Recently, three of those lovely children have gone off to college leaving me with my precious eighth grader, Jono.  I have time. Sort of.  Jono is a wonderfully active, talented, handsome young man with Down Syndrome. We have many activities to help him grow and develop all the gifts that God has given him.  Being Jono’s mom has been the greatest blessing of my life. Not because I love Jono more than my other kids, but because he was one of those gifts that I didn't know I needed. He has changed my life and opened my eyes to things I didn't know or see. While he is out conquering the world, I stay flexible for him by doing something meaningful and fun for myself.  Making jewelry is fun. Substitute teaching and volunteering is meaningful. Well. Substitute teaching is meaningful and kinda hard (be nice to those teachers).

My jewelry is nature-inspired because I love being outside.  I mostly love being outside when it is warm - really warm - my favorite time outside is in July on a beach in Sanibel, Florida.  However, the majority of my time is still in St. Paul, Minnesota. So as they say, I'm "going to bloom where I'm planted" for now.  Making coastal jewelry takes me to the beach while I look outside at the birch trees, hydrangeas and black-eyed Susans in my backyard. Both places are actually great in their polar (pun intended) opposite ways. 

I remember the first time I saw the Atlantic Ocean. I was thirteen and we were driving to Disney World; we stopped in St. Augustine, Florida, for a quick break to see the ocean for the first time.  My Dad had skin that burned after five minutes of direct sunshine so he was not looking to stay long, but I remember running with my clothes on straight into the surf with my brother and sister.  It was so much better than Disney World.  Years later, Craig and I started visiting the Gulf Coast with our children nearly every March.  As soon as the Christmas decorations came down the kids and I made a "Countdown to the Beach" poster and crossed the days off until we put our feet in that soft, warm, shimmery sand.  I love the beach, ocean water, salty air, infinite number of seashells, the blue sky and forever green Palm trees of Florida.  

But, Minnesota is nice too.  All four of our children were born in Minneapolis and we have lived our entire adult lives in St. Paul. Minnesota has sweeping, gorgeous, soul-soothing spots - for me, the North Shore - after the second tunnel on Highway 61 north of Duluth.  I feel like I have crossed into another world once I clear that tunnel.  I love the jagged golden cliffs, the lake — especially when it’s splashing — the Birch trees, the agate-filled beaches, the waterfalls and the crisp, clean air. 

Thus, Birch and Palm Jewelry.