I have had over six hundred children in my life
Pretty prolific huh?
I have been the day mom for many of my students
They'll call me mom
And then realize and suddenly get embarassed
I don't mind if they call me mom
That means they trust me
One of my students brings me presents almost every day
She likes me to give her a hug
She came up after school yesterday and said
I love you
I wish you were my real mom
I give my students a lot of love and attention
And they give it right back to me
It's a nice exchange
My students don't take me for granted
They miss me if I have to get a sub
I love all the students whose lives I have touched through the years
They have touched my life too
My many children are very precious to me.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
Books
Books and book stores are my modis operandi.
all those ideas floating around.
It's a treasure chest of thought.
Books are
unique,
creative,
individual,
They give an intimate glimpse
into someone's mind,
someone's life,
someone's experience.
My best friends are in books
In the real world people are shallow.
They don't interact that much.
They pretend or are alone in their thoughts.
But in books I can become next of kin.
The other great thing about book stores are the people,
all kinds of people.
I like to write in books stores.
The people are perfect fodder to write about.
My imagination runs wild wondering about them.
Where are they going?
Who are they?
What is their story?
Why are they smiling, sad, strange?
Books and Bookstore are my favorite pastime.
all those ideas floating around.
It's a treasure chest of thought.
Books are
unique,
creative,
individual,
They give an intimate glimpse
into someone's mind,
someone's life,
someone's experience.
My best friends are in books
In the real world people are shallow.
They don't interact that much.
They pretend or are alone in their thoughts.
But in books I can become next of kin.
The other great thing about book stores are the people,
all kinds of people.
I like to write in books stores.
The people are perfect fodder to write about.
My imagination runs wild wondering about them.
Where are they going?
Who are they?
What is their story?
Why are they smiling, sad, strange?
Books and Bookstore are my favorite pastime.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Notebooks
I always love a new fresh blank page that I can record some of life on......
There have always been notebooks
Notebooks for musing over a poem
Taking notes at a workshop
Venting my pain at life's injustices
Household budgets, travel plans, itineraries
I keep the notebooks stacked in closets, cupboards, drawers
After sixty years there is quite an accumulation
Notebooks
The Rough Drafts of my life
November Poetry
The other night my son Jameson left to go in the army. He left on my dad's birthday. That night I went for a swim and at the pool to go wash away my sorrow in the water. The pool is enclosed by big glass windows to the west. As I was swimming the most amazing sunset covered the sky and I had the most breathtaking view of it in the pool. I kind of felt like dad helped paint the sky to cheer me up. This is a poem for dad
It's funny how the things that used to bug you about a person fade when they pass on....
It was like that with my father
Now what I remember is his eyes...
Looking at me with encouragement
Tearing up when my sisters and I sang
And the time when he gave me a new baby colt for Christmas
I remember his eyes and the way they crinkled up at the corners
when he was happy
His eyes and his smile are what I remember most
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Marriage Survival Kit
These things have helped our relationship survive and thrive. Maybe it will help you too
Ways to have a Successful Relationship
1. Focus on the positive traits in each other. (Write them down and think about them.)
Look for and notice them every day.
2. Tell each other every day that you love each other and compliment and praise one another often. Never take each other for granted or the energy each contributes to the relationship
3. Be affectionate not just in bed but out of bed too. Human touch is very comforting and healing. Don’t forget to hug, kiss, and cuddle often.
4. Talk everyday about everything. Don’t store or hide emotions. Get them out and deal with them before they become too big to handle or solve.
5. Be a good, open, and easy to talk to listener. Try to understand the other person’s feelings and point of view and care about how they feel.
6. Show each other respect even in the most heated argument. People turn off when
other’s start to yell or call names. Learn self control and never verbally, physically or emotionally abuse one another. “ A soft word turneth away wrath” Learn how to
manage anger in a healthy way.
