Names all folded up and placed in my daughter's favorite ice cream bowl and tossed around .....
Thank you to everyone who left a comment on my 'anniversary' post. Your kind thoughts and words are why I am always honored to have you spend a part of your day visiting me. You are all winners in my book! : )
for you, too!! Not only that, but I just HAD to grab a set of these oh, too-darn-cute paper tags with which to write whimsy, dreams and notes on for you as well. Then, to help you get started, I'm sending you one of my favorite journaling pens - a 0.5 black millennium pen... YEAH!! And don't be surprised if another trinket or two find their way into this bag o' goodies! A girl has to keep a secret or two up her sleeve! : ) 
My dog, Ross, and I had just returned from a hot, sweaty walk this morning. We were wringing wet and looked like it. I was sitting in the living room checking some things on the internet - both of us trying to cool off - when a car pulled up to the curb. I recognized it as one of my little students....an angel of a girl I shall refer to as Miss O. Out she jumped from the side door of the van, carrying a Ziploc box in her arms. She was all gussied up with black patent shoes, a cute dress and her hair pulled up with a pretty bow...too adorable for words!
"This is a surprise", I thought as I hesitantly realized what I looked like...sweat pants, tank top, hideous hair, no make-up and stinky! She's an artistic, gentle soul who makes me grateful to be her teacher, so I could only imagine what Miss O was up to and I opened the door! There she held in her arms this box - taped up with the words 'to' and 'from' with our names on the top. She had brought me a present. This beautiful child had come to my house with a present for me....
We sat right down on my floor in front of my opened door... Ross happy to lick her ear and face as he is a frequent visitor to my classroom, and he remembered her (my dog knows!) I pulled off the tape here and there and managed to get it opened...and there, inside, were flowers for me. A bouquet of watercolored flowers made from filters and pipe cleaners. Each one carefully crafted by her for her teacher.
I can not adequately express the feeling one gets when a student creates something with their hands and heart for you. Yes, as mothers, we have that experience several times, perhaps, as our children grow through the years. But when a student, whom you have not seen for a month, whom you have not taught, talked with, laughed with or helped for 5 weeks, shows up at your door holding a box of love inside...it causes you to stop...reflect...love back...and give gratitude for your place in this child's heart.
I hugged her. Ross licked her. I had to hold back my tears as I told her I was going to put them in a vase and think of her all summer long. She humbly hugged her sweaty teacher and gave that brown-eyed smile and twinkle - then went back to the car with Mom. I humbly place my bouquet into a mason jar and set it on my dining room table - a place of honor in my home and heart.
Are children not the band-aids for our souls?
Ya-ya R called this afternoon and we chatted a bit over 'vision boards'. I'm still quite amazed at the response this concept has sparked! People who already have made one, people who have heard about them, and those who have never heard of them before... like me!
After our conversation, I thought a bit about how I had said I hadn't quite actually put anything on my board yet. I had downloaded and printed out the pictures of two goals of mine, but they laid there on the antique student desk by my board...just waiting. So, inspired by chatting with that fellow artist of mine, (that be you, R) I broke out the stuff to create (look out, house!!). I started with this too cute little package of tags... different paper tags for whatever!
When did the 'Vision Board' train roll into town?? And why didn't I jump on board? I'm amazed at how much this 'vision board' thing has grown! See??? Everyone gets a turn! Now they are all set to hang my visions and wonders and goals on my board. My board... my board, you ask? Well, it is still blank. Just as it appears in my header. I look at it all during the day. And I think about it. But there is something about the cleaness...the blankness...the openess of it right now that I am just taking in. Part of me thinks I should be putting lists, pictures, articles and things on it now...today. But I must just reflect, think, ponder before placing something on it just for the sake of having something on it... (sorry if that sounded a bit redundant). I have a few ideas swimming around in my head. Some possibilities. But trusting myself, I will know when it is time to construct, create and post. It is soon, that much I know. Yesterday, on Oprah's show (sidenote here...God bless that woman. She drives me nuts with her tacky yelling of a guest's name, her constant reply of 'And so....' and her ego - man, I'd love to take that on with my chain saw!....but she's endeared herself to me with her last two shows on this 'Power of Attraction' subject) she had the three women return for another show on 'The Power of Attraction'. Martha Beck, Louise Hay and another woman were back to continue the topic of how one can attract that which they seek and need. They really covered the 'vision board' concept and included several examples of their own boards. My friend, J, and I watched the show; calling each other during commercial breaks and yakking about what great ideas they had just talked about in the last segment! Ms. J is already envisioning her 'vision board'...and it will be fantastic! Do you have a vision board? If so, what visions and dreams do you have on it? If not, what visions and dreams would you put on it for yourself if you had one? Michael's craft store. White foam core board. Less than 4 bucks. Go get one. Happy visions! : ) ALLLL ABBBOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARDDDDDDDDDDD !! (giggle.... get it? all aBOARD! foam core BOARD?? okay, I'll stop now... : )
Who knew??!!??
The responses and comments I've received have really been enlightening. I loved Chickenbells' comment on my post 'The Visionary'...she has 3 vision boards! Who knew?? And my friend, Kimberly, said that her daughter has one hanging in her house as well! Who knew?? And a new blog friend, somepinkflowers, is going to make a new one....having said the first one worked! I guess 'vision boards' have been around for quite a while!
Who knew??!!??
Yesterday, I ran up to a wonderful scrapbook store and I was able to just browse and shop and poke around without time constraint, worry about others and their schedules, concerns or commitments...it was decadent! I haven't done that in ages. I was shopping for something that I could use to make tacks, pushpins, whatever you call them for my 'vision' board. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted, but I knew it would be just the thing if I saw it. I came home with a few goodies...especially a package of wonderful glazed brads...
oohhhhh!
How cute are these little gems?? Pink, burgandy, patterned, flowery, striped...
I think these just might do the trick!
ahhh, yes......
I selected several of the large ones.... there are so many cutie bugs, it's hard to not do them all! hmm....wait a minute... I just might!
Then I bent the brad prongs apart and worked each prong back and forth until it broke off.... voila'!
This left a perfect little 'cap' which would cover the top of a clear push-pin perfectly!
Oh, don't you just love it when a plan comes together??
A little dab of super glue was all it took to secure a push-pin onto the brad cap. So easy!!
...the other brads can hardly wait for their turns!...
patience, little ones....
