For the first time in nine years of turtle monitoring, the Coolum District Coast Care Group in Australia encountered an extremely rare albino green sea turtle.
Nicknamed Alby, the albino green sea turtle was one of the 122 hatchlings from Castaway Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast that are currently making the journey to the continental shelf, according to CNN and the care group.
The volunteers were counting empty shells to see how many turtles had made it to sea when they saw the albino green sea turtle still sitting on top of the nest.
“It is a very rare find,” group president Leigh Warneminde told CNN. “It is the first time I’ve seen one.”
Read more at http://www.grindtv.com/wildlife/extremely-rare-albino-green-sea-turtle-hatches-austalian-beach/#ObZOL876YTwgsliu.99
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"Alby" is almost exactly the image I had in mind when I developed the main character for my bilingual children's book, "La Beluga Tortuga." Here is a rough sketch of my little guy, Beluga Tortuga.
***The book is now LIVE online through Major Book Retailers! Check it out at Barnes & Noble here:Buy from Barnes & Noble
Here is the introduction of the book: This Story's Lovable Main Character, "La Beluga Tortuga" is very different from other Green Sea Turtles; she was born albino white, the color of Beluga Whales. She doesn't let this difference in her outward appearance get in her way to do a lot or "hace mucho" ... ALL DAY! La Beluga Tortuga teaches children to embrace their own differences and to accept the differences of others in our multicultural and multilingual society. The story line also seeks to inspire and encourage young children to stay active, spend time with family and friends, be thankful, and achieve their goals, no matter what challenges they are dealt in life. The verbal repetition of the buzz phrase "ALL DAY" within both the Spanish and English texts is present to reiterate the underlying themes of persistence and endurance in pursuit of one's dreams and goals. Connect with our Facebook Page Here: https://www.facebook.com/LaBelugaTortuga
Another Miracle to behold painted by the Creator Himself!
True Beauty on God's Canvas!
I found this blessing yesterday evening while working in my flowers! A mockingbird pair had chosen our knock-out Rosebush as the perfect home for their new family! The parents made it clear we needed to give them some space to feed their hungry babies!
Matthew 6:26 KJV Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
God provides for his own and instructs us in Matthew chapter 6 not to fret or worry how our needs will be met, and have no anxiety about it. In 6:33, we are thus commanded, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
If we just focus on Him, putting our full faith and trust in Him, God will provide our needs, not our wants or selfish desires. Seek Him FIRST! Seek His Kingdom! Trust in God fully! Do not be of little faith. It's not always easy to do, but it is always the right thing to do!
I saw this quote on my friend Regina's Facebook page and loved it! (Thanks, Regina!) It really made me stop and think! This quote is SO very true; however, it doesn't just apply to strong women, in my opinion. It applies to each and every one of us as God's Children...Men, Women, and Children!
My thoughts are this: We adults, who 'claim' to be God's children, saved by His Holy Grace, need to step up and SHOW our earthly children how to live our lives in and FOR our Heavenly Father. We should be doing so with our actions demonstrated in the lives we live, not just with empty words that have no meaning or integrity without action. Our Sunday School lesson yesterday in David W's class at Victory Baptist Church was about 'Spiritual Integrity' and standing up for what is right by God, not what is right according to society, personal, familial, or emotional standards. It's usually not gonna be what's popular or accepted by the masses.
In Sunday School, the lesson began with a statement that we cannot separate Integrity to God and general integrity in our daily lives. Integrity to God means we must have UNITY with God's Will and with other Christians who truly desire the same. We cannot demonstrate Spiritual Integrity and support ourselves or others, Christian or Non-Christian, who are not doing or standing up for what is right and true in God's sight, not ours. That's often extremely hard for us, but that's what we have to do as Christians. We must lay down our lives for God's Will, and I don't mean we all should be literally 'dying.' I mean standing strongly against sin, against evil, and against the Enemy, who attacks our Unity with others and God daily. Yes, we all sin daily. Yes, we are all tempted daily to sin more and more, but we must guard against it and help other Christians do the same. Sometimes, we have to forsake and rebuke actions that are clearly against God's Will, even if that means putting ourselves in very uncomfortable situations here on this earth. We have to choose God, our Heavenly Father, over ANY worldly relation we may have, especially ourselves, to demonstrate this True Integrity.
