The Family:La Familia:La Famiglia:La Famille

I'm going to begin by showing you what the Merriam-Webster's definition of family is:



Main Entry: 1fam·i·ly
Pronunciation: \ˈfam-lē, ˈfa-mə-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural fam·i·lies
Etymology: Middle English familie, from Latin familia household (including servants as well as kin of the householder), from famulus servant
Date: 15th century
1: a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head : household
2 a: a group of persons of common ancestry : clan b: a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a common stock : race
3 a: a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation : fellowship b: the staff of a high official (as the President)
4: a group of things related by common characteristics: as a: a closely related series of elements or chemical compounds b: a group of soils with similar chemical and physical properties (as texture, pH, and mineral content) that comprise a category ranking above the series and below the subgroup in soil classification c: a group of related languages descended from a single ancestral language
5 a: the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children; also : any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family a single-parent family b: spouse and children
6 a: a group of related plants or animals forming a category ranking above a genus and below an order and usually comprising several to many genera bin livestock breeding (1): the descendants or line of a particular individual especially of some outstanding female (2): an identifiable strain within a breed
7: a set of curves or surfaces whose equations differ only in parameters
8: a unit of a crime syndicate (as the Mafia) operating within a geographic area
— fam·i·ly·hood \-ˌhu̇d\ noun


If you cannot see where I am going with this, let me explain. In the past, I have been with many families. I was born into a family. I lived with a family that was not technically my own but I became one of them briefly. I was adopted into a family and then I was married into a family.

To me, family is a group of people of which I belong. They accept me. Sometimes they don't like what I do but they still love me and want me to succeed. They help me get on the right path when I am going down the wrong one.

Family is always there. They don't leave you behind. They don't cast you aside. They pick you up when you are down. They may criticize you but they always show you the right way to do it. Even if it means holding your hand the whole time. They keep you with them so that they can guide you along the rocky roads.

It is important, that last sentence. Family stays with you no matter what.

That is all I have to say.

Obama's Blue Print for Change

Finally I have found the link to Obama's campaign information. Hopefully you all will read this and make a more informed decision on who to vote for. http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/ObamaBlueprintForChange.pdf

One thing is for sure...if you are thinking that voting for McCain is a better choice (especially for women's rights) think again. He is Republican. I urge everyone to not set us back fifty years by putting this guy into office. We need reproductive freedoms. As for those of you less informed about this issue, even when abortion was "illegal" the government was still issuing them to mentally handicapped people and those people who were deemed crazy, once again, abusing their power.

And for those unlucky women who were raped or just weren't ready to have children, they had to go to uncertified doctors on the side who sometimes did hack jobs on them. I try not to be too pushy on this subject but really abortion is more a health issue than a religious one anymore. People are going to do it no matter what you believe. Although I have never been in a situation that merits the decision I feel that there is always an exception to the rule, therefore everyone deserves the right to choose for themselves.

Interesting Fact

As I was googling my site's name to see if it came up anywhere (so far it has not) I discovered a website that has an English-Chinook dictionary on it.

In this dictionary, the word Nika presents itself. I thought that was neat, so I decided to take a look.

The word nika means my, mine or myself. I thought that was appropriate since the name of my website is Nika's Land or My Land.

Just a little tidbit I thought I'd throw your way. :)

Here's the site: http://www.cayoosh.net/hiyu/shaw6.html

~Nika

Sent From Heaven

Song lyrics | Heaven Sent lyrics


I am dedicating this post to my husband because no matter all of the differences, we still have more in common. I love you and Happy Birthday!!!

Literature for Free

I have discovered a website for all of you book worms out there. It is called www.DailyLit.com .

I love it!!! All you have to do is search for your book and it finds it, lists whether or not you must pay to read it, click and read!!! Several of the classics are free to read and those that are not free are very well priced.

A few good reads listed for free are, "War and Peace," "Women in Love," and "Three Men and a Maid."

I am tempted to read that last one. I think this site will be a great way to keep myself entertained during Michigan's long, cold winters.

Top Jobs

There is no such thing as "economic problems" if you have the right job.

For all of those math and science geeks, you are probably on top of the world. In my two years in the city, I have noticed two things: the people making money are either working in the hospital, on computers or in the finance department.

Unfortunately, the rest of us will have to catch up to you. I majored in journalism and all it has gotten me is a husband and some student loans I have to pay off. I can't do much with it because it requires so much traveling and crazy long hours. Not to mention, that as a woman, some people are VERY intimidated that someone so pretty could be THAT smart. Sorry guys, it had to be said. Women tend to find more than one glass ceiling in this business. That is why I am writing this blog. The most successful journalists I know have all become professors at large universities. That, of course, requires more college and time. But you do make more money...

Anyway, that being said, I have found the top ten jobs for 2008 according to Yahoo.com .

1. Marketing and Promotions Management
2. Medical Assisting
3. Computer Networking Specialist
4. Teacher
5. Software Programmer
6. Educational Administrator
7. Graphic Designer
8. Paralegal
9. Nursing Administrator
10. Accountant / Bookkeeper

If you would like to find out more about these careers, copy and paste this link into your browser:

http://education.yahoo.net/degrees/articles/featured_10_hot_careers_for_2008_and_beyond.html

Time is Valuable

No matter how long you live, you will never have enough time.

There's always something new that I want to do, something new to experience, something new to taste, to see, to hear, to feel...

My kids ask me, "Mom, can you read me a bedtime story?"

My husband asks me, "Honey, do you want to go have dinner and a movie?"

My family asks me, "So when do I get to see the baby?"

My friends ask me, "Are you going to have any time next week for lunch?"

Sometimes my head just spins with questions and responsibility. Do I have time? Yes, I have time. Let me see. Let me check with my husband. Let me make sure I have a sitter. Let me make sure the kids are going to be in school. Let me see if I have anything else going on.

I am a slave to time now. It is so weird. How does someone who is a stay-at-home mom have no time?

For those of you who manage to work in a few minutes with your significant other, I have made a list of things you can do to kill time. If you have little ones still home, you can take them to all of these places.

1. Go miniature golfing. It's fun, short and you can talk about things.
2. Grab a pizza and head to the park.
3. Find a museum.
4. Book stores are awesome "third places" to socialize, listen to music and relax.
5. Locate an indoor track and go for a run. Or go back to the park.

I have wasted a lot of time not doing the things that I want to do, not saying the things that I need to say and not being the person I want to be. I hope this blog inspires you to try something new and spend time with the special people in your lives before it is too late. Don't let your everyday responsibilities bog down your life. Don't get sucked into movie night and don't assume that you have to go on dates at night, only spend time with your kids during certain times or only visit your family on holidays. Call your mom and for God's sake, kiss your loved one when they walk out the door!!!

~Nika