The Path We Choose

Day 21 of Social Distancing.

It's a simple chart. I saw it on Facebook today, and shared it.

This chart:

I've been watching people at both ends of the spectrum.

There have been a few people who are focusing on things that annoy them. Their anger and bitterness has come out. Many of their posts are complaints. I don't want to focus on them.

Most of the people I know are in the Growth Zone. That's the zone I'm in. I want to focus on the positive. Sure, like many people, the news gets to be too much and I want to cry. Everyone needs a good cry. It relieves pressure. Most of the time I'm using this time to do something constructive. I cleaned every cabinet, drawer and closet that I can get to. Cleaning. Lots of cleaning. I'm teaching myself, with the help of YouTube, how to play finger-style guitar. I'm working on a complex counted cross stitch. I found a website to learn how to code. Not anything extensive like my web developer son, but to build on what he taught me of HTML and CSS. Maybe I'll get back to my book. It was getting too painful to write about my life, but maybe my story will help someone. I've even taken advantage of the early Spring to start working on my flower beds. Helping at church has turned into an hour or so a few days a week, instead of the 20+ hours a week that I had spent volunteering there. At least I'm still able to help. Relaxation. That has been something I've felt guilty about. I'm using this time to relax.

What path are you choosing?

Wordless Wednesday

Busy, Busy, Busy

My last few weeks have been full of fun and frolicking.  

Okay. Maybe not. But they have been busy and have had many laughs.

The excitement began with me getting a new away-from-home job.  I get to work with babies!  The hours aren't too bad, although I have to begin at 0-Dark:00.  That does mean I get home before my gang gets back from school so I get a breather for a little while. 

The day before I started working  I missed church and "The Falling of The Cross".  The crosses set up for Easter are nestled on the stage to the left of where our minister stands (stage right, really).  The tech booth folks (including Matthew and Andrew) watched it slowly drift out of the screen on the monitor before it fell to the floor during the sermon as our minister was discussing uncertainty.  That had to be interesting!

India went to a youth camp called Footsteps - more on that in a later blog...

I joined the Decorating Committee at church.  My first project, since we couldn't find a picture to hang in place of a winter scene, was to cannibalize two wreaths and use extra floral pics I found in the committee's storeroom to make a Spring wreath in two days, plus work full time and take care of the house. 

This is the wreath I made: 

  Out of these:

The finished wreath is proudly hanging in the back of our sanctuary so it can be seen as folks walk toward the doors on either side of it.   During our placing palm trees around the crosses, a track light dropped from it's track and ended up dangling from it's cord 30 feet above the seats.  It was kind of freaky!  Two things falling in 7 days - weird.  Matthew was with us when it fell and texted our music director who sent him a text back saying "Climb the walls and fix it, Spiderman."

I also am in the newly organized PTO at the kids school.  I missed being in one since I had been heavily involved in PTO and volunteering at the old school, even being Elementary PTO President for a year while I was Secretary for the Middle School PTO.  

Our first real fundraiser was to sell donated prom dresses.  We set up shop in a local Curves-like studio (but with extra equipment). We did make a bit of money but business was slow so I discovered that many of the station equipment can be used without ever putting down the book I was reading.  I also spent a lot of time on the stair-climber and exercise bike while I waited for customers.  Still without missing a beat on my reading...

I also joined the committee for the local Tulip Festival.  A bi-yearly event celebrating the Dutch heritage of the community.  In addition to the ad sales and product sales at the actual event I also volunteered Amanda and myself to be Clog Dancers or "Klompendansen" in the parade.  Complete with traditional costume and wooden shoes.  Johannes said I will be the first person in his family to know how to clog dance. That is so cool!

Photo of the clog dancers during the last Tulip Festival.

Back to church the other day to decorate for Easter and I brought home a car-full of grapevines donated by a local vineyard.  Poor Jerome.  I took the Subaru, not knowing I would have large items to carry, and I folded half of the rear seat down so he was poked in the face by grapevines the ride home.  

I have them soaking in my tub and hopefully they will become pliable enough to weave into a crown for the cross and several wreaths for throughout the church.  I need them done by Saturday - wish me luck. 

Next Barista duty at church.  Since I had to be there at 8:30 and Matthew needed to be there at 8:00 we rode together.  Andrew hung the wreath up for me and everyone went separate directions.  Eventually some of us made our way to the kitchen where we began making the 8 pots of coffee and 2 of hot water.  I ended up accidently hitting the pump and squirted coffee on the front of my sweater so everywhere I went I smelled coffee.

Poor Matthew.  Two minutes before service began the switcher went out and so the clicker to change slides wouldn't work.  He managed to bypass it but by then the praise band singer in control of the clicker was clicking frantically as Matthew was using the computer to try to get the correct slide to show up so they were dueling for control and we were all trying to figure out the words to the song because the slide kept quickly changing on us.  Yup, it was interesting...

Now my gang is home for two weeks of Spring Break and I finally get to catch up on things.  

Blooming Lollipop Card

I found this cute idea at Homemade Simple. I thought these  three-dimensional paper flower cards  are so adorable and wanted to let those with children know about it.  I know my kids would have loved this when they were younger. 


