I’m committed to my cause, but if I didn’t take a minute to stop and smell the flowers, I’d have to be committed.

Love,

Jess

Right, I know I am not supposed to love things. But, I do.

Well, at least I like them a whole bunch. Here are few things that fit the bill.

Happy Valentine’s Day Just a Blink readers! I *heart* you and your visits to my blog.

Love,
Jess

I filled a baker’s tin with Scrabble tiles to send a loving message to my family.

Red winter berries bring my sideboard “mantle” just a touch of color.

To add a hint of love to my bedroom, I created a LOVE banner for the old farmhouse window. I made the banner from #4 coffee filters (folded in half) and scrap ribbon. The lettering is made from cut-out pieces of card stock that have been mod-podged with micro-beads then hot glued onto white card stock circles.

Here is a close up of the LOVE banner

Hugs and Kisses. I propped up these Xs and Os on the wall “grate” decor above the sideboard in the dining room. I glittered paper Xs and Os (glitter is a verb right? haha, within the crafter’s mind it is I guess) on the kitchen table. I swear I had glitter between my teeth after dinner that night!

I could totally be done decorating for this season, but, I something tells me I’ll keep fluffing my “love” nest until February 14th.

Love,

Jess

I am okay with any excuse for chocolate and candle light, you? Valentine’s Day is notorious for romance but I want more! Am I coming across as high maintenance or what?

Seriously, what good is ONE day of romance if the rest of your days are filled with sub-par loving conditions? I am blessed beyond words to have a dh (darling husband) that shows me love everyday (does putting away clean dishes and getting quick shoulder rubs speak volumes, to you, as it does to me?)

Anyway, February is coming upon us and thus LOVE is in the air when it comes to decor. Although red hearts and glittery XOXOs can’t actually show us love, they sure can deliver a sweet reminder to show love to one another.

Here are some photos of a few of my Valentine’s Day decor.

Okay, gotta run, my babies are calling for me. And yes, it is impossible to keep Molly out of the conversation hearts. I might be rethinking the placement of that candle holder.

Love,

Jess

This post is linked up to Blue Cricket Designs

Happy Birthday Peter!

You are finally as old and as wise as I.

You are many things, but one thing you are not, is lame. In other words, you are super awesome.

Together Till the End

Though you annoy me, on certain crabby days

I count you as a blessing in many fantastic ways

As glimpses of time crease around your eyes

Your appeal increases, its really no surprise

Your loving manner shines in every phase

Bringing you joy and honor, really pays

I’ll stick with you until your last breath sighs

Cause no one else remembers my killer thighs

Love You!

Us circa 1999 (Yes, those were the killer thigh days...*sigh*)

Love Is…

A champion of virtue

Smitten with sacrifice

Ever-ready to defy hatred

Bold  in giving

Defeated only by fear or laziness

Love is good

I am avoiding typing real paragraphs for my posts these days. I sorta like my photo essay/poem vibe. I hope you do too.

However, I am still conjuring up some thoughts on showing/expressing love to children.

Have a great weekend!

Love,

Jess

Love comes so easily for children

Today Ryan told me, “I love you because you let me make chocolate chip cookies with you.” His current primary love language is quality time. Just the mere suggestion of doing something with him brings him great joy. A close second…acts of service. So, getting to measure and bake next to me is a great way to fill his love tank.

Love starts when we choose it, so start loving today!

I took 2 days to really love my firstborn. Not exactly a comment to write in the baby-book, eh?

Sure, I “loved” him from the moment I knew he was being formed in my body.

But, my real deep-down, I know you are mine, I will die for you kind of love came 2 days after he was born. His little eyes opened and stared directly into mine…I knew I was going to be forever changed.

Right after my new found maternal instinct full of love and fear kicked in, I did what any “sane” new mommy would do, I asked the Hospital nurse (the same one that had been helping me for 2 days) to flip her name tag over so I could see her i.d. badge before taking my baby back to the nursery.

Plant Love and watch it grow

My love for my son continued to unfold in many ways over the years. As kids usually do, he crept up into the hearts of many other people too.

I found some old photos to illustrate some of the ways he has shown love to everyone during those lovable but taxing years of 18 months-3 years old (about).

Words of Appreciation

My Daddy is the best computer fixer! Can I help? Can I fix with you? Can I? Can I? Wow, you're so smart!

Physical Touch

Grammy Lu adoring Ry as he burps and comforts Molly.

Acts of Service

Ry and Dad cleaning the floor with vacuums.

