Wyoming Rose - Perfectly Pretty Poncho

This sweet Perfectly Pretty Poncho is one of my favorites.  I really love how it turned out.  I found this yarn in Great Falls, MT last Summer and I knew I had to make something out of it.  The yarn itself has a gentle bulkiness but is so, so soft!  It has enough variety of color I can see it being worn with yellows, golds, mint, burgundy or others.  I think it would look especially great with jeans... but then I think everything looks great with jeans, don't you?

I used a double crochet for most of the poncho but I decided to switch it up for the bottom rows.  You can see that it gave it a bit of intrigue without making it too busy.  Because it is a poncho, it will fit most teenagers or adult women.  That is one of the nice things about ponchos, it is easy to choose a size!  It is also washable and machine dryable, although I'd recommend a gentle cycle to keep it beautiful.

I put many hours into  this poncho but it is available at Wyoming Rose Boutique for only $35.  It would make such a nice Spring gift but I think after you feel it you'd have a hard time giving it away!

Thank you for Inviting Me!

Earlier this week Maria invited me to join Cordelia and her at the local library for story time.  I've done this before but it has been awhile.

Story Time at our library is interactive.  There is jumping and dancing and clapping and lots of fun.  Previously, Cordelia just watched as all those other children participated.  Well, things have changed!

When I arrived, the girls were waiting for me just inside the door.  Cordelia hugged me and excitedly said, "Thank you for inviting me!"  She had that a bit backwards but I got the idea.  She then took my hand to lead me to the children's library section and said, "We will keep you safe!"  AAaaaaaahhh....

Here she is, watching with her Momma as the story lady gets things set up.

She really loved the dancing the best.

Her cute little boots were rarely still but I managed one shot between all the kicks and bounces.

 She really liked the hands on her hips movement that day.

Sometimes she just needed a moment with Momma.  She also had to keep checking on Momma's purse.  Apparently the little toddler next to them looked suspicious and Cordelia wasn't confident that Maria would guard her own purse.  Cordy finally had to pick it up and move it between me and Maria so she could relax.

 I think maybe her shy days are behind her!

I love that you stopped by to read my blog. I'm really grateful and pleased when someone wants to share my posts or photos. Please just remember to link them back to my blog just because it is the right thing to do.

Outsourcing Discipleship

This question is to my Christian readers... Do you think of yourself as more of a church member or as a disciple? 

The workshop that Mike and I attended in Phoenix focused on discipleship.  That is just not a word we use much anymore, is it?  I don't know any other word that adequately replaces it, though.  I went to Merriam-Webster and found this simple definition:   "one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another".  That seems simple enough.   Read it again, though.  I think that a "member" of a church maybe aligns with the first part of the definition, but perhaps not the rest.  I myself have been guilty of making comments such as saying that I like a smaller church.  I feel comfortable in a smaller congregation.  But, it is not supposed to be about me, is it?  We aren't supposed to be working to get a congregation just how we like it.

The workshop's main presenter, Michael Foss is author of two books I like, Power Surge and The Disciples Joy.  I know he has written others as well.  He spoke of how our society views the word, membership.  He spoke of members of places like Sam's Club as having certain privileges but no particular responsibilities to the club.  In a similar way of thinking, some feel being a member of a congregation means you have a place for weddings, funerals, etc.  He hopes we can move beyond that way of thinking and start realizing what we are actually called to do, that is to be disciples.

Membership is not a bad thing, it just isn't ALL there is to this church deal.  Joining a congregation, or becoming a member, is important.  It is like a public commitment saying that you want to live together in faith as part of that Christian community.  But we aren't to just stop with that and settle in to enjoy ourselves.  Discipleship within a Christian context MUST contain the second half of the definition above.  That is to say, discipleship constitutes "spreading the doctrines."

One thing I heard at this workshop was that we had no right to keep this to ourselves.  If we are truly trying to follow in Christ's ways, we aren't just trying to get our own little lives set up all happy and forgiven, we are trying to help others attain that same joy.  We serve the God who calls us to CHANGE THE WORLD!

