Another Day....The Local Hero

Ben getting help and learning what to do.
Doing a GREAT job!
Working hard.





This is a baby pigeon that came to visit us this morning. Robert had to help her out.
Ben with his reward- a coke float. He really deserved and enjoyed it!



It is so cool that with Ben doing this work he is getting a lot of attention. People are calling all day saying "thank you" and telling him to keep up the good work. We go out and people day "Hi Ben, we seen you in the paper". He really likes it. His dad and I are proud of his community involvement and what a positive effect it is having on him. He made the paper again so check it out . He is on front page and page 10 on May 28, 2009. Here are some pictures from this morning.

Making a difference..............

Ben resting.

It was so nice Ben just walked over to this nice lady and started helping her.

Ben and his new friends. Actually, the boy in middle goes to school with Ben.
Mom! Look how dirty I am.
Team work!


Look at my trash pile!



Team work!
He really can work with others. He did such a great job.



The clean up team.
Ben is very excited.

Ben and his friends getting questions from a reporter. Wow! Those baby blues.....

A found treasure. Ha ha
Mom look how dirty my hands are.
Picking up the trash.



Well, Ben made the front page of the local paper (page one and 4 on May 27, 2009, check it out by clicking on the link). It is for his efforts in helping cleaning a local park that has been long left behind. Ben will be cleaning the park all week. The nice thing that I really saw was that there were all different kinds of people helping out. Some people from the neighborhood, kids and people stopping on their way to work. It was nice to see the people of Ahmedabad coming together to made Ahmedabad a "Green City". After Ben's picture ran in the paper today we got tons of calls telling us that he is an inspiration to them to do something to help because he is a foreigner child that wants to help make the city green. Here are a few of the pictures I took of Ben working. I know I posted a lot of pictures but we are just so proud. Enjoy!

What it means...........

It is 3:30 am and I am up helping my loving husband get ready for a business trip. I read an email from a friend and as I read it I realized just how God has blessed me.

My husband- The most wonderful man in the world. I never in my life thought that someone as special as him could love me like he does. This man would do anything for me. To see him work so hard and take care of his family is amazing. He is setting an excellent example for our son and our future children. The most wonderful thing about my husband is he knows he is not perfect and if I ask for him to correct something he does without hesitation. Honey, I love you.

My son- My son, Ben, is by far the smartest and most handsome child that I have ever met. I know you are thinking that I might be a bit bias but it is true that he is. Ben is fun and still very respectful. He is so much like his dad. He cracks me up because at 7 years old, he has Robert's language skills. He uses words like behooved, solution and immediate. The are words that I had to use spell check on. I am positive that my 7 year old son's IQ of 126 is higher than mine. That is all from his dad.

Lessons learned- In my life I have learned more lessons than I would like to admit. But, now at 30, I think that I can finally say that those lessons have taken hold. My therapist says that he is so impressed with my "turn around". He says that I am a totally different person and it happened fast. Faster than he expected. That is good, I suppose. But it is because I have two people that love me more than life and I realized it, so that saved me. As for the others that have made my life rough- Thank you, for you have made me the wonderful woman, mom, wife and friend that I am today.

The pic says it all............

This is cute and it works!!

Pick-up Rebuttals ! ----- Watch Out Guys !!! & Cheer Up Gals !

• Man: "Haven't we met before?"
  Woman: "Yes, I'm the receptionist at the VD Clinic."

• Man: "So, wanna go back to my place?"
  Woman: "Well, I don't know. Will two people fit under a rock?"

• The most memorable rebuttal to a turn-down when a guy asked a girl to dance and she refused:
  Man: "Want to Dance?"
  Woman: "No, thank you."
  Man: "Don't thank me, thank God because somebody asked you."

• Man: "I'd like to call you. What's your number?"
  Woman: "It's in the phone book."
  Man: "But I don't know your name."
  Woman: "That's in the phone book too."

• Man: "So what do you do for a living?"
  Woman: "Female impersonator."

• Man: "You know, I'd really love to travel to exotic places with you."
  Woman: (tries to ignore him)
  Man: "You know what? I also love sex. What do you say to that?"
  Woman: "Hmmm...you really love sex and travel?"
  Man: (nods his head smiling)
  Woman: "Then go take a fuckin' hike!!!"

