The Secret Diamond Sisters Book Cover Reveal By, Michelle Madow

The Secret Diamond Sisters Book Cover Reveal

 By, Michelle Madow

"A Book is a book. Sometimes you learn from it 

And sometimes you don't."

~MPP; 2006 

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

The 59th Anniversary of The Tragedy at Oradour Sur Glane June 10, 1944

 The 59th Anniversary of 

The Tragedy at Oradour -Sur- Glane 

June 10, 1944

Oradour, France 

"Souviens -Toi"

Sad but something to always remember. On June 10, 1944, 4 days after the Germans were defeated at Normandy. Out of Pure Rage Hitler and his Nazi's marched to Oradour -Sur- Glane, a small town in France and Killed 642 Men, Women and Children,while blowing up the town. 

   I had the opportunity to visit there in 02' and while there we talked with a woman who was there the day it happened. She and her brother were hiding in the bushes and saw their parents killed. I seriously felt like some had dumped a ice cold bucket of water over me head. A moment I will always remember. As I was leaving I saw a photo of a little girl and boy and underneath it it said: "SOUVIENS-TOI" Always remember

Clockwork Princess Book Revew

Clockwork Princess Book Review

April 5, 2013 

“Tess, Tess, Tessa.

Was there ever a more beautiful sound than your name? To speak it aloud makes my heart ring like a bell. Strange to imagine that, isn’t it – a heart ringing – but when you touch me that is what it is like: as if my heart is ringing in my chest and the sound shivers down my veins and splinters my bones with joy.

Why have I written these words in this book? Because of you. You taught me to love this book where I had scorned it. When I read it for the second time, with an open mind and heart, I felt the most complete despair and envy of Sydney Carton. Yes, Sydney, for even if he had no hope that the woman he loved would love him, at least he could tell her of his love. At least he could do something to prove his passion, even if that thing was to die.

I would have chosen death for a chance to tell you the truth, Tessa, if I could have been assured that death would be my own. And that is why I envied Sydney, for he was free.

And now at last I am free, and I can finally tell you, without fear of danger to you, all that I feel in my heart.

You are not the last dream of my soul.

You are the first dream, the only dream I ever was unable to stop myself from dreaming. You are the first dream of my soul, and from that dream I hope will come all other dreams, a lifetime’s worth.

With hope at least,
Will Herondale” 
~ Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Prince

Now for my Book Review.... 

What a great end to an amazing Series!!! From the very beginning I fell in love with these amazing characters. Cassandra Clare has created such an unforgettable world and unforgettable characters. I honestly didn't know how it was going to end. From the beginning I was Team Will, and even to the last page I was Team Will then I became Team Jem as well. I am so glad that Tessa was able to have the best of both Worlds in the past and present and even in the future. I love how all the questions that we as fans of the Infernal Devices wanted to know are answered. I love how in some of the conversations between the characters reflects back to the beginning of the series. Moments such as those brought a smile to my face. There were so many awe so sweet moments and so many what is happening here and what just happened moments!! It made me happy that Will and Cecily who is also one of my favorite characters were able to mend ties with their parents!! I also really enjoyed the heart felt conversations between Tessa and Jem and Will and Tessa, and of course the last heart felt conversation between Will and Jem!! In this book we really get to know Magnus Bane and see not only his funny witty side but his sincere side as well!! There also was so much growth with most every character throughout this series as well. I laughed and I cried and there were even moments where I wanted to throw the book across the room!! In the end I was very happy with the way it ended. I am so glad that Cassandra Clare included the family tree for the Herondales, Carstairs and Lightwoods, with the book. It was way neat to see who was related to who all the way up to the present. I couldn't ask for a better ending!!! I am sad to say good bye to these characters for I felt that I was on a crazy and wonderful adventure right along with the characters till the very end. I highly recommend this book!!!!

 

 

An Adventure in Rupert Idaho

An Adventure in Rupert Idaho 

March 22 & 23, 2013

"Where you are going Bilbo?" 

I am going on an adventure!" 

~Bilbo Baggins; The Hobbit

 