He talked a lot about how to build people up and allow them to do their ministry without always being tied down by committees and such.  He spoke of developing leadership skills and utilizing the talents of everyone, not just the same few.  He gave ideas of mentoring people as well.  One idea I got from that was perhaps I need to offer to mentor new Sunday School Teachers so that others may enjoy the fun of that as I have.  He spoke of committee leaders as well.  A good committee leader will look for other leaders, train them to take over, and then perhaps move on to lead in a new way.

Most of all, though, I think we were being encouraged to think outside the box, to find new and better ways of being a church.  This may mean we have to let go of some of the control we hold onto. It occurred to me that the "box" may be the church building.  We are called to think outside that box.  Rather than putting all our focus on our congregation or building, we are called to go out to the world and share the gift we've been given. 

When he spoke of inviting others, he said that may not be enough.  Think about it, church is unfamiliar to many.  It may seem downright scary!  Maybe we need to offer to pick people up, sit by them, whisper explanations in their ear during the service if necessary. 

Additionally, we MUST speak of our faith.  Seriously.  How are others to know if we are silent?  I know, it is hard!  I'm not talking about being weird or pushy.  I am just talking about making a little statement such as, "I prayed for you this morning."  That may be all it takes to open a door...just a few simple words.  

Another thing Michael Foss said was that pastors are overly burdened.  As a pastor's wife, I can tell you that is an absolute truth.  Few realize the burdens my husband carries alone.  Why is that?  Why aren't more of us sharing that burden?  A thought crossed my mind that when churches started hiring pastors, some took it as though they were outsourcing their own discipleship.  Think about that.  Do you think there is truth to that?  It is easy to get in the mode of thinking "leave it to the professional."  

I would just like to recommend that you purchase one of the books above (also available on Kindle).  We are each called to discipleship.  We maybe just need a little reminder now and then.

Grandpa is So Much Fun!

Grandpa, come over here.

 Sit right here by me, Grandpa.

 I'm waiting for Grandpa.  I just want Grandpa.

Whoa!  Grandpa got me, Momma!

 Grandpa is making me kick you, Momma!

 Grandpa is sooooo much fun!

I love that you stopped by to read my blog. I'm really grateful and pleased when someone wants to share my posts or photos. Please just remember to link them back to my blog. It's the right thing to do; you know it is.

Wyoming Rose - Artisan Card Set

 I'm enjoying this new format for my blog.  What do you all think of it?  Each little picture represents a blog post, with the most recent being in the top left-hand corner.  I also changed the format a bit for leaving comments at the end of each post because I found that Blogger was having trouble with the other way and some folks weren't able to leave a comment at all.  I LOVE comments so I hope this works!

I do have one problem, though.  At this time, the template I am using does not allow for the little photos in the side-bar that showcased our shop, Wyoming Rose Boutique.  What I am going to try is to just do little posts about our shop.  Each of those posts will have a direct link to go to our shop storefront, as well as a direct link to the specialty item featured.  I hope you will take the time to check out our store!

Today I want to feature our Artisan Card Set.  My daughter, Maria Rose, is an amazing artist.  She doesn't settle for just making cool oil paintings and sculptures; she stretches herself to learn many different forms of art. Recently she decided to learn to do lino-cut cards.  I'm not sure how she does it but she does everything from creating the original design, following through on the production process and presenting the finished product.

This set includes half a dozen cards featuring botanical prints.  They can be used for any occasion as they are blank on the inside.  Give them as a gift or use them to surprise someone with a hand-written note, which has become a rare thing of beauty in itself.  Or, if you'd like, put them in 6 matching frames for a uniquely cool wall display.  The entire set is only $9... quite a deal for work done by such a gifted artist!

And for you readers that are local, Maria has a show at the local college that will be up this month through the 29th.  She was interviewed for an article in the Journal so watch for that as well!

My Wyoming Rose Boutique posts will NOT take the place of my daily posts; they will just be sprinkled in between.  So, if you haven't already checked out my regular post for today, please do so.  It has a picture that I thought was pretty cool!

