Primfixins

Still Here Still in Glory!

2012-02-15T10:22:00.000-05:00

Still here, still enjoying my sabbatical, still immersed in the beautiful Holy Noise of family life!

Enjoying this time for every ounce it's worth! Hoping you are blessed and doing the same all is glory and grace!

West Coast Surfing?!

2011-09-05T21:43:00.000-04:00

Stellar day at the beach today! We had lots of things to do around the house but through laboring to the wind this Labor Day to go see the surfing! It's not very often us West Coasters get waves, but thanks to tropical storm Lee we had some motion in our ocean here on Venice beach. There were close to 40 surfers in the water at any given time and plenty soaking up the sun on the beach, and all were more than happy to show their stuff for the crowds! Surfers of all ages and skill levels were out and it was truly an exciting day at Venice. We watched the action from the North jetty where they were jumping in. Some paddled from the beach but most were jumping off the tip of the jetty to catch the bigger surf just past it. This is definitely something we all stop to see given it;s rarity!

Nature Speaks of Nature's God

2011-08-25T19:56:00.000-04:00

Early morning walking and life is rousing. Calm spilling between branches as ibis shake and stir. The stretching and soft beating of duck feathers preened and now gently drifting alone pond bank. The curious eleven year old and I watch and we hear. God's not quiet, The Creator is ever communicating, there is never a quiet moment for an ear who is listening.

The invisible things of God. God's attributes are indeed manifest in these created things this morning, not just clearly seen but also clearly heard being manifested by his swimming, preening, flying, graceful works. Nature speaks of nature's God.
His eternal power and divinity and too His care and His provision. The earth and the heavenly bodies are effects which must be due to eternal power and divinity and sparrows are taken care of and the ibis and the duck, of how much more value am I to my Father, that I would think He is silent in times of need?

We listen for a familiar bird but hear none and Prayerfully consider that during the times I need to hear from Him maybe my preconceived notions prevent me from hearing what He wants me to hear. I close my eyes now and stop listening for birds calls and listen to feathers softly beating the air and ripples of water meeting the edge of pond of breeze through leaves and He reminds me of the importance of the unseen and unfamiliar things gloriously manifested in this life, of His power and glory right here right now.

Pause

2011-08-08T21:18:00.001-04:00

Giving Thanks today for:

A pause: when you look at the calendar and realize nothing has been scheduled....
and busy, tired bones just....still and resting
listening and looking and smiling at the quiet moments flapping by in the breeze

Curious moments , curiosity being satisfied

The food chain knowing that it's all in His plan

Letting go and trusting God
The giddy uncontrollable nervous laughter when you find your wings and use them and discover you can really fly.

Sizing up the mountain and deciding that the size doesn't really matter

Journey's and not knowing the course before you set sail but know He causes the wind and keeps us afloat

Art and A Spoiler Alert for CPA Group Swap!!

2011-08-04T22:19:00.012-04:00

Ahhhh! I'm doing art again! Just finishing up a swap due in Sept.. This one is a mini art journal page swap for CPA yahoo group and after that I have one more squash book to make before we start our schooling again! I have discovered this really great web site called Artsee Bloggers, Geri has links to hundreds of other artsee bloggers in many different mediums she is also posting tutorials, freebies, and blog giveaways and will have artist interviews!You can visit and join the site if you wish but even better you can list your blog by adding it to her site you can even enter more than one category because if you are anything like me you create in several different categories! So please go check it out. Vacation is over (boo-hoo) and as I emptied my camera card on to the computer I realized that I took almost no photos!!!!! Imagine that, the pathological picture taker not picture taking? We really had a good time, I got to enjoy my entire family for most of the week while we swam and lounged at a resort in Orlando.

Olive Garden yummies! (Thanks Mom!!!)

Sisters making a tote bag together

Brianne got to Tie dye a shirt at the resort (I think this has heavily influenced my choice of colors for this swap I am doing!)

2011-07-25T21:21:00.003-04:00

I must say, that even after counting the gifts into thousands I was failing to "see" fully, the beauty and goodness of God in the everyday, small, seemingly mundane living, I'm slow like that, thick to boot but I keep at it, this counting.

Am I so caught up in the world that believes that only radical healing, and cross country moves are miraculous? For such a long time I have cheated myself of days and hours pregnant with the greatness of God's glory because I could only "see" if the Glory was glaringly bright, blaring loud. Or pleasurable. Isn't that just like the enemy always flashing and wowing to get our attention of kilter, to instill ingratitude, to discredit and corrupt everything that God said was good.

Me, so lightning fast to grab hold of the enemy's lie that it can only be gold or good if it is big, obvious. Skipping the trail of bread crumbs of erroneously perceived "small" graces to the point of ingratitude. until it dawns clear these last few hard and thorny months And here again I am amazed by Grace and the goodness of God in something "ordinary". Looking again at the familiar is indeed helping me to see it as unfamiliar and the adulation is welcome. Going back over now, a life lived in the fast lane which is not really lived at all, with a fine tooth gratitude, moving all the rocks to look underneath, using this Eucharistic magnifying glass of thanks to re-know with a renewed mind and exalting Him the gift giver the grace giver and aggrandizing all the things and moments that were once taken for granted or begrudged because of it's discomfort . Because when I stop and do the heart work the daily getting on knees work the gut wrenching 'praise no matter what' the seeing God's face in all the faces.... I see no smallness.... nothing is insignificant and everything is wondrously a gift from the One Perfect Gift Giver....... and seeing IS believing! Seeing all the worth in a single moment of ordinary, knowing more than skin deep that you are loved and thought of, not forgotten, never ever alone, and that all this...is for you.

2011-07-14T16:29:00.001-04:00

Man have I been busy! I have not had time to sit and post anything since June! My aunt had asked me several months ago to make up a few mini albums that she could give to her friend and some ladies in her quilting group as birthday and thank you gifts. I obliged and sent her two for starters. Well, I guess my aunt liked them so much that she showed another friend the mini album and her friend loved them and decided to order TEN to give to her employee's as appreciation gifts!!!!! Yikes! Let me just say they did keep me busy for a little while!!! I really could have taken a bit longer but I wanted to have them done before I went on vacation this Saturday, so I managed and they went into the mail Yesterday. Here is a few photos. The rest of this week I will be cleaning and packing for a week in Orlando with the family for some much needed relaxation. Hopefully I can get some journaling done this week, I haven't been able to do any lately.

This is the inside of the mini album, they are all different but have some similar features on the inside like tags, and small pockets and little folded booklets.

Lots of buttons and ribbon

tons of paper flowers and fabric roses!

See ya all in week or so!

This weeks Photo Shoot

2011-06-24T11:08:00.003-04:00

Photos for the week of June 20th-25th. I've also been working on an order for 10- 6x6 squash albums and enjoying the beginning of summer. I will post the albums as soon as I get some done!

Birthdays and Rainbows

2011-06-18T20:03:00.003-04:00

Here it is....the very last day we will see 10. The last tooth brushing of ten year old teeth, the last bite of macaroni and cheese in a 10 year old mouth, the last time she will see robin egg blue-green, the world, and

herself with 10 year old eyes.

I can see it, the growth we mammas hope to see yet cringe when it come because it hurts a little this growing of our babies. Raising these babies takes all of who we are, and she took all of me the very first moment I laid tired eyes on her June of 2000.
Not knowing it would be so radical and transforming, not knowing if I had what it took to guide another heart through this life full of landmines but I listened and I heard. The voice of The One who created me and made a way for me through a life that was fertile with hurt was calling me to shepherd a heart. Me a wreck in "filthy rags" being called into this High Calling again, I shakily obeyed and prayed that I would "find grace in God's eye's". As I clutched her wrinkled wet body upon my belly I drew in a long slow deep breath in preparation for... who knew what at that time, and held it as she gasped for her first breath ....I'm holding it still, 11 years and many hurdles later holding in moments and memories that I am afraid of forgetting holding with bated breath to see if she will walk out her own salvation when I finally find the courage to take my hand off the proverbial wheel...and I look through the kaleidoscope of what is our lives and wonder how we did it and how we survived this walking things out, walking out a faith that goes from glory to glory when our personalities and moods go from glory to glory! With a twist of that kaleidoscope a truth comes into focus and that is ,that, we made it through because Jesus also takes us from Grace to Grace and there is always a rainbow at the end of each glory and each grace, she is grace and all is grace if you have the right perspective, the Christ perspective. Thank you Jesus for this High calling and holding bated breath and even for the hurting and breaking of a mamma's heart while her babies grow and mature. Thank you for a husband who is willing to stand by and let the mother-mother! Thank you for your spirit both in me and in brand new 11 year old, for provision and for your truth and your presence which without there would be no sensing beauty in the pain, no other perspective, and no fullness of joy, Joy in the complexities of motherhood or in the bending and breaking of our wills to bow down to yours. The balloons now rendered flightless and sinking to the ground , rainbow cake half consumed, memories of a year well lived, I stand in awe understanding, knowing the answer to the How's and why's of of my parenting through the "clouds" and her growing in grace.......it's your covenant- the bow in the clouds that reminds me of your everlasting love and favor, the promise in your son broken and poured out for us mammas and babies.

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. Gen 9:12-16

Happy Birthday Sweet one of 11!

