The Angel Forever

Kindergarten Learning

Posted on October 6, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear JSL,

You have been a kindergarten kid for just about a month now. Mornings are still a bit rough. You say you are nervous and do not want to leave me. Still, the smile on your face at the end of the day tells me a different story. I can see that you are enjoying the time with your teachers, classmates, and learning.

What I love is watching you after school each day. You pull our your Doodle Pro and teach me things that you have learned. You recite the letters and their sounds. You tell me words that begin with the letters. Even on the way into school, you like to rattle off things that you have learned. You are in love with centers. This time seems to be your favorite, especially when there are science activities. You have already learned about the five senses and it made a big impression on you. Just the other day, you were explaining to me how the eyeball has an image that is turned upside down as it is carried to the brain. The science teacher in me was so very proud.

I have also watched you talking to your big brother about math. I knew that you were talking about shapes (which you already knew) in class. What I did not realize until I was looking at your sheets that I had heard you say another word.

$Kindergarten math - learning about vertices$

Yes, you know how to identify a vertex on a shape. You can count them and the side and record the numbers. I was definitely impressed and you love sharing this information with me. The other item that you have been talking about a lot are apples. Since you are going to an orchard soon, you have been learning about how they grow. I can not wait to hear more about this subject over the weekend and next week. Thank you for taking me on this learning journey with you.

Love,

Categories:
Dear Kid Saturday jsl milestone photos school

Steel Magnolias 23 Years Later

Posted on October 5, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Twenty three years ago, a group of women that we probably never pictured together burst onto the movie screen and created a classic film. Enter Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts who brought us Steel Magnolias. It was a movie that taught us about true friendship, motherhood, challenges, and more. All of these years later, the movie still holds up.

Lifetime Original Movies has remade Steel Magnolias and it will be premiering this Sunday.

Once again an amazing cast of strong women are playing the characters that we have known for over two decades. The actresses include Queen Latifa, Jill Scott, Alfre Woodard, Adepero Oduye, Phylicia Rashad, and Condola Rashad.

As a Lifetime Mom affiliate, I had the opportunity to get a screener of the movie. The story is the same, the lines practically identical, the acting very powerful. Some items are a little more updated (there is a mention of Facebook), but honestly the only real difference is that it is set in our current time and now there is an all African American group of actors. Since I adored the original, I wanted to see this new version. Would it live up to my expectations or would I hate it? Could I get past recalling Shirley MacLaine playing Ouiser?

Truth be told, I am not entirely sure what I think of the movie. The acting is strong, and the story is identical and scripted words the same. I guess I wish a few inaccuracies had been corrected from the first movie to this new one. Still, I did enjoy seeing new actors showing their interpretation of a classic role. Once again, these beautiful actors (inside and out) show the strength, courage, and compassion needed when being a lifelong friend. Yes, I admit it…I found myself crying with this movie even though I knew all along what was going to happen.

So my question to you this week:

Are you a fan of movie remakes? Let me know why you do or do not like them. I would also love to know if you plan on watching the Lifetime version of Steel Magnolias.

Disclosure: I am a Lifetime Mom affiliate. As a part of this, I was offered a screener DVD of "Steel Magnolias" to view. No compensation was given and the opinions expressed are my own.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #223

Categories:
Aloha Friday looking back me moments Movies television

More Than a Number on a Scale – National Bullying Prevention Month

Posted on October 4, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Do you see those amazing words above this? They are the title of my post for a reason. They are the fighting words of WKBT News Anchor Jennifer Livingston. Recently Livingston received a horrid letter from a so-called viewer of her news show. The letter basically attacked her for being in front of the camera because of her size. Rather than run from this nasty attack, Livingston stood in front of the camera to face her bully and others.

Her message is absolutely beautiful and one that more people should listen to. It isn’t simply about weight either. It’s about what we are teaching our children. How do we want them to treat others, how will they handle the stinging words of a bully, and how will we do the same? If you have not seen Jennifer Livingston’s segment, please take a moment to do this now. I promise you the four minutes is well worth your time and will definitely make you think in another manner.

I think the bigger message here is not simply about weight (says the girl who can completely relate to this piece), it is about being kind to everyone around you. Thinking things through before you say or write something hurtful. In this digital age, it is far too easy to do something stupid and not be able to take it back.

In a society that is filled with people that judge based on visual appearance, we MUST stop this. Sure you may think you know the problems a person is facing, but do you? The smile on that mother’s face may be hiding a deeper pain or concern. Something that you can not see just by looking at her, or her family. When you see a child throwing a tantrum in a store, do you automatically judge the parenting skills of that individual. STOP!

Remember during National Bullying Prevention Month, and beyond, that if you do not know someone you can not judge them. There truly are so many factors that are invisible that people can not be aware.

Categories:
PSA real world news vent

Disney Inspired October

Posted on October 3, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

For some reason, I have never been to Walt Disney World in the fall. It is definitely on my Disney bucket list. I really want to see the parks decorated for Halloween. Since I do not have any October photos with characters, I decided to make some of my own. You may have met my ghoulish family before, but now check us out with our Disney friends. I do believe that these would make fun additions to an October calendar.

Be sure to stop by Focused on the Magic by clicking on the button above to join in the Disney magic this week.

Categories:
Blog Hop Disney dreams family holidays photos

Celebrating Sukkot

Posted on October 2, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Many people do not realize that the holiday season continues for Jewish people beyond Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We are actually celebrating Sukkot right now. In the past, I have shared photos from our Sukkot celebrations, including those from JSL’s nursery school last year.

While we do not have our own sukkah, the boys helped to make decorations for the one at Hebrew School. We also hope to bring them to visit the one at our synagogue. While I am off sharing traditions with my family, I thought I would include a new Sukkot video from the Fountainheads.

The song is a beautiful parody of a popular song that teaches people about the holiday and was filmed in Israel. Enjoy and happy holidays to all that celebrate