Mom's Night!

New day, new me :-)
Tonight was Mom's Night at Little Explorers Preschool. It was bittersweet because we have loved it SO much and yesterday was Kian's last day. At least May is a short month and he will still go to Pre-K Graduation and we will be going to the Family Picnic.
But what an enjoyable night it was. You would think with 20 something pre-schoolers it might not be so, but Kian and I walked in to a beautiful room with classical music playing and lovely table settings. We had a chance to ask each other "Get to know you" questions that were in a bowl on the tables. We discovered that our favorite food is pizza and we talked about where Doug and I met. I also found out that if he could go anywhere it would be Mexico and if he could have dinner with anyone it would be Wesley (from his class and at our
table!)

Then there was a book that each kid wrote about Mom. Let's compare for a moment...
Wesley's book--What is something your Mom always says to you?
I love you!
Kian's book--What is something your Mom always says to you?
Go take a bath!
Wesley's book--How old is your Mom?
100
Now clearly she is NOT 100.
Kian's book--How old is your Mom?
46 (Say it loud and proud my son!!)

Then some of the new ways to see me through Kian's eyes...

What's your Mom's favorite thing to do?
Take a nap (complete with closed eyes and a yawn!)
What does your Mom do when you're not around?
Watches TV (at least he didn't say WHAT I watch!!)
This one takes Doug by surprise...
What does your Mom do for a job?
Golfs
How are you and your Mom different?
She's a girl and I'm a boy (duh!)
But my favorite--
How are you and your Mom alike?
We both have beautiful smiles...I'm glad that I smile enough for him to notice :-)

Anyway, we then decorated the stickiest cupcakes in history and the kids performed a song and dance called A Tooty-Ta, A Tooty-Ta, which is one that Kian loves that progresses through different additional actions:
Thumbs up, elbows back, legs apart, knees together, bottoms out, eyes closed, tongues out! In the end you have a hilarious group of hysterical performers!




We then went on to paint birdhouses. It was one short hour that was terrific! Kian was thrilled to see that Wesley and Owen and Cooper were seated at our table. That Ms. Lori is SO smart!!
And it was so fun to see Kian in this wonderful fun and love filled environment.
This one year at Little Explorers has been the best and I thank you Ms. Sally from the bottom of my heart!

Paid in Full

Well, many of you know some or most of our struggles of the last 4 and a half years. For whatever reason since the death of our baby daughter life has seen fit to smack us in the face at every turn. At least it seems that way. As Doug would say, "I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel and then I realize it is the train".
It seems that nothing has gone "our way" and every year, month by month we have sunk deeper into that money pit called debt. No matter how hard we try or how many corners we cut or how much we have found that we can "do without" we never can get above the surface. I feel that I have really tried to see the wisdom and have an eternal perspective on all of it, but it is becoming increasingly difficult and no one seems to get it.
Now we have virtually no income and no idea of what our future holds.
I grew up in a feast or famine life. We had money and then we didn't, but I can tell you that my Dad did not believe in letting some one struggle for the sake of character. Or letting your family suffer and figure it out. Even if you had made mistakes or it was somehow your fault. Be it right or wrong, my Dad is the proverbial "give the shirt off his back". He was always there for his kids. In the old days I would have told my Mom of our struggles and trials and I would have the money. We would probably be on our way to their house where we could live while Doug got his teaching degree and we could regroup while preparing to rebuild our lives. But my parents are gone.
So things are dim....very dim.
Maybe nobody realizes how bad, but then how can they? Who wants to talk about it? I do it now so that you will understand the magnitude of my gratitude when I share this.
April was the first month that we felt the full force of what unemployment means and how difficult things were actually going to be.
I realized too late that we were going to have trouble paying for Kian's school so it was late as I was frantically trying to juggle things around.
Last week I had to accept that paying for another month was impossible and Kian would not be able to go anymore. I couldn't possibly get that far behind. So as agonizing as it was I told his teachers and then I prayed that we would find the way to pay what we owe and be able to leave with great memories of a wonderful school year.
Well, I have been informed that our balance has been paid in full and we owe nothing to the school! I was stunned...Normally people might be unwilling to share their unfortunate circumstances and explain how they were the recipients of charity. I do this now, with all sincerity and humility so that I can make it known that no one ever expects to be in this position. We always think it will happen to somebody else.
I never dreamed one of my children would die.
I never dreamed Doug would not be employed. Don't salesmen always work?
I never dreamed we would finally be able to buy our first house and then we would have to sell it.
I never dreamed that we wouldn't have insurance.
I never dreamed that $50 would some days seem like $1000.

People of our age and "status" have no idea what it is like to wake up every day with the gnawing in the pit of your stomach and wonder who will call today demanding to be paid and when will you be able to get your kids new shoes? A lot of us have felt that if you are having money troubles it is somehow your own fault... Right? Just get a job. Just pay your bills. Just stop whining. But it is not that easy.
And yet SOME ONE has thought of it and has done something and whoever you are I want you to know that I PRAY that I will have the opportunity some day to be in a position to do this for some one else.
Whoever you are I can never thank you for the relief I am feeling.
For now I have "been there" and I know that what may seem insignificant to you is astronomical to some one else.
I will be dedicated to looking for ways to make a difference to some one who may be hurting, hiding, struggling and hoping.
Some one took the time to help us and I can never be grateful enough.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Shuttin Detroit Down

I can't believe I just saw this for the first time. I wish I had seen it when I wrote my post about Detroit. I guess I feel a kinship with these people. I grew up with them. The Dads of my friends all worked for the auto workers. In Dearborn we lived in Henry Ford's employee housing from the 1920 and 30's. Who builds housing for their employees anymore? I have never been a huge fan of unions, but what is happening now is wrong.
An era that is dying. How can we sit by and watch? It is breaking my heart.

http://www.joost.com/082w0gj/t/John-Rich-Shuttin-Detroit-Down-Music-Video

Ban the Bunny...Happy Easter!!

