rain, rain, go away

this past weekend i put some spring decorations around the house.

this sits on a little bench in the entryway.

so i can see it as soon as i walk in the door.

from unrelenting rain.

uggghhhhhh.

i have the end of winter blahs.

whether you have a foot of snow

or tons of rain

cooped up is cooped up.

i think we have enough water for our reservoirs,

thank

you

very much!

i planted these flowers in the pot by the front door.

(we had 5 minutes of dry weather once).

they just droop.

they are kind of beat up...

rain. rain. rain. rain. cloudy. sun. cloudy. rain. rain. cloudy. rain. rain.rain. rain. rain. rain. sun.

you get the picture.

i am missing

the sun...
...having said all that....

i do have something to look forward to.

a long weekend. visit. getaway.

i am going to visit my sweet brother.

he lives in southern georgia, in brunswick.

our sister is joining us,

she is coming from minnesota.

a sibling visit. no kids. spouses. parents.

just our time.

so....for a few days i can get re-energized

by the fabulous weather(it's 80 degrees there!)

a break in routine

and spend some really great time with my brother and my sis.

it will certainly lift my spirits...

*

*

how about you? something coming up

that will lift you out of the winter blahs???

xo

what is calling you?

i made this canvas last year for my daughter-in-law.
she had been going through a couple of rough years
due to different life circumstances,
the most devastating being the loss of her mother from cancer.
she is navigating through with such courage.
i admire her and i am proud of her.
*
*
*
isn't that what makes us go?
courage?
courage to start. to crawl. walk. leap.
...run...
courage to change.
courage is defined as:
mental or moral strength
to persevere and withstand
danger,
fear
or
difficulty...
with self-possession
and resolution.
*
do you live with courage?
or do you get up every day and do what is safe?
*
are you living the life you want to live?
i have been asking myself this question for some time.
not that there is anything wrong with a comfort zone.


...unless it stifles you...


when i resurrected my creative self two years ago
it was such therapy for all the sadness in my life,
partly due to the loss of my mom and sister.
when i got past the profoundly therapeutic
experience of my art,
i moved more into a journey of self-expression and spiritual growth.
in doing that,
i have taken more risks than i have in years.
making art...any kind of art is risky, people...
you are vulnerable.
you get out of your comfort zone.
i can't tell you how many things i have thrown away.
only to start over again.
*courage*
making art feels so true and authentic for me.
for who i am.
for who i am going to be.
*
*
*
what is calling you?
i encourage you my friend, take that leap...
god is there...

linking with emily for imperfect prose


xo

doing a happy dance

just opened up a box of art supplies that i ordered from dick blick. i feel like a kid on christmas morning! all this blank canvas. just calling me...and so little time.

which leads me to this...

i moved my retirement date to june 30th of this year(happy dance)!!! i was going to retire in december, after the fall 2011 semester is over(work at a community college),

but i thought why? why do i need to wait?

and how awesome to have this summer to spend time with my grandsons

while they are out of school...seems like a real luxury.

i will have all the summers i want now, to do what i want when i want.

somebody pinch me.

*

*

*

i discovered an artist that i want to share with you.

her name is sarah ahearn.

oh. my. gosh.

i am in love with her art...

in.

love.

it is.....just so full of whimsy. bright and beautiful. vintage.

check it out here...

*

*

*

i trust your day is going well.

the sun is shining here today.

so nice to see.

it seems to lighten the mood of everyone i have come in contact with this morning.

everyone is pretty much done with winter.

not too much longer now...

i do love hearing the birds when i wake in the morning.

such a a sweet sound...

***

limiting god

do you limit the lord?
*
*
*
i don't ask
because i don't believe
that he wants to do it for me.
*
having a serious "ahhh-ha" moment.
*
i know god can do anything.
any.
thing.
i know that.
but i always throw a spin...
what if that's not his will for me?
so, i don't lay it at his feet.
well, who am i to decide what his will is?
he created me after all,
and wants his best for me,
but first i have to ask!!
and i will let him
show me
what his will is...
*
*
*
*
"when once we see jesus,
he does the impossible thing
as naturally as breathing".
...oswald chambers...
*
i hope you are enjoying your sunday.
it's raining where i live.
i am tucked inside.
safe and warm.
in more ways than one.
*
god is great...

everlasting arms

he loves me more than i can comprehend.

he wants what is best for me .

he has it all figured out.

why do i make it so hard for myself?

i'm human and broken.

*

*

*

he is not.

joining emily at imperfect prose