Encouragement is Contagious

Embrace Today!

2012-01-25T23:41:00.000-08:00

Hi my friends!!

I know I've been absent from blog land

for way too long. I had to take a break because of

so much going on around here, and in my life,

including

my foot in a boot/air cast from a possible stress fracture.

Do you know,

can a stress fracture in your foot

cause your brain to go on vacation?

Carrying this heavy boot around on my foot

has tired me out more than usual,

especially during

the evenings, when I've come home

from my job after working all day.

I just didn't realize the writing side of my

brain would be affected too.

I have missed writing to you all so very much.

There has been a void without Y♥U.

Here is what I've been doing while lounging

on the couch lately.

More pen and ink drawings.

Such great, creative, on the couch therapy!!

With this kind of couch therapy, you don't even need a therapist!

Just your favorite black waterproof ink pens

(uni-ball vision is my favorite)

and I use watercolor paper which seems to drink in the ink so well.

I’ve been thinking about what WORD I wanted to choose and be intentional about living out in 2012.

I believe if we really listen and keep our eyes open, we will find a gift in the everyday! It really is, most usually, the small everyday things that give us the little pleasures which when added up, become the sweet and blessed life. It is my goal daily this year to really listen and keep my eyes open and take the time to notice and be thankful for these gifts! ♥

So I have chosen two words and not just one and they are:

“embrace today”

With these two words, it will go right along with my continuing

1000 Gifts List

that I started in September 2011 and have been listing some at the end of my blog posts.

I will continue with making this list

through this new year also.

Later, in some other blog posts, I will share with you more on why I chose these two words.

I'm so excited to be sharing 2012 with each of you!

embracing our friendship today!

202. for my grandchildren singing song after song to me over the telephone!

203. a seat by the warm fireplace to read while at the bookstore.

204. God giving me a new song each day in all of it's newness to live out.

205 for life's changes that make me change in ways I would not, if I were not made to.

206. me and hubby getting to play dominoes with 3 other couple friends! FUN!!

207. thankful for the post office so I can mail love packages to family living in other states

208. for a special lunch and new friendships

209. how God works out things you never thought were possible

210. the therapy creating brings

We've Been Under Construction

2011-12-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

We've been up to our elbows over the past 3 weeks

in demolishing and remodeling. We had a plumbing leak in our kitchen that

we did not know about until it ended up in a closet in the bedroom

on the other side of the wall.

Thankfully, we had good homeowner's insurance and then

we also decided this was the time to do a few extras.

(A sneak peek and will show you more when it is finished)

Here is Byron, our cabinet maker doing his great detail work.

Right now, while I post this,

I am squeezed between

our new dishwasher, yet to be installed into the kitchen,

and the computer desk,

along with boxes full of kitchen items,

just so I can type up this post.

A couple of days ago, the oven range

was sitting in our family room along with the refrigerator,

while flooring was being laid

both in the kitchen and in our bedroom.

So now you know why

I haven't taken the time to post for so long.

I just couldn't get my brain out of chaos gear and into posting mode.

I hope you haven't had anything keeping you from
being all ready for Christmas.
So glad that even in the midst of unexpected chaos, that
I can center on baby Jesus, laying in that lowly manger inside
of an animal stable. It kind of puts everything in perspective!
So thankful that HE is my KING.

Now I need to go sweep up some sawdust!

♥

Paddling Up Stream, But I'm Still Alive!

2011-11-20T22:31:00.000-08:00

Thought I should check in

so you all would know I am still alive!

I've just been so busy creating some art orders

for others before Christmas.

I'm really tired but it's a good kind of tired.

I know things will slow down soon.

Then I will be back to see you all and

get some new posts back up on this blog.

I've been in to personalizing

many art pendants for others lately.

At first, I was a bit afraid

to say I would put names on them,

but I'm so glad I took the plunge and did it.

They are really quite fun to create.

There is just something about putting a name

with what you are creating.

Somehow when I'm painting the picture,

I look at the name and think about

how special this piece will be

because I'm making it for

that someone special.

These were made to give to four sisters.

Their grandma ordered them for Christmas presents.

So as I prop my eyes open,

( that is why they look scary big here)

I tell you this, I promise I have not deserted

you, my special blogging friends!

I'll be back soon!

I'll be leaving the day after

Thanksgiving to spend a few days with

my Pennsylvania family- daughter, son-in-law

and the oh so special grandchildren of ours!

(hubby has to work! I sure wish he could go too!)

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving

with all of the trimmings,

but especially, may you be blessed

with friends and family all around Y♥U.

Love from me,

140. God blessing me with art orders

141. His provision and how he makes a way when there seems to be no way

142. our insurance covering a water leak and the wonderful and kind contractor who is

remodeling for us.

143. an early Christmas present when the hospital called and thanked us for making our

payments regularly and they wanted to write the remaining 2 months off as a gift.

Wow! Bless that hospital God! Who does that nowadays?

144. my hubby transitioning well to a new 3rd shift position at work

145. the wonderful ANTICIPATION brought on while planning a trip to see our daughter and

grandchildren

Happiness Is A By-product of Helping Someone Else

2011-10-28T17:30:00.000-07:00

It made my day when my sister called me

and said that her granddaughter,

( my great niece-8 years old )

wanted to know if I would come

along with them on a Girls Day Away

and help her paint some pottery

for a Christmas present she wanted

to make for her mommy.

With my granddaughter and grandson

living 9 hours away,

I feel sad that we don't get to do these

spur of the moment grandparent

fun things like this together as often as I wish,

but I try and make up for it

when we are together ♥.

I loved

spending this time with my niece

and my sister.

It warmed my heart up so much when I was

asked to come along and to help.

But I can't tell you what she made because it's a surprise

and her mommy might be peeking in on this post.

My sister Melanie with her granddaughter Shay, (my great-niece)

I decided to whip up a quick little pendant

to surprise my niece with.

I think she really liked it. She wore it the rest of the day.

she held it up so we could take a photo.

there are shadows from the light that aren't really on the pendant

Shay is such a beautiful little girl on the inside and the outside!

