to inspire learning so that we can care for one another
Stories
I GREW up in a large family in a small town in Illinois.
It was noisy and chaotic and full of storytellers!
From the earliest I can remember, my nose was stuck
in a book and I was solving Nancy Drew mysteries and
finding out where the sidewalk ended.
I gained so much inspiration from both the oral and written word.
It was my dream to inspire others by writing and publishing a book.
I can't think of a better first book than The Gift of Me.
Taken from two decades of personal research (my kids),
the journal captures stories and creates connections through
sharing family moments. It's an amazing journey!
The Christmas Journals
IN DECEMBER 1999, just seven months after the tragic Columbine
High School shooting, I was Mom to a teen and two tweens and felt an urgent need not only to connect with my children but also to better understand their emotional health.
So, using blank journals purchased from a local bookstore, I set out to do just that, and the original “Christmas Journals” were born. The handwritten journals, one for each child, consisted of “getting to know you” sections featuring their favorite things and people, questions about their lives, their hopes and dreams, “would you rather” queries, and fill-in-the-blank statements to finish. I explained to them that the journals were meant to be their Christmas gift to me and that I wanted nothing more under the tree on Christmas morning than their completed journals.
I wanted their gift to be the gift of themselves.
Needle and Thread
When I find that words aren't enough to satisfy my creative side,
I turn to needle and thread.
My mom sewed many of my clothes when I was young - her sewing room was a magical place for me as I marveled at what she was able to do on her ancient sewing machine.
While my kids were growing up, I worked full-time, leaving little time for sewing save for Halloween costumes and the occasional dress
for a school dance.
Now that I have more time on my hands, crafting clothing for little ones and their dolls provides a wonderful creative outlet!