My daughter went to a Youth Leadership Conference this last weekend. She was away for 3 days, with 150 other 13 to 15 year olds. Leading up to the event, I had convinced her that it was a sort of "vacation" for kids who got good grades - and her eyes lit up when I said that! Eager to go to the event, she packed her bag a few days early.
She groaned at the requirement for a few "professional outfits", much preferring jeans and t-shirts to skirts.
"Does this mean I have to get a business suit?", she asked one evening.
"Yes - a business suit," I teased.
Monica and Emma picked up a skirt, cardigans and some nice shoes the evening before.
"Well, I am never doing that again!", she said after spending a half hour in the dressing room. Later on, we all laughed during dinner when she told us how she had to try on all sorts of clothes for hours and that she couldn't jump very far in her new skirt.
We made it to the check-in on Thursday. Bags in hand, insurance papers completed and orientation forms all filled out. The walk from the car to the lobby in new shoes created no less than 4 blisters on her toes and heels, so we had to quick put bandaids all over feet, so that she could make it until after lunch (when they could change into casual clothes and sneakers). In addition, just getting out of the car, she ripped her skirt open about 5 inches. One of the advisors walked by us slowly as we used no less than 12 bandaids to cover each toe and each heel - and after a quick discussion we decided that the skirt would be OK (though the thought did cross my mind that I could use some really strong double stick tape to fix it, or maybe some eyelets - where was my Cropodile...). Once bandaged up, she re-assured us everything would be OK and disappeared into the mob of kids.
The weekend went well and concluded with a kid-produced commencement ceremony on Sunday. She had a fantastic time, learned lots and was full of stories. She pointed out that it was not a vacation like I had said, but was satisfied with the experience. The first speech of the ceremony began with a fantastic quote from Robert F. Kennedy, talking about how we can effect other people's lives in ways great and small.
"...Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope..."
It was a great message for me to hear on a week when we are sending out messages of love to one another. Whether you are sending out a Valentine's greeting to a friend or loved one to spread cheer, or you are actively making a difference in your community, you are sending out tiny ripples of hope (and love) - by letting others know that they are cherished.
I was completely inspired by this quote - and thought it was such a timely message for me to hear this week as I discussed some Valentine's projects. The first project, using the Heart Wreath and Flower Soft, was probably our most asked about project in January.
The Heart Wreath (E1310) was stamped on some of our 12x12 Happenstance paper, then flocked with Flower Soft. A tiny bow made of 1/4 inch wide silk ribbon adds a little charm!
We stamped the Scripted Bird (E1309)on 2 pieces of paper to get this look. It was stamped once on Eggshell Cardstock and once on a piece of paper from the Gossamer 6x6 pack. Cut the bird's body out of the patterned paper and glue it to the image on Eggshell - and the body has a little pattern to it that makes it "pop" a bit.
The "berries" on the branches are made with a dot of Liquid Pearls (Baby Pink) and a dusting of clear glitter while the pearls are still wet and sticky. After the berries are dry, they are dimensional and glittery.