Rodeo

Wide eyed my boys watched the ropes fly, the sky dim, the horses run.  

Night fell and it was time to take them home to bed.  Their minds running with cowboys and ropes.

Serve

I stumble and trip over myself too often, looking for ways to serve self instead of selflessly serve.  My oldest son calls for me to come and eat.  He tells me he has made dinner for me.  

His excitement permeates the room and he places the pan on the table.  "Eat" he says and waits expectantly.  Self serve me and a small child with a desire to serve.  

He blows on his dish to make sure nothing is too hot for me to eat.  

John 21:15-17, and Christ says "Tend My Lambs" " Shepherd My Sheep" "Tend My Sheep"... and we are called to follow Him and this means washing feet, washing dishes, cleaning spills... this means serving with love.

Breeze

After all the heat, the wind blew in.  Cool air riding in gentle waves, washing over us all.  

 The fields have long resembled winter in this drought, in the heat.

Excitement rides in with the cool air.  My arms have goosebumps this morning... skin not used to 60 degree weather. 

We play outside and laugh with joy.  

Wheelbarrows and Boys

To have these small, beautiful, moments.  We laugh as they clamber into the wheelbarrow with their rainbow of cars.  Cars and trucks that belonged to my husband.  

Youngest holds the helicopter into the air with wide eyes.  He watches it fly and I watch the sparks of imagination.

Precious are these moments of little boy dreams.  We sit under the oak tree for shade and watch them dream, fly, laugh.  

Come Near

"... Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" James 4:1

All that selfishness.  All that anger.  All that Worry.  

"Come near to God and he will come near to you..." James 4:8

Freedom. Peace. Joy.

15 Minutes

The mornings have been coming so quickly.  I close my eyes, cheek on pillow, and too soon I hear the sound of little feet running.  The morning waiting outside my window, child climbing bed to see if my eyes are open.  The time here goes by too quickly.  A mist a vapor.  

15 minutes at a time. I am going to start there to rise earlier and seek my Lord.  "I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words." Psalm 119:147

Inspired here.

Heat

The heat pours down on us every day.  In the morning and evenings we sneak outside to see if we can adjust to its temperature.  We give our plants a little water.

We sit and breathe in the rich outside air.  We enjoy being outside for those brief and precious moments.

I remember a story from Corrie Ten Boom, her sister telling her to thank God for the fleas.  Which book was it in?  Was it in The Hiding Place?  He works in mysterious ways.  I praise Him that all things are in His mighty hands.

what naps look like

They sleep in their beds, resting from a morning of imagination running wild.  Firemen, Divers, Explorers and Mighty Men.  The house lays in quiet, deep breaths.  

Pondering the Path

For a great length of time I have been quiet here.  Every now and then a word, a picture, a bit of news.  The still.  I have been praying.  Still praying.  There are some new directions for me, something I have been waiting on for a time.  I hope to reveal more soon, but for now please enjoy the above art, an old work revisited.

Lately...

Lately... I have been exploring creeks

... watching imaginary sharks swim by

... cleaning the dishes and wiping up crumbs under the table

... feeling sweet curls tickle my nose while my youngest needs a hug

... rubbing a horses nose

... trying to exercise for, at the least, a few moments

... listening to the quiet of sleeping children

... reading Educating the Whole Hearted Child and loving every minute of it

... finishing Esther 

... amazed at how my Holy Father blesses me

In Illustration

I've had this image sketched away, tucked tight, and I have finally surfaced it.  My son, Brave Boy, thought this was him...he has a love of slings.

Sing in Progress

Getting closer to completing Sing Me a Song.

Sing Me a Song

Here is Sing Me a Song in progress.  I have been using more and more yellow in my work.  The blue and bare trees seem cold in contrast to the warmth of the yellow sky and birds.  Barren versus life.

Whistle

Coming to a close with Whistle.  I'm hoping to have prints available soon.

The Hunt

12" x 12" Acrylic on Canvas
Available in my etsy shop

Hunting, Hunger... Searching, Seeking

Painting should be up in my shop soon. 

Almost

12" x 12"
Acrylic on Canvas

Almost done, almost ready.  Swimming in yellow.

January Yellow

Fish in yellow have been swimming around inside my head for quite sometime now.  I am excited to be working on this piece.

sketching it in

This is it.  The final days, moments, and hours of 2010 are upon us.  A little dramatic, but when it comes to lasts I usually am.  If you are also a mother and fond of lasts then Let Me Hold You Longer  is a book I recommend.

We have ended our year with full plates, surgeries, illness, busy schedules... but also with lots of praise, prayers, encouragement, and worship.  I have also had time to reflect on my artwork and consider the possibilities I have for this season of my life.  I prayerfully will be bringing some new work into my shop such as stationary and prints.

Have a beautiful end of 2010!

Marching In Marching on

It has been too long, I know.  The sun has risen... and set how many times since I was here?  Ocean waves of time rolling in, rolling by.  Falls, kisses, goodnight tucks, story times...family laughter, family tears. 

All those precious moments quickly passing by.  The word of God tells me that I am nothing but a vapor, a mist....my time here so fleeting.  He blesses me so greatly...all these moments, gifts undeserved.  My hands mingle with my husband and I know he was planned for me from the beginning.  This, everything all wrapped up inside my Fathers hands.  His great hands who hold me and guide me. 

His hands hold my son, precious full of light eyes, precious full of giggles eyes, who it seems will have surgery, eyes.  His dear eyes that I saw coming out of the shower when he was days old and I felt I had known him all my life.  Just beginning to see eyes, captivating me, holding me for the rest of my lifetime. 

I feel week thinking about those eyes in surgery.  My God is so good to me...His promises are here.  I cry out to my God who holds me.  My name on His mighty palms. 

My son resting in his hands that heal eyes. 

Blue Run Down

The hairs gliding over the canvas feels good.  Texture in my hands, starting fresh, starting new.  Some I know what they will be, others are still unknown to me.  I don't know when it will all get done.  I once had all the time I could ever ask for, but it felt so empty in my hands.  

Stirring in the bedroom lets me know little ones will be up soon.  This too short time, so filled now.  I clean my brushes in the sink, watch the blue run down.  

Little ones ready to play.  Paint drying and waiting.