Smiles ...

My friend Dana from plum.tree.studio was raising money last month for Operation Smile. :) She was wanting to [and DID!] raise enough to pay for an operation which fixes cleft palate, cleft lip or other facial deformities on a child. Her reason for choosing this charity was so sweet: her sole purpose of plum.tree.studio has always been to make children smile. :) Love it.


So, I let Libby pick out a shirt ... and as you can see, she was not only thrilled to get the little owl in the mail, she wasted no time putting it on. :) Dana, we love it & loved helping you reach your goal! To that we give a big "woo HOO - HOO!" :)

Almost 1/2, Almost 4/5 :)

2 days shy of being 1/2 way through the month of April ...
and I am 1 print purchase shy of being 4/5 of the way to my $500 goal.

I think this is going to happen! :)  As of Monday I had almost every order all wrapped up, shipped or hand delivered. Felt good. Very time & space consuming process, but I'm so blessed to be & grateful for being this busy.

In addition to all the purchases from my shop, I have 2 Etsy shops helping me try & purchase the Language Program. Lindsay from Paint Me A Picture is splitting up her proceeds from all of her children's artwork this month. 50% will go to her local Autism Therapy Center in Albany, GA & the other 50% will go towards helping me with my goal of buying a Language Program for Brett's Resource Center. So awesome.. :) I also got a phone call this past weekend, from a 4th grader at our school [his brother is a classmate of Brett's]. He makes and sells rosaries [Etsy shop here], and always gives 10% away to a charity. He called to tell me he wanted to give 10% of his sales to the Resource Center. Such a sweet kid. I bought this soccer ball rosary for Brett's 1st Communion last year & it was perfect. Thanks to both of these Etsy shops for your amazing generosity!!!!

Last but not least, I did have a family purchase 1 print, but pay $100. And when I begged them to pick out a few more prints, they told me the 1 print would be a reminder that "we do things for others, not just for ourselves". What a response.

I tell ya what ... when you give, you do get so much more back. You hear that all the time it gets to be cliché. :) But it's true.

Story time ...

[photo from Dana / plum tree studio]

Four years ago this summer, my sister was in the process of adopting from Russia. As her sister, it pained me to wait, wait & wait [for her]. I craved information. I know she revealed all that she knew & had to go by - but still, I craved more information. I hate surprises - even good ones. So, I searched for information on Russian adoptions ... reading about happy endings [beginnings, really], looking for timelines that we could use as an example, etc. I wanted it to happen for her so badly, I think I wanted to taste a little of it before it even happened.

During my search, I found a blog. Linked to another blog. On there was a photo of 2 little girls in cute handmade t-shirts. They were done by the writer's friend's sister. I clicked on the link & it let me to one of my 1st ever "crafty blogs" ... plum tree studio.  That also later led to my 1st ever link to Etsy.  A lot was discovered  on that life-changing internet click. :)

Over the next month or so, I would occasionally stop by the plum tree studio blog just for some creative inspiration. I loved seeing how she blogged & linked it up to her store. At the time I had my own website - but this seemed like a more ideal set up!  Another friend started an Etsy shop ... and September of 2007, I got in on the fun. I "hearted" plum tree studio. If you look on page 22 of my favorite Etsy shops, she's there, right after my other friend's.  I still just visited her blog every so often - totally lurking. :)

One day [early summer of '08] on her blog she announced that she was coming out with a shirt with a cute redhead on it. I had to get it for my redhead. I commented & placed an order. :)  Soon after, she did another post that was right up my alley. It was about home improvements ... I commented. She commented back. The ice had been broken & I started commenting more often.  I could tell we had a lot in common!

The more we shared, the more we realized all that we had in common.  We are both in the middle of 3 girls. Both of our older sisters have a darling blond child, adopted from Russia. Our birthdays are 25 days apart [the same year]. We both got married in 2000.  We both used the term "sweet teeth" & had never heard of anyone else using it before [instead of just "sweet tooth"]. The list goes on as our friendship goes on. :)

Almost 2 years ago, her own adoption journey started. That same pain I felt with my own sister that led to my search for information & answers, came back. I wanted to take the pain away. I wanted the wait to not seem so bad. I wanted to do something - in a situation that is completely out of any one person's control. So the idea I had come up with for my sister, but never used, came back to me. That was the idea of a "shower" [like a baby shower] but spread out over the months.  Every month that they had to wait - a little surprise would arrive, to help keep them going. Little pick-me-ups - spread out over the time, spread out amongst other friends & family.  I had come up with the idea for my own sister, but her wait for a referral turned out to be so quick - the other hostesses & I had to start planning a REAL shower. That of course, was a GOOD problem to have. :)

But my friend had been told of a much longer wait ... little did we know it would keep getting extended. Her sisters & I teamed up and formed the The Little Itty Bitty C Support Committee. One of her sisters came up with the name - so perfect. We formed a committee of friends & family who would support her & her husband throughout their wait for Little C. :) Each month, they got a little pick-me-up in the mail. I know if I was in their shoes, my fear would be that our wait was forgotten about. When you are experiencing a pregnancy, you have a belly as a reminder to your friends & family that your excitement is growing. I wanted a monthly reminder for my friend as well.