7. Take a time out period if either is extremely upset. Have a signal you give each other
when things feel out of control. Give each other some time to cool down, calm down, and get centered. It’s better to take some time out than say something that will hurt the other and you may regret. When we lose our centered place, we lose our effectiveness in communication
8. Give each other some personal time and space. Everyone needs that. Talk over what each other’s needs are, then set up regular times for this. Respect each other’s time, space, and privacy. As the prophet Kahil Gibran said, “Let their be spaces in your togetherness” Time apart can also help to appreciate each other.
9. Forgive, forget and move forward. Don’t keep files of past slights or hold grudges and don’t be too proud to admit and say your sorry if you have done something wrong
10. Use the 24 hour “courtesy clause” if changes need to be made as far as time and commitments or plans with each other. Try to give each other at least 24 hour notice. If this can not be accomplished, learn to be flexible and accommodating with time. Dont' make someone wait for more than a half hour. Call them and let them know if you need to change plans.
11. Cultivate togetherness time. Find things you enjoy doing together and do them regularly ie. Walks, bike rides, working out, hiking, water sports, nature hikes, skiing, writing, crafts, painting, road trips and traveling. Join a club or take a class together to learn something new or read the same book and discuss it together. This is a good way to keep growing and changing together.
12. Be open-minded and not reactive to what the other person says. Don't become defensive. Really listen to how they feel.
13. Don’t live under preconceived ideas of how a relationship should be. Discuss with each other what you each think a good relationship should be
14. Save some exclusive time only for each other every day. Go on a date together at least once a week and take turns planning it. Try surprising each other with something special frequently like flowers, love notes , special dinners, massages, etc.
15. Make each other the Number “1" priority. If you don’t there will be problems
16. Don’t make “material things” more important than people or feelings
17. Set common goals together that are attainable and then work towards them.
18. Be honest and trustworthy all the time
19. Take responsibility and care for yourself mentally, physically, emotionally and
spiritually. Always try to look your best and be your best self. Take the time to stay healthy in body, mind, and spirit so you can offer a healthy person to your mate.
20. Don’t act selfish, spoiled, bullying or manipulative. Do not use sex to manipulate
21. Make sexual expression more than just a physical act. When you combine love and
spirituality with the sexual union, it can be the highest form of love, communication,
and intimacy. Make love often. It is very healthy and balances out the energies
of both people if both are healthy when they come together
22. It is important to have equality in all things. In tasks,, in chores, in money. Share
household responsibilities. Divide them up evenly. Take turns cooking and
cleaning up.
23. Don’t ever assume anything. Make sure everything is clear and understood
Learn to be easy going and keep the priorities straight about what is really
important in the relationship
24. Never embarrass, put down, or degrade the other person especially in public or
around friends. Always show how much you love, care and respect the other in
public situations. Don’t let sex, partying, or friends tip the relationship out of balance
25. Make sure there is good communication about money and each is doing their part
or there is a balance about money ie. (If the woman sacrifices her career to birth and raise children , then whatever the husband earns is negotiated and shared in an equitable to both parties manner. Set a time to pay bills each month and be sure each person is aware of where the money goes and how much there is. Always keep an emergency fund in case something comes up that extra money is needed. Don't spend on any major purchase without discussing it first.
26. Don’t let little annoying things become big things. If something really bugs
someone, be considerate and pay attention to the problem and do what you can to take care of the other's reasonable needs.
27. Don’t have expectations about what you think a relationship should be like. If you
do, you will be disappointed. If you have something that is very important you
want or need from the other person, learn to communicate that clearly. Don’t
expect your mate to read your mind Learn to respond quickly and do something about it if your mate has requested something of you. Find out what your mate’s needs are and don’t ignore them. Try to fulfill those needs whenever possible.
* Summing it all up, the main thing to remember is the Golden rule “Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Always be each other’s best friend and don’t do anything that you wouldn’t do to your best friend*
Ways to have a Successful Relationship
1. Focus on the positive traits in each other. (Write them down and think about them.)
Look for and notice them every day.
