Amy L. Sullivan's Blog, page 4

Gutsy Girls Read: Online Book Club for Moms and Daughters

All About God’s Animals by Janyre Tromp

I am a starter of projects, and I am a connector of people.

The starter piece comes from the fact that I love to watch small ideas grow and spread, and the connector piece comes from the fact that I just flat out like people.

Toss together my one part starter, add my one part connector, and stir in my mad love for books, and you are left with my new book club, Gutsy Girls Read~Online Book Club for Moms and Daughters (

When I started this online book club, I thought I could force a few far away friends to join. Maybe.

Confession: Back in the day, I kicked one of  my best friends, Dusti, out of my book club. Yes, she was the only other member. Yes, that ended our book club, but I was thinking I could force some people (besides Dusti!) to join my new club.

Then I thought, maybe I shouldn’t limit the book club to people I knew. Maybe I should open up the book club to people everywhere who have a passion for books and who are invested in discovering quality books for girls ages toddler to teen. Maybe other people are interested in books that encourage adventure, imagination, leadership, bravery, and a desire to know God. Maybe others are seeking well-written books with strong female protagonists and real-life female heroes. All of these maybes kind of made me giddy.

So I created a group, and as it turns out, there are people who want all of the above mentioned goodness. Our book club is a closed group on Facebook, but considered yourself invited to join. Please disregard the fact that I tossed one of my best friends out of a previous book club. On my honor, I will not give you the boot.

If the idea of good books and people who love books doesn’t interest you enough, please add VIP access to the authors who write the books we read to your list of reasons to join. Yep, when we discuss a book, each book’s author jumps in and joins the conversation. In addition, because we discuss lots of books and members have/know/teach children of different ages, everyone is not required to purchase and read every book we discuss.

Now, who, who, who are these fabulous authors? Here is a sampling of what we have discussed and what’s next on our agenda:

The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still by Karlin Gray, a picture book about fourteen-year-old, gold medalist, Nadia Comaneci. Hello, perfect read for the upcoming Summer Olympics and perfect read for those of us who have a child who can’t sit still.

The Circle C Adventure Series by Susan Marlow. Susan has multiple series of books written for girls ages 6-teen. In the closed group, Susan shared a great story about how the cover of her first book came to be (um, where else will you get this behind the scenes kind of info?):

Question from book club participant: Will you tell everyone the original story behind the cover image on your book?

Susan: That is quite a story. As marketing folks like to do, they ask the author for ideas for covers. I sent along a picture I’d snapped of a young friend from church who resembled (to some degree) the main character in my book, Andrea Carter and the Long Ride Home. I expected design to use it as an idea and create some kind of illustrated cover (what did I know? I was SO GREEN!). I didn’t even know that usually, the author gets to see the cover before it becomes a book (but I did not see it). I went along my merry way until a friend emailed a month or two before the release and said, “I saw your new book on Amazon. Jessica must be thrilled.” Huh? Jessica thrilled about WHAT? I hurried over to Amazon and made the astounding discovery that Kregel had used the picture I’d sent. *whoa!* Quite a surprise to me and to Jessica. And . . . since I had hopes that this would become a series, well . . . yeah . . . that meant time to snap some more pictures! The whole story is over on the Circle C Adventures website under “Photo Gallery.”

Erin Weidemann, author of Bible Belles: Adventure of Rooney Cruz  picture book series also stopped by our group to talk about her new book, where she likes to write, and even her dog, Rowdy.

July’s books include the following:

July 11th: All About God’s Animals a board book series by Janyre Tromp.

July 18th: She Loves Science: A Mother’s Guide to Nurturing the Curiosity, Confidence, and Creativity of Her Daughter by Tracy Borgmeyer.

So that’s it, friends. Summer is the perfect time for reading, let’s read some books together. Join the Gutsy Girls Read: Online Book Club here.

Your turn: What are you reading this summer? If you have girls, students, tweens, or teens in your life, what are they reading?

Sullivan Summering

Let’s start off by saying it’s hot in the South.

