This girl....

This sweet girl of mine. She's your typical 12 year old. But she's also so much more. She loves sports and clothes and friends and Angry Birds. She loves to laugh and play practical jokes. Her room is messy most of the time. She bites her fingernails to my dismay.
She also loves to create small works of art and garden and play with her kittens. She loves to take photos and cram them into her Smash book. She doesn't sit around texting or watching tv much. She'd rather be out in the garden with muddy feet helping me pick beans or check to see if the new pumpkins are growing. She doesn't care about wearing makeup or if her hair is straightened. She'd rather be sewing a quilt out of old vintage sheets.

She gets up at 6:00 am in the summer time instead of sleeping in. She doesn't roll her eyes much when asked to do chores....many times she does housework without being asked. She cares about people and loves to listen to her grandparents' stories about the old days. She loves to bake and help out in the kitchen. While I was at Stamp-a-faire, she sent me a photo of some cookies all laid out so cute. She told me she was practicing for when she gets her own blog.
She's got a kindred spirit, that's for sure. I look at her in a group of kids and I know that she is special. I know that she sees the bigger picture. A brighter future. I can see the wheels spinning in her mind. I know there are big things planned for Jordy even though we don't know what they are yet. I am so proud to be her mother.
While I was away on my trip, Jordy was hard at work back home. She created more of her adorable little house on the hill collages and I just have to share them.

(this piece has sold)

The little stinker is quite the entrepreneur. She sells her artwork to friends and family to earn her own money. She also knows that it's nice to give them as presents too.
This time she's saving up for an Ipad. She's got about 3/4 of the money saved up. She'll get her little box out each day and count up how much more she needs.

(still available has sold)

I so badly want to toss in the rest of the $$ she needs....but Eric and I told her she needs to earn this by herself. So she patiently waits for her stash to build up.
She mows Grandma's yard, she's saved all of her birthday money...she spends sparingly on little trivial items.

(this piece has sold)

I'm so proud of her for doing this all by herself. She even has to spend her own money to purchase the frames for her artwork.
I think it's great to encourage your children to EARN things they want. Life should not be about hand outs. It's about working hard, instilling a good work ethic. It's never too early to teach children to be responsible.

(still available here)

It's also a great thing to encourage children to turn off the tv and phones....and to do something productive, stimulating for the mind + soul. It's also critical to tell children they they are good at something...like Jordan's artwork that she loves to create.
Thank you for letting me share a little bit about my sweet little red. She couldn't wait to show me her creations.....and they were too cute not to share with the world today.

Have a great week everyone! I had so much fun at Stamp-a-faire.....it's so refreshing to know there are so many nice people in the world....who just love to stamp! Keep on creating...