I HeArt Fridays!

This is from Ikea... That store is just the most fun for reasonably priced goodies...

The kids make fun of me that I am always finding new spots/drips on our beige carpet... tonight I found another one... but I guess I really can't complain too much considering it is in the shape of a heart!

For Holland...

My Boss had a baby in September. She wanted to steer away from the traditional/stereotypical baby pink for girls. Holland's room has mainly green and orange. This was my gift, it is my painting so I had to add a bit of pink... but MB pink... not baby pink! Welcome to the world Holland... may you grow and blossom in good health.

I HeArt Fridays..A Grateful Heart

I decided to wait until today to write about my Thanksgiving this year.

I am grateful to have 4 days off and grateful that I would have Dante with Nina and me again this year.

Each weekend Dante’s Life Skills teacher has the kids ask their parents a question. This question this weekend was what 5 things are your Parents grateful for?

My answers were:

1.            Our family’s health

2.            My job

3.            A roof over our heads

4.            Food to eat

5.            My children

Shortly after writing this list I read on Facebook that another Motherswithcancer contributor Nicole Stagner McMaster had just passed away, another young Mom with 2 young children. Damn I hate cancer. Another friend is in a rehab facility for four months after having a freak reaction to the flu shot. Yes, good health is at the top of my list. Wednesday night was spent baking… each child’s favorite pie:

Pecan for Nina

Apple Crumb for Dante

While I baked, they played PlayStation. It filled my heart to hear them laughing and enjoying being together, of course the “Mom it smells amazing in here” was good to hear also.

I started Thanksgiving morning by accompanying Dante to complete some community service hours for school. KarmaCamp organized a group to serve food to the homeless near a local park. Two of Dante’s teachers, (Life Skills and Algebra) were there to work with the kids. This was such a great way to start the day and a great way to put things into perspective if you are not feeling grateful about your life. Dante said it made him sad. 

 I was thankful that I could prepare all this food in my little galley kitchen with 1 oven rack and my boy scout burner stove top! 

The remaining day was quiet and relaxed. Nina’s friend came to dinner as her parents were out of town. I have always loved that the kid’s friends feel comfortable at our home. Vanessa has always loved my cooking. 

After dinner, we played Apples to Apples then Dante was back on the computer and the girls watched a scary movie. I hung out on the couch and enjoyed that everyone was filled and happy. 

 I read this quote and I think it really sums up where I am right now:

A Very Special I HeArt Fridays!

Today I want to share some very special hearts. These hearts are made by Nina and her Birth Family on our visit back East to meet everyone. I will write a longer post at a later date, but for now enjoy Nina and her Birth Mother and Siblings creating hearts....

 Nina and her full biological Brother - Christopher who is 12...it is crazy that Dante, Nina's Adoptive Brother is also 12!

 Nina and her Birth Mother, Melanie and her half twin Siblings, Casey and Alyssa who are almost 7.

Casey enjoying creating hearts for his half Mom...The twins asked what they should call me, Melanie said since Nina is their half Sister... I am their half Mom!

Casey and Alyssa peeking through their hearts.

This was the first of the pictures of Melanie with all of her children by her side after 19 years.

The whole experience was very special, yet surreal at the same time. 

I HeArt Fridays...

Last night Nina and I took a workshop at Art & Creativity for Healing, Painting from the Heart. Today I will share the last two pieces I painted:

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

To truly love you can not guard your heart from all hurt, I painted a loose "cage" to protect my heart.

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

Proverbs 12:25

The black and red represent the anxious heart being weighted down and the bright yellow is the kind words cheering him up.

Have a great, creative weekend!

I HeArt Fridays!

I found these two beauties in church.