tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13993057593130005662024-03-13T19:40:18.721-07:00The Divine Gift of MotherhoodElizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Miller, a Catholic write-at-home mother of four from Long Island, shares poetry and prose about the family life and other topics of interest.Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.comBlogger619125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-90277608939689327842023-09-15T17:30:00.003-07:002023-09-15T17:41:22.988-07:00On the Writing Process and Overcoming Senioritis<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.educatorsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Letter_King-lady-writing-a-letter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="616" height="400" src="http://www.educatorsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Letter_King-lady-writing-a-letter.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br /></b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My youngest is now a senior in high school, and I plan
on enjoying every second of it! I confess, I experienced a sort of midlife crisis
last year, as I realized my children soon will have all flown the nest. For a
few months, I felt weighed down by an undefined sadness. I missed the days when
my children needed me - even while remembering those moments when I had felt
overwhelmed by the sense of always being needed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I started to panic about the fact that I have yet to
publish a novel – something I would like to do before she goes to college. A children’s
fantasy novel I had been working on for seven years had been rejected shortly
after my fiftieth birthday. I received positive feedback, but the nature of the
changes the editor was asking for would require going back to the drawing
board, something I just did not have the heart to do at the time. So, I decided
to shelve it for a while and work on some short stories. Around the new year, a
sudden sense of urgency welled up within me. I felt as if, if I failed to
publish a book, I would literally die. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I know God gave me a gift of writing, and I know I
was called to write ‘<i>Theresa and the Diamond Castle</i>’ (inspired by St.
Therese’s ‘<i>Interior Castle’</i>), I said to a friend. “So why would he have
me work on it for seven years, if it wasn’t meant to go out into the world?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">She replied, “Maybe it’s all about the process.” Yes,
I do believe the process is what life is all about, but I still feel that my
light should be up on a hill, not covered by a bushel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">After a few children’s book manuscripts were rejected,
I decided to try my hand at a romance novel. I found a specific ‘inspirational
romance’ line that asked for Christian characters, preferably living in a small
town, with a focus on the development of the couple’s relationship. This seemed
like the perfect exercise following the rejection of Theresa. You see, I had
written that book without an outline, following wherever my mind took me, so
that once I had written 45,000 words, it became extremely cumbersome to weave
together into one cohesive narrative.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Romance is written following a specific format of ‘beats’:
boy meets girl, there are obstacles to their relationship, they overcome them,
and the book ends with the promise of a happily-ever-after. I started to
outline the book, then wrote the first few chapters. I soon found that my heroine
came alive to me – like when I had been writing about Theresa, I thought of her
day and night. Interestingly, as her sister’s character developed, I started to
think about a future romance centered on her. I had calculated that by writing
500 words per day, I could have the book finished within three months. By
February, I was indeed half done, but then life got in the way. Family visited.
My son graduated college and moved to Texas. There were family illnesses. I had
to let the book go until June. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In August, I was almost done, when I found two
critique partners. Chapter by chapter, we helped each other to fine tune our
manuscripts. But this process was too slow for me. I had set my birthday as my
deadline, and I wanted to get onto the next book. I submitted the book and
started on the next one. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As the publisher asked for a website, I gave them this
blog address, then realized how long it had been since my last post. Adding
some more content was another task to add onto my growing list.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Within a week of my submission, I received a rejection
– with positive feedback. It is a plot problem, and it is something I can fix
without fundamentally changing my characters. With my critique partners’ help,
I am feeling optimistic that I will have a much-improved manuscript to submit by
Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My days have been flying by. My daughter leaves for
school, and I am busy writing, exercising, doing stuff around the house, then
all of a sudden, she is home. Busy with my own endeavors, I can enjoy the time
she wants to spend with me, without smothering her. I watch with pleasure as
she enjoys her senior year. I look forward to what comes next for her – and for
me and my husband. I truly do not know what comes next, but there are dreams,
possibilities, options. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Echoing Ecclesiastes, my father used to say that we
all experience different seasons throughout our lives. At the time, I was in
the heart of motherhood, homeschooling three little ones with another on the
way, and every moment was devoted to caring for them. Like summer cooling into
fall, that season is drawing to its close. The leaves are falling off the trees,
but the spring will bring new ones, with blossoms. In the meantime, I can enjoy
the beautiful transformation as the leaves change color and drift away, some
closer and some farther, as the wind may blow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Ecclesiastes 3, selected verses (New
American Standard Bible)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">3 There is an appointed time for
everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven—<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">9 What benefit is there for the worker
from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the task which God has given the
sons of mankind with which to occupy themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">11 He has made everything appropriate in
its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, without the possibility that
mankind will find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to
the end.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">12 I know that there is nothing better for
them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; 13 moreover, that every
person who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—this is the gift of God. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">22 I have seen that nothing is better than
when a person is happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will
bring him to see what will occur after him?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-32578198997386335002023-09-03T16:41:00.004-07:002023-09-15T17:43:09.691-07:00The Divine Gift of Motherhood<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.fineartlib.info/plugins/p17_image_gallery/images/md/17/4892.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="606" height="400" src="https://www.fineartlib.info/plugins/p17_image_gallery/images/md/17/4892.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><span>"</span>Maternity" by Fritz Zuber-Buhler</b></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">To my cherished readers,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I have not published on this blog in quite some time.
The biggest reason for this is that I respect my children’s privacy. When I
first started this blog many years ago, the children were very young. With my
small following of Christian mothers, it was highly unlikely that one of their
friends might see my stories, leading to embarrassment. Now three of them are
adults, leading their own lives, and my youngest is a rising senior. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Yet the call to motherhood is not one that ever ends.
I am forever changed since the moment I first found out I was going to be a mother.
Motherhood is a Gift from God, one that keeps on giving as long as we live and
breathe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I will continue to challenge myself to write about
womanhood, motherhood, and the treasures that we refer to as children, without
giving personal anecdotes about my children. I will talk about the books I
read, those I am writing, and what I think about while enjoying the great
outdoors. If I get the call that one of my books has found a home with a
publisher, you will hear about it here!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Yours truly,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Elizabeth<o:p></o:p></span></p>Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-18786506380652601222017-11-22T00:01:00.000-08:002017-11-22T00:01:19.905-08:00A Review of ‘Julia’s Gifts (Great War Great Love #1)’ by Ellen Gable<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bOi6KVRcWNM/WhTFMQmMsGI/AAAAAAAAZrI/vxKx24ro_Dkbfi7uiBDyDfFFBuacDbjCwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Final%2BJulia%2527s%2BGifts%2BFront%2Brev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="561" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bOi6KVRcWNM/WhTFMQmMsGI/AAAAAAAAZrI/vxKx24ro_Dkbfi7uiBDyDfFFBuacDbjCwCEwYBhgL/s320/Final%2BJulia%2527s%2BGifts%2BFront%2Brev.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Ellen Gable, the award-winning Catholic author of
eight books, has embarked on a new series that mothers will be happy to share
with their daughters. In the first installment, <i>Julia’s Gifts</i>, we meet Julia
just before Christmas 1917 in Philadelphia, during World War I. She is shopping
for a Christmas present for her beloved, and praying for his safety. The reader
soon finds that she has not yet met her ‘beloved’. She will be turning 21 soon,
and she is hopeful that she will meet her future husband in the upcoming year. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In March 1918, Julia’s friend encourages her to join
the Red Cross, and they begin their service as nurses in France. Untrained, the
innocent and naïve Julia is thrown into a world replete with the challenges of
lice, flu, pain, sorrow, and blood. She not quite gotten her feet wet when she
is told to prepare a German officer for interrogation by Major Peter Winslow, a
Canadian who has become bitter and angry after receiving news of a personal
tragedy. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">At this point, the reader may think the story will
unfold in a predictable way. However, in the messy world of war, nothing
happens in exactly the way we think – or hope – it will. The characters cope
with their fears and anxieties while reshaping their perceptions of themselves,
others, the world, and God. Where does love fit into the picture – if it all? Gable’s
story explores that phase of young adulthood that is often defined by an
initial disillusionment when confronted with reality. With faith and the grace of God, this stage can result in a blossoming
and rediscovery of one’s true self and purpose.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Gable’s books are written in line with the Theology of
the Body. She purposely wrote this book so that there are no sexual themes that might
be deemed inappropriate for young adolescents. This book presents an
opportunity for mothers and daughters to talk about how to prepare for future
marriage. There are themes of war, including pestilence, severe injuries,
illness, dying, and one suicide, but these are tempered by Gable’s gentle
writing style. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i>For more information see the author’s publication
website <a href="http://www.fullquiverpublishing.com/our-publications/great-war-great-love-series-julias-gifts-by-ellen-gable/" target="_blank">Full Quiver Publishing</a>. </i></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i>Or purchase the book at Amazon now:</i> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Julias-Gifts-Great-War-Love/dp/0987915304/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1511309159&sr=1-1&keywords=julia%27s+gifts" target="_blank">Paperback edition</a> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Julias-Gifts-Great-Love-Book-ebook/dp/B076Q8TQQ7/ref=as_sl_pc_as_ss_li_til?tag=httpteaattria-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=7257fe58ec9b3d74258617c04cfd7b8f&creativeASIN=B076Q8TQQ7" target="_blank">Kindle edition</a> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i>If you enjoyed this review you may enjoy my reviews of
these books by Ellen Gable:</i></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://elizabeth-kathryn-gerold-miller.blogspot.com/2008/01/emilys-hope-by-ellen-gable.html" target="_blank">Emily’s Hope</a> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://elizabeth-kathryn-gerold-miller.blogspot.com/2009/10/in-name-only-by-ellen-gable.html" target="_blank">In Name Only</a> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://elizabeth-kathryn-gerold-miller.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-subtle-grace-by-ellen-gable.html" target="_blank">A Subtle Grace</a> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://elizabeth-kathryn-gerold-miller.blogspot.com/search?q=stealing+jenny" target="_blank">Stealing Jenny</a> </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="color: #0563c1;"></span>Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-66256033375596325372015-05-01T12:51:00.000-07:002015-05-01T12:51:28.488-07:00Ally-Saurus and the First Day of School: an interview with Richard Torrey<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The phone rang. “Hello,” said Richard Torrey, whom I
only knew as the author-illustrator of the incredibly clever book I had just
received and enjoyed with my eight-year-old daughter. I had no notes prepared
for my telephone interview, and as it turned out, this seemed to suit Mr.
Torrey’s style just fine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“My daughter and I loved Ally-saurus,” I told Torrey,
“We think it is just perfect for a child who is headed for their first day of
school.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Well,” he replied, “these are trying times…” He
explained that the first day of anything, whether it was the first day of
school or the first day of camp, was tough for a kid. “You can equate it to
that feeling of walking the plank…it’s like entering another universe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ally-saurus is the preferred moniker of a little girl
who is just waking up for her first day of school. She and her surroundings are
illustrated in dark grey pencil, while her stuffed dinosaurs are lightly
colored in pastel, and a dinosaur’s spikes and tail are drawn onto her head and
back in pink crayon. Ally-saurus starts off appearing confident, although it
soon becomes apparent that she is different from the other kids. By the middle
of the book, the other students can be seen wearing their imagined armor of
princesses, an astronaut, a lion, a pirate, a butterfly, and a dragon.
