MLK On A Cold Winter's Day.

I don't know what it is with little kids, and cold temperatures. You'd think that because school is off that they'd sleep in, and want to stay indoors, but in all honestly because of the blue skies, and sun shining so bright didn't want to stay cooped up in the house, and so we went outside. Although the forecast showed temps were in the low teens with a windchill of -8 degrees I still went outside to see how cold it was, and it was freezing! The weather can be so deceiving when the sun is out! Especially when you look outside the window and the roads are bone dry! 

MLK | A Day Of Service | 1.18.16

"This is not a "random" three day weekend— a break from your hell beaten jobs. It's a day to observe and recognize and ultimately, if we are just a tad willing, help change the world a little bit. I get so mad at the Internet for its surface conversations at times. If you're willing, I ask that you dig deeper, hold longer more interesting conversations, jump from the shadows of the screen. Hug someone. Just do something! Anything out of love and the confining area that is your privilege, will do. We need more. We need equality. Thank you Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For the path and life you gave for others, myself, my children, and the generations that will come after us. Eternally." 

~Latonya Yvette

I came upon this quote on this fellow bloggers instagram, and when I read it I was agreeing wholeheartedly while nodding my head. She worded it so perfectly, and her thoughts totally coincided with mine. This is exactly why I have taught my kids why Martin Luther King Jr. was such an icon. Someone who died way too soon. And why we observe him by waking up early in the morning to help others, and do service for our fellowman. The fact that two of my girls were born on the same day as Dr. King gives more meaning to their special birthday. Especially on the day we observe him. I am so grateful for people like Dr. King who was fearless, and never gave up on his dream of uniting people of color together. For his strength, his candor, and perseverance in always believing the good in others. For his bravery, and courage in facing adversity even when it endangered his life. What an amazing human being! 

For the past 21 years our community has come together to observe this day for Martin Luther King by serving others. I've lived here now for seven years, and I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful it feels to be engaged in something you honor and believe in that has a purpose. People from all over South Jersey came together to help what is needed in our community. It was so nice to see so many willing to serve, and honor this day not only for Dr. King, but to build ourselves up. 

Especially our children who are the future. 

There was so much to do on this day, and there were all kinds of service projects accomplished. From quilting baby blankets to making toys for the animal shelter. Visiting senior homes, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and we even had a group rake leaves, and do some yard work in 23 degree weather! To see the faces of those around me getting to work without murmuring uplifted me in every aspect. It was so nice to see everyone working in unison with smiles on their faces. 

And that put a smile on my daughters face too! 

We volunteered to help make 400 peanut butter, and jelly sandwiches and mission was accomplished! The leader of this group said were were the fastest group he's ever seen in making sandwiches in a short time! We were going to town spreading that jam, and butter on the bread. We had such a great time, and in all honesty we wanted to do more when we were done. We didn't want to leave the building. We just kept wanting to help so Chelsea stayed for a bit to make a few cards for the soldiers who are serving. 

Here are a few photos from that day...

// Making sandwiches for the homeless was so humbling. Just to think that they'll be eating a sandwich with just jam, and peanut butter on it will  be gratifying to them. I'm sure they don't care where it comes from as long as they don't starve, and have food in their stomach! //

I have to tell ya... I was amazed at these group of kids. They were all so willing and helping to serve. Their aunt whom I just met for the first time was such a kind person, and a great role model to these kids. I could tell just by observing her how loving, and helpful she was TO EVERYONE! We totally hit it off, and I'm so glad that I sat next to her group. Chelsea and I were going to sit somewhere else, but my heart guided me to a much more rowdier table. Rowdier in a good way because everyone was working together. Laughing, and making sure we had enough bread for all the jam, and butter we had. We were a team, and that's how it should be when it comes to serving. Loving one another no matter who we are, where we come from, or what color we are. It was such an amazing day, and to meet this woman and her family was indeed a blessing! 

Enjoy the rest of your week everyone! 

Selma.

Today I plan on taking Lexie to go see Selma. The fact that she (and her sister) were born on Martin Luther King's birthday is a privilege, and her interest in his life continues to increase as she gets older. For the past three years she has always gone out to do some kind of service project with her classmates from middle school, but now that she's in high school we've decided to watch the movie instead. I have heard amazing reviews, and a few of my friends have already seen the movie. I encourage all high school students to see Selma because the fact that it's based on a man who fought for civil rights without adding any animosity is admiring to me. His dignity, and strength in uniting coloreds with whites with love, and patience proved all too well that he indeed was a wonderful man. A wonderful man who died way too soon. 

He would be 86 today, and even at that age, if he was still alive, can picture him continuing to do amazing things.  Always standing in line first to do something great. Marching ahead of everyone to support the causes he believed in. So to observe the holiday in remembering his bravery and courage we will watch Selma. To remember his life, and to honor all that he did in order for us to live in a world today where we can at least strive to have peace, and maintain to have civil rights. 

"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies."

~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Such an inspiration! 

Have a wonderful day! 

Spiritual High for MLK

"1963 is not an end, but a beginning."

~Martin Luther King Jr.

In memory of Martin Luther King Jr. I would like to share his words of inspiration for the passion that he had for civil rights. My girls love reading this book in his memory, and each year as they get older they learn to really appreciate him, and all that he accomplished. So today I leave you with a reminder of this great man's words of courage, and hope. His words have gone down in history, and if you get a moment to listen to his speech, and I mean really listen up until the very end...it'll give you such a spiritual high to make you feel like you can accomplish anything.  It makes me want to shout out from the rooftops, and have more courage to do more good in this world. If he would have ever ran for president, I know many would have voted for him. His dream of ending racial segregation will never be forgotten, and I will always be grateful to him. 

It doesn't even matter what color I am, or in which generation I was born in.

"In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst of freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force."

I have a dream today! 

"I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification"--one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers."

 I have a dream today! 

"With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, knowing that we will be free one day."

Let freedom ring!

"And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: 

Free at last! Free at last! 

Thank God almighty, we are free at last!"