touch-up of someone's skin, when you're talking about retouching an image you could be talking about lots of different techniques and methods.
We retouch your images digitally.


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Popular search terms:
apply online, campus map, admissions events, tuition, transcripts, calendar, graduation, scholarships, nursing, bookstore, registrar, academic calendar, athletics
Students pursuing a health science major may earn credit hours during their junior or senior years observing in a department of a hospital, medically-oriented industry or private practices, where they are assigned to clinical preceptors by the Benedictine University director of Pre-Professional Health Programs. Written reports of your experiences will be reviewed by the director at frequencies of mutual agreement. Through this, you may relate academic materials to your applications in the clinic, and determine through immediate contact with your chosen field whether you want to continue in them. These practica do not ensure clinical certification.
Submit on or after: April 5, 2019
(Do not submit before April 5)
Last day to submit application: Friday, April 12, 2019
Once the application has been submitted, stop by Ms. Sima's office to set up an appointment for an interview.
Final decisions will be made May 3, 2019 for SUMMER & FALL 2019 Practica.
William R. Law, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Science
Tonia Rucker, Assistant to the Dean
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: (630) 829-6187
Fax: (630) 829-6186
Dean's Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Dean's Office Location:
Birck Hall Room 119


text:
This week, New Times featured an article about old-school journalist George Volsky and his ongoing conflict with Coral Gables City Manager David Brown. To recap, the former New York Times reporter busted Brown for dining lavishly on taxpayers' dime and backdating receipts to cover himself.
Then, in what appears to be an act of revenge, Brown ordered three police officers to toss the 87-year-old columnist out of city hall on Aug 12. The accusation: Volsky harassed a secretary named Olga Garcia. Apparently, walking into a room and asking someone a question qualifies as harassment in the Gables.
If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.
You have successfully signed up for your selected newsletter(s) - please keep an eye on your mailbox, we're movin' in!
Now, it looks like both the secretary and the City Manger are having some trouble proving Volsky did anything wrong. Here's the latest chapter of the feud, courtesy of the Coral Gables Gazette:
"When the intern in the mayor's office was reluctant to back up her claims to police that Coral Gables Gazette columnist George Volsky had harassed her on the afternoon of Aug. 12, the mayor's secretary did what she had done just minutes before: Olga Garcia called City Manager David Brown.
Then, according to city employees, Garcia put Brown on speakerphone who then instructed the intern, Alfredo Santamaria, to cooperate, reminding all those assembled in the room and within earshot of the open door on the second floor of City Hall, that, "...Volsky doesn't run this city; I do."'


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LIMITED EDITION: "Thoughts of ABANDONMENT" is printed on premium Photo Satin RC Paper with pigmented inks for unmatched archival longevity and fade resistance for 250 years.
OPTIONS: Print or mounted ready to hang. Ready to Hang are literally "Ready to Hang". No expensive frame is needed nor glazing of any type. These Custom Prints have a Protective Laminate for non-glare protection, are Mounted on light weight 3/16″ Black Gatorfoam, and have an inexpensive recessed back frame (Gator Frame) to facilitate easy hanging. They look like they are floating about 1/2″ off the wall and can be any size or shape up to 5′ x 10′.
Larger sizes and multiples available upon request. This print is safely shipped in a tube or box. FREE shipping to the lower 48 states. Please send us a message about pricing for International, HI or Alaska.


text:
The D-Day Darlings with Avro Lancaster NX611 'Just Jane'
A celebration of 30 years of the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre for our loyal supporters and 40's enthusiasts. The event is being held to help raise funds for the restoration of Avro Lancaster NX611 'Just Jane' and tickets are limited to 700!
Enjoy an atmospheric 40's concert under the nose of Avro Lancaster NX611 'Just Jane' with Britains Got Talent finalists 'The D-Day Darlings' supported by the 'Bombshell Beaus' and 'Miss Sarah Jane'.
The acts will be singing a variety of 40's and 50's tunes with an array of tempos for those who want to dance and jitterbug the night away or those that want to just sit and absorb the atmosphere.
Tickets £25.00
7.30pm -11.00pm approx.
Bring your own drinks and food.
Tables and chairs provided.
Show your support for the Avro Lancaster NX611 and help to keep it running.