2. Tell each other every day that you love each other and compliment and praise one another often. Never take each other for granted or the energy each contributes to the relationship
3. Be affectionate not just in bed but out of bed too. Human touch is very comforting and healing. Don’t forget to hug, kiss, and cuddle often.
4. Talk everyday about everything. Don’t store or hide emotions. Get them out and deal with them before they become too big to handle or solve.
5. Be a good, open, and easy to talk to listener. Try to understand the other person’s feelings and point of view and care about how they feel.
6. Show each other respect even in the most heated argument. People turn off when
other’s start to yell or call names. Learn self control and never verbally, physically or emotionally abuse one another. “ A soft word turneth away wrath” Learn how to
manage anger in a healthy way.
7. Take a time out period if either is extremely upset. Have a signal you give each other
when things feel out of control. Give each other some time to cool down, calm down, and get centered. It’s better to take some time out than say something that will hurt the other and you may regret. When we lose our centered place, we lose our effectiveness in communication
8. Give each other some personal time and space. Everyone needs that. Talk over what each other’s needs are, then set up regular times for this. Respect each other’s time, space, and privacy. As the prophet Kahil Gibran said, “Let their be spaces in your togetherness” Time apart can also help to appreciate each other.
9. Forgive, forget and move forward. Don’t keep files of past slights or hold grudges and don’t be too proud to admit and say your sorry if you have done something wrong
10. Use the 24 hour “courtesy clause” if changes need to be made as far as time and commitments or plans with each other. Try to give each other at least 24 hour notice. If this can not be accomplished, learn to be flexible and accommodating with time. Dont' make someone wait for more than a half hour. Call them and let them know if you need to change plans.
11. Cultivate togetherness time. Find things you enjoy doing together and do them regularly ie. Walks, bike rides, working out, hiking, water sports, nature hikes, skiing, writing, crafts, painting, road trips and traveling. Join a club or take a class together to learn something new or read the same book and discuss it together. This is a good way to keep growing and changing together.
12. Be open-minded and not reactive to what the other person says. Don't become defensive. Really listen to how they feel.
13. Don’t live under preconceived ideas of how a relationship should be. Discuss with each other what you each think a good relationship should be
14. Save some exclusive time only for each other every day. Go on a date together at least once a week and take turns planning it. Try surprising each other with something special frequently like flowers, love notes , special dinners, massages, etc.
15. Make each other the Number “1" priority. If you don’t there will be problems
16. Don’t make “material things” more important than people or feelings
17. Set common goals together that are attainable and then work towards them.
18. Be honest and trustworthy all the time
19. Take responsibility and care for yourself mentally, physically, emotionally and
spiritually. Always try to look your best and be your best self. Take the time to stay healthy in body, mind, and spirit so you can offer a healthy person to your mate.
20. Don’t act selfish, spoiled, bullying or manipulative. Do not use sex to manipulate
21. Make sexual expression more than just a physical act. When you combine love and
spirituality with the sexual union, it can be the highest form of love, communication,
and intimacy. Make love often. It is very healthy and balances out the energies
of both people if both are healthy when they come together
22. It is important to have equality in all things. In tasks,, in chores, in money. Share
household responsibilities. Divide them up evenly. Take turns cooking and
cleaning up.
23. Don’t ever assume anything. Make sure everything is clear and understood
Learn to be easy going and keep the priorities straight about what is really
important in the relationship
24. Never embarrass, put down, or degrade the other person especially in public or
around friends. Always show how much you love, care and respect the other in
public situations. Don’t let sex, partying, or friends tip the relationship out of balance
25. Make sure there is good communication about money and each is doing their part
or there is a balance about money ie. (If the woman sacrifices her career to birth and raise children , then whatever the husband earns is negotiated and shared in an equitable to both parties manner. Set a time to pay bills each month and be sure each person is aware of where the money goes and how much there is. Always keep an emergency fund in case something comes up that extra money is needed. Don't spend on any major purchase without discussing it first.
