some days the words aren't there

When the words aren't mine, then I find peace in the words of others....

Besides just liking the quiet and the ability to hear myself think, I love that feeling of peace that permeates the silence. I know it seems strange but in that peaceful quiet place is where great ideas are born for me. William Lehman

She poured her heart out

The words from the fragments post has inspired this collage.

Women pour out their hearts to and for everyone but themselves. History proves this. It's time to change it. Here's a challenge. Put yourself first for one whole day. Get the rest, exercise, nutrition and inspiration you need! See if you feel better. This does not mean to ignore your responsibilities and those you care about but just DON'T IGNORE YOURSELF!

starbook covers

More images from starbook

I worked more on the pages yesterday adding more color and text with the Elmer's paint pens. I think I'm happy with it now.

Fragments

She poured out her heart
till it was empty
but the love she received back
filled the void to overflow.

She learned
she could not receive love
unless there was
an open spot to receive love.

With room to spare her heart nearly broke
until filled with love from others
it nearly burst.

The gray winter day finds blue skies
joy and love,
peacefulness -
for the journey
till the last breath
knowing answers will be found.

With fragments of time
we slowly rebuild
the structure of our heart
that we've lost along the way
it doesn't happen in a single moment
it takes a lifetime.

Sometimes she felt as if
she were buried in a shallow grave
and yet too deep for her cries to be heard
instead of lying there smothering
she dug with all her might
and emerged a new creation.

Sometimes life is a deep fog
a deep dark cavern
where we cannot feel the love with our heart
we cannot see the love with our eyes
that's when we must reach out
with our very hands and
grasp what it is we desire and need
for survival.

Alone with her thoughts
she realized she was not alone at all.
God never left her side.
memories and thoughts of those who
care filled her heart
she looked up to the sky and
grasped a piece for herself.

Knowing which path to take is not
always easy but either will have what is needed
for that day's journey
taking you where you need to be.

Life flows like the water in a creek
our body is battered by the rocks along the way
but respite is found
when we find the calmness in the stream
which flows together with our soul.

In all that you do
all that you know
all that you think
go the way of the cross.

Find the mark
that points the way
for the straight and narrow
follow it each day
asking for God's guidance
in every way
and peace will surely be yours.

Life isn't always about completion
fragments of this and that
but when we come to the end we are whole.

She stood in the very middle of her life
and looked about
she realized it had been a good life and
there was more to come.

Image is first star book; theme is crosses. More to come.

Morning's Grace

I greet the morning

face to face with God.

He greets me too

with His precious nod.

I find my joy

in Him alone;

knowing His presence

I'm near the throne.

This is today's given by God words.

Image is a recent journal page made with images from napkins.

From the Heart

Life begins when a tiny heart is formed. It grows and grows and like any muscle if we don't use it, it withers and dies. Use your heart. Grow your heart. Let it be the biggest part of you. How does one do this you ask? Simple.

• Love


• Share


• Give


• Hug


• Inspire


• Encourage


• Guide


• Understand


• Believe


• Trust


• Thank

Make your own list of ways to grow a BIG HEALTHY HEART!
These thoughts were inspired by Beth Moore's Wisdom from the Heart study.

Image is of several Heart cards made for church shut ins, using my own decorative paper and cutting into various hearts and strips. Words are stamped and inside will have the person's name.

Time and Creativity

Creativity takes time. For those who aren't artists, creators, writers, etc., they do not realize this. Yes, my head is always thinking and planning. Yes, I have hundreds of ideas. Yes, I always have a project to start, work on or finish BUT I NEED TIME AND SPACE TO DO IT!!!! Uninterrupted time. Time I can plan on and count on. Time to prepare, work, execute, sift and work through the project. A few minutes here and a few minutes there is not enough. I often need whole several hours, days, weekends or several days in a row to get the project done start to finish. Just as I make some headway, someone calls or comes to my door. Someone has a question or need. Someone needs attention. Sometimes it is legitimate. Sometimes it is not! Creativity takes time!