Supplies
Downloadable templates 
Scrapbook paper
Craft paper
Scissors
Glue stick
Pen, paint pen or marker
Lollipops

Instructions

1. After cutting out the two templates, lay the larger of the two on a piece of solid-colored craft paper— pink and red are perfect for the occasion—and trace the outline onto the paper. Cut out the shape.
2. Trace the outline of the smaller template onto a piece of Valentine’s Day patterned scrapbook paper and cut out the shape.
3. Use a glue stick to apply a coat of glue to the back of the patterned craft paper cutout (the smaller piece). Glue this on top of the larger solid-colored cutout so that the smaller cutout is now perfectly centered within the larger one.
4. At this point, have your child write a special Valentine’s Day note to a friend or classmate. This can be done on the petal of the card or you can glue a strip of paper to the lollipop with a personalized message.
5. Poke a hole in the center of the paper heart petals and push the stick of a lollipop through it to act as the stem of the flower.
6. Bend the petals of the flower upwards using the dotted lines from the petal template as your guide, and your card is complete!

Tips for Personalization:

• To make each card unique, purchase a variety of seasonal scrapbook papers and lollipop flavors so that no two cards are alike. Feel free to repurpose materials like newspaper and book pages as substitutes for craft paper.
• Metallic pens, paint pens and markers are great for letting kids personalize each card with a special message. Try using a variety of colors like white or pink.
• Consider making your cards shimmer with glitter glue, or add texture with puffy paints. Try using a yellow puffy paint to add a polka-dot effect to the petals of the flower.

Free e-books - Who can resist that?

I'm always looking for a deal - isn't everyone?  I am a devout follower of The Frugal Girls, where so many great deals are shared with the rest of use.  Being an avid reader {I was once told that I have "a ravenous appetite for reading"} I will read anything put in front of me, including cereal boxes and toothpaste tubes.  I love free e-books and wanted to share some of them with you all. 

You can find this free for kindle at "Sweet Baklava".

Read it on your Kindle, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, or your PC & Mac! Go here to get your free Amazon reader App!

Got a Nook? You can also get ‘Sweet Baklava‘ for FREE!

Prices change often, so if it’s still Free… the price will still be listed as $0.00.

Right now you can get the ‘A Skillet, a Spatula, and a Dream Cookbook‘ by Barbara Bretton for FREE!

• Got a Kindle or eReader App?  Get it for FREE on Amazon!
• Got a Nook? Get it for FREE on Barnes & Noble

• Go here to get your free Amazon reader App! (Read it on your Kindle, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, or your PC & Mac)
• Prices change often, so if it’s still Free… the price will still be listed as $0.00.
• 
  

This month’s FREE Barnes & Noble Online Read-A-Loud for Kids is The Polar Express.

Head on over here to have the book read aloud to your kiddos!

Could you use some more fun cookie recipes?

Grab the FREE Family Circle 15 Favorite Holiday Cookies e-cookbook!

Head on over and ‘Like’ Family Circle on Facebook, then select ‘Free Holiday Cookie Recipes’ to get your free .pdf e-cookbook!

Right now Amazon is offering ‘A Victorian Christmas‘ for FREE!

Read it on your Kindle, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, or your PC & Mac! Go here to get your free Amazon reader App!

Got a Nook? You can also grab ‘A Victorian Christmas‘ for FREE!

Prices change often, so if it’s still Free… the price will still be listed as $0.00.

Every month, you can get a new Free Audio Book Download!

Through 12/31, download your free copy of ‘A Christmas Carol‘ {by Charles Dickens, read by Simon Vance}

Right now Amazon is offering the ‘The Everything Healthy Cooking for Parties Cookbook‘ for FREE!

Read it on your Kindle, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, or your PC & Mac! Go here to get your free Amazon reader App!

Got a Nook?  You can also grab ‘The Everything Healthy Cooking for Parties‘ for FREE!

Prices change often, so if it’s still Free… the price will still be listed as $0.00.

Amazon is offering the ‘A Hearth in Candlewood‘ e-book by Delia Parr for FREE!

Read it on your Kindle, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, or your PC & Mac! Go here to get your free Amazon reader App!

Got a Nook? You can also get the ‘A Hearth in Candlewood‘ for FREE!

Prices change often, so if it’s still Free… the price will still be listed as $0.00.

Amazon is offering the ‘Priced to Move‘ e-book by Ginny Aiken for FREE!

Read it on your Kindle, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, or your PC & Mac! Go here to get your free Amazon reader App!

Got a Nook? You can also get the ‘Priced to Move‘ for FREE!

Prices change often, so if it’s still Free… the price will still be listed as $0.00.

Right now Amazon is offering the ‘Amazing Cakes‘ e-Cookbook for FREE!

Read it on your Kindle, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, or your PC & Mac! Go here to get your free Amazon reader App!

Prices change often, so if it’s still Free… the price will still be listed as $0.00.

Planning a party?  Head on over to grab your FREE Paula Deen’s Holiday Hosting Guide eBook!  {this will be a .pdf file}

On the hunt for some fun Christmas Crafts and inspiration??

Go grab this FREE Christmas Crafts Ebook!  {this will be a .pdf download}

Amazon is offering the kids e-book ‘Catch That Collie‘ by Tarrin Lupo for FREE!

Read it on your Kindle, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, or your PC & Mac! Go here to get your free Amazon reader App!

Got a Nook?  You can also get ‘Catch That Collie‘ for FREE!

Prices change often, so if it’s still Free… the price will still be listed as $0.00.

Right now Amazon is offering the ‘Gooseberry Patch – Slow Cooking Cookbook‘ for FREE!

Read it on your Kindle, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, or your PC & Mac! Go here to get your free Amazon reader App!

Got a Nook? You can also get the ‘Gooseberry Patch – Slow Cooking Cookbook‘ for FREE!

Prices change often, so if it’s still Free… the price will still be listed as $0.00.