A Gift for Christmas

I had not even tried to hope.

I knew this Christmas my youngest 

son would not be able to come home.

Mac has grown up, he is a man, 

he has moved away, making his own way

in this world we live in. No mom could be prouder of her

son. He has done it all on his own. With no help from Mom or Dad

he found the college he wanted to attend, applied,was accepted, earned

multiple scholarships and maintained them the whole time he was in school.

While working with local companies building his

resume and expanding his knowledge and talents

Mac graduated with two degrees 

from Savannah College of Art and Design.

 Mac then packed his bags and headed off to the other side of

the country not knowing a single soul yet having faith

he would be able to find the job of his dreams.

I have not even let myself think about Mac coming home for Christmas.

I could do nothing more than send gifts to Seattle hoping he would feel 

loved this Christmas. I even sent him a small decorated Christmas tree

and Chicken Pot Pies.

I just wanted him to have a small piece of home.

Thinking on it now, I should have sent him sea shells and sand.

LOL

You see my whole family told me two week ago that they tried to

buy Mac an airplane ticket for Christmas to surprise

my husband Jay and I.

Mac has been interviewing for jobs, working on an upcoming

art show and he just got an internship with a non-profit. 

Not knowing when he will get a call to interview 

there was no way Mac could come 

home for Christmas.

I then knew for sure my son would not make it home. There was 

just no way he could get here.

Being the romantic that I am, I found myself looking up in the sky

as a seaplane flew over head dreaming

 that the plane would land in front of my house and Mac would be inside.

Then I stomped my foot and said to myself," get a grip, 

he can't come."

Trying to get my mind off of the obvious I asked Jay if he would

help me deliver Christmas gifts to our island friends.

He said,"Sure! Let me just finish this paragraph I'm reading."

So I gathered the gifts and waited 

as Jay snuck a peak at his watch and kept on reading.

Then he got up out of his chair and helped me load the gifts on to

our golf cart and off we went to the island post office.

After all the packages were place in their appropriate mail slots

I found Jay looking at his watch again as he said," Let's go see

how Michael and Karen's house is coming along." So we left

our cart and walked down to our friend's house. Karen gave me a tour

of their home, which is looking very good by the way, then we sat

and visited. After awhile I tapped Jay on the shoulder saying,

"I really should go cheek on the chicken I have in the oven."

Jay kept on talking and looked at his watch. Finally he got up and 

we said our good-byes and headed out the door.

Jay and I started walking down the sandy island road

 talking and holding hands. Just by chance I looked over at the 

dock where the boats bring in guests. A young man was getting off

of the boat. I kept staring at him thinking,"No, it can't be."

I then looked at Jay," Is that my son getting off of that boat?"

He smiled and said "I believe it is."

My feet started carrying me faster than my head would allow.

Am I dreaming?

My eyes would not leave the man on the dock. 

Tears were beginning to well up in my eyes as they followed

his every step. Finally, my head caught up with my feet.

There he was in front of me, I wrapped my arms around him. 

Jay took Mac's bag. Then I received that wonderful "Mac hug". 

My heart began to sing.

Mac wanted to surprise me and that he did!

I am so humbled by the giving hearts of my family this Christmas

and I am so very thankful Mac was able to come home.

Over the years I have learned to cherish moments like these, knowing that as our 

children grow up and leave the nest time grows short but moments such as these last a life time.

Family Craft - Avery's Fort

Three generations gathered

together for Easter Weekend

on Useppa Island.