Gifts

Giving has always come very naturally for Ryan. As an older toddler he always made sure everyone in the room, including stuffed animals, had a snack or toy.

Quality Time

Ry showing Papa the wonders of the world. No doubt, Ry pointed out a jet stream or airplane.

More thoughts about how to show love to kids, later this week!

Hope your day is full of love. Giving or receiving….

So what’s a girl to do? Make something! Of course!

In honor of Valentines Day, I thought I’d whip up  a little “game” to encourage loving, talking, and learning within our family.

Valentine Conversation Cards

1. Round up a bunch of cards from the Hearts Suit (one card per question desired).

2. Cover cards in card stock (on the non-heart side). I chose paper colors similar to the conversation heart candies.

3. To bring out all the love, write prompting questions and fun-loving action commands on the cards.

• Tell Mommy she is special
• Give Daddy a back rub
• Ask Papa to share a story from the past
• Call Grammy and say I Love You
• Hold Molly’s hand in yours
• Read with Ryan on the couch
• Tell about a time you showed love to someone
• How do you feel loved?
• What does it mean to show God’s love?

4. Store game cards in a basket, bin, bag or box. I chose to put mine in a heart box on the kitchen table.

5. Take turns picking a card. Enjoy conversation and let the love abound!

Have a good weekend! Happy Valentine’s Day! I’ll be back next week with some thoughts about how to speak your child’s love language.

“Remember, God loves you and so do I!” – Boz the green bear next door

So slow in fact, that while side-tracking my cleaning efforts with a much over due ‘pouring over photos by the millions’ (on my closet floor), my heels made my butt go numb from sitting on top of my feet for so long. You, know the feeling, don’t even pretend you don’t.

Well, such a trip down memory lane & a good haulin’ out of old baby clothes scraps…inspired some simple, cheap and cute Valentine cards.

1. Cut little pockets out of worn out baby and toddler clothing. Items with stains and tears are not okay the giveaway pile. Why not turn them into crafts?

2. Find a photo. Use your kids’ photos, their little faces are sure to melt the hearts of everyone. Cut out a person outline, if desired.

Me, circa 2000

3. Glue on pockets, add stickers and fill with candy or photos.

]]> http://justablink.com/2009/02/valentine-cards-baby-clothes-pockets/feed/ 1 http://justablink.com/2009/01/yes-i-found-it/ http://justablink.com/2009/01/yes-i-found-it/#comments Sat, 17 Jan 2009 06:38:24 +0000 Jessica http://themcwilliams.info/?p=1740 Yeah! Yes, Yes, So Wicked Awesome! I am doing the River Dance with a raise the roof (yes, I am that big of a dork) over here.

I finally did it! What, you ask?

• Did I finally finish my bathroom before & after? No.
• Did I have paint my junk dresser and install new hardware? Not exactly.
• Oh, I know! I have completed Baby Step #1 from Financial Peace University. Nope.
• Have I sent out the photo I owe to a dear Heart for Art winner, from ages & 1/2 ago? Wince. No.
• Okay, did I at least finish the dishes before blogging? ha-ha-ha, what? Certainly not.

What I did do today was way better than all of my to-do list combined. I did, stillness. I am not talking about meekness, studiousness, or even quietness. Just stillness, simple as can be.

Let me give you the background.

Today, both kids napped…at the same time. I always thought, that if such a day where to ever occur, I’d have miraculously delicious plans of solitude…with coffee, books, paint canvas, my camera, music, fireplace (duh, I don’t even have one of these), chocolate, or at the very least a glass of wine and a chance to empty the dishwasher, without someone crawling in it! Instead…a peaceful reflection.

photo credit Designs of Life

I Found Stillness Today by Jess McWilliams

I found stillness today, rather stillness found me

It found me just in time, for wintry shadows of a bright sunset to dance across my wall

I welcomed stillness in to stay; stillness warned the time will pass, so just sit and be

It stayed bundled with me, as I shared a dreamy slumber with my child of 4 years in all

I pleaded my busy heart to stillness; stillness remained quiet, so the moment I could plainly see

It asked me, though, how I’d been, for it had been awhile, since I’d seen my friend stillness call

I’ve been right here, in work and play, lonesome for you; stillness stood back and gave me a wind of warmth, much like a cup of tea

Wait stillness! I cried. Let me linger here with you. I could tell our time was through; the moon now growing tall

I held my dear little one with his awakening breaths, with gratitude for the joy I found today; stillness played it’s final note as it was meant to be