I know there are people who embrace sunny days and sandy toes, and I hear you, I get it, and my kids get it. Hence, tiny painted toes paying tribute to our family’s pets (courtesy of a doting Nana).

And of course, I adore starry nights, blazing bonfires, but I will not lie. Fall is my favorite. I know, I know, extended time with kiddos, rocket pops delivered to the front door, and the always awesome library summer reading program, but I adore fall.

Even though I have a love for all things fall, my family reminds me there is much summering to be had. So let’s go ahead and have it.

Sullivan Summering

 

My girl and her friend held a lemonade stand.

Despite lots of waving and yelling, “Get your ice cold lemonade! Lemonade! Lemonade!” (these pleas for customers were equivalent to hot dog vendors at professional baseball games) most cars drove by.

I tried my best to give fast moving cars the stink eye, but because these obviously very busy people were driving so quickly, they didn’t see me.

Then out of nowhere heroes arrived.

Yep, the guys who pick up our recycling pulled their giant truck over, chatted it up, and overpaid for two glasses of warm lemonade (let me remind you, it’s hot in the South). As the girls’ first customers were pulling away, one of the men yelled to the guys on the garbage truck which happened to be coming up our hill, “Hey man, stop and get some lemonade!”

That’s all it took. The girls officially had a second set of customers.

Community is made up of a whole lot of people. It includes people who often go unnoticed. Glad these guys are a part of mine.

Additional Sullivan Summering Looks Like This

 

Sharing about Gutsy Girls, Corrie and Betsie ten Boom with a gaggle of kiddos including this crew. It should be noted these children are world renowned question askers.

Flying away to work and taking my kids along to visit the above mentioned Nana. Chicago, Chicago, I love you so.

Starting an online book club for moms, grandmas, teachers, and friends who are interested in books for girls ages toddler to teen. Consider yourself invited. Every Monday we discuss a new book and every Wednesday the author of the book pops into our group for a visit. Join us here.

Beaching it. In North Carolina, the beach means the Atlantic Ocean. However, I know the beach to be Lake Michigan. Here are my kids. Shutting down the beach.

Having the husband declare this our new song. This is us not at the beach, but at the ocean. You see how that whole beach vs. ocean thing works? Does this only make sense in my head?

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What’s filling your summer days? Are you spending time at the ocean? The beach? The backyard? The office?

Much love, friends.

My Sister and Sisters, Corrie and Betsie ten Boom

My parents drove my newborn sister, Sara, home from the Petoskey Hospital in the front seat of a 1977 burgundy Buick Century.

This is Sara. I know. The cuteness is almost unbearable.

The gray Michigan sky spit snowflakes, enough to dust the car, but not enough to cover the dirty side of the road.

My mother held my sister tightly in a yellow quilt as my father stretched his finger toward the push button radio. It was late February in Northern Michigan. Music hummed softly.

Growing up, I had two favorite ways to spend time in the car. The first was performing headstands in the backseat and waving to passing cars with my feet. The second was folding the edge of Cuddles, my green blanket, into a cone and softly rubbing it on my face.

I don’t remember doing either the day we brought my sister home from the hospital. Instead, I poked my head out from the deep regions of the backseat, straight between the driver and passenger seats, and I leaned forward for a better look at my new sister.

People said babies cried all of the time.

Sara wasn’t crying, but if I put my head very close to hers, I could make out small noises. My sister’s noises reminded me of the sounds which came from the neighbor’s puppy. I was certain my parents couldn’t hear Sara’s sounds because they were too far away, and I was pleased that although my sister didn’t know it, she and I already had a secret.

I know it sounds silly, but even then I knew my sister’s whispers would turn into a loud voice. Sara’s birth story includes a snow mobile, and any baby born that far North in the middle of winter is bound to have fight in her blood.

But it was more than that.

Sure, Sara was loud when as a toddler she stole plastic can goods and toy fruit from my cardboard grocery store, but I knew her voice would grow into a different kind of loud. Sara’s voice would be the kind of loud that speaks up about injustice and then works hard to lead change.