An Angel at the Window!

One sunny morning last week in Arizona I glanced at my mother-in-law's window as I was passing by and stopped short.  I marveled at what I saw and I went to tell her that an angel had been  trying to get in during the night.  Mike, great theologian that he is, pointed out that we really shouldn't be trying to keep angels out.  Good point.  Here's what I saw...

I did hear some who thought it was just a dusty bird that hit the window.  Whatever.

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos (especially these as they are really cool, huh?)  but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Tt

If you'd prefer to see all the ABC's of Bible Memorization at once, please click here.

Today's verse begins with the letter "T".   It gives us all hope for a peaceful kingdom.



Isaiah 2:4 They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Thank-you for stopping by. I am not a professional photographer so if by chance I ever do take a great photo, I'll be wanting to receive credit for it.  So, feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Sunshine on My Shoulders Made Me Happy!

As I mentioned, Mike and I just returned from a trip to Arizona.  I took lots of cool photos as that Arizona sunshine makes for some great light!

The first few days of our trip were spent in a church at a workshop.  It was such a good workshop!  It deserves its own post so I will save that for next week.  Today, it's about the Arizona sunshine!

After the workshop days we spent time with my mother-in-law, Carol.  She's a funny lady.  She always begins a visit by warning us that she doesn't cook many meals any more and there may be slim-pickin's.  Then, she feeds us and feeds us and feeds us!  After a hearty meal she may say something like, "I don't really have any dessert."  Then, she'll bring out cookies or candies or something.  On the nights that she DOES have dessert, it is cake or pie or ice cream and fruit or any combination of those items.  OK, relatives who read this blog, you know that's true, huh?  I always return with a few extra pounds on me!

Seriously, I have been blessed with a very generous mother-in-law.  She loves her family and always goes above and beyond to make everyone feel special.  One of my favorite things about her is that she CHOOSES to experience joy.  She has endured more than her share of grief and we'd all understand if she wanted to indulge in a bit of self-pity, but that just isn't her style.  She told me that would just make things harder on her and those around her.  She chooses joy.  There is a good lesson in that, don't you think?

So, where are all the sunshine pictures, you ask?  Those of you who live in a cold climate know what a treat it is to be warmed up a bit in the middle of Winter.  I'd like to share some of that warm feeling with you now...

Do you remember when television shows ended with hints about next week's program?  Do any of the shows do those little teasers anymore?  Anyway, I'm going to.  Besides a post about the wonderful workshop we attended, I'm going to do a post about the day I found evidence of an angel at the window.  Intrigued?  Well then, tune in next week!

 
Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Boy? Girl?

Mike and I just got back from a little get-away to Arizona.  I will share more about that another day, though.  The big news in our extended family this week has to do with the tiniest member.  Yes, Maria and Eric and Cordelia went together for the ultrasound yesterday.  We missed the call before we boarded our plane so we had to wait until we landed to see the text.  It was a beautiful text!  It wasn't even a sentence, just one word, but it was enough.  I think I'll let you click on over to Maria's blog for the answer.  After all, she is the one carrying this tiny person so I think you should hear it from her.

I don't want your trip to my blog today to be a waste, though.  Here's a picture of the beautiful mother, happy to know who she's nurturing inside herself.  At 20 weeks, she is just barely showing.  The doctor is pleased with her as she is fit and healthy.  I am sorry I didn't get a photo of the happy Daddy but he had to return to work before we got home.  They are such a handsome family!

And the adorable big sister... She was studying a little nurse figurine, quite fascinated.  When she realized the nurse was carrying little fake bottles of medicine she fake drank some of it, making gulping sounds.  I love this photo as it is one where she looks so very much like the inquisitive little girl Mike and I raised.

I don't care how many times this process of creating a new person has occurred, it is still so awesome!  Don't you think so?  I mean, really, Maria just goes about her day, busy and active, and yet she has this little miracle going on right there inside of her.  Don't you just think that is so cool?!

Have a great day!

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Today is a BIG Day!

