Check this out:

if I type a special code, I get little hearts on my blog! 

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Adorable, huh?
Thanks my very favorite artist Claudine!!!

♥ Wendi

So, I've made a decision. This orange-belt board-breaking bo-staff-twirlin' chica has made a decision. Now, that in and of itself is something. I talked to the Dresklers who own and operate the American Taekwondo Association studio where we attend. That's not the decision. It was easy to decide to talk to them. They're easy to talk to like that. Nope, the decision is to join the leadership/instructor program. I wanna teach those crazy cute kiddling Tiny Tigers! The ones who don't listen very well and who jump like crazy and wave their arms like spiders. Basically, they look a lot like me when I'm at karate, so I figure they're a natural match for my teaching skills. Curt's going in tomorrow to get the whole thing signed up and then I'll get started soon after. The best part: I get a heavy-weight uniform with my name on the back and a stripe on the collar! And to think I was gonna take a Sharpie to the flimsy old uniform I have now. :)

Beautiful Wushu Bo Staff Form

Cast all your anxiety on God because he cares for you.
-- 1 Peter 5:7

That was buried in my inbox when I checked email today. Perfect timing. Nothing much more to say about that.

I picked out my mother's day present Monday. It's the most sparkly gift ever! A gift that is leaps and bounds better than diamonds and gold and spa treatments and even Barnes and Noble gift cards. I'm getting a weapon! It's called a Bo Staff. It's graphite, silver and black, and 5.5 feet tall. Check out this chick:

She's pretty good, huh? Well, I'm gonna take my bo staff out in the back 40 of Casa de Mud and twirl the heck outta that thing. I'm gonna slam it on the ground and spin it over my head and I may even turn a cartwheel just for kicks and giggles. But when the neighbors come out to see what all the shiny sparkle is, I'm gonna hightail it back inside. No sense in making a spectacle of myself.

I hate it when I don't stay caught up on my blogging. Miss a day, and the whole blogging adventure becomes a chore. 

Today I returned to Casa de Madness and did not take a nap. And I am still awake at 7 p.m. tonight. Going strong. So far.

I considered a quick snooze, just one of the new habits I've acquired in my run up to turning 40 this fall. But Curt took Camden to karate so that left me and the Benj at home alone. And it's not a good idea to turn a Benjy loose with the garden hose while no one is watching. He got this cool hose attachment for his birthday last weekend. One of my better ideas, I thought at the time. It transforms a standard garden hose into an amazing and kid-friendly fire hose. If only fire hoses were purple and yellow and green and teal and so darn cute. Anyway, as I sat indoors thinking about dragging out some teaching work, this is what I heard: DARTH VADER! DARTH VADER! You are in big trouble! You are dead! You are sinking! You are gone! And the water, well, it kept running. Gushing. Actually beginning to sound deep. When I peeked over the back porch railing, Benjy was knee-deep in mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful mud. This was absolutely the most perfect thing because I've been simply dying for the chance to use the cute Lynn Grievesen art of ee cummings quote. And while I'm not above staging a photo opp., I am usually just too pooped. And to think, if I'd have had a nap, I'd've missed it all.

This was one of those days when I could not decide what to wear. Now, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter one iota what I choose to where. Unless it's chapel day. Then it matters a little bit. But for the most part, I really shouldn't care. Except that I'm in the midst of Tae Kwondo-ing my butt off and trying my darndest to lose the 10 pounds I've managed to paste onto my tum and hips since I began working at my school. 

So instead of being stinking cute when I skip to school in the morning, I'm breathless and almost late. Not really late because I am way too OC for that to happen. But I am late by my standards. The kind of late where I trip over Camden and Benjy on the way into my classroom, turn on my computer, input my top secret code, put my V8 and yogurt in the minifridge, stuff my bag under my desk, remind the boys to behave or beware, grab my journal and a pen, then head for the door, turn around and grab my coffee, and finally hightail it to the office for staff devotions. Only then do I sit. 

Wait a minute, you say. That's not being late. Well, I didn't sit down in my comfy blue spinny chair. And I didn't check my lesson plans to even see what on earth I was teaching the youngins today. So it's uncomfortably on time at best.

