RIP Maya Angelou- Still I Rise

Still I Rise

Maya Angelou, 1928 - 2014

 

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

The Best Graduation Gifts- I love the sentimental ones!!

Hi!

This year Landon will be graduating 1st grade and Coco will be graduating Pre K and going to Kindergarten in the fall. While I am not ready for big graduation gifts, I am starting to think of the sentimental things I can do NOW that will have a big pay off when they graduate high school!


One of the things you can start ANY TIME at ANY AGE is:

1) Oh The Places You'll Go- By Dr. Seuss:

Have your childs teacher sign this book every year and then give it to them at graduation. Coco and Landon's books started in Pre K so they will be FULL! This is an inexpensive and oh so meaningful gift! One of my favorites and I try to tell everyone about it!

2) I have also seen: The Letters:

Write a letter to your child each year at the same time (you can even add a little money each time) and then when they turn 18 they have a great graduation gift!

3) Story People Print:

My Mom had given me some of these, but now there are even better more sentimental art pieces you can buy from story people. I like the prints best. This one is amazing.

Love this one too:

3. Memory Books-

I am the queen of the snapfish photo book and now that I am adding quotes like this I am the tear jerking queen!

I love doing a book of photos and story so they can see their whole year and how much they've grown.

I also love giving this book:

4) Just Who Will You Be- By Maria Shriver

For a comprehensive list of amazing graduation gifts I loved... Look at what  'How Does She?" Posted. Click here.

What's your favorite graduation gift?

Throw Back Thursday- My First Mothers Day!

My first Mother's Day.

After doing in vitro and struggling with Landon's birth this was a true celebration!

Stay tuned for my Mothers Day give away!