September 21, 2014 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

the quiet of an August evening

Sitting here in the quiet of the August evening with only the song of the cicadas surrounding me, I wonder WHO are we?

The cicada nymphs who have lived underground for seventeen years are maturing and sending out their love call–their tymbal muscles specifically honed to bring home their mate. Early this morning, the birds were flocking and whistling their message to one another, announcing that there would be an early Fall. The birds flock together for safety and protection. The ocean tide responds to the gravitational pull of the moon. All of nature is present to their surroundings, while signaling to us to do the same.

We humans are calling out to each other for justice and dignity. We humans need each other, just like the flock of birds need one another for safety and protection. Just like the ocean responds to the pulls of the moon, so are we pulled from the conflicts, injustice and battles around us.

“to BE…for this Yahweh created all…” Wisdom 1:14…

When I read these words, I think of the message James Foley was trying to send to us. He died trying to expose the barbaric results of war and to elicit compassion from the human race…from all of us…that war must stop. Everywhere people are dying and suffering. We each have a right to BE. I am also thinking of the racial tension in Ferguson, and the fact that it is 2014 and we are still so racist as a nation. I think of the many horrible racist statements made against President Obama. I read them on Facebook and I think how can we, as a nation, survive when we have so little respect for the person chosen to lead our country?

When are we going to realize that we all have the same color of blood? We are all human beings who want to belong, to be productive, to offer life and receive life to and from each other.

——————————————————–

Additional information can be found about the cicada using the following links:

http://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/question733.htm

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/noisy-cicadas-come-back-to-life-after-years-underground

http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/tides-wordd/

http://abcnews.go.com/International/government-threatened-foley-family-ransom-payments-mother-slain/story?id=25453963

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2754339/They-got-way-James-Foley-s-brother-backs-mother-attacking-Obama-administration-failure-save-photojournalist-beheaded-ISIS.html

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/marquette-professor-recalls-james-foley-as-bright-light-83661/

This photo is dedicated to James Foley, the American Journalist who died to alleviate the suffering of others.
“The Beauty of an Iris.”
Photo credit; Jane H. Johann, c. June 2014

My heart goes out to the parents and family of James Foley.

* I realize it is now September, and the cicadas have stopped singing. However, I hope we continue to sing and live in hope and not give up! The need for LOVE in this world is needed even more today!

September 19, 2014 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

Our Love Hate Relationship With Mother Earth

This is an important message for all of us, since we all live on Mother Earth. Please direct your likes and comments to: http://idealisticrebel.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/our-love-hate-relationship-with-mother-earth/#comment-23305

idealisticrebel

Our beloved Mother Earth

” I’m going to plant a heart in the earth
Water it with love from a vein
I’m going to praise it with the push of muscle
And care for it in the sound of all dimensions.
I’m going to leave a heart in the earth
So it may grow and flower
A heart that throbs with longing
That adores everything green
That will be strength and nourishment for birds
That will be the sap of plants and mountains.

—-Rosario Murillo

We have a great gift from the Universe. It is the planet upon which we stand. The crust of our earth is full of rich metals that formed billions of years ago. Is there a directive to use every single molecule for our own needs? I think not. I also realize that we have already injured Mother Earth with our mining, and stripping and building.

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September 19, 2014 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

The “how-to’s” of WordPress Awards

Someone asked me, “How do I go about accepting a WordPress Award? I do not understand how to do it. And how do you transfer the AWARD IMAGE on to your blog?”

This blog posting is an attempt to respond to those questions. I am only suggesting what it is that I do. I am sure there are other ways to respond and probably short-cuts for transferring the image, that I have yet to discover.

I have noticed that some people prefer to keep their blogs, “Award-free.” And I do try to respect that when I notice a posting of that nature on someone’s blog.

I also know, that when I first began on WordPress, I was wondering “IF” I should be a blogger and I was quite shy about writing and placing my thoughts out there for the world to see. For me, personally, the Awards, built my self-confidence as a writer and it also gave me the opportunity to express my gratitude to others and the inspirations their words, photos and drawings brought to me.

