Hola, Vovo!

If you've ever had doubts about the benefits of technology, just take a look.



"I know that voice."  *squeal*




"I see that face!"  *coo*




"Hola, Vovo!"  *squeal*  *giggle*




Daniel's Vovo Dora is talking to him from Brazil.
Tia Flora is there too.




"Oh, there's Tio Helio and Tia Cecilia!"

 I'm speechless every time I see these photos.

The expressions on their faces--both Daniel's and all those who love him in Brazil--are priceless.  I remember how beautifully painful my Skype experiences were after I returned from my visit.  We were so far away, and yet connected in real time, face to face.  And still so far away.  Bittersweet.

I used to sing this song to baby D while I stared out the apartment window, across the mountains and Guanabara Bay.  I would tell Daniel about his Grand Dad in Texas.  I still sing it, only now we talk about Daniel's Grandmother so far away in Brazil.

I see the moon.  The moon sees me, down through the leaves of the tall oak tree.  Please let the moon that shines on me shine on the one I love.  Over the mountains, over the sea, back where my heart is longing to be. Please let the light that shines on me shine on the one I love.

A Great Grand Meeting

Three days after arriving from Brazil, Daniel took his parents and grandparents to meet his great-grandparents, aka PawPaw Bill and Granny Goose.

Pictures are worth more . . . .



Aunt Charlie holds Daniel so he and Pawpaw can meet. 




Granny Goose takes a turn seeing Daniel up close.




Will helps Daniel unwrap a gift from Aunt Rhonda
(who slipped from the picture).




Will, Kent, and Steve hold up the kitchen counters.




Cecilia and Granny Goose celebrate their similar height.




PawPaw Bill invites Daniel to share his walker.
In a few years, Daniel will be helping PawPaw with his word puzzles.

It was a great grand meeting.

BTW--Daniel will be 9 months old on November 11th; his Great Grandfather Bill Beatty will be 94 on November 15th!

Daniel Moves His Parents to Texas

Daniel Moves His Parents to Texas

Dateline:  September 26, 2012  (Yes, I know that was 5 weeks + 2 days, or 37 days ago.  Things have been busy here in Daniel Land.)



Mommy and Dad relax on the floor of GiGi's Retreat
post-flight from Brazil



Early the next morning GiGi finds Grand Dad and me
chillin' with Nemo.  I got to sit in Grand Dad's lap
for the first time ever yesterday.
We're friends. 



My Mommy and Dad are sleeping--but I'm not.
She's in their bed and
he's in the chair next to Grand Dad and me.



I'm teaching Grand Dad how to operate this toy I brought from Brazil.
My GiGi found this cool chair, and said I could be the first
to use it.



It's a wonderful thing to share time and food with Grand Dad.
He has a quiet voice and is pretty calm,
so I ate lots of fruit for him.



Papaya is my favorite fruit, because I'm from Brazil.



When Mommy and Dad were packing all our stuff to move to Texas,
they remembered to bring my Sapo (that means Frog in English).
They used to call me Sapo a lot when I was a cranky little baby.

BTW--This box is my taxi.  It's just like the ones I played with
in our apartment in Brazil when we were packing.
I like it when Dad gives me a ride around the room,
and I even like to sit in my taxi and play.

 

There's lots to explore here in Texas.
My GiGi says I have rubber legs,
I love to pull up and stand,
even though I'm still hurkyjerky.
Sometimes the chair bites my head or I tumble down
like Jack and Jill.  That makes me so mad!
Someone like Grand Dad is always close,
in case my rubber legs play tricks on me.
I sit real straight by myself and
crawl on my belly fast like a commando,

but
I haven't figured out how to
get from my belly to sit up by myself.
My GiGi says it won't be long.


Now that my GiGi has a schedule (HA!) and a place to sit (HA HA!), maybe she'll be blogging more.  My Tia Flora tells Mommy that she  and my fan club in Brazil want to see more pictures.  Hola, Tia.  Beijos!