Embracing their differences, by the end of the day the children are getting along
splendidly, and the next day Ally jumps out of bed, excited for her next day’s
adventures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The idea of Ally originated with his son, who was
always the tiniest in his class or sports team. When he was four years old, he
stated that he was a giant dog, “and he was very serious”, said Torrey. That imagined appearance was “like armor…it
helped him to get through being the smallest”.</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Torrey started to
experiment with ways to draw a child’s imagination without using words. The
character of Ally started as a penciled doodle in Torrey’s “idea book”, with a
dinosaur’s tail drawn in crayon to demonstrate the notion that she thought she
was a dinosaur. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I asked Torrey about how he got started in his career
as an author-illustrator. He describes his journey as a “series of happy
accidents”. Born in Los Angeles, he
originally went to Alleghany College as a pre-med major, which he switched to
psychology; he has lived on Long Island ever since he graduated. Richard’s
father was the Hockey Hall-of-Famer, Bill Torrey, who managed the Islanders
during the years they built the team that would win the Stanley Cup. “Those
were very good times…Islander fans are special…it’s an era that is ending,”
said Richard. He is very sad to see the
Islanders leaving Long Island. “Long Island kids won’t have a home team.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Richard never took art classes, but he loved
cartooning. For his fourth birthday, his great-grandparents gave him the book <i>The Story of Ferdinand</i>, by Munro Leaf. Robert
Lawson’s ink drawings of Ferdinand were the early seeds of his career. He always loved the Peanuts cartoon strip in
particular, and part of his inspiration comes from Charles M. Schultz. When he
was still in grade school, Richard met Schultz at an Oakland Seals hockey game.
Richard decided to show his drawing of a horse to Schultz, who then drew Snoopy
on the back of the picture – Richard still has it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Torrey worked for the Islanders after college, while
constantly drawing in his spare time. When a syndicated cartoonist saw his
work, he got what some might call a “lucky break”, although for many years he
had to work harder to sell his ideas because of his lack of professional
experience. He was learning to be an illustrator as well as a writer while
creating <i>Hartland</i> and <i>PETE AND CLETE</i>. At one point he reached
a cross-roads as newspapers started to evolve, and editors could not decide
whether to put his strip in the comics or sports section. He went to work for <i>Recycled Paper Greetings</i>, where he still
does work. He also did freelance
magazine illustrations, until he was discovered by an agent who was looking for
drawings for a sample book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After illustrating other authors’ books for a few
years, he decided to write his own. His first dozen or so ideas failed to sell,
and his agent advised him to “write what you know”. This naturally brought him
to his own world, parenting young children who played sports, and his first
books were born. When asked what he would advise young writers/illustrators,
Torrey said, “Somebody’s gonna do it, so why not you”…”you have to have skin
like a rhinoceros”, but if you love it and believe in your talent, there is no
reason to believe that you cannot do what you want to do with that gift. He
quoted Richard Bach, who once said, “A professional writer is an amateur who
didn't quit”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Torrey lives on Long Island with his wife and two
children. He has been teaching cartooning and manga art at the Art League of
Long Island in Dix Hills for over twenty years. He is always looking to try his
hand at new things. His latest project was putting together his new website,
which he is very proud of. At </span><a href="http://www.richardtorrey.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">www.richardtorrey.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
(don’t forget the e in torrey or you will come across a fashion site) you can
view Richard’s illustrations, idea sketches, and information about his published
books an even dozen. His 13<sup>th</sup>
book, <i>My Dog, Bob</i>, will be released
in September 2015. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ally-Saurus and the First Day of
School<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Written and illustrated by Richard
Torrey<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Published by Sterling Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Published May 2015<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Price $14.95<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ages 3-6<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hardcover/ISBN 978-1-4549-1179-1<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">*I have also posted this article at <i><a href="http://www.examiner.com/review/ally-saurus-and-the-first-day-of-school-an-interview-with-richard-torrey" target="_blank">The Long Island Motherhood Examiner</a></i> and <i>Catholic Media Review</i>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">On a side-note for my regular readers, I love Torrey's attitude toward life, family, and career. There is a terrific word for what he calls "happy accidents" - </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">serendipitous</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"> events are blessings that come along when you are not looking for them. When we are open to embrace what life has for us, rather than meticulously planning our lives, we set ourselves up for the receipt of untold joys. Something about our conversation echoed to me the attitude of </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Odd Thomas</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">, the main character in a series I am reading by the best-selling Catholic thriller writer Dean Koontz. Odd Thomas doesn't believe in over-preparing, because life throws the strangest things at him all the time. He has to trust that he will know what to do when the moment calls for it. In an interview with ETWN, Koontz says that by the end of the eighth book, </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Saint Odd</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">, the character will have achieved a state of perfect humility.</span></div>
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Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-61309253431372507962014-04-29T18:44:00.001-07:002014-04-29T19:32:35.709-07:00A Subtle Grace by Ellen Gable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kY5k727-Nag/U2BVRDrczQI/AAAAAAAAIJE/55Xk_V4Pk54/s1600/subtlegrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kY5k727-Nag/U2BVRDrczQI/AAAAAAAAIJE/55Xk_V4Pk54/s1600/subtlegrace.jpg" height="320" width="199" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Award-winning author Ellen Gable has produced a
stunning stand-alone sequel to </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In Name
Only</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> (Full Quiver Publishing, 2009).</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A Subtle Grace</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> is a historical
romance, set at the turn of the 20</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> century.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Gable spins a compelling story of the
O’Donovan Family, a wealthy and morally upright, yet down-to-earth Catholic
family.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The novel is engaging, with a
moving plot, while also exploring sensitive issues of courtship, chastity,
family secrets, healing, and forgiveness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The O’Donovans encourage their 19-year-old daughter
Kathleen to pursue a nursing career, while carefully guiding her through her
first experience with courtship.
Kathleen feels drawn to Karl, the charming son of the local police chief,
while also developing a working friendship with Luke, the new family
physician. Her older brother William
feels called to become a priest, while her younger brother John struggles with
maintaining his chastity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gable makes wonderful use of symbolism, through the
artwork carefully selected for her cover, descriptive scenery, and mentions of
classic literary works that give subtle hints at where the plot may be
going. Yet she escapes predictability,
and the story kept me wanting to read more.
The end is both surprising and satisfying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This book is appropriate for reading by older
teens. Content includes non-graphic
descriptions of mild violence, birth, death, prostitution, and attempted rape,
and vague hints at self-gratification.
These issues are explored honestly but gently, and open the doors for
fruitful parent-child conversations on the Theology of the Body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Author’s homepage: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://fullquiverpublishing.com/index_15.html" target="_blank">Full Quiver Publishing</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publication information:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Grace-ODonovan-Family-ebook/dp/B00J3XMWP6/" target="_blank">Kindle Edition</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Grace-ODonovan-Family-Volume/dp/0973673699/" target="_blank">Print Edition</a></div>
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Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-40449537569321211482014-01-22T13:55:00.001-08:002015-05-01T12:30:17.473-07:00Instilling the Virtue of Modesty in Children<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WDeaxWM3eYY/UuA99ls6V-I/AAAAAAAAHFY/cc4ykpDVCJI/s1600/PICT0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WDeaxWM3eYY/UuA99ls6V-I/AAAAAAAAHFY/cc4ykpDVCJI/s1600/PICT0025.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I am writing a two-part column for <i>Celebrate Life</i> on instilling the virtue of modesty in children. I have so much to say on the subject, I wish I was not limited to 500 words per column! The first part, which appears in the Jan./Feb. issue, deals with matters of dress. My article focuses on the principles of modesty in dress rather than on specific dress codes - which many Christians disagree widely on. You can read it <a href="http://www.clmagazine.org/article/index/id/MTMyNDQ" target="_blank">here</a>. The second part, scheduled for the March/April issue, will be a great deal of fun to write, although I could use 5,000 words rather than 500 - it deals with behavioral aspects of modesty. [update: Part II can be viewed <a href="http://www.clmagazine.org/article/index/id/MTM1NDA" target="_blank">here</a>]<br />
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The picture above was taken after last January's snowstorm. Pictured is my youngest daughter, then age 6, and our dog Honey. That storm weighed down the branches of my trees so much that they broke and I had to have them trimmed. My backyard pictures will never be as picturesque without those snow covered boughs. We just had another ten-inch snowfall last night, but it looks nothing like this one.<br />
<br />Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-5279077558647714072013-12-19T07:22:00.000-08:002013-12-19T07:22:00.426-08:00Review of the Disney movie “Frozen”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WUyhPRjjP38/UrMO3sI_SBI/AAAAAAAAGmE/8VvkuxcgE0Q/s1600/frozen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WUyhPRjjP38/UrMO3sI_SBI/AAAAAAAAGmE/8VvkuxcgE0Q/s320/frozen.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[Disclaimer: Plot spoiler warning!]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This movie was a delight, with an original story set
in beautiful Scandinavia, complete with some unexpected twists and elements not
usually seen in a Disney movie. Elsa is
a princess born with the unusual ability to turn anything into ice, a skill she
develops while playing with her little sister Anna. However, she discovers that she loses control
of her talent when she becomes overemotional.
This results in an accident in which Anna’s brain is frozen. The magical gnomes are able to unfreeze her
brain but must remove Anna’s memory of Elsa’s ability. The overcautious King and Queen seclude the
royal family and keep Elsa locked up, even keeping her away from Anna.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As Elsa attempts to keep her ability restrained, she
becomes both physically and emotionally inaccessible. Anna, deprived of her sister’s companionship,
longs for love and human camaraderie.
She thinks she has found it the day that the palace gates are open for
Elsa’s coming of age and crowning. But
this day teaches Elsa that by keeping her emotions and powers completely
restrained for so long, she has completely lost control of both. She escapes into the mountains, where she
builds her own ice castle and feels free once again, unwittingly unleashing a
powerful ice storm on her people. When
Anna follows her and tries to get her to stop the ice storm, Elsa once again
loses control of her emotions and powers, sending ice through Anna’s
heart. Thus the movie teaches the
seemingly contradictory concept that we must express our emotions while also
controlling them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The magical gnomes tell Anna that the damage can
only be undone through an act of true love.
She assumes that this must be romantic love, but herein lies some of the
movie’s surprises. First, she finds that what she thought was “love at first
sight” was deceiving (a lesson not usually taught in animated movies). Second, the love that Anna is looking for to
save her does not come from a romantic admirer.
Rather, it comes from within, as she risks everything to save Elsa, and
both their hearts are thawed. In the
end, the sisters save each other from the damage that was done by keeping
secrets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whereas animated films tend to portray heroes as
attractive and villains as ugly and scary looking, this film teaches children
that people are not always what they seem.
