Creativity calls

We planted bulbs today. Prepping for next spring, while the fabulous fall weather is in full swing.
 It was dirty, sweaty work, but so much fun!
 Canaan and Zion helped pick spots, dig holes, plant and cover the little bundles of potential. They actually both lasted almost the whole time. While I was putting away the tools and sweeping up the mess they both went inside to clean up. Cool down. Get a drink.
 Imagine my surprise when I walked in and was greeted with "Mom, we are ready to give you your massage."

 They had placed a towel on the couch, prepared steamy cloths, and were ready to serve. Canaan rubbed my head, Zion steamed my feet and they both helped "beat the stress away" on my back.

 All their idea.

 Completely their planning.

 What amazing boys I have!

 I, obviously, don't have any pictures. I was quite willing to just lay down and let them pamper me! However, I do have some pictures of what my boys have been up to recently.

 The Cardinal's men, fighting against The Musketeers.

 Super hero facepaint

 Fishing in the rain

 With our good friend Asher.

Lot's of art...

 Icecream art

 Crocheting: Headband (Zion helped!)

 Coaster (Canaan did most of this himself)

 And a sock puppet,

with a superhero's cape.

Good stuff, keeping us busy, and having some great learning moments! 

Blessings, 

So, what do you think??

If you are a FB reader or an E-mail subscriber (hi mom!), I don't suppose the changes will even show up, but for anyone who visits me on my actual page, What do you think?

 I had a technical difficulty this weekend. The link to the background picture I was using was deleted. Rather then just find another that would sync with the design I already had, I decided to go for something fresh and new. It nearly caused an argument between the hubby and I though. I asked him to help, since he knows me best. "What is the epitome of me? What colors, what style, what theme shouts "Bethany" to the world?"

 He chose books. 

Stacks of them. Artistic displays of them. He found tons of interesting, even beautiful shots of them.
 Truly, I love books. Adore them even. But that is such a narrow view of me. Surely there is more?!
 I ended up kicking him off the project because he never actually reads my blog anyway. How would he know how to design something that he knows nothing about?

 After playing with the new Blogger self design application for awhile, I got this. Simple, green, and cheerful. I think that is a better summation of me then "books". Although I must say I do love that first picture up there...
 Now I just have to figure out how to have multiple pages. I really want a "home" and an "about me" and a "where the military has taken us" page. But I haven't figured that part out yet. Andy just has to work a few more late nights, (and me NOT have a good book within reach) so I can do some work on that!
 After all the work was done, Andy still had to come by and comment. At the top of the page I have blue skies and flowers - blowing where God sends them and working really hard not to stress about where they land (in case you were wondering why I chose dandelions). In the middle is a beautiful stretch of green grass, cool and peaceful. At the bottom is the rich brown soil for it to grow out of. Andy said the dirt needed some worms to stir it up, keep it aerated.

So, here is his contribution to the new design.

Those of you who do not usually link directly to the page, please, drop by and see the new design. 

And stay posted - there is more to come, once I figure a little more out~

 

So, here's what really happened

On Andy's birthday I wrote a little piece about his birthday party. We really did have a small party for him, with cake, and a few friends, and streamers handing from the doorway.

But that wasn't his birthday present. He had already gotten his birthday present a few days earlier, and just didn't want his parents, or mine, to find out about it through the blog.

Andy talked to a talented artist named Tito, and had several Ukrainian symbols drawn up into a collage.

He also had a Martin Luther King Jr. quote translated into Ukrainian. "If a man hasn't discovered something he will die for, he isn't fit to live."

Here is the finished product.

Spiders are a Ukrainian symbol for good luck.

I HATE spiders, but luckily, that little guy has grown on me...

When we went "home" the weekend after, his mother first punched him, then yelled at him, (in Ukrainian even), but then decided that she liked the quote, and the symbols he had chosen, so if he was going to get another tattoo, at least it was a decently good one.

We went to a really fabulous pizza place, Big Pie in the Sky, while we were home. It is owned by one of Andy's childhood friends, Chris Day, and has some HUGE pizzas.

Didn't I tell you they were HUGE!

It was also just a fun place to hang out with friends.

We try to take a picture of Corey and Carrie's two, and our two all together at least once a year. Right now they still fit in age order/height order. I am eager to see how that changes over the course of time.

All in all, I think Andy ended up with a pretty great 30th birthday. Two birthday parties, and a present that will last forever! (plus a wife that didn't complain about it either!)

Talents, not hidden

I found this wonderful quote on this blog, and wanted to share.

"You may think you don't have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.What you create doesn't have to be perfect. Don't let fear of failure discourage you. Don't let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you.I believe that as you create beauty and as you are compassionate to others—God will encircle you in the arms of His love. Discouragement, inadequacy, and weariness will give way to a life of meaning, grace, and fulfillment." - Deiter F. Uchtdorf

I made a tiny little blanket for a baby shower last weekend. My sister Emilee made an adorable quilt, with amazing patchwork, and beautiful quilting. The blanket I made was super simple, and I still had to have her help me, since the fabric I picked up wasn't exactly what I thought it would be.

Obviously, sewing isn't something I am talented in. Emilee is, amazingly so. (Mom actually said, when she saw my blanket... "hon, maybe you should stick to writing, rather then sewing".... just so you know her opinion of WHO should be doing the sewing in the family!)

I can whip up dinner. My kids aren't going to eat junk food for supper. However, they aren't going to eat fine cuisine either. Basic baked chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans - that is what I am good at. Pretty much anything you can imagine, with a healthy spin - add more veggies, some whole wheat, half the butter - you get the idea. That is how I cook. I'm not going to win any awards that way. I suppose that is creative, after a fashion - but it is hard to see it as a talent.

Kelsey and Mary dance. Andy sees a picture in everything around him, and can create it with a touch of his hands.

But I, I don't DO anything.

So I loved this quote. It reminded me that I do do some amazing things. I teach my children to sing, and to build with blocks, and to stand in the sun and raise their arms and simply soak up the glory of creation. I wake at 5:30 in the morning, when my hubby comes home from working a strange shift, yet again, and I listen to him share about his night. It doesn't seem like an art form, but it has definitely had to have time to be perfected...

I will take the "normal opportunities" all around me, embrace them wholeheartedly, and hopefully "create something of beauty". Just by living.

I dare you to do the same.