Jack and Luke's Book

Since I couldn't find the cloth activity book I wanted for Jack and Luke's christening gift, I decided to make one.  The book needed to be safe for twins under 6 months, interactive, interesting to see and touch, not to mention biblically/theologically correct.  Up for the challenge on a summer week filled with stifling humidity, ninety's heat, and flooding rains!

Actually, the idea for the book was also born of several days of unpacking the last dozen or so boxes from our move.  No matter that was over 18 months ago.  One of the books I put my hands on was a gift from a friend in 1986 entitled At the Name of Jesus by Sarah Hornsby.  It contains 365 names by which Jesus was--and still is--called.  Along with a Bible reference for each entry, there are a few thoughts on which to meditate for each day of a year.

First, I used the book to make a list of the names of Jesus that would be most easy to illustrate in a concrete way for little ones who are not abstract thinkers.  Neither am I, so much!  On the list went 11 names.  I also Googled "cloth book" and found some helpful videos about construction of this project.  Then I got busy with Microsoft Publisher.  Here's my process.

DESIGN PAGES

1. Choose an 8.5" x 14" Publisher page template.
2. Draw a 6" x 12.5" picture frame and copy this page for a total of 6 pages.
3. Use Clip Art to source images: Shepherd, Lamb, Vine, Door, (Christmas) Mary's Son, Crown/King, Star, Lion, Love, Gift, Friend.
4. Choose images that will be easy to trace, cut, and applique in fabric.
5. Insert Clip Art image (two per page).  Position and size images to fit (~5" high) .
6. Choose simple, easy-to-read font for text.
7. Print design pattern pages.

Clip Art images for Jack and Luke's book printed on 8.5" x 14" paper

Front Cover and Back Page
Font is easy to read, no matter how large or small.

Pages 1 and 10
Simple images are easy to trace, cut, and applique.

Pages 9 and 2
Trace only Mary, Jesus, Manger, and Hay.
Trace Lion Body and Head separately.

Pages 7 and 4
Choose simple larger heart shapes only.
The challenge?  What to use for the vine?

Pages 3 and 8
These two images will have flaps:
door will open to reveal 'heaven'
and gift box lid will lift.

Pages 5 and 6
Shepherd is the most complex image to applique.
Lamb is easy.

GATHER SUPPLIES

1. Make a list of fabrics/trims required for each image/page.
2. Scour your scrap bag/fabric stash first.  Then fill in with a trip to the craft or fabric store.
3. Be sure you have a large spool of black thread on hand.  It will save a trip to Hobby Lobby when you're in the middle of a line of zig-zag stitches . . .  just sayin' .....

1/2 yard of muslin +
scraps of fabric and trims

Fusible transfer web has a paper backing.
Pellon's Wonder Under is one that works.
Use pencil or permanent pen like Sharpie or Pigma.

Use scraps from quilting/crafting/upholstery projects.
Little fingers and eyes love texture, shine, color, and pattern.

Scrap bag fabrics plus felt squares in grey, red, and camel.

Love this left-over 'cork wood-grained' upholstery fabric!
Perfect for a manger and a shepherd's staff.

Buy the smallest cut--1/8 yard is only 4".
Smooth, shiny satins and metallic knits,
crinkly, sparkly sheer,
rough bright burlap,
soft fleece and flannel. 

Scour your ribbon bag and the $1 bin for trims:
rick racks, ribbons, wired decorative trim, fringes.
Get a 22" green polyester zipper and Velcro dots.
Be sure you have plenty of black thread!

MAKE APPLIQUE PIECES

1. With pencil or permanent pen, trace part/image/shape (ie star, crown, lion body, lion head, manger, hay, Jesus, Mary, hearts, gift box, gift box lid, door, etc.) onto paper side of fusible transfer web.
2. Leave margins between each traced shape.
3. Label each part/image/shape.
4. Cut each part/image/shape with margins surrounding--not on traced lines.
5. Following product directions, fuse each shape to wrong side of designated fabric with iron.
6. Use sharp scissor to trim shapes on the lines.  Leave paper in place.
7. Use permanent pen or stitching to 'draw' any features or lines on applique pieces.  (Stitch right through paper backing--no problem.)

