Eye exam

I had to go and get my eyes checked this week. How do you look good in the funky glasses they give you? The news wasn't too bad but after both my son and I got our lenses updated and exams done I ended up with a $500 bill. OH MY!

Art Studio day!

I have had this large canvas just sitting there waiting to be painted on. I knew it was going to go on a small corner wall in my livingroom but nothing would come to mind. Today as I was looking at a post by Kelly Rae and how she was going to give one of her paintings away. I had a thought. I am never going to win anything. I can't tell you how many drawings I have signed up for and seriously, I never, ever win. So I painted my own version and it hangs on my wall with this years goals on her skirt so that I won't forget. It was a glorious day of creativity and finally that white canvas is no longer sitting in my studio and my wall is no longer empty. I hope you will follow the link to Kelly Rae's blog because she is raising money for Haiti and anyone who donates will get their name in the drawing. Maybe you will win :)

Blue Monday

I just read this morning that today is considered Blue Monday, the darkest day of the year. I had no idea. I'm not sure knowing that fact actually helps me at all but the sun is out almost to prove that statement wrong. I think it will be a good day.

I did write a little poem before I knew about this Blue Monday thing.

Some of it is written on this journal page.

When the days are gray

and the cold wind blows

I dream of summer colors

so warm and bold

The Spring is nice

birds chirping and buds on the trees

but nothing beats the summer months

of splashing in a stream

Picnics - concerts - walks in the park

early morning sunrise

no longer waking in the dark

Oh, how I long for summer

vacations at the beach

camping in the forest

s'mores and ice cream treats

I have so many memories

of good times spend with family and friends

but mostly what I long for

is to be warm again.

I finished the pages about the Valentine card making party the other day. You never know what I will add to my journal pages and this one has the recipe for the lovely soup we had. YUM!

I also have been working on some backgrounds. I can paint on them or print them out to use in my journal. I'm not sure what I will do with them yet but they are just pretty to look at for now.

Valentine card-making party

Yesterday I got together with some friends to make Valentines. I have to say that I started the day with a headache that only got worse as the time went on so I was not very inspired. I stuck to working in my journal instead. But, it was to good to hang out and be creative on some level.

Here I am working on the journal page above. Can I just say, I love to work in my journal. I would do it all the time if I could. I really need to have journal parties at my house where all you do it sit around, drink, journal, laugh and talk about life. Any takers?


My dear friend Karin who hosted the party, made the most yummy soup and bread combo for lunch. Thanks Karin, you are the best!!!!

Here is the gang, Jodi, Janene( my niece who I went to Paris with) and Karin. It was a great time even with a headache.

And you can't go to a party, especially a Valentines one with out yummy treats. There were bowls of candy sitting around and also these luscious cupcakes.

Yum!

January update

It seems that so much has been going on lately but not a lot to blog about. Just regular ol' life stuff like laundry and dishes and de-cluttering. I did want to show some photos of my new haircut.
I'm really loving how short it is. Since I can't take a picture of the back of my head, and that would not be very exciting anyway, just take my word for it that it is really short.

My husband and I took a drive down to Sacramento, CA this past weekend. It was about a 12 hour drive for us. We took two days to get down there and one to get back. Let me tell you, I was glad to get out of the car when we got home. We went down there to check out a program called The Genesis Process. It was designed for people with addictions but it doesn't take you long to figure out that we all have unhealthy coping behaviours that affect our lives and basically are addictions. I learned so much about how the brain (limbic system) works and why we do what we don't want to do and don't do what we want to do. So basically, if you have habitual coping behaviors to deal with work, sex, anger, relationships, anxiety or fear and food that are self destructive then you have an addiction. This particular program has raised the success rate to 80% in areas that previously only had 5% success rates before. I am totally stoked about this program. If you want to check it out go here. They explain the process much better than I can.

Here is another picture I took on our drive down to California. The trees were so interesting and with the low hanging fog behind them it was very ethereal looking.

This picture was from Christmas of me and my girls. It came out a little bit blurry but was so cute I had to share. Obviously, it was taken before the haircut.

Mobile Blogging

I am trying out mobile blogging on my phone. I just got a Droid phone for Christmas and I love it. I can do so much on my phone now. My last phone did not have a camera so I am excited about that too especially since this one is 5 megapixels.