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Today, we meet with Chris Klimas and Joel Haddock from Unmapped path. Their work on Disbound is transforming Nocked from a bunch of haphazard text to the game that will soon be in your hands. We sat down with them last week for a short conversation.
Joel and Chris, you two make up Unmapped Path. Could you introduce yourselves to our readers and explain your roles in the company?
[Chris] The first text-based game I released was back in 1997. That sounds ancient, doesn't it? I've always been interested in narrative-centered games in some shape or form, though. In 2009, I was playing around with hypertext and ended up creating a tool called Twine. It eventually become quite popular, as you probably know! So while I continue to lead the Twine project, I'm also building games with Joel as part of Unmapped Path.
[Joel] I've been dabbling in game design since I was kid sketching out Super Mario Bros levels on the back of my spiral notebook covers, but it wasn't until Chris and I started working together in 2010 that I started to turn those ideas in concrete projects. As part of Unmapped Path, I do both writing and art, and also try to bring in some very mundane project management skills. No one ever wants to talk about that part for some reason.
[Chris] Although it's incredibly important!
Nocked is powered by Disbound. Could you tell us a little bit about it? How does it differ from some of the mobile-optimized story formats that already exist for Twine?
[Chris] Disbound is an engine we've created that allows us to build mobile games with Twine. Its name comes from a publishing term for a book that has had its binding ripped out -- and that's the concept at the core of the engine. Disbound lets us take a Twine game as-is and build a compelling app around it, instead of having to rewrite its code from scratch.
With Disbound, we can convert existing Twine stories into mobile apps pretty rapidly. It also makes it much easier for us to build things from scratch, too -- right from the get-go, we have something that behaves like a full-fledged app. We can focus more of our time on story and gameplay instead of nuts and bolts.
The other thing that we think makes Disbound stand out from Twine story formats is that it allows us to take full advantage of the capabilities of the devices we're building for -- things like a phone's camera and GPS. It's possible to do that with a Twine game running in a mobile browser, but it's not particularly easy.
It's been mentioned that Disbound transforms Twine stories for the mobile experience. Is this a product you hope to release to the general Twine community?
[Chris] Not in the foreseeable future. Our goal with Unmapped Path is to build games, not try to jumpstart another platform. And our goals with Disbound itself are fairly humble -- we want it to disappear in the user experience. We don't want people to play a game and immediately think, "ah, another Disbound game."
Where do you hope to take Disbound in the future?
[Chris] Right now, we're very focused on building for iOS devices. But of course, Android's an important market, and we're also interested in adapting Disbound for desktop computers, too. In general, development on Disbound has been very much a process of pave-the-cow-paths. As we hit unique needs for individual games, we're always thinking about how to generalize the solutions we come up with.
What's next for Unmapped Path?
[Joel] At the moment, we're working on a project internally we're referring to as Maison. We really like code names for things.
Ten years ago, the player's father vanished into the depths of a most unusual house, never to be seen again. Now, after a decade of trying to find a way in, the player has an opportunity to at last delve into the mysteries of the place to seek out their father's ultimate fate. Did I mention it's owned by their arch-nemesis, the Mayor? Maison hearkens back to the haunted house adventures of yore, but with way more fringe science and electoral fraud. And who doesn't love electoral fraud?
Is there anything else you'd like to tell our readers?
[Joel] If you want to keep up on developments with Maison, what we're up to in general, or really just like getting more email, you can sign up for our monthly newsletter!
Thanks, Chris and Joel, for the great interview. Unmapped Path has it's own exciting website with more information. Check it out!
Last week, we asked the question: do you want more play by post? The answer, overwhelmingly, was yes! So, without further ado, we begin our new adventures!
Part 1 - Robin Hood is Dead
Or he never existed in the first place. A fiction to justify the rapacious banditry of one Robert Fitzhugh, whose body now hangs from the Nottingham gallows. Freedom, then, for the banditry-by-law as practiced by the Sheriff. There was ever little difference between them.
I am Marian, noble-born, ward of the absent King Richard, rightful ruler of Nottingham, and heretofore betrothed against my will to that odious Sheriff by the dictates of Prince John. Tomorrow is the wedding, but tonight the men are drunk on the death of Robin. Tonight, I make my escape.
I don't have much time. I must choose what's most important to me, and leave the rest.
- I infiltrate the armory and retrieve my father's sword and bow.
- I rescue my faithful handmaid, Rosalind, from the servant's quarters.
- I break into the library for my book of spells, gifted to my by my great aunt Morgana.
Marian's decision at this juncture has been made. To continue her adventures, check out the latest dev blog and vote on her current actions.
This is the Nocked! True Tales of Robin Hood development blog. Every week I'll discuss some aspect of the game's development, show off some art, and give you the opportunity to create an entirely new Robin Hood story. And be sure to check out the butler's take on the Sheriff of Nottingham, occasionally updated @ManOfNottingham.