I have a confession to make. In our house we have a ban on the Easter Bunny. Here's the story:
Several years ago one of my daughters became frightened the night we had gone to visit the Easter bunny at the mall. At first I thought "Sure, just an excuse to not go to bed and after we spent all the time in line!! How ungrateful!!!"
Then the charitable me (yes, there is one) thought "Wait a minute...a big bunny which may or may not be a man dressed up is coming into our house at night...Yep, kind of creepy!" And so I made a fateful decision.
I said "The Easter Bunny is not real. I put the candy and treats in your basket. See nothing to be afraid of, go to bed!"
Now some might say that I was just trying to get the whole "I'm scared" ordeal over with quickly, but I reasoned it like this.
Easter is really a more important holiday than Christmas. Yes, we celebrate the birth of the Savior, but isn't the resurrection of the Savior even more powerful? Without the atonement and resurrection of Christ there would be no eternal family for us. His birth is beautiful and there are wonderful songs to sing and celebrations to be had, but His death and resurrection are key to our salvation. With Santa Claus at least there is a spirit about him that emotes joy and hope and faith and believing in things we can't see. Santa I can more easily incorporate into our belief in the Savior.
But why do we get caught up in a big bunny? What does he do? He can't even talk!! And he doesn't even have elves!! I didn't want to take the fun out of Easter for my kids (and I definitely still wanted the Cadbury Eggs!) so this is our way of leaving the made up stuff out and concentrating on the meaning of Easter.
So I apologize if my kid is the one who tells your kid "The Easter Bunny is not real!", but because he has been raised to follow in the footsteps of Christ, hopefully he won't be hitting your kid while he debunks the myth. Sorry that's the best I can do.
The gift of His atonement and helping my family focus on that is more important to me. Maybe to you too.


So Ban the Bunny and Happy Easter :-)

My Jewelry For Sale!

All of my pieces are hand made using ALL Sterling silver. I have tried to describe everything, but please feel free to ask any questions!

Gwen—Serpentine Stone and sterling silver links $38

Chloe—Sterling silver and red-orange Swarovski crystals $20

Bryn—Sodalite gemstones and sterling silver $30

Jocelyn—Iolite Swarovski crystals and sterling silver beads w/ dangle accent $32

Pilar—Autumn Jasper focal bead w/ lace agate gemstone and sterling silver beads $32

Montana—Real coral beads with sterling silver accent

beads and charm, also a double toggle for the right fit $38

Cate—Poppy jasper and sterling silver beads $30

Vanessa—Peacock and grey pearls, Swarovski crystals with sterling silver filigree centerpiece $28

The Story of Jesus—All sterling silver with olive wood bead, Swarovski beads serpentine bead, millefiori lampwork heart bead $30

Reagan--Tiny 4mm white pearls with Swarovski crystals and a lobster claw clasp make this beautiful for any baby girl. A portion of these proceeds will got the the National Down Syndrome Foundation's Buddy Walk $20

Wicked the Bracelet--Sterling silver beads combined with olive green and amethyst Swarovski crystals is finished off with a dangle and Emerald City charm. Stunning!! Please check for availability $50

My Story--Here is a one of a kind piece made just for you! You tell me your story and I will create a keepsake that tells your story.

Here's mine:

Serpentine, the California stone--I was born in California

Five rings--there were five people in my family

Irish Conemara marble--my heritage

German glass bead--my heritage

Chocolate truffle bead--I love chocolate!

Petoskey stone--I consider my home to be Michigan

Music note charm--I began performing in high school

Swedish quartz-- I went to Sweden when I was 17

Millefiori heart bead--I was married in 1985

Five birthstone crystals--I have five children

Silver basket--I sold Longaberger baskets

YAYA letter beads--my girl's group calls ourselves the Ya Yas

Hawaiian Kiwi stone--my favorite vacation was to Hawaii in 2003

Acai berry seed--I sell and use Monavie acai berry juice drink

Now let me tell your story or the story of a loved one...Makes a great Mother's day gift for yourself or your Mom.

Made to order $75

Am I crafty or what?!

A few weeks ago in Relief Society we had an activity to make some hooded towels. I wasn't going to do it because Kian is the only kid who would still like it and he has one my BFF Kim made him when he was born. Then I remembered how I tend to be a hermit crab and not get out and DO things so I decided to go at the last minute.
It was so fun and the towel turned out so good that I decided to make another one for Brita's niece Arielle. This time it is a girl monster! Although Kian really does not want it to be a monster so his is a dinosaur :-)


I thought my craft gene was buried somewhere in with all of the Spongebob's and Ni-hao Kailan's I have been watching with my pre-schooler!

But I think it turned out quite cute and I actually had a great time being social...

Show and Tell

Kian has a new activity at school...Show and Tell. Tomorrow the Show and Tell Letter is C. I reminded Kian that he has to find something that starts with C to bring to school. His first one was CAT of course, but that's not practical :-)
So at dinner I was asking him again and he said "Castle starts with C".
I said "You're right, Castle does start with C".
"Can I bring my castle? I have one!"
Now I know that Kian can be very talkative and social, but in front of a group he's kind of shy and won't say much. So I wanted to "rehearse" him and I said "OK, so what are you going to share about your castle?"
Without a beat he replies,
"This is my castle, The End!"

Any other questions?