the power of one

This afternoon I had the opportunity to go to our school's patriot assembly. Bella informed me yesterday that the poem she wrote about The Power Of One was chosen, which meant she was going to read it in front of the school (a student from each of the 4th-6th grade classes are chosen to recite their essays/poems at the assembly).

It's an assembly they've had since Bella started attending, but I've never actually been before. I had only intended on staying until Bella read her poem, which was about half way, but enjoyed it so much I decided to stay for the full hour. Each time the kids would sing tears swelled up in my eyes and I'd get all choked up. And forget about the Pledge of Allegiance, I was a mess. With all the talk that's been on the news lately it gave me goosebumps to hear the children recite it. It was very powerful and inspirational and I left with an overwhelming feeling of hopefulness. These children are our future--everything will be just fine.

A hero's like a lion,
Bold and fast and free.
A heart full of confidence,
That decides what it will be.

When people picture heroes,
They think of strength and power,
But sometimes heroes can even be,
The one who cares of others each hour.

A hero's a beacon that guides the pack,
A lantern in the night,
A lighthouse in a violent storm,
An angel who brings light.

There are simple children,
Who share their laughter and fun.
They can make the biggest difference,
And that's the power of one.

snippets from this morning in my bed

One minute I was lying in bed in the quiet trying to not wake up and then next I had three little girls next to me. These are the pieces I heard...



"What if this was the only bed in the house? That would be really squishy for dad." -megan

"Megan you smell like Marigold." -tess (Marigold is our friends dog)

"Don't bite me." -tess
"Than get your fingers away from my mouth." -megan

"I see a bunny rabbit on the ceiling...sorry that was random." -bella (she was referring to the texture on the ceiling.)

"What are you doing?" -me
"Enjoying your bed." -megan

"It's all your fault!" -tess

"Mommy, I'm stuck on you." -megan

"Stop! I'm trying to lay in peace." -bella

"Come on Tess let's do our jobs. I'm doing the dishwasher." -bella

"I'd rather play than work." -tess

"I'm so tired I feel like I can't even get up." -megan

"Sorry I didn't know." -tess
"Ya yuh did." -megan

"UGH!" - tess

"I want my own grapefruit." -megan

"What are we doing today?" -megan

Dear Mom,

[just to clarify the Tess in the letter is her friend, not sister. ps she gave me the ok to post it.]

This letter from Bella was waiting for me on my bed. It was a very tender moment for me as a mom as I realized a) more is going on in my daughters life than what I can see and b) my little girl is not so little anymore. She's almost ten and has ten year old thoughts and feelings (even though sometimes I'm convinced she's wise beyond her years).

Her thoughtfulness and desire to want to do the right thing constantly amazes me. I hope and pray everyday that I can be the mother she needs, that she will leave the house everyday knowing she is love, that I can provided her with the right kind of information so she can make the best decision. I thought it was so cute when she said, "you aren't trying to tell me what to do, I just want an opinion." I guess at the end of the day they just want someone who will listen to them without judgments and understand who they are. I guess somethings never change...we all do.

We talked about her letter this morning and she left for school feeling good with a smile on her face. She could not be sweeter and I admire so much how she wants to be a better friend and wants them to be happy. I'll I kept thinking as I watch Bella and Tess get farther and farther out of my site was, "Never change sweet Bella girl, never change".

she rides

I've been asking Bella, more like begging her, for years to learn how to ride a bike. "No", was always her answer. "I'm just not interested", she would say. I admit it bothered me a bit because it's such a part of childhood, but after a while I realized if it's not for her, than it's not for her and I left it at that. I never asked her again, but always hoped one day she would.

Well that one day came a few months ago. She said, "Mom I think it's time I learn how to ride a bike. I'd like to be able to ride to school so we don't have to drive so much and we can save the earth." Her reason cracked me up, she's such an environmentalist (must be all those Nova's she watches), but whatever it takes I say.



So Saturday while the girls played on the hill, Bella got out the brand new bike she got for her birthday and learned to ride. She was shaky at first, but caught on within the first few tries (perhaps it helps the older you are). She's not very confident at turning, but "it will come", I told her, "Your just starting out."

It's such a great moment as a mother to watch your child face their fears or doubts and go just for it. I am proud of her. Marvelous job Bella! I can't wait to go on bike rides with you. Now I just need my own bike.

She wrote

Bella has been writing a lot of letters lately to us and her friends. Just yesterday she was preparing to mail a few. So it was no surprise when I found this letter (below) quietly being slipped under my door.



it reads:

Dear Mom and Dad,

I must ask you have you ever thought about writing me letters? You haven't been sending me any! I want to know how you feel, what your trouble most with, and if you want me to spend time with you.
(P.S. Please write a letter back!)

Love, Your Loving Daughter, Bella

When you get a letter like this what else can you do, but sit down and write her a letter back. I hope when she gets my letter it will make her smile as much as this letter made me.

funny to me

1. A conversation had one evening while Adam and I walked down the hall to our room and the kids were brushing their teeth.

me: "Adam I need you to help me with one thing tonight before bed."

adam: "UGH!" (It's not really so much the UGH as it is the sound made when saying it. I asked Adam how I would type it out and he said it wasn't possible. He's probably right. It's the sound that makes it so great, not the word. It's something we say in an exasperated funny way toward each other when we know what the other is asking...I wish you could hear it it always makes me laugh. ps I believe the original came from me)

bella: said from the bathroom, "Dad, that doesn't sound like a very good attitude."


2. hot tropical sun aimed without mercy at those who have any ambition whatsoever -story people


3.


