The kindness chronicles

I love to watch other people being kind to each other.  While I was out with the kids the other day I saw a mum and her boy.  He would have been about 7 or 8 years old and as they walked past she lent down and gently stroked his back and smiled gently into his eyes.  She said something too him and his eyes lit up and he smiled and then the moment passed.  I thought it was so sweet to see such a beautiful interaction between and mother and a child. It reminded me that it is the small and simple acts of kindness that mean the most. 

My best friend looked after my boys for me at very short notice.  My 15 year old was performing in a drama production which we were all going to go and see.  She came home concerned 2 nights before to say that they play before hers was NOT appropriate for anyone never mind her little brothers.  So Emma said she would have them over night.  This was so kind of her especially since my boys do not settle well in someone elses home.  I am so grateful for her act of kindness.

 

Be kind to those around you it makes a world of difference!!

Photography this week:Halloween

 

We don't normally do much for Halloween.  But this year we had a dress up party at church.  We played old fashioned games like bobbing appples.  The kids had a blast and Phil and I had lots of fun dressing up with them.

 

Yes I am the clown!!!!   Quite a few kids I know very well couldn't tell who it was

 

It was great fun to be creative with what I had at home.  Lots of fun,

 

Sketchbook this week

I love my 2 pages this week. They are my personal style and me all over.

They are created with black ink pen and water colours.

 

Leaves and vines.

 



 

Flower.  Writing the words that relate to flowers has helped me so many more flower possibilities.  Maybe next week I can choose one of those!

 

 

My beautiful sister

I am blessed to be a twin.  I have a twin sister who is such a delightful and talented lady.  She is always willing to give a hand,  to talk with me,  to be a friend and to dedicate her life to serving others around her.  She is a great example of love to everyone she meets.  Her life sometimes (I can hear her saying "only sometimes" :)  can be very challenging but she rises above the challenge and still is there for me and alot of other people around her.

Today I want to show you some of the special things she has made for me.  Sue is a very talented doll maker and needle woman.  It never ceases to amaze me what she can do with a needle.

 

This is a free form embroidery she made for me.  I love the colours and patterns she has created.  Every time I look at this I am reminded of autumn.  I can recall us both crunching in dry leaves (actually I haven't grown out of this yet.  I still love it!) together in the autumn and throwing them up over our heads.

 

This wee teddy is a little fairy ted.  I love it's little halo.

 

I love the wee face

 

When we were growing up I made quite a few soft toys.  I loved Jean Greenhowe's stuffed toys the best.  Sue was the recipient of a horse I made for her which came complete with a saddle.  I think she still has it today.

 

When I first saw this doll I couldn't believe how detailed the face was.  I just love the open big eyes and the luscious lips.  Sue had asked be what sort of doll to make so I suggested something out of her comfort zone.  She loves browns and neutrals so I gave her the challenge to create a doll with lime green and fuchsia.

 

She found it so hard to let go of the colours she was used to but said she would give it a go.

 

She really enjoyed making this doll and trying something new.  I think the fingers are incredible.  They are all individually wired and can be posed differently.

 

 

What I didn't know while I was pushing her into new colour schemes was that she was making her for me. When I saw her finished and found out she was mine I felt really emotional. 

 

It is such a privilege to be able to have this doll.  But more importantly is is a real privilege to have Susan as my sister.

 

 

Photography this week

We spent a few days on Palmerston North last week.  We had a wonderful time with our daughter.  It was so nice to see her and see her so happy and settled.  It is wonderful to see our children grow into independent wonderful adults.

While we were down there we we visited a wind farm. It was a spectacular day,  cool but sunny. 

I took photos for different angles to show how tiny they looked from a distance and how huge they were close up.  It was a wonderful trip.

 

This could be a great stamp or stencil

 

 

Can you see the kids behind the car.  They simply were huge.  A good way to show how big something is, is to put a person in front of them to give it perspective.

 

A great day

 

Artist-Dave Sotogi

I seem to spending more time trying to do something art related than actually doing it.  My posts have been very sparse at the moment as life has been quite a challenge. 

The past week has found my hubby on bed rest with pneumonia.  He was first diagnosed with a chest infection but none of the medications seemed to be working so it was back off to the doctors and onto some stronger meds.  He is not one to rest so the past few days have been a challenge for him.  It has been a long time since he has had to rest this long.  Sometimes I think these illnesses can end up being a blessing of sorts,  they certainly change perspectives.  Sometimes the only way we do rest is by forced rests.

Amongst all this I got the opportunity to go to a business meeting on Friday night and hear Dave Sotogi speak about his journey as an artist.  He was very inspiring and very informative.  His work is amazing and can be seen at

http://www.desotogi.co.nz/

 

He is a New Zealand artist who works in oils.  He is a very versatile artist.  He can paint beautiful realistic portraits and abstract work.  After his presentation I was able to speak to him for about 20 min and to gain some insight into how to progress as an artist.

I came out of the meeting feeling inspired,  recharged and motivated. I want to share some of his advice with you if you want to go further with your art

 

• Fake it till you make it.
• Work hard at what you do
• Enjoy what you do.  
• You have been given a talent....use it
• Think outside the box
• Know your market
• Don't buy into snobbery,   rise above it
• Keep your life in balance
• Keep practicing
• Have your own space if you can
• Believe in your work
• Know what you want from your art
• Make it happen,  only you can
• Have supportive and talented people around you
• Live your dream

 



Last month I sent out a challenge to you all to do something kind every day.  I did do that but forgot to write them all down......sigh I think I need to be kind to myself more so I can remember to do things. 

The rewards of being kind every day were huge

• A better attitude to wards myself and others
• A happier house
• More loving feelings
• Feelings that I accomplished something each day
• A sense of bonding with other people
• A feeling of peace in my heart

Some of the things I did were

• I wrote a letter to each of the best children in the world......my own
• I didn't retaliate when someone was mean.  I gave service back
• Told someone they looked nice
•  Remembered to ask a friend how her appointment went and listened as she told me about it
• Make baking for a family in need
• Visited with a friend
• Sent an encouraging e-mail
• Sent a text to a family member to see if they were OK
• Let someone tell me about all their business ideas
• Gave thanks to the Lord
• Gave thanks to my mother
• Phoned a sick relative
• organised the kitchen cupboards (a real kindness to our home)
• Went tobogganing with my children (my legs didn't feel to good the next day though:)
• Discussed a scripture with a friend to help them through a problem

M Russell Ballard said a honey bee only gives 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its entire short lifetime but this small act of service contributes to a large pot of honey, enjoyed by many.   Collectively together our small acts of kindness make huge differences in many peoples lives.

Can you do one thing a day to be kind to another?

  I challenge you to do so this month. 

Please let me know how you get on.  I love to hear from you.