Day 4 Asheville Adventures: Animals, Outdoors & Photography

I started the day off pretty slow, so I went back to bed and slept. As a three-day experienced Uber user, I took Uber to the WNC Nature Center. One review called it a “poor man’s zoo,” but I knew I’d enjoy it. Animals, outdoors, and photography. What’s not to like?

They had so many amazing children’s interactive activities, such as a music center, building, and water. I took many photos for examples. I’ve always wanted to design a children’s museum. A nature one would be way cool.

????????????????????????????????????

I enjoyed the river otters, the wolves, and red fox. I was really focused on eyes today. It started with the sheep’s tilted head and the way he looked at me.

I was going back and forth in my mind about whether or not to visit the North Carolina Arboretum. I thought, “If you can’t make a decision, you are too tired.” As I took Uber back to the hotel, it started really raining again. The weather report said no rain today. I hope this is the last day of rain.

????????????????????????????????????

I’m happy with my decision, which doesn’t always happen. I relaxed and watched TV, did laundry, iced my back, took a warm bath to soak my aching shins, and ate dinner. I’m creating a “Naturalist” definition in my mixed media journal.

In less than 24 hours, the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference begins. I can’t wait.

“Lord, please help my focus. Help me make effective decisions on which workshops to attend. Provide open doors to my writing and learning.”

 

 

 

Day 3 Asheville Adventures: Uber to Biltmore Estate

??????????????

??????????????

I’m so proud of myself. I downloaded the Uber app and used it twice today. Way to go girl! I toured the Biltmore Estate.

Due to anticipated rain, I viewed the gardens first. I enjoyed the gardens way more than the house. Wedding dresses from movies were displayed throughout the house. So different than current day gowns.

Day 2 Asheville Adventures: Plan B – Books, Nature & Chocolate

Like so many days, today was a Plan B day. I slept in late today with the 3 hour time change yesterday. I take the trolley to nearest stop to the Biltmore Hotel entrance. Trolley driver comments, “You have to have a car to get there.”

No car. I enter the Grand Bohemian Hotel where I was just dropped off.

Rescue #1: Concierge directs me to Guest Services two blocks away to get a shuttle.

????????????????????????????????????

Two new books, nature items, photography and chocolate cake. What more could I want?

Rescue #2: After I eat lunch its now 3:00. At the Biltmore Hotel Guest Services I discover the last shuttle was at 2:30. So she re-issues my ticket for tomorrow.

Plan B is shopping in Biltmore Village. I purchase a child’s book, Exploring Biltmore Estate from A to Z. I get a new slant on a book idea. Discover a nature store – too fun. Take photos. Explore. I buy a piece of chocolate cake for breakfast & head toward the Christmas Store to get the trolley. Last trolley for the day left 5 minutes ago. Who knew you had to check time schedules?

Rescue #3: Back to the Grand Bohemian Hotel for help. This time I’m offered a ride back to my hotel for gratuity only. “I’m not staying at this hotel,” I mention. He assures me that if their transportation is available they will drive me.

Ten minutes later the same man asks, “Are you ready?” The driver is none other than Mickey, the Bell Captain.

Plan B was a great day, especially due to the kindness of others. Thanks Lord for taking care of me when I forget details, like time.

What’s New for Restorative Practices Educators?

Are you implementing restorative practices (RP) at your school? Do you wish there was a book that explains RP to students? Are you thinking about RP ideas for the fall? Wait no longer. Three new books about RP in schools are scheduled for release over the next few months.

Book 1: RP for Students

What are you staring at?: A Comic About Restorative Justice in Schools is the first book I’ve discovered for students. Authors Pete Wallis and Joseph Wilkins wrote this book for 8 to 13 year olds (grade levels 3 – 8). Jake and Ryan get into a fight after a misunderstanding. Their teacher arranges a restorative meeting so the boys can hear each other’s side and resolve their anger and conflict.

What are you staring atThis books helps students understand restorative justice and prepare for a restorative meeting. The teacher’s resource section features information on restorative justice with a focus on respect and emotional literacy.

I’ve pre-ordered this 36 page hardcover book by Jessica Kingsley Publishers that releases May 19, 2016. I’m unsure if this book is appropriate for the older end of the age span but I can’t wait to read it.

Book 2: From Oakland Unified Teacher

The second book I’m looking forward to is Discipline Over Punishment: Successes and Struggles with Restorative Justice in Schools. Oakland Unified School District is a leader in restorative practices. Author Trevor W. Gardner explores the power of restorative discipline based on his extensive experiences as a veteran History and English teacher in San Franciso and Oakland.

