Girl Show Pictures

It was great to meet so many amazing local artists, designers, and musicians!

My table- jewelry, art, prints, cards, hope jars, personalized gift boxes, and the Alice in Wonderland diorama. Let me know if you want to buy something- I have plenty left!

Some new abstract pieces on the top left

New collage on bottom, and art print "More Than Our Parts"

Personalized hope jars and gift boxes for sale

The creating process

Each hope jar is filled with 365 encouraging quotes & Scripture, one for every day

My happy helper survived with no injuries :) It was an incredible show!

Girl Show 2010

If you're in the Dallas area this weekend, stop by ArtLoveMagic's annual Girl Show from 8pm- midnight. Amazing local artists, musicians, dancers, fashion and jewelry designers and more- all women! Tickets are just $10 per night, or you can get a $15 pass for both nights (and it includes goodies). Stop by my art table on Friday night and say hi!

70's Birthday Party

I just celebrated my 31st birthday last month. We decided to have the party at our house, in part because it would force us to finish remodeling and cleaning (the 5 year ongoing project). It was really busy, but we finished it right in time.

Ted decided to throw me a 70's themed party, and to do it in stages. The first stage was at our house. We had snacks and hung out, enjoying the ridiculous costumes everyone wore.

I usually avoid parties- especially costume parties- but since it was my party, I had to dress up and be nice. :)

For the second stage, we went to the skating rink. It was surreal. I used to go every weekend as a middle schooler, and apparently they all still do. There were tons of kids, all trying to be cool and clever. The drama factor was intense. So there we were- grownups in 70's style, trying not to fall on the kids as we skated.

One of my friends wore a huge afro wig, short shorts, and knee high socks. The kids crowded around him in their skates. That wig actually made the rounds that night on several people.

But we had so much fun trying to remember how to skate. It was special for me to hold hands with my sweetie in the same rink we had first held hands and skated in 18 years earlier. Now, we held our kids' hands as they slipped around the rink.

After skating, we went back to our house for a house concert. I'm constantly amazed by my friends' musical talents. Ted had made the backyard really special with Christmas lights hung around a "stage" area.

Meredith & Nathan (my sis and bro-in-law) played first. They are without a doubt the most talented musicians I know. His guitar skills are unmatched, and her voice is pure but strong. Every song is unique and stays with you for days. Right now they're putting a demo together, which I can't wait to hear.

Next up was Mimo, with more of a folksy sound. I could listen to him sing all day, and his lyrics are clever and inspiring, often piercingly challenging and raw. Then Gina sang some originals, and I was so proud since it was only the second time she's done it in front of everyone. Her songs reflect her passionate nature, which I loved. Then Ted played his song, which is amazing, but it was hard to take him seriously with his crazy mustache and sideburns. Even my friend Kelly played an intricate guitar piece she'd written.

We finally said goodnight to everyone after 1:30 am or so. The concert was magical, with the music and twinkling lights shining in the darkness outside. I felt very loved and amazed at God's blessing- to be surrounded by wonderful family and friends.

Summer Fun-tivities!

Summer is officially on full-blast in Texas! It's crazy hot and muggy outside as early as 7 am. So with 3 kids at home, inside activities are the best way to go.

I've decided to be really intentional with my time over the summer with the kids. To see this as an excellent opportunity for investing into their lives. I love them to pieces, but we all need structure in order to survive the long days with each other.

So I'm kind of approaching this as my summer teaching job. I created a daily schedule, a weekly menu (even listing snacks), and weekly activities, crafts, and lessons (Bible stories and character development). Each week we have two major outings, and we have something special to do every day- whether it's just fingerpainting or making a tent in the living room.

I found a lot of resources online, and from a book called The Preschooler's Busy Book by Trish Kuffner. Our local libraries and malls have lots of activities just for the summer, and even the movie theaters have special discount days. If you have other suggestions, leave me a comment- I would love more ideas!

Hopefully, we will have a blast this summer making memories for years to come. And... we won't kill each other. That's the other goal. :)

Volunteering at Juvenile Detention

Last week was my first time in the Juvenile Detention Center. I've always been a "good girl" (I hate getting in trouble), so I was nervous to be around teenagers with a different outlook. But I'd gotten my fingerprints taken, my photo ID, and attended the volunteer training, so I wasn't about to back out now. Plus, I'd survived 5 years of working at a charter school with several ankle-monitored kids in attendance. It couldn't be that bad, right?

