FROM THIS DAY FORWARD...

I hope you'll bear with me as I show off my family a bit! We're delighted that our oldest son, Ben, has just married his true love, Sarah. Their wedding took place in November on Anna Maria Island in Florida, which is where Sarah was raised. Their wedding reception was held at her family's home, overlooking the water... such an ideal setting, a beautiful day, & a joyful occasion!

My husband, Joe, and I could not be happier to welcome Sarah into our family! She is a caring young lady, so fun-loving, adventurous, & a dog-lover too!... the perfect match for Ben! 

Congratulations, Ben & Sarah!... Blessings, Love, & Much Happiness to You!!!

The wonderful photos are courtesy of Doerr Photo Inc.... Thank You!   :)

 

CREATIVE THERAPY

Some of you may wonder if I've fallen completely off the face of the Blogosphere!! Thankfully, no!... But April & May were filled with many family events and needs that kept me both from writing & from drawing much.

In April, my husband & I had the JOY of traveling north to celebrate my nephew's wedding with family & friends. As co-pilot in the front seat of our little red Corolla, I happily counted the miles by knits & purls as I practiced my new knitting skills on a cozy blue scarf.

Home again in May, we learned of my mother-in-law's unexpected hospitalization & quickly repacked our bags (along with more yarn) and headed to the farm for 3 weeks. During that time, my mom also had knee replacement surgery... a very difficult experience for the whole family. My life felt upside-down & in limbo... and so I knit.

It's interesting now, looking back on my whole May experience... Much as I wanted to draw & create, I found I just wasn't emotionally able to concentrate. And yet, my hands still yearned to "make stuff"... so knitting did indeed become my creative therapy! Nothing very complex, mind you!... Just miles & miles of colorful scarves! It was one of those times when I wondered if I'd ever be able to draw anything again. But God is GOOD!... and I'm once again able to put pencil to paper & let my "sillies" out in living color.
    

Thank you so much, Lord, for your faithfulness to me!!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  James 1:2-4 NIV

RAINY DAY ADVENTURES

"Pirate Adventures"

One rainy day recently, I was thinking about when my two boys (now all grown up!) needed to create some "Inside Fun" for themselves on rainy afternoons. They loved Playmobil & Legos (with all those gazillions of little pieces!)... and I loved listening in on the stories they'd create as our house became the scene for little boy fun, adventure, & imagination!

MEET WINNIE!

Meet Winnie!!... She's our lovable Labrador Retriever! My husband & I are so blessed to have just passed the one year mark of adopting her into our family!

Winnie came to us through the Lab Rescue of North Carolina last winter, a few months after we said an unexpected goodbye to our sweet dog, Salem. Our home had felt quite lonely during those months between Christmas & February... and since both my husband Joe & I had grown up in dog-loving families, we became eager to find another companion who would "fit" into our family.

Unfortunately, we don't know much of Winnie's story. She was quite sick when she was rescued by the Humane Society & needed to be treated for heartworms. She also had recently had puppies... and though we tried to track down what had become of her little ones, we were never able to locate them. I have to think that she was a kind & gentle Mama!

This week Winnie & I went to the vet for her one year check-up... and I'm happy to say she is back to full health! With the exception of a few extra pounds she gained over the winter months (something we have in common!), Winnie is doing just fine! How thankful I am that the Lord has provided such a loving, laid back, & faithful friend for us to enjoy!

I hope you will consider whether or not you might be able to open your home to a rescued pet in need of love & kindness!!

WITH THANKFULNESS FOR SALEM...

This is our sweet dog, Salem. After a very brief illness, she went to be with the Lord this week. Joe & I are both so grateful for the GIFT that she has been to our family & for the many wonderful memories we have of her!!

