THANKS, MATT LAUHBAN!!!! Tupelo, Mississippi Appreciates You !

There is a story in the Clarion Ledger about how our weatherman Matt Lauhban helped to save so many lives in the Tupelo tornado ! 

Let me tell you, this is absolutely true. It is coming from one..namely me...who ignores the HECK out of storm warnings ! 

Schools let out early, I am sure mainly due to his warnings.  Even then, as the time got closer to when he said the storm would strike, I was still on the computer (as usual)..
Very casually listening to warnings (as usual)..passing them on to my Facebook friends 
(as usual ) I turned away from the station looking at some stupid reality show. 
My son Henry was playing games on the computer ( as usual) 
Then...I saw a Facebook post about a how a tornado had been spotted about 8 miles from the Barnes Crossing Mall (which is a couple of miles from me) So, I switched back to watching Matt. OMG! He was talking fast..giving updates at a feverish pace..
He was spouting out directions for us..and the staff at WTVA. 
Then, he started telling them that he was going to be telling them very soon to go to the basement. Then he told all of the non-essential staff to go to the basement. 
He has gotten my attention...I was up telling my son we might need to go to the basement ..so be ready. I was getting the candles and flashlight all rounded up that I had readily available ..because of Matt. 
Our power went out..so I didn't get to see Matt tell them on the air to hit the basement...or didn't see when he ran off himself...but he had done his job. Later, after the storm was over and our internet finally came back up, I overheard my son telling one of his friends on Skype about the storm...about how his Mom was going crazy! He called me just telling him several times that this might get bad..I didn't raise my voice..or yell ...or anything like that ...but he is SOO ....unused to me saying ANYTHING AT ALL during a storm.. I barely raise an eyebrow...even during the two bad windstorms that we had several months before which damaged the roof, uprooted huge pine trees in our yard and knocked over a neighbors wood fence!!! One very good friend told me that he is definitely alive because of Matt's warnings. He said that he was out in the streets on Gloster when he was receiving warnings. He sped up to get to his father's house right off of Gloster. He said that he grabbed his father (who is bed- ridden) dragged him in the hall and the storm hit all around them in less than a minute. We know that God is ultimately in control, but our weatherman went above and beyond the call of duty. He says that he was only doing his job, but he started Thursday really giving urgent warning about this storm. He was telling us how to prepare and kept saying not to ignore these warnings! My Facebook feed was filled with his updates! So many people did not hear any type of warning sirens ....and out of all of the destruction (THERE WAS A LOT) there was only one death! 
This man was on it...and he wouldn't let us ignore it !!!!! Thanks, Matt Laubhan WTVA


#TupeloStrong  

 To see the video of Matt Laubhan as the newsroom evacuates during tornado that hit Tupelo, Miss., on April 28, 2014.  GO TO THIS LINK ......
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/05/04/tupelo-residents-say-weatherman-saved-lives/8707515/

The Storm 

Keep Mississippi in your thoughts and prayers!

  

Tea & Poetry Book Club: Poet Patricia Neely-Dorsey Honors Mississippi duri...

Poet Patricia Neely-Dorsey Honors Mississippi during National Poetry Month :

National Poetry Month has been an exciting time of celebration for Mississippi Poet Patricia Neely-Dorsey.

APRIL is National Poetry Month !

APRIL is National Poetry Month ! 



I hope that you have been reading, writing, buying and sharing some wonderful poetry ! 

I love introducing others to poets and poetry that they might not have known/heard about !
Today it is my honor and pleasure to introduce a dear friend, 
poet Kym Gordon Moore 

Enjoy ! 



Fish, Shrimp and Grits 

Not your typical breakfast entrée 
of scrambled eggs, sausage and toast 
my Lowcountry fare of fried fish or shrimp with creamy hominy grits 
is my energy food I love to start the day off with the most. 

Now mom would still cook the traditional 
you know, the kind you find in Shoney’s or IHOP 
but to savor the true flavors of this Charleston morning cuisine 
a local unobtrusive kitchen is where you must stop. 

