All this week I have been busy in my new classroom, getting it all ready for a wonderful new year teaching elementary art, this year in Spanish; I cannot wait to begin. This ended up being a huge undertaking for me, for the person who occupied the classroom before me had not been very organized in 'closing out' the room before summer; all of this is very normal in transitions within the teaching world mind you. Early on, it became clear that I would have to actually empty all the storage spaces (which are many), look over everything, and decide on what needed to go and what needed to stay. For a split second, I actually hesitated taking this daunting route, but regardless of its enormity I knew it was the route to take if I truly wanted genuine organization. Two afternoons, and a raging backache later, I am done with all the major organizing and I could be more proud of myself for having tackled the 'monster'. Although there is still lots to do, I know where everything is now and that feels amazing.
In looking at this situation with these closets and the amazing feeling I now enjoy having done the physically demanding and tedious work to get them gutted and sorted reminded me of the inner reflecting that's necessary to become who we truly were meant to be in this world. What a wonderful metaphor for true healing this was; so much that I sat right up to write about it at 4am. The motion of taking out each item in that closet and truly assessing its importance and relevance to my classroom simulates the act of self-reflection. I have discovered in my observations of people that when we have had a painful past, we deal with them in one of three ways, yet only one way is truly healing.
Some people deal with past hurts by using it as an excuse to everything they do or don't do. They have allowed the narrative of their painful past to pop-up when triggered and define and literally infect all their relationships and interactions. These are often very heavy, unpredictable, and difficult people. Then, there are the ones who have chosen to do quite the opposite, the ones who have chosen to utterly ignore their past narrative and continue their lives as if the painful experiences never existed at all. These people operate quite well in the world 99% of the time. The only issue I see with this approach is that it simulates a closet full of junk where one has thrown away the key. Having been this second way initially, I know it's not a 'forever' solution. What ends up happening, and this happened to me, is that huge, life-changing moments such as births, deaths and even marriage can often trigger these closets to open wide and force you deal with the issues hidden inside. Last, and this is where I aim to stay, there are people that need to process and reflect on the past in order to be free of it and move forward in their lives. I am convinced that in order to have a joyful and fulfilling life one must take out each item in that 'closet' and look at it, assess it's value. Interestingly, I have found that I am often drawn to friends and people in general who also have this self-reflective mechanism embedded in their lives. Where do you fall?
A life of art, food, family and fun....
Showing posts with label journaling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journaling. Show all posts
8/22/12
Update on my daily running routine
I have managed to carve a half-hour daily running/jogging work-out routine for a month now. I am in disbelief that I am able to find the time to accomplish this daily, and without fail. For years I have been making excuses after excuses to avoid having to really work out. Yet, here I am at a point in my life where I know in my bones that this is not going to roll back to some form of lazy complacency. All it took was a clear decision not to hear the excuses, not even for a minute to entertain them in my head. Despite my day's tiredness each night, despite my daily inner resistance I went out that door and did it and I could not be more excited. A few months back this would have seemed like a huge undertaking, yet, after a few days it was a breeze walking out that door and hitting the pavement. The amazing feeling one gets from sweating, from feeling strong and fearless is worth every bit of effort. After just several days, the routine no longer feels like a struggle. It begins to feel more like a lifeline, a pure necessity to maintaining total well being.
Although the routine has become quite simple to accommodate into my days nowadays, I did have quite a bit of setting up work that needed to be established at the beginning. I got new sneakers, I got a heart rate monitor, I set up all my running clothes, sneakers and socks in one place in my closet so I can quickly access them and head out the door. Last but not least, I had to adjust and time when I ate at night in order to be able to run on an empty stomach once my two kiddies went to bed. Last, I even created fun mixes and uploaded them along with inspiring books onto my iPod Touch to give my workout that extra fun kick.
Although the routine has become quite simple to accommodate into my days nowadays, I did have quite a bit of setting up work that needed to be established at the beginning. I got new sneakers, I got a heart rate monitor, I set up all my running clothes, sneakers and socks in one place in my closet so I can quickly access them and head out the door. Last but not least, I had to adjust and time when I ate at night in order to be able to run on an empty stomach once my two kiddies went to bed. Last, I even created fun mixes and uploaded them along with inspiring books onto my iPod Touch to give my workout that extra fun kick.
