My Blog List

Monday, May 31, 2010

A Tribute to Native Americans

I received a convo today from Joni Stinson, http://www.etsy.com/shop/jstinson, that my little crocheted-baby-moccasins-in-sage-0-6-mo, were included in her very special Tribute to Native Americans.



Joni started this thread (which is now on Chapter 3) inviting people to do a search of Native American or Native American Inspired items and list their favorites or to list one of their own items) and promote any item listed throughout various Etsy shops which give tribute to our first settlers in this country. The title of this great Tribute is called “Walking with the Wind”.

“Walking with the Wind is to have the wind at your back…helping your journey along.
We each in our own way help others on their journey…We become the wind.
Helping others either through words, support, praise, or just being there to listen:
"Walking with the Wind is to have the wind at your back ....helping your journey along.

Anyone who follows Joni’s blog, http://www.jstinson-trailoftreasures.blogspot.com, knows her passion and dedication to her heritage, which she continually shares with all of us. Joni, who is Creek-Cherokee, has given us so much history of her tribe’s customs and the plight of still so many Native Americans who live in poverty. Her jewelry is just one example of her love of heritage; these are a few examples of her beautiful Indian jewelry.






I was also thinking how befitting it is to receive this honor today when we are celebrating the many American soldiers who fought in wars throughout history to make this country what it is today. What many people may not realize is that from the beginning when the first pilgrims arrived at our shores, our survival was at the hands of Native Americans who taught the settlers how to survive. Also, how many of us realize that during the Civil and Revolutionary Wars, the Cherokee’s played a very important part in these wars fighting for the Union, along side of the American soldiers who were fighting against the South who wanted to separate and form their own union. The only way American soldiers (known as pioneers) knew how to fight was face to face combat, each side standing in opposite lines shooting at each other. The Native Americans (known as the warriors) found the white man's strategy of standing still and allowing people to shoot at them, or lob artillery shells at them quite curious. It was the Cherokee’s who taught the many soldiers the tactic of sneak attacks while hiding in trees or sneaking through the dense wooded areas, completely surprising their enemies. This tactic was one of the main reasons that the North was able to defeat the South. So let us also remember those many Cherokee warriors who gave their lives fighting to help save our country from the British, who were helping the Confederate soldiers.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Vote for Zachary!


Vote for Zachary! (my little grandson)


We need your vote to help Zachary, NJ win Baby of the Week in the Babytalk/GMA Digital Cover Contest. The winner will be featured on Parenting.com

http://www.parenting.com/Babytalk/covercontest/contestant.jsp?ID=42396277

Monday, May 24, 2010

Memorial of Doves


On the wings of this white Dove, I’ll set your spirit free.
Up into the big deep sky, to heaven, where you’ll be.
I know God has a plan for us.
But it is hard for us to understand when we are left behind.
Little Dove, lift our hearts as we watch your go.
God is there if we just ask, to watch our loved ones
In the Heavens where your spirit is free.



Yesterday, my daughter Kelly, my cousin Michael, and myself, attended a beautiful ceremony, for all those who past away this past year. The Memorial Service and Dove Release was sponsored by the Funeral home where my Aunt Joyce was buried from this past February. The director of the Funeral home came up with this idea in a way to honor his own mother who past away this year also; and thought it would be nice to invite others who have lost someone dear to them to join in this dedication. After a brief service inside the home, in which they had digitial photo’s of each person being honored, we then all went out onto the back lawn, where in a huge circle were heart shaped baskets, each filled with a dove. It was so beautiful to watch as we all opened the baskets at the same time, and the Doves took flight towards the heavens. I thought it was a special way to remember a loved one and wanted to share some of the moments with you in the pictures we took.