Ashes of the Past

This picture is to symbolize the ashes of the dead bodies burned in the concentration camps during the holocaust. Millions of Jews were thrown carelessly into crematoriums and their ashes filled the surrounding air. These ashes most definitley represent darkness.

All of the lives that were taken during this time can never be replenished and this is something that the world should never forget.

Holocaust

The term Holocaust
The term Holocaust means great destruction resulting in the loss of life, or a massive slaughter. Nothing compares to the holocaust of the German Jews in the 1940s. Adolf Hitler and his followers killed approximately 6 million innocent Jews. (30 Facts)That is something that can never be undone and something that the Germans can never apologize enough for.
The whole idea of a holocaust is just so tragic and repulsive that it is hard for us to grasp. This mass murder was absolutely sick and I can only hope that someday this country will lose all racism and discrimination.
Although I will dream of this happening, I know in my heart that it never will. Soon enough we will tear each other apart with our hate and anger. Those that were killed will never be forgotten and are survived by those left.

Night by Elie Wiesel
Night will give you an opportunity to see through a true victim's eyes and to learn about the Holocaust like you never have before. Written by Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the mass murder, all of the details in this book are real as can be.
Night is one of those books that everyone should have the chance to read. This book is sure to change your perspective on life and the world as a whole. Wiesel's story is only one of the thousands out there, but his story is one you cannot afford to miss out on.

The Author of Night: Elie Wiesel
Elie Wiesel was born in Sighet, Transylvania in 1928. He was fifteen years old when he and his family were deported by the Nazis to Auschwitz. Wiesel's mother and younger sister were killed, and Elie and his father were later transported to Buchenwald, where his father died as well.
After becoming a journalist, Wiesel had an interview with Francois Mauriac where he was persuaded to write about his experience as a victim of the Holocaust. The outcome was his spectacular novel, Night, which has now been translated into more than thirty languages.
Since 1976, Wiesel has been the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University. He is now the author of more than forty books, fiction and non-fiction, and he lives with his wife in Connecticut.

Works Cited:

"Banality of Evil." Google.com. Google, 29 Apr. 2009. Web. 21 May 2010. .(picture)


"Elie Wiesel." Eliewieselfoundation.org. Elie Wiesel Foundation. Web. 21 May 2010. .

"30 Facts About the Holocaust." University of Maine. University of Maine. Web. 21 May 2010. .

Nature's First Green is Gold

Witnessing the chaning of the season is very exciting when the shift is as colorful as this one. I love watching the brown grass turn to green and the dead plants begin to bloom.

In my front yard there are two huge pecan trees that have made an amazing transition from the Winter season to the Spring.

They have become beautiful, lush green trees that all eyes will turn to see when driving past my house and I am happy to see them standing tall and bright every morning when I walk out my front door.

Batesville's Prom 2010

Prom is this Friday and everyone has been waiting in anticipation for this day for what seems like forever! We will probably have a lot of fun Friday night and the best part, for me, will probably be getting ready and taking pictures.

I am not much of a dancer so I am definitely not excited about that part of the night. I will not be "shaking my groove thing" because I am almost positive it's not possible for me to do.

I still have a lot to do before Friday, like getting my hair and nails done, buying shoes, ordering crosages, and decorating my gaurter! I guess I have procastinated maybe a bit too long but I'm sure everything will pull through by Friday and we will have a wonderful time!

To Live in the 1920s

Living in the 1920s would obviously be a lot different from living in the present day. I can't say that I would rather live in the 1920s because I am happy living the way I am now.

Here in the present day we have so much technology that we use every single day and without it life would be much more difficult. Also, I believe that we have come to a point in our society where racism is nearly diminished. Unfortunately, back then that wasn't the case and things were much different. Hopefully someday racism will be completely evaporated.

I also like living now because I have such a wide variety of music to listen to and in the 1920s a lot of the music that I love would not have been around for years to come. One cool thing about the 1920s is the start of the Miss America pageant and how it actually began really shocked me. The Miss America Pageant Association has definitely come a long way!

