Unwrapping The Present, Connecting By Heart
So yesterday, in the midst of hurricane Beryl’s fierce and frightening fury on our town, this great news popped into my inbox …
… that Birdie & Mipps has earned a Mom’s Choice Gold Award.
We are SO very grateful to the committee of decision-makers at MCA for honoring us with this distinction. Happy July, dear reader; thank you for celebrating this milestone marker with us!
Happy July, dear reader.
As I turn another calendar page, I’m thinking about joy, what inspires it in me, and how I work with intention to choose it and hold on to it. So I sat down and scripted a month’s worth of ideas to share. Download it here if you’d like to print a physical copy. Which ones speak to you? Which ones would you be willing to try?
I’m also reflecting a lot about my brother Mipps now that our book is out. I’ve saved a few of his final texts to me; here’s one from about 10 days before he died. Let me give you some context; Mr. Quigley’s Keys had just come out in June and Mipps wanted to help me market the book. He had just given away his last copy, so he texted to ask me if I could get him a few more. I offered to send ten and he replied, “Or 20!” He always found a way to make me giggle.
We were negotiating cost and postage; it’s his last sentence that gives me chills.
We are both doing well for a few farm kids. One of the very last texts I’d ever get from him. In fact, when I flew to his place the day I’d found out he’d suffered a fatal heart attack, I found the books I’d sent just days earlier, one book already given away, and 19 still boxed up, ready to go. He was so generous like that, helping spread the word about Mr. Quigley’s Keys by giving copies to friends of his with young children.
He told me that “it is too good not to share.” Always my biggest fan, that little brother.
And now that those two farm kids star in my new book, Birdie & Mipps, I can only imagine what he’d have to say. If only I could text him one more time, to tell him about the book. I’d thank him for being a jolt of joy for me when life started to overwhelm. I’d listen to his latest break-up story and I’d hang on every word. And I’d tell him that he is loved by so many people. Would he even believe that we stood in that receiving line at his funeral for five hours hugging family and friends and listening to how he was their best friend and what he’d done that touched their hearts and changed their lives for good.
Mipps, you brought so much JOY into our world.
If only I could hear your joyful laugh one more time.
And see that signature smile. I miss you and I love you, kid.
Nicknames can come from anywhere, but how did the word “nip” become Nippers, then Mippers, then Mipps? In the story, Mipps asks Birdie if she knows how he got his nickname.
Meet the real-life Scooter, my pride and joy, whom my sixth-grade self found malnourished and super skinny at a farm about 25 minutes down the road. I talked my Dad into letting me invest in her, a gorgeous Arabian Pinto mix, and I nurtured her back to health on my family farm in the early 1970’s. We went on to breed her twice; her foals Menty and Misty were absolutely gorgeous miracle babies. I love how our artist perfectly portrays this beautiful mare.
The cool part about realistic fiction is that a large part of it is true; this sneak peek into the real part of our story, Birdie & Mipps, and how my little brother, Mark, came by the nickname Mippers, then Mipps, comes from treasured memories that have lasted a lifetime.
I’m so very grateful for the affirming feedback that the book is receiving; check out this five-star review from passionate educator Mrs. Monty in Florida, as seen on Amazon:
Birdie & Mipps is not only a compelling story but also a fantastic resource for classrooms.
I’m so grateful that our story is resonating with educators like Barbie; it’s my hope that it’ll be a springboard for many cool conversations about the importance of names and the respectful use of nicknames and that it’ll serve as a reminder that how we treat each other matters.
Today I’m grateful for my daughter, Kaitlyn, who helped me create this!
Just print it out on an Avery 5395 adhesive label for a fun #B2S activity. For almost a year already, I have been asking students to share their nicknames (if they have one) or a name they wish they could be called, and it has been fascinating to hear the endearing names, their backstories, how they feel about the names, and who gets to call them by that name. It has also led into beautiful conversations about our given names; this beautiful young lady, who goes by Em, was given the name Emaline, a combination of two of her grandmother’s names. Isn’t that so special?