It's strange for me to realize that, at almost 54 years old, Salem is the first dog in my life that I have really called "Friend". She loved our boys as they were growing up, always happy to be their playful buddy. She has been my close companion & a constant presence for me. With all of Joe's travels, I have never felt alone or afraid with Salem at home with me. Joe had developed a "tradition" when I came home from work... both he & Salem would come out on the front porch to greet me. There she'd be, tail wagging & barking to get my attention. It always made me feel loved.  :)

Salem helped me through all the transitions of motherhood as we sent Ben & Jesse off to college & out into life. Her presence in our house helped fill our home with warmth & joy & peace for me... and how fitting that is since the word "Salem" means "Peace".

Thank you, Lord, for the GIFT Salem has been for our family & for me!! I am so GRATEFUL to have enjoyed her friendship & companionship! My heart is hurting now... but I trust in You. I know your plans are GOOD. Please be very present to us as we walk through this valley... and help us find JOY in our memories of Salem.

"TO HAVE AND TO HOLD..."

This past Memorial Day weekend, my parents celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary! Months before this special day, planning began to gather family and close friends from all over the country. Invitations were sent, a lovely reception hall overlooking the river was rented, centerpieces were designed using photos of my parents' wedding and cheerful red roses, and balloons were hung in big bouquets around the room. My niece even recorded music from 1954, the year my parents were married!

What a wonderful celebration it was! And most special of all to me was hearing from so many guests who came forward to share. One after another, they talked about how they'd been blessed by my parents and their marriage. The Lord had used Mom and Dad over those 55 years to care for so many people! What an amazing thing to hear how lives had been changed and people brought to know Jesus... all because my parents had held firmly to their faith and to each other!


Lord, thank you so much for Mom and Dad. May you use my husband Joe and I in our marriage to honor You all of our days!


The picture above was created by me in celebration of my parents' anniversary. While deliberating on a border to frame the piece, I could think of nothing better than "Rol hearts Joan hearts Rol hearts Joan..." forever! :)

Too Cute To Spook!

"Too Cute To Spook!"

I have such fond memories of eagerly dressing up in home-made costumes and visiting neighbors for candy, doughnuts, and hot apple cider on Halloween night! Mom and Dad always walked along with us, chatting with friends, as we went house-to-house with our buddies.

Today, my husband and I are the neighbors who wait at the door with a huge basket of candy and a big welcome for the children! I always look forward to the adorable parade of princesses and pirates, firemen and fairies, cute bumblebees and baby pumpkins! :)

Wishing y'all a fun and family-friendly Halloween!! :)

LIFE'S A BEACH :)

"Chillin' At The Beach"

I grew up in a beach-lovin' family! :) The highlight of our entire year was always a laidback vacation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. There was something fun for everyone!... sailing, fishing, jumping in the waves, building sandcastles, and lots of beachcombing.

But I think my favorite thing was just chillin' on the beach, taking it all in and enjoying the sunshine!


"Chillin' At The Beach" is available in my Etsy shop, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS!

MOM'S MINIVAN

"Mom's Minivan"

Just something silly & fun in honor of Mother's Day and the coming of summer vacation! :)

Believe it or not, back in the day when MY guys were small, the minivan was yet to be invented! Still, I remember so well packing all my kids and their friends and their "stuff" in the back of our station wagon, in search of summer fun, adventure, and a little escape from the hot, humid weather! Most of the time, our destination was the neighborhood pool, where the kids splashed all afternoon and I played "lifeguard" from under a poolside umbrella.


*sigh*...So many happy family memories!! :)

(...sunscreen, anyone???)


"Mom's Minivan" is available at my Etsy store, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS!

THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA

"The Princess and the Pea"

Once upon a time, in what seems like a very long time ago, I was the happy (and busy!) Mom of two rambunctious boys. Our home was filled with primary colors and all things little boys love ~ legos, trucks, Playmobil, and Ninja Turtles. My guys liked to dress up and have adventures as cowboys and Indians, pirates and superheroes. As they grew older, we accumulated a basement-full of rollerblades, bikes, and skateboards. Without a doubt, ours was a home geared toward BOYS!

...And so, it should not have been a big surprise to me that taking care of Jane (a sweet baby GIRL, then 8 months old) would be a real learning experience for me.