Summer Beauty

2011-06-09T21:00:00.001-04:00

It's there is you look for! Florida is not always the most picturesque when it come to it's seasons especially when it's really hot and really dry! You have to search for it! That I did and ran across these lovelies!

Much Needed Change

2011-06-05T11:11:00.000-04:00

So I decided that this blog needed a change, it's been a while since her last makeover and she defiantly needed a face lift! I finally finished some backgrounds that I had started a while back in hope of getting some journaling done this weekend......it's Sunday and I have not art journaled yet! A yard sale kept us pretty busy Friday and Saturday so today is rest and spend time with Family!

Gradening a Life

2011-05-28T09:54:00.001-04:00

Jas 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Like tiny seemingly insignificant pebbles produce a painfully dramatic consequence for a bare tender foot, so the impact of small unweighed Words can have a painful dramatic impact on a life.

When we are alone and think no one can hear us, bathing in our anger or disappointment and letting thorny words, pebble under foot words slip out into the air, ghosts of whispers of the condition of our hearts fill the space between us and The One who speaks Life into existence. A stench arises and fills nostrils of perfection, and we wonder why we can only grow weeds in our lives, why perfume permeates one side of the garden of our lives and not the other.
I'm like that sometimes, planting ragweed and expecting roses, saying negative things and expecting positive responses, oh wretched soul why cant you just be quiet!
Filthy rags of my own righteousness like ragweed spring up in my thinking and often my mouth and I must fight to keep back the weeds of a soulish past by clinging to the Rock that is a sure foundation.
Remembering that The Gardener never promised that the garden ground of my Life would be smooth and soft, that I must be willing to breakup fallow ground and remove the stones and even the seemingly insignificant pebbles, to let him cultivate the kind of growth and fragrance that belongs in this Christ centered living.
Plant Grace and Grace will grow
Learning to stave off the little flames that kindle big death in a garden life, knowing full well that iT ought not to be so; this blessing one day and cursing the next.
Earnestly desiring a fountain that springs forth only sweet refreshing, edifying water.

Thank you Jesus, gentle gardener for grace and forgiveness!

Who is the Master of Your Supper?

2011-05-23T12:53:00.003-04:00

Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:12-14

Is it not these who need to be invited the most? Why exclude the unsaved and the lost when they are starving to death, and we have the Bread that is life giving. Where is the Christ-likeness in that, or maybe the right question is, Who is the master of your supper or gatherings? Do we think we are so much better than them? Or is it fear and that we trust Jesus so little to protect us from the stains of this world that we are only willing to relate among people WE deem good enough at the expense of loosing a desperate lost soul? To quote a popular song "Jesus paid much to high a price for US to pick and choose who could come" Remember, JESUS is "the man with the measuring line in His hand" and He is the one who says "Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns WITHOUT WALLS for the MULTITUDE of MEN and cattle therein" (Zechariah 2)
He promises his protection and his presence as we help Him build His kingdom, lets not take that measuring line from His hands!
Tell someone that you care about them today (preferably someone who doesn't already know or think you do!!)

Being thankful in all things.....
*Silent Light and movement flooding in from the morning onto floors
*Perspective
*Divine Inspiration
*Knowing that I don't have to publish a book or climb a mountain or even to save a million souls to find extraordinary (or to live extraordinarily) that extraordinary Him is right here right now if I look for Him on purpose and know that every thing that is, is a gift from Him... and that is extraordinary

Late Gratitude and God's Glory In Nature!

2011-05-17T13:54:00.000-04:00

*The sun, from it's rising to it's setting, shining light on glory things and glory moments
*Husband trying hard to change old habbits
*10 soon to be 11 year old anticipating summer fun
*change (yes, I said change) =)

Spring Mini Squash Book

2011-05-16T21:36:00.000-04:00

Harvesting the Fruit of Your Labor

2011-05-06T14:11:00.001-04:00

After the hard things, the toil, and pruning, the growing up of a faith, the fruit comes

and with it the sweetness of knowing that you are mightily kept.

That there really is a reason for the hard things, a knowing in the heart that there is rhyme and reason to this crazy life.

There is nothing like standing before a trial in triumph and witnessing the sweet ripe fruit of your labor!

Praise the Lord!

New Art

2011-04-20T14:51:00.000-04:00

Finally some art!

This past week I worked on three smallish canvases. I plan on selling these little mixed media pieces at my yard sale next week end!

Making a Salvation Full

2011-03-31T22:32:00.001-04:00

It's raining outside the window, muffled thrumming of drops land somewhere in the sea of parched blades.
No television, no music, no speaking fills the house, I just listen into the silence that seems to be so deep that I cant even imagine it
my mind is drawn to it like hungry souls to a feast....that last day when the bread of life hung motionless with cold piercing steel tearing his flesh, wounds weeping life that would save mine...

outside my window slow rolls of deep thunder break, an ungrateful world groaning for mercy drops,
a sky trembling to release them....

a universal standing still while darkness fell
and we all are captured by the anticipatory electric that hangs in three hour darkness. Breath-holding expectation and gut wrenching not knowing, an emptiness that would only be filed by the renting of a veil the renting of a body... and I remember, now I see, the very night my life giver was to lay it all down.... took time to teach and to wash, to serve and lavish with love, knowing the betrayals and the punishment, knowing that his Father would shield His face from the ugliness that His Son would bear on our behalf, Grace Himself sat with friends, tore pieces of bread knowing the blind and lost would tear his flesh and lifted a cup filled with promise of life, His very life and......... "gave thanks."

                   Pondering the brevity of these two words
                   Drinking deeply of this idea of Eucharisteo as a life style

If "Thanksgiving is the evidence of His acceptance of His Father's will, His "yes"to Father's Grace, then, how can I possibly not "Give Thanks" in my hrad and troubled places.
and I am rent within when I think of how many times my life has manifested "no" not grace (Charis) not thanks, thus no Joy (Chara)
Thankfully there is forgiveness that can scrub to the very core of my sin and I Thank with greater revelation for his sacrifice.
and the thanks makes way for the wholeness (sozo) which is also salvation (sozo) and now because of the practice of giving thanks because of the breaking of His heart, the saying yes to this grace, the receiving of joy can I experience His fullest salvation, live it to the fullest-a complete salvation.

Mat 9:21-22; Luke 17:17-19; 1Cor 11:23-26

Thorns and Mercy

2011-03-12T18:58:00.000-05:00

Doing the hard work, the dirty work of life requires preparation.....

a putting on of a thick outer structure. God's Word. The thorns prick us hard and we yelp and curse the sharpness and wonder why there must be thorns, already knowing the answer.

If I am prepared for this labor and know that I must put on this covering, if I already know where the Healing Balm is, who He is, If I have basked in His glory before and yet have this much pain or hurt-how will someone who has not made these preparations endure the affliction and pain?

I can only trust one thing- His Mercy-.

But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. Psa 13:5

Thorns are warnings that wake us to danger

Thorns are punishment when we have put ourselves where we do not belong

Thorns are necessary to teach hard lessons that can not be learned with soft words

Thorns drive us away from sin and straight into the arms of a Merciful God

All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
Psa 25:10

still asking the question of Why, still lamenting the pain but also finding joy in trusting in His Mercy and somehow understanding His answer; "Because"

Art In-Between

2011-03-08T12:09:00.001-05:00

Yikes I haven't posted any art lately! I do projects and forget about it!! So here are a few little things I have worked on in the past few weeks.....Well for one, there is always a journal page or two this one was using a photograph I took last summer that I finally just got to use! (disclaimer: I know the pics below stink but I think camera needs service!)

Next is these ridiculous and annoyingly plain candles that have been just asking for some establishment for months now! I have been playing with paper flower making for a few weeks and got a little carried away with them so I just glued them to many things!!lol

And lastly, I was tired of seeing these little 5x5 canvases just sit there so I just closed my eyes and picked a few scraps of paper and an image theme and made this set of three! There is allot to be said for random art making! I think I will do it more often because I like the challenge presented when "you can only use what you chose blindly"!

Finding God's goodness in Created Ugliness

2011-03-07T22:57:00.000-05:00

Off to the zoo today to marvel at handy work of Creator, with awesome daughter to learn that while we have dominion over these special creatures they are still His and for our good because He said when He breathed them "it is good".
Amazement and wonder at the works of Thy hand we sing on the way, and I am speechless at daughters knowledge of the animal kingdom and I am glad that she has compassion for these animals and I am beat the chest proud that she can see the creator in the created
we giggle at warthog ugliness and discover that ugliness is for good purpose, for rooting up food
and ugliness is for our good to.

The ugliness of God allowed circumstances that drive us hard to Him. The unimaginable ugliness that is intended to prompt growth, the gut wrenching pain that is meant to soften and break the outer shell so that grace is produced and love will pour out of my very center, the very same love that breathed me must be the very same love that courses through my veins, but it hurts this breaking, this ugliness and learning how to use this ugliness to grow and grow grace.
I scratch and beat the dirt too, rooting in the hard cold ground of this sad time for some sense of meaning to the madness. The warthog male is solitary but I'm not, and Heavenly Husband desires me to be solitary, single, one mind and one hearted. Calling me wooing me, desirous to have all of me. I go away with Him in my head and heart while driving home mind still searching for answers, still praying for relief and then I hear it, wisdom from compassionate 10 year old animal lover who declares that she can most definitely see the creator and his goodness and love and mercy and purpose in the created even in the ugliness of created things and she gives Him Thanks for the strangeness of some ugly creatures because the ugliness is often the tool to produce good things. And I am undone in this, and pray that this present ugliness will be momentary and that it will produce the grace and the love and the growth and the deliverance and the salvation that is most needed.

