My TRU LiFe

Wishing You and Yours a Blessed Christmas

2011-12-24T12:04:00.000-05:00

TWO MONTHS!!! I knew it had been a long time....but TWO MONTHS!? Thank you for your unending patience with me. I wish i could be that patient with me:)

Lot's of exciting things going on here! Some things feel like more than i can handle at times, but i realize that makes me lean on HIM more.

I look forward to catching up with you over Christmas break, including my long overdue lesson on Inked Tiles, i have not forgotten!! But had to take this opportunity...in the midst of unwrapped gifts, uncooked food, and my unclean house, to wish you and your families a Blessed Merry Christmas. What a JOY to walk away from the organized chaos and sit with you for a bit.

Your support, prayers, and visits were a true Blessing to me in 2011 and i look forward to leaning on you and offering all the same love and prayers in 2012.

May we always remember that HE

is the reason for the season!

You're on my list!

2011-09-20T09:51:00.002-04:00

If your a Seinfeld fan, which I am, you may recall the episode when Jerry and Elaine make rental car reservations. When they arrived at the ticket counter the attendant tells them that they didn't hold their reservation. Jerry begins the process of explaining to the counter attendant the meaning of a reservation.

Watch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7uvttu8ct0&feature=player_embedded

I think this is a great example of customer service these days, but only Jerry makes it funny.

I also think this is sometimes a good example of prayer life.

Do you ever ask someone to pray for you?

Do people ask you to pray for them?

What an honor to pray for someone and have someone pray for you!! I feel like it is really the most powerful thing we can do for someone. And to ask someone to pray for you puts one in an amazing place of humility and according to Scripture...God loves a humble heart!!

I have to be honest when i tell you...I'm finally starting to get this. Used to be when someone asked me to pray for them, i would say i would but quickly i would forget them when it came to prayer time. I used to think that to actually ask someone to pray for me would be a sign of weakness, you know...I've got it covered don't bother...even when i needed the prayer badly.

I have actually had someone say to me "don't pray for me, pray for yourself!" after telling them i would pray for them. Maybe they sensed it was just something i was just giving lip service to.

Just like the lady at the ticket counter! Anyone can just say they will pray!

God has really convicted me on this. After all, when you say your gonna pray for someone they are taking you at your word...that you're going to pray for them. And how prideful of me to not want or ask for prayer. What a gift...it is a prayer!! I need prayer (feel free to pray for me anytime friends)!

1 Thessalonians 1:2-5

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; 5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

One thing that has helped me to "keep the reservation" is to make a prayer list. It is very special to me to write someones name on that list. You're on my list! It helps to keep me focused, really it is my prayer to-do list:)

Do you have a prayer list?
If so...could you add me to it?!

Just a reminder that i will be back soon (hopefully Friday) to post about the Alcohol Inked Tiles.

I think you will so enjoy these inks!!

Tease on Tiles and 'doing what you love'

2011-09-12T08:06:00.001-04:00

My very favorite thing about being an artist is just playing!! When i first began selling my art 4 years ago, I totally didn't get that...to play. I was trying to create a product and forgot that i was suppose to put my heart in the work i was doing. It really showed in my art, the lack of passion, and I quickly had to let go and learn to play again. i was suppose to just be me and let the art create itself.

That is why i love mixed media so much...it allows me to express myself in ways i can't find using just one medium or technique. That's pretty much how i am in life...gotta have 10 balls in the air, 6 lines and the water, and 4 pots on the stove. I'm just crazy like that:)

So i love this new technique i have been working with using alcohol inks and ceramic tiles.

I simply couldn't take a picture that would do these tiles justice! The colors and shine are just stunning. If you have worked with alcohol inks you know how rich and vibrant the colors are, that's why i love using them!

These tiles were so much fun and they very much had a life of there own. I'm offering a workshop on this process next Thursday (you can find more information in my workshop page). Friday, the 23rd i'm gonna come back and share the tutorial on how you can make these at home. Sorry to be such a tease but

I'd love you to stop back by and experience this super duper fun process with me.

Until then...

I'm excited to share "my walk" on a truly inspiring blog called Do What you Love for Life hosted by Beth Nicholls. Here is her facebook page too. Beth has a way of supporting women in who they are while inspiring others through her own walk.

Here's a little sample ...
"In 2007 I was happy. But not the kind of happy that fills you up. I was satisfied but still hungry. I think that was the first step for me in doing what I love, realizing I wasn’t filled up and feeling like I did deserved to be filled up."

Please stop over and visit Beth and read more on the journey's of people who are doing what they love for life!

Floods and Fires...

2011-09-09T09:11:00.000-04:00

Through floods and fires...He has you right where you need to be.
Through sickness and abandonment...He's got that too.
Loss, pain, and sacrifice...Jesus knows every bit of how that feels.
It is the test of the true witness that can stand the trials of life and still love our Father...still praise and trust Him.

Thank you to all the Godly women who have been sharing their trials with such great love and gratitude.
You are a reflection of Jesus to the world. May God use this trial to bring you closer to His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

Welcome Change

2011-08-31T09:35:00.001-04:00

Change, transformation, conversion, shift, turn-over, revolution, turn....

No matter how you say it or when it happens...it is simply a part of life.

AND I LOVE IT!!

As the leaves start to turn the rich colors of red and yellow i feel excitement. I feel prepared for the changes that God is handing me and my family these days. Trust me, I'm never prepared! I'm more of a roll with the punches kind of girl so this is very uncharted territory.

Lately I have this spirit of courage and TRUST.

I feel like God has me at the brink of something great and I'm ready to ~~step~~ dive off the edge into the unknown.

Feeling so used up and tired earlier this month really turned out to be a Blessing. It allowed me the time to rest and renew my spirit in HIM so that i could feel the fullness and the beauty of the path unfolding before me.

Are you are experiencing a beautiful transformation in your lives or are you in the 'Be still and know that I am God' mode?

Either way, each and everyone of us deserves to be the best we can be!

I believe in you!!
He believes in you!!

“The key to change... is to let go of fear.”

Rosanne Cash

The Indiana State Fair Tragedy and Memories

2011-08-18T16:27:00.000-04:00

It has taken me two whole days to put this post together as I have gone back and forth about should i publish this or not. Please understand that I have chosen to focus on the wonderful family times to be had at the fair due to all the controversy about who is to blame for the tragedy that took place on Aug.13th. After much prayer i feel it would honor the victims more to focus on love rather than blame. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

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

Indiana State Fair Memories

Lot's and Lot's to do at the Indiana State Fair...

Can't forget the Midway rides!

The TREATS!!

The wonderful people who work at the State Fair year after year...

The familiar and welcoming sights that let you know you are at the Indiana State Fair.

And of course the music and special events...

Mercy Me and Third Day Aug. 10th 2011...I'm becoming a Gomer:)

+++++++++

As I'm sure many of you have recently seen on the news, a terrible tragedy stuck my Indianapolis In. community this weekend. 5 people lost their lives and, as of this morning, 18 people still remain in the hospital, many in critical condition.

These are the photos i took of the memorial, outside the collapsed Grandstand 2 days after the accident.

Please lift up Indiana in prayer, especially praying for the victims who lost their lives on Aug.13th, the injured, the families of the victims, the people who rushed to aid those hurt during the event, those that witnessed first hand the accident and the people who work for the Indiana State Fair in all capacities.

May God grant them all healing, grace, and forgiveness.

****Please be aware that the footage below is disturbing and shows the collapse of the Grandstand stage on Aug. 13th 2011.

Life is short...God be with us all.

Renewed by TRUST & Collaborating ART

2011-08-10T09:36:00.001-04:00

Feeling so much better these last few weeks as I've taken time to really fill up again. Crazy how quickly life can take a toll on our spirit. I really just needed to get out of myself for a bit and focus on my Blessings. God has me in some challenging places right now and I have to lean on Him and TRUST. Like i've said before, this is a process for me and trust doesn't come easy. It's hard work emotionally and spiritually. But it's good work and it's good for me to be tired from it:) The Lord continues to humble me and put me in places where I have to trust Him. I need you Lord and i thank you for your faithfulness.

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A few weeks back I held a workshop called "Pass Me the Canvas". I had this on my schedule for 6 months and had been anxiously awaiting the nights that 7 brave artist would spend two evenings playing the artistic version of musical chairs. This creative exercise allowed each artist to tap into the deepest part of their creative spirit and challenge themselves to just TRUST the artist within.

I began the workshop with a relaxing meditation, full of positive affirmations, that would help to free us from any strongholds and lies we may listen to.

Here is part of the meditation...

"When we pull back the layers of our TRUE SELF and bring LIGHT into DARK, hidden places inside us, then we will begin to know who we really are inside.

Expose the gentle child inside yourself…the trusting, vulnerable child.

Share her tonight with us."

After the meditation i had artist choose a pattern, color palette, and inspirational word to guide the collaboration of each artist. I also had artist write out nouns that they thought would inspire the progression of their artwork. Of course I chose nouns like bird, circles, flower, and nature. I chose my inspirational word by closing my eyes and TRUSTING God to pick for me...He picked the word Beauty .

Next, i asked each artist to write out their fear about coming to the workshop and this took an additional dose of humility.

Then we began the music and spent the first evening building our background by using mixed media supplies and lots of TRUST. We passed the canvas every 35 minutes for a total of 3 rotations.

Here is some of the amazing backgrounds creating the first night...

The next night we passed the canvas for three,15 minute rotations to complete the circle of artist. This allowed each artist to work on every canvas.

The backgrounds were complete and each canvas had a ton of depth and color.

For the final hour of the workshop the artwork found it's way home to it's inspiration and true owner. Artist then added the final touches to their collaborated art. I assisted artist in their final hour so i haven't finished my piece yet but will post it as soon as it is done.

Here are some of of the finished pieces...

I think we were all surprised and pleased with the final outcome of our artwork. It was a journey as we stepped out of our comfort zone; it took a lot of TRUST. I was inspired by the strength of the other artist who attended the workshop. Thank you BRAVE GIRLS!!

We all experienced humility, creativity, and TRUST and the workshop turned out to be more than i could have ever dreamed.

Gotta be a lesson for me somewhere in that!

All Puckered OUT!

2011-07-27T12:59:00.001-04:00

I just love this picture!!

This week, as we near the end of summer, i find myself feeling like this little guy. Just plain tired, all puckered out! Writing this, admitting that i'm tired, causes me to feel a little embarrassed. WHY?! Are we not allowed to feel tired and want rest? My Mom and Grandma are always telling me to slow down, that I take on too much. Truly I enjoy biting off more then i can chew but sometimes I feel disappointed when i don't accomplish all i set out to do.

Do you ever feel like this?

In February of this year, I turned 40. My husband planned a amazing surprise party and my mom, knowing i love birds, made me this BIRTHDAY TREE.

She had all the special people that came to the party, sign the back of these beautiful birds she made. I have placed the tree right nest to my bedside and it is a great daily reminder to me of where i've been and where i want to go.

As I read the words of encouragement and love from my friends and family, it renews my spirit.

I do this often.

I have also place name tags which I have recieved from various events i have attended this year on the tree.

As i look again at the sweet little bird in the nest, i am reminded that I'm growing. I'm not where i was last year or even yesterday. I am not stuck or bored and believe me, i know what that feels like.

I'm growing and this takes hard work sometimes.

I'm gonna take it easy this week...on myself and those i love.

Join me?

Repuposed ART

2011-07-18T13:22:00.001-04:00

My very favorite thing about art and being an artist is the transformation of things. It is in the creating!
It can be the clump of clay that gets made into a beautiful piece of pottery, the blank canvas that is transformed into a classic masterpiece or a million pieces or tiny glass blown in to a colorful vase.

It truly is the gift of art that inspires growth and change in so many ways.

I love taking something that may be discarded and giving it new life. I get this from my mom, also an artist, who used to make me hunt with her for flattened pop cans so she could paint different faces or animals on them. She would get inspired by the shape the old, rusty, flattened tin can would make and transform them into little pieces of art. It was very cool and a very 70's kind of thing to do.

For a few years now i have been painting on cabinet door fronts.

I really love taking the door and turning it into art! I also enjoy working on the versatile hard wood surface. I can paint acrylics directly on the door front, like what you see above, or i can use mixed media layers. I can even pound nails into the piece if i want. Sometimes you just wanna hit something:)

Recently I held a workshop on repurposed assemblage art working on a cabinet door front. The idea was to take personal items from home and assemble them onto the door using mixed media techniques. It was awesome to see old cabinet doors turn into these amazing pieces of art...

This artist created a tribute to Grandma and Grandpa

This artist gave healing to a broken heart

this piece was made for a first grandbaby

Commemorating Grandma, this artist used her Grandmother's earring collection!

This artist used lot's of color and texture, awesome

Who wouldn't want this in a beach themed room or vacation home?

An old broken doll from childhhood gives this artist her inspiration

All the doors were unique and inspiring as these women opened themselves up to the world of assemblage and repurposed art for the very first time. Two sweet artist had never even done mixed media, they totally blew us all away with thei work!

As women i think we all enjoy making things new and fresh. It's just in us to make things pretty! We redecorate, cook and bake, sew, we even spend time making ourselves pretty.

What do you REPURPOSE? I would love to know!

Happiness

2011-07-12T19:28:00.002-04:00

I really want to like this quote, in fact i want to love it, maybe even live it! But, as I really let it sink in, it falls in the same place as "ignorance is bliss" and "what you don't know won't hurt you" and i'm not sure i like where that path is going.

Some things, i feel i need to go deep with. I need to set boundaries in my life and have the integrity and self control to live within these boundaries. I think that takes wisdom and maturity. I think that takes time.

I can have knowledge and still not be wise.

Wisdom is different than knowledge.

According to our dear friend WEBSTER wisdom means....

1.The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise

2.The soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of such

experience, knowledge, and good judgment

3.The body of knowledge and principles that develops within a specified society or period

I like number two. I like the word soundness which could also mean faith or peace.

I can't help but think about Galatians 5:22-23 in the bible.... But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Where is the word HAPPINESS? Actually the Bible doesn't use the word HAPPINESS often and when it does it usually refers to serving others to give them happiness, not gain it for ourself.

