Wealth of Change

Photo taken in the White Mountains of NH

Within 9 months of 2012, I have seen a wealth of change.  I must admit, the year didn't start out on a high note for me.  I went through some difficult situations, was blindsided, felt discouraged, and got "knocked down" a number of times.  Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad and I know it certainly could have been worse.  At some point I found myself being drawn closer to God.  Through the process I found a reason for the negative thrown in my direction... growth.  We all know I'm not talking about my height here.  I'm not saying I want to live through the hurts again and the list of those I trust is much shorter, but it brought me to where I am today.  There is peace in this knowledge.  The way I view things has altered slightly.  While there is more caution, I have more faith.  I'm aware that my days of learning are far from over.  When the next struggle comes along, I plan to deal with it to the best of my ability, using prayer & patience.  God has a plan for me.

During the summer, we experienced great blessings.  Visiting with friends and extended family on the east coast was one highlight.  Our hearts and family grew as we took part in the fabulous wedding of my father-in-law & P.  She is an amazing woman who enriches all of our lives tremendously.  We officially gained more additions to our lives with E, little J, B, A, and others as well.  Two families really did become one in July.

While this was a great event in our lives, there were more incredible moments as well.  I believe one of the most special happenings came to fruition in part because of motions that were set into place at the beginning of 2012.  God moved me.  He tweaked my heart through the strife.  I gained peace.  A desire to be baptized presented itself.  While I have been a Christian since the age of 12, there are reasons why I chose not to be baptized until this year.  I won't go into detail, but I will tell you that I wanted all the glory to be for God and nobody else.  On the evening of May 13, 2012 (Mother's Day), I read my written testimony in front of our church and was baptized by Pastor T.  It was an incredible day that I shared with my mom, older brother, husband, sons, & dear friends.

A spark began.  Times of hurt caused me to turn to God on a deeper level.  In turn, I altered my prayers to God regarding situations in my life that I could not fathom how to repair.  One of these prayers was simply... "God I don't know what to do, but You do, so I'm putting it in Your hands."  I meant it, continued this prayer, and gave it fully to God.  In mid-July, I was amazed to receive a message that I honestly never expected.  It took me some time to process, but I felt that God was answering my prayers.  Faith that He was in control encouraged me to proceed.  A bond that was broken four years before had begun to mend and continues to do so.  My younger brother, M4, is back in my life.  In fact, we attended his wedding to D in August and are now blessed with a new sister-in-law (an aunt to my sons).  I truly believe that God brought us to this place.  What joy fills my heart for this gift.

Sharing personal stories isn't always the most comfortable thing to do.  There is always concern that someone will become upset in the process.  For those of you who have read my blog postings before, you know I have shared difficult situations in the past.  You have been given an insight to my journey, read my light hearted stories, experienced some of my joys, and seen my crafty creative side.  My life is no better than anyone else's and I don't pretend to have all the answers, but if my story can give a little hope, inspiration, or help to someone else, then I feel it's important to share it.

Today, I am grateful.  <3  I give the glory to God!  I sing His praises!

Mo Fun Projects

We are a family that loves Mo Willems!  My son, M, was introduced to Pigeon, Gerald, Piggie, & oh so many mo(re) fabulous characters when he started school.  Thanks to the fabulous teacher, Mrs. R., we have fallen in love with the humor that Mr. Willems brings.  If you have never read one of these fantastic stories, give them a try.  Our absolute favorite is a Piggie & Elephant story called, "We Are In A Book!"  Be warned though.   Once you go Mo, you never go back.

With all this love for storybook characters, you might not be surprised that we've done a number of crafts in honor of them.  My friends have insisted that I share some of these fun projects.  Many Mo fun projects will be making their debut below.  *Some Mo Willems themed projects not pictures have already been showcased on my blog.


Mr. Willems, 
If you happen upon our little bit of this, little bit of that, family based blog, please know that we greatly admire you.  Your books are absolutely the best and we share them with everyone we know.  Okay.  We may not exactly share our books with everyone, but we do tell them about your amazing stories and buy them for some other special kiddos in our lives.  You've inspired these projects with your fun cast of characters and I'm certain you'll continue to do so.  We thank you for the humor, entertainment, and making reading a little mo' fun!  Keep writing & illustrating... we'll keep reading & loving every second!
You Fans,
CMOM Productions (just another cast of characters)




A Classroom Mascot...

This fun Pigeon mascot was hand drawn.  Here he is playing "Pigeon Lips" for Valentine's Day.  Key ingredients... poster board, scrapbook paper, glue, & a large laminating machine.  If you aren't into hand drawing, you could always use a projector to help create Sir Pigeon.

Mascot Accessories...

