I've Got the Blues...In a Good Way!

This week's iPhoneography mission? Awesome!

Mission #15: Find something blue.

Awesome, why? Because blue is my favorite color. Granted, I pay as much due reverence to the right shades of purple, but blue has the bigger space in my heart. It reminds me of so many things that I love: blue skies, blue jeans, "You're my boy, Blue!" (the movie Old School), forget-me-nots, and the list goes on. My bedroom is blue; my truck is blue. When I buy Hubby shirts, they are generally blue.

It's not quite an obsession, but I'm definitely a fan.

So, I kept my eye out for things that were blue this week. My first shots were of the sky; it was wonderfully blue (on the days it wasn't raining), and a blue sky just makes me feel that all is right with the world...

Blue Skies, Shining on Me

(Native camera and PhotoToaster)

Into the Blue

(Hipstamatic)

Midnight Blues

(Native camera and PhotoToaster)

I didn't want all of my pictures to be of the sky. That seemed sort of like cheating. So I resisted the temptation (and believe me, it was hard), and I looked for a couple other things that were blue. Among the shots that I took that I actually liked was the next one: the drum kit in the band room. The little guy loves to play it, and I love this listen to him pounding on those drum heads in what is almost a steady rhythm already!

Beat the Blues

(Native camera and PhotoToaster)

As much as I like to get dolled up on occasion, I am really a blue jeans kind of girl. I couldn't, therefore, resist a shot...

Old School Blues

(Hipstamatic's Newest Pak)

And finally, even the little guy got in on the action. I have several game apps that he likes to play with on my phone. Among them, of course, is the prerequisite "Thomas & Friends" apps. The newest one has coloring pages of some of the new engines. My little guy must be going through a Picasso stage; he only colors each page in one color. Anyway, imagine my surprise when I was going through my album and discovered that he had (somehow magically) saved this image for me. Good job, pal!!

Blue Belle

(Screen shot)

All pictures aside (heh), winter and the holiday season can be the cause for the blues for some. I know; I've been there myself. I can't offer a cure for that other than a promise that if you open your heart to it, life does get better. The blues can just become beautiful shades of a color instead of the shade of your heart...



Heart Full of Love

Deck the Halls

(with Beer Works coasters...)

Ah, Christmas...

As Nick gets older, Christmas becomes more and more magical.  I can't wait until Christmas morning this year. I think it is going to be so full of wonder and joy and love that I may explode from all of it.

It is important to my husband and I, though, that he learns about generosity. He is a much beloved little boy, and there is a tendency to spoil him since he is, for now, the only grandchild.

Knowing that to be the case, Mark and I began to think about the way to teach him generosity. One of my colleagues attends a church that, as part of its missions projects, supports a local homeless shelter. Each year, my colleague asks people to support the children in the shelter by purchasing Christmas presents for them.

The year that I was pregnant, we began to participate. We purchased gifts for two children that first year. Each year since then, we have tried to purchase for a little boy that is Nick's age. With the exception of one year, though, we always end up purchasing for an extra child. I force myself to stop at two. We can't afford to buy for all of them...though if we ever win the lottery that will change.

This year, we chose two kids again. A four-year-old boy who asked for Thomas toys was the first choice; the second choice was a seventeen-year-old girl who only wanted Bath and Body Works and a bathrobe.

Who can deny gifts like that?

In preparation, we sat Nick down and told him that there was a little boy who didn't have a house. Santa wouldn't be able to visit him, so we needed to buy him presents instead.

I wasn't sure if Nick would "get" it. Boy, was I wrong.

Up until last night, when we bought the gifts, Nick kept asking, "When are we going to buy presents for the sad little boy with no house?"

This morning, he told me that we had bought the present last night and that the sad little boy could be happy now. I told him how proud I am of him, that he was so generous and kind. I said to him, "Nick, you have a big heart that's full of love."

He looked up at me, pondering. "Mommy? Do you have a heart full of love?"

Oh yes, I do. And I know who much of that love is reserved for...

First Letter to Santa!

What he dictated to me...No wonder I love this kid!