Kwanzaa

  Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States (and more recently, Canada) but also celebrated in the Western African Diaspora. The celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving. It is ideological, with seven core principles (Nguzo Saba): Umoja - Unity, Kujichugalia - Self-determination, Ujima - Collective work and Responsibility, Ujamaa -  Cooperative economics, Nia - Purpose, Kuumba - Creativity, and Imani - Faith. It was created by Maulana Karenga, and was first celebrated in 1966–67.This year Kwanzaa starts on Wednesday, December 26 and ends Tuesday, January 1.

  Golden Ciphers is hosting Nia (Purpose), Sunday, December 30 at Friendly (2386 Unwin Road, Cleveland Ohio 44115 - United States) from 2pm - 8pm.  There will be Vendors, Dancing, Drumming, Entertainment, Live DJ, Food.  Vendors are welcome (tables are $25).  For more information contact Golden Ciphers at (216)-574-4888

Holiday Season

Well, its that time of year.  Time to bake cookies, make gifts, and pull out the decorations.  I love Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years celebration.  My problem with it is the rush, the gimme-gimme attitude.  Its supposed to be time to enjoy family and be full of joy, but people have pulled it totally out of wack.  They have lost the true meaning of the season.  The joy of family, friends and a new year.  I love that part of the season and I don't think anyone has that anymore.  Do you?  Do you slow down and enjoy the season?  Do you have any fun holiday family stories?

Keeping the Faith (march 2-3)

Friday, March 2, I went to Cincinnati for a youth conference.  11 teens and 2 adults from my church (Trinity Church) went.  It lasted 3 days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  We stayed at Blue Ash Embassy suites, I think its a really nice hotel.  They have a pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a work-out room and some other stuff.  Like I said really nice.  We got there at about 5:30am, unpacked and went to the room we were meeting in.  We met all the other teens (30 or so, including us) and Session #1 started, we were told not to sit with the group we come with and to mingle (as in mix with the other tables - a bunch of the Trinity group sat together XD).  The Pastor for my church was the speaker = fill in the blanks :).  After session some of us went to a big group room and played games, while everyone else went swimming.  Later on we went to our rooms, showered and went to bed.
  The next morning we all had breakfast and went to session #2 and workshop #1.  We then headed out to explore the mall.  At the mall we had lunch and set of in small groups of 3-4 peeps.  An hour 1/2 before we had to leave everyone met up and walked around together.  We found out it was national platapuse day and the Disney store was giving out perry the platapuse hats.  We all got one and went around telling people 'happy platapuse day'.  We then went back to the hotel and got ready for session #3 and workshop #2.  After session we went up to the big group room we had gone to Friday night.  As we hung out we ate pizza and talked.  We then all headed to bed.
  Next morning we had breakfast and packed so we didn't have to later.  We then went to Session #4 and workshop #3.  After session we went to the cars and left on the 4 hour ride home.

the very messy living room

the bathroom

the hotel from floor #2

twin lamps residing over a very messy bedside table

the kitchenette (far left) and couches

Cascades the resteraunt

a table in front of... a bunch of tables

the evil turtle that lives in the hotel

empty flat land

more empty flat land

my dear friends Destiny and Violet

ME!!!!!!!!

The flying bears from Bearington, DC

By: Tim (6)
There were 8 flying bears. They hunted for people until they found one. They ate it.. When they were done eating it, they flew home. Then they took a nap. When they were done taking a nap they went to hunt more. They found another person, they ate it. They went back home. They went to bed. And then it was the next morning, when they woke up they went to hunt some more, When they found one they had their breakfast. Then they went home, and did their chores.
The End

A snake that flies

By: Abby (11)
Once upon a time there was a snake that could fly, its name was flyss, yes, flyss. Thats cause she could fly. Now flyss was the most popular prize. Cause if you caught her you would be famouse. She was fast, so they can`nt catch her. Now she knew that the humans put up traps, so they would be famouse, but she still could bite the humans, cause not all of the humans had traps, her family was still alive. She was happy, She had her friends and family.

A flying baseball team

By: Charlotte (14)
Once upon a time there was a gravity deifying Spider baseball team. They were going up against the ultra-fast Bears from New Bearsey (the Spiders are from Webeland, Ohio). The Bears thought this was going to be the the easiest baseball game they had ever played, cause every animal knows how hard it is to catch super fast animals when your floundering around in the air. That was their mistake.
You see ever since these 15 Spiders had decided to start a baseball team they had honed their flying, landing, take-off, turning, forward, backward and diving skills to perfection. They also had 8 very handy arms/legs.
So this is how the baseball game went:
The bears (being the visiters and all) were up first. Growley was up to bat first, extremely relaxed, he stepped up to bat. Spinner (the pitcher for the Spiders) lets the ball fly and ....... BLAM .... the crowd goes wild, bears cheering, and spiders booing. But wait! Its not over yet Jostle - the spiders out fielder - is diving for Growley! Will he tag him out or is Growley safe?
He is OUT. Wow was that a close one, and Growley is quickly followed by 4 claws and Sharp fur.
The 1st batter for the spiders steps up. Sticky Web hits the ball takes off from home and lands at 1st, 2nd, 3rd and he lands at Home. Spiders go wild. He is followed by Spinner, Jostle, Thick ears, Tratuaweb, and Bloody fly.
The umps decide to call it game over, the spiders have to much of a lead with 32-0.

Dear journal,

I finally made a collage. Here is how to do it:
Makes 1
What you`ll need:
1 square piece of card board (any size)
2 pieces of construction paper (cut to size)
stack magazine pictures and words that fit on board that you like
glue
glitter glue
scissors
stickers

How to:
1. Cover card board with paper
2. Glue on magazine pictures
3. Add glitter glue and stickers in wanted areas
4. Let dry

Youth Camp Soar

I just got back from Camp. It was great! Our Speaker was Clinton Faupel from Remedy.FM. It was from July 8Th-11Th. I went w/5 other teens beside me, Hallie (said Haley), Danny and David, Mike and Micheal. I loved it.

Watermelon Ice cream

I found this on the computer, I have not tried it but I think it sounds good.
Enjoy.

MeLinda, 9 New York

What you need:

1 gallon green "lime" sherbert

1 gallon pink "strawberry" sherbert

1 cup chocolate chips

1 big freezer safe bowl

How to make it:

1. Scoop the green ice cream in the bottom of the bowl until it's about a half inch thick and then spread it all around the bowl. You need to cover the whole bowl (sort of like your making another bowl inside the bowl you are using). *This is the watermelon rind (outside of the watermelon).

2. Then fill the rest of the bowl with pink ice cream. *This is the meat (inside) of the watermelon.

3. Then sprinkle the 1 cup of chocolate chips on top (you can still try to mix them into the pink ice cream).

4. Freeze for several hours until firm.

5. Turn bowl upside down on a plate and pull the bowl off, then cut into pieces for you and some friends to eat!

This was a lot of fun to make and eat. I was really surprised how well it turned out, it looked just like real watermelon!

Legos (a ton a photos)

Now for a slide show (Jeff Gordon learned to walk up the stairs, YAY):