Mamas*Little*Treasures

More of my book organization project

Since I worked so hard on this project yesterday, and I am SOOOO relieved to have this one little mess cleaned up . . . . . I just have to post the rest of the pictures.  Lots of our books are almost ancient - really - as I have some school books from great-grandparents, as well as an exercise book from the late 1800s.  They are fascinating!  I keep them safe, away from the kids, but they have been passed on from previous generations, and then moved around a bit, they are getting pretty raggedy.  Which reminds me, one of my MOST favorite books of all time is "Hitty:  Her First Hundred Years," which is a story told in the voice of a doll that has been passed on from one generation to the next, and she is also pretty raggedy   ;o) 

I have a treasured old glass-top table that I've had for many, many years.  And I like to display some of my older books inside so we can see them but not touch them.  Another book that has been well-loved and well-worn over the years in our family is "Good Night Moon" which I read to all of my older children, and now to our girls.  They love it and have it memorized!  I also came across another old children's book that I read with my older kids, "The Moffats," with is great fun to read and learn about how some families lived in an earlier generation.  We also have "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" in a beautiful, illustrated version; and old "Mother Goose" book with watercolor illustrations; and a newer book that we have acquired since traveling to China to bring our girls home, "I Love You Like Crazy-Cakes."  A sweet story of a mama traveling to China to bring her baby home.  We love books at our house!  Gracie has been reading the Junie B. Jones series, and Annie loves the "Little Bear" books.  So many books, and only one lifetime to cherish them!  Have a great Wednesday, and don't forget to read with your kids! 

We have lots of space for all our books, which is a very good thing    ;o) 

Tag . . . . You're it!

Ok so I've been tagged by my designing colleage at Boutique InVogue . . . . Jennifer Jaybird 

FIRST: List seven random facts/habits about yourself

1.   My husband and I have been married 10 years this next December . . . . and we have 10 children!

2.   That is because we each raised four biological children before we married each other, and now we have two beautiful adopted daughters from China.

3.    I am the director for a small community radio theater group, the United Center Players, and we do 1940s radio theater programs twice a year.

4.    I was married at 18 the first time, had three little ones under 5 by the time I was 24.

5.   I returned to college when my fourth child was in pre-school, and liked it so  much that I completed two undergraduate degrees and then went to grad school.

6.    I taught philosophy and ethics at our local community college for 7 years before we adopted our daughters.

7.    I have been a quilter for a long, long time . . . . started sewing my own clothing when I was in Jr. High school.

SECOND, I have to choose another SEVEN bloggers to tag and list their names in your blog. If you have already been picked, just let me know and I will change my list!

1.   Anita

2   Arlee

3.   Cynthia

4.   Jana

5.   Megan

6.   Fran

7.   Holli


THIRD: Leave your seven tagged bloggers comments to notfiy them of their tagging and to direct them to your blog for tag instructions.

So there you have it!  I've done my part, now it's off to the rest of my day, but just wanted to get this off this morning, because this is a GREAT way to make new friends!   

Blessings and Hugs!

What a community!

An amazing community of women can be found at www.5minutesformom.com    I discovered this group blog and immediately recognized many kindred spirits.  Moms who are daily seeking to discover and understand the importance of their career of nurturing and teaching our children the important values and truths of life.  So, whether you are a young mom, an experienced mom, or an "older" mom (like me!), skip on over to 5 Minutes for Mom and make some new friends! 

This past week we have been praying for Heather, who had a brain tumor removed on Thursday.  And we continue to pray for her during her recovery time; for her husband and children, and the rest of her family, for grace, peace, strength, and courage during this difficult time.  Take a peek at Heather's blog to see how she is doing, and if you have a minute, say a little prayer for this sweet girl who has gone through so much in the past few years.  http://www.especiallyheather.com/

And if you are in the market for some very special toys for your very special little ones . . . . check out these sites!  Janice and Susan, the creators of 5 Minutes for Mom, also offer some amazing transportation toys!  Having a little one with Cerebral Palsy, I certainly can appreciate the Caboose Trailer Bike.  We just bought Annie her first tricycle, and it is definitely a struggle for her little legs.  I guess we need to get one of those Caboose Trailer Bikes!  Bet there's something here that is just perfect for YOUR little ones!  http://www.caboosetrailerbike.com

Here are the other sites that have some great stuff, too! 

http://www.a-rocking-horse-to-love.com

http://www.pedalcarsandretro.com

Layers . . . .

Today I was challenged to be on the lookout for "layers" for the photo prompt at Create a Connection  http://www.bealivebelievebeyou.com/create/2007/04/thursday_photo__3.html  Layers . . . . where would I find something to photograph that reflected layers?  Since I was already scheduled to go on a field trip to the museum of nature and science with my daughter, I thought, "What better place to find something fascinating to photograph!" 

So, off we went, in all the chaos, noise, clutter, and general pandemonium associated with a group of 30 kindergarteners.  But, then when we arrived at the museum, I discovered that there were almost 3,000 elementary school children in the museum today!  Yikes!  I'm more the mellow, peaceful, quiet, and contemplative sort, so all the confusion required a great deal of effort on my part not to run and hide behind the dinosaur display!

Anyway, there were so many interesting things to see and do, but it wasn't until after lunch when we outside sitting in the grass and the girls were playing tag, and rolling down the grassy hillside that I found what I love to photograph the most . . . . my gorgeous daughter.  So, there they were, running and giggling, tumbling and rolling, and I just had to get a picture of her.  My beautiful angel, my China doll, my precious Gracie!  From the other side of the world, from a little rural village in northern China, in the shadow of the Great Wall, my Gracie is a bundle of energetic curiosity, brightly shining in her innocence and purity, and somehow always touches my soul and renews my spirit. 

But then we returned for one last peek around, and the girls discovered the crystals!  Oh, the joy of those glittering gemstones, quartz, amethyst, topaz, and gold!  This was their favorite part of the whole museum, they all declared.  "Look at THIS one, mama!" and "OOOH, look at THIS one!" and "THIS one is for sure my favorite!"  So, I took pictures of the crystals . . . . and there I found lots of layers!  Amazing how the world looks so fresh and new through the eyes of a child.

 

   

Today I'm working on a journal

The challenge was to find or create a beautiful journal for the "JustBeConnected" journal swap.  Well, do you think I could find the PERFECT journal, already created, to send to my journal partner????  Of course not!  So, after investing a couple of hours online searching for a website that sold journals . . . . or a site that would offer instructions for creating my own (I'd be willing to pay!), I finally decided to experiment, and CREATE one all by myself!

And as I think about it, isn't that what the idea behind "JustBeConnected" really is . . . .to connect with our private, creative, contemplative self, that so frequently gets lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life?  I'm excited to get started!  Sure, I have tons of other projects (some even with deadlines!) on my long TO DO list, but I'm just so excited to get going on this one, that I woke up at 5:30 a.m. (on a Sunday morning!) with all kinds of ideas.

Will I do paper decoupage, or fabric crazy patch piecing?  Should I use a ready-made journal and decorate the cover and put little drawings and sayings inside every few pages?  How about if I just make a fabric cover for the ready-made journal using my sewing skills and applique techniques?  Or maybe I will just start with some beautiful parchment paper, gold ribbon, and pastel colored markers and create a journal from just those few supplies and my imagination? 

Well, I'm off to work on it and I'll post pictures when I'm finished . . . .or along the way on this adventure.  And I'll be sure to post pictures of the journal I receive from my other journal swap partner.  Can't wait to see all of the gorgeous creations that develop from this journal swap project!