December 2025 – Page 5

Becoming a Parent

It’s hard to describe the feeling. I never expected to be a parent so when it happened and I held him in my arms for the first time, the world stopped for just a second. He was tiny, wrinkled, and he had his eyes closed. I could see that his dad was taken with him, I saw the pride in his face as he held him for the first time.

It was my turn next and I got to hold him. The pain of the last 8 hours or so of labor flew out the window. I had a baby and I was a mom. Ok, he wasn’t the prettiest baby but I guess they never are when they first come into the world. I had a tough labor and the doctor who attended to me had ruptured something in the spinal area while giving me an epidural. It would turn out to be a major problem but all that was forgotten when I first laid eyes on him. He would change my life in a big way.

I made a promise there and then that I would be the best mom possible. The little guy was sleeping peacefully but I was roaring like a lion inside. There was something that rose up within me that day. I can’t put my finger on it but I knew that I was responsible for him. I also felt the kind of love that is hard to describe. The little being I had carried inside me, the one who had kicked to let me know of his existence was finally here and my world as I knew it was being turned on its head!

I held him close, cooed to him, whispered gibberish, kissed his closed eyes, and knew that this was love of a different kind. Being a parent for the first time was a euphoric experience and even though there were other moments that gave me a “high” nothing would beat that first moment when I held him to my heart and heard him breathing softly, at peace with the world.

The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie

As a teacher who reads to his class, I’m always looking for stories that capture attention, hold imagination, and open the door to meaningful discussion. The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie did all three. The dedication alone – “May you never lose your sense of fantasy because it is what dreams are made of” – sets the stage for what this book does best: keeping that spark of imagination alive.

My students were immediately drawn to Honey, the miniature greyhound, and her unlikely friend Hubie, the bold green frog. Together they explore a world that’s whimsical but surprisingly relatable. The fairies, Moppets, and talking woodland creatures kept the class giggling, but what stayed with them was Honey’s courage — especially when she faced her fears to cross the pond or help another creature in need.

From an educator’s perspective, the pacing and structure work beautifully for group reading. There are natural pause points, making it easy to discuss what’s happening and predict what might come next. The descriptive writing creates clear visual imagery — something that helps young readers connect words to imagination. I even had a few students draw their favorite scenes, and every one of them was different. That’s the mark of a story that lets kids think for themselves.

What I appreciate most is that this book doesn’t preach. The themes of bravery, empathy and friendship emerge naturally through Honey’s journey. the story invites reflection without spelling out a lesson, which makes it a wonderful tool for teaching emotional intelligence and creative thinking.

The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie feels like a classic in the making — a story that could easily become part of a yearly classroom rotation. It’s warm, heartfelt, and sincere, reminding children that courage isn’t loud or perfect; sometimes it’s just taking that next small step into the unknown.

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I teach in a large city elementary school, and I look for books that speak to kids who’ve seen a lot. The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie does the job. It’s imaginative without excess and heartfelt without preaching. Honey, a small greyhound, and Hubie, her frog friend, step beyond their garden into a wider world — fairies, Moppets, even a skunk — where courage and loyalty matter. My students connected with Honey’s quiet bravery and the steady, respectful tone. The pacing invites discussion, not noise. It opens space to talk about fear, empathy, and standing up for others. If you want a calm read-aloud that builds character and curiosity, add this to your classroom shelf.

Thank you.

Quotes

Marc and Angel Chernoff are a husband-and-wife team and they are known for sharing their strategies for happiness and success. They are also known for authoring NYT bestsellers like Getting Back to Happy and 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently. Here are some of their noteworthy quotes. Enjoy.

“When things aren’t adding up in your life, begin subtracting. Life gets a lot simpler when you clear the clutter that makes it complicated. Bring your attention back to what’s important, and move forward.”

Great advice but the problem is, I clear the clutter and then I add new ones to the equation! A lost cause?

“Don’t fall back into your old patterns. Toxic habits and behaviors always try to sneak back in when you’re doing better. Stay focused.”

Totally agree, they do sneak back in when I’m doing better. At times it seems like it is done on purpose to throw me off course.

“Your worth is not dependent on someone else’s ability to be kind and loving. Accept this, and start acknowledging your own worth. Stop waiting for others to tell you how important you are. Tell yourself, and believe it.”

