art and south lake tahoe

beautiful lake tahoe...my favorite vacation spot.

i have been coming to this lake since i was a young girl.

i am having an art retreat at a private condo at this lake...and i want you to be a part of it...

this has been a desire of mine for awhile.

i have not found an art retreat that has met my needs,

so god whispered "why don't you create your own?"

i thought that was cool...

i prayed for a location...

he provided one.

when i say art retreat,

i mean it in the sense that there will be

us and our art

(mixed media, jewelry,photography, scrapbooking, you name it)

lots of different kinds of art...

together

learning and sharing.

no formal classes

but a lot of exploring

and hands on activities that are planned...

at one of the most beautiful places in the world...

who doesn't need

a few nights away

from family, kids, jobs, stress...i know i do!

this is an opportunity to really decompress

with other women who have the same interests...

the same heart and soul...

i am extending an invitation to you...

yes, YOU...

to join us.

the dates are

thursday, september 30th-sunday, october 3rd.

the cost per person for 3 nights stay

at the condo

is $15o

(yes, you read that right)

to include food/beverages i stock the condo with.

it's a very sweet deal i have worked out with the owner of the condo

who is a longtime family friend.

the condo is on the beach

of south lake tahoe at

lakeland village resort.

i have 5 spots left

for what promises to be

an amazing weekend...

i have prayed for god to bring

the women he wants to be a part of this...

are you one of them?

if you are interested

please email me

for all the details

and we can talk...

bevfalls@gmail.com

love was all around

...the wedding was in a meadow...

the groom is the son

of our best friends...

we have watched him grow up

from baby to man.

our friends

joyfully accompanied their son

down a grassy aisle...

they all took their place

to wait

for his beautiful bride.

...the day was perfection...

chosen

you are a chosen people

a royal priesthood

a holy nation

a people belonging to God

that you may declare

the praises of him

who called you out of darkness

into his wonderful light

1 peter 2:9

he

...

chose

...

us

...

because

of

love

******************************************************

today begins "imperfect prose"

at hush of the moon.

to quote emily

"each week, let's meet and find redemption

in the grace of the other.

let's be broken on canvas

on material

on paper

on screen

together...

for God is there."

join us ...

i got my mojo workin'

i have been so out of sync

since the kids and grandkids moved in.

it's been two weeks(yikes!)

since i have created a canvas!!

nothing would come to me

when i sat at my art table.

nothing came to me

when i wasn't at my art table.

at times i just kind of went through the motions

for the discipline of it.

feeling pretty uninspired.

this morning i woke up

and it was back.

my mojo...

it's workin' again.

*** i did a happy dance ***

xo

simple things

today i am celebrating the simple things

details that make up the tenderness of our lives

raindrops on flower petals

sound of the sprinklers

strength of my husband's hands

an apology

gummy, drooling baby smile

flickering candlelight

laundry on the clothesline

folding that laundry while standing on the lawn...barefoot

flip flops

that perfect sunlight for that perfect shot

first cup of coffee

smell of summer rainstorm

comfortable bed

***souls that connect online***

glass of wine...on the deck...friday after work

snow falling

silence

stillness

whispers

from god

i am also celebrating the birthday of sweet christina

from soul aperture

she is having a beautiful party

and i think you should join her here

there is soooo much loveliness there

you will not be disappointed...

xo

sweet friendship

my friend eva is posting an interview with me, on her blog today...you can check it out here.

this is not my first interview and being naive about these things, i did not post my other interviewers blog when they posted the interview(my apologies), i didn't even mention that i was being interviewed on my own blog!...so visit eva today...you will find out a little more about me, and a lot about her and her art...she is a beautiful flyer!!

i wanted to say thank you to each and everyone of you who have given me so much encouragement and support these last few days, it means so very, very much to me...

xo

three little words

this is a necklace of mine. i have had it for years and the chain broke, so in the jewelry box it went. i was rummaging through the box this morning...i spotted this and i thought about how much these three little words have meant to me, and how much they mean right now. in love we have our kids and grand kids living with us. we trust god for the strength and fortitude to go through this time of their lives with them, and faith that god has some amazing things in store....because right now the realities for all of us are sinking in(the grand kids are fine, it's the adults that are fumbling!). it has been a week, they are moved in, and we are all feeling displaced, trying to navigate our way through this. just being real here, my friends. we know we have made the right decision, but there are and will be adjustments...

for me, i don't have my usual routine and i am feeling a bit displaced. my art room is now the boys play room....and that is how i want it. they have gone from having their own room to sharing, and they need an extra space to call their own and to put their toys and things.

so i am in the process of setting up my art elsewhere, and it will give me more privacy anyway. as soon as i get it set up, sit down, turn on the tunes, start makin' art, i'll be fine. and i'll be soaring again...

xo

don't worry...bout a thing...

remnant of this morning's brief thunderstorm

can ya see it???

ohhhh yea, god's promise....

every little thing gonna be alright....

asking for prayer

i wasn't sure if i was going to share this or not, but this blog is all about being real. and true. and authentic. i realize that what has taken place the last few days of this week has kept me from being here, i haven't posted since sunday...and i want to connect...so the best thing is to be............real. and true. and authentic.
i am asking for prayer for our family....this economy has hit the lives of our kids...hard. our oldest son was laid off his job with intel over a year ago. since that time work for him has been sporadic at best. our daughter-in-law has worked part-time, and goes to school...is one semester away from getting her bachelors degree. she is now out of work as well. our youngest son is struggling with steady work, but thankfully his living arrangements aren't at risk.
it is necessary, at this time, to have our oldest son, daughter-in-law, and our 2 sweet grandsons move in with us. the part that is hard right now is to see how this has affected them over time. they are emotionally broken. no matter how old your kids are, you still want to hold them in your arms and "make it better". these are hard times, and hard life issues. our grandsons are happy as clams coming to live with nammie and papa....but the reality for them is there will be new schools, they will miss their friends...there will be challenges around the changes in their lives.
that having been said...our faith is strong, we love each other like crazy. shelby and i are supportive of them. the kids are a very functional family unit, and they are hard workers. there will be days where we will be basking in the glow, and days where we will drive each other crazy. we aren't living in la-la land thinking this will be all fun and games (although there will be some of that going on).
soooooo....my dear friends.....just keep us in your prayers 'cause this family is in for a wild ride!!!!!!!!!
xo

sweet land of liberty

***happy day of independence***

laugh..pray...eat...love...laugh and play some more...and be safe

xo

believe it

just for you...in my shop

**********************************************************

i am so excited about these two canvases i just finished, and put in my etsy shop.

it seems i am finding my style. finding my groove...after my meltdown last week...having the time away to get perspective was so very healing. the inner critic has quieted down. and when it did show up, i was able to shush it away. i am feeling more confidence each time i paint. all of you creative ones know exactly what i am talking about.

i feel more at peace right now than i have in a while...
that peace in my heart is what inspired the art

i am showing you today...

i want you to know how much your encouragement and your kind words have really helped me to get to where i am feeling today...an extraordinary community has been formed from kelly rae's class, and with others that are just out there in blogland trying to find their way...we are all here for each other, and that is a gift from god...

xo

chillin'...

i don't know about you, but i am gearing up for this weekend...friday and monday off...lots of time in this chair. in the back yard. reading a delicious book (re-reading east of eden by steinbeck)...there will be some bb-que-ing, wine drinking, luscious food eating, and sparkler lighting going on...and of course, as much art time as possible...woo hoo!!!

tell me your plans for the 4th.......