Another very different element of this film is that the characters are
neither purely evil nor purely good. The
complicated character of Elsa is her own enemy in this film, depicting the
internal struggle that is part of the human condition*. The love of her sister
is what helps her to use her unusual power for good in the end. Thus the message of the film is a very
Christian one, calling us to conquer evil by loving one another! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“<span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320;">Be
not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good”, admonishes St. Paul (Romans
12:21). And the First Letter of John
encourages us: “If we love one another, God abides in us, and His Love has been
perfected in us” (I John 4:12). When
Anna gives of herself freely she allows a pure love to operate through her,
healing her wounds. Then, when Elsa opens
up her heart to allow Anna to reach her with this love, this unlocks the good
in her to overcome the sinful part of her nature that is harming others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because of the romantic elements and the focus on
love between sisters, this film will primarily attract a female audience. However, the snow monster, talking snowman,
and talking reindeer will appeal to young boys.
The unexpected turns in the plot will keep adult viewers interested as
well. Altogether this is a beautifully produced
movie with an original story that is appropriate for families.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #4e4e4e;">*The scriptural basis for the internal struggle of good
and evil can be found in these words from the apostle St. Paul:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #4e4e4e;">“For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of
flesh, sold into bondage to sin.For that which I am doing, I do not understand;
for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing
I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not wish to do, I agree with the Law,
confessing that it is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin
which indwells me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my
flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For
the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not
wish. But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one
doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is
present in me, the one who wishes to do good. For I joyfully concur with the
law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my
body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the
law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free
from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So
then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on
the other, with my flesh the law of sin.” - <a href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Romans%207.14-25" target="_blank"><span style="color: #82412a;">Romans 7:14-25</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-5295123737197500212013-10-05T10:55:00.003-07:002013-10-05T21:12:45.827-07:00A review of The Christmas Cat by Maryann Macdonald<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gq6wG4hQN0c/UlBSltvF-LI/AAAAAAAAFEs/oWxiT_VE4bA/s1600/ChristmasCat_CVR-1+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gq6wG4hQN0c/UlBSltvF-LI/AAAAAAAAFEs/oWxiT_VE4bA/s320/ChristmasCat_CVR-1+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">Just on time for the
season of Advent comes a new picture book that Christian parents will not want to
miss. </span></em><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Christmas Cat </span></em><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">by Maryann Macdonald is an original story,
beautifully illustrated by Amy Jane Bates, that the entire family will enjoy
and want to pass on to the next generation.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">The author was
inspired by one of a series of drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, who drew many
illustrations of a young child Jesus holding and playing with a cat. Dated between 1480 and 1481, this series is
known as </span></em><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Madonna del Gatto</span></em><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">, or
the Madonna of the Cat. There is also a
legend about a cat who purred Jesus to sleep in the stable in Bethlehem the
night he was born. Macdonald wondered if
this cat could have become Jesus’ special pet and, if so, what their
relationship might have been like.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">The book cover shows a
kitten licking the hand of a contently smiling Baby Jesus, the evening light coming
through the stable window and casting a golden glow on the hay. On the first page is a panorama of shepherds
on a twilight hill, overlooking the city of Bethlehem, which is bathed in a
heavenly light. The title page depicts
the Holy Family holding Baby Jesus, with stable animals looking on. Then we are introduced to a crying Baby
Jesus. His family and the animals are
unable to soothe him. Then a kitten
enters the stable, nuzzles Baby Jesus, and gently purrs him to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">Baby Jesus grows into
a young child, and he and his Mother Mary are portrayed playing with the cat,
who has now become his pet. When the
Holy Family flees from Herod, they fear they have left the cat behind. Just as the Child Jesus becomes upset, the
cat comes out from hiding and comforts him.
The book closes with a painting of Mary, an older Child Jesus, and the
cat, cuddling contentedly. Next to the
author’s endnote is a print of da Vinci’s drawing, which is similarly composed.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">The story is told in
a beautiful narrative style, which adults will enjoy reading aloud. It is clear, descriptive, and does not ‘talk
down’ to children. I read this book with
my seven-year-old daughter, who was delighted by the pictures and story. I asked my sixteen-year-old daughter, a fine
arts student, to critique the artwork; she admired the “loose” style of the paintings. The artwork is soft, playful, and appealing
to children. The skillful use of light
illuminates the focus of each painting. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">I loved the story and
have found myself thinking about its thesis.
Although the Bible does not mention “pets” per se, it does speak of dogs
being under tables in houses, eating the scraps that fall. We know that domesticated cats were around
from the time of the Egyptians – so it is possible that a stray cat could have
befriended the Child Jesus. The book
comes at a perfect time, with Pope Francis bringing worldwide attention to the
humble Saint Francis of Assisi, who had such a special relationship with
animals. Pope John Paul II once said, </span></em><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"Also the animals
possess a soul, and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller
brethren."</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">We think of pets as
being there to comfort us, and any family with children and a dog or cat knows
how animals instinctively cuddle up to them whenever they are upset. The simple but intriguing idea that Jesus
could have had a pet makes him seem more human, and thus more relatable to
children. As his humanity was God the
Father’s gift to us that we celebrate on Christmas, this book presents the
perfect opportunity for children and their parents to think about what Jesus
could have been like when he was a child.
He cried, he got hungry, and he played – just like them – thus he can
understand them and be their special friend.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">Maryanna Macdonald,
who grew up with seven brothers and sisters, shows that she really understands
children, and is able to write at a level appropriate for their stage. I also reviewed her young adult novel </span></em><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Odette’s Secret</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
which presents a child’s view of the holocaust.
I believe I have discovered a great writer and look forward to seeing
more from her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Published by Dial Books for Young Readers October
2013 U.S. $16.99/Canada $18.00<em><span style="font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For publishing information
see the author’s website at <a href="http://www.maryannmacdonald.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">www.maryannmacdonald.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For my review of Odette’s
Secret see: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.examiner.com/review/young-adult-historical-novel-brings-holocaust-to-life-through-the-eyes-of-a-chil">http://www.examiner.com/review/young-adult-historical-novel-brings-holocaust-to-life-through-the-eyes-of-a-chil</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-45486536423852481302013-06-02T19:02:00.001-07:002013-06-03T07:21:25.695-07:00Honey Come Home!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Qeva94j364/Uav4_Nwb2SI/AAAAAAAACzI/jka1bciDnEM/s1600/honeyhome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Qeva94j364/Uav4_Nwb2SI/AAAAAAAACzI/jka1bciDnEM/s320/honeyhome.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The weekend of my daughter’s sixteenth birthday was
as exciting as they come – although we had decided to forgo the traditional
overblown “Sweet 16” that is popular on Long Island.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sunday, her birthday, was to be a
nice, quiet day spent at home – a welcome day of rest in the midst of
preparations for varsity softball playoffs – topped with dinner out at a nice
Italian restaurant.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Saturday afternoon
changed that plan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Audrey had softball practice followed by a car wash
with the team. My son Alex and I were
putting together a pool ladder. In doing
so, we had removed something that was blocking a broken picket in the
fence. All of a sudden, we realized our
dog Honey was gone. My husband Kevin
came in the backyard, where he had been mowing, and said she ran into the sump
next door. He tried to catch her but she
ran into some humanly inaccessible brush.
The sump opens onto miles of protected woodlands in the back of our
property. Every few weeks she gets out
like that, and comes back a little while later, wanting us to chase her down. On her last romp, she had lost her
identification tags.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kevin kept mowing and my son was on the lookout for
Honey, and I went to pick up Audrey. When
I got back, she still hadn’t shown up. I
drove around the neighborhood to no avail.
I had to take Alex to his travel baseball game. It was raining, and I was sure it was going
to be rained out, but it wasn’t. When we
got back from there, it was dark, and she still hadn’t come back. Kevin said our six-year-old daughter had gone
to bed crying, after standing at the back door saying, “Honey didn’t come home.” We started to get really worried. Honey is scared of the rain, and we were
afraid she might have gotten stuck somewhere in the sump and possibly drowned. We left food out on the front porch and hoped
she would be there in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sunday I woke up early but had to wait for one of
the children to get up and go looking with me, since the overgrown and wooded sump
isn’t a safe place to go by yourself.
Audrey got up and was the first to go with me. Allison and Alex quickly followed. We went through the sump into the wood, split
up into pairs, and went through all the main paths. We hope to at least leave our scent, since
the rain might have washed away the scent for Honey to find her way home. We walked all the miles through to the main
roads to no avail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I did a drive around all the main roads to make sure
she hadn’t been hit by a car. I called
the town shelter, where dogs are brought dead or alive if hit on the road. I was relieved no dogs had been brought in
from our area. We got dressed and went
out for the birthday dinner, which got our minds off the dog for an hour or
two. When we got back, I started posting
pictures of Honey on Craigslist, Twitter, and Facebook. I told my kids we would pray that some puppy
angels would guide Honey safely home to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Monday, I started posting fliers. On my way to teach religion, I got an email
from Denise May, a local Rescue Coordinator for Ridgeback Rescue, a volunteer organization devoted to the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed ( <a href="http://www.ridgebackrescue.org/">www.ridgebackrescue.org</a> ). One of her volunteers had seen my ad on
Craigslist and she wanted to help. She
asked if a humane trap might help. I
answered that I was not sure, but that I would call for her advice after my
class. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I got home, I called Denise. I was surprised to hear her say that some
people were already on their way out to my area to look for Honey! They had already made up a flier with the
information from my ad. The volunteers
working on Honey’s case were Val, Eddie, and Judi. This is what they do with their spare time,
to bring dogs safely back to their owners.
I thought maybe these were the “puppy angels” God had sent for Honey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valerie was the first at my house. She had hot dogs in her car and squeaky toys
(to attract the dog); she started by driving around calling Honey. She also runs a Facebook group called Help Bring
Hampton Bayz Home ( <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-Bring-Hampton-Bayz-Home">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-Bring-Hampton-Bayz-Home</a>
) dedicated to finding a male golden retriever who has been missing from the
Medford areas since February, but which also allows others to post lost and
found dogs. The group suggested that I
set up a Facebook group just for Honey.
Honey actually does have her own page, set up by my kids, but it’s
private. A public group would allow for
people to report “sightings”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The group, accompanied by Judi’s friendly
retriever Chloe, searched the sump and the woods that night. They flooded the area with fliers, searched
other adjoining roads and another wooded park.
I was really amazed at the goodness of these people. They suggested that I set up feeding
stations, so that I would know if Honey was in the area – in which case a
humane trap might work. I should hang
unwashed shirts belonging to whichever family member she was closest to, where
the wind would catch and carry the scent.
Another suggestion was barbecuing bacon, something that recently worked
in the rescue of another dog that had been missing in the woods over the
weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I should call around to all the local animal
hospitals, as well as my vet, and fax them my flier. My vet at Wooded Acres told me that generally
the vets and animals hospitals share this information in case a found dog with
no identification is brought in. I also
should call the pounds in adjoining areas, fax them fliers, and visit my own town
shelter on a regular basis. I heard from
the group, as well as several nice people I ran into while hanging fliers, that
you really need to go into the shelter and look for the dog on a regular basis. Many people have called the front desk and
been told no dog matching that description has been brought in, and then found
the dog there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Tuesday I went to the shelter. That was such a heartbreaking
experience. When I got in through the
front door I imagined I heard Honey’s voice among the many dogs howling. My hopes were to be lifted and dashed
repeatedly during this visit – there is a Proverb that says “Hope deferred
maketh the heart sick”. In each room I
walked through kennels on the left and right.
