Monday, February 16, 2004
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
EmpoweredParent.com E z i n e
http://EmpoweredParent.com
Information For Today's Parent!
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
VOL.VI : Issue 1 February 15, 2004
Editor: Joan Bramsch
E-mail: hijoan@joanbramsch.com
ISSN: 1526-2154
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Common sense solutions for Today's Parenting Challenges!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Empowered Parents: Strong Families
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ENJOYING OUR SIXTH YEAR OF PUBLICATION!
KNOW THIS:
We are all one people, Mother Earth is our one country, LOVE is stronger than fear, and peace and freedom are the birthrights of all humanity. Chief Seattle
===============
"Sizzlers" to warm your Winter Evenings!
Give yourself a gift about love...
Classic Contemporary Romance Novels
By Joan Bramsch
Http://www.joanbramsch.com/store/romancebooks.shtml
==============
INSIDE YOUR EP EZINE
<*> Letter from Joan
<*> Letters from EP Parents
<*> This 'n That
<*> Subscribe/unsubscribe Information r>
===============
"You do what you know how to do; and when you know better, you do better."
- Maya Angelou
===============
Letter from Joan
WELCOME
Hi dear Parent,
This is the beginning of EP's 6th year of continuous publication. I've changed the name to The Empowered Parenting JOURNAL. More grown up, don't cha know. :)
We in America just celebrated Valentine's Day. My kids used to call it "Valen-times Day!" I continued Bill's tradition that began when our children were liddle kiddles, of giving each child, and now grandchild, one of those boxes of candy hearts, the kind with the little love words printed on them.
On each box I write "To child's name" and "Love, Mom" or Grandma or Mepa, depending on the child. The younger grandchildren really express concern beginning on February 1st if they think Grandma might forget! It takes my own children's reassurance that "Grandma will NOT forget... You can count on it." Ah, it's taken a lifetime to build up that kind of confidence. :)
In Brazil they celebrate this Love Day on June 12th. I have this information because some EP Parents live in Rio. Oh, I just love technology. :)
Is Valentine's Day on different dates in other countries? Let me know if you live in one of the other 88 countries represented by EP families.
My children gave me a wonderful large telescope so I can gaze upon the wonder-filled heavens. I have been studying the stars and planets, learning the names of special stars and entire constellations. I purchased a Planisphere to help me learn; it's a fantastic item. I even joined the St. Louis Astrological Society, sponsored by my alma mater, Washington University. It's very nice to meet new friends, too.
I continue to learn new techniques for playing the piano via great online videos, many of them at no cost to the student, compliments of David Sprunger at http://www.playpianotoday.com David is a great gifted teacher. His joy and zest for life is an energy to behold. Have you visited him yet? Did you invite your child to play?
I've heard from many EP parents about their concern over world economy, with war and international unrest, with loss of jobs and difficulty in educating their children. The Safe Money Report is now providing a weekly free newsletter with Martin Weiss, called "Martin On Monday." You can sign up for it here: http://www.safemoneyreport.com
I've also been reviewing a newly discovered process to help ADD and ADHD people, as well as, dyslexic persons. I am marginally ADD, I raised two children with it and now we have two grandchildren challenged with the ability to focus - yes, we all can hyper focus, but that's not the same thing. My family and I are testing specially designed and recorded CDs to improve performance. You can find these patented process CDs here: http://www.Hemi-Sync.com If you have a need, please explore the site yourself. When I play one and listen w/ stereo headphones I can feel the difference in my brain.
Can you tell that your cheerleader is on a self-improvement learning curve? Yes! I told you in our last correspondence that I've been listening to self-hynosis tapes by http://www.wendi.com to shed the extra pounds I gained when I took care of Bill during his illness. I haven't been successful on my own so I asked Wendi, who does great work, for help. I am eating much better. I am feeling much better about myself. I am moving toward more exercise, but not enough, so I have to dig deeper to discover the "glue" that holds on the pounds. Wendi is a good advisor and I believe I will soon find the hidden key to regaining my strong healthy body. I'll keep you posted.
I'm including lots and lots of great clickable web sites for you and your family's enjoyment.
Here's a great new one: http://www.hbci.com/~pzmorken/hitty.html Did you ever hear of a Hitty Doll? An Alabama EP parent, Missy Patt, has shared the story with me. Hitty is hand carved from wood. She was "born" during the Great US Depression. The thing is... Hitty travels everywhere with her owner. In a shirt pocket, in a purse, she often dresses like her owner, complete with hat and shoes to match.
Hitty, the travelin' doll, reminds me of Henry, a whimsical yellow duck with a wild white top knot, dressed in blue overalls and red neckerchief. He was purchased for me by Bill long ago. Henry always traveled with us and now he rides shotgun with me when I travel alone. Perhaps I shall soon introduce Henry to Hitty. :)
I hope we in the Northern Hemisphere don't have to face many more weeks of cold weather. I'm about tired of feeling cold, let me tell you. I dream about green grass and golden daffodils. And the first Robin red-breast.
