On Being Content When You Want More

I walked around the house yesterday taking shots of things I love...
It led me to feeling a deep sense of gratitude for what I consider the little things...
It's funny how when you start counting your blessings they multiply quickly...

Family, photos of precious moments,  a multitude of books

An excess of toys, a little girl's imagination, a beloved blanket from a beloved friend

A beginning of an art gallery for the kids, crayons, markers, paint, the ability to create

A spot in Our Master Bedroom, the love that resides there, a soft warm bed

Pride to be southern, a sense of humor, a running sink with clean water

My loves: their health, that they are safe and learning and growing and becoming who they are meant to become

A photo of my Dad as a child, the time I had with my Dad, my learned love of reading and writing

My totally unfinished bench, the sunlight pouring in, my paints and brushes, the time I carve out to make something for my home

Crockpot full of white bean chicken chili, food for my family, health and sustenance entering our bodies to nourish us, a time where we can all sit together

A child's bike, a warm day with fresh air, his desire to ride freely, his laughter and pursuit of feeling the wind in his hair

 A little space my husband made me to hang things I love, a husband who supports me, a husband who loves me and gets me

A chance to read new books, a chance to learn new things, literacy in a world where 1 billion people can't read at all

Try it.

Next time you are wanting more

(which is exactly what I was doing)

count your blessings.

Remember to be content with what you have

TODAY.

It will bring you back to the present moment.

Happy Wednesday Friends!  ;)

A Valentine of sorts

I like V-day a lot.
Aside from the candy and flowers, it's just a sweet time to celebrate my loves.
Of course my cute hubby and kids are my sweet valentines, but I have a new Valentine this year.

It's totally corny and I guess I can officially call myself a Jesus Freak now...ha!
My new Valentine this year is Jesus.

I feel closer to God than I ever have in my life.
To tell you the truth, I can't believe I'm saying that.
I've been afraid of that for a long time.
And then I prayed for the courage to ask for it.
And now here I am~
I read a cool quote over the weekend:
"every saint has a past and every sinner has a future"
I love that.
I have a looooooong way to go in my relationship with God, but I feel so grateful and blessed to know His love.

And so, this little love piece was born over the weekend.

On a totally different note, remember these glittery beauties?

I wrapped some up over the weekend in these really cute bags I found at World Market...
Each bag has four sets of glittery clothespins, eight total.
They are perfect for hanging up art or photos, using to clip a card on a gift, or one million other things.

You can find the artwork here.
You can find the glitter clothespins here.

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Speaking of Valentines Day again, I'm looking for some creative ideas for my kids to make Valentines for their classmates this year. Something other than candy!

I like these...
And this.

Maybe I should ask them what they want to make?  ;)
We have the day off from school tomorrow and I thought it would be a good time to make them.

I'll let you know what we decide.
I'm thinking that spending a couple of hours peeling and sorting crayons sounds like a great time to me!
I hope you had a blessed weekend.
xoxo

A Truth

I have a little story for you today.
I have been praying for something for a long time.
I have been asking God for something for a long time.
I have been working towards that goal, that dream of mine, for a long time.

Three weeks, for the third time getting this close to that dream, the door was quietly shut.
And God said, no.

I don't mind telling you about the dream of mine.
It was to have my artwork licensed.
I've dreamed of walking into Hallmark or a specialty gift shop and see my artwork as greeting cards, home decor, stationary, plaques, etc.
I have worked very hard to reach that goal, like I've said.
I've spent a lot of time and money traveling, working, trying to fit myself in...
I kind of had my whole self-image as an artist wrapped up in that scheme.
It was kind of like I had told myself, "as soon as you are licensed THEN you will really be an artist".

It has taken me over five years to call bullsh*t on that way of thinking.

This time when God said no, I got it.
I already am who i am.  I am an artist already.
I am an artist because God gave me the desire, the passion, the ability to create.
Whether or not anyone buys my art.
Whether I have 1000 sales in my etsy shop or 0.
Whether or not a large company wants to manufacture my work and sell it all over the world.

I am an artist.

Today I have a new prayer.
"God, please help me be authentic.
Please help me be real.
Please let me make my art in a way that pleases you.
In a way that serves you.
In a way that allows me to follow your path, whatever way that path leads.
Please help me listen carefully to your truth.
Please help me seperate my ego from your voice."

It's a new truth for me.
And it feels really good to let go.
Because when you are dreaming of something, and it doesn't feel good, or right anymore, I think maybe it's God way of telling you to let go.


Have a beautiful weekend, my friends.
See you on Monday.

