I try to practice optimism, but sometimes the glare is overwhelming.
Where would a magic portal take you? In my middle grade fantasy, Ping’s Mystery in Pixiandria, Ping steps through a portal into a land of legends. But will she find her mother hidden in its mysterious corners…or face dangers she never imagined?
I’m excited to be sharing my books, bookmarks, and notebooks at several Christmas bazaars this holiday season! My husband and I spent some time working out how to arrange several display tables for this weekend’s event. We shifted, nudged, and swapped pieces until everything fit just right. While we worked up a sweat, I thought about how much behind-the-scenes effort goes into things people never see, not just in displaying books, but in writing as well.
When people pick up one of my books, they see the finished product: the cover, the pages, the story. But behind it lie countless hours of research, outlining, writing, revising, editing, formatting, and marketing. And before all that? Years of learning, practicing, and growing into the writer I’ve become.
It reminded me that everything we encounter in life carries an invisible layer of effort.
Take the friendly school bus driver you greeted this morning. How many hours of training did it take to master driving a huge bus and learning her route? What other responsibilities does she have besides keeping it on schedule? Who cleans and maintains that bus so it’s ready each day, and what does that job involve?
Or think about the milk your child poured on their cereal this morning. How many people made that simple moment possible? The farmer, the factory worker, the delivery driver, the grocery clerk. It’s a complete team effort!
Someone’s unseen work touches every part of our day. Maybe this week, pause and notice it. Maybe take a breath and whisper a thank you to the ones who make our world run smoothly, often without recognition.
Here’s a fun game to turn that gratitude into a game with your kids:
Helping children recognize and imagine the effort behind the things they enjoy builds appreciation and empathy. It also sparks curiosity about how things are made and where they come from. It’s a simple, meaningful way to remind them, and us, how much unseen time, skill, and care go into making our world work. The best part? You’ll start noticing the amazing network of people who make our lives comfortable, one small action at a time.
#gratitude #appreciation #kidsactivities #kidsgames
Grandparents are early storytellers, teachers, & cheerleaders in a child’s life. As kids grow into tech-savvy explorers, the roles flip! Suddenly, it’s the grandkids showing you how to swipe, click, & stream. Learning goes both ways, & that’s what makes family magic.
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