Image is a recent mini collage called "Lois Angel". Lois was my dear mother in law.

Recurring Themes

As an artist or writer, I believe we return to familiar themes and content. I believe we do this because of the comfort and familiarity it gives us. It's always been said to write what you know.

Paint what speaks to you. Create that which is part of you. I've done this my whole life. At times I am urged to stretch beyond my comfort level and that is fine but if the stretch is uncomfortable then the results are not pleasant. I must be who I am. I must do what I do best. I must continue to seek my true soul in my art and in my words. This is how I live my life as well. New experiences are fine but if they don't speak to my soul then what is the use? I am not an adventurer. I am a simple, quiet soul and seek simple quiet respite from a confused and complicated world. If others are unimpressed, bored or feel they've seen it all before, then too bad. I simply have to do what is in my heart and soul. It comes out of my very own true self and spills onto the page or canvas. In doing so I relax and find peace. I strongly urge you to go your own path, follow your own heart and soul and let the comfortable themes recur.

Image is from a recent journal page...a mosaic cross of magazine squares and prismacolor leaf rubbings.

God is my Day Planner

When I don't know which way to turn, I turn to God.

When I don't know the answer, I ask God.

When I don't know how to do something, I seek God.

When I don't know what to do about a situation, I let God guide me.

When I don't know where to find peace in the world, I turn inward to God.

When I don't feel joy I spend more time with God's word and in communication with him.

The image and words are from my beloved Fernwood (retirement/family property).

Recent Art Activity

With holidays, deChristmasing and just plain stuff to do. I haven't blogged very much recently.

Trying to change that!

Here is a simple list of recent art goings:

• ATC's


• Greeting cards


• Journal collages


• Scrapbook pages


• small watercolors


• cleaning the art room again

Image is my collage from the Distressed Alphabet Swap. I made letters A,K,L, and U. Different folks made 26 of one letter and mailed them in to swap. Since we were short a few, I just made up the difference. They were so great! I couldn't wait to mount them. Enjoy!

If I had 3 weeks to live

Watched the Queen Latifa movie LAST HOLIDAY with a friend.

Latifa had a disease and 3 weeks to live. She blows all her savings on

a trip with enough experiences and adventure for a life time.

Thus the obvious thought for me: WHAT WOULD I DO WITH ONLY 3 WEEKS TO LIVE?

Here is a beginning list:

• more time with my family


• more time with friends


• more time in prayer and mediation


• more time in nature


• more time in my art room


• more time listening and learning


• complain less


• grumble less


• appreciate more


• share more


• laugh more

It doesn't have to be filled with jumping off dams in a winged suit, eating gourmet foods or meeting new people. It should be about being with and enjoying those in your life. Those kind of memories would last eternally.

I'd make each day count for something!

How about you?

The image is some of my watercolor greeting cards, now available at http://www.artellawordsandart.com/

De Christmasing thoughts

After a rainy stay inside morning (although I did manage my morning walk) I began the deChristmasing of the house. I go for the main living areas first and then branch out. Trying to organize and clean as I go, moving some furniture to new places too, it becomes very tiring and seems endless but I will succeed. Will attempt finishing Monday. Doing all this makes one realize the many blessings for there are so many gifts to put away, old items to move out for new, and some things you just can't decide what to do with them.

I know that I have 52 years of stuff myself, 27 years of married stuff, my husband's 56 years of stuff and a 23 year old son's collection minus what he has at his apartment. One does not rid and organized all this stuff in a matter of moments. It takes time, effort, and thought. Like moving my old desk from my son's room back into the den where my soon to be retired husband (and I) can be a little more organized as we start the new year. That alone means a new path for each item that moves to accomodate a new place.

