Growing Crystals & Learning Patience...

It's so funny how {if your looking} nearly everything in life carries it's own lessons. And they're so precious...really. And I don't know, perhaps it's because I'm always looking for blogging material or maybe just because I'm a mom, but the littlest things often turn into these great big "aaaahhh...now I see" moments; moments that I then carry with me and turn to on hard days or in challenging moments.

A couple of weeks ago, I read about Robin making crystallized snow flakes. Yes, it was Martha craft {which are typically just way over my head} but Robin made it look rather attainable. So I purchased my supplies and went to it.

Now, knowing myself and how I get when I'm not quite sure what I'm doing {snippy, impatient, easily flustered}, I decided that I would make the first round of snowflakes without asking the girls to help. Then, once I had a better grasp on the craft, I'd do it again with them. {see, there was another lesson I learned from small moments!} I formed my pipe cleaners, suspended them in their jars, prepared my solution, poured it into the jars, and left them to sit. And then I waited. And waited. And waited.

Now granted, I was doing this in the morning hours. Martha's directions say to let them sit overnight. So I wasn't expecting instant results. But Robin said that her crystals had formed in a couple of hours. So where in the devil were my crystals? I checked them before bed and, still, very little crystal action had happened. What did I do wrong? Why did this work for others and not for me? I followed the directions. I did what I was supposed to be doing. {are you seeing where this fable is going????}

Okay, so I woke up in the middle of the night {with Maya who had an ear infection} and checked on them again. Ooooo...progress. Not great. Not "wow...that's a lot of crystals." But progress, none the less. And seeing how patience was clearly the way to go here, I left them in their solutions for the whole next day and through the next night. Then, the next morning, you can say it with me..."WOW! That's a lot of crystals!"

THE LESSON: Doing all the work, taking all the right steps, and waiting a little bit does not always equal great success; even when such success has happened quickly and easily for others. Equally as true, doing nothing or not taking all the appropriate steps and then waiting a long time will also not equal great success. However, doing the work and taking the proper steps will, in time, yield great results. Perhaps not in rapid speed. Perhaps not even in a more conservative span of time. But, my friends, great crystals are forming. Be patient!