 Today Maria is having an ultrasound during which it is hoped that they will learn if we are expecting a grandbaby girl or a grandbaby boy this time! I am betting they will make the announcement tomorrow on Little Things are Big   That is so appropriate, too, as this little thing IS big!

It don't have a wish as to whether it is a girl baby or a boy baby.  Whatever they tell me, I am certain it will be exactly what I want!  That is how it was with Cordelia and as a matter of fact, that is how it was with my own babies.  Not having a preference, though, is not to say it doesn't matter to me.  It does matter.  I know it is more politically correct to try to be all gender neutral and all, but I admit I am not.  When I think of little girls I think of dresses and ponytails and such.  When I think of little boys I think of blue jeans and striped shirts and tennis shoes that make them jump real high and run real fast.  Don't worry, I realize that boys can have curls and girls can wear bluejeans.

I love that each littler person comes with their own little personalities for us to get to know.  When we were waiting for Cordelia, we did not even begin to imagine the quirky little person that she would become.  She is such a unique little individual and I am certain this next little person is as well!

I can't wait!  I'm getting excited!  I'd better pace myself a bit, though, I don't get to hold this child until July.  For now, I just enjoy seeing Maria's shape change as this baby grows.  I love hearing her say, "I can feel it kicking."  I'm so grateful for the new life that is already a part of our family tree.

What Do We Have a Life For Anyway?

So, today I have a deep question to put before you.  Mike often uses illustrations from our life in his sermons.  One of Mike's sermons began with a question that our son, Ben, asked when he was just a little guy.  


Here's a look at our young philosopher...

His questions was this:

"What do we have a life for anyway?"

Anybody have a good answer for him?  

Mike couldn't remember how he answered way back then but this time his answer pointed us to God.

I admit I don't remember the words 

Mike used but this is what I came away with...

We have a life to praise and worship God.

Our life is to be used to his glory and honor.

We have a life because God loves us.

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

I Will Celebrate Every Day

Recently Mike and I were having a steaming morning cup of coffee together.  He was reading the paper while I was blogging.  It was a peacefully blissful morning.  He mentioned an obituary he was reading that stated a memorial service celebrating the person's life would be held but not until Summer.  Mike made some comment about the length of time before the celebration, would people remember?  Meaning to be sweet I said, "If you die before me I will celebrate every day."   


Wait, what?!

Cordelia's First Day of Sunday School

At our church, children don't usually start attending Sunday School hour until they are three years old... unless their Grandma is the teacher!  I asked Maria if I could take Cordelia to Sunday School with me recently.  Maria was just upstairs so if Cordy got too scared I could text her Momma to come get her.

Cordy did NOT get scared.  She loved it!  Her attention span was a bit short as there were a lot of fun things she'd not checked out before, but she just fit right in.  She was really thrilled when her precious little friend, Madeline, came in.   I couldn't help myself from grabbing my phone to take this photo.  

The sweetness was just too much!

Ss

 Continuing with The ABC's of Bible Memorization...

2 Corinthians 5:17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

Meet Emily!

 I am so grateful to Emily for sweetly succumbing to my pleas for people willing to be interviewed.  


Let me tell you a bit about Emily.  She actually has been reading my daughter, Maria's, blog for some time.  Maria also read's Emily's blog,  Bananas & Bees.  I started reading Emily's blog at Maria's recommendation.  Now, I would recommend to you that you check it out as well.  You'll learn that Emily has a kind and patient husband, an adorable little boy and creative twin girls.  


Emily actually flew to our town last May, by herself, to meet Maria in person for the first time.  While I can't quite bring myself to recommend this, it worked out well for the two of them.  They hit it off as if they'd known each other for years!  

It happened to be the week-end our son, Sam, graduated from High School.  Although Emily had not met him before that week-end, she bravely sat through that ceremony with us.  She was also here to meet Bode the very first day we brought him home.  So you see, she's practically family.  

Here's the results of my e-mail interview with Emily:

**************************************************

What is your earliest memory and how old were you?

