TRU 2011

"Be true to yourself.

Knowing who you are

- that's the foundation for everything great."

Jay Z

GONE 20x16" encaustic

Jay Z is just so cool, I don't even like rap, but he is smooth and I would probably like his music.

That quote really hit me when I heard it. Being TRUE is a process as it takes time to know who we were truly made to be. God has had His hands full with me and I have fought Him most of my life. Being rather proud to call myself a fighter in the past, I now view it as my biggest defeat. I could have surrendered to Him sooner but I know He knew what He was getting into. And anyway this post is not about regret or mistakes, it is about hope. Hope that a new year will bring me closer to the greatness of who God has made me to be. Do I know myself yet? YES!!! I can say at 39 years young, I finally know myself. And what I know about myself is God made me to be uniquely me and He's not finished with me yet. Stubborn and crazy, deep and aloof, creative and quirky, caring and empathic, just me. And if that's good enough for Him then who I am to argue with the Lord of all?

In 2011, I pray that we will all continue to surrender to Him, day by day, moment by moment. I don't know about you but this surrendering thing is a process for me and sometimes I need to take it a minute at a time. But my Father knew that when He made me and today to sit in that love is the foundation of my life.

in 2007 when I started my art business I called it TRU original. T.R.U. means The Real U.

That's our destiny, that's our purpose.

xo

Be safe tonight and enjoy YOURSELF!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

to you and yours!

May your day be filled with the love and peace of Christ our Savior.

Thank you for all the support this year,

as I journeyed out of my comfort zone,

into the world of blogging.

You have made my experience WONDER-FILLED

and I have enjoyed getting to know you.

I look forward to 2011 as we continue to

laugh

and

cry

together

on this journey of

FAITH.

I'm so WEAK!

I'm so weak, I have no control of myself when I make my favorite Christmas treat. I honestly had to have my husband take the last batch of this I made and lock it in a padlocked tote. So weak!! And when I'm feeling entitled to a treat and hit that moment of weakness, I demand that he gives me the key. He lovingly tries to discourage me , just like I instructed, but I just get mad and go from demanding to threatening and he loses the will to fight.

*************

WARNING>>>>>this recipe is dangerous for your health and will power!

Make at you own risk...

Addictive Caramel Corn Puffs

• 2 sticks butter
• 2 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 c. Karo (light)
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 package butter flavored corn puffs

In a large saucepan, bring butter, brown sugar and Karo to a boil for 5 minutes stirring constantly. Stir in vanilla, salt and baking soda. (This will cause the mixture to bubble up.) Pour the corn puffs into a large bowl. Pour the mixture over the corn puffs and stir until well coated. Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour. Turn and stir every 15 minutes. Allow to cool on a wire cooling rack. To store, place in a sealed air tight container.

*I always double this recipe and have to make several batches to share because I'm the Corn Puff pusher and all my friends and family have developed a Caramel Corn Puff habit too!

Enjoy!

Ornament Exchange with Studio JRU

TGIF!! Are you feelin' me?

Looking back on my week, I am almost amazed at what I accomplished (even posted 3 times!). SOOOO, why was it such a long week? It should have flown by! Not complaining, just saying:)

Many of you know our dear and creative friend Jennifer from STUDIO JRU.

She is crazy talented and crazy organized and I well, feel into her trap! But I'm so glad I did because it was pure JOY to make and recieve 10 handmade Christmas ornaments.

Here is what I came up with.

Nothing too complex, just a mini canvas mixed media ornament with a black spiril wire hanger. I used acrylic paint, paper, stamps and of course gel medium.

Fun to make and I hope it was fun to recieve.

AND...drum roll please>>>>>>>Here is what I received!

I know, I know!! So good right?

What fun it was to go out to my mailbox each day and anticipate what would be waiting for me there. Even the kids were excited!

I would totally do this again, as it just reminded me of what a wonderful community we have built together. I had a piece of you, right there in my hands! Every time I log on, I feel like that way. I never knew when I started writing this blog that I would have the pleasure of being welcomed into your homes and hearts. I never knew I would grow to care about you and your struggles and triumphs. But God knew... and I'm so glad he led me to you!

I hope this Christmas Season is leading you to a deeper love of HIM!!

Stop over and visit Jennifer, STUDIO JRU, to see who made what.

THANK YOU for sharing your talent with me!

Is this what Heaven Sounds Like??

My hubby sent this to me this morning and what a blessing it was. As I was listening to it I couldn't help but think 'Is this what Heaven sounds like?' Then the tears started and I sat in JOY and WONDER. This day at the mall must have put a smile on our Holy Father's face. :) May God bless you today!

Big dreams + hope and faith = a wonder-filled life!

The definition of WONDER:

a : a cause of astonishment or admiration : marvel

b : miracle 2: the quality of exciting amazed admiration 3 a : rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one's experience

b : a feeling of doubt or uncertainty

Wonder. What a rich word! Marvel, miracle, astonishment. When was the last time you felt those things? Maybe as a young child the first time you saw a giraffe, or a skyscraper or a rainbow? But as an adult? When do you recall feeling wonderment?

Even the doubt and uncertainty part in this word is rich. Isn't it good to feel doubt and uncertainty sometimes? We don't know the future and life can change in a New York minute. To just allow myself to feel uncertain would be freeing after all we are all uncertain, life is uncertain!

But I have big dreams...so big that I have to push them down. After all who I'm I to dream such dreams? AND life is uncertain. It's hard to plan when you don't know what may be around the next corner. But lately, as God transforms me, refining me with great care and gentleness, He tells me that His dreams for me are BIG! Bigger then I can see or even imagine. And I just wonder...like a child...what He has in store for little ole' me.

Prepare your hearts and repent!! With forgiveness, HE is coming to make your deepest dreams a reality. Dreams that are so BIG that only God himself could fathom them. Not one of us is worthy, but Gods grace and mercy is ENOUGH!

Luke 5

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus,

19 but they couldn't reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” 21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?

23 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?

24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[d] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.

26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

I hope you see amazing things today!