Thanking Him for the unclouded sight of a ten year old
for animal loving child who's heart is filled with loving and helping
for growth even the hard ugly way.
for a Heavenly Husband who bids me come in to Him
for ears to hear Him speaking softly to me
for earthly husband who gently strokes the hard, painful, wart-y places as best he can
for a parent who still can and will and does
for Hope Himself, Jesus
for the zoo
for a great mechanic
for air conditioning in the car
for justice and mercy together- never separated by God and in Him they go hand in hand
for prayers of friends who are committed to believing God and His promises
and yes, for the ache because it reminds me that I am still alive and that it's relief is found in one God

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. Hab 3:17-19

OWOH Winner!!

2011-02-17T15:34:00.001-05:00

I am pleased to announce the winner of my OWOH giveaway is Stephanie from Dragonfly Design Studio, congratulations, as soon as I get your address I will send it out! Thanks for playing along in this final OWOH international blog hop. It really was a pleasure meeting everyone, I still have not been able to visit everyone on the list so I will be revisiting that list in the coming weeks! Now for a much need mini break! I will be taking some time to finish up my portrait bookings and enjoy a mom's night out with some lovely fellow homeschool moms and then back to work in a few days!!! Have a happy weekend!
This is the photo from my blog header that several folks have asked me about!! She was a grave statue in a cemetery that I did a shoot in, but I think she looks so much more "lively" and cheerful like this don't you! LOL

Here's to Busy Weekends

2011-02-13T13:36:00.001-05:00

This weekend was so much fun! Senior Portraits have begun to book like crazy as the 2011 Grads prepare for "Pomp and Circumstance". This weekend's grad was a delight and her eyes just dazzled!

What a busy crazy weekend. Portraits, laundry, finishing up some swaps, laundry, much needed games of family basketball (I am sooo out of shape!) finishing up OWOH giveaway and finally planning a family get together and of course some more laundry (you think it would know how to fold it's self by now!!)!!! I hope everyone had a great weekend filled with all of the things and people you love!

This Months Portraits

2011-02-07T19:42:00.000-05:00

This Months Portrait Sessions were so much fun!

Awwww so sweet

Look at that face!!!

Happy Monday Everyone (yes I said happy!)

2011-02-07T10:47:00.000-05:00

Still enjoying the OWOH ride, much slower this year than in past years but trying to at least visit all the blogs that have been to visit me. I just never anticipated being this swamped. I usually prepare for OWOH a bit by finishing up lingering projects and making time each day to blog hop but yikes my schedule had kidnapped me and is demanding ransom!! So if you visit and leave a comment I will get back to ya it just make take a few days!!
On to other pressing this.... I saw, while I was blog hopping this weekend a post about photography that said "if it's to perfect it must be photo shopped". And I thought I would come to the defense of all of us photographers and say That's just not true. As a photographer (no matter how seasoned you are) you try and improve upon your skills every time you take a photo. I have seen work and am privileged to know many photographers who need no photo shopping done to their work. As a photographer that's what I want to be recognized for my skill in taking good quality photographs (hence the name photographer), not how well I use a photo editing program (because then I would be more of a digital arts professional.) However I recognize that sometimes the photographer can not control external circumstances like the light, or people who walk into a shot, or the wind that blows the subjects hair, or even the model who is difficult, so we compensate in those situations to please the client (because this industry is client driven). But to say that all great photos are edited is just a poor picture taker talking because they themselves think that the perfect shot is always serendipity, paaaalease, I work hard to make my shots come out great because that means less time on the computer retouching, which means I am working smarter not harder! That would be like someone saying if the book or poem is so great the author copied the words from another great writer or if the art is fabulous, it must be a photocopy of something else. Photography is one part science and one part creativity and let me tell ya the science part is difficult enough but pair it with the necessity of incorporating the creativity, and the external circumstances, like the model, the wind, the clouds moving, tree branches moving, ect.. it's not always easy getting the perfect shot. So you wonder why photographers cost so much? You pay for an artist, and a scientist, for their time and their expertise in their field, for the ability to capture a subject not only creatively but making sure it is scientifically or technically correct and pleasing all while putting up with a complaining subject model, the wind wrecking their hair the heat making them shinny, the clouds constantly blocking your sun (resulting in reconfiguring your exposure every 5 seconds) I have even heard some of the best photog's in the world ask other great photog's "is that photo shopped?" So if a world renown pro can't tell, what makes this clueless commenter think that they are so much more advanced that they can tell the difference?????????? Sheesh what would posses a person to even say such a judgmental and uniformed thing and clump all great photos into that statement?? Your thoughts on this are welcome and with that said I am having a contest all you have to do is look at these photos below and tell me which ones are "photo shopped" and you will win a prize! the prize is an original 8x10 of one of the photos below (your choice) excluding the child's portrait! All are high resolution photos suitable for framing! Leave a comment on this post telling me if each numbered photo is edited or not and everyone who got all of them correct will go into a drawing. You have till Feb. 25th to leave a comment and I will draw the winner on Feb.26th and post it sometime that day!
For example it should look like this.... #_ yes (as in yes it is editied) #_ no   (as in it is not edited) any questions just comment or email me! Cropping does not count (in this contest) as an edited photo!

                                                                       Photo #1

Photo #2

Photo #3

Photo #4

Photo #5

Photo #6

Going Postal This Week!!

2011-02-05T08:06:00.002-05:00

Okay, in keeping with the postal theme this week, I have to be fair and admit I have a special place in my heart for mail carriers. I have two friends who are carriers and one brought this article to my attention so I thought I would post it to balance out my over all attitude toward the postal system and say out loud that I heart mail carriers!

13 Things your mail carrier won't tell you

1. Maybe your dog won’t bite you. But in 2009, 2,863 of us were bitten, an average of nine bites per delivery day. That’s why I wince when your Doberman comes flying out the door.

2. Remember this on Valentine’s Day: It takes our machines longer to read addresses on red envelopes (especially if they’re written in colored ink).

3. Why stand in line? At usps.com, you can buy stamps, place a hold on your mail, change your address, and apply for passports. We even offer free package pickup and free flat-rate envelopes and boxes, all delivered right to your doorstep.

4. Media Mail is a bargain, but most of you don’t know to ask for it. Sending ten pounds of books from New York City to San Francisco through Media Mail costs $5.89, compared with $16.77 for Parcel Post. Besides books, use it to send manuscripts, DVDs, and CDs; just don’t include anything else in the package.

5. We don’t get a penny of your tax dollars. Really. The sale of postage, products, and services at our 36,000 retail locations, and on our website, covers all of the post office's operating expenses.

6. UPS and FedEx charge you $10 or more for messing up an address. Us? Not a cent.

7. Paychecks, personal cards, letters—anything that looks like good news—I put those on top. Utility and credit card bills? They go under everything else.

8. Sorry if I seem like I’m in a hurry, but I’m under the gun: Our supervisors tell us when to leave, how many pieces of mail to deliver, and when we should aim to be back. Then some of us scan bar codes in mailboxes along our route so they can monitor our progress.

9. Yes, we do have to buy our own stamps, but a lot of us carry them for customers who need them. If we don’t charge you, that’s because we like you.

10. Use a ballpoint pen. Ink from those felt tips runs in the rain.

11. Please dress properly when you come to the door. A towel wrapped around you doesn’t cut it. And we definitely don’t want to see you in your underwear!

12. We serve 150 million addresses six days a week, so we’re often in the right place at the right time. We pull people out of burning cars, catch burglars in the act, and call 911 to report traffic accidents, dead bodies, and more.

13. Most of us don’t mind if you pull up to our trucks while we’re delivering and ask for your mail a little early. But please get out of your car and come get it. Don’t just put your hand out your window and wait for me to bring it to you.

Sources: Letter carriers in Missouri, New Jersey, and North Carolina; Fredric V. Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers; and a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service.

–Michelle Crouch

"The crazy days of summer"

Angels

2011-02-03T15:08:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon Everyone! I just wanted to share with everyone one of the resolutions I made at the beginning of the year and to talk about the progress I have made. First the resolution, I vowed to become more knowledgeable about all things postal, meaning: I would be less clueless as to how to ship all of my art and the swaps that I mail. Seriously folks I knew there needed to be some kind of intervention when the postal workers at the counter would lean over and whisper and point when they saw me coming! Does anybody know that there are like 62 different way that you can mail one package of 6- 5x6 painted card board angels???? I don't know why all the questions they ask are so perplexing to me; insurance? confirmation? two day seven day or whenever delivery? media, priority, first class???????? Then I have the hostess's of the swaps tell me I could have sent it this way or that and saved a few dollars?? I'm starting to feel like I might need a diploma from MIT! lol So.... the progress, well when I went to the post office this time (yes they pointed and whispered) I had already decided that I didn't want insurance or for them to confirm the delivery! but I did still need to find out how much the box I chose would cost so I could include the money in the box for the hostess to return my goodies and that's when it all fell apart you see I had planned on sending it priority (thinking that was the cheapest) so I said "priority, that's the cheapest right?" and she says "noooow" (stressing the sarcastic over pronounced w on the end), and began to rattle off all the different cheaper ways to send my little box. Confused, I looked at her and said in my most faker-I-understood-all-that tone of voice, "oh okay, well just send them the cheapest way there is!" and then she rolled her eyes at me like I was annoying her and that's when it happened.........in my rush to not hold up the growing line I hit the box (which was still waiting to be taped shut) and all the pretties fell out on the floor, well you would have thought that everyone in the line had been holding their breath because all I heard was a big collective sarcastic sigh???? But thankfully I managed to get them back in the box and all taped up pretty quick and not with out lots of evil eyes following me out of the post office I might add!! So if I had to tell ya when it's going to arrive.....well, I cant because I guess cheap mean slow at the post office and I was informed that "the post office doesn't guarantee delivery because I didn't pay for that!!!! SHEESH, my postal rehabilitation is happening rather slowly (probably due to the fact that I just don't care how much things cost to ship, or maybe because I don't care how they get there, as long as they get there!!) Okay enough about the postal system.....The angels are roughly 5x6ish constructed of cardboard, vintage text, sheet music, paper flowers, paint, ink, feathers, and vintage photos. They are for an angel swap I am doing with CPA yahoo group.

