He is Risen!

This is a page from a Children's book I was commissioned to illustrate last year.  My niece was reference for the overhead angel and buddy Christopher was my reference for the angel who's moving the stone away.  It seemed the perfect thing to post for Easter.

Today I thought about how grateful I am to have a personal relationship with the Son of God, Maker of the World.  I am astonished that the One Who died and was raised from the dead, loves me.  He was victorious over death and is risen for all people, for all time.  The Good Shepherd walks with those who seek Him and love Him -- even to the end of the age.

How amazing to realize because the Lord conquered death itself, I know I will see my Beloved Alan, my two precious babies, our dear friend Dan, my Daddy, my younger brother Dow, Uncle Jody, Grandma and Grandpa, Sweet Geri and Mr. Earnest again...along with so many others who have gone on before me.

Happy Easter dear friends!

Good News of Great Joy! -Paint Party Friday

Here is one of the finished pages of the Children's Book Christmas With Grandma.  It is at the printers and I can hardly wait to see the finished book!

If you would like to purchase a copy, please write to Lorie at larenaleigh@gmail.com. The cost is $15, plus shipping. All proceeds go to help people in Haiti.

May the blessing and hope of Christmas permeate your hearts!  Merry Christmas and Happy Paint Party Friday!

And Glory Shone Round About Them -Paint Party Friday

When I was a child I loved the story of Christmas found in the Bible.  I saw the whole thing as beautiful and romantic.  I didn't really care for St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus much.  He didn't appeal to me as much as the magical story of Mary and Joseph.

I have been working with my Friend Lorie on a children's book entitled Christmas With Grandma for a little over two years.  We've added six new pages.  It is our goal to have it printed and assembled in time for Christmas orders--which means only a few more weeks left to put it together!

This pen and ink drawing illustrates the part of the story where angels appear to shepherds who were watching their sheep by night.  They are announcing the arrival of the newborn Baby sent from God.

I like how the drawing turned out.  I especially love the sheep--there's one little fellow who is SO endearing I wanted to pop him out of my drawing to give him a little cuddle.

And now to put color to all these new pages! Have a wonderful weekend, dear ones, and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Violets and an Angel -Paint Party Friday

This is a doodle from last week.  It was inspired by two different vintage cards from my card collection.  I love violets and angels are a favorite, too, so it seemed logical to bring both ideas together here.

I hope this one makes you smile--it will be fun to ink it in and when I add the color--oh, it will be lovely!

Have a GREAT weekend and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Joy of the Angels

Saturday, December 17th, just before six, I was in the middle of setting up the stage for yesterday's drama.  Suddenly I became so dizzy I had to sit down.  It was the strangest feeling--as though a part of me was suddenly missing. 

Miles away, at the VA hospital, Mom had been holding Dad's hand praying.  Then his fingers gently cradled hers--a moment later he was gone.   He flew away at 5:45--exactly when the dizziness overcame me.  I know Dad tenderly carries a piece of our hearts with him always--we who are left behind grieve, yet we have hope.

I can only imagine the joy of his Shepherd and the angels, as Daddy arrived in that beautiful place prepared just for him.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers over these difficult weeks.  Please continue to hold Mumsie close in your prayers.  She will be walking a different path now--one without her best Friend and lover--as Mummers has always said--he was the wind beneath her wings.  Also, pray for my sweet sissy Clytie, who has always been such a great gift and help to my parents and the twins. Sissy Leigh, who will be helping with all the arrangements and her family, our brother Mark and his family and Darren and his family will all welcome your prayers.

Take time with the ones you love.  Work can wait.  You'll never regret spending those precious moments.  Life is fragile. God bless you--every one of you dears out there--with abundant life, extraordinary love and amazing joy. 

Kissed by Angels - Guest Heart Thursday

Ever been kissed by angels? This fellow certainly was! And such lovely angels they are. Yes, there are quite a few hearts hidden in this drawing--some are VERY small.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

Guardian Angel

Angels are sent to protect people, especially the innocent and vulnerable. I remember when we were kids, my cousins, siblings and I stood together on the road, at the top of the trail to Deer Valley. But when we tried to go down into the woods it was like an invisible wall stood in our way. Every time one of us would decide to head down--a feeling of uneasiness, or fear would stop us like an invisible wall. We finally gave up. We went home and played games in the circle lawn instead.

It is such a vivid memory. To this day I wonder what danger we would have faced if we had gone down into the woods then.

I believe in angels. Our little one came through surgery with flying colors, and all is well. Her sweet mother said she felt the tangible presence of angels as her tiny daughter was wheeled off to surgery.

Angel Warrior

Time for another angel story!

We were on our way back from another performance, traveling over a mountain in our van, trailor in tow. The pastor's son sat in front with Alan, I sat behind with the children next to me.

Suddenly the van began to sway dangerously. At the higher elevation the road beneath us had unexpectedly iced over and we were sliding over the slick mountain road toward a steep cliff. I clutched my children, and heard myself shouting, "God help us!"

Everything went into slow motion. We were in the gravel, slipping inevitably ever so slowly toward the cliff's edge, when something big hit the side of our van with a tremendous thump! The van swerved, its wheels bumping back up onto the pavement, where we skidded to a stop. Time snapped back into focus. For a moment I thought we'd hit a barrior of some sort. But nothing was there. Stunned, we thanked God for His protection.

Alan drove slowly, inching down the icy mountain, finally pulling into the driveway of the pastor's home where we were to spend the night.

The first thing everyone did was to leap out to look at the side of the van where we'd all heard that huge whack. There in the tough road dirt and grease from miles of traveling, we saw the shiny imprint of a mighty shoulder, and a trace of feathery lines.

An angel? We think so. I can just see that giant angel warrior, eyeing our danger, shooting toward our van, colliding into its side with a mighty blow, to blast us back up onto the road, out of harm's way.

Angel Praises

Here you see an angel, face full of praise, rising toward heaven. The smaller photo is the original photograph before cloud painting!

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Speaking of angels, I am so very grateful for the intervention of these amazing beings in our lives. I have some wonderful stories about angels.

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When I was in my early 20's I lived with my grandmother, next door to my parents. One day Dad and Mom asked me to use their car to pick my brothers and sister up from school. On the way home, a tire blew out on the old Lamaze. Narrowly missing a cliff, we landed in the hedge along the edge of an old man's front yard.

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The little old man could not help, but he let us use his phone. However, because Dad and Mom did not own another car besides the one I was driving, no help was to be found. Dad and Mom stopped right then and there to pray that God would send help.

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Meanwhile, my siblings and I were assessing the damage to the tire. Just then a sparkling white tow truck pulled up--no insignia on the side of it. A buff fellow about my age, with long blonde hair and wearing sparkling clean white coveralls, jumped from the tow truck.

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"Looks like you need some help," he said with a grin. Then he hooked our car to his truck, pulled it from the bushes, and backed it down into the old man's driveway. "I can't help you change your tire, but I can show you how to do it." This he did, then with a wink and a wave he drove away. My siblings and I ran to the top of the driveway to wave our thanks, but to our astonishment he and his tow truck had vanished. The road was clear in both directions. There was no possible physical way that tow truck could have gone out of sight so quickly.

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Angels watching over us. Angels sent to help--in answer to the fervent prayer of our parents.