We are on the road, heading through the mountains in northern California and it is such a beautiful day.

Empty Spaces

It has been so quiet at my house. We are down to only one son at home since two of my kids and grandchild moved out last month. For me the quiet is therapeutic and yet foreign. With all that is going on in my heart I find that I want to just sit back and rest in the solitude. I am craving the empty cup of my being to be filled and it has started to happen, slowly. My pursuit of faith and love and peace and simplicity is moving forward as well. Removing obstacles to those pursuits is mostly saying no to more stuff and time fillers. But saying no leaves empty spaces. The empty space is good.

Yesterday I cleaned out the bathroom which included six drawers and two cupboards. I made it through three drawers and the two cupboards and cleared off the counters. Plugged in the air freshener and washed the rugs. Today, I will finish the remaining drawers. The clearing out and cleaning up just feels so good. There is something very freeing to have the space you live in be welcoming and smell and look fresh.

Some fun stuff going on around here: I got my hair cut really short. If I can get a decent picture I will share. Love it! I also got to spend a few hours art journaling with my niece. I didn't get much done but she organized my art bag. It is much more functional now. I am such a clutter bug and I can take any space and clutter it up in no time. She keeps me in line. I'm sure this won't be the last time I ask her to help me out with organization. The only way to keep the clutter at a minimum is to not have much to work with. I have seriously thought that I should limit my art supplies to what fits in my carrying bag. Just get rid of everything else and be forced to work with a limited amount of stuff. I don't know if I can do it though. I'm sure my studio will the last room I de-clutter for this very reason.

My verse for today:
Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful :) Colossians 3:15

Beginnings

Ok, I have my goals now is the hard part, figuring out how to accomplish them. I could let fear overtake me and get stuck right where I am but the possibilities of what could be give me hope and determination, so I move forward. Creeping slowly, testing the waters and praying for success in the days ahead and letting go of regrets if all I want to get done doesn't happen. I can feel the fresh breeze already blowing through the house. I actually cleaned out two drawers yesterday. Today I will spend some time with a friend who is on my list of supporters. Simple beginnings are the best kind for me.

My verse for the day:
So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong. Heb 12:12

PS If anyone is looking for an awesome bible study to start the new year out with, I have just the one for you. Into the Word by Anne Graham Lotz. It is a 52 week study and I am loving it.

A Word for 2010

This new year has arrived with big changes and hinting of hope, peace and love. I have been just sitting back and watching them all unfold and marveling at God's way of working.

Back in November I had prayed about 2010 and thought it would be fun and good to have one word that would help me focus for what would be coming down the road. SIMPLIFY was the word that I was given. I held onto that word, knowing how necessary it was and yet not knowing how it would play out in my life.

Then, I bought Jamie Ridlers Soul Reflections workshop knowing that I needed to have purpose and direction in my art pursuits. As it turned out, the workshop was wonderful but it turned out to be a springboard for developing my life goals for this coming year not just my art. I was so surprised about what appeared in front of me that I sat in total silence almost in unbelief at what I was looking at. So I prayed some more and wrote out my 2010 goals.

Then as a final sealing of the deal, God gave me two verses to hold onto this year. To remind me of my focus and purpose. The whole thing was incredible and precious and encouraging to my wounded heart of 2009. It would take pages to tell it all and I wouldn't do that to you but here are the goals and verses that will be my foundation for the coming year.

SIMPLIFY

1. simplify my life by:

a. de-cluttering the house

b. focusing on only a few relationships

c. make my relationship with God #1

2. Limit my time spent with joy stealers

3. Create a support system of friends

4. Get healthy (spiritually, emotionally, physically)

5. Create a place of peace and refuge

Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus on whom our faith depends from start to finish Heb. 12:1b-2a

Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith, and love and peace and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. II Timothy 2:22b

When all these things happen then the art just flows because I am relaxed, peaceful and creatively free. 2010 is looking hopeful and simple and I am ready to move forward with purpose.

What is your word for 2010? If you don't have one then what do you want it to be?

Happy New Year

I have been enjoying my time of relaxation and family time. I thought I would post throughout the holidays but that didn't happen. I will be back this next week with more journal pages and updates but until then, I really hope that you all are having time to reflect on 2009 and look forward to 2010. Best wishes for the coming year.