The Name - Beginnings - Chapter One, part 1

She padded out of the darkened kitchen, through the dining area and into the living room, heading for her favorite chair, coffee and Bible in hand. The side table lamp was already lit, guiding her way. Today she would begin to do what she had been hearing others in her Bible Study group do - have a morning appointment with God. Sophie had chosen this chair after careful consideration over the last two days...it was positioned so that she could look out the window and into the serene landscape of the backyard or view the wall where the work of her favorite inspirational artists hung. These two reasons were why this chair was her favorite; Sophie was hoping the familiar surroundings would help her mind settle into the task of hearing God.

Sinking into the arms of the softly cushioned wingchair, she gently inhaled and closed her eyes, quickly reviewing the steps to having a successful "Quiet Time", the term the mature women at church used often to describe their daily appointments with the God of Creation. Sophie had the steps down:

a specific time.

a special place.
a simple plan.

Eyes still closed, she breathed out her first prayer of the day towards heaven, "Lord, I am ready to hear from You today, though I am not sure I even know how...". And then it happened. The racing thoughts, the subtle fears flooding through her being. Words tumbled around; snatches of sentences catching for a moment in her consciousness before being whisked away and recycled through her chaotic mind... "How will I know if it is Him or me", "What if I don't hear...", "Who am I that God would even speak...", "I've done awful things...", "I'm a terrible person...", "What if these thoughts are God's way of saying I'm not worth talking to...", "I'm not able to do this...", "I can't keep a commitment anyway...", "Who do you think you are!"

Her eyes snapped open at the last jab from her own heart; her pulse beating a rhythm she could salsa dance to. Only one minute had ticked by on the clock, and yet she felt she had just lived a life-time of emotion.

"What a way to start!" Sophie said out loud, softly, so as not to disturb the rest of the sleeping household. She was thinking about aborting the whole idea of getting a deeper relationship with God, at least for the day, and just drinking her coffee as she watched the early light of dawn reveal the peaceful setting of the yard to her gaze. In those few moments of calm, she noticed a quiet heart whisper, nudging her to continue her plan and open her Bible to the passage she had been considering studying for a matter of months. Sophie glanced at the clock. There was still plenty of the 15 minutes she had set aside for this venture left. She opened her Bible to the passage she had marked last evening with a verse card her best friend had given her for Christmas. 2 Timothy 1:7 was hand-written in Betsy's perfect script:


"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

"I sure needed that this morning," Sophie thought. She knew Betsy would smile when she heard how her gift said just the right thing this morning! Sophie searched for the words, somewhat familiar to her, and read them once again:

"Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." Exodus 34:6-7

Her eyes traveled the lines once again, her lips moving silently as she read a second and a third time, not quite memorizing the words, yet becoming familiar to the point that she could think back on them throughout the day. She looked out the window again, at the beauty this God of compassion and of lovingkindness and of punishing the guilty had created...

And that quickly, her time was over as little Peter stumbled through the living room trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes.

"Thank you, Lord," was the only prayer she could muster as she wondered if she really was.

Celebrate! My Word for 2011

Every year, since I fully surrendered to the Lord, He has given me a theme for the year, usually before the month of January is over...an anniversary present marking the time that our deeper walk began. It is always an adventure, a delightful challenge that causes me to stretch and become stronger and deepen my understanding of Him, His Word, His purpose and desire, and causes transformation in the very fabric of my being.

And so it was with surprise that sometime during the holiday season of 2010, as the word "celebrate" began to reverberate through my spirit, that I knew that the Lord was giving my anniversary present early! Sometime earlier, I had noticed a seriousness about my face whenever I glanced in the mirror. I would pull my mouth into a smile, but I knew my face was reflecting a heaviness in my heart. I know what this grief is, and it isn't robbing my steady well of joy that the Lord imparts - but it IS there. And then comes the whisper "Celebrate"...gently, over and over again it comes "I want you to celebrate life"...

Then, while I was cleaning the 5 weeks worth of dust and dirt that accumulates where the Christmas decorations cover (please overlook this in the photos!), I was surprised by the flash of bright jeweled wings trying to flit away from the suction of my vacuum! An unanticipated joy welled up within to see this bright reminder of resurrection in the midst of the cold and dead and grey of winter. Where did he come from? And how had he managed to get inside!

He found a place to rest, slowly opening and closing his wings in time to my breathing.
Almost as if he was meditating,

maybe

about where he was going,


about where he had come from,



or about what his next moves might be at the moment...







