Saturday, May 29, 2010

New Pretties

Having a new baby has forced me to slow down on my jewelry making but I am extremely grateful for how well the nest necklace has been selling.  I've been getting one or two orders a week and even a couple orders from complete strangers!  It is a beautiful, humbling feeling to know that people like my work.

Here are some pictures of recent work I've done:


A replica of a friend's favorite lost earrings.



A new necklace that can be made in any color!


I call it the Poppy and Pearls necklace.  It's so sweet and feminine and only $15!

You can see more pictures of each of these and some new nests at my etsy shop.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Toby's Lunchbox

This morning while Noah was packing his lunch Toby was pulling on my pant leg saying, "Mom! I need a luuuunch box!" I didn't have an extra lunch box but I did have an unused make-up bag. I offered it Toby and he deemed it acceptable by promptly filling it with an apple and a stick of string cheese.
When we took Noah to school Toby took his lunch box. When we got back home, Toby carried his lunch box all over the house chattering about going to school. Around 11am he ate his cheese stick. A little while later I saw him chomping on the apple. He played with his lunchbox most of the day. When Geary got home I picked up the make-up bag to show him how it had been transformed into a lunch box and I noticed that it was pretty heavy.

A peek inside revealed not one but three apple each with at least one bite taken out each.  It reminded me of Beverly Cleary's Ramona, who said the first bite always tastes the best!


Oh, Toby! What am I going to do with you?

Good thing you are cute, you little pipsqueak!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

W

I happen to think it's hilarious when Toby substitutes W for Y.  This is my favorite sentence of his and I'm thankful that he says it quite often.  "Wu want war water?"  It makes me giggle every time.  


Translation: You want your water?  It's something he asks me whenever I sit down with Miles.  He knows the chances are high that I'm going to nurse the baby and when I do that I frequently ask him to bring me my water bottle.  "Wu want war water?"   I'm so tempted sometimes to answer, "Wes."

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Lessons From Parenthood

Several weeks ago my friend, Carrie, posted a facebook status update about a new slogan in her household in reference to helping with chores:
Do it with GRATITUDE, not an ATTITUDE!
I chuckled because naturally I have also had to remind my family to be "happy helpers" and that I would rather have no help than badly done help with a side serving of eye rolling or heavy sighing.

But Carrie's slogan popped into my mind again today while I was changing Miles' diaper.  I had just wrapped up the soiled diaper into a neat little bundle and I called Toby to come take it away to the proper receptacle.  I smiled as I heard the rum-tum-tum of his little feet running through the house.  He stood on tiptoes to reach the diaper, flashed a huge toothy smile and said, "Thank you, Mom" before skipping away again.

My little three year old thanked me for giving him a poop filled diaper.  He came running as soon as I called him and then he thanked me before immediately fulling my request.  It hit me then just how much I have to learn from this precious child.

Toby recognizes his dependence on his parents.  He knows he needs help to do most of the things he would like to do.  He needs help reaching toys and snacks.  He cannot tie his own shoes.  He does not have his own key to the shed where his favorite outdoor play things are stored. And even if he did, he does not have the dexterity to use such a key.   Many times throughout the day I hear, "Mama, I need help, please!"

However, Toby also recognizes that he is capable.  Now that he is a "big boy" he knows that while he can't do everything by himself there is quite a bit that he can do.  He can put his green frog boots on by himself.  He can pull a small stool over to his toy chest to reach the things on the higher shelves.  He knows how to open the refrigerator and get himself a cup of water when he is thirsty.

Right now, three year old Toby is living in this tension, this balance of being dependent and capable at the same time.  And so when his mother recognizes that he can do something to help, he is eager and grateful for the opportunity.  Even when that opportunity presents him with something kind of stinky.

I want to be like this!  I want to recognize my dependence on God.  He is my source for everything.  But God also recognizes me as capable!  He invites me work with him and I wish I could say that I always run immediately to him when he calls.  I wish I always said, "Thank you" before happily fulfilling his requests.  Oh sure, I am thankful for the opportunities to serve when it is something I like to do.  I am happy to help when it comes to decorating for a party, or designing invitations.  But what if I am asked to do something kind of stinky?  What if I am asked to be in relationship with someone who has hurt my feelings or betrayed my trust?  What if I have to serve on a ministry team with people who don't share my vision or with personalities that drain me?  I wish I didn't so often give him a side serving of spiritual eye-rolling or heavy sighing in those cases.

And so I aim, once again, to have faith like a child.  Not to be immature, but to live in that tension, in that balance of full dependence on my heavenly father and thankful responsibility for the tasks he calls me to do.

Thank you, Lord, for using Toby to teach me and please help me to do all things with gratitude, not an attitude.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Miles on a Sunday

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Flying

Come fly with me,
Come fly, let's fly away!


Once I get you up there 
where the air is rarefied,


We'll just glide,


Starry eyed...


Once I get you up there 
I'll be holding you so near



You will hear angels cheer 
Because we're together.

Weather wise it's such a lovely day,


Come fly with me,
Let's fly, lets's fly away!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Sunday, May 09, 2010

Happy Mother's Day!


I know this video is a few years old but it still cracks me up every time.  I hope it will bring a chuckle to all the mothers I love so dearly.  Happy Mother's Day, especially to my own mother, my mother-in-law, and the many, many women who have been spiritual mothers to me.  

I am also so very thankful to have been given the gift of motherhood.  There was a time in my life when I feared I would never get to be one and now I am surrounded by adorable little boys and my heart is near to bursting with happiness.  God is so good!

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Photography

I am loving my new camera!  The shot below is what I consider to be my best jewelry photo to date.  I am still learning photography techniques and all about light, white balance, aperture, etc.  But you have to admit that having a nicer tool makes a big difference, too!


Orders for the nest necklace keep trickling in and I am so thankful!  I have other plans that I'm working on for my little etsy shop but what I really need is TIME to execute those plans.  Truth be told, I'm not in that much of a hurry.  I love having my arms full of children and I am trying to delight in this season.  I can already tell that it's flying past me with far too much speed.


Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Angel Bites

Sunday, May 02, 2010

Brotherhood

"Mom, I hungry.  I wanna eat Noah's food."

~Tobin Joseph, age 3