Sisters In Christ

Years ago a woman named Bim went to the same church as I did.  I didn't know her well but enough to say hello.  She moved away and some time later we became friends on Facebook.  Fast forward a couple years and my mom's Parkinson's and dementia was a horrible and she, being a nurse, would post helpful comments and information to my Facebook posts.  Such a nice lady!  Then both of my parents died 2 days a apart and we had a double funeral.  It was in early January and there was a semi-blizzard on the visitation day.  And Bim, who lives probably 45 min to an hour away showed up.  She drove all that way on horrible roads to pay her respects to me.  It left a big impression in my heart.
I have a friend Ken, we knew each other when we were single and then he moved up north.  I got married, he met someone and Kirk and I would go up that way maybe once a year and get together with them. Her name was Val, and she is a Christian.  He was not.  On our once a year visit her and I would talk and pray for him to know the Lord, and I would talk with him about it.  I think it was last year she told me he finally got saved.  I don't think I saw her in person more than 3 times.
Last week Val's 30 year old daughter was killed in a tragic car accident. Leaving a baby and a fiance. She is, of course, beyond devastated.  I commented on her post that I was praying and I sent a card. I didn't write much because there is NOTHING to say. What can be said?  I am sure its hard for her to even turn to God.
Turns out the funeral is not up north where they live at all, it was up north by our cottage. Where we were going to be that Saturday of the funeral.  My first reaction was no, I don't want to see her pain, this is too sad, I don't want to go. And then Bim popped in my head. Yes, I needed to go.  I needed to be her sister in Christ.  I might not make a tinkers damn difference being there but I had to go.  They were very surprised to see us and I hope it made them feel a tiny bit more loved.  It was a very sad funeral.  A funeral in a church on a country road in the middle of no where with cars were overflowing the parking lot and the side dirt roads. It was very sad, but there was a lot of love. That is what Jesus preached.  Love one another.  RIP Rosemary.

This is for the Birds!

Literally.  I never cared or thought about birds a whole lot before we got our cottage.  My automatic thought about bird watchers were they were nerdy people. With binoculars.  Well, just put up a bird feeder and watch how fast you turn into one of those nerds! Only I am a nerd with a camera! It is my most favorite part of my cottage. My big challenge is to find a new bird to photograph. I have a bunch of bird feeders. It's starting to look a little much. But those creatures! The perfect way the feathers lay, the colors that show up in the sunlight that you don't normally notice, the way their little "feet" clamp onto a branch. They are amazing.  And of course, they are an outstanding example of God's Artwork.  And don't even get me started on flowers, more of God's masterpieces!

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life......... "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?…  Matthew 25-26

The bible tells us not to worry many, many times. That God has our back if you have faith. Here's what I figure.  That faith makes me sane, peaceful, joyful and just plain happy not to have to worry.  Why wouldn't I take that gift?  If it's all a bunch of hooey, then I was all those things anyway!  But when I look at those beautiful birds and think how they soar through life, happy as a lark, if you will, I know it is not a bunch of hooey.  We have an awesome God.  

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!

I know I talked about this before but I need to hear myself again!  LOL

I am a very impatient person. That's why when I paint I use acrylics instead of oils, they dry right away, oils take forever. I am an instant gratification person, that's why my hips are full of potato chip fat!  No time to think about consequences, I want that potato chip (or a hundred of them) and I want them NOW!

The bible tells us all over the place to Wait, to Rest, to Trust.  But those of us who are impatient try to coax God to hurry it up!  My dream is to have a home in the country with an art studio (and a pole barn for my husband).  I will be 60 in August, and I am in total shock and disbelief about it all, but the fact is, I will be 60 in August. So in my mind I have, at the most, 20 years left to create. And I NEED MORE ROOM!  I remind God every day of this fact, sometimes not real nicely as I am smashed in a small area trying to do something and things are falling around me. OK, I am not real organized but I will be when I have this huge room all to myself and organization will happen naturally. Ha!

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Now I am very, very good at leaning on my OWN understanding.  I am a downright expert at figuring out how things should go and be done. Just ask me!  I have to smack myself back into reality and then I remember how God does it sooooo much better than me and in ways I have never thought of . 

That WAITING thing tho, I am just not good at it. 

I know in my heart of hearts, a fantabulous new home will come our way despite all the obstacles. I know that it will happen when I am least expecting it and in miraculous ways that I can't imagine. I know the MY GOD will answer my prayers.  

I just need to be Patient.  I just need to Wait.  I just need to Trust.  And I just need to Rest in the fact that God has big plans for me, plans to prosper me and give me an awesome future.  (EVEN THO I AM GOING TO BE 60, UGH !!!!!)

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jer 29:11

Something in the Water

Last night I was watching Carrie Underwood singing "Something in the Water" and I heard the words

...Got Joy In My Heart...

and I was jolted into the realization that I haven't been feelin' my Joy lately.

That JOY is my most favorite part of my relationship with God. It makes my days happy and my life content.  

And instead I have been crabbin' to God that my art isn't selling, that I am fat and can't stick to a diet and I want a new house and it isn't happening.  Now, I KNOW He will provide, and that trust will never be broken.  He just isn't doing it MY way and fast enough apparently, hence, NO JOY!

What an idiot I am.  How many times do I have to learn that God does it better than me and in ways that are greater than my ways??  He has never let me down yet.

So today, I am determined to get my Joy back. And shine God's light for all to see. I will wait with anticipation for the ways He will bring all my dreams to fruition.  Why the heck do I want to mope around in my pity party when I can wait in joyful anticipation of what surprises God has coming my way.  I LOVE Surprises!!

I will keep you posted.   

