Thirty Years Ago and Today

It's 20 degrees at 7:00 this morning... but how good it feels to wake up on a Saturday morning with sunshine beaming through the windows... and how sweet it feels to drink a hot cup of tea while I download some photos of art projects we've been working on these past couple of weeks.

Thirty years ago, my life ... no, our lives... changed completely... a new person was born in me, from me. Our son was born that day.

Today is his 30th birthday... and it hardly seems possible. It's odd not having him here for dinner tonight... not being able to bake him a special cake... to hug him as he walks in the door... this is his first birthday away from home, and it feels like something is missing. I am grateful, though, that we are all of us well, that he is living where he wants to be right now, and that he works in a profession which serves to mend, heal, cure, and restore people who are hurt, sick, and dying. I'll see him next week.

                                   Happy Birthday to my son!

 This photo was taken back in March, when Steven came home to help us bury Max, to share the grief. Misty was still with us then. 

He was in high school when we brought Misty into our lives and made her a part of our family. Three years later, while Steven was in college, we decided a second dog would keep Misty company when I became a teacher and started working full time. During those 8 1/2 years the two dogs were our companions... they went with us on vacations... I took them to school with me on weekends... they cuddled with us in the evenings, and were free spirits by day. To our great sadness, Max crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, and Misty followed him less than two months later.

Pet owners know that one day their beloved pets will die, and very likely, they will die before we do. It's a risk we are willing to take. We soon learn that what we receive from our pets is so much more than what we give. When they are gone, we feel like we never gave enough, and yet, we know that we gave all that we could. It's a paradox, this feeling and this knowing. They seem to contradict each other.
In the end, after the initial shock and pain subsides, one thinks it is worth it. The love, the loyalty, the antics, and especially the joy they share with us. Their willingness to always be there. Always. No wonder we are heart-broken when they pass, and no wonder the silence is heavy and painful when we come home after work. But even that pain passes, and we are left with the memories. And they are oh, so sweet. Yes, it is worth loving a pet. I imagine some people love their pets more than the humans they live with, or their pets may be their only solace, only companionship for weeks and months on end. For some, it may be the only love they experience, ever. So love them and enjoy them while they bark and jump and wag their tails... love them and take care of them and keep them groomed and healthy.

This kind of love should be applied to our human friends and family as well! It all applies. In the end, after they are gone, we think we could have... we should have... if only I... I wish I had... . Why wait until someone dies to do more for another? Why wait until they leave this world to wish you had visited them more often, or called them more often, or said you were sorry, or said "I love you"? Why not do it now? Resolve those guilt feelings now, while communications are still open, and if they are not open, be the one to open them. Be the one, because it matters to you, and it probably matters to them too, but they don't know how to do it. But you do. Be the one!

That's my wisdom for the day!

The last few weeks have been filled with color and design in my class. I am forever amazed at what the kids will do when I leave them to their own thoughts and ideas. Last month, third graders worked on a a task to learn how to create overlapping. Their pieces were so colorful and vibrant, I just had to do the 3D glasses next. I have some commercial 3-D glasses, but wanted the kids to make their own first. !






The best moment came when they looked at their own art works through their glasses. "Ooooh!" was all they could say. Incredible. Somebody pinch me!!! Does it get any better than this! .... thank you, God!

Second graders learned about warm hues and painted the sun using oil pastel and watercolor resist. The key is to use at least an 80-90 lb paper. The water color will cause excessive warping and curling if using anything with less weight.

Paper tile pumpkins were made by kindergarteners as they learned about broken line. And how to use a glue bottle! Squeezing glue from a glue bottle is a very tricky maneuver, particularly when you have to squeeze it onto little squares. For those with the least dexterity, I gave them a Q-tip and glue-plate.


Expressive Words was a fourth grade project... many great words. Line, color, and balance were the focus of these designs. I told them to pick short words... longer words cannot be drawn very big on 12X18 paper. Here are two:



Coming soon: Kaleidoscope paintings and Holiday candles. I thank you all for visiting and leaving comments.