• And here's one including the correct snappy return
  Man: "How do you like your eggs in the morning?"
  Woman: "Unfertilized."

• After hearing a pick-up line:
  Woman: "I like your approach, now let's see your departure."

• A friend once had a graying man in his 60's approach her in a club while she was in college with the line, "Where have you been all my life?"
  She took one glance at him and said, "For the first half of it, I probably wasn't born yet."

• A friend came up with a very quick response over vacation...
  We were walking down the street and I glanced at a girl who had just walked by.
  She turned around and said "What are you looking at?"
  My friend, walking next to me came to the rescue, "He thought you were good looking, but he was mistaken."

Ha ha ha ha!!!

Typical Psyche of a Women !

• If you kiss her, you are not a gentleman
  If you don't, you are not a man

• If you praise her, she thinks you are lying
  If you don't, you are good for nothing

• If you agree to all her likes, you are a wimp
  If you don't, you are not understanding

• If you visit her often, she thinks it is boring
  If you don't, she accuses you of double-crossing

• If you are well dressed, she says you are a playboy
  If you don't, you are a dull boy

• If you are jealous, she says it's bad
  If you aren't, she thinks you do not love her

• If you attempt a romance, she says you didn't respect her
  If you don't, she thinks you do not like her

• If you are a minute late, she complains it's hard to wait
  If she is late, she says that's a girl's way

• If you visit another man, you're not putting in "quality time"
  If she is visited by another woman, "oh it's natural, we are girls"

• If you kiss her once in a while, she professes you are cold
  If you kiss her often, she yells that you are taking advantage

• If you stare at another woman, she accuses you of flirting
  If she is stared by other men, she says that they are just admiring

• If you talk, she wants you to listen
  If you listen, she wants you to talk

More of Ben....

Ben having is breakfast of champions in his hideaway.


Ben sleeping in his tent. He can sleep anywhere.

Ben.....The Lady Charmer....

This is Ben bungee jumping at the mall. He is up for anything. I am afraid he is going to be into extreme sports.....I can feel the sleepless nights coming on.


Ben and his "followers". It is so crazy. He can get these girls to do anything for him. He is such a charmer. He tells me everyday that I am the "most beautiful, hottest and nicest mom on Earth", he sure knows how to work a girl and he is only 7. Robert wonders why I will do anything Ben asks. He just sure knows how to talk to a girl. Lock up your daughters!

Today is my 5th Wedding Anniversary ....

My 5th Wedding Anniversary!!! Wow!!

There was a time in my life that I thought that I would be single for the rest of my life and then I met Robert. After our first telephone conversation he sent me a dozen white roses. It was by far the most romantic thing that had ever happened to me.

The story how we met is so wonderful and as the story continues it really tells how our relationship is strong and can withstand a enormous amounts of pressure. Robert is my best friend, my protector and hero. He is the man that I always dreamed of.

Our story-

I was a single mom working at a company in Mississippi and I had a great friend there. One day I came in fussing, yes sometimes I do that, about another terrible date. I was wondering if I would ever find "the one." Then my friend, who is now my mother in law, said she had a dream that I was dating her oldest son. So, I said cool (yes, you know that is what I said ha ha ha), give me his email address. She was more than happy, too. She also gave me his phone number. So, I emailed him and got nothing for 2 days then on the 3rd day I told her that if I hear nothing today, he was out of luck (he was out of town working, at the time I did not know). Well, really it was me that was in luck. He emailed me that day. We emailed a few times then talked on the phone. That started on Wed. then Friday he drove down from Raleigh and we spent the week together. The first night we met was like we had known each other forever. We were so comfortable with each other. It was so nice, he was so nice. I just kept thinking "WOW!" Then the day before he was set to leave we had lunch and we decided to get married the following week. I was set to fly out on Friday but when I go to the airport they had no plane! I was not happy. Robert, the kind and gentle man that he is, calmed me. I got a flight later that day and we married on that Monday, May 17th, 2004. It has not been perfect the entire time and I am sure that I am to blame for a lot of that but I am a much better person, wife, mom and friend for the tough times we have had. Robert and I are very different people but we are made for each other. As my mother in law says we are "yin and yang". I am sure as my mother in law reads this she is laughing, as she has her version of this story. Aline, I love you and thank you for one of the greatest gifts that I have ever gotten, Robert. I am proud to be a Selph!