St.Patrick's Day

I can't say that I've ever really understood the meaning of St.Patrick's Day. I mean, who does know why we celebrate it? We are in America, not Ireland! To be honest, leprechans freak me out anyway. Green is a great color but why do I have to be pinched if I don't wear it on St.Patrick's Day? I can't help it if I forget to put some green on before leaving my house! I don't like being reminded of the holiday with a painful pinch! I guess St.Patrick's Day isn't that bad, though. Wal Mart does sale some pretty cool hats and decor around the holiday!

The Kite Runner, Written By Khaled Hosseini

Amir and Hassan, two young Afghan boys, were best friends from day one. They grew up together, living under the same roof. However, there was a difference in Amir and Hassan and this difference seemed very important to some. Some cannot stand to mix cultures, no matter who and what the circumstance is.

When Amir witnesses the most terrifying thing possible happening to his best friend, he should jump in and save him without a doubt, right? Amir loved Hassan and there is no question that Hassan truly loved him as well. Even so, Amir somehow could not find it inside of him at that very moment in time to do what he knew he should.

A once beautiful friendship ran full and deep like an ocean but soon that ocean went dry and nothing was left but the memories in the dust. This story is one that should have the chance to touch every life. Not only can the reader learn life lessons by the actions of this character, Amir, but also about the culture in Afghanistan. I never knew how different America and Afghanistan were until I had the opportunity to read Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner".

Get Your CPR Certification Now!

Two years ago in July, my dad had a reaction to his blood pressure medication, his blood pressure spiked and his heart stopped. Standing there, looking down at my dead father, I came to realize how quickly life can simply evaporate right before your eyes.

Caught up in the moment, I just stood there screaming, crying, and praying to God that my dad's heart would somehow miraculously start beating again. At this moment, my mother raced to my dad's side and began to administer CPR.

My own mother, acting like a hero, saved my dad's life that day. If my mom hadn't been there to perform CPR on my dad, he would not be alive today. As sad as it is, I couldn't have rescued my dad because I wouldn't have known where to begin.

Soon after that life-changing day, I recieved my CPR certification and I have spread the word about my personal experience. Don't hesitate to earn your CPR certification now. Learn the skills and have the abilitly to save a life!

Get your own

CPR certification right now.

Committed

I have always been committed to my music as well as my family and someone who shares both of these commitments is my friend, Todd. Todd has been a singing songwriter/musician his entire life and there is nothing that can alter his love for music.

Although he has such a musical passion, he also cares just as much about his family. A life in the music business is a busy, and sometimes stressful, life. Even though he is always busy creating music and living out his dream, he never fails to make time for his family.

His children are all very important to him as are his parents and his brother, Lonn. His sisters are close to him too but living far away makes it difficult to keep the relationships alive. Through phone calls, letters, and emails Todd keeps the love between himself and his family strong.

I hope that I can be like him someday and have a happy medium between the two things that I love most, my music and my family.

Love Long Gone

Through the years, I have witnessed so many disagreements within my family that easily turn into grudges. It's hard for me to understand the actions of most of my famly members and I just cannot find sympathy for these people. How could anyone discard someone once so close to heart? Life molds us all in different ways and, yes, it can hold quite an effect on our relationships but when it comes to family, nothing should ever be more superior.

I will never forget the phone call my family recieved, now two years ago. I was shocked, excited, upset, but all the same, blessed. Learning of my sister's pregnancy was a huge deal for awhile. Nichole was a young college student, so close to graduation, out of wedlock of course, and pregnant by a young black man with two other children. It took my parents some time to take this all in but our love for her never swayed and we were behind her 100%, all the way.

I wish I could say the same thing happened with her mother and step father, but unfortunatley that is not how things turned out. Soon, my sister had been disowned by her own mother and her step father. The woman who gave birth to her, housed her all her life, loved her from the first moment of conception, had now abandoned her. This was the last thing my sister needed while already going through the stress of the pregnancy and we had to be there for her, more than ever.

Nichole is a strong woman and I hope to someday be like her because she can make it through anything, I swear! Kortlin Ryder Rogers is now almost three years old and he could not be more perfect. I feel sorry for those who are missing out on his life. Kortlin will always have one set of grand parents, my parents, but the other set, he will never know.