Saturday, December 31, 2011

my new year wishes





My wishes for you...

Happiness deep down within
Serenity with each sunrise
Success in each facet of your life
Family beside you
Close and caring friends
Health, inside you
Love that never ends
Special memories of all the yesteryears
A bright today with much to be thankful for
A path that leads to beautiful tomorrows
Dreams that do their best to come true
Appreciation of all the wonderful things about you

When one door closes, another opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.  Alexander Graham Bell
Surround yourself with enlightened people who will help you soar above your perceived limitations and inspire you to be the success you so rightly deserve. 

When life gives you a reason to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.

Embrace 2012 with hope for endless possibilities. 
Let go of 2011 with thanks for lessons learned.

Illuminate!   xo


Friday, December 30, 2011

six months

Look at you, ChaChaBoo!  Half a year ago we became grandparents and have known true bliss while holding you in our arms.  You have grown so big ~ I bet you weigh 20 pounds now.  Every month you have milestones and this last one was mostly about awareness and curiosity about everything that surrounds you and how it works.  You held out your arms to reach and touch everything you see. 
Having you over for 20 to 30 hours a week really helped us bond and you know me when I sing You are my sunshine and giggle every time.  You even turn the pages of the book, then tried to explore it with your mouth.  Now you have two choppers on the bottom!  Grandpa wants to give you steak LOL  Not yet, although you really like to eat solids and cluck when you see your little spoon and dish, for you know what's coming.  You already know what BaBa is and whine when you see me heating it up for you.
Poppie and Tuti gave you your Christmas present early so you could enjoy it sooner than later.  You really liked to check out the choo choo and look at Mr. Penguin stickers on the windows.
Once you figured out the Baby Einstein jumper and all its gadgets, you went to town, and jumped with glee when discovered you could turn around all by yourself. 
You won't be in your bouncer much longer and try to push forward to get out, but until then, Mr. Lion is one of your favorites.  I put it by the big Christmas tree so you can see all the lights and ornaments and listen to the finches chirping.
You look so cute with your little hats.  Your big, beautiful blue eyes light up.
Whenever I take a picture with my iphone you keep wondering what is that thing ~ and seem to say "again with the camera, Tuti?"
Someday you'll have whiskers and hair to pull like you do Poppie.  We see dark tresses starting to come in already.
The first blanket I bought you had tigger on it and to this day it is your favorite and you pull it near your cheek just before you fall into slumber for your naps.  Since you roll over now, I stay with you until you wake up and it's the best time for you realize who I am and that someone got your back.  We hold hands and you explore my fingers and hair and look into my eyes as if searching for my soul, which I give you gladly.  We watched all the kiddie Christmas shows like Rudolph, Charlie Brown, Frosty and Santa.
Poppie holds you right before he goes to work and first thing when he returns.  Sometimes he pops in for lunch just to get a hug.
You really like your changing table especially when I put you on your stomach so you can see that big, strong, brave, beautiful, important and loved little boy.  I tell you this as I change your diaper and apply moisture, lotion all over and make a big deal out of it.  Moisture, moisture, Dillan likes moisture. You like that.
You opened your first Christmas presents.  Your great aunt Dianne and Bonyok gave you Lamaze toy and book.
You always liked to watch that bird in the background by the tree when I nudged him and he shook for you.
Your great uncle Bonyok can't believe how big you are already. 
Dillan, you are the best present a grandparent could ever ask for.  We love you with all our hearts and hold you in the light with love, come what may.  xo



Tuesday, December 27, 2011

the 4th commandment

Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord, thy God, giveth thee  Exodus 20:12

This is the commandment with a promise that if children honor their parents, they will have long lives on earth.  It is the 4th commandment of the Catholic faith and the 5th commandment of the Hebrew bible.

Honor:  Put a value on something to consider it a prized possession.  In Hebrew, it means heavy.  It means someone is important and impressive.  Children honor parents by listening to advice and obeying their instruction.  Parents pass their wealth of experience to their child and expect them to listen and pay attention.  Honor parents by being grateful and refrain from mocking them or treating them scornfully. Sometimes it takes years for a child to really come to appreciate his parents.  It may be that for 18 or more years he was at home he did not respect their authority or even show love towards them.  Whether a child is still at home or has a family of his own, here are ways to show honor towards the ones that brought you into the world.
To honor means to recognize authority ~ considering the position a child is placed in ~ the parent above the child.  One must recognize their right to make rules and must follow them as this shows respect.  If the rules seem unfair, remember their rules are intended for your good because your parents care for you. Honoring one's parents, or respecting them, means that you will accept their correction when you fall short somehow.  When you honor your parents, you are showing them that you love them.  You honor something that you hold dear, that you value highly.  Certainly parents are worthy of that.