text:
Poetry by fans about Hotaru
In the dim light of the lamp
Blackest pitch
Silence deafening
Appearances Deceiving
In the dim light of the lamp
See her?
She reads
Those eyes..
They see all
Right through you
the dim light of the lamp
She sits in her room
The light burns out
A flash of cold metal
You feel it at your throat
Beg for mercy
Senshi of Silence
She appears
In the dim light of the lamp..
- In the dim light of the lamp, By Keika
You step onto a street. It is early evening. Surprisingly, the street is vacant. A heavy silence hangs in the air. You are filled with incredible fear as the sky grows suddenely dark. The cold around you is almost unbearable. It is very bitter. You uncontrollably shiver as the heavy silence presses down upon you. Tears stream down your face as you hopelessly run through the street, screaming the name of your most loved one. Finally, you collapse from physical exhaustion, hot burning tears still stinging your eyes. You are just about to give up when you hear light footsteps approaching you. You lift your head and spin around, filled with sudden hope for the presence of someone, anyone really, when you are met face to face with cold, sharp metal. You can't help but gawk at the frighteningly sythelike spear looming an inch away from your nose. You slowly look up the polearm, continually looking up the weapon until you make eye contact with whomever is holding this instrument of death. There stands the dark messiah. Her inpenetrable purple eyes burning through you, staring you down. Her short shiny black hair tousled carelessly by the wind which has suddenely begun to blow. Her face is inscrutable. There is just an expression of blankness. Calm. It is terrifying. You just wish she would say something. The winds cease and sound mutes as the silent one raises her glaive and slowly lowers it. You try to scream but no sound emits from your throat. You collapse and give up. Then everything goes black.
-untitled, by Keika
a heavy mist hangs in the air. its density is intoxicating. you sit on a pedestal of some sort, surrounded by stuffed toys your head hangs lifelessly. there is no sound to be heard; the silence is deafening. silence: the awakening. silence: the darkness is approaching. silence. . .
you close your eyes as the foggy mist rises and envelops you. it is cold, unwelcoming. it makes you shudder. raw shivers pulsate through your body, making you tremble mindlessly, grasping for that bit of warmth which so quickly escapes your body. . . silence . . . cold . . . the nuclear winter . . .
then, a flash of cold metal. . . silence . . . you open your eyes as wide as you can. . . silence . . . the dark messiah materializes before you . . . silence . . . the glaive she points at you so menacingly shoots spikes of panic and terror which course through your veins . . . silence . . . you scream, but there is no sound . . . only silence . . . senshi of darkness . . . soldier of destruction . . . bringing death . . . and eternal . . .
s i l e n c e
- s i l e n c e, by Keika
That is you.
In two senses of the word.
First, there is the obvious implication.
But then, there is that unspoken undertone that lies right beneath the surface.
The very thought of the words, Im sure, sends shivers through your body.
Frail, small body,
Yet capable of so much.
So you wait and watch and listen,
Close-mouthed, pale lips pinched together,
Afraid of hearing your own meek voice not to mention uttering those dreadful words.
Because, when the world ends,
You will also end.
And then there will be silence again.
And you would rather be silent now than then.
- Hotaru, By Dayna---
the dark,
a pale light shines...
Firefly Girl
A power,
such a weak body confines..
Poor Firefly Girl
A power of healing-
For the ill
A power of destruction-
There to kill T
hat¹s what makes her lonely..
Firefly Girl
- Firefly Girl- Hotaru¹s Poem, by Mari-chan


text:
About Michelle
Michelle Stanek is an internationally-recognized pole dance performer and instructor known for her signature "sexy contemporary" style that blends sensual movement with the grace, extension and control of her classical dance background. An early competitive athlete, Michelle won 5 out of the 6 competitions she entered including the 2012 United States Pole Dance Champion title. Her industry-changing performances are notable for their movement innovation, artistry and fluidity.
A passionate and dedicated instructor, Michelle co-created elevatED: pole dance fitness and flexibility teacher trainings, to help instructors provide informed, thoughtful experiences to their students. Michelle travels the world through Poles On Tour, training instructors, offering her signature workshops, judging competitions, and performing. She is a proud Bad Kitty brand ambassador and instructor at Body & Pole in New York City, where she is also a partner.
She is also the curator of The Wall at Body & Pole — a unique, contemporary art gallery bringing the visual and aerial arts together. She curates the art on The Wall and produces opening night events, that are unlike any other art gallery opening.
Prior to her full-time pole dance career, Michelle earned a B.A. and M.A. in Art History, working at AIGA, the professional association for design, Pratt Institute and the Assisi Institute. In 2016, she was invited to present as a Main Stage speaker for "Adaptation: AIGA Design Conference" in Las Vegas. Her presentation + performance, "Pole Dancing, Preconceptions, and You," was incredibly well-received as a stand-out presentation. When not immersed in dance and art, she loves exploring the NYC art scene, dancing, bike-riding and adventuring with her adoring and adored husband and a good rooftop pool.
Pole Dance Titles
Miss Pole Dance America 2015
1st Place, AERA group performance
1st Place, Professional
Pole Dance Universe 2011
1st Place
Pole Art 2011
4th Place
1st Place, Amateur
1st Place, Pole Drama
Polesque 2010
1st Place
Featured Roles
Law & Order SVU
"Undercover Blue"
Season 14 episode 17, 2012
Diplo "Set it Off"
Music video, 2012
Blue Bloods
"Devil's Breath"
Season 3 Episode 21, 2012
Royal Republic "Underwear"
Music video, 2010
Michelle is a founding member of the aerial dance company, AERA, and has performed pole, silks and contemporary dance with AERA at PS1 MoMA, Pole Convention, Pole Art and various venues throughout New York City. She has also recently had the honor of dancing with The Pulse Project, an innovative, contemporary pole dance project. She has performed on stages from South Africa, Dubai, Sao Paolo, Paris, Nashville and more.


text:
Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye have welcomed today's Supreme Court decision about the Ministry of Education's case against Carter Holt Harvey over leaky school buildings.
In 2013, the Ministry started legal proceedings, on behalf of schools, against Carter Holt Harvey and others, alleging the supply of defective building products.
"Today's judgement is a major victory for New Zealand taxpayers as it upholds the entirety of the Ministry's position and awards legal costs," says Ms Parata.
"This is the largest product liability claim ever made in New Zealand. Action was taken to protect the Crown's significant investment in education infrastructure, and to promote better building practices in the future.
"It's vital we do everything we can to ensure children learn in modern, comfortable environments that inspire them to succeed.
"The Ministry of Education has been at the forefront of the leaky building issue on behalf of New Zealand schools.
"Remedying this issue has an estimated total cost in excess of $1.3 billion. Today's decision means a significant contribution to these costs can now be sought."
Ms Kaye says the Ministry has fought this case through the Courts for several years, and this is the third time Carter Holt Harvey has failed in its attempt to have the Ministry's claim struck out.
"The Ministry is now planning to proceed to trial, but remains open to settlement discussions with Carter Holt Harvey," says Ms Kaye.
The Ministry of Education is the first Government agency to lodge a major product liability claim and has previously reached successful, out-of-court, confidential agreements with major manufacturer James Hardie, and CSR Building Products Ltd.


