Oh my,,,,,look what I got from Nana & PopPop......a drum and tamborine set....Yeah! I love to make music and I will play my drums for you,,,,,rummbumpabummdummmm.....
Emma ~ One who Heals
Sage ~ One with Great Wisdom
Emma Sage is our little girl that is blessed with a little extra ~~ chromosome that is ~~ on her 21st pair.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Peace on Earth......
May Grace preside over your celebrations...........May Peace and Hope fill your New Year and May the Glory of Life remind us all of the greatest gift we have been given by God..............Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Miss Emma Sage & Family
Friday, December 23, 2005
and of coarse.....a day out alone shopping, in 47 degree weather on the 23rd of December calls for a stop at Pizza Como for a slice of the best pizza in New Jersey [it must be true as it says so on the wall! lol!].....Actually, Pizza Como is owned by a dear friend of mine, Louie Guliano and his family, and I've been eating Pizza Como pizza since I was 10 years old. At one point in my life, Louie was engaged to marry my bestest friend, but as fate would have it, the marraige never occured. It was wonderful to see Mrs. Guliano and Beena and Louie and his beautiful wife today....and the pizza was truly out of this world [and I know Pizza from living in NYC and Brooklyn,,,,this is good pizza!]
Guess where I was at 4:36pm today......enjoying a beautiful afternoon shopping amongst the quaint and delightful shops of Main Street, Clinton. I have been shopping here since I was a young girl...I would ride my bike the five miles to town when I was a young girl to find the perfect gift for my siblings and parents....and today I shop because I hate malls and I want to support local businesses. If you are ever in New Jersey, you really must spend an afternoon strolling the Town of Clinton.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Look what we got to see today....three big turkeys walking across the yard. The children and I went to 'skate' on the pond and came across this group of travlers...who seemed to be looking for water as they ended up at one of the springs on our property. It was so neat to watch their movements....Emma Sage got a tickle out of this bird parade.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Red Marbles.........
RED MARBLES
Babs Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas.....I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and the ragged boy next to me.
"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas . sure look good."
"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"
"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."
"Good. Anything I can help you with?"
"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."
"Would you like to take some home?"
"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with. "
"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
"All I got's my prize marble here."
"Is that right? Let me see it."
"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"
"Not zackley . but almost."
"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble."
"Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller."
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps."
I left the stand smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.
Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts .......... all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket....
Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. ......"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about! They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them.
Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size............ they came to pay their debt."
"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho." With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.
Babs Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas.....I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and the ragged boy next to me.
"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas . sure look good."
"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"
"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."
"Good. Anything I can help you with?"
"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."
"Would you like to take some home?"
"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with. "
"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
"All I got's my prize marble here."
"Is that right? Let me see it."
"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"
"Not zackley . but almost."
"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble."
"Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller."
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps."
I left the stand smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.
Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts .......... all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket....
Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. ......"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about! They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them.
Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size............ they came to pay their debt."
"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho." With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.
More commentary on 'The Ringer'....
Special ShowingHow the Farrellys' 'Ringer' Turned Laughing-At Into Laughing-WithBy Don OldenburgWashington Post Staff WriterMonday, December 19, 2005; C01
Here is another commentary regarding the new movie 'The Ringer'.
I found this to be a great commentary and my hopes are that I leave the movie with the same insight as Don Oldenburg of the Washington Post.
We are planning on going to see the movie on Christmas Day [a new tradition of ours, since Rick travels so much, that we make our once-a-year-together-as-a-family-movie-outing on Christmas Day, after presents, church, breakfast.....movie....then dinner, then visiting with neighbors for dessert and drinks].
So look for my *movie review* someday on the 26th!
Here is another commentary regarding the new movie 'The Ringer'.
I found this to be a great commentary and my hopes are that I leave the movie with the same insight as Don Oldenburg of the Washington Post.