...and she has Shirley Temple curls!!

Sometimes it's just what we need in life,

for someone to ask us

to come along for some FUN while helping them.

Many times I have thought about

asking my girlfriends (includes sisters) over for some

FUN

while they helped me

finish painting some of the rooms in my house,

that I've put off getting started on. he he

Who knows, we might

come up with some

really awesome ideas together

to make those rooms awesome or

at least some crazy fun memories made in the process.

"I wonder what Piglet is doing," thought Pooh.
"I wish I were there to be doing it, too." - Winnie the Pooh

So in case one of them are reading this,

know you can ask me first

to come over to your house and

I will gladly have FUN helping you do whatever you

need help with. I promise!

I am honored that my sister and niece

asked me to join in and have fun

with them.

(oh and Olive Garden Food too! Yummy)

Thank Y♥U

Melanie and Shay!

I love you both!

"Happiness is a by-product of an effort to make

someone else happy."

Gretta Brooker Palmer

So.... have Y♥U ever

asked someone to help you

and then found a fun way of doing it?

I would love to hear about it.

♥

105. a cup of Blackberry tea and my journal

106. knowing there is a purpose in trials because God tells me so in his word

107. painting pottery with my sister and niece

108. seeing my daughter love on her Hospice patients

109. a beautiful sunshiny weekend

110. the memories that finding old photos bring

111. date night and a movie with my hubby

112. good food eating out together for under $10.00!!!!

113. home owners insurance that takes care of repairing damages from a water leak

114. creative new ideas and planning for a room in our house

115. the happiness that children bring to us

When Your Planning Fails

2011-10-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

Another pen and ink I've been creating this week.

To be safe, until I know for sure what quote I want to permanently

add, I have puzzled in another piece into the middle of my
\pen and ink doodle frame.

I want to one day take Martha Lever's Calligra-Fun class

so I can have more confidence in my painted lettering.

Having one of those weeks where I am needing to

change up the pieces in my life puzzle.

I had to refer back

(click here) to this earlier post

that I wrote

as my reminder that it is a part of life

and the blessings in disguise will be

revealed in God's timing.

Aren't you thankful that we don't have to trust

in our own understanding?

We can rest in the peace that God

is working and already

sees the entire finished puzzle

of our lives in it's

finished masterpiece form, that He has designed?

I could never create that on my own.

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do,
everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

What do you do to get yourself

going again when your plans get changed?

I hope your pieces
are falling right in place

for you this week, but if not,

get out the card table and some tea

and invite me over.

We could sure have some fun together

figuring out where some of those pieces go!!

♥

87. friends and family that pray for us

88. answered prayer even when it's not what you expected

89. a promotion for my hubby at work

90. our granddaughter's beautiful tears during our video chat when

telling us she really missed us!

91. encouragement that comes just when you need it

92. finding a fall leaf in my path that looked like a heart put there just for me

93. the gift of creating that brings me so much pleasure and peace

94. finding creative new ways to rearrange the pieces in life

Abundance and the Miracle

2011-09-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

As you can see,
I've been doodling for a few weeks
on this creation which

started out as pure therapy, since that is

what pen and ink so often provide for me.

(started it when I hurt my back and was laying on the couch)

(and please forgive my photography- since the photo came out crooked)

I had no idea that it was going to turn into a frame for

a new quote that spoke to me recently.

Since starting my 1000 Gifts List,

I am finding it so true that
thanksgiving

really does create abundance!

It is changing me into being less

of a worrier and more into

a person who

cannot wait to see what blessings are

there waiting for her when she gets up in the morning!

Anticipation is an awesome thing!

I'll be honest here.

My first tendency has often been

to worry

What if, ....
what now, ....
what will happen next, ....
what am I going to do, etc...

that is until

I stop and listen to God asking me to

cast all my cares upon him instead.

"Throw the whole of your anxiety upon Him,

because He Himself cares for you."

1Peter 5:7

But you know what?
This being intentional about
writing down what I am thankful for everyday,
has made the tendency
to begin worrying, so much less.
For that I am sooooo thankful.

I came across this 4 faced doll the other day that

my grandma made for our daughters

when they were young.

This dolly reminds me of the many different emotions

we may go through on any given day.

(so of course I had to play along and show you)

(hope you enjoy my craziness! )

I couldn't help but notice after posing with

little dolly here, how peaceful we both

look when we are

praying together.

Isn't that the way it really is? We find peace when we

give our worries and cares over

to our Heavenly Father...

who cares for us and handles things for us in his own

way and in his own timing.

And of course He gives us special friends

to help us through, along the way also.

I am so thankful he understands me and YOU

and every emotion we go through

because he created us.

Hoping your miracles multiply this week,

along with mine, as we give thanks!

oh and....thanks for being my friend,

41. warm comfy couch and a good movie

42. good friends who understand and care

43. getting love text messages from my hubby

44. the privilege of getting to be an encouragement to someone else

45. MUSIC- all kinds

46. talking to my grandchildren over the telephone

47. hearing my granddaughter, over the phone, so excited about loosing her tooth

48. wonderful sisters to go to lunch with

49. Autumn smelling candles burning in the house

50. emotions that God created inside of me so life wouldn't be dull

Living Fully Right Where You Are Now

2011-09-13T20:04:00.000-07:00

It really has been a long time since my last post.

A few weeks ago, I injured my back

and didn't realize it until after

sitting at the computer, and

upon trying to stand, I could not get up.

My back

stubbornly said

"No, you must crawl to the next room."

Photo courtesy of Country Living

After some pampering, ice packs

and resting, my back is better and

I'm even back to my routine exercise walking again.

But that is why, my friends

that I just haven't sat long at the computer

to visit

with you lately.

I've missed Y♥U.

I want to share with you

about an awesome book I am reading.

ONE Thousand Gifts

It's all about "eucharisteo"

(the Greek word for giving thanks)

Through tragedy and loss in the author Ann's life as

a child, and the pain and disappointment she

carried, followed her into

her adult years. This brought her to the place

of searching for true JOY and how to

live the fullest life that God wants to give us.

"Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our YES! to His grace.”
Ann Voskamp

She found the secret,

to understanding how to have this real JOY

and it was in learning

how to be thankful whether empty or full...

(each day) and that ......

"eucharisteo (giving thanks) always precedes the miracle."

Ann VosKamp

I've been on the sad side of things lately. It's not any one thing.

I think I'm already panicking about the sun shining

less as fall approaches and then winter.

And I've been in a creative lull...and...and..and..

on and on.

I need to change things up a bit.

So I decided to start my own 1000 gifts list.

I started it today and will be sharing some of

the things I love that are right in front of me.

Things that I'm thankful for.

I am going to follow my friend Becky's lead

and add them at the bottom of my blog posts until

I hit 1000.

You can join me anytime if you want.

I would love to hear

what things you love and are thankful for

that are right in front of you.

So always feel free to share if you'd like.

And know that YOU are on my thankful list.

Have a wonderful week my friends!

♥

1. Ann VosKamp and her book- One Thousand Gifts

2. the beautiful day God provided outside

3. a phone call from my daughter

4. the smell of pine from the pine tree

5. a good night's rest

6. morning sunshine casting happy shadows through the house

7. my uni-ball waterproof ink pen

8. my journal and a new page to write in

9. my hubby who works so hard to provide for us
10. my blogging friends

Brave Girls Club and my Birdie

2011-08-17T05:02:00.000-07:00

So excited that my little birdie painting

"Young At Heart" was

featured today on

one the Brave Girls Club

"A Little Bird Told Me" daily encouragements.

Brave Girls Club was founded by two wonderful women,

artist, Melody Ross and her sister, Kathy Wilkins.

You can sign up for yourself to receive these

motivating and encouraging words here.

Or click on this button below and it takes you

directly to the sign up page.

Here is an example of the daily email from
the Brave Girls Club.

♥♥♥♥♥♥

Dear Blessed Girl,

There is enough for everyone. If we have what you need, and if we work hard for what you want, this absolutely does not take away the ability or opportunity for others to do the same.

There is plenty of goodness for everyone to be surrounded by it. There is plenty of money to go around in the world. There is plenty of love for everyone to be bathed in it. Sometimes it is somewhere different than where we are looking, but there is always always always enough...more than enough!

PLEASE, wonderful friend, PLEASE do not let yourself get tricked into the idea that if your dreams are coming true, or that your life is good, or that you have found peace....that it means that you took that opportunity away from someone else.

AND PLEASE do not let yourself EVER believe that because someone else is living the kind of life that you want to live, that “those kinds of lives” are all taken up....it just is not so! There is enough for you, too.

We all have our own paths to take to find what we are seeking. We are all meant to seek for different things! Just be who YOU are and let others be who they are. Cheer each other on. Support each other....remind each other that there’s plenty to go around.

Life is so good...and you are so loved.
xoxo

♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥

Hope you all have a
"young at heart day"

and do something child like.

That means a lot of laughing going on
and maybe even kicking up your heels!!

Big Hugs,

Walking on through

2011-08-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

Just came home
from taking a much needed

walk out in nature!

(the old covered bridge is on my walking path by the river)

The trees provided wonderful shade

as I walked the pretty and peaceful path through them.

“Trees are the earth's endless effort

to speak to the listening heaven.”

Rabindranath Tagore, Fireflies, 1928

Have you ever thought about how

much we are like trees?

Like the way we have to go through seasons

in our lives along with

having to give up or let go of our leaves,

(things that we are comfortable with or love)

so to make room for new growth when

the new season arrives.

Sometimes I think it takes a

mighty strong wind

to loosen

those leaves before they will drop.

Just like when God has too bring along

something strong to get us to loosen our grip.

I could go on and on about the many

times it took a very strong wind

to loosen my leaves.

I guess I hold on a little too tight sometimes!

"All good things on earth
are to be enjoyed, but holding
them loosely works best-
for where your treasure is,
there your heart
will be also."
Kay Rader

One of those windy seasons

( yes, I have many more than one)

was the beginning of the empty nest time for me.

That was about 7 years ago,

so I'm through it now,

but at the time, I felt like my trunk had just been hit

with a tornado!!!

God had so much more planned for me,

but I had to let go

to find what new step, what new song,

he had planned ahead.
And an even greater thing to look forward too is
the BEST is yet to come!

How about you?

Do you hold on extra tightly to anything?

"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.

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.

There leaves stay green, and they go right on

producing delicious fruit."

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)

I have had a special

love for trees ever since I was a little girl.

I was in 6th grade

when my siblings and I went to live

with our grandparents.

They had just built a beautiful brick ranch home that

sat in the middle of many old and very tall oak trees.

I remember being so thankful every morning,

for a secure and happy place to live,

as I looked out

of my bedroom window and saw

the
beautiful tall trees blowing in the wind.
They were always there, through the storms, in
all of the changes through the seasons.
They remained secure and growing
as they reached up to the top of the
sky to see the sun (SON).
Just as I learned to do at that age,
as I followed their example
and looked to the SON, my Savior, my creator
and loving Heavenly Father.

To this day, walking through the trees
makes me feel as though
I could touch God as if he were right there painting
a masterpiece and a word picture just for me.

If you are right in the middle of having to
loosen your grip and let go
of something, or fearing the possibility
of having to let go in the future,
remember you are not alone.
God has a new song, a new season planned
just for you... It may be scary now, not knowing
what is ahead, but you can trust that
His plans for you are good.
We will never know His Best if we don't let go.

You are always invited to come over and
sit under the shade tree with me.

I'll even make some sweet tea we can share.

I'm a much braver girl when I have
a friend beside me.

Hugs,

Some wonderful words that encouraged me from
Brenda Waggoner
author of the book, "Fairy Tale Faith"

"Perhaps it takes some years of walking with

God to learn to relax in his presence,

to realize that he's there even when

he seems absent and that he's not put off

when we get distracted from him or go

to sleep in his lap.

