An Old Friend

It's been months since I've touched a brush to canvas.  It felt good tonight to paint again.  I've been working all summer on moving my classroom from one location in the building to another and planning for the year ahead.  It's funny, I always forget how long things take to do in the beginning, always underestimate the time involved in learning procedures, getting through lessons initially, and beginning to feel that rhythm that comes after getting to know each other for a few weeks. Once that is established the real fun can begin.

I've been thinking about my "Old Friend" today - about how incredibly well He knows me and how thankful I am that He has good plans for me.  I love that He knows what tomorrow holds and promises to walk right through every moment of  it with me.  I love that He sings over me.  He sings!  The Bible says so!  And I love that no matter what He never stops loving me.  He can't.  It's physically impossible because He IS love.  Crazy wonderful isn't it? Sometimes I don't notice Him, forget to talk with Him, forget that He already knows the stuff I'm worried about and has a solution and a plan.  I'm glad He forgives that too.
God's blessings everyone.

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12

Ah, Sweet Colors of Childhood

I saw the idea for this crayon wreath, as yet unfinished (needs a little somethin' somethin') on the site Pinterest.  I'm afraid it has become a bit of an obsession for me.  I've spent most of July browsing and filing things I've found there - diy crafts, classroom crafts, home decor, cooking.  Ugh.  It's endless joy.  As is like me, though, I have found meaning (or imagined it, however you choose to view it) in the lowly crayon.  I cannot explain to you how ridiculously restless I was once I saw the perfect little crayon wreath example.  I just HAD to make my own.  As is my way, I had to turn the crayons the opposite way, use a different fabric and leave off the flowers.  It still seems to be missing something, but anyway.  On to the metaphor....

I have to say this children's wreath is a symbol of all of the "playing" I'm ready to do now that I'm (just) over 40.  I had a fantastic conversation with the mother of one of my former students.  I think there is a certain fearlessness that you reach once you get to 40-something.  I LOVE that I can go to the pool and not care that all in attendance must wear sunglasses because I am so noticeably white (no tanning bed for me, thanks).  I love that I can be slightly over my comfortable weight and still feel ok...and actually enjoy myself.  I don't worry how loud I laugh when my son says something funny.  I don't care if someone shows up in the same dress.  I can make a fool of myself for the sake of a few little kids who need to get excited about history and love every moment of it.  There is freedom in 40.  Sure things begin to sag like they never did before.  My husband says, "What, so everybody should age except you?"  I love that guy.  Yes, these things may sound trivial, but freedom should never be discounted at any level.  My point?  Well, if there is a point to these ramblings it would be this.... play with your kids, find simple joy in sunshine and salt water (whether pool water or the actual ocean), and for goodness sake, go color something!
God's blessings everyone.  Happy "playing."

A Day For Nana

I laugh as I write this.  If anyone would've told me I'd be a grandmother at 35 I would've laughed in their faces.  I love how God is absolutely full of wonderful surprises, things we'd never expect yet things that bless us immensely.  I am now no longer 35.  I am actually 41.  It is a fact my students know well. (It's very important when you're 8 to know how old your teacher is!)  I am, in truth, a "step-gran," a.k.a. "Nana."  This fact makes me the wonderful beneficiary of sweet hugs, giggles, funny stories and all of the delightful chaos that goes along with a sweet little pairing of two little girls.  As a mom to a 10 year old boy, I admit it's sometimes a bit of a culture shock at first, but big joy nonetheless.  Today our little girls came over while mom and dad were out looking at houses.  We made this awesome recipe from Libby's for Pumpkin Cranberry Bread.  All three kids took turns pouring in the ingredients and making it all come together.  It brought back wonderful memories of cooking with my mom, my son, and watching my grandmother pour handfuls into a big bowl (she never used a recipe).  After the bread baked, which is delicious by the way, I had some quiet time to reflect on the morning's events.  I was reminded, by my husband's wisdom and my own reflection, that it is the small moments in life that we treasure most.  I would trade in some of the crazy theme-park moments in life to have five more minutes with my grandmother.  I would pay more attention.  I would listen more and talk less.  I would sit in silence and soak in the joy of those moments.  They are indeed a gift from God.  So tonight, here's to life - unscripted, unspoiled, beautiful, simple, and unexpectedly sweet.  God's Blessings everyone!

