Hello friends,
Some of you may remember me and SmartSeeds from many years ago.
Back then, I was creating books and resources for children and families, including titles like, Look, I’m a Bird, Big Cats, Let’s Behave, and more. Some of you may have even purchased one of those early books.
What many people did not know is…
I had to put life on hold while caring for one of my children during a serious illness. That meant SmartSeeds went on hold. Life moved forward. I went back to teaching, our family moved more than once, my children grew up, and the work I had started waited quietly in the background.
Now, after all these years, SmartSeeds has found its way back into my life. .
SmartSeeds began with a simple hope: to create meaningful ways for adults and children to connect.
After years back in the classroom, I believe that work is needed more than ever. Parents are busy. Teachers are stretched. Families are tired. Many adults want to spend meaningful time with the children they love, but by the end of the day, planning one more thing can feel impossible.
That is the space I hope SmartSeeds can help fill.
Not with more pressure. Not with complicated projects. Not one more thing to do perfectly.
But, with stories to share, books to discover, nature to explore, recipes to make together, questions to wonder about, and small invitations to connect.
Teaching taught me something I did not fully understand when I started SmartSeeds.
The moments that shape us are rarely the grand ones.
More often, they are the small wonders: a story shared on a couch, a question asked at the dinner table, a child discovering something new, a quiet moment outdoors, a conversation that lingers long after it ends.
Those moments may seem small at the time, but they are often the foundation of connection.
That is where the name Small Wonders comes from.
When many of you first signed up for my mailing list, you may have had young children at home. Like me, you may not be an empty nester. Or perhaps there are grandchildren, nieces, nephews, students, neighbors, or young families in your life who could use a little support.
This new chapter is for them, too.
In the months ahead, I’ll be sharing stories from Alaska and beyond, nature observations, books, recipes, family connection ideas, overlooked history, creative projects, and the small wonders that continue to catch my attention.
If that still sounds like something you would enjoy, I am grateful to have you stay.
If your life has moved in another direction, that is completely fine too. You can unsubscribe at any time, with no hard feelings.
Either way, thank you for being part of the SmartSeeds story, then or now.
Warmly,
Mary (Docter) Garcia
Join Small Wonders
Stories, nature, books, family connection, recipes, overlooked history, and the small things that make life feel full.
No schedule. No noise. Just occasional notes when there’s something worth sharing.
