Category Archives looking back

A Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Kind of Day

Imagine sitting on a beautiful beach front eating dinner with your family and good friends. Let’s say it may be at the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World during the Good Times Get Together during the start of a magical conference weekend. Suddenly, these gentlemen appear at your table:

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They want to know what song you would like them to play at your table! Yes, this really happened back in March at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Lucky for us, Resourceful Mommy’s daughter selected an amazing song and I captured it on video. Sit back and enjoy:

So my question for you this week:

If you had been asked what Disney song for the band to play, what would it have been and why?

TheAngelForever

Disclosure: Although we paid for our own trip to Disney World, we were given an incredible deal thanks to Disney. The sweet conference fee included 3 nights at the Grand Floridian, several meals for the entire family,  7 day park hoppers for everyone, conference/meals for me and some other items to take home. Also note that Disney never asked us to blog about this event. As a long time Disney fan, it is my pleasure to share my experiences from the event.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha Friday by Kailani at An<br<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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Island<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
Life

Aloha #149

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Tuesday Tales – Hitler’s Will

Tuesday Tales

We will never forget. Over 6 million lives lost just because of their religious identity. Never will it happen again, yet it has. Together as a human race we must stop, think, teach, and read as much as we can about the topic.

What am I talking about?

I am referring to the Holocaust. Last year, I wrote about Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day. I explained about fears that I had as a child growing up Jewish in a world that still is hateful. I also teased about writing a book review that I have never done. Today, I am doing that since Yom HaShoah is this coming Sunday, May 1.

When TechyDad and I were married, almost ten years ago, we had to select people to sign our ketubah (marriage license). This was a rather big deal. We decided that each of us would pick someone from our side to give this honor. To complicate matters, we wanted these people to be shomer shabbos and they could not be direct relatives.

My extended family is rather close. Even people that are not blood relatives were people that I grew up with, admired, and part of many holiday celebrations and events. My Aunt is British and we knew that we wanted her parents to be part of our celebration. The minute we heard that they were coming to our wedding, we knew we were going to ask Hermi to sign our ketubah.

Ketubah Signing

Growing up, everyone mentioned that Hermi had lived through the Holocaust. I was always intrigued by this statement, but never brave enough to ask more. We were married, years went by, and then in November 2009 Hermi published a book about his experience during World War II.

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About Hitler’s Will:

This is a synopsis of the book from the publisher:

Herman Rothman arrived in Britain from Germany as a Jewish refugee in the early years of WWII. He joined the British Army and in 1945 was posted to Westertimke and Fallingbostel PoW camps to interrogate high-ranking Nazi war criminals. When papers were discovered sewn into the shoulders of a jacket belonging to Heinz Lorenz, who had been Goebbels’ press secretary, he and a team of four others were charged with translating under conditions of the deepest secrecy. The documents turned out to be the originals of Hitler’s personal and political wills, and Goebbels’ addendum. Later on, in Rottenburg hospital, Rothman interrogated Hermann Karnau, who had been Hitler’s valet, to establish information about the Fuhrer’s death in the bunker.

Hitler’s Will is the amazing true story of Herman Rothman’s remarkable life, including how he managed to escape from Nazi Germany before the war began, and his role in bringing to light Hitler’s personal and political testaments, which shed important light on his final thoughts.

               

Hitler’s Will – Written by Herman Rothman – Edited by  Helen Fry – Publishers: The History Press – November 2009 – ISBN 978-0752448343

What I thought:

Since I read The Diary of Anne Frank in fifth grade, I have read any book that I can find about this time period. I am a firm believer that we need to learn from the Holocaust and teach our children about the atrocities. Soon, there will be no survivors around to tell about their experiences.

I read Hitler’s Will in just over two days. It would have been less if I had more time to simply read. Even if I did not know Hermi, this book was fascinating. Hermi explains about his life in Germany under Hitler. Then, he takes us along on his journey from Germany to England where we learn about life in a new world. The book goes into a lot of detail about how he enlisted in the British army and served in the intelligence area doing a lot of interrogation. Readers find out how Hitler’s Will was found, translated, and used.

I have to admit, one of my favorite parts of biographical books are when photos are included. Hitler’s Will is no different.

Photos from Hitler's Will by Herman Rothman

I sat there looking at Hermi over the years in far off places, and then with his beautiful wife Shirley and their family. It really hit home.

