A Little Joy

With JS learning how to read, I've come to really like the look of decorating with wall letters. What I don't like is having to shell out a lot of bucks to place decorative alphabets and words around the house, so I decided to make them myself.

For this easy Christmas decorating project I bought letters that spell the word "Joy" from a craft store, as well as some metallic gold paint.

Paint each letter with a sponge brush (you might need two coats of paint). I had JS name each letter as he was painting them, and tell me the letter sound.

Let the letters dry...

... and then arrange them on a mantle or shelf, or hang them on a wall. Yes, it was that easy.


And now JS knows how to spell the word "joy."

"See JS read."

I have to admit it, I'm one of those parents who prefers to read to my son books that are at least one or two grades above his reading level.

I don't do that because I want my son to be a genius. Let's face it, 50 percent of his genes come from me, so there's not much hope for him on that front. I read to him more advanced books because, frankly, I get bored with the same old "See Spot run" stories that don't have a beginning, a middle and an end.

So you can imagine the grumbling I did under my breath when JS brought home this booklet from school, with the assignment that he must read it to me.

In fact, he'll be receiving one of these types of booklets every week and will be required to read it to me so that he can get a star sticker on his chart. (i.e. If I don't have him read it to me right away, he'll keep bothering me about it all week.)

So I had him read the book to me, and my jaw dropped to the floor when he read that title page...

... and continued on inside.

I found myself eagerly anticipating what came next in the short story, and JS was excited that he was reading a book to me. He even told me what page number we were on.

By the time we got toward the end of the story, I had changed my tune about those "See Spot run ..." books, and had actually wanted more.

I didn't care that it wasn't above his reading level.

I didn't care that he had probably used the pictures to give him clues about what he was reading.

I was simply overjoyed that JS was reading to me.

Of course, I suppose it would have been nice if that last page wasn't missing.

Anyone have any guesses as to what happened to the little bird that was watching each scene as the story unfolded? I just need to know...

A Little Bit More On Transitions

1) Remember how I bought this for JS as a "You're starting kindergarten!" present?

Saturday, I bought him a "You're starting a new school!" present.

(Well, the movie was really for me, and my mom bought him the Tag Reader last Christmas, so his present really is just the book. I'm such a nice mom.)


2) His former school held a little going away party for him Friday, and he got a lot of hugs. But he said his favorite part was being "line leader."


3) JS doesn't seem fazed by starting a new school today. He said he'll miss his friends from the other school (as well as the bus ride to that school), but he looks forward to making new friends.


4) I'm coping by speeding past Thanksgiving and getting my house ready for Christmas.


5) Here's a before shot of one of at least two Christmas trees that will be decorated this year.

6) I still have some fall decorations placed throughout the house during the transition process, so right now it looks a little bit like Thanksmas here.


7) I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of Coffee-mate's Peppermint Mocha creamer in my local grocery store. (Yes, we have only one grocery store.) I don't usually use creamer in my coffee, but the stuff is tradition for me as we transition from fall-like weather to those frosty winters.


8) What I did find was this, ...

... and it is spectacular mixed with club soda.


9) Or vodka.


10) I think I'm handling the transition well.

How JM Handles Transitions

There I was, on my way to the checkout line at a drug store, when what to my wondering eyes should appear ...

... but a miniature Santa perched atop a tube of Bonne Bell Lip Smackers. And, of course, I just had to have it.

You see, Just Family is going through a transition. Don't worry, in the end it'll prove to be a good transition. A great transition, in fact. But I just had to have the tube because of all the memories it brought back of the simpler days of my youth, when joy was a tube of Bonne Bell strawberry-flavored Lip Smackers and transitions didn't seem to be that big a deal.

I opened the package as soon as I got home ...

... and had to try each flavor immediately.

... And as I tested each one,

... the smile that was already on my face because of the promises this transition holds, grew wider.


Here's to a smooth transition.


And I guess, smooth lips. ;-D

Easiest Darn Caramel-Pecan Pie You'll Ever Make

Got any leftover caramels from Halloween? Then you've got the key ingredient to making this truly easy and tasty pecan pie. I mean, it's so easy that I was able to make four of them for a recent dessert auction in almost no time at all.

What made it quick was using store-bought unbaked pastry/pie shells, but you can definitely make your own pie crust using your favorite recipe if you want. When I first saw the recipe, I was skepitcal about how the pies would taste because of the store-bought pie shells. But the pies turned out just as flaky and flavorful as they would have had I used my favorite pie crust recipe.

The recipe is adapted from a Kraft recipe I got when I was in high school, and the finished product is worth every calorie. And because it's easy to bake, it works for me.

Caramel Pecan Pie

36 caramels

1/4 C. water

1/4 C. margarine

1/2 C. sugar

3 eggs, beaten

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 C. pecan halves

1 9-inch unbaked pastry shell

1) Melt caramels with water and margarine in a saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently until sauce is smooth.

2) In a separate bowl, combine sugar, beaten eggs, vanilla and salt. Gradually (as in, don't dump the whole thing in unless you want scrambled eggs in your pie) add the caramel sauce and mix well.

3) Stir in the nuts; pour in to pastry shell.

4) Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. The pie filling will appear soft, but will become firm as it cools.

For more Works For Me Wednesday ideas, visit We Are That Family.

Of Quilting Bees, H1N1 and Celebrity

1) A sweet gray-haired lady in my parish invited me to join a quilting club made up of her and her friends.

2) I seriously considered joining the group, but then remembered that I've never sewn anything in my life (unless you count replacing a button on a shirt as "sewing.")