Then all of a sudden he fluttered off and landed on the curtain, as if he were trying to find a place where his bright colors would be camouflaged,
where he might not stand out, but blend in...
where he might hide...










In another flash, he moved off the curtain, out of the shadows, letting his wings unfurl and reflect the intense rays of colored light found in the patch of sunshine landing on the window sill...allowing the full beauty of who he is to be illumined...



I realize I have been holding my breath, and that I have just received a wonderfully illustrated first installment of my theme of "celebrate" for the year...and my heart is peacefully thrilled....

I am so excited for this week's Sneak Peek! Beautiful ornaments have just been gracing the mailbox since the beginning of the month because I participated in Jennifer's first ever ornament exchange! I absolutely LOVE each and every one I received - thank you so much everyone! What fun...I thought I was a little crazy, because I was getting ready for that holiday show too! How would I ever have the time? Not to mention the time to maybe go get more supplies - so as I looked around to see what I had on hand so that I could move quickly at the store, I found I already had everything I needed! Here is a picture of the entire Angel Choir:

These little Angels are based on the ATC sized "Art Angels" featured in the May/June 2009 issue of ClothPaperScissors...I was trying to learn my design program for my computer that sews (aka my Brother embroidery machine)...



The Angel is stitched entirely by the machine on recycled linen (a pair of trousers I wore in my office days). For the contrast backing I used some of those quilt scraps that are soooo hard to throw away...



but first the words are sewn on as well as the trim .so that you do not see that stitching on the back of the ornament. They are finished with some stamping, some shading on cheeks and lips, some got embellishments, and all got vintage buttons over their satin ribbon hangers...



I hope each of my sweet blogland friends enjoyed their angel! Click on the Sneak Peek button at the top of this post or here and head on over to Studio JRU to see more of the exchange...and have a blessed Christmas..

One month ago....

I last posted! It has been full, getting ready for a holiday show...which was great, thanks to Misty and Katie! I made great connections with Beckie and another friend, Karen who introduced me into the wonderful world of "Thirty-One". I definitely will get a skirt purse in the future!

I also thought I might post a photo of one of the canvases I took to the show - I didn't really want to sell it quite yet - just wasn't quite ready to let her go (but you can buy her now)...I must say it has been interesting - being stretched and molded in a new way, interweaving faith and favorite scriptures with mixed media...this saint is done with acrylics, watercolors, and paper on a 12 x 16 canvas with the sides painted black and ready to hang...

She is signed and dated on the back, and the scripture reference is listed on the back as well...(the words are from Colossians 3 "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth").

Since the show last weekend, I have been trying to keep a little girl motivated to do school work with Christmas festivities sprinkled through the days! And catching up on reading my favorite blogs (several great posts to link to!) and allowing God to speak to my heart about the coming year...I am eager for the new He is bringing!

Hope there are Christmas melodies filling the air wherever you are!

The Simple Woman's Daybook - and a treat to honor C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia

A picture for thought I am sharing: my first attempt at Turkish Delight - recipe found here Make sure you read the tips shared in the comments section by bootsola, December 21, 2009 for important additions to perfectly cure this candy. Angel wanted to try this candy ever since the movie of "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" came out! I finally got up the nerved to attempt it...but I do believe it will never replace Hershey's chocolate!

FOR TODAY
November 9, 2010...

Outside my window...bright blue sky, faded greed live oak leaves, dying green/brown grass, and the golden rays of the sun casting a warm glow on the waning days of autumn.

I am thinking...that I am always amazed that God speaks to and uses me!

I am thankful for....God's gift of emotion that adds vibrant color to my life!

From the learning rooms...nothing today! Yesterday was our group's field trip to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and last night Angel started running a fever, saying her throat felt like there were a thousand pins sticking her...today she has no voice...so we are watching DVR'd episodes of "Honey I Shrunk the Kids..." : )

From the kitchen....I am trying to do "Turkish Delight" for the first time. Angel is trying her hand at "petit fours" that she found in a cook book for girls from the library.

I am wearing...jeans and a black long-sleeve T.

I am creating...a "brand" for 12 Tribes.

I am going...to go get medicine and popsicles for Angel.

I am reading..."George Washington Carver" from the Heroes of History series to Angel.

I am hoping...and planning to not overwhelm myself with trying to make "the perfect" holiday season.

I am hearing...the growls and happy barks of puppies playing.