7/25/12
Lead a Process Over Product Life
Being an art teacher I have always worked hard to make my teaching primarily about the importance of the process and less about the product. Yes, the product matters of course, but having a meaningful and fulfilling process is so important in making the product all the more beautiful. In other words, you must enjoy what you're doing in order to do it better. Sounds simple enough right? But applying that line of thinking to my own life has been a personal struggle and a huge focus of mine for this summer. When life gets too busy and overwhelming we begin by planning ahead and putting all our hopes on tomorrow and forgetting all the beauty of life that could be happening right here and now, under our noses.
As summer comes to a close I begin to stress about the new school year for both my kids and myself and my way of dealing with all this rising stress is hunkering down and planning every bit of it so that all I have to do is look at my calendar and there my chaos will feel less disorganized, more controllable and life will be calm again. But, planning the future takes time, time away from the kids, time away from cooking, from working out, from eating healthy. So no matter what I do, chaos resurfaces. Ultimately, I have come to realize that some semblance to chaos in our lives, whether now or later, is okay. I have come to accept that life is inherently messy by nature, and that the real trick in life is learning how to live with this never-ending messiness; and not always trying to fix life or control it's flow.
2. I am clearing my mind when I am with my kids and I tune in to what's on their minds for once, what are their hopes and dreams, what are their worries, etc. I am always surprised at what comes out of their mouthes when asked about their worries. Kids have some deep worries that we often find very trivial to us, but nevertheless, they are real worries that must be addressed seriously for them to go away.
3. I take the time to eat well. That means cooking, prepping my veggies, taking my vitamins, sitting down while eating, not eating the kids' scraps.
4. I take time to work out now, not tomorrow, not later today, just walk out the door.
5. Every time I find myself veggy-ing in front of the computer I make sure that I am not wasting it watching others having fun. In trying to convince my own kids about the possible pitfalls of television, I always tell them that watching TV is a lot like sitting very still and watching others have fun, that instead they should always try to be the ones out there having this fun for real. I am not a fundamentalist when it comes to TV, my kids have learned so much from TV, there are some amazing and wonderful, educational shows out there. I do think some shows are more valuable than others and that some kid shows even can even be hurtful.
In what ways do you lead a process-over-product life?
As summer comes to a close I begin to stress about the new school year for both my kids and myself and my way of dealing with all this rising stress is hunkering down and planning every bit of it so that all I have to do is look at my calendar and there my chaos will feel less disorganized, more controllable and life will be calm again. But, planning the future takes time, time away from the kids, time away from cooking, from working out, from eating healthy. So no matter what I do, chaos resurfaces. Ultimately, I have come to realize that some semblance to chaos in our lives, whether now or later, is okay. I have come to accept that life is inherently messy by nature, and that the real trick in life is learning how to live with this never-ending messiness; and not always trying to fix life or control it's flow.
A few ways I am trying to 'enjoy the journey' and let go of the future or the product are:
1. I'm turning off my cell phone and checking it only a few times a day. I do not need to check my email every 20 minutes. Countries will not fall apart if that email is not answered within a day.2. I am clearing my mind when I am with my kids and I tune in to what's on their minds for once, what are their hopes and dreams, what are their worries, etc. I am always surprised at what comes out of their mouthes when asked about their worries. Kids have some deep worries that we often find very trivial to us, but nevertheless, they are real worries that must be addressed seriously for them to go away.
3. I take the time to eat well. That means cooking, prepping my veggies, taking my vitamins, sitting down while eating, not eating the kids' scraps.
4. I take time to work out now, not tomorrow, not later today, just walk out the door.
5. Every time I find myself veggy-ing in front of the computer I make sure that I am not wasting it watching others having fun. In trying to convince my own kids about the possible pitfalls of television, I always tell them that watching TV is a lot like sitting very still and watching others have fun, that instead they should always try to be the ones out there having this fun for real. I am not a fundamentalist when it comes to TV, my kids have learned so much from TV, there are some amazing and wonderful, educational shows out there. I do think some shows are more valuable than others and that some kid shows even can even be hurtful.
In what ways do you lead a process-over-product life?
6/25/12
What major themes are running through your life?
There are certain themes running through everyone's lives at all times. I believe we all have these seasonal themes running through our lives. If we just care to stop long enough to listen to what is happening with us in terms of small universal messages, we too would get them. I've always firmly believed there are two kinds of people in the world, the reflecting kind and the non-reflecting kind (these are the ones who know everything). I consider myself a 'reflecting kind'. Currently, I have three themes that keep nagging me when reflecting. These themes keep coming up in all sorts of unrelated situations and scenarios and keep hammering me over the head with their messages. Sometimes, it almost feels like I'm living in a very good independent movie where every little thing from the background song, to the art on the walls have meaning. My three themes are (1) Absolute need humans have for inspiration, (2) the healing power of merely noticing can change the world and the idea that (3) the way systems are structured makes an enormous difference to how everything is experienced within that system.
