Tyme to Write

Torn Between Two Interests

2011-01-13T20:41:00.003-07:00

I haven't posted here for a long time because I've become addicted to art journaling. I'll put my writing aside for awhile here and just upload a few art journaling pages for my new friends at Milliande Art Studio.

Art Journaling Again and Again

2010-06-06T21:36:00.008-07:00

This one is ready for journaling.

Art Journaling Madness

2010-05-29T13:00:00.013-07:00

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

Anais Nin must have been talking about me with that quote. The day is here and opening into a blossom is a thrilling experience.

My struggle with art has always been that I felt I wasn't "creating" anything. Sure, I was making paintings, but in analyzing the process I told myself I was copying what I saw and learning techniques to complete the painting.

I envied the students in my art class at the community college who could come up with the most wild ideas and turn it into a painting. So, imagine the joy when I discovered art journaling. There are so many books, websites, and videos that talk about art journaling. This process is truly creative. Start with a blank page, slop on some acrylics, watercolors, or collage pieces and take off! I'm still a bit "tight" with my planning of the page because I like to have my page speak to a subject. But with practice, that tightness might disappear.For now, I'll just continue opening my petals and soak in that sunshine of creativity.

**Footnote....for those of you who can't seem to get started creating, you might have the problem I had. Disorganization! I had to set up a corner of the room just for art journaling with all the supplies I use within an arm's reach. There's nothing more annoying than to constantly be jumping up to retrieve a tool, paper, paint, or scissors from various places

in the room or closet.

Comfort Zones

2010-01-26T21:49:00.006-07:00

Yesterday was a day like no other. I stepped out of my comfort zone, and was blessed.

I visited with inmates at the prison and walked away feeling grateful that I had come.

Yes...comfort zones are made to be stepped out of.

Matthew 25:34-36 Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, 'Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me.'

Relationship on the Highwire

2010-01-21T15:13:00.004-07:00

I'm not an authority on the bird world. Actually I can't speak with authority on anything, but that subject will be tackled another day. So, read this posting as "thoughts from a bird brain."

Here in Phoenix, we're recovering from quite a severe rain storm. I often wonder where the birds hide to survive during the winds that force the rain to fly in a horizontal pattern.

The day after the storm hit, while the sky was still a slate gray dotted with menacing clouds, I spotted many birds lined up on the electrical wires like notes on a music staff. It's not an unusual sight during the winter. Why, I wonder, do they take roost out in the open when they could be comfortably hidden in the dense natal plum bushes that line the base of our house. Possibly the wires are warm and it's a substitute for socks on their feet? Afterall, if your feet are warm, your body feels warmer.

Another thing I've noticed is how they usually group together. Sometimes twenty or thirty in a row...evenly spaced I might add. Yet, they seem to be only a wings-width apart; just close enough to have physical contact with a fellow bird. Perhaps they experience a sense of security with the others in close proximity.

I may never know the answers to these silly musings, but it gives my bird brain exercise.

P.S. Look closely at the picture (taken from National Geographic). Even in Birdworld, you'll find a comedian in the crowd!

Luke 12:6,7 What's the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Not much more than that. Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And he knows the number of hairs on your head! Never fear, you are far more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.

The Memory Box

2010-01-10T12:46:00.004-07:00

Oh No! Here it comes, sneaking up on me without warning. They say it happens to everyone, but I didn't expect it to happen so soon. Now it's time to deal with it...memory loss.

First it manifests itself in simple things like "Hmmm...where did I put my glasses?", or "What do you mean, we already saw that movie?" Then it attacks more serious areas such as "What time is that meeting today, or is it tomorrow?, and "Which aisle did I park the car in?"

So before my memory completely fails me, I will save some of it in my memory box. I won't bother saving the memories that begin with "I remember back in '82", because I'll always remember what happened in the past. It's the happenings of yesterday or even this morning that I might need to toss into the box. Then, when that memory loss sneaks up on me, I'll show it who's boss! I'll check my memory box ... and find the one I'm looking for floating around inside.

Let's Zentangle

2009-11-20T22:17:00.027-07:00

Zentangling. Sounds like a dance doesn't it! Well, actually it's my latest discovery on how to pass the time when I don't want to think too much. All it takes is a pen, some paper, and patience. I could just casually doodle them, but being the perfectionist that I am, I take my time... a whole lot of time... to precisely draw the design.

I think my husband enjoys my Zentangling. I actually sit in the living room with him while he watches football, basketball, tennis or whatever. Maybe he considers it quality time.

Although this is glorified doodling, the name Zentangle has been copyrighted. You will find the originators' website at www.zentangle.com.

I'm thankful for my desire to create.

Exodus 31:3 "I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftmanship to devise artistic designs...."

Psalm 151

2009-10-25T12:35:00.004-07:00

Psalm 151

Sing to the Lord, all you people,
Sing to our great Creator God!
He has given us many gifts for our pleasure.

Sing thanksgiving for sight –
To view the brilliant sunsets,
and the stars and all of nature.
The smile of a loved one.

Sing thanksgiving for hearing –
To listen to the mockingbird’s song,
and the crunch of dry leaves under foot.
The laughter of a baby.

Sing thanksgiving for smell –
To enjoy the jasmine in bloom on the trellis,
and the earthy forest moss.
Fresh cut grass.

Sing thanksgiving for touch –
To feel the gentle breeze against a face,
and the softness of angora wool.
A hug.

Sing thanksgiving for taste –
To experience the sweetness of the strawberry,
and the tartness of the grapefruit.
The jalapeno’s bite.

Sing to the Lord, all you people,
He blesses us with five senses.
O, that we may never take them for granted.
Sing thanksgiving for Life.