Around the house...a feeling of anticipation...I don't know what for!

One of my favorite things...bonfires on crisp fall evenings.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Gary's air gun match at our place on Friday...get the dining room's Christmas decor up.

The Simple Woman's Daybook
(click here to find other simple daybooks)

Puppy Update

As Angel says, aren't they "just uber cute?!"
They are four weeks old now!
Click here to find more "Animal Antics" at Guiding Light Homeschool's blog...

The Simple Woman's Daybook

A picture for thought - puppies are so cute! They grow so fast and are so much heavier than kittens! 2 boys and 2 girls, all lined up for their debut at one week old! (They are a little bigger and older now tho')

FOR TODAY
October 26, 2010...

Outside my window...a crisp-warm autumn day.

I am thinking...about decorating for Christmas, starting next week.

I am thankful for...God's mercies and grace.

From the learning rooms...Angel is loving the new interactive computer curriculum, Time4Learning.

From the kitchen...cute "monster" cupcakes from Taste of Home online.

I am wearing...jeans and a black T with little sparkles around the neckline.

I am creating...art classes for Co-op...

I am going...to get my power steering fixed and my oil changed - hopefully on Friday.

I am reading...Kelly Rae's "Flying Lessons - the e-book".

I am hoping...for my heart's desires to be fulfilled.

I am hearing...the rustling of fall leaves through our opened windows.

Around the house...a feeling of contentment.

One of my favorite things...puppies and Angel playing together!

A few plans for the rest of the week..a friend is coming over to look at recipes (and play with puppies).

The Simple Woman's Daybook
(click here to find other simple daybooks)

Sneak peak at textures, architecture, and faded paint...
I can't wait to start playing with these!

I haven't done anything with these yet, but I have been inspired by other artists who are using architectural photos in their mixed media...these were taken at the Fort Worth Zoo on our homeschool field trip (which I am still recovering from - the reason I am a little quiet!)...no animals!!!! I was totally enthralled with the "Texas Wild" area as was my little Angel....



click on the sneak peak studios button to see more sneak peeks!

Sneak Peek at another "Redo"


click this button to find other great sneak peeks!

I have been wanting to do this for a while,
making this shadow box frame more interesting...
from this:



to this:

In the picture, you can slightly make out the monofilament line I used to hang it to get the side views for my etsy shop - ooops! Oh well, I just wanted to get this posted and not retake the shot!

I can "see" a correlation between what I am doing with my art, and where God is taking me on our journey together...I have been really seeking Him on the several threads of purpose and interest He has placed in me (a beautiful journey of seek and find initiated by Him); and all that have been developed to a certain point of maturity, yet at different times and seasons of my years. Now, I believe He desires for me to move in the fullness of each gifting, each place of preparation, and not keep those threads separate anymore...I have been rather stumped in how to move forward in that idea...but now I do believe I have the insight... it is like these last two weeks of art work - beautiful, whole, conveying an idea in the simplicity of what was there originally...but now it is time for further, deeper development. For familiar elements to be introduced and joined together in new ways. The fullness of what is to be emerging only as the piece is changed once again through the hands of the Maker... more to come I am sure!

Just a little announcement -

Can I say I am a little excited? I've been published again! And my husband gave me the sweetest compliment about how he thought I was a very good - drum roll here - "ARTIST". Yep. That's what he called me! And I have trouble saying that myself! LOL!! My art was one of the Judge's Choices for the 2011 Calendar Contest - look for me on page 71 : ).

Sneak Peek Friday - Daughter of Virtue


(Click the button to see more studios from around the web!)Here is what I have been working on this week:

I've been re-working some of the art I did during the first class I took after listening to the call back into creativity...I had found Paulette Insall, an inspiring Christian artist, on etsy and enrolled in her "Faces" class. Recently, I noticed that some of my first paintings seemed a little stark - I have grown in the area of experimenting with and developing layers and so am bringing changes into some of the early work...

Here is an image of what this piece looked like "before". I changed the name from "Young in Mind" to "Daughter of Virtue". There will be a companion piece, too:

and the sketch I worked from...

For future reference...artistic prompts and adding textures

Great creativity prompts!
And MORE "adding texture" ideas!

This is a sketch from a photo of my little girl...I changed out her curls for straight hair - I love the look on her face, and I know I want to turn this into a piece of art of some kind!

5 Things

Five things I am glad to have come across this week....