My friend [Dana] & I have never met in person. And have only talked on the phone once - last August! We were scheduled to have our 2nd phone conversation on Tuesday morning of this past week. I remember thinking "wouldn't it be cool if we got interrupted by a referral call?!" BETTER. She called me the day before that scheduled phone visit & left a voice mail saying she needed to cancel our phone date because she had gotten their REFERRAL & was going in the next morning with her husband to SEE THEIR BABY BOY. Dana & her husband are FINALLY getting to turn to the next chapter in their storybook. And it includes pages filled with a little cutie named Oliver, born in South Korea.

Our friendship was technically born from an international adoption almost 4 years ago... and now I am here as her friend [who she calls with news!] as I witness her own international adoption story coming true. Blog world is weird like that. :) But I am so so happy it is. Dana, I hope these next pages in your story book turn quickly ... and we can get to the part where you're making Oliver breakfast, reading him stories & taking him on evening walks! And of course making him robot tees!  :D I am beside myself happy for you. Let's plan another phone date, and maybe it'll be cancelled because of a Homecoming Call! :) You think?

True strength ...

Speaking of nostalgia ... the last time Kyle deployed was 7 years ago.  These photos are from that period of time.  I was pregnant with Davis.  Brett was 2.  Kyle was gone 6 months.  This was us hanging out at the playground, just miles from the Navy Base, where we'd watch the P3's fly overhead ... and we were just days away from our own husbands' P3's flying overhead, returning from overseas.  We were giddy with anticipation, just as my kids & I are now.

This deployment is different in several ways.  Kyle & I have 3 kids now, all school age.  Kyle's in a different branch of the military, flying a different airplane.  Instead of staying in a Bachelor Officer's Quarters in Sicily, Kyle's staying in a 6x9 little hut in Afghanistan.  The flying is different, I know.  And this deployment I have more to worry about than just Mt.Etna.

Having a husband that is deployed, I get a lot of "I don't know how you do it" comments.  Help & prayers definitely are helping us getting through.  But honestly, I think that picture above of the little kids at the playground is what helps keep me in check the most.  Brett is obviously the little boy.  :)  Surrounded by girls.

Two of those little girls are sisters.  They since have added another sister to their family.  Their dad is also deployed.  But for longer.  They opened Christmas presents via Skype, just like we did.  Their last deployment wasn't 7 years ago, it was about a year & a 1/2 ago [less?].  But that doesn't mean they are used to it.

Another little girl in that photo has a daddy deployed, as well.  And since 2004, has added a little brother.  She & her brother said goodbye to their daddy just after Christmas.  2009.  Since that time they have had him home for only 1 week of "R&R".  To know that Kyle left 9 months after he did, but gets back a week or 2 ahead of their dad?  Hard.

The other little girl is a big sister now as well.  Their dad isn't deployed, but in May their mom found out the infection she had was actually Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer.  She has become a warrior of a different kind, going through countless rounds of chemo since June.  Throughout losing her hair, having surgeries, taking drugs that make her feel horrible, making changes in every aspect of her life because of their new "normal" & even walking in the Susan G. Komen walk ... she has had a winning attitude, strong spirit & a huge smile on her face.

These little girls' moms were the girls who I last went through this with ... and we are all connected again on a day to day basis thanks to Facebook.  :) We live in 4 different cities, in 3 different states.  They keep me in check.  They show me it's okay to complain a little over the obvious. But big picture?  I have it pretty good.  It's not that I look at their situations & feel sorry or sorrier for them.  But, I look at their strength, humor & attitude and know that it's not only possible for me to join the club, but expected of me.  If you surround yourself with negativity, it's easy to think you can't get through something or to look at your situation with self-pity.  But if you surround yourself with people of strong character who take those "I can not even imagine" situations & show that it's still possible to survive under those circumstances [and have a heck of a lot of fun while you're doing it] ... you will follow their examples. 

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”  - Unknown


These are the girls who have shown me that even with an "excuse", it's not an option to fall apart.  Not back then & certainly not now. Together they have helped me keep it together.  They are my secret weapon. They are my response to "I don't know how you do it". They showed me how; I am just following their lead.

Circles ...

