Catching
Diamonds

Catching Diamonds is a transformational book and treasure trove of charming ideas and activities that are useful and fun for parents, grandparents, and especially anyone involved with children. It is a gift on the path to engaging with children in delightful and meaningful ways to build their imaginations, joy, creativity, selfreliance, and self-respect. These ideas might also be generative for your own life force. I’ve known Linda for more than 40 years, and she has used and continues to use these ideas in her own life. Intention, light, and laughter have permeated her way of living. We could all benefit from a little more of that in our lives.

When I was a child, I was lucky to have adults in my life, especially my grandmothers, who gave me their precious time and attention. While reading Linda’s beautiful book on fun and easy ways to be fully present with children, I recognized the beautiful gift of their love, time spent with me, and how special I felt when I was with them. I am now a mother myself of a two-year-old, Krew, and I am so happy to have Catching Diamonds as a guide to help me have diverse fun and increased imaginative and playful times with my own child. Reading Catching Diamonds, I am reminded of so many moments shared with my grandmothers—easy moments, everyday moments of magical connections. I hope that Catching Diamonds finds its way into every home so that we can all be reminded of what gifts we can be for each other.

This book is a literary magical mystery tour for engaging children and developing imaginations. And like any good magical mystery tour, one should always have it handy when the impulse to delve into expansive and imaginary realms strikes. Catching Diamonds opens doors we’ve forgotten about and hands us a roadmap of streets that have faded into distant memory. The wonder of life is always there to be seen and felt. Thank goodness we have this book to remind us of that!

In reading Linda Collins’ book, I am frequently reminded of Einstein’s famous quote, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Collins urges us to be fully present in each moment with a child or grandchild, seizing every opportunity to see the unusual, the quirky, and the everyday potential for magic. As all of us, adults and children alike, become daily more dependent on device-based entertainment, this book emerges at the right time with all the makings of a classic. Traveling along this road with the children in your life will inspire curiosity in their young minds and will fire their imaginations—as well as your own.

Catching Diamonds is an absolute gem! Linda Collins beautifully inspires her readers to see, feel, and fully reconnect with the magical world of fairies, elves, imaginary friends, and make-believe. This book took me straight back to my own childhood, reminding me of the pure joy of imagination, enchantment, and play in everyday life. I wish I would have had this book on my bedside as my daughter was growing up! It is a map all grown-ups will delight in as they journey into the hearts and souls of the children in their lives, creating connection and treasured memories that will last a lifetime.

Recently my granddaughter, Cara Rose, and I visited a local nursery to choose flowers for her small garden. Once inside the building, we were drawn to a children’s table. On the tabletop were black and white handouts entitled Magical Creatures Scavenger Hunt. The paper instructed us to find the magical creatures that were protecting the plants in the rooms of the nursery. Cara’s eyes danced with excitement as she picked up the handout and hurried from one row of flowerpots to the next. With boundless enthusiasm and more than a little impatience we began our quest.

I had just finished reading Catching Diamonds by my friend Linda Collins and was excited to share my newfound knowledge with my granddaughter. As this five-year-old began to get a little frustrated, I shared with her that fairies loved to hide and had a tendency to be a little tricky. I explained that we needed to be clever and patient and to use our five senses on this adventure. (This is the kind of wisdom Linda teaches in her book.) But Cara Rose interrupted me and said, “Oh Nana, I know all about fairies.” She lowered her voiced whispered, “If we find the fairies you cannot touch them or they will fly away or worse, lose their fairy dust.” Hurrying into the next room and bending down to look under the rows of tables she proceeded to inform me of the fairy powers. Beginning with “Do you know that fairies…?” Occasionally, we stopped and listened for fairy sounds and with fingers to her lips she tiptoed to investigate. During the next hour she led and I followed through her world of imagination and creativity.

Walking to the car, Cara Rose asked if we could build our own fairy garden at Nan’s house. Without taking a breath, she spoke of a small bridge leading to a little house surrounded by flowers. Engaged in the moment, she spoke of finding objects we might need for the fairies’ home on our summer hikes.

I eagerly await our next journey. Catching Diamonds will have a special place in my library not only as a reference book but also as a reminder that we are children at heart, especially if we open ourselves to wonder and possibility.