Little by little it will all happen or be put on hold for regular routine stuff. I can't help but think about how empty my house seemed when we moved in. We actually have two homes full of stuff. We still own the house my husband grew up in, along with stuff his parents and he collected part of those years. We would like to eventually build a new house. Maybe by then I can be rid of some stuff I no longer use and can part with. Admittedly a pack rat, I am thankful for all I have but I have to change my ways and give it up. I cannot bear the thought of something happening to me and my husband or son being left to deal with all the clothes, junk, art etc. I saw a neighbor recently cleaning out his mother's house. I saw boxes in the yard or probably treasures to her but junk to those left to sort.

Maybe this will give you something to think about yourself as the new year begins. May we all deChristmas our houses but not our lives. The Christmas spirit must remain with us each and every day throughout the year.

The image is one I took recently of a blue bird enjoying the pyracanthra berries on my deck.

New Year's Resolutions?

Just start each day with prayer!
Close each day with prayer!
Be verrrrry THANKFUL in between and open to God's leading hand!

Christmas time

Christmas time is a joy to behold.

It's a season of remembering days of old.

Giving gifts around the tree

Laughing and talking and telling stories of the gospel of Thee.

Finding a reason for the season here.

Our purpose for living through the year.

Knowing and sharing a God's true love,

Given to us from His throne above.

He loves our celebrations of His Son's birth

For it adds much to our Christian worth.

The holidays soon pass the calendar

But we've no reason to forget and meander.

With God's love in our heart each day

We can show a hurting world a better way.

To live a life of meaning

And share its faith's gleaning,

Christmas joy is meant to share and not just keep;

There's much to celebrate and more to reap.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
one and all!

Perfect time of Year - A Personal Revelation

Slowly the list is being checked off for the Christmas tasks…I read an article yesterday, forget where or I'd link to it. The emphasis was on simplification of the holidays versus creating a perfect illusion fantasy (an obvious misnomer). Fantasy is make believe and the only way to reach perfection. The holidays must be about family, love, peace, sharing - humans are not perfect so we must not fake it. I must admit that I've always had a struggle with perfection. I've tried and found it impossible yet people like the Martha Stewarts of the world influence us otherwise. I have continued in strife and finally realized it is impossible and wrong to even attempt it. Ridiculous as it is many still waste a lot of effort, energy and money on the fantasy. The perfect life was lived by only one and that one is the real reason, meaning and belief behind Christma, Jesus Christ, whose birthday we celebrate at this time of year.

On a different theme and yet the same, I was watching Dr. Zhivago recently and realized the story is of a man in love with two women, certainly no a perfect situation but despite it's conflict of split love, Russian war and human struggle, happiness is found. We too can find the perfect happiness available to all during Advent by realizing the true meaning of Christmas. We don't have to wait until everything is in place and like we want it. We only have to be open to true happiness, bliss, or whatever word you choose.
That is the way to real perfection, a reality version.

Image is an ATC made with cut up bits of dried acrylic paint. Don't waste a thing!

What to do for Anyone who has Everything

It gets harder each year to find creative gifts for people like parents and grandparents who have so much and need so little. I had mentioned this before and told about the idea I got from another artist (don't remember who) to give a box of wishes. I posted the tags I made with 55 wishes for my parents 54th wedding anniversary. Well, here is the finished gift ready to wrap.

Variations on a theme

I love this clip art image of the Madonna. Forgotten where I got it.

If you know tell me and I'll post it.

I usually make my own Christmas cards but most people get the duplicate version.

A few get original designs. Here are those for a dear friend or two and my

dear parents, husband and son. The greeting inside will simply read REJOICE!

I hope you rejoice as well this holy season of Advent and Christmas and into the New Year and everyday of the years to come. Christ is the best gift of all. Spread His love and joy to all you meet along the journey.

Christmas spirit

Sunrise, morning light

God reminds us, "all is alright"

He tells us to follow his lead

we'll make it to heaven indeed

seek His face

in the human race

share your gifts

other's spirits you'll life

ABC sampler, watercolor, color pencil and packing tape transfers

Gratitude Journals and other good ideas

We've all heard it!

