- Hamilton Wright Mabi

Now that I have an opportunity to write, I’m realizing that I really missed my daily postings last week!  It reminds me of when I moved away from home to go to the University of [...]]]> “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”

- Hamilton Wright Mabi

Now that I have an opportunity to write, I’m realizing that I really missed my daily postings last week!  It reminds me of when I moved away from home to go to the University of Alberta and my sister didn’t shed a tear when I left, but she bawled like a baby when I returned home for the Christmas holiday.

Sometimes you don’t realize how much you’ve missed your  love, until you are reacquainted.

I have four ideas for posts today, but I’m going to write about my first Santa-photo-shoot because I’m just so excited about the entire experience.  Not only was the actual ’shoot’ fun and exciting, but the processing and packaging was fulfilling as well.  As I slipped each photo into a greeting card  I imagined how the parents would react when they opened the envelopes and saw their little beauties on Santa’s lap.  Some images were hilarious, some were sweet, and, as I prepared each photo, I learned that just the idea of providing parents with a lasting image of a precious moment in time really rocks my world!!!   My next photo-shoot isn’t until next Saturday, and already I cannot wait to get back at it!!!  It’s a good sign.

What I really want to write about is Timothy.  He showed up after the shoot was over and Santa had left the building, (with a very happy-looking Mrs. Claus I might add,)

“Is Santa gone?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m afraid so.”

“Will he be here tomorrow?”

“No, but he’ll be here next Saturday,”  I said as I packed up my equipment.

“Oh.  I won’t be able to come next Saturday.  Do you take the pictures of Santa?”

“Yes.”

“Can you give him my list?”

Timothy reached into his pocket and pulled out his carefully written Christmas list.  Now, I had anticipated that I would have a good time taking photos of kids, I suspected that I would enjoy watching the magical exchange between Santa and each child he conversed with, but I didn’t expect that a child would consider me a part of that magic.  Timothy surprised me by assuming that I had a direct line to Santa.

“Of course,” I said, checking the list, “is your name on it?”

“Nope; my name’s Timothy.”

“Okay Timothy.”

I have the list in my camera bag and will most definitely give it to Santa, along with some special-secret- signal.  With any luck, Timothy will make it to the mall one Saturday before Christmas, and wouldn’t it be grand if Santa pulled Timothy’s list out from his pocket?

The Happy Clauses

]]> http://thegratefulmama.com/archives/1252/feed 0 http://thegratefulmama.com/archives/709 http://thegratefulmama.com/archives/709#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:00:28 +0000 Karen http://thegratefulmama.com/?p=709 “When in doubt, make a fool of yourself.  There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth.  So what the hell, leap.”

~Cynthia Heimel

So I made a little book over the summer, and I’m launching it at a local bookstore, Laughing Oyster [...]]]> “When in doubt, make a fool of yourself.  There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth.  So what the hell, leap.”

~Cynthia Heimel

So I made a little book over the summer, and I’m launching it at a local bookstore, Laughing Oyster Bookshop, this Saturday, September 26th at 1:00 pm.  I can’t quite believe it.  When I read the posters that say, “Local author Karen Pantuso-Swanson…” I feel like an impostor.  Author?  Anyone can publish their own book.  What was I thinking???

Perhaps that’s the key; I didn’t think about it too much, I just did it.  I took a leap, and the jury’s still out as to whether or not I’ll look like a ‘gigantic idiot.’

I was inspired by my cousin Sheryl and her friend Andreas, who used BLURB, an online self-publishing site, to create a stunning book of Andreas’s art.  I thought that the writing I had been doing for my blog would translate nicely into a little gift-book for mothers.

Creating the book was a blast!  I am passionate about the subject matter, (motherhood,) and photography and writing are my two favourite hobbies at the moment, so this was a ‘H.O.E.’ project for me.  (Heaven On Earth.)  The book was made with pure love.

I’m proud of the book.  It is no great literary achievement, by any means, but I accomplished what I set out to do: make a tender little gift-book for women of all ages and stages, in honour of the sacred role we play as mothers.

I wish I could give the book away to anyone who wants it, but I’m not in a position to do that at the moment, as it’s rather  expensive to self-publish.  To be  honest, I’m not happy with the retail price of $34.00; it’s a lot of money!

Please know this: I will not be the least bit insulted if you come to the book launch and do not buy a book. By reading this blog right now, you are already supporting me and I appreciate it!  So if you’re a local resident and you’re free next Saturday, come on down to the Laughing Oyster; I would love to meet you!

And who knows, you might win a free book!  I’m going to have a draw for a free book on the day of the launch and there are two ways to enter:

1. Become a fan of  ’The Grateful Mama’ through facebook.

2. Leave a comment on today’s post.

(Don’t worry, if you live out-of-town I’ll mail the book to you!)

If you can’t make it to Laughing Oyster, the book will also be available at two of my other favourite stores:

firefly: new beginnings (Courtenay,) and Blue Heron books (Comox,) as of September 26th.

And now, here’s a question for you: What constitutes a H.O.E . project for you? (Leave your answer below and your name will automatically be entered in the draw.)