A Tribute to Native Americans

I received a convo today from Joni Stinson, http://www.etsy.com/shop/jstinson, that my little crocheted-baby-moccasins-in-sage-0-6-mo, were included in her very special Tribute to Native Americans.

Joni started this thread (which is now on Chapter 3) inviting people to do a search of Native American or Native American Inspired items and list their favorites or to list one of their own items) and promote any item listed throughout various Etsy shops which give tribute to our first settlers in this country. The title of this great Tribute is called “Walking with the Wind”.

“Walking with the Wind is to have the wind at your back…helping your journey along.

We each in our own way help others on their journey…We become the wind.

Helping others either through words, support, praise, or just being there to listen:

"Walking with the Wind is to have the wind at your back ....helping your journey along.

Anyone who follows Joni’s blog, http://www.jstinson-trailoftreasures.blogspot.com, knows her passion and dedication to her heritage, which she continually shares with all of us. Joni, who is Creek-Cherokee, has given us so much history of her tribe’s customs and the plight of still so many Native Americans who live in poverty. Her jewelry is just one example of her love of heritage; these are a few examples of her beautiful Indian jewelry.

I was also thinking how befitting it is to receive this honor today when we are celebrating the many American soldiers who fought in wars throughout history to make this country what it is today. What many people may not realize is that from the beginning when the first pilgrims arrived at our shores, our survival was at the hands of Native Americans who taught the settlers how to survive. Also, how many of us realize that during the Civil and Revolutionary Wars, the Cherokee’s played a very important part in these wars fighting for the Union, along side of the American soldiers who were fighting against the South who wanted to separate and form their own union. The only way American soldiers (known as pioneers) knew how to fight was face to face combat, each side standing in opposite lines shooting at each other. The Native Americans (known as the warriors) found the white man's strategy of standing still and allowing people to shoot at them, or lob artillery shells at them quite curious. It was the Cherokee’s who taught the many soldiers the tactic of sneak attacks while hiding in trees or sneaking through the dense wooded areas, completely surprising their enemies. This tactic was one of the main reasons that the North was able to defeat the South. So let us also remember those many Cherokee warriors who gave their lives fighting to help save our country from the British, who were helping the Confederate soldiers.

Vote for Zachary!

Vote for Zachary! (my little grandson)


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Memorial of Doves

On the wings of this white Dove, I’ll set your spirit free.

Up into the big deep sky, to heaven, where you’ll be.

I know God has a plan for us.

But it is hard for us to understand when we are left behind.

Little Dove, lift our hearts as we watch your go.

God is there if we just ask, to watch our loved ones

In the Heavens where your spirit is free.

Yesterday, my daughter Kelly, my cousin Michael, and myself, attended a beautiful ceremony, for all those who past away this past year. The Memorial Service and Dove Release was sponsored by the Funeral home where my Aunt Joyce was buried from this past February. The director of the Funeral home came up with this idea in a way to honor his own mother who past away this year also; and thought it would be nice to invite others who have lost someone dear to them to join in this dedication. After a brief service inside the home, in which they had digitial photo’s of each person being honored, we then all went out onto the back lawn, where in a huge circle were heart shaped baskets, each filled with a dove. It was so beautiful to watch as we all opened the baskets at the same time, and the Doves took flight towards the heavens. I thought it was a special way to remember a loved one and wanted to share some of the moments with you in the pictures we took.

A Tribute to my Niece: Tara Alamilla

A Tribute to my Niece, Tara

Tara (bridesmaid) at her brother's wedding

Tara (second from right) holding my daughter Kelly with her twin brother & sister; and cousins 

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there. They may become a best friend, soul mate, lover or spouse; you just know that when you lock eyes with them for that very first time, you know at that very moment that they will affect your life now and in years to come. But then sometimes that sunshine turns towards darkness and life as we expected, begins to change. That one person, who we so willingly turned our lives over to, may not be who we thought them to be.

