It's Almost Here!

This little granddaughter is already excited about Christmas. In early September she whispered in my ear, " Grandma, it is almost Christmas!" Of course around here it is always Christmas, a celebration of Christ, we just wait until the end of summer to resume playing Christmas carols. "One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind .He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats , does so for the Lord for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God." Romans 14:5,6 and "This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

The Little Campaigner

She is a clever one, she is! She begins her campaign before she arrives. She makes sure she has her favorite blanket and scopes out the desired laps to occupy during our home fellowship time. We are gathering in our home this month to worship, break bread , encourage and exhort one another in His word. Above is a picture of some of our fellowship around the table. While we are eating our meal together, the little granddaughter, the little campaigner, is eating her meal as she snuggles up to her Poppa or myself, and of course she has her favorite blanket with her. This is Audrey, she writes The Homesteaders' Daughter Blog. Audrey fellowships with us too. The little campaigner is quite fond of Audrey and Audrey's sister and brother-in-law who are here tonight also. Now let me tell you about THE CAMPAIGN....after the meal, as we begin to share with one another from God's Word, the little campaigner settles herself in my lap. Then slowly,she drifts off to sleep, with a purpose! She knows her Poppa and I love to spend time with our grandchildren and we just might suggest she stay here since she is already sleeping. And this works! We just tuck her into bed in the spare bedroom, the room with bunks for the children. She is happy, very happy. Sunday morning. My husband is an early riser, he usually brings me coffee to help me wake up, but he does not know I am awake quite awhile before he and the Little Campaigner bring my coffee up. I have been listening to the cheery voice of our granddaughter and her Poppa as they talk, giggle and laugh. She keeps running upstairs to jump on our bed and say " wake up Granny!" She is pretty happy. She also has another plan. As I sip my coffee and get into motion , from the open bedroom window I hear noise at the pond. Looking out the window I see my Hubby and our little granddaughter paddling the little boat around the pond.( I have to clean and paint that boat) She and I share a taste for similar breakfast foods....don't you think Ramen noodles and a glass of milk are the perfect way to start the day? I prefer left over Chinese food, but this works too. To make it seem more like a breakfast meal one could drop an egg into the boiling water and noodles. As she eats breakfast she mentions that we are going shopping later on today. "We are?" I ask."Yes, we are going to Walmart" she replies, "So you can buy me something." I reply " I had not planned on going shopping today". She smiles. She is a happy girl, and she does have a plan. The Little Campaigner helps me water the plants and fill water buckets for the animals. She happily chatters on about many things, and mentions again that after we are finished with chores we can go shopping. "Really?" I ask. She smiles. ( As an aside, if I had told her we were not going shopping, and not buying anything, she would have been just as pleasant, she is a happy girl) Our little Candy Cat laps water off the sidewalk while The Little Campaigner finishes up with watering the plants and I remember I do need cat food and more milk, so I mention that , by the way, we DO need to go shopping. Of course she knew this all along. I suggest she kiss her Poppa goodbye because I will drop her off at her home on the way back to my home. I also suggest she thank Poppa for what he will be buying her. He asks " What am I buying you?" and she tells him" A Barbie bathroom". See, I told you she had a plan. One happy granddaughter, one very successful campaigner. I told her I was going to call her The Little Campaigner and she seemed very pleased with the name after I told her what it meant. I think she has a very rosy future with her ability to smile and laugh her way to achieving her hearts' desire, and I am very thankful she has parents to guide her toward making wise and kind decisions. And you know, she was the most excited to get home and share her new prize with her big sister, which she promptly did , after giving me a big hug and kiss.

"Campaigner: A person engaged in a campaign"

Stories for All Ages, Eloise Wilkin

~"Grandma rocks baby to sleep. What a good day it has been! Happy Birthday , baby!" BABY'S BIRTHDAY by Patricia Mowers..illustrated by Eloise Wilkin

The book above is illustrated by one of my favorite illustrators, Eloise Wilkin. That particular story is one I read to all my children on their birthdays for many years, and now I read to my grandchildren. I made up a tune to go with the last page ( above ) where I quietly sing " rock a baby by-o, rock a baby by", and the granddaughter spending her birthday with us, who is sleeping in our spare room right now, sang this tune often in her little baby voice. When I would hold and rock her she would request this song and snuggled in her favorite blanket, she would go to sleep.