3) She said that sewing skills aren't required and all I would have to do is tie knots.

4) That, I could do. And yes, I'm still thinking about it.

5) I got nervous knots in my stomach when I realized I had to go inside the local clinic to get some routine blood work done.

6) Having blood drawn didn't make me nervous. Having to enter a facility in which there's a 99 percent chance that H1N1 is present, did.

7) It was the first time I absolutely refused to pick up a magazine in the waiting room, even though the cover told me that inside were the secrets of quickly and easily losing 10 lbs. this holiday season.

8) I suppose a person could also lose weight quickly if he or she caught the flu, but I think I'll pass on that weight-loss method.

9) Speaking of weight loss .... I'm attempting the unthinkable these next two weeks before Thanksgiving by starting a modified version of the South Beach Diet. That means that I'll eat carbs only if I start to get really crabby about the fact that I can't eat carbs (which means I'll likely be eating carbs every day).

10) I'm generally happy OK with my weight, but I think it's time to shape up so my arthritic hips are also happy.

11) My hips weren't all too happy Saturday after I made them walk around a craft store for two hours while I debated whether or not to buy some Christmas-y items.

12) That would probably explain the look of deep concentration on my face just when a woman I had never met before came up to me and asked if I was "Just Mom."

13) Being recognized for my fine writing and photography (my words, not hers) inflated my ego a little a lot and made me feel I was in the same league as my favorite big-time blogger, The Pioneer Woman.

14) OK, I know I'll never achieve that level of success as a blogger, but it's nice to feel wanted.

15) Hmmm ... maybe I should join that quilting club ...

The Treasure Box

JS told me recently that he wanted his very own treasure chest. He loves being able to pick out a little treat from the treasure box at school when he does good work, and he wanted a box at home. So being the addicted-to-craft-stores mom that I am, I jumped at the chance to create a special treasure box just for him.

My first stop was the craft store to buy a plain box with hinges and other doodads that, when decorated, could look like a treasure chest. I wasn't sure what was out there, all I knew is that I didn't want one made of unfinished wood. I don't know why, but I didn't.

Anyway, I found this box:

JS was really excited when I showed him what I found, so I took advantage of his enthusiasm and brought out some of the art supplies I had on hand. I also brought out a stack of old magazines he could look through to find things he could cut out and then glue on to the box.

I told JS that he could decorate the box any way he wanted.


You know what he said?

He said it looks best plain.


And you know what?


I kind of like it that way too.


For now, anyway.

Halloween '09

Guess who?

It's me, Woody. (OK, it's me, JS, dressed as Woody from "Toy Story."

I thought you'd like to know what our Halloween was like this year. I'm still tired from all that trick-or-treating I did with Dad, so I'll just let some photos do most of the talking.


I got a lot of this stuff, and handed out a lot of this stuff too.

My mom said it was OK to display one of these guys, even though she said it gave her the heebie-jeebies.

We had a party at our house and mom was so thankful for disposable party plates, napkins, cups and utensils.

I watched the fiber optic lights change colors on this witch's hat.

And by the time the party ended and the trick-or-treaters stopped coming to our door, I was ready for a cold one.

Water, of course.


It was a good Halloween. How was yours?

Random Photo Saturday

The Comfort Zone

I am a cheerleader.

I am loyal and often very good at standing up for someone or supporting someone when I see him or her do something I like.

I don't need the spotlight, but I don't avoid it either and will stand in if I am asked.

But now I find myself being in the leadership position of something I care deeply about, and frankly, it frightens me a little.

You see, my "real life" friend and fellow blogger Heidi Jo is leaving this little community in which I live. She was not only instrumental in getting me to start a blog, but she also came in to my life during a period of great uncertainty for me.

Back in fall 2006, when I first told people I was giving up my journalism career to be a stay-at-home mom, she was one of the first women to offer her support. But she didn't just offer me support with words in an e-mail (which, don't get me wrong, were nice to receive). She also took action.

No, she didn't invite me to "do lunch" -- which, by the way, if any of you whom I know "in real life" want to do, just e-mail me. In fact, we've never "done" lunch -- or arranged playdates for our children, but that's another matter, right Heidi? ;-D. Actually, what she did was invite me (someone whom she didn't know, but may have seen at church) to join a prayer group that she was forming with a small group of other women. That invitation, although she'd probably laugh at the thought, was the turning point that I was looking for on my continuing spiritual journey.

We've been meeting faithfully (pun intended) for the past three years, and each year I've seen a few more women from our church join our diverse group. We laugh, cry, learn and pray together. I've grown to trust these women with matters of faith, and I've even shared a few personal concerns with them and they with me. Because of all these things, I look forward to each meeting we have.

Now, our leader, HJ, is leaving. And because I'm selfish and want the prayer group to continue so my spiritual growth doesn't stop, I'm forcing myself out of my comfort zone to lead the group as long as I can.

Why does this frighten me? Simply put, because I've never been leader before.

Oh, I've led a few of our prayer group discussions in the past, but always with the comfort of knowing that HJ would be back and all would be right in our little world at the following meeting. But not anymore.

She'd probably say something like, "Pfft ... anyone can lead a prayer group." But I don't think anyone can. It takes someone with a high level of commitment to and love for the Lord. It takes someone with energy and knowledge. It takes someone with guts to stand up for what is morally right. It takes someone like Heidi.

All I bring is my selfish desire to keep growing spiritually.

I don't know how this will all play out, whether our group will continue to grow or whether it will shrink to where it's just me and my Bible. But with the Lord's help eventually all will be right in our little world. Or at least, OK.