[tree ring paintings by focuslineart]

If you recall, we started a program for Brett over 2 months ago. We have about a month left. It has left us all exhausted. For 4 days a week [including the day he has Speech Therapy] ... we are rushing. After school we are rushing so Brett can eat snack, get changed & go potty ... then we're rushing off to therapy. During therapy I can usually be found rushing through a quick errand & time-killer with Davis & Libby. Then we rush to pick up Brett & rush home. Unless we're rushing to soccer practice or a cub scout meeting. Then we rush home. Rush through a dinner. Rush through homework. Rush through showers & bath. Rush getting the kids in bed.

I am sad to admit there is little enjoyment this time of day. I just feel stressed & like I'm going through the motions. It's not fun for Brett who hardly has any time to unwind. Not fun for Davis & Libby who get dragged into it. Occasionally, Kyle is here to help out. I do have to mention that or he'll get mad. :) But ... this is it. The blog post that I do admit I'm exhausted. And feeling the sacrifice of time and energy that I knew it was going to take.

Last Thursday, I was feeling the weight of it. Done. End of my rope. After I dropped off Brett, we rushed off to Target so Davis could finally spend his Birthday money. Getting Libby out, the high winds smacked my car door into the car parked next to me.

You. Have GOT to be kidding me.

Just what my blood pressure & my time crunch needed. Dent the size of a dime with some navy blue paint right smack dab in the middle of an otherwise perfect beige door. Sweet. I sat back down in the hot car [oh, 'cause the AC's out]. Left my dear, hardworking husband a [not so nice, wits end type of] voice mail. Contemplated what kind of information to put on a note. Or whether I should just spend the rest of my Speech Therapy time to wait & see if the owner came out ... before leaving a note.

Then a lady walked towards us carrying a bag & detergent. As she approached the car, I got out & said "is this your car?" I showed her what happened. She took her finger to it & said "you know ... I think I can probably just buff it out." Some of the paint came off the outer edge ... but there was still a dent with some blue in it. She said "You know what? With the week I've had ... this is the least of my worries." I said "Do you want me to give you my name & number?" [I think I asked 5 times] She insisted she didn't want it. She said "Really. I appreciate your honesty more than anything. That ... that's enough for me." Then she said "How 'bout a hug ... I'll take a hug." So right there in the Target parking lot I hugged a stranger whose car I had just dented. It was the result of 2 bad days ... and somehow we both made each others' day by something that should have certainly ruined them.

Hugs & Target are both represented by circles. Coincidence? I think not. Okay it is, but it sounds good to say it's not. :)

Strength in Letters ...

One of my blog readers who I have now gotten to know as a friend surprised me with dedicating one of her pieces of artwork to Brett, Autism Awareness Month & F.I.R.E. She just felt compelled to join me in my efforts & donate yet another "Painting with a Purpose". I am so touched by her generosity & desire to team up with me and my fundraiser, cREaTing Awareness.

The piece she created is an ABC canvas ... she even asked me for some idea of things that Brett likes. My favorite part is that it is so unique, playful & unpredictable. The "framed chalkboard" area {where she intends to paint "__[letter]__ is for __[name]__ "} is off center; some letters are made up of an object, others aren't; some letters have 2 objects painted, others don't; some letters have 1 square dedicated to them, some have 2, etc.

To me, it is very reflective of autism. Unique & unpredictable, yet the fun is taking everything in one thing at a time & knowing it all still somehow works in the over all big picture. And there are sweet little surprises if you have an open mind ... like I just realized the cupcake in the corner. :)

Lindsay, I love it & love your support as an artist & mother. :) Thank you!

You can find this special canvas here in her Etsy Shop & read more about it here on her blog.

Growing ...

I had read this Spanish Proverb [above] dozens of times before it sunk in, in a special way. When researching quotes for 'cREaTing Awareness', this one reminded me of Brett's classmates and what is happening to them and all those who benefit from F.I.R.E. I have seen some wonderful acts of service in order to help Brett be one of "the gang". Just a few weeks ago, I saw a group of boys going outside to play basketball. They all were getting jackets on, including Brett. He still can not zip up his jacket, however. It is one of those fine motor skills that his fingers are just too weak for. But he had a buddy rush over to him & say "Here Brett. I'll do it." He quickly & effortlessly zipped up Brett's jacket for him so they could all run along together. No one else saw it - just me. So simple, so quick. Yet I'll remember it for a very long time.

I have to zip up Brett's jacket everyday ... some mornings when we're in a hurry for school, I try and rush him along through the door telling him it's okay, it doesn't have to be zipped. I secretly hope that after saying that 93+ times, he'll take my word for it. But he has to have it zipped. Insists with pure panic every time I try to assure him otherwise. I am guessing some of the kids at school know this, know he can't do it & help him out with it. From what I've seen ... I have a feeling if I was a fly on the wall in his classroom, I would cry over at least one thing a day. Probably more. I'm sure they all wouldn't be happy tears ... but I am confident the good tears would outweigh the bad. :)

To learn more about F.I.R.E. and see those that it is affecting, please watch the video above. Brett is not in the video [so don't get distracted looking for him]; it was made when he was in Kindergarten, after just moving here, when we were just getting to know what F.I.R.E. was. But I know several of the smiling faces on there, including some of Brett's classmates.

