karenika

David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories – Week 18

Here’s this week’s offering from David:

David’s got two photos from his childhood. Aren’t they awesome?

And one from Nathaniel:

These are all of Nathaniel’s thank you cards.

David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories is a two projects I’m doing with my kids for 2015. You can read more about it here.

Stories of Twenty-Fifteen – Week 18

Here’s this week’s story (sorry for the blurs i didn’t want to put the other kids on the internet without permission):

Title: The Last Basketball Game of the Season
Story:
Today was David’s last basketball class for the season. This is his second year playing and he has improved so much over time. Yes, he’s still a long way from some of the superstar players on his team but he’s a lot more comfortable on the court and he’s participating very actively in the games. More importantly, he’s part of this wonderful group of very supportive players.

David’s team won all but four games this season including this very last game. David gave his best this game and so did all the other boys. It was really wonderful to see that both of the fourth grade teachers also made it to the game so they could cheer their students on.

I grew up doing no sports whatsoever so, to me, all of this is very new and I find the whole process foreign. Even though David’s inclination, like me, is to stay home and read and stay away from sports, I wanted to make sure he had experience being part of a team, and playing games that might not come easily to him.

The way basketball is offered in his school is the very best possible introduction to sports, in my opinion. Almost everyone in the class participates so the amount of experience and ability is a wide range. Competition is there but is not core to the experience and all the kids know this and they cheer each other on and encourage each other to be their best selves. When one makes a mistake, all the others are there to comfort him and tell him it’s no big deal and when one does exceptionally well, they pat him in the back and congratulate him heartily. It’s really rewarding to watch how kind they are to each other.

We have one more year of this before it’s time for middle school and who knows what the dynamic will be there, but in the meantime, I am grateful that David is willing to give this a try even though I know it’s not easy for him. I am grateful to the school for offering such a safe environment for the kids. And I am grateful to these kids who go out of their way to encourage each other.

Congratulations, my sweet boy. Here’s to another wonderful year in fifth grade.

Stories of Twenty Fifteen is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

You Choose – Week 17

This week’s pick is about being brave. It says “you have to be open to new possibilities, and take steps towards being brave so that you fee more alive.” See how I worked so many of my core desired feelings into that one? 🙂

some sweet shimmers on this one:

You Choose is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

Note to Self – Week 19

This week’s page was another Life Book lesson. One by Lynn Whipple which was about making a jar with all the things that make you happy.

No added message on this one, since there were so many words on it already.

Note to self: remember that there are always people, things, thoughts, places, activities that bring you joy at any moment. and even when things are tougher, most of these things are still available to you.

Note to Self is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

A Book a Week – The apple orchard

I read When I Found You because amazon recommended it and I’d read Pay it Forward many years ago and loved it.

This story, too, was very endearing. Depressing and outright sad at times but also wonderful at other times. I like how her characters feel real to me. I won’t read another one soon but I did like this one.

Everyday Brave – Week 16

Here’s this week’s layout, not my super favorite but the trick is to keep going.

The left side here is a government building i liked and wanted to draw. It didn’t come out looking the way i’d hoped but that’s ok.

And the right side is supposed to be a bed. Somehow I find beds really hard to draw.

And there we are. Here’s another week of practicing courage.

Fifty-two stamps is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories – Week 17

Here’s this week’s offering from David:

David made this for Nathaniel because Where’s the Green Sheep was one of his favorite books.

And one from Nathaniel:

Nathaniel colored one side of this wing and I the other on the first week of school. It’s quite shiny.

David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories is a two projects I’m doing with my kids for 2015. You can read more about it here.

You Choose – Week 16

This week’s pick is about serenity. There’s nothing like the outdoors and tall trees and soft, gentle wind to remind me of what matters most. To bring me back to the place of serenity and calm and connection with nature. It always grounds me and I wish I did it more often.

just a few shimmers on this one:

You Choose is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

A Book a Week – slated series

I read Slated Trilogy in one sitting. I can’t remember if Evelyn recommended it or I just randomly picked it up. I can’t even remember that much about it but I remember that I liked it.

it was like other stories i read and there wasn’t anything that stood out exceptionally. but it didn’t feel terrible or badly written. at least at the time.

so if you want a fun, quick young adult read. this isn’t bad.

Note to Self – Week 18

This week’s page takes its inspiration from Mati Rose McDonough’s lesson from Life Book 2015. Her little boat made me so happy that I needed to do one myself right away. I loved working on the background of this page. I just played with the colors I loved and didn’t overthink any of the process. That’s generally when magic happens.

The writing says: always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.

This is a perfect quote for someone like me. someone who always worries. Someone who imagines bad things in her head a lot. Someone who isn’t always all that optimistic. I want to change all that. I want to believe in magic and that it’s not only possible but probable in my life. I’ve been so lucky, so incredibly fortunate in my life that I owe it to the universe to honor its wonderfulness.

here’s a front view it’s less shiny:

Note to self: be open to the possibility of wonderful. full of wonder.

Note to Self is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

Everyday Brave – Week 15

I am still running behind and this is falling to the bottom of my catch up list. It will all work out and I will be magically caught up one day. Just not today :).

The left side here is a house I liked. I wish I could be better at drawing and painting houses, I really like seeing them.