A SPUD-tacular Day!

Today was craft day with my babies and although we were missing Will terribly, we managed to have a terrific time. Of course there was the usual mess we always seem to make after craft time....today we made Joseph's Coat of Many Colors with little bits of colored tissue paper. Our Joseph puppet looked very stellar in his fine coat. Doesn't she strike a pretty pose?

Haven opted out of the craft today and made most of the opportunity by playing with Thomas and his train buddies without interruption. He was so quiet...had to check on him a couple of times to make sure he was still in the room.

He really was happier than he looks.....I think he was in thinking mode. I wonder about what?
Park was in high gear today and ready to do anything....after he colored Joseph's face to match his coat he moved on to more creative means of entertainment.... What a ham! Reminds me of another little guy that I am very fond of.....hmmm!

We ate some lunch at such time that I over heard Haley say that Grandma makes the best grilled cheese sandwiches in the world.....and later recanted her statement as she said that her mommy makes the best! Little stinker...

Then it was onto more scientific matters....time to experiment with potatoes. I must be missing my elementary school days...this experiment was always my favorite.....placing potatoes in water and waiting for roots to grow and then the vine begins to grow on top. I explained to the little ones that they would be able to pick their potato and name it after we made it comfortable in it's new home.....a very large mason jar! Thanks Mom for all those homemade pickles, we have found a way to recycle the jars....

Potato project No.1 After explaining to them that the toothpicks didn't hurt the spuds as we pushed them into the sides, we positioned each spud lovingly into the jar and filled with water. I then told them what they could expect to see in a few weeks. That we had to be patient and once the roots begin to grow and leaves appear, we will add food coloring to the water to see if it will change the color of the leaves. They will remain in Grandma's windowsill and I will photograph any changes. When they return in a couple of weeks, we might have something to talk about.

Next came the naming of these pampered potatoes...see photos for proof!

Park & Blue

Haven & Jack

Haley & Grace

Then it was outside for some sunshine, basketball and truck driving!

Divine Inspiration

Why is it that whenever I am under pressure to meet a deadline I seem to dream up the most unusual creations. Do other people go through this phenomenon? It doesn't matter how much time I've had to chew on a particular project...It always goes the way of...procrastination! and as the deadline begins to loom in the horizon my sleep becomes deprived because my mind races with thoughts of colors and dimensions.

Here's the scoop...A couple of weeks ago, more like three or four weeks ago, I was approached by a staff member at my church. She was in charge of creating a "retreat like" atmosphere within our chapel. Our church hosts a conference each year called C3 where pastors from all over converge on our church to be fed with all types of tidbits ranging from, how to begin a church all the way to children's activities and other various topics of being a creative church in today's world. So, the "retreat" was to be equipped with massage therapists and small quiet areas for journaling, prayer, reading and relaxation. It was called the relaxation zone....the person in charge of pulling it all together ask me and several other artists if they would like to display some of their artwork in this area. Wow! What an honor...I said, YES!!!! I would love to do that. It was explained to me how she envisioned the "zone" would look and asked if I had some really large designs. I told her that I didn't have anything as large as she was requesting, but that I would make a couple of designs. No sooner did I walk outside did I start to doubt my ability to create something.....anything! And why? You would think that I would know by know that if God gave me this gift and He presents an opportunity to use that gift, then He would provide the idea to create a design. But noooooooo! Doubt leads to procrastination and that leads to panic and that leads to "oh my goodness, I have only one day left" and then......it happens!

It's like a little drip landing on the stillness of the water. Even the smallest of drops will cause a ripple that spreads out and as it expands little tidal waves wash over my brain. And thoughts begin to appear out of no where. It's as if God says, "have you thought of this?"

......plink.....ripple.....waves.....an idea begins to emerge and then I rush to my workroom to make this image in my head that I really can't explain because it's not really clear to me even, but yet my hands know what to do. Then there is the "wow" moment that follows after all of the ripples fade away and the design is complete.


Divine Inspiration? Ya think?