~These are some of my favorite story books. I began collecting children's books before I was married. I love children's books and in college, where I was taking classes in education,( at the time my goal was to be a teacher) many of the books I collected were purchased from thrift stores. Our granddaughter brought out WIGGLES for me to read to her tonight. The books shown above are a few of the many books I own that are illustrated by Eloise Wilkin and they are the favorites . ~Look at the detail in the illustrations. They are not fussy or cluttered..but tender, and comforting. The stories are too. Not fussy, complicated, cluttered. "There is still among laymen a lack of comprehension of the discipline needed to pare a text to a basic line that looks simple. A picture book is as concise as poetry." Marcia Brown As I have been writing posts for my blog I have realized it is best to use as few words as possible to state my point or tell my story. When you combine wonderful photographs or illustrations and art with a good , succinct story...you have talent!

~This illustration is from PRAYERS for CHILDREN. ( 1952 )~

~Eloise Wilkin illustrated Little Golden Books from 1943 to 1961. Everyone has probably had at least one battered story book laying around the nursery that was illustrated by her. Eloise Wilkin heads the list as as the most popular artist with collectors of these books. I did not know this, I just knew I loved her illustrations and whenever I saw a book with her distinctive portrayals of family life and nature...I bought it. Usually not spending any more than a quarter. After researching her on-line I now know why I don't find good deals on such storybooks anymore! ( above picture is from BIRDS by Jane Werner Watson, illus. by Eloise Wilkin) ~My personal favorites are WE HELP DADDY, WE HELP MOMMY, and WHERE DID THE BABY GO ? I still read and re-read these books when I have no children around to read them to.They are in some way , so comforting. Apparently,they are calming to my grandchildren too. ~Here a little boy is saying his good night prayers in PRAYERS for CHILDREN. "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray Thee, Lord, thy child to keep; Thy love guard me through the night And wake me with the morning light. Amen."

~Do you have any books illustrated by Mrs. Wilkin in your home ? Are you still reading them to children, to yourself ? And hey, if you want to get rid of them...just send me an e-mail, I have room on my bookshelf for more! "Picture books , of course. present the greatest problems in finding the right artist.....the author's vision of the finished book is important, because it is part of the author's concept of what he has done." Jean Carl, children's book editor

Happy Birthday Little One~

~Happy Birthday Granddaughter!~

~You blew out all 5 of your birthday candles!~

~You are such a big girl now, in a hurry to grow up and be a Mommy, just like your Mommy, my daughter. Remember though, we want you to stay little just a bit longer so we can enjoy your happy ways, your constant laughter and delight in the simple blessings we often take for granted. We want to listen to you talk about Jesus, and your prayers for the many, many people you have a soft heart and concern for...and of course, enjoy the teasing you love to dish out and also take back with gusto! ~And Grandpa and I are so happy you have chosen to spend your birthday with US !

~We love you little one, Happy Birthday!~

Puppies, Playdough and Cupcakes !

~#5 Granddaughter's face just lights up at the sight of puppies. She positively glows when she gets to hold them ! Almost a good enough reason alone to have a puppy or two around .~~Here is Sienna with her six puppies. They are thriving. There are 3 boys and 3 girls.~

~When Sienna was not in the kiddie pool in the kitchen with her puppies, #5 Granddaughter was. #5 Granddaughter's favorite television show is Jon and Kate Plus 8, and we decided that since Sienna had 6 puppies, 3 girls and 3 boys, we would name them after the Gosselin sextuplets. #5 Granddaughter had fun turning the pups over and after figuring out if they were boys or girls, gave them a name of one of the sextuplets.I think if we want the names to stick I will need to put collars with name tags on the puppies.

~A yawning puppy being cuddled by a very happy granddaughter.~

~Another of #5 Granddaughter's favorite activities here at Grandma and Grandpa's is playing with playdough. When she comes over I leave the playdough stuff out on the table for the duration of her visit. Here she plays with it just before bedtime, ~And here she is the next morning, playing with playdough. She likes to make playdough cakes and pies, and all kinds of food. ~Granddaughter also very much likes to make real food. Her choice for us to bake together is chocolate cupcakes.Can you tell she likes to make and bake cupcakes?

~Can you tell I love to make and bake and frost cupcakes with her ? ~

~The cupcakes were delicious!~