{A Lighthouse}

by Kade Christensen, age 11

Last week, my son came home with a painting he did in art class.

I was in awe!

Thanks Kade for being you and adding your artistic flare to my life :)

I love you!!

The music is everywhere. All you have to do is listen ...

{August Rush}

We had our own little 'March Rush' today ... It snowed! It's spring so the snow was quite enchanting and very pretty! I did have to hurry out and save my flowers from the cold, fluffy, white stuff! Don't worry - they are safe (under the porch).

PS: Snowy days make me want to snuggle by the fire with a good movie! Do you feel like that too? If so, grab a copy of "August Rush" and enjoy a Friday night with a feel good movie ...
I loved this flick.

Hmmmm -

Feels like a marvelous night for a moondance ...
:)

{Let's get Wiggly}

YOU ARE INVITED:
Join us tonight at the Richland Public Library!
7:00 to 7:30 PM

PS: This show is family friendly!

** Bring your camera and get a photo with Wiggles the fish **

Wiggle girl fish by Jennie Stanfield

(I absolutley love her artwork) :)

Take 5 - OK if you want to watch the Enchanted 'Happy Working Song' keep looking down (:)))) Had a little YouTube madness this morning!! Happy Thursday to everyone :) ...

Glitch #4 ... OK something went wiggy with the 'Enchanted Happy Working Song' post and I woke up this AM with that song on my blog 6 times or something!! FUNNY :)

Glitch #3 ... (oh my goodness)!!

Glitch #2 ... :)

Glitch #1

{The Happy Working Song}



PS: I tried the ah ah ah singing out the window to call all the creatures and critters to come help me clean - In fact, I keep trying the ah ah ah but no one is showing up!! ***Cheers to Disney songs that help us GET the WORK DONE with a smile :)***

{A Time to Wiggle}

For the record, I’m not walking like an Egyptian … I’m doing a snakish slithery move!!

Our local paper ran a story about my husband in the paper yesterday. He recently released his first CD for kids called: “Wiggle Like a Fish” and we spent the last 6+ months sharing the positive feel-good music! Come on - get up and wiggle (like a fish) ... :)
Or slither like a snake!

If you would like to read the article, please visit the link below -
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/136119.html

PS:
This music journey has really been a fun adventure for our family.
We have ‘fish stories’ like no other!! :)
The big fish is part of the act - his name is Wiggles the fish and the kids LOVE him.

Cheers to positive music for families and kids!

:)

Wiggle Like a Fish website:
http://www.wigglelikeafish.com/

{Memories from the corners of my mind}
Of the way we were!

Amy, Wendy, Katie and Jennie
Easter Sunday - 1983 (ish)

Wendy and Amy - Easter Sunday 1976

While growing up, every year at Easter, my Mom would sew my sisters and me a new dress. Oftentimes, we had matching gowns.

PS: It’s the laughter we remember, the love and yes – all the beautiful clothes
handmade by mom.

Cheers to the way we were and who we are today!

Happy Easter :)

{Peeps}

Creamy, puffy marshmallow creaturs that are especially popular at Easter.
(Available in a variety of colors - shaped as bunnies and chicks).

I just walked in from gathering stuff to make Easter baskets for my kids!

PS:

It's tradition - At our house, you get Peeps for Easter!!

I think I'm going to use the above drawing instructions and
make some Easter Peeps cards - Too funny!
:)

Official peeps site -
http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/

PROMO FOR AN EXILE IN PARADISE:The Adventures of Edward Lear

An interesting film/promo on the travels of Edward Lear ... I love all the stuff you can find and learn about via YouTube.

{A blessing on St. Patrick's Day}

"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you
In the palm of his hand."

*******

Artwork by my sister, Jennie Stanfield...

{Weekly Rewind}
A note from the Director/Executive Producer

Top 3 list of great moments this week –
(Commentary added for additional insight)

1.
This is Miss Wendy your Substitute Teacher –
On Thursday, I had the opportunity to sub at my daughter’s preschool. One of the teachers went home sick so they called and asked me to fill in (not in my daughter’s class). I was able to meet 20 new kids who became instant friends. I went home with 2 adorable pictures from students – a heart and a rainbow. Special thanks to the kids who gave me lots of hugs, made me a (pretend) picnic lunch and for the invigorating game of ‘duck duck goose’ ….

2.
Mom, can I take you to lunch? -
My son Kaleb, was out of school earlier this week due to teacher/parent conferences so we had some time to hang out. His one request was to take me out to lunch to Dairy Queen for a shrimp basket. (He and I both love shrimp). So, on Wednesday … we went out! When it was time to pay, he dropped $5.00 in quarters, dimes and nickels onto the counter!
So suave and savvy - he’s my little Romeo!

