Quick plug ...

I just wanted to offer a great opportunity to any of you philanthropists looking for a great cause ... my dear friend is running a marathon in June for the purpose of raising funds for the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Check out her web site for her inspiration and journey as well as an opportunity to donate and help her meet her goal of $4900!!! Anything she raises over and above that goes to other marathoners to help them meet their goals for the fundraiser. Thanks and check her out!!

art journal - "connect"

This week's word for the art journal challenge was "connect." I sat down to do this last night. What came out is in line with what I'm working through this week. It's my foundation and what keeps me going. Connecting with God is my lifeline and I do it in various ways as my journal page illustrates. I would not survive the trials of this life without the ability to connect to God and know his unfailing love in His very personal ways.

more color ...

I could not resist. The sunshine, the color, my daughter ...

Aidan found some Hawaiian leis and put one on Kiana.

Me: "I have to get my camera! Aidan, make her stay!!"

Ha - I'm laughing - for sure I'm going to miss this shot. But alas - when I fly back into the room with camera in hand, she was still in the sunshine, but had ripped off the lei. This is where mean mommy comes in. I keep putting the lei back on her over and over again, just to have her rip it off over and over again, hoping I can get the camera to my eye, focused, still, and a quick enough shutter speed to capture just a glimpse of the beautiful moment I saw before I left the room.

The sunshine!

The daughter ... I just love all the pudgy roundness! And the color! Ahh ...
Be still my heart.

creative bliss...

What a fabulous afternoon. I spent the entire freezing cold afternoon at my creative corner, surrounded by color. It was wonderful. I've finally taken pictures of my space to share with you - I'm going for the creativity-in-progress look. Half the stuff is not even on the shelves because it's all spread out on our bed about two feet away - you don't need to see that part. Anyway - I have a corner that's all my own ... except for the fact that it's shared space with the business ... the laptop gets to be on the floor when I'm creating. Someday I still dream of having a studio space. Someday ...

art journal - "feel"

Here it is. The unveiling of the "feel" journal page. It looks nothing like what I conjured up on paper a few days ago (see humble beginnings). I think I work better without a plan when it comes to making a piece of my art thoughts. I love the process of art evolving-as-I-go way too much to plan it out ahead of time. Thinking too much about it takes away from the joy of the creative process. Today ... this is what I think of when I think of the word "feel." I wonder what would happen if I were to create a page on the word "feel" each day for a week. What would come to mind each day? That's the beauty of art - it's limitless. I just love it. I also love that ART is in the eye of the beholder, which means ... I could think it's art and you could think it's junk, but that doesn't make it not art! To me it's beautiful ... to you it's just bad art. I'm messing with you.

Enjoy! I love being able to share these with whomever happens to be reading this blog. If it's weren't for this outlet ... all the joy would be sitting in my creative corner and my poor husband would be alone in trying to understand how cool these pages are. Sorry the scan is not so good - the colors are way more vibrant in person. A rather important part of a page that speaks so passionately of color!

Look who's 40!

We celebrated a 40th birthday today and it wasn't mine!! What fun. A day to make my honey feel special. I do not know how the ladies do it who prepare meat and potatoes daily - it took me all day. I suppose they don't all have small children still at home. We had roast chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and steamed asparagus with hollandaise sauce. Yum. All faves of my dear husband's. Food is definitely the way to this guy's heart. We made it fancy. The boys thought it looked like a fancy restaurant. I set the table with a white table cloth (actually a white sheet for lack of a nice table cloth) and candlesticks we got as a wedding gift 10 years ago. Candles borrowed from my hospitality queen friend and a huge bouquet of helium balloons from my cookie garden gift basket king and queen friends!! :o) What a great community of friends. You know who you are. Thanks for helping make my Ken's 40th birthday special. Everything turned out perfect. He was surprised and loved it. Life is just beginning at 40 ... I just know there is so much to come in our future.

Ken's cupcake tower birthday cake. With almost one year Kiana wanting to touch the fire!

A view from the inside. I left a message for Kenny with window paint on our front window. Yes, I had to write backwards. Wishing I was dyslexic. I had to turn around and pretend I was writing from the outside to be sure my letters faced the right way. Fun.

Too bad it was dark when he got home.

I guess I know what I'm doing tomorrow. Cleaning windows.

Maybe Aidan will help me ...

humble beginnings ...

