ART - Not Something I Do - It's Part of Who I Am

Art has always been part of me. Inside I have a desire...even a need....to create. Through the years my creative bent has manifested itself in a variety of ways. From writing, to cake decorating, to interior design, I find great pleasure in the process as much as the completion of a project. Now that I find myself an "empty-nester," I am focusing on teaching myself to paint. I want to paint on everything. I've done a few oil paintings....about thirty years ago...but I am finally back to it. The photo of the camp at Rock Lake is my most recent endeavor. I know I have a long way to go...but for a beginnner, I am pleased with the results. My work never really seems to be finished but at some point I just have to put down my brush. As it hangs in my foyer, every time I enter my front door is another opportunity to critique my work. I see many things that still need to be added, or changed. Each critique adds to the list of mental notes I will use when I approach the canvas the next time. Each piece is a new opportunity to learn and improve my technique. When I paint I am immersed in the experience and I find it both exhiliarating and relaxing. I will be posting new works as I complete them. Although the photo representation is poor at best, feel free to comment about the artwork, I would love to hear what you have to say.

Showers of Blessing

This weekend we hosted a baby shower for my daughter, Meredith. A mixture of her friends from high school, her husband's family members and a few of my friends gathered to congratulate her and wish her well with becoming a brand-new mom. The event went very well with all the expected games (like cutting string to the length that we guessed would just fit around her pregnant belly), dainty treats, and a cake fashioned into a baby-carriage creation. Amidst the chatter of women excited about the expected arrival of a new little baby, I stood in awe of my "baby"....now a woman. Her path to this point in her life has be well planned and carefully chosen (with much prayer). Meredith is more excited about becoming a mom than, perhaps, anyone I've ever known. Still, I am left wondering, "how did we get here?" More accurately, "how did we get here SO FAST!?" Wasn't it just yesterday that it was me opening all those onesies, blankets, and baby booties?? What happened to that little girl who brought such joy into all of our lives? All the memories come back like an avalanche that causes me to choke back the tears. Tears of joy, most definitely, but not without a small sense of loss. Oh...things are just as they should be, and I know we are so very blessed...but, still, my little girl will never sit on my lap for a story or scare me by running full speed to the edge of a cliff (whew...that's a good thing!) My lap is waiting for her little girl now. It will be a wonderful thing to watch Meredith as she grows into this new role of being a mom....one she will, no doubt, grasp enthusiastically. Watching my new granddaughter grow up will be a whole new delight. So the small sense of loss is actually a huge gain.....and this whole baby shower thing is a pretty good picture....of the showers...of blessing.