Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts

Lifting Up Ellie  

Posted by: Cameon in , , , , ,

As a recent "Tweeter", I came across a post from Lance Armstrong that I found interesting. He was asking for "Prayers for Ellie" and included a link to a little girl's twitter. After visiting Ellie's twitter, and following the link to her Caring Bridge site, this little girl had me wrapped around her finger, and her story.

I could tell you all about Ellie's battle but it is best described by the people that love her and have been around her through this time, because everyone's battle and experiences are different in this terrible disease. Her parent's have been told by the hospice people that their daughter has about a week left here on this earth. I'm including the link both to her twitter and website so that you may be touched by this little girl's story as I was.

Cancer is such a terrible disease and for anyone that has been through it, or been around people that have been sick with it, you know what a terrifying experience it is. From what this little girl's mom has said though, she has kept a high spirit, as most children do.

I've always said that we can learn so much from children, and this little girl proves to be no different. I hope you'll take a moment to let her impact your life as she did mine and so many others. I hope you'll take a moment, go to her website and read her guestbook and her mom's postings about her little girl. I'll also include a link to a song that singer/songwriter Dusty Hughes wrote for her that just shows how incredible this little girl must be.

After reading her story, keep her family and friends in your prayers and hug the ones you love. Life is short, and we never know how short it really is, until the ones we love are taken away from us. If you feel inclined, share her story with the people you know.

May God Bless,
Cameon

LINKS TO ELLIE:
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/LiftUpEllie
CaringBridge: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elliepotvin/journal
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUjB2uRVJIA

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Grace In Small Things  

Posted by: Cameon in , , , , , , , , ,

Recently, I joined an online community called "Grace In Small Things." I stumbled upon this community from a friend's blog and was curious when I saw all these lists that had things like "the sunset, hearing my dad laugh, and some various other things." When I asked her about it, she said she had joined a community that strives on bringing out the positive things in life instead of the negative, which seems to be the more popular choice in these times.


I got to thinking about this and quickly realized how much perspective we lose when we get older. Sure, we gain persepective in some areas, but we lose the most important thing: Gratitude for the small things in life.


When we are younger, we tend to appreciate things more than when we get my age and my parents age because we are new to the world and have so much to take in. Then, when we get into retirement age, we are able to slow down once again and appreciate the small things because we realize how short our time here really is and how much there is to see. And, unfortunately for the loved ones, but some people are made aware of how big the world is and how much it has to offer when they are told they only have a few months left to enjoy it.


I can't tell you how grateful I am to be able to be around kids all the time. After all, they help me keep my "young" perspective on life and nothing is out of the realm of possibilities. When you are that little, you think that you can do anything. You can be the President, an NFL star, and a lawyer and still be home for dinner at that age. Stars are amazing and watching the clouds roll by can provide entertainment for hours. Lightning bugs were meant to be caught and then let go and competitions on who could catch the most were always on. Supper came when your mom called you and your dad inside to wash up or else, because you ate as a family. Boys and girls were strictly friends and beyond that had cooties. Some of the best Saturday cartoons came on and you were always up to watch them, clad in your Bama pjs with coco puffs in hand. Nothing was little. Everything was big. Everything meant the world to you.


This was a time when friends were your friends to their face and behind their back. You wouldn't dare think of being nice to someone's face and then turning around and being mean to them. If someone punched your best friend, you can bet that he'd have a crowd around him, waiting to get revenge. Nights were shared with slumber parties and movie nights. Gameboy rocked and then got even better when it came out in color. Family television was really a time the family could sit down, watch a movie, and not be worried about who's sleeping with who in the newest show. Anxious to give a hug to anyone and never missing a beat when your parents wanted a kiss. $1 was like $50 and you couldn't believe your fortune. Weekends at the grandparents house were so much fun, because well, let's face it, they just can't say no. A time when little things were big things.


So much of the time when we get older, we lose sight of the things that used to be important to us because we are in such a hurry to get to the next appointment or get to the television faster. We don't take time to focus on the stars at night or even to recognize that there are stars in the sky. Instead, we are focused on what the kids need for lunch tomorrow or what homework we haven't done. We would rather focus on the fact that we didn't get that promised raise instead of focusing on our loved one's laughter and the ability for us to make them laugh.


So, my challenge to everyone is to find 5 things everyday that you are grateful for. Small or big things. And, you do this for a while year. I am going to take this challenge on as well and start a seperate blog specifically for this purpose. I encourage you to do the same thing, and keep track of other's and encourage others you know that are doing this as well. And why not start today?


I hope everyone sees the small things in life today, and every other day.


Roll Tide,
The Bama Chick

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Technology Will Take Over The World  

Posted by: Cameon in , , , , ,



So, David posted this in a blog talking about his lack of belief in God but instead about his thoughts about what humans can achieve.