As a follower of RP in Schools, Oakland is a key district. Educators can learn much about what works as well as warnings about what doesn’t work. I anticipate this book will add further information on implementing restorative practice in schools from an expert in the day-to-day trenches. This 148 page hardcover book by Rowman and Littlefield Publishers was released in 2016 (no image available).

Book 3: Overview of Restorative Justice in Education

The third new book should be an easy read as part of “The Little Book” series. The Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education: Fostering Responsibility, Healing, and Hope in Schools is part of the Justice and Peacebuilding series.

Little Book of RJ in EducationAuthors Katherine Evans and Dorothy Vaandering explain the growth of restorative justice in schools while providing activities, stories, and examples. Amazon.com quotes three equally important aspects of restorative justice in schools:

  • “creating just and equitable learning environments;
  • building and maintaining healthy relationships; and
  • healing harm and transforming conflict.”

This 122 page paperback was published by Good Books in 2016. This will be a great addition to my “Little Book” resources.

Perhaps these books will reignite your passion for restorative practices in schools. How can you use these books to change lives and impact your school’s culture? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

 

Neighbors Stir Jealousy

I don’t usually feel jealous. I’m not jealous of those with larger or fancier homes. My husband and I are blessed with a wonderful home we enjoy sharing with others. A more expensive or fancier car doesn’t make me jealous nor do fun toys like speed boats or jet ski’s.

I’m jealous about something different. I’m jealous of my neighbors’ birds, especially the birds that lay their eggs and hatch babies every spring . . . in their yards, not mine.

One summer I spent six weeks in Tucson, Arizona where I observed birds up close. Watching hatchlings’ heads pop up with gaping beaks for feedings made them almost cute. Around two weeks old, I noticed the fledglings’ eyes open and their bodies covered in a soft downy coat that made them enduring. Every day I checked “my” baby birds’ progress. What joy. Joy I have yet to experience in my yard. But my neighbors do.

“We have baby birds every year.”

“The same birds come back year after year to nest in our yard.”

“You don’t get raptors in your yard? We have so many of those.”

And so it goes. A number of my neighbors also enjoy creating backyards that intentionally draw birds. I too have created an attractive yard for birds. My yard features two bird baths and six different types of bird feeders offering an assortment of bird seed. I bought a bird nesting box . . . that obviously has never been used. Maybe I should buy some nesting building material at my favorite store, Wild Birds Unlimited. Would that help?

Why do my neighbors get the joy of baby birds and I don’t?

??????????????

New Birdhouse For My Birthday

Maybe it’s the fact that we own two cats. The geriatric cat hasn’t moved fast in years. Plus, she could care less about birds or anything else except naps, food, naps, sunbathing, and naps.

It could be the second cat, my Cali kitty. I admit that Cali does like birds. Since she stalks the doves she’s not allowed in the backyard unless supervised.

The barking Chihuahua could be another factor. She barks just to bark. And then barks again. Occasionally I’ve seen her run towards a bird. But mostly she just scratches the door to get back in and cuddle next to me.

But I’m a smart lady and don’t give up easily. While pulling weeds in the front yard I noticed many birds enjoying our trees. I moved the nesting box from the back yard to the front yard. My kids gave me a lovely new bird house for my birthday (photo) and I’ll hang it there, too.

I won’t stop hoping for nesting birds, eggs, and baby birds. But in case I don’t get them, instead of being jealous, I’ll knock on my neighbors’ doors and say, “Can I visit those baby birds again?”

And being the wonderful neighbors they are, they’ll gladly share God’s springtime blessings. Maybe I don’t need to feel jealous after all.

10 Reasons Parents Say “No”

gelly-cartoon-balloon-4-1163596 [freeimages.com]Do you know the average child hears 432 negative comments or words per day versus 32 positive ones?