Monday night Adam brought this video to my attention and we watch it several time in a row laughing uncontrollably each time. It's four minutes long and it may take a minute to load, but it's so worth your time. Particularly listen to the announcer in the background. I didn't pick up on what she was saying until the third time through...hilarious.

thanksgiving cheer

Thanksgiving Is Near

Thanksgiving is near so let's shout out a cheer
While pies are baked and leaves are raked,
And when turkey is cooked and coats are unhooked,
Thanksgiving is near, Thanksgiving is here,
After preparing it's time for the sharing of all the goodies we've prepared,
Thanksgiving is near so should out this cheer:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

written by Bella M. (nov 08)

she said

conversation had over bagels this morning



me: "So what were you guys watching this morning?" (the kids didn't bother us until 9am)

Bella: "We watched Giada and a Nova."

Adam: "What was the Nova about?"

Bella: "Parallel worlds."

me: "Really?"

Bella: "Yea, it was so interesting. I love Nova."


conversation had while waiting for Bella in dance class



me: "What do you want for Christmas?"

Tess: "I want a camera and I think maybe a DS."

me: "Hmm, well you need to choose, we can't get both."

Tess: after a moment pause, "Ok I'll get a camera from you and then ask Santa for the DS and that way I can get both."

me: speechless

her rabbit poem

I rolled around in bed yet again trying to get to sleep. I don't know what my problem is, but it's been like this for over a week. I'm sleeping horribly. Finally around 4:45am I got out of bed and decided to get a jump on my Monday work. I started going through my papers on my kitchen desk and I found this poem written by Bella in a spiral notebook. Before she left for school this morning I asked her about and she told me she wrote it one saturday while waiting for Tess to be done with her hour long dance class.

I copied her story word for word including punctuation and spelling. I thought it would be easier to read if you knew what these words meant.
pashant = paitent
tiet=tight
winning = whining
diled=dialed
cempty she told me was a made up word she used so the poem would rhythm.
emblem again she used so the poem would rhythm.



My rabbit poem

There once was a rabbit that was siting all alone,
and because of that soon one day she went to find a home.
She came upon a tiny one that looked very empty,
and so she was very happy
and could finily be cozy and cempty.
She snuggled very tiet and then there she saw,
a big and harry dog that had a huge claw.
He grawled and grawled and then what do you think,
a little girl was standing there and she gave a little wink.
Then she did a frown at her dog that was winning,
then the dog went inside and Pippy (the girl) went and kept the rabbit.
And her mother said that she could still be keeping.
Thank you! Thank you! Pippy said, and so she kept her rabbit in her cozy bed.
With a cozy cozy cozy bed the girl finilly smiled and said,
I shall name you fluffy!
And when fluffy heard that happy joy she desided to be scuffy.
Then they jumped and napped and did what rabbits do.
And then Pippy went to call her best friend Sue.
She diled the numbers and said come sue! Come Sue!
You must come to my house!
And then Sue screamed on the phone because at her house she saw a mouse.
What is the matter Sue cause you must not scream,
because we will have some cookies and cream.
I can't! I can't! because I have a huge problem,
I have got a mouse that is like a scary emblem.
But I've got a new pet!
I've got a new pet!
and that's what I'm talking about,
so you've got to come! You've got to come!
Cause she's hopping all about.
I'm coming I'm coming!
And could you please be pashant, I'm hurraing up Pippy.

Is it just me or is this good for a 7 year old? Perhaps it's no different than any other second grader, but I was really impressed. I'm delighted to think that perhaps I could have a writer on my hands. I read it to Adam before he left for work this morning since I was up and he suggested we get her in a creative writing class. I think I'll do just that. Now I'm really bummed I didn't suggest she enter the reflections contest for creative writing.

another tooth bites the dust

After months, or I should say years, of waiting she finally lost her first top front tooth today. It has been wiggling for weeks so I'm happy to see it go, I hate when they're just hanging there. She of course was thrilled it happened at school again so she could get a tooth box from the office. The second one is also loose and hopefully on it's way out asap, and then I guess will waiting another year for any more teeth to fallout. It appears we're on the yearly schedule.

It has been weird looking at her, it just changes her look so much. I was ready for it to come out, but I don't know that I'm ready for her to start looking older, it's amazing what big teeth will do to your look. I guess will just have to wait and see, so far just a space.

And since I'm talking about Bella I can't resist sharing a hilarious comment she made yesterday. Someone pulled up on our driveway and naturally she ran to the window to find out who. When she realized it was the Bishop she yelled, "It's the Bishop, everyone act natural!" When we told the Bishop he got a good laugh.

sickies

I have for the past two days been dealing with 2 very sick girls. It starting Monday night when Megan threw up several times and then Bella woke up that morning with the same surprise for me. It has been non stop for the both of them and all my energy has been spent pushing liquids. I was hoping it would be a one day thing, but alas it is still with us.

I hate to see them so sad. So lifeless. It has been so hard for me to watch Megan's little frail body laying over the toilet waiting for it to come. I hate feeling helpless, but at least I know I am doing what she needs...just being with her. It was a blessing that I finally got my photo order in the mail today so I could sift through and recall just how lively they were just a few days ago. I hope tomorrow will be a new day for them and that Tess, Adam, and I will be spared a few days in bed.

Although it's hard to deal with, I have had more time while they sat and watched TV to work on project around the house. I organized all the school papers/art from last year that I had in different files and I'm so glad I did because I found this of Bella's that I had never read.

"Poem cleaning good"

"Today is great because we cleaned so well. We set the timer for 1 minute in megan's room. We did it before it went off. And in the basement it was 4 minutes and bam before it stoped we were done."

and then this

"To: Tess Megan Mom Dad
Please sine up for picking a prize and use it for a hour OK. Then you guys can get a presant for me."

I don't recall the reason behind the second one, but it cracked me up nevertheless. I guess something good has come of today. I love find stuff like this.