Baby Joshua, born July 9, 2009

I've Learned a Lesson

2009-05-28T10:45:00.012-07:00

There was a time when this photo really spoke to me. It wasn't long ago when I seemed to be bombarded with the idea of "solitude."

....while reading a book, there it was
.... a devotional would speak of the need
.... a quote would come from nowhere.
.... but most of all, I'd find myself wanting to run away for a day, or a week, not understanding what was driving these thoughts.

When I found this photo, I had a longing to be there, to have that book be mine. To have the cup bear my lip print. The photo made me feel comfortable. I decided I needed to write about it on my blog.
But that was then.
Now as I try to express my feelings, I can't. I should have done it when the mood hit. It probably would have made for a more interesting post.

Matthew 14:23 ...He went up into the hills to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

Letter to Different Time

2009-04-24T17:54:00.010-07:00

Dear Suzie,
I wish I could sit down with you at this stage in your life…the year of this picture. If only I could be with you to teach you some important things about yourself. Soon, after Mom dies, you will leave Buffalo and move to Mineral Point with Grandma. It will be a good move, creating some of the happiest years of your childhood.

As I look back over those years, I realize you will wander through life not really being aware of who you are. Not the superficial “who you are”, but the deep-down-inside “who you are.” As far as I can remember, no one ever taught you how to live life to its full potential. I feel I’ve also failed in this area with your future children. I really believe, Suzie, that after all these many years, I’m only now learning "who we are."

I want to talk to you about an incident that will happen the day you begin the fifth grade. Unfortunately, you will not be able to respond to it in a positive manner. And, considering that I have it in my memory today, it will be something that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.

A boy, new to the school, will come to your classroom. His name is Harvey. Nice boy, son of the new minister in town. His father will leave him in the classroom and Harvey will run to the cloakroom window to watch him go. He will cry. Kids will laugh at him….but not you. You will hurt for him. That’s because you will know how he feels. You see, you experienced the same thing just the year before when Dad took you away to live in Milwaukee. But happily you returned to Mineral Point after that year was over.

Unfortunately, you will be too afraid to go to Harvey and try to comfort him. You will be too young to know how to do that…and much too shy. But it's okay. There are so many lessons to learn.

Harvey, I’m sorry I didn't help you that day.

Sheets Revisited

2009-04-13T22:13:00.007-07:00

Just wanted to share the birthday card daughter Dana made for me yesterday. This card was created because of a conversation our family had last Thanksgiving. Check out my post from November 2008 entitled "Sheets."

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. ~~Found somewhere in the Bible :0)

The Simple Life

2009-04-10T18:07:00.005-07:00

Remember the phrase, “biting off more that you can chew”? Perhaps I’m about to do that. In this post I plan to make a statement about the purpose of life. Me!...a middle-60’s woman without a completed college degree is about to address a subject that has been discussed by the greatest philosophers throughout the ages.

Until just recently, I believed there was something "great" that God wanted me to do with my life. This thinking was especially vivid after being healed of cancer. There was a purpose for this healing…he had a special plan for my life. I just needed to find it. I’m sure I am not alone in this quest to find a purpose.

Well…here I am after four years…still wondering what the “great thing” is!

Recently I’ve been reading books by Donald Miller, Jim Palmer, Rob Bell, and the Bible. They all seem to point to the same thing. It’s a simple thing, really. As Jim Palmer puts it in his book Wide Open Spaces: “God’s purpose for me, for you, for everyone is to know him.” That's it.

Look what the apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:10…”For my determined purpose is that I may know him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person more strongly and more clearly.]” (Amplified version)

To carry it a bit further, I think it all boils down to the two commandments that Jesus instructed us to do. I appreciate the way William Young (author of The Shack) puts it on his blog…”Love God, love your neighbor as yourself, and love yourself. Then go help people because you love them.”

I’m beginning to believe this is the purpose for my life. Excuse me while I go to chew on it for awhile.

Jesus himself said, (John 17:3) Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Blessing Takes a Strange Form

2009-03-31T12:00:00.005-07:00

Sometimes God uses the most unusual circumstances to speak to me. Perhaps it’s because when I’m wrapped up in the norm, I fail to see His leading. Such was my day yesterday.

As an artist, there are days that I just can’t get it together. No matter what I produce, I see it as crap. I experienced a day like that in class yesterday. My reaction to failure was so extreme that I wanted to pack up all my art supplies and sell them at a garage sale.

I went from that attitude to…”what is the purpose of my life anyway? Nothing I do is worth anything.” God healed me from cancer four years ago and I feel that I’ve wasted those years. What monumental thing for God have I done during those four years? NOTHING!

It’s at those emotional times I head out to walk the mountain in our neighborhood. I have two special places I go to talk to God. After arriving at my “prayer rock” I laid my hand on the huge boulder and cried “Lord, I need to know my purpose…I need to know the direction you want me to go.” As I was standing there in the silence, I began to hear a strange sound…a humming that grew louder and louder. I looked up and saw a cloud of insects heading straight towards me. My first thought was of the “killer bees” which we have here in Arizona. All I could do was stand totally still hoping they would pass and not notice me.

After they passed I realized they were headed in the direction of the path that would take me back down the mountain. I wasn’t about to go that way just in case they were lying in wait! Instead, I decided to take an unknown trail in the opposite direction. I remember telling God that I hoped the direction I was walking would take me where I needed to go rather than up to the top of the mountain. Eventually the path began a downward slope, and ahead I saw the parking lot at the bottom of the path. In that moment I understood He will lead me, even if I don’t realize He’s doing it.

As for the purpose of life….That will be my next post.

Melody of Mirth

2009-03-11T16:00:00.006-07:00

Today I found another message on the wrapper of a Dove candy piece. It's funny how these messages speak to me. This one says "Lose yourself in a moment."

