Bree's First Day of School

Brianna's First Day of School went so smooth. She was so happy to be there, so grown up. It made her Mom very proud. She went right to her locker, placed her backpack inside and went to greet her Teacher. The next day was the first day she rode the school bus. Her bus driver asked whether she wanted to ride in the front, but she chose the middle with her brother. When her friend got on the bus, she sat with her. When they arrived at the school, the Kindergartners were the first to exit and enter the school. Nick was talking with his cousin and did not notice this. When he finally realized that the bus had stopped, he looked around for his sister and she was nowhere to be found. He panicked and went to the bus driver asking..."HAVE YOU SEEN MY SISTER?" She smiled and said, "Don't worry Nick, she went in the school and walked to her classroom. He was supposed to walk her, but she managed to get there on her own. That's my girl!!

We ran out of room!!!

We came to the realization that we would not have the room for even another book..pillow..blanket..JAKE ?!?!

How could this be? We packed up our car and camper when we left for our trip and we were okay. On our return; however, we realized that we just didn't have the room. Oh well...Jake is brave. He can handle the wind in his hair, the bugs, the occational bird and the sudden turns. We even thought to have him hold a light in case it started to get dark on our way home. He was honest and up front and said, "Yeah, Yeah, I wanna ride up there." So, what the heck...why not.

We then asked if the other two wanted to join him and they both just looked at us is dismay. "No way," they both replied. Okay, so we only have to worry about one of our children when they reach puberty. Yeah...no surprise there for those that know him.

We love this picture. It was a joke of course. We were leaving Watkins Glen State Park when we took it on Labor Day Weekend. The kids had a blast with friends. Oh, and btw....Jake is okay. He survived. We ended up making some room between his brother and sister who both whined and complained for an hour and a half. Hope you all enjoy this picture as do I. Peace! Jen

My phone is broken

Just wanted to let Adam know in case he tried to call and couldn't get through to me...


Below are some shots from a recent Swisher family reunion...










...Just kidding. My phone wasn't broken. Adam can stop worrying now.

Besides Ruth Colvin and YouTube, etc what's actually going on with the Parks?

We need more Ruth Colvin's in this world

National Womens Hall of Fame
Ruth Colvin saw a problem - pervasive adult illiteracy - and used formidable organizing skills and tenacity to help solve it through the creation of Literacy Volunteers of America. Colvin learned the scope of illiteracy in l962 when she discovered that thousands in the Finger Lakes county where she lived could not read. Her life was transformed as she undertook the necessary training needed to help correct the situation.

She determined that traditional classroom methods would not work and instead focused on the development of community networks in which a climate was created that empowered adult learners in new ways. The organization developed tutor training programs, special materials, community support components and a model that involves people from all walks of life in a community. Former dropouts become tutors, as do bank presidents, educators and many others. Thus far more than 400,000 have learned to read through the Literacy Volunteers program, in more than 460 locations operating in 40 states. Colvin travels internationally to share her unique program and knowledge - exemplifying the power of one individual to change the world for the better.

Additional Resources:
In the Beginning was the World: teaching reading & writing through the Bible. Syracuse, New York: Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc., 1994.

>Read about Ruth in today's paper. Her quote, "If you stop learning, you might as well die" hit me. She started out with no teaching degree and through research and people, she formed a National Organization. With support from her husband which is a huge boost, she created something so wonderful. Through her teachings, she is able to look outside the box to achieve her goal. Another quote from Ruth to end this blog on: "If you believe in your idea, you go from there." "If you do it with love, it will work out." By the way, Ruth is 90 and still travels internationally to help teach tudors in other countries. This women is someone very special, we need more Ruth's in this world we call home.

Another Great Message

My Sister-in law receives some really wonderful E-mails. I wanted to pass this one along. What a great message it sends.


F A M I L Y

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.


He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."


We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.


But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.


Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.


When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.


He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.


While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,


"While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.


Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.


Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.


He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."


By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.


I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.


"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.


I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."


I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you anyway."


I said, "Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."


FAMILY
Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company
that we are working for could easily replace us in
a matter of days.
But the family we left behind will feel the loss
for the rest of their lives.


And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more
into work than into our own family,
an unwise investment indeed,
don't you think?
So what is behind the story?


Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

I want to go to summer camp !!

Where did July Go? Can anyone tell me?

Well, I am precisely 1 hour and 20 minutes from August 1, 2007. Wow.. Don't know where July went. July seems to be the fastest month of the year. In July we have the longest days of the year; but, they fly faster than my three year old son when he needs the potty. If you don't think that is very fast, well you've forgotten what it like to have a little Nino newly potty trained. He is doing wonderful with it and he'll be ready for pre-school in September. Cough..cough..did I say pre-school. I can hardly believe it myself. Yes...and people ask me, "so what are you going to do all by yourself when all three children are in school." Well....I can find some things. Don't you all worry about that. It's only two days a week for a few hours in the Morning anyway. BUT ((shopping)) without any children is going to be nice for a change. Maybe an on-line course or two. Yes, it's time for Jen to grow too. Miss Brianna will be going to school in September. Kindergarten is so exciting, and to be in her best friend's class... Brianna is so happy. She is about packed and ready to go anyday. She wants to wait for the bus all on her own. Mom will about cry when that day comes. Nicholas is having fun this summer. He decided he didn't want to attend summer camp this year. He wanted to be home with his Mom and that is okay. His sister is going to soccer camp in his place, and it's working out wonderfully. I can see us now in just a few years trying to juggle all the sports for all three kids. Hey now...let's not talk about September quite yet. There is yet another month before we go back to the fun days of school. Oh yes, August. Welcome August..we know you will go by just as quickly as you arrived.

