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celebrations
The party is over, dishes are being stacked and sent back to their various homes. We had a great Thanksgiving with family–a loud celebration thanks to eight children, but still a celebration.
Dan and I decided two nights ago, that we wanted to go with the girls to visit our city’s nursing home Thanksgiving morning– to spend a little time talking with residents there, who had no family to visit them. Emma filled a bag with pictures she had painted and colored, and with much shyness and hesitation on her part we headed off. We randomly picked the second floor and were told there were several residents in the dining hall that hardly ever got visitors.
I have to admit, I get very shy and feel uncomfortable in these situations, but Dan can jump right in–a hand on their shoulder, talking loud enough to be heard down the hall, playing right along with the stories these strangers have to share; "Remember when we used to visit Chicago together? Wow, the girls have gotten so big since the last time I saw them…"
Generally, the men and women we met were quiet and shy. Emma did her best to introduce herself to each one, wish them a happy thanksgiving, pass out some artwork and shake their hands. Every single person we met, grabbed on to those warm little hands of hers or took hold of Mary’s chubby little thigh. I’m sure for many of them, they hadn’t seen little children in quite awhile, let alone have the opportunity to feel the soft baby skin, or squeeze a chubby thigh. Even just the activity of my two children toddling around them in the room– weaving in and out between wheelchairs and reclining beds, looking out windows, finding art supplies in the corner, tipping over a bucket of markers– brought some excitement, warmth and joy to the room.
I left there feeling sad for those forgotten or left behind, braver for being able to touch and talk to these people who our culture hides and who I often feel strange and awkward around, proud of my children who can look at them and talk to them without any fear, and who were more and more outgoing as the morning went on. We’ll go back. Soon and often.
The party is over, dishes are being stacked and sent back to their various homes. We had a great Thanksgiving with family–a loud celebration thanks to eight children, but still a celebration.
Dan and I decided two nights ago, that we wanted to go with the girls to visit our city’s nursing home Thanksgiving morning– to spend a little time talking with residents there, who had no family to visit them. Emma filled a bag with pictures she had painted and colored, and with much shyness and hesitation on her part we headed off. We randomly picked the second floor and were told there were several residents in the dining hall that hardly ever got visitors.
I have to admit, I get very shy and feel uncomfortable in these situations, but Dan can jump right in–a hand on their shoulder, talking loud enough to be heard down the hall, playing right along with the stories these strangers have to share; "Remember when we used to visit Chicago together? Wow, the girls have gotten so big since the last time I saw them…"
Generally, the men and women we met were quiet and shy. Emma did her best to introduce herself to each one, wish them a happy thanksgiving, pass out some artwork and shake their hands. Every single person we met, grabbed on to those warm little hands of hers or took hold of Mary’s chubby little thigh. I’m sure for many of them, they hadn’t seen little children in quite awhile, let alone have the opportunity to feel the soft baby skin, or squeeze a chubby thigh. Even just the activity of my two children toddling around them in the room– weaving in and out between wheelchairs and reclining beds, looking out windows, finding art supplies in the corner, tipping over a bucket of markers– brought some excitement, warmth and joy to the room.
I left there feeling sad for those forgotten or left behind, braver for being able to touch and talk to these people who our culture hides and who I often feel strange and awkward around, proud of my children who can look at them and talk to them without any fear, and who were more and more outgoing as the morning went on. We’ll go back. Soon and often.
Uncategorized
My "Wednesday List" is bigger than Wednesday. It has been a crazy morning of trying to prepare for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving celebration. For starters, the cousins are singing a Laurie Berkner song (I love my rooster, my rooster loves me….) for a little meal/dessert intermission. Each one is dressing up as a different animal, as the song goes, and Emma is a cow.
This morning, I sat down at my sewing machine to whip up a little cow hood for her and the needle is completely jammed. It makes about two stitches and then is so tight, I can’t even pull the fabric out from under the needle. So, instead I spent the morning, handstitching ears and pompom trim onto a plastic headband. And of course, I agreed to make a costume for one of emma’s cousins as well! I think she looks more like a cat now, than a cow, so I’m going to have to come up with some type of udder contraption to instill the cow theme to her audience (grandma, dad, aunt’s and uncle’s).
Mary has been in an ultra-clingy phase lately which is exhausting. It means either washing dishes and picking up toys (and stitching cow ears) with a screaming baby tugging at my pants, or with a happy baby sitting on my hip. This is all making me a little crazy. I’m wondering if she might be getting sick.