Valentines

2011-02-02T14:27:00.001-05:00

Wow OWOH is awesome! I am meeting some very talented artist! And can't wait to see who else is out there! This tag I just finished a few days ago for a fellow artist in my CPA group I hope she doesn't visit my blog until she gets them in the mail! The tag is double sided and measures about 54x5 ish. Well off to look at some more great blogs!! Have a great day everyone

2011 OWOH

2011-01-31T11:59:00.000-05:00

Yay, another year for OWOH boohoo the last year for OWOH! I'm taking part and hope you will too and without further ado I will introduce myself... Nice to meet you all. My name Is Melissa and I am a mixed media collage artist and photographer who likes to write (I think that covers it)! Living in Sunny Florida I homeschool my super cute uber smart 10 year old and love madly my super man husband! I hope to see you all more than just once, so feel free to browse the archived posts and comment and oh, don't forget to share something about who you are and what you do. Maybe we have something in common?

Well here is my giveaway (they are unfinished at this time) but will be done by Feb. 17th for the giveaway!
A set of three shelf sitters. These wood blocks are double sided and make a lovely addition to a bookshelf or window sill as I have done (just ignore the dirty window, this art room never get the cleaning love it deserves!!!!) The rules of the OWOH giveaway are as follows and here is the link to the OWOH blog
Rules
1. You must have a current, active blog to participate. Please do not create a blog only for this event.. That is NOT what this is about. Also, NO ONE under 18 may participate alone....meaning if you have a child who wants to do this then do it through YOUR blog letting others know you are doing it together.
2. When the event begins your OWOH post must clearly state you are participating in OWOH (include the logo)....link back to this blog so others can get information....introduce yourself. You also should have clear photos of your "door prize(s)". You can giveaway whatever you like....from handmade items to a special trinket. Be creative. You MUST keep in mind this event is International.......therefore you may have a "door prize" winner in another country you will have to mail to. You cannot limit to only those in your country of origin.....so keep that in mind when deciding your "door prize" and its weight. If you cannot mail (for whatever reason) outside your own country please don't participate as this is WORLDWIDE!!!

The door prize rules: All you have to do to win the door prize is leave a comment on this post letting me know you were here, please include a link back to your blog so I can notify you if you are a winner (if you don't have a blog or dont' leave a link to your blog that I can visit you will not be entered! and please for pete sake be genuine, I know we all want to win a prize but the point of OWOH isn't just to collect booty but to connect sooo be friendly and introduce your self as well!!!

The Fifth and Final OWOH 2011

2011-01-18T08:09:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone! Well, once again time for OWOH 2011 but sad to say it's the last one! I hope that everyone plays fair this year and follows the rules. It will begin on January 30th when we reveal our door prizes and end on February 17th when we announce the winners of the door prizes! I have not finished my door prize yet but will soon, so save the date and don't be shy, check back later I would love to meet you and visit your blog as well!! Here is the link to check out the event and it's rules.
Just click the picture of the bird riding girl and you will be whisked away to A Whinsical Bohemian blog
she is the organizer in charge of this huge event! Thank you Lisa for all your hard work!!!!!!!

Weekend Wandering

2011-01-08T19:24:00.001-05:00

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalm 8:3-4

(The sky was aglow coloring even the trees orange and hot pink but was not going to stay that color for long)

The The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalm 19:1

(How fast it changed, in a matter of seconds it was completely different)

I don't want gross anyone out but there may be a bit of animal kingdom gore below (so if you are grossed out easily close your eyes and scroll down!) We have been studying birds this year and have become quiet the ornithologists, Brianne and I have! We noticed a commotion a few houses down the street and grabbed the camera to investigate and eureka! we struck feathered gold!!! they are actually very grand birds up close (if you can get past the ugly heads!) but I was able to get sooo close to them!! The all black bird is a Black Vulture and the red head is a Turkey Vulture.

Sorry for the gore!!

Humility and Esteeming Others

2011-01-05T11:24:00.002-05:00

"in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." Phil 2:3-4

"Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted or irritated or sore or disappointed. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me and when I am blamed or despised. It is to go in and shut the door and kneel to my Father in secret, and be at peace as in the deep sea of calmness when all around and above is trouble."
~Andrew Murray

In lowliness of mind Swimming in the deep sea of God's presence and calmness today-

letting nothing be done "through selfishness or deceit"

Unembellished Christmas

2010-12-23T18:05:00.003-05:00

I can see them, shinny, sparkling round orbs of light electrifying air tiny little extravagant additions to something meant to be plain, ordinary and uncomely

embellishments that express dissatisfaction with the original state
and isn't that what we do? embellish, add, complicate what He himself has done in babe like simplicity

His coming was misunderstood understated by damp feeding trough
and we have embellished the trough because we believe a king deserves better
draping the story of love-come-down with unnecessary gaudiness
but babe in a trough has His own beauty
we underestimate the value and importance of His plainness
of angels revelating the glory of salvation to no account sheep herders
preferring the pomp of the wise men and their silver and gold carnal praise
over looking the simple sparkle of heavens host lighting pasture landscape with the glory of the Lord

loosing sight of true sacrifice-Shepperd praise unadorned, unembellished, drop-to-the-knee praise

seeing with increasing understanding beauty in old rugged wood

focusing hard on the plain nail dangling among the shinning, embellished lovely trinkets

bringing true sacrifice

learning the rewards of true worship

finding out nothing could be better than serving Him
seeing savior in a trough being swaddled love to us all

a lifetime of discovering why plain babe is better than beautiful angels

Thank you babe Jesus for the nails that set me free

wishing everyone a simple beautiful Christ filled Christmas

Christmas Cards

2010-12-13T13:01:00.000-05:00

So.... a while back I was supposed to be doing Christmas cards and getting them out early (yeah right!!) well, that didn't happen, instead I am rushing to get them made and mailed this week! I also promised to show the other styles that I was going to do and didn't! The first choice was here and so I post the second styles!

November and December Photgraphy

2010-12-12T07:59:00.001-05:00

November and December was a bit busy art wise. I had had a sale on Christmas portraits that caught on and so here is just a sampling of of the clients portraits.

Patiently awaiting the Birthday of Jesus, celebrating each day of the waiting with family and soul conscious activity, and thanking Him for being Christmas-The Greatest Gift. Be blessed today, draw close to the ones you love, draw close to Him who is with us, Emmanuel

The Giving

2010-11-25T10:25:00.006-05:00

Thanksgiving is the sum of two words, Thanks and giving. and yes we should give thanks always, but ears fall on thanks only when Thanksgiving is spoken of.

More than ever this heart hears Giving and is convicted by my own blessings these days

coveted blessings that I say thanks for and grip tightly against my chest like some life preserver

and it occurs to me that I am to say thanks for those blessings which are to be Temporarily, loosely held in my hands and then Given away.

Not just as works but as works that show my faith in a King who is rich in blessings that were not meant to be spent on myself but on others. Its the upside down Kingdom in action again, Blessed to be a blessing to others, we get only to give, We give to receive what we can not see but will know deep within, humbling myself so that in time he can and will exalt me, not for the sake of giving but for doing the work of the kingdom for the blessing of another .

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive

How my heart breaks to look outside myself into a world that He died to save, and seeing so many dieing to be saved, the greed in my own heart as I cherish his Bread but forget to share that Bread with those who are poor.

oh that I would learn better to clutch more tightly to my heart his sacrifice, his desires, and let their hunger pierce my own desperation to be filled so that I myself might know what hunger really is, that I would finally understand that he has compassion for the poor, the poor in spirit, in body and in mind.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: 1 Sa 2:8

and

Job 34:28 to cause the cry of the poor to come to Him. For He hears the cry of the afflicted.

"Man exalts wealth, but the love of wealth, "the root of all evil," is "an abomination in the sight of God."

The gift giver is asking for gifts and he whispers gently to me the things he wants -

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Psalm 82:3, Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Jas 1:27

Praying that during this season of harvests, abundance, and giving thanks, that I, you, many, would remember to Give away the blessings we have received, to know His desires, to feed those who hunger both in spirit and in body.

