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Monday, April 30

Art making and other things

I've been staying up late again.

Spreading my mess art all over the house.
Projecting and creating and it feels so good.

Here are some of my journal pages spread out on the kitchen table.
I am so fortunate to have a whole room as a studio in our house,
but lately I rarely make it in there. It's lonely up there.
Sometimes I need and love to be alone,
but most of the time I wanna be with the boys
 while  make stuff, you know?
Where do you do your making?


I've been carving stamps and it's so satisfying.
You should do it, just because it's fun.
I used this carving tool and these super easy to carve blocks.
like buttah. so yummy.
so satisfying.
I just ordered 5 more blocks.



I printed these leaf stamps with acrylic paint
 on canvas fabric and stitched them all up.


Days with the boys have been better. Good, actually.
I was seriously about to write how Jack's sweet self  
is coming back to us after turning three,
as he is throwing a knock-down, drag-out fit.

But for the most part, he is getting back to his pre-3 self.
And asking, "But, why? But, why? But, why?" x 100

This is him after watching a Little Einstein's ballet episode.
Practicing his ballet.


He practiced for at least a half hour.
So serious.

And Joshy is walking.
Full on, across the house, bonafide walking.
He is so proud of himself.

His curls have come in.

And he is spending hours in the sand box.

Do you have netflix streaming? It's awesome.
We watched Muriel's Wedding last night.
So great. One of my top ten.


I'm off to make a mess of my kitchen table.
Have a great week.

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Friday, April 20

Plant a Tree for Earth Day!

I love Plant with Purpose because they work holistically,
helping people rise up out of poverty and helping our environment.
I also love that I can doante a dollar or $100 and really see
how they will use that money.
Seriously, it's amazing what they do. World-changing, really.

This little video will get you so excited to plant some trees and change the world.

Plant With Purpose has been working with the rural poor in 6 countries around the world since 1984. For many, survival is contingent on the health of the environment. The same applies to us, but in a much more removed way. 
Around the world, small farmers, desperate to feed their families, are forced to cut down large areas of forested land, clearing it for farming or to sell as wood.  The resulting erosion and loss of soil fertility leaves entire hillsides desolate and barren, entrenches them in a vicious cycle of poverty and deforestation. 
Trees play an important part in absorbing harmful CO2 and releasing life-giving oxygen, but the full benefits of trees go much deeper. Trees’ root systems provide living barriers that prevent soil erosion, replenish the water table, and restore desolate, unproductive lands.  
When trees are planted alongside crops—a technique called agroforestry—farmers experience all the benefits of trees while also providing food and a sustainable income for their families.  Plant With Purpose works with farmers to utilize sustainable farming techniques, empowering them to overcome poverty, provide for their families, live in dignity, and fulfill their greatest dream of all—leaving the world a better place for their children. 
Who knew that caring for the environment actually improves the lives of the rural poor? It’s going green meets reducing poverty meets restoring environments meets transforming lives! 

Celebrate Earth Day today by doing something to alleviate poverty! This month, Plant With Purpose is being featured on the
 58: Global Impact Tour, where they’re hoping to raise $40,000 to plant 90,000 trees in the Dominican Republic. For the entire month of April, every contribution will be doubled because of a generous matching grant. Head to the tour page to see how you can plant a tree and change lives!




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Thursday, April 12

A little bit of this and a little bit of that...



How do I forget to take pictures at every major event & holiday?
Do you do that too?
I did manage to get a few good ones.
We had a marathon Easter day:
Family Easter egg hunt first thing.
Church.
Butson Easter at Grandma & Grandpa's
Easter miracle: Everyone napped at the same time.
McWhorter Easter at Mimi & Papa's
Home.




I've been on spring break from school,
so its been just the boys and I...
and we are finding our rhythm.
I'm figuring out how to bridge the chasm between
being the fantasy mom I want to be and the annoying constraints of reality.
I keep asking myself what's really important here?
eating real food.
reading books.
brushing teeth.
um, come on moms, tell me what I'm forgetting here...




We are finally, finally back to church,
with both boys in Sunday school,
for about a month now. and I've seriously
never loved church so much.
to sit and listen and soak it all in
for an entire hour and then some.
what is that?!?
every single week I think that sermon was so good.
and I'm pretty sure it was good, but I'm just not used to
hearing a sermon the whole way through.
so, all this to say... wahoo!




There's soem, not a lot, but some, art being created here.
Life is full with two boys
and I'm okay with that right now.
There will always be time for art.
But my boy will not always look up and ask,
"Do you want to play trains with me, mama?"
Seriously sweet.
I feel like I was fighting it,
trying to do it all for the longest time.
And I simply can't.
And that's okay for now.




Jack starts swimming lessons today
in preparation for our big trip to Texas in June.




Happy Thursday!
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Thursday, April 5

Sing out loud. Sing out strong.

Sing out loud.
Sing out strong.

I've taken a little break from blogging
to do some catching up on life.

 
We are gearing up for some serious egg-dying,
candy-eating Easter fun this weekend.

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