Do you want to be last….so you can be first?….

This morning during my quiet time….I sincerely asked God to forgive me for all the past mistakes I’ve done…I have asked this many a time. I don’t know why I keep saying it. I know hes already done it.

But….I do it anyway. Maybe there is something I left out. I have a huge problem with pride…with all kinds of things.

I’ve been reading in Luke lately. I’ve been kinda stuck there. Planted. Over and over I read. Asking God to give me ears to hear,….eyes to see. You see, I’ve had issues with money too – and The Pharisees who loved money, sneered at Jesus. How many times have I sneered….even at Jesus. Oh Lord.

To humble thyselves once more. Thank you Lord – when the disciples said “Increase our faith!” – You replied….that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed….that is enough.

Oh thank you Lord. It is enough. I do not need to be last to be first…later. That too is an idol. Thank you Lord for eyes to see, ears to hear. Please keep cleaning my ears…wiping my eyes – to see you more. Not myself.

“No servant can serve two masters, Either he will hate the one and love the other…”

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The Flight…

I sit and watch the Bluebird                                                                                                                 All day long it flys to and from its home                                                                                           The one in the wooden box mounted on the fence.                                                                       Back and forth                                                                                                                                         in the same pattern –

Across the yard, over the bushes                                                                                                         and lands softly swaying on the upper tree branch.                                                                       Overlooking the field –

From there it can see below                                                                                                                 Although I don’t know how –                                                                                                               The tiny insect.

Then swooping back over the bushes it comes                                                                                and lands on the trellis just short –                                                                                                As if a lookout point.

And then, back to the young,                                                                                                               peering in – the angelic cheering begins,                                                                                         Like a thousand tiny angels voices                                                                                                     The sound of life… new life

And the delivered morsel is given –                                                                                                   Waiting and watching,  it’s starts all over again.

To the same pattern…. all day long.

Now, this is love….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tree…

I always wondered why I got excited over cardboard!…  I would see a stack in a cart at the store and think….”That’s crazy – who does that…. Who ‘collects’ cardboard”!  But there was always something deep down that wanted to take it home.  Especially the ‘interesting’ kind… ~you know~… the ones that had shapes or the corrugated…!

Well, lately I’ve been thinking about what’s going on in the world and how fast paced we have become.  How all the kids are on their cell phones or some kind of device.  How we have lost a lot of “play” and then I thought of the man….Mr. Fred Rogers.

Oh! How he shaped my life.  When my world was quiet and void as a child – there he was, showing me how things were made…telling me I was important.  It was like air to breathe.  – The puppets, the make believe….it was all important.

That got me thinking….what could I do in my little corner of the art world to show my appreciation of this man and try to remind people to “play”…to enjoy their life…to get back outside in nature.  Then I had an idea….with cardboard!  Something simple….something organic, something magical. The “Tree” idea was born.

This is my ‘ode’ if you will to Mr. Rogers.  Thank you kind sir for what you did for so many.  May my “tree” be something you would have been proud of.  If I know you (and I think I do) – you are. XO

I almost threw this whole thing away while making.  There was a part of me that kept saying “This is silly” – “You should do REAL art”….”This is childish”…..

I kept myself from tossing it with the idea “at least complete it Becky”….”if you destroy it you will never know”…..

Then I realized…..it was the little girl inside ME that needed to do this….

I had been condemning her… telling her she was silly and foolish….

Wow –

See…we really do need reminding!

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I wrote to Mr. Rogers when my children were you and told him how he had helped me in my younger years.  I was delighted as you might imagine to receive a letter back from him in the mail thanking me for telling him.  He also sent a signed copy of his picture. I will treasure it forever. XO

 

My first Wall Mural…

This past week I painted my first “Wall Mural” for a new Salt Spa here in Hendersonville. There was much more to it than I thought and I sure learned a lot!~ Mostly how much I don’t know! ~ That’s okay though…I love learning. I tried to stay true to the photo choice and colors that my client wanted. The wall space was 7-1/2′ x 12′. My husband was such a help to me lugging in all the supplies I needed and even brought me food (and chocolate!) and encouraged me the whole way! He truly is the hero in this story. It took a total of 3 days (not counting the night before setting up/graphing and sketching it out). All in all I believe the clients are pleased and when the door is opened to show the room, people sense they are in a special place. That really is my reward. 🙂

Preliminary Painting in process…

After it is sketched and taped off…the painting process begins…

Lots of supplies needed…and paint!

 ~ The finished mural ~

Latest Work…”Paratrooper Father”…

Recently I had the privilege to draw for a friend a picture of her father that had just passed away. He was a Paratrooper in the Korean War. A father…a husband and so much more. Assignments like these touch my soul beyond words. I also see how much it means for family members to have “one more picture” of their loved one. It is a task I take seriously and with much joy too as I know that God is in it.

Here was the process from beginning to end. Colored pencils and charcoal. Enjoy XO

Fragile or broken?…

Walking along a path this past week- I saw this. It described exactly how I’d been feeling lately. I realized in that moment that my deep life’s mission is to help other hurting women. Oswald Chambers said it beautifully…”Mans dust is his glory…not his shame”. Rest in the one who created you. He will cover you with his feathers.💗

My daughters smile…

  

If you’ve ever dealt with depression or any other mental health issue in a loved one, (or maybe your own) then you know what it’s like to miss their smile. 

I took this picture yesterday on my cell phone as my daughter and I were talking. I couldn’t help but see the light…the laughter. My heart was full.

I’m being very vulnerable by sharing this. It’s been a long 7-8 years. I watched one of the most precious things in my life, lose her light – I didn’t realize to what extent until one day I saw her smile again…and realized how much I missed it.

Never give up. 

May this picture give you hope too. 

Never give up. 

XO  

 

Written in July…

I found this writing  last week after going through the notes on my phone. I wrote it back in July of 2015. Amazingly it describes a situation in our life this past week.God knows all and prepares the way before you.

 I hope you enjoy this and maybe it will resonate with you. xo

(Photo by me….Wall in Asheville)

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Life is ever ending beauty… if we just allow ourselves to see it.

However painful, however devastatingly beautiful or crushing…do you allow yourself to feel it?

We walk the steps of this life in search of what we think is true…Floundering like the fish, yet they know what they are doing…unlike us.

I am coming home again. My heart is coming home… His completely divine presence is too sweet for words  – so I am not able to form with letters….Only to speak from my heart in the form of limitless love and heartache –

To touch…

To look at you in the eyes –

To put my hand on your shoulder as you hurt – 

To sit in silence and completely not know what to say except I love you. 

A hard week…

I had to say goodbye to my sweet 7 yr old Golden Retreiver unexpectedly this past week. She was sick…sicker than we realized. She was a beautiful dog who taught me how to love and to rest and to be happy. I miss her. My sweet Daisy. Xo

 

Soar anyway…

When life or people get you down or when the wind gets taken from beneath your wings…

Soar anyway.