I'm volunteering with my friends from Alert (the same group who ministers to sexually exploited women at brothels and strip clubs). We realize that many of the girls in juve have been sexually exploited already, and have been involved with prostitution, drugs, or criminal behavior. Our goal is to connect with these girls and introduce them to a loving God. To teach them life skills and pray with them, if they want.

The girls walked in the room, hands behind their orange shirts, escorted by the female security guards on duty. It was a typical group of teenagers- some were smiling and talkative, others were silent, and a few had scowls on their faces, with a don't-mess-with-me look in their eyes. They sat in a circle and talked about how their week was. They remembered the previous week's lesson on assertiveness vs. aggression, a good start. Then we told them the day's topic- mother daughter relationships.

We split them into small groups and had them work on a collage. They were to put images or words that described their relationship with their moms or mother figures. Some girls immediately began flipping through magazines and ripping out pictures, while others needed a lot of explanation and had trouble getting started. I walked around the room, encouraging their efforts and asking questions about the words and images they selected.

One girl had been silent the entire time, refusing to comment on her week. For the activity, she pulled a chair to a corner of the room, facing away from everyone except one of the security guards. At first, I didn't think she would participate at all, but I watched her begin to draw. Then she asked for a magazine and glue. She finished quickly, then put her head down.

I cautiously approached and asked if I could see her collage. On the front, she had drawn a picture of her shooting her mother, with the words "pay back is here" and "I got revenge." She had drawn a broken heart on the side, and the bottom said "I still love you!" On the back of the paper were two smiling faces- one woman, one girl. She had written "when we were happy" and "we were both clean."

The girl silently wiped tears from her eyes as I handed her collage back. I told her that sometimes art was a great way to express things we can't talk about. And I left it at that. Although she didn't say a word the rest of the time, she let me take a picture of her work.

On my way home, I realized that she was the reason I wanted to help people. There are so many out there who are hurting and desperate and lost. They don't want to be talked down to or preached at, they want someone to listen. To care. To cry with them, and offer hope that things can change. I realized that even though I have so many issues myself, I can still help. When I see girls like her, my heart is filled to overflowing with love and concern. And I realize that I can still make a difference, one person at a time.

Be Still

Though cares and needs throb around you like a sea

Be still, and hear what God will say to thee

O rest, in utter quietude of soul,

Abandon words, leave prayer and praise awhile;

Let your whole being, hushed in His control,

Learn the full meaning of His voice and smile

But with your Father as a child sit down,

And know the bliss that follows His 'Be Still!'

(from Streams in the Desert)


No matter what is going on in your life, God whispers to your heart- "Be still, and know that I am God." (Ps. 46:10) May His peace wash over you today!

Hidden

An amazing tree from Holmsted Manor in England

I was feeling nostalgic, so I pulled out an old journal and landed on a page from 3 years ago. But it strangely fit with where I am today.

I started a new book called "Anonymous" by Alicia Britt Chole. It's exactly what I need to be reading right now. And I'm struck with thankfulness that God always provides books and conversations to me that help me process and grow. Because it's so potent and needed, I'm reading it slowly. I read the introduction- just three pages- about 5 times. I know it really needs to sink in.

It's about being hidden, those "unfruitful" times of silence and winter, the gap between our dreams and our reality. So yeah, that's exactly me right now. I'm trying to really drink it in, that God doesn't waste my time. That each day is a gift. I have to stop living in the future. Today's uneventful reality is just as important. I can do things differently and change my perspective today. I don't want to live with regrets.

God, please keep teaching me, pushing and challenging me. Help me be content and stop trying to rush where we're going. Help me find rest in these hidden years, before the "fruitfulness." It's not wasted and I'm not a failure just because I'm not living in my fullest potential. I am just Yours and I want to use this time wisely. I want to get closer to You each moment I'm here, before we start to move again.

I had no idea that the "hiddenness" would last this long- over 3 years so far. I've learned a lot, grown a lot. Not outwardly with success or fruit, but deep roots grounded in faith. I still struggle with restlessness, self-worth, impatience at the pace I'm traveling. But I trust the One leading me. I look outside and see the evidence of spring everywhere, and I can't help but feel hopeful. Maybe it won't be much longer now...