He isn't even shocked at our worst

foibles and follies, though we often are."

I Didn't Fly Away!

2011-07-25T20:40:00.000-07:00

I bet you all
thought I flew the coup!!!

Life this summer so far has just been a whirlwind
and it seems and I had to take a little break from blogging.

Just got back last week from a visit with my

daughter and family in Pennsylvania.

Hubby couldn't go this time so......

I made the 9 hour drive, one way all by my lonesome.

Giving out those grandma kisses and hugs and

spending time with my oldest daughter

is always a heart's treat for me and

worth the long trip.

I couldn't believe how well these two sweeties
could sing the song
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight".
It was adorable
and on key and even some harmony going on.
They especially liked and sang boldly the
" Ee-e-e-um-um-a-weh"
part of the song.

...then I saw why they are so good at singing this song
with the motions and all.....
MOMMY
sings and dances it with them.
We had a real live music jam session
at the breakfast table just before I had to leave for home.
I played the drums via the table tapping!
Smiled all the way back home
every time I remembered this music session
and even still catch myself humming this tune.

It means so much to me
how some of you have stopped by to tell me
that you've missed me.
Thank Y♥U
Being told you are missed
is like getting a beautifully hand written
"just for me" sweet note in the mail with a hug attached.
I cherish you ~ I hope you know that.

"Friends are those with whom

we feel comfortable enough to

'think out loud’.”

Sondra

I'm learning that the best ME

that I can be

is "ME"

and I hope that

YOU are learning the best YOU

that you can be is YOU.

I love the real YOU

On Becoming Real from the book
"The Velveteen Rabbit"
by Margery Williams

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse.  "You become.  It  takes a long time.  That's why it doesn't happen often to people who  break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.   Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved  off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very  shabby.  But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real,  you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

From My Front Porch to Yours

2011-07-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

From my front porch to yours,

Happy 4th of July to everyone!

Happy Birthday to

our great homeland,
the
United States of America!

I'm so very grateful
for the
men and women
who have fought for and continue to fight

for our freedoms here in the

blessed land of the USA.

May we never forget

or take these great sacrifices for granted.

Hope you and your family

are able to get together to celebrate!

...And may we all have the bright eyes of a child

(like our sweet granddaughter here)

when we

celebrate with those fireworks!

Enjoy!!!

Thank you God

for the abundant blessings

you've bestowed upon our nation!

May we continue to be grateful.

God Bless America!

Beautiful Y♥U

2011-06-25T19:16:00.000-07:00

You are so beautiful to me..♫♪

(the back of one of my newly created art jounals)

I am so thankful for each of you.

There is just something so special about

fellow blogging friends.

When I visit your blogs

I become

more inspired,

more hopeful, more creative…

and the list could continue on and on.

But the main reason I visit you is because

YOU ARE YOU

You are REAL

You are not trying to be

someone else, or something other than

who you are not.

I cherish the ups in your life and

I cherish the down times too.

Many times, what you are going

through at the moment, touches

my heart so deeply

because it is similar to what

I am going through also.

Thank Y♥U...You inspire me!

Actually, the real you inspires
and gives hope to more than just me,

but to so many more.

Your own “YOU” journey is
a very important one.

So don’t ever doubt that YOU make a difference.

“A journey is best measured in friends

rather than miles.”

Tim Cahill

You help inspire my wings to open and fly!

(new watercolor pendant I recently created)

Oh... I just felt a sweet breeze...

and heard a flutter...

Oh yes...

you're wings are opening.

Can you feel it?

Is Your Heart Young?

2011-06-12T15:20:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day today here in Indiana!

Sunny with a light breeze and it just

makes this girl HAPPY!!!

I don't like to think that I'm a girl

whose moods can be sweetened or made gloomy

by the weather, but it truly does make a

bit of a difference.

I worked some more on my new

birdie painting.

“YOUNG AT HEART”

Not liking how the words of the song

in the first line on the tree branch didn't show up

from a distance like I planned for them to.... but,

I am loving how the words to this old favorite

song makes me feel. Oh and how it makes

Mr. Fancy-step Cardinal feel too.

“The ♥ heart

that loves is always young.”

Don't you think

that loving others and being thankful

daily for what they mean to us,

is one of the keys to

staying young at heart?

....and laughing and playing together

can do wonders also.

I've always had a tendency to take things

to heart and can analyze something to

death if I don't balance myself.

But thankfully, when this

tendency stays around a little

too long, I've learned

it's time to go out

and do something fun or even silly

or whatever brings on some laughter.

That used to be doing a cart wheel in the yard,

but now if I tried that I would probably

end up in the emergency room

and very embarrassed when explaining

just how I ended up there.

How about you?

What do you do to help yourself stay

YOUNG AT HEART ?

Being with you my friends, sure helps

keep my ♥ in better shape.
THANK YOU...

Here is my wish for you:

"Fairy tales can come true,

it can happen to YOU

If you're young at heart"

So make sure to go out this week
and tap dance
in that special created life of yours!

My Favorite Girls!!

2011-06-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

I love my girls soooo much!

I also love the boys in my life too, but today

this post is for the girls in my life that

make my heart so proud!

I just had to share some photos my son-in-law,

Stevan took of our granddaughter's graduation

from preschool tonight!

To be honest, it breaks my heart that

we could not be there in person to see her perform.

(8 hours away)

She performed as a sweet little birdie

in her preschool play.

I am so thankful that we can see

these precious photos via the

speed of online magic.

some fun and crazy poses!

Now I didn't teach her to cross her eyes like this!

My mother warned me that my eyes would

stay that way permanently if I

did it too often! ha

This little gal has her grandma's heart

as a permanent, forever valentine!

Our very special, beautiful and sweet heart of a daughter Jessica!

She is also the most wonderful mommy ♥ and

was a elementary school teacher before having children.

Our grandchildren, her children, are so blessed

to have a loving and creative mommy

that makes learning for them so fun and exciting.

She can also sing like a beautiful bird
and is like Julia Childs in the kitchen!
Her scones are amazing!!

I LOVE YOU Jessica!!!