• keep a gratitude journal


• give back


• pay it forward

The list goes on and on but do we stick with it? We write resolutions and make New Year's promises. We try to start fresh but we keep going back to square one! Let's take a new challenge:

1. Spend one day a week immersed in only GOOD NEWS!

2. Give presents to others on your birthday.

3. Take personal days when YOU need them.

4. Visit the elderly and lonely. Make them smile.

5. Pray. Meditate. Commune with God daily as much as needed.

6. Spend time in the great outdoors daily.

7. Each day ask youself:Am I happy? Why or Why not? ONly YOU can choose to be happy.

8. Don't let troubles get you down. They are of the temporal world.

9. Find your purpose for living.

10. Never stop dreaming, believing and hoping.

Erase the negative and behold these ideas for peace and balance during the busy holidays and everyday!

Family Christmas

Christmas is a time for family.

Gather where you can as many as you can.

Mix with laughter and fun.

Share some homecooking.

Remember.

Relive.

Cherish forever.

another free link to goodies

http://www.ragtagsf.blogspot.com/

Thanks to Sarah Fishburn

and a little clip art from me from my vintage Christmas ornament selections.

another generaous artist

http://artist-how-to.com/Christmascountdown07.htm

hosted by Diane at artist-how-to.com

Thanks Diane!

The Season for Family

I love when I come up with a good idea for my parents, you know how hard it is to find creative and thoughtful gifts for parents. They will celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks and so I not only have to do Christmas gifts but anniversary as well. Christmas is the usual things except for one of the new digital picture frames which I'm really psyched about but for their anniversary, I got a great idea from another artist whom I forgot but if you are reading this and it is you please come forward and take a bow. It's a box of wishes. I purchased a photo box, the kind you can put photos in the top and inside will be the wishes. I'm hand cut 55 (1 for each year and the coming year) tags from different color card stocks, attached hearts punched from various art papers some handmade and printed 55 words from the computer and attached to each, then distressed it all with distressing ink pads to make it look vintage. I plan to have them laminated and then either tie together or attach with a binder ring.

Please look at the layout of the multiple colored tags. It was so fun and fairly quick and easy. choosing the 55 words was the hardest part. I will list them below and attach a photo of the tags.

Christmas is EVERYDAY!

Nothing is Impossible

The last of the autumn leaves
Glitter my yard
Each one unique and special
Reminding me of the fragility of life
They say
Life isn't as good as you think
It's better
That which does not kill us makes us stronger
Cliches come and clichés go
But God promises to never leave us
Nor forsake us.
He is the alpha and omega
He is the beginning and end
He is all powerful and
Omnipresent
If we don't find Him
It's because we moved
Nothing is impossible with Him
Glory be to God.

Image is cover of an altered book I am making as a gift for a GWTW fan.

Christmas is in the air

Here is another link to a great site for free images: http://www.karenswhimsy.com/

Please continue to inform me of other favorite sites. Many just ask for a small donation or a link provided on your blog or website.

It seems to me that artists are some of the most generous folks in the world. I know so many fine ones who literally give their fine work away just to have it appreciated and enjoyed. I've been guilty myself.
I would gladly rather give a finished piece to someone that really gets it than to have it piling up in the corner somewhere. How do you feel about that? Are artists more charitable at Christmas or are artists just more charitable period? I think the latter is just about right.

Whatever your thoughts, I do hope you remember to share your abundance with others this Christmas and all through the year.

Image is a watercolor I used on my Christmas card several years ago.

Once again Christmas is a Charitable Time

Here are a few links to wonderfully generous folks giving of their talents for your Christmas cheer:

http://countdown.tentwostudios.com/index.html

http://faithsisters.com/shop/

http://www.clipsahoy.com/

http://www.mayang.com/textures/index.htm

There are dozens more. Feel free to share your list in a comment and I will post them all here. Feel free to copy and use the attached images of some of my own original angel images. Thanks and blessings to all!