Maybe I didn’t know it that day in the Buick, but it always seemed true.

I knew Sara had spunk and fight for a reason. God doesn’t waste such gifts on just anyone.

Sisters inspire, even little ones.

Another photo of Sara. Go ahead and try to tell me you can’t see her spunk.

Sisters, Corrie and Betsie ten Boom

 

Today I am talking about sisters because the next Gutsy Girls book is about sisters, famous sisters, sisters who loved people with an incomprehensible love and honestsly, even writing about them is intimidating.

Corrie and Betsie ten Boom were Dutch sisters who lived in the Netherlands with their elderly father during World War II.

Betsie, the older sister, worked in the ten Boom home.

And Corrie, the first licensed woman watchmaker in the Netherlands, worked in her father’s watch shop.

Throughout their lives, the ten Boom family was well-respected and an integral part of their community in Haarlem. When the evils of World War II thundered into their country, the two sisters who were in their fifties, and their father decided they would not passively stand by while friends, neighbors, and innocent people were destroyed.

Instead, the ten Booms joined the Dutch underground resistance movement. They provided ration cards, safety, information, and at times, a place for people to hide, but even more importantly, the ten Booms provided hope in one of history’s darkest times.

Our Girls, the ones we are raising (and not just the ones who live in our house)

 

Here’s the thing. History is full of women who have lived bravely and loved fully for God. The problem is the girls of today don’t know these women.

Let’s introduce them.

Let’s not stand by while our daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and neighbors are bombarded with falsehoods about who they are supposed to be.

Instead, let’s tell our girls about the strength and beauty of the women who came before them.

Let’s commit to help our girls grow their small voices into thundering anthems for God.

Book Two in the Gutsy Girls picture book series officially releases Thursday, June 2nd, but here’s the situation, the book is already selling on Amazon. So although I am making the announcement with confetti and hoopla in a few days, I wanted to let you in on the secret now.

I just can’t wait for you to meet the ten Boom sisters.

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ADDED PERK: As a release day bonus, Book One in the Gutsy Girls: Strong Women Who Impacted the World series on gutsy girl and real-life missionary, Gladys Aylward is on sale June 1st (that’s today!) until June 2nd (that’s Thursday!). Consider buying a copy or gifting (did you know you can give Kindle copies of books as gifts?) it to your kids’ Sunday School teacher, grabbing a copy for that loooong car trip which is about to commence, or heck, sending a book to your favorite missionary family.

Your turn. Do you have a sister? I’d love to hear about her. If you don’t have a sister, do you have friends who act like sisters?

Cell Phone Picture Share: Spring Edition

Most of my April looked like this.

With a dash of this.

And a sprinkle of this.

And it’s good. All of it good, but when I travel for work, I struggle to be present. Always feeling caught halfway in one place and halfway in another. It’s during these halfway times when I am thankful for friends who send texts and email and two sentence commentaries on the important things in life like my kids and videos of random chimpmunks who find their way into homes.

Anyway, I am baaaaaaaack, and now life is looking a bit like this.

Remember back in the day, Field Day meant three-legged races, ribbons, and relays? Not any more, friends. Welcome to Field Day 2016. Now Field Day means lining kids up on a hill and spraying them with water.

Utter joy and squeals punctuated by “Get me! Get me! Wait, don’t get me! Not me, not me!”

This sort of nonsense is followed-up by having kids grab marbles with their toes and chase each other in circles with wet sponges. Those teachers. They dominate in the fun department.

Anyway, now that I am home, my days contain a dash of this:

It’s real-life missionary, Gladys Aylward’s suitcase, complete with a tea kettle tied to the handle! I am finishing up school visits. With summer nearly in our hot little hands, my time at schools and sharing about Gutsy Girls is on pause until the fall. However, I am already looking forward to next school year because next school year, I won’t just have one Gutsy Girl to share about, I will have three!

 

The second book in the Gutsy Girls series will make its way into the world on June 2nd. I am praying for all of the young readers who will soon meet the main characters, sisters, Corrie and Betsie ten Boom. These two women had a faith almost too big to comprehend.

