GottaLoveMom

“In all intellectual debates, both sides tend to be correct in what they affirm, and wrong in what they deny.” – John Stuart Mill Do you want to have an intense discussion, try talking about politics? The conversation can take on a totally different level. The debate is just a brain-busting experience. We encourage our children to read and listen a lot on different issues. Taking someone’s opinion as a fact because he or she said it is not acceptable, except when we’re talking about our faith. (This sometimes can be a challenge when trying to explain to very inquisitive children.) Pause: Now, how did Microsoft Word did that? I had a fragmented sentence earlier on and the software was smart enough to alert me and give me different options to paraphrase my sentence. Wow! Anyway, as I was stating earlier before I was blown away by the intelligence of the people who created Microsoft Word, one has to be knowledgeable and resourceful to particip...

An hour drive, 48 exits away, and we’re at Mom and Dad’s development, the Renaissance. Have you seen the movie, “Pleasantville?” - Well, that’s what their development looks like. Every tree, every bush, every bench and every home seems so perfectly coiffed. We love going to Mom and Dad’s place not only because it looks so “zen” but being at Mom and Dad’s a treat – a special treat. Just like when we used to visit my parents’ home, Mom always has a “spread” of food waiting for us to enjoy and plenty of stories to share (even though we talk almost every day through Alexander Graham Bell’s invention or through email). The hugs and kisses that we get when we first walk in are just simply precious. You’re probably confused now. Mom and Dad are actually my in-laws. I never call them “in-laws”, they’ve always been Mom and Dad. They’ve embraced me as their own daughter as soon as they’ve met me. Dad sang together with the barbershop show. It’s the first time I watched Dad’s show and ...

Is there something that you felt you can’t accomplish because it’s just such enormous undertaking? Is there something that you imagined so colorful but so unattainable? Is there something you wanted so badly that you’re too anxious to make the first step because you’re scared of being rejected? Well, in anything that we create, it all starts with a dream, an imagination. I’m sure you remember the 2008 Presidential campaign’s energizing motto, “Yes, we can!” I keep chanting, “Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can!” – so can we? Let’s see… Did you know that a NASA scientist, Lonnie G. Johnson , invented the super soaker? I can imagine him one sunny afternoon playing with the garden water hose and the kids, and then an idea came to his mind, “ Wait a second, I think I can make something more portable than this!” What about that inventor from the movie, “A Flash of Genius”. All he needed was one very rainy day, desire and imagination to create the...

My little prince Wake up with a smile, Eager to greet the morning with a cheer; Run, jump, dance, hop, Giggles and cartwheels all around, Playing in the rain, Kicking the pebbles every step I take; Stop to smell the flowers, Slow-walk to say hello to the birds; Run after a hopping rabbit, Laugh at the silly sound of a burp; Discoveries, adventures, imagination A world of wonder as far as the heart takes you; Hugs and kisses like a panda bear, It’s just precious loving life as a kid! It's Thursday Sweet Treat time again. This week's theme has something to do with favorite childhood tale. Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s “The Little Prince” is one of my favorite childhood books. ( There were probably other books that I truly love as a kid, but this is the book that I can remember.) Two of my favorite quotes from the book: "One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes." “All grown-ups were children first....

Do you get lost when you drive? Did you ever say, “Why didn’t I make that left turn?” Or just like a few lines in the MATRIX movie “Why, oh why didn’t I take the blue pill?” “Sooner or later you're going to realize just as I did that there's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path. " When you’re walking down the path, how do you pick between going to the right or the left? So is true with life, isn’t it? Sometimes to get to our destination, we take some turns that we didn’t intend on taking. Is it really destiny or fate that leads us to one direction or another? Or aren’t we the architect of our own fate? When we make the wrong turn, do you beat up yourself or do you say, “Oh well, I just have to turn around.” I usually get lost when I drive from one place to another. The kids keep teasing me that I should really get a garmin or a tomtom. When I take my kids anywhere, I have to make sure I add a few hours because it’s ...