Communication is one of the best ways to show honor.  Talk to your parents!  You will find your parents can be really great friends if you let them.  Be honest. There's nothing harder on a parent than to know their child is not being truthful. Even if you feel you are doing something they would not approve of, tell them anyway. At least give them the honor enough to know about it.  Follow the rules.  They are for your good and your parents are setting them in the best way they know how.  Do your best to follow them.  If you have questions or concerns about them, voice it respectfully and get their feedback.  Parents deserve your honor.  They birthed you, raised you and cared for you.  
Respect:  Children are not born respectful ~ they are taught it ~  it is the beginning of a greater perspective on the world.  Young children are notorious for their self-centered view of the world.  Everything revolves around their needs and demands.  Such a view cannot be carried into adulthoold.  By giving respect to his parents, a child begins to see that others are worthy of consideration.

Parenting is truly on-the-job training that continues throughout the child's time at home.  The home scene can be a happy one when a child is respectful.  Parents should define rules and enforce them quickly, but fairly and without anger.  If children live without structure, they become self-absorbed, selfish and unhappy.  Set up rules and consequences so that no misunderstandings arise.  Be consistent with your expectations.  Teach by example because your actions speak louder than words.  Parents must be respectful to their children and to each other.  Screaming at each other does not promote respect.  Reward children for good behavior and give children your time.

Respect is the foundation of a meaningful and successful life; a child who learns to respect all he meets not only receives respect from others in kind, but learns to respect himself as well.

Showing your child respect is the best way to teach your child how to respect others.  Listen to your child by giving him your full attention and he will learn to listen to you, understanding how important this is in relationships.  Teach manners by using polite requests and responses.  The more you say "please" and "thank you" to your child, the more likely he will learn to use them with you and others.  Politeness goes a long way in life.  Agree to disagree.  Remember a child is a still a person with thoughts and opinions of their own which won't always mesh with yours.  Explain your decision so he will understand your reasoning and expect respectful responses.  Disagreeing with you does not equate to disobedience.   Squash your impulse to overreact.  When a situation arises between you and your child that requires firmness, keep in mind that you are supposed to be modeling correct behavior.  If he sees you lose your temper, he is more likely to react that way with you and others in future disagreements.  Define boundaries.  A child may act like he wants free reign, but ultimately will respect being given limits.  Let your child know what's expected.  Be firm and kind in your discipline when limits are pushed.  Praise, praise, praise!  So much is focused on what a child does wrong and how to correct it that the accomplishments are not celebrated enough.  When you see your child exhibit respectful behavior in the home and in public, make sure he knows just how proud you are of him.
How to earn the respect of others? ahh.... this is the million dollar question.  Everyone wants to be respected.  People want to be respected by their children, their peers and their bosses.  Earning respect is a matter of treating people with courtesy and compassion, as well as exhibiting certain character traits that allow people to trust what you say and believe in what you do.  Becoming a person whom people respect requires you to consciously take actions that are respectable and constantly work at eliminating actions that are not respectable.  Simply...follow the golden rule to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Speak to everyone you meet with compassion and a genuine concern for their needs and requests.  Never belittle anyone you disagree with, regardless of how you feel about them or what they have to say.  Avoid attracting attention to yourself or the good things you do.  People who do things for others out of a sense of generosity and dedication are respected much more than those who do the same things while making sure someone knows about it.  Align your actions with your words.  If you say you will be somewhere or do something, make every effort to do it.  If others see they can always trust what you say, then respect will be forthcoming.  Treat other people with dignity and a genuine concern for their well-being.  Avoid telling people what to do, especially in an unkind manner.  Treat those whom most people would consider your inferiors with generosity and kindness.  Set priorities and stick to them.  If your number one priority is spending time with your child, don't just say it's your number one priority, show it in what you do.  Follow this concept with all the important people in your life.  Many people find it difficult to respect someone who doesn't respect them back.  Aim not to judge people for what you perceive as their faults, instead, try to see the positive traits each person possesses.  In the workplace, make others respect you by working hard and being willing to put in long hours.  At home, earn respect by being honest, loyal, caring and a positive role model for your children.  Practice listening when others speak, not interrupting, being punctual and showing humility.  Have an opinion, but don't always feel the need to voice them.  Demonstrate respect by believing in yourself and not being critical when you make a mistake. 
Earn your child's respect.  Many parents believe that respect is a one-way street ~ it is only they who deserve it and their children who show it.  This cannot be the case if you truly desire to raise children who are respectful adults.  Even adults need to be humbled at times and realize that respect is something that must be earned rather than given upon demand.  Valuable lessons can be learned by showing a child respect.  You cannot expect a child to respect you if you first do not respect him.  Instead of telling him to get you your drink, ask him to get it for you.  There is a fine line between parenting and being rude.  Lead by example.  Parents try to teach their kids that it's wrong to make fun of others, yet they watch as their parents do it to people on the street.  Parents ground children if they raise their voices to them when they become angry, yet they lose their tempers with them for no reason quite often.  If parents want kids to respect them, they need to give them a reason to and show their children what being respectful means.  Use manners.  If children as for something, even if it's in the sweetest of voices, the first thing many people say is "I didn't hear the magic word."  Yet how many times have you asked your child for something without saying please?  How many times have they done something for you without hearing thank you?  If he sees you using your manners with him, he will respond in return.  Do something kind.  Earning your child's respect doesn't always have to deal with him directly.  If you lend a hand to a neighbor, volunteer your time, caregive for a family member, he will think the world of you. The more he thinks of you as a person, the more he will respect you as his parent. Spend quality time with your child.  Spending any kind of time and doing anything that lets him know that you love him will automatically gain you his respect.  If he believes for even a second that you love him enough to make time for him, his appreciation for you will grow 100 percent.
I am still a child, as I have one remaining parent to honor and respect and I will continue to do so as both as my parents taught me to.  I am also a parent, and feel confident, together with my better half, our actions have led an example as to how valuable these are in life.  It is impossible to force our children to honor and respect us, as they have a free will and choice to do so, but nothing makes a parent prouder than to know they did their best raising their offspring and are rewarded with the joy of being honored and respected. Passing on these values as they continue raising their own children is a blessing indeed.  xo 



