Friday, July 04, 2008

Projects with Jac & Sunshine

My little vegetarian out weeding her garden. I thought it would be a great way for Jaclyn to learn about being responsible. Not to mention something we can do to spend time with each other. I once heard a saying..."give a man a fish you feed him for the day...teach him to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime. " It's an unoffensive way to show them what happens to something if it isn't cared for and rewarding when you watch it grow and can from it.


Last weekend Sunshine and I painted some canvas and asked her to translate words from English to Chinese and then paint it on each canvas. Top left we have, Believe, Family, Happiness, then bottom left to right is Friend, Mother and Love. I love them! I gave the one that says Mother to my Mom for her birthday, and I have the rest of them up on the walls in my house.
Yesterday was her last day with us. It was hard to see her go. When she first came to stay with us she didn't really understand the "HUG" but between my family and Shane's it didn't take long for her to catch on. There was no way she was going to leave this house without one so I got a farewell hug from Sunshine and she was on her way. After about an hour of trying to allow the fact that she was gone sink in, I started to think of a few things I had to do so, I got busy. I kept catching myself thinking of what I would make for supper that Sunshine would like and I wondered if she had any clothes that may need to be washed. It seemed harder to shake than I thought it would be. I needed to go in town for a few things for a youth group BBQ that I would be having the next night and I realized I was craving comfort food....seeeewwww...I found myself in front of the ice cream freezer saying OK "pick your weapon" to cure these blues. I couldn't decide so I turned away from it, picked up what I needed plus a chocolate bar. At least it was something I couldn't go back to the freezer for more like the ice cream would have been. LOL!
It was an awesome experience but hard to see her go. Will I ever do it again, host my home or have and exchange student. Heck Yes! It was a wonderful experience.

Happy July 4th to my friends across the border. Hope you all have an awesome day!

13 comments:

Briana's Mom said...

I wish I could have a vegetable garden, but the drought is just too nasty here in GA. Jac's garden is so pretty!

And the canvases turned out just beautiful!

Kim said...

What fun projects that you did with Sunshine... BEAUTIFUL canvas.. that is soooo special..
Happy 4th of July...
Hugs girly..

4D said...

Hugs to you my friend!

Love the canvases.

Keep smilin!

Nadine said...

The vegetable garden is a neat way to spend time together.

I love the paintings. It came out so nice.

Special K said...

That garden is awesome. I don'tr have enough room for a garden. Or the patience to work it.

And those paintings turned out beautifully. What a special reminder of your Sunshine.

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

What a special experience and wonderful memories... a ton of hugs to you... take care...

kerri said...

Beautiful canvas, amazing art, I just love them.
I'm so happy to hear that your experience was awesome and that you would do it again, I think you have made a wonderful life long friend with Sunshine. ;)
Your garden puts mine to shame, LOL, I now feel the need to go out and weed!!!!

OH MY #6 said...

fantastic! What great projects!

Lea
xo

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

The garden looks wonderful......and the canvases....gorgeous!

Hope you had a great day!

Lisa

Middle-Aged Moi said...

I'm so glad you had a great time with Sunshine. It's so nice to hear such a great exchange student story!!!!

Elise said...

Love the paintings!!!!

geminirn said...

Love the canvases,they are beautiful and the garden looks like it is coming along nicely!

Shannon said...

Lovely garden! Those canvases are tooooooo cool! Awesome how you are spreading the joy of the HUG. =)