5th Grade Colonial Day

Things have calmed down a bit in some respects now that Christmas is over but have picked up in others.  The decorations are put away, we've celebrated Anne's Birthday and now I move into my crazy Calligraphy season.

My phone began ringing on January 3rd and I'm booking weddings clear into October!  So excited though!  This is going to be a great year!  Of course, winning the 2011 Best of Weddings Award from the Knot.com will help that significantly.  The winners list was posted on the web site today.  I'm thrilled!

Last Sunday I spent the day at the Bridal Show at World Golf Village.  The January show is the largest of the year.  I talked until I was hoarse and passed out a ton of business cards.  I always love those shows!




But, life at home continues the same.  School, work, etc.  Today was no exception.  Usually, I spend my volunteer hours at the kid's school in Anne's classroom, but today I got to help with Jarod's Colonial Day.  What fun we had.

Jarod's class just completed a big unit on Colonial America and they finished it out with a Colonial Day Celebration.  The kids received extra credit if they dressed the part and we parents manned the booths!   Jarod and I set out yesterday to find a white shirt.  Thank goodness for the Salvation Army!  $2.99 for a fancy shirt - can't beat that!  The vest was mine.  One of those saved from the '90's when vests were popular.  Actually, it's the only one I saved because my mother had made it.  Just couldn't part with it.  Jarod was proud to wear it knowing it was made by Grandma.

 I got to work at the Quill Pen Booth!  How fitting is that?  I had so much fun!  The kids got to try to write with real feather quills and ink. 

 The Cat's Craddle Booth - (String Games)  This is Jarod's "Witches Broom"  He was so proud!

 Dipping Candles

 Writing with the Feather Quill.  He's a lefty so he had to work from right to left so as to not get his hand in the wet ink.

 The kids all decided they like their modern pencils better!  It was fun to watch them all try.  I was this age when I learned Calligraphy at a Medieval Fair at my school.  You just never know.......

 Hot Apple Fritters!  Yummmm!

 Virginia Wheel Dancing!  This seemed to be the least favorite of all.  You know - they had to hold hands!  

Jarod and I danced together at the end.  No photos of that though.  It was such a fun morning!

Until next time.......

Happy Birthday Anne!

Although Anne's Birthday is this Tuesday, the family got together on Friday night to celebrate.  I thought I would share a few pics.....

 Anne chose Ariel as her birthday theme this year.  Much easier than the Castle Cake from last year.  Although, I will tell you that I put my foot down on anything that had to be 'built'!

Ariel is Anne's favorite Princess.  When I asked her why she said it was because "she sings the best!"  Ha!

 Love this pic - they actually look like they love each other.  Sometimes it's hard to tell around here.  :-)

 

 Mommy and Daddy with our 'Anne Girl'

 Chloe was trying to help with the presents!  Too cute!

 More nail polish!  There's been a theme this Christmas and Birthday!  She now has more than I do.  Well - I did promise her painted nails when she stopped sucking her finger.......

 Lovin' this Minnie Mouse!

 We gave her her very own Bible - she was so excited!

Singing "Happy Birthday!"

Tomorrow, she and I will bake cupcakes to take to school on Tuesday.  I can't believe she is 6! 

How time flies. 

January 11

Each year - for the past 6 years - we get through Christmas and I scramble to plan Anne's Birthday.  It's the same day every year - January 11.  But it sneaks up on my every time.  I know it's coming.  We talk about it through the entire month of December.  But for some reason, during that week in between Christmas and New Year's, I think I have an extra week.  This year is no exception.

January 11 brings mixed emotions in our family.  Anne was born on the same exact day - two years later - that Russell's big sister, Belinda, died from breast cancer.  She died a month after my mom.  That was a rough year.

Belinda was only 46 and so spunky.  I loved her.  She was a 'tell it like it is' kind of lady.  She was never afraid to voice her opinion so you always knew where she stood.  She didn't have any children of her own but she loved her nephews.  Anne was only a dream in our hearts at the time but she wanted a little niece very badly.  She gave me a few gifts before she died and told me they were "for Anne" - whenever she came along.  I wish she was here to know her.  In many ways Anne is a lot like her Aunt Beau (that's what the kids called her).  So many times Anne will get in one of her feisty moods and we all laugh and say, "That's so Belinda!"

