"I'm not creative"

“I’m not very creative” doesn’t work. There’s no such thing as creative people and non-creative people. There are only people who use their creativity and people who don’t. Unused creativity doesn’t just disappear. It lives within us until it’s expressed, neglected to death, or suffocated by resentment and fear." Brene Brown

What a powerful statement. I so agree with it. I had my creative soul in a coma for so long and I don't ever want to do that again.  I also want to inspire those around me to exercise their creative soul too. Creativity doesn't just show itself in the form of paint or pencil, it can show itself in music, dance, cooking and sewing just to name a few.  I think God is showing me that he made us all to create in some way or another and who am I to say "I can't or I'm not creative"? 

So how are you creative?  Might there be some hidden creative soul dust bunny wanting to be let out?  How can your creativity be a voice of hope to a dying world?  Just some questions to think about, now I gotta go answer some of those questions myself.

xoxoxo,
lanie

This is my newest project that I have done. This is from a photo of the Bug from a few years ago. I never knew I could do some of the things that I have been doing lately.  God is doing some major healing in my life and I couldn't be more grateful. 

Her Daddy uses nature to tell her he loves her

Her Daddy uses nature to tell her he loves her a photo by findingmyheARTagain on Flickr.

I have been taking an online art class with She Art and Iam loving it. This is my second weeks assignment that I did. The skirt on the girl is crinkle paper and adds a great texture to her. If I could figure out how to add the badge for She Art I so would but I can't figure it. (hey Babe, maybe you could figure it out for me, pretty please)

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. :)