Giving Thanks for Small Moments of Joy
By · Mar 09, 2010 · Comments
Often it’s the birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries that get all the attention; what we consider life’s milestones. While I agree that those days are special and should be celebrated with friends and family, there’s no doubt in my mind that it’s the small moments of joy that make the most difference.
Things like stepping outside on the first warm day after a long, cold winter, or watching the evening sun melt into a purple and pink horizon.
Or playing with puppies.
Grant with Romeo, Juliette, and Valentino
This past Sunday we took our twins, our oldest son and granddaughter to a basketball game at the University of Kentucky. They have an exceptionally good team this year and getting tickets wasn’t easy. If you follow college basketball at all you know that UK fans are some of the most dedicated and enthusiastic fans anywhere. Every game is packed with yelling, screaming fans.
This picture gives you some idea of how packed Rupp Arena was
At first Abby (my granddaughter) was awed by the noise and the crowd, but she quickly got over it and got down to business.
I know I saw nachos somewhere, where are they?
Yum, now this is worth coming to a game for!
It was so much fun watching Abby watch the ballgame, but she isn’t your typical UK fan.
Night, night
Only a child could sleep through thousands of screaming fans and a band playing the fight song so loud it made my head pound.
Yes, we should celebrate the big moments, but don’t overlook the small ones because when they are woven together they become a blanket of memories that you can wrap around you and draw warmth from during the coldest days of winter.
Crafting With Mema – Making Homemade Paint
By · Mar 08, 2010 · CommentsWe’ve started a new Monday series here at NanaHood, called “Crafting With Mema“. These posts will include patterns, recipes, and fun craft projects to do with your kids or grandkids. The ideas won’t be difficult (if anything, we’ll err on the side of SUPER EASY), and we hope we’ll inspire YOU to do more crafting!
This week, Allan and Mema are making homemade paint!
So, to recap… to make homemade paint, you need:
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- 1 tablespoon of vinegar (it will bubble up when you mix them)
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon of liquid soap
- food coloring (your choice!)
Mix it all together, and you have PAINT! Coming next week… painting with the homemade paint!
Happy crafting!!
Don’t forget… if you and your children/grandchildren create something from one of our Crafting posts, we’d LOVE to see photos (or videos). Along those same lines, we are also interested in posting YOUR video or photo tutorials, so if you have crafty kiddos and want to share, please send an email to admin@nanahood.com.
About “Mema”: Cheryl Booth has been crafting for more years than she cares to remember, and has shared her love of crafts with kids in her home, in Bible classes, at summer camp, and elsewhere. You can visit Cheryl’s craft shop online at http://www.mycraftbooth.etsy.com
Nana’s Lap
By · Mar 06, 2010 · CommentsSome of my very best memories are of sitting in Grandma Layne’s lap and listening to her read children’s books. Last week I did a book review and it was so popular that I have decided to create a category for reviews called Nana’s Lap. This week’s book is the delightful adventure of a dog named Doggy Bag (also the title of the book) by Sean L. Moore.
Beautifully illustrated with colorful pictures, Doggy Bag differs from all the canines I own in that he doesn’t want to get dirty so he stays off the ground. He prefers climbing trees and sitting on fences to participating in “normal” dog activities like digging holes (oh how I wish my dogs felt the same way!) Doggy Bag runs away from home to the city where he meets some alley cats and his soon to be new best friend, Zeke, who eventually convinces him that there is more to being a dog than living up in a tree!
Children will love Doggy Bag and his silly antics, I did and I can’t wait to read it to Abby!
Now a book for nanas….
I mentioned last week I was reading Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah, well I finished it. I immediately emailed my friends and told them it was a “must read.” It’s the best “girl friend book” I’ve read in a long, long time. Women who were teenagers during the 70’s will identify with the hair styles, music, and current events, that help set the stage for the two main characters, Tully and Kate.
WARNING: This book should come with a warning label. I was reading it while waiting in a doctor’s office and I’m sure everyone in there thought I had just been told I had two weeks to live. At first my eyes started leaking, then they were pouring, when I felt my shoulders start to shake I took the book, went to the women’s bathroom, locked myself in and finished the book. When I came out there were three women standing there staring at me, obviously angry that I had occupied the bathroom for 30 minutes (sorry!) Then they saw my red splotched face, realized I’d been boo-hooing and left me alone.
One of the best reads I have experienced in a long time and worth making a special trip to the book store to purchase!
Friday Links
By · Mar 05, 2010 · CommentsIt’s time again for Friday linkage… and I think I’m going to stick with my “random” theme, because that seems to be working well for me. (Please say it works for you too?)
- Have you subscribed to GRAND magazine yet? if not, you should go check it out, and sign up! (Pssst… Teresa has an article in this month’s issue).
- Just watched this really cool music video. I didn’t listen to the words much (was too enthralled by the video), so I apologize if there was anything iffy in the lyrics.
- Compassion International has it’s latest team of bloggers in Kenya right now. You can click on over and read about their trip (and previous trips) on the CI website, and then click on the bloggy links too.
- Speaking of the Compassion International bloggy links, don’t miss this one by MckMama.
- Just before I started to write this post, we had a little incident with my laptop. The incident included Samuel… a glass of water… and my laptop. I’m not sure yet what the fate will be for my laptop, but in case you ever have a similar incident, this link is helpful.
- I tried really hard to be kind during this laptop incident. But, as it was happening, I knew I was failing to be as kind as I should have been. Samuel didn’t mean to fry the laptop… it was an accident. And he is far more valuable to me than a computer, although based on my reaction he may have been wondering about that. An hour or so after I finally calmed down, I spent a little time reading this verse in James. And then I read these. And then I went ahead and read this whole chapter. And then I spent some time praying about my reactions the next time we have an incident.
Here’s hoping for a brighter, calmer, less stressful Friday… and for YOU TOO!
This I know
By · Mar 04, 2010 · CommentsYesterday I was looking through my pictures to choose one for Wordless Wednesday, and I ran across the following photo.
My granddaughter is opinionated, can you tell?
Most of us do have our own thoughts and opinions about things. I know I do.
One of my favorite things on NPR is a personal essay they read occasionally written by folks who listen in and take the time to tell them about things they believe in. It’s called, “This I know.”
So here are a few of the things in life that I am certain of.
1. No matter how long someone we love lives, when they are gone they leave a hole in our hearts that never completely heals.
2. Children do not come with instruction manuals and parents will make mistakes. You do the best you can do, pray a lot, and then leave it up to God to do the rest.
3. Winter is always too long and summers are always too short.
4. I don’t mind aging nearly as much as I mind the maintenance that comes with it.
5. Any food that is really good for you never tastes as good as foods that are really bad for you.
6. There’s nothing better to lift a woman’s spirits than a night (or weekend) out with the girls.
7. Bliss is a stack of good books, a warm sunny day, a chair next to the surf, my toes in the sand and the ocean before me.
8. There is no night as long as the one you spend at the hospital holding the hand of friend or loved one.
9. God is good.
10. Children are one of the greatest blessings of this life because through them everything old is made new again.
What about you? What do you know for sure is true?