You can do that here: Samaritans Purse or Gospel for Asia

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

2010 Christmas Cards??

2010-11-01T20:16:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to post the first of a few of the cards I am debating on making this year. These cards will be sent to friends and family for the Christmas holiday. I'm still not 100% sure if this is going to be the one, I have one or two others in mind that I will post by next week so let me know what you think about this one and check back later to see the others!

Weekend Wanderings

2010-11-01T15:31:00.001-04:00

October Paper Art

2010-10-14T13:00:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone just wanted to share the small projects I have been working on this month. These are some card I did for fall/pre Thanksgiving they have all been sent already (shocking I know!) I wanted to give myself enough time to work on some Christmas cards this year instead of sending the generic store bought kind, I say I am going to send home made ones every year and I just never get around to making them!

I wanted to keep them fairly simple without sacrificing detail so I chose this, this design is not my idea, I found a YouTube video from Two Peas in a Bucket that met my criteria simple yet detailed! It also allowed me to use up some of my scraps I had from other projects.

Okay I know you all can see it!! Yes, the glitter mess! I was trying to hide another mistake (globs of glue) but the glitter just made it look worse! Thankfully it was just the prototype card not the ones I sent out!

I really wanted to start using my Cricut machine more this year so I found a really nice autumn leaf svg file on the Internet (i would give credit for the file but I can't remember where I got it! Sorry) I cut the leaves, used a scrap piece of embossed card stock, some ink, and a ribbon and there ya have it super fast and simple. What makes it fast is being able to cut out all the leaves for ALL the cards at once!

I have another project going on for the CPA Group (Christian Paper Artist Yahoo group) but I cant show them until next month or it will ruin the players surprise, but I can give you a sneak peek!!..... What does 600 boxless matches and Christmas have to do with each other?? A Christmas Inspiration Match Box Swap yayyyyyy! I am almost done the two I am making, all I have to do is fill the boxes with petite goodies to inspire Christmas creativity and mail them away. As soon as the girls receive them I will post them for everyone else to see! Humm now what to do with all these loose matches...I know! Bon fire season is coming (it will probably take me all 600 matches to start the fire lol!!!!)

Domestic Violence Awarness Month

2010-10-14T11:43:00.000-04:00

The Pixel Project’s “Paint It Purple” campaign is a global campaign held throughout October 2010 to:

•Raise awareness about Domestic Violence (DV) and other forms of Violence Against Women (VAW) around the world.
•Raise funds for The Pixel Project, our partners and participating VAW organisations around the world.
We are leveraging on the U.S.’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month to spread awareness about DV and other forms of VAW in communities worldwide.
This campaign involves:
Online – A Social Media Campaign:
Inspiring volunteers, partners, supporters, friends, family and the global public to help The Pixel Project “paint” the internet purple (the colour of the VAW and DV cause) through a viral and very visual campaign using twibbons, buttons, banners and blogskins.
On-the-Ground – A Media-Friendly Event – “Paint It Purple” Parties (2 October 2010)
“Paint It Purple” Parties will be held by The Pixel Project in conjunction with our partners and any other VAW organisation or grassroots community group who wish to:
•Support the global fight to end DV and all forms of VAW
•Jointly raise funds and awareness for their chosen VAW/DV charity and The Pixel Project.

October Thoughts

2010-10-14T11:23:00.002-04:00

A sea of perpetual green dominates the property here, God made lusciousness grow in pots not kept green by man but God and then I look up and behold.....a vast tangle of what man has made. A complex system of steel and wire and tubing over ride the perfectly good timing of Gods plan to make beautiful, rushing perfection forcing the growth and transformation.

Understanding the profit to the husbandman of the nursery, trying to remember the benefit to my soul and character by not rushing God's good timing and plan, praising Him for the slow steady growth, excited expectation of the beauty to come, and even the pruning.
Be Blessed

Doing The Good Part

2010-09-05T11:46:00.004-04:00

Happy Sunday everyone! I am back on vacation time again! It's a holiday weekend and I am taking advantage of it! I was supposed to be blogging about a friends 500th blog post week long giveaway but life seemed to have it another way, so here I am to catch up on that! Linda Jo from Linda Jo's Obsessions hit her big 500th post this past week and is celebrating by being incredibly generous and giving away some really nice art treasures that she and her Best Friend Virginia Burrows has made, all you have to do is go there and comment on the post that you want to win and if you either become a follower or are one already leave a second separate comment with the words "I am a follower" in it (make sure she can get a hold of you) you will be entered twice for that posted drawing! She really is a talented Artist and a very sweet lady to boot so please go there and check out what she does, leave some comment love and enter her great giveaway's. Here is a sampling of some of their work up for grabs in her giveaway....Hurry she is drawing some time today !!!

And finally some art stuff! I painted this painting several weeks ago but forgot to take a picture for posting, it's been hanging in the church art gallery since. I went and got it so I could take some pics for posting and because I thought I had it sold, but the sale fell through and now it is back on the market !! It is 18x24 acrylic on canvas title "compromise" It is $65. but if you act by Tuesday I will knock off $10!!!! email me if interested!

This is a journal spread that I started on vacation it's not done yet but it is water color, ink, and paper. I was revisiting some of my old "Cure Magazines" and again was stirred by this picture, it stirred my spirit the first time I saw it as well but for a different reason. This time I was desperate for vacation and a time of rejuvenation , not that I was hurting or sick but we all know how busy our lives can sometimes get, so much so that we neglect the "Good Part". This month I found my self rushing around worrying about academic preparation and issues that needed attention. Swirling about in a life living whirl wind and captivated by the flesh still in me that says "just take care of it your self", creating such wind that I couldn't feel the gentle breeze of Jesus beckoning me to "come unto Him". Who is it that he beacons but those who labor (work hard and feel fatigued) those who have not the rest they desire, those who become tired and heavy laden (to over burden with ceremony)... me! Forgetting that the fatigue of the body can bring fatigue of the spirit. Hearing His voice now calling "I have been waiting to give you something" ...that love luring voice driving me to floors still dirty with family comings and goings, bowing and bending at the knee and heart, ceasing all service and waiting patiently, expectantly for Him to come and minister to me and my laden vessel. Remembering that it's a trade- my burdens for His Yoke (from the root of ζεύγνυμι zeugnumi (to join, especially by a “yoke”); a coupling, that is, (figuratively) servitude ; also (literally) the beam of the balance (as connecting the scales): - pair of balances, yoke.

Neglecting the coupling of my self with His strength and power leaves me out of balance and assuming that service is but more exercise to tire my weary self. The only exercise is the quieting of the mind and spirit, then the privilege of service to Him is but easy when the mind and spirit are quiet and still , He promises me this as His presence washes over me, flooding me with rest, straightening me with His Balance, curing me of my self burdening and busyness, trading His freight for mine, Peace as He gives, not as the world. My worry for His peace, Soaring instead of crawling, reaching out for His beauty while giving Him my ash heaps, pouring into me the oil of Joy and wrapping me tightly in this garment of praise so that once again I might be called a tree of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Clothed in Christ's righteousness and covered with His Blood, I stand before the Ark in the Holy of Hollies, giving... my broken but earnest praise and only by the grace and mercy of The One who is most worthy, reaping the restful, restorative, faith building presence of God in my life. Reaping the benefits of His teaching His process of learning the "Good Part", the God part, Reaping My Rest.

Have a restful, presence filled day.

Stuff!

2010-09-03T08:43:00.001-04:00

Okay I forgot to post a friends blog giveaway yesterday so I am making up for it today (Sorry Linda!)
Linda Jo's Obsessions has posted 500 times this week that's amazing seeing how lately I cant even manage 2 in a row! LOL but yes she has done it and to celebrate she is giving away some very nice art goodies all week long, so please hop on over to her blog and tell how great she is and how pretty her art goodies are in fact I do believe she has her BFF Virginia helping her make her art goodie giveaways so don't forget to throw in a thank you and a compliment for her as well! Still working on the homeschool links and the pics so check back later to night!
Have a great day

I'm Back Wooo Hooo!!!!!!

2010-08-31T23:44:00.005-04:00

Whew....After an extended absence from blogging and a much needed vacation I'm delighted to finally be back! I cant even remember when I posted last (luckily my blog posts are dated) sheesh I miss sharing with everyone and visiting all my favorite bloggers. I don't really know where to begin so I will just start with the vacation and mention other things and happening randomly as they come to my mind (if they come to my mind!! lol)! Okay so we waited way to long to bank our time share this year which pretty much left us with no choices for where we could go, and given the current state of the economy and the anorexic state of my pocketbook we were left with a two hour drive to where else, Orlando Florida, the tourist destination for all things ~~over priced~~ Disney! Did we want to go to Disney (or any of the other theme parks)? No. Could we afford to go to Disney (or any of the other theme parks)? No. So what does a non theme park lovin, no money havin family of four do when in a ~~tourist trap~~ lovely place such as Orlando? We do the affordable I-Drive vacation!!!! Now for those of you who don't know what that is it's just fancy Bureau of Tourism lingo for a generic drive up and down International Drive and visit places like Ripley's Believe it or not and dine at olive Garden!!! Okay so some of you are sayin hey what's wrong with Olive Garden? Nothing if you are at home and running errands and realize that you are not gonna make it home in time to cook dinner. But I am on vacation I wanna taste the world, savor the bread which is of the upper crust so to speak! Well okay we didn't eat cuisine but man we got a great tip on an all you can eat seafood place (lobster included!) and we even managed to engage the ten year olds sense of fun AND her brain and see a dinner show with comody AND magic! The main objective for this vacation was just to be together which was pretty easy on a budget of $280.00. Did I hear a gasp?? Did I hear a WOW!?? Yes I typed correctly, $280.00 for a family of four for a week. I feel like I should be getting some kind of super frugal award or something! Everyone that I told this to gasp like I had just found the cure for cancer or something?? But really I owe the ability to stay on budget to our time share because if we would have had to pay for lodging some where we could never go on vacation. How do we do this you might wonder? Basically, I plan ahead - really ahead. Since the lodging is already paid for, which by the way is always a condo with a full kitchen at an upscale all inclusive resort that caters to and loves families. I then plan a menu and take that weeks grocery money for our food into our vacation budget (we were going to buy groceries that week anyway so that is done). Next all I have to do is research and plan what activities we want to do or can afford to do and begin saving for them a few months ahead and usually the better resorts have plenty of family friendly activities on premises for under $7 and for free, like pool games, scavenger hunts, crafts, karaoke . The trick is to stick to your plans, menu, and budget (but I always factor in some deviations so I can be prepared for the occasional "I don't like meatloaf for dinner" or "this museum is boring can we do something else") And since I am cooking on vacation I enlist the help of everyone so that the chore of cooking cleaning up and laundry is not all of my responsibility!

