The kids and I love to collect things from our trips out in nature, the problem is that it was collecting  into  little piles around the house.   A while back we bought Chloe a Melissa and Doug wooden food set that came in a great box so I decoupaged it with paper.  All I did was buy paper from A.C. Moore  (Basic Grey) and soaked it in a mixture of elmers glue and water.   When it got soft and bendable I stretched it out over the box. I also used old library cards and tissue paper and paint.  I put more glue/water over the top to make it more durable. 

 Now when the kids and I go out it is a fun challenge for us to find something to put in our two shadow boxes, we are trying hard not to repeat but to bring home new treasures.   We also have to remember the story, I have begun to throw away "pet rocks" that no longer have the kids memories attached to them. 

 In the picture above there is a burgundy rock my Dad brought back from Iraq because he could not legally bring me dirt, there is a strand from Chloe's blanket that she donated, not from nature but so well loved I could not say no, she comes into the study and asks me if she can hold it sometimes.

Chloe looks for heart shaped rocks, the snake skin is something the boys were very proud to find.

A very messy little corner of my mood board.  Eti drew the camera for me as a surprise.  The purple paper says "I believe" and then is blank, which just lights my mind on fire, this year as I read through the Bible I have been writing down all the verses that I would add to this list and then every morning I read the list rewording it to be a statement of faith back to God. For example "Lord I believe real life comes by feeding on Your every word" (Deut. 8:3) it is powerful and as my friend Naomi would say "Settles the authority issue"  by the end of the year I hope to have a collection of life statements reminding me of what I believe.

 The photo is Jeff about five years ago walking on a dry river bed, a strong memory for both of us, we drew maps of those woods and named the different "lands" we discovered.  There is a little slip of Keri Smith's work, and The white paper (at the top) is a list of all the things my children love to do, to remind me that they have little dreams and passions, I like observing their worlds and finding out what they love. 

Guess who got a shiny coin under his pillow?

We were dancing in the kitchen to Jazz and she asked for this to be the picture of the day.  She was wrapped around me like a monkey, I could let go and walk around and she would still be attached! 

She is frantically happy with life, walks on her toes, claps her hands, sings and giggles, that kind of happy and she has enough to hand out to others.

A brilliant present from my friend Dawn , it is a fabric envelope that she sewed and painted. MADE MY DAY!!

Our church was giving away large folding tables and we brought one home to use for family gatherings.  I set it up in the living room just for one day so the kids could have a very long tent.  I think Chloe brought every single one of her belongings in there.

I was looking around for Steve later that night and found him under the table.  Steve passed by and saw me putting this picture up and sighed  "I remember that day, I was having an awful day, everything was coming at me at once and I prayed on the way home that the Lord would give me something left for the kids, and He did."

A hat she brought home from her little preschool.