I am the worst blogger ever ...

I am the worst blogger ever because I get so busy living life that I fail to come here and record moments that I am don't want memory to steal from me.  So many little things that I don't want to forget like how much I love the moments every morning when my husband holds me as we listen to the birds chirping outside our window, or when I savor every note that my son plays on his guitar, or when I literally almost cry when I notice my beautiful daughter has grown up, or even as trod around the neighborhood with my loyal companion, Coco.  Last night, during a conversation with a young man that is seeking God's purpose in his life, he asked, "Why do you do nice things for people?" I had to think for a minute.  My response was that I do it because God and so many others have done it for me. 

As I watched this video, I am reminded that there still exists much good in world, and each one of us can do something--no matter how small that something may seem.  May you never tire in giving kindness. It matters:)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/cZGghmwUcbQ

Strawberry Fields to MIT

http://latinoleaders.com/from-strawberry-fields-to-mit-diana-albarran-chicas/

Seeking to Find Pablo Lopez

Seeking to Find Pablo Lopez-

Friends, below is an excerpt from an email I received regarding my book, Dulcified. The author of the email is named, T. Hoskins.  I have contacted him to get his approval before sending this message out.  As you will read below, he would very much appreciate being reconnected to the Pablo Lopez family that worked in West Texas many years ago.  We both know it's a long shot but stranger things have happened in my lifetimeJ If you know this individual or someone in his family, please Inbox me and we will see if we can’t make this connection. 

Lifetime friendships are a beautiful thing—thanks for your help!

Your book is an honest and heartfelt account of growing up in Lynn County. I appreciate your honesty. I grew up there too. I was born in 1944.  My dad had a not too good sandy land cotton farm west of Tahoka about 20 miles in the New Moore community. In the 50's and 60's I hoed cotton and pulled cotton with a Mexican family from the "valley", who came up each year to work for my dad. The Lopez's had 7 children. (We had six).  They would live in an old shack on our place. Our house was not much better. My best friend became Pablo Lopez who was about 5 when we first began hoeing together. We worked together each year for about 10 years. He taught me Spanish and I taught him English. He made my hoeing days, which I hated, fun. I can't tell you how much I loved Pablo. He was such a good guy. His mom made tortillas on a piece of tin and I would stay at their house more than ours. I loved to eat their food. It is the most pleasant memory I have of growing up. Pablo had sisters that were absolutely beautiful, like you. (Your photo is on your book).  On Saturday afternoon they would all bathe and wear bright dresses and go to O'Donnell for groceries at Mansell's or Blocker groceries. They played Mexican music on their radio in the yard. Everyone sat in the shade. My sister was friends with the girls and they hoed together too…I would give anything to talk again to my friend Pablo. He would be 70 now also.

This Incredible Kid Figured Out How To Feed Needy Children In His Community For A Year

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/18/william-winslow-food-drive-child-hunger_n_5161443.html

The Simple Path to Retiring Rich (AGG, EEM, VIG, VTI, VWO)

The Simple Path to Retiring Rich (AGG, EEM, VIG, VTI, VWO)

8 Fascinating Reads

8 Fascinating Reads

Do you?

Random Acts of Kindness

Submitted by Gina

Growing up small town west Texas, I never really understood the meaning in random acts kindness, you just be kind all the time, right? It was not until I got older, in the career driven world, and traveling did I really start to see the kind and unkind. I can tell you there is kindness beyond small town west Texas, as well as the unkind. I have seen random acts of kindness from someone paying for the person behind them in line groceries, picking up a strangers meal tab, saying things like “have a nice day” . . . to just a simple random smile. 

Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see… 

The quote above has always been a favorite of mine. I can remember thinking about this quote one time when I was in the midst of one of the worst days of my life… a random stranger stopped & smiled at me. That person didn’t know me or what I was going through and I am pretty sure I looked a little scary at the moment but that smile just seem to say… hang in there, it’s going to be okay.

During this time in my life my teenage son was very troubled. He had been hospitalized and kindness was something that had not been in his heart for a while. When I went to pick him up I noticed that a pair of his favorite pants that cost $89 was not in his bag. When I asked him where they were, he replied “I gave them away”; I was shocked and at the time not too happy. As a single working mother I had paid for these “had to have” pants, & he just gave them away! I asked for an explanation, his reply: 

“mom, my roommate is a foster kid, his foster parents don’t want to take care of him anymore because of his problems, and his parents are incarcerated. He wants to grow up to be a preacher, he says that is his dream. He tried on my pants because he never had any other pants except from Walmart. He was so excited to try them on . . . I just gave them to him. All I asked in return was to follow his dream.”

Although my son had many struggles after this. . . I held onto these acts of kindness in my heart as a sign of hope.