So back to the question? Is it better to be HAPPY or WISE? Can we both both??

I would love to know your thoughts on this.

As usual, i didn't intend to get so deep!

Linking up with the sisters today...

We have a winner!

2011-07-01T11:28:00.006-04:00

WE HAVE A WINNER!!
That was quick and so much fun! I couldn't be more thrilled that the sweetest lady and my bloggy friend won...SHUG http://shug-stepsoffaith.blogspot.com/ ! Stop over to visit her and she will quickly touch your heart too, so sweet!
We did go on vacation to the beautiful SMOKEY MOUNTAINS in Gatlinburg Tn. We love it there and my sister in law gave us the use of her time share for Christmas! Best present eveh!!

One last shot of our trip, hiking on the first day...thought this would have given our location away... Thanks to everyone who played along. It is such a Blessing to have a give-away and i will be doing that again for sure!

I wish everyone a safe, Blessed 4th of July celebration!
Happy Birthday America and may God Bless our troops!

guess and get give-away

2011-06-28T10:48:00.009-04:00

Thanks for playing along on my give-away! I have never done a give-away before and it is fun!! It's a little tricky for me to pick out the picture clues...wanna make them easier as we go along but not completely give away the location. That wouldn't be any fun!

Here's what you can win...

8x10" original mixed media art that was inspired by my kids and Psalm 17:8 ...

"Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wing"

Here are the picture clues...

Here deary, deary, deary.
Apparently, wild dear are super friendly here!

One of the many beautiful views.

Think you know where we went for summer vacation??
Take a guess in the comment section and the first one that guesses the location, wins! Yeah! I am having way too much fun with this:)

xo, Jill

Guess and Give Away

2011-06-24T14:39:00.014-04:00

8x10" mixed media

Super excited (and kinda nervous) to give away this TRUoriginal!

This original piece of artwork was inspired by my kids and Psalms 17:8,
"Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of the wings"

Followers, all you have to do to win is take a look at the photos and try and guess where my family and I went for our summer vacation. I will post 2 photos per post till we have a winner:)

Just out and about.

These were in bloom.

Have fun and thanks for playin:) Linking up up with Jennifer at STUDIO JRU....http://studiojru.com/blog/.

The Day of Forgiveness

2011-06-19T17:57:00.016-04:00

My Dad and Daughter

As a little girl I was never close with my earthly Father. My parents divorced when I was 2 and i simply didn't know the man I called Dad. Unfortunately I spent many years bound in resentment and bitterness over this. I felt unloveable and my bad choices through my teens and early twenties just added fuel to that fire. I blamed way too much on a man who I believe today did the best he could to love me. Today holds a dear place in my heart for so many reasons, it marks the one year anniversary of the day I forgave my Dad. Sitting in church a year ago today, God's mercy washed over my heart and He gave me His eyes to see my Dad as He does and here's how i see my Dad today...

generous, funny, down to earth, a great cook, wonderful smile, creative, broken, hurting, and loves me and my family so dearly.

Last week I recieved a letter from my Dad saying all the words I had wished for so long he would say to me, almost a year to the date of my forgiving him. The amazing thing about that letter is I didn't feel how I thought I would feel about recieving it. I thought it would make me feel some how justified in my pain for all those years, kinda like I deserved to feel like that...bitter and angry. But it didn't make me feel deserving at all, it made me feel just the opposite, it made me feel unworthy of God's mercy and it made me feel sad for my Dad not having a friendship with Jesus. God calls us all to be OAKS OF RIGHTOUSNESS, A SPLENDER FOR HIS GLORY and I knew in my unforgiveness i had not been that for God. He asks us to forgive our enemies and here I held onto unforgiveness like a security blanket.

As I sat in church today, filled with gratitude, all I could think of was my Dad and just how much God loves us all. I thought about how God has filled me up so completely that, in Him, I have been made new and His mercy gives me beauty for my ashes. And I thought about God's generosity to me, giving me my Husband, my Priest, and my Father in Law. I no longer have an absent dad...I have FIVE FATHERS! God is Good!

My Husband, my Best Friend

The man who taught me love, patience, and trust. You are my Heaven on Earth! I admire, respect, and adore you and the kind Father you are to our babies. I have learned so much from you, love of my life. xo

I'm always amazed at what comes out of me on this little blog of mine. I never mean to go deep yet somehow I always end up here. My prayer for you, if you are holding onto unforgivness in any way, is that you would lay it at the feet of Jesus. That He would do for you what He did for me.... give you His eyes so that you could see your enemy that way God does....broken.

"Unforgiveness takes delight in our fear, as it binds our wings and pushes us off the cliff of dispair."

Come back this week to play "Guess Where", my silly version of Where's Waldo and win a fun prize:)

Linking up with Jen and my sisters at http://findingheaventoday.blogspot.com/, stop on over.

Love Song - Adele

2011-06-10T21:07:00.003-04:00

Close your eyes....breath deep....look into the eyes of your Lord as He reaches His hand out to you...take it.

whenever i'm alone with you
you make me feel like i am home again
whenever i'm alone with you
you make me feel like i am whole again
whenever i'm alone with you
you make me feel like i am young again
whenever i'm alone with you
you make me feel like i am fun again
however far away
i will always love you
however long i stay
i will always love you
whatever words i say
i will always love you
i will always love you
whenever i'm alone with you
you make me feel like i am free again
whenever i'm alone with you
you make me feel like i am clean again
however far away
i will always love you
however long i stay
i will always love you
whatever words i say
i will always love you
i will always love you
lyrics by The Cure. (fitting because yes He is...The Cure:)

Isaiah 61:1-3
"The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion -- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory."

Oh how He loves us!

Where's Waldo...

2011-06-08T14:33:00.001-04:00

If you have tween kids you probably remember the WHERE'S WALDO books. Loved them as I sat with the kids and we all tried to be the first one to find the goofy looking Waldo character. Well....that's kinds been my life lately! Friends keep asking WHERE'S JILL? Blog buddies check in periodically to see if I'm ok and most of the phone messages from family members begin something like this, "I know you've been busy lately but when you get a chance can you give me a quick call?" That's the worst :( First let me say THANK YOU for the "just checking on you" emails I received. It still amazes me that God has put you in my life. It amazes me that you would even care what a mess like me would have to say over on this little ole' blog of mine. It has been a truly Blessed month for me and my family, full of ups and downs. The ups~

Co-chairing my church's SPRING GALA with my hubby. Lot's of hard work but we raised some much needed funds with a great community of people. God is trying so hard to make us a great team....we're gettin there .

I was invited to attend the Surtex show in NYC by a friend who is a licensed artist. I learned SO much about the licensing art world. Fair to say the good, the bad, and the ugly! Not sure if this is my path but I'm open to the possibilities. NYC was very cool to visit for the first time as an adult.

these guys were having too much fun!

catwalk at the Surtex show
and Time Square
and Central Park

*************************Blessed to witness many Baptisms this last month, 8 to be exact! Not too sure why God allowed me to be at the right place at the right time but sure does put life into perspective when you watch so many come to Jesus through this sacrament. Holy WOW!

Attended Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral while in NYC

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The ending of many activities for the kids...soccer, acting class that ended with a play, spring musical and of course the end of a school year!

Yeeha! Welcome Summer:)
My sweet kiddos..Lauren is the mad scientist, Cooper is the goalie!

An exciting opportunity to wholesale with my very favorite local boutique. They have several locations and tons of foot traffic. I have been biding my time and waiting til the right opportunity came up to begin wholesaling...could this be it? I'll keep you posted.

TRU workshops and ATC swaps! I am so thrilled that my workshops have blossomed into a place of creative support and love. It has taken me 2 years to finally see the fruits of this journey and God has been more than faithful to me. I am inspired by the women who join me on this journey and am in awe of the art they are creating . ********* TRUly inspiring women!

Putting my health on the list again, I'm exercising everyday, taking my vitamins, drinking more water, and enjoying whole, clean foods. Lost 10 Lbs! Not brave enough to post a picture here.
Getting my house organized. I know, i've been talking about doing this forever and i'm finally working it out! Again, not brave enough to post a picture...not of my messy closets!

The downs~ Missed my nephews 1st Communion because of my trip to Surtex. Computer officially crashed! This was more than a downer! Just yesterday we finally got all my contacts and documents loaded and this has been a day to day process. This was a very difficult thing to give to God as a real part of my life lies in this little laptop. My work, my photographs, and my contacts all sat untouched for weeks at a time as we struggled to find a solution to my computer problem. Finally the big black screen of nothing. Had to bite the bullet and just get a new machine, my mother board had died. I do not wish that on my worst enemy so as a friend my only advice is...shut your computer completely down each night.
Contracted a terrible rash from NYC?? Still not sure what it was but very itchy and left welts on me. Not sure if it was bedbugs...yuck! All gone now, no sign of critters.

My hubby and I finished up our first year as Youth Group leaders at our church...oh wait, that goes in the UPS section. We will miss our teens this summer!

Missed my sisters birthday but going out tonight to finally celebrate.

Missed some of my BFFs...finally catching up on walks, dinners, and phone convos.

Missed you, my bloggy friends. That's it!! We are leaving for vacation next week and I will post some pictures while we're there. Leave a comment to see if you know the location from my pictures, kinda like a virtual Where's Waldo, and you could be the winner of a special give-away. Look for more details to come. I have not given up on the Choosing Hope series i have planned to post, so I hope you haven't either. I will begin that in June, God willing (i'm learning to say that more!). xo jill

GOOD Friday

2011-04-22T10:24:00.000-04:00

So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross Himself, He went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.

There they crucified him, and with two others, one on either side,

with Jesus in the middle.

John 19:16-18

_____________________

Oh Jesus,

For the sake of your sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

For all those who are struggling, hurting, or battling something, let them surrender to your Holy will. Help them to know that they are being brought closer to you and your suffering on the cross. Your way is perfection, your love is perfection. As we arrive at our destination, the foot of the cross, let us look up and be grateful for your sacrifice. Help us to submerge ourselves in your Holy perfect Love, May we share your Name with all that we encounter.

In His name,

Amen

Holy Week...5 days till Easter

2011-04-19T10:26:00.000-04:00

HOLY WEEK

Peter said to Him,

"Master, why can I not follow you now?

I will lay down my life for you."

Jesus answered,

"Will you lay down your life for me?

Amen, Amen, I say to you,

the cock will not crow before you deny me three times."

John 13:37-38

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Reading the Holy Scripture this morning, i was amazed how God was speaking to me. Struggling this last month to get these prayers posted has been very humbling for me. Yes, my computer had a most nasty virus, and yes i waited too long to take it in to be fixed, which made it even worse off. But the real YES and the truth of the matter is I just didn't try hard enough. Then i just felt shame for not doing for God (and you all) what I said and committed to doing...just like Peter. I got my computer back last Thursday and here I am Tuesday with a post!WHY? I can only say that my complacency, guilt, and busyness kept me from praying with you. I have no excuse but that. And as much as I have let myself down and some of you down ( I lost several followers), the fact of the matter is I let God down because this was part of my Lenten promise to Him. Simply put, I told Him I would do it and I didn't.

So what now??

I get back up, I confess and ask forgiveness, and I refuse to let satan win!

Like I stated in a previous post, I believe it is no coincidence that my computer broke within a week of starting this series. The problem is that i became like Peter...believing I would stop at nothing to fulfill my promise, only to quickly give up when it became too hard.

It shows me the depth of God's love for me that He would take my sin by giving up on Him and this promise I made, and He would turn it around to Glorify Himself through this Holy Scripture.

Oh how He loves us....

Lover of my soul,

Forgive me when I deny you. Here I humbly sit, feeling the weight of your cross, my sin.

THANK YOU for allowing me to feel so deeply just a tiny glimpse of your sacrifice.

As we come closer to the foot of the cross to watch you suffer a most agonizing death, help us to love like you love Jesus. Help us to dig in during these final days of the journey and carry the cross with you Lord. Help us to be like Veronica, wiping the blood from Your precious face with no regard for ourselves.

We praise You, we love You, we trust You.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen

Day 25 of Lent

2011-04-02T08:48:00.000-04:00

Prayers and Scripture for Lent

Day 25

He (Jesus) then spoke this parable addressed to those who believed in their own self-righteousness while holding everyone else in contempt.

Luke 18:9

______________________

Holy Father,

Sometimes when we are trying so hard to do what is right, we forget how lost we once were. Being on Your righteous path does not make us righteous, it is Your law that is righteous. Let us not forget how quickly we can fall. Yet even in our fall, when we humble ourselves to you, you are there to pick us up again and again.

Praise Your unending mercy!

In the name of Jesus,

Amen

Day 23 of Lent

2011-03-31T21:18:00.000-04:00

Prayers and Scripture of Lent

Day 23

"They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs,

not their faces, to me."

Jeremiah 7:24

________________________

Forgiving God,

As so many turn their backs on you, we beg you in all your mercy to not turn your back on us.

As we look at another person in judgement and frustration, we beg you in all your glory to spare us the judgement we deserve.

Friend of my soul, quench the thirsty parts of me with your grace.

Let our hearts not harden to sin, but rejoice always in your abundant love.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen

Day 22 of Lent

2011-03-30T20:48:00.000-04:00

Sorry about the absence...i'm really struggling with my computer not working and hubby has been out of town for 2 weeks so I haven't been able to sneak onto his. Thank you for bearing with me. You have been on my mind and in my prayers. I will continue to do the best I can to get these posts off, oh how I love to pray with you:) Unfortunately I am going to delay the Choose Hope series until after my computer comes home from the doctor, with a clean bill of health. It is just too hard to post when I'm getting booted off every 4 minutes!! Again, thank you for your patience with me. God Bless you!

Prayers and Scripture for Lent

Day 22

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.

I have not come to abolish (them) but to fulfill (them)."

Matt 5:17

___________________

Oh my Jesus,

Fulfill in us a yearning to be your instruments, your hands, your feet. Help us to see others with your eyes. Help transform our hearts to love like you do.