So enjoy your family, send me a note telling me how you are doing. You know I am always eager to hear your news.
Love,
Joan
P.s. If you have time... And I sincerely hope you will take the time to educate yourself during this election year, here is the web site that will stream tonight's Democratic debate. There's lots of good ideas and plain talking on this one.
Http://www.wisconsindebate.com/debatearchive.asp
P.p.s. Here's a site all about LOVE. Simply beautiful; breathtaking photograpy.
http://greatday.com/v.html?0644QEkZ8XPb
===============
I'M A DAY LATE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY, but I want to share this story with you:
A GIFT FROM MY BELOVED'S HEART
Many years ago, when my Bill and I were married just long enough to have five babies in five years, and we knew we were rich right now, but someday we'd maybe have money, Valentine's Day approached. These were the days when we'd have to search the sofa cushions, seeking pennies to make the ten cents needed for Bill to buy his morning coffee with the guys at work when picking up their paychecks after the weekly office meeting. Lean times, indeed!
On Valentine's day my Beloved arrived with a pressed glass "crystal" bud vase from the dime store and a breathtakingly fragrant single red rose. He delivered my gift into my hands along with one of his priceless breathtaking kisses.
"This red rose symbolizes my love for you, sweetheart," he said. "I promise you I'll deliver one every month for the next year, along with all my love, my devotion, my thanks for choosing me, and for making my life so wonder-filled. I love you."
Some months that year he gave me a second rose because he "knew I really needed it!"
On that Valentine's Day he also gave me a very special, hand-written note:
"We are angels born with but one wing.
In order to fly, we must embrace one another."
For forty-seven years we embraced and we valued one another as best friends and lovers. Now it is 2 ½ years since he went on to his next Great Adventure, back into stardust. Oh, we were so blessed to share our lives. I will miss him all the rest of mine. He was my heart.
============
IF YOU DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN COLD in the Midwest... Go here, dear Parent, go here:
The St. Paul, Minnesota Winter Carnival Ice Palace opened on Thursday, January 23rd. Here is a link to the photo album. Http://www.monsterchef.net/2004IcePalace/2004IcePalace2.htm
=============
HERE'S THE TEN WORST CORPORATIONS AND WHY! Ugg...
Http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17783
=============
HERE'S A WONDROUS RECORD of a baby Hummingbird - from EP Dottie
Http://community-2.webtv.net/hotmail.com/verle33/HummingBirdNest/
=============
LETTER FROM AN EP PARENT
Thank you so much for the e mail concerning identity theft with the new camera cell phones.I want you to know that I posted this warning on all of aol's message boards,and sent the warning to my e mail contacts.I also sent it to NBC10 consumer alert and they just called me to tell me they are going to do the piece.I told the reporter the alert was sent to me by empowered parenting.She asked me what that is,I told her it's a website.So the alert you sent me will get great exposure.If it weren't for you many people would be victims,thank you so much for sending this to me.
Love Always, Tiffany
--------
My gracious, Tiffany! We never know what blessings happen when we serve others. Thank you for forwarding the information. Thank you for telling the world about http://www.EmpoweredParent.com There is so much work to do, and you've done your share today. :) Love, Joan
============
OOOOOOH SPOOKY!
Liquid Man I don't know how they did this---better yet, why? Something to keep you busy for a little bit or a lot; just move your mouse, slowly, after clicking on the web site
Http://www.electronicorphanage.com/neen/demo/clinger.swf
==============
OH, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS ONE. It's absolutely Perfect!
Http://www.duirwaighgallery.com/
Open the Duir!
============
WANT FREE TAX software? This works great.
Http://www.taxact.com
============
READ AND REMEMBER:
"Most of us go to our graves with our music still inside of us."
============
HERE'S HELP FOR THE HUNGRY
Attached is the news of our upcoming $1 Million Giveaway this March/April you have been waiting for… Any additional information can be found at our web site: www.feinsteinfoundation.org or you can call our office 401-467-5155 or 401-941-5913.
Thanks for taking part in what has become the largest grass roots movement to help the hungry this country has ever seen.
================
HERE'S SUCH A WONDER-FILLED BOOK PRACTICE
Http://www.bookcrossing.com/
================
HERE'S A GOOD SITE ABOUT SAFE DRIVING
Teen safe driving: www.ipromiseprogram.com
================
BE AWARE, BE _REALLY_ AWARE...
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower
To hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour
William Blake (from Auguries of Innocence, c.1800)
===============
INTUITION in Business: How are You Wired?
Knowing how you are "wired" to receiving intuitive information is the first step toward paying attention. See if you identify with one or more of these examples.
"A little voice told me to do it." Your intuition may work best through your auditory sense and extends your hearing so you can hear what is really being said, beyond mere words.
"I see what you mean." Your intuition may work best through your visual sense. It helps you "read between the lines" or use "x-ray vision" to see beyond the apparent into the real.
"I can put my finger on it." Your intuition may work best through your sense of touch: your tactile sense. It helps you get a "feel" for what's really going on.
