single parenthood

In place of Christmas presents this year, my SIL's family has decided to do something for charity. Yesterday, my SIL arranged for several of us to volunteer at this organization. You spend 2 hours packaging food that will feed children in some of the poorest nations.

When you arrive, you see many photos of starving kids with pictures of healthy children right next to them. They are before and after shots of the children. The first thing you do is watch a four minute video of the organization, what they do, and how it helps the children. Once that is over you wash your hands, put on a lovely hairnet, apron and away you go. Each food package contains enough food to feed 6 children a meal.

The video was heartbreaking to see the children in the garage cans, Kiran asked what that meant that they eat trash and in some cases mud. She told me this morning that 16,000 children die everyday because they are hungry. It is so sad that she remembers the figure.

The first thing is a chicken base, next dried veggies with enough vitamins and minerals for the day, then in goes the soy, and last rice. Once that is done, it is sealed, boxed up, and ready to ship. It works like an assembly line with everyone doing their job. Kiran was fabulous. She worked really hard along side her cousin to help the children of the world.

Yesterday the 55 people there, packaged 8,000 meals. That will shipped around the world.

We take everything we have for granted. The feast we had for Thanksgiving was huge and then to think of the dying children it saddens me.

If anyone wants to see their website here is the link http://www.fmsc.org/. The really neat thing is is 94% of their donations go directly to the children and getting the food to them. It is a Minneasota based organization that is starting up a warehouse in Chicago shortly.

Kiran and I have decided we need to do this once a month for the next year.

Love to all..

This was my girl's day. She had a wonderful time. In this first picture is Hailey, her best friend from school. They were so cute together, holding hands much of the party. It was the sweetest thing.

In this picture with the cake, she is sitting next to Hailey and Noah (my boyfriend). He jumps around, somedays I will be his boyfriend then Kiran will be and even my niece Helayna makes in the picture someday.







Her in one of the outfits I recently had a person buy while they were in India. It was one of three outfits and the total cost for all three was $25. She loved the outfits and wore it the rest of the day. She even asked if she could wear one to school this week. Let's see, this is very thin material and our average temp for this time of the year is 40. She will have to wear a tshirt and tights but why not.

Admire the cake, it was the first cake I have baked as an adult. Kiran loved it but did comment she needed to tell her friends it was ok because my mom is learning to decorate. Nice kid, but she was happy with the final product.


My baby is all grown up. She isn't that little 8 1/2 month old they put in my arms over 5 years ago. She is just my girl.

We did talk last night about her birthmother and how she might be feeling knowing her birthday was coming up. We both said we wondered what she thinks and so on. Thank you Sefali for the gift you gave me.

The real day is Monday.

Ok, I am borrowing this from a fellow blogger who must of gotten it from some one else because I have seen it in school.

Today, the state department of education released the test scores in all the MN puublic schools, they were terrible. It had to do with the test being much harder and many other factors. Our wonderful Governor, knew what the test results said, because my school knew we where making our goals in September.

This football analogy is wonderful.......

The New Education System ---The Football Version

1. All teams must make the state playoffs and all MUST win the championship. If a team does not win the championship, they will be on probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held accountable. If after two years they have not won the championship their footballs and equipment will be taken away UNTIL they do win the championship.

2. All kids will be expected to have the same football skills at the same time even if they do not have the same conditions or opportunities to practice on their own. NO exceptions will be made for lack of interest in football, a desire to perform athletically, or genetic abilities or disabilities of themselves or their parents.

ALL KIDS WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL!
3. Talented players will be asked to workout on their own, without instruction. This is because the coaches will be using all their instructional time with the athletes who aren't interested in football, have limited athletic ability or whose parents don't like football.

4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept in the 4th, 8th, and 11th game.

It will create a New Age of Sports where every school is expected to have the same level of talent and all teams will reach the same minimum goals. If no child gets ahead, then no child gets left behind!
I just love the world of education. I am all for being accountable for my kids learning but we all play at different levels in life.

Life in MN is quiet and wonderful. We are planning a big birthday party for Saturday afternoon. I cannot believe that my girl is going to be six already.

It has been over 48 hours since the polls have closed and the Democrats have done one hell of a job.

I heard yesterday, that over 1/3 of the christian right vote, went to Democrats. Are they getting smarter or what???

On Monday night I had a great conversation with my dad. My dad is old school, still votes Democratic, but is pro-life, as was my mother. When we were talking I asked how can anyone be pro-life and be for the war???? Aren't both of them killing....(BTW- My dad is against both.)

His response was that 2 wrongs don't make a right. The 8th district Congressman from MN is is James Oberstar (the region I grew up in and my dad still lives in.) He might be the third most senior Congressman in the House. He will be the chair of the transportation committee. Go Jim!! When we were talking he did remind me that Jim was pro-life and has never waivered. I cannot agree with the pro-life people but I don't think I could have an abortion either. Then I told my dad that if Kiran comes home at 15 and I cannot tell you that I wouldn't suggest it.

The thing about Jim is, I believe his stance on that one issue, made him a regional candidate and not senate material for MN. He would have made one hell of a senator. I have to add that I love that man. The last time I saw him was in Washington DC several years ago. The state teacher's union was giving him an award for voting 100% with education and labor and we were to give him his award and thank him. I told the two people I was with that Jim was an old family friend and how excited I was to see him again. They had attitude whatever....

By the time we walked out of his office we were all in tears. During the entire meeting which was 30 minutes, he talked about how I looked like my mother, what a great family I had, was my grandma still making the best potica in the world, and back to your mom she was a terrific and very special woman who was taken away from us much to early. Two weeks after that, my dad received a letter from Jim, telling him how much he enjoyed seeing me, how proud my dad must be to have raised a beuatiful woman, and how lucky he was that everytime he could look at me and he could see my mom. When we were getting in the elevator, one of my friends looked at and me and said, "WOW, I have never had such an emotional meeting with an elected official before. Your family really does know him."

Talk about a wonderful person and congressman. I thank God that he was re-elected and will see some happier days in the next session....

Today, the 5th district which includes Minneapolis, has elected the first Muslim member of congress. I congratulate Keith on his victory.

We have also elected our first woman to the US Senate. GO AMY!!!

Now it is a wait for the governor's race. After talking to my dad last night, if the right guy gets elected, it might mean big things for one of my brothers. GO MIKE HATCH!!!!

I am so tired of spending hours every week assessing my kids so the damn republicans can show the damn president we are making progress. I need time to teach, time to plan the lessons I am teaching, I don't need to sit in staff development three hours a week after school. Keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out by the end of the night.

Mary

As I post this, in 52 hours the polls will be closed in MN. This incredible negative campaign will be over with, the people will have made their choices. Only time will tell..

Until then, I am climbing under the covers, not turning on the radio or television unless it is Disney and coming up for air on Tuesday evening.

Cross your fingers friends that change is in the wind......