school, new art

Here are a couple pictures from henry and eliana's first day of "school."

Eliana adores this purse converted into her school bag. I would like to make her one, I mean I would like to have one made for her (i.e. by someone other than me). I don't know though, she may not give this one up...no matter how it overpowers her. Tell me she isn't daring me to take it from her? This girl is not afraid.

Finally, many of you know that before Henry and Eliana there was a one pound dossier sent to China, an application to adopt a child, Tabitha. Well, after more than four years, we are on the brink of a "match." Of course, I will keep everyone updated. But, here is a painting I bought for Tabitha from Marie. If you haven't read "The Little Prince," I highly recommend it.

change

There have been so many changes in our lives lately.
I started a part-time job last week for the first time as a mother.
After three and a half years at home with Henry and Eliana, I felt we were all ready for it.
At least I was.
I am teaching at the same school I was teaching when Henry was born.
It fits like a pair of old jeans.
I keep learning about myself in this new role of mom.
I think working a bit suits me.
It's not too much, about 15 hours a week.

I wanted to post a before and after piece.
Our basement has been an albatross, sticking to my worries and annoyances and to-do list like spider man's web.
Before:

After:

Growing up and dealing with yourself and your stuff feels good. It has taken many years to "deal" with the "myself bit." The basement was easier, but significant.

Tonight though I have to write about the woman who helped me deal with myself the most over the last 13 or 14 years.
Marie.
I like this picture of her and her husband and their daughter. I wish their son was in it too.

Here is one from when she helped me with a wall hanging.

She is the single most influential woman in my adult life.
She discipled me and helped me learn more and more about Christ, and our Father's grace.
She hung in there with me, my grossly self-centered self week after week, month after month, year after year.
I have learned so much from her.
In a few days she and her family are moving.
There is nothing I won't miss about Marie.
Not one thing.
Here is her dog in the moving truck with our friend, Holly.

One of my favorite studies we did together was Ecclesiastes.
I remember like it was yesterday sitting in her kitchen (she has a groovy house) and discussing the over-arching message of that book.
Apart from God, life is meaningless.
God gives life its color and shape and rhythm and sweetness and depth and beauty and hope and inspiration.
He gave me that and more through Marie.
I suppose there is a time for everything.
But I don't particularly like this time.

oh me, oh my...tops for Roja

Wow...it's been way too long, and I have been way too preoccupied to write. A dear friend of mine likes to catch up by reporting on our top 10. I have been very, very delinquent in writing back to her. So, here they are, for you, Roja, and everyone else who has been wondering what the heck happened to me. Maybe not 10, maybe more or less, or this may be tops, part 1.

1. Snakes. Henry and I (and now Eliana too) enjoy watching the snakes in the spring. This spring Henry caught a few. Steve and I decided to let him keep two for a few days (for his efforts).

2. Easter...more fun every year, and yeah, a bit complicated trying to talk about Jesus' death and resurrection with a young lad and lass. ("Yeah, yeah, yeah mom, the candy, please....")

3. Steve's surprise birthday party (pictured with his mom and dad). That's a hand and card he made for them many (many) years ago.

He also got the iPad...

4. Eliana jumping, dancing, and apparently eating. 

5. Cute, cuter, cutest.

6. And...cute, cuter, cutest.

7. Mother's Day (with my mom, near her birthday - see how young she is!!)

8. A visit with grammy and papa white--fun in the hammock.

9. Painting Elle's toe nails---who knew it would be such a feat to paint her feet!?!

There is more--much more, like working again, and family visits and vacation, but more on that later. 

It's bedtime.

Oh, Henry

You know, not that I am a pro, but it seems that your first child teaches you how to parent.
Henry is an amazing child.
Some words that come to mind: active, verbal, spirited, persistent, relentless, insatiable, funny, clever, sneaky, smart, tender, thoughtful.
Like most three-year old boys he is a handful.
I was talking with someone recently; I said our house was stressful.
As soon as I said it, it seemed so terribly wrong.
Busy, loud, dizzying, full of energy, joyful, messy, disorganized.
I accept those words.
I realized though that our home had too much conflict.
Maybe even a cloud of negativity.
Too many power struggles.
So, I am trying to relax, to take stock.
Choose my battles.
Get to know my children better.
Why do they do what they do?
What do their choices and responses say about them and about me?
And, I have checked out from the library or ordered from Amazon all of these books.

I am not reading them cover to cover.
Scanning, and reading what seems to fit.
I also realize that there is no guide book, no how-to when it comes to loving your children well.
I am just hoping to gain more perspective.
Add more to my "bag of tricks."
So far, so good.
It's a process.
We are all a work-in-progress, no?

