Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Maya's Sunflower Magic

 I’m pleased to be part of MCBD since June 2015 not only as an author, but also as a Reviewer to Multicultural Children’s Book Day and Board of Trustees. This event has helped me promote my books, received reviews for my books, increase followers in my social media (Twitter and Instagram), and meet authors from around the world. Excellent resource for NEWTWORKING and internviews:


Author participation interviews: Please Visit 👉
3. Read Your World Classroom kit: https://readyourworld.org/all-classroom-kits

This year  Review 2025

Maya's Sunflower Magic

HerBrina Sade' Shepherd

The author HerBrina Sade’s Shepherd gives an invitation to enter into "Maya’s Sunflower Magic" and dedicated this story to All the Beautiful Black Girls and Women.

La historia comienza con coloridas ilustraciones que encarnan el espíritu radiante de un girasol con una imaginación tan ilimitada como el cielo, mientras la bella Maya siembra semillas de esperanza, sueños y aspiraciones en un campo mágico, nutriéndolas con amor y determinación hasta que florecen en impresionantes girasoles.

My favorite line is when Maya’s hear her inner voice telling her. “…Your sunflower bloom with the essence of your uniqueness.” 

"Maya's Sunflower Magic” is a celebration of the limitless potential in every black girl, inspiring them to blossom to make the world a magic and better place. However, I would have included a sentence where I included all the girls and women in the world.

Thank you for your support!🌷 #LuzDelMes 🌠  

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza MartineMejia

Mother, Theologian, Author, Educator and Translator

Member: Read your Wold Board of Trusteed, Read to Me, Day! Ambassador 
ANLMI & Gremio Poético Colombiano 

FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com
Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry 2015, Latino Book Awards 2016, Premio Verso Dorado 2022

Saturday, January 4, 2025

Multicultural Children's Book Day 2025

 

When I was a child,  I always dreamed of traveling around the world , meeting people with different cultures, tasting delicious foods, and learn different languages. 

A perfect dream that I made it possible while reading!

Diversity in children’s literature has been a topic of concern to movements like Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCBD). Authors, illustrators, educators and bloggers have been an important element to make sure children have access to books that celebrate diversity. Feature characters from diverse cultures, countries and race are an important building block of the learning process in classroom and at home. It is fundamental to teach students from early age that different does not mean to be wrong.

I’m pleased to be part of MCBD since June 2015 not only as an author, but also as a Reviewer to Multicultural Children’s Book Day and Board of Trustees. This event has helped me promote my books, received reviews for my books, increase followers in my social media (Twitter and Instagram), and meet authors from around the world. Excellent resource for NEWTWORKING and internviews:

Author participation interviews: Please Visit 👉
3. Read Your World Classroom kit: https://readyourworld.org/all-classroom-kits
           An amazin Review:  The Purple Shell 

 Poemas y Reflexiones: www.luzdelmes.com

Thank you for your support!🌷 #LuzDelMes 🌠  

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza MartineMejia

Mother, Theologian, Author, Educator and Translator

Member: Read your Wold Board of Trusteed, Read to Me, Day! Ambassador 
ANLMI & Gremio Poético Colombiano 

FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com
Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry 2015, Latino Book Awards 2016, Premio Verso Dorado 2022

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Welcome January - Bienvenido Enero

  

Reflections by Maritza Martínez Mejía

January is usually a month to make resolutions. It is gratifying to meet our goals, but do we follow the resolutions throughout the year? Probably not! However, it is important to start the year with a purpose in mind and grateful heart. Let's set up small goals base on the good things and experiences learned from the previous year. Step by step, you can reach far.     
Let's star the New Year with a grateful heart!❤️

Happy and Blessed New Year! 

May the Bethlehem Star guide your path!
#LuzDelMes✨
By Maritza Martinez Mejia
Visit Link 👉
https://southernwritersmagazine.blogspot.com/2016/03/planning-ideas-for-new-year.html

Enero es un mes usualmente para hacer resoluciones. Es gratificante cumplir nuestras metas, pero ¿seguimos las resoluciones durante todo el año? ¡Probablemente no! Sin embargo, es importante empezar el año con un propósito en mente y corazón agradecido. Planeemos metas cortas basadas en las cosas positivas y el aprendizaje del año anterior. Paso a paso, se puede llegar lejos. 

¡Empecemos el año nuevo con corazón agradecido!💖
¡Feliz y Bendecido Año Nuevo!
 
