new paintings

"Threads of Innocence" 24x36 mixed media



"Tree of Hope"

fundraising

In order to help raise support, we are selling shirts. This picture is the design on the back of the shirt. If you are interested in helping out by buying a shirt, let me know :) $20

Raising Support

I am SO blessed! As I sent off support letters to raise money for the upcoming Brazil trip, I was hesitant. Most of the people I didn't know and the ones I did know have felt the impact of the economy just as much as the rest of us. But, trusting in God, I sent the letters forth and boy has God delivered.

The first deadline for our support raising is this Sunday. Thanks to so many generous people, I have reached this goal :) Thank you all. Now I have the tickets to get to Brazil...only $1,300 more to go!

closure

Closure is hard. It's the end of something. The bigger the thing, the harder to let go. But, I've realized that for so long that I've never closed some books in my life, in hopes that one day the story might go on, only to realize that I'm not allowing myself to enjoy the things around me now. My sister likes to say that I'm driving and only looking into my rearview mirror.

I guess I worry about forgetting. Forgetting the good times. the bad times. the words spoken. the events that took place. But, by not letting go, I'm not living. I'm constantly comparing things to my past. to what could be. to what might be. Too many happy-ending movies I suppose.

Sometimes things end. I should appreciate the memories I have. Enjoy the things I'm living in, and look forward to what's to come.

Letting go...a lot harder then I assumed it would be.

more art

there are some other paintings I've done, I'm nowhere near where I want to be, but I am a lot farther than when I started out. Keep an eye out for a new website coming soon, where I will be putting up my artwork and if you're interested you can buy the things :)

creativity

Here are two things I've created (below each is a description).



So, I have a friend that asked me to paint her a piece with multiple canvases...she also stated she liked squares and modern art. Out of nowhere, this image pops into my head and I love the way it came out....now I know that I am able to do modern art...thanks for the challenge.



My pastor did a series called beautiful, which also was done by Perry Noble (who I tend to follow online as well)...and it is such an inspiring series for women. It just confronts a lot of the lies about how people should be in order to be called beautiful and then addressed what the Bible says in regards to the subject. The girls in my bible study went through magazines and tore out things that they feel like the world is telling them about being beautiful.

I believe in love.

Life comes fast. sometimes it comes easy. and sometimes it's hard. I know that though I can smile, it doesn't mean I'm not in turmoil....it doesn't mean I have it all together, it doesn't mean that I don't hurt and that I just can't show the pain. I know that I battle being positive....not because I don't see beauty but because my heart longs for my true home...for what is to come...for what is meant to be. there is such a loss sometimes. such grief. I can't even finish any of the gospels because it's just too hard. and those times, when you need support, tend to be the hardest for people to be around. nobody wants to be around someone that's down in the dumps or having a hard day (sometimes even months for that matter) because it brings a damper. It's hard to grasp the idea of weeping with those who weep. I know that I get uncomfortable when others weep because though my presence may bring some comfort, inevitably, I'm not the solution. Only God can heal the wounds that cut deep. but we are called to weep with these people. I know that being there to support people and lead them to the Father or show glimpses of the Father through compassion and service, despite our discomfort, is important. People don't have it all together. People struggle. I know that there are many times that I battle and I feel alone...abandoned. God is there, but aren't we also called to be in fellowship. To confess our sins to others, to share in the lives of others, and that means even when things get tough... it's likely that they need you more than ever, when their the hardest to be around. I guess it's hard to realize that life STILL doesn't revolve around us, or me for that matter, and that to truly lay your life down for others means getting into uncomfortable, unlovable situations.

There is a song that I hear quite often on the radio, that gives a glimpse such a hard concept....that I think everyone relates to and that captures the essence of God...that He is there and above all, no matter what I'm going through, how mad I get, how sad I become, I can't deny that I believe in Him.

How long will my prayers seem unanswered?
Is there still faith in me to reach the end?
I'm feeling doubt I'm losing faith
But giving up would cost me everything
So I'll stand in the pain and silence
And I'll speak to the dark night

I believe in the sun even when it's not shining
I believe in love even when I don't feel it
And I believe in God even when He is silent
And I, I believe

Though I can't see my stories ending
That doesn't mean the dark night has no end
It's only here that I find faith
And learn to trust the one who writes my days
So I'll stand in the pain and silence
And I'll speak to the dark night

I believe in the sun even when it's not shining
I believe in love even when I don't feel it
And I believe in God even when He is silent
And I, I believe
No dark can consume Light
No death greater than this life
We are not forgotten
Hope is found when we say
Even when He is silent