Our Little Sister Alexis


Birthday: April 16th;
Day of the Week: Monday's child is fair of face;
Sun Sign: Aries (The Ram), just like my Pop-Pop.
Click on my pic to learn more about me and my birthday!


Thursday, November 6, 2008

A Grandmother's Love

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Obama is hugged by his grandmother, Madelyn
Dunham, at his high school graduation in 1979.


Obama Loses His "Toots"
By Jenice Armstrong, Philadelphia Daily News Columnist

Maybe I've gotten too caught up in the lives of the players on the political stage lately. It's hard not to, given the internet and 24-hour news cycle, as well as all the twists and turns of the presidential campaign. But, I see incredible symbolism in the passing of Senator Barack Obama's grandmother a day before the election. I'd been one of those people rooting for Madelyn Dunham to hang on so she could, hopefully, see her grandson make history by being elected the 44th president of the United States. Hang on, "Toots". We're almost there, I'd think whenever there was a news report on her condition.

Ever so often, you hear of people on the edge of death who somehow manage to put off dying until Christmas has passed or perhaps, until a loved one arrives at their bedside. But Dunham, Obama's beloved "Toots", died in her sleep late on Sunday, November 2nd with Obama's half- sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, by her side. Perhaps Dunham figured that was as good a time as any to go. After all, when Obama stopped campaigning for a few days to visit the 86 year old in Hawaii last month, they probably said their goodbyes. She'd already shared all the wisdom she had to bestow upon Obama, whom she helped raise from birth until he left home for college. Dunham had voted for her grandson already via absentee ballot (and yes, it still counts).

Whether Obama won or lost, "Toots" had done her job. One can only imagine what she thought of how things have gone for her history-making grandson. Dunham hasn't given an interview for several years. Obama credits her with teaching him about hard work and with instilling in him strong values. Not only did she rise from being a secretary to becoming one of the first female bank vice-presidents in Hawaii, but the Kansas native had been a white woman raising a brown boy despite what had to have been incredible social pressure.

Although his Kenyan-born father abandoned him, Dunham apparently didn't teach Obama to hate him. Instead, she helped Obama figure out his place in the world and to learn that skin color was irrelevant, regardless of how he might be treated. You get that from hearing Obama talk about her or from reading his memoir, "Dreams of My Father"...

"She was one of those quiet heroes that we have all across America. They're not famous. Their names aren't in the newspapers," Obama said earlier this week about her. "But each and every day they work hard. They look after their families. They sacrifice for their children and their grandchildren. They aren't seeking the limelight. All they try to do is just do the right thing."

Apparently, she succeeded. Then, it was time for her to leave her grandson to his destiny.

The article and photo above appeared in the Philadelphia
Daily News on Wednesday, November 5, 2008.

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April is Autism Awareness Month - World Autism Day is April 2nd!




Google Custom Search Engine That's Safe For Kids




Let's all work together toward an end to this problem!




Making friends is easy, being a good friend takes practice.




Did you know there are 7 days in a week? Can you name them?




Do you know which day of the week you were born?




Did you know there are 12 months in a year? Can you name them?




Reading is Fun & Fundamental!




Thomas & Friends and The Booga Wooga
made tracks to great destinations from 2007-2012!


MY WOODEN RAILWAY COLLECTION

Trains & Characters: Annie, Clarabel, Arthur, Barrel Car, Bertie The Bus, Bill, Ben, Cargo Car, Chinese Dragon, Cement Mixer, Circus Animals & Trains (3), Construction Cars (2), Conveyor Belt Car, Cranky the Crane, Daisy, Diesel, Diesel 10, Donald*, Douglas*, Duke*, Dumper Car, Edward, Emily*, Express Coaches (2), Fearless Freddie, Giggling Troublesome Trucks (2), Gordon*, Harold The Helicopter, Harvey, Henry*, Iron 'Arry, Iron Bert, James*, Mavis, Murdoch*, Sodor Line Musical Caboose, Oil Car, Old Slow Coach, Percy, Peter Sam, Recycling Bins, Recycling Car, Rheneas, Rock Crusher, Rusty, Salty, Sir Handel, Sir Topham Hatt, Sir Topham Hatt's Car, Skarloey, Spencer*, Thomas The Tank Engine, and Toby. (* Engine w/ Tender)

Buildings & Other Stuff: Deluxe Over-Track Signal, Down Trees Track, Glenn Nock Switch Track, Hatt St. Deluxe Railroad Crossing, Mountain Crossing, Round-About Action Turntable, Roundhouse, Rumblin' Bridge, Sodor Blocks Building & Destinations Set, Sodor Cargo Drop, Sodor Engine Wash, Sodor Haunted Mine, Sodor Oil Depot, Sodor Postal Station, Toby's Windmill, Useful Engine Shed, Water Tower, and Wellsworth Station.

Tracks & Accessories: 8" Ascending Tracks (4), 2.5" Ascending Track Risers (4), 4" Curved Road Tracks (4), 3.5" Curved Tracks (16), 6.5" Curved Tracks (10), 3.5" Single Curved Switch Track (6), 2" Straight Tracks (9), 3" Straight Tracks (4), 4" Straight Tracks (6), 6" Straight Tracks (14), 8" Straight Tracks (8), 2" Track Adapters (2), and 14" Wacky Tracks (6).

MY OTHER COLLECTIONS

Trackmaster Sets: Morgan's Mine Railway and Spin 'N Fix. Trains & Characters: Thomas The Tank Engine (2) and Cargo Car.

Take-N-Play Sets: Knapford Station, Percy's Mail Delivery, Colin at the Wharf, and Tidmouth Tunnel. Trains & Characters: Annie, Bertie The Bus, Charlie (2), Clarabelle, Dash, Diesel, Diesel Fuel Car, Elizabeth, Mighty Mac, Percy (2), Rheneas, Salty, Sir Handel, Sodor Fuel Company, Thomas The Tank Engine (2), Toby, Troublesome Truck, and Whiff. Tracks & Accessories: Bridge Fold-Out Tracks (2) Flexi-Tracks (88), Straight & Curved Tracks (22), S-Curves (3), and Signs/Signals (6).

Mega Bloks Sets: Thomas At The Sodar Fair, Thomas & Diesel Busy Day At The Quarry, Cranky & Salty At The Docks, Thomas At The Coal Station, Emily On The Go, Toby Hard At Work, and Thomas At The Logging Camp. Train Characters: Cranky The Crane, Diesel, Emily*, Gordon*, Harold The Helicopter, Henry*, James*, Percy, Salty, Spencer*, Thomas The Tank Engine (4), and Toby. (* Engine w/ Tender)



BROTHERS & SISTERS


Siblings are the people we practice on. They teach us about
caring, cooperation, fairness, and kindness the hard way!





PRAYER FOR CHILDREN

Lord Jesus, You were never too busy to pay attention to children, for You dearly loved them. We are happy that you love us and that You have time to listen to our prayers and to answer them. We thank You that You have made us Your own. As we get bigger and stronger every day, help us to grow stronger in our faith too. Bless our parents, whom You have given to us, and help us to respect and obey them, to love and treasure them. Forgive us when we disobey them or when we fail to respect them as Your previous gifts to us. Give them the wisdom to train us in the good and right way. Bless our home and every member of our family with a strong faith in You and true love to one another. Teach us to be kind, unselfish, helpful, cheerful, forgiving, and faithful in our duties. Help us to be like You, Lord Jesus, to grow in wisdom and character and in favor with God and all people. Send Your angels to watch over us, to keep us from all harm of body and soul. Bless us, and make us a blessing to our family and friends. Amen.



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