Comfort & Convenience ...

This is a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. that has stirred something within me each & every time I have read it. It makes me think about how we treat those that are different than us and how we would react in a situation which would require us to make a choice of being amongst the majority because it's easier ... or to listen to your heart & your inner voice that is telling you this isn't right, there is another way and they are wrong.

One of the many "challenges & controversies" one could apply this to is bullying. The majority becomes the "comfort & convenience" with a negative connotation and the minority becomes the "challenge & controversy" with a positive connotation.

In high school, I took a leadership class. I don't remember the original comment, who it was or who it was about, but I remember one day how disappointed our teacher was to overhear a put-down in our "Leadership" class. Very calmly, but with tears in her eyes she said something along the lines of this: Whenever you are about to make fun of someone, remember this one thing. No matter what they look like or what they do, they are somebody's baby. They have a mother who loves them more than anything in this world.

She was trying to get us to look at that same person from another point of view ... one that would hurt so deeply if they knew, one that looks at that same person you are wanting to put down [cause physical or emotional harm] & only sees the greatest joy in their life, the most beautiful, most flawless person in the world. Her baby. What would it do to her?

It is a lesson that I never forgot ... and have tried to use myself and pass along. I can never say it aloud without tears, which tells me how powerful the words are. I can tell you, having been on both sides of it now, hurtful words and laughs at someone else's expense do leave scars on a mother's heart. And a father's for that matter.

It also makes the acts of kindness you see from the friends or siblings that chose "challenge and controversy" over "comfort and convenience", that much sweeter.

A Perfect Miracle ...

I've said it before & I'll say it again ... some of the most inspirational people you will ever meet can be found in the waiting room of a Pediatric Therapy Clinic.

While painting this quote this morning ... a certain family came to mind that I met 4 1/2 years ago. This family had a boy that was about 10 who was mostly blind [except for some slight vision an inch from his face] & mostly deaf. He couldn't speak; just uttered loud sounds. He would walk up very closely to people so that he could see them. And would touch. His parents often struggled physically with him, too, because he was a big & very strong kid. They also had 5 other children, 1 of which was younger than this boy. Watching these parents every week, I couldn't help but feel sad for them. Sad for their struggles & hardship. I couldn't help it.

After a few weeks, the mom & I became pretty good acquaintances. I really enjoyed her company in the waiting room those months that our sons' therapies overlapped. We would talk about things we had in common, such as the avoidance of restaurants. She said they just quit going because everyone stared at their son who couldn't help his behavior. We were doing the same thing [avoiding eating out at restaurants for the time being], but I'm sure the amount of stares we got paled in comparison. But still we chatted about our small similarities. She was the sweetest lady who just worked so so hard. It wasn't that I felt pity for her, but it definitely was hard to watch her struggle exponentially harder with her son than I did with mine.

One day, however, she told me that her son had been born prematurely, just a little over 1/2 way through her pregnancy.  She said she and her family prayed over him for months ... to live. And he was an answer to their prayers. She beamed when she told me "He's a miracle".

I will never forget that lesson of what a 'perfect miracle' looks like; how I shouldn't view another person's life without their consent; and what the inside of an incredible mother's heart looks like.

{I think this canvas will be set aside until April 2. :) }

My New Hero ...

I don't believe I have ever sent fan mail before. But this story moved me enough to do it. It was for a local boy named Kyle Weafer. His story was on the front page of our newspaper, the Kansas City Star. He is a senior in high school who is Autistic and is up for the High School Football Rudy Awards {winner announced some time today!}.

Despite all odds, he proved to everyone he knew that he could overcome the impossible. The impossible, of course is all relative. And as a mother to an Autistic boy myself ... I can understand what it is like to watch your son overcome his impossible. I read every word of the article & was just totally captivated by his story. I cried, I voted, I clicked on another link & read some more, then cried some more. I just couldn't let the story go. This boy reminds me so much of Brett ... in 10 years. I guess that's why I couldn't let it go.

I sent a card & this small [5x7] quote canvas celebrating Kyle's choice of words after he & his dad first met with the football coach. This was his own interpretation of the various commitments laid out by the football coach. "Don't be lazy". Hopefully, when he reads his own words ... he can feel over & over again what it was like to overcome his impossible. As a mother to an Autistic boy myself ... I was so proud.

Why purple? Well, you'll have to read. It was one of my favorite parts of the story. [It's so Brett.] :)

"The Inaudible Language of the Heart"

Ceramic Lace Valentine Heart by jennyblasenpottery

The past couple of weeks I've been collecting quotes about the heart. I found this one below [the part in gray] by Martin Luther King, Jr. over the weekend. Unfortunately, it was too lengthy for what I was going to use it for, but I think it's just beautiful and will have to use it on down the road. Then I learned where it came from & it was from his Nobel Lecture the day after he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize.

"Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meaning can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart. Such is the moment I am presently experiencing. I experience this high and joyous moment not for myself alone but for those devotees of nonviolence who have moved so courageously against the ramparts of racial injustice and who in the process have acquired a new estimate of their own human worth. Many of them are young and cultured. Others are middle aged and middle class. The majority are poor and untutored. But they are all united in the quiet conviction that it is better to suffer in dignity than to accept segregation in humiliation. These are the real heroes of the freedom struggle: they are the noble people for whom I accept the Nobel Peace Prize." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

I also loved ... "a new estimate of their own human worth". I think it's so ironic that this statement was led by him saying some things just can't be expressed in words. I don't think anyone could have described it better or more beautifully. :)

Amazing Story of Love ...

{POV} The Way We Get By ... PBS tonight 11/11

[check your local listings for time]

I hope it's not too late. I meant to write this earlier, but then I lost track of what day / date it was. But today is Veteran's Day. Kyle & I celebrated with lunch at Applebee's where his meal was free. {THANK YOU, Applebees!}

Tonight I will be watching & recording an amazing story that I first learned of a couple years ago. I cried as read the story of this amazing group of senior citizens from Bangor, Maine who volunteered to thank, welcome home & farewell our men and women who are off to war. Their story is life-changing ...

The Way We Get By takes a look behind the hearty smiles, handshakes, heartfelt thanks and free cookies and cell phones the greeters bring to the airport, and discovers a world in which the seniors are engaged in their own struggles with aging, disease, loneliness, memories of war and personal loss. The film discovers a remarkable symbiosis between the soldiers' fighting mission and the greeters' fight to overcome pain, fatigue and depression in making sure no soldier departs or returns without thanks.

I wish I could make everyone watch it. But I can't. I can only encourage you to take the time out of your day to hit record or to settle down on the couch ... for just 90 minutes.

I think it's the least we could do to honor those who have given us more than that ... and in some cases their entire lives. And I think this group of senior citizens will inspire you to live your life with a purpose.

"Sometimes all it takes is a handshake to change a life."

- The Way We Get By

Read more about the Maine Troop Greeters here.

This Isn't Just Ice Cream ...

... this is a celebration. In honor of some perfect strangers. Who are spending their last days together.

A week ago, we were out to dinner at the Cajun's Wharf in Little Rock. We had driven all through the night the night before, arriving at the hotel at 2:00 AM. It was a rough day. The kids were wrecks. Kyle & I had a short wick. We'd had better days, but knowing we only had a few days in Little Rock together, Kyle took me and the kids to one of the best restaurants in town. Great food, great atmosphere. Right on the Arkansas River. We sat right next to this huge cylindrical fish tank hoping it would keep the kids entertained.

Behind Kyle was a walker. I remember looking over the table of four behind us and eyeing the two couples who all appeared to be in their 60's. Subconsciously, I did wonder who the walker belonged to, since they all appeared to be "healthy". When those four people got up to leave, a man got the walker and put it in front of his wife. He then approached our table and said "I just wanted to say how impressed I am with these kids. You have some well-behaved children. When you all came in, you all looked pretty fatigued [Libby was asleep on my shoulder] ... but I have to say, I am impressed." Kyle & I were a bit shocked to hear that. It's not every day that you get complimented on your children's behavior. Especially on a day where we all were indeed fatigued. But we smiled & genuinely thanked him.

After he and the rest of his group left, I expressed to Kyle how nice that was to hear. We rarely go out to dinner. It's not exactly "fun" to do with a 7, 5 & 2 year old. So when we do go out to dinner, I'm overly conscious [stressed] about how we're affecting others. You know ... trying to keep the kids in their seats, the voices down, etc. It was so nice to have attention drawn to our family ... but for a good reason. That felt nice.

A couple minutes later, the man came back. He said "I hope you don't think this is weird. But I really meant what I said. I am just so impressed with your children. And you both as parents ... if you don't mind, I'd like to give the kids some money for ice cream." He tried to hand Kyle a folded up ten dollar bill. Kyle didn't take it and said "No no, please. Your words were kind enough. You keep it. You and your wife enjoy a glass of wine!" It was then that he confessed, "Well, actually ... my wife has terminal cancer. And that's why ... I want to do this. When we see something now that we want to do, WE GO DO IT. She's been given 30 days to live, TWICE. And we're still here! You all remind me of us long ago ... we had 4 children in 8 years. I just was touched watching you all, and I would just really love if you would take this. I know it's not much, but..." After hearing the explanation, we felt obligated to carry out his wish. We told him we'd take the kids out for ice cream and in exchange, we'd keep them in our prayers.

