Jewels of Innocence and Joy and Mirth

"For pansies are, I think, the little gleams

Of children's visions from a world of dreams,

Jewels of innocence and joy and mirth,

Alight with laughter as they fall to earth.

So tread not rashly, children, lest you crush

A part of childhood in a thoughtless rush.

Would you not treat them gently if you knew

Pansies are little bits of children too?"

Taken from the poem "Pansies"

By R.C. Lehmann

This afternoon my dad surprised me with this beautiful pansy covered porcelain teapot. It was made in England by Royal Caldone. Dad and I have always shared a love for the little smiling faces of these old fashioned flowers. I am so thrilled with this gift! It's my first piece of china with pansies. {Notice I said "my FIRST piece ~ Diane and I are going to scour the nearest antique mall all day tomorrow to see how much damage we can do. Guess what I'll be on a hunt for... maybe a pretty little pansy covered teacup!}

I love the line in the poem that refers to the flowers as "Jewels of innocence and joy and mirth".

Doesn't that apply to all flowers?! God gave us so much when He created the beauty of flowers. Nothing else quite compares...

Then again~ He one upped Himself when He created children and the whole essence of childhood. Just think about how flowers and children touch all of our senses like nothing else really can. Not only are they both glorious to look upon and watch unfold, but what else in the whole of creation smells as breathtakingly wonderful as a flower or a child?
Not long after Diane arrived Saturday night, she reached out and grabbed hold of Gabby as she was trotting past her, and breathed in that mystical aura that surrounds little ones, and said, "Mmm... she smells sooo good."

And why wouldn't she? She has the very breath of God in and around her. Children truly are our little "jewels of innocence and joy and mirth". They're fresh and brightly colored and as ever changing as a flower garden.

Books, Dandelions and Wild Violets

"A book is like a garden carried in the pocket." Chinese Proverb

Last Saturday Scott, Chelsea, Gabby and I piled into the car and headed for Peoria to shop at our favorite Christian bookstore. Sadly, due to the decline in our economy, this bookstore that has existed for all of my memory, is now closing its doors.

Although it's hard to see it go, we did enjoy a shopping spree we wouldn't have been able to afford without the fabulous discounted prices. Everything in the store was down to 90% off the original price. Can you believe it?!!! All music CD's were either 5o cents or $1.00.

We spent a blissful two hours there where I immersed myself in as many books as possible before they either threw us out or Scott dragged me to the car.

I am of the same mind as the late Groucho Marx who said, "I find television to be very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book."

Remember ~ I gave birth to and raised a librarian {Hilary}!

Gabby is also an avid book lover already and behaved remarkably well for a two year old with lots of energy spending such a span of time in a bookstore.

We came away with a total of 17 books { 2 of which were childrens books that Miss Gabby chose herself}, 2 CD's, and 9 greeting cards. Our grand total, tax included, BEFORE the discount would have been: $263.50. Never in my life have I been able to spend that amount of money at one time on books!

Grand total we spent AFTER the discount: $25.65 ~ PAID IN CASH!!!

That's the price that ONE of the books I chose would have been without anything else!

So~ here's my stash............... {Oh, the darling oversized teacup with flowers was a gift from Hilary.}

"Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book."

Author Unknown

Here's a picture of Phoebe enjoying her story time courtesy of Gabby in the kitchen floor. Notice she's "reading" from a Webster's book of quotations ~ NOT one of her new books! But I don't think Phoebe minded the lack of pretty pictures too much.

After story time, Gabby escaped {and I mean literally~ I have to keep the back storm door locked all of the time} to the backyard for her other favorite pastime of flower picking.

We should all be like little children ~escaping out the back door to laugh and dance in the sunshine and green grass amidst the dandelions and wild violets!

And remembering to settle into the life of a good book as often as possible.