My students are excellent artists (the envy of the school actually). Their  pictures are so detailed. If only I could get them to transfer for that to their writing. I was beating myself up about it until I spoke with one of my professors @ B.N.U., Tim, who admitted that it took him about 5 years to learn how to teach writing. In fact, most of the teachers that I spoke with said that it took them about 5 years also.

So, I thought to myself that there’s probably no way I can make this process shorter, so I’ll go along for this 5 year ride and learn as much as I can along the way.

One of the ways that I plan to teach writing while I’m on this journey is through art. On my trip to Barnes & Noble last week I found this wonderful book, Complete Curriculum by Harcourt Family Learning. It is a complete curriculum (767 pages). It has:

• Reading
• Math
• Selling
• Language Arts
• Writing
• Test Prep

The part that I liked the best in the Grade 2 book was on pg. 528 in the Writing Skills section. The title of the page is Using Details to Tell the Main Idea. If I could just get them to draw a picture and describe details in the picture, I will be at least some of the way there.

Does anyone else have this problems with their students? If so, is there any helpful advice that you can share with me regarding this situation? I would greatly appreciate. Thanks in advance!!

Until next time people.

Let me start by saying that I, like many others, do not care for too much change. I hate it when something that’s been there forever is suddenly not there anymore. What am I talking about? I’m talking about the time announcement service.

Let’s begin at the beginning, shall we? Just a few minutes ago, I was lying on the couch and did not feel like getting up to look at the clock. So, I did something that I used to do a long time ago… I called the time (853-1234). Oh, my goodness! Boy did I get the shock of my life. While I listened to the recording, I was incredulous. I didn’t hear:

At the tone, the time will be 4:08: 10 seconds.

No. This is what I heard:

Effective Sept. 19, 2007, the time announcement information service has been discontinued. We apologize for any inconvenience.

My hear was broken when I heard that. What am I going to do when the time changes? What am I going to do when I don’t feel like getting up off the couch again?

Of course, I’m just kidding about the last two questions, but seriously, I am going to miss that service. I remember calling it since I was little. But I guess that everything has to change some time or another.

I know I said this before, and I guess I’m going to have to get used to it, but being a teacher is different than being an assistant. When I was an assistant, not once did I ever go back in the summer for meetings or to get the classroom in order. But, I will be doing it this year. I feel like my summer is winding up so fast.

I may as enjoy this time to relax and unwind because the hustle and bustle will start again soon enough. It’s only July and it’s already time to get ready to get ready to go back to school. When I get paid next month, I will go shopping for Dakota, David, & Phillise. I only need a minimum of about $600 extra to do this. When it comes time, I will post my plan like I did last year about how I plan to make this happen. God made it happen last year, so I have no doubt in my mind that he is going to make it happen again.

I love that children are so honest. People say that little kids are cruel because they say how they feel. I love it They’re so honest with themselves and everyone around them. Life is so much simpler when you’re a kid. I would take the opinion of a kid over an adult any day. Why??? Because a little kid will tell you, not what you want to hear, but what you need to hear. Although there are some adults out there who will do this also, for the most part, it’s a little kid who will tell you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

I wrote/said all that to say that I am still harping on this struggling thing that I’m dealing with. It’s like the same thing, but in a different capacity. I’m talking about feeling guilty for the way that I feel. I don’t give myself permission to feel the way that I feel.

The other day I wrote about giving myself permission to do something different. Today, I give myself permission to feel how I feel- no matter what it is. Even the negative stuff. As of today, I give myself permission to be a kid again!

Have you ever seen a newly formed butterfly struggle out of its cocoon. There are many steps that it has to go through to metamorph to a butterfly.

Now, have you ever heard the story of a man who, seeing the struggle, decides to interfere with nature’s process and help the butterfly out of its cocoon. There were definitely consequences to pay. The man didn’t pay the consequences though, the butterfly did. Since the butterfly did not squeeze out of its cocoon the way nature intended, nature didn’t take its course, blood did not fill the butterfly’s allowing the wings to grow stronger, allowing it fly. The butterfly’s wings did not develop. He did not learn to fly.

As a result of the man’s “helpfulness,” the butterfly was maimed for life. What the man did not realize is that struggle-though it can be hard to watch- is good for us. That’s what I have to tell myself; that a little struggle is good for the soul. I have to tell myself that it’s okay to struggle with somethings sometimes. Struggling is a natural part of life. It’s how we become who we are. We have to struggle so that we can know and appreciate what it’s like when we don’t have to struggle so much.

