My ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - Original Song by Aerial Melvin

Well Hello!

I am writing about something very special today. The whole media has been over taken with the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. I think it is a wonderful thing for people to be involved and donate for such a wonderful cause! However, I hope people know what ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) can do to someone and how horrible of a disease it is.

For those who don't know, ALS in simple terms attacks the muscles in your body where you lose mobility in your limbs, become paralyzed and eventually it leads to death. Every case is different, some progress slower or more quickly than others. It is such a sad, sad thing to see and it truly touched my heart when I saw the second part of Anthony Carbajal's ALS Challenge Video. I made this song after I watched him helping his mother and him saying how scared he was. My heart goes out to you Anthony, your mother and your grandmother.

Here is his video and story here(he does use a couple words that are sensitive to young audiences).
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/als-patient-anthony-carbajal-does-ice-bucket-challenge-talks-disease-2014218


I hope this song is a little more special than ice being poured over my head. (Not that I disagree with it).

Raise awareness in whatever way you can! Challenge yourself to learn more about this disease and donate at least $10 to the foundation for research to find a cure. The link below is where you can help!
https://secure2.convio.net/alsa/site/Donation2;jsessionid=39450595F434D8BFA27A70D6A09925A8.app295b?df_id=27420&27420.donation=form1


With much hope and love,
Aerial Melvin

Give Children a Chance.. or at Least a Smile

Well Hey!

Today I am writing with some encouragement and inspiration that has been on my mind lately. Ever since I can remember I have been blessed with a compassionate heart towards children. I am a carer and nurturer and have always had motherly instincts. Though, yes, I am a woman, these qualities do not come naturally to everyone. Which is not a bad thing. I am a nanny, babysitter, children's voice teacher and hope to one day open my own day care. With that being said I would like to share my knowledge and experience I have with regards to what we call little bundles of joy.

First of all, let me tell you that I am so fascinated with the child's mind design. They are creative and have no limits when it comes to dreaming. Everything they see is big and new and colorful. They do not feel embarrassment or care what they wear. This wonderful gift remains until innocence is taken away, such as realizing the Easter Bunny does not hide their Easter eggs or the teasing at school begins. However, that wonder and joy is planted inside of all of us and we should strive to have the qualities an innocent child does.

Now, I strongly believe that you should have a forgiving and patient heart towards children. If I see children, well behaved, well dressed or not I always try to smile. You never know when they need a kind gesture. Don't stereotype children into thinking they are all bad just because you have seen or heard about tantrums, crying, screaming or worse. Even though all of those behaviors are bad, they are all forgotten when that same child comes up to you and gives you a hug, tells you they are sorry or gives you snuggles. For those who haven't seen the warm side of children, the side that I naturally see, I am sorry but you are not looking hard enough.

Do not say that you do not like children. I refuse to believe that is true. You might as well say you do not like yourself or people because we were all children and we all are not perfect. And I guarantee you if you do not like an innocent child to come up to you and ask for a hug or grab your hand or smile at you then you are missing the big picture of life. You may not like when children act up or make mistakes but oh how hypocritical it is when you are human too.

All I am trying to say is show a little love and compassion towards children because you still have that inner child inside of you. Not all people are good with kids and that's okay. I am not a parent yet, and whether I have a child of my own or am a mother to someone else's child I will still believe the same thing. Children are gifts and we should all be thankful for them.

My inspiration came from yesterday when I was roller skating and though I am not very good, these children asked if I would take their hand to skate with them. Children open up their hearts to the ones who have open arms. It's the little things in life that give you the greatest moments.

With hope and love,

Aerial

#aerialandtheboys

Florida Caverns State Park - Travel

Well Hey!

I am blogging today about a little adventure my mom, myself and my little cousins explored last weekend! We went to Florida Caverns State Park located in Marianna FL. Being a resident there for almost my whole life, I have never really fully appreciated how great it is! The Park's fee's are as follows:

        

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Admission Fee:

$5.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.

$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle.

$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.

Camping Fee:

$20.00 per night, plus tax. Includes water and electricity. Florida residents who are 65 years of age or older or who hold a social security disability award certificate or a 100 percent disability award certificate from the Federal Government are permitted to receive a 50 percent discount on current base campsite fees.

Youth or Adult Group Camping Fees: 

(Per person) Youth  $1.00, Adult(s) or chaperone(s)  $5.00

Cave Tour Fees:

$8.00 per person, age 13 and older.

$5.00 per child, 3 to 12. (Free, 2 and younger.)

$4.00 per person, organized groups of 25 or more with prepaid reservations.

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If you are going for the day like we did I would advise preparing 30 minutes to an hour of extra time to check out the upstairs exhibit and gift shop. The upstairs exhibit also had a live snake that we got to touch(Don't worry it's safe!) and also a turtle that we could hold. Theses showings are only at certain times so be sure to call and see what times that you should come to check them out! It adds a lot more to the experience for sure! Besides that, the upstairs exhibit has a theatre room and a museum library of artifacts, history, and replicas.
Downstairs is the ticket purchase area and gift shop. T-shirts are there along with neat rocks, arrowheads, or creepy-crawlies(It's okay they are fake!) that you can find. The kids LOVE it!

When we went on the Caverns Tour we had the most amazing tour guide Adam DeWitt. He is also known to have given a personal tour of the caverns to the famous Vanilla Ice! If he is there I definitely recommend him as your tour guide. He is so awesome and hilarious! But I am positive the other tour guides are just wonderful as well!

Be sure to read the pamphelts in the gift shop, watch the theatre film in the upstairs exhibit or listen to your tour guide because they will all mention another cave tour that takes ten minutes to get to and it is a neat walk through cave that you can explore for some extra adventure! There are also trails that you are welcome to explore if you are up for that!

Go visit the park area(There are signs that direct you) for the little ones to get out some energy on the swings and jungle gym. Canoe Rentals can be made and the park has many other activities to offer such as horseback riding, boating, and golfing. However, these are at the expense of your usage. The park does not offer rentals for these. You can find the information you need at the Park's Main Page below!

http://www.floridastateparks.org/floridacaverns/

With much hope and love,

Aerial

#aerialandtheboys

#floridacaverns

#floridacavernsstatepark