Saturday, December 24, 2011

'tis the season

May the good times and treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow.  Warm wishes for lots of love, joy and happiness.  Merry Christmas.
Whenever you see love coming, welcome it with open arms and let it enter into you.  People will ask "are you in love?" You will say, "no, love is in me."
Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternal.
Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go and you learn at once how big and precious it is.
"I'm as free as a bird now...and this bird you cannot change." 

Tell those you love that you do. xo




 

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

RIP Uncle Steve

Uncle Steve Nalepa 1917-2011
The gang's all here!  The last big hurrah together with your family was for your 90th birthday.  Everyone thought you were born on July 23 but a few years ago when we checked your birth certificate it noted your true day is July 26. 
We all refer to you fondly as Gubzie ~ the ultimate Cliffhanger.  There are many perks to holding this honor and after working hard your whole life, taking it easy is one of them.
Your greatest accomplishment is serving our country during World War II having achieved two medals for soldiering in Europe. 
One of your final words to us was "I have one step in heaven and I hope I don't fall down."  I am confident a plethora of angels, family and friends were anxiously waiting your arrival with open arms.  You knew you would be reunited for Christmas.
This Christmas the Nalepas and Winds will continue our Christmas tradition and gather to honor our family members now in heaven and remember all the good times together.  There are more up in heaven these days than on earth, but we'll continue your legacy until we all meet again.
Your simple pleasures included weekly getaways to our cottage in Delavan, Wisconsin.  You loved the boat rides and never complained when hitting those rough waves.  You just held on to your hat and enjoyed the ride.  You put me to shame as I grasped the rails while you just let the wind and sun shine on you.
Your final few years were spent at the Veteran's Home in Quincy and Manteno, where you and your fellow soldiers reminisced about the war. 
Our hearts are filled with tons of memories and we will be sure to share them this week. You always had a come see ~ come sa attitude. You and I shared our shots on many occasion so a toast to you, Uncle Steve. We are all blessed to have been a part of your life and now celebrate your passing home, where I know you are at peace.
Foundation
 Family and Friends
Central Park Legion 1027 Heroes 
Padre Gavin Quinn's Blessing
Salute from your fellow heroes
Taps
Folding of our country's flag
Thank you...xo





Tuesday, December 13, 2011

some soul food

'Tis the season to be jolly, so they say.  Truth be told, most times the season holds an abundance of stress and frustration, so I hope a few collective quotes might feed your heart and soul a little refreshing antecdote for the aforementioned.  My gratitude goes to The Most Beautiful Things in the World for the shares that take my breath away.
No matter how dark the night, somehow the sun rises once again and all shadows are chased away.
Waking up to a new day is a gift, appreciate it and do
remember you are loved. Good morning and have a splendid day.
When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.
― Rumi

First you need only look: Notice and honor the radiance of Everything about you...... Play in this universe. Tend All these shining things around you: The smallest plant, the creatures and objects in your care. Be gentle and nurture. Listen...
When the past calls, let it go to voicemail for it has nothing new to say.
Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things ~
but just look what they can do when they stick together!
                                       
Sultan Schariar:  Look into my eyes.  What do you see, Scheherezade?
Scheherezade:  Me. Looking at you, my love.
- Arabian Nights


Tip:  When wrapping presents, wrap your arms around yourself.  Hugs rule!
Don't worry...Be happy...xo