Today was the National Day of Prayer so the entire school met up at the church parking lot this morning for our opening pledges and prayer. It was cold as kraut, and the rain was nearly upon is. But the spirit of God was there. We stood in a giant circle and had an open-mike prayer time. Seriously, we had a mike. This parking lot is at an intersection and the traffic in the morning can be noisy, so the mike is a necessity. We're a tiny school, but we have a mike. Cool, huh? Children were invited to step up and offer prayers of praise or request as the Holy Spirit prompted them. Camden went twice. Once to pray for a friend who is rude to her parents. Once for Nanna and Grandaddy "who are under stress after my Aunt Shell died. I pray for them to be on top of their stress." Sweet boy. And don't ya know that God answered that prayer lickety-split? We learned early today that Dad's last body scan showed NO CANCER. Praise God! That's exactly what I said when Dad told me! And that's what he said when Mom told him! Praise God. Now, isn't that just the coolest thing to happen on the National Day of Prayer? 

Shortly after Michelle returned from her vacation with Brian, she sent me a link to her Kodak Gallery and all 1104 pictures on it. Bless her heart, she never did figure out how to upload her pictures to individual albums or even how to eliminate doubles. No matter, this seems to be a lasting gift from her that I turn to more nights than not. One of my favorite shots is this one of our family snapped in Virginia last fall when we all gathered for our cousin Tonya's wedding. (Have I mentioned that she was the most gorgeous bride, like a fairy tale princess???) Anyway, I find it impossible to believe that this is the last family photograph we'll have. I catch myself wondering what we would have done differently had we known then that Shell wouldn't be with us into the summer. Then I remember that we didn't know, and so we cannot beat ourselves up and wish "if only." As I tell my firsties at school, I don't play the "what if" game. (Do you know how sidetracked that will get you? It's an incredible tool for kids who would rather build towers with the snap cubes than count them.) So I try to keep my own advice and be grateful for the memories I do have. And they're good. Even the one where my baby sister tricked me into the toybox and slammed the lid shut. "What if you sat in the box and I handed you the toys and you put them back in," she asked. Yeah, what if.

More angels...

Lying in bed last night, saying my prayers, I remembered more angels.

* Joel: my mother-in-law. She also drove in for the funeral. One of the things Joel does best is simply to be there. And she was. Thank you.

* Phyllis and her daughters, Kim and Karen: They came to town, too - for the first time since they moved back when Kim and I were in high school together. Kim, Karen, Michelle and I were inseparable friends growing up, playing tag and school, jumping rope and exploring the woods (which my boys now call "the forest"). Seeing them was just like taking a time machine to the past. Such easy relationships are a blessing for sure.

* Friends of Shell's from Florida: People I'd never met but have heard of over the years came to our tiny hometown to celebrate her life and mourn her loss. I remember Tommy, one of her dearest friends. And Dwayne. Dave and Matt. Nancy. Their presence was a huge comfort, knowing that she touched so many people blessed my heart.

* Brian: Michelle's husband. This man was perfectly suited for my sister. He radiates kindness, joy, and love. And at the lowest of possible moments in life, he continued to shine, a reflection of Michelle's life. Now that's love.

Love

Roses from 1st grade 

I am surrounded by God's love.
In the wake of losing my sister, He has sent his mighty angels to lift me up and keep me going. Angels like...
* Mom and Dad. Together, we hold each other up, cry, remember, and find reasons to laugh every now and then.
* A Gospel reading in church Sunday from John 14. The very same passage that Dad shared with me when we had a rare moment alone to remember Michelle. The same passage that he and Shell had read together just months ago. That was no coincidence. That was a God-wink.
* My class of first graders. After the school's spring concert last night, they quietly gave me this beautiful rose bush in memory of Michelle and a card signed by every single student. How they organized this and got the card signed without my knowing is beyond me. Truly, God can use even the youngest in his service.
* My best friend Jodie. She came to Norton for the funeral, and she only knew Michelle through my stories of home and family. But she came to be with me, to hold me up. You'll never know, Girlfriend, how much your presence and our many phone chats since have helped me out. Heck, remember what I asked you to do when I first saw you... you know, the thing we do when we need cheering up because we're about to cry??? I'll never forget that. Thank you.
* The staff and students at my school. Never have I worked in such a loving, caring, and gentle place. My family has been lifted in prayer since the morning I shared of our loss. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is answering their prayers. There's no other way I could be "hanging in there", as I tell others, without the power of prayer.
* Neighbors, Curt's co-workers, friends from my old school in Virginia. Wow. The cards that have arrived here bring me to tears every day when I come home. I am so touched by these.