I was reminded of a special moment a few days ago. It was one of those days when I wasn't feeling quite like myself...spirits down. The morning sun was shining through the open window accompanied by a refreshing breeze. A beautiful golden glow showered the room. Those things alone should have been enough to lift my spirits, but they didn't.

Suddenly, an all too familiar sound caught my ear from just outside the window. A mockingbird song. The melody of the mockingbird is delightful, cheery, and sometimes even funny. I found myself chuckling quietly. The smile felt good to my face. All it took was one small bird to release me from my heaviness. I was definitely "Lost in the moment."

Draw Beauty from every flower and Joy from the song of the birds. Listen to a bird. Take the song as a message from My Father. Let it sink into your soul. It will be given back to the world again by you in the form of a smile or a loving word or a kind thought or a prayer. Laugh more, laugh often. Love more. I am with you. I am your Lord.
~God Calling, March 11

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork." ~Psalm 19:1

I really must wear my glasses

2009-03-09T13:27:00.007-07:00

I read today on my yahoo page that those killer tomatoes are at it again. The headline read "Midwest tomatoes destroy homes...some roads flooded."

But on closer examination, I realized they were tornadoes, not tomatoes.

Where are those glasses when I need them!

How often do we think of this?

2009-02-26T10:23:00.008-07:00

From a reading in God Calling....
"How little man knows and senses My need! My need of Love and Companionship.
I came "to draw men unto Me," and sweet it is to feel hearts drawing near in Love, not for help, as much is for tender comradeship.
Many know the need of man; few know the need of Christ."

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20

Taken from God Calling, February 29

Photo compliments of my camera

Need I say more?

2009-01-25T14:23:00.004-07:00

James 4:14 "How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog--it's here for a little while, then it's gone."

Photo compliments of the wrapper from my DOVE dark chocolate candy. Thank you, DOVE, for the reminder.

I Think I'm Hooked!

2009-01-13T23:58:00.006-07:00

I'm constanting discovering interesting things on the internet, with the latest being art journaling. Just enter "art journaling" into Google search and see what people are doing. I've experimented with it in the past, but usually didn't know what subject or theme to journal about. As of last night, I've become serious about it.

I use the devotional book God Calling often since my bout with cancer and have highlighted many sentences that touched me spiritually and emotionally. Last night, I became inspired to take those passages and represent them visually in my art journal.

Well, I've been working all evening, and although it's past midnight, I need to report my excitement. What fun I've had creating. The picture here is part of the page I created... the portion which represent the year past. The following is the text from which it is taken:

(January 1) I stand between the years. The Light of My Presence is flung across the year to come - the radiance of the Sun of Righteousness. Backward, over the past year, is My Shadow thrown, hiding trouble and sorrow and disappointment.

Bury every fear of the future, of poverty for those dear to you, of suffering, of loss. Bury all thought of unkindness and bitterness, all your dislikes, your resentments, your sense of failure, your disappointment in others and in yourselves, your gloom, your despondency, and let us leave them all, buried, and go forward to a new and risen life.

I encourage you to try art journaling. You don't have to be an artist. You don't have to make a pretty picture. The only requirement is ... you must have fun!

You can find God Calling here:

http://www.twolisteners.org/January%201%20-%2015.htm

Words Adrift

2008-12-31T15:49:00.008-07:00

A chilly breeze met me as I rounded the stern of the ship during my daily walking exercise. It was a routine that I had established to buffer the guilt of knowing how much I would be eating during the coming day. Cruises are like that.

From the corner of my eye, once again I saw the same gentleman jog by whom I had just seen at the other end of the ship. He was in a mode like me, but he put much more effort into the exercise routine. This time though, something new caught my attention. Maybe there was more to his efforts than just the need to exercise.

Did I hear correctly?

Yes I did. He had said the words "I love you, Helen."

Immediately my imagination took hold.

Who was Helen?

Was he newly married? I doubt it. She'd be by his side if that were the case.

Maybe she was his lover who couldn't commit to him yet, or possibly divorce was in his future.

I dismissed the idea that he was recently widowed, preferring instead to believe she was still available for him.

In any case, I'm assuming Helen was really special to him...special enough for him to audibly speak the words within earshot of me.

My imagination didn't end there. In my story, Helen will someday sail the same ship, and as she reaches that very spot, her ear will catch the faint words that have been drifting on the breeze since they were spoken. Maybe he will be there with her, but if not, will her heart be touched as she hears those same words? I hope so.

How many other spoken words are drifting out there, just waiting for a listening ear?

Sheets

2008-11-28T18:06:00.015-07:00

So often, as a mom of young children, I would try to write down the funny things the kids would say so we could remember and laugh about them when they were grown. Unfortuantely, many of the comments would go un-recorded because I didn’t have pen and paper in hand. Try as I might, I could never remember them later.

Now all of the kids are grown, and some have little ones of their own. We still enjoy the funny remarks from the little ones, but the grown ones, too, continue to keep us laughing. I’ll let you listen in on a conversation that took place after Thanksgiving dinner while my two 30-something daughters were discussing the Black Friday sales advertised in the paper. I became aware of the conversation after Emily mentioned that there was a sale on "Dora" sheets for children's beds. They were laughing hysterically because Dana stated she would like to have some Sawyer sheets. (LOST is a favorite TV show of hers.)

Dana: “Mom, who would you want on your sheets?”
Emily: “Maybe Alf?”
More laughter.
Me: “I want two different ones. Considering my age, I would pick Robert Redford and Sean Connery. One on the bottom, one on top.”
Dana: "You mean you want to be sandwiched between them?"
More giggles erupted as we discussed who would be under me and who would be on top.
Finally my son-in-law Steve casually threw a question our way without even taking his eyes off an ad for a large screen HDTV.
“Don’t you think they would find it a bit awkward when you weren’t there?”