May we lift up our lives to you and fulfill our destiny.

In Your name,

Amen

Day 17 of Lent...My Baby's Birthday!

2011-03-25T10:17:00.001-04:00

Prayers and Scripture for Lent

The Annunciation of the Lord

Day 17

And Mary said,

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done according to your Word",

and the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:38

________________________

Lord; our Father,

On this Holy day of Your Annunciation, when Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary, let us give you praise. You chose the lowly Virgin to bare your Son Jesus and she did so with complete TRUST. Never once did Mary doubt You, though she must have been scared. Help us to TRUST you like Your Mother did!

Help us to look into the hurt faces of our world and the hurt places in our heart and TRUST You with it.

Your yoke is easy, burden light...let us sit in that promise with complete TRUST.

In the name of our Savior,

Amen

***

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY COOPER

Cooper Bright light and big surprise Leader Wise Kind and caring...even in the little ways Gentle Brave Sensitive and Empathetic Adventuresome Clever and hysterical My Baby! When you came into our lives 10 years ago, you were a surprise and I can't say i was fully equipped to deal with a new baby and a 14 month old. I was a mess. But, God knew you already and how much our family needed you. Needed your loyal faithfulness and gentle leadership. You humor and wit. You completed us. I am so proud to be your mommy and I truly admire you. I love you! Mom xoxoxox

Day 15 of Lent

2011-03-23T09:43:00.000-04:00

Prayers and Scripture for Lent

Day 15

"It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

Matt 20:26-27

_________________

Maker of the Beginning and End,

The world teaches us the contradiction of Your Perfect Law and sometimes it's hard.

Help us today to have the Grace to sit in Your way. To be a servant and not be served. To remember in your eyes that last is always first.

To have humility.

In His name,

Amen

13 Day of Lent

2011-03-21T14:22:00.000-04:00

Prayers and Scripture for Lent

Day 13

Jesus said to His disciples

"Be merciful, just as you Father is merciful"

Luke 6:36

___________________

Dear Merciful Father,

Your mercy is more vast than the ocean! More plentiful than every grain of sand! Always ready to forgive, no matter the depth of the fall. You paid the ultimate price in your mercy, by giving us your Son Jesus. Help us to honor you and your Sacrifice by forgiving others when they hurt us. Not only forgiving them, but bringing them to you love and in prayer.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen

***

Thanks for all the prayers and support, as I went off on my quiet time with Christ.

They worked!

The theme of the retreat was AMAZING LOVE...it sure is. It was a wonderful experience and God showered me with Love and Blessings.

I'm grateful that God worked through my friend to get me there. I'm grateful too for the women i shared this time with. I was welcomed home with hugs and kisses and was so happy to know my family had a great weekend too.

If any of you have been thinking about attending a retreat, of any kind, I would highly encourage you to try one. They refresh the soul and clear out the cobwebs.

God is good....all the time!

Days 9, 10, 11, and 12 of Lent

2011-03-17T11:50:00.000-04:00

I am posting the readings for the next 4 days because I will be out of town on a Catholic Women's Retreat. The cool thing about this retreat is phones, tv, radio, computers, electronics are NOT allowed. I'm excited and will spend most of my weekend working on a lost art...

the art of listening.

This is a challenge for me sometimes, ok- all the time, so listening to God and the other women is going to be my focus for this retreat.

Please pray that I can keep my mouth shut and my heart and ears open for the next 4 days!

I apologise for not stopping in to visit anyone this last week, miss you. My computer is still causing me some trouble so until that is resolved, i'm unable to get on-line for more than 5 minutes at a time. Thank goodness for AUTO SAVE or these posts would be impossible.

God is good!

Prayers and Scripture for LENT

Day 9

"Ask and you shall receive.

Seek, and you will find.

Knock and it will be opened to you."

Matt 7:7

_______________________

Dear Father,

Your faithfulness and love are unending. Like a tiny infant, you give us all we need. You know our hearts perfectly and you desire for us the dreams you placed in our hearts. Help us to walk confidently with you today, not doubting...only trusting your perfect love.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen

Day 10

"If you bring your gift to the alter,

and there recall that your brother has anything against you,

leave your gift there at the alter, go first to be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift" Matt 5:23-24

__________________________

Great Forgiver!

Your Word gives us conviction in the deepest parts of our being.

Thank you for giving us the grace to forgive and love others as you have demonstrated through out your time on Earth. Show unto us, any relationships that may need healing and give us the desire to make those scars heal, only by with your love.

In Him,

Amen

Day 11

"My command to you is:

love your enemies,

pray for your persecutors"

Matt 5:44

__________________

Oh Great Love,

As you hung on the cross, you cried...

"Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do."

As we struggle today against, hate, gossip, judgement, and resentment,

help us to radiate your life and forgiveness unto the world, so that through us, the whole world will know Jesus and His death on the cross.

In the name of our Savior,

Amen

Day 12

He was transfigured before their eyes.

Matt 17:2

___________________

Holy Lord,

You yearn for our salvation more than we can comprehend. You not only died for us, you transform us! You take the old and make them new, the dirty and make them pure, the weak and make them strong.

Praise You for loving us enough to change us, no matter how it may hurt sometimes.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen

xoxoxox

Thank you God for allowing me to pray with these women! You are the medicine for our souls; healing, nurturing, and strengthening all who come before you.

Day 8 of Lent

2011-03-16T09:42:00.000-04:00

Lenten Prayers and Scripture

Day 8

As the crowds were increasing, He began to say,

"This generation is a wicked generation;

it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,

so will the Son of Man be to this generation."

Luke11:29-30

_____________________

Son of Man, Holy Redeemer

Let us not look for signs, but look to you to put our trust and faith upon.

Help us use this time in Lent to depend on you more, leaving our whole self at your feet.

You are our Savior and we are nothing without you.

Thank you for dying for us all.

In His name,

Amen

Day 7 of Lent

2011-03-15T15:55:00.000-04:00

Prayers and Scripture for Lent

Day 7

Jesus said to His disciples:

"In praying, do not babble on like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.

Do not be like them."

Matt 6:7-8a

_______________________

Our Father,

who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day, our daily Bread, and forgive us our trespasses.

As we, forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

_________________

He is so faithful...He even tells us how we are to pray:)

I love the book of Matthew.

Day 6 of Lent and Choosing Hope

2011-03-14T13:24:00.000-04:00

Lenten Prayers and Scripture

DAY 6

"Be Holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am Holy."

Leviticus 19:2

___________________

Father Lord,

You made us all to be Holy and we are grateful for your faithfulness.

Though we are little more than dust, you made us to be a splendor of Your Glory. May we see the smallness in ourselves and the greatness that is only found in You.

Holy Lord of all...may all who love you, simply stand in awe.

In His name,

Amen

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

Choose HOPE!!

We experience worry and stress in so many aspects of our lives...

Is this a choice or a unavoidable consequence of dealing with problems in our lives ?

Bad things happen.

To good people.

God Loving people

Honest and caring people.

Bad things just happen.

How we deal with these 'Bad' things are a true measure of our Faith.

Late next week, i will be starting a series of posts, along with the daily Lenten prayers, about WORRY.

Here is an overview of that series:

Is Worry a Choice?
Emotions that cause us to Worry
Antidotes to Worry
Freedom

I hope you'll join me as we break the chains of stress and worry and learn to experience true FREEDOM.

Happy Monday!

Day 5 of Lent

2011-03-13T14:09:00.000-04:00

Lenten Prayers and Scripture

Day 5

At the time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward He was hungry.

Matt. 4:1-2

_____________________________

Mighty Lord, the redeemer.

When we face temptation today, may we draw into You with the strength you offer us. We know, because of your Word, that satan was defeated by your death on the Cross. May we use your Word and our Faith to fight sin in our lives today.

We trust in you Lord.

In His name,

Amen

Day 4 of Lent

2011-03-12T16:44:00.000-05:00

Scripture and Prayers for Lent

Day 4

And Levi had a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

The Pharisees and scribes began grumbling at His disciples saying "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

And Jesus answered and said to them "It is not those who are well that need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Luke 5:29-32

____________________________

Holy Lord,

You sent your Son to transform our hearts so that we could join You in Heaven.

What Love is that!!

Let us come with a hunger to the foot of the Cross, to the foot of Your crucified Son. Let us see Your love more clearly. By turning away from the things of the world, may You grant in us an unquenchable thirst for the Living Water.

In His name,

Amen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

****I am having a challenge with my PC, i'm having trouble connecting to the Internet. Kinda makes me laugh because I can't help but think that the enemy doesn't care for these daily prayers. As we know, according to Matt 18:20 "when two or more are gathered in My name, I am in the midst of them". I will continue to do my best in getting these daily post off.

It is a Blessing to be praying with you!

Third Day of Lent and Third Day

2011-03-11T08:41:00.000-05:00

Third Day of Lent

Jesus Answered them, "Can the wedding guest mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?

The days will come when the bridegoom is taken from them and then they will fast".

Matt 9:15

_______________________ *

Jesus,

As You journey into the desert, we walk beside You in our hearts. Help us to understand more fully the depth of Your love and of our salvation.

May we be grateful in our fasting for the sake of our lives, not death. Fasting is about freedom, not death!

May we never take our salvation for granted.

Thank you for dying for us Jesus.

In His name,

Amen

Nothing like rocking out with Jesus!

Third Day

My family and I, met up with some dear friends last night to rock out on the Make Your Move Tour with

Third Day and 10th Avenue North!

10th Avenue North

They were banging the house down, praising the Father with

2 sold out, 3 hour shows here in Indy!

If this tour coming to a town near you, you won't regret checking them out.

Mac from Third Day

Thank goodness I didn't give up MUSIC for Lent:)

Day 2 of Lent

2011-03-10T08:04:00.000-05:00

Lenten Prayers and Scripture

Day 2

And He was saying to them all,

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."

Luke 9:23

_____________________________

Lord of all,

As we journey with you, to the foot of the Cross, help us to see the unending love you give us. The Passion of your suffering is our salvation and for this may we follow you to the cross with a hungry heart, willing to suffer along side you. Help us to put down the pleasures of the world and pick up the hand of Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen

Honor and love goes to The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

A Journey to the Foot of the Cross

2011-03-09T08:51:00.000-05:00

ASH WEDNESDAY

After some consideration I have decided to let the Holy Spirit lead me in these posts during the season of Lent. I will not be using Daniel L. Lowery's Mini Meditations simply because I don't have his permission to do so...which is a Blessing...I'll allow the Spirit to guide us:)

"Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments " Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness And relenting of evil.

Joel 2: 12-13

____________________________________

Holy Lord,

As we begin this season of Lent and self-denial, help us to have discipline. Let us offer You sacrifices that will please and Glorify You Lord. Help us to decrease so that You may increase. May your journey into Calvary becomes a journey into our hearts, which leads us into a deeper love with Your Precious Son, Jesus.

In His name,

Amen

Praise and Glory goes to the FATHER, THE SON, and to the HOLY SPIRIT

Fat Tuesday!

2011-03-08T12:20:00.000-05:00

HAPPY FAT TUESDAY!! HEE HEE, a little Julian Smith. I actually like cats, but hate to admit I feel this towards my 3 dogs, husband, and 2 kids at times. Oh lot's to work on during Lent... Enjoy your indulgences today! Prepare for tomorrow as we go deeper into prayer, fasting, and alms giving for the next 40 days. Lent is a spiritual journey that takes you right to the foot of the cross and makes you a greater witness to The Passion! Praise God! During Lent, I will be attempting DAILY POSTS that offer short meditations written by Daniel L Lowery. I encourage you to go deeper into these meditations by reading more of the Book from God's Word where these verses are found. I will also be running posts on CHOOSING HOPE in the coming weeks and have been spending lots of time in prayer over the enslavement that is caused by WORRY. Walking beside you always, please join me.

Choose Hope

2011-02-28T08:45:00.000-05:00

"Look at the birds of the air,

that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not worth much more than they?"

Matt 6:26

If you have been here before, you know I'm crazy for birds! Note the new blog background:)

I just enjoy them so much, watching them , listening to them, photographing them.

I can even recognize many of their calls!

God willing, I will live to be the crazy old bird lady!

Last night we had a terrible storm and it poured down rain. The noise kept me up half the night, as the wind and rain hit the side of the house with such fury.

I awoke this morning to see my 11 yr old on the floor curled up in a ball. No room for her in the bed because all three dogs had already found refuge there, under the covers, afraid too from the storm. Many schools were delayed as homes and roads were struck with flooding water.

It was a mess!

BUT...

the first sound I hear, besides the alarm, was the birds chirping outside my window.

After all the wind and beating rain, the birds sang out, happy.

This afternoon, the sun returned, and I captured these shots.

The birds were bathing and playing in my birdbath!!

How can it be that after such a terrible storm, these little guys could be playing and singing like that? Just like nothing happened, not a care in the world!

This scripture came to mind, it was also the reading at church this Sunday.

Where did these little guys go last night...where did they hide to be safe from the weather?

We have all been through storms, days upon weeks where we ask ourselves, "How am I gonna make it through this?!" Unfortunately for many, sometimes those days turn into years and we can become hopeless. Hopeless that the job will never come, the cancer will never heal, the house will never sell, the spouse will never return, the addiction will never stop, the child will never grow! Worry is such a burden to so many of us. It's that endless voice in our heads that nags and tears at us until we are heaped in the corner, defeated and alone.

Worry is the opposite of TRUST.

It is a lie.

LOOK AT THE BIRDS! His Word tells us to look at them...they do not worry. After the storm they play and sing, as if no storm ever came. Or maybe they are rejoicing in the aftermath of God's mercy.

I pray that whatever aftermath you are feeling today, good or bad, that you would see God somewhere in it. He is holding you in the palm of His hand, right this minute.

He is your hope, choose Him.

This is the start of a random series of posts called Choose Hope. Please pray with me that God would use our blogs to inspire HOPE in others and the desire to know Him more.

Linking up with my friend Jen at Finding Heaven today!

Thank you and may God Bless you!

I made this for you!!!