On March 22 I’m speaking to Ripon MOPS on Positive Parenting. I’d truly appreciate some help from parents. What’s the most common reason you say “no” to your children? Is it one of the 10 reasons listed below? I’d love to have some “real” comments for the Moms, many of who are in the toddler “no” season of life

  1. The reflexive It is easy to say, requires no thought 2
  2. I can’t handle all my kids’ requests 3
  3. I’m frustrated with my child’s behavior 5
  4. I’m in a bad mood about something else 4
  5. I don’t feel good or I’m too tired
  6. I’m not ready to deal with child’s request 4
  7. When my child’s fun turns into “out-of-control” 5
  8. I don’t have enough money for what my child wants 2
  9. I know what I want and don’t want for my kids 4
  10. My child is in imminent danger to self, others, property 5

 

Sources:

  1. Simple Words to Avoid Power Struggles. Amy McCready. http://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com/parenting/simple-words-to-avoid-power-struggles.
  2. How to Say No. Ask Dr. Sears. http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/parenting/discipline-behavior/how-to-say-no
  3. How To Stop Saying No. Naria Halliwell from Parents Magazine. http://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/positive/how-to-stop-saying-no/
  4. Parents – Why do you say no? Erika Krull, MS, LMHP. http://blogs.psychcentral.com/family/2010/06/parents-why-do-you-say-no/. .
  5. How and when parents should say “no” to their children. Karen Deerwester, Ed.S. September 26, 2014. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/south-florida-parenting/parenting/sfe-sfp-parents-say..v2
  6. Good parents know how to say ‘no.’ Josette Plank. http://www.pennlive.com/living/index.ssf/2014/10/good_parents_know_how_to_say_n.html. .

7. Image: gelly-cartoon-balloon-4-1163596 [freeimages.com]

 

Bright Spot in January

Dark. Dreary. Depressing.

Dark clouds. Dreary days. Depressing weather.

January. The longgggest month of the year.

I finally put on my heavy jacket and boots to traipse to the mailbox in the cold rain. It’s been a few days since I ventured here. How often do I need to get cold and wet just to find junk mail?

I unlock the slotted mailbox and juggle one stack from the box. Just great. The latest AARP magazine. Am I really old enough for this organization?

A group of junk mails falls to the wet ground. As I bend to retrieve it, my head bumps the open door. I hope there’s something worthwhile in here.

I pull out a second group of mail, followed by a third. I juggle the mail in my arms hoping I don’t drop anymore. I see a couple more magazines. I haven’t even read the ones from last month, or the month before.

After dumping the mail on the kitchen counter, I quickly begin sorting it into four piles: my mail, Rick’s, bills, and mail to throw out. I continue sorting. Local coupon book, PG & E bill, Rick’s golf magazine.

What’s this? A white envelope with a handwritten address. A return address label I recognize. I green-envelope-1426700 [freeimages.com]open the envelope. A Christmas card in January. The family letter brings me joy and happy memories. More bills, more junk, and another hand addressed envelope. This one’s green.

Many people fret if their Christmas cards are “late,” but these cards arrive as a bright spot in January. Maybe more of us should mail our cards “late” so that when they are received, they bring quiet moments of unrushed joy.

 

Image Source: green-envelope-1426700 [freeimages.com]

Known by Ugly Names: The Less Fortuntate

homeless-1254833 [freeimages.com]Drifter.

Derelict.

Transient.

Vagrant.

Hobo.

Beggar.

Gutter punk.

Pan handler.

Maybe you’ve heard them called by these names. Even worse names are too crude to post.

But one 13-year-old young man in Stanislaus County calls them, “The less fortunate.” I like his description for the homeless way better than any of the endless names I located at three different online dictionaries.

The words used by friends to describe this young man include intelligent, kind, caring, he listens, you can trust him and rely on him. Sounds like a much more positive list than the first one. I had the privilege of interviewing Jake Berlin, a 7th grader at Glick Middle School a week before his 13th birthday. Jake indeed captures these descriptions but what captured me was his compassion for the less fortunate.

When Jake was only ten years-old his heart stirred. His family was visiting San Francisco for an outing. At the end of a fun day, they rushed down stairs to catch the BART train. Jake called out, “Mom, we need to go back. We need to help him.” He begs, “Please, we’ve got to go back.”

Not his parents’ proudest moment, but they were in a rush and didn’t want to miss the train. Before you judge them too harshly, haven’t you been in a hurry and missed an opportunity or two?

But Jake couldn’t get the homeless man’s words out of his mind. “You didn’t have to give me anything. You could have just said hello.” He thought about the man day and night.

His mother said, “Jake was absolutely heart-broken. The homeless man’s words bothered him for weeks. He kept talking about the ‘invisible people.’”

Unlike many of us who pass by a less fortunate person, then ten-year-old Jake decided to take action. His mom helped him start a summer activity focused on helping the homeless. Jake called it Project SGL – Show God’s Love. He convinced family members to invest financially. Like many entrepreneurs, he launched Project SGL on a shoestring budget with about $80.00.

