Flight -Paint Party Friday

Somehow there is hope and beauty in this drawing.  I love how this turned out.  One can almost feel the wind whispering through her hair as she watches the flight of the geese.

Hope.  It is the best of things--What blows me away is that God is called the God of Hope.  I don't know what I would do without hope in my life.

Blessings and peace to each of you dear ones.  Thank you for your wonderful comments.  You make my day every time.

Plumage -Paint Party Friday

Here she is, my lovely Melissa.  She is as kind and sweet inside as she is beautiful to look upon.  She's one of my adopted girls and I love her dearly.

Here is my reference photo.  Isn't she lovely?  I'm so blessed by this wonderful young woman's friendship.

As you can see, I am posting an older drawing again.  I am still struggling with this illness and am having a hard time completing all the things I need to do before I leave for Idaho next month.

April is a difficult one for me.  It is my Beloved's birthday next Wednesday.  He would have been 75 years old.  This May we would have been married 36 years.  I have been missing him a lot lately.

Still, there is joy to be seen in the sunshine, friendship and family.   God has put so many good things into my life--I have only praise and thanks that God has walked this heartbreaking journey with me every step of the way.

And there is His promise, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they WILL be comforted."  Matthew 5:4

Thank you for dropping by and thank you for your good thoughts and prayers.  I am sorry I took so long to post this week's artwork.  Dear ones, you are always a big encouragement--I look forward to your visits here! May the joy of Springtime be yours. 

 

Beauty From Ashes -Paint Party Friday

This bit of art is a little different than my usual art.  There was a page in my sketchbook covered with steaks of color as well as scratchings from micron pens.  I'd been testing colors and nib sizes for another drawing.  But, it was really good paper and I didn't have the heart to toss it.  So--I decided to doodle--and as a result--this drawing.

In some ways this drawing depicts in part, another major heart shift.  The sweet words I heard were "beauty from ashes." I don't know what that means yet, but I am looking forward to discovering what is ahead.  This past year has been one of the most difficult yet since my Beloved flew away to heaven. 

Part of my struggle has been that of becoming the woman I am to be without my Beloved.  I was married much longer than I was single...and we were partners.  There are questions....Who am I really?  I am who I am when I am by myself.   Once again I have realized the person I become now, depends upon the things I put into my heart and life.

Those ingredients are, first of all, time with God and doing His will in my life--then treasuring family and friends.  Acquiring wisdom, knowledge and purpose--maybe even taking some college courses.  Then there are celebration, beauty, laughter...and tears. 

I think my Darling would be proud of me so far, and that is a dear comfort.  The truth is, though I am discovering who I am as a single person--that person was shaped by my Beloved--he made my life an adventure.  We learned so much together.  (sigh)  I miss him.

Blessings to you in your life's journey dear ones--thank you for dropping by, and Happy Paint Party Friday.

Wonderland Walker -Paint Party Friday

I have a vivid imagination.  I can still remember the places I dreamed of when I was a little girl.  This place is one of them.  Where flowers pile over the ground in brightly colored bunches.  I imagined arches covered with ivy and bright castles where one might find glittering treasures and perhaps a sleeping princess.

Above you see my reference photo of dear Rena.  I am SO blessed by the friendship of my sweet models.  When the camera is on--magic happens--the camera loves this girl.  

This week has been a difficult one, as yesterday was my Daddy's Heaven Day.  He left us four years ago, and I still grieve for him--I was a Daddy's girl and when he left, he took a bit of my heart with him.

It gives me great joy to know Daddy is in heaven, strong, whole and young again--I can see him smiling at me with that wonderful smile of his.  I know he is proud of me.

Have a lovely weekend dear Friends.  Thank you for your good thoughts and prayers.  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Finding Balance -Paint Party Friday

This is a pen and ink I just finished this morning.  It is called Finding Balance, because that is a big part of my life right now.  It isn't easy to find balance in life without the love of one's life.  Other widows tell me soon I will find a "new normal."  I think it might be awhile for me.  I thank the Lord for His Presence in my life.  He is here with me, walking with me.  When I stumble, He holds my hand. 