Taking a stand doesn't mean you don't love yourself, your friends, or your family members, but it means you love your Heavenly Father more and enough to do the right thing. That's Integrity. That's what being a Child of God is all about. He never indicates in His Word that this will be easy, but He does promise it will be BLESSED!
In our lesson that comes from Acts 4 & 5 in God's Holy Word, Peter had to demonstrate this Integrity by standing for God against Ananias and Sapphira's dishonesty with the Church (Apostles.) It wasn't the easy thing to do, nor was it the popular thing to do, but it was the right thing to do in the sight of God. Ananias & Sapphira were both punished for their sins, as all of us are or will be.
It seems our present-day society would have us all believe that we can do anything we desire, whatever 'tickles our fancy,' with no consequences whatsoever. That's wrong. We must demonstrate Integrity to God, and we MUST instill this trait into our children. If you aren't sure who's right or who's wrong in a situation, turn to the Bible. And PRAY. If you aren't sure what you should stand for, turn to the Bible. And PRAY. If you aren't sure what God's Will is for your life or actions, turn to the Bible and PRAY. God's Word will never steer you wrong, but it must be studied properly to be properly understood. If you can't figure it out, seek out someone with Spiritual Integrity to God to help you.
I am so thankful that I have wonderful preachers and teachers of God's Word in my life to help me when I don't understand something or when I need help in a situation I am facing. I am thankful that my Dad, who is a Minister, NEVER tells me what I want to hear; he tells me what is right by God. Throughout life, that has frustrated me from time to time. I have said on countless occasions, "Talk to me as my Dad, not as a Preacher." But he has never wavered. God is first in his life, and it shows.
Sometimes the brutal truth hurts, but we NEED to hear it, and we MUST seek the TRUTH according to God's standards, not our own. Strength does, indeed, come from God, and we must lay ourselves down at His feet and pick up His Armor in our daily battles against the Enemy, who will always hit us where it hurts the most. We must guard our relationship with Christ as our most precious and important union in life. If we do not do so, every other relationship here on this earth will suffer. To be a strong man, woman, or child of Integrity in our natural lives requires us to be focused and driven by the Promise and Word of the All-Powerful and Supernatural Jesus Christ.
This photo of Granny was taken as she arrived at our wedding in a Limo, on June 9, 2001. We sent the driver to pick up our grandparents for the wedding, because we knew they had never ridden in a Limo before. As you can see from the joy on her face, Granny was ticked pink about riding in that "big ol' car."
My beloved Granny Wright...she was and always will be a kindred spirit with my own, and she gave me more inspiration to succeed than she could have ever known. She was my shoulder to cry on and my hand to hold in the midst of every storm in my life and every mountain I had to climb. She was there for me through the good and the bad, and she never doubted me, my motives, or my dreams for one second. She was the only person in my life who, I believe, ever truly, deeply believed in me 100 per cent, no matter what. I have grieved for her loss for over eight years now, since she has gone on to be with Jesus. I know she is in a better place and is rejoicing in health, but I think of her daily, and what she would say or do about certain situations. I still find myself wanting to pick up the phone to tell her about things that happen in my life, good and bad. I used to actually dial her number for a while after her passing, before realizing she wasn't there to answer my calls. I pass by her old house almost daily and want to stop by so badly…just to reminisce, but it is now gated and locked up, belonging new owners outside the family. I always felt so connected to that land there, where I used to roam about freely and happily in my childhood years.
Granny made me work, but she also made me play, and I learned so much about myself and who I am today by reflecting on those memories of her, her stories of the past, and the place she called home the last 40 years of her life. Granny was a one of a kind…just ask anyone around. She was tough as nails and hard as a rock, but in the end she was still human…a fact I failed to realize until her final year of life at age 86. I love to write, and, when I think back to where that love began, I remember myself as a little girl writing short stories and poems out on Granny's front-porch swing. I have lost a great physical presence in my life since she has been gone, but her laughter and memories still fill my heart and my home today, more so than I ever could have imagined while she lived just a half mile “down the road.” I miss her dearly.