This is a really good one. Your self-worth depends on you.

“Remember, you alone get to choose what matters and what doesn’t. The meaning of everything in your life has precisely the meaning you give it.”

This one hit hard. I’ve been going about it the wrong way. I usually give meaning to things that don’t matter, that is my problem. Time to change that.

“Someday you will understand the reasons….that it had to happen, just the way it did….to give you the lessons you needed to grow. It’s never ideal, and it’s rarely easy, but what doesn’t break you today only makes you stronger in the end. Take a deep breath, and keep going.”

The problem, I want to know the reasons now! Oh well, I am moving forward, that’s for sure.

“Everything gets a bit uncomfortable when it’s time to change. That’s just a part of the growth process. Things will get better. Be patient.”

I’m at that uncomfortable place right now. Waiting for the “things will get better” part!

“Learn to trust the journey, even when you do not understand it. Sometimes what you never wanted or expected turns out to be what you need.”

Hmm…hard to grasp this one. I’m learning to trust the journey but it’s the last part that has me confused. Oh well, it will make sense I suppose when I get to journey’s end.

Have an amazing day.

Performances

Photo by Jessica Lewis 🦋 thepaintedsquare on Pexels.com

My first performance on stage was in church. I don’t recall what role I played but it was a Christmas play and it was the first time that I had to step on stage and had to do my thing. Mom and dad were so proud of their little girl but I was scared out of my wits and knew I couldn’t do it or rather I told myself that I couldn’t. The church was jam-packed as I stepped on stage. I stood there frozen as my eyes swept the scene before me. All eyes were trained on me and the cue was given to start but I stood there and stared back at the people! I could see the children giggling but it was a lost cause. No amount of cajoling helped and I walked off stage feeling like a total failure.

Little did I know that being in the public eye would follow me throughout my life. It’s just like life. The more you don’t want to, the more you get your face rubbed in it! Years later, I would step up to the podium to give a speech. I froze each time I had to do it but it got better as time went on. The “freeze tactic” was just temporary. The minute I stood there and opened my mouth, I was able to perform like a pro. It took practice but it is not my favorite thing to do. I’m still an introvert deep within but the outside show of confidence masks that fact.

I’m glad I no longer have to do any of that. Oh God, did I speak too soon?!! If life is listening, let it go in one ear and out the other!

Daily writing prompt

Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

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LOL!

A very jealous husband calls his wife from the office every morning to make sure she’s at home.

“Honey, where are you?”

“At home, love.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course – where else would I be?”

“Then turn on the blender next to the phone so I’ll have proof you’re really at home.”

The wife switches on the blender and, hearing the noise, he relaxes.

“Okay, honey. See you at home tonight.”

This goes on every day: she has to prove it with the blender’s sound.

One day, the husband leaves work early, gets home, and only finds their son. Surprised, he asks:

“Where’s Mom?”

“I don’t know – she went out with the blender!”

🤣🤣🤣

A Magical Winter’s Morning

The magical trio are out and about frosting flowers with every touch and turning them into works of art. The winter landscape and morning sunrise are pure fantasy in the making. It is gorgeous, it is beautiful and filled with wonder. Honey and Hubie can’t believe their eyes as they watch the fairies do what they do best. They always bring a touch of fairy dust to every adventure.

The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie available on Amazon.

My Favorite Physical Activities or Exercises?

It seems like I’ve done this DP before, just feels familiar. Anyway, walking is one of my top favorites. It takes very little effort and the benefits are plenty. Fresh air is one of them, clearing my mind of unwanted thoughts is another, and ideas galore is yet another! It’s where my creative juices start flowing. Not all the time but more often than not.

I love working out and that is no secret. People who know me tell me to take it easy. They say I overdo it. However, I move to my own drumbeat when it comes to working out. I am careful BUT sometimes I do overdo it. A little twinge here and there tells me that I’ve done more than I should and then I back off for a couple of days and come back with a vengeance.

Cardio, weight training, Pilates, fusion workouts, yoga and anything that is new out there, I am willing to give it a try. I was into kick boxing but these days I watch it from a distance and nothing more! I injured myself doing the “kicks” and it took months to heal so I admire the people who can do it but for me, it is a thing of the past. Sometimes you have to learn to let go even if you don’t want to.