Bree is so happy!

This is for Allison. This was Bree's reaction to finding out that she will be in the same class as her friend. It sure brightened her day!

For those wondering why choose the road less traveled....

The Road Less Traveled
by Kit McCallum
How often we must bear the challenges of life;
The endless roller coaster between happiness and sorrow;
The constant ups and downs of daily strife.
And always the question remains .... why?

Life is not an easy road for most;
It twists and turns with many forks in the road,
Although always, and inevitably, we are given a choice ...

Do we turn to the right ... or the left?
Do we take the high road ... or the low road?
Do we take the easy path ... or the difficult one?

Decisions are not easy for those struggling for direction ...
And sometimes the many choices and signs become overwhelming.

While standing at a crossroads in life,
The urge is to take the most comfortable path;
The road with least resistance ...
The shortest or most traveled route.

And yet, if we've been down that comfortable road before;
Have gleaned its lessons in life, and learned from our experiences;

Do we yet again follow the known?
Or does our destiny lie in another direction?

The fear of the road less traveled is tangible and all too real;
It manifests itself in many ways,
And tends to cloud the issues that might otherwise be clear.

It is in these times of confusion,
That we must seek peace and solitude;

Time to contemplate on our life,
Our experiences and our choices past;
Time to look back, and reflect on what we have learned
Without fear or confusion.

For only each of us knows our own personal thoughts;
Our unique past and personal history;
The experiences that brought us to the crossroads we now face.

We can always learn a small degree from others experiences,
And yet ... no one person can walk in our shoes,
Others know not, the trials and tribulations faced in private ...

For each is individual ... unique ... and personal.

And that is why ... while standing at a crossroads,
Only "we" can formulate the decision for ourselves;
The true direction that lies within;
The choices we must deliberate on with clarity and wisdom.

For it is only through personal reflection,
That we can now choose our destiny;
... Our next adventure;
... And the future we will embrace.

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My next adventure - to do something greater than myself, to experience life outside of what I know. To come home a better person, enriched...more appreciative of what I have.

A really really cute e-mail sent to me

Slow down for three minutes to read this. It is so worth it.
Touching words from the mouth of babes.
What does Love mean?
A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?"
The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:
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"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.
So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."

Rebecca- age 8

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"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."

Billy - age 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."

Karl - age 5

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"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."


Chrissy - age 6

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"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

Terri - age 4

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"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."

Danny - age 7

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"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.
My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"

Emily - age 8

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"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

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"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"

Nikka - age 6

(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

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"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."

Noelle - age 7

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"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

Tommy - age 6


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"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.
He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."

Cindy - age 8


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"My mommy loves me more than anybody
You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."

Clare - age 6

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"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."

Elaine-age 5

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"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."

Chris - age 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

Mary Ann - age 4

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"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."

Lauren - age 4

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"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image)

Karen - age 7

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"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."

Mark - age 6

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"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

Jessica - age 8

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And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.

The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,

"Nothing, I just helped him cry"

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Father, God bless all my friends in whatever it is that You know they may be needing this day! And may their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with
you. Amen.

Red Ants are Nasty

So, Stacy, Liam and I are settling into our new home in Oviedo, FL. Also included is the shot of our moving van. Stacy, Elijah, a random NYC nice person, and I did the initial packing. Then I drove it to Montrose, PA where I picked up our Denver overflow from my dad's basement. Maria, Paul and I did the final packing. Dad, Osa and I drove from Montrose to Oviedo. Southerners are scary. The further south you go, the scarier they get. They deep fry anything, even peanuts.

We are really happy with our home. There is a lot of work to do, but it will all be worth it. I just got done mowing a lawn for the 1st time in 4 years! I also had to change all the registers and the AC filter. It was black as tar. The previous owner did everything half-arse, and I have to redo most of it. Ahhhh projects!

There are a couple job prospects in the works. I actually turned one down. Having a family changes everything.. The fam out by the pool.


I hope everyone in CNY is well. Tell Adam that the trick to making the phone work is to pick it up 1st, THEN hit the numbers. :)

Love,
~Swish

PS: here's a photo Nicky will like..

My Biggest Nightmare at the Gym

Even funnier when Jake is sitting on my lap laughing his butt off!!

Michael Buble "Home"

Pics from our vacation to the 1000 Islands USA/Canada

www.flickr.com More of parkspics' photos

Just Imagine

What a day, what a day....

Long Day Over by Norah Jones

Feeling tired
By the fire
The long day is over

The wind is gone
Asleep at dawn
The embers burn on

With no reprise
The sun will rise
The long day is over


*Sigh*