The Best of Both Worlds ...

Mr. T talking about Afghanistan.

Me, some of the 1st Graders & our banner we made.

Remember this? Well. I thought about it. And was going to. Probably. Some day.

Ever since Kyle got back from Afghanistan, the 1st Grade has wanted Kyle to come in & talk about his trip. Even while Kyle was still gone, Davis would say "My teacher says you are going to come in on a 'Fun Friday' & talk to us about your trip!" So that part was always planned. But another 1st grade teacher saw me at school earlier this month & told me she wanted me to come in when Kyle did & talk to the kids about Art. Kyle would take 1/2 of the kids, I'd take 1/2 - then we'd switch. Apparently, Davis had asked her, too, if I could come in. Oh. So he was serious. :)

We set the date - "Fun Friday" on 3/25.  As it got closer [the week of], I started thinking about what I would talk about, what I would bring in to show them, what kind of art project the kids could do. Kyle had the brilliant idea for the kids to make a card with me to send to a squadron in Afghanistan. Perfect - combining the best of both worlds.  I loved where he was headed, but wanted something a little more artsy. Something that involved my medium: paint & canvas.  Something bigger & more durable.  So I thought of a banner [made with canvas material]. Kyle liked that even better.

I won't lie - this idea didn't come to me until 6:00 pm the night before as I was on my way to the craft store to buy materials. At the store I texted Kyle "Does it have to be patriotic? What about the Irish Blessing?" I needed to know what color of paint to buy - red & blue? Or green?. :) He was the one who had been in that hallway in Afghanistan - not me. I waited for him to reply back. I didn't know if the Irish Blessing would be too "religious" for what we were doing. But he said he liked them both equally - so it was up to me.

I thought about if it was me over in Afghanistan. What would have me walk away after reading something - feeling loved, appreciated & more secure? No doubt, it would be knowing that there are prayers being said on my behalf for God to keep watch over me. And as a gift from a Catholic School ... I thought it was a good fit. Even better, our school's logo has a shamrock & the squadron's has a four leaf clover, so it worked out well. Each of the kids made a shamrock with their fingerprints, then signed their name by it.

I brought in some of my current & past artwork. Shared my "art" story. I told the kids one of my favorite things to do, is to paint in order to share joy with others. The banner we made to send to a U.S. squadron in Afghanistan was a perfect example of that.  I talked about how the only thing that our military overseas could take with them was what fit in their suitcases. They don't have a lot of pretty things to look at - like we do in our homes. These men & women don't get to come home from work & look in their kids' backpacks & see beautiful artwork either.  I can't imagine.

But again. If it was me, I know what I would want to see & feel:  love, joy & prayers.  So, it is my hope that a visual reminder of that is what is received in Afghanistan very soon.