Mama McBear and Delmar

Meet 2nd all time favorite, Mama McBear and Delmar. This is #7 in my animal introductions and Bearington Bear #6.

Isn't mama just a hoot with her kerchief all tied up on her head? And little Delmar is holding onto a heart while mama has her arms wrapped real tight around him. Mama's hang on so tight sometimes. Sometimes not tight enough. But this little guy isn't going anywhere, is he?!? :)

I figured it was kind of appropriate to introduce them today because my second baby is having her 3rd baby - TODAY. I will sit and be patient, not bother her until SHE says the word it's okay, and respect her and daddy's wishes to make this birth totally their own with no extra people around.

In the society today, it has become more prevalent and more common place for many people to be right there when babies are born. It wasn't like that in my baby days, nor my mother's. Nothing is held as private or sacred these days as compared to years gone by. I have to admit that I'd bought into society's views and thought I'd be there to welcome Gavin into the world, too. And I had been invited to do so earlier. But after the new mommy and daddy discussed how they REALLY wanted things, the door closed. Talk about having to change my thinking! :) But you know what, they are right! This is THEIR time - time to bond and become a new family unit. There will be no video taken, no pictures, no nothing. They've gone old school on us, and I commend them for it.

I was just being a little too much like Mama McBear...... I was holding my baby bear too tight. Yet another apron string has had to be cut. But this is life! And there will be NEW life today that we'll get to meet and greet on his terms.

And needless to say, Delmar is Tyler in my heart. My mind and heart are still sewn tightly around him. And no one can tell me any different on that one.

Phillipe - The Frog

Wanted to share a FUN animal I have that isn't a bear! Can you believe it? Frogs have so many meanings to me:

#1 - FROG

Fully Relying On God (great reminder)

#2 - The Magician's Nephew (by C.S. Lewis)

Our son Tyler was cast as the frog in the one-act play in high school. The one-act took high rankings at the State Speech Contest that year. So when I look at a frog, I think of Ty and the success he and his team had enjoyed.

But Phillipe the Frog is also a reminder of one of the most memorable trips I was able to take. He came from the Denver Art Museum that my sister to graciously took me to. They were having a special display of Impressionistic Art and I so fell in love with Impressionism from that time on. Phillipe has a book that goes along with him, but it's missing since our move.

But isn't he just the cutest thing ever? He sure means a lot in my treasury of memories.

Grandpa & Grandson

Introducing: Grandpa and Grandson, Bearington Bear #5

Lots of stories come to mind with this one, and these two have actually been played with... a LOT! Grandpa has his spectacles on trying to read "The Little Engine That Could" to a grandson. Yes, as you can see the book is missing. And who knows where it is by now. But the meaning is still there in my heart and head.

This means a lot to me because of my husband's eyes and all the troubles he's had with them. He is legally blind in one eye, but praise Jesus he still has sight in the other. He is very mobile and does his job with enthusiasm and a lot of spirit. He has never let his eye issues get the better of him.

But even though he can't read books to his grandkids, that doesn't mean he doesn't know how to get down on the floor and play with them. Whenever he disappears from a family get together, you know he's probably off somewhere with the little ones playing games or teasing them and having fun. He's just that kind of guy.

We don't get to see the grandkids very often anymore, but he holds each and every one of them so very close to his heart, just like the grandpa bear does here.

Gwendolyn

Introducing Gwendolyn, Bearington Bear #4 in my list of intros.

Miss Gwen is very simple, she's not trendy but basic. There isn't anything foofoo about this gal. She is in my collection because her name and her 'look' represent my mother.

My mother, Gwen, was a lot like this gal. She was simple, neat, precise and didn't care for anything trendy or in excess. She was born in 1913 and lived through the Great Depression, and raised a family of five children, leading to her reasons for not living 'over the top' in many areas. She was the ultimate re-use, re-cycle and wear-it-out woman.

But one thing Gwen did was strive for perfection and quality in everything she did. She was a quilter extraordinaire. Her eye for color and design were impeccable. She urged me and taught me to do the best at whatever I created, be it an apron for 4-H to my first hand-knitted pullover sweater. She not only urged, she pushed. My mother would make sure I was busy doing something with my hands at all times - to be productive. There was not a day off from school where'd I'd look forward to being at home doing nothing, that she would have a different agenda for me laid out. At the time I had no appreciation for that, nor did I like it one bit. But in the long run, she was right and I am grateful.