"It just doesn't smell right." Your intuition may work best through your olfactory sense, which lets you "sniff out" a situation.
"I've got a real taste for it." Your intuition may work best through your taste buds: your gustatory sense. Your intuition intensifies your ability to "get a taste for" any condition.
[Courses with Dr. Marcia Emery] [Browse Catalog of Courses]
Adapted from PowerHunch by Marcia Emery, Ph.D. 2001
===========
HERE'S A GIFT FROM John Harricharan, best selling author
There are only three problems in life: money, health and relationship. Pick any problem you have and it will fall under one of these categories. "When You Can Walk on Water, Take the Boat" is full of examples that will show you how to make sense out of all this confusion and live a rewarding life.
http://www.waterbook.com
Be inspired and download a copy for yourself as you join over a hundred thousand others who've received tremendous hope, inspiration and practical tips. It isn't important what your problems are. Because, if you know how to swim, it doesn't matter how deep the water is.
============
SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING?
A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.
A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
A snail can sleep for three years.
Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
Butterflies taste with their feet.
Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 10.
"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.
It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.
Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
WHOA! NOW THIS IS WORTH CONSIDERING... The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.
The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.
The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes). MOM is another one. :) Do you know more?
There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
There are more chickens than people in the world.
There's no Betty Rubble in the Flintstones Chewables Vitamins.
Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.
Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks; otherwise it will digest itself. ARGH!!!!
And now you know everything. :)
===========
TEEN ANGST REPORT
The rate of teen deaths is dropping significantly. In 1990, 71 teens out of 100,000 died by accident, homicide, or suicide. By 2000, that number had plummeted 28 percent to 51 deaths. -"Kids Count," 2003 report, Annie E. Casey Foundation
===========
DID YOU PLAY WITH THE SNOW GLOBE? Eeeeeeek!
Http://ww12.e-tractions.com/snowglobe/globe.htm
===========
VISIT YOUR PERSONAL EP STORE
Be a proud Empowered Parent!
MOM AND CHILD
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store/store.aspx?storeid=parentmom
DAD AND CHILD
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store/store.aspx?storeid=parentdad
PARENTS AND CHILD
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store/store.aspx?storeid=twoparent
===========
Here's some info about technology today -
1. over half a million mini remote cameras are being sold monthly. Now where are all those cameras going and who is using them?
2. Not ONE item you erase from your hard drive is ever truly erased. Ever! A friend told about purchasing a used laptop that was cleared, but an associate with the right examing software found 800,000 files on the hard drive - erased files - and many of them were child porn. Now what if that laptop had fallen into the wrong hands and the friend had been accused of viewing child porn?
3. EVERY cell phone can be tracked anywhere on the planet or above, even if it is turned OFF! Therefore, since it's nobody's business where you go or what you do, carry your cell phone, not only turned off, but remove the batteries. Instead, use a pager. If someone pages you, then YOU decide if this is a safe place for you to return the call because "they" can follow that cell phone anywhere. Now where is all that info being stored?
4. If you use a cell phone only use it with the ear piece and keep the phone away from your ear because the irradiation fills half your brain. Drs have done MIRS of brains on cell phone.
5. Now they are talking against microwave ovens because humankind has heated food forever over flame which heats at random vibrations, but in a MW oven it heats to a 2.something megahertz and when we drink or eat it, that's going into our body. This is the basis for many new weapons of mass destruction.
So we can now protect ourselves and continue to keep our vibrations at a high level of Peace. Oofta.
==========
ONE EP MOM'S OPINION
As the mostly stay at home mother of four grown sons and now grandma to two school aged girls, I would like to have my say about a series of TV ads running here in California.
These ads are promoting preschool as a necessary step in the successful lives of the youngest of our citizens. One shows a baby, of about five months, gazing at a mobile in her crib while the voice over takes parents on a guilt trip if they have they lack of imagination to enroll their children in preschool by the time they are three years old. The other, from the point of view of a grateful adult, thanks her parents for sending her to pre school. Without it she wouldn't have gone to college, developed social skills, been a successful career woman, met her husband, had her own children, or otherwise been fulfilled.
I'm not knocking a good preschool. In fact ,my parents put me in a nursery school at age three in 1950, while my mother who was taking care of a younger child and was pregnant for her third. To my knowledge the only things I gained from it was the knowledge that I'm lousy with clay, I preferred dresses to rompers and if you leave tangerine skins in your coat pocket long enough they get crunchy! I stayed there for eight months before Mom said that was enough. I could read by the time I got out of kindergarten but I don't know if that was because of preschool or because my mother made time to read to us every single day. BTW ,did you notice that the term nursery school is now passe? In our quest to turn children into small adults earlier and earlier, we apparently must disassociate our little ones from anything that smacks of babyhood or childhood ...or innocence?
What I object to is this sense that you will fail your children if they don't go to pre kindergarten classes. This is so wrong. It's much more important for your little ones to have time with you to learn to see themselves as part of a family unit rather than Mrs. Jones' class.
