This has been a tuff couple of days for us why you ask?
We work with a guy named Joe, he is married to a wonderful woman named Dez and they have 4 kids. One of the children (there second) was born with a condition called Alagille Syndrome that effects 1 in 1 million people I would tell you about it but I am ignorant about this condition. I do know that it can effect the heart, liver, or kidneys....in Brooklyn's case it impacted all 3 organs. At one year of age Brooklyn underwent open heart surgery at UCLA and a year later received a liver transplant. Over the past 8 years, Brooklyn has suffered from the chronic effects of the transplant, and severe injury caused by the powerful steroids that control her weakened immune system. These steroids have damaged her transplanted liver, and now little Brooklyn is in need of both a new kidney and liver.. Unfortunatley the times a liver and kidney were available for her they were just not right for some reason.
Over the past 10 years the medical bills have really piled up so friends of the family thought it would be a great idea to hold a Cinderella style ball for Brooklyn so she could be the princess and raise money to cover the million dollar surgery. It was also decided that a silent auction would be held to raise additional funds. Several people donated items and goods for the auction and 9 days prior to the ball over 450 tickets had been sold. Unfortunatly 5 days before the ball Brooklyn past away. Her family decided to have the ball in her honor and the funds would be used to pay down the medical and funeral costs. At word of her passing, another 300 tickets to the ball were purchased.
Brooklyn's Funeral was Friday morning and it was the most beautiful and heart wrenching funeral I have attended. This is the 3rd funeral I have attended for a child and it never gets easier. The ball was last night and Scott and I were able to attend and it was just beautiful. Over 750 people attended, bid on the silent auction items, and they were able to have a live aution for several trips (including a hunting trip for two to New Zealand valued at $6500.00) and Scooter. I won the bid on a beautiful Christmas center piece and two fantastic bottles of wine. We left around 10:30 before the dancing started but I am sure everyone had a wonderul time. The dinner that was served (buy Brooklyn's mothers co-workers) was delicious. I never thought to take a camera because I didn't think it would be a true celebration of life but it was. Every table had table cloths, candles , home made castles,tiara's , and tons of balloons. I am hopeful that pictures will make there way to the website for the world to see. http://brooklyns-bridge.com/ here is the website if you would like to learn more about this special girl.
On that note, I must dry my eyes and get ready to go show some property. Then we are off to a bbq and football.
Have a blessed day.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
something serious after the animal post
Here is a great thought for the day:
We were the only family in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi." His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wiggled and giggled with merriment.
I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. "Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster," the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?" Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi."
We were the only family in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi." His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wiggled and giggled with merriment.
I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. "Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster," the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?" Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi."
Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo." Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn reciprocated with his cute comments.
We got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check. The old man sat poised between me and the door. "Lord, just let me out before he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed. As I drew closer, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's "pick-me-up" position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a young baby consummated their love and kinship.
Erik, in an act of total trust, love, and submission, laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime and pain cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby." Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that contained a stone. He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly. I received my baby, and the man said, "God bless you, ma'am." I said nothing more than a muttered thanks.
Erik, in an act of total trust, love, and submission, laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime and pain cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby." Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that contained a stone. He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly. I received my baby, and the man said, "God bless you, ma'am." I said nothing more than a muttered thanks.
With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, "Forgive me." I had just witnessed divine love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was a higher power asking, "Are you willing to share your son for a moment?" The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, "To enter the Kingdom, we must become as little children."
Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from, and most importantly how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.
The Animals
Okay, I have heard your requests for some photo's of our crazy pets.
Poker assuming his favorite sleep pose.
Here is Sierra stretching out for her evening nap.
Pismo sneaking water out of a cup because heaven forbid our cats drink the fresh ice water from their own bowl. (we go through alot of cups a day at our house!)
And last but not least here is trouble.....I mean Sequoia trying to figure out the handy dandy hot dog cooker we got for our anniversary. (which works very well and is a kick in the pants to use..big thank you to mom and dad)
As I manage to capture more photos I will try to get them posted. Sorry for the big gaps, I can't seem to figure out how to get rid of them and keep the pictures. What can I say...I'm blog challenged.
Have a great day!!!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Happy Halloween Everyone
Well we walked over two miles and filled the bucket 1 and 1/2 times last night. Our new neighborhood hands out great candy. There were sooooo may people out and the weather was a blissful 70 degrees. We went through 9 bags of candy and some of Steven's before the night was through.
Steven insisted on being a desert commando special forces dude. The helmet did not fit and kept falling off so we finally tossed it away. He wore the costume to bed, and is still wearing it. Boys are just so silly. Steven also realized last night that if he was very polite, well mannered, and chatted with the door openers, he got more then the traditional 1-2 pieces of candy. By the end of the night we were having to pull him away from the doors.
Scott and I attended two halloween parties last weekend and took this fantastic Kitty Litter Cake. It turned out awesome both times I made it and I assure you I will make it every year going forward.