I kept hoping the next dog might be her.
There were many dogs that had similar characteristics to her and I
started to doubt myself, wondering if I would recognize my own dog. One was her breed and although she sounded
different and showed no sign of recognition, I looked at her for a minute and
said, “This looks a little like her if she lost some weight.” The guide laughed and said, “Except it’s a
he.” So that settled that. That was the last dog. It was everything I could do to hold my tears
back until I could get outside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I got home there were a few pieces of steak
missing from the bowl on the front porch, which got my hopes up a little, but
anything could have taken it. I put some
sand around the bowl so I could see the paw prints next time. That night Val was out again, and the rest of
the group was hanging more fliers. I
made some bacon in the backyard and made a trail from the sump to the front
porch. On Wednesday there was some bacon missing, but the prints left were the
size of a raccoon’s. Then I got a phone
call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Good morning,” said a man with a gruff voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Good morning?” I said, hopefully. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I hope it’s a good morning for you,” he said,
mysteriously. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes?” I prompted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Are you still missing your dog?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I asked for a description – he was describing her as
a “puppy”, but the size and collar description matched. He lived on the road on the other side of the
woods. I went over there right
away. When I knocked I could see through
the window her body being carried and I knew it was her. He answered the door
carrying her. She was so excited! We got her into the car and he explained how
she had shown up on his front doorstep either Sunday or Monday afternoon, wet
and scared. He had another older dog and
“I don’t need another dog”, he said, but he kept her safe and fed her organic
dog food. He had gone to the food store,
where people post lost and found pets. I
had given them my flier, but they swap them every other day, so it wasn’t up at
that time. When he woke up Wednesday and
went outside, her flier was smack in front of his nose on a post in front of his
house. “She’s gonna need a bath. She has some ticks on her. I was gonna give her the works today,” he
said. He proceeded, “She is such a sweet
dog and really needs loving. You can’t
ever yell at her. She’ll do whatever you
tell her to.” I told her she had been a
rescue dog and he said he figured as much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I brought her home, I texted the really
essential people – my daughter at school and Denise and Val – first, and they
had questions, but I really had to get her into the yard for her bath. I did that, and felt bad I had to make her
uncomfortable, but afterward she laid in the sun and looked so happy to be in
her own yard. She slept all afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Never underestimate the power of a flier”, said
Denise. She and Val told me to give
Honey a kiss and hug from them, a treat, and a set of shiny new tags. I spent much of the afternoon calling around
to all the places that had posted my flier so they could take them down. I would spend the next week on a hunt for
fliers throughout town to take them down.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I kept the
large, beautifully done posters in case she ever got on the loose again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The reunions with the children continued for hours
as they all finished up with school and sports.
Alex came home and knew something was different. “Is Honey home?” he asked hopefully. They had a little romp and she went back to
sleep. Allison came home from
track. She went up the stairs and I
asked her to come to the windows. “Look
what’s under the trampoline,” I said, and she ran out to give her some
petting. I met the school bus with her
on the leash – the bus driver was ecstatic for us – Honey jumped up and licked
her on the face. Audrey came home from
softball and dove onto the couch with Honey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Honey slept all the next day and ate quite a bit. The following day she got microchipped. Over the weekend she perked up a bit and by
Monday was her energetic self again. It
was so nice to have my running partner back!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I asked Denise what someone should do if they find a
lost dog. This is what she had to say:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“A finder should take the dog to the local vet to
have him/her scanned for a microchip. If no chip and the finder is willing to
hold, they should hang flyers, list on Craig's list and/ or place a newspaper
ad. The finder should put limited information. Like for Honey the sign or ad
should merely say found large brown dog. This way the caller claiming the dog
will have to fill in the pieces such as breed, gender, collar or no collar.
What you are trying to prevent is people claiming the dog when it is not
theirs, for nefarious purposes (such as dog fighting or breeding). I require a
claimant to provide proof of ownership through vet records and/or photos.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are so happy to have our beloved Honey back! To anyone who ever loses their dog, be
persistent, and don’t give up hope! I
heard from people who lost their dog for days, weeks, even months, and their
endings were happy. I am so blessed to
be able to share my happy ending with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-53574230680892079212013-03-06T18:38:00.001-08:002013-03-06T18:38:43.741-08:00Odette's Secrets by Maryann Macdonald<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every once in a while there comes along a book that
I feel absolutely must be shared with as many young people as possible. <i>Odette’s
Secrets</i>, a young adult historical novel, lovingly and painstakingly crafted by Maryann Macdonald, is one of
those rarities. It tells the story of the
Holocaust, a dark period that must never be forgotten, through the eyes of a
child.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Told entirely in blank verse in the voice of a young
Jewish girl, the book is filled with black and white photographs from the
Meyers family album. The story begins
as Odette is beginning to realize that things for Jews are changing in Paris. Life becomes defined by hiding, secrecy, and
loss. The Meyers family is not
religious, so Odette struggles with understanding what it meant to be a
Jew. To keep her safe, Odette’s mother
sends her to the French countryside to attend a convent school, with
instructions to blend in as a Catholic orphan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Odette’s new life is much better, with room to play
freely without food rationing and the fear of soldiers. She is filled with confusion about her
identity, as she is living out the lie that was designed to protect her. She feels drawn to the Holy Family of Baby Jesus,
the Virgin Mary, and Joseph, and finds comfort in the nativity scene. She misses her mother, but never wants to go
back to Paris.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Odette’s mother joins her when Paris becomes too
dangerous for her to continue her secret work.
She does not blend in as well as her daughter has, however, and when the
children become suspicious Odette is chased down and beaten up. Although a friend and protector is able to convince
the country folk of the family’s story so they can continue living there in
peace, Odette is never able to trust her friends again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When the war ends, Odette and her mother return to
Paris, where Odette must confront the reality of the suffering that the Jews
have endured. Only then can she finally
come to terms with who she is as a girl and a Jew. She is reunited with her father, now a prison
camp survivor, who brings her the gift of a diary in which to write her story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Maryann Macdonald has written more than twenty-five
books for children. While living in
Paris, she discovered Doors to Madam Marie, the autobiography of Odette Meyers,
who grew up to be a poet and university professor. She became fascinated by Meyers’ story and
personally visited the places where she had lived and played as a child. Meyers passed away in 2002, survived by her
son Daniel, who provided Macdonald with additional materials and permission to
write his mother’s story for children. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a story that will draw young readers in and
keep them turning the pages. It tells
the sorrowful truth in a sensitive way that is age-appropriate, yet never
condescending. Young people and their
parents can benefit from reading this book concurrently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Odette’s
Secrets by Maryanne Macdonald</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Published
Feb. 26, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">240
pages, Hardcover, $16.99</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bloomsbury
USA Childrens</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ages
10 and up</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Author’s website : <a href="http://www.maryannmacdonald.com/odettes-secrets.htm?projx=91.4">http://www.maryannmacdonald.com/odettes-secrets.htm?projx=91.4</a>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher’s website: <a href="http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/odettes-secrets-9781599907505/">http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/odettes-secrets-9781599907505/</a></span></div>
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Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-45438743815820035292013-02-13T17:50:00.001-08:002013-02-13T17:50:36.341-08:00"Curse of the Thirteenth Fey: The True Tale of Sleeping Beauty" by Jane Yolen<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pre-teens are in for a treat from renowned
storyteller Jane Yolen in this newest modernization of the traditional tale of
Sleeping Beauty, and parents can rest assured that both traditional and modern family
values will be promoted by the story.</span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yolen weaves a tale about a thirteen-year-old named
Gorse, who happens to be the thirteenth and youngest child in a family of fairies
known as the Shouting Fey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are called
this because the most gifted among them are able to produce a guttural sound
that can literally move mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gorse
has been kept innocent and ignorant of the family secret, which is that the fey
have been kept captive by a promise made hundreds of years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are bound to do whatever they are summoned
to do by royalty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fey cannot break their
promises or they will burst into thousands of stars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are signs that Gorse may be the
promised one that can release the fey from their bondage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Just as the family is summoned to bless a new
princess, Gorse becomes extremely ill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If she does not arrive to give her blessing as promised, her entire
family could burst into thousands of stars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On her way to the castle, she falls into a deep cave, where she finds
even deeper family secrets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She must
find her way out of the cave, at the same time helping other fey relatives to
regain their freedom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the course of her journey, Gorse develops her
ability to cast spells using her “shout”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She finds a creative way to break down the magical door that holds her
and others in the cave, and devises a clever spell with which to “bless” the
princess and the other royalty with sleep for 100 years, so that her family’s
promise is kept and they are able to regain their freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was an extremely creative story based on
the timeless values of keeping promises and loyalty to family, combined with
the modern values of the power of creativity and of the female mind, that
pre-teens are bound to enjoy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Published November 2012 by Philomel Books, an
imprint of Penguin Boks</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For children ages 10 and up </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">256 pages * $16.99 hardcover * ISBN 978-0399256646</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For more information on purchasing options visit <a href="http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780399256646,00.html">http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780399256646,00.html</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-26122143182897038082013-01-22T17:52:00.003-08:002013-01-22T17:52:52.694-08:00The Poppy Lady<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2vqYRdCTlXE/UP9CXiKgpEI/AAAAAAAABgc/P8aZdPwZLt8/s1600/poppylady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2vqYRdCTlXE/UP9CXiKgpEI/AAAAAAAABgc/P8aZdPwZLt8/s320/poppylady.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Non-fiction Picture Book Review</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute
to Veterans<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By Barbara Elizabeth Walsh, Paintings by Layne
Johnson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a very different kind of non-fiction picture
book that will be appreciated by any parent who is trying to instill in their
children a respect for the troops. The story is about Moina
Belle Michael, a schoolteacher from Georgia, who wanted to do something for the
soldiers fighting in World War I. Moina
worked to establish the red poppy as the symbol to honor and remember soldiers.
And she devoted the rest of her life to making sure the symbol would last
forever. Thanks to her hard work, that symbol remains strong today. Author
Barbara Elizabeth Walsh and artist Layne Johnson worked with experts, primary
documents, and Moina’s great-nieces to better understand Moina’s determination
to honor the war veterans.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The prologue begins with a biography of Moina. A dark blue painting of the night-time
bombing of an American ship by the German U-boats in March 1917 is followed by
a bright green painting of Moira on the European countryside. Next the countryside is laid waste, showing
planes bombing and devastating the land, with troops in the trenches. In April 1917 Moira is shown receiving the
news of war at the University of Georgia.
