Bravery Beads

A friend of mine recently joined The Littlest Heroes Project as a photographer. She posted a link to their site on her facebook page. It sparked my interest, so I checked it out. They work with children who have diseases or disabilities. They provide free photo sessions to the little heroes and their families...

Further down the front page I saw a link about 'not a photographer, but still want to help?'... Something called Bravery Beads. BEADS! WHAT? So, of course, I clicked. People can make cards and bracelets and send them in. They are then given to these little heroes when they go to the hospital for surgery or treatment. Isn't that great! Of course, I had TONS of beads and lots of paper/stickers/coloring stuff... So why not?

Oh, but then I saw that you can read biographies and see pictures of some of these little heroes. That's so neat... but then I started reading about these kids. These teenagers who have been sick for years. These little kids who are having surgeries. Some of them are infants. They have just started their lives and they already face such trials...

And here I am. I have two beautiful and healthy children. I, myself, have never had to go through anything so serious... And as a mother, my heart broke. What must it be like to see your baby go through chemo treatments or a transplant or surgery? I knew for sure I had to help.

I gathered my supplies, told my friends about it, and decided that in my spare time I would work as much as possible on cards and bracelets. If I can bring a smile to just one child... So for the past few days, every spare chance I have, I have worked on cards and bracelets. I had some friends come over and make them with me. They even took beads home to work in their spare time too! We decided to work for one week and make as many as we can. Then, we will get them all together and send them in.

I even got my kids to help! Ayla and Zach both love coloring. Since Zach is home during the day while Ayla is in school, he helped me make quite a few cards. Then today, since Ayla was home, we did some coloring. My kids, who are so sweet and precious... They understand that what they make is going to go to a little boy or girl, maybe the same age as they are. They know these boys and girls are very sick. They spend a lot of time in doctors offices and hospitals. And while my mother's heart goes out to those precious little boys and girls, my kids are happy! They are so excited that some sick little boy or girl is going to get THEIR card or THEIR bracelet. They pour everything they have into their creations. They talk about how when a little boy or girl gets their card and bracelet it will make them smile. Then their smile will make their mommy and daddy smile. And their smile will make the doctors smile...

So today, even though it pours rain, thunders and lightening outside... Even though I pray for the little heroes and their families.... I SMILE. I smile because my kids have shown me the unlimited love in a child's heart. I smile because, as they pointed out, If I smile then someone else will smile. And then someone else. And someone else...

Who knows... Maybe we can get the whole block to smile... or the whole neighborhood... or the whole town... Guess we just have to smile and see how far it goes...


:)

Rainy Day Musings...

It's been a while since I blogged. Business has picked up, I'm busy with school, and life has been hectic. While I haven't had the chance to blog, I have to admit that I love my busy life.

I've never been good at being bored. I get moody and I eat a lot when I'm bored. I love being busy. I don't gain as much weight that way! LOL! Really though, I don't know why, I guess it's just my personality. I love always having something to do, something to finish, or something to plan.

For example, I moved my business to the world of Facebook. I also started selling items through a local consignment store. This means I have to take more time crafting, taking pictures, and posting them. I spend time online researching fashion trends, studying techniques, and looking for new craft ideas and patterns. I also work on craft projects to use in Sunday school. I sometimes help teach the young children's (6 and under) class with Sister Doris. I am always putting together little projects for them.

I am also still in school. I am taking online classes to earn my BASS ED (Bachelors in Social Science with a concentration in education) with a minor in child development. I have been getting mostly A's with a few B+'s and I was recently inducted into the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society. I was in the National Junior Honor Society in middle school, the National Honor Society in high school, and I have made Dean's List every semester I have been in college. I love learning! God has blessed me with the ability to do well in school.

I also still have household duties to take care of: dishes, cooking, laundry, cleaning. I am a neat freak. I admit it! I always keep my house clean enough that if someone drops by unexpected I can feel good about welcoming them in. It's just a "thing" I have. With four of us, I do laundry 3 times or more a week, and wash a dishwasher full of dishes at least once a day. I cook six days a week. It may not always be something big, but I love spending time in the kitchen.

I am also planning a party for the young women in our church. I have done several of them and we always have a great time. This one has a western theme! We dress up, eat, play games, and have a time of fellowship. My children's birthdays are coming up soon also. I am planning a party for each of them. Ayla will be 5 and wants a Princess Tea Party. Zach will be 3 and is going to have an Army Man birthday. Between cakes, decorations, and games, I have my hands full.

Above all of this, I am planning a vacation!!! YES! It has been years since my family had a vacation, so we are very excited. I am especially excited because my mom, whom I have not seen since Zach was 3 months old (2.5 years ago), will be coming down! She is flying down at the end of the month. Then the five of us are going to Savannah for the weekend. She will be with us for over two weeks!!! I can't wait! But anyhow, back to the rest of my life...