text:
Finger painting
What do you do when you are overloaded? When there is no barrier between work and home, and love and work, and life and work, and family and work, and...it just keeps going. When there is no time but you just can't stop. You don't want to stop. You just want more!
When life is one big fat juicy orange and you want to peel it, squeeze it, drink it.
You do more.
You decide to get out a paint brush, since you haven't done so since school, and you start adding paint to a board, a canvas or paper.
I grew up watching my mother paint in oils. Her days would evaporate into this world of pigmented fantasy. As a child it was hard to understand how she could do it for so long. I woke up one morning a few months ago and for some reason had a really strong desire to get out her oils and her paint box. I found them stored high in a cabinet. And, so it began.
It's so relaxing. While I love company, friends and lovers, I totally love wasting into a world of fantasy. One where I can escape. The hours pass.
Last weekend, I took myself off to a weekend painting class with esteemed Australian artist Luke Sciberras held in Hill End at his divine studio. What an adventure. He's such a talented man and all that you imagine an artist might be. A raconteur and bon vivant. A great teacher with a magical studio.
I've come back with the strongest desire to keep painting.
Here are three of my finger paintings, and thank you Luke for your little input. xxxx


text:
On this day: Sept. 24, 1950
Letter to the editor:
I read in your paper a few days ago where you stated that Penelope Hertz - weighing 10 pounds two ounces - was the largest baby ever born in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital. I am sorry to disagree with you, as my daughter Gloria Ann was born there August 6, 1936 and she weighed 10 pounds four ounces. Mrs. T.R. Weber, Cle Elum, Wash.
(Eds Note: We apologize to Mrs. Weber.)


text: The Coltrane Home is very excited to announce the Second Annual Coltrane Music Festival for the summer of 2016 to be held Saturday, July 23rd. This great event brings together music lovers and musicians of all ages to beautiful Heckscher Park in Huntington, Long Island, NY. This fun-filled day offers a variety of music, food, and art for the whole family. From jazz to funk, blues, electronic and even hip-hop, there will be spectacular live performances, workshops, and community jams – something for everyone. Nothing brings a community together like music!


text:
For new readers: "poz" is shorthand for the propagation of culture degeneracy, filth, freakishness, and antipathy toward normal, psychologically healthy humans. The epithet is retrofitted from its original use in the gayfag "bug chaser" sewer, where poz is a term of endearment for HIV positive gay men.
The poz is everywhere in America, but just how deep does it go? We turn our attention to the top five films hailed as "masterpieces" at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Synopses of each movie follow.
The Danish Girl – Set in the 1920s, a M2F tranny freak lops off his penis to become a woman. His wife supports him and takes photos of him in erotic poses.
About Ray – Three generations of single moms, bitchy lesbians, and proud sluts create a huge cunty hug box to help guide a F2M tranny freak teen girl through her testosterone therapy and tit chopping surgery.
Freeheld – Brave lesbian cop, compassionate gay rights activist, homophobic county officials, transformations, and payment transfers.
Truth – Historical revisionism recasting Dan Rather as noble truth-teller instead of as the lying, pathologically partisan shitlib in self-denial that he is and always will be.
Spotlight – Hagiography of Boston Globe shitlib journos who reported on child abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. Not mentioned: over-representation of homosexual deviance in the ranks of the priesthood, Bryan Singer's Hollywood boylove pool parties.
To answer this post title's question: The poz goes very, very deep. If your girlfriend asks you to accompany her to one of these fruity, implicitly (and sometimes blatantly) anti-straight white man flics, tell her no way. If she insists, tell her you think less of her for wanting to indulge this garbage.