Anyway, thank you for showing up, and thank you for being my people. I hope your weekend is full of noticing God’s goodness.

Celebrating Gutsy: Contest Winner

It’s official. The Celebrating Gutsy: Writing and Drawing Contest for Kids is over. No more rushing to my mailbox and inbox to see what kind of creations arrive. No more giggling about the ways kids see God work. No more stories of prayer and kindhearted kiddos. I don’t want it to end!

Thank you to all of the young artists and authors who entered. I wish I could post all of the submissions. Thanks to the mamas who mailed off submissions and encouraged participation.

Here we go…

The following entries receive an Honorable Mention. Honorable Mentions will receive free music from our fabulous judge, founder of the Polished Conference and Christian recording artist, Emma Danzey.

Artist: Grace, age twelve

Artist and Author: Dineo M. age 10

Artist and Author, Jacob age seven

Artist: Edie M. age twelve

Author, Sopie H. third grade

Thankfully, I didn’t have to pick a winner. I threw that task to our judge. So tell us Emma, do we have a winner?

Yes! The winner is eleven-year-old Gabrielle Leep! What an amazing work of art. This beautiful picture portrays such a great journey towards Christ. Way to be brave! Congratulations, Gabi. In Christ, Emma

Gabi will receive a $25.00 Barnes and Noble gift card and an autographed CD of Emma’s upcoming release.

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Thanks again to everyone for participating! Watch for another contest this summer.

Celebrating Gutsy: Gutsy Girls Writing and Drawing Contest

A couple of weeks ago, I was visiting a school when a little boy raised his hand and asked if I could pray for a girl named Emma. See, this little boy doesn’t know Emma, but he knows Emma has Cystic Fibrosis, and he knows Emma needs prayer.

“Of course, I’ll pray for Emma,” I replied pausing for just a moment before rushing on with my next sentence.

“No, now,” he interrupted.

“Can we stop and can you pray for Emma right now?”

“Wait, you want me to pray for Emma right now?”

“Yes.”

So we stopped and an entire class of third graders prayed for a girl none of them have ever met, a girl who has wiggled into their hearts.

That’s gutsy. It’s bold. It’s how I want my kids to live. Heck, it’s how I want to live. I need a third grader to boss me into halting my agenda and paying attention to God’s.

I want to tap into that kid’s spirit.

What would happen if we combined the idea of living gutsy for God with the natural creativity which oozes from kids? Who knows, it might just look a little something like this.

Pictures of Gladys Aylward drawn by two cuties in Barbados

With the idea living gutsy for God, I’d like to announce a contest for kids.

Here’s the contesty scoop. Although this contest is based on the picture book Gutsy Girls: Strong Christian Women Who Impacted the World, you do not need to own the book in order to participate. Complete one of the following:

1. Write or draw about a time you were gutsy for God. Ideas include telling someone about Jesus, praying boldly, following God even when it makes your heart flip flop, singing a worship song in front of an audience, serving others despite being unsure. Kids live bravely, let’s hear about it.

2. Draw a scene from Gutsy Girls depicting a time when Gladys Aylward was brave for God. Pick one of the times when real-life missionary, Gladys Aylward, showed courage and draw it. Was it when she took a train across the world or dodged bullets or walked 100 children over 100 miles to safety?

3. Draw a world map and label the route Gladys took in order to reach China. This one will take a little research, and would you think less of me if I told you I want this map for selfish reasons? I want a kid-created map to share with kids when I do school visits. Wow me with your maps!

Age requirement: Open to all kiddos ages 3-18.

Deadline: April 15, 2016.

Prize: $25.00 Barnes and Noble gift certificate and downloadable music from Christian recording artist and founder of the Polished Conference, Emma Danzey. Just who is Emma? You don’t know Emma? You must know Emma. Emma Danzey is not the same Emma the third graders prayed for. Here she is!

Other burning questions:

Where should I send entries? Email entries to AmyLSullivan12@gmail.com. A digital photo submission of drawings and letters is perfect. Local participants and those participating via school visits may send entries through US mail. Email me for physical address. Please include child’s name, age, and parent contact information.