2011-02-14T08:42:00.000-05:00

Julian just cracks me up... I wish you all love, laughter, and joy. Linking up with Sara over at YES, TEACHER. Stop on over to visit her Tickle Me Tuesdays post.

Outside My Comfort Zone

2011-02-11T11:35:00.000-05:00

Ok, Ok....I know the last post was hard to take. Who do i think I am anyway??

Trust me...

I'm nobody and certainly didn't earn that day in any way.

BUT>>>>>>

It was awesome!

And I savoured every moment of it!!

So back to the day to day....

One of the goals I want to accomplish this year is to get back to the basics. In my art, my home, my health, my family. Try to live more simply and I guess more according to God's biblical plan for us all. I'm enjoying this and find it easier to do in some areas and harder in others.

My art is one of the hard areas.

Being a mixed media artist is so amazing to me because you're like a kid in a candy store holding a $100 bill. So many flavors, so much money. It's kinda like that in mixed media, so many supplies and techniques and your mind just goes to a happy place as you think of all the possibilities. Through my workshops I have discovered that this is not the case for all, and many artist find this to be a scattered, undisciplined medium that leaves them just plain frustrated. Funny, art truly is an extension of who we are.

With God knowing the direction I wanted to move in my life this year, He has so faithfully offered His guidance and has been sending all the right people. Faithful Sweet LORD!

One of my sweetest BFF's invited me this week to a figurative art class. I have not done figurative drawings in 20 years!! I was excited to be moving outside my comfort zone and get back to the basics of paper, charcoal and sketching the human form. We would be drawing 2, 1 minute poses; 2, 3 minute poses; and 2, 5 minute poses, with time after for painting. Really I thought it would be like riding a bike and I would pick up from where I left off 20 years ago.

uhh...NO!!!

Go ahead...laugh:)

They are funny!

BTW... the model is a beautiful, 25 year old girl that weighs about 100 lbs!

SHE IS NOT MRS. BUTTERSWORTH!!

It's good to be humbled!

My Yesterday...A Day in the Life

2011-02-09T09:42:00.000-05:00

I am linking up today with an amazing lady named Tiffini. Her blog is beautiful and her heart is beautiful. Tiff invited me to participate over the weekend and I thought it sounded fun, but honestly I thought " who cares what a day in my life would look like?" I'm a mom of two and most of my days consist of doing the mom things...making lunches, cleaning the house, carpooling, homework, cooking dinner and lots of prayer that God will give me the strength to do it all and still have some time for Him and me. And if you read my last post I was in the midst of "climbing down the mountain of God's Glory" and I was feeling pretty chilly.

BUT....let me tell you...God's Glory did show up yesterday! I guess He wanted you all to see Him:) Bare with me as this is the longest post ever and probably has a lot of spelling and grammar errors!

-Wake at 7:30 as usual, not a morning person so I was the last one up. Talk to God in prayer before I open my eyes and offer Him my day...I have few rules but this is one of them and it has helped transform my life.

-Let my posse outside to do their business ( 3 black dogs who follow me around and wait for me to look their way or possibly drop some food)

-Make the kids lunches, brush my sons hair, and kiss them on their way out the door.

-Let dogs out 3 more times!

- Read a little of the paper, answer a few emails, drink coffee.

- My sweet friend calls and we talk about God and how great he is for 45 min! We agree on meeting for adoration (prayer in God's Holy presence through the Eucharist) on Friday am and to do a nine day prayer (novena) for her prayer intentions.

-Meanwhile my alarm is going off up stairs for 2 hours...chirping birds and I kinda like it so I leave it.

- My amazing bible study group arrives at 9:15 and because I have been yackin on the phone I answer the door in my pj's and haven't brushed my hair or teeth. Luckily they love me and luckily I don't care...I just got off the phone with a godly women and I was high as a kite.

-Bible study lasts for 2 1/2 hours as one of my sisters was going through some hard things and she needed lots of prayer and council. After the convo. we were all pumped up because we had some hope in her struggle which had not been there for a very long time. Around that time an Eastern Blue Bird shows up right outside the window, a few feet from where we were sitting. Well the Holy Spirit knows I love birds and they all stand for different things in my heart when i see them...hope, love, peace, danger, God's presence etc...so He sends them to me all the time.

The Eastern Blue Bird just happens to stand for HOPE and the girls had never even seen one! We were in awe of that little bird as we knew He heard our cries. Big hugs and they leave.

- Brush hair and teeth...at 11:30, YUCK!

- Work-out to Jackie Warner on-demand video for 35 minutes and she kicks my fat butt. Thanks Jackie, needed it!

-Shower, and get ready.

- Answer a few more emails and make a few calls.

- Pick up the kids at 3:00. Listen about there day and always enjoy hearing it. Unless they are at each others throats and I then tell them to stop talking.

- Run over to get groceries at ALDI, my favorite place, besides TRADER JOES, for food shopping.

-Spend 25 minutes getting groceries and get up to check-out line to pay. The cash I thought i put in my purse is not there and my atm card is not working. ALDI's doesn't take credit so I ask the cashier to put a hold on my receipt and let others go through the line while I call my hubby (who says " what do you want me to do" I don't know, wave your magic wand?) and frantically search my purse. As I'm looking through my purse, a women comes over, hands me my receipt, and says " here, I've taken care of it". I say in shock " What? Oh please no". And she turns and heads right out the door with me yelling 'THANK YOU!" I immediately start crying like a baby because of her generosity, but mostly because of the experience I had shopping the week prior.

Week prior-My son and I were at Aldi's , doing my weekly food shopping. We start talking with a elderly man in a wheelchair while grabbing a carton of milk. He was poor in appearance and had a strong odor and he started to tell me where I could get free groceries and free meals. We chatted for awhile and I went on with my shopping, helping him here in there, put food in his bag whenever i saw him needing assistance. While I was in the last aisle of the store, getting ready to check out, the Holy Spirit says " Buy that man's food". So I tell the Holy Spirit " OK, I will if he gets behind me in line" I know, pretty stubborn, huh? So of course the old man gets behind me in the line and I purchase his food. Really it was no big deal and more a Blessing to me then the old man I'm sure. Plus my son was all jazzed and it was a great opportunity to witness to him as well that sweet old man.

Back to yesterday...weeping in Aldi's. People are staring of course and all I could hear the Holy Spirit say was " I will never be out done in generosity". WOW, what a moment! I will be donating $83.12 to my church, the exact amount the kind women paid for my groceries.

- Run home, unload the food and get on homework with the kids.

-Go out at 5:oo to my sisters boutique for a open house she has been working very hard to plan. Drink champagne and get treated like "Pretty Women" as i buy the cutest hat and purse for $40 with %50 off, bill equals my exact budget! Yeah! I usually hate shopping but had a blast and felt really cute and very frugal leaving her cute little shop .

- 7:00, go and visit my girlfriend and her new baby who arrived almost 2 month premature. While holding the 4 1/2 lbs. baby boy, looking over his tiny hands, I feel the presence of God's might and perfection.

-Get home at 8:30 and at 8:45 a dear girlfriend calls, crying over a really sad issue she has been dealing with. We talk for 45 minutes and we both feel better, hopeful that God has this all under control.

- Kids asleep, disappointment because i didn't kiss them goodnight. Bad Mommy!!

-Husband waiting in our prayer room to do 2 Novenas and Holy Rosary.

- End prayer at 9:57 and kiss hubby goodnight. He goes to bed at 10:00 every night...he's so good!

- Answer a few more emails and watch TV for an hour, flipping through the stations because it is all trash. Give up and go to bed.

- Prayers of gratitude as I'm in awe of God's Glory and that He would allow me, a lowly housewife, be a witness to His Kingdom! Fall fast asleep.

I KNOW!!!! Crazy good stuff huh?! What a week I'm having as one of my bff's is picking me up in an hour to do portrait drawing with a live model for 3 hours!

I love this crazy roller-coaster ride God has me on! So why was I in the valley last week? I guess so that the mountain would be even higher. Like my Priest always reminds me, this is not Heaven. But boy, I felt like i was there yesterday.

I pray that you too yearn for His Glory. He is faithful, never outdone.

The Freeze

2011-02-02T08:34:00.000-05:00

To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it. Mother Teresa

Here in the Mid-West, Indianapolis to be exact, we are going through a deep freeze. I woke up this morning to 2 inches of ice and wind gust of up to 50 miles an hour! Crazy stuff with trees and power lines falling down.

You know what is really crazy? That's how I feel spiritually right know. Before my feet hit the floor this morning, i spent some time with the Lord and I asked Him to forgive me for my sins and give me back the deep emotion that comes from loving Him. If the feeling I have is a feeling of familiarity or complacency, I don't want it. I never for one minute want to take for granted His love, but lately it feels like i have.

So what has changed? I'm doing all the same things to be close to Him. I'm active in my Church and prayer life, as well as alms giving and ministering to those in need. But as much as I don't want to admit it, without the emotion, I am just going through the motions of loving Him.

Kinda like I do with my family sometimes, another thing I don't want to admit. And though I put myself there sometimes, they (HE) still loves me.

I can't help but think of Mother Teresa, who went through a 50 year period which she calls a dark night of the soul. St Francis also experienced this as it is said he felt unworthy of God grace. And lets not forget Job, wow! Talk about a dark night of the soul! Now don't get me wrong, I'm not even in the same ballpark as these souls, not even the parking lot of the ballpark! But it does give me some reassurence to know that dark nights happen sometimes.

What are we to learn from being away from Him?

Could God be testing me?

Is He testing my faith?

When the freeze comes will I fall like the mighty trees and power lines?

They look so strong.

Or will I bend like the willow and find shelter like the birds?

They look so fragile... I feel so fragile.

I guess I was a little to comfortable in that peace He was giving me:)

Psalms 27:13-14

I remain confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.

When I climb down the mountain and get back to my life I won't settle for ordinary things Third Day

A Journey to Robin's Well

2011-01-27T08:27:00.000-05:00

Poppy

10x10'' gallery wrapped canvas

I can't believe how time is flying by lately...in a good way since I am enjoying the ride. Days aren't dragging, they are flying and it is just amazing how God's law is freedom. I have taken time to FILL UP as I walk along my journey of Faith. I was never really good at the filling up part before, wasting time and trying to fill the hole with lots of STUFF. Stuff that could never satisfy so I would just add more STUFF. What a amazing joy it is to drink of the Living Water and be quenched! I have been filling up with Him, creating art, getting organized still ( this is a journey in itself and not one I particually enjoy!) and spending lots of quality time with family and friends. You know what I mean by quality time, just being together and letting things happen.

I wonder what fills you up?

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

On one of my last posts I promised you that i would turn you on to some of my favorite bloggers. Women who inspire me, challenge me, and who lift me up in so many ways. True Blessings that I never expected to meet out here in this blogosphere.

Meet Robin !

She is a amazing Godly women who lifts people up and inspires them to be brave. She believes in herself and I just love that. Not in a cocky way, in a way that tells you that she has confidence in her Holy Maker.

Robin has a new e-book out (brave soul) called MY CREATIVE PEACE.

Here is what she says about the course...

THROUGHOUT the e-course, we will: -explore God's creativity -explore the beauty and VALUE of creativity -explore creativity as an act of worship -PINPOINT your creative journey -INTEGRATE CREATIVITY AND SPIRITUAL JOURNEY MORE DEEPLY

Robin was so nice to take the time to answer some questions for me about her journey.

· What inspired you to want to do this creative workbook? When I was fumbling my way through trying to figure out how to be more creative, I remember looking around book stores and libraries trying to find some guidance. For me Julia Cameron’s books (The Artist Way series) helped me immensely. But as I was going through I felt myself wanting to move into allowing my creative time to be a time of prayer and meditation. I had not come across any material that discussed that aspect and so I began to consider the idea of using my journaling as a means to create something for others to use.

· What are your intentions for this creative workbook? My initial intention was to create this as an e-course. I was all set to go and even began promoting it on the Internet. But a series of events occurred that got me to reconsider. One very important one was a woman sent me an email saying she found the course and though she couldn't afford to do the course, she wanted to thank me for creating something along the lines of what the course offers. This along with my desire to get back into serving in the local church caused me to temporarily move the course into this direction. My next step is to approach some local churches about offering the course within their small groups.

· How did you feel as you started to dive into the details and content of this creative workbook? FEAR AND GRATEFULNESS SIMULTANEOUSLY Fear because I was second guessing the idea that my experience of wanting to integrate creativity and Christianity is something others are desiring to do. Gratefulness for how much GOD has answered my prayer to want to take the limited time I Have and let it be a time where I experience GOD and feel incredibly fulfilled.

· How did you feel when you started to promote the creative workbook? I felt this relief about knowing I had done all I could do as far as putting my words and my art together in a manner that is aesthetically pleasing and in a way that anyone can pick up the workbook and begin. I am so excited because I have seen GOD do unexpected things! When I think I am doing something for one purpose, GOD is FABULOUS about taking it and doing more than we can ever ask or THINK!

· Can you offer any advice to someone who is contemplating doing something they have never done before?

If you really sense GOD is moving you in a new direction, you cannot FAIL! CANNOT! Take the little steps; the little things you KNOW TO DO. The steps may feel like you are bumbling around in the dark. It really did feel that way for me. And then you have this "suddenly" moment where you find yourself in the middle of this thing that is BIGGER than you and yet is THE MOST SATISFYING SPACE. And then rest in it and ENJOY IT.

What an way to fill up! GOD AND ART!

I'm in and can't wait to get my hands on this book.

Thank you Robin for being brave and encouraging others to FILL UP!

Peace

2011-01-19T09:02:00.000-05:00

Peace

Is this my new normal?

Living in the not knowing and feeling so safe and satisfied.

Giving you each of my days, letting go of MY plan.

Not thinking about the dropping ball or the ticking of the clock.

Being free to just BE and offering all of myself to the world.

I prayed for peace, now give me the GRACE to sit a while in this place.