Unfortunately, as we see those dark clouds entering in our hearts, we bear painful and unfair truths, that will test our strength and our faith. Make everyday count and appreciate those around us, our family, our children, our friends, because you never know when God may take that away. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance, God tests our faith in so many ways, that we have to be prepared with in our hearts and our souls to take on that strength to forgive and go forward. "Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last... Tomorrow is Not Promised."Someone once told me that “God will never give us anything we can’t handle.” Perhaps it is through my strong faith and prayer that I can hold that truth. This weekend my family was put to the test, as we learned that my niece, Tara; my cousin’s oldest daughter and a mother of three young children, was murdered by her ex-husband of whom she had only been divorced from for a few weeks. As their three little children lie sleeping in their beds, Tara breathed her last breathe at the hands of her ex-husband. A life of such promise and a love that was thought to be forever has dissipated to a life lost; three little one’s left without parents; and a family left in shock and in tears.

“The cloud burst doesn’t last all day” - right now we can’t see through the darkness; but I know that when God allows our faith to take over, we will begin to see that light come shining through. It is at that moment that we know that Tara is once again safe in the “arms of her angel” and smiling down at us, letting us know that we need to continue with our lives “Living Each Day As If It Were Our Last.”

Thank you all for your many kind words, thoughts and prayers, which I have conveyed to my cousin and our family. Please keep Tara and my family in your prayers, as we wait for the sun to rise again.

The Christmas Pageant 2009

Zachary as "Baby Jesus"

I have written about our annual Christmas Pageant in our Parish Church, Sacred Heart, for the past few years. I get as much enjoyment working on the Pageant even now, as much as I did when I started the Pageant in our Church 19 years ago. Although I directed it for many years, my daughter, Kelly, has taken over the lead as Director for the past 5 years. What made this year even more special was that my new little grandson, Zachary, got the lead in his first part, that of “Baby Jesus”. Even with a grandmother’s pride, I must say he was one of the best babies we have had; it was as if he knew exactly what to do on cue!

Since every parent wants their child to be the star of the show, we begin by choosing those that have participated in most of our Christmas masses throughout the year. Once all the main characters are chosen (Mary, Joseph, Wisemen, angels, etc.), Kelly begins her directing. Our little children range in age from 3 (which are the little angels) to age 12; and of course, Zachary, age 2 1/2 mos. The older children get the main parts, which gives the other children an incentive to work up to each year. We have a wonderful Children's Choir who do all the singing throughout the play. This year due to the weather and many illnesses, we managed to stage the whole production with only one practice!
Using my experience as the costumer for our local theater group, that is my main job with these children, is getting everyone fitted with a costume; with a few alterations here and there. As with any play, once the children put on their various costumes, their whole demeanor changes. They suddenly assume the role they are portraying. A lot of credit goes not just to the Director, but to the small group of parents who dedicated themselves each year working on the Pageant. They each automatically assume the various positions that they
have taken over each year. Once assembling the little angels, another for the shepherds, and still another for the Wisemen, and drummer boy and girl.

It is the team work that makes the Pageant so successful. The success is well noted as the Narrators (children grades 5-7) begin to tell the story of the Nativity, and as you look at the smiles on the faces of each parent. Although our little angels, who I said are mostly 3-4 year old's, completely steal the show; the other children are so professional, and kneel so reverently as they portray, Mary and Jesus from the time they are approached by the Angel Gabriel, to the birth of Jesus, and the arrival of the Wisemen. The final scene is the two little Drummer Girls, and the Drummer Boy who walk so very slowly down the center aisle playing their drums while the choir sings 'The Little Drummer Boy,". The most adorable thing is not only watching them, but watching the little angels singing their hearts out - pa rum pum pum pum, I could continue talking about the beauty of the children in the Pageant, but the pictures tell it all.

Honoring our Native American's

In early November, Joni : http://www.jstinson.etsy.com, wrote that President Obama had declared November as National Native American Month. See Joni's blog: I just received a proclamation from President Obama declaring November, 2009 National Native American Month and November 27, 2009 National Native American Day. You can read the proclamation on my blog:
http://jstinson-trailoftreasures.blogspot.com/2009/11/obama-declares-national-native-american.html