Christmas Cheer

How to keep it:

• focus on true meaning


• give to others


• expect nothing but the miracle of the joy fo the season


• listen to lots of good holiday music


• believe in the Christ child, virgin birth and star of bethlehem


• attend church


• sing loudly


• smile at everyone


• let someone in front of you at the checkout


• look at children's faces


• look at the elderly's faces


• look up


• listen for bells


• take long walks


• sleep enough


• eat healthy


• share your abundance

Please add your own thoughts to the list of ways to spread the holiday magic!

Image is from last Christmas's family gathering.

Another day closer

Each day I know Christmas is one day closer. The joy and anticipation of the season is the best part. Once the day is here, it is gone so quickly. So we should take each day beginning December 26 and with great excitement and anticipate the Savior's coming. The family gatherings. The cheer to spread and the amazing feeling of peace on earth. Many times we think there can be no peace with war, sickness, failures etc. but I read somewhere that true peace comes in the midst of strife. So seek it out. Even if it's a mere few minutes. If you just have to draw away for a few moments alone with yourself and God. Feel His love and embrace and know that each day we are one day closer to fulfillment of life.

Image is another Christmas card design from my kid's classes. Hope it inspires you to take out the paints and paper and paint some original cards for the special people on your list.

Rainy Days and Mondays - Guilt Free?

So much to do and just wanting to relax and enjoy the quiet day....is that bad? I need to finish decorating for the holidays, bake, shop, wrap, clean, make art, mail cards and art submissions and the list goes on and on and on just like yours I'm sure. Please share how you take advantage of rainy days just for you and not feel guilty. I find myself going from task to task, saying, "I'll just do this and then take time for me." BUT after an almost entire day of little chore to little chore, the day is gone and I took no time for me. I am a firm believer in taking time for me to be better for my family. When I don't for weeks on end, I often get resentful and turn out to be a not very "nice" person to live with....so share your thoughts on how you make time for you and not feel one bit bad about it!

Image is a card idea for my kids class. It's just little strokes from various paint pens to make the tree shape.

A Season to TRUST

TRUST

• the reason for the season


• peace on earth


• glad tidings


• joy to the world


• shopping will be finished


• baking will be finished


• good will toward your fellow "artist"


• the smile of a child


• time with relatives


• safe travel


• a kiss under the mistletoe


• a white Christmas for some

Add your own thoughts of things to trust at this wonderful season of the year! Please share with us!

A Good Artist is Easy to Find

As I was visiting a local art gallery and holiday sale yesterday, I took time to once again look at the work of a favorite local artist's exhibit. She died a couple years ago and her work has been on display since then. I own a few small pieces but was considering a larger purchase.

The thought came to mind that we have so many fine artists come and go. They are talented and and prolific but once they are deceased, their work is either in high demand or forgotten. I'm afraid that is what is happening with this fine artist's work. My work is not nearly as fine but will soon be forgotten and discarded once I am gone. I wonder how much great art has ended up in thrift shops, basements, attics and worse yet the local land fill. Which also makes me ask many questions. Are we too prolific as artists? Are we wasting money, time and supplies? Can we limit creativity? Should we? What is the answer? I'd love to hear your thoughts on these questions and ideas.

Image is one of my vessel images done in relief on a canvas board.

Thanksgiving is more than

Thanksgiving is more than
sitting around the same dinner table
being in the same town
eating turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie
watching football and parades
planning for holiday shopping and sales events
Thanksgiving is about a heart bursting with appreciation for the gifts God has given us all year.
We should celebrate that every day of every year we breathe.

Blessings to you all!

It's my BIRTHDAY!

I am 52 today!

It's not too painful!

I counted my blessings this morning first thing...not what I wished or wanted.

I already have everything I need and most of what I want...

• a happy loving family


• 2 homes


• transportation


• clothes and food


• skills


• a loving SAVIOR!


• and so much more!