He got this from a lady named Jan who talked about how God had blessed the world with all of these amazing gifts.

I'm posting this because I think they have both overlooked something VERY important!

In 10 years or so, computers will be doing everything. In 10 years or so, computers will be telling us what to think, what to wear, what to eat, calculating our finances...But wait, aren't they already doing all those things?

Not to long ago, I sat in a fourth grade class and helped these students with their math problems. They were learning long division and I was trying to help them. When asked what 30-10 was he simply looked at me and said "Hold on and I'll put it in the calculator."

I was flabbergasted.

The calculator? It was 30-10. The answer was 20. You carry down the 0 and subtract 1 from 3 and BAM you have an answer. But this little boy plugged it into the calculator while I tried to place myself back on the chair that I had fallen off of.

But then I got to thinking...these kids and I were roughly 6 years apart in age at the time. 6years. Not that great of a distance...except for the simple fact that I could drive and they were learning long division. I never understood the distance until I realized that teachers weren't teaching long hand anymore. Why should they when it can all be plugged into a calculator?

The technology is amazing true. What is more amazing is the kids that are learning how to use it. I babysit and continue to be amazed at how these 5, 6, and 7 year olds know full well how to program their television to what they would like to watch. They are all about the video games and the DVD player...and I'm fainting in the floor as I watch all this take place.

But what good are we doing our kids by not teaching them long hand and by letting everything be technology. Especially when something happens to all that technology. One day, your finances will be completely controlled by a computer. There will be no paper records.

What happens when those computers break?

What happens when everything collapses?

What happens when one huge virus (generated by those same kids that are geniuses at the DVD players no doubt) wipes everything out?

I'll tell you. Everything is gone. And everyone will run amok. Everything and everyone will run around in a frantic panic questioning what to do and trying to find some technological device that can calculate the price of a cheeseburger and a fry and add tax. OH THE HORROR!

While Jan and David are talking about God or the non existence of God I would rather focus on technology and what will happen when it all comes crashing down around us...

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If Only America Had Back Bone  

Posted by: Cameon in , , , , , ,

Not too long ago, a buddy of mine and I decided that it would be best if we just remained friends. That taking things to the next level would be detrimental to our relationship and that we didn't want to risk it if something should happen in the end. The decision was mutual. It was definitely not one sided by any means.

But now, I find myself in a somewhat ironic situation.

We don't talk as much as we did before. In fact, now we rarely talk. And, when we do, it's usually pointless gabber that really holds no significance in life. And believe me when I say, I hate pointless conversations. Those conversations when you call and say “Let me tell you what I had for lunch today…” yeah, they do nothing for me. Sorry.

In fact, this has happened several times. I guess my question is whether or not it was actually a "lets just be friends because I value our friendship so much," kind of thing or a more "I'm tired of you now leave," kind of thing? And, furthermore, if it was the latter, why it wasn't just said like that.

I get sick of people. More than you know. And when I do, I'm usually pretty blunt about it. So, why is it so very hard for others to do the same?

Why is it that people can't say what they think?

Why is it we are so worried about what the other person will think about us?

If someone is an arrogant piece of crap that is most likely never going to find what they want because they don't really want to find then I'll tell them so. If I think someone has the wrong idea about the fact that the world should revolve around (insert name here) land I will certainly tell them that they are, in fact, much like Pluto in their miniscule existence.

I only wish I could meet people that would do the same.

If only former President Bush had said "Hey, Louisiana, it's not my fault your stuck but actually, your mayor's and your governor’s fault. Maybe you should have thought before you elected someone that didn’t know what they were doing, and now you’re paying for it,” I think the world would have been a much happier place.

In my opinion, if the world had a bigger back bone it would be a better place. For instance, now we simply just let people tell us what we should think. Is this “The Giver?” Have I missed the meeting where I was supposed to go and have someone else installed into my head telling me what I should think? If I did, someone needs to schedule me for that operation, because I am already dying in this world of non-thinkers.

We are teaching our kids to just go with the flow. Being different isn’t popular. If you’re different, you will be ridiculed and you won’t be the cool kid. That’s not true…for the most part. And, even if it is, it’s fun not being like everyone else. The only thing your missing out on, is guys wearing skin tight jeans.

No thank you!

Why are we teaching that it’s ok to be like everyone else? That we should, in fact, go to the norm? That we should believe what everyone else thinks and that when times get tough and it’s even harder to defend what you want, we should just go back to the norm and let them have their way?

NO!

BE STRONG! BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU WANT TO BELIEVE IN! STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO BELIEVE IN! TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU THINK! TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW! DON’T BE AFRAID OF HURTING FEELINGS!! BETTER YET, JUST CARE ABOUT SOMETHING BESIDES WHAT SOMEBODY WORE ON THE GRAMMYS LAST NIGHT!!

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