Our special, beautiful and sweet daughter Jaymie!

She is Social Worker/ Therapist with Hospice and

her BIG heart shines through in helping others make it through!

Not only does she have a passionate and big heart, but she

has been gifted with such great administration

and speaking skills and watch out if she ever plays

in a sport against you. She can kick your gluteous maximus!

I LOVE YOU Jaymie!!!

I am so blessed to have

such wonderful women (girls) in my life.

Truly, watching them and being with them,

makes me into a better woman!

Thank you God for my girls!!

And thank you God for my girlfriends!

this includes Y♥U.

♥

Learning and Waiting

2011-05-22T18:20:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago we were in Pennsylvania visiting family

and I'm trying to get back into creating

on a more regular basis again.

It always takes me some time to get back into

the swing of things.

I'm working on a new song birdie painting.

It isn't finished yet, but thought

I would show you what I've done so far.

I'm thinking about adding a black top hat and a

white bow tie, along with some

song lyrics.

So far I've only used acrylics, but it will be a

mixed media painting before I'm all done with it.

A few weeks ago we had a female cardinal

that returned every day for over a month to sit

on a lilac bush outside of our kitchen window.

She would fly into the glass of our window over and over

throughout each day.

Does anyone know WHY they do this?

It reminds me of how easy it is

for me as a human being to repeat some

action that isn't good for me, like eating too much

sugar on any given day.

Or giving into worry and fear over things

I cannot change etc...

We know it isn't good for us

and that it may even

cause pain, but we do it over and over anyway!

(just like the cardinal hitting the glass over and over)

I guess maybe it's because instant gratification

is what we are seeking rather than

waiting for the ultimate prize

that only waiting can bring.

Do you ever struggle in this area?

~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~

"I grew up with six brothers.

That's how

I learned to dance - waiting for the bathroom."

Bob Hope

~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~

I don't know if it's because I'm older

that I find it a little easier to wait,

or if it's because

I've hit my head on the glass

one too many times

and

going through that pain

just isn't worth it anymore.

I just know

that when I take the time to look

back through my life, I find that many

unexpected blessings

came during those waiting times.

Blessings that

truly changed me or

got me on the right path that I was

designed to take.

If you are in the midst of a waiting time,

a painful time,

or " I wonder what in the world

could go wrong next"

kind of time,

please be encouraged.

Be hopeful.

Know that "in the wait",

God is truly working on your behalf

and you are going to be rewarded for your waiting.

"The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,

to the person who seeks Him."

Lamentations 3:25

YOU ARE ONE AMAZING CREATION.

BELIEVE IT MY FRIEND.

THERE IS NO ONE ELSE LIKE YOU.

YOU ARE SPECIAL.

NOW GO OUT AND FLY....
AND be your unique YOU...

Just beware of hitting the glass -ouch!

I Am So Proud of MY HUBBY

2011-05-09T18:31:00.000-07:00

Life has been so busy around our house lately.

Sorry you haven't heard from me in days.

I am so very

proud of my husband, Scott.

After 4 long years of going to college

in the evenings and working full-time as well as over-time,

he fulfilled his dream of

graduating

with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting on May 1st.

And he graduated with honors!

Pretty good for a 56 year old!!!

Especially for one who didn't start college

until he was 52.

WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF HIM .

WAY TO GO HONEY!!!!

May 1st also happened to be our

35th Wedding Anniversary!!!

So I dedicate this post to my hubby! To his perseverance

and dedication to his dreams.

I also am so thankful

that God put him in my life

over 35 years ago.

So thankful for his love and dedication

to his family. So thankful he tells me I'm beautiful

even in my ugly cut off pajama pants that I cut off

because of hot flashes! ha ha!

They are really ugly!

(does anyone relate?)

So thankful for the joy filled many

moments

we've had over these past 35 years.

I'm thankful for the hard-trial filled times too,

which bonded us together

even closer than had we not gone

through them.

I look forward

to whatever adventure God

sends us on together next.

Love you
forever and always honey!

♥

Had to Share This with YOU

2011-04-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

Here you will see

our excited 5 yr old granddaughter Ella
and her daddy

doing a science experiement together.

This is their latest

"Science With The Sheets" video
and they have many more on YouTube.

They are making Glacier Gak.

Please pause my music player on the sidebar before playing

so you can enjoy this wonderful video.

Hope you enjoy!

VIDEO HAD TO BE REMOVED

Arranging Pieces

2011-04-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

Just doodle dee doing for some fun using
colored pencils and ink. It's nothing fancy but
doodling sure produces some good therapy!
Don't you agree?

What about your wishes? Are they
just something you dream about
or are you now,
living and working towards them
to make them come true?

For me, I have to be
accountable and check in with
myself
and the goals I've set
every now and then, or
I can get stuck in a rut and
lay dormant instead of continuing to bloom.
Do you have to do that with yourself?

“Arrange whatever pieces come your way” ……Virginia Wooolf

♥

Sometimes,

our days can throw curve balls at us

and totally throw us off and

that is when we need to relax

through it and just

arrange whatever pieces come our way.

I've had to learn

and am still learning how

to be more flexible.

Especially when it comes to being more flexible

with myself!

Being a firstborn, I have

a tendency, like most firstborns do,

to be a little too hard on myself

because of wanting or thinking I must

be perfect at what I do and

even sometimes with who I am.

That is just too much pressure to put on yourself!

Don't you find it so refreshing,

knowing you have the ability to arrange or

rearrange any unexpected pieces

that come your way?

And sometimes those unexpected pieces

turn out to be great blessings in disguise.

I LOVE it when that happens!

“ Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.”

Psalm 63:7

Talk about a huge piece thrown at you

that rearranges life.

I hope you won't mind if I share a personal story

of how my grandparents

arranged the pieces that came their way.

My grandparents raised me and my siblings.

They took us into their home to raise when I was

11 years old and my 3 siblings were

even younger than me.

I will forever be grateful

to them for their sacrifice and great love.