The next afternoon we fulfilled his wishes. And I've said a prayer for that couple every time I think of them. Which is a lot. I don't think I will ever forget that moment. I am in total awe of the way this couple was choosing to spend her final days - leaving a trail of love, joy & inspiration everywhere they go. What a way to live.

We don't remember days; we remember moments. - Cesare Pavese

As a Girl, I was Lucky ...

I was in the middle of 3 girls.  I think it takes a very special man to be a dad of 3 girls.

A few months ago I was going through some childhood things & I found some old Christmas Wish Lists.  I have a couple more I will show you at a later time [oh my gosh, Santa must have busted a gut reading some of mine] ... but when I saw my dad's handwriting on this one, I immediately was curious to see what he had written. 

I just loved this little attention to detail.  I love that he made such an effort to reward me for my kindness by writing a note from Santa ["S.C."] & leaving me with a $1 bill.  Dad, you have such a sweet heart ... no wonder you were chosen to be a dad of 3 girls!  Love you!

P.S. I know ... RANDOM CHRISTMAS LIST.  Trust me, I was a RANDOM CHILD.  :)  ha

My Kids are Lucky ...

A couple weeks ago Kyle had some time off... and he put it towards creating some childhood memories for our children. He set up camp in the backyard. We lit the chiminea, had s'mores ... then the boys headed to their campsite, while Libby & I headed indoors. The boys told stories, read stories, listened to the sound at night & then finally went to sleep. I was expecting to hear some footsteps & voices trickle in in the wee hours of the morning, but they camped out all night long. First thing Libby said when she woke up was "Nint". So we put her shoes on & she raced to go join in on the last bit of tent ["Nint"] fun. My kids are so lucky to have a dad with such a sense of adventure; and a dad who thinks of them when he has some time off work. Talk about creating a childhood memory ...

New Mexico...

I just got back from a weekend away with my wonderful husband of NINE YEARS {tomorrow}.

We flew to Albuquerque, NM & drove up to Santa Fe, as well as a trip up to Taos.  Talk about a change in scenery... it was BEAUTIFUL.  You know it's beautiful when you come back with almost all pictures of landscape.  {Although, truth be told, many of the places we went to didn't allow photography}  The highlight for me, besides spending 1 on 1 time with Kyle while our 3 kids were cared for by their grandparents ... was the GEORGIA O'KEEFFE MUSEUM.  I was in awe. We actually stayed in a little Casita just one street behind the museum!

Before, when I heard the name "Georgia O'Keeffe", I had a few of her paintings that I could recall & picture in my head.  But seeing an expansive collection of her art dating from the early 1900's to the late 1970's and hearing about her life, her career & her inspiration in detail - truly was an incredible experience for me.  TRULY.  

Let me preface this next paragraph by saying this:  I am in no way comparing myself to GEORGIA O'KEEFFE.  Trust me, I know better.  Not to mention, I know in order to be a successful artist, one needs to be an individual and create masterpieces that are all your own - not because they are like someone else's.  She was a pioneer, an amazing artist & there will never, ever be another painter like her.  She paved the way for the rest of us.

Now that you know what I am NOT saying, let me say this.   Learning about her life, I was struck by some of my similarities to her in both the subjects I choose & my reasoning for doing so.  Without knowing it, we share some of the same philosophies, which I found encouraging.  A few months ago, I put into words what I do & why I do it.  Plain & simple, in my Etsy introduction, I state:

I love the everyday, ordinary, simple things.
Goodness is all around us - I don't think we need to dig too deep.
It's what we eat, what we read, what we see & do everyday.
It's what I paint.

In other words, my purpose with art is just to point out GOODNESS.  It's the things that make us smile & we don't even realize it.  

I loved seeing all her amazing artwork, but {you know me & quotes} I equally enjoyed reading all of her thoughts & words posted on the walls of the museum.  After reading the purpose of my own art, I think you'll see why these thoughts of hers hit home with me.  :)  She says it best of all.

• When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not.

• I decided that if I could paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty.

• I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking the time to look at it – I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers.

Chills... {the good kind}

Remember those posts I did about the Nielson Family back in September and November?

Some prayers have been answered...  click here to see.  

She has months & years left of surgeries & therapy ... but 5 months after their plane crash, she's BACK, writing her beautiful words & thoughts.  

I still think she is just one of the most beautiful people {inside & out} that I have ever read about.  If this is your first time visiting Stephanie's (NieNie) blog, I encourage you to click away into her archives.   She truly is one of a kind with a certain lust for life that you just don't see everyday.

This Family Still Needs Prayers...

Both Stephanie & Christian Nielson are out of their chemically-induced comas ... but what they have woken up to is a life far different  from the one they lived before they stepped onto their airplane.  You can read an updated article on them here.  

