planted

So once again, I decided to pick up my old friend the paintbrush. I really wish I would do this more, but it seems like I have to be in just the right mood and really feeling the inspiration flowing. I began this one with no real plan, other than I wanted to paint a tree. And this is what came of it. I really enjoyed this one. I had fun with all the colors! You can't tell by the photo, but the trunk of the tree is metallic copper and the swirls are pearlized. I also added some jewel embellishment just for fun. I really should take a better pic, but anyways...

There is a scripture that I had in mind while painting, it's found in Jeremiah 17:7,8

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord

and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

They are like trees planted along a riverbank,

with roots that reach deep into the water.

Such trees are not bothered by the heat

or worried by long months of drought.

Their leaves stay green,

and they never cease to bear fruit."

Let your trust be in the Lord always

details

Some times it's the small things that blow my mind.  The little details and nooks and crannies of every day life- they make me wonder, and help me to realize how important those little things make the big picture better.  I have a huge appreciation for the small... I joy in noticing things that other people often miss.  Watching a movie, going to a play, shopping in the store, going to someone's home,  I look for the parts, the pictures, the embellishments, the add-ons, the intricacies, the little details that make something truly special. 

Details take time.  In the smallest part of a grand painting, the artist carefully and perhaps fearfully took their brush to add life to their masterpiece.  The sculptor with his great stone and small chisel working away the rough parts to develop the features of their design, knowing the risk of an unsteady hand, and is able to make something that demands a reaction of wow.

God is into details.  Ever walked outside and looked at creation?  Yes the mountains are majestic and the trees reach high in beauty... but look closer.... the painted wings on the butterfly, the way the leaves change in the fall, the unique pattern of a rose's petals, the teeming life in a small puddle, the way the raindrops look in the sun ...

Look at your own life...if God is so concerned about the lillies of the fields and the birds in the air, think about all the details He's put together in you.  Your own unique look, the sound of your voice, the numbers of hairs on your head, your talents, your abilities, your pattern of thinking, the way you walk-it's quite an amazing design, really.  I think we are His favorite masterpiece.  No replicas, duplicates, or mistakes. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.  He took time on you.  He takes interest in you.  He knows every detail about you...what a wonderful Creator.  

So take a moment to notice the details, in nature, in others, and in yourself.  Stop.  Smell those roses.  And that's the beans for today...

Aspiring

I like to try new things, and re-visit past hobbies.  This time it is my old friend, the paint brush.  Recently I was asked to help with an illustrated message by doing a painting.  I'll admit that my hand was shaky, and I did drop my paintbrush at least twice in the course of doing so.  It had been quite a while since I had painted, much less something that was going to be in front of a group of 100 people.  But at the same time, I found something so fulfilling about it, and had a blast painting.  To my surprise, the painting turned out better than I had expected!  (relieved) So, I think I'll pick up my old friend once again.  Saturday my husband encouraged me to buy a couple canvases...now to get some new brushes and paints, and eventually an easel as well.  I'll post some new pics as they come.  That's the beans for today!

"The Giving" 7/15/09

Golden

So I feel as I am hit by inspiration or as other interesting and or notable events occur that I would write them down.  I've always enjoyed writing and striving to orchestrate my words in rhythm with my imagination, though not always grammatically correct

 (I prefer to use my right to artistic license).  

Thought I'd start off from the beginning.  It was a summer's day in Peru, IN at approximately 11:00am July 27th, 1982 that I came into this world...no worries, I'm not going to share my entire life's story, but thought I should mention that I just celebrated my "Golden Birthday" on Monday.  For those of you unfamiliar with the golden meaning, it's just simply turning the same age number as your birth date (i.e. 27 on the 27th in my case)  It was wonderful!  My first birthday as a married woman (awww).  This past Monday also marks 100 days of being married to the man of my dreams.  Talk about golden!  

My sweet husband had been preparing a special gift for me.  I woke up to a basket full of cards and small (strange) gifts that just happened to be clues, including: a spoon with sugar, birdseed, sidewalk chalk, dictionary, jolly ranchers, and a kite- any guesses?  Now I had heard on the radio that Disney's Broadway tour of "Mary Poppins" was coming to Dallas, being a disney fan and broadway fan, I wanted to go, naturally!  So that's what my hubby got me!  Tickets to go! All the cards and fun clues represented something from the songs from Mary Poppins.  

For lunch, my sister treated me to McDonald's, but it's cool, I knew where Sam was taking me to dinner and wanted a small lunch, so Jenna, Reijah (my niece) and I all got happy meals.  Economical and fun, not to mention free mocha Mondays!  Then that evening Sam & I went to "The Melting Pot" for dinner...Wowza!  One of the most romantic restaurants ever, and absolutely delicious...better stop or I'll rant there for a while. After 2.5 hours of fine dining and full happy tummies, we went and bought Mary Poppins on DVD and watched it when we got home.  Also received some gift cards from my family and am looking forward to a sweet shopping spree-yahoo!  It was a great day!