I have long written about the plight of the Native Americans and the true history of our country. We have all been indoctrinated throughout the years in our history texts and literature about how the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, MA, in 1620, and were surprised to find that this land called Amerika was already inhabited by hundreds of different American Indian tribes. We all know quite well that peaceful setting of the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims and Indians sharing whatever crops they managed to grow, and learning the various cultures of each group. Unfortunately, that scenario as we know it was very far from the truth. The Pilgrims landed in an unknown territory ready to take over, only to find no food or shelter; while continuing to be observed by the curious inhabitants that had already settled in Plymouth and the many surrounding areas around what we know refer to as "Cape Cod". The Pilgrims through much treachery, not only stole the hidden crops the Indians had stored away for the Springtime planting, but began a plot to cast each tribe against the other with the hope that each Native American tribe with total untrust of the other would follow through on their plan causing the first of many massacres that occured. It was during these terrible massacres that the Pilgrims would step in and acquire the lands of each tribe as they would retreat from the own settlements. This so-called peaceful "First Thanksgiving" would lead to 50 years of treacherous villainy and war, and the loss of 1,000's of lives, to begin what we come to define today as American. This is only a brief scenario of the many years of war that the Native Americans had to endure losing not only their land and families, but dignity as well. It is wonderful to see that American's are now taking responsibility for their actions, and are beginning to recognize who are true founders of America are. I for one am proud to be one of the Americans of today who feels that this honor although well deserved, is well overdo.

I am very grateful then to have one of my pieces from my shop: http://www.MagdaleneKnits.etsy.com, recognized as a tribute to this very worthy honor thanks to "CloudBurst" http://www.CloudBurst.etsy.com - my black scarf which was recognized in this promotion : http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35311039. I invited all of you to view Joni's Promotional thread about this great tribute to her own Cherokee heritage: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6335843&page=1In early November, Joni : http://www.jstinson.etsy.com, wrote that President Obama had declared November as National Native American Month. See Joni's blog: I just received a proclamation from President Obama declaring November, 2009 National Native American Month and November 27, 2009 National Native American Day. You can read the proclamation on my blog:
http://jstinson-trailoftreasures.blogspot.com/2009/11/obama-declares-national-native-american.html

The Christmas Fair

Last weekend was our annual Parish Christmas Fair. I started doing the Fair when my children were very small and attended our Parish school. As they got older, and I went back to work, I took a long hiatus from crafting. I again started doing craft shows and the Sacred Heart Christmas Fair a few years ago. This particular Fair is always a three day affair. Friday, being my favorite, is when the children come in and do their own shopping. They come in dressed in their holiday finest, with their little envelopes filled with their shopping money. What I enjoy the most is seeing the little one's with their $2 (which to them could be a million dollars) and say "I want to buy something for my mommy". The invariably head for my most expensive jewelry, but I then lead them to my Christmas jewelry which I make and price just for the children to be able to buy. I ask them how much money they have to spend - usually it is between $2 - $4, so I will pick out a pair of earrings or bracelet and say "oh, this is just $2" ; their eyes just light up as I wrap the little gift which they can't wait to get home to give to their mother or sister. One little girl, Madalene, wanted to buy a pair of baby booties for her little sister. Knowing that her sister is already 2, I told her I didn't think they would fit. She replied, "they are for Monica's little baby doll", so I wrapped up a little pair of my preemie booties for her. Friday evening, dinner is served (which is so delicious) and donated from different parents, and the parents get to do their shopping. It is more fun just running into people I haven't seen in a while and catching up on what our older children are doing now. My daughter, Kelly and her newborn son, Zachary also came to help; and in the evening Zachary had his first picture with Santa! (see if you can figure out which is the real Santa!)
I must admit though as much as I love doing this one particular Fair. This year a few vendors that have been there the past few years and myself were a little disappointed in the amount of people who were selling stuff I wouldn't even be throwing away. Besides myself and my friend, who also is on Etsy, we were the only two who actually sold hand-crafted items. I miss the days when a craft fair meant just that, handmade crafts. When I first started doing this Fair many years ago, only hand-crafted items would be sold. Now these vendor come in and are literally selling right out of the boxes that they bought their items in. So in that respect, it was a little disappointing to see people being taken in by what some are calling crafts. I have noticed this being the trend in other craft shows I have done in the past few years. Well, hopefully, they will all go back to the concept of a craft fair selling hand-made crafts. Even with all that, I did manage to sell quite a few things as well as a custom order for a necklace, bracelet and earring set. I certainly didn't let the non-crafters deter from my Holiday spirit while I enjoyed selling to the little children, and catching up with old friends, and seeing my grandson having his first visit with Santa.

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