Some of my earliest memories are from my fourth birthday party.  My mom made a Holly Hobbie cake and hired a magician to come to our house and perform some tricks.  We had a handful of kids from the neighborhood there and I remember blowing out my candles.  In my mind the cake was almost too pretty to eat!

Tell me something about which you feel passionate.

I feel passionate about lots of things, but most important on my list is children.  Under this big umbrella I could list out some specific areas like childhood literacy, orphans, and mothering my own children.

Tell me something about your childhood.

I am an only child.  I think this comes with a lot of stereotypes like being spoiled or being socially awkward.  I certainly don't think I was spoiled (we always lived below our means) and I enjoyed using my imagination as I played by myself.  That being said, I had many friends and am a part of a large extended family.  I have twelve cousins on my mom's side and five cousins on my dad's side, so I was around other children all the time.

Tell me your first memory of knowing you were loved.

My mom always made sure I knew that I was loved.  I remember many moments where she displayed that love to me-- holding me when I was sad, taking care of me when I was sick, forgiving me when I said I was sorry, and hugging me when I came home from school.  There are just too many memories to list!

Tell me something that frightens you.

Crowded elevators frighten me.  I usually won't get on one.  I'll either take the stairs or wait for another elevator.

Tell me something you have accomplished that pleased you.

I was teacher of the year for our school in 2007.  That made me feel pretty proud.

What was your first job for money?

My first official job was as a cashier at Hobby Lobby. I was sixteen and worked there until I graduated high school.

Tell me about your first experience leaving home.

My first time to be away from home for an extended time was after I graduated high school.  I flew with two friends to Europe for four weeks.  I had been saving my money from my job at Hobby Lobby for a full year to pay for my ticket and have money to spend as we traveled.  We visited six countries--crashing on friends of friends' couches or staying in weird European hostels.  We even camped in a tent on the beach in Pisa, Italy for five days.  We had adventures in France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic.  It was my first time to be so far away and to be completely in charge of all of my decisions.  It was an amazing trip, and I think it prepared me to leave home to go to college a few months later.

Do you think of yourself as an organized person?  Why or why not?

Sort of.  When it comes to things like my closet or kitchen pantry I think I do a pretty good job.  When it comes to paperwork, I am a complete mess.

Tell me of a time you used your creativity.

I love to write, so my blog is one way I try to express my creativity there.

Is there a particular person who had great influence on you and if so who and how?

Of course my Mom had an incredible influence on my life.  So did my Grandmother.  But another person was my friend Kim.  I met her when I was in eighth grade and she was a sophomore in college.  We went to the same church and she helped out in the youth ministry.  I was in a slightly rebellious phase and she decided to befriend me and pour into my life in a major way. She took the time to pick me up from school, take me out for ice cream, or hosted sleepovers for me and a few of my junior high school friends.  She also led us in several Bible studies and let her own life be an example of what a Christian woman should be like.  Now that we are "all grown up" she is still one of my closest friends and I feel that her personal discipleship helped keep me on the "straight and narrow" during those precarious teen years!

Tell me something about your views on spirituality.

You know that old song "Victory in Jesus"?  It sums up what I believe-- Jesus died for my sins, was buried, and raised on the third day all according to the Scriptures. "I heard an old, old story, How a Savior came from glory, How he gave his life on Calvary to save someone like me."

Did you go to camp as a child?  If so, do you have any fun stories to share from that time?

I grew up going to Falls Creek, a Southern Baptist youth camp in Oklahoma.  Just about everyone in the state of Oklahoma has either been to Falls Creek or has at least heard of it.  I have many, many memories of going to camp there.  The biggest thing to me at the time was the strict dress code that was enforced.  Shorts had to be to the knee-- no shorter.  And we had to wear dresses to Tabernacle services at night.  I was not into these rules at all.  Drove me nuts.  But I was completely wrapped up in myself at the time, sadly to say.

If you are married, tell about first meeting your spouse.  Was it love at first sight or did it cook up more slowly?

