I Am Neda

“Human rights is the soul of our foreign policy, because human rights is the very soul of our sense of nationhood.” ~ Jimmy Carter


I Am Neda........

My big girls at Camp PALS

Just sharing two photographs of my big girls at Camp PALS.





I just love the blog and being able to follow along the activities of the campers [and counselors] as the day's roll forward] Emma Sage made me record her today saying "I can't WAIT for Camp PALS" because she loves seeing all the video clips [she got the inspiration from the invitation that some of the Campers made to the sponsors to join them on Saturday at the closing ceremonies.

We are heading out early in the morning, as Katrina said that they have a few things for Emma Sage to do and they wanted her to join them for lunch and the to watch the closing ceremonies. I can't wait to see my little girl at camp.......as she is so excited to go again this year. I hope to remember my camera!!!!

Camp PALS 2009

This week is Camp PALS. It is both Katrina and Greta's favorite weeks of the year, as they have headed down to Cabrini College and are volunteering as Counselors. Katrina is now a head counselor and is in charge of the Purple Princesses. Greta is a counselor for a wonderful young lady named Miranda and they are part of the Pink Pather team.

Come visit this link and scroll down, watch videos and look at pictures......you will notice my girls about camp.

Camp PALS Link

On Saturday morning, Grammy, Emma Sage and I are heading down to camp to visit with the campers and girls [Emma Sage is a mascot and is invited to have lunch with all the campers] and then we will be off to the closing ceremonies.

It will be bittersweet, as we get to spend a few hours with Katrina before she heads back down to college in Florida. You know, this stuff about your children growing up and heading off to college and on with their lives can be sometimes very hard to handle. We have only been blessed to visit with Katrina for a week since last August........and sadly, I really don't know when we will get to see her next [praying it is sooner than 8 months again]

"I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles,
to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities,
and to the most special places your heart has ever known." ~Author Unknown

Last night, our Greta donned a mortarboard and gown and walked with her classmates as graduates of Voorhees High School, class of 2009. She graduated with honors, and wore the black/red/gold cord for National German Honor Society and the golden cord of National Honor Society.........a golden ribbon was pinned on each students gown in memory of their classmate Tucker, who left their sides way too soon on this journey.

Rick graduated from the same school in 1977 and I in 1981.......as well as her Aunt Heidi 1979, Uncle Kenny 1982, Uncle Mikey in 1989, Aunt Patti in 1991 and her big sister Katrina in 2007...........it was a cloudy evening and quite chilly,,,,,,but the sun began to shine upon the graduates halfway into the ceremony and I was looking for a rainbow to appear.


I had tears of joy.......and a few of sadness, as this moment in time has begun to hit me hard.....harder than I had thought. I think that the realization that my Greta is now off on her life journey [like her sister Katrina] and the reality that there will be greater periods of time before I get to see her, has tugged hard on this Momma's heartstrings.


Emma Sage was the first to let the tears fall.......as she fully understands that Greta is leaving soon, just like Katrina did and she is not all that happy about it.

What a great class of kids this group was.....they headed to Project Graduation and partied the night away. When Greta returned this morning at 6:30 a.m. she gave me a big hug and the greatest smile and said she had the 'Time of Her Life'..........

This is just the beginning my dearest Greta.....Make each day the 'time of your life' and celebrate all the little things ~ as they truly are the treasures of life.

I love you.............

We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are. ~Anaïs Nin

A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life. ~Isadora James

Trout and Cinnamon

Well, actually, we omitted the cinnamon this time around......while I really wanted to 'try' Emma Sage's recipe, I also did not want to ruin a perfectly, delicious rainbow trout.



If you notice, little Miss has a runny nose mustache. She as ill this week with a cold and cough. Feeling better now, especially after a trout dinner.

Happy Mother's Day.......

Today was a delightful day for me......as I slept in a little later than usual, was greeted with lots of loving wishes and hugs.

A great big cup of java and a day that was picture perfect.

I spent the day cleaning and organizing, whilst Emma Sage went grocery shopping with her Daddy. Otto got to go play at his cousins, and Greta caught up on her sleep before work.

Katrina sent lots of love through the phone and we dined with my sister and brother and their families.........truly a perfect day.

Of coarse, Mother's Day is much more difficult when your own beloved Mother is absent, as it reminds you how much she is missed and loved and that having a Mother as loving and giving as your own is one of the most precious things in the world......and it hurts when there is such a void of love.

Emma Sage's class made an adorable cookbook to share with their Mothers........it was such cute to read each child's contribution.

