Day 91 The POWER of ONE

Haw many more powerful ONES can you add to the list? Please share.....

Day 90 Finding Inner Sanctum

mind escape is found

sculpting words and images

into an inner sanctum

a life of fear and pain

becomes one of remembering

the blessings that out balance

the search for peace and contentment

is realized within the heart

ready when needed

simply go within

pull out the hidden gold

and rest in its power

Day 90 Finding Inner Sanctum

Fatih, Hope and Love gets you through!

God listens to all we say.
He answers in His perfect way.
He surely tires of our repetitive please
And grocery list prayer tease.
We should just talk as with a dear friend
And allow spaces and quiet times to spend.
He knows without a doubt what we need.
He sends it with perfect speed.
So rest assured the plan is right.
Trust and be patient with all your might.

Day 89 Flying High and Praising God!

Amazing how a down day can quickly turn upward! Dad is coming home Sept 4. Still in recover. Prayers still needed but home. Mom is so happy. I am so happy. Pray for his safety, continued improvement and peace in his body, mind and soul.

Speak Lord, your servant heareth.

Bless me Lord, you servant pleads.

Help me Lord, your servant cries.

Guide me Lord, your servant begs.

Show me Lord, your servant exclaims.

Balance me Lord, your servant falters.

(this was written before the news of Dad's homecoming)

Day 88 Recovery for whom?

Recovery continues, not only for Dad but Mom and me as well. She admits to still crying every night. Everyday annoyances and daily details are still a challenge. Keeping it all together is wearing us both down. Recovery for stroke patients can take up to 2 years. I think for the family as well. A stroke not only attacks the victim's brain but the victim's and family's body, heart, mind, soul and spirit. Without scripture, prayers, and journaling....well, not only would I not be writing this but I would also not be here. Space is needed. Time is necessary. Hope is eternal.

alone

coming unglued

no where to hide

except in Thee oh Lord

desperate

breaking apart

lost and confused

except with Thee oh Lord

spent

emotionally paralyzed

blind and mute

except to Thee oh Lord

vacant

completely empty

failing helplessly

no net to catch me

except You oh Lord

Day 87 Dreaming

of days where things don't break,

the mail gets where it's suppose to go

and all's right in my little dream world!

Day 86 Expect G O O D!

Give God your best:
He'll take care of the rest.
Trust Him every day.
He'll bless you in every way.
Hope in His compassion and love
And He'll send you angels from above.
Pray for His will;
And your mind He will still.
Praise His mighty power;
And on you His mercy will shower.
Know Him as your best friend;
He will be with you till the end.

Final Lessons-Visioning

Here are my final journal pages for the True North Arts Visioning Journal Workshop!

Here's a link to the workshop if you care to try it! http://collagediva.typepad.com/vision/

These last two images are all about acrylic paint, collage materials (found and created), words and the passion to find balance in my life. My word focus and attitude for 2009.

I admit to being addicted to art and creating. It's the one place I feel free, peaceful, and truly M E ! My passion is ART and it affords me balance in every aspect of my life. I realized recently, after depending on my journaling to get me through Dad's stroke recovery, art and words are my desired drug of choice. Without them I'd be completely insane!

Day 85 No Escape Route

Escape routes are non-existent

when dealing with a serious issues.

Faith and hope make

endurance possible.

Trust and prayer gives

new focus for days.

Hours seem to be longer

when tired and worn.

Sharing the burden lightens

the load but lessens it only a bit.

Make the most of any and all

rest, help and support.

Keep it real.

Be honest.

If solitude is needed, take it!

If tears help, release them!

If laughter is possible, do it!

If screams work, let it out!

But continue to lean on God the whole way!

Dad continues to make slow steady progress!

Day 84 Lessons still Learned

Three tired souls

struggle for lasting peace.

A moment of sanity

is activated.

Three tired souls

hope for a homegoing.

A life of blessings

is appreciated.

Three tired souls

seek patience to endure.

A trying time will

certainly strengthen faith.

Day 83 - God is everything!