Once I came to the realization that I am indeed human, I realized that maybe, just maybe, it’s okay to admit that I cannot do everything; that I need help sometimes. However, even though I’ve realized this and have made peace with it, I still don’t do it. I don’t now why, I just don’t.

One of the things I am working on this year is asking for what I need. Even though sometimes it easier to just do it yourself instead of asking for help, believe me when I say that it is better to ask for help when necessary so that you don’t go crazy and have a nervous breakdown.

Remember, asking for help doesn’t make you weak! It’s okay to ask for help if you need it!

The best laid plans of mice and men…

That’s how it feels in regard to my Guys Read book club. I think that we’ve probably started on time once. The start time is 1:15, and it’s only supposed to be 2 hours. However, everyday we start about 2 p.m. and end at about 5, sometimes later. I guess they’re having so much fun that they just don’t want to leave.

Yesterday we went on our weekly trip to the library to return books & get new ones. Let me just say that I have been pleasantly surprised by the fabulous turn out for the summer reading program.

I love that the library offers incentives. They have this thing for the summer called the 1,000 pound book challenge. Children read the book, then weigh it. They are awarded prizes. Yesterday we got Dodger tickets. The kids were psyched. They are looking forward to going.

Have you checked out what your local library is doing for the summer. If not, why not?

Go check it out!

I love children’s literature. You can learn just about anything and everything you need from a children’s book. I love to use books to introduce concepts. This is one of my strong suits. My Math coach loves that I do that. And I did just that when I used this book, Among the Odds & the Evens (written by Priscilla Turner, illustrated by Whitney Turner) to introduce the concept of odd & even numbers to my students during a math lesson. My students loved it and the companion book, which I will review later, called The War Between the Vowels & the Consonants.

This book is perfect for introducing the concept of odd and even numbers, but as with many books, the audience is much greater than that. Even if younger children don’t fully understand what’s going on, they will still like the illustrations. Older children will like how clever the author is. It is a cute little amusing story.

When I first read this, I had to have it. Well, I encountered a bit of difficulty because this particular book and its companion book is out of print. I have seen this book sell for as much as $192.00 in hardcover on Amazon. I was lucky enough to find it on Alibris.co.uk in softcover for $7.95. Although I prefer a hardcover book, I had to weigh my choices- $7.95??? $192.00?????????????? The choice was obvious. I may luck upon it at a swap meet or garage sale one day in hard cover, but for now, I’m satisfied with my $7.95 softcover.

Now on to the review. X & Y, two adventurers from the Land of Letters, crash land into a village- the Kingdom of Wontoo (1,2). Ever the observant ones, they notice that the inhabitants strangely resemble numbers. Even stranger, X, the studious, observant type, notices that the inhabitants seem to be divided into two distinct groups, with some being orderly, predictable, and even-tempered. Y, ever the adventurer, notices that others revel in peculiar dress and odd behavior. One might even call them weird.

As the adventurers are dining, they notice that the Even Wontoois only have even children. Even odder is the fact that the odd Wontoois even have even children. Even stranger, when one parent is odd and the other is even, the children turn out odd.

X, who thinks that it’s quite un-letterlike, is curious as to why this happens, decides to ask if odds ever had odd children like themselves.

“Well,” continued X, “it makes no sense to us. In the Land of Letters, A’s have a’s, B’s have b’s. Everyone has children like himself. And that’s how it should be.”

“I’m sorry if our ways offend you,” 3 said politely but firmly, “but there’s nothing odd about Even children being a product of an Odd pair. Even you must see that.” (This was the part where I told my students to listen up because I was going to ask questions. They really got the concept of odd & even from this book.)

The second biggest priority for X & Y after fixing their Aerocycle, is to get the Wontoois to see things their way. They then set about on their quest of trying to get the Wontoois to see things their way. The Wontoois are appalled. Their custom of Good Manners is the only thing keeping them from calling the Letters rude, interfering fools. They hold a secret town meeting to discuss the fate of X & Y.

What happens to X & Y? Are they banished from the Land of Wontooi? Do the Wontoois finally see things their way?

Well, I guess you’re just going to have to read the book to find out. Let me know how you like it!

