My Thoughts

When I would think of my 4 grandparents, Berneice, Leo, Gladys and GJ, I always had a specific ethnicity attached to each one.  Berneice was Swedish, Leo, German.  Gladys was Native American and GJ, Irish.  Like many other Americans, the reality of my ancestry is a collection of different ethnicities and nationalities, and if you go backward far enough, the truth of what I had always thought then becomes true and verified.  Each family line presents its own unique research complications.  When I began this tribute to my 2nd great grandmothers, I did not intentionally postpone Charlotte "Lottie" Blomberg.  As it happens, if I had began this project with Lottie, I probably would've given up and not attempted the others.  What I have found through this project, however, is a strength of character and fierce determination in each of these women that I see in myself and in the eyes of each of my daughters.  I truly do not think it can be said enough t...

So many times I have heard that the best way to learn something is to teach it. I know this is true through my own experiences as a teacher, so I thought I'd take this approach to getting a healthier lifestyle as though I were teaching others how to do it. What I don't want is to sound like an expert or to come off as preachy. Instead, I am truly teaching myself. If I were to teach this class, I would need to develop a lesson plan. So, in a sense, I have. My objectives are: strengthen, maintain, empower. I will do this through studying, hands on applications and periodic assessments. My intro to this lesson would be something inspirational, something practical and simple. I was in the shower and thought about this: The task of attaining a healthier lifestyle all begins with the head. Starting at the top, the brain has to have knowledge (input) to fully comprehend what it is being asked to do. After all, a computer is only as good as its programmer. The part of the bra...