* The karate students and instructors. First, let me say, I never wanted to take karate in the first place. I just didn't think I could do it. But, then again, I never wanted to be a lifeguard either. Somehow, when pushed, I can get out of my box and actually like it! Well, when Curt and Camden signed me up for a trial at karate, I couldn't exactly turn it down. How rude would that be! Long story short, I love it now. When I'm in class, I'm strong. I can handle what's coming at me. I can defend myself, perform my forms, break boards. Let me tell you, when you need to vent some frustration - anger - breaking a few boards with swift, strong front kicks and a primal yell does the trick. Anyway, I digress. God has placed these friends near me at just the right time. They have been there to do what friends do. They hold me up. They listen. They hug. They offer help and their sympathies. And I accept all of it. And then they hold kick pads and let me go at them, kicking, yelling, and driving them from one side of the room to the other. Thank you.

* Oh, I hope I'm not leaving out any angels. I'm sure I am. I must be. And I'll probably think of them in the middle of the night. Just know that I'm so very thankful.

* Curt. I put him last simply because I want to leave this post with thoughts of him. Thank you, Curt. Thank you for being my best BOY friend. My soul mate. The rock and provider of our family. Michelle always did like you. She never questioned US. She accepted you, loved you, and embraced you from the moment she met you. She could talk to you about our wonderful crazy little family and you always managed to make her feel happy. She had great taste. Curt, You have lifted me in ways unimaginable. Just knowing you were there to make Mom laugh, to talk to Dad in the quiet moments of the late night, to do what you're so darn good at in the bustle of the days. Thank you. I love you. I thank God for you.

The dandelions have been in full face-up-to-the-sun bloom this week. They quite honestly are one of my favorite flowers. No, I'd never get a bouquet of dandelions from a florist. And I don't drink dandelion wine. But Benjy picks these golden flowers for me, as do my first graders. I had a whole pile of wilting dandelions on my desk at school until I broke down and tossed them. 

I even like the dandelion fluff puffballs that come after the golden blooms are gone. I watch children blow the seeds. I watch their stems bend in the wind and the fluff float on the breeze. I watch the new dandelions emerge in the lawn that my dear husband maintains all summer long. And I don't regret a single solitary petal. Go dandelions, go!

tree

tree
Originally uploaded by wendirichert

Here's a digital page I did tonight remembering the significance of the word tree in Shell's and my childhood. Silly, yes, but a fun little memory for me. Just a few weeks ago, she and I giggled about this crazy game we used to play. Thank God for the memories.

I lost my sister last week.

I also lost my dearest friend.

Michelle and I were as different as day and night, as unlikely to be friends as the high school jock and the nerd. 

But we were linked forever by the bond of sisterhood. And thank God, for that made us the most special kind of friends. Sisters.

It's still impossible to believe that my sister isn't here anymore. 

It gives me peace to know that her relationship with Jesus landed here in a new room up in heaven. (See John 14....it's all there.)

Camden says Aunt Shell is sitting on a nice rock up there with Uncle Mitchell, Ellie dog, and the two guppies. The guppies are in a fish bowl. I believe they still need water, even in heaven. 

I'd like to write about some of the memories I have of my sister and me growing up. Yes, we had our moments of disagreement. Our moments even of absolutely despising the other. But in the end, we always managed to find each other on the same side. The side sisters and friends will always come back to. 

We shared a bond of love, friendship, trust, and loyalty.

I love you, Shell.

I miss you.

Trip through the 80s - A Video Compilation

OK, I'm hooked.
I'm skating
at Tucson's
in Norton
zooming down the
concrete floor
while my
Pacman
takes a break
wishing Michael would ask to
skate with me
just
once
then I'm a little
older
not much
but enough to know
that the 80s
are going to pass
and the
90s will give way
and I'll
get over it
and
i
did
:)
(yes, I'm getting hooked on youtube!)

