Jesus and the Marshmallows

This Christmas, Brandon and I decided to simplify and scale back on our normal gift giving and holiday activities. We want to focus on giving to those with less than us instead of loading down our already blessed family with more stuff that we don't need.

Every year I look forward to Christmas, and the meaning quickly gets lost in the stress--oh the stress! Self-imposed stress, triggered by a compulsion I have to decorate my house and tree and car (ok maybe not the car part) and bake and buy and wrap and dress everyone in beautiful clothing. These are all things I love! I enjoy baking and dipping lots of sweet goodies and making my house look festive and shopping for fun toys and wrapping beautiful packages of things that I will have forgotten a year from now. But after many years of doing these things, I am realizing that these activities, if they don't draw us closer to Jesus and to each other, are crap! Totally meaningless time-filling, pound-gaining, self-centered, empty fluff. It's pretty much like stuffing myself with the marshmallows love so dearly but don't help me out too much.

So, as much as is possible in our crazy suburban life, we are trying to scale back. This year I only made two kinds of treats instead of 17. I got my shopping done early, which is a first, partly because our shopping budget was much smaller, and Brandon and I are only giving each other stocking stuffers. The kids are getting 2 gifts apiece and we also did simple or no gifts for family members and friends. We have continually reminded the kids what we are celebrating and talked about giving. Asher took his full piggy bank to Living Water so kids could have clean water.

I must admit all of this was tough at first. It has been hard not to just focus on what we're cutting out or even be prideful that we are doing so good with what we have. It's also been amazing because I actually have a little time to reflect and enjoy my husband and kids. I still struggle keeping my eyes on the Lord and will until the day I die. But hopefully every little change we make will draw us a little nearer to our Savior.

Tonight as we go to our Christmas Eve service, I hope and pray that we are all freed up to really feel God's presence.

Fall has Fallen! (at least for a day or two)

Monday brought some fabulously chilly, windy, overcast weather that gave me hope that it might not be summer forever! That day Asher and I decided to make playdo pumpkins to welcome Autumn! Who says pumpkins can't be purple?

This idea, inspired by my friend Kathleen, was the easiest and most hilarious pumpkin decorating we've done. Move over, Mr. Potato Head.

Bubbles!

Asher has become quite the helper around the house, so I started putting noodles in a jar for every time he does chores or helps (a reward system I got from my friend Jen). Once the jar was full, Asher finally received the long awaited prize--a Spiderman Bubble Pipe! This brought forth endless hours (or minutes) entertainment for him and baby sis.

Thanks to you, Linda.

Throughout my life, God has provided miracles and provisions in a million different ways. A couple of years ago, a quirky thing happened. A stranger whom I had never met, named Linda, called me and said she was an artist who no longer painted. She wanted to bring me all of her oil paints and other art supplies if I wanted them. Of course I said yes, and, as a result, I experimented with tons of colors I never would have bought. I still have all the paint, including many tubes that are so old I can't even open them (although I have tried with pliers and other various tools). But I keep them as a reminder of how God has lavished me with so many gifts I don't deserve. I may never see Linda again, but God used her to open a door for me that may have remained shut. This painting below was painted almost entirely with Linda's paints.

Thanks to you Linda, Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36"

Mini Matisse

I've recently started turning Asher loose with some paint, and he loves it!!! He gets so absorbed in creating bold brush strokes and mixing colors. This time he got to paint with Daddy... He loves watching the water turn colors when he dips his brush in it.

I'm so proud of my boys!

Girly Pants

This one we call Eden is so crazy! She makes us laugh every day with her sassiness. Almost every day I attempt to put her hair in pigtails, and every time she successfully pulls it out and thinks she is so funny! This was one of those moments...

She is growing up before our eyes.
Baby girl loves her swing!
Thanks Mimi!

Circles I

11"x14"

Acrylic on Canvas Board

$75

Circles II

12"x16"

Acrylic on Canvas

$100

Circles III

9"x12"

Acrylic on Canvas

$75

Arkansas

About once a year we try to make the 12 hour drive up to the farm in north central Arkansas to visit my wonderful grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. A couple weeks ago, we went with the whole clan (Mom and Dad, Jonathan and Maridyth) for a long overdue trip. Asher caught 2 fish with his Tigger fishing pole, and he proudly shows us with his two chubby little fingers. Eden got to meet the whole family for the first time, and she cut her first tooth the first day of our trip. Everyone oohed and ahhed over her cuteness and funny antics. Asher kept asking Papaw if he could ride the green thing (Papaw's Gator).

Aqua Chair

11"x14"
Acrylic on Canvas
$100

This is a piece I started about 3 years ago, during my chair painting phase. I finally got around to finishing it recently, so here it is...

Super Asher

My son is currently obsessed with superheroes, especially Spiderman. When I ask him "Are you Super Asher?" He says, "No, just Asher." Could he be any cuter?

Goodbye, Beloved Goop!

On this pallette lies about 10 years worth of caked up acrylic paint. It has become quite difficult to gather all the paint onto my brush, but somehow I cannot let it go! Last night, with a friend there for support, I allowed my husband to do what he has long been waiting for...get out his big knife and peel the paint off in one massive rubbery chunk! I hope he feels better now...

Don't worry--I'm not throwing it away. It will be displayed somehow in my house.

Abstract

I met a fellow artist and kindred spirit four summers ago. Her name is Anne McCrady, and she is a gifted writer and poet. She wrote this for me, and it has given me much joy and inspiration:

Abstract

Like prayers, colors
are placed on the altar
of waiting canvas.
Pulled from heart-places
only God can know,
rivers of red and rocks
of purple bloom
with the urgency
of creation:
fire and forgiveness,
water and worship,
soil and sanctuary.
Each offering,
each frame,
a sacred song,
a spiritual gift.
In the genesis
of this single hand,
God speaks,
and we can listen!

-Anne McCrady

The Art of Motherhood

How dramatically life has changed for me over the past 3 years, and even more so in the past 10 months. The vision I once had of a beautiful life of raising children and producing vast numbers of inspired paintings has come to a screeching halt. Whoa. Who knew that these two precious bundles of cuteness could turn my world upside down. How do I do what I love so much--paint, and also pour into these people I love so much--my husband and kids? With just Asher, my 3 year old, it was so manageable. Just one to feed and cart around. Just one to take nice long naps so I could have plenty of creative time. Somehow with the addition of Eden, our sweet happy girl, I can barely find time to crack a cookbook to try a new recipe, much less get lost in a painting. I can barely keep up with the laundry and dishes.

So, here I am attempting to document my journey as an artist, and now a mom, to those of you who would like to follow along...