Five Ways to Document Your Family Adventures

Life meets us with various

experiences
challenges
lessons

(and we are blessed through them all)

which is why
I choose to...

document/scrapbook/blog
our family's

adventures
memories
moments

in an attempt

to capture
and remember

the many ways that
Grace shows up

--------------------------------------

Here are some ways our family
documents family adventure...

Photographs

visual cues can be used to activate
the memory center of the brain

and although we take
LOTS of photos

(scientific research)

shows you don't need actual photographs to capture
your favorite family moments, or trigger memories

practicing mindfulness
can allow you to actively

live in
savor
enjoy

the moments

and/or you
can also

Collect Souvenirs

shot glasses
magnets
key chains

for years mine was...

sand
shells
stones

Travel Tip:

Please respect the beauty and
integrity of the places you visit

-Do not remove items/ animals from their natural
habitat and LEAVE the LAND how you found it

(replicas can often be purchased from local vendors)

or instead

you can always... 

Make a T-shirt Quilt

This quilt was created using t-shirts my dad has

collected from his travels throughout the years

If you don't have the time (or skill)

to sew a t-shirt quilt purchase one!

Use my

(discount code)

Memorystitch Quilt

Local Artisan Support

I've recently become...

less interest in collecting souvenirs
more interested in finding unique

jewelry
art
music

Aruba

Journal the Memories

keep a journal to
record/document

the memories
the stories
the people

you've met along the way

because...

Some of the people you meet

may change your life forever

I'll never forget both my first

(and second) time hearing this voice!

Bonus Tip:

Share contact information

so that you can keep in touch

Praying you are all safe and healthy!

(find more Family Adventure here)

Remembering Jacquie... A Mother's Day Tribute

We are hit with a wave of emotions as we...

look through photographs

sort through memories

laughter

tears

heartache

love

it seems

unbearable

unimaginable

how you could

be gone this quickly

but then...

GRACE SHOWS UP

in

your eyes

your smile

reminding us how to look at the world

and teaching us how to see and admire

the beauty and grace

found inside of both the

sunrise and sunset

------------------------------------

Praying God's strength and comfort
protect and cover Chanea and Shara

as we remember
their mother Jacquie...

The Banks Family

"The Extended Family"

These ladies started an annual
Mother's Day tradition...

pack a bag, catch a flight, and get
away for a "girls only" weekend!

San Diego
2018

New York
2017

"I miss you so much... somehow

this still feels like a dream"

-Shara

New Orleans
2019

"Momma, your wings were ready,

but our hearts were not"

-Chanea

looking back we see

San Diego
New York
New Orleans

each provided
opportunities to learn

history
culture
tradition

while creating our
own beautiful memories

(this year's plan was Atlanta)

but...

God had a different plan

so as He gives us strength and
holds us through each moment

"We don't cry because it's over...
We smile because it happened"

"We'll forever love you"
- Chanea and Shara

(find more Family Adventures here)

Class of 2020... When Life Gives You Lemons (Micah)

As the mother of a

"Class of 2020"

High School Graduate,

I keep getting the same question...

"How's Micah doing?"

as this was promised
to be a milestone year

(and it is)

9th... 10th... 11th... 12th...

dreams...
plans...
life...

redirected

(and in 18 years, we could
have never seen this coming)

school closures
safer at home
social distancing

while

continuing to...

turn lemons

into lemonade

(original 2009 video footage)

because in only

one month's time

he's...

-begun teaching himself

to play the keyboard

-mastered baking from scratch

-continued with his daily

weights and workout

-become my entire IT department

(to resolve any technical issues I've

encountered since working from home)

-fixed the sewing machine
AND learned how to use it

So...

"How's Micah doing?"

I'd say...

he's doing pretty well,

with the help of the Lord!
----------------

more from the
"Class of 2020"

Ammons
Martin Benjamin/ Kristina
Corey
Micah

Aloha, Talofa, Ni Hao... Many Ways to Say Hello

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
is the perfect time to celebrate with children

while also "introducing" the many ways

we can say...

"hello"

"Hello is the first word that connects us"
-------------------------------------------

Books and Music

"The Hungriest Boy in the World"
by Lensey Namioka

provides a lesson and a reminder that
not everything is meant to be consumed

Beautiful photographs, authentic recipes, historical context...
expand your library AND enrich your exploration of Art and Culture

These books were only 25 cents
at my local thrift store!

-----------------------------------------------------

Next...

enjoy the rich tone of the
Chinese gong as it resonates

translated message reads...

"May peace and fortune
come into your home"

Instruments and Art

Using repurposed household items to make
musical instruments is both practical and simple

a maraca, a guitar, and a tambourine

Extend the Experience

Find a festival, visit a local museum

or create your own gallery display...

Those unique items you've collected during your travels?
(or found in your local thrift store)

USE THEM!

to create a...

Welcome to
(insert destination)

experience

from the comfort
of your own home

because...

when you immerse yourself into new cultural experiences,
you'll find the beauty of Art and Culture that surrounds us!

(find more here)