I met my husband Mike while we were both attending Oklahoma Baptist University.  I was a sophomore and he was a junior when we met.  I thought he was tall, dark and handsome, and I was anxious to meet him.  He was a studio art major and so was my roommate, so I got to know him through her.  We were just friends for about two months before he asked me out on our first date in September 1996. We dated for two years, got engaged in June of 1998, then got married in June of 1999.  Twelve years and three kids later, we're still going strong! :)

Tell me about your children.

I have seven year old twin girls named Hannah and Leah and a two year old son named Lucas.   

They bring me so much joy!

Tell me something about your time as an adolescent.

I was quiet and insecure most of my adolescent years.  I was obsessed with music and going to shows.  I pretty much lived in my large collection of band t-shirts, thrift store jeans and low top black Converse sneakers.

Tell me of a time you experienced loss.

Well, my most recent and most painful loss was when my mom passed away on May 3, 2011.  It has been nine months since she died and although there is something to the saying "time heals all wounds," I still miss her so much.  I still cry just about every day.  I still wish she was here and find myself thinking "I can't believe she's gone!" all the time.  I miss talking to her and spending time with her and seeing her love on my kids.  I miss going out on double dates with her and my dad.  I miss our family traditions and celebrations.  I just miss her.  BUT, as I grieve I have HOPE because I know I will see her again one day.  She followed Jesus her entire life, serving him faithfully until the day she died.  I look forward to the day I will see her again.

What do you do for a living?

From 1999-2007 I taught sixth grade language arts at a nearby middle school.  I loved it, but when I started having babies I decided to be a full time stay-at-home mom. That's what I do now and I wouldn't change it for anything!

What do you currently most enjoy to do with your free time?

Reading, cooking, baking, writing, spending time with friends or family.

Tell me something new you've recently learned.

How to take pictures on my "fancy" Canon.  Mike just bought me a new lens, so I want to work on becoming a better photographer so I can better document our family's history.

Is there something new you plan to learn?  If so, what?

I would love to learn to crochet! Oh and the photography thing too.

Whether I've asked a fitting question or not, tell me anything about yourself that you wish to tell!

One of the best things about blogging has been the relationships I have made along the way.  Like you and Maria for example!  Coming to Wyoming last May to meet you all was such an incredible trip! I hope to do it again one day! :)

---

Thank-you, Emily!

Anyone else willing?   If you are interested, you may see questions here.  I am enjoying these interviews.  You don't have to be someone I know for me to interview you! You may e-mail your answers to me at onlythemanager@yahoo.com and I will be delighted to do a post featuring you! I will be featuring more interviews as they come in. 

Joy

I love the word "Joy".  Really, I do.  I used to wish my name were Joy.  It is a word that looks pretty, sounds nice and encompasses deep meaning.  But really, how do you define joy?  It is more than just a moment.  It is deeper than a happy feeling.  What is it?  How do you achieve it?  How do you hold onto it?  Can we claim to be joyful even in the midst of an unhappy circumstance?  Hmmm.... do I have you pondering all this yet?

I am currently reading The Disciple's Joy by Michael W. Foss.  I recommend it!  As I was reading even just the very first chapter I kept coming across some great quotes and thought-provoking remarks.  I decided I would just put together a post with some of those beginning quotes and see what comments you might have on them.  Here we go...

"Joy is not the same thing as being happy.  Our experience of happiness is a mere echo of true joy.  Being happy is a very temporary reaction to present life circumstances.  Happiness is transitory -- it arises and falls aways as our circumstances change."

"Joy breaks through the realities of our present situation, reframes the present situation in the light of God's infinite grace and love, and enables us to live both trustingly and confidently through whatever circumstances life brings our way."

" Faith takes our moments of both happiness and sorrow, collects them and arranges them into a worldview that sees God's hand in all things.  Therein is joy."

"Joy transforms our experiences of personal pain to purpose."

"Joy integrates the present into a much larger vision of life as a whole."

See what I mean?  Do those quotes speak to you as they do to me?  I am anxious to finish reading this book and to better understand where he is going with all this.  Mike and I will be attending a workshop by this author and I think it will be a good one!  I will let you know more about it later.  In the meantime, I'm getting back to my Kindle edition of it.  I have more reading to do!