How will entries be judged? Entries are grouped and judged in four categories: Grades PreK-3 / Grades 4-6 / Grades 7-9 / Grades 10-12. Entries will be judged by the lovely, Emma Danzey. Emma is looking for original artwork, which is neat, colorful, and represents the idea of living gutsy for God.

What medium should I use? Get creative! Markers, paint, pencils, collage, colored pencils. Your choice.

That’s it, gutsy friends. I must go tend to my inbox and anxiously await writing and drawing submissions. Questions? Hit me with them in the comment section!

Happy almost weekending!

Authors Reveal Their Favorite Children’s Picture Books

A year ago, I looked at my daughters’ bookshelf and noticed it resembled a TV listing.

Of course we owned the classics, but our bookshelf also contained a disproportionate amount of books on premade princesses, talking ponies, multiple fairies, a girl who liked to dress-up named Nancy, and let’s not forget the ever popular shopping bag and friends with bulging eyes (oh beloved Shopkins, you are just plain strange).

We owned children’s Bibles and a handful of Christian reads, but as I stared at the shelf, I noticed our family was missing picture books which contained strong female protagonists. Where were the stories of girls who liked adventure and science? Where were the characters who showed bravery and kindness? Where were the main characters who loved God?

Books about strong girls are out there.

These books may not stare at us from the endcap of our favorite book seller, but they exist. Just ask today’s panel of experts: Teri Lynne, Tracy, Kate, Jessie, and Danielle. Not only do the following authors know something about raising girls, but they have agreed to share today about the picture books that have impacted them.

Here we go! From Teri Lynne Underwood, founder of Prayers for Our Girls:

The Princess and the Kiss remains one of our favorite books—and my girl is now 16! The message of purity is, of course, one we wanted to instill in our girl from the beginning. But more than that, I love the way the book teaches how big decisions are often a series of small decisions, a daily choice to pursue godliness in every way.

Teri Lynne Underwood is a worship leader’s wife and cheerleader’s mom who writes in between loads of laundry and mourning the end of Downton Abbey. Blog || Prayers for Girls || Instagram || Facebook

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From Tracy Borgmeyer, author of She Loves Science: A Mother’s Guide to Nuturing the Curiosity, Confidence, and Creativity of Her Daughter: 

Owl Moon is about a little girl and her dad who go out on a snowy night in search of an elusive Great Horned Owl. While on their journey she learns how to be brave, be persistence, and have hope. This is one of my favorite books because it reminds us how children love exploring nature and that the adventure is that much sweeter when sharing it with a parent.

Tracy is an engineer, mom, and author of the book She Loves Science: A Mother’s Guide to Nurturing the Curiosity, Confidence, and Creativity of Her Daughter, and she writes of her daughter’s science adventures on her blog.

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From Kate Motaung, author of Letters to Grief:

Our family adores the Jamela books by Niki Daly, including Where’s Jamela?, Happy Birthday, Jamela, and Jamela’s Dress. Our favorite book is What’s Cooking, Jamela? — a story about the time Jamela saved her chicken, Christmas, from becoming Christmas dinner. The Jamela series is set in South Africa and gives a glimpse into township culture through fun-loving characters and humorous sticky situations.

Kate Motaung is author of the e-book, Letters to Grief, hosts the Five Minute Friday blog link-up, and writes at Heading Home.

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From Jessie Clemence, author of a slew of must-reads:

When I was a little girl I loved Strawberry Shortcake and the Winter That Would Not End, by Alexandra Wallner. Worried because the never-ending winter is seriously messing with their berry crops, the Strawberry Kids band together to go get the Ice Crystal back from the nasty badger who stole it. Strawberry Shortcake leads the way with bravery and kindness, of course, making sure the winter ends and the badger finds new friends. The writing and illustrations are classic, true to their 1982 origins.

Jessie Clemence is a writer and blogger from southwest Michigan. You can find her at jessieclemence.com.