This whole year has been so difficult for me. The only thing that I had to look forward to was my summer vacation. Now that it’s here, I’m not doing everything that I planned on doing before summer. I have been wasting it away on the couch.

Well, besides doing my summer book club, I really haven’t fulfilled any of my dreams (smile) of having a glorious, carefree summer. But, I am changing that-little by little. One thing that I have noticed about me, and this probably holds true for others as well, is that I have to do some things in baby steps.

When I’m trying to stop something, I cannot quit cold turkey. I have to do it little by little. The same holds true for starting something. I usually cannot just jump into it. I have to do it little by little also. That is how I am doing with getting things done that I wanted to do during the school year.

What brought me around to this way of thinking was when Phillip and I went on one of our outings to Barnes & Noble. Suddenly I saw things differently. Usually Phillip goes to self-help, business, and/or the computer section, while I go to the children’s section. I even go there even when there when I have no children with me.

Well, today my way of thinking changed. It’s true that picture books are my passion, but that day I gave myself permission to do something different and possibly embrace other passions. I told Phillip that the next time we went I was going to go to a different section.

I saw a book on crocheting, and drawing, etc. There were so many other subjects that I have been cutting myself off from. No more, I say. As of now,  I have decided to expand my mind and give myself permission to do something different. As always, I am going to do it little by little. Wish me luck!

1. I believe in keeping things short and sweet. Useless talk irritates me. I believe in getting straight to the point.
2. I am in a state of flux.
3. I want to know???.
4. I am scared of starting teaching again.
5. I sometimes seriously doubt myself.
6. I am such a geek.
7. I am learning how to draw.

I found this quote today and thought that it was beautiful and so profound. It’s from the National Suicide Prevention hotline’s website: www.hopeline.com

Like to read it, here it is:

I wanted to be you

Better.

More.

Until I learned I am not done.

Each of us is a masterpiece.

Aspire,

Be,

Create,

Dream.

Whew…it’s finally over; the Fancy Nancy party that is. I had been planning it for months. I still feel like there is more I could have done. I always feel like this, especially when I’m throwing a party. this wasn’t a birthday party, it was a FANCY party.

This is what I did:

We decorated wands, cupcakes, and paper. Lastly, they played dress-up and took a ton of pictures. It was great. I was so tired I feel asleep in the chair while sitting up.

While on one of my trips to Barnes & Noble, I picked up some flyers for their Summer Reading with Andrew Clements. It’s called “Imagine If You Called It A Frindle.” It’s based on the best selling book, Frindle, by Andrew Clements.

For reading eight books of their own choosing, children are given a coupon and allowed to choose a FREE book from a special list. To get the coupon for the free book, children need only bring their signed, completed Reading Journal to a Barnes & Noble bookstore between May 29th and September 2nd.

There is a limit of one for per school-age child (grades 1-6). If you would like to know more about this, go to: www.bn.com/summerreading.com

Things for the book club have been going swimmingly. My members have been reading at least 1 book a day on their own, in addition to the one that I’ve been reading them.

Last year, members had to read 10 books to get a prize. This year I decided to lower the amount of books to 5. It’s the first week and they’re all going to get a prize on Monday.

Although I had to cancel the bookclub meeting yesterday because of a funeral I attended, we caught up today.

They’re all under 12, so I can still get away with reading them picture books. One of my members, C, read one of the Time Warp Trio books over night.

I am so proud of them. I will do another update later in the week.

I actually went to the movies. The last time I’ve been is up for debate. Phillip says that it was 2004, while Sam says that it was 2001. I’m not exactly sure, but it was before Phillise was born in 2002.

The movie that I saw this afternoon was Wanted. It was excellent. I can honestly say that it was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. Everything was so great- the plot twists, the special effects, and the surprise ending. I loved it. I knew that it was going to be good, but it far exceeded my expectations. This is what I expected from Jumper. Jumper, sadly, did not deliver.

I am going to buy it on DVD when it comes out. If you like excitement, go and see this movie.

Tuesday was pretty nice. We went to the puppet show @ the local library, we checked out books, came home and did our Guys Read book club thing.

I was pleasantly pleased with one of my members. She went to the restroom and came back with an armload full of books. She presented me with a book that was actually a very good find. It’s called How To Get Your Child to Love Reading by Esme Raji Codell.