I’ve not met Lisa in person yet, so I’m not sure if she’s got a nickname. Since she’s a PE teacher, my guess is that many people know her by the name Coach, but I do plan to ask her when we finally meet in real life.
As always, we need to keep in mind that nicknames could be a sensitive subject for some, especially if they share an unwanted (or hurtful nickname), so setting the scene with compassion and love will be super important to make it a safe space for this discussion. Recently I found out that my cousin’s son Owen has a nickname – O – that he doesn’t like and he asks that his family not call him that. But it’s so cute, right? But I get it. Our son Joshua did not like one of his nicknames and he let us know that that was NOT his name!
For fun, I’ve been working on this little ditty, to seal the deal after reading the book aloud and allowing for partner time sharing our nicknames.
Keep on dancing, dear reader.
I was so happy to see the Amazon truck carrying this precious cargo.
My dad’s copy of Birdie & Mipps.
His reaction to a pillow hug made from his son’s shirt holding our book was priceless.
First, he laughed.
Then, he caught his breath.
“Now this brings tears,” he admitted freely as he turned the page and saw the picture of his baby boy on the bike in the back of our book. Tears. So. Many. Tears. Tears of grief. Tears of pride. Tears of loss. Tears of gratitude. Tears of joy. Tears of what was. Tears of what isn’t anymore. Tears of missing. So. Many. Tears. Of. Missing.
And yet, we move forward, one breath, one step, one day at a time. For there are babies to be baptized, like Leah, the newest member of our family.
Do we wish Mipps could have been here for this four-generation celebration? No question. But we definitely felt his presence as we continue to grieve with the hope of one day seeing him again. Until then, we work with intention to keep his legacy of love alive by sharing his story and continuing his ministry of compassionate connections, gratitude and generosity.
Thank you, dear reader, for your interest in our book and its backstory. Have you read Birdie & Mipps yet? What was your favorite part?
Today I’m grateful for the readers who took the time to share their reflections at BN.com.
Sharing a story so close to my heart can be daunting and a little nerve-wracking, so these kind words are helping still my soul.
The books are making their mark around our home state just like my Pied Piper brother did. Here, the books are proudly displayed in the Mark W. Natzke lounge at his workplace. They loved him and they miss him so much.
Mipps’ friend Bridget from the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern WI worked with her team to place a copy in each of the family rooms at their house that bear his name. He served on that Board of Directors for 9 years and absolutely LOVED that place as he championed their cause.
It has been a bittersweet few weeks as we put this story about how Mipps got his nickname out into the world, but my heart is happy that his legacy of connection, generosity and love continues. That’s what this beautiful bird symbolizes and that’s why I’m loving the feedback that’s feeding my emotional reserve.
The softcover copy is available at Amazon now.
Yesterday was a special birthday; it would have marked my late brother Mipps turning 56, but it also served as the release of our tribute book, Birdie & Mipps.
I’m so grateful that Road To Awesome would choose to publish our passion project.
I’m also so thankful that the Reporter News deemed our story front page newsworthy!
I’ve been told repeatedly that it’s important to make grief our friend, wear it like a shawl even, so that’s what I tried to do once I came out of that initial fog, embrace grief and give my pain purpose.
I hope you’ll like our story, dear reader; do leave your feedback for our other friends here.
I had the most incredible time on Friday celebrating the 20th-annual Young Authors’ Day at Willow River Elementary in Hudson, WI; what a treat to be invited to be their special guest and get to share our story. I’m so grateful to Sarah and her beautiful school family for the warm welcome and loving kindness throughout the day.
To walk into the library and see our book among these special literary picks?
PRICELESS!
Sometimes it just doesn’t seem real, that I get to travel around helping young writers learn about the publishing process from seedling idea to hardback book. It gives me great joy to answer their questions and sign words of encouragement in my book for them. My favorite new phrase? Sometimes empathy is quiet.