As I get older in life, I am finding out more and more that I should have listened to all those "ramblings" about family and connections that my grandmother used to tell me. Lorene Smith Wright was a wealth of knowledge, but in regards to most of the people she talked about, I had no idea who they were; therefore, most of the information went in one ear and out the other. It wasn't until I had my daughter, Kylie, that I became inspired to find out about my family history. I then went to Granny to clarify some of the things I remembered her saying in the past about my family. At the time, though, I didn't know much of the big picture, and I only wanted to know about my direct ancestors. I am now seeing that there was so much more I needed to have asked her. Their friend and family connections were very important to their lives and why they were who they were. Most of the things she told me, I did not write down, because I was sure I wouldn't forget. But I did forget a lot, so I have had to find things out through different, more difficult means. A lot of her knowledge, I am sure, is lost forever, but I am dedicated to finding out as much as I can about my ancestors, so I can ramble on to my kids and grand kids about things they won’t know to appreciate until I am gone. However, I plan to put what I know and learn in writing through this blog and various hard-copy collections, because I know that a written account is so much more concrete than word of mouth. My sweet Granny Wright passed away when my daughter, Kylie, was only two years old, a few days after I found out about my pregnancy with my son, Kaden. We named him Kaden Wright Grogan as a tribute to her and my Wright family name. A friend once told me the following when I was upset that my Granny never got to meet Kaden: “she did get to meet him, because she went to heaven and picked him out for you.” I know that God gives us the children he wants us to have, but that idea has always been uplifting to me when I get sad and start missing my Granny. Until this day, Kaden still ascertains that he did, indeed, meet Granny in person...and, who knows, maybe he did. Her picture remains on our refrigerator, and she is an integral part of our lives in the room she loved the most: the kitchen. I often find myself having conversations about life to her picture, not even realizing that I am doing so, until someone comes through the house to ask, "Mama, who are you talking to?" I answer simply, "Granny." She had the most presence of any person I have ever had the privilege to know, and her presence lives on strongly within us, even eight years after her "physical" death.
Having said all that, my Wright ancestors have always been more intriguing to me than any of the others, probably because I still live in the community that they were such a big part of for over 150 years. I have been so blessed to be able to uncover some amazing clues about my family’s history from so many years ago. I still have much to learn about these people who have inspired me to follow my heart and do more of what I love to do, which is to write. I have always loved and wanted to write, but I felt that I needed something “special” to write about. I realize that the content of my family history may not be intriguing or relevant to ethnically-diverse audiences, but I do hope that many people can get a better understanding of their own families who were in this area, specifically the Antioch, Polk County Community, during the Civil War Era, and I hope that the stories will prove interesting and entertaining for the reader. There are many people out there with the “Wright” surname or with a relative of that name that I believe can make some connections to the Wrights of my family. The information I have discovered about my family makes history come alive for me. I know more about how I fit into the history of my community, my state, my country, and my world.
Finding out all of this information has been no easy task, as I have spent countless hours reading old documents and searching through genealogy websites trying to match what I know with the research that others have done before me. At times, I have been so frustrated because I couldn't find all the answers or make an important connection, but I had to come to the realization that I can’t let the things I don’t know get in the way of the things I do know and can share with other people. I am hopeful that one day my children and possibly grandchildren will be able to use the information that I have found about their ancestors and their community to better understand themselves. I want them to be proud of their heritage, not only their Wright heritage, but also of the heritage of all the men and women that make up their ancestral past. I thank God for all of them. We are their legacy, and I am proud to be a part of that. I feel that family research gives a person the roots to support their branches, and I am thankful for the information that has allowed me to compile the stories I have and share the connections I have made. I am appreciative to those family members who have answered my numerous questions and indulged my obsessions throughout this process. I believe God anoints us to do certain things at specific times, and I feel that this is my time. I want to research and write while my passion for the story remains strong. I don't want to forget anything I have learned before I putting it on paper, the way I had forgotten things before. I believe this process is making me a stronger person with a better understanding of myself and how and where I fit into God's Master Plan. I pray that God will use me throughout this time in my life to accomplish His will. I am His vessel. God is my true inspiration, and He is the most significant part of my family history. He is my Heavenly Father. I am completely humbled to be able to present vital information of my family and community, and I feel that God is using me in the process to do things I am not yet aware of. My life and my dreams are in His hands, and I am thankful that my dream of writing is one that He is allowing me, inspiring me, and anointing me to do. God Bless!