An Interview With Maria Rose

I know this next interviewee quite well.  In fact, I have known her since before she was born.  Yes, today I am featuring an interview from our daughter, Maria Rose. 

Maria was actually my inspiration for blogging.  When she first started blogging I couldn't imagine why she would want her diary on the internet.  After I started reading it, though, I loved it!  Her blog, Little Things are Big, is always uplifting.  She never, ever rants.  She tries to highlight the actions of others in a kind way and she focuses on the sweet blessings of this life.  I love reading it and I think you will as well!

Before I begin with the interview, it is important to me that you understand about her name.  Maria is pronounced like Mariah.  It may seem to you that we should have just spelled it with an h on the end but she was named after Mike's grandma and so we stuck with that Norwegian spelling and pronunciation.  Also, we lived in Turner, MT at the time and most everyone there had known Mike's grandma so it was not unusual there.  Her middle name, Rose, is after my grandma (the same Grandma for whom our Wyoming Rose Boutique was named).  Having explained all the effort we put into her name, I will also tell you that when she was a baby there were people who called her Georgette.  She looked a lot like Mike's Dad, George.

Besides being my daughter, Maria and I work together as shop owners.  We have a lot of fun shopping for vintage treasures as well as designing and handcrafting our original designs.  It is a joy for me!  She also is a beautiful model for our products!

Maria is married to Eric, a supreme son-in-law.  She is mother to the delightful Cordelia Rose and she is expecting our 2nd grandchild in July.  If you check out her blog be sure to weigh in on the baby-guessing game on the left side of her post!  They hope to find out March 1 whether it is a girl or a boy!

My interview with Maria...

What is your earliest memory and how old were you?

My earliest memory is just before I turned 2, or so you once told me that's how old I was. I remember a red windbreaker, my friend Jennifer and running. Mostly my memory is just the feel of the windbreaker.

Tell me something about which you feel passionate.

I feel extremely passionate about veganism. I feel that there is enough suffering in this world and if I can lessen my part in that cycle of suffering I will. Ultimately food is purely fuel, you poop it out---is that worth the suffering and death of a sentient being? I am heartsick when people say, “I can’t give up (meat, cheese, eggs, etc.).” I just grit my teeth and think, “No…you won’t give up (meat, cheese, eggs, etc.)” When I learned about the facts of the animal industry there was no turning back I felt morally obligated to become vegan. With that said I no longer try to actively convert people, they have to come to it on their own. My efforts to that end have only broken my heart.

Tell me something about your childhood.

I had a wonderful childhood. My parents made me feel loved, supported, protected and encouraged. My siblings were and still are so very important to me. I had a happy childhood and I truly believe that has been the foundation for my whole life.

Tell me of an experience from your past that was incredible or amazing to you.

Well, I suppose the most transformative experience was becoming a parent-which happened in stages. Everything had greater weight. The world was more…just more.

Tell me your first memory of knowing you were loved.

I don’t have a first memory of love. I always felt love from before I knew anything else.

Tell me something that frightens you.

Losing my family.

Tell me something you have accomplished that pleased you.

I try to be pleased with all of my accomplishments, from the way I stacked the dishes this morning (it was a sight to behold) to completing my MA.

When you were most recently with a group of people did you feel as though you fit in or not?  Why or why not?

I don’t ever feel like I fit in, not really. I have always felt like I am just a bit off, a little quirky. I used to be troubled by this, but now it is part of who I am. I am happy to be a little on the outside. I feel like I have a unique perspective.

What was your first job for money?

Baby-sitting. I even started my own babysitters club though truthfully I just wanted to buy office supplies and boss my friends around.

Tell me about your first experience leaving home.

Oh, that was so difficult. I left for college. I was so excited to be out in the adult world. Of course it was hard to leave my parents and brother Ben, but leaving Sam, who was 6 about broke my heart. Thankfully I had my then boyfriend, now husband, going to the same college. We really supported each other through the change into adulthood.