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From Danielle Ayers Jones, author of Celebrate! Holiday Picture Books for Children:

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. Alice’s grandfather tells her when she grows up she must do something to make the world more beautiful, but Alice doesn’t know what it could be. In the meantime she grows up, becomes a librarian, and then travels the world. But when she buys an old house by the sea, she discovers exactly what that beauty will be.

Danielle Ayers Jones seeks to find beauty in the everyday, joy in hardship, and encouragement in unexpected places, and you can find her blogging, and on Instagram and Twitter.

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Over the last six months, I’ve worked hard to include more girl-centered reads on our bookshelves. Here is a sampling of our favorites.

But I am always looking to add to my list. Here’s the part where you come in. Recommend away, my friends! Hey, and make sure to click around some of the links from our guests. Each of the authors listed are working on fun projects.

What picture books inspire your girl? What picture books inspire you? Any long ago or current favorites?

My Thoughts on Young Makers

When relatives ask what to buy our youngest for her birthday, my answer is often the same: tape. Scotch tape, masking tape, duct tape, two-sided tape.

A giant box of tape would make our girl giddy. Why tape?

Our girl may only be seven-years-old, but she is a maker. Makers imagine, build, and tinker. Makers create. Examples of our daughter’s making include a floating living area developed for a miniature, plastic duck, batches of “perfume” made from household spices, a variety of elaborate indoor and outdoor fairy traps, and disassembling functioning toys for much needed “parts.”

  Zero staging involved in this photo. This is the workspace of my maker.

Not so long ago, the world viewed makers as nothing more than mess makers, I know this to be true because when I say “the world” I should just say mothers. Fine, I should just say me. I didn’t understand my daughter’s making.

Do you really need that much glitter to shoot out of your fairy trap? Should an entire bottle of chocolate syrup be kept in an arts and crafts box? Do you need all of the floss in the house for your pulley?

But these days, I am trying to see making in a new way. Yes, there is an empty milk carton filled with brightly colored yarn under my girl’s bed, but our daughter isn’t consuming, she’s making, and apparently, making is a thing, and it’s not just a thing, it’s a good thing.

In fact, making is a movement. It’s called the Maker Movement. There are magazine articles, books, and there’s even a national Maker Faire where people come and share their creations. See, makers are the inventors of our day. Do you remember these girls we talked about a few months ago? They are makers.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what it means to have a tiny inventor in our house, and I’ve been wondering if I encourage my girl’s ingenuity or if maybe, just maybe, I squish it a wee bit.

Therefore, here are three statements I am committing to avoid when it comes to my girl’s making:

Stop making a mess. However, I cannot refrain from saying this if the making involves a large amount of glitter. It’s not possible.
That isn’t going to work. No, my daughter’s outdoor fairy trap did not catch a fairy, but do you know what it caught? A cricket. Really, that little trap caught a cricket. *It should be noted the fairy trap may have been built over a dead cricket.
Stop wasting all of the _____________ (insert word). In my world, the missing word is floss. If I had two words they would be floss and ground cinnamon.

See, it’s not that I mind all of my girl’s creating, but when we invite guests over to our home and all of our spoons are missing, as in not a single spoon to be found, as in we cannot locate eating utensils, I tend to get down on this whole business of making.

But the truth is, I would much rather battle it out about missing spoons, misplaced floss, and messy rooms than try to pry my kid away from the nearest screen. Remind me of that the next time you come over, will you? Oh, and could you bring a few extra spoons?

What about you? Have you heard about the Maker Movement? Do you have a young maker in your home?

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Want more ideas and resources on makers? Take a peek at my new board, Encouraging Young Makers.

P.S. I Adore You and My Seven-Year-Old Prom Date

Darnell asked me to prom every day.

I tried to make excuses.

You’ll have more fun with another date. There are tons of girls who would love to go with you. I don’t like you that way. What about our age difference?

See, Darnell was seven and I was nineteen, and neither of us attended high school. We lived at a summer camp for kids with cancer, Darnell as a camper, me as a counselor.