More on Being Real

2011-01-05T14:49:00.000-05:00

In keeping with the spirit of my last post, I wanted to share this video from country singer BRAD PAISLEY. If you have never seen it, check it out...totally hysterical! Always makes me laugh. And it is so true! Here in blogland I often wonder what people are REALLY like? I have had the pleasure of meeting some of you and can honestly say your blog doesn't do you justice! I also know a few people who blog and they are nothing like the blogs they write. So sad because it shows in their writing. Don't get me wrong, I try and put my best foot forward too, as I do in my everyday real life. No one wants to log onto a whiny, bitchy blog everyday (and believe me I can be those things like what I'm kinda doig right now!). But I also try and keep it real. As I've posted before, I never expected to blog about my faith journey as often as i do and I thought people that posted their kid's pictures were asking for trouble. I just thought I would have a cute little art blog that would promote my work and workshops. I have grown to trust you and myself more through blogging and now post any old thing, when ever the mood hits me. This is not a numbers game for me, it is an extention of who I am. Not saying I don't try to encourage or inspire you and I'm not saying I would mind more followers. Just saying I would rather have 10 followers on a similar journey, then 4000 followers who really don't care to have a connection with me or what I care about or struggle with. I feel so blessed that this blog is growing and you actually care about reading it! In the next few week I am going to invite you to check out some of my favorite blogs. These blogs are written by genuine women who have touched my heart. Jen at FINDING HEAVEN is like that. Stop over and visit her for a glimpse into her authentic life and journey of Faith. Enjoy the show...

TRU 2011

2010-12-31T11:51:00.000-05:00

"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.

Be safe tonight and enjoy YOURSELF!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T15:51:00.001-05:00

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!

2010-12-19T13:52:00.000-05:00

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

2010-12-10T11:07:00.000-05:00

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??

2010-12-08T07:46:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-12-06T11:48:00.000-05:00

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!

Happy Advent!

2010-11-29T17:47:00.000-05:00

Let these words sink deep down...He is the truth and the light. If you don't know Him, stop running and seek Him and He will satisfy.

"The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made."

Psalms 145:8-9 I pray that ADVENT ( means coming) is filled with many opportunities to know Him more.

Texture technique for your mixed media artwork

2010-11-26T10:39:00.000-05:00

It's BLACK FRIDAY!!

And there is no way in BEEP that I'll be hitting the mall today! Not my thing, but if it is your thing then happy shopping. I know there are some amazing deals out there.

My day will be spent making soup and preparing for my final artshow of the year. This show has been so well organized and it will be great to see all the local artist that I have really enjoyed getting to know as we do a lot of these shows together. BUT...I really need the Jan/Feb break! My business seems a little (ok a lot) disorganized these days and the dreaded tax season is right around the corner. Staying organized is not my thing either!! That's why I usually wait until the last week to prepare for shows (and taxes) that have been scheduled for months. I wonder what would happen if I ever got organized? Would the world implode?

Anyway, for all my creative friends who are in their studios today, I have a fun project for you. I may not be organized but I am thrifty and here is a creative way to get some cool texture on your mixed media artwork.

Here's what you'll need...

Gel medium

mini paint roller

empty toilet paper roll

a cut out strip of texture

*this technique can also be used with a large roller and empty paper towel roll for larger art pieces.

STEP 1

Secure some paper or non-slip drawer liver around your paint roller. You'll need to do this so that the toilet paper tube will fit securely. Glue the cut out texture strip around the empty toilet paper roll, textured part facing out. Pull the t.p. roll over the paint roller like this...

STEP 2

Roll your textured tube through paint, just as you would if you were to paint a wall.

STEP 3

Roll it out onto your canvas or surface.

Check out these other items I used to create texture.

Here is the result painted on surface.

BURLAP

CIRCLE PUNCH OUT THINGY FROM THE HARDWARE STORE

YARN

I hope you'll enjoy this fun and thrifty way to create some texture in your artwork. It's not near the mess and it really is fun to just roll on. Bam! your done.

I was so excited with myself after coming up with this a few months ago that I was convinced i should have it patent . I recently went in the art supply store and much to my dismay I found a similar item marked at $12 for two tubes and a brush. Man, another dream gone:)

If I could only get organized!

My Sweet Girl is 11!

2010-11-17T12:12:00.000-05:00

My Little Baby is 11 years old.....

LAUREN

Caring heart

big goof ball

intelligent

stubborn

artistic and creative

'look at me, look at me'

sensitive

God loving

strong willed

On the day you were born, your Dad and I could have never prepared our hearts for the love and joy you would bring into our lives. Our sweet gift from God, always treasured, always loved, always.....

DRIVING US UP THE WALL!!

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

I've missed visiting with you all these last few weeks. Life had other plan for me. I did the best I could and now I get to take a breather and rest in Him.

My prayer for you my friend is that when you grow weary, you will rest in Him. You don't have to fall, you can just stop and rest. And if you do fall, I hope you will look to the Son as He carried the cross. He fell many times and was helped back up by others. He even allowed someone else (Simon) to carry the cross for awhile. Even HE couldn't do it on His own.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, whose most dear Son, as He walked the way of the Cross, accepted the service of Simon of Cyrene to carry his physical burden for him: mercifully grant unto each of us the grace that we may gladly bear one another's burdens, for the love of him who said, "In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me," even the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever.

Amen

shameless self promotion

2010-10-22T08:38:00.000-04:00

Should I feel ashamed, promoting myself??

No, i shouldn't but even after all this time, mostly i still do.

This thought hit me this week, several times....it's finally sinking in.

As i was talking about my plans for the evening with a artist friend this week, telling her about the 12 beautiful women who were to join my mixed media workshop that night, she asked "what workshop"?! Mind you, this was a good, artistic friend, who I paint with all the time. I've been doing workshops for 3 years and never once had I mentioned them to her. It hit me.

During the workshop, I'm talking to the girls about my background and one of them asked, how long did it take you to start calling yourself a professional artist. My answer, 2 years after i started selling my work. 2 YEARS! It hit me.

Later that week, I'm talking to a neighbor, who has been my neighbor for 8 years who asked me what I was always loading my truck up with. After I tell her artwork for the art shows I do, she says " really, I didn't know you were an artist". Mind you, this is a person who has been to my house for dinner, a friend and never had I mentioned to her i was an artist!? REALLY! It hit me.

Take a look at my FACEBOOK page if you get a chance. I have a ton of 'friends' who are artists and when you go to there page, you know it. They have their work shown and they are promoting themselves. Not me. Just randomness shown, no substance on who I am, what I do.

Is anyone feeling me on this? Why do we do this??

Is it because our art is so deeply personal? Is it because it feels like a piece of our heart? Is it because we don't feel worthy? Is it because we don't have a degree in art? Is it because we don't have a studio? Is it because it isn't a painting of a girl with a long neck and tilted head? Is is because we're scared we'll be laughed at? Is is because.....

What is your because?

Here are some photos of the Mixed Media Workshop I did this week with 12 creative goddesses.

BTW...I do workshops, lots of them and they ROCK!

Words i wish i wrote

2010-10-18T17:19:00.000-04:00

Natasha Bedingfield performing Unwritten

Felt like dancing...

Have a happy Monday, live your PASSION!

ode' to my studio

2010-10-15T08:52:00.000-04:00

Ode to my STUDIO...

Little room that greets me

always smiles even when I leave you dirty or alone

always welcomes me home

Little room that inspires

full of wonder

unfinished works already done in my mind

Little room that loves

never judges

holds me close

I'm the one you love most

You were created just for me!

I know she's messy right now.

Supplies spread all over,

Unfinished works, sleeping but not forgotten.

But she let's me play and get messy. Here is where I express myself and make mistakes.

Never thought i could find all that in a room!

Next Tuesday i am offering a TRU GODDESS Workshop to 12 creative Goddesses. In this workshop we will be using a variety of mixed media techniques to create a inspirational dream board. This is such a creative way of goal setting! Putting your dreams on canvas is a powerful exercise and I'm so excited see the hearts desire of these awesome women.

What is your hearts desire?? Make a dream board and set it by your bedside or on your bathroom sink. Give you dreams life and room to grow.

I would love to link up with you and see your Goddess Dream Board!

I'm hooking up with Jen over at JRU STUDIO http://www.studiojru.com/ today. Stop over and take a peek into Jen's studio. She is full of energy! Other creative spaces will be found there and it's a inspiring place to be on Fridays!

May you have a blessed weekend!

Typography?!

2010-10-12T08:19:00.000-04:00

If you have been reading my blog, it didn't take you long to figure out that I can't spell! I know...a blogger that can't spell! But I can't and I depend on spellcheck to catch my mistakes. Often times this is like depending on mapquest, not 100% accurate! So I have been humbled many times as I'll read over a published post of mine, only to find I had misspelled something. CRAP!

What's really ironic is I use the written word in my artwork. So I'm a blogger who can't spell AND uses words in her artwork.

Not sure if I'm brave or just plain dumb but in this case ignorence is bliss.

What's wrong with this picture?

CHEERIES?? What! Did I really write CHEERIES?! CRAP!

Now what?

Came up with this solution and sold these pieces first thing at the next art show I did. Had to laugh! Luckily the client laughed too after sharing my mistake. So glad they didn't demand their money back.

Recently I learned that using words in art is called TYPOGRAPHY.

ty·pog·ra·phy n. pl. ty·pog·ra·phies 1. a. The art and technique of printing with movable type. b. The composition of printed material from movable type. 2. The arrangement and appearance of printed matter.

Wow, didn't know there was a name for this. So now I'm a Mixed Media Typography Artist.

So fancy!:)

I decided I would'nt hit "spellcheck" today, thought you would enjoy a good laugh.

I have a fun themed art project to share with you on Friday so stop over and visit! xo

No words, just JOY!

2010-10-06T14:10:00.000-04:00

AWWWWWWWWWW! The Art Retreat! No words, just JOY and Gratitude!

Take a peek...

Flew into Sacramento and stayed Downtown for the night. Gorgeous city.

Lake Tahoe Baby!! Sunset the first night.

Just some of the art supplies...delish!

Lot's of late nights spent connecting, creating, and DANCING! The poor neighbors! Sorry no photos of this.

Hiking on the first day. Aspens just starting to change color.

WOW! How did we end up here? Fallen Leaf Lake. Thanks God:)

Hiking on the second day.

Ended up witnessing the annual salmon run, unbelievable! Thanks again God!

Last sunset on last night.

On the last night we were also blessed to witness a RAINBOW!

A RAINBOW!!

Our creative endeavours!

We all worked on collaborative pieces to take home. It was so cool to see each person contribute their talent. This was mine. It will be cherished!

"""""""""""

We came, we laughed, we cried, we shared, and we connected!

We were fearless!

We were blessed!

Amazing True Women in My Life

2010-09-29T09:35:00.000-04:00

I hope this post finds you healthy, happy and blessed!

It feels like forever since I've had a free hour to catch up with you. Sorry I haven't had the time to keep my blog fresh or check in on any of you to see what's been shakin'. But... I've had some great things happening so don't give up on me just yet.

On the personal side of my life I've been healthy and happy. Even with struggles (and Lord knows I have them), by the grace of God, I still feel blessed. To top it off I lost 10 pounds, yeah me because I worked for that 10 pounds! This is so new to me, this peace. All the glory goes to Him because it really is so unlike me to feel peace in all things. Last weekend I was able to really spend some time alone with God as I attended the TRUE WOMAN CONFERENCE http://www.truewoman.com/?id=990 in downtown Indianapolis Indiana. It was an inspirational weekend, filled with 7000 amazing women. The next conference is in Fort Worth TX, Oct. 14th-16th and I would highly recommend going if you need to be REVIVED! I took pictures but for some odd reason most of them are gone, not anywhere on my camera!

Here's a couple of salvaged shots...

I won't soon forget my date weekend with God, He treated me like a princess:)

It has even sparked a trip that I'll be taking with my daughter to a PURITY CONFERENCE http://www.reviveourhearts.com/pih/ in November . It's in Tampa and it's being held on her birthday weekend . I can't think of a better gift to give a 10 year old and my husband looks at it as an investment in her future. We gotta let our girls stay young for as long as they are young! It saddens me deeply to see what our culture is doing to our youth, but that's another rant to be left for another time.

Speaking of youth and rantings...my husband and I have recently become the Youth Leaders at our Church!! It is such a blessing for us to work with these amazing teens each week. They are truly incredible kids with a strong love for God and we are so inspired to watch God work through them. This is a labor of love for us and my husband doesn't even complain that we will have to miss the Colts play on Sundays. Now that's love!

On the art side of things, I'm plugging away and trying to find time to be in my studio more. Seems like the only time I can get in there is if I have a show coming up. Shown is some recent work I made before a show I did two weekends ago. This art show did not make for the highest sales this season, but I made some amazing contacts and some cool opportunities are starting to take shape. I look forward to sharing this with you when I know more.

Speaking of cool opportunities...(man this blog post is practically writing itself) I have been invited to an Art Retreat in Lake Tahoe by my sweet friend BEV from http://myawakenedheart.blogspot.com/. Bev is an amazing lady with a great love of God and I am so excited she invited me. Two of my dearest, artsy girlfriends here from Indy will be making the trip with me. Again, amazing women! They inspire me, encourage me, believe in me and I love them to pieces. As Bev puts it "it will be 4 days of art, girl time, great food and wine, and music". AND Lake Tahoe! When I get home I will get back to blogging more often but you probably won't hear from me for a week or so. I'll be thinking about you with a piant brush in one hand and a glass of vino in the other!

God has truly blessed me with many beautiful friendships, a precious daughter, and a supportive mother. I'm so grateful for these amazing, true women in my life. Say a prayer today for the TRUE WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE! My God allow us to be a truly amazing woman, radiating His love like the sun.

Dare to Share Tip #4

2010-09-21T13:27:00.001-04:00

I apologize for taking so long getting this post out! Last week I received a healthy dose of how to prioritize my life, using those same priorities I've mentioned in previous posts. I can't help but think I may have been tested because it sure felt that way. I hope I passed! Unfortunately blogging, among a few other things had to take a back seat. I realize, yet once again, that I just can't do it all. Which brings me to this last tip on what I've done to grow my business. It is by far the biggest challenge for me, even though it has had the greatest results in my life and business.

