IN A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW...

IN ONE HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW...

IT WON'T MATTER

WHAT KIND OF CAR I DROVE

WHAT KIND OF HOUSE I LIVED IN

HOW MUCH MONEY I HAD IN THE BANK

NOT WHAT MY CLOTHES LOOKED LIKE

BUT THAT

THE WORLD MAY BE A LITTLE BETTER

BECAUSE I WAS IMPORTANT 

IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD. 

                                                             forest witcraft

One of my favorite things about school nursing

was the daily interaction with children.

I loved their spunkiness, their tenacity,

their willingness to always see the good in the world.

As my children grew up and was finding their own way

I had over 1,000 children to influence daily,

to act childish with, to show them that even adults 

did not have to grow up completely.

When I had to retire from nursing, a career I loved

and a job I thrived on, this was the one thing I knew

I probably could not live without.

Thankfully I had the grand girls that helped tremendously

as their little minds were fresh and I could instill these 

same qualities I shared with other people's children.

I often say, I am not the quantity type of grandparent,

more the quality type. Because I am now an artist

with a growing business, I don't have endless time to spend 

with my GrandGirls but when they are with me, we

spend our time doing things. At any given time you can find us

baking, crafting, board games, pillow fights, etc.

But mostly we spend lots of time talking.

Talking about their lives, things that scare them,

things they worry about, their friends, my own fears....

just life talk and they know here at the Cottage,

even though I am not always a push over, you 

will never get in trouble for telling the truth, no

matter what that might be.

This Friday I had our sweet Jolee over for the night

as they take turns coming sleep on that week night.

As I was fixing supper, she came to me and said

she wanted to use the bathroom but could not close the door...

"Can't close the door?" I thought.

Maybe one of the drawers was opened a bit and 

was stopping the door from closing? 

Whatever the reason, I walked with her to the bathroom

and could clearly see there was no obstruction.

I looked at her quizzically and she said,

"I was playing a joke on you, did I trick you?"

I guess I still looked confused as she then stared to cry.

"What is wrong JoJO?" I asked...

then she innocently said, 

" I came to use the bathroom and thought of 

the doll Annabelle that came to life and it scared me

but I didn't want you to be mad at me"

There are times that I am stubborn with them on the fact

that they sometimes need to toughen up when it comes

to bugs, germs and yes, even a Cottage in the night.

But this was true fear that caused this little one to seek me out.

I calmly comforted her, told her if she is frightened then

she is frightened and it 's okay to tell me, I sat in the library

while she did her business with the bathroom door opened

and we went on with our night never to discuss it again.

Yet it has not left my mind that this sweet 7 year old child

was able to honestly tell me what was bothering her.

I strive to give them meaningful days with me that

they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Which also brings me to other children in my life.

Since the GrandGirls take up a lot of my free time

I don't spend as much time as I once did with my great, great

nieces and nephews. However I am so blessed

to live in a neighborhood where their are children that I 

love sharing in their lives. 

My little Emma, just a stone's throw

from my kitchen door has a piece of me. On any given morning, 

I can hear the door bell ring and know it may be Emma.

Often she comes in the morning just for a hug or a snack.

I try and teach her something each time and I always, always

hug and I tell her "I love you".

She now will repeat it back to me most days.

I want Emma to have memories of growing up as my 

neighbor. If I bake, Emma gets to enjoy that.

If I buy snacks, I think of what Emma might like

and try to keep some of her favorites in the Cottage.

Recently I have gotten very close to my newest neighbors,

Ash and her little family, her three children being close

to the ages of the GrandGirls.

Yesterday as JoJo and I planned our day filled with art projects,

we called two of Ash's children to come and play.

When I tell you these children are like sponges, soaking up

everything I was to teach them that day, it is not an understatement.

I taught them about resin, what it is, about the chemical mixture

that makes them like a scientist, the proper way to mix it, etc.

I taught them how to use my old school die cutting machine

and they ate lunch with us as well.

They were so well behaved, expressed more than once

how much fun they were having and was not ready to 

go home when the time came.

I share this with my readers not in a way that I mean to brag,

nor for the pat on the back.

I get as much out of this as the children do and as many people

say when speaking of children,

"These are the best because I can send them home when I have enough".

I adore children but I also adore my time for myself.

Balancing my life is not always an easy task and I often worry

about what part of me am I not sharing enough of.

I try to live by the poem that starts this blog because

it is important to me that I share the gift the Big Man gave me,

the gift of gab, the gift of sharing myself with others,

and to make a difference in the life of a child.

If you are also blessed with this gift, share it.

and give them memories that will stay with them forever.

"WHEN THIS YOU SEE, THINK OF ME"