Enrique Iglesias, age 39, has outdone himself again with his current Block-buster hit, Bailando, in both Spanish and "Spanglish" Language Versions
A Rare Gem in Multi-Cultural Brilliance and Positive Influence in Current Pop-Culture...WOW!
I rarely praise anything in our current pop-culture scene for its artistic elements of style, beauty, passion, and positive multi-cultural influences, but I have to say that these two videos are brilliant! Not only are the images, dancing, and messages presented 99.9% appropriate for viewing by all age groups, they offer such a feel-good vibe that is felt cross-culturally no matter whether you identify more with Caribbean, Spanish, Jamaican, Dominican, Latin-American, African, or North-American Cultures. Both videos epitomize the beauty and style of mixed and blended cultures, in terms of their popular themes of music, dancing, love, and life. From what I have read, this song and video variations were presented first fully in Spanish, and the Spanish Version Video of the hit song Bailando has been viewed on YouTube by more than 360,000,000 viewers, which is amazing in and of itself. The video is filmed in one of my all-time favorite cities in the world, which is Dominican Republic's Capital, Santo Domingo. Many of you know that Ryan and I went to the Dominican on our Luna de Miel, and it is truly an intriguing place. It was much less tourist-oriented 13 years ago than it is now, but the blending of music, cultures, races, and languages we experienced there was ever-so prominent then. I would venture to say that the small country that shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti is even more of a Melting Pot now, as cultural borders and identities have lessened greatly due to social media and ease of travel. Before I further ramble about...I mean, analyze...the video presentations of the pop hit, Bailando, which most-notably presents the vocals of Enrique Iglesias, in both the Spanish and English (Spanglish) Versions, hereis the Spanish Version directed by Alejandro Pérez that features beautiful Spanish Flamenco dancing at its finest and stunning dancers from all walks of life, in the various street scenes. It appeals to young and old, rich and poor, and many other broad-spectrum audiences. It is amazing to see and hear the blend of Spanish and Latin-American dialects of Spanish. Notice how Enrique uses the "th" sound in his "speech," which is synonymous to Spain, while the Cuban artists Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona use the "s" sound in words such as corazón and respiración.
View Spanish Version "Bailando" Video Below Lyrics
Below is the "Spanglish" video version of the song, Bailando (that we mostly hear on mainstream U.S. radio stations,) which even blends more cultures, by including all the artists in the Spanish version, plus the Jamaican singer, Sean Paul. I love how the repetition of Spanish words in the song and video, such as bailando and contigo, provide "buzzwords" in the target language of Spanish for beginning non-native Spanish-language learners. I love how these videos provide such high cultural, lingual, and educational value, probably without the "intention" of doing so. As a mother with young children, I love that it is one of the morally-cleanest "cool" videos my kids like to watch, and the Spanish Teacher within me appreciates the multi-cultural and linguistic values it conveys.