So what’s next? As another school year winds down and we slide into summer, our release of Birdie & Mipps is just around the corner, set for next week, May 23rd, 2024. This Thursday, I’ll be at our Friendswood Library to talk with local young authors about publishing, then we’ll do a “Hello-my-nickname-is” activity before our fabulous librarian Christina and I read the book aloud. I get to play the older sister Birdie, while she tackles the role of a very curious Mipps.
Didn’t she do an incredible job on the invitation?
Oh, and before I head out, a huge shoutout to Julie Garnett for showcasing Mr. Quigley’s Keys on her Musical Storytime Plus. We are super grateful to be a part of her stellar storytelling family.
Do let me know if you’d like to schedule an author visit for your budding writers.
Happy February; today I’m excited about and grateful for my visit to Howard Elementary in WI last week, to follow-up a virtual visit I’d had with these fourth-grade empathy heroes back on Kindness Day in November.
Mrs. VandeHei invited me back for an in-person visit when I got home, so on the Friday of this year’s Great Kindness Challenge, off I went, to meet them in person. Once there, I found a hand-colored sign Welcome Mrs. Gruener hanging on the shelves in their library; this S donned the keys to connection from Mr. Quigley’s Keys!
I introduced the three classes to my puppet Winthrop as we talked about what empathy is; how can they predict how Winthrop is feeling even though they don’t speak bird? Their answers were intuitive and inspiring.
Then, we looked at what it means to switch places with another, step into their story, and walk in their shoes for a spell. We practiced the Empathy Switch on our hands and paired it with this poem: E-M-P-A-T-H-Y; put yourself in my shoes and I think you will find; E-M-P-A-T-H-Y, you’re a superhero of the empathy KIND, adding the hand-jive movements to jazz it up.
Since I’d already read Mr. Quigley’s Keys to them, this visit lent itself to a debut of my new book, Birdie and Mipps! My sister and I acted it out; my Dad played the cameo role of the narrator.
After we read it aloud, one friend had a question that I wasn’t quite sure how to answer: Does our little brother, Mipps, know that I wrote a book about him? Sigh.
We had empaKEY necklaces for all of them, to remind them that they have the power to unlock doors with their kindness, that they surely hold the key to someone’s heart, that they are KEY to their school’s success. Before I laid my head on the pillow that night, this beautiful gift from one of my new fourth-grade friends seered itself on my heart.
What fun to make it a family affair, to get to share my story with Debra and Dad in tow. I’m so grateful for my continued partnership with this gifted teacher and her fourth-grade team!
Before I headed to WI, I led a workshop in TX; click {here] if you want to see those slides.
Now that I’m back in TX, I’m counting the days until I become a Grammy. Check back here for that exciting announcement in just a few weeks.
This morning as I packed for my final visit of 2023, a funny thought occurred to me: What if I changed the word empathy to empaKEY?
And what an incredible day it was. I got to visit with about 700 students at North Pointe Elementary, read them my book and share the quiet echo of Mr. Quigley’s Keys with them. Their librarian, Becky, was an incredible hostess; I’d never have known it was her first author visit in that position had she not told me. Look at the adorable flyer she made.
I even got to sign a couple dozen books and it’s always a gift to run into young people I’ve known since their childhood who are now rockin’ it as passionate educators!
They had vintage keys on a string for all of the kids to take with them, which were a huge hit. It’s so fun for me to see them wearing them around school and hearing them say, “I still have my key!”
I savored every second of blasting off with these Rockets; it was a bit like coming back home since I had the pleasure of being their National Schools of Character site visitor years ago. This NSOC is an incredible place to be and I could feel the fruits of their HEART work as I roamed the halls and shared my story with their superhero students.
I pray this finds you thriving as we head into the most wonderful time of the year. If you are looking for an author visit in 2024, I am scheduling those now. I’m already booked for a return visit to my home state of Wisconsin and I’m so SO eager and blessed.
Huge holiday hugs and heaps of hygge, Barbara
Barbara Gruener 