Another night scene shows Moira at the campus, waiting for news and
wondering what she could do. She is
shown leading women in their work for the Red Cross, rolling bandages, visiting
the troops at the nearby camps, and seeing them off on the train. She goes to Columbia University to train for
the YMCA; there she serves the troops at Hamilton Hall. She finds that by brightening the dark room
with flowers, the troops are happy to come spend time there. She is inspired by the brightly colored
illustration of a battleground covered with unmarked crosses and red poppies,
accompanying a poem called “We Shall Not Sleep” by Lieutenant Colonel John
McCrae. It ends with the line, “We shall
not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders fields”. She starts to give the men poppies and begins
a mission to have everyone wear poppies in honor of the troops. The Epilogue explains how the poppy lives on
as a way to thank those who fought to give us freedom. The paintings are realistic and full of
emotion. The book was well-researched,
and provides a Bibliography for further reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A portion of the book’s
proceeds will support the National Military Family Association’s Operation
Purple®, which benefits children of the U.S. military.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For ordering information see <a href="http://www.boydsmillspress.com/books/calkins-creek/poppy-lady">http://www.boydsmillspress.com/books/calkins-creek/poppy-lady</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ages: 7-11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pages: 40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">List Price: $16.95<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cover: Hardcover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Published: 9/1/2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN-13:
978-1-59078-754-0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-60697107319559234722012-12-08T09:14:00.002-08:002012-12-08T09:14:30.188-08:00New picture books by Jane Yolen feature friendly dragons<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PIcbbxuXF-Q/UMN1VI2r4KI/AAAAAAAABgI/k8l_pf26mdI/s1600/wakingdragons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PIcbbxuXF-Q/UMN1VI2r4KI/AAAAAAAABgI/k8l_pf26mdI/s1600/wakingdragons.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Review of </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Waking
Dragons</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> by Jane Yolen, Paintings by Derek Anderson, 2012, Simon and
Schuster.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Don’t forget to wake the dragons before school,”
says a note from Mom. A little boy,
dressed as a knight, enters a room/cave with his dog. They climb a ladder to a giant bed, and
proceed to wake the dragons. The dragons
are both friendly and sleepy, gradually becoming lively; they appropriately
tumble the boy and his dog as they rise from their slumber. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Derek Anderson’s colorful paintings will appeal to
youngsters and parents alike. With
humorous illustrations, the boy is shown brushing a dragon’s teeth, feeding
them breakfast, and getting them dressed.
The dragons kiss their mom goodbye and fly, carrying the boy to “Knight
School”, where he says goodbye and they fly away. The paintings are accompanied by Jane Yolen’s
short, rhyming lines that use active words to keep children engaged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a clever and creative book from a master
storyteller who never ceases to amaze us, well matched by beautiful paintings
that will keep children absorbed and encourage them to use their
imagination. The intended reading
audience is children 4 to 8. I read this
picture book with my six year old and we agreed it will make a nice gift for
her three-year-old cousin. For more information visit <a href="http://www.blogger.com/Kids.simonandschuster.com%20http://books.simonandschuster.com/Waking-Dragons/Jane-Yolen/9781416990321" target="_blank">Simon and Schuster</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the 3 and under set, just in time for the
Holiday season are <i>Do Dinosaurs Say Merry
Christmas?</i> And <i>How Do Dinosaurs Say
Happy Chanukah?,</i> new titles in Jane Yolen’s bestselling <i>How Do Dinosaurs</i> series illustrated by
Mark Teague and published by Blue Sky Press/Scholastic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-65194870322123545412012-12-06T09:46:00.002-08:002012-12-06T09:47:58.699-08:00Pediatrician publishes board books for young children to encourage active exploration<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XI396CZW4Do/UMDZ2A5oLfI/AAAAAAAABfo/jwsIx3F8yyg/s1600/BeachCover_reads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XI396CZW4Do/UMDZ2A5oLfI/AAAAAAAABfo/jwsIx3F8yyg/s1600/BeachCover_reads.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Are you searching for the perfect board book to give
to an infant or toddler? </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Beach</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, by
Dr. John Hutton and illustrated by Andrea Kang, might fit the bill.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><strong style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: #FFFEF6; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Winner of a Mom's Choice Gold
Medal and Creative Child Book of the Year,</span></strong><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Beach</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> is the latest addition to the Baby Unplugged series
published by Blue Manatee Press.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The purpose
of the series is to encourage hands-on early learning and play through
books.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The series titles to date include
</span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ball</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Beach</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Blanket</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Book</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Box</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">,</span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pets</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, and </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yard</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Beach
</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">features
Kang’s happy, brightly colored pictures that show children and animals playing,
sharing, laughing, making music, and sleeping.
The objects they play with include sand, shells, balls, animals, snorkels,
buckets, water, and a wagon. They
explore the sand and water. They examine
and observe shells, lobsters, fish, dolphins, and turtles. Scenic backgrounds
include the boardwalk, sand, and water at the beach, with a happy sun in the
sky. The simple, rhyming text describes
the dry and wet sand, shells of many shapes and sizes, salty ocean, swaying palm
trees, and hatching turtles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Beach
</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and
the other books in the Baby Unplugged series use happy images and simple,
rhyming text to encourage children to explore the real world using all of their
senses. The concept is rooted in
research on how children’s brains develop.
“It’s incredible that we have to remind people to reconnect with the
real world . . . real-world experiences are critical during sensitive
developmental stages.” says Hutton, who is opposed to the overuse of television
and technological games for children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Dr. Hutton’s blog, Baby Unplugged (<a href="http://www.babyunplugged.com/">www.babyunplugged.com</a>),
he makes the points that the best gifts are those that follow the Photo
Principle – they inspire the taking of photographs – and the Memory Principle –
they build memories. The giving of books
with real pages that youngsters can handle and look at, and share with their
loved ones, is a great tradition for Christmas, birthdays, and other gift
giving occasions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I read this book with my six-year-old. We live on Long Island and love to frequent
the ocean beaches here. We enjoyed the
book, and we agreed it will make the perfect gift for her baby cousin, who
lives in the center of the continental United States and does not get to see the
beach often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For more information or to order visit the Blue
Manatee Books website at <a href="http://www.bluemanateebooks.com/">www.bluemanateebooks.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-69524062405975029582012-11-21T20:21:00.002-08:002012-11-21T20:22:42.757-08:00Happy Thanksgiving... or Black Thursday?<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0LVyZ_NMg6Q/UK2oU83eiyI/AAAAAAAABfU/DSrsdK234DM/s1600/Snoopy_thanksgiving1_800x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0LVyZ_NMg6Q/UK2oU83eiyI/AAAAAAAABfU/DSrsdK234DM/s320/Snoopy_thanksgiving1_800x600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I always hated Black Friday. When my kids were young, the thought of
taking them into the crowded stores just to get a good sale never appealed to
me. I always made a point to stay home
all day that day, baking and doing crafts with the kids. Sometimes we would host team sleepovers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The last few years have seen an appalling development. The hours got so early into the morning that
some stores were opening at midnight.
This meant that many store employees would have to leave their family
dinners early to prepare for the midnight opening. I started to call it Black Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This year, several major retailers are opening at 10
PM Thursday night, and some even at 8 PM.
This means that Thanksgiving is now ruined not only for employees, but
for the families whose gatherings will end early because someone wants to go
stand in line to get a good sale. “Sorry
Mom, I just have to get to this sale. I
promise to get you a really nice designer pocketbook. Love you, bye.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The only way for this madness to stop is if the
people don’t go to these sales. Even if
a small percentage stands up for their beliefs with their actions and this does
not impact the stores, what parents decide to do will make an impression on their
children. Do we place a higher value on
family and special traditions, or do we value material things more?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“F<span style="background: #F9FDFF; color: #001320;">or where your treasure is, there your
heart will be also</span>.”</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthew 6:21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-58080762778957154962012-09-11T20:37:00.001-07:002012-09-11T20:37:28.245-07:00Mark Francis Gerold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Vg2WF28GZE/UFADV4UwXDI/AAAAAAAABfA/suaMJsdeA4A/s1600/Dadboat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Vg2WF28GZE/UFADV4UwXDI/AAAAAAAABfA/suaMJsdeA4A/s320/Dadboat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have had creative writers’
block for months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Dad passed away
this summer, and I thought my next post should be about my Dad, but then I just
couldn’t bring myself to sit down and write about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could I do justice to a lifetime of a
complex man in an essay?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am coming
back now to review the notes I wrote for the Pastor who delivered his Eulogy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still can’t do much better than this, but I
am afraid my perfectionistic tendencies will lead to its never being done.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dad always was up for
a challenge, and he always set our sights high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He seemed to know exactly how much he could push us to do our best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He used to take me for bike rides when I was
little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d get out ahead of me and go
around the next corner, and I’d have to go faster to catch up, but he was
always there. On one of these bike rides I said to him, “I love you Dad” and he
said, “Yeah but do you like me too?” I said “of course!” Then he said “Well
when kids get a little older a lot of the time they don’t like their parents.”