 Gina~

The Student Loan Crisis Is Here, and It's Pretty Scary (JPM)

The Student Loan Crisis Is Here, and It's Pretty Scary (JPM)

In Search of Kindness

In Search of Kindness

Thanks to my friend , Rene Bradford Garcia, I have been motivated to declare a word for 2014. The word I have chosen is KINDNESS.  Right now, the kindness I have in mind includes being kind to others, the environment, and especially to myself. If you know me, you know that I am extremely hard on myself. So one thing I want to include in my quest for kindness in 2014 is reaching out. Reaching out to others for help, encouragement, reflection, rejuvenation and inspiration. 

The photo above reminds me of a beautiful  evening with lovely, gracious people that demonstrated kindness and sincerity. The photo also reminds me that God has placed some amazing people in my life  and that I don't spend enough time truly appreciating them.  I am looking forward to many more moments of sincere gratitude as I find it very therapeutic and kind to my soul. If you come across any quotes, photos or stories regarding KINDNESS , please share. As always, I invite you to submit pieces for this blog. May God bless you and may you be reaffirmed of your purpose--for you do have one and it IS important!

Since we last spoke...

Wow! So much has been happening in our little world since we last spoke.  Dulcified: Sweetened by the Education of Life has been named as a three time Latino Literacy Now International Book Award Winner. Being there as my daughter accepted First Place for the photo she used in the Cover Design was priceless!  The book has been a team effort starting with the encouragement of my ever-supportive husband. We are honored by the award but more importantly we are  truly humbled and touched by the emails and messages we have received regarding how the book has touched their lives or the lives of others.  Equally inspiring is how you are using the work in novel and meaningful ways.  Please know that  we love to hear from you and if there is anything that we can do, please let us know.

Here is the link to a short article on the evening.
http://www.lbff.us/bookawards14thnewyork.php

Looking forward to hearing from you:

lisa@olive13paloma.com

One-Generation Removed

Today my children and I along with many others served at Mary’s Center in downtown Washington, DC. We were helping stuff bags with food for distribution to needy families this Thanksgiving. The founder, Maria Gomez, was there and she addressed us before we started the actual stuffing of bags. During her remarks, she asked that as we filled each bag we think of each family that would be reached this holiday as a result of generous individuals that donated both food and money and also as a result of those of us there giving of our time. She shared the demographics of our local community and informed us of how many families are hungry on a daily basis. Living in the DC Metro area we are witness to much poverty and homelessness as well as much affluence and wastefulness. Ms. Gomez also reminded us that several of us in the room were actually just one generation removed from the stark reality of hunger and poverty. Those words struck me because they are most certainly true of my situation. As my son and his friend set up their station to start filling bags, my daughter and I grabbed our first bag to start filling. I felt a strange wave of emotion come over me because the last time I had done that I was a teenager standing in line with my mother filling a bag to take home for our own family. I remembered the sense of shame that I felt then because I needed to ask for food, but I also felt a sense of gratitude to the strangers that had donated willingly so that we might eat. I remember being thankful for each of the volunteers for being so kind and making us feel welcome. Even more keenly, I recalled how I vowed to one day do the same for someone else if I possibly could. As I watched my children interacting with others today, I could only feel gratitude. Gratitude to my Lord and Savior for the blessing of such amazing children that have a heart for others, gratitude for the gift of health and well-being to be in a position to be able to help, and gratitude for the gift of the humility I felt as I filled each bag remembering how mighty and able Our Lord is that He can use each one of us for His purpose if we are willing to submit to His will. I am humbled by the fact that I am just one generation removed from living in poverty but I am also keenly aware that through active compassion we can choose to serve others and be part of the solution as others work toward their one-generation removed. Have a wonderful, bountiful Thanksgiving! God’s blessings to you always! (PS: Thank you Kaitlyn and Toby for your giving heart and love for others—remember to always Pay it Forward and know that He is Lord. I love you!)

Shout Out to my Texas Friends

Friends, I will be in Lubbock, Texas on October 12-13,2012. Friday night's event is open to the public and I would really love your support:) Featuring: Guest speaker and book discussion leader Dr. Lisa Ramirez, National Director of the Office of Migrant Education in Washington, D.C. and author of Dulcified: Sweetened by the Education of Life. ****First 20 participants to register will receive a free copy of the book Dulcified: Sweetened by the Education of Life so register today!****     When: Friday, October 12, 2012. 6:00 p.m. dinner - LCU Education alumni only, and 7:30 Plenary Session with Dr. Lisa Ramirez, open to the public.

He Sets the Captives FREE!

written by:  Jacqui Pate

Jesus says in Luke 4:18
"He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of site for the blind, to release the oppressed.” 