During the end of my pregnancy with Anne, my doctor talked to me about inducing.  He said he was available on January 11.  Normally, I think any woman at the end of her pregnancy would jump at the the idea and not think twice about it.  He paused a moment when I asked him if I could get back to him on that.  I called Russell's mom and asked her if she thought it would be okay - if Anne having her birthday on that day would bother her.  Of course, she said no - that it would give us something happy to celebrate each year at that time.

It has been 8 years since Belinda passed.  And each year we celebrate Anne's birthday.  Life as we know it goes on.  Sometimes it may seem that Belinda may be forgotten - but that is not the case.  She is always in my heart and on our minds.   Always in the background of the celebration - a silent visitor to the party.  This year will be no exception. We will all gather this evening and celebrate the wonderful gift of Anne that the Lord has given us and in the back of our minds, someone will be missing.

BEST Christmas Ever!

I cannot even begin to tell you all the emotions that I have right now regarding our Christmas.  God is so good and I am so very thankful.  For the last 6 weeks you have watched me become an emotional roller coaster as I have processed and evaluated Christmas this year.  As expected, it turned out to be a truly amazing time.

I think the one word that I can use to describe it would be simple. We narrowed things down to a simplicity of family.  Even down to our gift giving.  I didn't have the rushing around, the mental stress of what to get for whom.  The stress of wondering how we would pay for it all.  Praying for God to provide the money to pay for it all.  Even if we would have had the money - I had no ideas.  The ideas I did have were simple, yet meaningful and excited me more than any because I knew they were from the Lord and not just something I was buying to "buy" and check off a list.

I watched my children buzz around the house and wrap presents for each other.  Each of the fun and meaningful things that they gave up - out of their rooms. Things that took a lot of thought to know what each person would truly love.  Jarod gave his sister one of his toys that she has admired for months.  Anne gave Jarod a pen and pad of paper because she knows he loves to draw.  Jarod gave Russell a book of homemade coupons for anything from breakfast in bed, washing the car to getting to pick what movie he wanted to watch - with no complaints from the kids!  Anne gave me a purple flower bracelet - and Jarod made me a special ornament for the tree.

We gave Jarod Russell's BB Gun (with strict instructions and the promise to follow Scout rules).  Anne had been given a gold I.D. bracelet when she was an infant.  With her name and birth date on it.  She loved it so much - but a few years ago, it wore completely out.  The jeweler could no longer fix it.  I had the name plate removed and put on one of my mothers 14 kt. bracelets.  Anne opened it on Christmas morning and the thrill and excitement she had on her face brought tears to my eyes!  She knew right away what it was and when I explained that it was now on one of Grandma's chains, she was even more excited.

God is just good.  As I reflect, I realize that this journey began back in September with a prayer that the Lord would make me a generous giver.  That He would cause my children to see beyond themselves.  Little did I know at the time, that this journey began with me.  My seeing beyond myself - my being an example to my children.  God used Russell's trip to Haiti to trigger an entire course of events.  I have watched my children in the last few days, think beyond themselves.  Sacrificing time, and their own treasures.  I have watched them as they have seriously thought about each other and how they could sacrificially give. 

When I was in the middle of all of this - actually in a grieving time - I was wondering why God would change my heart about giving and then still not fund the giving.  Russ made the comment that if we had the funds, it would be so easy to just fall back into the same patterns.  I believe he was correct about that.  But I also had a friend say to me - "What are your spiritual gifts?"  I answered her with, "Encouragement, faith, administration, teaching"  She pointed out that giving wasn't on that list.  Now does that mean I am not to give - No.  It just means that I'm not going to have the means to give like others do who have that gift.  In my mind, I thought giving generously meant I would have a lot to give.  So I could bless people in large ways.  But through this whole process I realized that it's not about the size - it's about my heart.  It's about giving sacrificially.  Something Russ has been preaching on lately.  It's about giving out of a need - not out of our excess.  It's about looking  -  really looking - to see what would be most meaningful - most helpful and then doing what I can with what I already have.

