Happy Mother's Day

Before I was a Mom, 
I never tripped over toys
or made up words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom, 
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep. 

Before I was a Mom, 
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. 

Before I was a Mom, 
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy. 

Before I was a Mom, 
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom .

World's Healthiest Food

Kimchi is made of various vegetables and contains a high concentration of dietary fiber, while being low in calories. One serving also provides up to 80% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C and carotene. Most types of kimchi contain onions, garlic, and peppers, all of which are salutary. The vegetables being made into kimchi also contribute to the overall nutritional value. Kimchi is rich in vitamin A, thiamine (B₁), riboflavin (B₂), calcium, and iron, and contains a number of lactic acid bacteria, among those the typical species Lactobacillus kimchii. The magazine Health named kimchi in its list of top five "World's Healthiest Foods" for being rich in vitamins, aiding digestion, and even possibly reducing cancer growth.

Interesting note: One study conducted by Seoul National University claimed that chickens infected with the H5N1 virus, also called avian flu, recovered after eating food containing the same bacteria found in kimchi. During the 2003 SARS outbreak in Asia, many people even believed that kimchi could protect against infection, although there was no scientific evidence to support this belief. However, in May 2009, the Korea Food Research Institute, Korea’s state food research organization, said they had conducted a larger study on 200 chickens, which supported the theory that it boosts chickens' immunity to the virus.

HELLO, MY NAME IS

 Naming Patterns

You will often see the same names used over and over again in families. Many cultures believe in honoring their elders and do so by naming children after them. Following is a pattern that was popular in England in the 1700-1875 period:

• The first son was named after the father's father
• The second son was named after the mother's father
• The third son was named after the father
• The fourth son was named after the father's eldest brother
• The first daughter after the mother's mother
• The second daughter after the father's mother
• The third daughter after the mother
• The fourth daughter after the mother's eldest sister
  

But maybe more fascinating is our use of nicknames.

A nickname is a name different in origin and pronunciation from the original name. Example: Robert – Bobby, Rob, Bob, or Bert. Sometimes a nickname is simply used for convenience, or it is used to show affection. Nicknames can convey smallness, as when used with young children. It is a way to tell someone they are special and that you love them.

Classic example:

Elizabeth – Liz, Beth, Bess, Betty, Libby, Lisa, Elsa, Babette, Ellen, Zoe, etc.

Never Forget to Smile!

Here is your test regarding American humor:
There once was a Manhattan boy who asked his country cousin, "Is it true that a bear won't eat you if you carry a flashlight?"
The experienced cousin replied, "Depends on how fast you carry it."

Easter Rhymes

 Find rhyming words that match the clues:

(1) A season that rhymes with bring.

(2) A flower that rhymes with silly.

(3) What birds lay that rhymes with legs.

(4) A holiday that rhymes with fur.

(5) A meal that rhymes with winner.

(6) Something you send that rhymes with hard.

(7) Another word for rabbit that rhymes with honey.

(8) Something to hold things and rhymes with gasket.

(9) The opposite of find that rhymes with side.

(10) A place to pray that rhymes with lurch.

(11) A search that rhymes with bunt.

(12) A jelly candy that rhymes          with seen. (13) Colored water that rhymes          with by.

The Morning after a Windy, Stormy Night

I looked out the window afraid I would see fallen tree limbs and other debris from the storm the night before. To my surprise this is what I saw:

A colorful, deflated balloon that must have braved the storm all night.
It reminded me of how much my children had always delighted in balloons. And they would intensely mourn when the balloon finally popped or flew away.


Consider these poems:

MY BALLOON
By
Gregory K.

“Why, oh why, oh why, oh why????
Oh, please come back!” I moan and sigh.
I jumped but you had gone too high.
Now you’re flying in the sky.
I think I’m really gonna cry….
Goodbye, my poor balloon. Goodbye.

 Untitled
by Skip Halthen 

My balloon was in the sky.
My balloon was flying high,
But then it popped and died.
And that's the end.

No English Needed!

 Sometimes we don't need sophisticated language! And we don't need to have a large vocabulary! We just need someone to talk to!
Enjoy this youtube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JmA2ClUvUY