Tip # 4 Dare to BELIEVE!

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!

IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU!

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE!

Been there...did that...didn't work!

The single best thing I have done to grow my business is turning the wheel over to God and letting Him drive. I had to invite God into my art, my marketing plan, and my feelings of not being good enough. AND as if that wasn't hard enough, I've had to learn to move in God's time, patiently trusting him in the speed He was taking me. I've had to turn my life over to Him, trusting Him to know better and do better than what I think I want for myself. As I've said, God gives us our gifts for a reason, but these gifts are given only to Glorify Him...not Glorify us!

To be honest, I struggle to give over all control to God and trust Him. Talking with some dear friends today, we agreed that this has to be the biggest challenge in growing our faith. As a Mom, I can't help but think how crushed I would be if my children told me they didn't trust me. I could even handle it better if they said they didn't love me anymore, because I know that wouldn't be the truth. But not trust me! That would cut to the bone. I wonder how our Lord must feel when we don't trust. Is it because trust is something earned, not given? Is it because trust is more easily broken than love? Sometimes it seems we can give our love easier than our trust, shouldn't that be the other way around?

I don't have the answers but through God's Holy word He tells us:

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Jeremiah 29:11

Thank you for letting me share my heart today and for allowing me to speak my truth in these Dare to Share posts for my business and life. May your heart always be open to God's will and trusting that He has a great plan just for you.

Words i wish i wrote

2010-09-13T11:53:00.000-04:00

Praise God for all His mercy and love! Praise God for the undeserved favor He gives us all each day. You are my portion Lord and you will always be enough.

Dare to Share Tip #3

2010-09-10T12:21:00.000-04:00

Tip #3 Dare To Promote Yourself

This, by far has been one of my biggest giants!! As an artist who is creating authentically, promoting yourself just feels YUCKY!! To me it feels like "here's my heart, go ahead and pick it apart". And people do and always will. If your an artist, of any kind...writer, musician, actor, expect this and save your self lots of time spent in the corner curled up in the fetal position. Some people are gonna love ya, some are gonna Not love ya! And thank God, that allows us all the opportunity to be artist.

As you all have probably seen by now, my motto is work smarter not harder. Same holds true for marketing and promoting. Early on I killed myself and my spirit by trying to be everywhere, all the time. This didn't work for me and I had to get in touch with my priorities:

GOD, FAMILY (which includes maintaining my household), FRIENDS, and if there is anything left, MY ART WORK. At first it was really hard to stay focused on those things, then it became my freedom.

Here is what I do to market my artwork. PLEASE if you know of an easier way(sure you do)tell us!! Make all our lives easier. I do not have all the answers, just what I'm doing to simplify my life. We all want to take the path of least resistance and in this case we should. Allows us more time in the studio, playing outside with the kids, holding hands with our honeys, and living life in the moment.

My Website

http://www.bludomain.com/

I found BLUdomain through a friend who is a photographer. We were both starting out in our business and felt like we needed a website to be successful. I found and bought a terrible template from a company that had no customer service and you literally had to be a graphic designer to figure out how to use this template. I spent weeks trying to learn about mega tags and nonsense just to build this generic looking site that offered very little. I also spent $700!! Meanwhile my girlfriend found a host and template that allowed her to build her site in about 6 hours and she was live in 24hrs. She spent $100! Ok, definitely a dare to learn moment for me. Do you need a website to be a successful artist? No. But for me it has really taken my business to a new level. Without even trying, I have been featured in varies publications, invited to different art shows, and given myself a home base for my business. Even with the few pieces I have for sale on there right now, I still have a portfolio for clients to see. This has helped me get into several shows that I was supposed to be juried into through ZAPP applications https://www.zapplication.org/index.php without being a member of ZAPP. For several reasons I refuse to do ZAPP, call me a snob but I'm a girl with boundaries.

My Marketing Printer

http://http://www.vistaprint.com/

How I love me some VISTA PRINTS!! Good quality, good prices, good turnaround time, and good customer service. Maybe I've been lucky , but they have been great for my business. They have come along way since I started with them in 2007 and at the rate they are going I expect them to only get better.

My blog

http://www.shabbyblogs.com/

There are MANY free websites to help you decorate your blog. I really like this one because they have a great selection and it's an easy site to navigate.

And as you already know, I use blogger for my host. They make my life easy, love that!

Networking Groups

Again, there are a ton. Personally I network in groups that i enjoy. I participate, when I can, in varies on line groups that include Facebook, The Incrowd (an Indiana Etsy group), Create by Faith, and Fishers Handmade (another local Etsy group). I have found that Etsy forums are a great way to learn more about how to grow your business and gain awesome feedback.I also network with some of you, my blog family. I really don't care for the word network, I think of it more as connecting. So connect with people you WANT to connect with otherwise it becomes a chore.

Host workshops

I currently work with my city to give workshops in Mixed Media/Collage. Connecting with your Chamber of Commerce is a great place to start if you are looking to do the same. Also, I would recommend networking with local art galleries and boutiques to see if they are interested in offering workshops in your medium. I enjoy workshops because it allows me the pleasure of seeing beautiful people create beautiful art!!

Moving forward in my business, I'm in the process of adding three things that I believe will promote my work and grow my business.

Adding Prints to my line

(said I never would! eating my words)

Learning Photoshop

(yes, still trying to find the time to learn this software!! Anya...HELP)

Adding a wholesale line

( this will be a huge step for me, but I believe, today anyway, that this is the direction God is leading me)

Unfortunately marketing and self promotion is just a huge part of selling our work. Not the fun part, but key to growing your business. If you don't think your worth promoting neither will anyone else! So let your freak flag wave and sell it baby!

I hope you have a blessed weekend.

I look forward next week to sharing a final and most benefical tip for growing my business.

Words i Wish i Wrote

2010-09-08T19:20:00.000-04:00

Be back Friday with another Dare to Share tip for growing your business.

Thinking of you. May God bless you today.

Dare to Share Tip #2

2010-09-03T09:32:00.000-04:00

Tip #2 Dare to become DESERVING!

When I first decided I wanted to try and sell my artwork, it was a scary time for me. Putting my heART out there for all the world to see was not easy and I was more or less a 'closet artist'.

Literally a 'closet artist', here is my first work space.

Ok, now that I'm totally exposed...look at it!! This was the place I came to get inspired and create! Shameful. When I couldn't stand to work in the dungeon anymore, I started to drag my stuff upstairs to the kitchen table. This was good for awhile, but every time i started to get into a piece I would have to pack it up and make dinner ,so needless to say this was not ideal either.

It took me a long time to feel deserving of a space all my own, a whole room i could call mine.

I turned the guest room into MY OWN REAL LIFE STUDIO!! It seemed silly to have a room that guest stayed in maybe 12 nights a year while I was lugging my stuff all over the house trying to find a sunny place to create in. And I'm sad to say that i didn't do this until Jan 2010, over 2 years after I stared selling my work. CRAZYNESS! But honestly there was this part of me that just didn't feel like i deserved that space for myself. When I really asked myself why i wasn't deserving of a space to create in, nothing came. It wasn't about entitlement, it was about working hard and moving forward. It is a blessing to me every time I walk in that room. It is a shame that I allowed myself to sit in the dark for so long, down in the dungeon. By becoming deservinging of that sunlight I allowed my dream to grow.

If you are an artist, do you have a space in your heart and home for your dream to grow? It doesn't have to be a whole room, but maybe it should be. How often do you use that formal dining room or guest room? You might have a sunny corner in the office or family room that is waiting for just for you.

You deserve that and God gave you your gift for a reason.

Dare to Share Tip #1

2010-09-01T10:29:00.000-04:00

What a great week I had with my family from Cali in town! I honestly dropped almost EVERYTHING to hang out and visit with them. Last time I saw my sister and her family was Christmas so it was my pleasure to catch up and just "BE". It did put me behind a bit, but hey family first! We have been blessed with lots of family visits this summer and I can't wait to share some pictures with you of our visits.

BUT...

This week I also had some time to really think about how I've grown my business in the last three years, the mistakes I made and what lessons I've learned along the way.

I'm so excited to share what worked for me in growing my business. My list of what didn't work would take up the remaining posts for 2010 so I thought instead I would share the 4 things I've done to help my bu$ine$$ grow. I thought long and hard on these and I hope they help you on your journeys too. I'm sure many of you will think "been there , done that" so chime in and help us all GROW.

TIP #1 - DARE to LEARN/TEACH

When i first started my business in Oct. 2007 i was kinda a know-it-all. I had been an artist, though not professionally, all my life. During my professional career I was in sales and had always had an entrepreneurial spirit. As my mom often teases 'you could sell ice to an Eskimo' and I was always selling something! So foolishly I thought I would make product and they would beat down the door to get it. I had a good idea to sell handmade collage frames and do it yourself collage kits.

Who wouldn't want to buy that?!

Well not enough that's who and it was a very humbling time for me. But I really needed that because what it did was force me to reach out to others in my field and ask questions. I had to admit that i didn't know jack about running my own business and what it takes to be an artist.

I began networking with artist in my local area, taking classes, and being open to learning. Unfortunately not everyone was willing to help. A lot of artist have this competitive nature that makes them not want to share knowledge or connections. After meeting many artist like this it dawned on me that it was really insecurity and it made it easier to not take things personally. I'm thick headed and love a challenge so it took me getting slapped around and even being laughed a bit to really want to succeed anyway. It pushed me and it made me humble. It also made me passionate about helping others along the way.

I meet with a dear artist friend just last week and we discussed this. She contacted me 8 months ago, out of the blue and asked if we could meet. She lived closed by and was looking to find someone to network with and learn from. I told her I would love to and after looking over her beautiful artwork I was so excited to meet with her. We quickly became friends and she shared with me her frustration that no one would talk with her about their art business.

I was the first to accept her invite!

I have been thrilled to see her grow her business. She started a website...better then mine! (I will share more on this and the company we use in a later post. Btw, my site is being updated now thanks to my friend!). She did her first art show, setting up an amazing booth, and sold her first piece. She even does prints and t-shirts now!! I don't even have prints yet! I love it and honestly feel genuine happiness for her. At lunch she thanked me, just like she has a million times for my help. She also told me that she has been helping this young artist, who is just starting out. She told me she is paying it forward! I tried not to just sob all over her.

In giving to her I have received the true gift!

So, if you know it all, LEARN!

When you don't know jack, TEACH!

something new to learn

2010-08-27T08:45:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday!

It has been another crazy week around here, but isn't it always?!

I have been trying to get some things in order this week and although it hasn't been much fun, it is time well spent. Working on that goal list ya know.

One of my main goals is to re-do my website(working on it) and add prints to my line. I know, I know, I said I would never do them, but I'm doing them! I have had too many people ask for them not to go ahead and offer them. This will also allow me to do some whole selling and raise my prices on original work. It is time since I am selling through 50% of my work at shows. That's a good thing and it has been a long time in coming.

So my darling husband, my biggest supporter, bought me a printer!! Oh my gosh, now I have to learn how to work it. It is a little much right now, as i just scored some new Photoshop software from a local thrift store I was volunteering at. It was just a blessing to unload that just donated box and find a brand new Photoshop 6.0, never used, waiting for my grubby little hands. To top it off it cost me $10!! I know it's not the newest version but it will be more than enough for what I need.

It will be a challenge to learn all this at once because I am not very technically inclined. Remember, I can't even operate a sewing machine! But I'm excited to grow my business and move forward. It has been a long journey.

Next week I will share the 3 best things I have done to grow my business.

I hope you are moving towards your goals too.

Dare to Share Tuesday

2010-08-24T08:21:00.000-04:00

FLOWERS FOR YOU!

Because of my very short attention span, I have decided to switch things up, that's just the kinda girl I am. Some call it ADHD, I call it creativity, my husband calls it ADHD! I have just learned to embrace the fact that I get bored and need a change. I tell him he's lucky I haven't gotten bored with him:)

Although I loved doing my Dare to Love Monday posts, met some amazing artists and bloggers, I just feel like 10 weeks of that was plenty. I will on occasion continue to do some guests posts though. Thank you to all my blog world friends who visited with us on these Monday posts.

It was so good to meetcha!

I hope to take that same concept and make it more broad, connect with more of you. On Tuesdays (for awhile anyway) I want to invite you over to blog about a topic of the week. Share with us what your thoughts are. I am always inspired by hearing other peoples opinions, suggestions and input.

Who is your favorite creative blogger and why?

I hope this will inspire us all and Dare us To Share...

Sneak Peek Friday with Studio JRU

2010-08-20T08:04:00.000-04:00

TGIF!

I am so glad to be done with that week. It has been a challenge for me to get back into the swing of things. Wasn't I was just talking to you about being exited to get back to a routine?

Must have been delusional.

Fun post today.

My sweet friend Jennifer, over at STUDIO JRU http://www.studiojru.com/ has a wonderful challenge for the brave and creative. Every Friday she will challenge us to post a peek on what we're doing in the studio. I totally love this idea because it helps to create a community. By sharing ourselves with each other, creatively or spiritually, we are building a community of support. It's not easy to put ourselves out there, but if you are an artist, writer, musician, etc... there will eventually come a day where you'll have to dive in. Let us be there to catch you.

SOOOO...here's what i'm working on this week. This is great timing because I just cleaned my studio last weekend:)

Mixing my love for modern abstract and collage. Not near done but lovin' this process!

Mary piece on wood block and cherry still life. These two must be finished today for a show tomorrow. Please no rain or 95 degree temperatures. I have had 3 shows in a row with rain or heat.

Thank you for taking a sneak peek into my favorite room. Stop over to visit STUDIO JRU and check out what some of your fellow bloggers are in to.

Looking for inspiration or a fun challenge?

Click on Jennifer's STUDIO JRU or Paulette Insall's CREATE BY FAITH blog buttons found here. These are weekly challenges and a great way to BUILD COMMUNITY.

Have an INSPIRING weekend!

Words i Wish i Wrote

2010-08-18T13:26:00.000-04:00

Dare to Love Mondays!