Joy is a heart posture

"Something In The Water"

He said, "I've been where you've been before.
Down every hallway's a slamming door.
No way out, no one to come and save me.
Wasting a life that the Good Lord gave me.

Then somebody said what I'm saying to you,
Opened my eyes and told me the truth."
They said, "Just a little faith, it'll all get better."
So I followed that preacher man down to the river and now I'm changed
And now I'm stronger

There must've been something in the water
Oh, there must've been something in the water

Well, I heard what he said and I went on my way
Didn't think about it for a couple of days
Then it hit me like a lightning late one night
I was all out of hope and all out of fight

Couldn't fight back the tears so I fell on my knees
Saying, "God, if you're there come and rescue me."
Felt love pouring down from above
Got washed in the water, washed in the blood and now I'm changed
And now I'm stronger

There must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water

And now I'm singing along to amazing grace
Can't nobody wipe this smile off my face
Got joy in my heart, angels on my side
Thank God almighty, I saw the light
Gonna look ahead, no turning back
Live every day, give it all that I have
Trust in someone bigger than me
Ever since the day that I believed I am changed
And now I'm stronger

There must be something in the water (amazing grace)
Oh, there must be something in the water (how sweet the sound)
Oh, there must be something in the water (that saved a wretch)
Oh, there must be something in the water (like me)
Oh, yeah

I am changed (I once was lost)
Stronger (but now I'm found)
(was blind but now I see)

Praying Circles around the Curio Cabinet

I inherited a desk and a curio cabinet from my mom.  I had no room for these large pieces but  they were special to her and I couldn't part with them  Along with 5000 other things I had no room for but couldn't part with. Seriously.  My house is packed with extra furniture and things and if you ask anyone who knows me, I already had plenty!  

The desk was in my parents bedroom when I was very young and then always in the "den" (extra bedroom) in later years. As with all their things, it was in perfect condition and has a glass top.  Where to put it?  These was absolutely no room after all the other stuff was brought in. Well! when there is a will, there is a way!  Our upstairs bathroom is huge. This is a very old house and it has an upper porch off the back of the house.  There was once a hallway to the door to the porch but somewhere in its 91 years someone took out the wall and made a huge bathroom with the porch off of it.  We had a 55 gallon aquarium in there just to take up space.  We had recently gotten rid of it because there was a discrepancy in whose responsibility it was to keep it clean. Hey! it came with the marriage so I WAS SURE it wasn't mine :)  So up went the desk and chair. Turns out with the door and the window in that room it is mighty bright and light in there for me to draw...

Now mind you, I have a bedroom studio and crap in my dining room too... Just sayin.

But the bedroom is for making my "folks" and no flat nice surface to draw.

Then there was the curio cabinet.  I had already managed to fit in the grandfather clock, her hope chest and another buffet and china cabinet....don't even ask.  So what the heck was I gonna do with that??

Luckily old houses have lots of spaces and my breakfast nook took some of my stuff in to fit her stuff in somewhere else.  Again, you don't even want to know.

And as usual, it turned into a blessing.  It now houses my folks. My mom was ALWAYS so proud of my artwork.  It was like  her grandchildren from me because I didn't give her any. (Don't worry my brother did).  She carried around a little photo book, it was embarrassing.  Her friends would see her coming with the book... Look what my daughter made!  Brag brag brag.  Whatever, I was very lucky to have such a wonderful loving and proud mom even tho I certainly didn't turn out the way she would have wanted.   

I incorporated both our crystal along with the folks. I must say it really looks good. These photos are before I had it all the way filled but you get the idea.

During this time I had read the book, The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson.  He teaches to pray circles around things.  Everyday I would put my arms around this cabinet and 

 reach around the best I could with my nose smashed into it (to make a circle) and pray that my folks that I had submitted to Stampington & Co. magazines would be chosen to get published. Prayed for months. Arms wrapped around, nose smashed.

  And guess what!

Kept circling and praying

AND GUESS WHAT!

I submitted 5 more and they are doing a feature article in June on them 

AND

 I submitted my Eggs and they will be in another Spotlight article in June

AND

I submitted a coloring page to another of their magazines called THE COLORING STUDIO and I will be in that magazine in June.

Yup, prayer works.  

I have seen miracle after miracle, blessing after blessing, answered prayer after answered prayer.

I am so Blessed.

We have an Awesome God!

The Tables

I cannot sew. I hate sewing. I had to take sewing in high school and we all had to make something for a fashion show.  Mine was so bad they had me work the lights at the fashion show. LOL!!!  My gift is NOT sewing.  But I can paint!  And I have those creative eyes that God gave me to see a blank canvas that needs me!  I figure he had to balance it out because He gave me that awful food addiction...just sayin :)  If something is all blank white I have to change it.  A huge picnic table came with our cottage. It was ugly so it needed me to paint it!  When I was done I was going to varnish it.  I have a ginormous fir tree over the deck and it is always breezy by the lake so as fast as I was varnishing it, little fir crud was falling and sticking to it. One of my friends had to stand next to me with a leaf blower as I varnished.  Suffice it to say there is a few of  God's little art pieces varnished into my picnic table.

The Garage Sale Table

Found this little table at a garage sale for $2!

Differently

Those who know me personally know I love vintage stuff.  Most of those people think I am a junk collector. That's ok with me. The Good Lord gave me different eyes. I see it differently. I have a whole room of differently...hehehe.  They are arms, legs, bodies, hats and parts of my folks.  I cannot not begin to explain the fun and joy I have in my little room. I find myself talking to my folks as I create them.  A fly on the wall would think I was a bit off. And I just might be!  Enjoy some photos of my differently.