More pics!!

WHAT A SUCCESS!!

I am sitting here after 11:00 and feeling "wired." I am reflecting about the amazing blessings that God has given us. The art show was a success and the Christmas Boutique at church tonight was such a great time! We raised enough money to adopt two endangered animals and to go on another outreach to the Purple Palace Orphanage. It was so fun to share stories about what inspired me to make my jewelry pieces and also for shoppers to be excited that their money was going towards worthwhile causes.

I am doing a little grading of papers right now (this actually is for my family and bills!!), then I will try and get to sleep. Ugh! I am tired, but my mind is going a mile a minute.

Goodnight!!

ART SHOW

So, our art show went great!! We had a lot of visitors and it was successful. The kids made enough money to adopt two endangered species and I made enough money to fund our next Purple Palace orphanage trip in February. We are so blessed to have our friends, family and neighbors, support our passions!!

I am wiped out, though. It was a crazy day. After the open house, we went straight to church for santa's workshop (crafts, etc), then went to see the lighted neighborhood in Santee and dessert with awesome friends. I just posted grades for one class and prepped for my two gromms for this week.

Can I go to bed now???

IT'S HERE!

Tomorrow is the day. Our second annual art show has arrived! The kids and I have been working so hard over the last several weeks, to create some great notecards, bookmarks, and framed pieces. I am a little nervous that we will not have enough stuff!! No to mention, I made the open house from 11-3, which seems like an awfully long time!!

This year, though, I am excited because the kids really put forth the effort. Last year, I used their old artwork and created the pieces. They helped, but minimally. This year, I felt that Jacob and Jordyn did the majority of the work. It was fun to see their passion for helping animals, come out in their artwork. I also have started some new jewelry designs to put out for "Jewelry for a Cause." I am tired, but looking forward to the blessings that God has in store. I feel that our hearts are for serving and giving, and this attitude is the most important goal for tomorrow's show.

I haven't taken pictures yet, but will tomorrow and post them here. Off to bed. I am so tired. Just finished grading papers......

An amazing experience!!

We took the kids on their first "mission's trip" this last weekend. We went to the Purple Palace Orphanage in Tijuana. It was such an amazing experience. We brought donations, but our main goal was to love and play with the kids. Jacob and Jordyn blended in so easily. They didn't want to leave! The kids in the orphanage come from very tragic backgrounds, but are so blessed with where they are now. Connie and Tyler, the missionaries who run the orphanage, are truly an inspiration. Of course, it was also a dream place to be. It is in an old hotel right on the beach!! I can't wait to go again and bless the children there, and have them bless us back!!

Gearing up for our Annual Art Show!

It is 11:30p.m. back from hockey, finished my work. I am now kind of "comatose" but managing to think about our annual art show in November (invitations coming soon). Jordyn has started her jewelry making. I have deviated a little and did some painting. I have included a couple of pics to show the "road I am traveling."

This is cool!

O.k., it is quite late (12:07). Home from work, but can't sleep. I was dabbling with some odds and ends with jewelry. I came across a unique piece that my friend Lisa gave me. It is a kind of bead that looks like a rock. Lisa said it was made from women in India. How appropriate to my "Jewelry for a Cause."

Here I am and remembering that Lisa's birthday just passed, I decided to create this piece for her. I loved using the unique yarn (by the way, the earlier yarn piece sold)! I am excited to see her response!!!

Watching a cheesy movie while I am writing and creating.... I am tired!!! Gotta teach the gromms tomorrow morning!!! I better get to bed.

There finished!

I am pretty happy with the way my "TRUST" necklaces came out. Even though the clay was a little tough for me to work with, I think they look good. I can't wait to give them to the girls!!

Inspiration!

Many of my friends and I are embarking on another year of homeschoolng. While we know in our hearts, this is the right decision and plan that God has for us, there are still challenges. There is a sense of overwhelming with fitting in life, school, and some of us, work.

Just listening to what is going on, my inspiration came to a new piece. I am trying it out and hope it works. It is a Polymer clay cross, with the word TRUST. It is embellished with gems and paint. I am attaching the preliminary look. It is a little daunting working with clay. It tends to want to be used in a precise way. I am not a precise and detailed "gal."

Oh well! Here we go!

PENNY WARS ARE OVER!!

O.k. part of the Kelly passions are to save animals. The kids are finally finished with their penny wars. This has been an ongoing game where each of the kids has a jar. They needed to fill it with pennies. But, they could fill the other one's jar with silver to "negate" how many pennies were collected. In the end, the one with the most value, wins ( got the idea from my awesome sister).

Anyway, it is over. We just need to count the "loot" and decide on what endangered animal to "adopt."

I love their passion!!

P.s. I just put some jewelry on the showcase (which means I pay $7 to have them more noticed). Hope it works!!! I just want to give back and creating jewelry for a cause is the only way I can think of that will work...... wish me luck.

My Prodige'

It is Sunday morning. Chris and Jacob went surfing (Jordy and I took a pass). We were there yesterday and Friday. Not to say that we wouldn't want to indulge in that passion again, but sometimes I do have to get a little of "life" done.

Anyways, I am puttering and working on various work stuff (starting two classes on the 30th, a little nervous), taking pictures of new jewelry, planning meals for September, and making french toast for Jordy.

I look outside to the back porch and see her designing a necklace. She says that she wants to use it as an example for Emmie (her buddy), when she has a jewelry class here (that is a new one to me!).

Anyway, too cute!!

The boys are home. Off to jump in the pool, hopefully get a little exercise in, then going to watch the new Kelly Slater film at the IMAX. Topping off the day with Chris's hockey game. Incidentally, I am not cooking and we are going out!!

My passions continue.........

Late Night!

O.k, I am home from underwater hockey. Tough game, very intense. Yes, it is a wacky sport, but so fun!!! It is 11:45 pm and I am supposed to be working. So not motivated right now. I did get the minimum done, but my grading is lagging for this week.

As far as Monica's Passions, not much time to work on them today. Cleaned out art closet, prepped for a meeting with one of my professors next week, and had a blowout about Jordyn's room (oops! did I say that out loud?) I love my children and have the utmost patience for them always and everyday!!! It is late and I am delirious! O.k., the first part is genuine.

The day did end in a great way, with friends coming over to swim and BBQ. I definitely kept is easy (not very healthy) and no muss ( I was determined to leave by 7:00 to go to hockey). Bad friend, but I think they understand.

Before I start rambling because it is so late, I will post a picture of some funky necklaces that I am working on. I am not sure what inspired this, but I think they are spunky!!

O.k. off to work.

I am trying to get this thing?

O.k., social networking in real life is tough enough. Trying to do this on the computer is very challenging for me. I am not sure why. I am fairly intelligent and I do tend to "get it." However, what is my problem about keeping up with facebook, blogging, my own jewelry site?

Could it be that I am too busy working on my online classes (ironic that they involve the dreaded technology). Or, is it that I am looking at planning my next day's lesson for my own children? Or, better yet, I should be using free time for my daily devotions. Realistically, could it mean that I am just "burned out" from talking, chatting, communicating, etc via internet, voicemail, snail mail, text, and phone? I sit down and really don't feel like "chatting" anymore. But, there is something alluring and intriguing about this. I am going to try it!! Who knows, maybe I will post more often than once a year!!!!!