I’ve also been spending way too much time on a design for cards to try to sell my buttons. I’m so excited about projects with them, and I thought selling a few might defer the cost of my next class a bit.
I’ve designed a tri-fold card to hold them, but I’m still working on the design to keep the buttons attached to the card (glue dots maybe) and to hold the card closed (wire clips or waxed twine?) But I love the look so far. (please excuse the glare)
Card Front:
Inside flap:
Buttons:
Of course, I’m spending too much time on the things that aren’t essentials–like the Five Day Sale at JoAnn fabrics and button cards. But I need a little break from my messy house and broken sewing machine.
But in the spirit of thankfulness, I am thankful for the many blessings that God has provided for our family–a warm home, loving family, healthy children, opportunities for creativity, and blogging friends.
Wishing a blessed Thanksgiving to you all…cheers.
My "Wednesday List" is bigger than Wednesday. It has been a crazy morning of trying to prepare for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving celebration. For starters, the cousins are singing a Laurie Berkner song (I love my rooster, my rooster loves me….) for a little meal/dessert intermission. Each one is dressing up as a different animal, as the song goes, and Emma is a cow.
This morning, I sat down at my sewing machine to whip up a little cow hood for her and the needle is completely jammed. It makes about two stitches and then is so tight, I can’t even pull the fabric out from under the needle. So, instead I spent the morning, handstitching ears and pompom trim onto a plastic headband. And of course, I agreed to make a costume for one of emma’s cousins as well! I think she looks more like a cat now, than a cow, so I’m going to have to come up with some type of udder contraption to instill the cow theme to her audience (grandma, dad, aunt’s and uncle’s).
Mary has been in an ultra-clingy phase lately which is exhausting. It means either washing dishes and picking up toys (and stitching cow ears) with a screaming baby tugging at my pants, or with a happy baby sitting on my hip. This is all making me a little crazy. I’m wondering if she might be getting sick.
I’ve also been spending way too much time on a design for cards to try to sell my buttons. I’m so excited about projects with them, and I thought selling a few might defer the cost of my next class a bit.
I’ve designed a tri-fold card to hold them, but I’m still working on the design to keep the buttons attached to the card (glue dots maybe) and to hold the card closed (wire clips or waxed twine?) But I love the look so far. (please excuse the glare)
Card Front:
Inside flap:
Buttons:
Of course, I’m spending too much time on the things that aren’t essentials–like the Five Day Sale at JoAnn fabrics and button cards. But I need a little break from my messy house and broken sewing machine.
But in the spirit of thankfulness, I am thankful for the many blessings that God has provided for our family–a warm home, loving family, healthy children, opportunities for creativity, and blogging friends.
Wishing a blessed Thanksgiving to you all…cheers.
Uncategorized
I’m in love–in love with pottery, in particular with making buttons. Last night was my final stoneware class and I was sad to see it end. We had a sort of "pottery party" to close the class–looking at our work, talking about what went well, what didn’t…all while standing around the pottery studio eating hummus, wheat crackers and drinking wine. It was quite the combination.
I was glad to get some time with my instructor at the end of the evening after everyone had left to ask him my little list of questions. We talked mostly about ‘where to go from here.’ I’ll be taking another class after Christmas and he said he’ll comp me some clay and glaze. I’m anxious to have some more time for trial and error, because just looking at the things I made, I can tell I have a lot to learn, to try.
So for now, I’m happy to look at my buttons, put them on a few sweaters I’m knitting, maybe as a little detail on a hat, maybe see if they’ll sell on etsy (to support a bit of my next class tuition), put a few of the little dishes around my house (emma has already claimed one for her barrettes), and wait for a new class with new opportunities.
I’m in love–in love with pottery, in particular with making buttons. Last night was my final stoneware class and I was sad to see it end. We had a sort of "pottery party" to close the class–looking at our work, talking about what went well, what didn’t…all while standing around the pottery studio eating hummus, wheat crackers and drinking wine. It was quite the combination.
I was glad to get some time with my instructor at the end of the evening after everyone had left to ask him my little list of questions. We talked mostly about ‘where to go from here.’ I’ll be taking another class after Christmas and he said he’ll comp me some clay and glaze. I’m anxious to have some more time for trial and error, because just looking at the things I made, I can tell I have a lot to learn, to try.
So for now, I’m happy to look at my buttons, put them on a few sweaters I’m knitting, maybe as a little detail on a hat, maybe see if they’ll sell on etsy (to support a bit of my next class tuition), put a few of the little dishes around my house (emma has already claimed one for her barrettes), and wait for a new class with new opportunities.