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OR TWO:

I laid the fusible web paper side up over the lion pattern.
I traced the body (including legs and minus tail), and then separately--the head (minus mane).
Once fused to the lion fabric, and trimmed to shape,
I stitched the lines on the body.

I stitched the lion's eyes and nose before fusing the head to its ribbon mane.
I zig-zagged around the head to secure the ribbon mane before
attaching the assembled lion to the muslin page.

Manger, hay, and baby Jesus were stitched, decorated,
assembled, and fused to Mary's robe
before it was all fused and stitched to the muslin page.

Rows of gold loopy fringe were sewn to fused crown shape
before fusing and stitching shape to muslin page.

MUSLIN PAGES

1. Cut 6 muslin rectangles, each 7" x 14."
2. Carefully center muslin over pattern page.  I taped the pattern to my work surface, and then taped the muslin to the surface in order to keep it from shifting.
3. With Pigma or Sharpie permanent pen, trace all writing on each page.
4. Do this before fusing/stitching appliques in place--just in case you mess up the printing.  It's easier to cut a new piece of muslin than to rip off all that applique.
5. Using pattern pages as needed, place appliques on muslin pages.  Fuse.  Stitch.
6. There will be two appliques on each 7" x 14" muslin rectangle.
7. Cut 6 squares low-loft batting, each 6" x 6."
8. Layer one muslin page right side down, two batting squares, and another muslin page right side up.  Pin edges.  Zig-zag around edges--just catching batting.  You now have one complete muslin page unit with two appliques facing up and two appliques facing down.
9. Repeat #8 two more times for a total of three complete muslin units.

ASSEMBLE BOOK

1. Straight stitch down center of the Front Cover/Back Page unit.  Set aside.
2. Align and join the remaining two muslin units with a line of straight stitching down the center.
3. Place the Front Cover/Back Page face down.  Align and join the three muslin units with a line of straight stiching down the center.
4. Cut two lengths of ribbon, each ~8" long.  Attach one to outside front cover, and the other to outside back page.  Close book and tie ribbon into bow.  

BILL

Bill (right) with Dad, Doug, and me

 

Today would have been my older brother's 68th birthday.

 

Would you like to know why there's an empty place in my heart and our family?

Let me tell you about Bill.

William H. Beatty Jr.

WONDER-FILLED

Bill was full of wonder and curiosity.

His mind was quick.  His eyes were intense with questions and twinkled with mischief.

Six year-old Billy

I NDEPENDENT AND FREE-THINKING

Bill was his own person--uniquely self-assured.

Three of his life phrases could have been "Why?" and "Why not?" and "What the heck!?"

L AUGHTER

My brother's laugh overtook him and spilled over to everyone he was with.

He often had to mop his twinkling blue eyes with a bandana or the back of his hand.

Can't say his name without a smile on my face and in my heart.

Bill and Doug ham it up, livin' large.

 L OVER OF LIFE

This man loved living--everything about it. 

I NVESTIGATOR AND INSTIGATOR

One rare evening when we had a sitter, I'm pretty sure he was the one who thought of launching grapes through the floor fan, just to see what would happen . . .

As a pre-teen, Bill anesthetized a Houston Toad with gin, did exploratory surgery, closed it with Mom's sewing needle and thread, and turned it loose to hop around in the garden once again.

Bill, Doug, and Sandy

 A DVENTURER

Much to our parents' chagrin and delight, Bill thrived on adventure.

He was always up for Scouts, camping, offshore fishing, and other edgier sports.

For example?  He liked bow hunting feral hogs.  And he threw caution (and his gastro-intestinal health) to the wind, eating street food across the border in Mexico.

M ARINE

Bill joined the US Marine Corps in time to serve a tour of duty as a Forward Artillery Observer in Viet Nam.

Though the term PTSD hadn't been developed yet, I'm certain that Bill struggled with the hellish sights, sounds, smells, and emotions that he experienced in war.

 

 

 

 

H USBAND

The love of his life was Demra Carolyn Trube, whom he met and married after he completed his service in the USMC. 

Bill cherished and protected Carolyn. 