¡Que la Estrella de Belém guie tus pasos!
Poemas y Reflexiones: www.luzdelmes.com

Thank you for your support!🌷 #LuzDelMes 🌠  

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza MartineMejia

Mother, Theologian, Author, Educator and Translator

Member: Read your Wold Board of Trusteed, Read to Me, Day! Ambassador 
ANLMI & Gremio Poético Colombiano 

FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com
Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry 2015, Latino Book Awards 2016, Premio Verso Dorado 2022

Monday, December 30, 2024

12 days of Christmas for Writers

In the last five years, I have participated in the "12 days of Christmas for Writers" by Julie Hedlund. During day 2 and 3 of the challenge, she invites us to write on an empty piece of paper the surprises and successes of the year to focus on our accomplishments instead of New Year’s resolutions. Julie believes the way New Year's resolutions are traditionally made comes from a place of negativity - what DIDN'T get done or achieved in the previous year.

Due to the challenges writers are facing in the previous years, I think it is exclusively important to recognize  each small effort. I invite you to make your list, you don’t have to publish it, but be generous with yourself.

Here is my list of my major professional accomplishments for 2024. 👉

As a teacher, my biggest surprise is that I am nearing 20 years in the Public Education System, and two in the higher education system as the Student Life Manager for the Spanish Programs.

As writers, the post pandemic has opened doors of unexpected experiences and I continue to work virtually promoting LuzDelMes:

1. I joined VIRTUAL events around the world through Zoom, Google Meet and Teams.

2. I continued to be part of Read to Me Day (Australia) as an Ambassador and Read Your World as Board of Trustee. (USA)

3. Translated three courses for the Continuing Education program and am developing one on Mariology to launch on February 11, 2025. 

Maybe the list is not too long as previous years but I'm being taking care of my health and my garden to enjoy each moment of it and not doing too much things outside home.

Maritza M. Mejia writes to inspire others to be their best selves.

Thank you for your support!🌷 #LuzDelMes 🌠

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator, Translator and Publisher
Member:  ReadYourWorld Board of TrusteesANLMI Delegate
International Read to Me! Day Ambassador.
Received Crystal Apple Award, VCB Poetry Award, Latino Book Awards 2016 & Author’s Talk 2017, Verso Dorado 2022

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Mi receta favorita - My Favorite Recipe

 CELEBREMOS LAS TRADICIONES

La Nochebuena es un momento para celebrar las tradiciones y disfrutar con la familia y los amigos. Mi postre favorito durante  éste tiempo decembrino es el arroz con leche. Me transporta  a mi infancia, me llena de gozo y añoranza. Ahora, disfruto prepararlo con mi hija. Es un bonito momento para recordar a mi mamita, su abuelita. 
¡Aquí está la receta de mi madre para ti!

ARROZ CON LECHE INGREDIENTES:

1 tazas de arroz crudo
      6 tazas de leche
      1/2 taza de azúcar       
      1 lata pequeña de leche condensada
      1/2 cucharadita de esencia de vainilla       
3 astillas de canela y  canela en polvo al gusto
      Uvas pasas (opcional) 

Preparación: 
Poner a hervir la leche con las astillas de canela y azúcar. Cuando hierba, agregar el arroz y bajar el fuego al mínimo. Revolver constantemente y cocinar hasta que el arroz haya absorbido la leche. Aparte, mezclar la leche condensada con la esencia de vainilla y verter esta mezcla en la olla del arroz. dejar enfriar y al momento de servir agregar canela en polvo y/o uvas pasas.

 ¿Nos gustaría saber cuál es su tradición? ...Mi preferida es Arroz de leche.

FOR THE OCTAVE CHRISTMAS
For the ladies who asked me for the recipe in English. Here it is my mother's rice pudding recipe.
Now, my daughter's favorite dessert. Enjoy it ;)

Rice Pudding Recipe
Christmas Eve is a time to celebrate traditions and enjoy it with family and friends. My favorite dessert during this time is the Rice pudding. Here is my mother's recipe for you! 
Ingredients:
• 1cups of white rice
• 6 cups of milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 small can of condense milk
• 1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla extract 
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• Cinnamon powder —to taste

• Raisins (optional) 



Preparation:

Put to boil the milk with the cinnamon sticks and sugar. When is boiling, add the rice and lower the heat to a minimum. Stir constantly and cook until the rice has absorbed the milk. Mix the condensed milk with the vanilla extract, and pour this mixture into the rice. Allow to cool and serve to add cinnamon powder and/or raisins.

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza M. Mejia writes to inspire others to be their best selves.

