Tag: gratitude

The Keyhole of Hope & Possibilities

Barbara Gruener
Click the image for a download of this key template.

I’m always honored, excited and grateful to discover how schools around the world are using Mr. Quigley’s Keys to inspire and influence; one of the most recent projects shared with me comes from Lincoln Elementary in the state of Washington. Click {here} to watch their beautiful work of HEART unfold. My soul is singing that a seed our story planted has germinated and blossomed into this incredible school-wide project which this family of CAN-DOER Bull Pups is using to help them hurdle over some upcoming challenges and changes.

As I was creating this template, it occurred to me that you could teach your learners about symmetry so that they can create their own keyhole instead of using mine.

Directions: Fold a piece of paper in half lengthwise and draw a half circle and a slanted line; it’ll end up looking a bit like a capital R. Cut along the lines, open it up and find your very own, individualized keyhole template.

Write or illustrate the world you see through the keyhole when we use our keys to connection to encourage, support, love on and serve one another. Or let your artists create the prompt by asking them what they are looking for through their keyhole.

What do YOU see when you peek through the keyhole of hope and possibilities?

¿Puedes Oír Las Llaves?

Barbara Gruener

Can you hear those keys coming closer … in Spanish?! Today I’m overflowing with gratitude and joy to share that Las Llaves del Señor Quigley is on its way to the publisher. HUGE shout-out to my daughter, Kaitlyn, for her design help and emotional support in making this dream a reality. I started the translation back in August, but then my brother Mark passed away and my grief work detoured me.

Then, in December, I heard Diana, the founder of Asher’s Gift Box, on the Kindness Podcast with Nicole J. Phillips, mention that she was looking for picture books in Spanish to include with her boxes, and it was the sign that I needed to get back on track translating KEYS.

We had a few interesting issues arise, like every Spanish-speaking country having its own Sign Language alphabet, so we decided to stick with our ASL and just include the two additional letters from the Sign Language of Spain alphabet.

I’m so thankful to Eugenia, a friend of EduMatch, for helping proof my translation. We are so eager for this opportunity to put our picture book into the hands and onto the hearts of more readers just as the one-year birthday of our book rolls around.

Last week I had the opportunity to make my first in-person author visit to Salem Lutheran in Tomball to read Mr. Quigley’s Keys in English to my young friends at Salem Lutheran in Tomball; what a delight it was to watch (and feel!) the reactions as I read to learners in grades K through 4th. Each of the classes presented me with a creative KEY that they’d made as their entrance ticket to unlock the event.

We sang a song, we shared some sign language words, and I got to act out the story as they listened respectfully with wide-eyed wonder. My favorite was probably hearing a second-grade girl gasp with glee as I turned to the last page and she realized that Jenn was actually Mr. Quigley’s granddaughter. As they left to go back to class, each reader took an antique key as a touchstone to remind them that they are all a KEY part of their school family. What makes YOU a key part of your school’s success?

The following day, the librarian shared this with me; yes, it is well with my soul.

¿Puedes oír el tintineo mágico de esas llaves acercándose?

From Deep In The Heart

Barbara Gruener

Happy holidays from deep in the heart of Texas; while up in WI, I got to sit with Owen and find the keys again. Fun fact: Did you know that there are actually 13 keys hidden in Audrye’s illustrations?

And though 2021 has been a year fraught with deep grief as a result of losing three beloved family members, it has also brought great joy with the release of Mr. Quigley’s Keys. My brother, Mark, was the book’s biggest fan. After his death, one of his neighbors and best friends decided to buy a class set for his sister’s classroom up in Green Bay, which resulted in an online author visit and forged a friendship between WI and TX. Read all about it {here}.

Additionally, I’ve had the blessing of Zoom chatting with a class in OH, at a conference in TX, and with residents of an Assisted Living place in WI this semester. I also traveled to WI in November for a three-hour pre-con {IN-PERSON!} session on Kindness as The REAL Global Warming. It was such a fun morning together with the state’s school counselors and my sister, who was able to join us for the workshop.

Grief and joy can co-exist, and life goes on for those of us left behind. I continue to look for the blessings in the burden, the gifts in the grind. Oh, and focus on gratitude, every single day, because it’ll take you to amazing places, deep in the heart.

Happy New Year, sweet reader. If ever you’d like an author visit or to connect by heart via Zoom, please drop me a message and let’s get it on this year’s calendar.

Be blessed as you bless, Barbara

Mom’s Choice Gold Award Recipient

Barbara Gruener

We are grateful and proud to announce that Mr. Quigley’s Keys has been selected as a Mom’s Choice Gold Award Recipient. Such exciting news for us!

I’ve gone back to school now, but I’ve also been busily sharing our story’s backstory. In case you missed it, I was blessed to join Maria Dismondy on her podcast last week. She is such a beautiful ray of sunshine in our world; I hope you’ll be able to tune in and maybe even leave her a review.

I’m also super happy with how my classroom came together; here’s an SEL display designed to uplift, encourage and support, in both languages, of course.

And our Peace Corner is ready for when my learners need to PAZ (see what I did there?). I’m not certain how much my 8th-grade amigos will use this area, but it’s complete with breathing exercises, fidgets, essential oil options and more for if and when they want to press PAZ.

Happy new {school} year; I have a feeling that the BEST is yet to come!

Mr. Quigley’s Keys On The Radio

Barbara Gruener

Feeling so SO grateful to The Lisa Show at BYU Radio for giving me some air time to share the story behind our story. What a joy it was to talk about our journey from a seed sown to the published product.

Readers of all ages are enjoying lap-top time with Mr. Quigley’s Keys. This toddler in WI loved searching for the camouflaged keys with my beautiful sister, Debra. Aren’t they adorable?

And I’m super excited for this week’s event at the Friendswood Library; if you’re in the area, join us this Thursday at 3 pm CST.

Finally, a can-doer quote I recently came across; happy August.