In these times, two incomes are almost always necessary just to pay the rent in many instances. but if you can do without it than for your own sakes think long and hard before you deprive yourself of the joy those babies bring you and the confidence only you can instill in them.
To the advertisers I say; Go ahead and tell us about your programs but please don't make young parents feel they are handicapping their children if they choose to nurture them on their own without your expert help.
Marcie Hoye Cumberland
http://www.Underthestorytree.com
JOAN'S NOTE: Those preschools are also vying for some of the fed's "No Child Left Behind" funds. Well said, Marcie.
===========
THIS ONE IS LATE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY
Doilies
There was once a man and woman who had been married for more than 60 ears.They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They kept no secrets from each other except that the old woman had a shoebox in the top of her closet that she cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.
For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover. In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoebox and took it to his wife's bedside. She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box.
When he opened it, he found two crocheted doilies and a stack of money totaling $25,000. He asked her about the contents. "When we were to be married," she said, "My grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doily."
The little old man was so moved he had to fight back tears. Only two precious doilies were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with happiness.
"Honey," he said "that explains the doilies, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?"
"Oh," she said, "that's the money I made from selling the doilies."
===========
AND HERE'S ANOTHER...
That One Word
I stood at the altar in front of the couple.
I have witnessed many weddings. The dresses, tuxedos, the
church decorations, and the food are what most focus on.
I was enamored by the word,
...that one word.
The one word answer to the question,
"...do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
I expected the typical, "I do."
Those two words made both famous and infamous.
I was not expecting his answer.
A voice loud and clear rang out with one word.
It reverberated from the ceiling as his one word,
filled with resolve,
carried his answer throughout the church.
"Absolutely!"
It was A MountainWings Moment.
Far too often, "we do" but not absolutely.
Our commitment is filled with ifs, ands, and buts.
We do as long as it's convenient.
We do as long as it benefits us.
We do as long as it's not painful.
We do as long as they remain beautiful or handsome.
We do as long as they keep their figure.
We do as long as the bills are paid.
We do as long they stay healthy.
We do as long as no one more exciting looks our way.
We do as long as it suits us.
What things or people in life are we truly committed to?
To whom have we really said and meant, "Absolutely."
Is this the way a man and a woman should enter into marriage?
Should they feel that level of commitment?
Should they really believe that the only way
they would ever separate is by death?
Did Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Loney actually believe that?
Absolutely!
~A MountainWings Original~
Go To: http://www.mountainwings.com
===========
I JUST GOTTA PUT IN THIS LINK AGAIN... I LOVE IT! :)
Http://www.allthefun.com/1/winknsmile.htm
============
INFORMATION THAT CAN CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK AT LIFE:
Http://www.wellnessgoods.com/messages.asp
===========
AND NOW LITTLE KITTY will entertain you when you are feeling too tired to do anything else.
Http://home.wanadoo.nl/annekebroenink/maukie2.swf
=================================
War cannot be humanized, it can only be abolished.
-- Albert Einstein
The ultimate oxymoron: "Holy War"
===============================
FEED THE HUNGRY:
http://www.thehungersite.com
http://www.heifer.org/
FOR PEACE ON OUR PLANET: We are not going to be able to operate our
Spaceship Earth successfully nor for much longer unless we see it as a
whole spaceship and our fate as common. It has to be everybody or nobody.
-Buckminster Fuller
NEXT ISSUE: More encouragement from EP Parents' Cheerleader!
* (\ *** /) * . *
. * ( \ (_) / ) * Guardian Angel
*. (_ / | \ _) . * .
* . /____\ * . . *
In the meantime, here is an angel sent to watch over you for me.
===================================
FROM BILL: We are Angels born with but one wing,
In order to fly we must embrace one another.
===================================
Till next time, don't forget -- Parenthood is Wonder-filled!
Fondly, Joan
===================================
Thank You For Reading! Have a Terrific Week!
Empowered Parenting Ezine is published solely by Joan Bramsch, founder and Director of http://www.EmpoweredParent.com and may not reflect the opinion of all Empowered Parent members. Copyright © 2004, all rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the express written consent of the publisher or contributors. We accept no responsibility for your use of any contributed information contained herein. All of the information presented in the Empowered Parenting Ezine is published in good faith. Any comments stated in this publication are strictly the opinion of the writer or publisher. We publish all advertising in good faith but offer no guarantees. Please do your own due diligence in ANY transaction. We reserve the right to edit and make suitable for publication, if necessary, any articles published in this newsletter. We reserve the right to publish all reader comments, including the name of the writer. Reported survey results will NOT use the names of the contributors. Joan Bramsch, owner, EmpoweredParent.com
===================================
To SUBSCRIBE: EmpoweredParenting-subscribe@egroups.com
To UNSUBSCRIBE: EmpoweredParenting-unsubscribe@egroups.com
===================================
© 1999-2004 Joan Bramsch/JB INFORMATION STATION.
All rights reserved worldwide.
ISSN: 1526-2154 - Library Of Congress, Washington DC, USA
Permission to download text is for personal use only. It is illegal to reproduce or transmit in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, any part of this copyrighted text without permission in writing from the publisher.