As I learn to balance this new life--I can express my heart and feelings through my drawings and I have the wonderful opportunity to share them here with you. 

Happy Paint Party Friday, dear Friends.  May God bless you!  Have a lovely weekend and thank you for dropping by.  ((hugs))

Crown of Vetch -Paint Party Friday

This colored pencil drawing is of my niece.  She is a free spirit like me, with a grand imagination and a love for the Forest and all things faery.  Flora is a wonderful little friend and I love her very much.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, spring is in the air.  The trees are bright with blossoms.  There are flowers springing from the earth and the birds are trilling their spring songs.  It is a beautiful day today.  I am posting this picture, because on the other side of the country--you all have snow!  I'm envious of your snow, as I am sure you must be envious of our spring blossoms.  

Happy Paint Party Friday, all you lovely people. Thank you for dropping by.

Springtime Beauty -Paint Party Friday

One of my favorite artists is Alphonse Mucha.  He has been an inspiration since the day I saw his incredible artwork.  

Inspired by Mucha, this is my Spring Beauty.  She has been tiptoeing through the Pacific Northwest all this week.  The fruit trees are in full bloom--they've peeking out since before mid-January.  I can't recall an earlier Spring.  Glorious pink flowerings against a slate grey Oregon sky makes a perfectly lovely combination!  Here my Springtime girl is wrapped in grape vines.

Above you see my beautiful model, Rena.  She is not only a dear friend, but the camera loves everything she does.  

Happy Paint Party Friday, all you lovely people. Thank you for dropping by.

Arise My Son -Guest Heart Thursday

These are the words Mumsie read to Dad, just before he flew away to heaven.  It is a paraphrase from the Song of Solomon.  Here I sense the beauty of God's immense Love for us, I feel the Lord's great joy as He leaps and runs to meet Daddy, to hug him and to lead him into heaven. 

Our Lord comes

Look! here He comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.

Our Lord speaks to us.

He is like a gazelle or a young stag!

Look! He stands behind our wall gazing through the windows,

Peering through the glass.

Our Lord speaks  to you:

"Arise my darling son, my precious boy and come with me

"See! Your winter is past; the rains are over and gone.

"Flowers appear on the earth; the seasons of singing has come.

"The cooing of doves is heard in the land whence I come.

"The fig trees forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.

"Arise, come, my darling son, my beautiful one.

"Come with me!" 

~ A Paraphrase by Eva J. Gibson 

To see Dad's Memory Book, please visit Peake Funeral Chapel.

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

Finding Beauty

This is a pen and ink I found in my drawer of old drawings. It is called Finding Beauty. I remember the incident which sparked this picture.

We were living in a very old house with single wall construction--there was no insulation. The idea was to fix the old place, building equity as we went--sweat equity. That first winter all five of us lived in the tiny living room and adjacent bedroom--about 450 square feet. A wool blanket separated those rooms from the rest of the house, where in winter one could set a cup of water on the window sill to find it frozen by morning. The house also leaked like a sieve. We had no way to fix the leaks, and our things were being damaged. I felt desperate and could find no beauty in where we were living.

Mumsie came over one weekend and I was pouring out my heart to her. She listened. And then we went in to look at the leaking roof. She smiled with a mischievous twinkle. "Look here," she said pointing at the brown stains on the ceiling. "You can see a face right there."

"And there's a hippopotamus," I replied.

"And a rosebud," she returned. We looked into one another's eyes and I began to laugh. Deep uncontrollable belly laughter. We laughed until our stomach muscles were sore. Suddenly I had found unexpected beauty and could see the humor in my situation.

Things were still hard after that, but I saw everything in a new light.

DADDY UPDATE: Both Dad and Mom slept through the night. Dad did not have any flashbacks or nightmares, and seems quite plucky this morning. Please continue to pray for Dad and Mom. There are also emotional hurts which must heal along with their bodies.