The Ellis Family.......The Real American Heroes

Yesterday morning I go this email--

Well I don't know if everyone knows but Jeremy left last night for Afganistan. He was ready and excited if you know jeremy you know he was. He said he is ready to kick ass! I think my kids were the loudest I had ever heard them cry. Jeremy got on the bus and the guys told him they made them cry. He should be home mid Dec. The kids and I will be down in july. When is Charlie's wedding so I can plan to come for it..anyways just updating everyone..

Jennifer


This is my cousin, Jennifer, and her 2 beautiful kids Ethan (5) and Bailey (almost 7). I read this and cried and cried. Those poor kids......Jennifer......Jennifer is the bravest and most selfless woman I know. Our country should bestow on her the highest honor and give her and her kids a privileged life. For them to be displaced in anyway should be criminal. For them to give up their family's protector, for him to fight for his country is heroic. They are heroes.


Jennifer, Bailey and Ethan-

Ben and I devised a plan. We are only about 6 hour boat ride from Afghanistan so if at anytime Jeremy needs us we are on the first boat there. Just tell him to send us some smoke signals. I know it is not a perfect plan but what we are saying is we are here for all of you at anytime. The Ellis family is in our hearts and prayers. We love you.

Just a note...

Now anyone can leave a comment or email a post to someone. So, please do and do not forget to subscribe to my blog!!!

Just Chit Chat....

Updates-

Well, we had our expat dinner and it was small but very nice. I am very excited about doing the next one. More people should be in town.

On a personal note-

Being 30....Boy, am I loving it. I never thought it would be this way. I am finding myself more and more each day. I am realizing just what it is that I like and love. I love the early mornings, music, dancing and my family. I also, realize with this new found life that I am getting the respect and attention that I so duly deserve. Before I never thought that I should get anything that was worth anything because, I did not think, I was worth anything, but now......I am worth more than anything (make sense ha ha). With this I am happier than ever and the people around me notice it. I even had someone tell me that they were jealous of ME because it seems that I love my life and they wished they had that. Can you believe that? I can't. I have waited all my life and now I have what I always wanted. God has truly blessed me.

Family updates-

My niece, ReAnn, is turning 17! I cried about that for a long time. I remember when she was born. She is such a wonderful girl and I love her more than she will ever know. ReAnn- Baby, I am proud of you and am always here for you no matter what. You can count on me!

Ben has another loose tooth! This one is on the top and he wants the dentist to pull it, like the others, because the dentist pulled teeth get more money from the tooth fairy. Get this, when he had his 2 bottom teeth pulled it cost me 200 rupees. That is less than $4. I know what you are thinking, but it was at a real dentist office, clean and yes he used a numbing injection.

My grandpa was diagnosed with lung cancer a few weeks ago and is undergoing chemo and radiation. My mom says he is sick and losing some of his hair from it. It is hard for me to really deal with this because he has been more of a dad to me than my own dad. I just thought that he was "untouchable" and could do nothing wrong, actually I still do (but do not tell grandma). I want to call him but when I try I just cry and then decide not to for the fear of upsetting him. Grandpa- we love you so much. Hang in there. We are praying for you each day.

I thought this was interesting.....Intellectual Blackmail!

Intellectual Blackmail!

We all agree that the level of intelligence is increasing day by day. To get your work done you need to have skills. You know if you ask a person to do this, he may not do. In such cases, people are smart enough to reframe their sentences just to bring you to their point of view or get their job done.

The sentences used directly challenge your mind and reasoning. Within one statement you undergo emotion swings. In the shadow of happy swing, the person makes you do or commit what he wants.

Sentences like:

• A wise and intelligent person like you can never think of doing that.

• A reasonable person like you would never make a mistake like that.

• I know you have a pure heart but…..

• I hope you are intelligent enough to realise....

• Could you be bold & nice to have a cup of coffee with me.

On such occasions, don't get carried away. Listen to your heart, mind & instincts. Understand what the other person actually wants from you.