Disclaimer…this is lengthy but well worth the read!!
What an incredible weekend! We saw God move in a powerful way in the lives of 16 juvenile offenders and the hearts of the detention center workers and Epiphany team members. I really do not have the words to adequately describe what happened this weekend, but I’m giving it a try…just know…captives were set FREE! The theme of day 1: You are loved!! On Day one the boys came in and really didn’t know what to think about us or the program. Our team made a lined walkway and cheered as each boy’s name was called. They walked through the line with hard faces and lifeless eyes. I thought to myself…”this could be a long few days…” little did I know, the days would go by all too quickly… Our whole job was to love, love, love and listen, listen to these boys. Through activities and talks they were told about how much Jesus loved them and that we loved them as well. By the end of Friday they seemed a little more comfortable and were enjoying at least being able to eat some good food and have a change of routine. We were starting to learn a little more about each of the boys. I smiled as I watched the boys interact with Wade at one table and my mom at the other. Mom’s so great with kids and these boys just ate up all the attention she gave them. The boys’ respect for Wade was evident and they were very impacted as he told them what he saw in them and how he knew they could make a change. We discovered that they are an extremely talented and creative bunch – artists, writers, leaders, helpers… The theme of day 2: Forgiveness As the boys came in the second morning, there was way more enthusiasm…high fives, smiles, a few shy, side hugs… We continued loving but also began talking about forgiveness—forgiveness available for them and people they needed to forgive. Early that day they were given a small square piece of paper to write names of people they needed to forgive as the Holy Spirit prompted them throughout the day. Different members of the team had different “talks" and skits they had prepared in advance. As each person shared about their topic, they also incorporated their life stories…I was totally amazed at how God used their vulnerability to open the hearts of the boys and to show them that other people have been through extremely difficult times as well, but God was with them through it all. We had some amazing team members to work with and many of them had been involved with Epiphany for many years…working diligently. One of the major parts of day two is a birthday party celebration. Each boy is given a small birthday cake with their name on it and bag of gifts. When the boys walked into the party they could not believe their eyes. They were totally overwhelmed by the moment. Many of them started crying their eyes out. Several of them had NEVER had a birthday cake or celebration EVER! And the rest hadn’t had a birthday party since they were very little. My heart broke to see these boys who really did think that nobody cared about them and it didn’t even matter that they were alive. They just couldn’t believe these total strangers would care enough to do this…maybe they were valuable after all? After the birthday party, the boys were even more alive and really starting to believe that they could be loved and I would watch them writing names on their little squares throughout the day… We gave each boy a Bible and then had times to show them how to find scriptures and talked about the different parts of the Bible. My Star, Esgar, asked me questions like: --Why is there an Old Testament and New Testament? --What is a prophet? --How could God become a man? --How is Jesus also God? --Is John 3:16 a page number? It was such a blessing to be able to share with this young man how to use his Bible, to tell him more of how perfectly the Bible fits together and its purpose. Saturday ended with a SHABANG!

Dulcified: Sweetened by the Education of Life

This beautiful book offers an autobiographical account of extreme resiliency, as Dr. Lisa Ramírez recounts her early childhood experiences facing brutal instances of neglect and abuse at the hands of those that should have offered love, comfort and protection. Further, she shares her own failed attempts at pursuing a basic education, while lacking the bare necessities of a home, food, and positive relationships—all supposed requisites for survival and thriving in an educational setting.

As you read her narrative, you will come to understand why hers is indeed a beautiful story. You will gain a deeper understanding of resiliency, and the major difference that educators (and all of us as human beings, for that matter) can make in the lives of children, even through seemingly insignificant actions. You will learn that Dr. Ramírez does not disclose her life’s story simply to titillate the reader, attract attention or expose perpetrators. Rather, her motivation is one of compassion, as she attempts to illustrate for others (young and old) who might be suffering and mired in dismal situations, how life can be dulcified through God’s mercy, the compassion of others, and a competent education. She compels innocent victims in similar circumstances to look for that ray of light under the door that will offer hope and sufficient strength to stand up and move forward, instead of being overwhelmed by pain and hopelessness.

Rachel Crawford, Ph.D.

Educational Research and Policy Analysis

www.olive13paloma.com

I give you the gift of...recess!

When I was a classroom teacher, I started a tradition of giving people "virtual gifts" on special occasions. The students were then able to give their classmates gifts without limitations. I have continued that tradition at the workplace and the gift you see below is a "virtual gift" given by a young lady ,named Kesha, to a co-worker, named David, upon his retirement. What a lovely example of Words for Friends!