1. This post at Messy Canvas - she is offering a free e-book for download!
2. This wonderful picture for the Feast of Tabernacles.
3. This great FREE spelling program online!
4. This HILARIOUS video - for all the dads out there! Yes, it's "A Dad's Life"!
5. This skirt pattern - Angel loves a twirly skirt.

Days of Awe and a Shofar call

I love the informal name of the days between (and including!) Rosh Hashana (New Beginnings) and Yom Kippur (Atonement). These are the days of Succoth, the Feast of Tabernacles (or booths - meaning a temporary dwelling place). Tabernacles is also called the Feast of Trumpets for it is marked by daily blowing of the trumpets (shofars). It is a time of celebration, a time when the entire nation stopped normal activities and focused on the Lord, remembering how He made His dwelling with the children of Israel during their journey away from slavery and into their new beginning in a land of blessing and abundance. During this exodus from their bondage and limits, God taught them about worshipping Him, about His great lovingkindness, about His might, about His deliverance, about His provision...and Israel learned to trust, rely on, and depend on Him. He promises to do the same for me, and I must learn, as the ancients did, to trust in, rely on, and depend on Him. Their temporary dwellings served to remind them that their present condition was not permanent - and remembering their tents calls my attention to the fact that my sojourn on this earth is only temporary as well. How "awesome" is the fact that He walks with me, in the temperal, as He did with Israel so long ago!

The shofar calls of these days do have various meanings, but one of the most powerful I think is the one to awaken us to be alert - alert to His soon coming, alert in the spirit to His voice, alert to what He wants to impart to us - the same things He provided to the Israelites so long ago!!! Are you awed yet?
Blessings,
Cindy

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...I am lovin' the cooler weather here in North Texas; the little hint of the autumn to come that we are receiving. Today a nice, steady rain began just around dawn, adding to that deep contentment of being tucked in at home. These pictures show the view I would have if I get a writing (think art) desk for the round corner of the living room...there are 3 windows that give me more than a 180 degree view - you can see some of the wrap around porch in the pictures, too...

FOR TODAY
September 7, 2010...

Outside my window...check my "picture for thought"!

I am thinking...about the fall "appointed times of the Lord" beginning tomorrow.

I am thankful for...the whisper of the Spirit in my heart.

From the learning rooms...focusing on science and history today in order to get a alot of our activities ready to laminate at Mardel's free laminating event - woohoo!

From the kitchen...finding the perfect chocolate chip cookie that uses no sugar or milk. Have a recipe to share? I'll try it!

I am wearing...denim capris and a black tank top (again).

I am creating...reworks of previous paintings - I got inspired and after a year it seems my artistic eye is developing.

I am going...to take DVDs back to the library today and grabbing a few grocery items at Aldis.

I am reading...a vintage book entitled "The Father Heart of God" by Floyd McClung.

I am hoping...for a writing desk with hutch to put in the round room.

I am hearing...the sounds of the ceiling fans.

Around the house...working on simplifying and ordering to keep things picked up.

One of my favorite things...rainy days with a comfy worn quilt!

A few plans for the rest of the week...hanging the wall decor in the living room.

The Simple Woman's Daybook
(click here to find other simple daybooks)

5 things (late) and - Another go at that piece ....

5 Things to be thankful for from last week:

1. Finally deciding to get rid of that direction with the word font! "Shema" will be there - I just don't know how it will look yet, and now I am back to doing the color blending....
2. Temperatures in the 80s that actually feel like fall!
3. Last weekend of swimming - and enjoying it with friends!
4. Da Vinci at the Museum of Science and History - what a great party to send the exhibit on its way!!
5. Sweet encouragement from my husband on a direction to take this season of my life...

Oh, would you like to see how the above piece looked at the VERY BEGINNING? Here it is...

That's it, behind the pink and white paper (another project) sitting there....I must have 3 more layers over this...and I wish I could go back here! It is definitely one of those things that is taking on a life of its own!


Blessings!
Cindy

Oy Vey!!

I am working on companion pieces to her (remember?), but something is wrong! I put the word on - sort of like an art journaling word and just haven't liked it, but yet I feel the word needs to be there! Every night I work on it and every day I come back to the table wondering what in the world I was thinking!!!! I definitely want the letter "shin" there - but am. not. liking. how "shema" is looking -today, I decided to keep it AND the direction I ended up going in last night (which is the photo you see here), and when I am finished I think I am going to play a little with it in photoshop! I will see!! (And so will you - LOL.)