That's when we all lost it!

I just had to write this down before I forgot it.
Oh…I’m so thankful for our wonderful family!

Pictured above: Dana, Emily, Steve

Bless the Little Beasts

2008-07-22T21:10:00.007-07:00

Ooooh! Fresh clean air... cool... camping midst the scent of pine. To a desert rat like me this is close to heaven.

We swapped the heat of Phoenix last week for a refreshing stay in the mountains of Northern Arizona. Lazy is the best way to describe our days among the tall trees. Even the wildlife must have been relaxing hidden in their woodsy home. We didn't see much except a cute little grey squirrel that ventured into our campsite one morning.

It was the morning I discovered our peaches had been stolen from the table. I thought they would be safe wrapped in a plastic bag and placed in a tupperware-like container. But NO! I found one half eaten still inside the bag and another about ten feet away with enough eaten away for the ants to descend on it and have a feast. But....there had been three. Where was the other?

Later, the squirrel reappeared zig-zagging across our campsite and finally scampering up a nearby tree. It's so seldom that we see a cute little creature like it, that we had to laugh at its antics as it disappeared on the far side of the tree high above our heads. We waited for it to appear again, and finally, after some time, it didn't disappoint us. But WHAAAT!!! That little stinker perched itself on a limb and casually began to knibble on OUR OTHER PEACH! I imagine he had stored it in the tree just so he could bring it out for this moment. It was almost as if he wanted us to know he was the thief. I think he also enjoyed our laughter as we realized he got away with it.

God has created such a beautiful world. Hope you all get a chance to appreciate it this summer.

ABC's of a Successful Life

2008-06-17T15:01:00.007-07:00

Accept differences
Be kind
Count your blessings
Drink in nature
Express thanks
Forgive
Give freely
Harm no one
Imagine more
Jettison anger
Keep confidences
Love unconditionally
Master something
Nurture hope
Open your mind
Pack lightly
Quell rumors
Reciprocate
Seek wisdom
Touch hearts
Understand
Value truth
Win graciously
Xeriscape
Yearn for peace
Zealously support a worthy cause

The Stress of It All

2008-04-22T11:48:00.003-07:00

It was a tragic day. Emily lost one of her good friends. It was to be expected, as it had been a long time in coming. Emily's bosom buddy, Bra, collapsed to its ultimate demise on Monday, March 31, 2008. With all of the weight...the stress it was constantly having to endure...it was only a matter of time. It happened so quietly, so peacefully as the girls sagged lower and lower. When they finally reached Emily's belly button, we knew it was gone. In a peaceful ceremony, Bra was laid to rest on Friday, April 4 in Emily's top dresser drawer.

The girls (Boo and Bea) and Emily have been tirelessly searching for a new home for them for a couple of days. Finally they thought they had found a permanent address. The place had all the top notch amenities: pretty colors, lots of living space, a sturdy frame and even a great security system. It looked so promising. But, alas, it was not meant to be. The girls had found their way out by the end of that first day. Again, they are homeless and looking for the perfect fit.

I'll let you know if they find it.

Contributed to this website by my daughter, Emily.

Nature Sings

2008-03-18T13:48:00.003-07:00

I walked the mountain in my neighborhood this past weekend. The wildflowers are at their peak.

ART LESSON
Complementary colors are Blue/Orange, Yellow/Purple, Red/Green. When complementary colors are placed side-by-side, they create an excitement. They sing!

GOD LESSON
Next time you are out in nature, notice that most of the wildflowers are either yellow, purple, orange, or blue. Oh...and today I saw a rock with lime green and rust (dark red orange) lichen on it. God paints in compliments. His nature sings! Listen to it through your eyes.

"Arise my love, my fair one, and come away;
for lo, the winter is past,
the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of singing has come."
Song of Solomon 2:10-12

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

2008-01-02T20:01:00.000-07:00

After re-reading my last post, and considering how long it's been since I posted, you probably thought I fell off the tip of that branch... KLUNK.... never to be heard from again.

Well........I'm back!

Thanks for the input in the comments from “The Journey” post. You are beginning to make me think, which doesn’t come easy for me at times. Actually Joe said I’m probably the first person he has ever made to think. Way to go Joe.

My thoughts regarding decision vs. destiny…
I have to approach it from my Christian point-of-view…Just cuz that’s who I am.

Obviously decisions do affect a life, and that life can take many different avenues. As a human being, my knowledge of God is miniscule, but I know God has given us a free will and does not manipulate us as puppets on a string. Psalm 139 says he knows everything about me, even my very thoughts. He might have a specific direction for me to take, but he still leaves the choice up to me. Of course it helps if I ask him. Duh! All to often I take off on my own.

He knows which direction I will take even before I do. Some of these decisions might be wise and take me down the road to peace and contentment, but others can be foolish and might eventually lead me into an uncomfortable situation. Still, wherever I find myself, He will be there. And I know that wherever I am at any moment, God will have a plan to use me and guide me ... if I’m willing.

All in all, I’d say that my belief is that decision wins out over destiny. But whatever the decision, God is there to laugh with me, cry with me, rejoice with me, and hold me in the shelter of his arms.

That’s enough. I don’t want to overwhelm you….or more probably, myself.

So, I send many thanks for the input to Sharon, sparrow's song Joe, i-am-me, BLMOM, SSC, and my daughter Tracy.

I really must go now and rest my brain.

Oh…but first………..

{{GROUP HUG}}

The Journey

2007-10-11T23:51:00.000-07:00

Have you ever considered all the decisions that popped up throughout life bringing you to the place you are today?