Do you think of yourself as an organized person?  Why or why not?

Most people think I am organized, but it comes with great effort and determination. I am not a naturally organized person. My inclination is to toss clothes on the floor, stack dishes in the sink and leave piles all over. However, after years of effort I have really managed to control my messy tendencies and I keep a neat house…my closet is even organized. My end goal is to be clean, have only things I use or love and to avoid piling things up.

Tell me of a time you used your creativity.

I always use my creativity…why wouldn’t I? Everything is more interesting if you use creativity.

Is your adult life different than you expected?  If yes, how so?

Oddly I spent much of my childhood and teen years dreaming of adulthood abstractly. I never really had a clear vision of who or what I wanted to be. Thankfully adulthood has given me many gifts so I suppose it is much better than I could have dreamed.

Is there a particular person who had great influence on you and if so who and how?

My parents…they made me who I am. The Copelands…they helped me to find who I am.

Tell me something about your views on spirituality.

I believe in God.

Did you go to camp as a child?  If so, do you have any fun stories to share from that time?

I did go to camp. My camp nickname was Bob, because I introduced myself as Bob…apparently I was hilarious as a 12 year old. I also remember my counselors wearing very modest sports bras on a hike deep in the forest surrounded only by girls and I was scandalized by it.

If you are married, tell about first meeting your spouse.  Was it love at first sight or did it cook up more slowly?

When I first met Eric he came by the junior high (he was a high schooler)and he was wearing black fishnet stockings on his arms and legs, tall boots and all black. Black crimped hair, black lipstick, black nail polish. I had just moved to the area from small town Montana and I had NEVER seen anything so strange in all of my life. He was super nice, but he was “dating” my friend. I did keep tabs on him for years as we were in the same circle of friends, but always on opposite ends. When we finally started dating a few years, and style changes, later everyone was kind of like, “why didn’t we think of putting those two together sooner?” It just made sense.

Tell me about your children.

Cordelia is two. She is one of the best gifts I have ever been given. She has made me a better person, brought me closer to my spouse and family. I am thankful for every moment with her. 

I am pregnant with our second, and last, child. I expect to find my life transformed once again. I can’t wait to meet this child and complete our family. We’ve been waiting for this!

I also have had two miscarriages, they are the children I have yet to meet.

Tell me something about your time as an adolescent.

I was awful, but I am so thankful that I was. I wouldn’t change a moment of it for fear that it would change my present.

Tell me of a time you experienced loss.

I have lost family and friends to accidental death, murder, age, illness—but the time I felt loss most deeply (thus far)was with a dog I never had. 

I had spent some time volunteering at an animal shelter when I first started college. Cocoa was a dog that had been in this no-kill shelter for quite some time. She was totally unapproachable and constantly in terror. I began to work with her every day and over the course of time she began to trust again. Eventually we felt that she might even be adoptable. I wanted to adopt her so badly, but I couldn’t I was about to move to Montana and had no home. 

When we found a woman to adopt her I was overjoyed. I interviewed her and had her sign a contract stating that she would return Cocoa to the shelter if it didn’t work out. I got her into her new home and left for my honeymoon. When I returned I found that the woman had put her to sleep---for no reason. I was heartbroken. I still am and I always will be.

What do you do for a living?

I kind of get the best of both worlds. I am a stay at home mom, but I also teach a couple of classes at the local college. I have a master’s degree in art history, but I wouldn’t say my part time work is really making me a living.

What do you currently most enjoy to do with your free time?

I like to spend time outside exploring and creating with my daughter, dog and husband.

Tell me something new you've recently learned.

I have learned metal stamping, it’s pretty cool and easy once you have the right tools.

Is there something new you plan to learn?  If so, what?

I have a looooong list! Currently I am reading up on canning.

Thanks, Maria, for agreeing to this interview.   If you are interested, you may see questions here.  I am enjoying these interviews.  You don't have to be someone I know for me to interview you! You may e-mail your answers to me at onlythemanager@yahoo.com and I will be delighted to do a post featuring you! I will be featuring more interviews as they come in.