'Coasters and Cake

Day 18:  My son had a teacher's workday today, so I took my boy to Kings Dominion to celebrate-just the two of us since his Dad was at work. It was a lot of fun since we both love thrill rides, and it was really nice to have that "mom" time. Now that he's getting older, those times seem to be less frequent.

So my doodle today was inspired by hanging with my boy on his birthday.  (Again, I will note that I'm not very good at doodling people, and even less so with colored pencils.  But, I figure I'll eventually figure it out. In the meantime, you can giggle over it.) I thank God for days like today, when I have the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful gift of my son.  

Please, God, bless!

"Now Samuel was ministering in the LORD’s presence, as a boy wearing a linen ephod. His mother would make a small robe for him, and she would bring it each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice." 1 Sam 2:18-19 ISV

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

A Cabin in the Woods

Day 17:  Some days it's too easy to get bogged down.  I can feel the stress in my clenched jaw and tightened shoulders.  Tons of emails, a house to clean, things to put away, bills to pay.  The news is outrageous-always horrid, traffic is a nightmare...

Sometimes I close my eyes, and just pray for that sense of peace which so easily gets lost in a pile of mail, kids toys, or folded clothes.

Thankfully, God is always there, ready to pull me from the frenzy, and take me on a mental walk in a peaceful place.   The question is, will I drop what I'm doing and go with Him?

Please, God, bless!

"I want a walk in the country, I want a cabin in the woods."  Ps 55:7-8 MSG

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

The Serious Cow

The Serious Cow--for Laura

Day 16:  Probably my most ridiculous doodle to date.  My pal Laura and I were chatting at work. Something about how crazy things are.  As we talked about the ridiculous, she gestured towards my Chick-fil-a cow fan, and said, "You should draw a cow--and make him serious."  Giggle!

So, I did...I drew a serious cow.

Sometimes we need a bit of the ridiculous to focus our perspective. I suppose that is what the verse in Isaiah is supposed to do.  Normally bears will attack and eat a cow. Here God gives us another preview of his awesomeness.  Of course, I can only imagine how this went!

Bear:  "Cow, this is a lovely dinner party!"  
Cow:  "Thank you!  Some more grass for you, Bear?"  
Bear:  "Oh no, Cow, thank you.  I'm quite full.  Goodness, will you look at our crazy kids playing together!"  
Cow:  "So sweet!  Besties!"

I pray you have a lighthearted moment in your day!

Please, God, bless!

"The cow and the bear will graze,  and their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox."  Is 11:7

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Bridge the Gap

Day 15:  Today I witnessed an interesting discussion.  I was in a meeting where two different groups were trying to come to resolution on something.  Each side was correct in what they were saying, however, they didn't address the other's concerns.  In fact, it was almost like two disparate conversations that happened to be in the same room at the same time.

As the discourse continued, people began to get frustrated.  One person even suggested they get a mediator to help determine the correct course of action-someone to bridge the gap.

There are many times when I feel like I am so far from where God wants me to be-that the gap between me and Him is too great. Thank God I have a mediator to bridge that gap!

Please, God, bless!

"There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and human beings—a human, the Messiah Jesus." 1 Ti 2:5 ISV

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

S-L-O-W Down with Tea

Day 14:  Don't be surprised if you see several tea drawings over the year.  In fact, when I doodle I usually have a cup of tea.

Tea is one of my very favorite things-its warm, tasty, comforting...kind of like an internal hug!

One of the things I love about tea is that it makes you s-l-o-w down.  I'm not talking about tea in a thermos, but tea in a mug.  The kind that warms your hands, and because its hot you can't guzzle it.  Everything is so hurried these days.  Its wonderful to sit with a cup of tea, and just enjoy the moment.  Maybe reflect a little.  Be content!

Please, God, bless!

"With food to eat and clothes to wear; content we are in everything." 1 Ti 6:8 ISV

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Our Girl

Day 13:  Today's doodle is in honor of my daughter, Analiese Danae.  She would have been 13 today, had she not been called Home.  Analiese died from bacterial meningitis at 14 months old.

I admit, I'm not very good at people drawings...kind of hard to take artistic liberties or they just look weird.  But, my heart was there.

After all of this time has past, I thought I would share from our experience:

• Love your children, your spouse, and your family and never take them for granted.  
• Everyone goes Home when it is the right time.  We obviously won't like it, the circumstances may be unfair.  But our days are numbered and we go home right when we are called by the One who made us.
• It does get easier over time.  Our daughter is never far from our thoughts, but we know where our Hope lies and we have every expectation of seeing her again.  
• You have a choice every day...you can stay in bed and wallow or you can get up and live the life God gave you--choose the latter!
• Sometimes you will feel like you're doing ok, and than it will hit you when you least expect it; Hang in there--you'll make it.  
• Life really is short.  Do the things you enjoy with the ones you love.  Experience things, make some memories.  They are more precious than anything money can buy. 
• Pray, pray, pray, against anger.  It will only make you bitter and ruined.  