The first major decision that steered me in the direction of where I am now was made not by me, but by my father when I was four years old. He decided I was to go live with my grandmother in a small town in Wisconsin, hundreds of miles from my birthplace.

Throughout the years I can see one decision after another directing me this way or that. I picture it as an ant climbing a tree deciding which limb to explore, which branch to exit on. Eventually the ant reaches the tip, possibly forty feet from the opposite side of the tree...and a view he will never experience.

Where would I be if not for the decisions made by me or someone else close to me? Or, of even more importance.....WHO would I be? So many people have influenced my life…helped me become who I am today. What if I had never met them?

I said before, “The first major decision”, but perhaps, maybe every decision we make is a MAJOR one.

Hmmm.......Just something to ponder.

"My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in my mother's womb, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." ~~ Psalm 139:15,16

Consider the Lily

2007-10-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

When given warmth and nourishment, the budded Lily awakens.

So it is with humankind.

"Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." ~~Psalm 105:4

The painting "Lily Awakened" courtesy of my paintbrush :-)
From a photo by Russell McGeorge

Dealing with a Creative Personality

2007-09-21T21:21:00.002-07:00

Sometimes, to keep a marriage on an even keel, you just have to accept your spouse for who he/she is. I put my husband to the test recently....and happy to say, he passed. He sighed, rolled his eyes at me, but he passed.

We were heading to San Diego to escape the heat. I casually mentioned I had to make a side trip to LaJolla. Not that he didn't enjoy La Jolla, but he wondered what was drawing me there.

"Well....I have to take a picture" was all he got from me.

"A picture of what?"

"A tree."

"What tree?"

"I'm not sure which one...but when I see it, I'll know it."

"Where is it?"

"Well...I think I know the street, but I don't know for sure until we get there."

"What's so special about the tree?"

"The bark."

"Whaaat?"

"The bark. I need to get a picture of the bark."

By this time I think he was ready to give up on the conversation and go into his silent mode. Let me explain....he knows me well....we've been married for 42 years. But, I proceeded to tell him I needed the picture of the bark so I could try creating an abstract painting. I once photographed the bark on another trip but lost the photos.

This is when he rolled his eyes.

I've never painted abstract before. I enjoy some abstract paintings, but my paintings always turn out to be representational. I assumed that painting tree bark would help me produce an abstract.

Well, I've completed the painting but couldn't break free of my representational slant. I call it "Risen Life". There is a figure hidden in it, one that is experiencing a resurrection not visible to the human eye.

Resurrection God, you bring life to that which was dead. You bring joy to our sorrow, comfort for our pain. You call us out of the graves of greed, isolation, depression, distrust, fear, and indifference to come alive with your Risen Life.

~Child, you have nothing to fear. Sin, too, is conquered and forgiven, as you live and move and work with Me. All that depresses you, all that you fear, are powerless to harm you. They are but phantoms. Let nothing hinder your Risen Life. Rise from your fears and go out into the sunlight to meet Me, your Risen Lord.~

P.S. My husband likes it.

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." ~Isaiah 60:1

Remember Me

2007-09-10T12:36:00.004-07:00

Zero in.

That's what I told myself in my August 31 post.

A restlessness has taken up residence in my being.
Too many interests are competing for my attention.

Remember me

Zero in ~~focus, organize, eliminate.
Find which path to follow, where to concentrate my efforts.

Remember me

What?

Remember me

Oh.

Yes.
Thank you for reminding me Lord. Zero in on you and everything will fall into place.

I'm waiting.

Excuse me now while I curl up in my Abba Father's lap and spend some long-overdue quality time.

"Ultimate worship takes place when we, like children, find ourselves climbing into the lap of our heavenly Father with the desire just to be with him. At that moment there is no agenda other than to sit in his presence, to love him, to whisper in his ear our gratitude, to feel his face, to hear his heart, to rest in his embrace, to enjoy the moment, and to understand more fully the God who yearns to enjoy us." ~George Skramstad, quoted in Renovare Perspective, Vol 7, No. 4

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. ~Proverbs 3:5,6

Picture courtesy of www.sgeier.net

Simplify

2007-08-31T11:04:00.000-07:00

Every parent at one time or another hears the words, “I’m bored. What can I do?” Then you begin to play the “Yes, but…” game.
“You could ride your bike.”
“Yes, but it’s hot outside.”
“You could go to the library to get new books.”
“Yes, but I can't find my library card”
“You could paint a picture.”
“Yes, but I don’t feel like getting out all of my supplies.”
“You could clean your room.”
HA! This is where the “Yes but…” game usually ends.

I think I’m in a “Yes, but…” mode. I have so many interests to fill my time, but I find myself unable to zero in on anything. Maybe I have too many interests. It’s time to simplify.

My craft closet is filled with tools, supplies, equipment, how-two books, you name it. These are my treasures. Half of the closet space is taken up with items that I use…what?...maybe once a year? But I can’t seem to let go of them. I might need them soon. Let’s see….when was the last time I made handmade paper? Last year? Two years ago? But what if I decide I need some for a special project? I can’t get rid of my screen and the scrap paper I use for the paper pulp. Or can I?

Simplify.

How about scrapbooking supplies? I have gazillion sheets of decorative papers, rubber stamps, fancy-cut scissors, but have I done a scrapbook yet? No. But wait…don’t throw them out. I can use them for homemade greeting cards…of which I might make about two or three a year. Is that worth taking up half of the closet?

Simplify.

Where are my interests? Maybe by looking at my reference library I’ll get a clue. The majority of books are on painting and writing. But even the art books are diverse. Will it be watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel, or drawing with colored pencils?

Simplify.

Get rid of some of my treasures.
It’s going to take courage, but to accomplish something, I must zero in.

Wish me luck.