I thought I would quickly post the humble beginnings of my next journal page. The word given to "art journal" this week is "feel." So, I had a few minutes (literally, like 10 minutes max) today to sit (yes! I got to sit!) and think about how or what I would express for this word "feel." I began to doodle and sketch and here's what hit the paper. I'm sure you can't make out much of it ... but like I said. It's humble. Stay tuned to see what turns out in the end! Your guess is as good as mine. I don't really go into these things with a plan and frankly this sketch is the most planning I've ever done for any of my projects!

{edit: I have no idea who the funky girl is, so please don't ask!}

jinxed ...

I totally jinxed myself with the last post.
Days 13 and 14 have been a struggle to trust for today.
Getting back on track for day 15.
Prayer and the Word.
That's all I can say for now.

Two thoughts for today ...

First thought: I'm loving this "trust for today" adventure. (Yes, I realize it's only been 12 days and I have 353 to go. What can I say - I'm an optimist!) I believe it's going to transform my life. Yes, trusting for today sounds like a scary venture because I have no idea what God is going to ask me to trust Him for as the year unfolds. But ... it doesn't matter! As I work through my first month of trusting the Prince of Peace for today I'm finding so much joy and peace in it. I could get freaked out about so many things right now. Trusting for today is allowing me to enjoy my kids, the smell of fresh brewed coffee, the glimpse of sunshine that came out for a couple of seconds in this gloomy midwest winter. I'm finding time be creative, and can create freely because I'm not worrying. I'm finding that I'm not distracted and irritable because of worrying! No. I believe in God's sovereign plan for our lives. I believe we get in the way when we don't trust him, because we begin to make our own plans to solve the problems of tomorrow. We don't allow him to work when we begin to scramble for solutions. Rest, trust, and believe in his love and care for me. That's what I'm feeling these first few days of 2008. God, help me to remain here for the rest of 2008. There's a lot of freedom in trusting for today.


Second thought: The first word from the art journal challenge that I'm doing is "commit." Pregnancy and marriage are what I think of right now. Pregnancy, you're body is changing and you are committed to childbirth weather you like it or not! And then you're committed to to this little person who so desperately needs you (scary). Marriage, we're committed to each other until death do us part (safe). What do you think of when you think of the word "commit?"


P.S. have you noticed I've discovered hyperlinks? I got a little hyperlink happy in the former post ... sorry.

Art Journal

I'm starting my first art journal ever (inspired by Emily's challenge - great tip Megan!). I'm not waiting for my new corner to get organized. Why organize when you can make a mess creating? The bigger the mess the more fun I'm having. My creative corner will never be featured in a magazine! I'm okay with that. Here's my art journal cover page for 2008. I have a few "resolutions" featured on the cover ... in addition to "trust for today" from my prior post ... some are "lions" some are not (you'll have to listen to this great audio sermon "Chase the Lions" to understand that one!)

1. trust for today

2. date husband 1x per month

3. get up at 6am daily

4. launch kdk newsletter

5. do art journal page 1x per week (it might take me all week)

6. learn graphic art illustration software (coreldraw or illustrator)

7. be a bright light in our school and neighborhood (forgot to include this one on the cover-maybe it will be a page all it's own!)

2008 cover

a fabulous mess.

I can see the light!!!

Time for major celebration!! Yesterday was a fabulous day. Kiana is recklessly taking her first steps - do you know how hard it is to get a picture of a baby's first steps and catch her at the same time? This girl has no fear - all caution is thrown to the wind. You would think she would start by taking a step or two between furniture which is close together ... not this baby ... she just lets go and teeters to as far as it will take her. I'm in heaven! This means the first year is behind me!!! Whoo hooo!!!!!! I can see the light again!

Inspired ...

This inspiration is not creative, it's spiritual. I'm gaining a new understanding about what trust is. I'm hitting the ground running with this "word" for the year. One thing that I look for when I decide what "word" I am going to delve deeper into for the year is confirmation through repeating themes that crop up over the course of time. One of those confirmations was a book my brother gave me for Christmas, Ruthless Trust, by Brennan Manning. I began to read it last night and I'm in for a journey - I was challenged just within the first few pages. I'll share one thing with you that struck me.