Now many call me Geechee 
and believe me I really don’t mind 
there’s a fascinating history behind this great heritage 
about some of the most down to earth people you will ever find. 

For some fried fish or shrimp bouillabaisse served with grits 
may simply be a breakfast oddity 
but if you’re not a native, just try it and see 
you just might fall in love with our Lowcountry delicacy.




Balloons, Rainbows and Butterflies

Through the innocence and wonderment of a child’s eyes
we observe simple things that bring joy to our hearts
happiness to our spirit
a smile that spans from ear to ear
from a bouquet of multicolored balloons
to the graceful flutter of a butterfly’s wings

and the brilliant hues in a rainbow’s mist
where sunrays and raindrops waltz
uncomplicated pleasures that makes a lasting imprint
in our moments of excitement and memories
joy in balloons, rainbows and butterflies
from a time that will forever make us smile!   



Why do I Dance?

I dance because I’m happy
I dance because I’m free
I dance because I am loved
I dance because I am me.

I dance every morning I wake
I dance when I learn something new
I dance when I am blessed to work
I dance when there’s something productive to do.

I dance at the singing of the birds
I dance as I listen to the falling rain
I dance for the sake of giving
I dance because I know my living isn’t in vain.

I really don’t need a reason
To dance the way I do
I dance because I am me
You dance because you are you.

 Bio - Kym Gordon Moore, author of Wings of the Wind: A Cornucopia of Poetry and Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit is an award-winning recipient in poetry contests such as the Edward Davin Vickers Memorial Award and Oneswan Productions Writing Competition. Her poems appeared in Writer’s Digest Magazine, Poets for Peace: A Collection, Reach of Song, Home for the Holidays and The Blind Man’s Rainbow anthologies. She was selected as one of the contributing authors for the series, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom. Visit Kym’s website www.kymgmoore.com and connect with the author through her blogs, articles and social media channels.

 Wings of the Wind: A Cornucopia of Poetry 

can be found on the following: 

Amazon.com 

  

BarnesandNoble.com 

Outskirtspress.com 

 Description of my book: Wings of the Wind: A Cornucopia of Poetry contains 81 carefully chosen poems that are significant to the foundation of this collection and easy for readers to identify with. Besieged by segmented poetic elements of flight, your journey through the pages of this book will be entertaining, educational, emotional, nostalgic, stimulating and edifying. Kym Gordon Moore portrays versatility in rhymed and free verse poems that convey stories about people, places, nature, animals, inspiration, cuisine, music, celebrations, epiphanies and inanimate objects. Included in her compilation is a metrical sample of a Pantoum, Limerick, Elegy and Haiku. This eclectic full-length collection of poetry depicts experiences illustrated through diverse forms of self-expression. Poetry spans across diverse cultures, genders and dialects. Poetic thoughts via metaphors, imagination and creativity allow an individual to weave a storyline of lyrical attributes through personal interpretations. Many poems may not affect every poet or book lover in the same manner, but that is the beauty of it. We can connect to similar emotions, but interpret them uniquely.

From Behind the Pen... 
Kym Gordon Moore Author of "Wings of the Wind: A Cornucopia of Poetry" and "Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit" 
Email: kymwrites@kymgmoore.com 
Website: www.kymgmoore.com 
Blogs: www.frombehindthepen.wordpress.com  
www.diversitiesofgifts.blogspot.com  
www.teaandpoetrybookclub.blogspot.com www.favoritethingsforacause.wordpress.com 
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/kymgordonmoore 
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/kymgordonmoore 
Giving Back? Check out www.favoritethingsforacause.com

~*~ "No one can see your visions and 

dreams as clearly as you can. 

Purpose is the key to creation 

manifested through vision." ~*~

-Kym Gordon Moore

MY LITTLE BOOKS OF SOUTHERN POEMS ARE GREAT READING FOR ALL AGES !

