Innocence: Childhood Memories, Song by Avril Lavigne

"This innocence is brilliant, I hope that it will stay
This moment is perfect, Please don't go away.."

~ "Innocence" by Avril Lavigne

The song "Innocence" by Avril Lavigne has always reminded me of the last moments that my daughter Nora was home with me before her father took her away when she was five years old. I was a stay-at-home mom since my children were born, my whole world centered around the care and nurturing of my children. The loss of my children has hit my heart with the impact of a meteor smashing into earth. I grieve the loss of my children everyday, and cherish the memories that I have of them. 

Innocence: Sunlight filtered through brittle branches, casting a kaleidoscope of shadows on the woodland floor. Nora and I liked to explore the local parks, and today we walked side by side through the nature preserve. The wind gently whispered a language I could not decipher but Nora heard. She took off running down the hillside path just as the window plucked straggly brown and gold leaves from a tall tree. I remember how Nora raced through the woods, laughing as the leaves fell on her shoulders. With every step Nora clunked and rattled, her pockets were full of the “treasures” she found – rocks, small branches, a lost button… she was always collecting things.

Innocence: I have saved every drawing and picture, Nora made, from when she was just a small toddler to now, as she is growing into a young teen. How Nora liked to draw, telling stories with pictures even before she could write. I was the same way as a child, a natural writer, who began writing stories with pictures of stick figures and square houses with triangle roofs, the simple drawings could not convey the adventures my mind was dreaming of.

I remember spending hours with Nora, curled up together, with her head resting against my heart, as we read books. There were more books, and notebooks of drawings in her bedroom than toys.

I remember teaching Nora how to write Haiku... patiently teaching her to count out syllables, stringing short sentences into word pictures

My daughter, my joy 
A diamond mined from my heart 
You are a treasure.

No matter how difficult things have been, and how painful it is that my daughter is not with me, I pray that a part of her heart has kept that innocence, the hopes and dreams of childhood. For in the innocence, you will find me, your Mommy standing at the edge of the woods, as the leaves fall, I catch you as you run into my outstretched arms.

Tu Eres Mi Corazon. xoxo

 ~ Daylen Swift, 2016

Cute Kid Story: Captain America is Constipated!

(Picture Source: moviepilot.com)

My lil guy J.C. was painting with water colors today, amazed at how a dip of the brush into a cup of water brought colors to life on paper.

 "Mom, what happens when you mix all the colors together?", J.C. asks.

 "I am not sure...let's find out."

 "It makes a masterpiece!", J.C. says. I watched as J.C. swirled the colors into shapes, the shapes formed circles and smiling faces. Stories were forming on the page.

J.C. has grown into a love of reading from his older sister Nora, who takes time to cuddle up to him, and share a story. I read to Nora as a child, and enjoyed snuggling up with her and a good book. Now Nora is writing and illustrating books...taking up a family talent that I have inherited, and my father as a storyteller, and generations going back when slaves were not allowed to go to school or learn to read so they relied on reserves on creativity and inventiveness to craft their talent.

J.C. quickly filled one page and so I gave him another sheet of paper. Only this sheet was curling at the edges and needed to be weighted down. So I grabbed the sturdy, plastic Captain America doll dressed in blue tights with snug red boots, a signature white star painted on his chest, and half a mask covering his face.
J.C. was not content with Captain America being used as just a paper weight... no, he needed some color too! J.C. picked up his brush and stabbed Captain America with green, yellow and red. Soon Captain America was swimming in psychedelic water color, the star on his chest dyed a rainbow.

"Very nice,", I commented as J.C. painted purple facial hair on Captain America, who now donned a purple beard and a smear of a mustache.. or was that a frown?

"He's constipated.", J.C. said, "Captain America is constipated." He jabbed Captain America with the paintbrush again, bathing him in blue and orange.

I giggled. "Constiptated, huh? Ouch!"

"Con-sti-pated.". J.C. said slowly, rolling the words in his mouth, "'Cuz he's being painted!"

"Do you even know what 'constipated' means?" I asked.

"Yea. He's constipated! He's painted!". J.C. said proudly, holding up a soggy Captain America dripping in various shades of color and hue. He smiled big.

That didn't come out well. Then again, I don't think I need to rush to explain to a toddler what it really means... J.C. will just have to be "constipated" until I am ready to tell him. Until then, we can share this little laught over his error.

