"APFLH" Children's Art Studio- The Art of Love

My children were excited when I told them we were hosting a special
Valentine's Crafts and Kid's Movie Night

We moved the couches, brought in the tables and chairs from the

Children's Art Studio, and provided everyone with materials

to create cards and crafts to share with the people they love... 

Heart Art 

We watched a movie about believing in the impossible
and just as the movie was ending

my mother called to inform me that my younger cousin was visiting from Texas,
and my aunt was on her way to my house so that she could say "hello"

As I waited for them, I began to think about...

my cousins
my family
my children

and all of the moments we have shared in this house

I remembered that
she was actually one of my first "child care students"

 

when I babysat her and her older sisters the summer of 1990

and NOW she travels with a company performing stage plays for children 
because she says it combines two of her greatest loves... art and children

It was the perfect full circle moment!

The next day another one of my former students

and her mom came by for...

Marble Painting

The perfect culminating moment to this weekend experience came when

the mom asked her 4 yr. old daughter if she was ready to leave my house 

and

without looking up

without blinking 

without hesitation

she calmly answered...

"NEVER!"

and I smiled
realizing that my life's

work
passion
purpose

is still

and will always be

right here

UP NEXT...

Seuss inspired experiences

A Lesson in Love... Don't Miss the Bus

He ran with a limp

It looked

quite painful to be honest

quite odd

until I actually saw the object of his affection...

the city bus

And he would have to cross two lanes of traffic to get there

with no guarantee that the bus driver would even wait for him

but he was

willing to risk it

willing to run

with arms waving and a noticeable limp, not caring who saw his desperation because...

his purpose was greater than his pride

And amazingly enough the world around him stopped moving

as drivers and street pedestrians alike paused

silently cheering

watching

praying

"C'mon, you can make it.  You can make it"

and when he finally did

there was a collective sigh of relief because

he had conquered what so many of us often

avoid

fear

and that is allowing others to see

our limp

our vulnerability

our weakness

We would much rather just wait for the next bus

than to put ourselves out there like that

But in life we must be willing to... 

say it

show it

give it

live it

BECAUSE... 

we cannot truly live, unless we are willing to love, and

we cannot truly love, unless we are willing to run

across lanes of traffic during the middle of the day

arms waving

limping awkwardly toward our goal

eyes filled with desperation...

and hope

as others stop to

watch

cheer

(or maybe even laugh and point)

We cannot truly celebrate love

unless we are willing to put ourselves out there like that, but

today I was reminded by a total stranger that...

It is okay to run with a limp

as long as you also run with a purpose!

Click to read...

A Child's Lesson in Graffiti

Remembering the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

February is

"The Month of Love"

and in addition to Valentine's Day

in our home we also celebrate...

my hubby's birthday

my mother's birthday

our wedding anniversary

all within a matter of two weeks!

So...

we take pictures

we document

we talk about

and revisit

the moments that

have made us

laugh

cry

scream

and everything else in-between because

We celebrate by remembering...

that our greatest lessons in love

have come from learning to see the beauty

within these everyday moments

My hubby created this chocolate surprise for our anniversary

a few years ago, and we loved it so much that the following year

I decided to bring out the fountain again for his birthday...

Only problem?

I didn't watch the fountain

and...

the chocolate exploded

and...

splattered all over

the table

the tray

the floor

the curtains

the wall

the door

(no, this isn't Dr. Seuss)

But then...

as we were cleaning "the mess" one of the children

pointed out the design that had been created

so we decided to set the tray out as it was,

and some of the guests actually thought

the chocolate drizzle was intentional...

a "Jackson Pollock" art inspired dessert tray!

and I realized that sometimes...

mistakes can be beautiful

and

that we

honor our love

celebrate our love

share our love

when we remember

the true story...

the full story...

the entire story...

which includes

the good

the bad

and even

everything else

in-between