Our two bedroom condo at Orange Lake resort

Arcade at the resort (cool light ~~mess-ups~~ effects)

Sun set on the private beach at the lake

These crazy residents of the golf course kept visiting our back door

Brie and daddy in the pool

We had quite a bit of rain the week were there one we had so much that the golf course flooded! The duck didn't mind though!

Another cool game at the arcade

The new Convention center

The wonder Works museum was definatly worth the time and money I would reccomend this to anyone who likes the science adventure museum!

virtual reality game

Hurricane force wind! (like we don't know what that feels like!!)

The bubble maker!

Wow he is one good looking ball player!!!

The bed of nails!

Okay I posted this only because my body was hidden behind the space suite (hmmm do they make these in evening wear also!)

4D motion ride

I am soooo proud of my girl, she actually went all the way up to the ropes course and tried her best to do several obstacles (they were hard)

Me and hubby in line for the comedy magic dinner show

Tony Brent magic comedy show was good all you can eat pizza, salad, soda, pop-corn and cake

Resort stilt man making balloon animals for the kids at the sunset celebration each night

Night swimming yayyy!!

Ripley's Believe it or Not (such a bizarre place, bizzare man!)

For instance did you know that people make beautiful art out of lint????? and human hair????

That's some Idea!!! lol

This was pretty cool this entire Vincent Van Gogh was the entire wall and made out of smaller pictures of Him

weird optical illusion looks cool on camera!

me again with some neat mechanical art

this is some of the generic I-Drive fun we had! (we went into a gift shop and messed around with the dead gator, sounds kinda hill-billie huh??)

Okay there are no real words for this one you all can use your imaginations!!! roflmbo
(actually this was the all you can eat seafood place!)

Awww more together time!

The End!! (of vacation that is)

So any way I was catching up on some of my favorite blogs and discovered that Linda Jo at Linda jo's obsessions has hit her 500th post and is so generously giving lovely art stuff away all week long so you all should go there and see and comment and enter to win some of her stuff!

I am gonna finish this post tomorrow along with a few pics of some of the art that I have managed to do!

So come back for part two ! I have some good links for any of you home schoolers as well

Photography

2010-08-07T15:21:00.001-04:00

Weeks in Pictures

2010-07-31T17:58:00.001-04:00

Wow have I been busy! Here are several weeks in pictures!

Visual Arts Ministry at church!

Keeping Brianne busy

being crafty with paper

being crafty with paper and paint and wood

Doing lots of photography to fill my portfolio. Sorry for the orientation of the last dress picture!!!

I hope everyone is doing well I will catch up later!!

Summer is for Relaxing?

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

Wow and yet another few weeks flies by! I have been so busy and having so much fun both with family and in the art world! We have been on lots of family outings in the last few weeks a few I will post here but not all (that would take forever!) I am also taking Julie Prichard's online class Art Journaling Super Nova part 2. That is going well I didn't really need the journaling part but her painting has always attracted me, so she is teaching some of her painting techniques in this class and I think I might even take a few of her other classes later. So without further ado here is my last few weeks in pics (some not so great but oh well summer is for relaxing right?!

First there was Fathers Day Celebrations, card making for daddy and secret planning for sneaking in the yummy giant cookie that DH loves. Then there was planning for a Father's Day fellowship dinner at church and my planning, organizing and opening the art gallery at the church all on the same day as the dinner! It went well not to many submissions but I think once everyone gets the idea and sees the artists submitting their work more will jump on board!

In between this and ~~crazy~~ normal family life there is plenty of studying for my bachelors degree in biblical counseling

Time spent catching up with out of town diving friends and the neighbors is always interesting just like this local resident! He lives behind the neighbors house and decided to pay us a visit

Tons of swimming at the neighbors while we pet sit for them

Then the June Birthdays begin! My oldest daughter turned 19 and my youngest turned 10, 1WEEK APART!!!!!!!!! Can you feel the crazy pace of my life yet?!! We decided to have just one party this year-

One cake divided down the middle one half chocolate and the other half vanilla!

The best part was the "Minute to Win it" style games we played. The kids loved it!

Then there was tragedy... my sweet daughter Brianne watched her beloved hamster Peanut get attacked by our Jack Russel (needless to say Peanut didn't make it :{ So we had a funeral and did some very heavy grieving for two weeks which led to some beautifully profound conversations with my newly turned 10 year old on death, grief, and the importance forgiveness, healing, and moving on.

We had Family outings and my favorite was the Zoo. Brianne and I both loved feeding Fred the Giraffe !

Now we are into July and of course there is 4th of July with a dodge the rain drops bar-b-que and...

more swimming and...

fireworks from the neighbors back yard and...

wait for it....and.........

and........

and my favorite photo opp.........................
SPARKLER TIME!!!
Her face depicts my amusement as I snap a billion fuzzy no back light blurs of orange and yellow streams of freedom light!

We summed it all up with a Childhood friend who stayed for the weekend, and now it's Monday afternoon July 5th, the hamper is about to explode, the floors are dirty, I haven't really done my hair in days and my work hard work allot husband has to return to the grind. Whew that was a busy month!

Vintage tag tutorial

2010-06-19T20:25:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! Several people have asked me how I did these tags so I decided that I would just tell everyone all at the same time here on my blog in the form of a tutorial! So here it goes....

Start with a tag any kind will do however I suggest you gesso it well because you are going to be using water for the image transfer and my tags fell apart when I attempted to do it without gesso-ing the paper tag!

Next choose a few papers that you like (text or music or a pretty scrapbook pattern) glue them down in a composition that is pleasing to your eye, let dry. You can also do some stamping on the tag at this point I stamped some pretty script on one of my tags. Next I added my image transfer, now you can use any image transfer technique that you know how to do but I have found this way to be the best and easiest way to get a clear, crisp, detailed yet translucent image ( normally I like the totally distressed half missing faint ghostly image transfer for projects,but for this project I wanted crisp and clear ), so the products I will describe are what I used to achieve this look!

But before you do the next step put a thin coat of matte or polymer medium and let dry to seal your papers or the water you will be using will peel the paper up. Print out an image onto Kodak Ultra Premium Photo Paper, I like this paper because it makes a great and durable skin because of the nice top layer of emulsion it has, let it dry for a few minutes- I'm also using the Epson Dura Bright inks (not sure how this stacks up but its been a great fade resistant, smudge resist, and water proof ink for me) don't forget to reverse any text if that is what you are transferring. Put a thin to medium coat of Golden Polymer Medium onto the image (careful not to get any on the back of your image or you won't be able to rub off the back coating of paper) I use the polymer medium because it produces the most crisp and clear image although it is a shinny gloss finish, if you want a matte finish all you have to do is when dry put a thin coat of Matte gel medium over it. Anyway, coat the image and glue face down on the tag and let it dry for a while make sure it's really dry, if it's a little wet the image will just stay on the paper and not transfer. Wet the back of the photo paper with water and begin to rub off the paper backing until the image is seen, if it is milky white when it dries try wetting it a bit more and rub again till you get as much of the paper coating off as you can. If you cant do that without ripping the image then let it dry and use the polymer medium to coat it, The polymer medium will make it look clearer like when you had water on it, you can still coat it with matte medium later when it dries for a matte look. After all that is dry you can distress either with Tim Holtz distress inks or dry brush some vintage white acrylic paint (I did both), it doesn't matter how you distress them so use your imagination here. I also used the Tim Holtz Tonic paper distresser to rough up the edges a bit. Embellish with some vintage numbers or letters or what ever floats your boat here! print and cut out text strips of your favorite quote, scriptures, saying and glue on, attach some ribbons/fibers and DONE!

2010-06-14T11:08:00.000-04:00

An excerpt from a devotion that was brought to my attention this morning by a friend....