She taught me how to sew, to knit, to be as precise with my work as possible. She expected the best out of me and my projects. I didn't always hear "good job" or get a pat on the back, but I grew up knowing that being busy with my hands and putting thought into my projects were a good thing.

I'm very grateful to have had simple and hard working Gwendolyn as my mom.

Betsy and Ross

Even though I've missed the actual holiday to introduce Bearington Bear #3, there isn't one day that we don't celebrate being an American!

Meet "Betsy and Ross".

There aren't many 4th of July's that don't have some type of memory attached. Neighbors, fireworks, camping, campfires, sunburns..... all just good stuff.

But one of the best things about Betsy and Ross is the reminder that because we live in America, we have the freedom to believe in Jesus without persecution.

THAT freedom is without question.... priceless.

God bless America...

my home sweet home.

Mary and Little Lamb

If you're a gal, you got one. That one person in your life that sticks by you through thick and thin, good and bad, and even when you behave or act horrifically. Yes, it's about my BFF.... my best friend forever, for live, for forever.

Meet Bearington Bear #2 in my series of introductions. Her name is "Mary and Little Lamb" (retired 2007). This little gal speaks so much to my heart. She represents my best friend, Susan. Not only does the innocent little animal she's holding represent her last name, but it represents what Sue did for me in my spiritual life.

Have any of you ever felt lost? Searching for something but couldn't figure it out or find it? Need something to feel at peace, loved, fulfilled? This is what Sue did for me. She picked me up like a lost sheep, and introduced me to Jesus. I had been that lost sheep that Miss Mary Bear is holding. She never lets go of that sheep either!

Do any of you have a friend that sticks so close to you and your heart, that even when you have to be away from each other you know they are right beside you in spirit and heart? That is what this woman is to me.

Sue was introduced to you in an earlier post describing the different meaning of the word 'sister'.

This kind of friendship? Priceless.

Raining Cats and Dogs

When I started this blogging project, the thought was to try and go through each bear as to age. But that needs to be switched up.

Today it is raining outside. I think it may have rained all night, which is fine - we need it. But this little girl bear speaks volumes and needed to be introduced first. Please meet Bearington Bear: "Raining Cats and Dogs" (retired 2007). Sounds like that's her given Indian name, doesn't it.

She represents all those times when we wonder, "When will it all stop?" If it's not one thing, it's another. What could possibly happen next. We've all had those times and eras in our lives. And Bill and I are going through another one right now.

I get a kick out of her, because she's got her raincoat on to repel the rain (mishaps) but she's grabbed on to a cat and a dog (particular raindrops). She teaches me a great life lesson: Let a lot of life's bad or unhappy occurrences slide off of you, but grab ahold of a couple of important ones that need to be learned from. Life is tough - but this little gal is gunna make it through, don't you think?

Some of my FAVORITE things....

The opportunity came to take TODAY and get a little more done on finding my art, stuff, yarns... because this week there will be absolutely no time for any of it. And of course, we just made plans to get even more work done next weekend on things, so..... I wanted to share some of the most precious 'things' I have been able to keep hold of. In other words, I didn't have to give these up with all our transitioning over the past two years. Now go ahead and make fun of me, most people do when it comes to this, but I'm a big girl and can take it. :)There are many stories that go with each object I'm going to share over the next couple of weeks. There is no way on EARTH that I could expound on the entire collection I've kept... so for now I'm going to show you how my sewing room just became MINE. I find great peace, enjoyment, and family in every object I'm going to share.

So today is the whole deal - the big picture - the big kahuna - the whole ball of wax - the full meal deal... I will break it all down as time permits and share why each one is important and why I'm grateful the Lord has allowed me to keep these small treasures.

Ready?

OK, I know... it's a lot of junk to take in at one time. But these little dudes and dudettes have been in hiding for too long. I'd see them peeking out of their bag every time I'd walk through our garage (slash storage unit) begging for a place in my space. And now that I HAVE a space, they have come back to life and it was so fun to think of each meaning and story as I set them out on the bed. NOW this is my room, my personal sanctuary for my creative side. Just look at all the friends who have come to join me now!

And this finally made it to the place it belonged - right by my head in my recliner I've now been able to claim back as mine.

The portrait of Tyler painted by my mother-in-law, his grandma.

Done from a photo taken the Thanksgiving weekend when he went home to be with the Lord.

It's awesome - and according to her, very cathartic and something she felt she needed to do.

Special.

More stories to follow - come on now, follow this thread as we laugh, cry, and just have fun telling all kinds of tales.

It's priceless.