26. Don’t let little annoying things become big things. If something really bugs
someone, be considerate and pay attention to the problem and do what you can to take care of the other's reasonable needs.
27. Don’t have expectations about what you think a relationship should be like. If you
do, you will be disappointed. If you have something that is very important you
want or need from the other person, learn to communicate that clearly. Don’t
expect your mate to read your mind Learn to respond quickly and do something about it if your mate has requested something of you. Find out what your mate’s needs are and don’t ignore them. Try to fulfill those needs whenever possible.
* Summing it all up, the main thing to remember is the Golden rule “Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Always be each other’s best friend and don’t do anything that you wouldn’t do to your best friend*
Friday, August 26, 2011
Wedding Songs for my Sweet Children and their Spouses
To Dillyanna and Jeremy Faulkner on their Wedding Day
August 27, 2011
Love is gentle , Love is kind
Love lifts up the human mind
Love is tender, Love is calm
Love can be a healing balm
Love is patient , Love is pure
Love continues, Love endures
Love forgives and starts again,
Love is how your hearts will mend
If you love with all your heart
That is how you’ll never part
Keep love with you everyday
In all you do and all you say
To Jessica Lynn and Scott Chase on their Wedding Day
June 2, 2007
Today I will marry my best friend
To Love and to cherish to the end
Today we'll join our hands and hearts
Today is when our future starts
We will travel life’s road together
In sunny skies and stormy weather
We’ll share our joys, we’ll share our tears
We’ll share our hopes we’ll share our fears
Today I will marry my best friend
To give and care for to the end
We’ll grow and change as life goes on
But still we’ll love and be as one
One day we’ll have a family
Some look like him and some like me
We’ll look ahead forgive the past
That is how our love will last
Today I will marry my best friend
The one that will love me to the end
Today we’ll share our wedding bands
So come with me and take my hand
To Jacey and Nathan David Faulkner
June 18, 2002
Chorus
What is love, What is love
What is love meant to be
What is love, What is love
It’s love that sets our hearts free
Love is the fire that lifts our souls higher
And brings us to joy in the light
Love is the power of all of God’s flowers
That brings our hearts hope and delight
Love is an ocean that’s deep with emotion
Connecting our hearts and our hands
Love is a mountain that’s there tall and strong
And there, right or wrong still it stands
Chorus
Love is an eagle that flies high and free
Then comes home to rest in a mutual nest
Love is a river that ceaselessly goes
And endlessly flows to the sea
Love is the wind that brings us to change
And rearranges our lives
Love is the answer to all of our prayers
And all of our cares in the night
Chorus
To Emily Ann and Jerimy Jones
September 9, 2000
A new life , A new love
A new hope is in you
A new life, A new love
My dream is coming true
Together forever is coming to view
You found me, I found you
We’ll help each other through
Chorus
We’re caring, we’re sharing
We’re learning how to give
We’re growing , we’re showing
A better way to live
Together we’ll do it
We will begin
You found me, I found you
An everlasting friend
Chorus
To Jameson Parker Hughes and Courtney December 24, 2013
August 27, 2011
Love is gentle , Love is kind
Love lifts up the human mind
Love is tender, Love is calm
Love can be a healing balm
Love is patient , Love is pure
Love continues, Love endures
Love forgives and starts again,
Love is how your hearts will mend
If you love with all your heart
That is how you’ll never part
Keep love with you everyday
In all you do and all you say
To Jessica Lynn and Scott Chase on their Wedding Day
June 2, 2007
Today I will marry my best friend
To Love and to cherish to the end
Today we'll join our hands and hearts
Today is when our future starts
We will travel life’s road together
In sunny skies and stormy weather
We’ll share our joys, we’ll share our tears
We’ll share our hopes we’ll share our fears
