At the end of last year and at the beginning of this, several people I love turned 40. It started off with my older sister, her husband, and now my husband Chris. Last will be my friend Tammy. 40 years seems like so much, but in reality it is very little. When my Mom died at 45, I thought she was so old, but now as this age is so close to others I love, I realize that they have so much more to experience and do.
I wanted to commemorate my husband turning 40, by giving him something that would be remembered, cherished, and loved often. I first thought of making him an art book with 40 of Jessie's best pieces of art. I realized that I had run out of time for this. Then, on seeing some pictures of my sisters on her blog, I realized that this was the perfect thing for Jessie and I to do. The pictures showed art created by children of multi-colored circles. I bought a 24" x 36" canvas and divided it equally into 40 squares. Then with paintbrush in hand, Jessie and I began to paint 40 circles. We used acrylic art paint as our medium. Jessie was upset that Daddy might not like her circles as well as mine, but I assured her that Daddy would love each and every one. He did.
The colors of this painting are very vibrant, and I feel that they are a good reflection of the life that Chris has had, and of his life now. They are happy, warm colors. I am so proud to say that I have spent over half of Chris' life with him. I wish him much happiness in the years to come.
“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.” - Abraham Lincoln
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Music of Happiness In My Heart
What a momentous day and what a moving day. As I sat in my comfy chair watching and rejoicing in the history of the day, I was moved many times to tears. They were not tears of sorrow, but pure tears of happiness for the promise of hope for our future and my daughters future. I thought often of what my Mother would have thought of today. I know she would have been crying as well; crying for the acceptance and hope. I know also that in Jackson, my sister was sitting with some of her students in the library with streams of tears on her face as well.
Last night I talked with my 5 year old about what was going to take place today. I wanted to instill in her the importance of the events and how proud I was to be experiencing it. I wanted her to know that she is so fortunate to be alive during such a time of change. I think she understood, how fortunate to live in a world where any person could become president.
I was moved several times during the ceremony today. I cried when I saw the former Presidents come down to the platform, so many still alive at one time. I cried when Obama's girls came out as well as Michelle. I cried when Obama stopped in the hall, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. What a task he has ahead of him. I cried at the beautiful piece of music played by Yo Yo Ma, Perlman, and others. I cried during the poem. I cried as the media panned to the crowd, and saw the tears on others faces. I cried during the speech.
Music was around, in the air, in the speech, in the poem. Music of happiness was in my heart today.
"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace. "
Barack Obama
Last night I talked with my 5 year old about what was going to take place today. I wanted to instill in her the importance of the events and how proud I was to be experiencing it. I wanted her to know that she is so fortunate to be alive during such a time of change. I think she understood, how fortunate to live in a world where any person could become president.
I was moved several times during the ceremony today. I cried when I saw the former Presidents come down to the platform, so many still alive at one time. I cried when Obama's girls came out as well as Michelle. I cried when Obama stopped in the hall, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. What a task he has ahead of him. I cried at the beautiful piece of music played by Yo Yo Ma, Perlman, and others. I cried during the poem. I cried as the media panned to the crowd, and saw the tears on others faces. I cried during the speech.
Music was around, in the air, in the speech, in the poem. Music of happiness was in my heart today.
"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace. "
Barack Obama
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
My first inspiration
On Sunday night Jessie, my 5 year old little girl, came to me and asked if I wanted to know a secret. I told her of course, and she whispered into my ear that she had a loose tooth. I was amazed and asked her if I could see it. Overcoming my tooth phobia, ( don't even ask), I wiggled the tooth and was surprised at how loose it really was. It will probably come out sometime this coming weekend. I also discovered that she actually had two loose teeth. I was determined at this point, that I was going to make her something very special that she could put her teeth in. I had been looking at an item on www.etsy.com, and felt that I could make one just as good as the one online. I went to Hobby Lobby and picked out some colorful felt, yarn for hair, and went to work designing. My first template seemed to be right and I made the tooth fairy that night. I put the face on the next morning.
My next project was to make a note from the tooth fairy to Jessie, letting her know that she had made the fairy doll just for her. She explained that she had heard that Jessie had some loose teeth and wanted her to have something to put the teeth in. I left the note and the doll on her bedside ladder last night, and Jessie found it in the morning. She was so proud and wanted to take the fairy to show and tell at school on Friday. I love that Jessie believes in magical things. She is very interested in fairies, and has set many a fairy trap at home, thanks to the encouragement of her older cousin. I want to encourage Jessie to use her imagination every day and if believing in fairies helps to do that, then I believe too.
I named this blog Musical Dreams of Color, because these are things that mean so much in my life. I have been studying for the past few months to become a licensed Kindermusik Educator and will be starting work this summer at the University of Central Arkansas Community School of Music. I have always loved listening to music, singing, playing it and have tried to instill this love in my daughter. I can not wait to have my first classes and be able to pass this love on to other families in the community. The word dreams came from my own personal hope to always be reaching for my own dreams. Color, is just an inspiration to me. I used to quilt and do other crafts which involved very colorful fabrics and yarns. I feel that colors can give us energy and help determine our moods. I want others to be inspired by color, and will be getting out all of my material, yarn, and crafting things to begin to inspire myself. This blog will highlight some of those inspirations.
Thank you Julie, my wonderful older sister, for giving me the courage to start my own blog. You can see her blog on mylogcabinlife.blogspot.com. Enjoy.
My next project was to make a note from the tooth fairy to Jessie, letting her know that she had made the fairy doll just for her. She explained that she had heard that Jessie had some loose teeth and wanted her to have something to put the teeth in. I left the note and the doll on her bedside ladder last night, and Jessie found it in the morning. She was so proud and wanted to take the fairy to show and tell at school on Friday. I love that Jessie believes in magical things. She is very interested in fairies, and has set many a fairy trap at home, thanks to the encouragement of her older cousin. I want to encourage Jessie to use her imagination every day and if believing in fairies helps to do that, then I believe too.
I named this blog Musical Dreams of Color, because these are things that mean so much in my life. I have been studying for the past few months to become a licensed Kindermusik Educator and will be starting work this summer at the University of Central Arkansas Community School of Music. I have always loved listening to music, singing, playing it and have tried to instill this love in my daughter. I can not wait to have my first classes and be able to pass this love on to other families in the community. The word dreams came from my own personal hope to always be reaching for my own dreams. Color, is just an inspiration to me. I used to quilt and do other crafts which involved very colorful fabrics and yarns. I feel that colors can give us energy and help determine our moods. I want others to be inspired by color, and will be getting out all of my material, yarn, and crafting things to begin to inspire myself. This blog will highlight some of those inspirations.
Thank you Julie, my wonderful older sister, for giving me the courage to start my own blog. You can see her blog on mylogcabinlife.blogspot.com. Enjoy.
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