As Ken and I seek what God wants for our business and our struggling finances we have trusted God for provision in our day to day needs. He has been faithful and not a bill has gone unpaid nor have we ever been without a meal. The journey has strengthened our faith, but we believe that God doesn't want us to continue to struggle indefinitely. I believe God's heart for us is to give us our hearts desires (in His time) and some of ours require more stability in our finances. Recently my prayers have been, "God, please give us clear direction. We want to do whatever it is that you want us to do, but please make it clear to us what that direction is!" Brennan Manning has shown me that clarity is not the solution and requesting clarity is not really the same as trust either. He says, "Craving clarity, we attempt to eliminate the risk of trusting God. Fear of the unknown path stretching ahead of us destroys childlike trust in the Father's active goodness and unrestricted love. We often presume that trust will dispel the confusion, illuminate the darkness, vanquish the uncertainty, and redeem the times. But the crowd of witnesses in Hebrews 11 testifies that this is not the case. Our trust does not bring final clarity on this earth. It does not still the chaos or dull the pain or provide a crutch. When all else is unclear, the heart of trust says, as Jesus did on the cross, 'Into your hands I commit my spirit' (Luke 23:46)."

So, trust is almost reckless. Trust is faith in action, believing that God has my best interest at heart especially when I don't see the purpose or the direction clearly. I have to trust that He knows the big picture. I can't possibly know the why of my circumstances now. Getting freaked out about it shows my lack of trust. Clarity will not dispel the confusion or the fear of the unknown. What I can do is I can trust because I've learned that God's character is good. He loves me. He's given me a ton of promises that I've experienced to be true. Take one day at a time and trust for today. Plan for the future, yes, but do not spend emotional energy with concern for the future. That is not trust.There is a fine line. I'm not sure where it's drawn, but I think it starts with being concerned with only today. This is my one and only resolution for this year. I'm trusting for today, everyday. Easier said than done coming from a planner. If you see a post here and I'm not trusting for today, please call me on it.

We're taking some risks this year - the future is unknown. But there's an underlying peace and anticipation that I believe is from God and we're moving forward trusting that as we give Him each day and we seek Him first, he will direct our path.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5&6

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

no time to create ...

I'm going through creative withdraw. No time to create in my new slow-to-get-organized corner. However, there is hope! My brother-in-law (aka family techie/computer wiz) gave me a great tip. I was researching adobe photoshop and photoshop elements on ebay and amazon because I want to get into some graphic art stuff as well as manipulating photos. He pointed me to a free program you can download called "paint.net" that he says has replaced his need for photoshop! So, I downloaded it yesterday ... now I have to figure out how to use it. I can't wait to play.

Some quick photos for your viewing pleasure and just to add some pizazz to this post. All posts must have pizazz.

Sledding New Year's Day! Kiana's first time in the snow.

She tipped over and ended up doing a face plant in the snow. It was very funny. She didn't even cry! I think she was frozen. Night time sledding! Awesome. We went to the biggest hill the boys have ever been on. They thought it was too fast. Aidan wiped out - like flying wiped out - funniest home videos material. And he kept going like the energizer bunny.
Hunter just kept going down on his tummy. He looked like a penguin.

Happy New Year!

Today is a good day - the first of 2008. It snowed. Just beautiful. It's going to be a good year. There are many promising things around the corner and I'm excited and hopeful about it. Here's a brief list of what I'm looking forward to. My daughter is almost walking. Ken is going to become a licensed home inspector - a new direction for the business but I believe God's hand is in it, classes start Jan. 15th! (This will be in addition to the home improvement efforts). Since baby girl came, I lost my creative space to her bedroom. Over the weekend we've created a new creative corner for me in our bedroom - I can finally leave my work out and work on it as I'm able, with all of my supplies at the ready. Joy! 3ft x 4ft and some shelves is all a creative girl needs! (And a good attitude). Pictures to come.

The Sound of Music was on TV the other night. I love it - but I keep singing "these are a few of my favorite things." The boys have asked me to stop. I thought I would share a few of my favorite things that make me smile, bring me joy, and remind me of people I love.

Two of several mosaic mirrors I have scattered throughout the house. Color makes my heart sing!

This is my "friend lamp." 90% of the flowers you see on it were donated by a couple of dear friends - it was probably two years ago. I was inspired at a flea market and bought the base but I never could have afforded what it would have cost me to cover this shade in combination of vintage and beaded flowers the way it is now. Good friends are a treasure, I will never give this lamp away. It's priceless.

Our amazing children.

Red hair and blue eyes.My husband doing his neighborhood snow blowing ministry.(Can you see him down the block? He's next to the tree on the left).

Snow angels.My absolute favorite coffee mug.
Sleeping babies.

Happy New Year! Trust God for each day, one day at a time. Hold on to His hope for tomorrow.

Matthew 6:34 "Don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring it's own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."

Philippians 4:6&7 "Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all that he's done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. his peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

God bless your 2008. Join me in trusting for today, and hoping for tomorrow.