text:
"Welcome Sid! How are you?"
"Thanks Remo. I am doing great. Trust, you are well too!"
His lips curved a little. "Yeah, I am doing well. And you look great man!"
I smiled. "Thank you!"
"Shall we sit there?" He asked pointing a table and three chairs that was put next to a swimming pool and a coffee shop.
"Oh yes," I said, smiling. I saw a girl standing next to swimming pool. She was clad in lime green colored shirt, blue-colored jean pant and stood on a high-heeled boot. She was slim, simple and yet looking beautiful. The bracelet on her left hand was thin and yet noticeable, and those three pair of studs looked great on her. Moreover, the way she was holding her golden-brownish hair made her look like an angel. In fact, she was angelic.
"Is she a new model Remo?" I asked after sitting comfortably in a chair.
"Yes, she is our new model. The photo-shoot should be over anytime now." His face shone brightly and then he added, "She is my new girlfriend."
We smiled at each other. And he said, "Let's start."
"Lights…Camera…Action," the director said and, he welcomed again showing his thirty-two teeth before the camera.
"What's hair meant to you?"
"Hair is my first love!"
He corrected his tie and then he asked, "We read your blog post…and that was end of his inferiority complex…Is that the reflection of incidents that happened in your life?"
"Yes, it is. For the first two decades of my life, I was a victim of hair fall. In fact, I had a terrible time during my school days, my self-confidence shattered and I ran away hiding face from everyone because even for a man, his pride, his self-confidence, his happiness and his first love is hair! Anyway, let's not talk about that." I paused, cleared my throat and continued, "By God's grace, I am having a decent hairdo, I recharge my hair regularly and I look great."
"Can you tell us how?"
"I follow a simple tip, which completely nourishes my scalp, and keeps my hair healthy." I said smiling gently.
"What's the tip? Can you share it with us? It will be useful for our subscribers." He said in a soft tone.
"It's not the great Chidambara Rahasiyam, so I can very well share it with you. Simply, I heat the oil mildly, wait until it has cooled and then I apply on my scalp. I do this twice in a week. By this way, the scalp gets nourished. Moreover, my silky shampoo takes good care of my hair and keeps it healthy. Simple, isn't it?" My free hand gestured spontaneously as I answered his question.
And I continued, "Many people have asked me why you recharge your hair twice in a week. What's the need? I smile at them simply because they forget that we travel to office daily in peak hours – the deadly traffic, the crowded bus, and dozens of foreign materials that contact with us without our knowledge."
"In that case, shouldn't we recharge daily?" He asked blinking his eyes twice. He was looking smart.
"I follow a remedy process as well to protect my hair. I shampoo my hair, as soon as I'm home. There are days I reach home after nine in the night. On those days, I skip…but, I make sure I recharge my hair the next day." I combed my hair inserting my hands into it while answering him. It was my habit since childhood, which was borrowed from our Superstar Rajnikanth.
"That's a cool tip Sid. I am sure it would help our subscribers to recharge their hair."
The director said cut and we were given a juice. After drinking the juice, we started again. "Tell us why you need to recharge?" He asked just after glancing at her girlfriend, through the corner of his left-eye.
"Because it will recharge our life," I said almost instantly and the director signalled Remo to concentrate in the interview.
"Yes…yes…we need to top-up our life no…No…I mean recharge our life right?" He mumbled after shaking his head apologising to the director.
I smiled giving him a minute to rebuild himself. He acknowledged it with a smile and asked, "How it will recharge your life?"
"As I said earlier, even for a man, his first love, pride, self-confidence and glory are his hair! He can walk heads up, work confidently and smile happily without bothering about his look. And trust me, this is a fantastic feeling, which people like me only can understand." My lips curved a little at first, and then fully – almost.
"I second that Sid! – Even for a man, his first love, pride, self-confidence and glory are his hair." After a short pause, he added, "But…what will you do in case of a long trip, or trekking, or a party after a long drive?"
"That's a fantastic question. How is my hairdo in this picture?" Showing my mobile I asked, and he answered affirmative instantly.
"Well, this one was taken on the fifth day of a ten-day-trip. I followed a simple trick. I made sure I oiled my hair after a hot shower at nights and I wash my hair gently the next day. It helps to keep the hair shining, and my life shines just like my hair and face does!"
"That's really awesome man!" He smiled as soon as I answered. "Do you like to say anything to our subscribers?"
I checked my hairdo in the long mirror placed on the walls of the coffee shop and then I said, "Recharge your hair. It will recharge your life!"
"Wow! Thank you so much Sid. It's our pleasure to have you here. Keep smiling. I am sure you will be celebrated forever as a romantic writer, stylish blogger and a fantastic human being."
"Thank you Remo. It's my pleasure to be interviewed by an ace hair expert!" *Handshake* They clicked a photograph of mine, and I thanked everyone before waking up from the dream.
And when I hit the publish button, I really wished to be interviewed by an hair expert at least once, as I have a lot of memories to share to this world!


