Sioux Tribe - Lakota Children

Last Saturday I met two Native American students ( Lakota – Sioux Tribe) and Fr. Stephen Huffstetter, Director of the St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota It was a great experience.

 St. Joseph’s Indian School is a residential education facility for Native American children. Students are never charged tuition. Admission is based on their need for a safe home, and a quality education. Students are not accepted or denied based on tribal affiliation or blood degree. Most students are Lakota (Sioux).

 

Some of the children have been neglected or abused, so the family living program is a chance for them to develop a healthy relationship with dependable adults. For many children, this is their first time with a stable, secure family.

 

The campus has 19 student homes with 12 students living in each home with two house parents. Students participate in household chores, including cooking and laundry, learning the skills necessary to live independently as an adult.

 

St. Joseph's has developed a "Circle of Life" home curriculum with four components: social skills, spiritual / moral development, peer helping and recreation. The curriculum was designed in alignment with the four Lakota values of respect, wisdom, generosity and courage. It also embraces Christian values in character development.

While attending St. Joseph’s Indian School, Native American youth receive loving care and a well-rounded education. The youngest students are six years old. The elementary school on campus is for students in grades 1 – 8.

The high school students – still part of St. Joseph’s program – attend Chamberlain Public High School, where they participate in numerous groups, clubs and are an active part of the Chamberlain community.

After high school graduation, the school offers scholarships to Native American students seeking higher education.

 Though the school is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, students are not required to be Catholic to attend. Many different denominations are represented, including Episcopalian, other Christian Faiths and traditional Lakota spirituality. Some students have no religious background.

The school does not receive regular federal funding or funding from the Catholic Church.

The school depends solely on charitable contributions from friends. Thanks to the kindness of people, St. Joseph’s is able to independently raise the funds necessary for the annual operating budget.

History

Fr. Henry Hogebach, SCJ came to the United States in 1923 in search of funding for the established mission of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, SCJs. When he saw the conditions Native American people were living in, he made the decision to stay in South Dakota and open a school for Native American children. Today, Fr. Hogebach’s dream endures.

To find out more about the St. Joseph’s Indian School and how you can help, go to their website

www.stjo.org

or call 1-800-584-9200

Thank you for reading my post!

Enjoy your day!

LOST LOVE - Nik P

Have you ever experienced these emotions Nik P describes in his song?

Lyrics (translated)
I have seen how you kiss him, how you take him into your arms
I have seen how you touch him
I have seen how you make him smile and how you play with his hair,
I have seen how he touches you

Ohohohoho…. I am not over it    Ohohoho…

Chorus:
As long as I can see our stars up in the sky
I know that you are still in my heart
As long as I can read our names up there in the sky
I know that you are still my great love….

I have lost my mind when we broke up
I do not want to find another love
I was crazy because of you
I thought I would be over it
Now I look like the monster Frankenstein,
with my soul scratched up I walk through the night all alone through the night - ohohohoooooo

  Chorus:
As long as I can see our stars up in the sky
I know that you are still in my heart
As long as I can read our names up there in the sky
I know that you are still my great love….
 Ohhohooo I can’t get over it  Ohhohooo

Because I miss you so much, so much
I learned from you what love is,
What a friend and buddy is,
I do not give up as long there is hope,

Chorus:
As long as I can see our stars up in the sky
I know that you are still in my heart
As long as I can read our names up there in the sky
I know that you are still my great love….

As long as I can see our stars up in the sky
I know that you are still in my heart
As long as I can read our names up there in the sky
I know that you are still my great love….

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

DO NOT DWELL IN THE PAST

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." - Buddha

Enjoy the moment!

CUANDO ME ENAMORO - When I fall in love

REVERIES

LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES

Life is full of surprises and serendipity. Being open to unexpected turns in the road is an important part of success.

If you try to plan every step, you may miss those wonderful twists and turns. Just find your next adventure - do it well, enjoy it and then, not now, think about what comes next. - Condoleeza Rice

ENJOY YOUR DAY!

 

 

 

 

ROMANTIC MUSIC FROM THE PAST

I just cannot believe it that I stumbled upon a song which my Mama loved so much. It brought back many memories. She used to call me lovingly "My schwarzer Zigeuner" because I had black long hair, was free spirited, and played the piano.

Enjoy this romantic music from the past!  Have a great weekend!

Love - Relationship

MYTH #6:
A GREAT RELATIONSHIP LETS YOU VENT ALL YOUR FEELINGS - Dr. Phil McGraw

Getting things off your chest might feel good, but when you blurt something out in the heat of the moment, you risk damaging your relationship permanently. Many relationships are destroyed when one partner can't forgive something that was said during uncensored venting.

Before you say something you might regret, bite your tongue and give yourself a moment to consider how you really feel. The things we say while we're letting loose often don't represent how we really feel and shouldn't be communicated — especially if they are potentially destructive.
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Enjoy your day!

 

UNITED WE STAND

 

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To live is to experience things, not to sit around pondering the meaning of life - Paulo Coelho

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holding on to anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles, a headache and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth.

 

Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life.

 

Joan Lunden, in Healthy Living Magazine

 

THE RAINMAKER - YANNI

YANNI - a great composer and musician. Currently he is on a world tour. His music is riveting, uplifting and moving.

Take a little time off  to relax and enjoy his music!

Have a great day!

YOU ARE THE FIRE

"You are the fire that keeps me warm inside" 



Relationship MYTH #5: (Dr. Phil McGraw)

A GREAT RELATIONSHIP IS A PEACEFUL ONE

Don't be afraid to argue because you think it's a sign of weakness or relationship breakdown. Even the healthiest couples argue.