2010-08-16T07:54:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday uniquely creative friends!

I have something a little different then usual on this most amazing Monday morning. No interview, but some great food for thought to get you through your week. Last week I talked about living in the here and now, which is something i am just learning to do. The other thing I am just learning to do is set goals for myself. So how do setting goals and living in the here & now really go hand and hand?? Sounds kinda like a contradiction doesn't it? It's really not a contradiction at all , but an essential ingredient to living in the present and here is why... when we set goals for ourselves it frees our mind from clutter and distractions. It helps us to create a road map to finding the dreams our hearts have been yearning for. We can't get to someplace we've never been without a map! I have found that the best way to set goals is by creating long range goals, short range goals and a daily to-do list to help me get there. Think of it as a road trip...you have your destination (long range goal), you make your pit stops along the way (short range goals) and you have all your supplies to make the ride more comfortable (daily goals).

I start with my long range goals first, let's say a five year plan. Where would you like to be in 5 years?? Write it down and dream BIG. Give yourself permission to want those dreams. Remember this is your destination point, the place you look out over the horizon and say "I did it"!

Next you look at the year ahead. How much of that 5 year plan do you want to have checked off? What steps do you need to take to accomplish this? This is your pit stops, where you refuel and reexamine that road map. Are you on track to get to your destination?

Lastly, daily goals. I like to do this on Sunday nights or Monday mornings. I look at my calendar and plug in any scheduled commitments to my weekly to-do list. Next I like to schedule my daily responsibilities(working-out, bible study, cleaning, dog walking) because for me these are things that can quickly get dismissed or forgotten. Then I simply fill in the blanks with any personal or business goals I would like to accomplish for the week. The purpose of the weekly calendar is to make the journey more comfortable, more enjoyable. This is where the living in the now really takes place. I find that once I have a plan for the week I can appreciate the ride, just kick back and be joyful in the journey. I find this also really helps to keep my priorities straight. For me that is God, family, friends and my artwork. I think about this weekly when I write my list. When i know what my priorities are and when I know what I want my destination to look like, it is easy to turn it over because I know I am doing the best i can, with the gifts I was given. I want to share a great on-line resource for helping you to stay on track with your creative business goals...http://mycreativebusinessgoals.blogspot.com/ Check it out. As a blog community, we are in this together. Share with us any tools or resources that you have found to make your journey more enjoyable. Take it one day at a time, one check box at a time and enjoy the ride!

I AM right here, right now

2010-08-13T08:16:00.000-04:00

So many times we get caught up living in the future, engulfed with worry or being dissatisfied with an uncontrollable situation. Always wanting more and losing sight of all we have been given. "I want the bigger house, the better car, the longer vacation, the better body, the bigger paycheck, etc..." So many times have i been trapped and entangled in the past, dwelling on hurt, pain, rejection, abandonment and all the darkness that often times comes with growing up. I searched for anything I could find to fill up the hole in my heart but nothing worked. One day, I was rehashing some painful memories for the millionth time when i heard a voice inside me say, " I do not live there, I AM right here, right now. If you want to walk with me, there must you live." Praise you Lord for your conviction because I was set free from the strongholds of dissatisfaction and ingratitude. As I prepare to open this new chapter in my life, Lord help me to remember where you live so that I can always find you. Help me find the satisfaction I need in you and only you. Make me yearn for you Lord from the moment I wake in the morning, until I lie down my head in the evening. Close the doors to any path that does not please you and make my life the splendor of your beauty. Amen He is called the great I AM. He is always with us, right here, right now.

Psalm 139 : 1-7 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

I hope you have a awesome weekend. Monday, i will be posting about goal setting and how to we can live in the now, but still reach victories in our tomorrows.

Back to School and randomness

2010-08-11T17:29:00.000-04:00

Summer 2005

Summer 2010

Today my kids went back to school. This is a new school for them so we all had mixed emotions but mostly we were excited. I was more excited on the way to school thinking, awww my days are mine again! I can get organized, set some goals, lunch with girlfriends, go to the gym, get more time in the studio, begin a new bible study, keep my house clean, etc...those with little ones know this list well.

I walked them to their new classrooms and as all the kids stared at the new kids, it hit me. They are growing up and becoming their own little people. Now if you know my kids you are probably asking, 'really jill, you're just figuring that out?' My kids are very independent and we raised them that way. But YES, I'm just realizing that every year I have to let them go a little more, a little further, for a little longer. That reality is setting in. I know the day will soon come when they won't want to hang around with their old mom and dad anymore and they will pick their friends to share thoughts and feeling with. So today we moved down the road called life and I watched my babies (ok they are in 4th and 5th grade, but they are MY BABIES!) be brave and grow. I was so blessed to see this side of them and very grateful to be their mom. I wondered all day how they were doing so seeing the smiles on their faces as i picked them up was a precious moment of relief. How do (or did) you feel when your kids go back to school? I would love to hear your story.

On a totally different note...

It is the season finale tonight of the NEXT GREAT ARTIST on BRAVO. I really enjoyed this show and I'm gonna miss my Wednesday night date with the tube. Is anyone else watching?? Who do you think will win? I vote for Abdee but I think it will be Miles. Can't wait to watch!!!!

Lastly I wanted to invite you to be a guest on my DARE TO LOVE MONDAY posts. I always try and choose someone who follows my blog and who inspires me to grow. Your blogs do that for me so consider this an open invitation. I really feel like our blogs are a community so if you follow me, I follow you. I want to know and support those that know and support me, simple as that. So if you are interested in a visit, leave a comment or contact me directly. I really do love Mondays because i get to know you more.

Talk to you on Friday.

Dare to Love Monday!

2010-08-09T15:33:00.000-04:00

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Wellofcreations

http://www.robinnorgren.com

http://wellofcreations.blogspot.com/

Happy Monday!!! I am so pleased to introduce to you a wonderfully creative blogger.

Meet ROBIN NORGREN from Well of Creations!

Many of you may know Robin as she is very active on the creative blogging boards and she is always willing to offer encouragement and support to her fellow bloggers. LOVE THAT!

Even if you know Robin and follow her, I hope you'll enjoy getting to know her more.

I found this quote from Robin on her ETSY profile and this seems to fit her to a T...

"My Creativity has been a wonderful vehicle for me to connect to GOD and to explore life, making it incredibly fulfilling."

1. Why did you decide to start a blog?

I decided to start a blog because I have always dreamed of writing. But the idea of actually writing a book intimidates me. For quite a long time I kicked around the idea of starting a blog but did not know where to begin as far as what I would really have to talk about on a regular basis. Then in 2009, my husband was deployed with the Navy to Kuwait. I felt compelled to chronicle our journey as a family through that process and that is how “Journey to the Well” (http://www.joyfulstill.blogspot.com/) began. Later when I started an etsy shop, I began to chart the ups and downs of living a creative life on my second blog “Well of Creations” (http://www.wellofcreations.blogspot.com).

2. Who is your favorite blogger? Please post their link.

I cannot even BEGIN to tell you how hard this question is to answer. I am so very in love with the blogger community! This community has been my lifeline in times of isolation while my husband has been deployed over the years. What I can mention is my favorite one RIGHT NOW –HAHA! I have this habit of finding a blog I love and then reading through the archives-oh so very fun! It is Mati Rose of The Suspect Shoppe: http://www/matirose.blogspot.com

3. What is the best way you have found to promote your blog and ETSY shop?

I think having a blog calls for establishing yourself a little bit on the internet as a “presence” so I have found it to be a slow and steady process. Initially the blog was strictly an online diary that maybe someone would come across and find encouragement. Then when I started my etsy business, I began to integrate the things I wrote on a blog as things I could post as useful information for others on Twitter. I would have to say that Twitter has been the most helpful with getting the word out about who I am and what I make.

4. Describe to me what a day in your life may typically look like.

I am early riser - 5:00am! I usually have a set of internet tasks I like to get accomplished before my four year old wakes up for the day which is around 7:00am. The tasks usually included: -writing a post for one of the blogs -Writing submissions for one of the two other blogs I submit to (http://www.handmadespark.com/ or http://www.studiomothers.com/ ) -editing pics from the day before either for blog posts or for new items to post in my etsy shop -Checking in on FB, Twitter, and leaving comments, checking email -Breakfast, watch a show and cuddle with little one, playtime outside for a bout 2 hours. -Lunch and little one has movie time while I sit near her to either crochet or to work on a mixed media piece -work on preschool type stuff through worksheets, reading, talking about different things we saw outside that day. - dinner and check in once more online to read a few blogs

5.I have recently become a follower on your CREATIVE BUSINESS GOALS BLOG, talk to us about that blog This blog was created as a result of an e-course I took offered by Kelley Rae Roberts (http:www.kellyraeroberts.com) back in June called “Flying Lessons.” What an amazing experience. Not just because of the information we received but because of the access we all received to other like minded creatives. As a result of that course, Cathy of The Crafty Alley (http://www.thecraftyalley.com/) set up this great blog as a way for anyone to post their creative goals and get some encouragement in the midst of others who are aspiring to achieve similar creative dreams. The blog is open to anyone who was to be a part of a group of creatives wanting to a place to be cheered on in their process.

I thought this creative business blog was written by Robin, but it's not, oops! I will talk more about this blog soon, but for today it's all about ROBIN! Please stop over and see her, get to know her more, help our connection with one another grow...Dare to LOVE!

Happy Birthday Baby!!

2010-08-06T10:35:00.000-04:00

I love this life you have made for us...

You lead our family on the path the Lord has put before us, on a path I may not have choose otherwise.

You build me up so I can do the hard things.

You always put God above all else and then your family second.

You are everything I'm not, I'm often in awe of you.

You are the love of my life and you're love has set me free.

Happy Birthday Baby...

what did I ever do to get a gift like you?

Dare to Love Monday!

2010-08-02T21:24:00.000-04:00

It is my pleasure to introducing you to the talented MILK AND HONEY HANDBAGS!!

I have to tell you a secret...I am seriously envious of seamstresses. My mom and sister are both very talented seamstress, my sister is even a Fashion Designer in LA. I think God just skipped me on this gift because I just don't get it. Every time I try to sew something it looks like I got in a fight with the sewing machine and there is no doubt who won. I will only attempt to sew a button if my mom is out of town on vacation and my Husband is missing a button on his only black suite that he has to wear to a funeral the next day. And even when that happened it looked like a mini chocolate chip had dropped on his suite and landed smack dap in the middle of his button. I was just embarrassed for him and myself, IT'S A BUTTON ! My sweetie forced a sewing machine on me, thinking I just needed a class and some encouragement. Didn't work, there was just too many options and gadgets and It looked like someone with man hands and tremors tried to make a pillow, IT'S A PILLOW! The poor instructor was even embarrassed.

So it with great enthusiasm (and slight envy) that I introduce you to Amanda...

http://milkandhoneyhandbags.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MilkandHoneyHandbags

More about Amanda...

1. Why did you decide to start a blog? I started a blog because I love to read blogs. I wanted to get involved in the blogging community and use my blog as another outlet for creative expression. 2. Who is your favorite blogger? Please post their link. I think my favorite blogger would be Tara from Scoutie Girl - http://www.scoutiegirl.com/- her posts are always so insightful and inspiring. 3. What is the best way you have found to promote yourself and your ETSY shop? I really struggle with self promotion. I have found the most success through renewing items on Etsy throughout the day. 4. What made you want to become a seamstress? I met a girl who had made the skirt she was wearing and a matching purse. I thought to myself, hey, I could do that. I asked for a sewing machine for my birthday and fell in love. 5. Where do you get your inspiration? I am inspired by color and fabric. Nature, old photographs, and movies also inspire me and influence my designs.

Thanks for the visit Amanda. Please stop by her blog and shop to see her sweet bags!!

Have a inspired week!

Crazy busyness!!

2010-07-30T14:24:00.000-04:00

I am ready for some much needed structure in my life!

I love being busy and having purpose, truly i do, but I have not done a good job with structure this summer. Can anyone relate to this?? I feel like my days go so fast, almost stolen, and my to-do list just gets longer. You would think that after our vacation I would be refreshed, but to be honest, I'm just not. I've felt like all i've done is try and play catch up after being gone and I spent the week before we left getting ready to go!

So to settle my spirit I'm gonna do 2 things...

#1 set some goals- there i said it now I'll have to do it. I will be sharing my goals with you in the weeks to come and what works for me and what doesn't.

#2 take a walk through my garden and just escape for the moment. Some call this the Scarlet O'Hara syndrome but i call it a breath of much needed fresh air.

The things that nurture my soul are...

Spending time outdoors, enjoying nature

Spending time with loved ones.

Building my relationship with God and His church.

Creating my artwork.

Making a difference.

Just being good to myself by exercising and eating right.

Boy, a little prespective can go a long way. I guess all the things I have to do today are just not that important.

I would love to know what you do to nurture your soul?

Dare to LOVE Monday

2010-07-26T21:23:00.001-04:00

"I tell you, the more I think, the more I feel that is

nothing no more truly artistic than to love people."

Vincent Van Gogh

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No guest artist today, but this quote really hit home with me today.

Some people are just not easy to love, so you have to get creative with it!

Do the hard thing and love them anyway.

HE did.

I look forward to catching up with you on your blogs this week. It was a great vacation but there is no place like home and it feels good to be back.

I hope you have a love-filled week!

Dare to LOVE Monday

2010-07-19T22:07:00.000-04:00

Sorry I'm late tonight but I am vacationing in the GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS and really didn't think I'd get this post off. Thankfully I found this hour to sneak down to the pub for a post and a beer:) I couldn't wait to visit with you a bit and catch up. It's beautiful here and we are enjoying the mountains and family time. I really needed a break from the summer madness so this trip couldn't have come at a better time.

I am so excited to introduce you to this week's guest, the talented Jonathan Aller.

http://jonaller.blogspot.com/

As you can see from Jonathan's work he is an amazing realist and classic artist. Jonathan has a great blog in that he paints a picture a day. Talk about refining your craft! There's no "just not feeling it today" for him. I admire the discipline and commitment to his craft and it really shines through in his work. He also presents his blog posts in a tutorial format so he takes you through step by step so you can see the progression of his work. He just makes me want to paint in the lines!

