Rivers of Red Mud
When was the last time your socks turned red from the clay mud? Having grown up in Oregon with its dark and fertile soil, the rivers of red mud in Virginia were a shock to my college experience. Recently those memories flooded back when I was driving through my small town in North Carolina during a rainstorm. Rivers of red mud flowed down both sides of the road running off the construction sites of new neighborhoods. Rivers of red mud signal construction to me. My university was (forever) under construction during my college years. In the past, we have lived in new neighborhoods with constant construction. My current hometown is expanding by leaps and bounds. New neighborhoods are cropping up all over. Construction is not necessarily a bad thing, but the growing pains are more evident during these seasons. Rivers of red mud remind me that change is here. Have you been in a season of change this year? New job? New baby? New location? New heart attitude? New health plan? My business is in a season of growth and change as well. I’m learning to build a new website from scratch (coming later in 2023). I’m creating new courses,…
Christmas Pajamas
Will you be waking up in new Christmas pajamas this year? Somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, the soft package would be delivered in person or through the mail. One look at the return address or the tag, and my girls knew right away what it was. They could hardly wait to open their new Christmas pajamas from our dear friend. I’m not really sure who got more joy out of the gift – my girls or my friend! This sweet tradition continued for years. It really did not matter if they were Christmas patterns or not. My girls got a new pair of pajamas to wear, especially on Christmas eve. It was the gift that kept on giving all winter long. Many families have Christmas pajama traditions, including all the family members. Some wear them to drive around and look at Christmas lights, to sleep under the Christmas tree or for a special movie and hot cocoa night. The Holderness Family even went viral with their first of many Christmas Jammies videos. We did not go this far but certainly the thoughts of Christmas pajamas, hot coffee, and grandma’s special coffee cake brings up many sweet memories. As my…
Gutsy
Which friend of yours is gutsy? gutsy (guht-see) adjective with courage, pluck, or determination adventurous; undaunted, fearless I created this gutsy adjective art design for my youngest daughter. I was inspired by my daughter’s gutsy approach to life in spite of having a chronic disease. I wanted some art to remind her of how proud I am of her. Now I love seeing it in the background of her video chats and weekly family video calls. Adjective Art is a great gift for a friend, child, coworker, or teacher. This piece of art highlights and defines a specific adjective. Choose from 10 adjectives. Adventurous. Artsy. Capable. Classy. Determined. Generous. Gutsy. Inquisitive. Resourceful. Social. Adjective Art is available to download in my Etsy shop immediately upon purchase. The file is an 8×10 jpeg which can be downloaded and printed at home or at a printer of your choice. Grab a frame of your choice and you’ll have a quick, easy, and personal gift. Which adjective best describes your significant other? Print one for the desk. Which one best describes your child’s teacher? Print one for a thoughtful and personal teacher gift. Need a fun secret Santa gift? Adjective art is a…
10 Things To Do With Kids During School Breaks
What’s your favorite thing to do with your kids over school breaks? Some parents love school breaks and some dread them. Most of those feelings revolve around what to do with the kids over school breaks. Here are 10 things to do with kids during school breaks, perfect for parents, nannies, or grandparents regardless of location or budget. Libraries are a treasure trove of free education and educational activities. Whether you are at home or on a trip, check out the public libraries. Many have story times or activities for kids. City parks, local playgrounds, and national parks dot most any map and many offer programs or activities. I remember one year when we tried to see how many parks we could visit once before repeating any. We were also new to town so this gave us insight into different parts of town and the kids could rank their favorites. If being indoors is a better option, drag out all the blankets and pillows and construct blanket forts or make mazes out of large cardboard boxes and packing tape. Research local museums for inexpensive options or free days. We once planned a whole spring break trip around free museums in…