Here is Emma Sage's....I know it will make you smile as much as it did for me.

and if you are ever in the neighborhood, stop by, and we'll pop on over to the river and catch a fresh trout to cook up for you. [we actually had five beautiful rainbow trout fresh caught from the river two weeks ago]

Enjoy!!!



P.S. I've never tried cinnamon with my trout...that was Emma Sage's idea! lol!!!


.....and on the back page it continued:


broccoli, salt and pepper in the the trout pan. Cook it for 2 minutes on high heat. Wait 3 hours on low heat and then it is done cooking. Finally it is time to eat it. Enjoy the food!!!!!


I hope you had a beautiful Mother's Day....one filled with quiet moments, tender thoughts, belly laughs and trout!!!!!

Eight years old.....

My baby girl is Eight years old.....oh, how can that be?

It seems like yesterday, it was a realization that your little soul was on its way into our hearts.

Just like her, Emma Sage's 8th Birthday was a Magical one. This child truly radiates joy.

She started her day going to her dancing class, which she adores....music and movement, what could be a more glorious combination.

She got a phone call from her beau, Ryan,,,,,,,and you should have heard her giggling during the call, and how sweet the two of them are with each other.


Trying on Daddy's helmet

Our little biker chick:



We then headed home for lunch and she asked to attend the Art and Music festival along the river by our home.......so off we went.


Down by the river......


and she danced, danced, danced......


Playng Lucky Ducks......and she is one Lucky Duck!!!!


It was so cute....a little girl came up to Emma Sage and said "Oh, you have the most perfect dress" She loves it because when she dances it spins......


One of her favorite things....getting her face painted.


Oh, how this child melts my heart.




She got a phone call from her other beau, Nash, and this is a picture I captured of her on the phone....too cute!!!!

One the phone with Nash.....sorry Ryan, I was driving when she was talking to you on the phone and couldn't take a picture of the big smile she had on her face for you.

Then her request for her favorite food in the world.....Japanese.




Happy Birthday Emma Sage........We love you dearly and are so blessed that you are our daughter!

A funny.....

This was taken at Emma Sage's favorite Ice Cream shoppe.

Now, every time we pass Gronsky's Milk House, Emma Sage informs us that is where she is going to work when she grows up.

So, the other day, Emma Sage announces to Greta that "she is going to work at Gronsky's when she grows up!"

Greta asks "Why do you want to work there?"

and Emma Sage says "Because I can get free ice cream!"

Greta says "You don't want to do that, you'll get fat!"

to which Emma Sage replies "I'm not going to EAT IT ALL!!!!!"

lol.

We have been well, just very, very busy. I have been finding I have a hard time getting everything together this time of the year. Busy taking photographs, busy planting flowers and vegetables, busy with children and school and activities.

We are here.....thinking of you all, and hoping you'll keep popping by as I promise lots of updates soon.

Enjoy this glorious time of the year.

Happy Birthday Mommy

Today is my dear Mother's Birthday......she would have been 67 years old.

I can not believe it has been two an a half years since you left your earthly bounds......and how much it aches to not have your physical presence here.

I miss you Mommy.........and I love you, oh so, very very much!

Happy, Happy Birthday Mommy, I can't seem to stop crying today. We all miss you so dearly.









A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving

Just wonderful.......

You know, it is truly amazing how technology has enabled us [as a society] to create some amazing things.

Watch this video.....it is so inspiring. It is a group of 200 dancers whom had only a few rehearsals and pulled off this amazing routine in the middle of a train station in Belgium.

I do believe that I would have clapped and danced along in my spot if I were lucky enough to witness this random act of creativity.

I know that there are other groups around the world that have been organizing and creating random acts of creativity.......how truly incredible!!!!

Blogging Against Disablism Day

This is a topic I feel strongly about. Our society has gotten much better at recognizing and ending Racism......but we are a long, long way off from recognizing and ending Disablism [our President is clear proof that most of society, even the most intelligent and well-versed members, just don't get Disablism and how entrenched it is in our society.

On this same topic, watch this video clip and see how we, as a collective whole, pre-judge others:

Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009

Epiphany......

Lately, I have been struggling a bit. It is very unlike me to waver in my faith or my resolve to always stay positive. It has not been a difficult waver, just a knowing in my heart and soul that I have lost my way a bit.

So this morning, as I stood in the cool morning air, listening to the Easter Sunrise service [thinking to myself that I should have not packed away the winter gloves and hats so early] I closed my eyes and allowed my heart, soul and mind to open and listen.

and then I found it.........a beautiful epiphany.

