RAINY DAY ADVENTURES

"Pirate Adventures"

One rainy day recently, I was thinking about when my two boys (now all grown up!) needed to create some "Inside Fun" for themselves on rainy afternoons. They loved Playmobil & Legos (with all those gazillions of little pieces!)... and I loved listening in on the stories they'd create as our house became the scene for little boy fun, adventure, & imagination!

BABIES "R" BLESSINGS

"Made In Heaven"

My husband, Joe, says I have a "colorful resume"! As our family's college tuition earner, I've held MANY part time jobs over the past ten years. I've worked as a receptionist at my home church. I've been a salesperson in a scrapbooking store and in a Christian bookstore. I've cared for infants in a daycare setting. And, most recently, I've been a nanny for two fun-loving preschoolers. Each job has held its' own challenges and blessings. Looking back, I'm certain that the Lord has used each circumstance to help me grow and mature... and I am GRATEFUL!!

This fall finds me in yet another new role. I'll be teaching at Reynolda Preschool and Kindergarten. Happily, I'll be working with infants, an age I thoroughly enjoy! I've spent the past two weeks setting up the brand new nursery... kind of "nesting" before the babies arrive. I had fun gathering board books and music and colorful toys. I created a bulletin board where we can display pictures of our growing babies. I tried to use my mother's heart and my artists' eye to create a warm and happy environment where these little ones will feel safe and welcomed!



What a joy and a blessing it is to be able to nurture these little children, Lord!!... to discover their unique personalities and to help them grow in good ways! Please give me patience and wisdom as I care for each one in Your Name... Amen


"Made in Heaven" is available in my Etsy shop, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS! :)

MOM'S MINIVAN

"Mom's Minivan"

Just something silly & fun in honor of Mother's Day and the coming of summer vacation! :)

Believe it or not, back in the day when MY guys were small, the minivan was yet to be invented! Still, I remember so well packing all my kids and their friends and their "stuff" in the back of our station wagon, in search of summer fun, adventure, and a little escape from the hot, humid weather! Most of the time, our destination was the neighborhood pool, where the kids splashed all afternoon and I played "lifeguard" from under a poolside umbrella.


*sigh*...So many happy family memories!! :)

(...sunscreen, anyone???)


"Mom's Minivan" is available at my Etsy store, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS!

THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA

"The Princess and the Pea"

Once upon a time, in what seems like a very long time ago, I was the happy (and busy!) Mom of two rambunctious boys. Our home was filled with primary colors and all things little boys love ~ legos, trucks, Playmobil, and Ninja Turtles. My guys liked to dress up and have adventures as cowboys and Indians, pirates and superheroes. As they grew older, we accumulated a basement-full of rollerblades, bikes, and skateboards. Without a doubt, ours was a home geared toward BOYS!

...And so, it should not have been a big surprise to me that taking care of Jane (a sweet baby GIRL, then 8 months old) would be a real learning experience for me.

Even from a young age, Jane seemed drawn to all things pink and sparkly. She loved to play tea party with her many dolls, and delighted in the world of fairytales, princesses, and make believe. Jane's favorite way to spend a rainy day at home was to dress-up in her pink princess dress (the purple one just would not do), and dance in the playroom with great joy and abandon. At lunchtime, she never grew tired of hearing stories about the many adventures of Princess Jane...


Many thanks, Jane, for helping me to remember the wonders of being a little GIRL. This sweet princess is inspired by YOU!!



"This Princess and the Pea" is available in my CafePress store, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS, on a variety of baby & kidswear.

THE BIG, BAD "BUG"

I have a great job, taking care of two little ones parttime while their Mom teaches school. My two sons, Ben & Jesse, are grown, so this gives me the opportunity to snuggle and sing goofy songs and watch Sesame Street again!!

Most days, it's a joy to be able to spend time with Jane & George. There are so many funny things that they do & say! A simple walk in the neighborhood magically turns into an adventure as we hunt for "Goggies" & "Meowmies". A ride in "Miss Patti's" old station wagon to school is sooooo exciting! Coloring is a social activity, and lunchtime always holds unexpected silliness & treats! It's a blessing to me to be able to once more see life through the eyes of a child!!

But, last Monday was a difficult day on Sesame Street! Both Jane & George were coming down with a "bug", and there was no comforting George. Poor little buddy! -- he was coughing and wheezing and hungry and tired. His nose was so stuffed that he couldn't breathe, so drinking his bottle was all but impossible. Jane was feeling yucky, too, and whinier than her usual cheerful self. Who could blame her? At only two, she wanted -- no NEEDED -- attention, someone to get her juice and cookies and to empathize with her misery. But I was so busy walking and rocking and jiggling her baby brother that I had little time to comfort her. And so it was a VERY LONG day...

I came home, exhausted and in tears. Had I done enough for these little ones? What could I have done better? Quite honestly, I had tried all day to do my best; but this was a tenacious "bug", and all day it had had the upper hand.

Funny, how easy it is to forget how difficult caring for little ones can be!! Parenting is certainly not for the faint of heart! Lord, please help me to have Your patience & love with Jane & George, no matter what the day may bring...

Today I'm home with the "bug", too (though I seem to have a milder case). Jane & George's grandma has come to help out, so I have the luxury of taking it easy and getting better. I have my big box of Kleenex, my fuzzy slippers, and my bottomless glass of OJ. A long nap is sounding pretty good right now...

Written 1/14/06