We are here to serve

We often hear only the negative about computers....malfunctions, people doing bad things to systems, people leaving their families for other lives...the list goes on but I'm here to say computers do good too. I have a whole network of friends that are there at the click of a button to pray for needs, friends to keep in touch with during busy times, inspirational sites continually feed my spirit and my artistic endeavors. Other people's blogs tell me that we are all in this world together. We all have similar problems and goals and needs and like the old song goes...people need people and people need the Lord...we're all in it together so let's help each other out at every chance possible.

May you know many blessings this Thanksgiving season and share them with many!

Image is a digital collage of my shadow with fall colors and computer text.

All Children are ARTISTS!

Picasso said it best "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." This was so evident with my kids yesterday. Painting their self portraits, they abandoned all fear and jumped in with both hands. Laying down bright colors, imaginative backgrounds, changing their hair color. What beautiful work! Not labored or filtered. Why can't we maintain that enthusiastic manner when we grow up? Here are their efforts!

How to spend a day off

Imagine a beautiful fall day to yourself. A rare gift. How will you spend it?

These are possibilities; which will you choose or add?

• clean


• sleep


• watch tv


• shop


• create art


• look at art


• visit


• decorate


• launder


• go to a park


• go to a museum


• organize


• pay bills


• meditate


• practice an old skill


• exercise


• relax


• go for a drive


• all of the above

Sleep can be evasive

Despite not sleeping well the night before and being exhausted last night, I was wide awake at 2:30 this morning. I just decided to get up and get busy. I will crash and burn later. My mom said I didn't like to sleep as a child but I sure wish I could now. Ah, to sleep perchance to dream...

Image is from a journal project I am doing for a Serendipity artist.

See others work here: http://serendipityart.squarespace.com/10-day-journal-project/

Spinning Wheels

Seems the faster I go the slower I get anywhere....Morning is mid gone and I only got prep for class and apts made. How can that be?

Time is my most precious asset and fiddling with all the little details of life gets in the way of just living it.

Guess I'll just make art, take care of family, spend time with God.......and forget the unimportant details

digital collage.

Holiday Season already!

How do I let it get here and not be ahead of the game every year? I have bought a few presents and plan to start baking and freezing this week! I've even thought of putting up the tree early since my son will hopefully be home for Thanksgiving for a couple days. He loves Christmas as much as I do. The Southern Christmas Show comes to town this week and it always puts me in the spirit and gives me lots of ideas. I really like a simple holiday with family. I have a small family but it always amazes me how much there is to do. I love it but if only I could do on 4 hours of sleep a night. Not possible.
I also think it's time to start those gratitude lists and let the rest take care of itself.

I am thankful for:

• God, my heavenly father



• Christ, my Savior



• super husband



• dear son



• wonderful parents



• dad didn't break his knee when he fell



• home



• friends



• art



• a good life

Have you started your list?

Image is from a beach journal started with a friend. We are the alias mermaids, Maggie and Mia.

More blessings

I spent the day with my parents yesterday. Dad had fallen a couple days ago and had doctor apts already lined up. He only went to the ER after he decided it was serious. No broken bones but his arthritic knee was messed up pretty bad. He's diabetic and on cumaden (not sure of spelling) so they have to be cautious of what they do. Despite it all we had a fun time going together and enjoying the time together and fall color on the ride.

I realized once there the same stretch of high 70 goes to where my son lives. It felt good to know we were connected by that road even though about 400 miles apart. This short verse came to mind.

A span of Hwy 70 connects the state end to end
as our hearts connect our love and care for one another.
I can never know the depth an volume of this love without
knowing the importance of God in it all.

Blessing on you this day! Enjoy the wild altered me photo. Altered by scratching out the background and adding prismacolor and Elmer's paint pens to the remains.

When is too much too much?