Inspiration. I've been watching my 7 year-old son go from an intense obsession with space, science and scientists to baseball, baseball players and baseball scores. I am not being dramatic when I describe these as 'obsessions'. While he's living through these intense periods he is able to absorb such detailed information and make such expert analyses of the all the big ideas engendered within its topics. In applying this to schools and how they are built and structured, I am not being harsh when I say that schools are not either equipped or structured to tap into these timely learning opportunities. This is very, very unfortunate for if schools were able to tap into subjects and subject matter that were more closely aligned with student's interests they'd be able to teach all skills more efficiently. Inspiration allows for warp-drive learning to happen. Unfortunately, the way things are now there is school and then there is the after school activities. More often than not, it's after school where kids finally get to explore what they really enjoy because true learning can only happen with true engagement. True engagement only happens when things matter to us. Therefore, inspiration is the driving force of all things meaningful. Grab any biography, anyone that has ever done anything meaningful with their lives has done so out of inspiration. So it pays to pay attention to our kids' obsessions. The book I am reading now written by Jenifer Fox speaks about strengths-based child rearing. So for now, even though intense units on baseball and outer space are far from being on the school curriculum, we at home are certainly using these themes to teach reading, math, nuance, writing, and conversation skills.
Noticing. Sounds like such a benign act. Sounds like such an insignificant act that could not possibly carry such monumental powers. But the act of noticing has life-changing potential and it's free, anyone can do it. Think of any time in your own life where perhaps a wise/older person voiced that they noticed one of your many abilities. I bet you still carry this compliment of sorts in your heart. I can also bet that you've done something with it. Part of my role in being a teacher is noticing what kids bring to the table and making them aware of what I see. In verbalizing to them what they may not yet be able to put into words, I am able to open up in their hearts a world of possibilities. These short, yet accurate phrases might seem like nothing meaningful at the time, but soon you'll see that this child has quickly adopted what you noticed as part of her identity. Once there, these identity structures stay there, forever. Like plants, we humans bend towards the light. Noticing is like sunlight to our souls. It feeds and heals, it directs our purpose in life. Try it. Next time you see your little one do anything, walk up to them, look them in the eye and say, 'I noticed you were very kind when you did that, I noticed you are quite creative because you've spent the whole morning drawing these pictures of cats." You are not just merely holding up a mirror and reflecting back what you see, but the act of noticing also communicates to the child a much more golden message; that you cared enough to notice. We can do this to heal ourselves as well. Have you ever been so wrapped into some current drama that you almost forget to check the lights before crossing the street? I have come to learn that the mere act of noticing our very surroundings can help bring you back out of any anguish. Noticing, sounds totally unimportant, yet can help shape our very future.
Systems. Systems have been the source of so much mental debate for me lately. In framing what I've been experiencing at my last job in a public school, as a larger systemic issue, I've been able to better understand how all the pieces fit in this structure to create the results we all end up experiencing. Like in any personal argument you might have with a loved one, if we get stuck in arguing over the minutia of the smaller fragments, we never get to address the bigger, more damaging issues. The basic idea here is that the large big-picture ideas and assumptions embedded within any given system needs to be right, just and democratic in order for the unfolding results to grow and prosper correctly. How is this helpful to me personally? For one, In understanding how the larger part trickle down to the smaller parts I now know that trying to change the smaller parts of any system is futile. I can also apply this knowledge to my own classroom, a smaller system, but one nevertheless. There are certain ingredients, if you will, that can make or break any classroom. Respect and the idea that all kids must be engaged in order to learn are great structural ideas that help any classroom system grow. Yet, the idea that some kids are 'broken', for example, can only weaken your classroom system. You see, main guiding ideas and assumptions about the people within system must be 'right', holistic, democratic, hopeful, and appeal to humans at their highest state. Anything less than that and you would be, as Ravitch says, 'shooting at your own troops."
So there, those are the themes currently running through my life. I assure you that you too have big, overriding themes running through your life and if you listen very carefully they will speak to you. Have a wonderful summer.
