To "Embrace" 2012

Each morn is New Year’s morn come true,
Morn of a festival to keep.
All nights are sacred nights to make
Confession and resolve and prayer;
All days are sacred days to wake
New gladness in the sunny air.
Only a night from old to new;
Only a sleep from night to morn.
The new is but the old come true;
Each sunrise sees a new year born.

-excerpt from New Year's Morning
by Helen Hunt Jackson (1892)

Saying goodbye to 2011 and hello to 2012 is a slow process in our home. Although 2011 held its share of sadness, we are a sentimental bunch and tend to hold on to the joyful moments, especially the wonders of the last few week.

A welcome scene

A moving live nativity at a local farm

Anticipating the celebration to come the next morning.

A few homemade gifts (mint lip balm, felted soap, star ornaments)

(More on that in a future post.)

As the decorations come down, I look forward to the renewed hope, growth, and adventures that 2012 holds. What does it hold exactly? I do not know, but I do know that I can live purposefully. With that in mind, Jessica, from the blog Bohemian Bowmans, encourages her readers to pick one purposeful word for 2012. This year, my word is "Embrace." I will allow myself to embrace my life for what it is and not regret what it is not. I will embrace my family for who they are. I will embrace the day that is given to me, not just set back and watch, although I tend to be a wallflower.

I am not the resolution type, but I do have goals for the year. I am going to try new crafts in these cooler months. I am in the process of making a Waldorf Doll, and look forward to making wool roving scapes, people, and animls. As the months move on, I hope to relearn the piano and teach my oldest son how to read music, I might even break open my cello and our dulcimers. I will teach my children about cooking and in a perfect world, will learn to enjoy hours in the kitchen. We will see. Regardless of it all, I will Embrace what comes.

Spring Nature Table - Renewal (forcythia, fairies & fowl)

Ever have a day that just bears down hard and you are just ready to be done with itl? Well, I have had several of those in the past two weeks, yet been blessed amidst it all and look forward to renewal in the days ahead. Our new spring nature table reflects the renewal that comes with a new season. At the nature table we are now greeted with vibrant cheery colors in forcythia, flower faries and fowl (origami cranes).

Wool Roving & Penelope

Today, I visited West Earl Woolen Mill and stepped into wool roving heaven. There were so many colors and it was very affordable.

I have done very little needle felting before, but after feeling how soft the wool was and seeing so many lovely colors, I just had to try. I bought a rainbow of colors and set to work at making my first person. It would be a Valentine's Day present for my mom. I felt like a 5-year old bringing home a handmade craft from school - which my mom always adored and saved. This was no exception. With all it's flaws, my mom enthusiastically accepted her felted lady and named her "Penelope".

A Mother holds her children's hands a short time, but their hearts forever.

I think I will try a felted playscape next...

Inspiring Blogs

There are so many blogs that inspire me to guide my family toward simple, in-the-moment living that I thought I would share a few.

Syrendell - a lovely blog of a family with a wonderful theme: Love, Abundance, Peace, Health, Happiness (LAPHH)

The Parenting Passageway - resource for peaceful parenting for a hectic world

Rhythm of the Home - an online magazine that encourages family warmth, celebration, play and connection.

The Magic Onion - (as the author writes) "Where the magic of nature and the wonder of childhood collide to make each moment a precious gift." - I couldn't agree more.