Dallas opening

OK, this will take you back, too.
This makes me think of standing in Grandmomma and Grandaddy's trailer, talking to my cousin Mike about who shot JR. I must have been 10 or something. Not very into the more grown-[up nuances of "Dallas", but definitely into the opening tune. Well, I kinda liked Bobby, too.

TEC- Easy Reader

Oh, the memories.
That's Morgan Freeman, did ya know???

You've just gotta watch this. 

Expect tears.

Have you ever read this book - Big Stone Gap. It's one of my favorites, most probably because it's set in a small town just a short drive down the valley (past the state prison) from my hometown. Well, talking to Dad tonight, I learned that a tornado hit this small southwest Virginia town, creating a 300 yard-wide path of destruction a mile long. I googled it and found this set of photos on Flickr.com. Wow, powerful stuff. More telling than the news channels I found online. Please keep Big Stone Gap in your prayers.

And check this out: I couldn't afford the matching king-size pillow shams to go with my new duvet cover. Sooooooooo I ordered a sheet instead, paired it up with this gorgeously rich and heavenly silk fabric I got super duper cheap at at JoAnn's, and, voila, I made my own! I'm so darned proud of me. :)And I think you should be, too. (Mostly because I just did it. I mean, I didn't put this off. I went to my sewing machine and did it. Right on the spot. Woohoooo!

And finally, happy birthday, Dad! I know this is the best one you've probably ever had, even if you didn't get a new Red Rider BB gun.

This man, this patient, loving, constant, bright-side-of-the-road Dad, went to his ear-nose-and-throat specialist today. While there the good doctor did a scan of his throat. After 6 weeks worth of chemotherapy and radiation that left him drained, severely burned, cranky (but, hey, he has every reason to be, right?! And Dad told me this himself; this is in no way a personal judgment; for the record, he was only cranky to me one time, but who's counting?), unable to eat, and in the worst imaginable pain, Dr. A. peered into his tiny camera lens, walked out of the room, and then returned after a short while that must have seemed like a zillion years. 

Then he beamed. He did not see any cancer. It was gone. 

Praise God. Dad has been on more prayer lists than I can count. Mom, Michelle, and my little family have prayed for him daily. We've prayed for him weekly during devotions at school. Churches here and in Virginia have prayed for this man. 

And God listens. He always listens. We never know how he will act. I don't know why God chose to save this man. I like to think He has more work for Dad here on earth. I like to believe that somebody, somewhere, will be led to Jesus through Dad's healing. All I know is that God knows what He is doing. It doesn't matter if I know or not. For now, all I can do is thank Him. Thank you, God. Thank you for making my Dad whole again. Thank you for giving him hope, relief, LIFE. Thank you for loving him, holding him throughout his treatment, keeping Mom in your loving embrace, and guiding them both every single step of the way.

Dad needs scans of his body every six weeks for the next two years to be considered "cured" or "cancer free". Today's proclamation is early, but it's a bend in the road in the right direction. We'll take it.

Did I mention how very courageous that woman beside this man is? She is. She's my mom. She's the caretaker. The nurse. The worrier. She insists that Dad eat when he doesn't want to. She puts up a brave front when she might otherwise shrink into the bed covers for the day. She loves him. For at least 44 years she's loved him. Yeah, I'm praising God for her, too. I think Dad pulled through this horrible time with her right by her side. Right where she belonged. God brought the two of them together for better or worse, in sickness and in health. They are a testament to the power of love and marriage. Thank you Mom and Dad.

I wish I had a picture of this.

This thing that stopped me today. 

Slowed me down.

Made me marvel at the creativity of children.

The kids (my first graders, not my own personal children) came in this morning and developed a little competition among themselves building houses out of snap cubes from the math manipulatives corner. They started off in pairs and quickly settled into constructing their own unique homes for the barrel of monkeys who also live in our room. They convinced me that I should reward the best builder with a Hershey's Kiss.

