Dinner is served (thank you, Hannah!)

Pretty cards

I still love creating cards. The first picture is one I created for Valentine's Day this year. I was going to send it to a loved one, but liked it so much, I decided to keep it for myself! ha! I actually created a whole bunch of Valentine's for my family, but don't think I've sent a one. (sigh) The best-laid plans...

The second one is a lot of fun, lots of pretty colors. Notice the eggs in the nest are actually very small rhinestone-like stickers placed exactly over each stamped egg image.

10 years, 10 reasons I love Hannah

Well, I couldn't NOT post a birthday collage for Hannah, so here it is. The rule of thumb in graphic design is not to use more than three different fonts on one page--and I came in at three! Funny the things you learn in college that stick with you. I guess I should thank my publication design professor (no, not John, although he may have told me that tidbit as well). I'm not sure what "they" do if you break the rule--throw one in grammar jail??

Lately, at the end of the day, I seem to feel very tired and a little irritable (apologies to John and Hannah) and yet I have no idea what I accomplished that day. Today was a little better. I'm still learning some computer programs such as Microsoft Access. Sometimes it makes my brain a little numb, there's so much to learn, but it's still a lot of fun. Have no idea in the world what I'll do with all this technological savvy (ha!)--I might like to work for some small- to middle-size business eventually.

Okay, all for now,
Tricia

Hannah had a very happy birthday. She is 10 years old now. Whew! She is getting so grown up.

~~~

A few weeks ago she told me this while we were out for a walk (and a skip): "Mommy, it's a good thing YOU are my mommy, and not someone else!"
"Why's that?" I asked.
"Because I wouldn't have the spirit I have if you weren't my mommy."

Awwww...

~~~

Last Friday Hannah gave a verbal book report/speech on Florence Nightingale. John went to watch her and he said she did really well. She dressed up the part to look like Florence. After the speech, the kids asked some questions like "why did you choose this person to write/talk about?"

John said she gave the absolute most amazing, articulate answer. She said, "Well, I chose Florence Nightingale because she helped lots of people get better and showed kindness to all the people. That's how I want to be when I get older. I want to help other people. I have an aunt (Pam) who is a physician's assistant. So it's in my family to want to help others. I believe this is want God wants me to do--it's very important."

Her quote pretty much says it all. I thank God for my compassion-oriented 10-year-old child. She is ever our delight.

~~~

Thank you to friends and family for the birthday wishes and gifts via cards for our girlie. We truly appreciate them.

All for now,
Tricia

Two Little Indians

When I saw this picture of Jacky wearing a feather, I thought of that Yankee Doodle Dandy song of old, "... stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni!" Yes, our young guinea pig is wearing a real feather, donated by our parakeet Sonny. Hannah assures me she did not pluck it from Sonny's tail feathers, but rather snatched it from the bottom of his cage. Evidently Sonny eyeballed her the whole time, though! ha!

In addition to playing dress up as Native American Indians, I caught Jacky and Hannah playing checkers together a few days ago. Alas, Jacky, who nudged the checkers with his nose with competitive flair, did not win the tournament. He conceded the game quite readily after being given a treat of Timothy hay.

All for now,
Tricia

Ways that Hannah builds up her mother's self-esteem

Snippets of conversation recently heard around the Williams' household:

Hannah, while running her hands through my hair while we cuddle on the floor together, said, "Ahh, my poor little mommy is getting white hair!"

Later, while lovingly stroking my cheek, she added, "Mommy, did you know you have a little mustache? Just like Ricky did on I Love Lucy--but Lucy didn't like it!"

Later that same evening, Hannah covered her nose with her hands, and make honking sounds. "Mommy, I'm being you!"
"How so?" I asked, not particularly looking forward to her answer.
"I'm making the noise you make when you blow your noise--it's the same noise an elephant makes! Isn't that neat? You could talk to elephants!"

Yes, isn't that neat... So special. So... elephant-y! That's me. A white-haired elephant sporting a mustache that calls my friends frequently.

I love being a mother! H-O-N-K!

Hannah's dream

"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Joel 2:27-29

The three of us went to see my mom and dad on Saturday (Sabbath). Hannah casually mentioned a dream she'd had recently: she dreamed that she was on her way to heaven, on a road. She said that Jesus told her to keep her eyes on Him, that that was the only way she'd reach heaven. She said other people were on the road with her, too, but they kept looking away from Jesus. When they did, they fell off the road. "I kept my eyeballs on him," Hannah told us in her Texan drawl. "Even after I reached heaven's gate, I kept looking at Him!"

Seventh-day Adventist Christian author, Ellen White, had a similar dream. To my knowledge, Hannah has never heard of that lady's dream. I thought Hannah's dream was very special. We have talks about God all the time. I never try to make Hannah believe there are "pat" answers for everything, and that we sometimes don't understand how God works.

I know that for most people, at some point, inevitably, God "disappoints" us. Or rather, His answers do. We don't like to hear what He has to say, sometimes. Because, like any good parent, He has to tell us "no," or "wait."

And bad things happen--boy, do they happen! I don't want Hannah to think that just because bad things happen to good people, that it means He's letting her down. The Bible is full of bad things happening to His people. But I believe in "His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts than our thoughts." I may not always like it, but I believe. And I want her to believe--and someday go to heaven. Isn't that what it's all about?

All for now,
Tricia