I recently RECEIVED THE MOST DELIGHTFUL, HEARTWARMING E-MAIL from two Mississippi 4th graders. I always say that my poems are great reading for all ages...from 8-80 and beyond ! It's so true ! Their English teacher showed the class some of my poems on the computer and she let these two students send an e-mail. 
Here's the e-mail : ( I took out their names for privacy ) 


Dear Mrs. Dorsey,
Our names are............and ................. We are reading your lovely poems. 
The ones we read are "Mississippi" and "Meet My Mississippi." You put so much personification that we can imagine what you are saying. We loved how you explained things in "Meet My Mississippi." You have given us so much inspiration that we would like to continue reading all of your poems. You do a magnificent job on hooking us to read the poems. You might think it is weird that children are writing to you off our teachers page but we would be honored if you would write to us. How did you get the inspiration to write all of these poems? Why did you become an author instead of something else? Why did you write about Mississippi and not other things? Have you ever wondered who reads your poems? 
Thank you for reading this email. WE LOVE YOUR POEMS!!!! 

MY REPLY: I am so thrilled that you are reading and enjoying my poems! The poems are definitely made for all ages... ages 8-80 and beyond ! My father introduced me to poetry when I was very young . He recited poetry to me often and I fell in love with it ! I have loved reading and hearing poetry since I was probably five years old . I didn't start writing poetry until I was much , much older. I wrote my very first poem after I was 40 years old on February 14, 2007. Most people who write poetry usually start when they are much younger. I was a very late bloomer. I worked in the mental health field for almost 20 years before I began to write poetry. I really didn't decide to write poetry..It kind of decided on me. I wrote my first poem on that February morning ( Valentine's Day) when I woke up out of my sleep with a poem swirling around in my head. I got up and quickly scribbled it down . After that the poems just started to flow and flow. In a few months I had written over 200 poems! I write about Mississippi because I love it/her so much ! I love living in Mississippi and I loved growing up in Mississippi. That is what most of my poems are about ! I want to help people to KNOW more about Mississippi, LEARN more about Mississippi and LOVE more about Mississippi. I hope that your class will read more poems from my books Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia and My Magnolia Memories and Musings -In Poems ! Thanks you SO much for contacting me ! We will definitely keep in touch ! Ask me any questions that you would like. I would love to speak to you and your class one day ! Have a great day !  


Did You Know ..APRIL is National Poetry Month ! 
Read , Write , Share and Celebrate Poetry !

 Here are the poems that the students mentioned in the e-mail :


                                  ~*~ Mississippi ~*~

           
                     ~*~ Meet My Mississippi ~*~

 What other readers have said about the books/poems : 

"Patricia has a great eye and an ear for the south and the images that make it unique. I plan to use some of her quick rhymes when working with children in Mississippi schools." 
 Heather Truett - Tupelo,MS

Southern Poetry that is really poetry! Your books would go well (in schools) with English, nature studies, history, art,etc." Margaret Ann Tull - Tupelo, MS



                    ~*~ Mississippi Teachers ~*~

               ~*~  Experienced Beauty  ~*~

              ~*~ Know Learn Love  ~*~ 

 

SPRING HAS SPRUNG...IN MISSISSIPPI !

A Spring in Your Step Blog Hop

 

Welcome to the Spring In Your Step Blog Hop ! Bloggers on this tour will share favorite springtime activities. Of course, as during all seasons, I love to read. Now, as the weather is warming, there is sure to be many more moments of reading outside, porch sitting and outdoor activities. . My favorite part of Spring is, by far, just simply enjoying the amazing beauty of nature, as it starts to bud, blossom, bloom, and literally explode all around with amazing colors, sights and sounds.  With the dazzling displays of wildflowers, birds, and lush tree foliage, it is an absolutely mesmerizing time of year.

POEM: A Taste of Spring

 POEM: Nature Lovers

POEM: A Country View 

 Beautiful Spring in Mississippi...

nature's colorful display in our front yard 

(Taken Spring - 2013)

 

This is a birdhouse in the pink dogwood tree 

in our  front yard.

We have birds that come to nest here every year.

(Taken Spring - 2013)

 BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON: 

 http://tinyurl.com/reflections-pnd 

http://tinyurl.com/magnolia-mem-pnd

*************** 

COMMENT for a chance to win a copy of 
Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life In Poems.