Today I will marry my best friend
To give and care for to the end
We’ll grow and change as life goes on
But still we’ll love and be as one
One day we’ll have a family
Some look like him and some like me
We’ll look ahead forgive the past
That is how our love will last
Today I will marry my best friend
The one that will love me to the end
Today we’ll share our wedding bands
So come with me and take my hand
To Jacey and Nathan David Faulkner
June 18, 2002
Chorus
What is love, What is love
What is love meant to be
What is love, What is love
It’s love that sets our hearts free
Love is the fire that lifts our souls higher
And brings us to joy in the light
Love is the power of all of God’s flowers
That brings our hearts hope and delight
Love is an ocean that’s deep with emotion
Connecting our hearts and our hands
Love is a mountain that’s there tall and strong
And there, right or wrong still it stands
Chorus
Love is an eagle that flies high and free
Then comes home to rest in a mutual nest
Love is a river that ceaselessly goes
And endlessly flows to the sea
Love is the wind that brings us to change
And rearranges our lives
Love is the answer to all of our prayers
And all of our cares in the night
Chorus
To Emily Ann and Jerimy Jones
September 9, 2000
A new life , A new love
A new hope is in you
A new life, A new love
My dream is coming true
Together forever is coming to view
You found me, I found you
We’ll help each other through
Chorus
We’re caring, we’re sharing
We’re learning how to give
We’re growing , we’re showing
A better way to live
Together we’ll do it
We will begin
You found me, I found you
An everlasting friend
Chorus
To Jameson Parker Hughes and Courtney December 24, 2013
Love is
the Answer
We’ll travel this
journey of life together
We’ll keep walking the road that leads to forever
We’ll face the tests that life throws our way
Give each other a smile at the end of each day
Chorus
Love is the answer that will get us through
Love is the answer , whatever we do
Love gives us hope, Love helps our hearts
Love builds our
dreams, Love’s where it starts
Our journey will have
some ups and downs
Our journey will have some laughs and frowns
But we’ll stand
together through thick and through thin
That’s how we’ll make it, That’s how we’ll win
Chorus
Our journey will make us a new family
Our journey will bring us some great memories
We’ll join hands and hearts on our special day
We’ll do life together, together we’ll say
Sunday, August 14, 2011
August Poetry
Leo Love of Mine
Sings songs to my soul
When we make love
Intense
Gentle
Steady
Leo Love of Mine
Takes me higher
And higher still
Plateaus,
Glides like a para sail
Then drifts to a landing
This Leo Love of Mine
For Rob for his birthday August 19 2011
The music of the night
mesmorized,
hypnoticzed.
This summer Eve
You embraced the moment
Grasping, Reaching
Enveloping all that is coming to us
Summer,
Love, taste, sounds,
And you
I love your light
Your laugh
The way you make me feel when I am close to you
I love your touch
Your caress
How your hair falls
How you look at me with your baby blues
By Rob for Andrea on a magic full moon night
I rank barely first to the cars
A close second to the pets
I'm never boring
Always a challenge
Way too complicated
to keep it simple like the dog
I'm a challenge
And he likes a challenge
Andrea
Sings songs to my soul
When we make love
Intense
Gentle
Steady
Leo Love of Mine
Takes me higher
And higher still
Plateaus,
Glides like a para sail
Then drifts to a landing
This Leo Love of Mine
For Rob for his birthday August 19 2011
The music of the night
mesmorized,
hypnoticzed.
This summer Eve
You embraced the moment
Grasping, Reaching
Enveloping all that is coming to us
Summer,
Love, taste, sounds,
And you
I love your light
Your laugh
The way you make me feel when I am close to you
I love your touch
Your caress
How your hair falls
How you look at me with your baby blues
By Rob for Andrea on a magic full moon night
I rank barely first to the cars
A close second to the pets
I'm never boring
Always a challenge
Way too complicated
to keep it simple like the dog
I'm a challenge
And he likes a challenge
Andrea
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