Even from a young age, Jane seemed drawn to all things pink and sparkly. She loved to play tea party with her many dolls, and delighted in the world of fairytales, princesses, and make believe. Jane's favorite way to spend a rainy day at home was to dress-up in her pink princess dress (the purple one just would not do), and dance in the playroom with great joy and abandon. At lunchtime, she never grew tired of hearing stories about the many adventures of Princess Jane...


Many thanks, Jane, for helping me to remember the wonders of being a little GIRL. This sweet princess is inspired by YOU!!



"This Princess and the Pea" is available in my CafePress store, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS, on a variety of baby & kidswear.

LEARNING CURVE

"Space Explorer"

I like to learn new things. I find a lot of satisfaction in being able to search for helpful books and web resources about things that make me curious, and then dive right in and learn things on my own.

So, it made perfect sense to me, after purchasing a basic graphics program called PaintShop Pro (PSP) for my new computer, to wander down to my favorite local bookstore and buy a how-to book. I chose what I thought must surely be a very simple book ~ "PaintShop Pro for Dummies" ~ and eagerly headed home to learn the ins-and-outs of digital manipulation.

Well... it didn't take me long to realize that I might as well have been trying to decipher hieroglyphics! I just didn't seem to be able to "get" it. And so, reluctantly, I put this learning project aside.

Happily, this past summer my college-aged son (who amazes me with his ability to whiz around in Photoshop!) generously agreed to tutor me in PSP. Suddenly, some of those baffling PSP hieroglyphics started to make sense to me! Soon, I was scanning my line drawings into the computer and "painting" them on the screen... what fun!!

I still have a lot to learn about the "art" of PSP. But one thing I did learn this summer ~ some things are just more fun when learned together!

Thanks, Jesse, for all your patience!! Love, Mom

Space Explorer is available on a variety of fun kidswear in my CafePress shop, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS.

TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite things to do for my birthday was to go to the circus with my family. I loved everything about it! ~ the smell of popcorn, the festive music, the funny clowns in their colorful costumes. I looked forward to watching the jugglers and acrobats perform their amazing tricks in their sparkley outfits. I held my breath as the animal trainers confidently stepped into the ring with bears and lions, tigers and elephants...

...But my favorite thing by far was watching in awe as the fearless trapeze artists performed far overhead on the flying trapeze! Back and forth, they would leap from one trapeze to another, always trusting that their partner would catch them in mid-air!

Sometimes life calls us to be daring and take a similar leap of faith. At the beginning of this summer, I found myself needing to make a BIG decision... would I find a ho-hum minimum wage summer job in order to earn some much-needed extra money for our family? Or would I follow my heart and invest myself in "really doing something" with my art? For me, it felt like a choice between the cautious "sure thing" and the riskier "possibility with no guarantees."

Happily, as I talked with my husband Joe about what to do, and as I prayed about this choice with friends, it seemed clear that God was saying YES to taking a creative leap of faith.

And so, I'm very pleased to announce the opening of my new online CafePress shop, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS. In my shop you will find my original folk art and illustrations on a variety of products... from bibs and onesies for the little people in your life, to T-shirts, coffee mugs, and calendars. I will frequently be adding new designs and products, so please come take a peek and check back often as my little shop grows!

I hope the designs I love to create will be a blessing to you and bring you joy!!


Thank you, Lord, that you are the one who is faithful and who loves us beyond measure. Thank you that I can trust you to catch me as I take a creative leap of faith.

THE LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER

When I was a little girl, my family lived in a small town in New York State. Our house was an old, stucco tudor that was set on a hillside in what used to be an apple orchard.

Because the winters were long and snowy, I always looked forward to the summertime! I loved being outside!!

...admiring the flowers, investigating the bugs and bees and butterflies, running barefoot through the sprinkler.

I spent many happy hours swinging on the swings in our backyard, trying to touch the clouds with my toes...