I said, “Of course I will always like you!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dad was always one of
my best friends. As I grew up I knew I could talk to him about anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He involved me in all of his projects around
the house, and when I had my own house I would feel like he was there with me
as I painted and fixed things. When I became an adult, I would have great,
lengthy conversations about all kinds of topics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we would have arguments, but we
always respected each other, and I really treasured our relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dad also taught us to
be prepared for whatever life threw at us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He would say to have a plan A, plan B, plan C, and so on, so that we
could plan for any contingencies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we
had inter-personal conflicts at school or work he would do role-playing with us
to help us to stand up for ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
taught us how to play chess, checkers, and backgammon, and never just “let” us
win; he taught us the right moves so that we could eventually beat him on our
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This all taught us to be
self-reliant and productive adults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
always said to us, <span class="apple-converted-space">“You can do anything you
put your mind to.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dad was a great role
model.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He taught us by example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad read his Bible every night. He kept it
next to bed. His faith was solid and set such a great example for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad also taught us how to take great care of
our bodies, “temples of the Holy Spirit”, by exercising, eating healthy foods,
and getting a good night’s sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
taught us how to manage our money, and set priorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t believe on spending money on status
items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said the only things worth
investing money in are land, an education, and good experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He also taught us not
to procrastinate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On his desk was a plaque
that said “DO IT NOW'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was short
for: <span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do
today”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Other notes:</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What he did for a
living – builder and sales engineer – he and his brother started Gerold
Brothers Home Improvement as teenagers, and in his 30s he sold large cooling
systems in Manhattan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Bethpage Long Island with his 3 siblings <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What his hobbies were
– swimming, biking, board games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What made him laugh –
talking about what mischief he caused as a kid or what mischief his own kids
got into<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What music did he
listen to – Beach Boys, Rocky Soundtrack. <span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I think about Dad when I am doing things that we used to do together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swimming, going to the beach, staining the
deck, doing any kind of home improvements, playing board games, reading the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I feel his approval when making a
decision that upholds the ethics he taught me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Spending time with family, going to church, saving money, or spending it
on worthwhile things and experiences. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making sure my kids do well in school so they
are on track to go to college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making
sure they have the opportunity to do what it is they excel at.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dad was 60 years old when he passed away, due to complications
from Multiple Sclerosis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He died the
same day as my Grandfather, John S. Nagy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know that he is in Heaven now, in the company of my grandfather and
other loved ones, free of pain. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-70825160712367941012012-05-29T19:42:00.000-07:002012-05-29T19:44:46.518-07:00Longwood Youth Mourn Dominic Trionfo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week the whole Longwood community was in mourning for the loss of fourteen-year-old Dominic Trionfo, of Middle Island, New York. After getting his license to operate a jet ski, he was taking out his grandfather’s jet ski for the very first time in Peconic Bay. Tragically, he came to close to the anchor chain in front of his grandfather’s boat and died in front of his family. Dominic was well-loved at Longwood High School and it was his first year working as an umpire for Longwood Little League / Longwood Youth Sports Association. <br />
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Parents and youth alike struggled with dealing with the death of one so young. Grieving counselors were available at Longwood High School all week and moments of silence were held in his honor at the Academic Achievement Award night and other school events. At Longwood Little League, moments of silence were held at ball games. At the wake, umpires came dressed in their uniforms to show their respect.<br />
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A letter from Ron Webber, Director of Umpires, describes how one game in particular was held in honor of Dominic:<br />
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“This past week at our major baseball field was to be Dominic's first major baseball game along with his best friend John Hernandez, as these two young umpires have worked hard to move to this rank. As a tribute to Dominic, I worked the plate and John the bases, and we used special baseballs with Dominic's name on them. After the first pitch I removed the ball and presented it to Dominic's best friend John Hernandez. Everyone in attendance clapped for this gesture. That was a show of support and unity. The game was played as if the coaches and players were playing in a professional game and the game was one of the best of the season. I could not thank the coaches, players, and parents enough for their professionalism at this game. Not only was it an honor to remember Dominic at this game, but word got back to his family and they came down to watch and thank us for what we were doing. I had the honor to present Dominic's family with a game ball. I cannot thank all of you enough for what that game meant not only to me but to the many who knew him.”<br />
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It was eerie passing the news truck every day as I picked up my daughter from the high school. They were there interviewing the students, teachers, and passers-by about how they felt about Dominic’s untimely death. Mothers spent their days crying, even if they did not know him. Maybe they overlooked a few fresh remarks or looks, because they were that much more thankful to have their children alive. Maybe they stopped complaining about their busy sports schedules because they realized that at least their children were alive and healthy enough to participate. Men were just as emotional, but they expressed it in thoughtful gestures, such as Ron’s tribute during the baseball game. Those who had the money contributed to scholarship funds and family fundraisers.<br />
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Every time there is another end of the year activity I think, would Dominic have received an award tonight? Would he have been asked to the junior prom? Would he have umpired this year’s Little League All Star Game? As I see a boat being transported on the highway I wonder if Dominic’s family will ever take the boat out on the water again.<br />
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There is no wrapping your head around the loss of a young person…no matter the cause. All people can do is support the family, and come together as a community, as people did after Dominic’s death. Give your kids an extra hug tonight and say a prayer for someone who wishes they could.Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-42416345524759962662012-05-06T20:58:00.000-07:002012-05-06T20:58:39.997-07:00The Hunger Games: A Side-by-Side Review of the Book and the Movie<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">(I am going to try to do this without spoiling anything for those who have not read the book or seen the movie! I will not reveal the end!)</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">A Prelude..<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">I delayed seeing this movie as long as possible. When it first came out, I found the very idea of kids watching kids kill each other repulsive. However, I read a few reviews that said the book had some excellent political overtones, and that the book was food for thought. So I put the book on reserve at the library.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">First I read the book and found it to be a very good read, with no objectionable content for my teenage daughters. The book, the first in a trilogy, is itself divided into three parts. Part I , “The Tributes”, gives the history of 16-year-old Katniss, her family, town, and the games in general; Gale, her best friend, an older boy with whom she has hunted for years; and Peeta, the bakers’ son, who will be selected as the other tribute. Part II, “The Games”, is the suspenseful story of the games. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Part III, “The Victor”, contains the climax and conclusion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">I passed the book along to my 14-year-old, who stayed up all night reading it and begged me to take her to the movie, which was still playing in some local theatres. I figured the movie would be comparable to one of the classic science fiction movies my husband and I have enjoyed, such as “Logan’s Run”. I asked my 13-year-old to read Part I as a requirement to go. I felt that Part I gave enough background for her to understand where the main characters were coming from and the political purposes of the games. Part II and III were largely composed of action which would be played out in the movie; she could catch up on Katniss’ thoughts later if she wished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Briefly, the background story from Part I is…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Basically, America has been transformed into 12 districts, ruled by the Capitol. There had been an uprising, which was squelched by the Capitol, followed by a period of peace. To keep all the districts in their place and remind them never to try to revel again, every year each district must send 2 tributes, a boy and a girl ages 12 to 18 to fight to the death. The children are selected via a Reaping. One victor emerges, bringing showers of gifts and wealth to the family and district.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Katniss is from District 12, which is very poor. She and Gale hunt outside the district borders, which is illegal, but they are not punished because the town officials like to buy their meat and fruit on the black market. They dream of running away, knowing they can fend for themselves, but know they cannot because their families depend upon them for survival. Katniss’ mother was mentally incapacitated when her father died, and she has been taking care of her 12-year-old sister Primrose for years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">The unfairness of poverty is shown by how it related to the odds of being selected. For extra food for the family, an eligible adolescent can put his or her name into the drawing more than once; Katniss and Gale often have had to do this. Gale’s name is in the drawing 42 times this year. Primrose, whose name was only in once, is chosen, and Katniss volunteers in her place. Peeta is the boy who is chosen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Peeta has been in love with Katniss since they were children – but she does not know this until much later. She knows that once when she was very young and her family was starving he threw her a loaf of bread; she never forgot this and felt indebted to him. She doesn’t know his true feelings for her and distrusts him, knowing they may have to kill each other in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">My thoughts…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">I was not disappointed by the movie. I was glad I had read it in advance, partly because I knew what Katniss was thinking from the book, and her thoughts were not narrated in the movie, but also because I knew when to avert my eyes, because I knew when the deaths and injuries would occur. My daughters laughed at me, watching the scenes wide-eyed. Watching sideways, I could see not too much was shown. (“No gratuitous violence”, one review had promised.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">I was disappointed, however, that the movie changed the origin of the Mockingjay pin. In the movie, Katniss finds it on the black market. In the book, it was given to her as a gift from the mayor’s daughter, a rich girl with little chance of being selected as tribute. The Mockingjay, an accidental mutation left over from experiments done by the government, was significant as a symbol of the government’s totalitarianism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">The movie added in outside perspectives that I had wondered about during the book, but which could not be revealed as Katniss was narrating from her singular point of view. Katniss’ mother and sister were shown watching her on-screen. So was Gale, as she feigned romantic feelings for Peeta and kissed him in the cave. Haymitch, their mentor, was shown talking it up with the sponsors to get the much-needed gifts of medicine sent to them, and even persuading the game makers that they should allow Katniss and Peeta to continue on because the audience would love the romantic angle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">A poignant scene in the book was the death of Rue, the 12-year-old girl from District 11 who reminds Katniss of her little sister. The two girls had temporarily teamed up, and Katniss found Rue trapped in a net. She didn’t get to her on time; she was pierced by a spear. In the book, Katniss shoots Rue’s killer partly out of revenge, partly out of self defense, and later realizes that was her first intentional kill. In the movie, she gets Rue out of the net and then sees her attacker; she shoots defending Rue, but the spear still pierces Rue. She holds Rue in her arms as she dies, singing her a lullaby she remembers her father singing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">In the book it had also been revealed that she did not like to sing, because it reminded her of her father, who used to sing to the mockingjays, and who had died in a mining accident. Gale’s father had died in the same accident. The movie had opened with her singing this same lullaby to her little sister, which was lovely for the effect of her later singing to Rue as if it was her little sister, but this really would not have happened because she did not like to sing. She does it for Rue, however, because she is the first real human contact she has had since the games began.