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What ever happened to PLAYtime?
Play. What are the first things you see, feel, smell, taste, hear when you think of this word? Color. Smiles. Activity. Concentration. Comfortable. Welcoming. Happy. Play-doh. Finger paints. Goldfish. Juice. Giggles. Conversation. Pitter-patters. Music. Squeals. These are just the beginning of what pops into my head when I think about “play.” Children have the raw instinct to just know to play. They don’t need instruction, they simply begin. They start by learning the noises and voices that are safe and familiar. Then slowly they begin to develop their focusing skills, and start to discover their hands, feet, and those around them. They gradually learn they can kick, grab, roll over,…
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One Wave at a Time
Just a note before I start today’s writing: I am so grateful for the picture above, along with many more, you never know when these moments will no longer exist. And we have the opportunity in our pockets (phones), to take glimpses of these moments. I encourage you to not hesitate, take the pictures! Video all the firsts, seconds, thirds, the moments that you can’t get back! I know how these priceless treasures can make my day just a little bit more do-able, I never wish this on anyone, but believe me if you are ever left with just pictures and videos and memories, you won’t regret a second of…
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“She Keeps to Herself”
Before I start today’s writing, I would like to correct something I wrote last week. And that is, I wrote that there is an RSV vaccine, there is not. I fact checked myself, because I knew they had discovered something, and there is a treatment that high risk patients can be given. Therefore, I pass on this information and urge you to fight for those who are too weak to fight right now. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/prevention.html Now to today’s writing… Have you ever heard this comment made about somebody? “She/he is just shy/quiet/private, so she/he just keeps to themselves most of the time.” It’s funny because when my grandparents said it, it…
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Discerning the Invisible
Allow me to take you on a wild adventure, into the world that is the fascinating, yet misunderstood and unseen… As I wrote last week, this is an adventure that many have had, yet no two individuals have the same experience or lasting life after shocks. Also, there are many who haven’t had even a taste of the adventure I am about to take you on. So whether you have been on this rollercoaster, or are on it, or haven’t a taste, I’m going to do my best to walk you down my path of adventure of diagnoses of invisible chronic illnesses, and accepting that they are invisible. The thing…
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Name, Claim, No Room for Shame!
As I watch the coverage of Hurricane Ian, I am struck with all sorts of emotion. I am also remembering the documentaries that I just watched barely two weeks ago, “When the Levees Broke” and then the follow-up “If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise,” which are about Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. The devastation, the brokenness, the loss of lives, homes, loss of everything they had ever known. No two stories were the same, but every person, every story was effected by the hurricane. The trauma, the loss, the reactions, no two were the same, yet they all experienced the same horrific storm. Have you ever experienced…
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Take time to Look Up!
Happy Fall, Ya’ll! Fall and winter are my happy places 😊. I love the weather, the clothes, the feelings… I could go all day, but I know that most people don’t share my deep love for these seasons, so I won’t drag it out 😂. Seasons of Life. Some come and go, some come to stay. It is all in how we choose to welcome them, isn’t it? The picture above is my niece during our first visit to Build-a-Bear. I love this picture, and when I say love, I am over the moon in love with this picture. Let me tell you why. First, the awe and wonder in…
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Dot. Dot. Dot.
Today is an exciting writing day for me. It is a day known around the world, mostly among teachers and children book lovers, it is International DOT Day! A reminder that EVERYONE has the opportunity to “Make your mark!” This day originated from Peter H. Reynolds’ book, “The Dot.” One of my personal favorite books, and also one of my favorite children’s authors. (link to more about this at the bottom of today’s post.) “Trust in your abilities by being brave enough to ‘make your mark,’ it begins with a small dot.” “Each day is a NEW day – a blank page – a chance to make it the BEST…
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Those Who Make Our Lives GRAND!
Grandparents. Special older influences. The people that make you think, make you smile, make you slow down for a while. Front porch visits, a pack of nabs, a Pepsi, an episode of the Andy Griffith Show. This coming Sunday we celebrate and honor, these very special people. And as I have experienced as a child, and as a Mommy and Aunt, I love children’s art no matter the occasion, I want to slow down and reflect on what really is so GRAND about the investments they make! GUIDE with grace: The beauty of grandparents guidance is that they have experience. In the eyes of a child, it seems like they…
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Where Has All The Clapping Gone?
Only a little while ago we were seeing reports of people opening their windows during the hospital shift changes. Hundreds, millions of people clapping, whistling, making music. All for the work that our healthcare workers, our first responders, our medical researchers were doing. What in the world made us go from celebrating to being severely critical? I am honestly beyond appalled. Do you feel the “I am about to snap” feeling? Well, you would be correct. The past two weeks I have had a few normal doctors appointments, simple routine check-ups. And I have never seen a shortage of staff like there is right now. It’s discouraging to see. Because…
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Heart of Urgency
As I mentioned last week, my niece and nephew were with us for almost a week, for what we like to call Camp Palmer Pines Jr. We took a little journey to the Billy Graham Library Teddy Bear Tea, and had fun staying in a hotel, with a tv in the bathroom mirror, I might add 😂 (The other TVs are no longer fascinating 😊) After our little adventure, we had some “taking it easy” time at home. Each summer we have, what my nephew named, “Bible School.” Just 30 to 45 minutes of talking about Jesus and God’s Word, which we repeat, “The Bible is the MOST important book…