Inspiration. I've been watching my 7 year-old son go from an intense obsession with space, science and scientists to baseball, baseball players and baseball scores. I am not being dramatic when I describe these as 'obsessions'. While he's living through these intense periods he is able to absorb such detailed information and make such expert analyses of the all the big ideas engendered within its topics. In applying this to schools and how they are built and structured, I am not being harsh when I say that schools are not either equipped or structured to tap into these timely learning opportunities. This is very, very unfortunate for if schools were able to tap into subjects and subject matter that were more closely aligned with student's interests they'd be able to teach all skills more efficiently. Inspiration allows for warp-drive learning to happen. Unfortunately, the way things are now there is school and then there is the after school activities. More often than not, it's after school where kids finally get to explore what they really enjoy because true learning can only happen with true engagement. True engagement only happens when things matter to us. Therefore, inspiration is the driving force of all things meaningful. Grab any biography, anyone that has ever done anything meaningful with their lives has done so out of inspiration. So it pays to pay attention to our kids' obsessions. The book I am reading now written by Jenifer Fox speaks about strengths-based child rearing. So for now, even though intense units on baseball and outer space are far from being on the school curriculum, we at home are certainly using these themes to teach reading, math, nuance, writing, and conversation skills.
Noticing. Sounds like such a benign act. Sounds like such an insignificant act that could not possibly carry such monumental powers. But the act of noticing has life-changing potential and it's free, anyone can do it. Think of any time in your own life where perhaps a wise/older person voiced that they noticed one of your many abilities. I bet you still carry this compliment of sorts in your heart. I can also bet that you've done something with it. Part of my role in being a teacher is noticing what kids bring to the table and making them aware of what I see. In verbalizing to them what they may not yet be able to put into words, I am able to open up in their hearts a world of possibilities. These short, yet accurate phrases might seem like nothing meaningful at the time, but soon you'll see that this child has quickly adopted what you noticed as part of her identity. Once there, these identity structures stay there, forever. Like plants, we humans bend towards the light. Noticing is like sunlight to our souls. It feeds and heals, it directs our purpose in life. Try it. Next time you see your little one do anything, walk up to them, look them in the eye and say, 'I noticed you were very kind when you did that, I noticed you are quite creative because you've spent the whole morning drawing these pictures of cats." You are not just merely holding up a mirror and reflecting back what you see, but the act of noticing also communicates to the child a much more golden message; that you cared enough to notice. We can do this to heal ourselves as well. Have you ever been so wrapped into some current drama that you almost forget to check the lights before crossing the street? I have come to learn that the mere act of noticing our very surroundings can help bring you back out of any anguish. Noticing, sounds totally unimportant, yet can help shape our very future.
Systems. Systems have been the source of so much mental debate for me lately. In framing what I've been experiencing at my last job in a public school, as a larger systemic issue, I've been able to better understand how all the pieces fit in this structure to create the results we all end up experiencing. Like in any personal argument you might have with a loved one, if we get stuck in arguing over the minutia of the smaller fragments, we never get to address the bigger, more damaging issues. The basic idea here is that the large big-picture ideas and assumptions embedded within any given system needs to be right, just and democratic in order for the unfolding results to grow and prosper correctly. How is this helpful to me personally? For one, In understanding how the larger part trickle down to the smaller parts I now know that trying to change the smaller parts of any system is futile. I can also apply this knowledge to my own classroom, a smaller system, but one nevertheless. There are certain ingredients, if you will, that can make or break any classroom. Respect and the idea that all kids must be engaged in order to learn are great structural ideas that help any classroom system grow. Yet, the idea that some kids are 'broken', for example, can only weaken your classroom system. You see, main guiding ideas and assumptions about the people within system must be 'right', holistic, democratic, hopeful, and appeal to humans at their highest state. Anything less than that and you would be, as Ravitch says, 'shooting at your own troops."
So there, those are the themes currently running through my life. I assure you that you too have big, overriding themes running through your life and if you listen very carefully they will speak to you. Have a wonderful summer.
6/15/12
Birth, a new beginning
Today was one of the hardest days of my life (Okay, maybe my two births were THE hardest. But this one will then be the third hardest day of my life). Not only was there and emotional part to carefully inventorying and packing up the art room art supplies for the next art teacher, but there was also the added task of trying to help others struggle with this transition while also going through transition struggles of my own. In my own family, my daughter has been having a harder time with this transition than my son. Thankfully, only one of them is struggling with the fact that I will not be teaching at their elementary anymore. My daughter cried all night last night about me not being her art teacher anymore and wanted me to address all her questions of how this would affect her little world. As a parent, we don't like to see our babies struggling; it was so hard to see her so upset. Then there are my students and their loving words, hugs and handmade cards just touched me so deeply. I am going to miss all of them so much it hurts. I feel myself quietly mourning all of what I am letting go with this change. A change I willingly chose but had no idea would be so painful and emotional. Smiling faces of my students, friends, colleagues and some of the families I have come to connect with these three years are swimming past my thoughts at this moment and I feel so much love from and for them all. I am so fortunate to have had so much love flow through this journey. Last, let's not forget the physical aspect of moving furniture and boxes around. This was no easy feat. I feel like a mac truck has run over me. I must have moved about 90 boxes into the hallway.