I discovered the camp while flipping through an outdated booklet intended for corporate trainers. Hiring for the camp ended in April. It was May. I called anyway. A newly hired counselor quit the previous week, and the director hired me over the phone. He seemed surprised a girl from Indiana called about a camp in New Jersey. I wasn’t. I knew I was supposed to be there.

God whispered it in my ear. Sure, I would have preferred a message from a burning bush or a shouting angel, but God was teaching me to shut out the world and pay attention to His whispers.

When I arrived at camp, the director assigned me to the youngest girls, the Robins. The Robins were five-year-olds from low income, inner-city homes. The Robins also happened to have cancer, all of them.

I didn’t shine in my new position. Our cabin was filthy. We were late to all activities, and the only time those Robins bathed was when the rain pounded down, and I corralled the girls outside and greased them up with soap.

Regardless of what camp activity I worked, Darnell took each session with me. If I taught four arts and crafts sessions in one day, Darnell made four bird feeders. If I faked my way through leading water aerobics, Darnell, who hated swimming, bounced along with me.

I finally accepted Darnell’s invitation to the prom when his tiny hands brought me a fistful of weeds, and he told me age didn’t matter when you were in love.

We attended prom and took a limo from one side of the camp to the other. We walked through a balloon arch, and we munched on finger food.

Two days later, Darnell left camp. No time for good-byes. His white blood cell count fell too low. After Darnell left, daily activities and the Robins kept me busy, but even now, my head drifts to that little boy with a fistful of weeds.

Valentine’s Day is upon us, and although some declare this holiday a made-up day/marketing ploy created to push people into buying cards (Yeah, I am looking at you, Shane Sullivan). I am in red glittery, sparkle love with the idea of reminding people they are cared about. However, I am not in love with tossing a bunch of money on expensive gifts from boxy stores that will be lost, broken, or forgotten.

Ways I like to celebrate Valentine’s Day: Homemade cards, yes. Cookies, yes. Unexpected phone calls, yes. Cheap grocery store flowers, yes. Businesses which choose to support families battling cancer, yes.

Enter PS I Adore You.

PS I Adore You is a site created by three moms (go, smart moms!), and it’s designed to do three things: feature adorable products, provide shoppers with good deals, and help families who have kids with cancer, kids like Darnell.

Just so we are clear, when I say P.S. I Adore You carries adorable products, I mean this:

I took this sassy, Sage and Harper, messenger bag from P.S. I Adore You to a bunch of Gutsy Girls events this weekend, and I promise you, no less than eight people asked me about it.

So if you you are in need of a Valentine’s Day gift (birthday day gift, shower gift, no reason at all gift) and you like to support businesses which support good causes, take a peek at the loot at P.S. I Adore You. If you don’t see what you like, stop back soon as products are updated often.

Now you go. Tell me what’s happening in your world or how you celebrate Valentine’s Day or tell me you know a kid like Darnell or hey, tell me you like my sassy messenger bag.

Cheering For You and a Playlist

This photo is one of my favorites.

I should have been studying art, but instead, I was studying people. Their shadows created something unexpectedly beautiful, and those shadows made me think of you.

You can’t see how stunning you are on this average Thursday when you are busting it day after day, when there is ice on your windshield, and no one took the garbage out. Your mind is focused on the right now, the right in front of you, the tasks which demand to be finished right this moment.

The results of your work may be invisible, and you may feel invisible, but I want you to know He sees you.

You, the one who is loving the kid who was not your own, but who is now yours. You, the girl who studied hard, but failed the test. You, the person who desperately wants the job but may not get it. You, the woman who is making little progress on that big ‘ol dream God planted deep within your soul.

You have no idea where all of your work will lead, but thank you for working anyway.

I made you a little something. It’s a playlist. Don’t worry, non-techy friends, playlists are easy to work. Simply click on the link above and music will play. You don’t have to create an account or sign-up for anything, and you may continue your online cruising. Just open a new window, and music will continue. It’s magical.

I hope you enjoy the new tunes, and hey, while you are listening, tell me about someone you are cheering for or bet yet, tell them.