After my grandfather died at age 72,

when I was a young adult,

I remember telling my grandmother

that I was sorry that they

gave up getting together with their friends

because of the time it took to raise us when they

were in their 50's and 60's.

I was sad now that

grandpa was gone and grandma

didn't have

close girlfriends anymore.

I knew raising us was a piece given to them

that they were not expecting during that

middle age time in their lives.

You know what she said to me? I will never forget

her gracious and loving words.

She said, "Oh honey, don't you think that way at all."

"You kids added so much joy to our lives."

Before you lived with us, we worried all of the time

about you and if you were okay, but when you came to

live with us, we didn't worry anymore!"

My grandparents lived out

"arranging the pieces that come your way."

And the blessings from it

changed my life.

Here is a photo my brother just recently found of my

grandfather and my two daughters and my niece.

I'm not kidding when I say,

"He was the most fun grandpa and great -grandpa ever!"

♥

You know what?

I bet we could exchange

pieces and make them work if

the pieces that come your way this week

do not fit.

Let me know if this happens

and we will have a pieces party!!!!

PARTIES

ALWAYS MAKE THINGS MORE FUN

♥

Pure Love In It's Truest Form

2011-04-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

Being Palm Sunday,
I wanted to share this video with you.
I am so thankful

that Jesus took these 40 days
to prepare for the purest
and most true action of LOVE
that He gave for you and me.

please scroll over to my sidebar
and mute my music player first so you can hear this video

I will forever be grateful for His
Amazing LOVE.

I Choose JOY

2011-03-31T13:22:00.000-07:00

I am so excited
about this beautiful bracelet cuff that

I purchased from Becky's

Etsy Shop called Farmgirl Paints.

She even customized it to exactly what I wanted.
Isn't it the cutest thing!!!

I asked her to make my cuff with the words
CHOOSE JOY
for a very special reason.

This is Becky's photo of the cuff from her etsy shop.

If you click on the photo it will take you directly there.

Those two words have gotten me through
so many sad times in my life.
I liked the thought of having these words
stamped onto a bracelet
to remind me to dance in the rain
when I'm tempted to wallow in the puddle.

We usually have two choices in most things,
the high road or the low road.

It doesn't mean that I am just bubbly and
a jar of happiness all of the time.
Thank goodness our
Joy doesn't depend on that!

"Happiness
isn't the absence of problems; rather, it
is trusting in the midst of problems."
Elizabeth B. Brown

For I do believe one must take time to grieve
appropriately over losses etc.

But....during those times of grieving,
I think the joy part
comes in the form of a peace that only
God can give us.

"Inside peace grows from a security
that emanates from
trusting the limb that holds your
nest in the middle of life's waterfalls."
Elizabeth B. Brown- book The Joy Choice

♥~♥~♥~♥

Joy comes when you trust that God
made YOU
who YOU are for a unique why."
Elizabeth B. Brown

I'm not sure my friend
what you might be going
through today.
But I can't help but feel this
post was meant for someone else besides me.
Sometimes we need a real live friend to take our hand
and grab us up out of that puddle
and then ask us to dance in the rain with them.

Nothing makes me happier than to have a
friend over to dance in the rain with me. So please
remember the invite if you need some help.

Actually, wouldn't it be fun to have a
string of friends
dancing in the rain together and
not caring the least
about how crazy some people might
think we look with all of that JOY on our faces?
I LOVE THAT IDEA!!!
(and no umbrellas allowed!)

Big Joy-filled HUGS,

Make It Worth Remembering

2011-03-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

"Hello friends.
I'm back from my special
time away.
You have been missed.

Even though time with family
was short together,
we had magnitudes of fun
and new memories were made.

Thought I would show you some photos from
my trip. Here are a few.

~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~

Aunt Jaymie (our youngest)
and our granddaughter Ella showing
off their shiny lip gloss!

Mommy Jessica (our oldest) and our grandson Ezra

this photo taken by daddy-Stevan Sheets

Ella and grandma.
This is becoming grandma's tradition to take these
cheek to cheek photos.

Ezra was loosing patience with this photo shoot,
as you can tell on his face here.

Thank Y♥U
for letting me share my family with you.
They are so dear to my heart.

Next week I cannot wait to get back to
creating again.

God knew it would help balance me
when He put the desire to create into my design.

I'm not sure that choosing the word
PRIORITIZE
as my 2011 word for the year was
such a good idea.
Ever since I chose that word I have felt tired, been ill,
not able to blog much,
and trying to catch up on everything.

I think I'm doing too much thinking about it,
so this quote is my new creed.

"One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering." Author Unknown

Let's make each day beautiful together!

Are you with me friend?

♥

Oh So Excited for this ROAD TRIP

2011-03-08T18:28:00.000-08:00

I have been laying low

and away from the computer for the

past few weeks, due to having the yucky

upper respiratory flu virus.

I'm finally feeling better!

I really have missed you all.

But in a couple of days,

my youngest daughter and I

are going on a road trip out to visit

my oldest daughter and her family, which

includes these two precious, sweet

and very lovable grandchildren of mine!!!!!

It's going to be a quick (9 hour drive one way)

and short little stay,

but 3 days are better than none at all.

I've been told

that my granddaughter already has a list

of things for us to do together.

Her mommy said it is a very long list!

So pray me in

some extra energy, will you please?

I don't care if all of my energy gets drained,

as long as it is replaced with

hugs and kisses from my sweetie pies!

When I return, I will

I will get back to doing some blog

posting again and will be visiting you, to find

out what you've been up to.

~Big HUGS~

Look At What I Recieved..

2011-02-24T18:47:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to open up the mail

and get these pretties

from Jennifer's

new etsy shop called Ripplespeak.

She creates such beautiful collage art with

a nature theme, and here in my photo

your will see

her collage art made into beautiful

note cards.

You all know

how much

I love birdies!!!

Her beautiful blog is also called

Ripplespeak

and

if you love words from the HEART ♥

weaved into poetry with

real life

and soul word pictures,

then you must give yourself a gift

and stop by to see her.

She has such a BEAUTIFUL way

of getting right to your heart.