I guess I could say that today was very much like a birth, very emotional and very physically taxing yet leading me to a new beginning.
I guess I could say that today was very much like a birth, very emotional and very physically taxing yet leading me to a new beginning.
7/6/10
Personal Goals for the Summer 2010
I just wrote up four personal growth goals for my 2010 summer....I do not want another summer to pass me by and all of the sudden realize it's August and I'm asking myself, "Where has the time gone?"
Here it goes:1. Travel
2. Learn
3. Create
4. Make Friends
1. After this weekend we realized that we did not need to schedule trips that lasted all summer or were across the country to feel like we are on 'vacation'. We have about 5 more free weekends in which I full plan on scheduling for some more adventures. I think our next adventure will be at Jamestown Settlement on PA.
2. I have learned that I love to be inspired by other artists. I will either take art classes online or simply watch all the instructional artsy videos I can find on YouTube. Life cannot move forward in an exciting way without input from without.....Becoming inspired and allowing oneself to become inspired by others is very exciting.
3. Whether my work sells or not...I will aim to create as much as I can from any materials I feel most in love with at the time. Keep checking in for some upcoming projects in recycled paper landscapes and possibly some insect collages using recycled paper.
4. This last one is one that I will most often think of last. Yet, anytime I get a chance to connect with others on a face-to-face level I come away feeling refreshed and alive.....a total MUST for this summer.
What are YOUR summer goals?
6/28/10
Recent Journal Pages....Beginning of the summer
I have been keeping a journal since I was about 7. But just recently I discovered the fun of visual or art journaling. I made my own book journal last month. To see pictures of this process click HERE.
I love experimenting with various FONTS and textures.
I tested out a new stencil I created last week.....one of a Greek Column.
Here is a quick sketch of how I wanted my 'Russell Pearce's War on Children' political digital Collage to look like. To see the finished product can be seen HERE.
I adore trees.......branches, leaves, flowers...anything with natural forms.
Here is my quick rendition of my mom's garden.
Nora celebrated her 3rd birthday this past week and her most amazing chocolate cake has been sitting in the refrigerator the whole week....calling my name....
6/23/10
Creating our ART SWAP cards....
Here is what it's all about...click on words below to go to the site....
I used an old thick magazine cover and cut them into 2.5"x3.5 inch.....
I did some drawings of all things GREEK......I used Google Images for this.....LOVE GOOGLE images.....
My first ever stencil...
I need to get better at this.....but not bad...
some mixed media beginnings
The end product......I am going to calligraphy some GREEK words on them later....when done.
Used the leftover paint to texturize my journal pages....
Created some extra cards.....for me.....or for Etsy...
4/13/09
The Power to Inspire
Never underestimate the power of inspiration. As an art teacher I always tell my kids that artists inspire each other all the time. Children are often very hesitant to use techniques used by other artist because they feel it might be considered "copying". Yet, I reassure them that the uniqueness of what makes them who they are will always shine through and the result will always be beautifully and drastically different than the work from which you were inspired.
I just watched this great YouTube.com video (above) of an artist named Susan Cornelis. It made me realize how much I love and always have loved watercolor and the mixing of inner "phychologizing" into art. I then became instantly inspired to swim right into watercolor journaling next in my creative path.
I will be making my own sketchbook for , another for my son and another for my daughter to use during our trip to The Redwoods. My son (4) is not into watercolors as much as my daughter (1.8) who LOVES, loves, loves watercolor. She loves painting and is awesome at holding the brush, wetting the paint tray and rinsing her brush with no mess......
Check out that grip.....Since she hardly talks yet, when she wants to paint she points to the watercolor tray and brings the water bucket to the sink area and points to the faucet.
She's not really aware yet that you wash to change colors....but she's a good imitator anyway....she looks like she knows what she's doing. What I love most is her dead serious expression.