...and nothing could beat the feeling I had as I zoomed on my bicycle, as fast as the wind!


Many summer evenings, after my Dad came home on the train, we packed up the family station wagon and drove all the way to the "Y". As an outdoor-loving little girl, I thought nothing could be better than swimming for hours and eating a picnic dinner with my family and catching lightning bugs after dark! On special occasions, we stayed up really late to watch movies out under the stars...


When it was finally time to come home, I loved to snuggle down in my bed under the covers and read by the light of a flashlight 'til I was finally fast asleep...


Thank you, Lord, for these wonderful childhood memories of summertime!

TIME FLIES!!! (Family Update)

Somehow, August & September have hurried by quickly at our house this year:

• Jesse transferred to a new school in August & seems to be thoroughly enjoying college life! While we miss having him at home (our "nest" is empty once again), Joe & I are both soooo grateful that Jesse is happy & adjusting so well!!
• Ben is working long hours in Chicago at his job in computer networking. He's beginning to talk about the possibility of moving back to NC in the spring (we would, of course, be thrilled to have him living closer!!)
• Joe has changed jobs within InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He is no longer in a management role; instead, he's using his gifts of teaching, listening & counseling in order to nurture IV staff & help them grow.
• And I have returned (after not quite finishing my summer painting projects!) to caring for Jane (now 2 1/2 years old) & George (now 16 months old). My days are once again filled with giggles & smiles, crayons & play-doh, sippy cups, Big Wheels, boo-boo's, & Sesame Street.

All-in-all, life is very good... and we count our many blessings!!

"So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom." Psalms 90:12

HOME AGAIN...

Over the past month, I have taken two very different trips.

The first was to Rockbridge, a Young Life camp hidden in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Joe and I were privileged to stay in the guest lodge, which perches on the side of a mountain. From the front porch, I had a birdseye view of the camp activity below; and to the East, I could see mountain after mountain after mountain...

While my husband worked, I was free to use the time as I pleased. I decided to make this my first-ever Artist's Retreat. I walked & read & prayed & journaled & sketched & drew & "colored." I caught up with old friends over coffee and meals. I enjoyed meeting some special new friends. I relaxed & went to bed early. At the end of the week, I felt rested & re-energized.

The second trip was to Chicago, where our oldest son, Ben, lives & works. We stayed in Ben's apartment on the 40th floor of a highrise that overlooks the Canals and Downtown. As far as I could see in every direction there were buildings & busy streets -- cars, taxis, trains, bikes, & people bustling from place to place.

We took the time to be tourists & visited the Sears Tower & Millenium Park. We visited a fascinating Museum of Photography. We walked along Lake Shore Drive and watched the bikers, the boaters, and the beachgoers. We sampled different kinds of cuisine in our own "Taste of Chicago." We strolled along the Magnificent Mile and peeked in all the shop windows. We hung-out together & just enjoyed being family.

To be honest, I came away from Chicago feeling happy, but ooooh soooo tired! As an introvert, it's hard for me to keep such a fast pace. I need some quiet places in my days to process and unwind.

We are back at home again now. The mountains of laundry have been done. The grass has been mowed. The groceries have been bought. And we are almost caught up on our sleep...

What a blessing it is to go new places and to see new things, to live life in out-of-the-ordinary ways! And what a blessing, too, to come home again!!

A BABY BOY IS SUCH A JOY!

George will be a year old at the end of May -- how did the time go by so fast?! It seems like only a short while ago that I took Jane to the hospital to meet her brand new baby brother. And there he was -- with ten tiny fingers & toes, a sweet baby smile, and soft brown hair -- surrounded by his proud parents & grandparents. What a wonderful celebration!!

It has been so much fun for me to watch George over the past year & see his little personality unfold! He is happy & laid-back, so delighted with every new discovery. He loves books & balls & music & swinging & going for walks in the stroller with Jane. He loves his bottle & snuggling down with "lambie" for a nap. He loves waking up & seeing what the rest of the family is doing. George thinks it's big fun to roll & roll across the floor, to do the "Army crawl" on his tummy, or to stand up with help and bounce on his tiptoes. A cat is to chase. A basket of toys is to dump. A cat dish is to splash in. A book is to chew on. A sister is to laugh with!...

