Life in Focus

when you give a kid a camera

                                                               
I think one of the coolest gifts we can give a kid is a camera.  With digital photography, it has become more affordable than ever for children to experiment, play, and shoot as many photos as they want.  The best part?  It is really more than just another electronic gadget to throw in their arsenal of beeping, buzzing, and "must be charged" toys, it is a tool that will enrich their lives in so many ways. 

When you give a kid a camera....
they will express themselves creatively and have fun while doing it
they will slow down, hold still, and observe the world around them
they will begin to "see" what they might normally only "look" at
they will tell their story from their perspective
they will learn how to focus on details and appreciate the little stuff of life
they will go outside to explore and capture their connection with nature
they will find beauty and importance in the routine of the everyday
they will be proud when their images can become framed pieces of art to keep or give as gifts
they will have a tool that can help them grow into adulthood with awareness and gratitude

There is something truly amazing about watching a child explore the world around them with a camera in hand.  It's almost as if they are seeing things for the first time when a leaf, a footprint, or even a bowl of cereal become objects of significance and wonder. Watching my own children enjoy life through a lens has been such a treat and has also reminded me on several occasions to slow down, observe, and appreciate what's right in front of me. That's good stuff!

                              

When you give a kid a camera, you are giving a very special gift.

Where nature meets technology

Eager to usher in spring after what has been a long, cold, and rather gray winter, the kids each picked out something that they wanted to grow indoors while waiting for the sunshine to arrive.  They picked the seeds which included a Dwarf Morning Glory (for the youngest), a simple but beautiful Marigold (for the daughter), and a very spicy Jalapeno pepper (for the teenage boy).They got right to work planting, watering, and nurturing.  Everyday, as soon as they came home from school, they put their packs down and immediately checked to see if that tiny green sprout had magically appeared while they were away.  Honestly, they acted as if their pots full of dirt and seed were pets that needed their love and affection in order to grow.  Then one day, it happened...our Morning Glory started to sprout!  Much excitement rushed through the house as, what seemed like a very long wait, was finally over.  Since then, we continued to check the other pots to see if that day would be THEIR day too.  No luck.  Another week went by and still no pepper or marigold sprouts.  Frustrated with the wait, they started to second guess their planting and nurturing abilities and wonder if they could have possibly done something wrong. 

So...one night as I picked up from the day's activities, I heard the faint hum of music somewhere in the distance.  Knowing that the kids must have left an electronic gadget on, I searched all over to finally find the source of the sound. Imagine my surprise when I found the culprit!           

Mr Jalapeno was jammin' to an eclectic collection of tunes and loving it.  Apparently, my resourceful teenage son decided to take matters into his own hands and give the plant a little musical happiness. After watching the Discovery Channel's "Mythbusters", he learned that plants really LOVE music.  So, he introduced nature to technology and pulled out the old ipod,hooked up the earphones to the pot,and a continuous jam session took place throughout the night!  Much to everyone's surprise, the very next day, all of the plants had grown a lot!

Check it out!  Now that's music appreciation!

To blog or not to blog

This has been the question I have asked myself over and over for a year now.  So, today the answer became.. "To Blog!"  I have benefited in so many ways through the inspiration that other bloggers have so generously shared.  Now, it's my turn to give back.  It is my hope that "Life in Focus" will be a source of sunshine, ideas and inspiration, laughter, and good times for anyone who stops by.  It's about celebrating the day,  living with awareness, taking time to play and create, having a grateful heart, always learning something new, and saving the memories along the way.  I'm ready, excited, and can't wait get started!