The Love of God is Greater Than Tongue or Pen Can Tell

2007-08-30T22:58:00.000-07:00

"Religion is nothing but a crutch," a friend of mine told me many years ago. Back then I believed in religion…trying to be a good person, going to church, all that kind of stuff. Today I still believe in an "r" word, but it’s no longer religion, it’s relationship… a relationship with the Living God. There is a difference.

Since starting this blog, I’ve been spending more time reading at the computer. It’s been a blessing – and a curse. A blessing because I’m exposed to so many points of view, but a curse because I allow it to take too much of my time. The internet could definitely become an addiction. AGGH!!

Anyway, I’ve read a number of articles and posts ridiculing anyone who would believe that God exists and would consider worshipping Him. They call us stupid, crazy, gullible or whatever. It’s sad. They turn their backs on a love greater than anything this earthly life could offer them.

That love was so evident while I was going through a cancer crisis recently. He knows me completely and would "speak" to me in ways that I would recognize it was him. Some might call them coincidences, but how many coincidences have to occur before they are no longer coincidences?

Yup! I’m no longer religious…I’m a Christ follower instead. He is far better than a crutch. I don’t have to lean on him; instead he sweeps me up into his loving arms and carries me.

Isaiah 43:3 "...You are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you. "
Thank you Lord. I love you too.

Image: http://www.drawneartogod.com/

This Moment in Time

2007-08-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

There are no guarantees. We live from day to day as if there were, but who’s to say we will be here tomorrow?

Returning back to work after my vacation, I learned the sad news that the wife of a coworker had died suddenly, unexpectedly from a brain aneurism. She was here last Friday, living her daily routine, expecting to be here today.....…but she’s not. Today is her memorial service.

There are no guarantees.

The thought that each moment is a precious gift has been magnified today.

This moment........…how will I spend this moment?

How do I make it count?

Will I make it count?

Please Lord, help me to make it count.

"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." ~~James 3:13-15

Gone Fishin'

2007-08-14T17:01:00.001-07:00

Well.......not really.

I'm a poor example of a fisherwoman. I don't like to touch worms, and I feel sorry for the fish.

But on the positive side, I do like to float out in the middle of a lake in a rowboat and listen to the gentle waves slapping the side of the boat. But if I were to spend the whole day fishing out there, my boat would have to have an upholstered seat and pillows like the Venetian gondolas. Oh, an a supply of books to read and possibly a box of chocolates. The nutty kind. Then I could really enjoy fishing...but only if someone baits the hook, holds the pole, and throws the fish back after catching it.

Back to reality...actually, we're heading to San Diego (probably along with thousands of other Phonicians) to get out of the HEAT!

See ya.

At dawn the disciples saw Jesus standing on the beach, but they couldn't see who he was. He called out, "Friends, have you caught any fish?" "No," they replied. Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get pleanty of fish!" So they did, and they couldn't draw in the net because there were so many fish in it. ~John 21:4-6

The Storybook Tree

2007-08-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

Find a tree…any mature tree …. and I bet it could tell you a story or two. Most trees are filled with stories if only they could speak to us. Maybe they do….we just have to listen closely.

This beautiful Texas Ebony tree that was planted 30 years ago to shade our driveway from the blistering afternoon sun has witnessed so many events. Please allow it to share a few with you. Thank you.

Year after year, I watched young Tracy hop into the car with her piano books in hand and set out for the weekly piano lesson.
Recently I proudly watched as Tracy once again entered the car to head back home to Colorado and then on to Africa to be a music worship leader for missionary women.

I remember standing silently in the dark evening as Dana appeared at the front door, heading out in her "I Dream of Jeannie" costume for a night of trick-or-treating.
And years later, I celebrated as Dana carefully tucked her wedding dress into the car and ventured out to experience her dream-come-true.

I gladly provided shade and orange-scented blossoms as Emily hosted a tea party under my branches for her teddy bears and baby dolls.

And years later I breathed a gentle, Ohhh…, as I watched Emily step from her car with newborn baby Nathan.

I clapped my branches after little Matthew made his first basket through the hoop that Dad had just installed at the driveway's edge.
And years later I shaded Matthew’s truck as he and Mom packed it for his long trip to Denver, saying goodbye to the home he had known since birth. I can honestly say I shed a few sappy tears along with Mom.

I sadly remember the night Dad and Mom put Sherman into the car and drove off to the Emergency Animal Hospital.
And I remember them returning….alone.

Yes, the Texas Ebony is our family’s storybook tree. There are so many more stories it could share if we had time to listen.

If you're still reading...then you have arrived at the real reason I’m writing this post. Finally! Plan now to write the story about YOUR life. I recorded my childhood memories, because my children have experienced a totally different lifestyle growing up in a large desert city than I did as a child in a small town in Wisconsin. I wanted them to "know" their mom and her experiences as a small girl. The book offers no exciting plot...just lots of recorded memories in a very thin bound book to be past down to future generations. I don't want the history of our family to be lost.

Don’t lose yours either.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice!... Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the Lord! For the Lord is coming! ... ~Psalm 96:11,12

How About a Little Help Here?

2007-07-31T22:47:00.001-07:00

I really must contact the public library with a suggestion. Wheelbarrows. Yes, wheelbarrows -- stacked at the door for its patrons.

I visited the main library today. A familiar thrill bubbled up in me as the double doors sensed my approach and politely opened for my arrival.

You see, everytime I enter this huge 5-story building, I'm like an alley cat that's been accidentally locked in a fish market overnight. Such a feast! Where do I start?

But today my time is limited. I must restrain myself and settle for a small nibble; an audio book I've reserved is now waiting for me on the "hold" shelf.

Okay now Suz, with audio book in hand go directly to checkout, do not pass bookshelves, do not collect 200 books.

