Nobody tells people who are beginners...

Inspiration... comes in every way you can imagine.  Thank you David Shiyang Liu for making this little vid not just for storytellers.

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”
― Ira Glass

Now get to work!

So much good

I am catching my breath.  So much good in my world is a God gift. I am finding ways to mark major events.  My girlfriend was teaching me how God uses the pop of yellow in nature to give a burst of delight and how artists use this as well.  Here's my pop of light for my life changing marker.  Yellow makes my heart sing but it has to be seen in context.  Too much yellow does not work as well on it's own either.  It needs all the other colours to bounce off of.  Just like life, needs its history to relish and embrace that yellow pop.  Here's the beginning of my yellow life marker. 



Pickle Dish Quilt

 Remember my last marker when my daughter was diagnosed with the big C (albeit - one of the lesser threatening... and here we are looking in to the eyes of her sweet baby girl Little Miss E)  So as not to forget to be thankful and remember who holds the plans.  I am making markers for my eyes to remind my heart that God is present, the pop of colour in my life.


The Colour Run


Speaking of colour.  If I were a runner (I am not) but if I were, I would participate in this!  It's a 5K and making its rounds through the US.  It was held in Seattle a couple of weekends ago.  At each K marker, you get doused with colour and at the end you are wearing the medals of your achievement!  Fun to do with friends. 

And... if you love this kind thing I hear there is a Zombie run making the rounds as well... for the K markers I can only imagine.  They are saying "A zombie infested 5K obstacle course".  The virus is spreading... run for your lives!!!!  <grin>  Toronto's is scheduled for Aug 22nd.  If it was coming to Vancouver, I'd go just to see the fun!

Feast or Famine

So a week ago today was my first day unemployed. Layoffs due to financial constraints which is a sweet relief that it was not for poor performance. There is a profound calm to have to lean on God's everlasting arms when the change is not your own doing. I worked for a church and on this same morning God spoke a verse into the deepest part of my spirit. I am reading the Bible chronologically for the second year in a row and this time around I am asking God to get personal (not let it be just a fact finding expedition).  He knew exactly what would mean billions of words of encouragement to me -- especially on this last day serving my church which I had done for the past 15 years and when tears threatened to draw unwanted attention. The earth is [mine] the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. Ps 24:1.  It was a rush for me hearing, don't worry about the next step, I own it all and there will be a place for you. I know people and I have all the 'stuff' you will need.  How dear and close I feel to Him.  So this past Sunday, just two days ago, to observe a recommended season of rest, I went to a new church alone without my SwtHt who is still working for the church that let me go. It was strange as SwtHt and I have left our house together @ 6:30am for 15 years of Sundays first as volunteers and then as staff (him fulltime and me part-time) loving every minute of belonging.  Now I was heading through church doors on my own probably greeted by another one just like me who got there super early and has been meeting the people of her church for a myriad of years.  I could appreciate every volunteer's gesture of giving and sensed God's joy. True joy is a God essence. I was poured into that morning and ever so grateful for anyone who finds a place to voluteer or work with a church.  Creating such a family atmosphere is worth the time for all the 'me's' that come needing a filling. 

I am vibing off this verse, excited and full of anticipation.  I've seen good days and tough days.  My SwtHt and I are seasoned veterans in following God to places we do not know.  God knew what was in store for me last June fulfilling a simple prayer request when I asked for a distraction to keep my heart set on Him through a tough season by bringing a grandbaby into our family and under our roof.  Bliss arrived by means of a full house and a place to serve my family. So, at her mommy's request, we went out to buy fabric for some classy bibs and I delightedly whipped up a few seeing as I have the time. Filling my mind with creating a pattern and fussing about the fit of course.  My daughter says our sweet little Miss E is styling.  I say, God knows so well what I need.  My heart is fervently grateful for family and babies and yes, churches too.  

Lented

I've been lenting and this week it draws to a close with celebrating.  I rarely observe lent but given the reason is to put things away for the purpose of drawing close to God I want to show Him by my choices that I take drawing close to Him personally.  Being Holy week I watched this part of The Jesus Movie (1999) to remind me how much Jesus loves people, especiallly women with all our unique quirks.  I'm so fond of the Mary's and Martha!  I can learn a thing or two from those girls.



Little Miss E working the arts with me.  Since this pix she's
entered sleep training with her mom.  No more spontaneous
naps in my studio.  To the left... Yup I'm playing with paints. 

 And... this is how Little Miss E and I have progressed during our studio time.  I'm working on something new signifying a new season for me.  Listening for opportunity.  Seeking to be willing and available.  With God as the driver of my subaru outback life, it's always exactly what is needed and exciting.  He brought this little one just when we needed special hugs to fill a season of losses.  Couldn't have been more brilliant in His timing.  I so love it when He gets nose-to-nose personal!

We're doing it!

Image from here

I love coming home.  It doesn't matter where I have been during the day, I cannot get home fast enough.  And, I love it that I have found a way to contribute to something greater than just myself through a simple homestyle initiative.  Love Letters continues to raise funds for a sweet charity for the Dalit Community in India.  We love the idea of micro loans.  Never underestimate the start of little things and what they can do. We just filled another order to add to an overflow donation which now has exceeded what we pledged at the start.  We are excited about new things in the works.  March is marching forward month for us.  The R&D dept is knee deep in possibilities. We are almost at the halfway mark.  I deeply respect measurable and attainable things.

Happy for them

Image from here

Today we learned that our kiddies and little Miss E will be moving 12 hours and 18 minutes away via the Trans-Canada Hwy according to Google maps.  That's 973 kilometers or 612 miles.  They are excited and finally the planning of the next five years of their lives can begin.  They so deserve it after all that schooling!  Hello Calgary, I guess we'll be seeing each other on a regular basis.

A best thing

One of the best things I have done for my spiritual self is read through my Bible chronologically.  I have been told Bible stories since I was a little girl but even now after the first five books I get lost and can't quite figure out who is who when it comes to all those kings and kingdoms and prophets and name changes.  I did it for the first time last year and find I am grasping so much with this method.  I have a special Bible software on my phone and iPad but you can also find the chronological order here.  If you download their calendar for each day you can start at the beginning or if you don't mind picking it up midstrean, have them email you.  It's quite convenient and you do not have to search around for addresses, they do it for you.  I love smart programs!