“Mom. What are these tiny beads in the package of this muffin?” Eva asked. “Oh, those are freshness beads. Don’t worry about those; just eat the muffins. Daddy brought those back from Japan for you girls,” I commented.” “Eva, are you ok? She stared at me wide-eyed, then slowly said, “Charlotte and I ate the beads. We thought they were sprinkles!” A blank stare crossed my face with slow blinks added.
BOOK THREE IN THE HOME SWEET HOME SERIES
NOW AVAILABLE!
Order personally from me (signed and shipped) or on Amazon!
Order the complete series today – makes a great gift!
Our local library has story time for kids, followed by craft time. “Charlotte, stop eating the Cheerios! They are for the craft, not a snack.” “Girls use the glue.” “Here, squeeze the bottle, NO! Not that much!” By the time we finished, I felt like I had been running a marathon, but watching their crafts take the look of their age was worth the fight to the finish.
My father made the girls a craft table for their playroom several years ago: a chalkboard top with cubbies underneath for craft paper and a large spindle at one end for newspaper rolls. Above the table, along the wall, is a long string that reaches the length of the playroom; it contains clothes pins for easy clipping of their artwork.
I love to hear them from the kitchen playing school. Eva makes folders for all of Charlotte’s take-home papers, complete with notes for parents.
Handcrafted creations like this are treasures I must keep. One day, I will want to hold it in my hands and remember their play. Artwork looks like the person who created it, which we discussed in our devotion one morning; God made everyone special.
Ehud was a left-handed judge of Israel who sneaked past the guards and made his way into King Eglon’s presence. He quickly killed the king because the guards were looking for Ehud’s weapon on the left side when, in his case, it was on his right side (Judges 3:12-4:1). God makes us unique to handle the mission he requires.
That’s why I love arts and crafts so much. Nothing we make is ever perfect. It never turns out like the picture, but we have a lot of fun creating something unique.
There is just something about a craft fair that thrills me. Most are always locally put on. People with all different talents display their hobbies in hopes that others will find interest and purchase their unique artwork- whatever it may be. I am captivated by many booths and usually have to have an extra bag to take home all the dish towels, wreaths, soaps, and honey I enjoy purchasing.
Chuck had taken the girls home from the latest craft fair I was set up at. He would be coming back to help me tear down. The afternoon was settling in, and the time for disassembly was upon us. I did all that I could before he came back to help me. Before they arrived, I decided it would be an excellent time to slip by the restroom. When I say restroom, that is a polite way of saying- porta-potty.
I could stop here, but let me go on. Slipping inside, I looked for a place to set my purse. Once I adjusted everything, I proceeded with why I entered in the first place. Deciding to blow my nose while handling business, the door to the porta-potty opens wide. Sitting there, mid-nose blow, with my eyes wide open, I screamed! Only to be met by the man’s exact response as well. He hollered out and slammed the door as fast as he could!
In the excitement, I realized what I had done. I had forgotten to lock the door while looking for a place to set my purse! From the outside, the porta-potty read- ENTER. On the inside, however, it was occupied.
I don’t know if you are aware of how difficult it is to compose yourself in a humid, sticky porta-potty – six months pregnant! It is impossible- especially when trying to do it in record time! Oh, the humiliation flooded my face! How would I get out of this pickle I had gotten myself into?
Upon exit, there he stood. Preparing what I was going to say, he piped up, “Now that we are better acquainted…” to this, we laughed hysterically, and I replied, “The jokes here will be endless, Sir.” “I am a married woman; I just don’t think my husband would approve of this arrangement.” We went on making jokes, and by the time we parted ways, I was feeling much better about myself.
Chuck and Eva could not contain their laughter, and Charlotte, not understanding, laughed with them. My mother said, “We pray for Chuck daily because we don’t know what may come his way being married to you.”
Catching her breath, Eva stated, “Mom, do you ever get embarrassed with all the mistakes you make?” I started to laugh. “I do make a lot of mishaps, don’t I.” “Oh, girls, I have gotten so used to the arts and crafts looking nothing like the original design that it mostly just makes me giggle now. Perhaps not in the moment but not long after. Besides girls, it is what makes me special!”
Not long after my escapade, I was going to eat lunch at Eva’s school. I had a perfect-timed plan to finish my list of to-dos – down to the minute (I thrive in schedules like this). Lunch at Eva’s school topped the charts. When lunch was over, I would take Charlotte home for her afternoon nap, and the race would be on for the afternoon’s checklist. There was just one hiccup. The day was gorgeous. I surprised Eva, let her come home early after I ate lunch with her, and decided arts and crafts outside by the creek was a must for the day. This meant many of the tasks I wanted to accomplish would not get done.
By the time we finished and our regular chores got done, Chuck and I were cleaning the kitchen. He asked how my day went, and I said, “Mild compared to the porty-potty incident.” None of my list got touched, but I made it to Eva’s school for lunch, and the girls and I did arts and crafts outside by the creek. So, if I lay aside my need for a checklist and look at our latest creations drying on the center island, today was a very productive day.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
Subscribe and receive my weekly posts and monthly newsletter – straight to your inbox!