What I hadn't expected was the sheer creativity these kids put into their little homes. They had fireplaces, see-saws, vines for swinging, even a prison for the naughty monkeys in the community. I sat, perched on the tiny chairs and cushions in our classroom and listened. Each of the four participants in this game of Flip This House To Mrs. Richert explained how their house worked for the monkeys and why their house was, indeed, the best. I was honestly just taken aback and filled with joy for them. For the fun they had making these and the friendly competition it spawned. 

In the end. I couldn't decide, so I awarded everyone a Kiss. And I popped one for myself for the sheer enjoyment of stopping to listen to these awesome kids.

cough

cough

cough

When you watch the news this weekend,

I want you to remember just

one

thing:

I am 

one of the

ones

who had the 

flu

this week.

I am an 

official

number

in the grand flu count.

I

am

one

of

the

epidemic.

today

in the dining room

which is my crafting room

with a couch 

and a way cool lamp from the

salvation army

that came with a light bulb

that still worked,

i made this little collage 

of birds.

That's the grand and 

wonderful

thing about a

Prompt # 6 ~ Lists Lists Lists

 Latest purchase: thrift store lamp

. 

Originally uploaded by wendirichert

List No. 1: What I did today in chronological order
5:30 - Rise and shine. Well, just rise.
6:00 - Make sure the boys are risen and shining.
6:30 - Drive to school.
7:10 - Morning devotions at school
7:30 - The first graders are coming!!!!!!
8:15 - Gym. Time to breathe.

8:55 - Library. More breathing  time.

11:00 - Fantastic writing workshop minilesson on general vs. specific.
11:30 - Lunch ~ tomato soup and grilled cheese.

12:30 - Finish Horrible Harry and the Goob. Glad this is over. Not terribly interesting, although the kids love it. Tomorrow - Junie B. Jones!!!

2:00 - While the kids make their art project, I reorganized my Reading Workshop notebook.
2:20 - Dismissal
2:45 - Staff meeting
4:00 - Back in my room, gather up my stuff and the boys and come home.
5:30 - Cook supper.
6:30 - Talk to Mom
7:00 - Read Wind and the Willows with Camden
8:00 - Boys "should be" asleep.
8:51 - Now. I'm on the computer. Blogging. Making lists.

List No. 2 - My day in order of time spent on tasks
The school day - 10 hours
Staff meeting - 75 minutes

Reading with Camden and Benjy - 45 minutes
CSI - 60 minutes

Talking with Curt after school, between dinner and his karate class - 30 minutes.
The rest of the stuff I did today - tiny minutes squeezed in between everything else.

List No. 3 - My day in order of what was most important to me
1. Reading with Camden and Benjy. Camden and I are loving Wind and the Willows. We got through 3 chapters tonight. That crazy Toad!
2. Stolen hugs from Camden and Benjy during the day when they see me at at school. These happen in the hallways between lunch and recess, in the mornings before the opening, in the afternoons when on the way to after school care. Love these impromptu moments, these hugs and kisses.
3. Talking to Mom on the phone, catching up on her day out with Charlene and how Dad's doing. He has 9 more radiation treatments left.

4. Reading and Writing Workshops - I just feel so blessed that God has called me to teach children how to read and write and love doing both. This class absolutely begs to read and write. That love of literacy is just amazing. Who couldn't love that?!

Land of the Lost 1 and Prompt #5

Dear Blog,

Today's prompt is to write a letter. To anyone. So I'm writing to you. After all, I write to you more than anybody else. You're easy. And have you seen the cost of a postage stamp these days? You're easy and free.

I've spent a couple of odd minutes searching Youtube for ancient stuff. I've happened upon old movies of Puff the Magic Dragon, which my first graders LOVE. I've watched old School House Rock videos. Wow! Interjection! And I just found this gem. 

This used to scare the pants off of me. Every Saturday morning found me and Shell in front of the TV. This was before remote control, so we were pretty close to the set. She loved this show. I was hesitant. I watched it because I am the older sister and I had to be brave. Yikes! Interjection! Do you remember those sleestacks? Jeepers, they were a fright! 

Anyway, Blog, if you want me to look up something for you, like, say TaeKwondo forms or Scooby Doo episodes or video footage of Elvis, just lemme know. I'm your girl. Yeah!

Journal Prompt #4

The word is

maniacal.