Bill toasts his bride Carolyn

Carolyn, Bill, and me at the family dinner table

 

 

 

 

B OISTEROUS BROTHER

He was two when Doug was born, and six when I came along--our big brother.

Bill was impetuous and mischievous, without a single grain of meanness.



Who launched those grapes through the fan?
Or staged a Three Musketeers duel with Doug using Mom's knitting needles?
Or didn't fess up to eating all but three strawberries prepared for Mom's bridge club,
but broke out in hives within 12 hours?



E NERGETIC SON

First-born son of Kathryn and William H. Beatty, Sr., Bill was always on the move:

bicycles, baseballs, footballs, the family Ford.  Either he moved it, or it moved him. 

Billy, always ready for Little League ball
(yes, that's me--pestering my brother, I'm sure)

A RCHITECT

Bill settled back at the University of Houston after Viet Nam, and received his degree in Architecture, along with the admiration of several of his professors.

Doug, Sandy, Bill
1973

 T OUGH AND TENDER

One time, my future husband saw me with Bill; and Steve was sure that he would be beaten senseless if he tried to make a move on me.  Steve didn't know that this thick-necked, bushy-headed, mutton-chopped guy was my tender-hearted big brother who would've given the shirt off his back to any friend in need.

T HRILLED FATHER

Nothing--nothing in this world thrilled and captivated Bill more than his beautiful daughter Kate.

He was amazed from the moment he saw her at birth.

Bill, smiles at his Kate,
who sits in Uncle Steve's lap,
while Aunt Sandy and cousin Stevie play with her toy

Kate (left) has her Daddy's eyes and curiosity.
This picture was taken in 1981,
just before Bill was killed in the crash of a private plane
in Ecuador.

Y OUTHFUL

 Bill was not immature or adolescent, but fresh, enthusiastic, and boyish.

Bellaire High School Senior
1961

 

 

 

 

J OKESTER

Initiating fun, Bill thrived on practical jokes.  Once, our stepdad Tommy threw a lit string of Black Cat firecrackers down the tiled, wood-paneled hall outside the room where Bill was sleeping.  Once his heart calmed down, Bill laughed just as hard as Tommy.  I could tell that my brother was only sorry he hadn't thought of this first.

R EAL

My brother Bill was real.

Real curious

Real smart

Real vibrant

Real crazy fun

Real talented

Real loving

 

His life made a difference in this world.

Even though it's edges are now healed and not so raw,

there will always be a hole in our family that only Bill could fill.

 

Welcome Message

Stumbled on this blog post today, and I wanted to include it here.  I did not write these words, but they speak to me.  What follows (in colored italic font) are the thoughts of Jon Acuff on his blog "Stuff Christians Like:"

#1254.  I wish every church said what this church says in their bulletin …
July 25, 2012 in serious wednesdays with 808 Comments

So what does a great welcome message look like? What does an awesome welcome message look like?

It looks exactly like what “Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Community” has in their church [bulletin].

My friend attended there recently, and I got a copy of what they hand out. I posted a photo of it below so you could see what it looks like, but the image got cut off so here’s what it says:

We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, yo no habla Ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying new-borns, skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds.

We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or like our pastor who can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Catholic than the Pope, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s Baptism.

We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like “organized religion,” we’ve been there too.

If you blew all your offering money at the dog track, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.

We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts … and you!

Bravo to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Community! That should be made into a poster and hung in church offices around the world.

I love the thought that a few members of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Community getting together and saying, “Let’s invite everyone to come meet Jesus!” And then they started writing their list.

And it got long. Why?

Because everyone needs Jesus.

Everyone changes when they meet Jesus.And they wanted to make sure everyone knew they were invited to meet him.
 


What is it that melts my heart when I read this?  For me, it cuts to the core of Jesus' life and mission.  Grace and mercy.  Mercy and grace.  When I think of how tender He has been with me--and my sin--and my sins--I can't imagine why anyone would reject His love.  Except that maybe someone has misrepresented the truth and warped the gospel so that it is much less than Good News.

Could that someone have been me?  The question.

Oh, I hope not.  I want my life to be a Welcome Message.