PLEASE VISIT ALL THE OTHER STOPS ON THE HOP:

1. Emerald Barnes' Dreaming Awake Blog	2. In Darkness there is Light	3. Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia
4. Bonnie Blythe's Pure Romance	5. Prism Book Group	6. Pauline Creeden, Author (INT)
7. Spirit Filled Kindle	8. Living the Dream	9. Heather Gray, Author
10. Kelly Martin Books	11. Astraea Press	12. Brenda Maxfield's Teen Reads
13. Kathy Bosman Romance Writer	14. Kristin Wallace Author	15. Monica's Blog
16. Front Porch Romance Blog	17. Aileen Fish, Love as Old as Time	18. Angel Breath Books
19. Approachable Fiction	20. Elaine Cantrell: Hope. Dreams. Life. . . Love	21. Musings About the Writing Life
22. Writing about Bikers, Soldiers & Celebrities	23. Jo Grafford, Author

 

Pat Brannon's Official Website: Patricia Neely-Dorsey

Pat Brannon's Official Website: Patricia Neely-Dorsey: Dear Friends, I hope you got a good night's rest and are ready to battle today. In the coming weeks I will be featuring guests from di...

Sweet Box of Wonderful: Way Back WHENsday Guest Blog

    Way Back WHENsday 

Featuring Special Guest Author Patricia Neely-Dorsey

Today, March 5, 2014 on Latoya Forrest-Heard's blog.....

"I think of my Mississippi upbringing on a daily basis. My favorite part about growing up was summertime! There was absolutely nothing like running into the sprinklers on a hot summer's day, riding down the road in Grandma's wagon, and having pine cone wars on the hill. My grandparents were the best babysitters ever! My cousins and I made mud pies and chased butterflies during the day and we would catch fireflies at night. We called them lightning bugs. We would catch them in a mason jar and watch them light up." .......


Jump on over to Latoya's blog to read the rest of the blog......
http://toyheardwrites.blogspot.com/2014/03/way-back-whensday-featuring-special.html 

 

LUPITA'S OSCAR WIN BRINGS REFLECTIONS (Of A Mississippi Magnolia)

One of my Facebook friends wrote a comment on her page: 
"I am soooo happy for Lupita Nyong'o for achieving the highest honor in her craft, but unfortunately I have not been able to watch the movie for which she is honored,"12 years a Slave". I grew up in MS where racism and discrimination were/are still left over from the oppression of slavery. I am sorry to say the bitter taste and the smell of hatred still lingers in my throat. So although I am happy for Lupita as a actress, I cannot, will not celebrate a legacy of slavery."


I commented: 
"Wow! I always see just the opposite ..the UNBELIEVABLE courage, strength and endurance of a people.  I always take those people with me and feel them with me wherever I go.  I want them to know how much I appreciate the sacrifices and the suffering.  I am not proud of slavery, or the horrific conditions that continued to follow it..but VERY proud of the legacy of those people...my people...that great cloud of witnesses.  For some reason I felt compelled to say more.  Although, I very rarely chime in on conversations, on other people's pages, on Facebook, embracing my history and heritage is something that I am VERY passionate about."  

I wanted to explain further my first comment.  I wrote: 
"I still live in Mississippi and write poetry about things that I love about Mississippi. There are so many negative connotations associated with Mississippi, and the south in general.  There are very few instances when the news media or anyone at all, says ANYTHING positive about Mississippi.  I try to show a flip side to all of the negatives portrayed.  It's not that I negate, ignore or disregard the negatives, it's just that there is SO MUCH more to the story.  I am a 50 year old black woman and have seen and /or heard it all when it comes to racism.  My parents and grandparents, of course, saw, heard and experienced so much more.  When I wrote the comment about the great cloud of witnesses, it is because it is something that I talk to people about all of the time when it comes to my speaking engagements.  My audiences, followers and purchasers of my books over the years, I would estimate to be 90% Caucasian.  I am not sure how that dynamic came about, 
but it is what it is."