Verse: Psalm 90:17 - May the favor of the Lord Our God rest upon us:
establish the work of our hands for us - yes establish the work of our hands.
ALL CREATIVE EFFORTS IS FROM GOD,and people who do art/handicrafts create. To create is to be at peace, for in creating one is joined with the Creator. Creativeness is one of the needs of our humanity and one of the gifts of God to us. arts or Handicrafts also are one more way to restoring us to wholeness in the natural and psychological order so as to better restore us to Christ. The loneliness of modern people has almost reached a point of no return; but in a common effort of creativity, men and women may find someone else who is interested in similar crafts, and become friends through their craftsmanship.

FRIENDSHIP IS STILL THE MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION THAT A HUMAN BEING CAN SHARE. So handicrafts open the door to both friendship and creativity. These aspects go together, for friendship both creates and demands creativity to grow.
by Catherine Doherty.

Great blessings flow from having like minded friends who share an interest but as I prayed this morning I am reminded of the importance of having first and foremost a friendship and fellowship with The Lord Jesus Christ.....Thanking God for his precious presence which reminds me that in all of the chaos of this worlds affliction, and in lonely times that God had a plan from the beginning, that it was simple, and required only two things His Word and His Spirit and where they are not I don't want to be. That despite his prior knowledge of my failings he continues to make and mold me on his potting wheel, despite his prior knowledge of how many times I would run from him and hide, he continues to say "Where are you" (Gen3) Don't let the guilt of your sin cause you to run and hide, you will not only suffer the the consequences of your sin but in running you are forfeiting His presence as well!!! Have a blessed Day everyone!
I encourage you today, to be creative and connect with someone else and may that someone be Jesus !!

Be Blessed

Thankful for.......
His Word and His Spirit
Daughter who takes off 9 and puts on 10 year old thoughts
Daughter who takes off 18 and puts on 19 year old thoughts
Helium balloons
Bits of leftover gift wrap and popped balloon on the floors
husband who reads my need for assistance and instinctively leaps to the rescue
the echo of giddy girls laughter in my mind
when a plan comes together

Yay and Other Things

2010-06-05T19:17:00.001-04:00

OK it has become suddenly and brutally apparent to me, as I re-read many previous post as well as some old letters I have written, that I use the word yay WAY to much (including several variations of the word including, yayyyy, yea!) This surprises me especially when there are a plethora of adequately descriptive words in the English language and sadly a paucity of people who actually use them!!!!! Wow that made me sound really pompous.. OK I will stop now! -My Darling Brianne -

well off to make some art tonight!!

Room change and Redo!!

2010-06-03T22:08:00.001-04:00

This is a journal page I did a few weeks ago. It's been busy around here, I moved back into my previous room in the house but it needed a makeover (desperately!) so for the past week I have been painting. It turns out that since I wanted white we had to prime first which added a step and then used cheap (and I don't mean frugal/cheap I mean LOUSY/CHEAP!) paint so we (and when I say we I mean my husband ;) had to do two coats. I, while DH painted his but off, I stood in the sweltering Florida heat refinishing my shabby new Goodwill find of a desk, priming and painting lovely shabby white with a crackle White and blue band. It's really pretty, unfortunately I was doing all the work on it so there are no pics of the process. I got this cute lamp from a garage sale for 5$ and this mirror and chair from a garage sale for 20$. I recovered the chair with some fabricsI already had and repainted the mirror in the shabby chic color pallet I was going for a shabby chic feel in the room and so far it's nice still lots of details to finish but soon hopefully I will be finished. Oh I forgot the really cute wall art I made! I took some of my scrapbook papers and cut them into squares to fit the size frames that I already had, I glued them onto the backer board and spray painted the frames silver an viola! free art Here are the after pics
The desk area is still a bit naked but time will fill the space!

Eventually all the furniture will be white

The FREE art work !

This was another free make over-the chair was $15 bucks yard/estate sale but the chenille coverlet was my grand mothers and the seat cover was a vintage baby quilt I got as a gift when I had my second daughter and the shams were from an old Target bed set I got when my husband and I got married! The bonus!!!?? There was no sewing what so ever!! LOL I stapled the seat cover, and tucked the coverlet in the crevices as to not ruin it.

I Needed a free and fast way to hide some of the jewelry supplies and school books so I used the same sheets that covered the old reading chair from my bedroom they were the right color and I was ditching the chair any way!

This is the space I just left (I hate that dirty pink carpet! :(

Scrripture Tags and Books!

2010-05-27T14:52:00.002-04:00

Wow I guess I just get totally caught up in my life and don't realize that it's been days since I posted! Here is one of the scripture tags I have been doing. This one is a gift for Linda at Linda at linda jo's obsessions she is hosting a "man inchis swap" for fathers day in the CPA yahoo group. The tag is two sided and made using old text paper, and some vintage looking scrapbook papers, Distress Ink, a polymer medium photo transfer (using Golden brand polymer medium) some letter embellishments and some old ribbons. It was rather challenging doing art geared to a male theme because I have two girls and have always gravitated toward the girlier side of arting but it's definitely good to be challenged! Among other happenings here at the Gilham's we are now proud owner of "Peanut" a sweet little hamster! Brianne had been begging for one for a year now and since she has proved responsible and has saved her money we helped her out and got her one.

On Rejection-

"The truth is that every time a door closes behind us , the rest of the world opens up in front of us. All we need to do is stop pounding on the door that is closed, turn around , and see the largeness of life that now lies open to our souls."

-Parker Palmer

What about you all? How do you deal with rejection? Do you see it as only a door closed or do you see it as a completely new opportunity to something new and exciting? I would love to hear what you think about this feel free to comment!

Beyond Reason

2010-05-24T22:03:00.003-04:00

Batter my heart, three-person'd God ; for you
As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend ;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy ;
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me. -John Donne, Sonnet 14

No matter the persona language or interpretation the heart cries out to God
Irrational as it may seem there is no resolve for the heart when it desires an overwhelming encounter with the Living God
and the tension of a faith that is faltering in it's temptations must always be imprisoned by God himself in order to be free to love Him
love Him not by our own reason but by our heart that has been ravished by His love
love Him with a heart that reaches beyond what reason knows and intellect is futile to define
a heart desperate to find and be enthralled by it's maker

Thankful for

a God who captivates, enthralls, and ravishes my sin sick soul

a God who wraps me in the warmth of sun by day and blanket of stars by night

cessation of school

support of the brethren

chore list with more than two items checked off

mended fences in yard and relationships

Distractions

2010-05-11T12:01:00.000-04:00

Some good sayings!

1. Some go to ball games and scream like wild Indians; then they go to church and sit like wooden Indians!

2. Going to the altar does not make you a Christian no more than standing in a barn makes you a mule!

3. When sorrow cuts deep into our hearts we have a deeper capacity for joy.

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Just a few journal pages I have worked on in the last few weeks

this first one is a water soluble pastels and a bit of acrylic (the journaling is yet to come!)

This one is Distress inks and some old sheet music and liquid water colors and the photo is printed on canvas

This page is the same as above photo printed on canvas

This one is all water color crayons and pencil

Here is a collage (in case you missed the previous huge pictures from above!!) LOL Just playing with the collage feature on Picnik.com! Have a great day

Have a great day

Bee Thankful

2010-05-10T22:54:00.000-04:00

*Giving Thanks for the bee's

*pollination

*exercises

*soar muscles

*cards displayed on cluttered table top

serving as day after reminders of how I am appreciated and loved

*a child who thinks Mothers day should last for a week!

* both of my children standing on each side of me in God's house

*kitchen cleaned by hands and heart that are eager to please and honor mother and father

* makrothumia and hupomone

The first, pronounced (mak-roth-oo-mee-ah) comes from makros, "long," and thumos, "temper." The word denotes lenience, forbearance, fortitude, patient endurance, longsuffering. Also included in makrothumia is the ability to endure persecution and ill-treatment. It describes a person who has the power to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint.
The latter, hupomone, (hoop-om-on-ay) is translated "endurance": Constancy, perseverance, continuance, bearing up, steadfastness, holding out, patient endurance. The word combines hupo, "under," and mone, "to remain." It describes the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with a passive complacency, but with a hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat.
Hebrews 10:36 says "For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise."
*Knowing that I will receive the promises because I have hope

Happy Mothers Day

2010-05-08T23:40:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to wish all of you beautiful mamma's a very Happy Mothers Day
I hope your day is filled with love and joy and peace and beauty and all of the people you love to spend time with!
God Bless you all, Melissa

IF ROSES GROW IN HEAVEN, LORD PLEASE PICK A BUNCH FOR ME, PLACE THEM IN
MY MOTHER'S ARMS AND TELL HER THEY'RE FROM ME. TELL HER I LOVE HER AND
MISS HER, AND WHEN SHE TURNS TO SMILE, PLACE A KISS UPON HER CHEEK AND
HOLD HER FOR AWHILE. BECAUSE REMEMBERING HER IS EASY, I DO IT EVERY DAY
BUT THERE'S AN ACHE WITHIN MY HEART THAT WILL NEVER GO A WAY. I MISS
AND LOVE YOU, MOM HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO YOU IN HEAVEN

"Thanks Anyway"

2010-05-03T14:39:00.002-04:00

So awesomely inspired by Ann's post I must mention it read it for your self. So you will understand how transformative giving thanks 'ANYWAY" really is. This is right where I"m at this week, it's been long and it's been sad and it's been strengthening too, but can I say 'thanks anyway'? can I say thanks for child who is lost and desperate

can I say "so grateful" for the pain that covers this mamma's heart when she cant do a thing to stop the rain in loved ones life because that's what I do, rush to aide first then ask for grace.
Can I?
with all the thanks being recorded and journaled and searched for and yes at times it has been a search, have I found the gratitude my savior has died to forge in my heart?
I can answer by saying that even though my expectations are not always met in others and answers to prayer are long waited for.... Thank you for your presence; the manna from heaven that I gather at the dawn of each new day, thank you for the light by which I gather it and the strength to keep gathering.
Thank you for grace enough to love such a lost and troubled soul
Thank you for the desire to rescue and heal, and help
Thank you for dust gathering on the TV screen because we are so busy educating, serving others and loving
Thank you for weeds knee high and the delightful little flowers they make which no one else on the block has!!!
Thank you for 9 year old play dates
and flubbed up scripture memorization and tears over writing chapter summaries
and books not yet read
for friends who listen
and pray
for husbands who come one step closer to a dream
for the hope in his eyes for the tenderness in his voice
for the River of Life that continues to nourish me and replenish me and give me a firm place to stand and a soft place to land and a resolute declaration of "God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore I will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. (selah reminds us that the psalm requires a peaceful and meditative soul which can apprehend what the Holy Spirit propounds.)
Yes there is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. Psalm 46:1-5

2010-04-29T22:33:00.001-04:00

I am bloggin from my phone yayyy

CPA Vintage Eggs have arrived!!!!!