As these words were being spoken, and the pastor [I was at my mother-in-laws church this morning] spoke of GOD not always being in the same place, in the same pew, week after week, but that GOD was ahead of us, leading the way......that our service, our duty, our living, our faith was constant, ever flowing, not just on Sunday, not just in our church, but in the very being of the universe.

These were the words I needed to hear:

"And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you" ~Matthew 28:7

and I as my heart, mind and soul embraced these words, the sun began to shine.....brightly on my head. I was at the exact angle needed ~ so that when the sunrise finally peeked over the mountain [this is the same exact location that I look towards every morning when I watch the sunrise...only a mile up the road from me] I was bathed in glorious sunshine.

Clearly an epiphany for me.

So, this subtle waver....that keeps trying to creep over me these last few months was vanquished ~ and I am beginning to see clearer.

GOD is good................and we are so blessed on this Easter day.

Spring Concert.....

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

My little girl was so excited all week, as first she was the Star Student of the week and she had to make a poster all about her, bring in some of her favorite things and then get up in front of the class and talk about 'HER'.

Her teacher called me to tell me that she did an incredible job, that it was just precious. She got up in front of the class, spoke clear as a bell [the best she has ever heard her] and talked all about Emma Sage. The teacher said the students were all so very interested, thought that her modeling was so cool and loved looking at all the Toys R Us ads she has appeared in. They loved her ribbon from riding her horse and asked lots of questions about horseback riding. She brought in her Madeline dolls [her favorite toy] and her Madeline books [that she is so excited that she can read independently now]..........and her poster [I'll take a picture of it when it returns home....but she did it all herself, and you will laugh, but in them middle of the poster in a big star was the question: "I am a star because......." and Emma Sage wrote [all on her own] I AM HAPPY!!!!! lol. I know my friends who cringe at the 'stereo-type' of people with Down syndrome always being so 'happy' will get a good laugh at my little girl and her observation of herself and what makes her a 'star'!!!!

and then tonight, her classroom was a buzz......all the children were so excited to introduce her to their parents.

I will upload pictures tomorrow....as I got some cute shots.

Enjoy one of the songs from the Valley View First Grade Class.

"In the video, you will notice Emma Sage put her hands up to her mouth in the beginning....she was asking me 'Where is Daddy?' as he was right next to me, but there was someone in front of him and she could not see him.

I have to tell you.....her smile at the end is her smile that just melts my heart as you can see how 'happy' she truly is.....and then the 'blowing of kisses'!!!!

A funny.....

Last night Greta had on her TV in her room an episode of "House"......Emma Sage came in, started looking at the TV and then said to Greta "Please turn this off, I don't want to watch this.....Doctors Freak me out!"

LOL!!!

Do you think she is a little gun shy of doctors from her 5 day hospital stay?

Offense Taken

3-21 World Down syndrome Day

Today is a very special day.....it is a day to celebrate the triplication of the 21st chromosome, which results in a person being born with Down syndrome, or more appropriately classified as Trisomy 21. Thus the date: 3 - 21

While I have much to say [don't I always] I have little time to sit and collect my thoughts......and you really don't want to read my rambling thoughts as you will get sea-sick on how fragmented I can be [until I have the time to properly sit and 'think']

The sun is shining......my little girl is still in P.J.s and in bed, where she has been for almost two weeks now. But she is smiling, she is drawing in her 'dream journal' and watching videos and reading books. She has not regained her energry or desire to 'move, move, move' which is her normal self. [oh and you will laugh, but her dream last night was that I made her 'corned beef' and she ate 10 lbs of it.....lol!!!!] So for Emma Sage to be in bed for two weeks is so unlike her....

Usually she is just like 'Poetry in Motion'

So, on the venue of poetry I leave you [to go get my hands in the earth and get my gardens ready for the upcoming glory of growing and blooming and fruiting...of giving forth bounty to nourish my families bodies and souls] with a poem.

My dear friend Amy is part of a poetry group and had requested in a project to have this date to share her poem [in honor of her beautiful Stella who is Emma Sage's friend and also sports that designer gene on her 21st pair]

So please click on this link and read the words my friend has penned.

Audacious: An Acrostic


Enjoy this glorious day........and celebrate Trisomy 21.

Wise Words

Bad Cripple ~ "Obama's joke was not funny and highlights an inherent bias against all people with a disability in American society. This bias, a gross and largely unrecognized civil rights problem, is part of the American social structure........."