===================================
http://www.EmpoweredParent.com
All material copyright © Joan Bramsch 1999--2004 (unless otherwise noted)
===================================
===================================
===================================
EmpoweredParent.com E z i n e
http://EmpoweredParent.com
Information For Today's Parent!
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
VOL.VI : Issue 1 February 15, 2004
Editor: Joan Bramsch
E-mail: hijoan@joanbramsch.com
ISSN: 1526-2154
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Common sense solutions for Today's Parenting Challenges!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Empowered Parents: Strong Families
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ENJOYING OUR SIXTH YEAR OF PUBLICATION!
KNOW THIS:
We are all one people, Mother Earth is our one country, LOVE is stronger than fear, and peace and freedom are the birthrights of all humanity. Chief Seattle
===============
"Sizzlers" to warm your Winter Evenings!
Give yourself a gift about love...
Classic Contemporary Romance Novels
By Joan Bramsch
Http://www.joanbramsch.com/store/romancebooks.shtml
==============
INSIDE YOUR EP EZINE
<*> Letter from Joan
<*> Letters from EP Parents
<*> This 'n That
<*> Subscribe/unsubscribe Information r>
===============
"You do what you know how to do; and when you know better, you do better."
- Maya Angelou
===============
Letter from Joan
WELCOME
Hi dear Parent,
This is the beginning of EP's 6th year of continuous publication. I've changed the name to The Empowered Parenting JOURNAL. More grown up, don't cha know. :)
We in America just celebrated Valentine's Day. My kids used to call it "Valen-times Day!" I continued Bill's tradition that began when our children were liddle kiddles, of giving each child, and now grandchild, one of those boxes of candy hearts, the kind with the little love words printed on them.
On each box I write "To child's name" and "Love, Mom" or Grandma or Mepa, depending on the child. The younger grandchildren really express concern beginning on February 1st if they think Grandma might forget! It takes my own children's reassurance that "Grandma will NOT forget... You can count on it." Ah, it's taken a lifetime to build up that kind of confidence. :)
In Brazil they celebrate this Love Day on June 12th. I have this information because some EP Parents live in Rio. Oh, I just love technology. :)
Is Valentine's Day on different dates in other countries? Let me know if you live in one of the other 88 countries represented by EP families.
My children gave me a wonderful large telescope so I can gaze upon the wonder-filled heavens. I have been studying the stars and planets, learning the names of special stars and entire constellations. I purchased a Planisphere to help me learn; it's a fantastic item. I even joined the St. Louis Astrological Society, sponsored by my alma mater, Washington University. It's very nice to meet new friends, too.
I continue to learn new techniques for playing the piano via great online videos, many of them at no cost to the student, compliments of David Sprunger at http://www.playpianotoday.com David is a great gifted teacher. His joy and zest for life is an energy to behold. Have you visited him yet? Did you invite your child to play?
I've heard from many EP parents about their concern over world economy, with war and international unrest, with loss of jobs and difficulty in educating their children. The Safe Money Report is now providing a weekly free newsletter with Martin Weiss, called "Martin On Monday." You can sign up for it here: http://www.safemoneyreport.com
I've also been reviewing a newly discovered process to help ADD and ADHD people, as well as, dyslexic persons. I am marginally ADD, I raised two children with it and now we have two grandchildren challenged with the ability to focus - yes, we all can hyper focus, but that's not the same thing. My family and I are testing specially designed and recorded CDs to improve performance. You can find these patented process CDs here: http://www.Hemi-Sync.com If you have a need, please explore the site yourself. When I play one and listen w/ stereo headphones I can feel the difference in my brain.
Can you tell that your cheerleader is on a self-improvement learning curve? Yes! I told you in our last correspondence that I've been listening to self-hynosis tapes by http://www.wendi.com to shed the extra pounds I gained when I took care of Bill during his illness. I haven't been successful on my own so I asked Wendi, who does great work, for help. I am eating much better. I am feeling much better about myself. I am moving toward more exercise, but not enough, so I have to dig deeper to discover the "glue" that holds on the pounds. Wendi is a good advisor and I believe I will soon find the hidden key to regaining my strong healthy body. I'll keep you posted.
I'm including lots and lots of great clickable web sites for you and your family's enjoyment.
Here's a great new one: http://www.hbci.com/~pzmorken/hitty.html Did you ever hear of a Hitty Doll? An Alabama EP parent, Missy Patt, has shared the story with me. Hitty is hand carved from wood. She was "born" during the Great US Depression. The thing is... Hitty travels everywhere with her owner. In a shirt pocket, in a purse, she often dresses like her owner, complete with hat and shoes to match.
Hitty, the travelin' doll, reminds me of Henry, a whimsical yellow duck with a wild white top knot, dressed in blue overalls and red neckerchief. He was purchased for me by Bill long ago. Henry always traveled with us and now he rides shotgun with me when I travel alone. Perhaps I shall soon introduce Henry to Hitty. :)
I hope we in the Northern Hemisphere don't have to face many more weeks of cold weather. I'm about tired of feeling cold, let me tell you. I dream about green grass and golden daffodils. And the first Robin red-breast.