One audio book, four DVD's, seven art books, and three how-to writing books later, I make my way to the elevator. Juggling my treasures in both arms, using my chin to secure them, I press the elevator button with my elbow. It's at this time I think, "Good heavens, I sure could use a wheelbarrow about now!"

Thus, my suggestion.

P.S. Because of my desire for so many books at each visit, I have a problem keeping track of them. Maybe that explains my $9.00 library fine!

"Do not store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be." ~Matthew 6:19-21

A Desert Fantasy...NOT!

2007-07-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

rain (reyn), noun. 1. water that is condensed from the aqueous vapor in the atmosphere and falls in drops from the sky to the earth.
2. a rainfall, rainstorm, or shower.

It was necessary for me to check the dictionary to be sure that what I was witnessing outside was what I understood rain to be. Sure enough, that’s what was happening. We haven’t seen much of the stuff here in Phoenix for the past few years.

It started as a true desert storm, with the dark cloud buildup and wild winds whipping up the dust and causing my plastic patio chairs to do summersaults across the yard. Then came the first flash of lightning off in the distance. As the thunder grew louder I began to pray that this not be just another all-talk-and-no-action storm leaving the crocodile-skinned soil still begging for relief.

I stood at the door and shouted, "COME ON!! YOU CAN DO IT! GO AHEAD, LET LOOSE. SHOW US WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF!"

I waited.
Nothing.
Even the wind died.

Then slowly, a few wet marks appeared on the concrete patio, but rapidly the drops grew in number until the rain gutters were overflowing causing our patio to flood. Yes it really happened. Not just one of those pretend rains that deposit a few damp circles on the sidewalk to tease you into thinking that you should run to turn off the automatic sprinkler system. No. This was an all out gusher -- the whole shebang.

My plants and I are thankful.

"The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my Word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." Isaiah 55:10,11

Results of the Primo Paintbox

2007-07-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

While walking home from Starbucks one day, I snatched this dying leaf from a tree.
As I looked closely studying the veins, I thought...

Okay now. This leaf was green at one time – a mixture of blue and yellow – no trace of red in it. (The artist in me is speaking here) Yet this leaf has turned red.

The color green could just as easily fade from the leaf upon death and become an ashen gray like the one on the right. But, it doesn't.

Why?

Maybe because this world is created by the Master Artist?

He is wild about color and has designed our eyes to see the beautiful colors of His world.

So.......let's enjoy this gift.

Allow time for a magnificent sunset to take your breath away.
Enjoy the variety of colors in flowers.
Tropical fish – oh my goodness. Incredible.
Study the beautiful color of your eyes.
And yes, laugh at the color of that zit on your chin!!

I know there’s a scientific explanation for all of this, but I like to give credit where credit is due.
God created our eyes to distinguish color.
He didn’t have to.

YAY!! and AMEN!!!!!

Well....so much for my art lesson/spiritual meditation.
Have a great and COLORFUL day.

Psalm 139:13,14 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! (NLV)

Summertime...and The Livin' Ain't Easy

2007-07-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

Another 110 degree day in Phoenix. So...what's new? Everyday is the same. HOT! Don't bother to listen to the weather report. It's always the same. This is the time of year Phoenicians forget why they moved here. Nevermind that eight months out of the year we have weather that many people would give their eye teeth for.

Here we are with yet another hot sweaty day. The monsoons have arrived so we have humidity to boot. We can’t even boast to the summertime visitors of the "dry heat" of which we're so proud. I still haven’t figured out why anyone vacations in Phoenix during the summer.

Today, even some of the birds, who are drinking from a source of water I've placed in the back yard, are panting. Well, I don't actually HEAR them panting, but they look like they’re panting. Especially the California thrashers, as they walk around with their beaks hanging open. So, I say they're panting.

I thank God I can jump from my air-conditioned house, to my air-conditioned car, to my air-conditioned office, or store, or theater, or whatever. Needless to say, we Phoenicians spend no more time than necessary outdoors during the summer.

Wait! Unfortunately, that last sentence isn’t true. I have visual reminders of this everyday. I’m speaking of the homeless. Not only do they battle the heat of the day, but often the temperature doesn’t get below 90 degrees at night. Yes, I know there are some who prefer to live the homeless life, but many are thrown into that lifestyle through an unexpected situation. My heart hurts for them.

I thank God for the organizations here in the valley to help. One that I’m familiar with has a different approach than feeding and giving shelter. It’s called The Open Table. They go beyond taking care of the necessities for comfort; they help people get back into a state of self-sufficiency.
You will find there website here

But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help--how can God's love be in that person? ~I John 3:17

No Man is an Island

2007-07-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

How many of us have passed a person on the street and looked away, not wanting to connect, not even acknowledging his presence? Instead, you might look at your watch, check you cell phone, busy yourself with adjusting your backpack, or just stare straight ahead. Why do we do this?

When you look at the big picture, you see how ridiculous it is. Afterall, here we are, two intelligent human beings sharing the same small space on this huge planet, at exactly the same time, and yet we act as if the other person doesn’t exist. We can't even say "Hello!".

I was reminded of this a week ago. I was enjoying a break from the desert heat at a beautiful lake in the mountains of Eastern Arizona. While walking up the stairs to the camp store to get an ice cream bar, I passed a gentleman coming down the stairs. I could tell by his manner that he had no intention of connecting with me. Well....I decided not to let that happen.

"Hello" I said. That was all. Just...Hello. He acknowledged my greeting with a smile and went on his way. It isn't much, but I feel it was a way to confirm to him that he is special enough for me to acknowledge his existence.

Just a simple, "Hello".
That's all it took.