It is an excellent book. I was thinking about writing about like this, but my book would not have been anywhere near as thorough as this one. Esme, the author, really knows her stuff. I would definitely call her an expert. Her knowledge on children’s book is astounding.

We had a good time. When I figure out how to put the pix on here, I will do so.

Bye for now!

This book, Fast Friends- A Tail and Tongue Tale- by Lisa Horstman (1994) is a Dr. Seuss Picture Book Award winner. Now, let me tell you the story of when I first bought it. There was a little bit of confusion on my part as to whether or not it was a Dr. Seuss book.

I bought this book some time ago; probably about 10 years ago. When I first bought it, I thought that it was a Dr. Seuss book. I thought hmm… it doesn’t quite look like a Dr. Seuss book, but I saw Dr. Seuss, so I bought it anyway. Once I opened it and found out that it didn’t rhyme like a Dr. Seuss book, that’s when I took another look inside the book and saw that it was not a Dr. Seuss book but a Dr. Seuss Picture Book Award Winner; the first one ever given.

In 1994, Lisa Horstman, a new author, was talented enough to win a contest and have her book published. What a thrill it must have been to beat out all the thousands of entrants, and win $10,000 to boot.

I like researching a finding out all about an author. Even before I started doing book reviews, I was always curious about the author of any book I liked. I wanted to know their thought process as they wrote it, or how long it took to write it. Now, (duh, duh, da, dum), on to the review.

Of course, I liked the book. It’s a very nice book with a simple message- accept people for who they are; even if they’re different.

The book begins by asking if you have a friend who’s completely different from you. If you do, then this is the story for you. We are then introduced to a cow named Blueberry Sprig who’s leaving his small farm to make his way in the world. As he’s going on his merry little way, a fly lands on his back.

“THWAkK,” goes his tail as he expertly flick it off.

“SLURP,” goes Smithfield, the dapper chameleon’s tongue as he catches the bug and gobbles it up. He just happens to be on his way to become a chef for the richest woman in town.

Blueberry tells him that he wants to be a cow-about-town. So, begins their travels as they set about realizing their dreams. They become fast friends. However, as with everything, all good things must come to an end. As it turns out, Blueberry is a bit of slob, while Smithfield is a neat freak.

Blueberry tries to be tidy, but alas, old habits are hard to break, and Smithfield who can’t take anymore, packs his bags and moves in with an old friend. Will things be better where he’s at? Will he miss Blueberry? Will they still be friends?

I guess you’re just going to have to read the book to find out what happens!!!

I also found an interview with the author. If you would like to read it, click here.

Today I attended a very special homegoing celebration. It was wonderful. Of course, there was some crying, but for the most part, it was a celebration of a life well lived. Mrs. L., the deceased, was really a wonderful person. She was kind, gentle, mild mannered, woman who never raised her voice. She was such a selfless woman.

After the tragic death of her sister and brother-in-law, she, being the matriarch of the family, was the natural choice to raise her suddenly parentless nephews, M & J. Her original plan was to take the boys back to her home. However, once she saw how deeply the boys were rooted in the community, she decided to let them stay. She moved out here instead.

She did a good job with those boys. Though it was tragic losing both their parents at the same time, they were blessed enough to have the family matriarch as a second mother.

I only wish that I would have gotten to know her better. I think that I’ll always feel like that. Does anyone really feel like they know anyone all the way? But the only thing that I can do is try to be as selfless as she was.

Until next time people!

This sweet little book is sung to the tune of… hmm…well, you know that commercial with the cute little doggy singing:

There ain’t no bugs on me, on me.

There ain’t no bugs on me.

There may be bugs on some of you mugs,

but there ain’t no bugs on me.

Yeah. It’s sung like that. The book, “I Ain’t Gonna’ Paint No More” from the author & illustrator team of Karen Beaumont & David Catrow, was published in 2005.

The book opens with the little boy’s mother hollering loudly, at the top of her lungs,

“YA AIN’T A-GONNA PAINT NO MORE!,” as she’s putting his paints high up on top of the closet.

So begins the predictable chorus:

I ain’t gonna paint no more, no more,

I ain’t gonna paint no more.

That’s what I say..,

but there ain’t no way

that I ain’t gonna paint no more.