2010-04-29T16:13:00.001-04:00

Yayyyyyy my CPA Vintage Eggs just arrived and they are sooo pretty almost like candy, all sparkly and vibrant with beautiful vintage images on them. These pics are not so great but I was short on time and I wanted to get them posted . I will take more detailed photos tomorrow so that everyone can see the lovely detail and work the group members put into these beauties! (((((Shigh))))) I just love getting pretties in the mail I wish I could get them every day!!!! LOL

His eye is on the Sparrow

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

New art journal page to show tonight (minus the journaling) this one I used chalk, acrylics, charcoal, pen, gesso and paper the journaling speaks of the fact that Jesus said that we were worth more than many sparrows so how much more do you think he cares for his children. His eye is definitely on His sparrow, I am his sparrow, "and I know he watches over me."

Gratitude Monday

2010-04-26T20:10:00.002-04:00

1000 Gifts and thanking God for .....

New growth on frost burnt ligustrums

Princes Kate and her chariot riding off to the puppy ball

thick living tangle of over grown tiny blooming Jasmin scented stars gleaming in the shadows of dawn

Green row of boxwoods

and....

Daily Grace and Mercy

Weekends are for Parties!

2010-04-24T22:03:00.000-04:00

I am finally posting the pics of the Spring Eggs that I did for the CPA Vintage Egg swap. I had to wait for them to be shipped out to everyone, so that it wouldn't be a total spoiler for all the participants. I can not wait to get mine!!!!

I have a few small works in progress but not much else lately due to scheduling and the fact that it is end of the year for our homeschool so I need to get ready for our portfolio review (busy busy!) But I did have time to go to a birthday party today for a friend at church. Bill turned 50 and his wife through him a surprise party, we had a good time later after the crowd shrunk we just hung out a chatted, had a short game of charades and put an old couch on top of our friend Tony's car! What , huh, yes I said a couch on top of his car! But what's even funnier is that he is a counselor and he has this huge magnet on his car door advertising his counseling service and the statement was made "have couch will travel"!!!!!!!! And who said church folk was boring!!! LOL (Glad he has a sense of humor)

These photos were taken at the party. They are my sweet friend Dauna's grandson!

Gratitude Monday

2010-04-19T21:17:00.006-04:00

Gratitude for the small things in life that take place on a whim, you know those things

unexpected

out of the ordinary that fill our hearts with joy and peace

and leave us wanting more yearning for the next time

Those breathless moments when I look up and don't see my baby any more but a brave young girl

I hold my breath as I realize she is becoming who she is becoming

Prayerfully and hopefully because she can see the one who created both of us in me

Soon glancing across a room or even this beach will be replaced with phone calls from college and hand written notes that I will undoubtedly open hungrily and even smell to see if there is any scent of her that I can cling to. I'll softly run my fingers across the lines on the page just as I used to run my fingers through her unruly hair and I will trace each letter trying to hear her voice in each one.

But I am thankful for today, right now, where she is and the joy of looking just beyond the focal reach of my lens and waving to her as she shouts "Mommy look at me, here I am."

Thankful for the changes in me that have made room for being myself and savoring each day, each moment, each circumstance;

good bad or indifferent

I am able to feel every victory, every loss and still have living within me a joy that is not guided or governed by those things

but placed within me by the God who loved me so much that He gave his Son for me

Thankful for 9 year old (soon to be 10 year old) curiosity about nature and her ability to find God in it all

Thankful for diver husband who works long and hard

and is captivated by fluid swimming things living in the sea

Thankful that he can find joy

A Song or Psalm of David. O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth (Psalm 108:1-5)

Creative Nature

2010-04-15T11:44:00.001-04:00

Creativity is intrinsic to our nature because by His very nature God is creative, and we are created in His image. Every artist is a worshiper and every worshiper an artist unto God whether we paint, dance, sing, clean the sanctuary or serve the poor, we are creating our best offerings as worship to the Most High God. Have a creative day!

Faith Journals

2010-04-13T10:52:00.001-04:00

Moving into new things now.

Blind but guided

With some details but not all of them.

Walking

clumsily groping and slapping ground with foot

desperate to know that there is firmament waiting

senses heightened

and when the air moves I feel Him brush by

His way of reminding me of His presence

when I feel less than spiritual

remembering that I can not see the wind but know it is there when it rattles the leaves of a tree

digging deep now

for faith buried in a place that I have only just discovered

knowing that I have used every last resource

every drop of me

knowing by this faith that all there is left is faith in a God-man

who's hope and peace and provision transcend any blindness and stumbling any need or lack

Knowing that the task at hand is not to look down and and worry for each step

but the real need, the real work is to look up, arms outstretched

to balance upon each step as He lay it before me.

Hab3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: v18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
v19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Mat 6:24-34 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Gratitude Monday

2010-03-29T10:06:00.002-04:00

Around the Town

Thankful for the godly council of good friends

for excited ministers

for the body of Christ and priesthood of believers

the awakening of spring

and the opening of an empty tomb

new friendships

new curriculum in our homeschool

fresh perspective

Week in Pictures

2010-03-28T23:15:00.000-04:00

The wounder of sparklers hot and bright

A glimpse of the past and the art of Florida pioneers

Hand weaving

Palm frond baskets hand wove

The Tanner

Old hands helping young hands

Mastering the braid

Playing the dulcimer

Faith Beyond the Hopelessness

2010-03-25T15:40:00.004-04:00

Inspired by Jairus and his dying daughter (Mark 5:22-43) and Lazarus(John 11:1-48)

Faith beyond the dying, beyond the hopelessness of the situation, faith beyond the decay of the grave and circumstances that refuse to change
Faith in a Resurrection and Life that is not of our own accord, not limited, not rushed, all powerful, in every minute, even when we think it is to late
Things, people, circumstances that we have buried, issuing a death certificate for the things we could not change, forgetting that He was given all power in heaven and on earth, that all things are under His feet.
Loosing sight of His position that is far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.
A father's inheritance of Power given to His Son, Life flowing from the Father to His Son with promise of "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
A promise for this present time "The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live."
As we beat the dust and grieve what we have given up on, accepting that our best efforts and attempts can not turn it around,
living in limited faith believing only to the point of death doubting the limitless Lord is not His desire
gather them that believe, them that press their faith beyond sight, beyond graves and death and wait for Him who IS the Resurrection and Life
together stare death in the faith and let His life giving words permeate the tomb and chaos
come to know His power over death and the grave when he speaks
"Talitha cumi; I say unto thee, arise.

Jesus said "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Recounting

2010-03-21T17:23:00.004-04:00

Recounting the goodness of God to roll away the clouds of fear and anxiety, longing for heaven-home, recounting...For you Father, are mighty and nothing is to hard or beyond your capabilities you call the universe in to order and name each star, you drawl in the tide and let it out and cause the moon to wax and wane

you seed the earth with good things and cause music to fall upon my ears and for everything there is a season and a time this I know

you even order the steps of men and at the beginning number the hairs of our head while seeing our every need

Recounting the times that you have gone before me

clinging to your grace and mercy and knowing....

You have closed me in behind, and in front, and Your hand is laid on me

Whither do I go from Thy Spirit? And whither from Thy face do I flee?
If I ascend the heavens--there Thou art , And spread out a couch in Sheol, lo, Thee!
I take the wings of morning, I dwell in the uttermost part of the sea,
Also there Thy hand doth lead me, And Thy right hand doth hold me.
And I say, `Surely darkness bruiseth me, Then night is light to me.
Also darkness hideth not from Thee, And night as day shineth, as is darkness so is light.
For Thou--Thou hast possessed my reins, Thou dost cover me in my mother's belly.
I confess Thee, because that with wonders I have been distinguished. Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul is knowing it well.
My substance was not hid from Thee, When I was made in secret, Curiously wrought in the lower part of earth.
Mine unformed substance Thine eyes saw, And on Thy book all of them are written, The days they were formed--And not one among them.
And to me how precious have been Thy thoughts, O God, how great hath been their sum!
I recount them! than the sand they are more, I have waked, and I am still with Thee.

Amen