Website: www.luzdelmes.com 

Member: ANLMI, FWA, SFWA, Delegada ANLMI

Awards: Crystal Apple 2006, VCB Poetry 2015, Latino Book Awards 2016, Author’s Talk Book Show 2017- American Eagle 2020, Premio Verso Dorado 2022

Friday, December 6, 2024

St. Nicholas and St Claus tradition

 

Image: Christian Daily & Story Basílica of Piat
Nicholas was born at Patara, a seaside town in Licia, in southern Turkey, in the third century. He came from a good family that raised him as a Christian. His life, from his earliest days, was marked by obedience. When he was orphaned at a young age, Nicholas, remembering the rich young man in the Gospel, used his inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the poor. He was elected Bishop of Myra, and under the emperor Diocletian was exiled and imprisoned. After being freed, he attended the Council of Nicaea in 325. He died in Myra on 6 December 343. Many stories have been handed down about Nicholas, all testifying to a life spent in service to the weak, the small, and the defenseless.

Defender of the weak

One of the most ancient stories about Saint Nicholas involves a man with three daughters of marriageable age. The family was poor, and the young girls were in danger of being forced into prostitution, because their father could not afford to offer a suitable dowry. One night, Nicholas went to the family’s home, and threw a bag of coins through the open window -- then fled before he could be identified. With the money, the father was able to procure a marriage for his eldest daughter. Nicholas returned twice more, always at night so that he could not be identified. But the third time, the father rushed out of the house to identify his mysterious benefactor. Nicholas begged him not to tell anyone what he had done.

Another story relates the fate of three young theologians travelling to Athens. Along the way, they stopped at an inn, where they were robbed and killed by the innkeeper, who hid their bodies in a barrel. Saint Nicholas, then a bishop, stopped at the same inn when he travelled to Athens. In a dream, he saw the crime that had been committed by his host. Turning to prayer, Saint Nicholas miraculously restored the three young men to life, and obtained the conversion of the wicked innkeeper.

A third story tells how Saint Nicholas freed a young boy, Basileos, who had been kidnapped from his home in Myra, and forced to serve as a cup-bearer for a foreign potentate. While his parents prayed for his safety, Saint Nicholas appeared to Basileos, and miraculously restored him to his family -- still holding the potentate’s golden cup.

These and similar stories helped to spread devotion to Saint Nicholas as patron of children and young people

Protector of seafarers

St. Nicholas is also the patron of sailors and seafarers. When he was a young man, Nicholas boarded a ship to take him on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Following in the footsteps of the Lord, Nicholas prayed that he might be able to experience more fully the closeness of Jesus, and share in His sufferings. Returning to Greece, a frightful storm arose, and the ship he was on was in danger of flooding. Nicholas calmly prayed, and suddenly the wind ceased and the waves died down, to the wonder of the sailors, who feared shipwreck.

Saint Nicholas of Bari

 After the death of Saint Nicholas, his tomb at Myra soon became a place of pilgrimage; his relics were considered miraculous on account of a mysterious liquid that flowed from them, known as the “manna of St Nicholas.” 

Basílica Myra- Bari 

Santa Claus

In the Low Countries, and throughout Germanic lands generally, the winter feast of Saint Nicholas (in Dutch, “Sint Nikolaas” and later “Sinteklaas”), and his patronage of the young, gave rise to the tradition of giving gifts on his feast day: on the Eve of his feast, children would leave socks or shoes on a chair, or next to the fireplace, and go to sleep trusting that the following morning they would be filled with gifts. 

Which sack would you like to receive?
Books available at: www.luzdelmes.com

Book activities with The Saint Nicholas Day Snow



¿
Existió Papá Noel?

La Tradición de San Nicolás data del siglo IV del Obispo griego de Myra, llamado Nicolás, quien ayudaba a los pobres.  Debido a los muchos milagros atribuidos a su intercesión, también es conocido como “Nikolaos el Wonderworker”. Es decir, Una persona que realizó milagros. 

La leyenda narra que el obispo dejó el dinero requerido (dote) a la orilla de la ventana, dentro de una bolsa roja, de tres niñas pobres para permitirles casarse. Probablemente la tradición de las medias rojas que se llenan de dinero, está basada en esta historia. 

San Nicolás es el santo protector de los pescadores, necesitados y de los niños. 


Oh buen San Nicolás,
Tú que trajiste alegría a los niños,
pon en mi corazon el espiritu de la infancia
de la que habla el Evangelio.
Enséñame a sembrar felicidad a mi alrededor
Amén
Para conocer  más sobre la historia visita: 

http://www.lanota-latina.com/santa-una-leyenda-roja-de-amor-y-bondad/

Thank you for your support!🌷 #LuzDelMes 🌠

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza Martínez Mejía
Mother, Theologian, Author, Educator and Translator

Member: FWA, MCBD Board of Advisors,  Read to Me, Day! Ambassador 
ANLMI & Gremio Poético Colombiano 

FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com
Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry 2015, Latino Book Awards 2016