Bloom where you are

Today on my way to take Ron, my oldest boy, to work I saw something that I wish I had stopped and taken a picture of.  We are blessed enough to live somewhat out in the country. You can't go any where with out seeing some kind of cow, horse, pasture or any kind of wild life for that matter.

Ok, back to what I saw.  I saw the most beautiful bunch of daffodils. One of the first signs of Spring is the daffodils begin to bloom their beautiful yellow foliage. This bunch of daffodils were vibrant, healthy and if they had emotions I think they would say they were happy.  What amazed me was that these daffodils were the only bunch in a large pasture of cows.  A pasture full of cow dung and yet they were so beautiful.  It was such a picture reminder from my Daddy as if to say....bloom where you are planted little one-I love you and will provide every thing you need to be the beautiful bloom that I have planned for you.  Life may not always seem like a bed of roses it might even seem a little like a pasture of cow dung but I still have the choice to bloom where I am planted. Today, I am not a potted plant, I am a wild blooming daffodil.

Who am I?

I am a child of God.........................John 1:12
I am Christ's friend..........................John 15:15
I am a new creation.........................2 Cor 5:17
I am a saint......................................Eph.1:1
I am righteous and holy....................2 Cor 5:21
I am God's workmanship.................Eph 2:10
I am a member of a holy race
a royal priesthood
A people for Gods own...................1 Peter 2:9
His little girl and LOVED

Perfection vs. Pursuit of excellence

  "Enjoy the process...you mean puberty?" Quote from my son.  No, I don't mean puberty but for a 16 year old boy that might be applicable.  What I am learning is to enjoy the process in general, whether it is my process towards being like Christ or my art.  Oddly enough, until I learned what perfectionism was I didn't think I was a perfectionist and if I did I didn't think it was a bad thing.  That was until I learned the difference between perfectionism and a healthy pursuit of excellence.  (the following is a loose interpretation from "The Feeling Good Handbook" by David D. Burns)
With perfectionism:

1. I fear failure
2. I am never satisfied
3. Nothing is good enough
4. I find my value in what I do and how well I do it (which I never do good enough so therefore I am never good enough)
5. My acceptance by others is based on conditions.  I must do this and that and do it well to be accepted by others
6. I must be strong and not express my feelings or be vulnerable.  If people really knew the real me they wouldn't like me

A healthy pursuit of excellence is:

1. Being motivated by  enthusiasm and excitement in the process.  Finding the creative process exhilarating.
2. The effort in the project brings satisfaction and a sense of satisfaction even if it isn't the "greatest" (of course "greatest" as defined by me"
3. You enjoy a sense of unconditional self esteem, or you trust the truths of God who truly defines your self worth wrapped up in who he is. 
4. Not being afraid to fail.  Everyone isn't successful all the time. A failure is just an opportunity for growth and learning. 
5. You're not afraid of being vulnerable or sharing your feelings with people you care about. This makes you feel closer to them. 
6. The pursuit of excellence includes learning to enjoy the process, which inevitably leads to the surprise outcomes along the way that perfectionism never allows to be enjoyed.

I have a ways to go,but I am tired of not enjoying life and I think some of that has to do with my perspective that everything I do must be perfect, like I am God or something.  The above painting was a major eye opener for me.  I found myself getting so upset because it wasn't looking perfect, again as defined by me.  Instead of finding the joy in the creative process I was frustrated and ready to quit painting all together.  It really isn't about the outcome it really is about how I get there.  I am not successful because my painting resembles a girl I am successful because I created, I was close to my creator while doing it, I learned that I don't want to be a perfectionist and pursuing excellence is way more enjoyable. I AM GOING TO ENJOY THE PROCESS

Dear sickies please go away

It seems like there has been some one in our family sick or hurt since the beginning of December. I am so ready for all of us to be well. Spring is starting to flirt with us and I am ready to enjoy every minute I can with her and I want my favorite people to enjoy it with me. Calgon take me away. :) 

Journal entries ispired from messages heard at my church.

After the horrible experience from our last church finding a church like Mosaic has been a true blessing. The following were all birthed from messages from Mosaic.  It was actually one of Naeem's that got me thinking about picking up my art again.  Thanks Naeem.

This was the painting that came from THE message that got me thinking I should start painting again. It says "My name is written on the palms of His hands!  The very same hands that created the universe, holds each star and knows them by name.  The same hands that formed me. The same hands that broke bread and provided for multitudes, brought sight to the blind and held the face of a woman full of shame.  The same hands that hold each tear I shed.  The very same scarred hands that say "Oh how I love you"

Press On

Relationships

Thrive

Church

Some of my journal entries so far.

 Bloom again was done during a snow day we had.

Simple childlike faith

I am chosen and dearly loved

 I am chosen and dearly loved was done for an e-course I am taking over at Willowing  Tam's heart is so giving, gentle and full of sincere love for others.  I love to listen to her as much as I do watching and learning from her. OMG, I just realized that dearly is missing its "r".  hmmm...now the question is whether I leave it like that or change it?

This is the cover of my journal.  It says "A visual conversation with my Abba"

Pick me!!!

This piece is homework I did for my counselor. I found it easier to do in the form of art than writing or telling her. 

Art journal LOVE

Connie from  Dirty Footprints Studio is the reason I finally took the plunge to dear blog ville.  I have been hemming and hawing the idea but was simple too chicken to do it.  That was until I saw her contest for her Art Journal Love Day party.  Being one who loves parties, art journals and giveaways, I decided now was the time to start so here I am.  Thanks Connie ( I am acting as if she reads my blog and we are bffs-indulge me)

The sad thing is I am so new to this whole blog thing I am not too sure how to give her the proper credit.  Hopefully, the link and picture show up on the actual blog post, we shall see. :)



Dirty Footprints Studio

This is the one I have entered as part of the challenge/contest.  I need to get better at taking pictures.  In time my friends in time.

I really hope I win the contest there are so many amazing art teachers offering their e-courses.  I am drooling at the thought of taking one of them.  Keep your fingers crossed everyone.

Finding my heART again

I can't even begin to express the joy and healing that I have discovered since picking up my art again.  It has been 20 years since I have done any real art and I didn't even realize how much I had missed it.  I am loving what I am discovering about myself and about God.  Many of my pieces are from pictures I get while spending time with my Daddy. I am going to give the whole blog thing a try so I can journal my journey.  Since painting again I have found myself dreaming again.  This blog might  just be here for my personal benefit but I am sharing it anyway.  I do pray that it will be encouraging and maybe even encourage you too to find your heART again.