Those are some of my favorite forms of activities that I do to keep myself fit and in form. I find that physical activity is not something I do to please someone else, it is something I do for myself. It helps to keep my body toned and fit but my mind benefits as well.

“Exercise not only changes your body, it changes your mind, your attitude and your mood.” Unknown

Daily writing prompt

What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?

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The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie

Honey is a miniature greyhound with more heart than height.

Hubie is a frog with loyalty bigger than his leap.

Together? They’re trouble, wonder, and magic rolled into one unlikely duo.

Their world begins in a quiet garden…until curiosity nudges them past the garden fence and into a realm where fairies whisper, creatures squabble, and courage is measured in kindness, not size. Every step pulls them deeper into a place where the rules bend, friendships matter, and even the smallest adventurer can shake the leaves on the tallest tree.

But behind all the sparkle and silliness lies a gentle truth:

Friendship isn’t something you find once. It’s something you choose again and again – especially when the path gets bumpy.

T. J. Mueller doesn’t just tell a story; she opens a door. Kids don’t read this adventure —they step into it, laugh through it, hold their breath in the tricky bits, and come out feeling a little braver, a little kinder, and a whole lot more magical.

A perfect read for kids who love adventure, animals, and worlds where imagination is the strongest superpower of all.

Available on Amazon

Rise Up and Stand Tall (Archives)

“Every morning you have two choices; continue to sleep with your dreams or wake up and chase them.” Carmelo Anthony

I’ve found that it’s easy to stay where you’re at. It doesn’t take much effort and it is comforting. You can mope, scream at whoever wants to listen and sometimes look for someone to blame for all your woes but what does that bring you? You’re not going anywhere if you stay put. It takes strength to stand back up. It takes courage to fight the battle and it takes the fire within you to keep on going. There were times when I wanted the world to go away and to leave me be. Let me wallow in misery was what I screamed but when all was said and done, I stood back up as I have done many times before. It takes putting one foot in front of the other and to just keep moving. I didn’t know where I was going, I only knew that I couldn’t stay where I was.

“It’s ok if you fall down and lose your spark. Just make sure that when you get back up, you rise as the whole damn fire.” Unknown

One thing is for sure, standing back up is not for the weak of heart but there is no other choice. You can claw your way back up, grasp at a helping hand to give you the boost you need or you can do it on your own. Whichever way you choose, there is only one way to go. Rise up and stand tall. It’s scary I know and it takes superhuman strength to move even an inch at times and that rabbit hole is inviting. If truth be told, it is not a permanent solution. If you want to feel the light back on your face again, you’ve got to move. You are fully capable of doing it.

“Do not forget who you are and where you come from. You are made of the brightest stars and the widest oceans. You are made of the highest mountains and the tallest trees. You are made of magic and dreams, wishes and light. You have heroes, warriors, kings, queens, gods and goddesses flowing through your veins. You come from infinite possibilities and incredible odds. You are here for a reason.” Nikki Banas

Make that reason count. You, my friend, are invincible. There is magic within you and that wand you hold in your hand, invisible though it may be, it has the power to change your life. Put it to good use and don’t give that rabbit hole a second look, it’s a thing of the past. You are meant for bigger and better things. You are powerful, you are beautiful and you are enough as you are.

“Fall seven times, stand up eight, and with each rise, you’ll find your strength will multiply.” Unknown

Have an amazing and powerful day.

Self-Confidence

“With confidence, you have won before you have started.” Marcus Garvey

I have a hard time with “confidence” because I was an introvert during my earlier years and so when I see someone walk with their head held high, a confident smile plastered on their face and with an attitude that says, “I don’t give a flying flip what you think of me,” I feel the sparks of admiration in motion.

It takes practice to pull off the confidence act. I learned it the hard way. I went from sitting at the back of the classroom so that I won’t get the attention to someone who could walk up to a podium and deliver a message with “confidence” oozing from every pore! It was an act I put on but the more I did it, the more confident I became. These days it is a breeze.

So when I see someone walking into a room like they own it, it sparks my admiration because I know it is not an easy thing to do. The other thing is that confidence makes you stand out from the crowd. You don’t have to be the best-looking person, although, it helps but if you can come across as if, “God sent you!” it makes all the difference.

Daily writing prompt

What is something others do that sparks your admiration?

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