I did not dress up for either because heeeeellllllooooo, who can top Scott's Costume??? He won best costume for the office and won a $50.00 gift card to Chili's. (We had a great lunch on Wed. by the way....I recommend the chicken enchillada soup mmm mmmm mmm).
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Avoid Halloween Mishaps
“An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.” -- Friedrich Engels
Home Maintenance Tip -Avoid Halloween Mishaps
Many homeowners get into the spirit of Halloween by turning their homes into haunted houses, carving pumpkins, and handing out treats to costumed kids who come to their door. If you're a homeowner planning on getting involved in the holiday, following a few precautions can help keep the night from turning scary in an unwanted way:
Make sure any hazardous obstacles such as a garden hose or lawn decorations are put safely away.
Check all outside lights and replace any that are burned out.
Keep sidewalks and walkways clear.
Consider using battery-powered candles for carved pumpkins - they're safer than a real flame.
If you do use real candles, make sure they are kept away from the areas where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
Properly light and clear the path to your door so that trick-or-treaters don't hurt themselves.
Secure all Halloween decorations. You don't want your decorations coming loose and injuring someone, or being stolen by vandals.
You might want to consider adding extra homeowner's insurance for Halloween night. Nothing puts a damper on fun faster than a lawsuit, a distinct possibility if a child gets hurt on your property or in your house. Contact your insurance agency to see if they are willing to do this.
If you're planning a rather gruesome Halloween display, you may want to post warning signs to give the weak-stomached a heads up.
Only give out kid-friendly treats. Items should be prepackaged and big enough that they don't pose a choking hazard to small children.
Courtesy of Move, Inc., www.move.com
Please share this with your clients and friends. You could make someone's day.
Warmly,Jim Scheidt Old Republic Home Protection
Home Maintenance Tip -Avoid Halloween Mishaps
Many homeowners get into the spirit of Halloween by turning their homes into haunted houses, carving pumpkins, and handing out treats to costumed kids who come to their door. If you're a homeowner planning on getting involved in the holiday, following a few precautions can help keep the night from turning scary in an unwanted way:
Make sure any hazardous obstacles such as a garden hose or lawn decorations are put safely away.
Check all outside lights and replace any that are burned out.
Keep sidewalks and walkways clear.
Consider using battery-powered candles for carved pumpkins - they're safer than a real flame.
If you do use real candles, make sure they are kept away from the areas where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
Properly light and clear the path to your door so that trick-or-treaters don't hurt themselves.
Secure all Halloween decorations. You don't want your decorations coming loose and injuring someone, or being stolen by vandals.
You might want to consider adding extra homeowner's insurance for Halloween night. Nothing puts a damper on fun faster than a lawsuit, a distinct possibility if a child gets hurt on your property or in your house. Contact your insurance agency to see if they are willing to do this.
If you're planning a rather gruesome Halloween display, you may want to post warning signs to give the weak-stomached a heads up.
Only give out kid-friendly treats. Items should be prepackaged and big enough that they don't pose a choking hazard to small children.
Courtesy of Move, Inc., www.move.com
Please share this with your clients and friends. You could make someone's day.
Warmly,Jim Scheidt Old Republic Home Protection
Monday, October 20, 2008
Through a Rapist's Eyes....Please Read
When this was sent to me, I was told to forward it to my lady friends, but I forwarded it to most everyone in my address book. My men friends have female friends and this Information is too important to miss someone. Please pass it along and share it with your children.A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:
1) The first thing men look for in a poten tial victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman witha ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed . They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair . Women with short hair are not common targets.
2) The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women who's clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around specifically to cut clothing.
3) They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse, or doing other activities while walking because they are off-guard and can be easily overpowered.
4) Men are m ost likely to attack & rape in the early morning, between 5: 00a.m. and 8:30a.m.
5) The number one place women are abducted from/attacked is grocery store parking lots. The number two:office parking lots/garages. Number three: public restrooms.
6) The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don't have to worry about getting caught.
7) Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.
8) If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.
9) These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their handsKeys are NOT a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you're not worth it.
10) Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it?, or make general small talk: 'I can't believe it is so cold out here,' 'We're in for a bad winter.' Now you've seen their face and could identify them in a line-up; you lose appeal as a target.
11) If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell STOP! or STAY BACK! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.
12) If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes), yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.
13) If someone grabs you, you can't beat them with strength but you can by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the Arm (between the elbow and armpit)OR in the upper inner thigh VERY VERY HARD.
One woman in a class t his guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands - the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it - it hurts.
14) After the initial hit, always GO for the GROIN. I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy's parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you'll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instruc tor is that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble and he's out of there.
15) When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.
16) Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don't dismiss it, go with your instincts!!!You may feel a little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.
1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do : The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!
2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans : If a robber asks for your wallet and/o r purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc, and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.) DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.a. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you.& nbsp; If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.