We all had an amazing time

with lots of fun activities.

~~~~~~~~~

Everyone took part in the building

 of Avery's Fort.

Avery's Fort evolved throughout the day.

It started with Grandma Ginny

watching Baby Jude as Gigi (me)

gathered the large boxes that she had

been saving for the purpose of building a fort.

While Jude crawled around, Gigi taped boxes together

to form three rooms.

Grandpa Jim showed up with his trusty

pocket knife and cut out little windows.

The windows were decorated with curtains and a road was

built for Jude to drive his cars on.

Jude was not too sure about the windows, 

but he did love crawling in and out of the boxes

 and rolling his cars on the roads

inside of the fort.

Before we knew it,

 it was nap time for baby Jude.

While Grandma Ginny,

 Grandpa Jim and Gigi were away.....

Jeremy, Josh, Rachel, Felicia, Avery and Jay

arrived on the seen.

 The rest of us had no idea what they were up to,

until we hard voices calling," Oh Gigi, Grandma 

Ginny, Grandpa Jim come see the fort!" 

What do you think Miss Avery has in mind?

Oh yes, she was very clever. 

After all there are NO BOY'S 

allowed, except Baby Jude.

Always remember....

You are never to young or to

old to have fun building and 

 playing in a fort.

The Red Bow

This is my Christmas story from a long time ago.

 Every Christmas as I wrap gifts

the little red bows cause my thoughts to drift back in time 

when things where always bright and cheery and 

larger than life.

It was Christmas time you see.

The excitement of the morning to come made it easy 

for my parents to get my brother and I to bed.

We knew the sooner we went to bed the sooner

Christmas Day would arrive.

As I lay my head on my pillow I dreamt of all the packages under the tree.

The gifts I had made, and the ones I 

would receive.

The next thing I knew my eyes popped open and the morning

sun was just starting to appear.

The excitement filled my body and I ran to my brother

grabbed his hand and down the stairs we went.

 Our stockings were no longer hanging 

but laying full on the floor.

My brother Sam and I each grabbed our stockings and began

taking everything out. 

Sam very slowly took each thing out one at a time.

Me, well I would dump everything out onto 

the floor for there was one thing I looked for

every year and that was the fragrant round orange.

There it was at the very bottom of my stocking,

I would lift it up to my nose, smell it and all was

right in my world. 

Sam and I would stay busy playing with our stockings

until Mom and Dad were ready to come downstairs and open presents.

Most of the time we would coax them to come down.

With our little voices, " Is it time yet? Can we start 

opening now?"

Our tree was especially pretty on this particular year.

 It was decorated with hand made ornaments and 

brightly colored lights. The packages where wrapped

and calling,"Open me!", as Sam and I waited patiently.

Mom and Dad arrived.

 "Can we start?" Sam and I exclaimed.

With those wonderful smiles that only parents

can give, they said yes in unison.

So my Mom took her place and started handing out the

gifts one at a time. I remember mine that year. It was a lovely 

set of color pencils. I was so excited. I could not wait to

sharpen them and start drawing and coloring

with them. You see I had graduated from crayons

to colored pencils. It was a big deal for me.

This was not the only gift under the tree however.

Mom and Dad carefully opened their gifts from

Sam and I. "Oh" they would say, " This is

just what I wanted!" I love remembering the smiles

and laughter of that day.

All the gifts had been opened under the tree. I realized

my Mom had not yet opened a gift from 

my Dad. I looked at her and she had started to 

clean things up. I looked at my Dad. He had that silly

grin on his face. The grin he would get when he was

up to something. I looked at him,"Dad?"

"Yes?" he said "What about Mom?"

He held out a package, he had hidden under the tree,

and handed to my Mom.

"Merry Christmas" he said grinning from ear to ear.

We all looked at this small square box with a tiny red

bow with thoughts of what could it be.

As Mom held the box it made a little jingle.

"Mom what is in the box?"I said

Slowly she began unwrapping the box,

then she gently lifted the lid.

Mom looked at Dad as if she was in shock

or something. "Mom what's wrong?"

"Jim what is this?"as she held up a set of keys.

With a grin and a little giggle he said,

"I don't know let's go see."

So he took my mother's hand and lifted her up off of the

floor and stole a little kiss.

Then we all followed Dad to the front door.

Still in our morning attire, Dad opens the front door.

There up on top of the hill, across the street was

the largest, reddest bow I have ever seen. 

"Dad that is beautiful!"

I had to see that wonderful red bow and what lay underneath. 

So I ran out the door in my flannel gown and

up the hill. There it was, I saw it, a brand new car.

 "Mom!, Mom!, come see!"

Next thing I knew my whole family was beside me.

Dressed ever so stately in flannels and gowns.

I looked up at Mom, she had tears in her eyes.

"Mom why are you crying?" I said.

She said in her broken voice, 

"They are tears of Joy!"

Written by Ginny Taylor

Edited by Jay Taylor

For me that Christmas was not about the car

but about the surprise, the grin, the bow,

the togetherness and silliness in running up that hill

in our pajamas.

The expression on my parents faces.

 It was the joy in the moment of giving.

Craft - Coconut Christmas Carolers

A little more Island Crafting with

Coconuts.

One morning all the Ladies of 

Floridian Cottage decided it would

be a lot of fun to go for a ride around 

Useppa Island.

So my Mom, Rachel, Felicia, Avery

and I all jumped into our island transportation.

( a golf cart,,)