I feel the writers, poets, artists of all mediums, have enriched my life! I would never have met so many wonderful people and friends, had it not been for the WordPress forum. Blogging gave me a doorway out into the world–because, for several personal reasons, I am quite isolated, and so WordPress was my way to travel out and the traveling gave me life and hope to go on!

How-To-Transfer the AWARD IMAGE

1. Usually the person giving you the Award, will have the Award on their site to present. Go to THEIR site, if they have not posted it on your blog, find the AWARD IMAGE and CLICK directly on the Image. After you CLICK, the internet will take you to a NEW Page and only the IMAGE will be on that page.

2. Once you have clicked on the Award Image, go up to the Search Bar at the top of your screen, and COPY the address.

3. Go to your Dashboard, and to APPEARANCE…then WIDGETS. This will take you to another page. Then click IMAGE…and slide the ‘IMAGE BOX’ over to the right-hand side of your page as you are looking at it.

4.Write the TITLE of your award in the appropriate slot, entitled WIDGET TITLE: Example: “The Lighthouse Award.”

5. Now the Information that you copied from the Search Bar, should be pasted into the Image Form in TWO places. If you fail to do both places, it will NOT show on your blog. Paste the IMAGE in the (1)IMAGE URL slot and the (2)LINK URL slot.

NOW the FUN PART — Following the RULES of Acceptance of the Award

1. First, acknowledge your acceptance and gratitude for the award to the person who gave it to you. You do this by going to the blog of the person who sent you the award—I usually post the acceptance in the ABOUT page.

2. The person who sent you the award will tell you what you need to do next. Simply, follow the steps by posting your acceptance of the award and following the stated rules on a page of your blog.

3. Almost always you are asked to nominate OTHER BLOGGERS. TWO STEPS: (1) What you do in this instance, is List the Author’s Name (if you know it) and the Title of their BLOG and WHY you are nominating them. (2)You also must inform that blogger that you are giving them an award.

I think that is all there is to accepting the AWARDS! If I have forgotten anything, please comment and let me add it! I hope this helps. I had the same questions when I accepted by first award. We are all beginners at one point or another! 🙂

HAPPY BLOGGING!

September 19, 2014 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

Aboriginal women, girls targets for human trafficking, says new report

Women are HUMAN BEINGS, equal to MEN! This is just one more example of the world view that women can be used as sex products. It is alarming that an added injustice is that because the WOMEN are NOT white—it seems to concern the government of Canada even less. Much like the USA, people who are African American are falsely incarcerated and treated badly because of their race. The Native American in the USA is not treated any better! We have a LONG way to go to racial equality and equality among men and women! Please direct your likes and comments to this blog: Warrior Publications.

Warrior Publications

CP train blocked in Toronto, March 12, 2014.

Trafficking report found a deep distrust of the police among many aboriginal women and girls

By Steve Rennie, The Canadian Press, Sept 19, 2014

Aboriginal women and girls are easy prey for human traffickers because they are more likely to suffer from poverty, drug addictions and mental-health problems, says a newly disclosed report.

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September 18, 2014 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

Talk to Me

We must speak to one another of JOY and HOPE…they must be spoken so we do not forget their possibility! Beautiful poem! Please direct your likes and comments to: http://theelusivescribe.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/talk-to-me/comment-page-1/#comment-339

theelusivescribe

photo credit: salinas18.blogspot.com

talk to me not about your woes
or your constant fears
but of your hidden hopes
you’ve buried deep within

talk to me not about the countless tears
your beautiful eyes have shed
but the number of times a smile
has lit up your beautiful face

talk to me not about your broken dreams
or the burdens that you bear
but of the blessings you’ve received
under God’s given grace

talk to me not about the lies and deceit
or the anger and hate that permeate
but of the joys that flow through your veins
and the love that makes your heart beat

talk to me of the sunshine that kiss your lips
not of the darkness that clouds your day
too many sorrows have laid this heart to waste
one more sad song and it will burst into flames

-©The Elusive Scribe 080114-

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September 17, 2014 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

tears and Nursing Homes

“It is such a secret place…the land of tears…” Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

It was Nursing Home Alley

and there she was

tied to her wheelchair

wailing away

crying unceasingly

AND

no one

to hold her hand.