3.

Slurping down the Shamrock Shake –
Monday, I drove by McDonalds and noticed the reader board alerting us drive-buyers that the shamrock shakes were NOW HERE. Did I get one? Yes, in fact the entire family got one! Those green drinks are beyond M’M’ Good! Get one.

Feel free to rewind and share your top 3 GREAT moments from the week!

Inspiration from the 'greens' of March
By Wendy Christensen
(Published in the Tri-City Citizen March 11, 2008)

Have you ever stopped to think about the colors that decorate our lives? I recently read an interesting article about the colors that surround us and the impact they have on our attitudes, actions and happiness. I learned that the color red has the amazing ability to add energy to our lives and that by wearing red, one can increase his or her happiness. This color discovery caused me to do a little reflection on the color green and the role it plays in the month of March. Be on the lookout! Green shows up everywhere and offers inspiration to all who stop and pay attention.

First, the winter begins to fade away and we see traces of spring in the leaves, grass and flowers. The garden section at local stores, have spring plants that beg for homes of their own. I usually grab a few to help them feel secure and I think they appreciate having a pot/place to grow and take root. These color spots add cheer to my home and it’s a way to celebrate the beginning of a new spring season. If I’m really lucky, the tulips make their entrance and add a flare to the yard as well. The color green in the leaves and plants remind me of new beginnings and renewed hope.

Second, the green garden hose and tools usually get pulled from the shed and find their place in the yard. Those of us lucky enough to have a desire to exercise the ‘green thumb’ muscles start to think about the garden and see images of green plants growing tall and boldly in the ground. The green tools and garden design ideas help me appreciate the ability I have to work and for the wonder of the earth, power of the sun and the miracle of seeds.

Third, shamrock shakes appear in local restaurants. I love the taste of this green, frothy drink which makes its entrance a week or so before St. Patrick’s Day. When the reader boards around town read: “Shamrock Shakes now here” I smile and know that its time for the entire family to get in line for the best green drink of the year! This particular green beverage inspires me to feel the luck of the Irish and to appreciate the diverse flavors and traditions of the foods and people around me.

Fourth, celebration items for St. Patrick’s Day can be found everywhere. Green plates, green napkins, green utensils, green St. Patty’s day buttons, green sunglasses, green drinks, green goblins, green clover fabrics, green roses, green leaping leprechauns, green t-shirts, and isles of green cards. The list of available St. Patty’s day merchandise grows larger each year. And every year as St. Patrick’s Day approaches, I feel thankful for our celebrating spirit and the abundance we enjoy in this country.

Lastly, green means GO. The green light at the intersection beckons drivers to step on the gas and move forward. I personally love to hit all the lights green (especially down George Washington Way in Richland). And these green lights cause me to smile and they signal my inner self to want to move forward in other ways as well. For me, the color green inspires knowledge, learning, life, vigor and new beginnings.

The next time you encounter green, learn from it and let it propel you forward.
Go with the green!

PS: Green will come in handy on March 17th –
don’t be caught without it or a pinching frenzy is sure to occur.

Wendy Christensen is a local writer and a publicist for Mapletree Publishing Company.
She can be reached via her website: http://www.littlemomentsthatmatter.com/

{The places we love …}

As a freshman at college, I remember having an assignment in my English class to write a paper about our favorite place. This place could be anywhere and our professor encouraged us to describe what it was about our place that brought us serenity, happiness and/or peace.

Back then, I wrote about my Grandma Call’s house in Afton, Wyoming. I described the gorgeous mountain behind her old farmhouse, my walks through her canyon, the smell of wheat, and my memories of family reunions, hay rides to the mountain and the endless supply of love that seemed to grow in the grass and trees. As a young girl, I learned to love this place – and that will never change. (see photo above)

If I were to write a paper today it would be about the walking path along the river. I have walked this path 100s of times – sometimes alone but most often with my mom, sisters or my husband and children. The banks of the river have an amazing way of helping me sort out life … one step at a time!! :)

What are the places you love??!

{Political GLOW}

You see that red light off the side of the above photo??! That's called the ahhhh haaa light of politics. :) That light was radiating from me when I arrived home from the County Convention (late tonight) and wouldn't go away!!! My kids were like - "Mom what did you do at that meeting?"

I told them they would need to serve as a delegate and they too could have the beautiful, red glow :) ...

For the record - I had a splendid time at the convention today. I was totally impressed by the day's events and all that I was able to learn and be a part of.