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Frequently, people who suffer a slip and fall accident may not even realize that they've been injured. Sometimes, it can take a long time before problems that can be directly attributed to the accident begin to manifest themselves. If there's an obvious injury like a fractured arm, cut or bruise, it's crucial for victims to contact a Philadelphia lawyer to be certain that they're compensated adequately for any and all damages, including lost wages, pain, suffering and the cost of medical treatment.
Slip and Fall Accidents Can Happen Anywhere
Most people think of construction sites or retail stores when they consider slip and fall injuries, but slip and fall accidents happen in homes, in churches, at government buildings, on public sidewalks or anywhere people congregate. All property owners must maintain their business or residence in a manner that doesn't jeopardize the safety of patrons or visitors. They have to keep their property dry and uncluttered by debris. If a floor has just been mopped or if snow has made an entrance slippery, it must be marked so people are aware of the possible danger. This applies to landlords of rental properties, business owners, homeowners and even government agencies. Spills must be removed in a reasonable amount of time and stairways must be lit at night. Any irregularities in sidewalks must be fixed to remove the danger of an accidental slip or trip, including holes, cracks or uneven areas.
Many landlords and business owners fail to maintain their premises properly. If you were injured due to the negligence of a property owner, you need to consult an experienced, capable Philadelphia slip and fall lawyer who can advise you of your rights in your particular situation.
Even If You're Unsure if You've Been Injured, See an Attorney
Because it can take days or weeks for you to notice an injury, it is very important to talk with an attorney who specializes in slip and fall accidents as soon as possible. Slip and fall accidents can result in permanent disabilities, constant pain, loss of income, a reduced ability to work plus a general reduction in your quality of life. There is no charge to speak with a reliable attorney who can recommend your next move. Slip and fall attorneys do not charge until they win a judgment for you, so there's no reason to delay a consultation.
Don't be victimized twice. Large store chains, malls, landlords, governmental institutions and all property owners have insurance companies with lawyers who will represent them in the event that you decide to take your case to court. You need to make certain that you have a Philadelphia lawyer with a team of reliable associates who will stand up for your rights as well. Slip and fall attorneys know how to establish negligence and how to negotiate a settlement that compensates you for your physical injuries and any resultant financial or emotional trauma. They are also capable and willing to argue your case in court if they think it's necessary.
If you've suffered a slip and fall accident, contact us at your earliest convenience. We'll let you know where you stand and the best way to handle your case.
Our Slip & Fall Articles & Resources
Slip & Fall Accident Statistics
Proving Fault in a Slip & Fall Accident
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This week, a group of bipartisan legislators introduced HB 2586, which would extend Arizona's current non-discrimination protections to gay and transgender Arizonans in employment, housing and public accommodations.
This is the first time a LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination bill has had bipartisan support at the Arizona Legislature, according to a press release.
State Rep. Daniel Hernandez (D, LD 2) is sponsoring the bill and State Rep. César Chávez (D, LD 29), State Rep. Tony Navarette (D, LD 30) and State Sen. Kate Brophy McGee (R, LD 28) are co-sponsoring the bill.
Currently, five municipalities have ordinances that ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Arizona, however, has no statewide laws that protect gay and transgender individuals from being fired, denied housing or refused service simply for being gay or transgender.
"Inclusion is not just good for LGBTQ Arizonans, but for all Arizonans," Rep. Hernandez said in a prepared statement. "Being inclusive contributes to our economic sustainability and our ability to attract and retain top talent and business. It also happens to be the right thing to."
Sen. Brophy McGee said the principles of non-discrimination are based in conservative values of fairness, equality and opportunity.
"If we want to live in a state that grows by attracting the very best talent, has a strong economy, is a vibrant place to live, then we must be for business to everyone," Sen. Brophy McGee said in a prepared statement.
The business community is strongly in favor of the legislation, a release states.
More than 2,600 businesses in Arizona have already voiced their support for LGBTQ inclusive non-discrimination by signing the UNITY Pledge. Further, 88 percent of Arizona's top 50 employers include sexual orientation and gender identity in their non-discrimination policies.
And it's not just Arizona. Businesses across the country are increasingly considering non-discrimination protections when deciding where to do business.
In the last two years, both CNBC and Forbes Magazine have added LGBTQ rights as priority criteria in their annual best states for business lists. National organizations like the NCAA announced that they will consider LGBTQ rights when awarding cities with championship games going forward.
Some faith leaders are also supporting the measure,
"My faith teaches us that we are all God's children, and that we should treat others the way we want to be treated," Reverend Troy Mendez, Dean of Trinity Cathedral, said in a prepared statement. "The legislation will simply update Arizona's existing laws to ensure that our LGBTQ citizens are all treated equally and fairly."
The Scottsdale Independent publishes a free daily newsletter. A print edition is mailed to 75,000 homes and businesses each month. If you value our journalistic mission, please consider showing us your support.


text: Rangers fans clashed with police in Manchester [GALLO/GETTY]Manchester police have begun investigating the violence that flared in connection with the Uefa Cup final between Zenit St. Petersburg and Rangers. Forty-two arrests were made as police officers and ambulance crews came under attack in a night of disturbances in downtown Manchester, where the match was being shown on giant TV screens. Five Rangers fans were held, but later released without charge, following the stabbing of a Russian fan inside the City of Manchester stadium. Russian fans were outnumbered by Rangers supporters in designated fan zones in downtown Manchester, with some 100,000 ticketless supporters mingling in the city from early Wednesday. "This minority of thugs spoiled the day for all true supporters," assistant chief constable Justine Curran said. Alcohol blamed Manchester police blamed excessive alcohol consumption for "isolated pockets of disorder" among thousands of Rangers fans at public screenings of the game. The disorder was sparked when one screen broken down 15 minutes before the match, which saw Zenit lift the cup with a 2-0 victory. "As a result, a small number of supporters, who until that point had been largely well-behaved and had been enjoying the carnival atmosphere, became frustrated and started to pelt the screen with beer bottles,'' Manchester Police said in a statement. "Council workers attempted to repair the screen, however these attempts failed and supporters, many of which had been drinking heavily for a number of hours, became increasingly frustrated.'' The morning after the night before [GALLO/GETTY]Buses were arranged to transport fans to a screening at a velodrome next to the stadium, but "a significant minority'' remained at the site and began to confront police. At least 15 police officers were injured, with one losing a tooth after being headbutted by a Rangers fan. One police dog sustained a serious cut to his paw. Rampaging football fans also targeted their fury at ambulance crews racing to the scene to help the injured. Outside Rangers' Ibrox stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, which hosted 25,000 fans for a public screening of the final, Scottish police said 21 people had been arrested on public disorder offences. SOURCE: Agencies