After our own little Christmas at home, it was such a joy to hear both my children say, "This was the BEST Christmas EVER!"  And they hadn't even gone to Nana's yet!  That my friends, was the best Christmas gift they could have given me.  They got it.  I got it.  We all got it.  And it was the best Christmas ever because it wasn't about "stuff" - it was about people.

Here are a few pics from Christmas morning:

 Christmas morning - before the kids got up.

 Gotta have that cup of coffee!

 Waiting until we say they can come out!

 Finding their "special" gifts.

 Stockings were full of candy this year!

 Anne opening her bracelet

Very excited about the BB Gun

Until next time.......

Christmas Gifts

I mentioned in my last post that we are making gifts this year as a family.  Coming up with creative ways to honor one another.  This was one of the ideas that I know the Lord gave me and I'm so excited about it!

I took their names, looked up their meanings and then Russ and I sat down and came up with a 'life verse' that would go along with it.  Something that we want them to see in their rooms.  To read over and over and for the scripture to permeate into their lives as they grow older. 

I absolutely LOVE the way they came out and I just had to share with you!

The calligraphy is done on an 11 x 14 parchment in Brown ink.  I found frames at Wal-Mart that already had the mat in them.  I think I'm going to begin advertising these as well!  Sooooo excited!!!!

Best of Weddings Award and Other Fun Stuff

I received a phone call last week that Calligraphy by Cami had won the 2011 Best of Weddings Award from The Knot.com.  What an honor and a privilege.  I didn't even know I was in the running.  They survey all of their brides and the vendors with the highest remarks are the recipients of this award.  I guess it's kind of like a "People's Choice" Award.  I was floored!

I started my business 5 1/2 years ago as a way to help our family when Russ was working his tail off as a pest control technician.  It was a Commission Only Sales job that he took in between ministry opportunities to provide for our family. He worked 6 days a week - sometimes 12 - 14 hour days and we never knew what kind of money he would bring home.  We couldn't budget anything!  And the Lord opened up the opportunity for me to take my hobby and create a small business.  A friend, who knew I did Calligraphy, asked me to address her son's wedding invitations.  Knowing that we were struggling financially, she offered to pay me.  She wouldn't take no for an answer so I got online and began researching what other Calligraphers charge.  I quickly realized that I too, could begin this kind of business from home.  I never thought that it would be as successful as it has become.

Today I sit here amazed at all of the exciting projects I have done, all of the wonderful people I have met, all of the friends I have made, and how the Lord has taken a hobby that my mother taught me when I was 12 and turned it in to a successful business that allows me to be at home with my children.  I look forward to many more years of helping clients Add a Personal Touch to Their Special Occasion.  God is good! 

On a different note, the kids went to Nana and Papa's yesterday while Russ and I ran some errands.  It was a beautiful day here in Florida so Uncle Ray took them outside to play in the leaves and do a little hiking.  He sent me these pictures this morning and I thought I would share them with you.

 Raking leaves in Nana's yard.  I would like to say that they were helping out - but they really had ulterior motives........

 Who can blame them - a big pile of leaves is so tempting!

 Hiking with Uncle Ray!

Thanks for taking them Ray!  They always enjoy spending a day with you!

A Little Fun - Some More Reflections

Wow! What a week!  I've been to Wal-Mart again only to witness a 'cat fight' between two women in the parking lot over a shopping cart and a parking place.  Seriously!!??!!  I was very thankful that Anne was already in the van, with the doors closed, so she couldn't hear the language flying!  What a huge contrast to the lovely man who wished me a Merry Christmas last week.

Anne had her Polar Express Party at school.  They got to wear their pajamas to school and they watched the Polar Express Movie, had hot chocolate and I came and helped them decorate Gingerbread Cookies!  What an interesting task that was.  All I can say is that 5 year olds LOVE sprinkles!!!!

 Anne borrowing Mrs. Reed's Conductor Hat

 Decorating Gingerbread Cookies

 Waiting for the gift exchange

Opening Presents!

It was after the class party that we went to Wal-Mart.  Anne was still in her PJ's and I had to laugh at the young mothers who would look at Anne, and then me and ask, "Pajama day at school today?"  We would excitedly tell them "Yes - it was her Polar Express Party!"  Then, the older women at Wal-Mart!  Well, let's just say that suddenly I was one of "THOSE Mothers" who do not dress their children!  People are so funny.  Of course this was the same day that we witnessed the fight in the parking lot as we were leaving!  AAAHHHHH!  Just let me get home!