I liked this book because the illustrations bring the words to life, or maybe the words bring the illustrations to life. Either way, the book works. I loved:

1. the rhyming and the
2. predictability

As I read it to my class, I asked them if they knew that commercial that I mentioned above and they did. So I invited them to sing along. They enjoyed it. When I finished it, I asked what they liked the most and of course it was the singing along. One student, Lil’ Man, liked the rhyming.

Although I would suggest this book to those in the age range of mainly 4-6, it does boast a larger audience than that because the ages of my students range from 7-12.

If you have a little one who’s learning how to rhyme, pick this book up for them.

From the author of Goodnight Gorilla, The Day the Babies Crawled Away, & Officer Buckle and Gloria, comes Ruby the Copycat (2006).

I liked the book because it deals with real life situations. Even though this book is great for everyone, it is especially great for little girls, about 5-8, because they are usually the ones who try to emulate other girls, especially the popular ones.

Whenever, I find a book like this, I try to read it to as many people as possible. So, I read it to my class. After I read it, we had a discussion on it. I asked them what they thought the book was about. (Captain Obvious says: Even though the title is Ruby the Copycat, not everyone picks up on that!)

That being said, some did pick up on it and told me that it was about a girl “copycatting” another girl. However, some were waaay off. That’s okay thought. This is typical of any class, not just special ed. In any class, there will be some that are high and there will be some that are low.

Now, on to the review. This book beautifully illustrates at least two things: (1) How not to copy someone else, or to be yourself and (2) consequently, how to find your own special talent.

The story begins on Monday, Ruby’s first day in Miss Hart’s class. She’s assigned to the empty desk behind Angela. Angela, who is tall with long blond hair is a direct contrast to Ruby who is short with short, brunette hair.

From the very beginning Ruby copies Angela. Angela was a flower girl at her sister’s wedding. Well, as it turns out, so was Ruby. Angela has a red bow in her hair. Well, when Ruby returns from lunch, so does she. Angela wears a sweater with daisies on it. After lunchtime, Ruby wears a sweater with yellow & white daisies pinned to it (see front cover). And so on…

At first, Angela is flattered. However, after a while, she becomes annoyed and demands that Ruby stop copying her.

When the bell rings, Miss Hart-the knowing and understanding teacher- sends everyone home for the weekend except Ruby. She asks her to stay after so they can talk. Miss Hart tells Ruby that she doesn’t need to copy everything that Angela does.

“You can be anything you want to be, but be Ruby first. I like Ruby,” she says.

On Monday morning, Miss Hart asks who wants to share. Angela does, and of course Ruby copies her. Miss Hart folds her arms and looks very serious.

“Ruby, dear,” Miss Hart gently says, “did you do anything else this weekend?”

When Ruby answers truthfully what she really did, it sets the stage for revealing her own special talent. Will Ruby stop being a copycat? If you’d like to know how it ends, I guess you’re just going to have to go to the bookstore or the library to read it for yourself.

Trust me, you will enjoy it!

Although I definitely disagree with what he did, I’m sorta’ glad that he did it. I’m talking about one of my students who stole did not return my book, Joey Pigza, to me.  He loved the book because it is about a child with ADHD-his same affliction.

When I introduced the book to the class, he was so enthralled with the idea that someone wrote a book with a character in it just like him. I let him borrow it so that we could discuss it. Once I asked him to return it, he said the he’d already given it back to me.

I know that I’m forgetful, but I know that he didn’t return it because the previous day we talked about him returning the book to me. He said that he would bring it, but he didn’t. I probably would have thought that he lost it if he didn’t have a habit of stealing.

I was a little mad because I have to re-purchase the book. What I’m not mad about is that he liked to book enough to steal it. I wish that he would have just asked for it, but that’s not his style. When he wants something, he just takes it.

Oh well! This is going to sound crazy, but I guess if you’re going to steal something, a book is the best thing to steal.

The book club is going well. I have two more members than last year. One of the members, Zay, is a voracious reader. He’s 11 and he’s already read all of the Harry Potters + The Spiderwick Chronicles. The other member, Chloe, likes to read also.

I have taken out a couple of my books that he and the others will be interested in. Three of them have started chapter books already. For them I have:

• Charlotte’s Web
• Trumpet of the Swan
• Stuart LIttle
• Joey Pigza Swallows the Key
• Jeremy Bloom’s Last Place Sports Poems

That’s all I have for now. We’re going to the library today, so they can check out more. In the LAPL system, they’re having a puppet show today from 3:00- 4:00 p.m. I was surprised that the boys wanted to go. I would have thought that they thought they were too big for that. So, we’ll be there with bells on. All 6 of us!

