Ethnic Scrapbooking

In everything give thanks

This is a challenge for me, but for the next 6 days I will try to post something I am thankful for.  I'm not inspired by the challenge to do so going on over on Facebook, but because I heard Barbara Rainey talk about 7 specific topics to discuss with your family on the week leading up to Thanksgiving day last week on Family Life Today.

Tonight, I thought I would make a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up fixins for dinner.  Well, there was a deaf couple ahead of us, in the check out line, using WIC checks.  Unfortunately, everything they chose to buy did not match what was allowable on the WIC check.  As everyone behind me bailed out of the line, I was forced to stand there and wait...I was to wait so that I could give thanks in everything.

Joseph (5 years old) was with me and he was very patient, he never complained once, this whole ordeal took over 35 minutes.  To top it off the cashier was new and needed help everystep of the way...even the manager was frustrated.  What I found thankful in the whole situation was that the cashier knew enough sign language to communicate the problems to the couple and they rectified it by many trips back to the food aisles.  Joseph watched their every move with great intent.  I so desperately wanted to throw my stuff back into the cart and try another check-out, but I didn't want to send the wrong signal to Joseph that because the couple had the challenges of not being able to hear that I should be rude and frustrated because they were different.

The mangers and cashier profusely apologized for the delay and I expressed to them that it wasn't a problem. I was just thankful that my son and I got to watch a cashier learn something new and we were blessed to watch a hearing impaired couple interact with each other, their baby and others first hand.

 
Around this time last year, I was sifting through the remains of my Grandmother's house that was totalled in a fire.  I was thankful that she was alive and well and that she loved me so much that she kept, EVERYTHING I ever gave her.  Here's a soda bottle covered in masking tape and painted with shoe polish with decoupaged school photos.

In everything give thanks,

for this is God's will for you

in Christ Jesus.

I Thessalonians 5:18

Thankful for the Gift of Sight

For about an hour today, something was burning my left eye and I could hardly see my computer for all of the tearing.  For the past three weeks, my mother has been suffering from an eye problem that most likely may require a cornea transplant very soon.  A business colleague had surgery today to replace a detached retina (Joe, I hope things went well).  Leah was assisting her "buddy" at a special needs school who is blind.

So today I am very thankful that God has directly reminded me to not take the gift of sight for granted and to be thankful for good eyesight as well as bad eyesight.

Leah has been in vision therapy for one whole year and we have seen great amount of progress.

What a sight...a happy teenager!

Oklahoma!

I'm in beautiful Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for work...loving the sites.  Tonight I got to visit the Art Museum to take a peek at the Chihuly glass sculpture. Absolutely fabulous.

Image Source

I also got to visit the Oklahoma bombing memorial. I remember the bombing because I was pregnant with Jerin at the time and I was horrified that 29 children lost their lives, it's been a major reason why I've never had my 4 younger children in day care.  I visited the site during the daylight hours and the evening to see the chairs lit with light from underneath.  Beautiful.

 Last stop was the state capitol. which looks like a mini version of U.S. Capitol an has a native american atop the dome.  So I'm having fun connecting to my unknown native american ancestry, but I think I'll be breaking through some brick walls on that fron while I'm here.  Here are some facts on the Capitol Dome.

The Oklahoma Capitol is surrounded by working oil wells. The well in front of the entrance is nicknamed "Petunia #1" because the drilling began in the middle of a flower bed.

The 6,000 pound, 22-foot tall, bronze Native American warrior that stands on top of the capitol dome is called "The Guardian." It was sculpted by State Senator Enoch Kelly Haney, an American Indian of Seminole and Creek descent whose family followed the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma seven generations ago. It's the first statue representing Native Americans to be placed on top of a state capitol.

image source
 

God Bless U.S. Veterans

Today's remembrance of American Veterans just added another item to my "TO DO" List...gather photos of those who served in the military.

Here are a few photos I recently inherited this summer. 

Above photo:  My Dad, Joseph Mickens served in U.S. Air Force, stationed in Okinawa.  This photo is of him at age 17 at Fort Sampson in New York.

Clifford Mickens, I know he was stationed at Ft. Bragg at some point.

Leon Mickens served in Vietnam

The following are photos I scanned digitally back in 1998!  They were TIF files, but thankfully Picasa can convert them to JPG.

 

My Great-Great Grandfather Stephen Tarpley who served the Confederate Army in the Civil War as a servant, he made breastplates and swords.
 

Great Uncle George Abbott who served the Battle of the Bulge and definitely suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Uncle Randy Mickens served in the Korean War (I think).
 

I feel blessed that so many of my relatives have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, I am pledging to more vigilant about honoring them in my scrapbooks and preserving their stories and their place in American history (Yesterday and Today)
  
 

Purposeful Gift Giving

Every year I like to move away from the traditional American Christmas crazed traditions.  Last year we did gifts, food and everything under $500 on Christmas eve.  This year we plan to spend even less.  I'm really focused on giving my kids, memories (Rosa Parks museum in Alabama, trips to NYC), opportunities (violin lessons, traveling soccer teams), and experiences (snorkeling in the Caribbean), versus STUFF.