A Busy Evening

I am visiting my older sister, Danielle, in FL.
(My oldest sister lives in MA.)
Hard to believe I have been here 2 full days already.
Lots going on in just one evening...a trip for ice cream, of course. Nothing fancy, mcd's.

Then, we headed to the play ground and dog park.

The day's biggest event was a wedding.
For Hoho and Pinky.

Danielle is super creative and resourceful.
This is what she pulled together for the altar at the church.

And, officiating the service, a very formal and serious Tee.

Tee delivered a beautiful message.
Hoho promised to love Pinky "'til death do us fart," and then...that moment everyone waits for.

awww...do you think it will last?

Oh...I've missed you so!!!!!

It has been too long.
I've been in a rut.
A too-busy-to-blog rut.
And, that is just wrong.
I didn't capture some of the best parts of the last several days on film. So, I am starting with a list of highlights.

• Volunteered at our church's free medical clinic to pray with whoever wants to pray. The nights I spend at the clinic fill me with peace and humility. Such a blessing.
• A workshop for mom's only on disciplining your kids. Honestly, I felt like such an -ss of a mom and a failure. But, I also felt encouraged, and thankful that I am loved and judged ultimately by grace, and maybe someday I can impart that better to my family, and especially my children.
• Some dear old friends and colleagues for dinner.
• An evening of dinner and fund raising with more friends.
• Sunshine
• Mud
• Meeting with some school folks--looks like I am heading back into the classroom for some short-term subbing at the end of the school year. (yae!)
• Led a little Bible chat from Ephesians for our house church.

And, of course, there are a few pictures of what is new or cute or...actually repulsive around our house.
There has been way, way too much of this...

I am sorry.
I know it's gross. But, really.
After all the bitter cold days, there was a heck of a lot of that to pick up in the yard.
And, I have been in real deep in it with the kids too.
One of them isn't going where he is supposed to go--on purpose.

Moving on... I just adore this picture of sweet Elle. Not sure about the extra white light - would like to learn more about photography.

I am not always good about diversifying the veggie choices.
I don't care much for peas, but I thought the kids might.
Guess I was right.

Elle did this one night, unprompted.

Henry followed.

It's funny, I always expected the eldest child to lead and teach the younger one. Odd how that isn't always the case. Strange how the 3-year-old relishes the fun of acting like a 15-month-old (all the ill-manners) and how the 15-month-old picks up so quickly all the quirks like banging and screaming from the 3-year-old.
Sigh.
Smile.
There have been too many faces like this

Eliana is so expressive.
I love her.
Please come check in again...I promise not to be gone this long again for awhile.

It takes a village to be crafty

I am really not a "crafty" person.
I really do appreciate art.
I took an art history class in college, at I.U.
I took an art history class in Chile, at La Catolica. The professor spoke in Spanish with a French accent.
It wasn't easy to comprehend.
And so began my love affair.

I spend a lot of time at home.
I crave change.
I crave color.
I crave pretty reminders of what matters.
Here is what I have been working on lately to that end.

First...this is the back of an adirondack chair I gave Steve for a wedding gift.

Like any quality marriage, it has weathered many storms, quite literally.
We re-purposed it.
Now, it is a wall hanging.
It has words on it. See?

Those words are in Spanish, because I was inspired by a fence outside of Pablo Neruda's home, Isla Negra, Chile.
After he died, shortly after the 1973 coups, messages were carved into the fence around the house.
The carvings tell a story.
Our "chair" says "Our Story" on the middle plank.
The other ones say things like faith, hope, trust.
And, we put our Spanish nicknames for Henry and Eliana.
Henry is "principito" (little prince).

Eliana, from the time I first laid eyes on her, is called "muñeca."
Right now the "chair" is  on the mantle.
Not sure if it will stay there.
I would like to get some talavera vases up there with it and see what I think.

Over the weekend we were in Lima, visiting Steve's parents.
We always have a great time with them.
H and E really dig the piano.

Eliana just likes moving, and grabbing and climbing the steps. She adores hats, even this one.

John taught me how to make a most-succulent pot roast.
(He cooks it on the stove, who knew...? Maybe every one, but I didn't!)

Nola and I worked on this sign, another leftover from the chair.
Can you tell what it says?

Try it from this angle.

I need to pray all the time these days. Well, every day, come to think of it.
Nola is a fantastic mother-in-law.
I am so blessed.
I often ask her to help me with these crafty ideas, because she makes all kinds of practical art, like cards, jewelry, floor cloths.
She always humors my whims, and finds a way to make it work.
My friend Marie inspired all this art. All of it.
And, she helped me with the script on the "chair".
I was too scared my handwriting would look un-lovely.
Here was my practice run, on the back.

So you see, it takes a village to raise a child, whether the child is 15 months, 3 years old or 36 years old.