I also have to keep up with my four year old and two year old, who are almost 5 and 3. This means getting up early, making sure Ayla's backpack is ready, getting her dressed and ready, feeding Zach, taking Ayla to school, coming home and getting Zach ready, fixing lunch and snacks, picking Ayla up, sometimes volunteering at her school, taking care of homework and study time, playing outside, playing inside, fixing dinners that everyone will eat, cleaning up, bathing kids, getting through bedtime routines, reading stories, and more... There are fights, and accidents, battles for power, and naptime struggles. But there are also the hugs, kisses, smiles, laughs, and "mommy, I love you" moments.

It's these moments, along with my need to stay busy, that has encouraged the 'baby bug'. Yes, I was bit about a year and a half ago. After a lot of discussion and prayer and consideration, we have decided to try for an expanded household! This isn't news to a lot of you, but I thought I would share it anyhow. We already have names and nursery items picked out. I will be sure to let everyone know when the time arrives!

SO, by now, I am sure most of you are questioning my sanity... I regularly do myself! All I know, is that through everything I try to be patient, stay calm, and breathe. God has blessed me with this personalty, and I love it! He has given me skills and characteristics to use as tools. He has never given me more than I can handle, and gives me countless blessings. As I sit here on this (almost) rainy morning, I can't help but be grateful for all I have been given, and all that I know awaits me. I just felt like sharing... Have a wonderful and blessed weekend!

Tough little boy...

Friday morning, I was getting Ayla ready to go to school. I had gone in the kitchen to get a little coffee while we waited for the car to warm up. Suddenly, I heard crying.

Bryan had been sitting at the computer desk in the living room. Zach had just finished eating and was going from the dining room to the living room. He tripped over the back of the desk chair and hit the coffee table. Bryan carried him into the kitchen. One arm was holding Zach and the other hand was over his face. When Bryan moved his hand, it was covered in blood. Zach split his cheek open right below his eye.

We got the bleeding to slow. We got all our things together and drove to town. We dropped Ayla at school on the way to the hospital. We were admitted pretty quickly, but because of some construction, we had to wait quite a while. They did an x-ray, and an exam. The doctor gave him 2 stiches to close the cut. The doctor and the nurse said Zach was a trooper. Even though he was crying and upset, they said he was one of the best behaved kids they had seen.

He had a follow up with his pediatrician on Monday morning. When the nurse saw him she gasped and asked what had happened. When I told her, she said it was a wonder that nothing was broken or that he hadn't passed out. Then the doctor came in. She checked his face, his eyes, his ears, and his heartbeat and breathing. She asked about what happened. She looked right at me and told me it was a miracle that he didn't damage his eye or nose, that he hadn't broken anything, and that it was healing so well already. A miracle.

He has been walking around showing everyone his cut and his black eye. He sometimes comes up and says that his cheek hurts, but then he will run off and play. It is already healing very well. He should be back to new in no time.

I am so glad that I serve a miracle working God!

Morning brew...

I woke up this morning with a lot on my mind. Nothing bad, just a lot that has been going on. I have some friends that have been going through some rough things and today they all seem to be on my mind...

A family that means a lot to my husband and myself has had it rough. The mother is one of the sweetest women you will ever meet. She recently lost her mother. Then, the family lost an aunt. They had a dog who just had puppies but didn't do well after; They had to put her down. Then, the puppies began to die. I know it has been a rough few weeks for this family. There is a lot going on beyond that, but that is just the last few weeks... They have been in my thoughts and prayers a lot lately.

Several other family members and friends of mine have had losses in the last few weeks. An aunt lost her father. An uncle lost two family members. An aunt was diagnosed with cancer. Several people have lost jobs. They all cross my mind and I wish I could do more to help, but I can't. So instead, I pray.

At the same time that death and loss seem to be so near, there is also life. Many friends of mine (at least 14) are expecting additions to their families. One is welcoming her little one today, a few others are due any day, and some just found out. I think of when my two were small. I remember all the little joys and blessings that those tiny bundles bring with them. I look at my two and see how much they have grown and I am amazed.

I have also been thinking of the house we just moved into. I've been trying to get things moved in, but it is taking a while... My business is picking up and doing well. With that comes more work, and some concern about what direction to take... There are several other personal issues that have been weighing on my mind, in addition to thinking of my friends and family...

So this morning, as I got ready and took Ayla to school, my mind was full. I admit I was a little heavy hearted about all of the things on my mind. When I got home, my husband was getting ready for work. As we talked, we both were a little short with one another and I realized something.

