Still Powerful After Almost 30 Years

 

 

This February will mark 30 years since Jim Valvano made this speech at the first ESPY Awards show. It is as powerful today as it was then. I still cry every time I see it.

Truth

 I wonder if my husband would agree with this.

Monday Musings

I cannot believe that today is the last Monday of November. These are the thongs that are currently on my mind.

1) We had a nice and relaxing Thanksgiving weekend. I for one needed it.

2) Tonight is Preston's sleep study. I am glad that after almost 4 months we are finally getting it taken care of. I am not looking forward to a bad night's sleep though.

3) Thursday is December 1st which means it will be the start of Advent 2022. It is getting harder each year to come up with things that both Preston and Clark will enjoy doing.

Here are the pictures for the week:

I am not sure what this one is all about but he looks cute.

Soulful Sunday

 

Lazy Day

We are enjoying a lazy Saturday. Actually our entire long weekend has been a lazy one so far. Mama needed it for sure. 

Friday Funnies

If you are in the US I hope you had a terrific Thanksgiving and enjoy your long weekend. For those not in the US I hope your regular weekend is restful.

Three on Thursday

On this day of thanks I am thankful for:

1) Jerry

2) Clark

3) Preston

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

I actually have a bit of knitting to show you today. First up is the finished shawl for my friend who is having a bit of a tough time lately. She was a French teacher in a former life so when I saw this Eifel Tower stitch pattern I immediately thought of her. I may write up this pattern eventually but please do not hold your breath waiting for it. Now I need to get it in the mail.

Next up is the blanket for my future great niece or nephew. I wanted to have this finished by Thanksgiving but obviously will not be happening. She is due December 29th and hopefully I can have it done before the little one comes. The pattern is Seed & Tweed by Kathy North. 

As far as reading goes I have not done any fun reading since my last update. But I am learning a lot about social and cultural psychology. 

True Life Tuesday: The Pollack Sisters

Many people feel like the story of the Pollack sisters proves that reincarnation is real. However, many others feel like it is just either strange coincidences or the imprint of parental grief.

On Sunday May 5, 1957 sisters Joanne (11) and Jacqueline (6) were walking to church with a friend in Hexham, England. A suicidal woman who was under the influence of many drugs hit the three children. The sisters were killed instantly and their friend died en route to the hospital.

The girl's parents - Florence and John - fell into depression dealing with the grief over their loss. Eventually John stated that he believed that the couple would have a set of identical twin girls who would be Joanne and Jacqueline reborn. He ended up being right and on October 4, 1958 Florence gave birth to twin girls they named Gillian and Jennifer.

Not long after their birth the parents noticed some strange coincidences between the twins and their deceased sisters. Jennifer had two birthmarks - one on her hip just like Jacqueline had and another that matched a scar Jacqueline had from when she fell off a bucket. The girl's personalities matched their sisters. When the girls were very young the Pollack's moved away from Hexham. After a few years the family moved back. The twins knew the lay out of the town including the school the deceased sisters attended. Another thing that people point to prove that the twins were the reincarnation of their sisters was that both girls had a strong fear of cars. They would have nightmares of being hit by one. 

Florence did not want to believe that this was the reincarnation of her deceased daughters because of her Catholic faith. Around the age of 7 the girl's memories of their past lives began to fade. However, during interviews in their adulthood they stated that they did believe that they were their sisters brought back to Earth. 

Monday Musings

Another week is upon us. At least here in the US it is a short one for most of us. Here are the things that are currently on my mind.

1) Clark and Preston had some kind of stomach bug this weekend. Clark was ok to go to school today (which is good since he only has 2 days this week) but Preston stayed home from daycare. He is better though and will be back there tomorrow. Luckily the hubby and I seem to have avoided it.

2) I decided to take the day off rather than try to work and deal with a vomiting child. I am currently watching the USA vs Wales World Cup game. The last time the World Cup was played I was pregnant with Preston so it brings back some good memories.

3) My sleep schedule has been seriously messed up lately. I fall asleep with Preston around 8:30 or 9, wake up again around 10:30 or 11 and then am up again until midnight or 1am. No wonder I am tired all the time. I need to work on improving this.

Here are the pictures for the week.

The artist at work.

Snow angel!

Soulful Sunday

 

'Tis the Season

 But what I want to know is where's Santa?

Friday Funnies

I hope everyone in the US enjoys this weekend before Thanksgiving. If you are not in the US please just enjoy your regular weekend.

Three on Thursday

Another week is coming to an end and these are the things I am currently thankful for.

1) That I managed to submit my paper with 45 minutes to spare last night.

2) That I have a weekend free of obligations. I may go to the dollar store on Saturday and I do have to make hubby's birthday dinner and cheesecake on Saturday but that is something I want to do and it does not require me to leave the house.

3) That next week is a short work week and if history holds true it will be a quiet one as well. 

Wednesdays are for Knitting and Reading

This is a quick cheater post to keep my NaBloPoMo posting streak alive.

For knitting I am only working on the baby blanket for my niece. I wanted to have it done in time for Thanksgiving but I do not think that will happen.

I need to take some pictures of the shawl for my friend, take some measurements and wash it so I can finally get it in the mail to her,

I finished a book last night. This is the first one since the end of September. I am reading a lot just not for personal pleasure. 

True Life Tuesday: Bella in the Wych Elm

This is another strange unsolved mystery. Unfortunately this one will probably never be answered.

On April 18, 1943 four young boys were searching for bird eggs in Hagley Woods in Worcestershire England. One of the boys climbed a wych elm tree. He looked down into the tree and saw a human skull. The boys were afraid because they were on the property illegally so they decided to not say anything. However, one of the boys later that night felt guilty and told his parents who contacted authorities.

When law enforcement made their search they found an entire skeleton. However, the left hand was missing and found buried nearby. A pathologist determined that the skeleton was that of a woman and that she had been dead for 18 months. She had some irregularities in her jaw so police were certain they would be able to easily ID her. Unfortunately even though they questioned dentists across the country no one knew who she might be. She was never identified and the skeleton has since been lost.

In 1944 graffiti appeared in Birmingham stating "who put Bella down the wych elm - Hagley wood". Similar messages written in the same hand were written in the area several times. The messages have appeared sporadically since the 1970's with the last one occurring in 1999. 

There were several theories as to who the woman was and the about the circumstances of her death. In 1945 professor Margaret Murray put forth a theory that the woman was a victim of a black magic ritual. Another theory was that a local sex worker named Bella was the victim. The best well known theory is that she was German actress names Clara Bauerle who was believed to have been a German spy. However, she was found to have died in Berlin on December 16, 1942.

Monday Musings

The second week of November is upon us. These are the things that I am currently thinking about.

1) I made it through my highly social weekend. It was nice but very exhausting. I am glad to have an event free weekend coming up though.

2) My poor hubby has to work the next 9 days in a row. They are working Sunday instead of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. They want to make sure they get the full 10 hours of work out of them instead of just 8 that they would get out of them on Wednesday.

3) Three students shot and killed and 2 more injured at the University of Virginia. Four students murdered at the University of Idaho. When will it end?

Here are the pictures for the week. 

He pouted until I gave him my sticker. But he was so good while I voted I couldn't deny him.

Preston and dada went to the mall while mama was at her niece's baby shower. He got a few toys out of the day.

Cousins.

Preston was happy with the balloons I brought him from the shower.

 

Soulful Sunday

 

Saturday Fun Day

Preston and dada went to the mall today since mama had a baby shower to attend. Preston even managed to convince dada to buy him a toy (not that he has to try all that hard).

Friday Funnies

A special thank you to all of our veterans. Have a great weekend all.