So enjoy your family, send me a note telling me how you are doing. You know I am always eager to hear your news.
Love,
Joan
P.s. If you have time... And I sincerely hope you will take the time to educate yourself during this election year, here is the web site that will stream tonight's Democratic debate. There's lots of good ideas and plain talking on this one.
Http://www.wisconsindebate.com/debatearchive.asp
P.p.s. Here's a site all about LOVE. Simply beautiful; breathtaking photograpy.
http://greatday.com/v.html?0644QEkZ8XPb
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I'M A DAY LATE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY, but I want to share this story with you:
A GIFT FROM MY BELOVED'S HEART
Many years ago, when my Bill and I were married just long enough to have five babies in five years, and we knew we were rich right now, but someday we'd maybe have money, Valentine's Day approached. These were the days when we'd have to search the sofa cushions, seeking pennies to make the ten cents needed for Bill to buy his morning coffee with the guys at work when picking up their paychecks after the weekly office meeting. Lean times, indeed!
On Valentine's day my Beloved arrived with a pressed glass "crystal" bud vase from the dime store and a breathtakingly fragrant single red rose. He delivered my gift into my hands along with one of his priceless breathtaking kisses.
"This red rose symbolizes my love for you, sweetheart," he said. "I promise you I'll deliver one every month for the next year, along with all my love, my devotion, my thanks for choosing me, and for making my life so wonder-filled. I love you."
Some months that year he gave me a second rose because he "knew I really needed it!"
On that Valentine's Day he also gave me a very special, hand-written note:
"We are angels born with but one wing.
In order to fly, we must embrace one another."
For forty-seven years we embraced and we valued one another as best friends and lovers. Now it is 2 ½ years since he went on to his next Great Adventure, back into stardust. Oh, we were so blessed to share our lives. I will miss him all the rest of mine. He was my heart.
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IF YOU DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN COLD in the Midwest... Go here, dear Parent, go here:
The St. Paul, Minnesota Winter Carnival Ice Palace opened on Thursday, January 23rd. Here is a link to the photo album. Http://www.monsterchef.net/2004IcePalace/2004IcePalace2.htm
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HERE'S THE TEN WORST CORPORATIONS AND WHY! Ugg...
Http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17783
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HERE'S A WONDROUS RECORD of a baby Hummingbird - from EP Dottie
Http://community-2.webtv.net/hotmail.com/verle33/HummingBirdNest/
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LETTER FROM AN EP PARENT
Thank you so much for the e mail concerning identity theft with the new camera cell phones.I want you to know that I posted this warning on all of aol's message boards,and sent the warning to my e mail contacts.I also sent it to NBC10 consumer alert and they just called me to tell me they are going to do the piece.I told the reporter the alert was sent to me by empowered parenting.She asked me what that is,I told her it's a website.So the alert you sent me will get great exposure.If it weren't for you many people would be victims,thank you so much for sending this to me.
Love Always, Tiffany
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My gracious, Tiffany! We never know what blessings happen when we serve others. Thank you for forwarding the information. Thank you for telling the world about http://www.EmpoweredParent.com There is so much work to do, and you've done your share today. :) Love, Joan
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OOOOOOH SPOOKY!
Liquid Man I don't know how they did this---better yet, why? Something to keep you busy for a little bit or a lot; just move your mouse, slowly, after clicking on the web site
Http://www.electronicorphanage.com/neen/demo/clinger.swf
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OH, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS ONE. It's absolutely Perfect!
Http://www.duirwaighgallery.com/
Open the Duir!
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WANT FREE TAX software? This works great.
Http://www.taxact.com
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READ AND REMEMBER:
"Most of us go to our graves with our music still inside of us."
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HERE'S HELP FOR THE HUNGRY
Attached is the news of our upcoming $1 Million Giveaway this March/April you have been waiting for… Any additional information can be found at our web site: www.feinsteinfoundation.org or you can call our office 401-467-5155 or 401-941-5913.
Thanks for taking part in what has become the largest grass roots movement to help the hungry this country has ever seen.
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HERE'S SUCH A WONDER-FILLED BOOK PRACTICE
Http://www.bookcrossing.com/
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HERE'S A GOOD SITE ABOUT SAFE DRIVING
Teen safe driving: www.ipromiseprogram.com
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BE AWARE, BE _REALLY_ AWARE...
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower
To hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour
William Blake (from Auguries of Innocence, c.1800)
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INTUITION in Business: How are You Wired?
Knowing how you are "wired" to receiving intuitive information is the first step toward paying attention. See if you identify with one or more of these examples.
"A little voice told me to do it." Your intuition may work best through your auditory sense and extends your hearing so you can hear what is really being said, beyond mere words.
"I see what you mean." Your intuition may work best through your visual sense. It helps you "read between the lines" or use "x-ray vision" to see beyond the apparent into the real.