God is our

hope in tribulation

promise in distress

strength in persecution

sustance in hunger

protector in battle

answer to questions

Savior in need

companion in loneliness

compase when lost

joy when sad

Day 82 conversations with God

I prayed, "Lord, are you there?

He answered patiently, "I always am."

I prayed, "God, do I have the strength for another day?"

He replied "With my power you do."

I prayed, "Father, why am I so weak?"

He said, "You try to do everything without me."

I replied slowly, "I know. I must surrender all control to you."
He answered, "That's right."

I said, "I will try harder."

He said, "That's all I need to hear. Go in peace, daughter."

Digital image of Dad from about 40 years ago.

Thoughts on Home

Today's Upper Room and Luke's story of the Prodigal Son discusses homecomings--of which Dad is so close to having. The writer refers to the "homesickness" and "longing" for home and God. Mom and I have certainly experienced this as well, maybe not to the degree or extent which Dad has in the past eighty one days but we sure know about longing for and missing home and routine.
Unfamiliar places
Lengthy absences
Holes in the family unit
Alone and lost feelings

The realization is that home is where God is and when you feel closest to your beloved family.
Home is a state of mind.
Home is where you find your heart.
Home is where you bare your soul.
Home is the place where God sits in your spirit.
Home is when you find peace and contentment in living.

Day 81 Dad's style

Dad's style is a lesson for us all!

Patience is a virtue and choice.

Easy going is easy living.

Avoiding worry which is useless energy is the key.

These simple three steps may not keep you from

stroke, heart attack or other disease but

you will deal with it more gracefully.

Keeping your head is just as important for healing

as any medical miracle.

Image is collage and acrylic on canvas board

Day 80 Peace is returning to a weary family

Even though Dad still has much strength and vitality to regain and he must continue to regain thinking processes, he is amazingly becoming the man we have always known and loved. He acts like himself. He speaks in his rhythms. He reasons in his logic. He has remained the calm in the storm--the peaceful one. Mom and I may have grown weary and weak and on the verge of losing it but he somehow continues to be our calming force; which, of course, is God working through him to help us all maintain our sanity and faith through this ordeal.

Joy is found among the sorrows.

Happiness appears between the troubles.

Hope is around every turning corner.

Peace is evident in the eye of the storm.

And the storm is calming now, barely visible.

What a GRAND TREAT!

My dad called me tonight on his cell phone from the healthcare center. It was such a normal and neat conversation! It brought tears to my eyes and made me laugh out loud too. HE IS DOING GREAT! HE WILL BE OKAY! Such blessings to count and count again. So many prayers of gratitfude to lift. How can I ever express it properly? How will God ever truly be able to show God how much I appreciate what he's done for Dad and Mom and me?

This image is of a Mother book I've been working on. The picture is not so great but the book turned out really cute!

Day 79 never forsaken

Never forsaken

God is forever by our side

Through sorrows and joys

No matter the heights or depths,

God is there.

No matter the circumstances,

God is there.

No matter your attitude,

God is there.

In times of doubt or belief,

God is there.

Asking or accepting,

God is there.

In noise or silence,

God is there.

Listen for His still small voice.

Look for His creative flair.

Feel His healing touch.

Know His presence in all things.
Share His abundant love.

Express gratitude for His blessings

He bestows on you daily.

Never forsake Him!

Day 78 Importance of Words

God confirmed the joy and purpose of words as I read my morning devotions on my deck. We juse them to affirm and discover life and its meaning. Job 19:23-29 "Oh, that my words could be recorded....written on a scroll...inscribed with an iron tool on lead...engraved in rock..." And Marsha C in THE UPPER ROOM ( http://www.upperroom.org/) "value of writing...expresses...laments....life changing...reflection...strengthens faith...writing is a wonderful gift we give ourselves."

God gave us words for expression, release and understanding. Sharing them is an even greater gift. If you don't blog or journal do it now. Someone, maybe a stranger or hopefully friend or relative will one day read your words and find comfort and strength for themselves.

Day 77 Every day is a M I R A C L E!

every breath

every heartbeat

every word

every step

every smile

every bite

every hope

every improvement

every question

every answer

EVERY DAY IS A MIRACLE!