I received a second box of Jewelry from ApParent Project on Wednesday and by Thursday evening it was half gone!  I ordered a third box and had it Expressed to me so I received it on Saturday.  I needed it for church yesterday.  I am so excited about the response that I have had to this.  So far I have sold enough jewelry to send $1910.00 to the artisans in Haiti!  That is amazing!!!!  I feel as though I am getting to know the artisans a little.  I recognize the names on the tags and am learning about them through Facebook and the ApParent Projcect Blog.  Leo had a birthday this week and Rodney's grandmother (Rose's mother) died of Cholera.  My heart broke when I heard the news - but was so thankful that their jewelry is on my table and I am helping them in some small way.

One of my ApParent Project tables at the church.  Thanks to my friend Tracy for loaning me her displays!

 Another Table

 This was my friend Andrea's idea!  Neat display!

Anne was my special helper.  She named it the "Haiti Beads and Jewelry Store".  Jarod wrote it up there for her and then Anne kept track of how many people were in the store and then would write the number on the board.  So cute!

Christmas break is here and the kids are home for the next 2 1/2 weeks.  I'm looking forward to the down time.  On Friday we drove down to St. Augustine to look at all the lights.  It was a nice family night out.  The Lord has continued to keep things scaled back so that we can re-evaluate our traditions.  I will be honest and tell you that this entire process has not been easy.  A few of the posts that I have written have taken me three hours to write.  It's been therapeutic as I work things out - vent - delete - and work things out some more.  I have cried, I have sobbed as a matter a fact.  Changing traditions is not easy.  It's a loss - it's a process.  It's grief over things that once were and are now going to be different.  It's examining myself to understand WHY I do what I do - and often times not liking the answer.  It's conviction over selfishness and greed.  Over my lack of thankfulness for what I have.  It's wanting to be different from the world and then feeling like you are Mickey in Sorcerer's Apprentice when he's holding tightly to the book as this huge whirlpool spins rapidly around him.  Of course, in my mind, the book is scripture.  I can hold tightly to that and let the world swirl around me or I can let go and get sucked into the madness.  Then you grieve because you feel left behind by the madness because you've chosen to do something different and no one around you understands or cares.

This really has been an exhausting month!  But, I will tell you that we have implemented something new this year and I'm anxious to see what will come of it.  In all of this change, I haven't been worried so much about extended family and friends.  They are grown ups and understand that money is tight.  But I have been concerned about my kids.  Not because they won't get anything for Christmas - they already have plenty from family.  But what about our Christmas morning?  The big present that always awaits them - unwrapped - under the tree - the stockings full of fun stuff - the three gifts we always buy representing the gifts brought to baby Jesus of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Usually I have ideas and am praying for God's provision specifically for those ideas.  This year - if the Lord were to drop a bunch of money in our lap - I wouldn't know what to do with it.  No ideas.  My kids don't NEED anything.  I found that odd.  Until the Lord showed me that instead of buying gifts, let's re-gift.  Let's make gifts.  Let's get outside of  'Just buying something to buy it' and really think and get creative.

Russ and I talked about this and got excited because we immediately began thinking of things we could do for the kids that wouldn't cost much - if anything.  But - how would Jarod and Anne take it?  So, last Tuesday night, we sat down at dinner and began to present the idea to them.  Explaining different things they could do.  Making things, offering coupons for special tasks, re-gifting things they have that maybe someone else in the family would enjoy.  I was amazed to see their eyes grow wide and the wheels begin turning!  They were excited!  By the end of dinner they were off in a corner discussing ideas.  This morning when I got up they were on the computer looking things up on the internet.  They are actively seeking ways that they can be a part and are very excited about it! 

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am about Christmas morning!  The pressure is off - everyone is on board and I have a feeling that this is going to be one of our most memorable Christmases for our family yet!  I am so thankful for the struggle that I have had to go through to get here and I am confident that it is going to be worth it!  God is sooooo good and I look forward to sharing with you our special Christmas Day!