As we traveled this one mile island.

We found  some wonderful things

that inspired everyone.

We decided we would make 

Coconut Christmas Carolers.

All of the girls chose their

coconuts and other pieces that they would be using

 to make their Carolers with such as spanish moss, driftwood,

coconut flowers and leaves.

As Rachel helped me screw and glue

our coconut together Mom and Felicia

entertained baby Jude.

Once the Coconuts were together the painting began.

 Mom liked her Caroler a la natural.

I will have to agree it does look very nice

this way.

Felicia said she made Jeremy as Santa.

Rachel made a sweet plump singing Caroler.

Avery's Caroler looks a little like Avery.

Avery named my coconut Jesus.

We all had fun crafting our way through 

a beautiful Useppa day.

Calling all Teachers,Moms,Crafters and Kids-Lets Play!

Today I would like to show you how

to make a game with things you most likely

already have in your home.

The purpose of this game is to help children become

 comfortable with letters and to have fun spelling.

This is a hands on approach to spelling.

Teach the ones you love with letters, 

pictures and numbers. This game starts out simple 

and grows harder as your children grow older.

Supplies:

An old scrabble game

Pictures from old cards or magazines,

 a sheet of heavy card stock paper,

paint and paint brushes,

letter stamps and black ink or a black marker,

scissors and spray adhesive,

a box or bag for your letters,

and a box for your game. 

Lets get started!

First we will paint our wooden trays

with some bright colors.

( Kids love color and we want them to be drawn in.)

 I used green,yellow,blue and pink.

While your paint is drying start looking for

pictures. Start with simple pictures with

 three and four letter words like car, dog, cat etc.

(As your children learn these words you can add

more words to your game.)

Cut out your pictures.

Now take your card stock and spray it with your

adhesive spray. Stick your pictures onto your

paper, cut out your pictures.

Your pictures are all cut out. Now lets stamp or 

write the words on the back of the pictures.

Lets play!

There are many ways to play this game.

My granddaughter Avery and I will show you 

how we play this game.

First place all your letters face up on the table.

Game one: Lets spell out our ABC's

This can be played with one or more people

as your children get older it can become a race 

to see who can spell out there ABC's first.

Game two:

Place all the pictures in the box.

One person selects a picture. They try to spell

the word. If they can not spell the word they

turn the picture over and spell the word by looking

 at the letters on the back of the picture.

Game three: Lets add!

After the word has been spelled out a child may want to

add the numbers that appear on the letters,

so have a pen and paper handy.

Avery loves to add so we turned the spelling game 

into an addition game.

If the letter had a three on it we took three of the letters and

placed them in a row. Avery would write the number three

on her paper. Then she placed a + sign next to her three.

The next letter had a one on it. Avery placed a wooden letter

close to the other three letters. Then she wrote the number one

next to her + sign. Avery placed an = sign on her paper.

Now it was time to add all the letters together.

She counted, three + one = four.

Avery then wrote the number 4 on her paper.

Avery really enjoyed spelling and doing

 the addition at the same time.

Game Four:

 Each person draws a picture one at a time from the box

 and spells out their word.

The person with the most points at the end of the game 

wins!

Game Five:

Spelling words,

Why not use this game to learn spelling words.

Make spelling fun!

( you may need to add more letters as the spelling

words get harder.)

Make up your own game. Have fun and make sure 

your kids are enjoying the game, as soon as

they get tired stop and play again later.

The whole purpose is fun with letters, no stress.

Contest:

Name this game.

Send me your name idea to connecting.pieces@gmail.com 

The winner will receive one of these games.
I will select a winner Aug.1, 2012

(This game came about because I learn by touch maybe
your child does too.)

A Fathers Day Sunrise

As I watch the sun come up

so beautifully this morning I reflect on one of
my first and fondest memories of my father.

I am five years old.
My family and I lived in a white brick ranch style
house with black shutters.
 Blond and blue eyed I stood waiting
 for my Dad.

You see white bricks had just arrived and
were lying in wait in our driveway.

I was a curious little girl from the start and I idealized
my Dad. He could do anything and everything.
He was handsome, athletic, smart, he could do it all.
In my eyes he was The Only Man.
 He was my Hero.

 Here he comes.
I watch as he starts placing bricks
and mixing mortar.
I don't remember any words being spoken.
That did not matter to me.

I just loved watching intently as the man I loved
worked diligently.

Each white brick was spaced and placed perfectly.

As each row began to form so did the
lattice effect.

This wall did not form in a day or even two.
It took several days but again I did not care.

I would wait for my Dad to arrive home from work
every night hopping to watch the next phase of
this beautiful wall go up.

Each time my father was working I was watching.
Spending time loving the moments
watching the man I loved
 and waiting for his creation to be completed.

That day did come when the lattice wall was complete.
I will never forget the expression on my father's face.
He was so proud, but it was not a pride of
accomplishment of self.
It was as if he was saying
this I did for you my family, my home.

On this Fathers Day I would like to say
"Thank you Dad" for teaching me so well
with so few words but with moments
well spent.