George, what a gift you are to us all! Happy, happy birthday, sweet boy!!!

Written 5/10/06

MY OLD WAGON, “BESSIE”

Back when our youngest son, Jesse, was just learning to crawl (nearly 20 years ago now!), we traded-in Nana's hand-me-down Oldsmobile for a brand new, shiny black Celebrity wagon. I WAS THRILLED!!!

"Bessie" was a simple car -- no power windows or other frills -- but she had lots of room for our family of four to pack all our most important possessions (baby swings, booster seats, strollers, Big Wheels, Legos, Playmobil, Ninja Turtles, and the family dog...) and hit the road together for miles of family fun!

Over the years, after carpooling countless kids, hauling tons of groceries, and safely carrying us through all kinds of weather, things started to fall apart on "Bessie". Her paint began thinning, her ceiling sagged, and her engine struggled to turn over in the morning. After years of faithful service, it seemed "Bessie" had finally come to a well-deserved retirement. Or so we thought...

...'Til one day recently, "Bessie" was called back into active duty! My job, once close to our home here in town, was moved out to the suburbs. With no means to buy a new car, "Bessie" was needed to take me to work and safely back home again.

At first, I was unsure she was up to the assignment -- afterall, for years she had only been asked to make the short trip on local roads to the grocery store and to church on Sundays. "Bessie" hadn't been out on the highway in "Who-Knows-When"?! To be honest, I had come to doubt her reliability, and feared being stranded by the side of the road somewhere.

And so, it was with quite a bit of trepidation that I steered her up the on-ramp of Business 40 on my first day back at work and headed west. To my surprise, "Bessie" got up to speed with ease and gracefully glided onto the highway. She hummed along without a lurch or a sputter, like she'd been waiting for this day for a very long time...

Today, "Bessie" is in the shop having her engine tuned. She would be the first to admit she's not much to look at anymore. Mother Nature and family life have taken their tole on "Bessie's" good looks. But, that's O.K. -- she's got miles of wisdom and experience from her long life on the road; and she's happy to still be of service!!

Written 3/21/06

YOU'VE GOT MAIL!!

Owen is my little buddy who lives with his mom, dad, and a great big dog named Floyd two doors down from me. He's a 3 1/2 year old blonde haired, blue eyed, fun-loving charmer who adds a whole lot of joy to my life!!

Owen has been coming to my house since he was a baby -- he knows where I keep the cookies and the dog treats and all the "cool" trucks (leftover from when my boys were little). I love the way he walks right in and makes himself at home! If he's curious about something, he just comes right out and asks his question -- "Why is Salem a barking dog?"..."Can I have that orange?"..."Can I play with your video game?"..."Do you have any more cookies?"...

One of Owen's favorite things to do is to bake cookies with his mom, and then get on his "bike" and deliver his sweet packages to all the neighbors (as you might imagine, Owen has made a lot of friends on our block!). Or, if cookies aren't available, a good second best is to deliver one of his recently handmade preschool masterpieces. The other day, I was surprised to hear a little knock, knock, knock on my front door, followed by loud barking. Not seeing anyone through the window, I opened the door and there was Owen with a big grin on his face! He had come to deliver some artful "email"; but try as he might, he just couldn't reach my mail slot. I mistakenly thought he would just hand me his picture while I "Ooooo'd" and "Ahhhhh'd" and thanked him profusely -- silly me!! Instead, Owen got me to shut the front door and then lift him up high so he could slide his "mail" through the slot. It was so much fun, we had to do it over & over again! The best part for me was the big hug that my little "mailman" gave me!

What a great reminder to me, Lord, to give out of love, with joy and simplicity!! Thank you for blessing me with my little friend, Owen!

Written 2/16/06