Happy New Year!

December 31st is one of my favorite days of the year. Not only am I able to look forward to a great new year, but I am also able to look back at the wonderful memories from the past year. Everyone celebrates New Year's Eve quite differently around the world but we all share one important thing: we wish each other a happy and healthy new year. 

This year, we had some important events take place. 2018 began with a bang at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang where we had some incredible athletes competing to win a medal. This year also brought a new supreme court justice, a midterm election, Curiosity's discoveries on Mars, and a new princess, Meghan Markle.

In a couple of hours, the clocks will turn and 2019 will be here in full force. To commemorate this year, I thought that I would reminisce (recall) on the best things that happened in my life this year. Some positive moments in my life this year:

• I started college and learned many interesting new subjects 
• I made new friends
• Started working as a teaching assistant 
• Reconnected with blogging

What special events occurred in your life this year and what are you looking forward to next year?

Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year!

Thank a Veteran!

Every day in our country, there are military recruits fighting in war zones to keep our nation safe. These men and women leave their homes and families and risk their lives to protect our nation. To honor these individuals, we observe Veteran's Day to show our respect and appreciation for all the people serving our country. 

Veteran's Day was previously known as Armistice Day, which on November 11th, was the day that a peace treaty was signed to end World War I. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name to Veteran's day to honor all veterans past and present serving our country. 

Today, there are around 20 million veterans with 16 million having served in at least 1 war. The military men and women who serve and protect our nation deserve to be honored for their dedication to keeping us safe. Organizations like Operation Gratitude work to show veterans that we are thankful for their service. 

To honor our veterans, please take the time to write a letter to show your appreciation for their service. 

Some things to include in the letter are:

• Starting with a salutation like Dear Veteran or Hero
• Thank the veteran for their service. 
• Share information about yourself like hobbies, pets, or family.

Just remember, use your first name only and do not share specific personal information like where you live. 

If you would like to receive a letter back, you may add an adult's email address onto the letter. 

Send the letter to:

Operation Gratitude

21100 Lassen Street

Chatsworth, CA 91311   

Every veteran deserves a thank you. If you ever see a veteran, please thank them for their service as these two simple words will show them that you care.  Let me know in the comments if you had the opportunity to thank a veteran!

Happy Birthday Shel Silverstein

Sheldon ("Shel") Allen Silverstein, is one of the greatest children's poets of all time. He was born on September 25, 1930, in Chicago and is well known for his poetry, cartoons, music, and children's books. When he was young, Shel enlisted in the army and served in Korea and Japan. During his time in the military, Shel worked for a military publication "Pacific Stars and Stripes" where he drew cartoons for the magazine. He was a very talented cartoonist and after the army he decided to make this talent a career and began drawing for magazines like "Look" and "Sports Illustrated."


However,  he did not start writing for children until he met Ursula Nordstrom, a book editor who convinced him to try to write short stories. Shortly after, his career took off with one of his best selling children's books The Giving Tree. This book was translated into 30 languages and is a novel that is read by children all around the world. Later, Shel published Where the Sidewalk Ends, his first collection of poetry and his comical rhyming style and cartoons are what truly set him apart. 

Today, Shel Silverstein would be 87 years old but unfortunately he passed away in 1999 from a heart-attack. Over the course of his life, Shel Silverstein wrote 8 books which have sold over 20 million copies and reached the hands of children all around the world. 

What is your favorite poem by Shel Silverstein and why? If you do not have a favorite poem, follow Shel Silverstein's advice, "If there is a book you want to read but isn't written yet, write it." 

Remembering Our Heroes

Seventeen years ago, on September 11, 2001, our country endured one of the most frightening experiences in our history. This day began very much like an ordinary work day and school day for children and adults all around the country. 

However, it was not an ordinary day as that morning, a terrorist attack began with terrorists hijacking planes filled with passengers crashing into both World Trade Centers, Pentagon Building, and a field in Pennsylvania. This attack was planned out by Osama Bin Laden, the leader of the terrorist organization called Al Queda and unfortunately, took the lives of thousands of innocent civilians. 

While some of us were not born at the time of the attack (myself included), every year, we remember and mourn the victims. While there were many people killed in this attack, if not for the heroes on this day, many more would have died. The heroes of 9/11 include the 343 firefighters, 37 police officers, and ordinary people who lost their lives saving others. There is now a memorial in New York City to pay respect to all victims of 9/11.

9/11 memorial in New York City

A hero is any person who is admired for their brave acts. My heroes are the people who keep our streets, country, and world safe. These heroes are our military veterans, police officers, and firefighters who risk their lives every day to protect our nation. They show us that heroes do not have to be famous superstars in movies but can be ordinary, hardworking, and courageous individuals. 

I challenge you to write about your hero and describe an act of kindness that you can do to be a hero to someone you know. This can be doing something special at home or at school. 

What's Your Motto?

On this day, September 9, in 1850, California became the 31st state to join the United States. California had just signed a treaty with Mexico that ended the Mexican-American War. A treaty is a written agreement between two or more countries.

Shortly after the war ended, gold was discovered on the American River near Sacramento, California, and the gold rush began bringing many settlers looking to strike it rich! The first piece of gold was discovered by James W. Marshall and he yelled 
""when he found it. 


Eureka is a Greek word that means "I have found it" and this word became the motto on the state seal.

A motto is a short sentence or phrase that describes a person's beliefs.






Every person has a motto that best describes them, and the motto that is special to me is by Dr. Seuss. 

Sometimes, fitting in to school, sports, or even at home can be challenging. Everyone wants to be "normal" but normal is not always the best way to be. Every person has their own special talent or character trait that makes them unique. Think about what character traits or talents make you unique.

When we use these special skills or talents, we can stand out and be different from everyone else. When you wake up each morning, you have the choice to  Stand Out  and be the best person that you can be. You don't even need to make a big difference to stand out.  Some ways to stand out include:

Being extra kind to a classmate

Extra helpful to your parents

Or even following your teacher's directions better.

Create or find a motto that best describes you and explain why this motto is special for you (make sure to give credit to the person you quoted).

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Blogging

My name is Miriam, and I am a second year college student majoring in communication studies with a goal of one day working with children. I am passionate about writing, and I help coordinate the Creative Writer's Club at my local library. I especially enjoy writing poetry and short stories, and I hope that I can inspire and motivate young writers. 

Some of my favorite hobbies include:

• Spending time with my family and pets
• Enjoying the outdoors
• Cuddling up on the couch and reading a mystery novel
• Volunteering at my local library

A few facts about myself is that I am the oldest of 4 children, and I have a miniature schnauzer named Romeo and a German Shepard named Elsie. I also have an adopted virtual pet lion named Simba who loves getting treats!

This blog will be all about creativity and expressing yourself through writing. I would love to get to know my visitors. 

Please introduce yourself and let me know your favorite hobbies.