Category: Fun finds

Resilient and Creative

I challenge you not to raise the pitch of your voice as you comment on the cuteness of these mini Jeeps.

Tim and Daniel have some new projects. Tim bought a mini jeep, and Daniel claimed a free piano. At the appearance of the mini jeep, our next-door neighbor said incredulously, “Another vehicle?”

Daniel is gutting the old piano to make an electric keyboard desk with speakers, lights, and a place to put a computer. One night in the garage, he removed all the keys but those from a jazz chord progression so he and Mark could do some improv, worry-free, since only the notes they needed were available.

Tim installed more lights on the jeep and ordered a pretty fine helmet and *chrome* goggles to wear as he drives. He offers rides around the neighborhood to our family.

These guys teach me new levels of fun and creativity.

I have decided to shift the way I think and talk about school restrictions and realities for our kids. This is not a time to paint our children as victims, but a time to help them know they can be resilient. Just imagine how much stronger these kids can be because they have been challenged to find new ways of connecting, finding fun, and working to become educated. I think we can remind them they are stronger than they know, especially as they rely upon God. We can look for possibilities more than limitations, because new ideas await. This is a time for creativity and resilience!

Odds and Ends

This was the week we were to be in Washington DC with our boys. I can’t say I wish we were there, based on current events, but we will make it back someday. If I were there in happier circumstances, I would sit on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for a long time and seek some wisdom. I would give quiet pause to those represented by monuments and memorials. I would savor this view of the Potomac from Mount Vernon, and express gratitude for the founders’ sacrifices which we should honor, and for their vision we are still working to realize. Since I am home, I am doing other work to understand the issues of this time.

Last week, the power went out for an hour in the evening, just as I was about to cook something. I was so bothered by this inconsequential, silly inconvenience, and I can’t explain why this little thing toppled me when I have been adapting and adapting just like everyone else to changes of plan.

I realized I needed to make a list of joyful things I could do when plans fall through, as they continue to do. Most ideas didn’t require electricity or money. I have discovered that I have many projects waiting in boxes and shelves, sown with great intention, but without a harvest. I try to do a few joyful things each day, but really, being able to stand and make dinner, or clean a bathroom is a blessing after being out for so many weeks. I do miss conversations with women, yet I can’t make myself do anything about it, and when I am with people, I wilt. I am out of practice and out of so many people’s lives. I am doing the best I can, just like you, although our lives might look different. Here are two small things from my joy list:

I’ve had this unopened Ikea greenhouse for at least 3 years, and it took 10 minutes to put together to make a display case for my grandmothers’ teacups. 😍
We collected these tiles from the old round house in Spring Lake. I removed decades of hard water deposits from them, a project I have put off for 6 years. They are so pretty!

Some bright lights

I follow Geoffrey Walker’s Instagram account because of the way he delights in his wife’s sewing projects. This man is so good-natured and happy. Pauline is his sweetheart and he often says, “I love that girl!” They post snippets of a simple life, full of love and faith.

I follow this Instagram account because this father daughter duo is talented and loving.

I love Mr Morrill. He is a light, too.

Favorite Things I Use All the Time

Favorite Things 2018: daily use edition

  • Four Heart Rechargeable Hand Warmer: the reason I can attend church in some comfort. Helps me feel my fingers so I can play the violin, too. (Thanks for the recommendation, Susan.)
  • Native deodorant coconut vanilla scent: It’s expensive but it doesn’t have weird ingredients. (Online, Target)
  • Day Designer planner (Target): I love it for the weekly gratitude section, the big three goals of the week, and a notes section where I keep a weekly prayer list.
  • Voluminous Mascara by L’Oreal: better than Great Lash
  • CeraVe lotion: for face, neck, and hands
  • Cover Girl lipstick #425
  • Pilot Precise Uniball pens (extra fine point): they remind me of my dad and I like a good fine line.
  • Crocs: still the best house shoe. Unfortunately.
  • Post it note assorted flags: I use these as bookmarks, especially in the scriptures. You can still see the text through the clear plastic.
  • Metallic sheen cardstock: for  invitations, gift tags, and handmade cards to make people feel special.

On the List

We decided that we needed one last Lego building night, so for family night we turned on a Harry Potter audio book and played with sets from the old Lego library. Then we read scriptures and sent Timothy out to the garage with Richard to finish his last driver’s ed. assignment. I think we all felt pretty good about life.

Also, we found this attached to our door. The hearts are covered with encouraging messages from the Jaussi family.

 

Collections

I spent some time today with Daniel going through his closet. When he was eleven or twelve, he and I organized his many collections in boxes with labels, and this week, he is parting with most of these things. Collections of metal, bouncy balls, airsoft pellets, rocks, army men, shiny things, cards, baseballs, toys, pens, postcards, marbles, cowboy things, Pinewood Derby cars, CDs, and other treasures went through our hands one more time together. There were things to keep, things to pass on to others, and much to throw away.

Tonight I look at Mark’s collections at his desk and feel the need to remember every detail of these messy cubbies.

Humboldt Redwoods

We took so many pictures in the redwoods, but with each capture, we grew to understand that the secrets of the forest cannot be taken. The photos are hardly representative of what we saw. I think the redwoods evoke a feeling apart from any other, so the day we took a walk through the trees was a true highlight of our trip.

Nice things: few tourists and nice families, Avenue of the Giants road, playing in the river

Surprise: Someone placed small toy figures in crevices of the bark of trees on the hike and Mark found five of them. This is something we want to do for others on a future nature hike.

RV Park: this was our nicest campground, but we kind of panicked when the bathrooms were closed for a long, long, long time. They had a nice gift shop and delivered ice to our site. There was a pond and living turtle and fish inside the gift shop. We were the only pop-up trailer in a park full of big RVs. There were many toy breed dogs traveling in RVs.

Menu: stew and biscuits, fresh chocolate chip cookies, lots of oranges, PBJ sandwiches, a restaurant called Peppers