a walk.

 

 

The rains are here today. But yesterday, the weather was still nice. I had a few hours with just Noah so we decided to go for a walk. Normally I walk/jog after the kids go to bed a couple times a week around the high school track, but yesterday we decided to take a stroll around our small town. I love small towns. I love walking past old houses and yards full of history, full of life. I love the old churches with steeples full of character. Everything seems so much more magnificent when you open your eyes to explore the little things.
~Melissa

Create.Simplify.Inspire #17

It's here! Week 17! I don't have many rules here, just want to see something that you've created or something that you have written that would inspire all of us! If you are feeling super sweet you could tweet about the party, and find me on Twitter @MelissaKaylene

~Melissa

 

 

Here we go in 3....2.....1.....

 

 

Create.Simplify.Inspire. #17

  

<a href="http://www.willamettevalleywonderwoman.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/anikalene/Untitled-2.jpg" alt="Willamette Valley Wonder Woman" width="250" height="250" /></a>

the best medicine.

 

They say laughter is the best medicine. I agree. But I also believe there is one thing that should be right up there with giggles.

 

Listening.

 

Working in the health care field I often am working with people who are enduring rough times of their life. Many of them are stressed out, painful, and appear sad and frustrated.

 

What I've found through the years is that sometimes, slowing down and taking an extra five minutes to listen to them makes a world of difference.

 

Not just talking about their physical problems, but about them. Their life. Their stories. Allowing them to think of other thoughts, other times, other people.

 

Its wonderful to see people open up and share. It distracts them from other things.

In some cases I believe it helps just as much as a narcotic would.

 

And you know what? Listening is therapy for me too.

 

It really is the best medicine.

 

I've got some exciting things going on behind the scenes for Willamette Valley Wonder Woman. I'm excited to share it with you in the near future!

 

~Melissa

DIY nail polish holder

 

 

     Hello everyone! Today I want to share a little thing I've done to help simplify my life a little more! :) This is my new nail polish holder! I've had such a messy nail polish collection that I just couldn't keep organized. In fact, I had them all in the bathroom window seal which really didn't work that well because they kept getting bumped off, and the kids liked to snitch them sometimes (which is really not good).

     Here's what I did. While at the Jane Austen Craft Faire last week I found a couple adorable items that I had actually been in search of for a while; one of them being an old spice rack. I think I originally saw this idea on Pinterest (where else?) I snatched it up for $15 and took it home. Coincidentally it is like the exact same color as my bathroom walls! I actually attached it to the wall upside down and then went ahead and placed some wire across the bottom to hold my feather earrings and a hook on the side for some necklaces.

     All of my nail polishes are now up and out of the way, out of the kids reach, and it just looks so much cuter this way!

~Melissa

Helicopter Heaven

 

Last week parents from the preschool all loaded up their children and we drove to a local helicopter training facility. 18 preschoolers (and some siblings) had the time of their life.

We went around and looked at all the different types of helicopters and then, they got to watch one land. And not just one of those tiny ones. It. Was. Big.

The kids were in awe.

Then, they all got to climb aboard. And all of the kids fit on the helicopter. Our 'guide' told us that it used to fly in mail to Afghanistan to the troops, but now its retired from that job and is used as a training helicopter.

Then they all had snacks at picnic tables under the shade from an old black walnut grove and put together helicopter and airplane crafts.

The weather was perfect.

The kids all did fabulous.

What an amazing experience for little eyes.

 

Emma only has a couple more weeks of Preschool left. Then its graduating to the big Kindergarten. But Mr. Noah is more than ready to take her spot next year and be the big school boy as well.

 

~Melissa