If approached properly, arguing can actually help the relationship by (a) releasing tension and (b) instilling the sense of peace and trust that comes from knowing you can release feelings without being abandoned or humiliated.

Instead of worrying about how many times you argue, worry about how you argue.

Here are some guidelines:

Don't abandon the issue and attack the worth of your partner during an argument. 
(I believe that this is very important. Do not attack your partner verbally as it will leave scars. Over the time scars will fade but they will always be there).

Don't seek conflict because it's stimulating.

Don't pursue a take-no-prisoners approach in your arguments.

Don't avoid achieving emotional closure at the end of an argument.
______________________________________________________

Have a great day!

Thank you for all your comments and e-mails.
I appreciate it very much.

Relationships

 

Ten Relationship Myths - Dr. Phil McGraw

MYTH #3:
A GREAT RELATIONSHIP REQUIRES GREAT PROBLEM-SOLVING

· Don't fall into the trap of believing that you and your partner can't be happy if you can't resolve your serious disagreements. Ninety percent of problems in a relationship are not solvable.

· There are things that you and your partner disagree about and will continue to disagree about. Why can't you once and for all resolve these issues? Because in order to do so, one of you would have to sacrifice your values and beliefs.

· You can simply agree to disagree and reach "emotional closure" even though you haven't reached closure on the issue.

MYTH #4:
A GREAT RELATIONSHIP REQUIRES COMMON INTERESTS THAT BOND YOU TOGETHER FOREVER

· There is nothing wrong with your relationship if you don't share common interests and activities.

· If you and your partner are forcing yourselves to engage in common activities but the results are stress, tension and conflict, don't do it! -- Dr. Phil McGraw
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Remember that little things you do for each other mean a lot.
Remember that actions speak louder than words.



Take a little time to enjoy 
Céline Dion - The Power of Love (Live in Boston) 

Relationship Myths

Ten Relationship Myths - Dr. Phil McGraw

MYTH #1:
A GREAT RELATIONSHIP DEPENDS ON A GREAT MEETING OF THE MINDS 

· You will never see things through your partner's eyes because you are two entirely different people. You are genetically, physiologically, psychologically and historically different. 

· You will not solve your relationship problems by becoming more alike in your thinking. Men and women are wired differently. Attempting to blur your fundamentally different viewpoints is unnatural and even dangerous. 

· Recognize that a relationship is far more enjoyable when you're with someone who enriches your life, not simply reflects it. Appreciate your differences.                                                          


Now enjoy the video. Songwriter and singer NIK P.
I have translated the lyrics. I believe that many of us have had these feelings at least once in our lifetime.

I have seen how you kiss him, how you take him into your arms I have seen how you touch him I have seen how you make him smile and how you play with his hair, I have seen how he touches you Ohohohoho…. I am not over it Ohohoho… Chorus: As long as I can see our stars up in the sky I know that you are still in my heart As long as I can read our names up there in the sky I know that you are still my great love…. I have lost my mind when we broke up I do not want to find another love I was crazy because of you I thought I would be over it Now I look like the monster Frankenstein, with my soul scratched up I walk through the night all alone through the night - ohohohoooooo   Chorus: As long as I can see our stars up in the sky I know that you are still in my heart As long as I can read our names up there in the sky I know that you are still my great love….  Ohhohooo I can’t get over it  Ohhohooo Because I miss you so much, so much I learned from you what love is, What a friend and buddy is, I do not give up as long there is hope, Chorus: As long as I can see our stars up in the sky I know that you are still in my heart As long as I can read our names up there in the sky I know that you are still my great love…. As long as I can see our stars up in the sky I know that you are still in my heart As long as I can read our names up there in the sky I know that you are still my great love….

ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Relationship Myths

Love is like a flower

You have to nourish it

in order for it to grow.....

                              Gerlinde Keating

Ten Relationship Myths
MYTH #2 :
A GREAT RELATIONSHIP REQUIRES A GREAT ROMANCE

Yes, your life with your partner should include plenty of romance. But don't kid yourself and expect an unrealistic Hollywood fairytale. The truth is that in the real world, being in love is not like falling in love.

Falling in love is only the first stage of love. It's impossible to remain in that stage. A mature relationship will shift from dizzying infatuation to a deeper, more secure love.

 Don't make the common mistake of thinking that when the initial wild passion fades you aren't in love anymore.
The answer is not to start a new relationship so you can recapture that emotional high with someone else.
The answer is to learn how to move on to the next stages of love for a different but richer experience.  - Dr. Phil McGraw

Marriage

A good marriage is one which allows for change and growth in the individuals and in the way they express their love.  Pearl Buck (1892 - 1973)

Think about this for a moment, it really makes sense.

Love your partner and trust your partner, but do not try to control your partner and

Enjoy your day!

 

Ecstasy

Good humor is one of the best articles of dress one can wear in society. ....Thackeray.

Enjoy your day!

I have learned

I have learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I have learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles three things:

a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I have learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you will miss them when they are gone from your life.

I have learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I have learned that you should not go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.

I have learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I have learned that even when I have pains, I do not have to be one.

I have learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I have learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. -  Maya Angelou

Dr. Maya Angelou is a renowned poet and author. She is 85 years old.

Take a little time and enjoy your weekend!

A Bouquet of Tulips for You / Take my Breath Away

A Bouquet of Tulips for You

 

and

 

the New Kids On The Block

 

with

 

Take my Breath Away

 

 

 

 

Take a little time off and enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

Spring has arrived!

 

 

 

Enjoy your day!