PS: I think my dreams tonight will be full of motions, votes and floating platforms!!

Good night ...

{Politics and ‘shut down’ mode}

Do you cringe when you hear the word politics? I find that many people do. This word (for some) carries a great deal of emotion, frustration, fear, and often causes people to withdraw from conversation or to go into ‘shut down’ mode. For others it causes outbreaks and vocal outcrys ...

Just so you know… shut down mode is when a person goes to their personal happy land and shuts the rest of the world out. (Exiting to happy land is a convenient and safe place to visit when life gets tough, boring and/or when political views are being discussed).
Are you in happy land now??! :)

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to get more involved in our local government process. This has been very interesting and a learning time for me. First, I will be attending the County Republican Convention tomorrow as a delegate. I’ll let you know how it goes! Second, I took part in a focus group last night with some friends and talked with a gentleman who is running for County Commissioner. It was a great night and we discussed where and how we want our taxes spent, ways to help fight crime, water use, concerns for the direction of our families and other important matters.

It feels good to be part of the American democratic process at work!

PS: I’ll do my very best to stay out of ‘shut down’ mode at the County Convention tomorrow - More details later! Feel free to get involved where you are --- Our country needs YOU.

{Finding Your Way}

I recently read an article called: “Using Butterfly Time, We Can Learn Secrets Of Our Own ‘Clocks’ – By Robert Lee Hotz (Wall Street Journal, Feb. 8, 2008)

This article was very fascinating and talked about the millions of monarch butterflies that migrate from Mexico to Canada each year.

My favorite quote from the article is this –

"What good is a butterfly?"

“….A butterfly can tell you about the fundamental biology of all creatures
on this earth. There is something fundamental about finding your way.”

Isn’t that beautiful? I thought so too – all of us are here to find our way. Just like the 55 million (or more) butterflies that form their majestic seasonal rite from Mexico to Canada,
we too must find our way …

Cheers to the journey and the beauty of our ‘migration’.

To learn more about the monarch migration please visit the link below -

The Journey North

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/

{Lyrical Extractions}
Sometimes life can feel like a Runaway Train
By Wendy Christensen

Runaway train never goin' back, wrong way on a one way track
seems like I should be getting somewhere, somehow I'm neither here nor there

The above extraction is the chorus to “Runaway Train” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. This song has an eerie feeling to it. It’s also catchy and a bit haunting. And each time I hear it, I feel as though he’s singing about his deepest, darkest days.

I believe it’s safe to say that we’ve all had a bad day. You know the kind … where nothing goes right and you wish you could just crawl back in bed.

Even on the bad train ride days, we have options about how to make the ride better. The first step is to stop right where we are and consider the next best thing to do. For example; let’s say our current ‘runaway train’ has to do with being lonely. This seems to be a common feeling of many. We can stop and decide how we can be more involved with others in our neighborhood, our community or with our church. We could write a letter to a family member, send an email, or make a phone call. By taking control of the situation at hand, we can change the course of our ‘runaway train’.

As part of the song, Petty sings about being here or there. We decide ultimately if we are here or there. Taking responsibility for the direction of our lives requires action on our part. I recently watched a video clip of Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad and was intrigued by his publishing journey. His manuscript was turned down by several publishing houses and instead of choosing to be here or there, he decided to take action. He self-published 1,000 copies of his book and that one choice helped launch this very successful book which to date, has sold over 26 million copies. His book has been on the New York Times Bestseller list for six straight years. I think it’s safe to say that he’s happy on his ‘train ride’. And glad that he decided to get somewhere regardless of what the publishing experts may have decided about his book.

I am grateful to know that I’m not the only one who has had a deep, dark day. I appreciate this song and it serves as a reminder that we choose what train track we’re on and we can choose to get on a different train heading somewhere better. Feel free to rally support as you jump trains and create a different path… It’s ok - call someone you love in the middle of night and ask them to help remind you that you are a person of value and worth!

Wendy Christensen can be reached via her website:
http://www.littlemomentsthatmatter.com/

*******
Inside my brain: I wrote this article about a year ago. This particular piece is part of a collection of articles I've written about the songs that fill the air around us and my thoughts on them. I would love to have my own regular column someday and thought I would share a few pieces via my blog :) - Let me know what you think!

{Furniture Pizazz}
Something old turned into something NEW ...

(That's me with a paintbrush)

(Finished project)

(An old hutch - screaming for a make over)

One of my favorite hobbies is giving old furniture pieces a NEW style ...
Last weekend I worked on fixing up an old hutch for my dining room.
(See photos above).