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">In the book, Katniss remembers what Peeta had said about hoping he could do something that made a difference in how people thought about the games. She weaves flowers around Rue’s hair, knowing that they will have to show this on television. She honors the girl, and for this she is thanked doubly by District 11: first, by sending her a piece of bread shaped in the symbol of their district, and second, by the boy from District 11 later sparing her life in appreciation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">In the movie, Katniss is shown picking the flowers and placing them around Rue. Then she puts up a hand sign, one that had been shown by her people after she volunteered as tribute, rather than giving the expected applause. It seems to be a sign of solemn respect, one that recognizes that something is wrong with the way things are being done here. The movie cuts away to a scene of the people of District 11 watching her, giving the sign back, and then starting an open rebellion. This (I believe) is the foreshadowing of what will happen in the next installment. General Snow is pondering what to do with her, and this is when Haymitch pulls strings to persuade him to let her live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">In conclusion…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">I won’t go into how the others died. It comes down to Katniss and Peeta in the end. I also won’t reveal what happens here, but there is emotional deception which is necessary for survival, and the way it ends is not quite satisfactory to the Game Makers. Katniss is warned that they will have it in for her. There is much to look forward to in the next installment, “Catching Fire”, which I am going to put on reserve next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Just a bit about the name “Catching Fire”. Katniss’ stylist, wanting to ensure she is never forgotten, designs outfits for her and Peeta that spurt out fire. He says he wants everyone to remember Katniss as “the girl who was on fire”. During the games, when Katniss has run far toward the edge of the arena, the game makers send fire balls to chase her back near the others. I can see “Catching Fire” as a book about rebellion she has incited, as well as her being pursued by the government.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">I do think this book and the movie, seen together with your teen, can be an excellent starting point for conversations about poverty, government, and respect for life. I would advise reading it ahead of time so you know exactly what to expect. Only you know if your child is ready for it.</span></div>Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-4907480550499171472012-05-01T19:27:00.000-07:002012-05-01T19:27:36.015-07:00Mothering through all the Seasons<br />
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This spring has been a bit anti-climactic for those of us living on Long Island. The magic of the season, with its newly discovered green, has been lost. Bulbs have been poking through the ground since November. What a contrast this is from last winter, when we had so much snow we thought we would never see a green field again!<br />
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I reflected on my feelings about spring – which is my favorite although I am severely allergic to it – in relation to parenthood. I think pregnancy is most like winter, when everything is dormant but still harboring nutrients and warmth. <br />
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The birth is your own individual spring, a new beginning for your own life, marriage, and family, as well as for your newborn. It is a busy stage, and one that older and wiser mothers will tell you to treasure while it lasts.<br />
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Then comes summer, toddlerhood and the pre-school years, as your baby learns to walk and talk. Your child’s personality is emerging and he or she is starting to become independent. <br />
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The elementary school years are a little like autumn. Your child’s talents and uniqueness are like all the colors of the changing leaves. Your child knows how to do a great deal on his or her own. Like your garden, you have done the work and can just sit back and watch. It is a pleasant time, with little storminess for most, and you can coast through fairly easily.<br />
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Now that I have an almost-fifteen-year-old, I feel like I have been through most of the earlier stages. Just on the cusp of the stage here, I can see adolescence may sometimes seem like a whirlwind through all the seasons at once. <br />
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But mostly I see it as a long winter. So many things are going on beneath the surface. Childishness has gone the way of autumn. Many of the things you say appear not to take hold, but they are still there, like the protective mulch you put around your evergreens. You think it will never end.<br />
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But then – one day it is over and this is the new spring, when your child has blossomed into a full adult. You can admire what he or she has become. Maybe you can embrace each other now as friends…maybe this will take more time, until he or she becomes a parent and can appreciate the cycle that has come full circle.<br />
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Just as nature needs to cycle through all its stages, so do our children. Whatever stage your child is in, be sure to appreciate it. Take time to reflect on how his or her stage has changed you as a person. Pray that you can be the best parent possible to help your child to reach his or her highest potential.<br />
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<i>“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”</i><br />
<i>Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)</i><br />
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<br /></div>Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-79808068114810295222012-03-29T05:54:00.002-07:002012-03-29T05:58:57.328-07:00On the Grocery Line<div style="text-align:center"><a href="http://www.easyart.com/canvas-prints/John-Drysdale/Woman-and-dog-pushing-shopping-carts-200038.html?affiliate_id=902" target="_blank"><img src="http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/400/2/0/200038.jpg" border="0" alt="Woman and dog pushing shopping carts"><br>Woman and dog pushing shopping carts</a></div><br /><br />The Middle Island King Kullen has recently removed two traditional cashier posts for the installation of two self-help checkouts. I never use them – I have too many groceries – and I rarely see anyone else using them either. I typically shop during the weekday, when most of the other customers consist of elderly women who can’t be bothered learning the new technology either. Anyone who buys a great deal of produce will find these stations a real nuisance, because then you have to find the appropriate codes for all your fruits and vegetables. It seems the checkout stations were installed without first checking for the demand in our area.<br /><br />The management seems to have made the decision that these stations removed the need for two cashiers – which makes my long-age problem even worse. The problem is that I typically arrive on line with my cart overloaded with groceries – and I use the shelf underneath, as well. There are one express checkout and one or two regular lines. I approach this area with caution – seeing who the cashier is, how many on the line, how many approaching the line, as well as how many goods the approaching customers have.<br /><br />I avoid the line with the nosy woman cashier – the one who always comments on how much stuff I have; when she last saw me in there; and how my husband was in there for apples, milk, and his favorite cereal again this morning; and why doesn’t he pick up more stuff while he’s in there? There is a very nice woman who is working at the Express checkout. She also has 4 children, and she knows my problem. She sees me coming…<br /><br />As I approach the line, several elderly women stare at me, taking in the amount of groceries I have. Most of them only have a small hand-held basket with select goods. I make sure none of them are looking for a line before I take my position.<br /><br />I get behind a man who has a small amount of groceries. He appears to be quite conscientious, from the brown cage-free eggs to the way he quickly turns his head away from the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition and other magazine covers flaunting scantily-suited women. The young man serving us is always very courteous.<br /><br />Now a few little old women are looking for a line. “She has too much stuff!” one says loudly, but good-naturedly before getting on the express line. Her eyes then move to the bottom of my cart, and they seem to bulge as she realizes I have even more stuff down there.<br /><br />A little old woman gets behind me. “I guess I have too many things to get on the Express Checkout,” she says with a sigh. I look and take a quick count – maybe she has around 15 items. <br /><br />“I have 4 kids,” I explain to all the elderly women who are openly staring at me. I am more amused than embarrassed. The man in front of me turns, also amused, but in a polite way.<br /><br />“Mine are all grown,” the woman behind me says, “but I have 5 little grandchildren now, so sometimes I have to shop for them.”<br /><br />I see the clock and figure I have an hour before the school bus comes. I make sure nobody else is approaching the line before I make my offer, “I’m not in a hurry, if you want to go ahead of me.”<br /><br />“No, that’s okay, I’m not in a rush either,” she says.<br /><br />That’s when my favorite cashier, the one with the 4 kids, comes to my rescue.<br /><br />“I’ll take the next customer over here,” she invites toward the Express line.<br /><br />The woman behind me motions for me to go and I say, “No, please, you go,” which she happily does.<br /><br />Now the pressure is off….only to build again.<br /><br />It’s my turn to load my groceries onto the belt. I start with the heaviest things first, from the bottom of my cart, and I am almost breathless as I try to do this as fast as possible. I see the line building behind me.<br /><br />Then the medium-weight stuff…oh dear, they are all staring at me. I wonder if I will remember the pin number for my husband’s debit card.<br /><br />Finally, the bananas, eggs, and bread. Oh gosh, this has never happened before. I hope I will remember it when I get to the pin-entry pad.<br /><br />All my stuff is loaded onto the cart now, and I run to the end to bag as quickly as possible. The cashier tells me the amount due, I swipe my card, and … draw a blank. I have the house alarm pin number stuck in my head, and put in a derivation of that.<br /><br />“I’m sorry,” I apologize to everybody.<br /><br />I get my husband on the phone…thank God he picked up! “What‘s your pin number?” I ask.<br /><br />He tells me. Later, he would say from the tone of my voice he had thought someone had died.<br /><br />It’s in…I’m done. More stares as I walk out of the door, bags precariously balanced on top of one another. I manage to get to my car without dropping anything.<br /><br />I open the trunk…oh goodness, the girls left their softball gear in their again!<br /><br />An elderly man passes my car as I am loading up the trunk.<br /><br />“Now you get to put it all away,” he says with a smile.Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-86876425581374477242012-01-30T19:12:00.000-08:002012-01-30T19:17:26.983-08:00How to do nothing for 31 Days<div style="text-align:center"><a href="http://www.easyart.com/canvas-prints/Ditz/Snowmen-305911.html?affiliate_id=902" target="_blank"><img src="http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/400/3/0/305911.jpg" border="0" alt="Snowmen"><br>Snowmen</a></div><br />While individuals vary in their levels of ambition, I am pretty certain that most mothers are unaware of the overambitious manner in which they approach their normal day. Wake up, get the kids off to school (or set on their homeschooling curriculum), and survey the house. Set to work on the part that needs the most tending to, while reviewing the day’s calendar in your head and mentally tackling the first chore on your to-do list for the day. Delegate to tomorrow’s – or next week’s – to-do list that pile of papers sitting on your desk, unless there is something in there with a looming deadline.<br /><br />My New Year’s Resolution this year was very different from my normal list of ten areas in which I can improve. I decided I needed to “reclaim my time”. I had to limit how much of my valuable time I gave away outside the home, so that I had something left over to give to my family. There is nothing really pressing to do once Christmas is over, so why not give myself a period of rest during the month of January? So I set about to do as little as possible for 31 days.<br /><br />My husband is permanently like-minded, seeing the home as his haven for rest after his long work day. If he is home, he is most likely on the couch. I joined him on New Year’s Day, resting and napping and watching television with the children. In the middle, I made homemade pizzas and cookies with the kids. Then we went back to resting. That was a great start to the year.<br /><br />I had also given myself a week off from taking writing assignments in between Christmas and New Year’s so that I could be fully present to the kids. So when they started school, I started working again. But I restrained myself in bidding on work, so that I would not be overwhelmed with overlapping deadlines, nor would I have to work past the time the kids got home from school.<br /><br />This strategy worked out great. I was able to go through my days at a normal pace, get my work done plus the basic housework, and be sitting in the window with newspaper in hand by the time the school bus arrived. I could be completely present to the children, helping with homework, and making dinner while they worked in the next room. I left some chores for them to help with, such as carrying the laundry downstairs and setting the table. My two younger children had a re-awakened interest in playing the piano, so I pulled out my beginner’s book (which is 30 years old) and started from Middle C.<br /><br />Over the Christmas vacation the DVD player had ceased reading disks, but the VCR still worked. So we reorganized all our old VHS cassettes and reacquainted ourselves with some really good old children’s movies. Some of the original Walt Disney movies, such as Dumbo, my littlest one had never seen. She would pick one out and we would cuddle up on the couch for two hours.<br /><br />During high school testing week, my teenage daughter accompanied me to the Catholic school to help me in my volunteer hour overseeing the kindergarten lunch period. Afterwards, we stopped at our favorite Chinese restaurant. We were great friends for a couple of hours – until I reminded her she needed to clean her room. I also got to go to one of her track meets. <br /><br />After each day, I was completely happy with how I had chosen to spend my time that day. At the end of this month, I am feeling rested and ready to prepare for tackling my busy spring season. My family is happy and secure. Can the job of Mommy be done while doing next-to-nothing? I think my month-long experiment has proven that it can be.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10</span>Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-41615989112909922492011-12-22T19:52:00.000-08:002011-12-22T19:56:02.948-08:00Reclaiming Time<div style="text-align:center"><a href="http://www.easyart.com/art-prints/Salvador-Dali/Montre-Molle-au-Moment-415032.html?affiliate_id=902" target="_blank"><img src="http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/400/4/1/415032.jpg" border="0" alt="Montre Molle au Moment"><br>Montre Molle au Moment</a></div><br /><br />I must reclaim my time. That is my first resolution for the New Year.