My Connections to Play

Life must be lived as play.
                                    -Plato

In our play, we reveal what kind of people we are.
                                                                        - Ovid

Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.
                                                                                         - Fred Rogers

Those three quotes broadly describe my feelings about play and my childhood play. I don't have any pictures of my favorite play things. My mother loved to throw things out just as soon as she could! I can describe them though. The very first thing I can remember playing with was a small stuffed white elephant with red velvet ears. I slept with it all the time and then one day it was just gone! Growing older, I loved to play with Barbie dolls. My grandmother used to sew clothes for them all the time and I was very happy. I loved to play with my grandmother also. She would always let me help her in the kitchen and it holds many happy memories for me. She supported me and my play during my childhood.

Play today seems to be very different to me. When I was growing up, we had lots of time for free play and it was much safer to play outside too. We could stay outside all day and not have to come inside until the street lights came on. We did not require direct supervision and could take the time we needed to play free choice activities with our own rules and made up all by ourselves. In the neighborhood, our favorite game was kickball.

I still love to play with  my "kids". It is the most enjoyable part of the day, and they often request me to play with them! I thoroughly enjoyed playing with my boys and my grandsons too! I don't think I will ever be too old to play! At least I hope not!

Relationship Reflections

I feel like I have many relationships, so I have chosen the most important ones in my life!
First and foremost would be my relationship with Jesus Christ. I am a Christian, and I believe that God sent His son, Jesus to die for my sins (and everyone else's) so we may have eternal life. This relationship is most important to me because He is always with me. He gives me strength, peace, encouragement and guidance. I can always count on Him to be there for me. He loves me unconditionally!

My husband, Dwight is my solid rock. We will be married 3 years in September and we have known each other for 6 years. I never thought of re-marriage until he asked me. He is a God fearing man of integrity who tries hard to always get it right. He is a balance of logic for my emotions, loyal and dedicated, and I love him dearly. He has embraced me and my life and accepts all of it. He showed me that unequivocally when he partnered with me in caring of my 88 year old mother for 2 years before she entered a nursing facility.

My sons are my joy! My oldest, Michael, 33 has a family of his own, but still never hangs up the phone or leaves a room without saying, "I love you Mom."

My youngest, Jacob is 26 and getting ready to deploy on May 15th~to someplace "classified" for at least 9 months~ He is an EOD tech (Explosive Ordinance Demolition). So, right now, and for the immediate future, my positive thoughts, energies and prayers will be with him. Before he left, I bought him a children's book, "My Love Will Always Find You..." by Nancy Tillman to take with him.


And of course, there is my relationship with all my children at work over the years. There would be just too many pictures! I have been a preschool teacher for 32 years now and I have loved and cared for each one of the children entrusted into my care to the best of my abilities. They are too numerous to mention, and while I have given them all that I could, they gave me an awesome amount of love right back and taught me patience and persistence pays off!