Spanglish Lyrics:
[Intro: Sean Paul]
Enrique...sing for 'em
[Enrique]
You look at me
And girl you take me to another place
Got me feeling like I'm flying, like I'm outer space
Something 'bout your body says 'come and take me'
Got me begging, got me hoping that the night don't stop
(Bailando, bailando, bailando, bailando)
Tu cuerpo y el mio llenando el vacío
Subiendo y bajando (subiendo y bajando)
(Bailando, bailando, bailando, bailando)
Ese fuego por dentro me va enloqueciendo
Me va saturando
Girl I like the way you move
Come and show me what to do
People tell me that you want me
Girl you got nothing to lose
I can't wait no more
(ya no puedo mas)
I can't wait no more
(ya no puedo mas)
[Sean Paul]
I wanna be contigo
And live contigo, and dance contigo
Wanna have contigo una noche loca
Ay besar tu boca
I wanna be contigo
And live contigo, and dance contigo
Para dar contigo una noche loca
Con tremenda loca
[Enrique]
I look at you and it feels like paradise
When you got me spinning, got me crazy
Got me hypnotized
I need your love, I need you closer
Keep me begging, keep me hoping that the night don't stop
The photo above was featured on Enrique's own Google + profile and shows Sean Paul (who joins in the "Spanglish" version of Bailando) and Gente de Zona with Enrique Iglesias
Both versions of the video discussed here are truly a breath of fresh air, when compared to all the vulgarity and promiscuity seen in so many mainstream videos and songs presented to our youth today! The directors, singers, songwriters, and artists display pure genius here, and I personally label this video The Most Intriguing Spanish, Latin-American, and Caribbean-Influenced Music Video of Our Time!! Blogged by Bobbie Wright Grogan
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But How Do They Get All Those Creepy Dolls Get On The Island???
This is a continuation of yesterday's blog entitled "Freaky but Fascinating & Creepy but Cool Mexican Culture Tidbit ~ Isla de las Muñecas (Island of the Dolls)" (info and photos from Isla de las Munecas)
Don Julian Santana Barrera (pictures below) was the
caretaker of the island. The story goes that Julian found a little girl drowned
in mysterious circumstances, and he was unable to save her life. Shortly thereafter, Julian saw a floating
doll near the canals. The doll had probably belonged to the girl. He picked up the doll and hung it to a tree,
as a way of showing respect to the spirit of the girl. Many locals questioned the actual existence of the drowned girl. Some feel that Julian made up the entire story about the girl to help him cope with
the loneliness and isolation he felt living on the island.
Julian apparently felt the girl's spirit was haunting him, and began hanging more and more dolls in an attempt to please her spirit. He then came to believe the dolls themselves were also possessed by her spirit, but he continued to collect creepy dolls and hang them over the entire island.
According to people close to Julian, it seemed as if Julian was driven by some unseen force that completely changed him. Apparently he was troubled greatly by the fact that he was not able to save the little girl’s life. After 50 years of collecting dolls and hanging them on the island, Julian was found dead, drowned in the same spot where he had found the little girl's lifeless body. Strange, I know!
Many people in the area believe that Julian has joined the other spirits of the island. The locals are very faithful to the idea that the Isla de las Munecas is an enchanted place. After Julian’s death in 2001, it has become quite a famous tourist attraction, and, you guessed it, the visitors bring more and more dolls.
Although Don Julian's actions and intentions were innocent in trying to help the little girl's spirit, the end result and display of hundreds of disturbing dolls form the epitome of what nightmares are made of.
I don't know about you, but I think the "cool" outweighs the "creepy," and I would love to go see!
**By the way, this island looks like a wonderful place of inspiration for a Stephen King novel!
Just south of Mexico City, between the canals of Xochimico you can find a small island with a sad background which never intended to be a tourist destination. The island is known as Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dolls).
It is dedicated to the lost soul of a poor girl who met her fate too soon in strange circumstances.
The area has thousands of people, but this small island is home to hundreds of terrifying dolls. Their severed limbs, decapitated heads, and blank eyes adorn trees.
Dolls are threatening, even in the bright light of midday, but in the dark, they are particularly disturbing.
The Legend
It is said that a girl was found drowned in mysterious circumstances many years ago on this island and that the dolls are possessed by her spirit. Local legend says that the dolls move their heads and arms and even opened their eyes.
Some witnesses claim they had heard the dolls whispering to each other, while others who were on a boat near the island said the dolls lured them to come down to the island.
Of course these witnesses are exaggerating and the island is in no way possessed but the truth is that the Isla de las Muñecas is a very creepy place that marks the casual visitor.
Next Blog: But how do all these creepy dolls get on the island? Stay tuned...
