Sunday Post: Sunrise…A New Beginning For Everyone

Posted on June 3, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is SUNRISE.

In the summer of 1969, my husband and I packed up our 1967 Pontiac Catalina and left the east coast with a sign that said, “California or Bust”. We were teachers at the time and had the summer off…and we spent the next six weeks traveling across the country. I still have the journal we kept that tells what cities we stayed in and how much we spent for everything. The entire trip, including gas, motels, food, keepsakes (we still have a bunch of oil on velvet paintings that we bought in Ensenada, Mexico) cost us $1200. Amazing!

Sunrise is also a perfect theme because Wednesday is World Environment Day…if we want the sunrise to greet our grandchildren and their grandchildren, we need to be thoughtful about preserving and caring for our planet by reusing and recycling wherever we can.

We knew we wanted to experience the sunrise over the Grand Canyon and drove all night from Las Vegas through Zion National Park, finally arriving at the Grand Canyon at 5am. We made our way along the trail…which was no easy task in the dark. Fortunately, we met another tourist who offered to take our picture. I apologize for the poor job of editing these photos…my scanner was not cooperating and my editing program decided to join the strike.

Less than a minute later, he snapped the picture below.We will never forget that moment!

For me, every sunrise is a new beginning. No matter what your situation, every day is the first day of the rest of your life. We have a fresh opportunity each day to be kind to someone…to help another person…to encourage a child…to follow our dream. What will you do when the sun rises tomorrow?

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

And here are some other bloggers who are doing Jake’s Sunday Post:

http://aliciapics.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/sunday-post-sunrise/

http://jobryantnz.wordpress.com/2012/06/03/sunday-post-sunrise/

http://motherwifestudentworker.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/weekly-sunday-post-sunrise/

http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/the-sunday-post-sunrise/

SUNDAY POST : Sunrise (jakesprinters.wordpress.com)
Sunday Post: Stairway to Self-Esteem (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)
Sunday Post: Door (bringingeuropehome.com)
Judge Chuckles on SUNDAY POST : Pet (seraphim6.wordpress.com)

Sunday Post: Vehicle

Posted on May 6, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is VEHICLE.

I always try to tie in the theme with something related to parenting.

The dictionary first defines ‘vehicle’ as a means of transportation.

But the dictionary has another definition for the word…a vehicle can also be a medium for communicating, expressing or accomplishing something.

Art is certainly a vehicle through which we communicate and express our thoughts and emotions.

Books are another vehicle through which we learn information and discover things about ourselves and the world around us.

If you have young children, are you reading with them every day? Studies reveal that children who are introduced to books at an early age are more successful in school. Please join us in the Positive Parental Participation Reading Challenge and let us know what books you are reading with your children.

In my Friday post, I listed the 20 libraries that will be receiving a copy of Show Me How! If you didn’t see that article, please click on this link. I’ve asked the people who nominated their library to email me at vivian@positiveparentalparticipation.com so I can mail them a copy to present to their library.

Please don’t forget about Jackson’s Birthday-Earth Day Water Wishes page…your children are invited to draw a picture for the project…and your donation of $6 will move them closer to their goal of providing clean water for an entire community. This is a wonderful opportunity to help children become involved in the world around them. We are never too young (or too old) to learn the importance of sharing with others and reaching out to the community.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

And here are some other bloggers who are doing Jake’s Sunday Post:

http://cobbies69.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/sunday-post-vehicle/

http://cassiemeetsworld.com/photography/before-sunday-post-vehicle/

http://jullianeford.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/sunday-post-vehicle/

http://myphotoyear2012.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/sunday-post-vehicle/

http://reflectionsinapuddle.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/sunday-post-vehicle/

http://francineinretirement.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/sunday-post-vehicle/

http://davidrwetzelphotography.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/sunday-poast-vehicle/

http://motherwifestudentworker.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/weekly-sunday-post-vehicle/

http://catbirdphotography.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/sunday-post-vehicle/

SUNDAY POST :Vehicle (jakesprinters.wordpress.com)

Sunday Post: Shelter

Posted on April 29, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is SHELTER.

I always try to tie in the theme with something related to parenting.

The dictionary defines “shelter” as a something that covers or protects.

“Oh wert thou in the cauld blast, On yonder lea, on yonder lea; My plaidie to the angryairt, I’d shelter thee, I’d shelter thee.”

– Robert Burns

Yes…parents need to be a shelter for their children. Sad to say, all too often, here in the United States and in many places around the world, parents are not. Sometimes it is because they don’t know any better or because the parenting they received was lacking in love and nurturing. In many instances, though, it is because of conditions beyond their control…war, famine and drought.

Is there anything we can do to help?

One mother and her son have found a way.

Did you know that in many parts of the world, children walk several hours a day to collect the water needed by their family for drinking, washing and cooking? And the water they finally get is often contaminated…but they must use it anyway, because there is no clean water available to them.

Angela, over at A Child’s Heart of Faith, and her six-year old son, Jackson, are doing something to help!

Instead of getting a bunch of gifts from his friends for his birthday, Jackson asked them to donate $6 to his Water Wishes Project…when the goal of $5000 is reached, they will be able to provide a well for one of the many communities around the world where children are giving up their childhood because of the lack of clean water. Please visit Jackson’s Birthday-Earth Day Water Wishes page…your children are invited to draw a picture for the project…and your donation will move them closer to their goal of providing clean water for an entire community.

Just as houses are shelters to protect our bodies and parents are shelters to protect their children, libraries are shelters that protect the books that serve as windows on the world to many.

“To a historian libraries are food, shelter, and even muse.” – Barbara Wertheim Tuchman

There is only ONE MORE DAY LEFT in the The SMH Library Project.

And, if you haven’t done it already, please nominate your favorite library in the comment section! Twenty-five libraries will receive a free copy of Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. NOMINATIONS CLOSE April 30! Don’t let your library lose out on the chance of getting this award-winning resource for parents and teachers and your entire community.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

And here are some other bloggers who are doing Jake’s Sunday Post:

http://jmeyersforeman.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/red-umbrella/

http://northernnarratives.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/1468/

http://jobryantnz.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/sunday-post-shelter/

http://imagesoftheheart.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/sunday-post-shelter/

http://orples.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/sunday-photo-challenge-shelter/

http://jayjaysfavorites.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/water-dragon-weekly-sunday-post-shelter/

http://truthaboveallreligions.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/sunday-post-shelter/

http://writingmuscle.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/sunday-post-shelter/

http://davidrwetzelphotography.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/sunday-post-shelter/