I finally got good at saying NO, but still find myself with too many projects, commitments and dreams. I just want to make art and share it the best way I know how. Seems this blog is the way. I've tried to start a new blog at Artella but I seldom get my self on there to do it. How do those of you who keep several blogs going do it? I have dial up internet service so loading and waiting is so slow for me. Maybe that's one reason I often fall short. I do find a little time for art almost every single day. I do several swaps. I still take care of my husband and grown son and parents and some friends. I'm not old by any means of today's standards (52) but I do get tired easily and chase various aches and pains around. 24/7 never seems to be enough time! Please share you ideas with me. Blessings to you who do it all and do it well.

Check out my weak blog and other GREAT blogs at http://artellacafe.com/blogs/creative_inspirations_2/default.aspx

Until next time....here's a little wc palmetto tree from my Kiawah week.

Always a Down to counter the Up

Worn out....guess the hyper last two weeks finally took its toll. Just vegged out with TV. Went to bed and finally slept about 1:30 AM. No energy for the days list of to do's. Hate to post downer blog entries so I'll counter it with an art image I did at the beach week before last, when I was carefree and creative. It's the letter A for a vintage alphabet swap. I send in the A's and receive back a batch of each letter from different participants. Lots of great places to do online art swaps. It really does help your creativity to do someone else's idea and then see all the varieties. (I received my batch of DOD and Frida tags from that swap and WOW were they great!

Doing another complete alphabet set in this fashion to submit somewhere. By the way the technique was paint a piece of matboard with the vaseline crackle paint technique from Claudine Hellmuth. Dry. Remove vaseline. Cut into 1 1/2 inch squares. Layer with Prismacolor Art Stix. Then add packing tape transfer letters. Voila! Coat with gel medium.

Did a few mixed media sketches this AM to rev me up but I think it's going to take a decent night's sleep to do the trick completely.

Blessings to all...and get your sleep or the creative muse will nap and you'll miss out on something GREAT!

Fall is such a special time

I love the crisp air and blue sky. I love the fall leaves and changing shadows. It feels like a time for people change too. Maybe an easier time for resolutions. Although I seem to make resolutions every day cause I break them everyday. Maybe today will be different.

Image is a digtal collage from my Kiawah trip with original poem written while walking one morning on the beach.

Life is full of BLISS

when you take time to expect it... I had such a beautiful weekend with my husband and son celebrating the son's 23rd birthday.

Children bring such joy and happiness to us from the day of conception. It's unfathomable.

They are such sponges when little and then when they become adults we are so proud, the sponge just explodes with beautiful memories and times. There's a verse in proverbs, not taking time to look it up, but it simply says (train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it)! How true! I think we tried to raise our son to be smart, thoughtful, responsible and dedicated to his Lord. He's all that and more. I only hope I can be a little like him when I grow up!

Ah, the beauty of LIFE!

A wonderful week on the coast last week and now a weekend at another coast (New Bern, NC) to celebrate my son's 23rd birthday! Blessings abound and I try to count them daily.

I suggest you do the same. The more you count your blessings the more you forget your troubles. It really does work! Try it next time you feel kinda down, blue or just our of sorts.

Here's another little inspiration from last week!

AS THE SUN RISES

After the walk along the shore

Inspiration is everywhere!

If you just keep looking and reading and thinking and waiting and expecting....be open to it. Let the creative spirit within you reach out to the spirit of all creativity (God for me) and let the wisdom flow.

I just finished reading a wonderful book called The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland. If you like to paint, you like nature and the two combined, you will love this book and receive much inspiration for your own creative endeavors. I highly recommend it. Here is a quote from the book:

"You who dwell in the forest," Emily murmured..."You have given me the longing to paint...give wisdom to my eyes to see into the soul of this land. Though I will walk through this valley of the shadow of afar and lonely wilderness, help me to hear a spirit song. Give power to my brush so I can create something true and beautiful and important."

My image for this post is a little different from what I usually share. It shows my workspace while at Kiawah. The lovely glass top dining table became my studio away from home and here you see lots of my favorite paints and tools I travel with.