~ Daylen Swift, Jan. 2016

AIRPLANES (MOMMY AND KIDS REMIX)

My children and I love to listen to music, and sing or dance together. My son "Bear" is always excited to share the latest music he has downloaded to his tablet. His lil brother JC is known to stand on a chair and shake his booty to Monstercat (grin).

My daughter Nora loves dramatic music with a deep, soulful message. Nora expresses her thoughts and feelings through music, it has always been that way. Some of my best memories are of listening to music with my 3 beautiful children.

One of our favorite songs is "Airplanes" by B.O.B feat. Haley Williams. To honor my children, and tell our stories, I have remixed "Airplanes" to tell our stories. I could really use a wish right now... and I'd wish my children were home again, where the belong, with their loving Mommy and lil brother.

xoxox Tu eres mi corazon xoxox ~ Daylen Swift, 2015 ___________________________________________

(Pic: "Wish Upon a Star" By nofacecme) AIRPLANES (MOMMY AND KIDS REMIX Yeah, yeah I could use a dream or a genie or a wish

To go back to a place much simpler than this

Cause just one visit a month ain’t enough

The time flies so fast, and then it’s goodbye…

And all the pandemonium and all the madness

There comes a time when you fade to the blackness

And when you're staring at the phone in your lap

And I’m hoping to hear a word on how you are

But that's just how the story unfolds

You get another hand soon after you fold

And when your plans unravel in the sand

What would you wish for, if you had one chance?

I'd wish for my kids to come home,

And for all the pain to fade away

So airplane airplane sorry I'm late

I'm on my way so don't close that gate

If I don't make that then I'll switch my flight and

I'll be right back at it by the end of the night







Chorus







Yeah yeah somebody take me back to the days

When I made a picnic, and we played in the park

Read stories, and said prayers at dark

Yeah back when I was a stay at home Mommy

And back then so many things I took for granted

But nowadays I’m blogging to just stay relevant

Prayers and Letters to the Children

If can make some wishes out of airplanes

Then maybe oh maybe I'll go back to the days

Before family court stole you away

And back when we were a family

And back when we sung to “Airplanes” like rap stars

But this is for my children from your loving Mommy

So can I get a wish to bring my family together again

And get back to love, and to making happy memories

So here I stand and then again I say

I'm hoping we can make some wishes outta airplanes

Mom Braves the T-Rex That Almost Ate the House

The lights flickered on and off; the house shook from its foundation to the shingles. The sky darkened as the ferocious T-Rex neared… tree branches snapped then flung against the window in broken splinters, lightning tore through the sky….

I screamed in terror, and kicked the quilt from my bed. The small feet of a 6 year old slapped against the white and lime green linoleum floor. I shoved my bedroom door open, there was a boom as the door hit the wall, and another boom as the hungry T-Rex approached. Down the hall I ran, into Mom’s bedroom. I launched through the air, bouncing the cat off the end of the bed, and slamming my small body into a pile of blankets and pillows.

“There’s a T-Rex coming to eat us!” I cried to Mom, who mumbled in a dreamy reply.

Mom was there, somewhere, under the covers, warm and safe, and totally unaware of the coming menace. The cat hissed from somewhere on the floor. Then jumped back to his favorite spot at the end of the bed.

“Did you hear the roar?” I screamed, “My night-light went out too! The T-Rex is coming!”

Mom threw her arms out, struggling to sit. Her eyes were squinted with half-sleep. Her hair stood up in all directions. There was a loud pounding noise followed by hard droplets of rain pelting  the window.

“That’s just the storm, go back to sleep.” Mom said

“But I heard…”

“It’s thunder. Thunder is just angels bowling in Heaven.” Mom explained.

I curled into the powder blue comforter decorated with small blue roses, somewhat skeptical.

“Strike!” Mom cheered faintly with another boom, “The angels are having a good time tonight.”

I imagined an angel rolling a large bowling ball at the T-Rex, knocking him from the sky, he fell back into an overgrown jungle, and disappeared behind a massive palm tree.

I could have swore I heard a T-Rex…but that was what angels are for, to keep you safe.

~ Daylen Swift, ©  Sept. 2015

Psalm 91:11, “For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways..”

A Lesson in Child's Song: "Jesus Loves Me, This Time Out"

It is pretty common for children to sing a song, and get a few words mixed up. My son did just that today, when singing "Jesus Loves Me". At first I chuckled but when I stopped to think about what he was really saying, I was amazed by the truth contained within those "mixed up" words. 