I was telling my mother (and several other people) that whenever I go to speak, usually to all white audiences, I feel my grandmother and great grandmother (on my mother's side) with me all of the time.  It is like they are standing there right beside me and behind me.  I think of others ..but I FEEL them.  I don't exactly know why that is, but I feel that I am doing something they could not do in their life times. 
I feel that is something that they would have liked to do ...and probably would have been 100 times better at it than me.  My grandmother and my great grandmother were teachers, both were very articulate and well read.  I am sure their poetry and their messages would have been so much more superior to mine.  Yes, I think that they probably wrote poems too.  They probably wrote poems about life in Mississippi, but I am the one who gets to read and express those poems before large captive audiences.  I read them to people who, during their times, would not have allowed them in the front door.  I read them to people that would have treated them much differently than I am treated now.  I am the one who gets to do it ...to do this for my grannies ...,and I don't take it lightly.

Along with all of my messages about Mississippi I am "teaching" "educating" SO MANY people along the way ..about my people...the stuff I'm made of, where I come from, the kind of people that I come from..articulate, bright, determined, hard-working people ..with values, dreams, desires and goals, humor, hearts and minds just like anyone and everyone else.  With a subject along those lines, I wrote a poem called,
" We Like To Read Too".   I have two poems that I started over five years ago but have not found the right words to compete them like I feel they need to be completed. 
I haven't found the exact words to say all I want to say. 
Today I feel closer to finding those words. 
The titles are "Duty Bound ..and "In My Veins"

I want that "cloud of witnesses" to know that I am not at all discouraged by, deterred by, or ashamed of ..in any way, shape or form a legacy of slavery (my great-great grandmother was given as a wedding gift by an Alabama slave owner to his daughter) , hurt, struggle, hardship and pain.   After all of that...as Maya says..."Still I Rise".
 More than anything I want them to know that that legacy is cherished, appreciated and SO dear to me.  That legacy will always be cherished and uplifted in my life. 

Lupita said in her Oscar acceptance speech : "When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you’re from your dreams are valid." 

I, Patricia Neely-Dorsey, stand on the backs of the dreams of so many little girls (and grown women) over the generations.  Long ago, these ones, probably toiling in the blazing Mississippi sun, whose blood runs in my veins had dreams.
I stand now, as TOTAL ASSURANCE and PROOF that dreams do come true...and all dreams are valid. 

Lupita Nyong'o  poses with her award for Best Supporting Actress which she
won for her role as Patsey in the film 12 Years a Slave, at the 86th
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - March 2, 2014.

Lupita Amondi Nyong'o is an actress and music video director of dual
Kenyan and Mexican citizenship. She identifies as Mexican-Kenyan.
Born: March 1, 1983 , Mexico City, Mexico.

MARCH is National Reading Month ! It's time to READ!!!

MARCH is National Reading Month! 

~*~ READ ~*~

Many schools kick off the celebration of National reading Month with a birthday party honoring the beloved children’s author, Dr. Seuss, who was born March 2nd.
Green eggs and ham, along with a birthday cake, are often featured fixtures at those parties!

The goal of National Reading Month is to get children excited about reading, as well as improving their reading skills.  It is the perfect time to emphasize the importance and value of reading and to help them understand how important reading is in daily life and how it will help them achieve goals and become successful in life.  

My books, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia and My Magnolia Memories and Musings are perfect books to READ, BUY and GIVE during National Reading Month. With very simple language and relatable themes, they can be read, enjoyed and understood by readers of all ages 8 to 80 (and beyond). 
There is definitely something in my "little books of southern poems" for EVERYONE.

 

 

 Dr. Seuss was born Theodor Seuss Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2, 1904. After attending Dartmouth College and Oxford University, he began a career in advertising.  Dr. Seuss's first children's book, And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street, hit the market in 1937.  In 1957, Seuss's The Cat in the Hat became the prototype for one of Random House's best- selling series, Beginner Books. 
This popular series combined engaging stories with outrageous illustrations and playful sounds to teach basic reading skills.

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia - A Life in Poems - Link to Amazon

Magnolia Memories and Musings - In Poems - Link to Amazon