It's a fun word to say.

It's not a fun thing to be.

Not that I would know.

It's just the way that it 

slips off the tongue

sort of at the back of the mouth.

Maniacal.

Say it.

Maniacal.

That's my word for the day.

the W project - Journal Prompt #3

W

in the big blue van

at Suds carwash

on route 66

during Benjy's snooze

beside itself

at its first outing

in its lifetime

Journal Prompt #2

Shimelle's journal prompt tonight was to take some words you hear often and interpret them. I've been hearing Emma's words since the spring of 1995, so I think I've got a bit of insight into what she's saying. Click on the image to read it. 

Journal Prompt #1

This boy likes to wear suit jackets and ties, but he usually just wears his pjs.

This boy is the loudest child on the planet, but he has the softest and sweetest singing voice I've ever heard.

This boy fusses when it's time to go to TaeKwondo, but he kicks and punches and yells with the best of them once he's there.

This boy reads everything, but he doesn't pick up his clothes in plain sight.

This boy wants to go to fancy restaurants, but he hasn't quite learned to chew with his mouth closed.

This boy runs and talks and GOES all day long, but after he says his prayers, he's still, quiet, and positively dreamy for 9 hours.

I'm so excited that Shimelle is starting a free journaling challenge tomorrow. I've missed the daily December prompts that I used to put together my Advent art journal. Most of the February prompts will make it to the blog, I'm sure. But I'm also hoping to do some more artsy pages for my scrapbook, too. Here's my response to today's pre-February prompt:

i love vanilla, vintage, and free.

i love yellow, itunes, and sleep.

i love Ws, daisies, and magazines.

but i can't stand a runny nose.

camden.

curt.

blue

belt.

red

belt.

two

steps

away.

one

step

away.

from

black

belt

excellence.

so

proud.

First Tae Kwondo class

Benjy gets his first High Five!

I hope you enjoyed those videos. We have LOTS more. But I didn't think it right to hog the blog with video footage of every move Benjy made in his first Tae Kwondo class tonight. Cute as he is. :)



Tiny Tiger Benjy had his first TaeKwondo class today. So proud, we are, of him.
He was the shortest tiger there. We rolled his pant legs up and his sleeves up and he still looked positively swallowed in his uniform. All in all, he did a great job. He broke a board. Twice. He bowed and said "ATA" at the right times. He threw some great knife-hand strikes. Now, he also faced the wrong direction a few times, but really, what's so wrong about that anyway? And he punched his brother who was holding a punching bag about 14 times instead of two, but, hey, can you blame a bro?

As of now, the whole darn family does martial arts. Curt outranks all of us. Then there's Camden. Then Benjy and I are equals at white belt status. Even black belts used to be white belts, though. So we're not hurtin'.

Have you seen this badge around?
Claudine Hellmuth posted it a few days ago for her friend who has a no-kill non-profit shelter in Tennessee. You can read all about it by checking out the badge posted here. I've sent my $10 donation over, and you can, too. It's as easy as pie. Just click on "donate" and you'll be walked SAFELY and SECURELY through Network for Good. And, the best part is, the top four charity badges with the most unique donations through America's Giving Challenge will get $50,000 for their cause. America's Giving Challenge runs until January 31st.

Here's what Claudine, my favorite artist in the whole entire world, had to say: 

Let's help Bernie win this! She has saved 500 animals from death all by herself just last year alone, imagine what she can do with a grant!

About A Place to Bark:
"A Place to Bark" is a private no kill rescue run solely by Bernie Berlin. All animals come from high kill shelters in the south and are on death row. Combining health care, rehabilitation, and working with animal welfare organizations A Place to Bark provides a true no kill vision. Registered 501c3 non-profit. Visit A Place to Bark's web site.

It gets better!
All donations made to A Place to Bark's Six Degrees Badge, will be matched by the "Zoline Foundation" up to $25,000.00!!! All donations up to June 1st will be counted for the matching donation from the Zoline Foundation. It's a win-win!

OK, what are you waiting for? Go and save a dog!

Do it for Ellie. :)

As of today, the whole family is enrolled in Tae Kwondo.

Wish I had a pic of all of us in our uniforms. 