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Identity Intermediaries and the NSTIC
This is part of an ongoing series on the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace. The introduction to this series can be found here.
A couple of months ago, I spoke with a security researcher at a conference about the NSTIC. He questioned the need for an intermediary to manage users' identity information; he asked why we don't just do this at the user's endpoint, eliminating the need for the user to trust an external party. This is a good place to begin a discussion about the NSTIC architecture.
An intermediary, usually referred to as an Identity Provider (IdP), represents the subject (user) in transactions. In the NSTIC model, the IdP is operated by a third party that is chosen by the user. A user would want to choose an IdP operated by an entity they trust, one that is very secure and reliable, and is accredited for the strength of authentication required for the range of transactions the user expects to require. Depending on their need for high-assurance identity for the kinds of things they do online, they might also want to choose an IdP that is accredited for that level of trust.
The alternatives to a third-party identity provider are either to operate the identity system without an IdP at all or with one operated directly by the user.
- In the absence of an identity provider, we are basically where we are now. Users are forced to keep track of a large number of credentials, typically one for each service, including at least an identifier and either a password or some other authentication device such as a token. The management of these credentials can be a substantial burden. If they use passwords for authentication, there is a tendency to use the same password on multiple services, placing all at risk if any of them is compromised. If the user uses hardware tokens or smart cards, they would need to carry as many as necessary and keep track of which to use in each situation. Of course, these tokens could be standardized and used for multiple services but that would put some token service in a de facto position as an IdP.
- An identity provider could be operated directly by the user, probably directly on the user's endpoint. This solves the credential management problem but introduces new problems if that endpoint is compromised, lost or damaged. The risk of compromise can be mitigated by encrypting the credentials on the endpoint, but would still be vulnerable to a multi-pronged attack (key logging and theft of the laptop, for example). Loss or damage to the endpoint can be mitigated by backing up the credentials securely, but the track record of the general public when it comes to such best practices is poor. This also limits the user to the use of that endpoint for all transactions, which becomes a problem for use cases that don't involve traditional endpoints.
An IdP also performs the important privacy function of providing "safety in numbers." As part of its function, the IdP substitutes the identifier used to authenticate to it with an opaque per-relying party identifier. This opaque identifier, in the absence of attributes identifying the user, provides pseudonymity and discourages correlation of the user across multiple services. But suppose instead that the IdP represents exactly one user. In that case, the choice of IdP alone provides a correlation handle that defeats pseudonymity. On the other hand, if there is only a small number of IdPs from which to choose, the likelihood that there is one with a high degree of user trust decreases and the concentration of trust in a few parties becomes a concern. For this reason, there is a "sweet spot" between having a few IdPs with many accounts or alternatively having individual IdPs per user or perhaps per family.
An IdP can also fulfill an important security function by monitoring usage patterns for suspicious activity. Suppose I authenticated from California and a few minutes later authenticated from someplace far away: I'd like to get an alert about that, much as my credit card provider alerts me of suspicious activity. This makes some people nervous on privacy grounds, so perhaps they want to use an IdP that doesn't do that. That's another reason that IdP choice is important. Overall, while the use of an intermediary introduces new security risks, it provides new opportunities to improve security as well.
In an effort to keep conversations fresh, Cisco Blogs closes comments after 60 days. Please visit the Cisco Blogs hub page for the latest content.
2 Comments
There's one really big hole here. "National Strategy" suggests government approved, which implies backdoors. At the very least, copyright and patent maximalists will insist on an easy-unveil mechanism to facilitate enforcement of their restrictions.
As the leader of Greece found out a few years ago, this is a perfect recipe for devastation when someone learns how to access these backdoors. Past experience shows that bad guys will find ways to do this.
Like Social Security numbers, giving people a single "identity" (really identification, as identity is internal and also varies depending on the situation) is just going to make it easier for online bad guys to do more damage at one time. Because we assign so much power to that one number, students have to give the number to schools or colleges, employees have to give it to employers, borrowers have to give it to lenders, renters have to give it to landlords. At any of those points, this all-powerful code can leak, with devastating consequences for the victim.
This single identity, with backdoors and easy-unveil capability, is likely to become a required part of posting user-generated content online (including comments like this one). This is almost guaranteed to result in negative consequences for anyone whose opinion varies from the official line as issued by the person's workplace, by the major media, or by government officials.