"I can put my finger on it." Your intuition may work best through your sense of touch: your tactile sense. It helps you get a "feel" for what's really going on.
"It just doesn't smell right." Your intuition may work best through your olfactory sense, which lets you "sniff out" a situation.
"I've got a real taste for it." Your intuition may work best through your taste buds: your gustatory sense. Your intuition intensifies your ability to "get a taste for" any condition.
[Courses with Dr. Marcia Emery] [Browse Catalog of Courses]
Adapted from PowerHunch by Marcia Emery, Ph.D. 2001
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HERE'S A GIFT FROM John Harricharan, best selling author
There are only three problems in life: money, health and relationship. Pick any problem you have and it will fall under one of these categories. "When You Can Walk on Water, Take the Boat" is full of examples that will show you how to make sense out of all this confusion and live a rewarding life.
http://www.waterbook.com
Be inspired and download a copy for yourself as you join over a hundred thousand others who've received tremendous hope, inspiration and practical tips. It isn't important what your problems are. Because, if you know how to swim, it doesn't matter how deep the water is.
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SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING?
A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.
A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
A snail can sleep for three years.
Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
Butterflies taste with their feet.
Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 10.
"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.
It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.
Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
WHOA! NOW THIS IS WORTH CONSIDERING... The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.
The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.
The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes). MOM is another one. :) Do you know more?
There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
There are more chickens than people in the world.
There's no Betty Rubble in the Flintstones Chewables Vitamins.
Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.
Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks; otherwise it will digest itself. ARGH!!!!
And now you know everything. :)
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TEEN ANGST REPORT
The rate of teen deaths is dropping significantly. In 1990, 71 teens out of 100,000 died by accident, homicide, or suicide. By 2000, that number had plummeted 28 percent to 51 deaths. -"Kids Count," 2003 report, Annie E. Casey Foundation
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DID YOU PLAY WITH THE SNOW GLOBE? Eeeeeeek!
Http://ww12.e-tractions.com/snowglobe/globe.htm
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VISIT YOUR PERSONAL EP STORE
Be a proud Empowered Parent!
MOM AND CHILD
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store/store.aspx?storeid=parentmom
DAD AND CHILD
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store/store.aspx?storeid=parentdad
PARENTS AND CHILD
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store/store.aspx?storeid=twoparent
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Here's some info about technology today -
1. over half a million mini remote cameras are being sold monthly. Now where are all those cameras going and who is using them?
2. Not ONE item you erase from your hard drive is ever truly erased. Ever! A friend told about purchasing a used laptop that was cleared, but an associate with the right examing software found 800,000 files on the hard drive - erased files - and many of them were child porn. Now what if that laptop had fallen into the wrong hands and the friend had been accused of viewing child porn?
3. EVERY cell phone can be tracked anywhere on the planet or above, even if it is turned OFF! Therefore, since it's nobody's business where you go or what you do, carry your cell phone, not only turned off, but remove the batteries. Instead, use a pager. If someone pages you, then YOU decide if this is a safe place for you to return the call because "they" can follow that cell phone anywhere. Now where is all that info being stored?
4. If you use a cell phone only use it with the ear piece and keep the phone away from your ear because the irradiation fills half your brain. Drs have done MIRS of brains on cell phone.
5. Now they are talking against microwave ovens because humankind has heated food forever over flame which heats at random vibrations, but in a MW oven it heats to a 2.something megahertz and when we drink or eat it, that's going into our body. This is the basis for many new weapons of mass destruction.
So we can now protect ourselves and continue to keep our vibrations at a high level of Peace. Oofta.
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ONE EP MOM'S OPINION
As the mostly stay at home mother of four grown sons and now grandma to two school aged girls, I would like to have my say about a series of TV ads running here in California.
These ads are promoting preschool as a necessary step in the successful lives of the youngest of our citizens. One shows a baby, of about five months, gazing at a mobile in her crib while the voice over takes parents on a guilt trip if they have they lack of imagination to enroll their children in preschool by the time they are three years old. The other, from the point of view of a grateful adult, thanks her parents for sending her to pre school. Without it she wouldn't have gone to college, developed social skills, been a successful career woman, met her husband, had her own children, or otherwise been fulfilled.
I'm not knocking a good preschool. In fact ,my parents put me in a nursery school at age three in 1950, while my mother who was taking care of a younger child and was pregnant for her third. To my knowledge the only things I gained from it was the knowledge that I'm lousy with clay, I preferred dresses to rompers and if you leave tangerine skins in your coat pocket long enough they get crunchy! I stayed there for eight months before Mom said that was enough. I could read by the time I got out of kindergarten but I don't know if that was because of preschool or because my mother made time to read to us every single day. BTW ,did you notice that the term nursery school is now passe? In our quest to turn children into small adults earlier and earlier, we apparently must disassociate our little ones from anything that smacks of babyhood or childhood ...or innocence?
What I object to is this sense that you will fail your children if they don't go to pre kindergarten classes. This is so wrong. It's much more important for your little ones to have time with you to learn to see themselves as part of a family unit rather than Mrs. Jones' class.
