Playing Sublimely

Living life from the sectional

March 28, 2013

Instagram has helped subside the boredom a little over the past week. It’s been awhile since I have been this sick. Motherhood has built up an impressive immune system in my body, and in recent years, I don’t typically catch what the kids bring home. But this wretched chest cold attacked no one but me, and I’ve been permanently attached to the sofa for a week…and I’m about to go insane!

I have watched Quang Ho’s entire painting series though, which I must admit, I didn’t hate. This man is brilliant, and something about his style and personality, I really love. He’s a philosopher/painter, and his theory on creating art is tightly woven into one’s ability to remove the obstacle of fear from the equation. Good art he claims, is expressed when the person removes their ego from the art form, and fearlessly creates. He says we will experience and create higher level art, when we are free from those blocks. I happen to agree with him, and I think we will find this is also where higher level living happens as well. If we view our lives as a painting, I think our canvas’ will end up more beautiful if we got rid of fear and ego there as well. I don’t think his idea holds true for painting alone. I have been teaching my Moses study on Sunday mornings these past few weeks, and I’m watching how God is shining new light from a different angle on this study. This idea of fear and lack of belief is what keeps rising to the surface, and I suppose that is why I found Ho’s perspective so interesting. Quang And then there are these chicken eggs we are hatching. I called my local cooperative extension to see if they had an embryology group that allowed children to care for and hatch chickens. Turns out they do, and it’s free, and they give you tons of literature and curriculum materials, and you bring home 30 chicken eggs and an incubator. Pure awesomeness. Every three days you “candle” the eggs (aka, go in a dark room with a little flashlight) and you can see everything happening on the inside. I am more excited than my kids and we are charting this whole process. So the new dilemma is how to break it to Kev that I intend on keeping all these chickens in my backyard. eggs I thought I had picked a chicken coop, it was this one of course. Of course.
But then I saw this one. Is that a chandelier hanging overhead? Ummmmm….I change my mind, definatley this one. And I’m moving out there as well. Caroline says she is too, if we can put a pink pig out there with us. Why not. Pink pigs, chickens, and chandeliers. Let’s do it.If you would like to follow us on Instagram, you can go over to the right hand side of this blog page to get connected.

Filed UnderI was just thinking, Stuff to paint 5 Comments

Be Thou My Vision

March 22, 2013

He calls us to what we cannot do in our own strength. It’s the beautiful waltz of life that our Bridegroom leads us through. It’s how He ordained it to be from the very beginning. The sooner we accept, in joy, the faith process; the more content our restless souls will become. The weak are made strong, the blind given sight, the restless find rest. It’s what He does, it’s who He is, and who He will always be.

I sit and stare at a blank screen in front of me, words need to fill it soon. I just keep praying for more of Him, because He is what I need in my time of being stretched. He is the One stretching, and the One waiting to fill in the gaps. And the grace filled thing is, He never denies us more of Himself. So I know I approach His throne in confidence for what I ask. I pray, and I wait for direction, then I pray some more for vision, and then I came across this:

And so now I love her. Click here to love her blog also. She painted the words to the hymn “Be Thou My Vision” on her bedroom wall. The reminder of the sweet Irish hymn words made me smile. Maybe they will make you smile too.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

He is your vision and wisdom, your shield and your strength, your High King and victory, your inspiration and true Word. Allow Him and all He promises to be to lead you… your Groom is waiting to dance. Have a beautiful weekend.

Filed UnderJesus, Photography, Stuff to paint 1 Comment

Why I like Pinterest

March 18, 2013

I am not very educated about personality types, but whatever the personality type is that needs to sometimes be alone…I’m that one. My husband is the opposite of whatever I am. He decompresses amongst activity, sport, and friends. I decompress on Pinterest. Do you know what I mean? Television is not really my thing, and I do love to read, but I only read what challenges and stretches me, which usually means decompressing is not happening while I have a book in my hands. I have one friend that folds laundry…simple and brainless. I have another friend that sweeps…again, it’s an activity that allows her mind to rest. For me…I pin stuff. I have heard Pinterest called out a time or two in criticism. It’s critics say it’s evidence of a culture that is never satisfied, always seeking something better, a sickening display of materialism, or one more way our culture says to us “see, this person is better than you”. I suppose I see what they are saying, and certainly there is a soul out there somewhere pinning her little heart out trying to find satisfaction. I suppose. But as for me and my little heart, I just want to look at pretty things and feed this hidden part of my soul that loves all things creative and lovely.

I have been teaching a small group of woman on Sunday mornings, and I have loved everything about, but it has also challenged me all the way down to my bones. Even this small group of woman has stretched me shockingly far outside of my comfort zone. It has put me on my face before the Lord, and He has blessed through the experience. I’m so grateful. But last night I was so tired. I tucked my kids in bed, Kevin and I tried to get caught up with the Bible series on TV; but at the point that Samson was getting his eyes gouged out, I knew it was too much for me that late at night. So Pinterest came out, and somehow my brain was able to finally turn off while learning that there is a place in Australia that rescues and nurses back to health baby bats.

It is both the cutest and most disgusting thing I have ever seen in my life. And do you know what they do with them to put them to sleep? They hang them out on clothes lines. Tell me that this information is not the exact thing you needed to hear today?!?! Thank you Pinterest, who knew that disgusting rodents wrapped in tiny blankets would be the exact mental therapy this over-worked mind needed. Happy Monday to you all, and if you would like to join me in therapy, you can click here to follow my Pinterest page.

Filed UnderI was just thinking, We are weird people 8 Comments

Pink Poodles

March 15, 2013

My Dad is a practical man on the surface. My sisters and I alone know that hidden deep is actually a dream chasing, creative mind that has been known to reveal itself a time or two in the form of encouragement towards the unpractical in our lives. It’s there in him waiting to be fully unleashed, but he’s not yet free enough to embrace things like pink poodles. It’s just not time. Which is unfortunate because this is his neighbor’s dog. That pink poodle running around on the beach, is what he sees everyday when he looks out onto his beautiful oceanfront view. The irony is killing me. He texted me this photo last week with the caption “I live next to a freak show”, and I have never laughed so hard in my life. I begged him to introduce himself and meet the people that dye their poodle’s fur hot pink, but he refused. He’s afraid it’s contagious, which too is ironic, because that is the exact reason I would want to meet them. Whatever it is that makes you think it’s a good idea to dye your poodles fur hot pink, I want to catch it. I think there might be a creative freedom in that somewhere…something we all need to catch. Or maybe it’s just me.

I’m praying for all of us a weekend of whatever kind creative bravery these people possess. Be brave and free with your art this weekend. If you are to speak, then speak. If you paint, then paint. If you mother, then love well. If you’re a dog owner, dye their fur. Be free. Be you. Be creative. Your Maker designed you uniquely. Let’s live out, what only He could have thought to begin in the first place.

Update: There is a purple one too. I can’t handle it, this is too much.

Filed UnderI was just thinking, Stuff to paint 9 Comments