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony! Psalm 133:1

Picture from www.flickr.com/photos/pebaline

Blooming

2007-07-13T12:18:00.000-07:00

It would seem that wildflowers are created for our enjoyment, but how many of them bloom and die never to be seen by the human eye? Perhaps instead, they bloom solely to please the Lord.

Maybe we could learn from them.

Matthew 6:28,29 And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

Shaped by the Potter

2007-07-12T14:34:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I took a class in ceramics. I often enjoyed watching the advanced students work their creations on the wheel. It was exciting to see the end result … each creation was different. In fact, no two jars were exactly the same.

The clay is placed in the center of the wheel; just a mound of clay with no apparent shape. The potter sets the wheel spinning and gently begins to press and pinch the clay, and soon he sees a slight form emerge. He cannot continue to press and pinch or the jar will become unbalanced. To protect it from collapsing, he must often enclose the jar in the palms of his hands to keep it centered on the wheel. Through a process of pressing, pinching and protecting, the mound of clay becomes a one-of-a-kind treasure created by the potter.

An old worship chorus sings the words: “...you are the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me….” So, I considered what it would be like to be the clay.

First of all, being placed on a spinning wheel could be an unpleasant experience. By looking out horizontally, one could become dizzy and confused with one’s surroundings. But looking up, keeping the potter as a focal point, one finds stability and realizes the potter has everything under control.

Time for the shaping to begin…
Being pressed and pinched can be a bit uncomfortable, but trust the potter’s judgment. He knows that without the uncomfortable situations, the mound of clay will never become a masterpiece. He realizes just how much pinching and pressing the jar can handle and does not allow more than is necessary to protect it from breaking. Throughout the procedure, he is there with his hands gently around the jar to keep it secure.

The potter never leaves his creation unfinished. He has his finished product in mind and will not quit until it is completed to his satisfaction.

Aren’t we fortunate that our Potter is the Lord of the Universe.

.... As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand. ~Jeremiah 18:6

Grandma's Sanctuary

2007-07-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

The year is 1950. A pleasant summer evening has arrived in the quiet little town of Mineral Point. The sun has finally hidden its face bringing an end to the warm humid day. A cool breeze is a welcomed relief.

In the kitchen, Grandma removes her apron and hangs it on a hook in the pantry. As she does every evening at this time, she heads for her favorite sitting spot... the big wooden rocker on the screened porch.

I watch her get settled as I sit cross-legged on the wicker loveseat while putting the finishing touches on my Magic Slate drawing. She is my most favorite person in the whole wide world. With child-like wonder, I watch her. How can she just sit there, doing nothing, saying nothing, just rocking? Isn't she bored? And my wonder intensifies as I see a faint smile appear on her face.

When I am eighty-two,
my hair will have lost its luster...
And I may wear the same dress three days in a row.

The big old wooden rocker
will be my sanctuary...

And I will sit for hours with my memories vividly painted on my eyes.

Loneliness may be my only company,
relentlessly holding me in its grasp.

But still...
I'll remember you...
and smile.

P.S. The old house is still standing on Fountain Street, but it saddens me to see that the porch has been removed. So many memories were birthed on that screened porch.

When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember that the dark days will be many. ~ Ecclesiastes 11:8

My Father's Hand

2007-07-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

The Lord brought me through a recent bout with cancer, so as a cancer survivor, the following means so much more to me now than it did when I wrote it many years ago. Oh, by the way, the photo is of my friend who also looked into cancer's ugly face. We are both praising God for his Amazing Grace.

My walk with God is like hiking a mountain trail. When my Father first suggests we climb to the crest together, I am like a child... running ahead... anxious for the adventure... impatient to see the beauty from the top.

The slope is gradual at first, and I enjoy my surroundings...taking time to pick the wildflowers...studying the sunbeams dancing through the trees...laughing as butterflies chase each other.

My father, happy to share in my joy, reminds me He has even greater things for me ahead.

So... we travel on... together.

After a few bends in the trail, the path begins to narrow and grow steep. Soon I become tired and stop to catch my breath. Father offers His big hand to help me, but I wish to make it on my own.

The woods have grown dense now....sunlight can't break through. Wildflowers along my way go unnoticed. Rocks grow out of the ground and cause me to stumble.

The higher we go, the steeper the climb. Tree roots stretch their fingers across my path...they seem to grab out at my feet as I pass. The obstacles are getting too great.

I stumble and fall again and again. Bruised and exhausted, I can't go on any longer.

My Father say, "Come child, we're almost there."

With arm outstretched I finally cry, "Then please Daddy...hold my hand"

Psalm 118:5,6 In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and rescued me. The Lord is for me, so I will not be afraid.

It's About Time

2007-07-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

The title of my blog explains where I am in my life. Over the years I’ve collected many books about writing, viewed numerous websites about the subject, and have tried to keep a daily journal. Let me emphasize the word “tried.” My journal has many sections where whole months are absent of writing;

either because I can’t find the right time, the right environment, the right pen, the right chair, etc. Okay, let’s name it for

what it is…procrastination!

Well, it’s about time….to change. The kids are grown and gone, retirement is looking me in the face, and it’s time to make use of the last quarter of my life.

I’m expecting this new venture will be fun. There is no pressure to impress you with my sentence structure (what is a dangling participle anyway), my vocabulary, or an interesting storyline. There’s no stress to get a good grade or be accepted by a publisher. What freedom! I’m hoping my posts will be short, interesting, humorous, and maybe even profound at times.

Since this post is about time, I'm including some quotes on the subject, the first one from a favorite artist of mine, Georgia O’Keeffe:

“Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven't time, and to see takes time - like to have a friend takes time.”

"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein." ~~H. Jackson Brown

“Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.” ~~ Harvey MacKay

The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”

NOW is the time….my time....to write.