As much as I had things on my mind, I know he has things on his. A very difficult issue has come up in his family, and he is hoping for a promotion at work, plus he has been having some health issues, and he has the concern of providing for me and the kids. As often as I worry about the house, or the bills, or the kids, I know he is worried too. He works very hard to provide, and sometimes it seems as though no matter how hard he tries it isn't enough... I know inside, that I always know he is worried about things. I was just so caught up in my own thoughts today, that once I remembered this... well, to be honest... I felt a little ashamed.

My husband goes above and beyond. He does little things (like getting up at 6 am to move the garbage can, or taking a PTO day to take care of the kids because I was sick, or all the things he did for my birthday this year). Of all the people that should be in my thoughts and prayers, he should be at the top of the list. Most the time he is, but today he wasn't... for some reason I just needed to share this. I know we all have times when the world sits so heavy on our shoulders that we can't seem to remember that there are other people out there...

There is a country song that comes to mind... Sawyer Brown sings a song titled 'They Don't Understand'. The chorus goes like this...

(They don't understand)

Everybody's busy with their own situation

Everybody's lost in their own little world

Bottled up, hurry it up trying to make a dream come true

(They don't understand)

Everybody's living like there ain't no tomorrow

Maybe we should stop and take a little time

Cause you never really know what your neighbor's going through

(They don't understand)

Every time I hear this song, it makes me cry. I just felt as though I should share my morning thoughts... For all of you who take the time to read this, I ask you to do something.

Take a minute, right now, and think. I am sure you have issues in your life. I know you probably have a lot on your minds. I'm sure you have needs... but for just a minute, think of someone you know who could use a special gift today. Maybe they have had a loss, or just received a blessing, or maybe they hold a special place in your life... Pray for them. Just lift them up before God. Thank Him for placing that person in your life. Acknowledge something special about that person and ask God to bless that person, just for being a part of your life. If you want, do something special for that person, go ahead. But most important - just remember them in prayer...

Thanks again for listening to me... May God bless each of you!

Fluffy

Alright, I know I am from Montana. It is a normal occurrence to have feet of snow on the ground. It is normal to have snow nine months out of the year. It is normal for people to drive in feet of snow and schools do not close down until it is twenty below with three feet of snow.

That being said, I now live in Georgia. It rarely snows in Georgia. There are no snow plows, snow tires, or snow shovels. Schools close down if there is simply a chance of snow. If there is snow in the forecast, people flock to the local supermarket and load up on milk, eggs, and bread, as though the world were coming to an end. They bundle up as though a single snow flake has the power to kill. 'It hasn't snowed for decades', 'it never snows here'... plenty of people have told me things like this. I know of teenagers here who have never seen a real snow flake in their lives. And yet, in the past four years that we have been here it has snowed almost every year.

Do you hear me complain? No. Do you see me make an extra trip to the grocery store? No. Do you see me walk outside in two inches of snow without a parka, long underwear, snow boots, and gloves? Probably. I never thought I would miss the snow. Ten months a year of defrosting the car, scraping the windshield, and shoveling walks... and yet every time it snows down here I get a little giddy. Memories of white Christmas's, the taste of real maple syrup on fresh snow, snowball fights and snow angels all come rushing back. It reminds me of my family and friends in Montana. It reminds me of my grandparents farm.

And I guess, especially today, it reminds me of the simple pleasure of watching a big, fluffy, white snow flake floating from the sky. I hear my kids ooooh and aaaah over the sight of growing piles of snow. They giggle and beg to go out and play... and somewhere deep inside I remember what it feels like... I remember how it used to be...

I dedicate this post to two special people who are no longer making snow angels... Clarence Tackes and Ron Imel... You two have left a lasting memory within my heart. Thank you for sending me some snow for my birthday!

Decorating the new house...

In the master bath, I decorated with chocolate rugs and towels. I am also going to add some gold accents. It is very rich colored!

In the kids bathroom, with blue and green striped walls, we wanted a theme that would work for both Ayla and Zach. I found these adorable frogs and they matched wonderfully!!!

I still have a lot of decorating to do - pictures to hang, vases to fill, and floors to clean (LOL). Once I get things finished in each room, I will post new pictures. Of course, anyone who is in the area is welcome to stop by and have a look for themselves!

Pictures of the new house, before we settle in...

This is our new house!

The Kitchen

The Living Room

The Breakfast Bar and Front Door

The Dining Room

The Kids Bathroom

Ayla's Room

Zach's Room

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

This is how everything looked when we moved in this last weekend. I am slowly getting things put away and finding decorations. I will post more pics as I go along...

Thanks to everyone who prayed and helped - especially Torina and Lisa for watching Zach while I packed and Jon and Adam for helping Bryan move the furniture...