"Silver and Gold"

Above: 26 stars of remembrance for those who lost their lives in Newtown, CT. Thanks to my beautiful daughter Isabella for helping me with some of the graphics! I love you!

Children. 

Isn't that what Christmas is all about? To try to give them the same joy on Christmas morning that they give to us all year round? A magical time to return the smiles that they give to us and to see their shining faces as they open each present one by one? 

And it all started with the very first gift of Christmas...

A child more precious then silver or gold! 

Our children, the greatest treasure that God can bestow.

Who love us unconditionally both day and night.

   A reward unto itself when We hold Them tight.

That glimmer of innocence in their eyes.

The pain we feel when we hear them cry.

So hold them close and teach them well.

For the value of a child is a gift,

not one can tell.
~Mrs. Jennifer Estrada 

  Have a Blessed and Very Merry Christmas!

"Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf"

The Big Bad Wolf & Little Red Riding Hood featuring The Three Blind Mice. (created by Mrs. Jennifer Estrada)

Many times we go about our daily lives with good intentions, attempting to help out our fellow man. But our day to day benevolence doesn't always come with a warning label! In fact, we on occasion can become blinded by our conscience and moral cultivation. Sometimes situations, or people for that matter, aren't always as they seem.  Einstein was once quoted saying, "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be even more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." I have never found this to be more true as I do now that I am an adult. You can learn a lot from a little old fairy tale and a big dose of good old fashion common sense. Although it is wise to look for the beauty in every situation it is also a necessity for us to take off our rose colored glasses so that we may take heed to the wolves in sheep's clothing!  "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing,  but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ~Matthew 7:15 Did you know the origin of the 'tale' of the Three Blind Mice? The origin of the words to the Three Blind Mice   rhyme are based in English history.  The 'farmer's wife' refers to the daughter  of King Henry VIII, Queen Mary I.  Mary was a staunch Catholic and her  violent persecution of Protestants led to the  nickname of 'Bloody Mary'. The reference to  'farmer's wife' in Three blind mice refers to the  massive estates which she, and her husband  King Philip of Spain, possessed.   The 'three blind mice' were three noblemen  who adhered to the Protestant faith and  who were convicted of plotting against  the Queen - she did not have them dismembered  and blinded as inferred in Three Blind Mice,  but she did have them burnt at the stake. FYI