Writing a book is like having a baby: Rufus is born

As you may have read over the last months, I have written a children's story about my son Loïc (Lele) and his cuddly toy Rufus. Wonderful illustrator Dave McTaggart has given the story the images I had imagined to make this story come alive.

I am proud to announce that this book is now available online at Memetales in two versions: prose and rhyme.

Rufus' First Night Alone - In...

See more at memetales

You will be able to read this book 8 times before you buy the book.

Once you buy the book, you will always have access to the book and all the premium content listed with the book.

There are related activities around each book for your kids to experience (drawing lessons, games etc).

I hope you pop in and let me know what you think.

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Quarrelsome builders and expatriates

Today one of my blog posts about quarrelsome builders is featured over at Expatica.lu.

Expatica is a site full of news and information for the international community.

They have several country sites, one of which is Luxembourg. It's a home away from home for expatriates. It brings news and feature articles on subjects such as moving, housing, employment and Family and Kids.

They are currently looking for contributors.

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I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world -- Sadako Sasaki

Someone's dream stopped this morning.

Gabrielle gave a pair of those wings to my dear cousin this morning.

And it makes her message even clearer than it already was 4 days ago when I posted her video.

He should have been born around the same time as me. He was born a month after me. He was a special boy. Whether is was the genes, a lack of oxygen, ... we would never know exactly.

But we always knew he was special.

Not only because he sat in a wheelchair.
Not only because he would tell us yes by looking up and no by looking down.
Not only because he could only communicate through a letter board on his wheelchair and by getting our attention honking his little horn.

But above all because he was able to stand up to his parents and tell them he didn't believe in God anymore.
Because he could beat us at board games.
Because he loved football so much he got to go to all his team's games and get a 'special' spot behind the goal.
Because he had parents who did anything for him from rebuilding their entire house, buying a 'special person's' RV, taking him to football matches, Tour de France races...

So many times he must have been jealous of us, of what we were able to do. Despite all the 'special' things he had access to...

He too turned 40 a few weeks ago.

He will not turn 41.

And I am so lucky to have known him. To have been able to share the little bit of life with him that made me realize already as a kid that I was lucky.

His beautiful soul will continue to fly all over the world.
I hope he gets to see all the places he never was able to until now.

Fly JP, fly.

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Life isn't a matter of milestones but of moments - Rose F. Kennedy

Milestone

An important point in your journey
a deadline not to be missed
a project's go or no go decision
a marker on the road in the mist.

The happiest day in your life
your wedding, your child's birth
the saddest of days it can be too
showing you what it's all worth.

Some of the stones you plant yourself
some are put in place by others
reaching them can become quite a battle
often creating strong bands of brothers.

A stone every mile along the road
to tell you where you are heading
and if you decide to take a different turn
does that mean you're in for some tough sledding?

A milestone is a reference point
of value only to those
who know what it's referring to
they reach it and can repose.

Some of those stones become a burden
to reach, get rid of or try to displace
what if we ignored them and went on our way
to explore all corners of life's beautiful maze?


(c) Mindful Mimi - February 2010

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Live your dreams right now!

Let Gabrielle put motivation in your soul...

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