Morning Canopy

12 x 16

acrylic on canvas

This is the view out my sunroom window.  One morning, early, I sat alone and just enjoyed the quiet, the coffee, and the prayer time.  Such an amazing thing - starting the day with the knowledge that Christ is present and will, if I allow Him to, direct each step that I take.  If I let Him, He'll guide, instruct, redeem, energize, heal, and restore me through His presence.  That is the real and promised result of worship, of simple awareness (acknowledgement) of His awesome presence.  I think that's where being a visual learner really helps.  If I close my eyes and talk to Him, I can see Him there with me.  When I look outside my window and see all the beauty He created it just overwhelms and amazes me that I am witnessing the actual character of my Creator - strength, depth, gentleness, beauty, grace, sacrifice, provision, presence.  Wow.  Praying you will find quiet moments to gather strength, courage, and direction in His amazing presence.!
God's blessings.

Sing!

This was an early morning piece.  The house was quiet except for the birds chirping outside. "Sing" came to mind after I finished painting.  Guess I was more conscious of the birds than I realized.  Funny, people think of singing only when you're happy.  It's the times I need Jesus most that I sing.  It's like thanksgiving - a willful act, a choice to praise when things aren't going the way you've planned.  I think THAT is what singing is for - to lift us up and out of the "right now" of life, to make us stand firm, to remember in Whom our feet are firmly planted.  "The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." Psalm 37:23

We sing when our "plan" isn't lining up with God's - when His way seems a hard way...but we're choosing trust, choosing faith, choosing to persevere and hold onto Him until the end, until He sees us through.  Then our songs become those of joy because we held on.  We trusted.  Today I'm thinking of my sister whose husband is serving overseas.  I've seen her stand firm in her faith and watched as the two of them maneuvered through the difficulties of military life with humor, determination, and a deep dedication to one another.  Today we sing as a nation - a song of remembrance and of thanks for the freedom to say what we feel, to live as we believe,  to serve God and live our lives enjoying our freedoms.  For those who have served, those overseas now, and those who died serving... thank you, and may God richly bless you and your families.  Happy Memorial Day.

Reaching

12 x 12

acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

This one is in honor of my nephew, Tyler and his Confirmation today. What an awesome and Holy moment - a young man confessing his faith in his Savior, professing his beliefs, and making a choice to follow Christ on what is definitely NOT an easy path, but so worth it. I am so proud of him. Witnessing that moment brought back so many memories - huge failures and the harsh consequences from choices made out of desperation instead of strength, times of forgiveness, tears, and heartache...and much healing.  And grace.  God's incredible grace.  As I sat in the church service this morning I wanted so badly to tell those boys all the lessons I'd learned, the hard lessons I could've avoided if only I'd listened, believed, asked, waited, hoped, held on, and loved myself more.  I thought of all the hard choices they have ahead, the mistakes, the fears...life. Then there was that phrase, "With the help of God."  What more could we ask for?  Those boys stood and promised to follow Him....with the help of God. And I felt peace realizing yet again that He knew us in advance, before our birth, before our first breath.  That's the point.  He went to the cross knowing us, knowing what our choices would mean for Him.  Yet He went.  And He comes.  He comes to each of us.  Quietly, gently, beautifully.  Are you reaching for something more?  Be assured that He is reaching for you.  Ask Him to make Himself known to you. Invite Him in and watch Him do something amazing in you.  God's blessings.

Collage

8 x 8

 acrylic on canvas board

Contentment.  That was my pastor's sermon today.  He spoke about contentment and learning to be happy with "enough."  That really spoke to me today.  I'm so full of striving.  I strive to be so much better at just about everything I do.  While it's so good to continue working toward a goal and learning, is it possible to continue learning without striving?  I've always heard that to strive to do more and be more is a good thing.  I'm not so sure sometimes.  I get so busy pushing myself harder and harder that I forget to stop and be in the moment I've been given.  I hold myself up to some standard that is only reflective of my own expectations ( many of which cannot be met ).

This painting is titled "Collage."  It is an assemblage of previous paint palettes,  a great shade of green and some cool acrylic medium.  It has great symbolism for me today.  It reminds me that God can take the bits of my life, good and bad, and work them into His perfect plan.  He can use it all and make it into something good.  Where I fall short, when I really mess up, and when I'm completely at my best - He takes all of that and is able to turn it into something worthwhile somehow.  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28 What an amazing God.  How cool is that? Just goes to show...He truly IS "enough."
God's blessings!