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.

Enter into the Chaos, Enter into the Chaos, Enter into the Chaos

This week is kicking my butt.
Lots of conflict abounding at the White house.
Mostly I face internal conflict, of the "I am losing my patience" sort.
I once did a Beth Moore Bible study. One Biblical definition of patience is, basically, not giving someone what they deserve.
God does not give me what I deserve.
God, help me not to give Henry and Eliana what they deserve.
Some days are just more challenging than others to keep it together.
So, here is a 360 degree view of what is becoming typical breakfast behavior.
Just to give you an idea.

Eliana...starts like this (we had to recruit a strap--you'll see why...)

She is on her way...

 

 And then, the yogurt...

 

Meanwhile, thanks, Henry...

 I turn back around...

And again, 

 

WOULD EVERYONE JUST SIT DOWN AND EAT YOUR BREAKFAST!?!

A few minutes later we are ready to go out the door. 

This is what i look like. 

Not too bad, considering (i love my winter hat).

If only people knew.

 

I gotta go. 

I wish i had done all the photos in sepia. 

But...

Eliana is upstairs, playing with a bottle of dog medicine. 

It sounds like a rattle.

The house is a wreck.

We're heading to the in-laws for the weekend.

Should be interesting.

Mantra: don't fight it. 

Enter into it. 

Enter into the chaos. 

Maybe something wonderful will happen.

Oh, Chile

How sad to see the news about Chile...what a majestic, gracious, resilient country.
I studied there for about 6 months while in college.
I lost touch with my friends there.
I have spent lots of time trying to find them over the last day or so.
Even though it has been many years, they matter.
A few links if you want to donate, I am pretty sure you can translate the entire site so you know what to do. Plus, donate is "donacion."
Un Techo Para Chile (A Roof for Chile)

Help Chile

So Beautiful... Osorno, chile

The Atacama Desert...

Something "picante" to warm you up...

One of my favorite people--ever--is Marie. She is anticipating a move to the southwest soon. And looking for inspiration. She shared a book title with me, "Mexicasa" by Melba Levick and Gina Hyams.
These colors are delicious. I want to put more of them in our house. So, I am sharing some of the photos from the book.

This type of ceramic is called "talavera." I like this (gigantic) picture of a talavera vase. It's from La Fuente they have loads of mexican-themed decor. (the vases in the picture above are talavera vases too.)

dogged day

I really didn't have a bad day. 

It all seemed to be moving along quite nicely.

A little bumpy getting the kids out the door this a.m.

Dropped Henry off at preschool.

Eliana and I went to a friend's to pray- always a good idea.

Went for a run, and chatted with a friend I hadn't seen in awhile.

Picked Henry up.

Lunch.

Nap for Eliana.

A kind-of quiet time for Henry; a shower for me.

H and I watched a bit of "Curious George."

Laundry.

And then, a perfect storm of trying to finish up loose ends around the house.

Get dinner.

Do my hair (you've seen what I am dealing with -very bad today).

Dog barking, and barking, and barking at the back door--and BARKING!

Baby climbing.

Boy --doing lots of boy things.

Mama gets like this:

 

I really hate it when I lose it. 

And I did. 

Big time.

Ugh.

This verse from Romans 7 is resonating:

"For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched (wo) man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Birthdays

Yesterday I turned 36.
I reflect often, especially on birthdays.
My blog doesn't look the way I envision it.
Not colorful enough. The layout isn't right.
 I have a lot to learn.

My house is dusty, it's been a few weeks.
I really wanted to clean the house for my birthday.
But, I didn't.

Do you remember when you were younger and birthdays were magical?
Everyone and everything just seemed "right" and, well, quite lovely.
Five years ago, I got out of the shower, put a little product in my hair, and it looked like this:

 

Then, this happened...

 

And then this...

 

  

Yesterday, I got out of the shower, put a little product in my hair, and I looked like this...(you may want to cover your eyes)

 

Yesterday, I was making myself a birthday cake. I turned around- REALLY, Elle!?!

Henry didn't nap either, even though it was my birthday. In fact, I wanted to get a picture of him, and look--

 

I persevered...
 

Birthdays are just different now. 

That's o.k. 

I got lots of calls and emails--thanks.

I hosted our Women's Bible study last night. 

Besides the women, some wine, flowers, cards, and these came too.

You know what else about my new life, the one where my hair looks terrible, and my kids don't always do what I want or think I need them to do?

Well, about that life,

 

  

 

  

 

 

Soap box # 1

These are Haitian kids. (I "borrowed" this picture from a stranger's site--thank you; sorry.) 

I have no idea if they are orphans. 

Maybe not. 

But they could be. 

Since the earthquake in Haiti I have occasionally checked on the status of Haitian orphans by visiting the The Joint Council on International Children Services' website.  JCICS' President, Tom DiFilipo wrote an informative and rousing call-to-action on his blog (click on the blue--it's a link, you may have to scroll up through the comments to get to the article) Be the Answer For Children

Lots of people I know are saying they would adopt a child from Haiti. But most also say, "I would if it weren't so costly, so time consuming etc." There are reasons --some of them good ones--for why it takes so long and is so costly. At the same time, the system is rigid, unable to meet overwhelming and desperate needs of thousands of children in unstable living situations, like Haiti.  Tom D. has some valuable insights on the issues. And, his group has been part of creating the Families for Orphans Act. Get the scoop and urge your congress person to support it. Really--go click on that link.

What can we do? We can send money. We can pray. We can get angry, knowing that so many little ones without parents, without families, are sleeping alone tonight in literally demolished buildings. And, this anger and compassion can motivate us to take a few minutes to advocate for these sweeties by contacting our legislators.
So...what are you waiting for?

Something has to change. 

Something's gotta give. 

We have to think outside the box. 

The time is now.

Ohh...I really wish more people read this--thanks mom and dad--spread the word, really!