Ever since I learned of this family, I have thoroughly LOVED every blog post Stephanie has ever written.  I check in almost daily now to see what they are republishing from NieNie's archives.  Each one is better than the last.  I have also enjoyed reading her sister's blog, "C Jane Enjoy It".  Here are 2 beautiful posts she wrote about her sister...

- I-Photos...

- It'll be Tofu with Curry...

I have learned so much from her - all while she slept & healed in a hospital bed these past 3 months.  Please say some prayers for her & her family ... they've entered the next chapter!

Things I inherited from my Grandma...

{Thanksgiving 2005}
Me, my Mom & my Grandma

So my friend Dana at Plum Tree Studios did a post of her favorite things around her house. I loved it - thought it was so fun! So I was going to copy... and I started to think about some of my favorite things in my house. Most of the pieces I could come up with, I got from my grandma.

She's been gone 8 months, but I don't think I've still fully grasped it & I think it's because I still see her everywhere I look. She had given me so many things. Here are some of those things:

This sofa table. I just rearranged our furniture & found a new spot for this. I love having a place to display photos. (She & my grandpa are in a frame in the back!) Oh & while I see it, I should mention that a bunch of those magazines are probably from my grandma, too. She always handed down her Good Housekeepings. This desk chair. Reproductions, eat your heart out. I love this chair, I'm sitting in it as I type. :)

This gorgeous chair. Mom, comment & I'll update because I know I'm going to get this wrong. But I believe this was my grandma's grandfather's chair. Soooo my great great grandfather, or my kids' great great great grandfather. When I got it, it was a pale yellow pretty scuffed up. I gave it a coat of brown (leftover from the previous owners after they painted the office). It is in our entry way.

This bench. And her love of birds. This bench she always had in her pass-thru between the living & dining room. At family get-togethers, it always was pushed to the dining room table as extra seating. We have it in our living room for the same purpose. It always had a little stencil on the back (a heart motif in red and blue).  The stencil wasn't "me" and I really didn't want to paint the whole thing.  I loved the color.  Luckily... some finger nail polish remover took it off without disturbing the rest of the piece!  :)  In the photo of the bench, you'll see a fabric collage I made of a tree w/ 3 bluebirds. The bluebirds were actually inspired by the bluebird ornament you see in the photo on the right. I had bought it at a craft fair last fall, waiting to give it to my Grandma for Christmas. Since she missed out on getting to open up gifts on Christmas Day, my mom slowly took up some of her gifts to her while she was in the hospital. This was my gift to her, which my mom gave back to me after her death. The bluebird ornament now sits on a shelf in our bathroom. My grandma ALWAYS requested I make her some personalized stationery. She loved it because it was special enough to serve as stationery to anyone for any reason... she said she didn't always have time to go out to get a Birthday card, or a Thank you, or a Sympathy card, but her personalized stationery she thought was special enough to serve all those purposes. [she's so smart] So this is what I gave to her. :) She and my Grandpa headed up a Bluebird housing project in their lake neighborhood out at Lake Sherwood. The bluebird is Missouri's state bird... and the cardinal is St.Louis's city bird. :) She & my grandpa loved BOTH! (see her sweater she wore on Christmas Eve?, photo w/ the boys)

A love of baking breads & a love of recipes. Summer of 2005 Gigi along with my parents made a trip down to Corpus Christi, TX to see us. We didn't have room for 3 adults, so my parents got a hotel room on the island and had Gigi stay with us. I didn't know how that was going to work... an 85 year old woman with 2 rambunctious boys. I thought we'd drive her crazy. But she loved it. And I LOVED having so much 1 on 1 time with her. (and her not having her hearing aid in in the mornings helped her sleep 'til 9am... lucky.) I hadn't spent that much good, quality time with her since the days I was little and would stay the night out at her house. We stayed up 'til midnight looking through cookbooks & jotting down or bookmarking new recipes. (I turned this photo into a black & white to hide the fact it was a bad hair day {& phase), and I was in mismatched pajamas.) I love this photo, I'm glad I have it.



A love for doing crafts and appreciating things that are handmade. My grandma was a craftaholic. She also loved exchanging & passing on ideas, supplies, whatever. (I'm the SAME WAY) She went to her church bazaar or her garden club & always came away with neat ideas. She would pass on supplies she wasn't using as random as they were! She always told me if I didn't have a need for them, to pass them on to a nursing or retirement home. (she was always thinking!) The photo above is a painting I did of her church, Shiloh Methodist & I gave it to her as a Christmas gift that year.