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Payment of time- barred debt is:
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Consideration is defined in the Indian Contract Act,1872 in: (a) Section 2(f) (b) Section 2(e) (c) Section 2(g) (d) Section 2(d)
Which of the following is not an exception to the rule, "No consideration, No contract": (a) Natural love and affection (b) Compensation for involuntary services (c) Completed gift (d) Agency
Consideration must move at the desire of: (a) The promisor (b) The promisee (c) The promisor or any other party (d) Both the promisor and the promisee
An offer which is open for acceptance over a period of time is: (a) Cross Offer (b) Counter Offer (c) Standing Offer (d) Implied Offer
Specific offer can be communicated to__________ (a) All the parties of contract (b) General public in universe (c) Specific person (d) None of the above
_________ amounts to rejection of the original offer. (a) Cross offer (b) Special offer (c) Standing offer (d) Counter offer
A advertises to sell his old car by advertising in a newspaper. This offer is caleed: (a) General Offer (b) Special Offer (c) Continuing Offer (d) None of the above
In case a counter offer is made, the original offer stands: (a) Rejected (b) Accepted automatically (c) Accepted subject to certain modifications and variations (d) None of the above
In case of unenforceable contract having some technical defect, parties (a) Can sue upon it (b) Cannot sue upon it (c) Should consider it to be illegal (d) None of the above
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______________ contracts are also caled contracts with executed consideration. (a) Unilateral (b) Completed (c) Bilateral (d) Executory
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An offer is made with an intention to have negotiation from other party. This type of offer is: (a) Invitation to offer (b) Valid offer (c) Voidable (d) None of the above
When an offer is made to the world at large, it is ____________ offer. (a) Counter (b) Special (c) General (d) None of the above
Implied contract even if not in writing or express words is perfectly _______________ if all the conditions are satisfied:- (a) Void (b) Voidable (c) Valid (d) Illegal
A specific offer can be accepted by ___________. (a) Any person (b) Any friend to offeror (c) The person to whom it is made (d) Any friend of offeree
An agreement toput a fire on a person's car is a ______: (a) Legal (b) Voidable (c) Valid (d) Illegal


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Maruti Suzuki has started accepting advanced bookings for its much-awaited premium hatchback Ignis. The car is set to be launched on 13 January. The model was shown off at last year's auto expo and was slated for the launch before the end of the year but it was delayed to meet the demand of the other models of the company.
The car will be sold only through Maruti Suzuki's premium Nexa outlets. As of now company owns 197 such outlets across 115 cities in the country.
A total of four variants of the model will be launched. Maruti Suzuki is giving the option of either diesel or petrol engine and manual or automatic transmission. The variants will be called Alpha, Zeta, Delta, and Sigma namely.
The car is going to have a touchscreen infotainment system which would be compliant with Apple's CarPlay. It would also have climate control and rear parking camera. Ignis will have LED headlamps and 15-inch alloy or steel wheel. The features would vary from the variant to variant.
Maruti Suzuki Ignis will use the same engine which is being used in Baleno with some modifications. Apart from EBD and ABS it will have child protection system as well. The interior of the car will be of high-quality dual tone faux leather.
While the website of Maruti Suzuki has started with the car booking on the website the ex-showroom price is expected to be 5.5 to 5.8 lakhs.


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Hi guys, this is my R33 Skyline track car. The car belonged to an ex-drifter who had put it together reasonably well when I picked it up early last year. It came with:
Stock RB25 block and head
Hi-flowed turbo
Blitz front mount IC and IC pipes
Fuel pump, 740 something injectors and Z32 AFM
Apexi Power FC running E85 fuel
3" turbo back
New coilpacks, water pump and timing belt
Exedy cushion button
BC coilovers
HICAS lockout/toe-kit and no-name camber arms
Crap bolt-in cage to satisfy VicDrift regs
Catch-can, fake OMP wheel and other bits and bobs, old school HKS boost gauge which is pretty neat.
Nopics and I picked the car up in Traralgon and dropped it back to Rob at Sabbadin Automotive in Mulgrave. We'd left the fake bride and wheels with the seller and swapped over some R33 GTR rims and the stock seat before the drive home.
Since then we've added:
Old red Velo seat
Velo steering wheel
Hard-race castor arms, brace and front camber arms
Rear sub-frame lock spacers
Alloy rad
New rotors, braided lines and PMU pads
Rob ran the car up on the dyno to check the tune and overall it's fine, though the seller reckoned it was making 270kw at 18 pound. It ran 230kw on Rob's dyno which generally reads lower. My mate Dan then did the wheel alignment at his shop around the corner. Dan's grouse because he spends a lot of time getting the setup spot on and I don't have to argue about how much toe, camber, etc like some other alignment shops. An old gentleman had his bone stock AE86 in for a service.
Dan also got me some new Hankook RS4s on a 4 for the price of 3 deal. These are meant to be up there with Yokohama AD08Rs so we're keen to see how they go.
Plan is to get Nopics started with motorkhana's and on the track eventually, I've got a foot on her so the seats got a Justjap adjustable rail which was meant to be bolt-in but turned out to be a real pain. Other than that on the immediate to do list Rob's still got to pull the cage out and weld in a harness bar, install the harness I thought I'd lost, replace the weldy with a Kazz 1.5way and 4.11 gears to stop it understeering everywhere, flush the old E85 and I've got to get the RS4s on some wheels. A mate wants the R33GTR wheels for his 180SX Type X so I'm trying to find Enkei RPF1s in 17x9 +22 offset (if anyone knows of some please let me know!).
Before going on Christmas leave I replaced the fleet at work - 3.5T towing capacity ought to do it.
From there I just want to get on the track and see what works, breaks, falls off, explodes . Down the road I'd like to pull some weight out of it, at 1400kg she's a portly vessel. From there add power and try-out some DIY aero which is entirely foreign to me.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers Alex