A Kid Person?

When I was a young girl I often thought that I would be a teacher. I was inspired by the creativity, the authority and the courage of my own teachers. As I grew older I started to develop more interest in art, graphic design and less child oriented activities. In fact I have often wondered if I am not a "kid person".

I have kids of my own, I love them very much and enjoy spending time with them ... but it is different with your own offspring. I don't feel that natural with other people's children. I have spent some time being a substitute teacher for a junior high/high school art class at a local private school and I enjoyed it, but always felt a little out of my element. Today, however, I discovered that maybe little kids feel comfortable with me.

My daughter goes to preschool and it is school picture time. I was asked to help the photographer with things like collecting kids for their photos to be taken, combing their hair, and writing down photo numbers. The infants and toddlers went first which means we got the screamers out of the way before moving onto the older kids. I spent a lot of time trying to console upset little ones and carrying them to and from the nursery. I was able to comfort a few.

There were some kids who really took to me. They wanted to hold my hand, they easily followed me to the picture trailer, they talked to me. But one thing that made me feel so nice was a little girl who had already had her picture taken, she came up to me and hugged me. She wanted to go with me. She looked at me with her big blue eyes and they pleaded to take her with me. I didn't know this girl prior to today, but I felt like she naturally trusted me.

I feel like I learned something about myself today: maybe I don't always know if I am good with little kids ... but maybe that doesn't matter if they like me anyway.

Mini Me

My daughter reminds me so much of ... well me, and it scares me a bit. She has the same tendencies to worry and be uptight. She likes to eat things like M & Ms or crackers in even numbers (silly, I know). And she loves clothes. She'll tell me out of the blue that she likes my sweater or a skirt that I am wearing. In some ways it is flattering and in other ways it is unfortunate. But either way it is a reminder that I should strive to be an example to her at all times ... because she is watching!

Yesterday I had put on a suede skirt and she wanted to wear her jean skirt because they were similar. She loves my hair when it is curled because that is how a "princess" wears it and she wants the same style. She likes the music I play on my iPod in the car; she wants to crochet or cook with me; she wants to go to the store with me; she likes to take naps in my bed and on my side of the bed. I am the central figure in her life right now.

A couple of weeks ago I heard her talking to Meemaw on the phone and was describing a recent car ride she took with me. "Mommy was frustrated because people were driving too slow and she got frustrated and yelled." That caused me to really think about my actions. She notices everything and mimics me. I'm just glad that I don't use profanity or obscene gestures to act out my frustrations - then I would really be in trouble!

I say that it is both flattering and unfortunate because it is nice to be loved and admired ... but I am flawed and don't always do the right thing. Then I remember that human role models are never perfect; and also that I can't get away with using the old saying of "do as I say and not as I do".

God Grew Tired of Us

When I watch a movie it is usually for escape, entertainment, or just to see what all of the hype is about. The movies I have seen lately have not been very impressive: Poseidon was ridiculous, 27 Dresses was forgettable, and Balls of Fury was practically unwatchable. However, last night I watched a film that was absolutely gripping, educational and happened to be a National Geographic documentary. God Grew Tired of Us was the best thing I have seen in a very long time.

Can you imagine fleeing through the desert of your war-torn country of Sudan as a young boy, only to end up in a camp for refugees in Kenya? Can you imagine the incredible sense of responsibility you might have if you were chosen to move to America to get a job and learn to be self-sufficient? This 2006 film helps the viewer to learn the struggle, the culture, and the discoveries of the "Lost Boys of Sudan". What was so striking is how the viewer can see America through the eyes of these young men. The first time they experience airline food. The first time they see a redheaded person. Their first trip to a grocery store. It actually made me a little embarrassed by all of the material things we have in this country. There are so many things we take for granted.

These young men value so much. They value their culture, their families (many have had loved ones killed or lost during the war), community, hard work, and their faith in the Lord. They ask why people in America are so unfriendly. They ask what Santa Clause and Christmas trees have to do with the birth of Jesus. They ask why Americans work so much that they don't have time to spend with their families. They are grateful for their jobs flipping burgers at McDonald's or packing gaskets in a factory. It really puts things in perspective.

I realize that I have NO reason to complain about my life. It has truly been good.

My Snazzy New Look

What do you think of my blog layout and graphics? Ever since I started this blog in July I have been trying to get this look but since I don't have a "Blogspot" web address I have run into a few obstacles - the white center block didn't show up in at least two other browsers, the background would scroll along with the scroll bar, and some superfluous code threw my centering off.

It is my understanding that those with a Blogspot address have a layout feature under their Template tab. I do not; my blog address is on my own site. I have seen a lot of interesting blog backgrounds from sites like Pyzam and The Cutest Blog on the Block, but I am all about tailoring things to suit my style if I can. I found a blog where the author hired a graphic design studio to design her blog graphics. Then I thought to myself "Duh, I must try it myself". Fortunately I know a few things about HTML and after analyzing the code and adapting it to my blog I have been able to create a background, get the background to stay in place while you scroll, and I have tested it all out on Internet Explorer, Safari, and FireFox to check for a consistent look.

Over all I am pleased that I finally have the look I want, and was able to use my graphic design skills on my blog. The subtle fleur-de-lis and splashes of red are very me. However, now that I know how to do it, don't be surprised if I change the background ... a lot. Yeah, I change my mind often!

Fuzzbucket the Second

If you ask my husband about "Fuzzbucket", he will fondly tell you the story of a little caterpillar he captured when he was in the fourth grade. This little guy was black and orange, very fuzzy, apparently quite cute. He will tell you of how he made a little terrarium out of a jar and some rocks and twigs, and fed Fuzzbucket an ample supply of leaves taken from a nearby canal. Then one day the caterpillar wrapped himself into a cocoon and weeks later spread his wings as a butterfly. Now the legacy of Fuzzbucket lives on.

This is what the Fuzzbucket looked like. We think it is a Wooly Bear Caterpillar.

Two days ago while building a fence, my husband found another orange and black, fuzzy caterpillar and brought it in for our daughter to see. She was thrilled! She giggled as she held the furry thing in her hands and couldn't wait to make a home for "Fuzzy" as she calls it. After gathering twigs, leaves and rocks, Fuzzy has a lovely home in a jar. The funny thing, however, is that the caterpillar has already wrapped herself in a cocoon! The next time we will see her will be when she unfurls her wings. And a bit to my dismay she will probably be a moth and not actually a butterfly. Yuck.

My daughter, who has chosen to be Tinkerbell for Halloween this year, found it fitting to wear her wings while building Fuzzy a home.

I guess it is a good science project for us all and I am all about valuable learning experiences. Who knows, maybe Fuzzbucket won't be too disgusting as a moth to me if I knew her as a cute, fuzzy little caterpillar first.