We are planning on going to see the movie on Christmas Day [a new tradition of ours, since Rick travels so much, that we make our once-a-year-together-as-a-family-movie-outing on Christmas Day, after presents, church, breakfast.....movie....then dinner, then visiting with neighbors for dessert and drinks].
So look for my *movie review* someday on the 26th!
Monday, December 19, 2005
Words Matter.....
I wanted to pass on a link to a young woman who is starting a grassroots campaign to make people 'think' about the words they use and to understand that 'Words Matter'.
As a mother, woman, friend, advocate and human being, I thank you Jenna Glatzer for starting this pledge and my hopes and dreams are that your advocacy reaches millions and millions of people.........to help people realize that the words we use truly does matter.
As a mother, woman, friend, advocate and human being, I thank you Jenna Glatzer for starting this pledge and my hopes and dreams are that your advocacy reaches millions and millions of people.........to help people realize that the words we use truly does matter.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
The Ringer...and laughing!?!
In an L.A. Times review, Joel Stein takes a look at the new Farelly Brothers movie called 'The Ringer'.
Joel Stein, Breaking the last laugh barrier, December 13, 200...............LAUGHING AT people with mental disabilities, I vaguely remember being told as a child, was wrong. I didn't ask a lot of questions about this rule............
I remember being told the same thing.............actually, I remember being told that laughing about race, creed, disabilities, etc. was not funny and offensive, and I just don't laugh at or participate in mean, hurtful jokes [they are just not funny to me].
But everyday I laugh at the antics of a very funny, comical, improvisational.............and extremely witty four year old who also happens to have a mental disability [or so we are told she has because of her extra chromosome on her 21st pair ~ but to us it really isn't apparent that our daughter is 'retarded...............she is just Emma Sage, although the outside world is quick to label her as such].
So here is my quagmire,,,,,,,,I laugh with and at my daughter [the one labeled with a disability by society].................I laugh with and at all of my children when they are being funny and comical. I don't see a line of distinction between 'Nini' who is so much like Emma Sage in the way they love to make jokes..............the two of them are like 'Lucy and Ethel' [see picture below] and this commentary has me thinking about myself and my daughter.
I am planning on going to see 'The Ringer' on Christmas day.....and I plan on laughing if it is funny, not because I see some of the actors and actresses as having a disability and thus the reason to laugh at/with them......I will laugh if it is comical, just as I do for all comedy that tickles my funny-bone.
Joel Stein, Breaking the last laugh barrier, December 13, 200...............LAUGHING AT people with mental disabilities, I vaguely remember being told as a child, was wrong. I didn't ask a lot of questions about this rule............
I remember being told the same thing.............actually, I remember being told that laughing about race, creed, disabilities, etc. was not funny and offensive, and I just don't laugh at or participate in mean, hurtful jokes [they are just not funny to me].
But everyday I laugh at the antics of a very funny, comical, improvisational.............and extremely witty four year old who also happens to have a mental disability [or so we are told she has because of her extra chromosome on her 21st pair ~ but to us it really isn't apparent that our daughter is 'retarded...............she is just Emma Sage, although the outside world is quick to label her as such].
So here is my quagmire,,,,,,,,I laugh with and at my daughter [the one labeled with a disability by society].................I laugh with and at all of my children when they are being funny and comical. I don't see a line of distinction between 'Nini' who is so much like Emma Sage in the way they love to make jokes..............the two of them are like 'Lucy and Ethel' [see picture below] and this commentary has me thinking about myself and my daughter.
I am planning on going to see 'The Ringer' on Christmas day.....and I plan on laughing if it is funny, not because I see some of the actors and actresses as having a disability and thus the reason to laugh at/with them......I will laugh if it is comical, just as I do for all comedy that tickles my funny-bone.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
I love school.....
I love school................I love school and other observations from Miss Emma Sage.
Otto and Emma Sage and sitting at the table having a snack and chatting with me. Otto tells me that he loves school,,,,to which Emma Sage pipes in and says.
"I love school too!"