Oh! and the print is now available here:)

10 on 10 (instagram style)

I always want to do 10 on 10 but I can never remember.
I finally remembered yesterday!  I didn't want to lug my big camera around so I took all my photos on my iphone using the instagram app.  It was a good day.  A busy day.  A contentful day.  ;)


6 am:  journaling, devotions

7 am:  Breakfast.  Greek yogurt with strawberries, walnuts, and a few white chocolate chips thrown in.

8 am:  Ashton is home sick from school for a second day in a row.  Mike decides to stay home with him and work from home.

10 am:  Ava has a modeling shoot today for a portrait studio.  Very fast and fun.  She met a new friend ;)

11:30 am:  The shoot is out by IKEA, so we decide to "run in".  You know what that means in IKEA!  We also eat lunch here.  Swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes.  Yum!

2:00 pm:  I'm home and since Mike is there I squeeze in some exercise.  I'm doing this right now.

3:45 pm:  I want to paint.  I'm working on this bench for our entrance way whenever I get a chance.  I only get about 15 minutes, but that's okay.

4:00 pm:  I go in the kitchen to start dinner and realize I haven't had any veggies today.  I drink a glass of this.  Until I buy a real juicer, I drink this.  It's actually delicious.

5:00 pm:  Logan comes in after fishing.  If he gets his homework done early enough and he doesn't have baseball, you will find him fishing.

6:00 pm:  Dinner.  Leftovers of chicken parmesan.  I throw mine in a salad with romaine, spinach, and half of an avacadoe.

7:00 pm:  Time for bed.  We read stories.  Jackson is showing me how his pre-school teacher taught him to wiggle his nose.

After everyone's in bed, I clean up the kitchen, lay out school clothes and backpacks, read for about an hour, and I think I was asleep by 9 pm!

Here's to another blessed day!  :)

Morning Devotionals (and a tiny DIY project)

I like to spend some time in the morning doing devotionals.
If I'm taking a bible study class, that is usually when I do my "homework".
Otherwise, I usually just say a prayer and then go on with my day.
I've wanted to really spend more intentional time in the morning with God, but I just didn't know how to.

Enter this book, Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young.  A sweet and dear friend gifted it to me a couple of months ago, and it is changing my life!

Have you ever picked up a book and felt like it was written just for you?  This is the book for me.
It is a daily devotional.  I read it in the morning, and then I journal about what has spoken to me.  It pertains so much to the path I am on right now.  Like so many of you, my blogging friends, who want to know what God wants us to do now...I have a hard time knowing what I think I should be doing, and what God wants me to do.  This book is giving me peace as I follow His path, as I give him my Heart and say, "Do with me what you will"...

Here is an excerpt from January 1st...

"Come to me with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed.  A close walk with Me is a life of continual newness.  Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year.  Instead, seek My Face with an open mind, knowing that your journey with Me involves being transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

It is a beautiful book and I highly recommend it!

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And so I have a teeny tiny very easy DIY project to share with you as well.

I love the Yankee Candles that they sell at Target.

The label peels off very easily and you then you have a clean glass container.

I simply printed off one of my favorite scriptures, cut it out, and then put it on the glass candle with contact paper.  It literally took less than 5 minutes.  I'm thinking this would be a great gift, with maybe a fabric flower or something else cute to embellish it.

I'm linking up here today:)

Craft Nerd and Proud of It!

I didn't mean to be gone for so long from this space, but a certain quietness has entered and I'm going with it.
I have been very intentional about taking good care of myself...doing my devotionals in the early morning, eating well, drinking lots of water, making healthy food to eat, spending time outside in the sunshine, even exercising!  It has taken me away from the computer quite a bit, but that's okay!

I painted this fun little piece last week too...
Craft Nerd and Proud of It!  ;)
I have fallen in love again with my watercolors!

You can order an 8 x 10 copy right here if you'd like :)

Do any of you do the Word of the Year?
I've never chosen one before, but I'm thinking I have one for now.
I am learning to simplify and prioritize again, and lean into God for some healing.

So for now, my little word is "Quiet".
It's been a good thing.

Have a blessed weekend friends and I'll see you next week!
xoxox

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
I've got two new prints to share with you...the first two prints for my 2012 collection!
I've been having so much fun making new art over the last few weeks, and I can't wait to show you more!
(please note that copyright watermark will not appear on purchased prints:)

 You Have Permission to be Awesome, available here

You Are Blessed, available here

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We had a really fun night on New Years Eve.

We set up our fire pit in the back yard and roasted marshmallows, did some small fireworks, and played charades.  It was a great way to end 2011, just with our little family ;)

I hope you've had a lovely start to the New Year.
It's of popular belief that it's going to be a great one!