it's september 1 . . . do you know what that means?

Yesterday, my Monkey found a dead ant on the floor in our kitchen.  Normally, I would go into major cleaning mode - sweeping, mopping, wiping down every surface in the kitchen - over the site of this dead little invader.  But this time was different . . . this time my Monkey (she's 2 1/2) knelt down on the floor beside the dead ant and said, "We should pray for her."  I knelt down beside her (and the ant), and she began in her 2 1/2 year old sweetness praying, "God, thank you for the ant . . . mumble, mumble, mumble . . . She was a good ant, and I loved her." 

My heart melted.  My little Monkey who is non-stop action, movement, chatter from the moment she wakes up until the moment she goes to bed paused for a moment to notice the tiniest of creatures. 

(Here's a pic of my sweet Monkey.)

How often do I do that?  In the midst of my busy day and all that needs to be done in a day, how often am I attentive enough to notice the small things? 

Where am I going with this?

Well, I feel like my little handmade Christmas goal is one way I've been noticing the small things.  I've been paying wide-eyed attention to what my girls like and what makes them tick so that I know what to make them.  I've been listening closely to other friends and family members as they share the details of their lives that may point to clues about what I should craft for them.  Making someone a gift that is just for them is akin to practicing the art of listening and paying attention to the small things. 

I'm thankful for that reminder from my Monkey. 

So it's the beginning of a new month and that brings me to another gift - another month of paying attention . . . noticing the small things to make something that has been labored over and loved on.

First, here's the second bassinet that I completed a week or so ago. 

I'm still working on the pillow, blanket and a possible diaper bag to go along with each bassinet.  As you know, I'm not one for actually finishing my craft till Christmas in the month I started.  ;)

However, I am going to do something rare . . . I'm going to announce my fourth craft till Christmas on the first day of the month.  Amazing . . . unheard off . . . baffling!  I'm feeling a bit proud of myself for being so on the ball with this. 

Truth is that I've already made my girls WAAAAY more gifts than I usually give them.  Last year we gave each girl two gifts plus stockings.  I have a ton more ideas that I would love to make for them.  However, I have to cut myself off; otherwise, I will never get to gifts for grandmas and grandpas, cousins, etc.  

So I'm moving on to . . . handprints.  I wish I could be more specific, but I don't even know exactly what I'm going to do yet.  However, I do know two things about my fourth craft till Christmas:

1. I will be making gifts for grandparents.
2. It will involve handprints . . . and possibly children's art.

I will also be finishing up a few odds and ends on all the gifts I've made up to this point.

What will you be working on this month?  Only four months left to make a gift or two for your family and friends so . . .

craft on!