Here is an excerpt of the letter Danny and I wrote for her memorial service.  I can say God has answered our prayers, and for those going through similar circumstances, I pray the same for you.  

When we close our eyes, we don’t see what might have been.  We see that beautiful girl with big rosy cheeks…the brown hair with just twinge of red. We see her little outie belly button. We see the little ringlets in her hair.  We see those long eyelashes that made all the other ladies jealous, and those big blue eyes with just a little green.  We see our perfect little girl with 10 fingers and 10 toes, up in heaven driving the Lord Jesus crazy—pulling stars off their shelves, playing ball with little puffs of clouds, maybe even splashing the waves into the oceans as she did in the bathtub!

Thank you for your prayers, because he has heard them.  Each day gets a little bit easier as long as we lean on each other and we lean on Him.  Please continue to pray for us, as this holiday season will be difficult for us, and know that we are in God’s hands—all of us.

"This is what the LORD says: 'Restrain your voice from crying, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work,' declares the LORD. 'They’ll return from the enemy’s land. There is hope for your future,' declares the LORD. 'Your children will return to their own territory.' "  Jer 31:16-17

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Too Much Stuff!

Day 12: So what does a Christmas tree, a pool pump, an avocado slicer and a party dress have in common?  They are all excess STUFF that I was getting rid of at the yard sale.

Yard sales are interesting.  There are those who show up early, forcing themselves in before the gates open.  There are others who think a 90% discount on something just isn't enough and try to barter from $3 to $2 for a $30 item never used.  But what is more ridiculous is how much I accumulated over the course of time!  Where did it come from?  I'm ALWAYS purging stuff, and its like it multiplies!

I suppose it really isn't that hard to figure out--impulse buys, well-meant gifts, thinking I NEED something when I don't. I was looking through a catalog I got in the mail today...glossy pictures tout things that will make your life easier, make you prettier, make you thinner, make you laugh, make your house look better, make you more comfortable and relaxed. Its easy to think you have to have it--for most things.   I have to ask...why would they sell a tote bag with a pair of cozy socks? How does that make sense?

The reality is, I don't really need all this stuff.  It is actually kind of embarrassing that after the yard sale I STILL had ~20 bags of stuff that we donated--and that doesn't include the ton of stuff we put in the free pile, and curb alert!  I obviously need to make a concerted effort to prevent the excess.

Please, God, bless!

"Whoever loves money will never have enough money. Whoever loves luxury will not be content with abundance. This also is pointless. When possessions increase, so does the number of consumers; therefore what good are they to their owners, except to look at them?"  Ec 5:10–11

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.  

Eat Those Words!

Day 11: Today my day was insane. The community yard sale is tomorrow and the only time we had all week to get ready was today. That meant not only getting all of the stuff out of the house, but we had to go into the attic to make sure we got everything.  As we were going through boxes, we came across a cardboard box in really bad shape labeled "Letters".  This box had all of the letters I had sent Danny the 10 months we were on different continents.  Awwwwww.....

One problem.  A mouse had decided to make a den out of our box of letters, and proceeded to nibble on some of them.  I guess he had his fill, because he was long gone.  It made me think of Ezekiel, when he was told to eat the scroll.  I suppose sometimes, words can be tasty.  Maybe Mr. Mouse is onto something...

"Then he told me, “Son of Man, fill your stomach and digest this scroll that I’m giving you.” So I ate it, and it was like sweet honey in my mouth". Eze 3:3 ISV

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.  

Marvelously Made!

Day 10:  There is nothing more awe-inspiring than holding a baby.  All babies are wonderfully made.  Such tiny little noses and toeses!

This is my quick doodle of my friend Sheri's twins.  Aren't they sweet? Just holding these precious children, my heart just abounds for love and admiration of the God who made them.  Children are such a gift!  Even as they get older, more opinionated, and much more snarky, they are wonderful, unique creations, knit together in a marvelous way.

Please, God, bless!

" Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day." Ps 139:13–16 MSG

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.  

YES! I Celebrate Halloween!

Day 9:  So, I'm kind of cheating today.  This quickie doodle is new, but the post is my annual soap box on Halloween.  Its long, but, hey, its my soap box speech!  Enjoy!

******************

Fall is my favorite time of year. As a redhead, I'm supposed to dress like mulch, so the colors of Fall suit me well. I love the crisp air, the smell of apples, football, and of course, Halloween. What, you ask?!?! Halloween? Its an evil demonic holiday, I'm told; its celebrating things of Satan; its dangerous; its pagan; and on, and on, and on...... Oh, but if we all dress as Bible Characters and throw a party at church it makes it okay? PUH-LEASE! Quite frankly, I think Christian's have really missed the boat when it comes to this holiday. Huh? Before anyone gets overly insulted, let me explain.