In these times, two incomes are almost always necessary just to pay the rent in many instances. but if you can do without it than for your own sakes think long and hard before you deprive yourself of the joy those babies bring you and the confidence only you can instill in them.
To the advertisers I say; Go ahead and tell us about your programs but please don't make young parents feel they are handicapping their children if they choose to nurture them on their own without your expert help.
Marcie Hoye Cumberland
http://www.Underthestorytree.com
JOAN'S NOTE: Those preschools are also vying for some of the fed's "No Child Left Behind" funds. Well said, Marcie.
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THIS ONE IS LATE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY
Doilies
There was once a man and woman who had been married for more than 60 ears.They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They kept no secrets from each other except that the old woman had a shoebox in the top of her closet that she cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.
For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover. In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoebox and took it to his wife's bedside. She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box.
When he opened it, he found two crocheted doilies and a stack of money totaling $25,000. He asked her about the contents. "When we were to be married," she said, "My grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doily."
The little old man was so moved he had to fight back tears. Only two precious doilies were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with happiness.
"Honey," he said "that explains the doilies, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?"
"Oh," she said, "that's the money I made from selling the doilies."
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AND HERE'S ANOTHER...
That One Word
I stood at the altar in front of the couple.
I have witnessed many weddings. The dresses, tuxedos, the
church decorations, and the food are what most focus on.
I was enamored by the word,
...that one word.
The one word answer to the question,
"...do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
I expected the typical, "I do."
Those two words made both famous and infamous.
I was not expecting his answer.
A voice loud and clear rang out with one word.
It reverberated from the ceiling as his one word,
filled with resolve,
carried his answer throughout the church.
"Absolutely!"
It was A MountainWings Moment.
Far too often, "we do" but not absolutely.
Our commitment is filled with ifs, ands, and buts.
We do as long as it's convenient.
We do as long as it benefits us.
We do as long as it's not painful.
We do as long as they remain beautiful or handsome.
We do as long as they keep their figure.
We do as long as the bills are paid.
We do as long they stay healthy.
We do as long as no one more exciting looks our way.
We do as long as it suits us.
What things or people in life are we truly committed to?
To whom have we really said and meant, "Absolutely."
Is this the way a man and a woman should enter into marriage?
Should they feel that level of commitment?
Should they really believe that the only way
they would ever separate is by death?
Did Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Loney actually believe that?
Absolutely!
~A MountainWings Original~
Go To: http://www.mountainwings.com
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I JUST GOTTA PUT IN THIS LINK AGAIN... I LOVE IT! :)
Http://www.allthefun.com/1/winknsmile.htm
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INFORMATION THAT CAN CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK AT LIFE:
Http://www.wellnessgoods.com/messages.asp
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AND NOW LITTLE KITTY will entertain you when you are feeling too tired to do anything else.
Http://home.wanadoo.nl/annekebroenink/maukie2.swf
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War cannot be humanized, it can only be abolished.
-- Albert Einstein
The ultimate oxymoron: "Holy War"
===============================
FEED THE HUNGRY:
http://www.thehungersite.com
http://www.heifer.org/
FOR PEACE ON OUR PLANET: We are not going to be able to operate our
Spaceship Earth successfully nor for much longer unless we see it as a
whole spaceship and our fate as common. It has to be everybody or nobody.
-Buckminster Fuller
NEXT ISSUE: More encouragement from EP Parents' Cheerleader!
* (\ *** /) * . *
. * ( \ (_) / ) * Guardian Angel
*. (_ / | \ _) . * .
* . /____\ * . . *
In the meantime, here is an angel sent to watch over you for me.
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FROM BILL: We are Angels born with but one wing,
In order to fly we must embrace one another.
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Till next time, don't forget -- Parenthood is Wonder-filled!
Fondly, Joan
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Thank You For Reading! Have a Terrific Week!
Empowered Parenting Ezine is published solely by Joan Bramsch, founder and Director of http://www.EmpoweredParent.com and may not reflect the opinion of all Empowered Parent members. Copyright © 2004, all rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the express written consent of the publisher or contributors. We accept no responsibility for your use of any contributed information contained herein. All of the information presented in the Empowered Parenting Ezine is published in good faith. Any comments stated in this publication are strictly the opinion of the writer or publisher. We publish all advertising in good faith but offer no guarantees. Please do your own due diligence in ANY transaction. We reserve the right to edit and make suitable for publication, if necessary, any articles published in this newsletter. We reserve the right to publish all reader comments, including the name of the writer. Reported survey results will NOT use the names of the contributors. Joan Bramsch, owner, EmpoweredParent.com
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© 1999-2004 Joan Bramsch/JB INFORMATION STATION.
All rights reserved worldwide.
ISSN: 1526-2154 - Library Of Congress, Washington DC, USA
Permission to download text is for personal use only. It is illegal to reproduce or transmit in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, any part of this copyrighted text without permission in writing from the publisher.
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All material copyright © Joan Bramsch 1999--2004 (unless otherwise noted)
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