5 A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot or parking garage:A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)
7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times. And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RU N, preferably in a zigzag pattern!
8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP! It may get you raped or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well-educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.
9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her 'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.'The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do,DO NOT open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.
Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby --- This should be taken seriously because the Crying Baby t heory was mentioned on America's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana .I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know. It may save a life.
A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. I was going to send this to the ladies only, but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it onto them, as well.
1) The first thing men look for in a poten tial victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman witha ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed . They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair . Women with short hair are not common targets.
2) The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women who's clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around specifically to cut clothing.
3) They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse, or doing other activities while walking because they are off-guard and can be easily overpowered.
4) Men are m ost likely to attack & rape in the early morning, between 5: 00a.m. and 8:30a.m.
5) The number one place women are abducted from/attacked is grocery store parking lots. The number two:office parking lots/garages. Number three: public restrooms.
6) The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don't have to worry about getting caught.
7) Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.
8) If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.
9) These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their handsKeys are NOT a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you're not worth it.
10) Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it?, or make general small talk: 'I can't believe it is so cold out here,' 'We're in for a bad winter.' Now you've seen their face and could identify them in a line-up; you lose appeal as a target.
11) If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell STOP! or STAY BACK! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.
12) If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes), yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.
13) If someone grabs you, you can't beat them with strength but you can by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the Arm (between the elbow and armpit)OR in the upper inner thigh VERY VERY HARD.
One woman in a class t his guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands - the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it - it hurts.
14) After the initial hit, always GO for the GROIN. I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy's parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you'll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instruc tor is that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble and he's out of there.
15) When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.
16) Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don't dismiss it, go with your instincts!!!You may feel a little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.
1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do : The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!
2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans : If a robber asks for your wallet and/o r purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc, and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.) DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.a. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you.& nbsp; If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.
5 A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot or parking garage:A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)
7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times. And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RU N, preferably in a zigzag pattern!
8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP! It may get you raped or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well-educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.
9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her 'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.'The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do,DO NOT open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.
Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby --- This should be taken seriously because the Crying Baby t heory was mentioned on America's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana .I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know. It may save a life.
A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. I was going to send this to the ladies only, but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it onto them, as well.
Friday, September 26, 2008
The first minutes of life for a baby giraffe
Good Morning Here is a great thought for the day from my friends at London Properties:
Bringing a giraffe into the world is a tall order. A baby giraffe falls ten feet from its mother's womb and usually lands on its back. Within seconds, it rolls over and tucks its legs under its body. From this position it considers the world for the first time and shakes off the last vestiges of the birthing fluid from its eyes and ears.
Then the mother giraffe rudely introduces her offspring to the reality of life. The mother giraffe lowers her head long enough to take a quick look. Then she positions herself directly over her calf. She waits for about a minute, and then she does the most reasonable thing. She swings her long, pendulous leg outward and kicks her baby, so that it is sent sprawling head over heels. When it doesn't get up, the violent process is repeated over and over again. The struggle to rise is momentous. As the baby calf grows tired, the mother kicks it again to stimulate its efforts... Finally, the calf stands for the first time on its wobbly legs.
Then the mother giraffe does the most remarkable thing. She kicks it off its feet again. Why? She wants it to remember how it got up. In the wild, baby giraffes must be able to get up as quickly as possible to stay with the herd, where there is safety. Lions, hyenas, leopards, and wild hunting dogs all enjoy young giraffes, and they'd get it too, if the mother didn't teach her calf to get up quickly and get with it...
Perhaps we're not that different. The challenges we have in life may at first seem harsh, but through them we grow and learn survival.
Bringing a giraffe into the world is a tall order. A baby giraffe falls ten feet from its mother's womb and usually lands on its back. Within seconds, it rolls over and tucks its legs under its body. From this position it considers the world for the first time and shakes off the last vestiges of the birthing fluid from its eyes and ears.
Then the mother giraffe rudely introduces her offspring to the reality of life. The mother giraffe lowers her head long enough to take a quick look. Then she positions herself directly over her calf. She waits for about a minute, and then she does the most reasonable thing. She swings her long, pendulous leg outward and kicks her baby, so that it is sent sprawling head over heels. When it doesn't get up, the violent process is repeated over and over again. The struggle to rise is momentous. As the baby calf grows tired, the mother kicks it again to stimulate its efforts... Finally, the calf stands for the first time on its wobbly legs.
Then the mother giraffe does the most remarkable thing. She kicks it off its feet again. Why? She wants it to remember how it got up. In the wild, baby giraffes must be able to get up as quickly as possible to stay with the herd, where there is safety. Lions, hyenas, leopards, and wild hunting dogs all enjoy young giraffes, and they'd get it too, if the mother didn't teach her calf to get up quickly and get with it...
Perhaps we're not that different. The challenges we have in life may at first seem harsh, but through them we grow and learn survival.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