Trying to summarize my feelings about this book is hard. It really was a unique look at one man’s life will to survive, work during World War II, and pledge to learn from history. The items in this book made me even more proud to call Herman Rothman a part of my family. TechyDad and I always look at our ketubah on our wall and smile knowing what an honor it is to have Hermi’s signature on our precious ketubah that started our married life together.

What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Book Posts, and/or leave a comment below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

TheAngelForever

Disclosure: I snagged this book out of my mother’s house – thanks Mom! The opinions expressed in the review are my own and were in no way influenced by my relationship with the author. The widget within the review is an Amazon Affiliate where I will receive a percentage of money for the sale of the books should you opt to buy the book mentioned.

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The Mom Song Mommy Moment

I recently made a big decision in my life. It was time to think about my family and put them first. The item is too fresh to really explain right now, but it was the right thing to do for my entire family.

Of course, this made me think about a song that Susan Egan and Georgia Stitt performed for us at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Here is my video of them performing it:

This song is perfect with Mother’s Day coming up and reminds me that even when the kids may make me want to rip my hair out, I know I am lucky to be home with them.

Thank you Susan and Georgia for helping me to smile and relive those magical memories from a month ago. I really needed this right now and hope it will make others laugh and smile this Monday morning.

TheAngelForever

Disclosure: Although we paid for our own trip to Disney World, we were given an incredible deal thanks to Disney. The sweet conference fee included 3 nights at the Grand Floridian, several meals for the entire family,  7 day park hoppers for everyone, conference/meals for me and some other items to take home. Also note that Disney never asked us to blog about this event. As a long time Disney fan, it is my pleasure to share my experiences from the event.

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The Face Says It All

Dear JSL,

What a week it has been. There has been so much going on that the time seemed to fly at certain points. Do you know what the following items all have it common?

  • Spring break
  • April showers
  • Passover Seders
  • Hunger strikes
  • Lots of family time
  • Laundry from sickness
  • Making big decisions
  • Rain, Rain, Rain
  • Pajama days
  • Disney DVD central

Any ideas? Well, when we look back at the past week, I think these items pretty much sum things up. It was Spring break, there were so many April showers that plans to play outside were almost always canceled. The Passover Seders were not only time spent with lots of family, but when your hunger strike of sorts started. No JSL, you can not live on potato chips and matzoh balls! Oh and the matzah and cream cheese at Nana and Papa’s house – the same we have. If you can eat it there, it will work at our house too.

Thanks to refusing to eat almost anything, you made yourself very sick all over my bed. That was also a day of really big, hard decisions for me. Did I mention that it rained, and rained, and rained? While stuck inside we sported pajamas and watched a bunch of Disney DVDs. You and NHL are now fans of Robin Hood.

The sun actually came out yesterday. While outside at Nana and Papa’s house, you made a face. It pretty much summed up the way I was feeling.

The Face Says It All

Thank you for making me laugh and smile – I needed that!

Love,

Mommy

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If you want to participate in Dear Kid Saturday, head on over to Cutest Kid Ever by clicking on the button below.

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Passover 2011 Preparations

It’s that time of year again. In just a week, we will be sitting down to a Passover Seder with family to celebrate the start of Pesach. Nursery school already has their Passover display in the hall:

Happy Passover

On Sunday, TechyDad and I decided it was time to tackle the Passover food shopping. We went to Price Chopper and had a goal. We wanted to keep things simple, make mostly fresh foods, and limit packaged items. We really cut way back last year and it worked out nicely. We were happy with quinoa like oatmeal for breakfast, a turkey burger with lots of veggies, eggs in many forms, cottage cheese, and other staples. Yes, we did buy a few already made frozen items, along with Passover cakes/cookies, but very few.

When we went shopping, I took my camera along to show you how far Passover food shopping has come. Welcome to Passover Land at our local Price Chopper.

 

When we left Price Chopper, we had almost everything we need. Only a few items like eggs, produce, cottage cheese, and raisins to get.

Now the real stress begins. We have to convert the kitchen to be ready for Passover while we do everything else in the busy week ahead.

To read more about last year, my 2010 Passover posts are:

    Whether you celebrate Passover, Easter, or another spring holiday, I wish you luck with your preparations. What are you looking forward to most and/or least in the next upcoming weeks?

TheAngelForever

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