She "wakes up" the colors with her brush.....again, the concentration level cracks me up!! She is able to do this for about 45 minutes. Can't wait to see what her works look like as she grows. I love being a mom.
3/23/09
Books Find YOU...Words Leave you...a CYCLE
All my life I've always had books come to me at just the right times to save me out of some rut. My parents divorced early on and I was a latchkey kid for many years so I ended up always looking for my own answers to life's questions. When I began searching spirituality at age 19 I ran into a book about Taoism and it helped me center myself and generate more questions. Having always felt absolutely no deep connection to my Catholic roots, Eastern religions were like water to a thirsty plant.....I felt right at home. I later found the works of Chögyam Trungpa, author of countless books on Tibetan Buddhism, my favorite being, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism which helped tremendously in seeing ways in which my spirituality should belong to me and for the purposes of improving myself and never as an agent of separation among people, as I've experienced so many times in the past.
By the same token, I've always found personal journal writing to be incredibly helpful in allowing my feelings to be identified clearly. I have journals dating back from when I was a girl. They are sitting in a huge plastic box and have come with me whenever I've moved all these years. I have not ever actually sat down and read them, but perhaps that was never the purpose of them. The only purpose of them was to allow me to get IT out, whatever IT was. The PROCESS itself was it's express purpose.
I see both reading to find answers and journal writing as a cycle.....Books put new ideas in your heart and mind.....you incorporate these words from these authors in your life.....LIFE happens and you reflect in writing to let go of the old stuff.
If there is anything I want my kids to know to do is how to find answers to their questions through inquiry, books and relationships. A funny story about my son that relates to this happened last night. During one of our long chats during his nightly hyperactive hour, Luke recounted that when he was a baby he remembers falling down the stairs after being accidentally brushed aside by our huge German Shepherd. I was amazed how much of that experience he remembered. From the fact that is was at night, who caught him, to how many people were home when it happened. It led him to ask everyone in our family to tell him a story about when we were little like him; he was genuinely interested and would not stop until my husband, my mom, step-dad and I recounted some detailed story. I later heard him ask my husband, can we get a book on "falling"? Oh, I love him and his little curious 4-year-old mind...
I think I have nothing to worry about......
3/20/09
Memory Keeper
Each picture has an entry and the date. No on is allowed to take pictures from the album.
I grew up with maybe a handful of photos of me as a very young child; most of them are from when I was about age 5. No pictures of me as a baby exist. This need to know more about me and my past has always over-generated my memory- keeping muscle. It's no surprise to me then that I do wedding photography and LOVE it with a passion or that I am the only one in my family who always has a camera in hand....even at the most mundane, daily events.
My husband sometimes complains about my (according to him) excessive monthly photo bill. Yet, I do not consider twelve 4"x6" images a month at all excessive. I feel so strongly the need to tell our story. When our children are older they will see that their history began even before their memory began. So much love is recorded in these albums.
Aside from adding to our family album monthly, I also write in a journal for each child about once every 2 weeks. I record all those adorable, sweet and wonderful kid moments that you think you will surely remember but soon come to forget. When they turn 18, they will each get to keep and read their journals. For example, my son, who is 4 years old, uses this very sweet exclamation. Every time he is surprised by something he yells, "Ala Cazawee!" Once I heard it for the 100Th time, I ran to his journal to write it down and date it. He saw this and he asked me what I was doing. I responded, "mommy is writing down that you said Ala Cazawee so that when you are Evan's age (Evan is an older cousin) you will remember that you said such interesting words." he quickly answers as a matter-of-factly, "I will still say Ala Cazawee when I'm a teenager mom." Of course, I also wrote down his response. What a complete treasure for a mom, and I did not even have to pay or work hard to get it.
I ask family members and dear friends to also write in the kids' journals so that they too give their love in writing.
I add small sketches to illustrate my message. I do not add pictures to the journals. I have enough pictures in their albums.
To see my Wedding Photography Website got to: Mir's Magic Moments Photography at www.MirsMagicMoments.com
To see some awesome samples of my wedding photography work go to: My Shutterfly Site
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
I went to my favorite thrift store 2 days ago and was in shock to see they no longer sell toys at all, nothing. For as long as I can reme... -
Do you know how to fight? If you care about your relationships dare to practice fighting. It does not really matter what you fight over.......
-
....I used 1/5th red cabbage, 15 carrots, 2 garlic cloves, 1 whole lemon, 1 whole broccoli head/bunch, 2 thum-sized ginger, 3 apples, 2 peac...