Here's more about Jonathan...

1. Why did you decide to start a blog? I was painting for a while on my own as an "Artist" after finishing school and was also working as an art instructor for this big company, I started to see that blogs was the way to go for artist who were frequently painting and at the time I was not that frequent with my paintings. I started to follow other artist who were painting on a daily basis and saw that blogging was such a simple tool to use, they were jotting down there ideas to why they where painting and how. 2. Who is your favorite blogger? Please post their link. There's this artist called Jason Seiler (http://jasonseilerillustration.blogspot.com/) and he's an illustrator that does these amazing digital paintings, whats funny is that my work has nothing to do with illustrations or caricatures and Jason's work is all about that. What I love about it is the dedication he has towards is craft and obviously that he's amazing talented, more than anything its very inspirational to see his work it pushes me to become better artist. 3. As an artist, what has been the best way to promote your work? Leaving comments on other artist blogs helps a lot, it exposes your blog to other viewers. Being a part of several art organizations online that just market my paintings helps, I also like to get on art forums and put my work on there to show more people the more the better. I also use twitter I still do not know the use of that tool but I have it to reach a broader audience, I don't know if it works but I use it. Basically I try to expose my work as much as I can through different sites marketing is such art form in itself and I'm still learning a lot from it. 4. What art supply could you not live without? My brushes! 5. If you weren’t an artist, who would you be? An athlete! But I have always been drawing and doodling since I can remember so I really cannot imagine doing anything else than being an artist.

Isn't Jonathan's work yummy? Stop over and visit him. I hope you enjoy his blog as much as I do.

While I'm here in the Smokey's I'm gonna get in touch with my more traditional side and do some Plein Air painting. Maybe it's the mountain air, maybe it's Jonathan, maybe it's all the country music. Whatever it is, being here just makes me feel all sentimental inside. I'll share my Plein Air venture with you when I get back but in the meantime....

Dare to Love!

seek and find

2010-07-14T10:32:00.001-04:00

Seek and Find 11x14

Luke 11:9-10 (New International Version) 9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Quick story...

My kids just finished 4-H, a huge organization that fosters leadership skill and training in everything from animal care to Lego's. It's such an amazing club and the kids wanted to do DOG OBEDIENCE, with it being Lauren's second year and Cooper's 1 year.

Lauren chose to work with Bob, our 11yr.old blind poodle. Coop chose to work with Krissy our 6 yr old Pomeranian. I say 'chose', but the better wording would be 'stuck with' because ideally you would never chose a blind old man and a stubborn, prissy pom! But that's what we had to work with and at first the kids were very excited. Then the reality hit...4-H is hard work and even more of a challenge when working with 2 stubborn dogs.

As the big day approached, the kids started to get more discouraged and asked me many times if they could just give up, fearing they would be humiliated. Knowing they hadn't practiced and trained like they should have I told them no, we will finish this. This was simply one of those times I had to let them fail.

The day of the show we're driving over and Cooper is just miserable and I asked him what was wrong. "I'm just so mad because I know Krissy won't listen to me". I try and reassure him but could see he was nervous and frankly i could feel his pain. The kids go through their run with the dogs and judges and we wait for the big moment when they call the kids up for scores and ribbons. You could feel the tension throughout the whole arena.

Cooper's group gets called up first...

Awww, the relief that only a BLUE RIBBON could bring!

Lauren's next....

2 BLUE RIBBONS!!

On the way home the kids were thrilled and so proud of the dogs. Out of my son's mouth comes this little song of Luke 11:9-10. I don't know in which moment I was more happy, seeing them hold those ribbons or hearing my youngest quote scripture, giving the glory to God. What Cooper didn't know was that the night before I was up late reworking an old piece i just didn't like. I regessoed (is that a word?) over it and began to rework it.

This was the final result.

Isn't God the coolest?!

Dare to LOVE Monday

2010-07-11T19:34:00.000-04:00

I hope you had a wonder filled weekend!

I'm happy to introduce you a faith filled guest blogger....

Studio JRU!

http://www.studiojru.com/

I have recently been introduced to this artist and love the great witness she is. Studio JRU devotes all her work to glorifying The Lord and creating art for believers. You go! I especially like her crosses. She was nice enough to be my guest today and answer the 5 questions I ask all guest artist.

1. Why did you decide to start a blog?

After hearing all the time... "do you have an online shop?"... I decided it was about time to start one. So I did. But I also needed a way for people to see me, for people to meet me, for people to find me. I had already been visiting blogs and seeing this amazing community come from them. I knew this would be a perfect way to connect with other women who shared my interests. I can't even begin to tell you the number of special women I have 'meet' through blogging. So what started out as a way to promote my art business has become so much more than that.

2. Who is your favorite blogger? Please post their link.

This is a tough one. My 'favorite' blogger? I don't know if I can say I really have a favorite. Each blog I visit, I have felt a connection in some way to the woman behind the blog. A reason to want to visit them, a reason to listen to them, a reason to want to learn from them. And along the way I have made so many friends! So, I will share a blog that I have been visiting for a long time... Kimba at A Soft Place To Land. It is a perfect combination of home and faith and family and inspiration. From decorating tips to a bible verse on Sunday. Love it!

3. As an artist, what has been the best way to promote your work?

Has to be my blog and blogging in general. My blog has brought many people to my art. I have my shop links on my blog. I post new art and custom order art on my blog for people to see. Blogging really is a huge community. You visit blogs, people visit you and then see your art. It's a big happy family! :)

4.What art supply could you not live without?

I just couldn't work without gel medium. It is a must. It has so many uses... love that stuff! I would have to say each and every piece I make has gel medium on it. I use Hobby Lobby 40% off coupons to buy the biggest jar of it I can... I go through a lot of it! Can you tell I am excited about gel medium? :)

5. If you weren’t an artist, who would you be?

It is hard to imagine myself not being an artist. It has been part of my life for so long. I have been creating since I was a little girl. I think no matter what I was doing in life, I would still be creating as much as I could. At one time, I had considered going into Psychology. Had the scholarship and all... but it just wasn't what I was meant to do. I feel very blessed that God has laid out this wonderful path for me to be on. I am lovin' it! :)

Be sure and stop in on Studio JRU and i don't know, do something crazy...leave her a comment or follow her blog. DARE TO LOVE, i promise it will come back to you.

Have a great Monday!

We all scream for ice cream!

2010-07-08T13:52:00.000-04:00

Yummy.....

My sweet son Cooper , 9 yrs old, has a ton of ideas of what he wants to do this summer. I mean a TON!! Trying to keep up with the kids and their friends this summer has been a real challenge. You think that the older they get the less they'll need or want, is an illusion. I think God just tries to prepare you for each step the best He can. I am definitely struggling with balance this summer and it is starting to take a toll. I just keep reminding myself in a few more years they won't even want their old mom around and it gives me the push i need to go the extra mile.

Anyway.....enough of that.

My son is the prince of whatever's left since he has an older sister to contend with. He asked me for just one thing one recent weekend. "Mom, I want just one thing this weekend and that's to make homemade Banana Mango ice cream" Oh is that all i thought, but my mouth said "I promise". So Sunday night rolls around and I was running out of time to keep that promise but I gathered all the supplies needed, determined to keep my word, no matter how tired I was.

Lazy Mom's Basic Vanilla Ice Cream recipe (no cook!)

-An electric ice cream maker (thank you Nana Di for all the cool things you find at yard sales)

-4 eggs

-1 cup of sugar

-2 tablespoons vanilla

-1/2 pint of whipping cream

-2 cans of Eagle Brand condensed milk

-1 1/2 quarts of dairy milk

-1/4 teaspoon of salt

-any fruit or flavor you want to add to taste (we used 3 mangos and 1 banana cooked down in a sauce pan to marry the flavors)

-Ice cream salt rocks

-lots of ice!

First you follow the directions on your ice cream maker, preparing the ice and salt in the mixer by layering it.

In a big bowl combine eggs, cream, sugar, salt and vanilla and mix thoroughly with a mixer. Pour in any fruit and the condensed milk and stir well, add dairy milk and stir well again.

Add mixture to the fill line in your electric ice cream maker can.

Follow the directions on your maker regarding time, but it took about 30 minutes of mixing on mine to get the consistency we wanted.

Remove the electric mixer out of the can and lick the blades. Kids loved this!

Then remove the can , wrap in towel, and place in the freezer for around 30 min.

Remove from freezer and enjoy.

The ice cream was so delicious, but the best part was hearing my precious son say

"Mom, this is the best ice cream I've ever had!"

Dare to Love Monday!

2010-07-05T18:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday!!

Sorry I missed this post last week, wasn't sure i would make it today, but this Hippie Chic is so worth the wait.

I am so happy to introduce you to Cyper Hippie Chic!

www.CyberHippieGypsies.blogspot.com www.HamsaHealing.etsy.com

What i find so totally inspiring about this chic is her courage. She is living a totally authentic life and it may not be for everyone, but she and her husband are responding to where their hearts strings lead them with compassion and pure joy. This young couple is traveling around the US in their RV!! I have enjoyed peeking in on them and must admit I kinda wish I could just pack up and go!

1. Why did you decide to start a blog? I started my first blog a few years ago when my husband and I took our first RV trip from NY to Florida. When we got to Florida we decided to go travel around South America for a while. There it was tough to keep a blog so I stopped for a while. Several months ago we started another RV trip so I thought it would be a good time to start blogging again. 2. Who is your favorite blogger? Please post their link. My favorite bloggers are the ferrets because they are super funny and they are a young couple RVing around; just like us. http://twoindustriousferretssupply.blogspot.com/ 3. What has been some of the best ways to promote your businesses? Trade. I love to trade, it's a great way to meet new people, try new products and to get my stuff out there. I usually put extra cards in a trade in hopes that the person will spread the word about my shop. Most of the people I trade with come back for another trade or a purchase. I also get many of my shop supplies, body care products, candles, household items and so many other things from trade, so it really helps us financially, too. (PS. if you want to trade just convo me - hamsahealing.etsy.com). 4. During your many travels, where would you most like to settle in and will you ever settle in ? I don't know if I'll ever settle down. I am a nomadic soul, like so many of our ancestors. I love to learn about people and culture, traveling is the best way to do that. There is definitely a part of me that wants a place to call home though. In the US I really like Denver, California and South Texas. But, the Amazon is the place where I feel most at home and comfortable. 5. If you had a million dollars what would you do with it? I'd do a lot more trading on etsy :) I would bring my friends from the Amazon to the US for a big cross country trip. And then I would just live a simple, permaculture life either RVing around or homesteading in the Amazon.

I hope you'll pop over to her blog and ETSY shop and check her out. You won't be dissapointed, she's just one cool hippie chic. DARE TO LOVE!

Come on in?

2010-07-01T19:41:00.000-04:00

When I first started writing this blog, I had all these thougths about just how much of myself I would share and how much I would keep private. I planned on sharing my random thoughts on life and my love of art and other interest but didn't intend to talk about my loved ones at all, that was just too close to my heart! But lately something has been tugging me and that something is you! As I share more and more of myself i'm becoming more connected to you and even though I'm finding myself in this incredibly vulnerable place, I kinda like it here. As I pull back the vail, I am enjoying the view more and more. It's kinda like dating a new guy or finding a new friend, scary at first but as you reveal yourself you become more comfortable. So i guess that's where I am, just lovin' the ride and excited to see where we can go.

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

So now for some formal introductions...

My rock, my love, and the leader of our clan. Everything he does is for us and he is the love of my life.

My first born, she's 10 going on 16 and smarter than any of us.

I'm in awe of her and excited to see where God leads her life.

My baby, he's 9 and has the sweetest heart. His kind and caring way helps to keep us all in check and he is an amazing example of Christ's love. Funny how kids can do that.

Our home, we have lived here for 7 years and our roots get deeper and deeper.

My creative space. May look messing to you, but i call that INSPIRATION!

Me! Still growing and learning, but comfortable in my own skin.

What a blessing that is to know and love yourself!

Welcome to my whole heart, may not always be pretty, but it's real.

I'm so glad you stopped in to visit.

I hope you enjoy this 4th of July weekend with your loved ones.

Please pray for our military.

i saw you today...

2010-06-28T20:06:00.001-04:00

i saw You today

with every step i took

You were there.

i saw You today

in every face

in every race

You were there.

i saw you today

i felt my hand in yours

as i said the hard things

as i did the hard things

that i could do only with You

and

your

Grace.

Amen

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*I will post a DARE TO LOVE interview tomorrow(hopefully), but wanted to reach out and share my heart with you today. I hope you are feeling His love today too. If you would like to be a guest on my Monday posts, please comment on this post and DARE TO SHARE(LOVE).

Lovin' this!

2010-06-23T16:17:00.000-04:00

For the last two Wednesday nights at 10pm I've had a date. Not the kind of date I'd prefer with my man, but a date with 15 extraordinary emerging artist. It's a date on my couch with a glass of wine watching the new series on BRAVO called WORK of ART. http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-1/about

IS ANYONE ELSE WATCHING THIS???

I'm totally lovin this summer escape and I'm quickly picking out my favorites and who needs the boot. I anxiously await each challenge imagining what I would create if I was participating, then I critique each artist like I totally know what I'm talking about. Oh it's fun, so much fun!

My faves are Abdi and Nicole and my least favorite is Nao. BOO to her, she's mean.

If you are watching I would love to know your favorite. If you are an artist and not watching this on Wednesday nights 10/9 c on Bravo then YOU NEED A DATE WITH THE COUCH! it's just good clean fun:)

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On another note, some of my work is featured on Linda B's super sweet blog ....

http://linorstorecom.blogspot.com/2010/06/62310-lindas-top-5-etsy-shop-finds-vote.html

She is having a contest and I've been invited to play, yeah!

She picked out this piece to feature in the voting challenge, so if you like it please pop over to her blog and vote for me, voting ends on Friday. Thanks for the challenge Linda!

Thanks to you all for the love, right back atcha!