Aren't these beautiful!!!

Thought I would also show you the room I create in.

I don't have a room all to myself yet for an art studio,

so I have this little corner in our guest bedroom

where the west side of the house lets in

the beautiful light and sunshine.

Here is my little corner where I usually paint my

small mini pendants.
I use a card table for the larger

paintings. Of course when this photo was taken,
the area was

all cleaned up and looking much cleaner

than usual.

When It's clean, it's also

a nice and cozy area to journal, do my devotions

and to light a candle and drink some

yummy hot chai!

It's a small space, but I can call it mine!

Tell me about your studio space.
I know many of you have wonderful large spaces
to create in and I could give in to jealousy, but
instead I really would love to hear about your
special space. If you will, give us some
tips on how you've made your space
work for you no matter what the size.
I know we could all learn some great tips
and ideas from one another.

Lots of warm and cozy moments are

wished for you all.

...And in your very own
special, warm and cozy, favorite spot!

♥

Encouraged or Discouraged to DREAM?

2011-02-15T08:47:00.000-08:00

Below you will find
such great words of inspiration

by John C. Maxwell

on following your dream

and also about why we do not!

I just had to share it with YOU all.

Here is the link to his blog and the

"Fight for your dream in 2011" post

where he shared these words I have added below.

http://johnmaxwellteam.com/fight-for-your-dream-in-2011/

YOU JUST MUST READ

ABOUT THE MONKEYS EXPERIEMENT

A light bulb went on in my head when I read about them.

It made total sense and answered some whys!

_______________________________________________________________

Fight for your dream in 2011

by John C. Maxwell

Happy New Year! If you’re like me, you spent some time in the past few weeks reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the coming one. I’m already excited about what’s in store for the next twelve months!

What dreams do you have for 2011? Or maybe a better question is, do you have dreams for 2011? For some people, dreaming is easy. Your mind is full of dreams just waiting to be expressed. But what about those who find it hard to dream? What if you’re not sure if you have a dream you want to pursue?

Let’s face it: Many of us were not encouraged to dream. Others had dreams, only to see them actively discouraged. The world is filled with dream crushers and idea killers. Why? Some people without dreams of their own hate to see others pursuing theirs. Other people’s passion and success makes them feel inadequate or insecure. Others think they’re being helpful: keeping us from risk or hurt.

Business professors Gary Hamel and C. K. Prahalad wrote about an experiment conducted with a group of monkeys. Four monkeys were placed in a room that had a tall pole in the center. Suspended from the top of that pole was a bunch of bananas.

One of the hungry monkeys started climbing the pole to get something to eat, but just as he reached out to grab a banana, he was doused with a torrent of cold water. Squealing, he scampered down the pole and abandoned his attempt to feed himself. Each monkey made a similar attempt, and each one was drenched with cold water. After making several attempts, they finally gave up.

Then researchers removed one of the monkeys from the room and replaced him with a new monkey. As the newcomer began to climb the pole, the other three grabbed him and pulled him down to the ground. After trying to climb the pole several times and being dragged down by the others, he finally gave up and never attempted to climb the pole again.

The researchers replaced the original monkeys, one by one, with new ones, and each time a new monkey was brought in, he would be dragged down by the others before he could reach the bananas. In time, only monkeys who had never received a cold shower were in the room, but none of them would climb the pole. They prevented one another from climbing, but none of them knew why.

Perhaps others have dragged you down in life. They’ve discouraged you from dreaming. Maybe they resented the fact that you wanted to move up or to do something significant with your life. Or maybe they were trying to protect you from pain or disappointment. Either way, you’ve been discouraged from dreaming.

Take heart. It’s never too late to start dreaming and pursuing your dreams. My friend Dale Turner asserts, “Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.”

If you haven’t done any dreaming yet this year, set aside some time to explore possibilities and commit yourself to new opportunities. It’s never too late to dream.

~Adapted from my (John Maxwell) book Put Your Dream to the Test

This story was originally posted on: John Maxwell On Leadership.

__________________________________________________________________

So my friends,

Go out today and
go for those bananas!

Together we can spur one another to
the top of those high trees!

..and enjoy our delicious fruit together!

Beautiful, yes YOU are!

2011-02-10T20:53:00.000-08:00

Another Art Journal cover I am creating.

Almost ready to put it all together, then into my Etsy shop.

♥

Many times on my travel time to work,

about 15 minutes into my drive, I see the

most wonderful site.

The sun has come up through

the trees and greets me

every time at this specific corner where I

turn to get onto the highway.

Truly, I always feel like it's my

Heavenly Father telling me:

"Hello my dear one! Here I am

for YOU in all of my brightness and

I am going with you on your journey today."

"Lee Ann, you have nothing to worry about,

because I love you,

I will take care of you and I

have planned special things for you today."

HE makes me feel very special.

So here is a quick little reminder
to YOU

who may have forgotten

that

WHO YOU ARE
is special.

There really is no one else

just like Y♥U.

You are BEAUTIFUL...

and your dreams matter.

No matter where you may find yourself on

this journey, in the valley or
on the mountaintop,

it doesn't change how special
you are
to your Creator.
Even if the pain makes you FEEL like you
don't matter, well YOU DO.

Repeat after me....

...I AM SPECIAL even when I don't
feel like I am....(keep repeating...)

Sometimes those valley experiences can really

be gifts that help us eventually see
the strong beauty

that is already inside of us.

" What makes the desert BEAUTIFUL is

that somewhere it hides a well."

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Here is a special song and video, just for Y♥U.
It's a favorite of mine and I hope you will like it too!

~BIG HUGS~

Please scroll down to mute my music player first
so you can hear this beautiful video and the encouraging words.

Freedom To Be

2011-01-30T17:11:00.000-08:00

I have been busy taking an online 6 wk class

called "Soul Restoration"
that I WON

from the

Brave Girls Club,

taught by

the artist, Melody Ross

with her sister Kathy Wilkins.

It has been amazing so far with

some tough heart work being involved.

We also do art projects but you don't

have to be an artist to take this class.

