Snow, Snow, Snow!

Maria — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:51:26 +0000

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Siena is having a ball, playing in the snow. Luckily, she is easy to spot in the snow.

Wishing everyone a blessed, happy and healthy New Year!

Veteran's Day

Maria — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:45:47 +0000

Veterans Day is a Federal holiday, signed into law on May 26, 1954 by President Dwight Eisenhower.

It is a day set aside to thank our veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served – not only those who died – have sacrificed and done their duty.

We all know a veteran – today is the day to take time out and thank him or her.

If you would like to do more, here is a suggestion for you. Make a donation to VetDogs. I am a volunteer with the non-profit Guide Dog Foundation – you may have seen my puppies on this blog. VetDogs is a branch of the Guide Dog Foundation that provides service dogs to our veterans who are disabled. Each dog is matched and trained for a specific veteran. No matter whether the disability involves amputation, PTSD, brain trauma or other medical issue – the trained service dogs make the veteran’s life a little easier.

Today, Veterans Day, do something special for a veteran who is disabled – please donate a dollar or two to VetDogs. It’s time to give back.

Happy Mother's Day

Maria — Sun, 10 May 2009 15:26:05 +0000

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

FOR ALL OUR MOMS

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night

with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf

laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid

saying, “It’s okay honey, Mommy’s here.”

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end

soothing crying babies who can’t be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with

spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their

blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make

cookies and sew Halloween costumes.

And all the mothers who DON’T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies

they’ll never see. And the mothers who took those

babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art

collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on

metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead

of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that

when their kids asked, “Did you see me, Mom?” they

could say, “Of course, I wouldn’t have missed it for

the world,” and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids

in the grocery store and swat them in despair when

they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream

before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to

ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their

children and explained all about making babies. And

for all the (grand)mothers who wanted to, but just

couldn’t find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their

children can eat.

For all the mothers who read “Goodnight, Moon” twice a night for a year.

And then read it again. “Just one more time “

This is for all the mothers who taught their

children to tie their shoelaces before they started school.

And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to

cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns

automatically when a little voice calls “Mom?” in a

crowd, even though they know their own offspring are

at home — or even away at college.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to

school with stomach aches assuring them they’d be

just FINE once they got there, only to get calls

from the school nurse an hour later asking them to

please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray,

who can’t find the words to reach them.

This is for all the stepmothers who raised another

woman’s child or children, and gave their time,

attention, and love… sometimes totally unappreciated!

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they

bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school

shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers

who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging

their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their

children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home

safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway?

Is it patience?

Compassion?

Broad hips?

The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a

button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart?

Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or

daughter disappear down the street, walking to

school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from

bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back

of a sleeping baby?

The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M.

when you just want to hear their key in the door and

know they are safe again in your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug

your child when you hear news of a fire, a car

accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal, and so our

thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through

diaper changes and sleep deprivation…

And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all. For all of us. Hang in there. In the end we

can only do the best we can. Tell them every day

that we love them. And pray.

—————————————————————————

Inspirational poem from Smithtown Moms Town

—————————————————————————

With thanks to my two children, who made me a mom.

mariaparay.com » Holiday

Snow, Snow, Snow!

Veteran's Day

Happy Mother's Day