R U Ready for the R's?

I think I'm actually going to finish this ABC Book that I've been working on for my grandchildren for the past few years (or more accurately, for the past few decades, because it was originally going to be for my youngest son...who's 25 now!).  I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I've got the R's all finished and stored away in their plastic pages in the binder, and I really like how they came out.  (I've noticed that the further along I get, the less critical I am of my drawings and the more I'm enjoying the process).

So here they R, the R's!  

Notice that I included another R animal in the rocket-ship, without naming it in the rhyme.  I've done this here and there throughout the book, hoping the wee ones will discover these hidden gems.

I always knew that I wanted to incorporate some Catholic sacramentals and images in this book (along with all the animals; because I don't know about your little ones, but mine--both my children and my grandchildren--have never been able to resist them).  So I always knew that a Rosary would be included in the R pages.

Now I've got just to finish the pages for I, J, K, N, O, Q, V, W, X, Y, and Z.  I've already got the rhymes written for I, V, X, Y, and  Z; some of those pages are already partially done, but now I have to get going on completing the artwork for them.  If there's anything you'd like to see on the J, K, N, and O pages, leave me a comment and I'll see what I can do. 

I'm kind of cheating on the last three letters of the alphabet: instead of doing two pages for each letter, I'm going to draw only one image for each to create the last two pages of the book.  So the finish line is well and truly in sight.

Coming soon (I hope): the W's.  Watch out for those.

A Tribute to My Mother-in-Law

Today is the 9th anniversary of my dear mother-in-law's death.  She was born on All Saints Day and died on Holy Saturday; I think that pretty much sums up all you need to know about Mom and her special relationship with Our Lord and Our Lady, whom she loved so much.  She was a beautiful soul, with deep and abiding faith and an abundance of love for her family, and she is missed by so many.

I wanted to write a new post today in honor of the best mother-in-law a girl could ever dream of having; but I'm finding myself at a loss for some reason.  So instead, I'm going to share an old post I wrote about Mom, a birthday tribute from 2013.  Click here if you'd like to read it..

Gone, but never forgotten.  We miss you, Mom (and Dad), and we love you.

Bonnets, Baskets, & Bunnies Link-Up: Easter 2018

I thought I'd join writer and blogger Carolyn Astfalk for her 2018 Easter link-up, which she's running from Easter through Divine Mercy Sunday.  Carolyn said that anything goes--"spiritual reflections, flower photos, chocolate bunnies, favorite hymns, books, etc."--and I thought that sounded like something I could definitely do, even though I'm not exactly a prolific blogger these days.

I love, love, LOVE Easter; sometimes I think it actually might be my favorite holiday.  (But then Christmas comes, and I show myself to be quite fickle indeed.)

I love to put together baskets for my family.  I love to decorate the house with flowers, eggs, and bunnies.  (And banners, too.)  It's such a happy time of year, and I think my house reflects this.  But I'll let the pictures do most of the talking for me, if you don't mind.

I love my peeps--and I don't mean the marshmallow kind!  (Peeps are some of son #4's favorite Easter treats, but not so much mine.  Give me chocolate, always.)  I'm talking about my PEEPS, you see--that is, my people.  The little ones, especially.

Here are some sweet photos of some of the Pearls on our family string, all dressed up in their Easter Sunday best.

My oldest son and his wife have requested that their girls don't appear in photos on the blog, and I strive to honor their wishes regarding the privacy of their family (even though it kills me not to share my granddaughters' sweet faces with you!).  But here they are, in a recent photo taken on their front porch.

These four girls just found out that theirs will no longer be "an all of a kind family," like their daddy's was; in July, they will welcome a new baby brother!

God bless you this Easter and always.  And Happy Divine Mercy Sunday to you, too!

Now head on over to Carolyn's My Scribbler's Heart blog for more Bonnets, Baskets, & Bunnies!