I don't even have a picture of ME in my new white beltness.

But we are all in as of today.

Benjy signed up for Tiny Tigers today.

Cute thing has a size triple-zero uniform. 

I can't believe my once-timid non-talker who now will not shut up for one solitary minute will be screaming and kicking and punching and yelling his way into a future black belt. 

Oh, he's into it. Even before he tried on the uniform, he was psyched. He stepped up and kicked at me. Oh, I say he's a natural. 

Go Benjy, Go.

15 ~ January

15 ~ January
Originally uploaded by wendirichert

Inspired by the need to use my monthly kits from Jenny Bowlin's Studio on a more consistent basis, I've come up with a little project to work on this year. Each month, on the 15th, I'll snap a few pictures of what's going on around me. These were the few I took last week. It was a stay-home sick day for the boys and me. We filled our day with Star Wars Episode II - twice, making new tie-up shades with my old tie-back curtains, building elaborate train tracks around the living room, taking a warm bubble bath for no other reason than to play Star Wars in the tub, and practicing our quick draws. Who said sick days are no fun?

After reading Mom's blog, I'm finally ready to post this: 

My dad has cancer. Yes, it sucks. 

Throat cancer. 

Right next to the vocal chords.

the big 

C.

He started his chemo and radiation therapies about 3 weeks ago. The chemo wears him out, and he does have a couple of rough days afterward. But the radiation, so far, seems to be just a few minutes of his weekday afternoons. His energy is waning, but his spirits seem to be up. 

Funny how God works. 

I've always loved my mom and dad. Adored them. I often just praise God that he gave me THEM for parents. Especially when I think of the alternatives out there today. 

But the big C has forced me to reconsider how I show them I love them. So I'm making it a new priority to call more, mail more, pray MORE.

Here's a picture of Dad taken the day after he learned of his cancer. 

He loves his dog, Hokie. 

And I think he does indeed find hope in the small treats of life. His puppy. His family who loves him more than ourselves. His garage. :) (You should see this place. A garage with central air, a few rugs, a couple of recliners, a TV/DVD/VCR set-up, the old kitchen fridge. And who knows what else.....) 

I pray that Dad continues to relish the small treats he's dealt during his therapy time. He's about half-way through it, so he may indeed have a loooong way to go with more downsides than ups. But God will provide him the strength he needs to endure the recovery; the eyes to find the small treats and grasp them, hold onto them and relish them; and the faith to believe that he will get better. Yes, Dad, I do believe that with all my heart. You're gonna be just fine.

how cool is this???
how 'bout this one?



If you wanna make a name for yourself :)
then you should go here.

It's Friday. A short week at school. I pulled my back out at tae kwondo on Wednesday, so I'm especially glad for a few days of rest this weekend. However, I really MISS karate, so I may try to go in the morning, depending on my back. If I can't bow, I won't go. That's my litmus test. You have to bow in and out at karate, so if I can't do that much, then I have no business doing the in between stuff. 

Should be a quiet weekend around here. With Christmas decorations put away and my van smelling fresh and clean (thank you, Curt!), I'm ready for some regular weekend house cleaning and hanging out with the boys. Curt and I will watch the Bourne Ultimatum tomorrow night. Santa brought it for him in his stocking. Good old Santa! 

I leave you with this:

This is the absolute best reason for snow. Dad's snow cream.
I made this in photoshop elements for my Christmas art journal. Man, I'm gonna miss this journal once it ends on Jan. 6, Epiphany. Guess I'll have to get back into my regular scrapbooking in a big way. :)

Happy New Year!
Here's #1 in what I hope will be 366 days of photos for this year. (Hey, it's a leap year, ya know?) I love this pic because my favorite candle in the entire world is here - a Candleberry Candle Co. candle bought in Virginia during the Thanksgiving holiday. This scent is praline dreams. And it's really dreamy. Plus, the shot of my Mary Engelbreit Home Companion magazine really energizes me. I want this year to be about creating. Creating art. Creating inspiration for my family and my students. Creating spiritual connectedness for me with God. Creating. Creativity. For ME. For my family. 
This brings me to my word for the year.
Energy.
That's it.
Energy.
Spiritual.
Physical.
Mental.
Energy.