My gift to you for your retirement is:
-That every day of your retirement feels like recess.
Remember sitting in the classroom in school learning the various subjects: reading, writing, math, etc. and not being able to talk or laugh out loud for fear of “detention.”
Ok… now remember that feeling you felt when you just finished eating lunch and the doors to the playground flew open and you rushed out the door to explore all the fun that the swing, monkey bars, open field, and laughter with friends had to offer…just good ol’’child’s play. –Oh!…and breathing the fresh air after being cooped up in the classroom for hours. I can see young David, now, enjoying the see-saw, perhaps, but being oh so careful not to sully his checkered button up, v-neck sweater, and khakis.
Ahhh…the feeling of freedom. The feeling of recess. That is my gift to you. May it be a perpetual and quintessential joy in your retirement.

Sleep with the Angels, Friends!

Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Sightings

Please enjoy a couple of moments of kindness that have been shared this week. I hope that you have a very blessed week and that you too will choose to serve as a witness!

___________________________________________________________________


Egarciam said...

Thanks for sharing such thoughtful & kind gestures. Here are a few of mine:

A women at the grocery store brought a smile to my face when she said my son was gorgeous!

My partner had my favorite dinner prepared on the kitchen table after a long day at work last night.

My son slept through the entire night = happy alert mommy this morning. Ok, maybe this is not a RAK, however it sure felt goooood!

On my way to work this morning, a vehicle gave me the right of way with wave & a smile.

A stranger held the door for me on the elevator & wished me a good day.

Have a beautiful day!!

____________________________________________________________________________

June 12, 2011 12:41 AM

Anonymous said...

Today, I saw a guy at the metro walk up the broken escalator from the

platform to help a guy carry all his bags down. I'm truly blessed to have

witnessed such a selfless act. I usually notice these things but I never

say anything...I just quietly smile. Having some health challenges

currently, these tiny acts are magnified for me and my heart jumps with

joy when I see something so thoughtful. And so today, I didn't just

witness quietly, I told that guy that what he did was extremely kind.

Don’t forget to do Good…

Don’t forget to do Good…

“Don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16

I don’t know that I forget to do good, but I have a problem remembering to do good. Now, this may sound like it means the same thing but it doesn’t. I am talking about the times when I get so busy and caught up doing “stuff” that I fail to remember to do good. I’m also talking about the times that I am emotionally high jacked and choose not to be kind. What’s that all about? Sometimes just because we know better doesn’t mean we do better.

I am reading a book right now that discusses the value of working toward goals in small, even if they are VERY small, steps. So, today I took one VERY small step toward not forgetting to do good---today I put money in the meter for the car parked next to me. The meter was flashing EXPIRED so I threw in enough money to give the owner some additional time. I hope they came out in time! I know that’s not a big step, but had I been the recipient, I would have appreciated it!

Sleep with the Angels, Friends!

I'm not trying to gossip but...

This weekend I had the opportunity to share something with two friends that has been bothering me. I shared how puzzled and perplexed I have been by the fact that I have received ZERO submissions for stories regarding acts of kindness or generosity. The thing that bothers me the most is that we seem so eager to share the negative and gossipy things in world but less inclined to share a story of kindness and goodness.

One of those sweet friends shared that perhaps we have become desensitized to the smallest acts of kindness and that perhaps we take them for granted. With her comment in mind, I decided to make a mental note of a few kind things that happened to me today.

Pardon the bulleted list approach but here goes:
• My daughter said, “Have a blessed day, Love” as I dropped her off at school.
• The cashier at Starbucks said, “Good morning!” and he meant it.
• A woman at Starbucks remarked about the beautiful day and as I agreed she mentioned that I too was beautiful.
• A gentleman standing outside of Starbucks opened the door for me.
• My husband opened the passenger side of the car for me so I could get in.
• My daughter made me chocolate chip cookies.
• My son offered to take the bus to pick me because he knew I needed a ride and he’s only eleven.
• A friend agreed to take me on an errand even if it meant she would be waking up at the crack of dawn tomorrow.
• A friend at work asked about my weekend hike and she genuinely listened.
• A stranger remembered a talk I gave and invited me to speak at their High School graduation.

These are just the first ten things I could think of right quick. I know many more kind things happened along with some other yucky, not-so-fun things but I refuse to focus on those things. I don’t want to go to bed with yuck dominating my thoughts and energy. Can you share just a few small, kind things that happened to you recently? I hope so.

Sleep with the angels,Friends.

In January I challenged myself to periodically write new posts that are centered on generosity, kindness or compassion. I was hoping to keep my eyes open to seeing how these three themes honestly inform and better my life. For now, I am thinking that I need to be even more generous with my words. My Words for Friends! Today if you would like me to have words for you or if you have witnessed an act of kindness or compassion, please share your story on my blog. Send your story to olive13paloma@yahoo.com and I'll be just tickled to post it

Let me know in advance if you need me to change your name!
In the words of my sweet Tim McGraw, LIVE like you're dying