Parents and children

were walking by…

the adult pointed to his head

tapping incessantly

as if to say, “She is a bit off!”

to his children

dressed so properly

giggling away.

WHAT WAS IT ???

embarrassment at human emotion

embarrassment at tears

embarrassment at not knowing what to do

WHY

do we shy away from compassion?

WHY

do we find it so easy to tie a human being to a chair

but are unable to extend a hand and comfort that person?

WHY???

September 16, 2014 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

The Truth about Reactive Attachment Disorder

This is beautiful…all I can say…the courage and determination of this parent…for her children and all children…Please direct your likes and comments to: http://5kidswdisabilities.com/2013/11/09/the-truth-about-reactive-attachment-disorder/#comment-13346

Raising 5 Kids With Disabilities and Remaining Sane Blog

I witnessed a conversation with the sister of a boy who had been adopted at the age of 2 years old after being abused by his biological parents. As an adult “he has always been in trouble with the law and has been in jail.” Upon hearing this, a deep sorrow enveloped me. I have such empathy for that child, having three of my own adopted at a later age. It was with a sweet naiveté that I had them join our family, believing that love can cure all. Despite our family’s best efforts, love did NOT cure all. To pretend that it did does a disservice to all of those families living with similar children. As brightly as I may portray our family, (and they ARE wonderful children whom I have never regretted adopting,) they have serious disabilities when it comes to social norms. They have reactive attachment disorder.

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September 16, 2014 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

Retirement,,,and my thoughts on Teaching

This is ME…September 14, 2014…Yes, and I am looking good at 64…LOL…with my dear daughter, Lara.

Okay…I am done…I am going to be perfectly honest with this posting. I do NOT like being retired. The first thing out of the mouth of one of my children, was: “You need to sell your house. You need to get an apartment. You need to downsize!” What a joke! I already live in a house smaller than an apartment! All of a sudden, I was suddenly on a downward spiral and ready to go to the funeral parlor for my casket size!

Seriously, I was a teacher for 36 Y E A R S…that is a L O N G time!!! I still break out with a cold sweat on Sunday nights, thinking I have to go and face those children who think I have all of the answers! I have to be prepared! My usual routine was that I would take Friday night off…and begin to plan my lessons on Saturday morning. I would see something that hour, and think, “Hmm, I can see how that would explain this point to the children…and I could use this…and I could use that…” And so my weekend would proceed. Anyone who thinks that teaching is a 9 to 5 job, is living an illusion! When you are a teacher, you are thinking non-stop of how you can make the lesson more interesting and what important idea they need to know and understand…and most importantly, how to allow them to be KIDS! Allow them to question! Allow them to BE!

All of these many years I tried to be”the guide on the side,” and not the “sage on the stage, ” (Thank you to Dr. Robert Pavlik for that great phrase! and TRUTH!) Truthfully, I did not begin my teaching career that way. I thought I had to have it all right…then as the years progressed, I began to see how important it was to LISTEN…to LISTEN to the children. What it was they needed to express. What it was that they wanted to know. What is was that they needed so that they could become fully themselves!

Regardless of the crazy testing demands of today (that is another posting I am ready to blast!), the MOST important thing we can do as teachers, is to allow the children to BE!

My God, WHY are we stuffing facts down their tiny throats? WHY are we comparing? WHY are we telling them, “You need to do better!” My God—let them be children and let them learn at their pace and allow them to lead you to help them discover who they are, and what they can contribute and why discovery is so vital to their own lives and to ours!

I guess retirement allows me to say things about teaching that in the last seven years of my teaching career were “verboten!” (forbidden).

Well, I will say more about retirement in the next post. I just had to get this off of my chest!