I reply,,,,,"You do,,,,that is great, Why?"
and Emma Sage continues "I love school, everyone waves and says 'Hi Emma Sage, Hi Emma, Hi Emma Sage"" as she procedes to show us with her little hand up waving at people and saying the 'hi!'
too cute, she loves school because everyone is friendly to her and says hello! [which is such a wonderful and delightful thing!]
another quip:
"Mommy, we go see Baby Griffin?" asks Emma Sage
[It has been so bitter cold so our walks are not towards the graveyard and not as often as when the weather is good]
"Ok, we can go later when we go out in the car"
"No Mommy, I walk to heaven and see GOD and Griffin"
[this just melts my heart because she is still so aware of her Aunts loss and she truly believes that the graveyard is Heaven and that GOD is right there with Baby Griffin ~ which I believe is true]
At the 'Make-it and Take-it' last weekend.
Greta is walking Emma Sage to the bathroom and a group of girls are in the hallway and see them approaching them.
Greta says she hears:
"Look, there is Otto's little sister, she 'smiles' for Toys R Us".........a few whispers and looks and then "and look how beautiful his big sister is..........I bet you she 'smiles' for Toys R Us too!"
[How cute is that..........my little girl is a famous model 'smiler' in our community!]
and lastly......
Our days have been filled with such joy and happiness. Emma Sage is loving Christmas and the decorating and music and baking. She has been just so giddy & giggly & and singing non-stop.....and watching the 'Polar Express' with wide-eyes and expression [she knows all the lines and songs and comments right along with the movie and sings 'Hot Chocolate' with such gusto! ~~not to mention all the tap dancing she does along with it!!!! ]
This child is just so magical and brings such joy to my heart! We are truly blessed by the grace that is Miss Emma Sage!
Otto and Emma Sage and sitting at the table having a snack and chatting with me. Otto tells me that he loves school,,,,to which Emma Sage pipes in and says.
"I love school too!"
I reply,,,,,"You do,,,,that is great, Why?"
and Emma Sage continues "I love school, everyone waves and says 'Hi Emma Sage, Hi Emma, Hi Emma Sage"" as she procedes to show us with her little hand up waving at people and saying the 'hi!'
too cute, she loves school because everyone is friendly to her and says hello! [which is such a wonderful and delightful thing!]
another quip:
"Mommy, we go see Baby Griffin?" asks Emma Sage
[It has been so bitter cold so our walks are not towards the graveyard and not as often as when the weather is good]
"Ok, we can go later when we go out in the car"
"No Mommy, I walk to heaven and see GOD and Griffin"
[this just melts my heart because she is still so aware of her Aunts loss and she truly believes that the graveyard is Heaven and that GOD is right there with Baby Griffin ~ which I believe is true]
At the 'Make-it and Take-it' last weekend.
Greta is walking Emma Sage to the bathroom and a group of girls are in the hallway and see them approaching them.
Greta says she hears:
"Look, there is Otto's little sister, she 'smiles' for Toys R Us".........a few whispers and looks and then "and look how beautiful his big sister is..........I bet you she 'smiles' for Toys R Us too!"
[How cute is that..........my little girl is a famous model 'smiler' in our community!]
and lastly......
Our days have been filled with such joy and happiness. Emma Sage is loving Christmas and the decorating and music and baking. She has been just so giddy & giggly & and singing non-stop.....and watching the 'Polar Express' with wide-eyes and expression [she knows all the lines and songs and comments right along with the movie and sings 'Hot Chocolate' with such gusto! ~~not to mention all the tap dancing she does along with it!!!! ]
This child is just so magical and brings such joy to my heart! We are truly blessed by the grace that is Miss Emma Sage!
Lucy & Ethel in B&W
This weeks theme in the photo contest is 'Smooches'.....and this photo always cracks me up of Nini & Emma Sage.....I reminds me of the antics of 'Lucy & Ethe' from I Love Lucy.
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