No mascot is complete without accessories.  Let's face it.  This Pigeon has to show his attitude and what better way to do so than with extra style.  All items were laminated.  *Not pictured:  1 speech bubble, perfect for bus driving requests.  While not all of the props are completed, it's a start.  When I finish the rest (I do have a list), I promise to do another post to showcase them.  

Pirate Pigeon (March is Reading Month theme: Pirates)...  
The palm tree & beach sand were made by an amazing friend & fellow parent volunteer and myself.  Three cheers for Miss J!  The pirate pigeon artwork is amazing!  Bravo kids!

 

Irish Pigeon (St. Patty's Day)...  

April Showers Pigeon (check out the boots)...  

 

May Flowers Pigeon...  

Back to Back Bus (one side school bus, one side "the bus")...  

Per my request, this one was created by my fabulous husband, C!

 

Desk Name Tags...
Mo' favorite characters, including the man himself, plus a speech bubble, some scrapbook paper, adhesive, & a laminating machine.  Write names on with a sharpie and cover with contact paper to stick them to the desks.  At the end of the year remove the sharpie with rubbing alcohol (I learned this trick from M's teacher).

Pigeon Treasure Keeper...
Using my previously seen hand carved Pigeon stamp, recycled containers, white contact paper, sharpies, these treasure keepers were fun little gifts for M's classmates.

Wooden Pigeon Pegs (hand painted)...
Wooden doll pegs, paint, brushes, modge podge to seal it, and patience.

Cat the Cat Clock...
A book with ruined pages inside (picked up at a book sale) was perfect for this project!  We grabbed a clock kit at our local Hobby Lobby, added a little spray paint, used a drill, and here you have it.  We found this book clock idea online.  C & M completed the project.

Pigeon Pencil Block...
Wood block, drill, scrapbook paper, modge podge, stamp, & sharpies.  By far our biggest efforts of team work as a family.  My older brother cut the 4x4, husband drilled the holes, boys picked the paper, & I put it together. 

Hand Carved Stamps...

This is one of my favorite creations ever made.  It was a personalized gift for an amazing teacher & friend.  Made with stamp rubber (found at Hobby Lobby), carving tools, and stamping cling foam, these stamps can be used with clear blocks (Stampin' Up size C = perfect).  The set is stored in a stamp case made by Stampin' Up.  The word bubble can be used for Pigeon, Gerald, & Piggie.  I wonder what they'll say... 

Pigeon (Hand) Prints...

This project was spotted online with stars for "Don't Let The Pigeon Stay Up Late."  We kept it simply the pigeon for our class project.  Paint, construction paper, scissors, glue, & a wobbly eye.  Mrs. R, Miss J, & I had fun seeing all the pigeons take shape.

Well, there you have it...  
CMOM Production's current gallery of Mo Willems inspired projects!  

Stay tuned for future projects.

Currently Enjoying Life

Currently enjoying life.  

Not perfection.  

Life.  

The ups.  

The downs.  

The monotony.  

The unexpected.

Being on top of it all.

Running behind.

Smiles.

Tears.

Feeling blessed.

Grateful.

Living.

He Drew Me Closer

Life is ever changing.  We learn, grow, and move forward.  Our path isn't always what we imagine it to be.  At times we stumble or lose sight of what is important.  It happens.  That's when we pick up the pieces, find our way back, and push on in the right direction.

I'm often one to put on a brave face and convince myself that I am unaffected by whatever circumstance falls upon me.  At times it's true, yet not always.  For a few months I found myself feeling very down.  I was unable to shake the sad and negative that had crept up and piled on.  When I hit a point where I could release some of it I felt better, but it wasn't completely gone.

As I began to read an inspirational fiction book, there were points that hit close to home.  I opened my heart a little more and pondered the lessons I could learn from this story.  When I finished it, an ebook that I had gotten during a Nook Free Friday was the next one that popped up.  I was feeling a little under the weather and thought it was a good time to start reading it.  The overview for "When You Can't Find God:  How to Ignite the Power of His Presence" by Linda Evans Shepherd says "You can find hope and peace--no matter what."  This book has pointed me back in the right direction.

Life is not perfect, nor will it ever be, but God is in control.  The circumstances (good and bad) shape us.  My recent struggles and sadness brought me to a place where I reached out to God, yet He was already there, and He drew me closer.

Philippians 4:13   I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

One of my absolute favorite songs...

   Mercy Said No by Greg Long

Affect Someone

Do you ever have moments when you feel as though you just can't win?  You're defeated at every turn and just want to fast forward to bed time.  Then out of nowhere, someone says or does the most priceless thing that makes you smile.  That person, having no idea how much their actions or words mean, can change your entire day.  They may not erase all of the negatives, but instead remind you that it's often not all that important.