BTW, what’s stopping you from starting your own book club.

Think about it, then do it!

I found this quote today that spoke volumes to me: Make a sincere effort to apply resolute effort against the forces of inertia, and good fortune will follow.

Basically what it is saying is get up off your keister and something good will happen to you. Of course, I agree with this. I’m not sure if everyone knows how extra-lazy I usually am used to be in the summer. For those of you who didn’t, there it is. Knowing that I don’t have to do anything or be anywhere, I am on my own time schedule. I do what I want when I want. Most of the time that ends up being nothing.

I know that this stems from my being a housewife for most of my adult life. That is why I avoided signing on to a permanent job for as long as I could. This job is my first permanent job. Ever!

I knew last summer that I did not want this to be the case anymore. Although I do enjoy relaxing for a couple of days, after a little while it becomes monotonous, and I don’t know how to break it. I just wallow in nothingness- sitting on the couch all day or surfing the web for hours on end.

In the beginning, there was nothing like it. Relaxing all day and doing nothing. Are you kidding? I was in heaven. I was entranced- hypnotized even- by my new found freedom.

Needless to say, that time is over. I am over the doing nothing. I know that I need to make a conscious decision to better myself and my situation. For everyone, there comes a time when we have to make that decision. No matter what it is you want to change about yourself, you know that you need to do what you need to do to make yourself and/or your situation better.

So, get up off your keister, do what you need to do, and good stuff will happen to you. Partly because you’re making it happen!

Think about it, then do it!

I am so proud of my baby. I read her the book, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett some time last year. A couple of days ago, I read her the sequel to it, Pickles to Pittsburgh, and she noticed right away that it was the same illustrator. She didn’t know that it was the same author (same author & illustrator, btw). She later asked me if it the same author.

I am so, so proud of her. She’s already starting to know her children’s literature. Good job Phillise!

Isn’t it funny how once you expand your mind, you find new and different ways to fill it. I say this because I want more for my children. Ever since the birth of my first child, when I was 19, I decided that I would not be just another statistic; not just another young black woman with no job, education, etc.

Even though it was hard, I continued with my education, but was unable to finish until much later. However, along the way, I and my husband, did manage to do a pretty decent job with our children.

As usual I’ve gotten off track. I tend to do that. And as usual I digress. I started off saying that I have expanded my way of thinking since the time when I was a first time mother who had no idea how the world worked. Now, as a 37, soon to be 38-year old mother of four, I still don’t think that I know enough; as far as being in the know for extra-curricular activities for my children.

I just returned from speaking with my neighbor’s house. We were discussing children going away for the summer. She sends her son every summer. The camps that she showed me looked & sounded wonderful. They were both out of my price range, however. One was $4,300 for the whole summer, while the other was about $1,900. Either way, they were out of my price range.

But, my mind started working. I started thinking that- maybe, just maybe I could afford at least one or two weeks/summer. The camps even let you pay in installments. This is a win-win situation because, if you don’t just have $2,000- $4,000 lying around, then you don’t have the pressure of coming up with the money all at once. Secondly, you can finish paying in installments just in time to qualify for the early bird special- saving you even more money.

That’s why I am going to make a way for David to go to at least one week of camp because it will help to expand his mind. In the camp application, there’s a form for the parent(s) to write the letter to the camp director describing exactly what it is their child most needs to work on.

I like this part of the application process because David is scared of so many things. I want him to go to camp so he can be more independent. He doesn’t like to try new things. He’s so dependent on me for a lot of things; he’s a very young 10. My neighbor’s son, who’s the same age as David, who goes to the camps every summer, is so mature. He’s only 7 months older than David, but his maturity level makes it seem like at least 2 years.

Hopefully, sending him to camp will have a two-fold effect of expanding his mind and being more independent. We’ll see how things unfold!

Until next time people!

Fear imprisons, faith liberates

fear paralyzes, faith empowers

fear disheartens, faith encourages

fear sickens, faith heals

fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable.

Harry Emerson Fosdick

(from Diva Zone-www.divazonemagazine.com)