My toddler JC was listening to praise and worship music today, he says to me, "Mommy, play that song, I will sing and you dance."

JC was belting it out to "Jesus Loves Me" when I heard something unusual... "Jesus loves me, this time out.. "

At first, I thought it was funny and started to laugh but then I began to think a 'lil deeper... When my son is misbehaving, he goes to "time out" for a few minutes. When he is calm, we sit together and talk about what happened, then find a way to resolve the issue. I don't just talk at JC; I encourage him to share what he is feeling or thinking, and help me find a solution. I often tell JC to "ask for help if you need" or "you can always say a prayer and Jesus will help you." 

What my son was really singing was that Jesus loves him, even when he makes a mistake. Even when my son -- or any of us - is not at our best, Jesus loves us. Maybe we have hurt someone or broken the rules, maybe we lashed out in anger, or just let a bad day get the best of us...in our "time out" - in our struggles, in our pain, at the times we have pushed everyone else away Jesus loves us. Wholly. Unconditionally. Without reservation.

Jesus will bring light to our dark times. He will heal. Restore. And forgive. 

Just like I had been teaching my son through the use of "time out", I could apply a similar approach to my faith walk. To take a moment approach Jesus with a humble heart, willing to accept His instruction. To submit my will, my ideas, my way of doing things to Jesus. To confess my faults, and turn away from wrongdoing.  

"Jesus loves me, this time out..." This simple song was a gentle but powerful reminder -  a few minutes in "time out" was enough to help change my son's behavior, a few minutes (or more) with God would be life changing. I need a "time out" with Jesus. 

~ Daylen Swift, 2015

Joel 2:13,"Rend your heart, and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."

Proverbs 8:17, "I love those who love Me, and those who diligently seek me will find me."

Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"

2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Birthday Party for My Child

My son's birthday is coming soon, one of the happiest days in my life, and I am sure his. 

This is also a sad day for us. Since my ex is engaging in parental alienation, his typical tactics of harassment will be to either 1) not let me see my child at all on their birthday (which he did with my daughter this year) or 2) make it as difficult, and painful, as possible to show he has all the power, and then let me visit my children. 

My son loves his mother, little brother and other family members. He wants to come home, and spend time with his family. My son is already thinking of the future, and when he is able to make his own decisions. This separation is only temporary, one day we will be together again. My son just wants his family in his life - both mom and dad. I agree with him. As a child, he should not have to ask or even thing about something so fundamental...that both parents be a supportive, positive influence in his life. Adults should work out their differences privately, and never involve children in their personal issues. Parental Alienation is child abuse, it is very damaging to a child, and leaves scars that last a lifetime.

So I decided to throw my son a birthday part on the blog, to let him know how special he is, and to celebrate his special day. 

Music to dance to.. Bear loves Monstercats so we are dedicating "Birthday Cake" to you. Your little brother is dancing around the house in his "Turtle costume". He is wearing a plastic turtle shell on his back and green underwear with no pants because "turtles don't wear pants!" H-i-i-i-ya!

And here is some cake.... can you guess who picked this out (lol)

Balloons

Presents!!!

I love you Bear, and thank God for you every day! Tu eres mi corazon <3

~ Mommy, JC, and Pets

"I love you. Happy Birthday!" from your little brother, JC

Let the Forest Echo with Laughter (Marghanita Hughes) - Video and Commentary

A beautiful video about the importance of play and exploration for children...  

Title: "Let the Forest Echo with Laughter"
By: Marghanita Hughes

The Vimeo video has a different song, and is also amazing: https://vimeo.com/60349873

When I was a child, I loved to play in the woods. I have fond memories of exploring, and playing under the emerald awning of leaves. I rarely wore shoes and loved the feel of the earth beneath the soles of my feet. I would slide down the red, sandy cliffs..laughing as I tumbled, and skipped like the stones pushing me along. One time I found some crumbling pottery at the bottom of the ravine, and was convinced it was treasure. Then there was the time I tried to follow my cat to see where he went...it was funny how my cat gave me this look like "leave me alone!". I kinda felt like the pesky sister following her brother.

Playing outdoors really help to grow my creativity. To this day, I turn off the TV and try to get my kids outside as much as possible. My kids are getting older but still love to run and play outside. We explore back roads to discover small towns and interesting sites. No matter how far we roam, all roads lead back home. 

~ Daylen Swift