One of my goals this holiday season is to be more purposeful in my giving and the giving effort of my whole family. 

First, we have adopted a young pregnant mother to bless this holiday season with items she and her new baby need.

Second, I plan on giving the kids ONE family gift, (they have really enjoyed last year's family gift of Guitar Hero all year long).

Third, for the special gifts that I do buy, I plan on spending my money with indies (independent artists) or small business owners.

What's your holiday spending plan?  Here's an idea...join me at Savage Mill in Laurel Maryland on November 21 & 22 to shop the boutiques and find unique one-of-a kind gifts and support small businesses and indies.  I'll be there showing you small hand crafted gifts you can make for friends and family and signing my book, Ethnic Scrapbooking which will be offered for $15.00, that's a $10.00 discount...first time ever!

 

 

 

 

***************************************************************************************************************

International Center For Artistic Development, Inc

Historic Savage Mill

New Weave Building, Mezzanine Level

Box 2049

8600 Foundry Street

Savage, MD 20763

 

A Celebration Of Cultural Influences & Heritage

Featuring

Lisa Sanford, Pontella Mason & Clare Roberts

 

At the ICAD Art Studio & Gallery

Camellia A. Blackwell, Ph.D. , Fine Artist & Executive Director

 

November 21 & 22, 2009

Reception:  Sunday, November 22, 2009,  2PM to 4PM

 

Historic Savage Mill

8600 Foundry Street  •  Savage, MD 20763

Phone:  301-604-4484  •  www.icadev.org

 

 

Directions:  From Wash. DC, I-95 N to Exit. 38A ( Rte. 32 E.) to Rte. 1South. Turn right at first traffic light on Howard St.  Follow signs to Mill parking.

 

GO SHARKS!

My five year  old's soccer team finished up the season undefeated for the SECOND YEAR IN A ROW!  These little guys are fierce!!!  They may fuss and fight at practice and cry quite a bit, but they know and love soccer...they beat everyone no matter their size.  Only two goals (I think it was only one) were scored on them all season!  This weekend they take on 7 year olds in a tournament! (Pray for dry weather)

Front page photo of the SPORTS section!

Note:  To all my scrapbooking friends...I need some shark stickers and embellishments!

 

More Veteran Love

Yesterday Jerry and I spent some time with Jonathan by himself (such a hard thing for us to do with each of the kids separately), Jonathan's cub scout pack participated in a wreath laying ceremony in our hometown.  It was held inside due to the weather, but it was very nice.  A very nice small community gathering, even though we live near the big city.  Not one of my best photos, but we were leaving the event and I realized I didn't get one photo of Jonathan.

 

God Bless U.S. Veterans

Today's remembrance of American Veterans just added another item to my "TO DO" List...gather photos of those who served in the military.

Here are a few photos I recently inherited this summer. 

Above photo:  My Dad, Joseph Mickens served in U.S. Air Force, stationed in Okinawa.  This photo is of him at age 17 at Fort Sampson in New York.

Clifford Mickens, I know he was stationed at Ft. Bragg at some point.

Leon Mickens served in Vietnam

The following are photos I scanned digitally back in 1998!  They were TIF files, but thankfully Picasa can convert them to JPG.

 

My Great-Great Grandfather Stephen Tarpley who served the Confederate Army in the Civil War as a servant, he made breastplates and swords.
 

Great Uncle George Abbott who served the Battle of the Bulge and definitely suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Uncle Randy Mickens served in the Korean War (I think).
 

I feel blessed that so many of my relatives have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, I am pledging to more vigilant about honoring them in my scrapbooks and preserving their stories and their place in American history (Yesterday and Today)
  
 

Meet Charlie

Last year I was busy working on a big project and I fell into the mommy guilt trap.  I bought over $200 worth of costumes, candy and decorations for the kids.  This year...it's a recession, so I spent $1.00 to buy fake hay for Charlie.  The clothes are hand-me downs and the pumpkin was from Joseph's field trip.  Kids made up homemade costumes and we had a fabulous time treating around the neighborhood.

 

Leah named him Charlie

Halloween Discussion

I know it's more than a week late, but I thought I'd share with you my parenting moment last week.

With all the "spirit" talk that happens around Halloween, last week Jonathan said he was going to the grave with his soul.  I took that as an opportunity to talk with me kids about death of the physical body and eternal life.  We did more than talk about it, we acted it out.

 

I had Jonathan lie down as if he was in a coffin.  I explained about how the physical body will eventually die.  Then his spirit (Leah under the white sheet), stood above him and based on Jonathan's decision that he made while he was alive, his spirit could go one of two places.

Jerin sitting on a chair, with a make-shift halo represented heaven. Joseph cowering over his soul represented hell (note the red clothes).

It only took a couple of minutes to act this out, but it's something they will surely remember.  That's this year's way of connecting to a cultural event!

P.S.  Jonathan, without hesitation wanted his soul to go to heaven...a lesson on water baptism is next.