A sense of humor. Seriously, she was sharp as a tack & could dish it out. This photo is of her opening a gift from my husband. It was an inside joke. During one of our visits, she had had a bowl of peanuts and my husband ate them all. She gave him so much trouble, joking around with him that "Kyle stole her peanuts". So the following year, she gave him a gift with a cute little handwritten note telling him to keep his hands off her peanuts. The next Christmas, Kyle played the joke back giving her her OWN canister of peanuts as a gift & promising he wouldn't touch them. Just looks at my grandma's face & finger shakin'! Ha!!!! I love it.



Lots & lots of wisdom. And giving me a story great enough to get published. Years ago I submitted a story to Chicken Soup, for their book dedicated to military spouses. I had written about my grandma and how she inspired me to think & live more positively based on her advice of not feeling sorry for yourself. I vividly remember that conversation I had with her, February of 2002. Kyle had just deployed, only gone about a week. I had called home to wish my dad a Happy Birthday and my family in St.Louis played the popular game of "pass the phone" [to the poor out of town family member!]. :) It was then that my grandma shared her wisdom with me. She was one smart cookie & always had a way of making you change the way you think or at least appreciate another point of view.



A LOVE for LIFE. I know, seriously. Will you look at this chick? She's 87. This is what she wanted for her 87th Birthday. Never heard of anybody doing anything like this at this age? Neither had the fun, young staff at Glamour Shots. But they loved it & they loved HER. My grandma as she aged, wanted to be inspiring to others. On her 65th Birthday, me, my sisters & my cousins all went with her to the mall so she could get her ears pierced for the first time. We all stood around her while she got her ears punched! On her 75th Birthday, she chose to go up in a hot air balloon. Her 85th she wanted to ride on a Harley. [I'm not making this up] So someone set it up with someone that lived in her neighborhood... and he brought her her own black leather vest & helmet. She wrapped her arms around him & away they went. The pictures are hysterical. Her last Birthday before she died (87th), she wanted to go get photos taken of herself. I believe it was my sister Leah who had found the {above} black & white photos of her in these modeling poses. So they decided to do it again. They got the photos back just in time to do Christmas cards... this is what she was going to send out, but never got around to doing.

These are some of my favorite things I inherited from my Grandma. Some are tangible, some are not. I miss her company dearly, but it's evident that everywhere I look, she is still here. She still makes me smile & want to be a better person.

Amazing People: NieNie

About a month ago, I learned about a girl - married, mother of 4. She & her husband, Christian, were in a private plane crash, which killed the flight instructor, but left Stephanie & Christian critically injured with burns - she over 80% of her body, and he with burns over 30%. I had never heard of this amazing woman, but ever since getting "introduced" to her, she has been everywhere. Her story made the Today Show & the New York Times last week, and she's been mentioned on thousands of blogs all over the world.

Her blog is the "NieNie Dialogues", her name is Stephanie Nielson. Her blog nearly reached celebrity status before the plane crash & has since gained even more popularity. I've visited her blog many times over the last month & every time, I just am more & more amazed at truly what an amazing woman she is. To use the word "amazing" is even an understatement if that tells you anything. I tend to think of myself as a happy person who tries to make life the happiest it can be for my children, create memories that will last a lifetime & build a strong foundation for them. I'm not going to say I feel incompetent compared to her, because she doesn't even make you feel that way. This girl will just make you want to do even more, reach even higher. She will make you want to stress, work, whine & rush LESS & dance, play, live & love MORE.

She & her husband are still in the hospital burn unit, undergoing skin grafts, and in induced comas. Her husband has come out of the coma briefly & uttered enough to let family know that he "physically feels the prayers". Doesn't that just give you chills? I know from my dad's own accident over 6 years ago, when he was in ICU in a partially induced coma, that as his family we could feel those prayers & watch them in action. So when I read what Stephanie's husband had said, I got chills that as the patient, he felt them.

Stephanie's sister, along with the rest of their siblings, are watching this young couple's 4 young children.

I'm going to give you links to a few of my favorite stories Stephanie wrote in her blog... these are just 3. I just urge you to bookmark her entire blog & read at leisure. There's actually been talk that her blog will be published into a book. I will be buying it with extra copies to give as gifts! They are also re-posting her archives, since everyone misses NieNie's daily writings so if you tune in to her blog (link below) you will be blessed daily.

* A Back to School Feast for her 2 Daughters *
* Happy Fortune Day, AKA "Read Me" *
* Prime example of her enjoying SIMPLE LIFE *

I had to come back & add 1 more... the one that's been re-posted today.
* The Birth of her 4 Child *

Say some prayers for Stephanie, Christian, their 4 kids & the rest of their family that has stepped in to help. I just read that tomorrow is a major skin surgery for Stephanie. Pray Pray Pray!

You can donate & learn of other ways to help by clicking here.

The NieNie Dialogues are here.

Her sister's blog, where the new updates are coming from is here. She will make you laugh & cry in the same story. This is my favorite story of her sister's, just a week after her sister's accident & just days after they took in her sister's 4 children.