The origins of Halloween truly are pagan. The Celts believed at this time of year the dead returned to visit their homes. They would light fires and sometimes wear masks or disguises so as to not be recognized by the travelling ghosts. The Roman invasion came and as a result added their own twist, celebrating Feralia, the festival of the dead, and Pomona the goddess of the harvest. As with every other pagan holiday, we Christians supplanted them with a "Christian" event to offset the temptation to succumb to the evil festivities. That is why Christmas is in December (The Roman festival of Saturnalia), and Easter is in the Spring (the fertility festival). These fall celebrations became All Hallows Day, or All Saints Day. The evening before became holy, thus All Hallows Eve. After the reformation, the holy day was not widely celebrated, and even banned among colonists. But when the European immigrants came, they brought their customs and traditions, and Halloween became a favorite holiday, particularly among children. Why? Because of the treats, of course (which, by the way, stems from the British poor going door to door begging for food).

So, why the history lesson? I think it is important to understand that Halloween (and most other major holidays), though pagan in origin, has morphed and changed as time has marched on. I believe that just as it has before, Halloween can be changed into a powerful holiday that Christian's can enjoy and celebrate for God's glory! I'm not talking about holing up in our churches, going to shopping malls, dressing up as Moses or Jonah, or turning up our noses and turning off our lights. If there is one thing that is unique about Halloween, it is the fact that it is the only holiday that your neighbors expect you to knock on their door. To me, this is HUGE!

We are called to GO into the world, not to COME inside and ignore the world. Jesus was always walking into the midst of the world, eating with sinners and tax collectors, going where the "holy" people thought he shouldn't. Why on earth wouldn't we take this opportunity to follow his example? Get our of your house! Meet your neighbors! Form a community and claim it in His Name!

But Chrissy, you say, the commercial focus on Halloween is ghosts, goblins, and witches! So? That doesn't mean I have to focus on that too--well, unless I'm casting them out in the name of Jesus! I choose to focus on the Lord! I decorate my home with the things God gave us--pumpkins, cats, colorful leaves, and things of that nature. It looks festive, yet not icky. I encourage my son to dress up--I love the fact that kids can use their imagination to be whatever they want to be! I don't allow horror costumes because aspiring or imagining you are a witch or zombie, I feel, is not pleasing to God. But I'm certain He delights and smiles at little ones roaring like dragons in awe of a creature God could have made; saving the world as superheros by the power God gave them; pretending to be a doctor or pilot with skills from the Lord; sashaying as the beautiful princesses God made them to be; or being brave knights, showing the courage God gave them in the face of danger.

Oh Brothers and Sisters, wouldn't it be just like God to use a holiday so focused on and abused by the enemy for HIS ULTIMATE GLORY? I LOVE when God does that! Lets not miss the opportunity we have in this holiday! Let's be a light to our neighborhoods! Form relationships so people will get to know you and ask you what makes you so different! Take advantage of the fact that your neighbors are waiting for that knock on the door! Take back this holiday for the King of Kings!

If you are up to this challenge, I have a few ideas outlined below to help you in this quest!

* Focus on the Lord--Pray over this Halloween, your neighborhood, the children; relate your decorating and costumes to the great things of God. Talk to your kids about why you don't like the creepy things. Let them know that God gave us this holiday to use our imaginations and to meet/say hello to our neighbors.

* Take advantage of the fact that your neighbors are expecting you--Take your kids trick-or-treating yourself! Don't stand at the street and watch your kids run to the door. Walk up there with them, greet your neighbors and introduce yourself if you don't know them. Chat for a minute before you leave, and always smile!

* Give out good candy--As a child, I always went to the houses I knew that had the best candy! I wasn't interested in Bible tracts or Jesus pencils, and I'm sure most kids today agree with me. Let your life and kindness send the message...not a pamphlet.

* Have a Halloween party--do a festival of games on your front lawn, like a bean bag toss, or the duck pond for little ones. Have prizes--and of course GOOD CANDY. We have a Hallow-Weenie Roast each year and roast hot dogs, have some beer (for adults), soda, and hot chocolate available.  The neighborhood (and not so neighborhood) kids are regulars and look forward to it every year.  The local teens come back over and over with different friends each time...one group of kids even went and brought back their parents!

* Don't snub--if a parent allowed their little one to dress up as the devil, don't start chastising them or the child. Instead tell them what a beautiful little boy God gave them, and chat with them as you would with anyone else. You can pray over them as you're talking and later on! Remember, YOU MAY BE THE ONLY BIBLE SOME PEOPLE EVER READ! Let them see God's Love in you!

* Plan an event in your neighborhood--Talk to your neighbors. Maybe you can work a block party. Send flyers out encouraging people to trick-or-treat. Have a secret prize at one of the houses. Whatever you do, do it in YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! Hmmmm...moon bounces aren't too expensive to rent......

* Have Fun! Halloween was always so much fun as kid. I have great memories of dressing up  (I STILL dress up as an adult!), surprising my neighbors with my costume, and of course, the reward of treats at the end.

So, won't you join me in this quest? Lets pass a tradition of joy and community, praise and glory on this holiday. Let's claim Halloween for God's Glory. He is able--we should be willing!

God bless you this day, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Please, God, bless!

"Therefore, as you GO, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age.”  Matt 28:19-20  ISV

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.