Jake had seed money, but at age ten, he couldn’t drive. His family rallied together to assist Jake. His mom said, “This is way out of my comfort zone. I’d never go do this on my own. But how do you say no to your kid when he asks you for $5.00 to buy lunch for a less fortunate person.”

Jake began gathering items he thought the homeless needed, mostly from dollar stores. He thinks about what they need during the various types of weather. He explains, “What they need now is warm clothes. In summer they’ll need more cool water.”

He continues. “At first I gave them small bibles because they take less room. But many of the homeless have poor sight and need a larger font.”

I’m curious; did a 12-year-old really figure this out? I inquire, “What do you mean about their poor sight?”

Jake explains as if a medical expert. “Sometimes they have eye infections. Or they don’t have glasses. They don’t get to a doctor. So now I buy bibles with larger fonts.”

While at a dollar store last week, I paused by the large size bibles. Jake needs these. If Jake can do all this, I can certainly help. I add five bibles to my shopping cart. During the interview, I also committed to Jake that I’d save all my travel samples for Project SGL.

Last May during the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, I identified Jake as a terrific young man to write an article about for a children’s magazine.

Eight months passed. Jake remained on my mind. I struggled with asking a young man to let me interview him for a potential article. I’m used to getting rejection letters from editors. But what will happen to Jake if editors reject his story?

I shared my concerns. “Jake, in case editors choose not to publish your story, it doesn’t mean that your project is less important or that you’re not doing enough. God has clearly given you a heart for the less fortunate. We’ll pray that happens, but in the meantime can I post some stories on my web page and refer them to your web site?”

He smiles. Behind his grin, I hear him thinking, Cool. More people will hear more about helping the less fortunate.

Visit Jake’s web site at https://www.facebook.com/Project-SGL-243953765799599/.

 

Image Source: homeless-1254833 [freeimages.com]

Do You Want to Build a Snowman? . . . Without Snow

Snowman Library Dec 2015

Christmas is over.

The end of winter break can’t be soon enough.

You’re cooped up in the house with tired children.

In the movie Frozen, Elsa was also cooped up.

Anna knocks on Elsa’s door and asks, “Do you want to build a snowman? Come on, let’s go and play” 1

You’d love to send your kids out to build a snowman. But there’s one problem. There’s no snow.

Fret no longer. Your school age kids can create an endearing Olaf snowman . . . without snow.

The Stanislaus Country Library featured this delightful “snowman” that’s simple to build.

Send the kids on a scavenger hunt to gather items they’ll need. For pre-readers, suggest they gather five books they’d like you to read to them over break.

Items Needed to Build Olaf:

  • About 30 hardcover books. The library staff chose books with predominantly white spines, but they probably have a larger selection than you do!
  • 1 sheet construction paper in each color: black, white & orange
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • 6 brown chenille sticks (formerly known as pipe cleaners)

School-age children can fairly simply create their own unique Olaf. Then read a favorite story snuggled in blankets with their new friend, Olaf. And don’t forget to take a photo and send it to me to post.

 

Sources:

  1. Do You Want to Build a Snowman? by Kristen Bell for movie Frozen. www.disneyclips.com/lyrics/frozenlyrics2.html. Accessed 12/30/2015.
  2. Personal photo taken at Stanislaus County Library on December 22, 2015.

 

Christmas Books for Children

What’s your favorite Christmas story? The story of Christ’s birth has always been mine. Once a year, the heavy white bible was removed from the shelf, dusted off, and Luke chapter 2 was read.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 1

A very popular Christmas story is actually a poem. Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) wrote the poem Twas the Night Before Christmas in 1822. 2 I’m sure you’ll recognize this one.

“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stocking were hung were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.” 2

With so many children’s Christmas books and new ones published every year, what stories do you want to read to your children? In our family the story of Christ’s birth is the most important. Our daughters also knew other Christmas stories, but this was the primary focus.

If the celebration of Jesus’ birth is important to you, you will appreciate the updated Christmas Books for Children. My latest version is available at https://fromdiaperstodiamonds.com/writing/resources/.

What about you? What’s your favorite Christmas story to read to your children? Let my readers know.

 

Sources:

  1. Luke 2: 8-12. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage.
  2. http://www.carols.org.uk/twas_the_night_before_christmas.htm.
  3. Image: nativity-scene-1426643 [freeimages.com]