This is a bookmark I made to go along with

my Altered Art Journals that

I have been creating for my etsy shop.

Melody Ross

gave us a list of truths

and journal entry starters and these were

some of the words from there

that meant so much to me.

I've decoupaged them onto a bookmark.

This class is helping me to look back

at some of the untruths (lies)

I picked up along the way

since just a little girl and have carried

with me to adulthood.

You don't know what lies

you've believed sometimes unless you

get BRAVE and

go back there to take a look.

The wonderful thing about it all is,

that once you

see some of those stuck places caused

by lies you may have believed,

you can then replace them with the

REAL TRUTHS

from your Truthteller

which for me is

GOD my Heavenly Father.

♥

If you hear a voice within you say

"you cannot paint,"

then by all means paint,

and that voice will be silenced.
Vincent Van Gogh

My newest Altered Art Journal creation

" I can't believe that

God put us on this earth to be ordinary. "

Lou Holtz

♥

You don't have to stay stuck!

You don't have to let those lies

that have kept you stuck,

keep you from being

all you were created to be

and to become.

You don't have to hold back from believing you

can make the dreams in your heart happen.

Actually, you can Fly like you

were meant to do

when you see the truths that God has

planned for you all along.

"Be strong and courageous,

all you who put

your hope in the Lord."

Psalm 31:24

Will You come fly with me?

I think I see your wings unfolding too!

There's some Splashin Going on Here

2011-01-24T17:35:00.000-08:00

Splish Splash...♫..♪..

I was taking a bath....♫..♪..

♫....la la la la ...la la ..la..♪.♫

YAY!!!!! We finally

have our water back!

The plumbers have come

and gone. Woo Hoo!!!!

(the party might be over once the bill arrives)

but for now...

..♫..♪..I am Splishing and

a Splashing♪..♫..

..Reelin' with the feelin'..

..♫..♪..movin' and ..

a groovin'..♪♫..

Rockin' and a rollin'

♫..♪..yeah...♫..♪

Splashes to you all...

Hope you are singing right along

with me!

When Things Go Wrong

2011-01-23T09:06:00.000-08:00

Well, I was hoping
to have another post put up by Saturday,

but we woke up with

frozen water pipes

in our

over 100 year old house yesterday,

and are still waiting to have them

repaired today!
We may even be waiting until tomorrow!

It seems here in the Midwest with these

below freezing temperatures, that many are having

the same problem and therefore

we may be waiting longer than hoped.

I'm very thankful for my

sister (and brother-in-law)

who live near by

and opened their home
to us while we've been waiting!

So this post will be ~~shor~~t,
(I knew I couldn't make it short)

as I am writing it from their home.

At times like this,

I could

get very frustrated and insecure!

(courtesy of the Graphics Fairy Blog)

Things could be so much worse, I know,

and I'm so thankful for all I've been given.

It's just that at times like this,

it makes me stop and think more about those

without a home or shelter over their heads to go to each day.

My heart hurts more when my thoughts go there.

But then, that is a good thing when

we are put in a position

that makes us think, hurt and feel more

for those who need a helping hand.
Right?

"Suppose one of you

says to them

"Go. I hope everything turns out fine
for you.

Keep warm. Eat well."

And you do nothing about what they really need.

Then what good have you done? "

James 2:16

(New International Reader's Version)

When things like

"needing a plumber"

happen to us,

just maybe it's really God

preparing our hearts to be ready

for that person in need

that is going to be placed right in our path soon!

I pray my eyes and heart

will be open and ready to DO something

about their needs and not just

wish them well. (like I've done many times before)

♥

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait

a single moment, before starting to improve the world."

Anne Frank

Thank you my friends,

for making my life so much

warmer!

I want to do the same for YOU.

♥

Wanting BEST instead of GOOD

2011-01-16T18:24:00.000-08:00

Our dreams are so important and that is why last year I chose the word "Action"

to focus on for 2010. Doing so produced some amazing results for me.

I accomplished everything on my 2010 "to do" list plus learned so much

more about what I am made of and also that my dreams are exactly the

right direction for me. So thank you to the word "Action" for keeping me

accountable last year. We were a great team!

Dream Altered Art Journal

I recently created for a customer-

using old book covers

So now to share with you my word for 2011. It isn't what I call a pretty word.

It's not even what I think of as a desired word. I even went and looked it up in

the Thesaurus, thinking I could find a more flowery word to use instead of it,

but there wasn't one.

Some words are just what they are and mean just what they mean.

Yes, PRIORITIZE is my word for 2011.

I kept trying to find another word, but

I couldn't get away from

hearing God tell me in my soul that this is

what I needed to do this year.

♥

" Commit your work to the Lord,

then it will succeed.

Prov. 16:3

♥

You see, when I chose Action for last year,
my creativity doubled and

tripled for me and it unleashed so many

good things inside of me. My spontaneity and

imagination came more alive
and my hopes and

dreams became actual open doors

to begin walking through.

I was and am so excited about what is ahead.

But, other things happened last year too,
like loosing my job,

then starting another new part-time job and my
schedule changing. I also went through

a biopsy because of pre-cancer then a lump removed

which (a big YAY!!) ended up showing
no pre-cancer or cancer.

.....so now I know it is important that I start caring
more about my health

and what I can control like taking better care of it

with exercise and better food choices. So I need

to make it a PRIORITY.

I am in the process of seeking what
God and I want for my list of priorities to be this year.
I already know that creating art will be on
that list, along with
family time and time spent
daily with the Lord. To make
my list, I have so many good things that I
could pick from but
sometimes you have to give up
the good for the Best.

"Decide what you want,

decide what you are willing

to exchange for it.

Establish your priorities

and go to work."

H. L. Hunt

So I would love to hear from you about

some of your tips on prioritizing. If you are

an artsy person, tell me how you plan your day

creating. If you have a part-time or full-time job

away from home, tell me how you fit in

working towards your dreams etc..

Anything you want to share I know would be

helpful to either me or someone else.

Thank YOU in advance.

Wishing Y♥U, my friend,

the BEST always!