My Mom and I decided to go an adventure to Idaho. My niece lives in Nampa Idaho and she decided to come visit family in Utah, for spring Break. After talking to her we decided to go pick her up in Twin Falls Idaho, so she wouldn't have to drive all the way to Utah. The weather was suppose to be decent enough to drive in not knowing that it would turn into a blizzard on the way back. After picking up Sadie in Twin Falls well that is after we took the wrong exit meaning we took the Twin "Falls" exit not knowing that would take us to the falls and not the actually city well so we thought. After what it seemed like hours and talking to Sadie and getting directions from her we finally found it. My mom and I found it quite hilarious and so typical that we got lost. After finally picking up Sadie with Sadie's sigh of exasperation lol we went to this small town cafe called Connor's it was way yummy!! Sadie unfortunately got a stomachache but she said that it was because she ate too much, poor little Sadie. On the road again we put directions back to Ogden in the GPS so we wouldn't miss where the turn off was.... An hour or so later Sadie is asleep in the back seat and I am playing on my phone and of course we miss the exit!!!! My mom starts to panic because at that point it has started to snow. Instead of being on 84 west we are on 86 west so now we have to figure out how to get back on 84. I proceeded to put directions to 84 on my phone so we could continue going the right way. After turning around we were heading in the right direction. A few miles down the road there was a SUV that had flipped over on its back and I told my mom we have to pull over to see if they are okay and also since I am first aid and CPR certified I am required to stop to help. My mom had called 911 in the mean time and she was so frazzled from the storm she had a hard time giving directions to where we were. Luckily two other cars had pulled over and were helping the people and someone else had called 911 a few minutes before we did. No one was hurt who were in the SUV so that was a huge relief. While helping the people I made a new friend that was traveling to Twin Falls for spring break so that was nice to make a new friend and on the plus side he was way cute!!! After getting back in the car my mom decided to call home and tell my dad that we were going to stay the night in Rupert Idaho which is a small town 10 minutes from where we were. My dad eventually was okay with the idea since trying to drive home in the blizzard was no longer an option. I goggled places to stay in Rupert and we were very blessed to come upon Henry's Drift Inn and Restaurant. This place that we stayed in used to be a First National Bank that was built in 1939. I told Said the place was probably haunted ha ha. I always think old places like this are probably haunted. Sadie totally believed me ha ha I then told her it probably wasn't lol! The room we stayed in was very awesome and very roomy. Even though my mom and didn't have a change of clothes and other necessities we were able to pull our resources together and make do with what we had. It being a hotel so toiletries were provided thank goodness for that!  It was a very fun night of playing Yahtzee and watching Movies. The next day we went for brunch and walked around the small town. We left in the afternoon and made it home safely. I know that Heavenly father works in mysterious ways and I think this happened for a reason in a very scary disguise because of the storm! I will always remember this night and now can laugh about how crazy everything was but It will always be a fond memory!!!!

 

Changing Lives one child at a time

Changing Lives one child at a time.

March 13, 2013

"Do not expect to be Perfect at once. 

If you do you will be disappointed. 

Be better today than you were yesterday,
 And be better tomorrow than you are today." 
 ~President Lorenzo Snow 

My jobs consists of working for Club Heights Afterschool Program, and running the P.E. Program. You may think that I am brave, crazy and out of my mind for wanting to work with kids 5 days a week, but I look at it as changing lives one child at a time. I love my job and I know like many others I am not doing it because I get paid billions of dollars, but I do it because I want to make a change in the lives of the kids I teach. Yes, they drive me crazy and I want to duct tape them to their seats so that they will sit still. Ha ha like I would ever do that, but in all reality I love the kids I teach they bring a smile to my face daily. I learn so much from them and I in turn can teach them how to change the world and make a difference, well at least I try to lol!! 

      Anyway I came across this short story while in the faculty room I thought it was very profound and it got its point across. I hope after you read this that you too will understand what we as teachers do everyday to help the kids we teach.

                 The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" 

                To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make? Teacher Bonnie who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)

    "Well,  I make kids work harder then they ever thought they could. 

I make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 minutes without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental. 

You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them apologize and mean it. 

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them how to write and then I make them write. 

Keyboarding isn't everything.  

I make them read,read,read.

I make them show their work in math. 

They use their God given brain,not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. 

Finally, I make them understand that if they use their gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life. 

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay not attention because they are ignorant. 

Yo want to know what I make? 

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ALL OF YOUR LIVES, EDUCATING KIDS AND PREPARING THEM TO BECOME CEO's, AND DOCTORS AND ENGINEERS.... 

What do you make Mr. CEO? 

His Jaw Dropped; and he went silent. 

                 I loved this, because like many people they forget or are ignorant and forget the impact we as teachers have in so many lives. And we are the ones that will send them off to become; doctors, lawyers, CEO's and Engineers, because without us they wouldn't be able to get to where they want to go in life. 

  

Winter in Farmington Utah

Winter in Farmington Utah 

January & February 2013

"As tiny drops of water shape a landscape, 

so our minute-by-minute choices shape our character." 

~ President James E. Faust, 

Voice of the Spirit 

pg. 4 June 2006 Ensign 

This winter has been horrible. I always try to look for the positive in everything in my life. It seems that everyday more and more snow comes down, ahhhh when will it ever stop!!! Sometimes I think that Spring will never come and it will be Winter forever!!! I know that Spring will come but right now it really doesn't seem like it will. My friends and I talk about pinging ourselves to a tropical Island only if that were possible, *sigh.* Besides all of the snow the air quality has been horrific and for sure does not help with my sinus problems!! On the slightly brighter side of it all, my dog Sophie sure loves the snow she loves to jump and play in it and not forgetting her favorite of all would be eating the snow. My mom and I take her for walks everyday up Shepherd Creek Trail in Farmington, which is a very beautiful place to be. Pushing all the downs of winter I decided to photograph it instead. Maybe through all of this there is a silver lining.