I hardly ever post mobile photographs here — I think low-res images are better suited to Instagram than blogs — but I couldn’t resist sharing this chalk art!
My mind can hardly wrap around such talent. It’s the transitory nature of this medium that is the most profound to me, I think. The image will only last a short time. The artists know this work is temporary, and yet create greatness anyway.
Since I was a little girl and first began to know of wrongs, I have been burdened. I look around me, I listen, I see, and I am weighted down.
There is so much need, so much injustice, so many faces that stare back at me from across the world, so much I cannot do.
But then I hear a voice, speaking to me, saying:
You have a voice.
Use it.
Else you are like a camera which does not see…
…a strap which does not carry…
…instruments which do not write…
…stars which do not shine light.
Speak up for those who are voiceless, those who cannot tell their story.
They have a story waiting to be told.
Tell it.
Speak.
Do not always remain silent.
“Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow. “-Isaiah 1:17
“For if you remain silent at this time … you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”-Esther 4:14
How will you use your voice today?
For those of you who plan ahead, here are a handful of visually inspiring Advent calendar projects you can make yourself.
Advent Calendar via Dandee Designs – This beautiful calendar has printed advent activity cards attached to the back of each hanging tag.
Advent Calendar via Babyramen – Hand-stamped white bags are clothes-pinned to a string in this simple advent calendar.
Advent Calendar via miniKUNST – Little notes tucked into drilled holes – so clever!
Advent Calendar via innsidenUt – White paper bags on white shelves — this one is an intriguing combination of intricate and minimalist.
Advent Calendar via Emmas Welt – I love the Dala horse detail here; click through to see her entire adventskalender.
Will you be putting together an Advent calendar this year? What have you done in the past?
We plan on doing this activity-based one from Lifesong for Orphans, but I’m not sure I’ll assemble an DIY project in addition to that (despite what I said last year when I was talking about Advent calendar ideas. ;)
Carved wooden horses have been a part of Swedish culture since the 1600s. The distinct shape as we know it today was introduced in the 1700s, and the iconic paint pattern came along in the 1800s. Dala horses were even sometimes used as payment! But it wasn’t until 1939, when a Swedish architect created a huge Dala horse for the World’s Fair in New York, that the popularity of the dalahäst really took off.
[If video player does not appear, click here to view.]
Oh, I know they aren’t a traditional Christmas decoration. But they’re traditionally Swedish, and just happen to be come in very Christmasy colors. So why not? There are no rules about how you can decorate for Christmas — make the season your own, and let the decor reflect your own personality, style and heritage.
Want to contribute to the 3rd Annual Scandinavian/Nordic Christmas Series? Click here to find out how!
Spotted in Roxy Marj’s delightful Etsy shop. She says, “[This print] hangs in our office, and reminds me everyday to forget about myself and think of others…”
View it here.
Aveline’s growing up. I can see it in this photo, especially. She is just 3 months away from 3 years old.
And suddenly, I’m thinking about school, an aspect of life I thought was further away than it actually is.
School is a complex topic, isn’t it? It’s a bigger issue than I can delve into in one blog post. Both Josiah and I were home schooled from PreK-12. For me, home schooling was a positive journey, and I am thankful for the experiences it brought me. (My parents’ story of why they choose to educate me at home is a unique one. We were living in communist Europe at the time, and they didn’t wish to send me to Karl Marx Elementary.)
There really isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to education. Every child is so different. Every living situation is different. Everyone has different school options at their disposal. And the reality is, there are good and bad things about every kind of schooling; whether it’s public, charter, private, at-home, or some combination thereof.
As Aveline gets older, Josiah and I are talking a lot about what kind of school experience we’d like her to have.
What about you? What was your school experience like as a child? If you have children, what decisions have you made about your children’s education?
“…You tell me it is too early to be looking back,
but that is because you have forgotten
the perfect simplicity of being one
and the beautiful complexity introduced by two.
But I can lie on my bed and remember every digit.
At four I was an Arabian wizard.
I could make myself invisible
by drinking a glass of milk a certain way.
At seven I was a soldier, at nine a prince.
But now I am mostly at the window
watching the late afternoon light…”
-an excerpt from Billy Collins’ On Turning Ten
As soon as I saw this tweed blazer from Baker by Ted Baker, I had visions of a red deer stag cantering across the Scottish highlands between slate grey mountains and mirrored lochs. And then I peeked at the satin lining, and it was dotted with red deer print.
Perfect.
Definitely something a laird(ess) would wear.
Admittedly influenced by all the Monarch of the Glen re-runs I’ve been watching lately, I wanted to pair it with some sort of plaid — a nod to the tartan kilt. But if you know Aveline, you know she’s crazy about “farkles” [sparkles]. So my nod to the Scottish highlands quickly turned into something more like a jazz-dancer-meets-laird outfit. (And I love it.)
It’s funny, I had no idea when I first spotted the blazer that the brand really does have true Scottish roots — Ted Baker was founded in Glasgow, Scotland in the late 80s.
Lately, JC Penney is bringing in more and more international brands to their kids’ collection — like Joe Fresh, which is a Canadian brand. I love that! And anytime a store wants to expand beyond licensed characters and pink and purple butterflies for girls’ clothes, I’m on board.
And when a certain little girl wants to dress up and hang out with her mama, I’m on board with that, too.
Here’s Aveline’s outfit breakdown:
MENSWEAR BLAZER // Baker by Ted Baker, from the toddler boy’s department
BLACK TEE // Aveline’s own; similar here
SEQUIN SHORTS // Flowers by Zoe by Kourageous Kids
TIGHTS // Joe Fresh
GLITTER OXFORDS // Joe Fresh (I added the golden ribbon; they come with round black cord laces.)
See all Baker by Ted Baker // See all Flowers by Zoe by Kourageous Kids
Disclosure of Material Relationship: I received compensation in exchange for my participation in promoting the #jcpKids Fall Collection. All the photographs, opinions, and experiences shared here are in my own words and are my own honest evaluation; and I personally selected all the garments photographed here. Please be assured, I only accept sponsorship opportunities for brands I personally use would recommend to close friends and family, and I will always disclose any such relationships.
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