<br /><br />Every year, I think things will get so much easier. Then I am shocked when I feel busier than ever. “After I stop homeschooling”…nope: our life filled up with extra-curricular activities. “After the little one goes to Kindergarten”…nope: my life filled up with coaching and volunteer activities at school. “After the cross country season”…nope: I took on so many freelance assignments I barely had time to floss my teeth. Not to mention travel softball which never stops, and Little League planning that goes on year round.<br /><br />Now that my Christmas preparations are done and I decided not to take on any more work during the vacation, I am feeling so much more like myself. I hate rushing around! I hate crowds, I hate traffic, and I really hate having my life scheduled to the second. I really love just hanging around the house in comfortable clothes, letting it get a little messy, baking and enjoying my kids. <br /><br />It seems to me there has got to be a problem when a stay-at-home mom has no free time. Is it society that pressures me to do more, or is it me? I’m sure it’s a whole lot of both. There are all these people who kept asking me what I was going to do with my time and, although I don’t feel like I have to prove anything to them, maybe I am still trying to prove to myself that what I do is valuable.<br /><br />So somebody asks me to do something at the school and I think, well I have lots of things to do but no good excuses why I can’t come in…and there is one full afternoon gone. I get offers for work and I think, yes I have two unscheduled days so I can bid on two assignments…then both bids are accepted and I am rushing to meet deadlines, getting nothing done around the house.<br /><br />Lack of boundaries is a big problem for many mothers. In the work place it is easy to set and maintain boundaries, but at home everything blurs together. When your work place is at home, and you have no defined office space or work hours, your physical and mental spaces are both going to get disorganized and difficult to maintain.<br /><br />In spite of my love of spontaneity, to maintain my sanity I am going to have to lay out a weekly and daily schedule. Weekends belong to the family. One day a week I can volunteer at school. Then the school/workdays have to be subdivided into household chores, errands, and work. If I can do this then I can greet the kids with a smile every afternoon and enjoy my time with them, without worrying about all the stuff I still have to get done. <br /><br />I’ll have to say NO much more often so I can say YES to my life.<br /><br />Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my readers. If I meet this resolution you will be hearing from me much more often in the New Year.Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-35825905340007440112011-11-07T09:43:00.000-08:002011-11-07T09:49:36.456-08:00Triple After Midnight: Extreme Sports<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3SKysUZbeXQ/TrgZlEO74DI/AAAAAAAABdY/foLJF0s_wxY/s1600/Allison%2527s%2BPictures%2B157.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3SKysUZbeXQ/TrgZlEO74DI/AAAAAAAABdY/foLJF0s_wxY/s400/Allison%2527s%2BPictures%2B157.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672311855255380018" /></a><br /><em>Halloween Weekend, 2011.</em> My 14-year-old daughter was scheduled to play in the season’s “last look” collegiate softball showcase in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. First game was set for 8 a.m. Saturday, so we had to be there Friday night. I was taking my 5-year-old, who loves taking these trips with me, and leaving my 10- and 12- year-olds with my husband, who would be taking them to their local games on Long Island.<br /><br />I wasn’t rushing to get out of the house. There was no point in trying to get through New York City before 7 p.m. Then I got a text from the coach: “Snow expected tomorrow. We have been offered a game for tonight at 9:30 or 10:30 p.m. How many of you can get here on time?” <br /><br />“Are they crazy? Don’t people work? This game will never happen,” I said to whoever would listen. I texted back, “We can’t leave until 6 and she has a cough so I’d rather she didn’t play tonight anyway.” <br /><br />About an hour later I get another team text, “Game is on for 10:30 p.m. 25 college coaches are there to see the game.” <br /><br />I really didn’t care about the college coaches. While many parents are investing their time and money into this sport depending on the slim chance at an athletic scholarship, she is there for one reason: she really loves this game. But I really didn’t want her playing in this game tonight. She was running for the cross country state qualifiers the following week and I wanted her to get rid of that cough beforehand. There had been no response to my individual text so I assumed she was off the hook for that night.<br /><br />So we’re driving through Brooklyn and I get another text. I threw the phone back to my daughter so she could read it and answer. “What is your ETA?”<br /><br />What the heck is an ETA? Does he mean GPA? Then I realize he means estimated time of arrival.<br /><br />“Tell him 10:30,” I said, assuming he wouldn’t put her in the game with no warm-up time. My GPS was set for the hotel – not the field.<br /><br />“We are short one player. We’ll delay game and wait for you,” he answers.<br /><br />Shoot. Now we were under the gun of a whole team depending on her so they could get this game in. I redirected the GPS to the field. We’d be there at 10:15.<br /><br />We got to the field and it actually was not too cold. My 5-year-old woke up. “Are we at the hotel yet?” she asked, sleepily.<br /><br />“Believe it or not, we are at the field for a game tonight.” <br /><br />She reconciled herself to this news pretty well, perked up, and decided she would brave the outdoors to go sit and watch the game.<br /><br />Game started at 11:15. The girls were playing well, and my daughter was happy with her plays at shortstop. The highlight of the night, for me, happened at 1 a.m., when my daughter hit a triple. That started a rally going, but my little one and I were cold and I watched the last inning from the car. We got to the hotel at around 2 a.m. The 8 a.m. game was canceled, with most of the Sat. games probably off. They were planning on putting a tarp down on the field.<br /><br />“What about the outfield?” mused the father of an outfielder.<br /><br />We woke up at 9 a.m. to take advantage of the hotel’s all-you-can-eat breakfast. I looked out at the falling snow and, worried about snow getting in the car window that doesn’t shut completely. Everybody figured it was canceled for the day but the Sunday games were still on. We wondered if they planned on bulldozing the fields. After breakfast I settled the girls back into the room and went out to wipe down my car and park it under a tree.<br /><br />I came back in and was informed that the whole weekend was now off. Half the team was staying the night, to travel on dry roads tomorrow, and half was going. What drove me crazy was that people were standing around pretending like this didn’t really STINK. I missed my family, so chose to go.<br /><br />It took a total of 7 hours to drive back – what had taken 3.5 hours the previous night. I averaged around 30 miles per hour.<br /><br />How many times over that long drive over snowy, icy, sleety roads, did I wish we had stuck with cross country? How many times did I wish that, like Dorothy in <em>The Wizard of Oz</em>, I had red, magical shoes that I could click together to get myself home?<br /><br />When I was finally home, warm and cozy with my family all around me, I decided I was not going to leave the house again until I absolutely had to.<br /><br />“How did it go?” asked my husband.<br /><br />“That was a fun game,” my daughter replied.<br /><br /><strong>And THAT is what it is all about. When you have a kid who is passionate about something, you do all that is in your power that allow them to do that thing that they love.</strong><br /><br />Parents who are just getting into travel sports, or contemplating taking their kids to tryouts, know what you are getting into. There are many highs, and more lows. It is extremely time-consuming, and expensive. If you have more than one child enrolled in a sport, it gets very tricky to plan out your nights and weekends. Your own social life will be confined to teammate’s parents on the field.<br /><br />But if you can bear all that, and you want your child to learn about strength, dedication, time-management, and sacrifice (all the same things that parents will have to learn more about during this journey), then go ahead and start out on this adventure they call TRAVEL SPORTS. You will never be the same.Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-83203299704998237692011-10-08T19:35:00.000-07:002011-10-08T19:50:23.973-07:00Why I Feel $26 Richer Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TcalQrCe1NI/TpEIR3Aag6I/AAAAAAAABc4/cxZs6SSLVIc/s1600/IMG_3909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="225" width="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TcalQrCe1NI/TpEIR3Aag6I/AAAAAAAABc4/cxZs6SSLVIc/s400/IMG_3909.JPG" /></a></div>“I wonder what would happen if I lost this ticket?” I said to myself more than once this weekend, driving back and forth on the New Jersey/Pennsylvania Turnpike for a series of college softball showcase games. I placed the ticket sticking out toward me, in between the CDs that sat in a little nook right beneath the stereo.<br /><br />Then it happened. My five-year-old was whining for her Winnie-the-Pooh songs and she had been so good all day. I took it out of the small pile of CDs, ejected the Second Chapter of Acts’ “Roar of Love”, and placed the old CD in the same case. Then she asked to see the case, so I handed it back to her.<br /><br />We got to our exit and I looked for the ticket which should be sticking out conveniently for me; it wasn’t there. I got off the exit and pulled off to the side, looking all over the seat next to me (which was piled up with an accumulation of traveling stuff), and on the floor between me and my little one.<br /><br />Did I forget to take the ticket? This had to happen once in a while, right?<br /><br />I gave up after 5 minutes; found my $1.10 receipt from the reverse trip I had made from same exit that morning; and drove up to the right-most toll booth. I handed him $1.10 and the receipt. <br /><br />“I lost my ticket,” I explained, “but here is my receipt from where I went this morning.”<br /><br />“Where did you lose it?” he asked.<br /><br />“In my car.”<br /><br />“Well, I can give you a paper to fill out and mail in, but you will have to pay the full price.”<br /><br />“What is that?”<br /><br />“$26.”<br /><br />That is not the kind of money I can afford to throw away, so I asked, “Can I pull over and look again for the ticket?”<br /><br />He said I could, and informed me that he would be writing down my license plate.<br /><br />So I looked again, and just as I concluded that I had been daydreaming at the ticket-taking booth and never had the ticket in the first place and that I would have to fork over $26 for my stupidity, I saw the ticket under my foot.<br /><br />I ran back to the booth and paid. The driver who stopped to let me cross smiled, as if he knew exactly what had happened.<br /><br />So that’s what happens when you lose your ticket on a toll road.<br /><br />Do I have a moral to my story? Not really, except that busy moms sometimes make dumb mistakes, and we really shouldn’t get upset when there is no harm done. Somehow, I feel $26 richer now.Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399305759313000566.post-69967631394629174832011-09-23T11:55:00.000-07:002011-11-16T18:57:38.564-08:00Kindergarten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-le3ysR-_Wcc/TnzWCJTUdJI/AAAAAAAABcw/KvI_qKcq0-g/s1600/kindergarten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="259" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-le3ysR-_Wcc/TnzWCJTUdJI/AAAAAAAABcw/KvI_qKcq0-g/s400/kindergarten.jpg" /></a></div><i>Wednesday, September 7, 2011, 6:30 A.M</i>. I woke up my five-year-old with a gentle hug. “Rise and shine. It’s time to get ready for school.”<br /><br />She had been looking forward to this day for a few years now, as she watched her siblings leave for school and come back every day. Now it was the dog’s turn to watch the kids all leave, forlorn, wishing she could go wherever they went all day.<br /><br />She was so sweet and cheery all morning as she got ready. She wanted me in the same room with her as she got dressed, had breakfast, and brushed her teeth, although she needed no help doing those things. Yet she seemed to have no problem leaving me for the day.<br /><br />Fortunately for all of us, she has two of her older siblings on the same bus with her, as they all attend the same Catholic school this year. So I had no concerns about her being on the bus by herself. The bus driver seemed like a very kind woman. Her older sister held her hand as she got on the bus. She helped her to buckle her seat belt, something we never had on the bus when I was little. She looked out the window at me, smiling, as the bus pulled away. I stood there, waving, until the bus disappeared down the block.<br /><br />And I smiled. I never cried when my other kids went to school for the first time; I was always too busy with other little ones. I had thought I would be a little sad when my youngest one went, but I felt content. Not giddy, as in, “Oh I’m so happy to get rid of the kids so I can have some peace and quiet,” but satisfied that things were as they should be.<br /><br />I really like how the Catholic schools start off the first week with half days. It really gives both the parents and the kids time to adjust to the new schedule. For me, I think it really made that first day a breeze.<br /><br />I went inside, had my coffee and breakfast, then for a brief moment said to myself, “Now what?” Not that I didn’t have a ton of chores to tackle – I didn’t know where to start. “First things first,” I answered myself, and started by cleaning the floor. I proceeded to the most obvious things, and before I knew it I was rushing to finish up what I had started before the bus came back.<br /><br />My husband missed her – as did the dog. Honey moped around the house, roaming from room to room, aimlessly going in and out the back door.<br /><br />My eighth grader has a phone now, and she texted me so that I knew when to come outside and wait for the bus. My littlest one came back off the bus, smiling. The dog went crazy, jumping happily inside at the sight of the children.<br /><br />I laugh when I think of the nosy cashier at King Kullen who commented last spring, “You’re not going to know what to do with yourself when she goes to Kindergarten.”I responded back to her, “I was thinking about taking up golf,” facetiously.I didn’t feel I needed to justify to her what I really was planning to do with my time: write full time, get the house in order, and do some home improvements.<br /><br />Now we are almost done with September and I didn’t even notice when autumn had officially begun. Time just has a way of filling itself up, especially when you juggle multiple children, sports, volunteer activities, and freelance work. I have been in the kindergarten a few times, and am happy to see how well she is adjusting socially, emotionally, and academically to her new environment.<br /><br />My life is full. My heart is full. My cup runneth over. To everything there is a season.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Those of you who would like to become a Kindergarten teacher can learn <a href='http://www.online-masters-in-education.org'>about classes for an online masters in education</a> via this resource.</span>Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13198302426940280673noreply@blogger.com1