I'll need plenty of it to keep up the artiness I've had going on for the past week or so. I have risen each morning completely energized with a sense or art. Art with a lower-case a, mind you. I just can't wait to sit down and create. I visit Claudine's blog every single day for inspiration. And then I do my art journal entry from Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas class. Then I just surf for inspiration. And I create. That energy is just amazing. I pray that I can sustain it during the school year when I have to rise before the sun and begin a day with first graders and papers and books and noise.

Energy.

Yes.

I think it's a fine word for 2008.

We actually went out for New Year's Eve last night. Yes, really.
We went to the Kuhns where we met up with the Pouliches and the Urams. What fun. We mostly hung around Staci's kitchen where the food was, eating her chicken salad and countless other dishes. We tried dancing with the dancing machine thing that hooks up to the TV, but apparently we're too old to figure that out. And we watched the kids - 7 of them - run around the house with empty water guns and Star Wars light sabers and Barbie dolls and happy screams. It was a good ending to 2007.

Oh my goodness, I'm in love!
I just made this
on this site. Wowie wow wow.

I can't wait to make more of these next year. :)

My boys are nuts for Star Wars. 

They will play with their trunk full of Star Wars guys for hours at a time. 

They fly the Millenium Falcon and Imperial Shuttle and the Y Wing Fighter all over the house.

They grab their light sabers in an assortment of colors and do battle in the basement. Benjy always asks Camden who the bad guy is. It's usually Benjy.

Most recently, the dynamic duo decided to put on a show for Curt and me. We sat in the living room for more than an hour watching them reenact all six Star Wars movies. Here's the intro they gave us. Curt has the rest on his computer. He's doctoring it up and making it fancy and fun so we can burn it to a DVD for the boys. They'll get a big hoot out of their Star Wars show. I know we sure did. :)

Oh, since it's nearly the end of the year, I've been thinking about 2008:

As much as I HATE new year's resolutions, here's what I'm hoping to accomplish in the coming year:

* Start Tae Kwondo and don't quit. (I could be either a green belt or a camo belt by year's end, depending on how many testings the studio has.)
* Learn to cook a few good-for-you meals that my kids will actually eat. Our new cookbook by Jerry Seinfeld's wife, Jessica Seinfeld, will definitely help here. 
* Simplify! So many areas here: our family spending, our home, the TOYS, our schedules, our wants. Cindy's Porch will be my inspiration here. Check it out if you have similar goals. 

Not quite the new year.....

But I'm trying to start early on a resolution to keep up the old blog at least with a note or two throughout each week.



This is the piece
Claudine Helmuth made for me for my Christmas present from Curt. I am totally in awe of her work. Absolutely completely head-over-heels in love with her talent. She took emailed pix of my family and some generic ideas of the beach, Hatteras Island and Star Wars and turned them into this. Isn't this the most awesome piece of art you've ever seen? I've hung it over my desk in the office so I can admire it each day as I do emails and surfing and dreaming and my scrapping. What inspiration and a constant reminder of my happy little family and a wonderful trip we had at the beach one summer.

Another fave this Christmas......



Mom got me this fabulous purse from her pastor's wife who makes these awesome things! She's amazing. She's more amazing than Vera!!!!!!!!!!!! I went to her studio and picked out every last piece of fabric for this bag. And even the elephant zipper pull! Then I got to tell her what pockets I wanted, how big, how tall, how many. So many details that go into a handbag that I have never even thought of before. Wow, this woman rocks. And she's just the sweetest person to top it all off. If you need a purse, let me know. I can hook you up!


And to end this post, I leave you with this: my favorite Christmas decoration of all. The vintage tinsel tree. Truly old. Truly silver. Truly sharp if you're not careful when putting it away. And that's exactly what I did today. I put away all the Christmas decorations. Truly, I hate doing that. I spend so much time looking forward to decorating and enjoying the twinkle and sparkle of the tree lights and all the other lights I manage to plug in during December. And then when Christmas Day has ended, I'm over it. Ready for it to go back into the 6 giant green Rubbermaid containers that hold them all. I do miss the sparkle of Christmas.

Dec. 15

IMG_5568
Originally uploaded by wendirichert