I have amazing friends from various states in this country.  We don't get the opportunity to talk on a regular basis and I'm lucky to see some them every few years.  Yet when we do have a conversation or get to visit, we pick up as though we saw each other yesterday.  I have a handful of fantastic local friends that make me laugh and smile whenever I see them too.  To have these people in my life means I'm blessed with truly incredible friendships.

A number of these special people have brightened my day without even knowing that I needed it.  With an email, a letter, a photo, a quick phone call, a post on Facebook, or just stopping in to say hi.  It brings tears to my eyes thinking of moments when I have needed a reminder that I am loved and cared about and my friends were there.  Without having any idea of what happened in my day or what was happening in my life at that time, they gave me a little pick me up.

It's moments like these that help me remember there are much bigger things in life than my bad day.  God is in control and He has blessed me with beautiful relationships and friendships!

Maybe you will be the person who turns someone's day around.  Remember how easily you can affect your friends, co-workers, family, or even a complete stranger.  Kindness matters.

Sticking With Cupid

Once upon a time....  That's how fairytales begin right?  How often do we want to know the rest of the story when it ends with true love's kiss and happily ever after?  Do you ever picture characters lives beyond a book?  I know I do.

Today I'm sharing and my old blog post, Romantic Notions, with the story of how I met my husband.  I'm linking up with Diane Estrella's How Cupid Shot Me blog hop, so pop on over and check out all of the real life love stories.

Beyond our story of how it all began, I have a secret to share.  Cupid doesn't leave.  I fall in love with my husband all over again daily.  While love, relationships, & marriage are not easy, we don't let the struggles keep us from what's important.  We love each other.

When I'm having a rough day, C often finds a way to make me smile and laugh.  He's surprised me with a thoughtful gift when I least expect it.  When I say gift, I don't mean expensive jewelry or roses.  If you ask my husband, he'll tell you that's not what I would want anyway.  To give an example of what I mean, it could be as simple as a special sandwich I've been craving, a crafty item I've been searching for, a soundtrack on my list, or a hard to find jacket that I've desired for a long time.  It's never about money or materialism, but about the thought and time he took for me.  It's the little things, such as a much needed reminder note, daily lunch time conversation, or just sitting near each other while we read, work on projects, or relax.  He let's me vent, encourages me, laughs with me, stands beside me, and holds me up when I need it most.  There are very few people in this world that I feel I can count on and he knows he's #1 on my list.  He let's me be who I am.  I adore him for being a wonderful father and husband.

On the flip side, I do my best to put thought & heart into our relationship too.  Thoughtful gifts are my speciality, but it's more than that.  A day doesn't go by without the words "I love you" and a kiss.  C knows how much he means to me and often hears my words of appreciation.  My husband is my best friend.

Not a day goes by when I don't realize how lucky we are... and fall in love all over again.

What's your story and how do you keep the pages turning?

Life's a happy song when there's someone by your side to sing along...

<3  March 23, 2012 makes 15 years since we met online and 13 years of marriage.  <3

Insult to Injury

Bullying is a hot topic in today's society.  While the focus is generally on children, the fact is that adults deal with it as well.  Rumors are spread, people gossip, and whispers can be heard behind each other's backs.  Simply put, it hurts.

Physical injuries are visible and people often easily recognize your need to slow down and heal.  It's not as simple with the emotional hurts we incur.  Most are unable to see heartache without someone verbalizing it.  We all react differently to these circumstances and at times they can even change our personality.  No matter if the issue is large or small, it can affect us.

Imagine a friend, acquaintance, or someone you work with.  Now think about that person talking negatively about you behind your back.  Think about how you would feel when you found out.  What if you had put your heart into something and those hurtful words were about how you handled it?  Would it sting?  Picture a time in your life when you were feeling disheartened.  Now throw that insult to your already injured heart.  Where would you be mentally after that?  Add in that more than one person was talking about you.  How much damage is done now?

Constructive suggestions and hurtful criticisms are not one and the same.  We don't always agree and our process & actions aren't going to be exactly the same.  Sometimes we need to discuss it to gain understanding or explain our own thoughts & concerns.  Certain people are detail oriented planners, while others are the "fly by the seat of their pants" type.  Each of us has strengths and weaknesses.  The world works well with all kinds of people in it.  Where would we be if we were all the same?  Respect, teamwork, kindness, and understanding go a long way.

"If there was only one note how boring life would be.  I'm glad there are so many notes in many different keys."


When life seems to be a whirlwind of negative, how do you shut it off?  Do you have a personal pause "button" to give you time to reflect, refocus, relax, & rejuvenate?  How are you able reclaim your brain and your life?