Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, sweet Friends!  The Oregon Coast is one of my favorite places to visit--though we do not have dolphins as you see in this drawing, we often see whales blowing bushy streams of mist into the air, as they frolic in the waves of the sea.

The reference for this piece is my youngest sister Leigh--a lovely woman--as beautiful inside as she is on the outside.

Blessings and peace to everyone--May this New Year be one filled with joy, laughter and beauty.

Picture of A Sister's Love -Paint Party Friday

This is a piece of art I created years ago.  I don't have time to scan, copyright and post something new this morning--there's a lot going on this weekend--so I'm re-posting this sweet picture of a sister's love.

I have always loved the story of Miriam. She was an Israelite who long ago, was enslaved with her family, in the land of Egypt. The Pharaoh at that time became afraid of the Israelites because they had grown so strong and numerous. He ordered the midwives to destroy every newborn baby boy. When the midwives refused to do so, soldiers were sent. It must have been a terrible, frightening time.

Thus Miriam's baby brother was hidden for three months. When they could no longer hide the little fellow, his mother came up with a novel idea. And so the tiny baby floated upon the waters of the Great Nile River in a papyrus basket coated with tar and pitch. His sister followed at a distance, hidden in the thick reeds.

Miraculously the Pharoh's daughter was walking along the river's bank seeking a place to bathe. She saw the basket and sent one of her servants to get it. When she opened it, little Moses was crying, and this touched the Royal lady's heart.

Then Miriam bravely stepped from the reeds saying, "Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?" So the Pharaoh's daughter paid Moses' mother to be his nurse. The royal lady loved the boy and adopted him as her own son. Moses grew up to be a great man, who saved his people from terrible cruelty and slavery.

His little sister's gentle love, bravery and loyalty are an example to us all.

Happy Paint Party Friday dear Friends!  Have a beautiful day and thank you for dropping by--your visits bring joy and encouragement to my heart.

To Love -Guest Heart Thursday

Here is another of my drawings on toned sketch paper.  Of course, there is a heart to be found in this drawing.

The title of this piece is to honor and thank those in my life, who's love, prayers and dear friendship have surrounded me all these years.  You know who you are.  

Have a lovely weekend and Happy Guest Heart Thursday!  

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

Sisters -Guest Heart Thursday

Here is another graphite drawing from my sketchbook.  Of course, there are hearts around the neckline of one of these sisters.  I thought this to be perfect for today's Guest Heart Thursday.

Above you see my lovely models--and yes, they are sisters! 

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

Shy Fae -Guest Heart Thursday

This was my Christmas gift to Sissy.  I was thinking about her as I drew this cutie.  I remember Clytie when she was a child.  She was a wonderful sister (still is).  She has always had the gift of making people laugh.  In some ways, I am just a pale copy of her vibrant personality.  I have always admired her, and am endlessly inspired by her love, kindness and creativity.

This year for Christmas, I did something I rarely do--I gave my family the originals of the drawings.  Normally I make numbered prints from the originals.  But this Christmas was special.  Hope your Christmas was filled with happiness and laughter.

Happy Guest Heart Thursday dear Friends.

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

Let's Get THIS One!

I know this drawing has a Christmas theme, but I could not resist putting it up.  It is a commission I've been working on for some time, and it is finally done!  As soon as I am finished matting and framing the picture, it will be on its way to its new home.

The story behind it, is really cute.  Brother and sister have been sent to choose a Christmas tree and bring it back home on the sled.  Little sister is trying to talk big brother into getting the really BIG tree!   And, since this happens each and every Christmas, her brother is laughing.  This is a treasured memory they both share and enjoy very much.

The lady and her brother are in their 80's now.  I was able to capture their likenesses using pictures of the two of them when they were young.  I did a lot of face studies in order to recreate that special moment.  I'm so excited to send it to them! 

Have a lovely day! 

Nouveau Baby - Guest Heart Thursday

This is my beloved Sister Clytie and our youngest Sister.  The drawing was done in the style of Art Nouveau, which I love.  It was last year's Christmas gift--of course both sisters received a print. 

My inspiration was a small black and white photograph of my sisters when they were small.  I was a freshman in high school when our youngest sister was born--as a teenager, though I liked her, I wasn't as interested in a little one.  So, our baby sister became Clytie's delight.  Over the years the friendship between us has grown.  Our sweet baby Sis continues to be a blessing to this day--she is a lovely young woman--all grown up with a little girl of her own.

I love being a big sister--I am indeed rich in love and family.  How I thank God for them both.

There are hearts hidden in this picture, of course!

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

Fairytale Sisters - Guest Heart Thursday

I'm so sorry I haven't posted for awhile--it has been a pretty hectic summer so far.  This is one of my newest pieces.  It was commissioned by a dear young lady for her sister on her birthday.  Yes there are hearts, hidden of course, in this drawing!

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

Sissy Clytie is Home!

This is a commissioned piece I've been working on.  It is a picture of how I see Psalm 91.  These verses show us that The Creator's shadow overshadows our life's shadows.   I couldn't get the camera to do the graphite drawing justice--so when I'm done adding pen and ink, along with color, I'll put it up for you.

I am posting this drawing in celebration of my darling Sister Clytie's release from the hospital.

God was protecting her! As you were Praying for Clytie, the emergency room doctor got a bee in his bonnet.  Though the tests had come back with inconclusive results -- normal or just a tiny bit high, that wonderful doctor was convinced there was a blockage -- he would not give up looking.  Amazing, amazing!  He even asked for two-year old data in order to find the problem.  Because of this doctor's dogged persistence Sissy is going to be just fine.

Clytie had an angiogram yesterday morning, during which the actual blockage was discovered.  They cleared the vein, and put in a stent.  I spent yesterday afternoon with Clytie in the hospital and had the huge pleasure of picking her up and bringing her home this morning.

THANK YOU everyone for your thoughts and prayers.  I know there was an angel hanging over that doctor's shoulder, telling him to look further, when the tests said something completely different than the truth.

You can visit Clytie to welcome her home, at Random Hearts.  She tells me she can hardly wait to go walking!!!

Sissy Clytie Rushed to Hospital

I am letting everyone know that my sweet little sis Clytie was rushed to emergency this morning.  She was in tremendous pain.  This is the second time she's gone into emergency over the past few weeks.  Turns out what the doctors from local urgent care thought might be acid reflux disease--is in reality a blockage in her heart.   

I spoke with Sissy about an hour ago and she is feeling MUCH better.  She says they will be doing an angiogram tomorrow to find out where the blockage is.  After that, they are talking about putting a stent in.  Looks like she will be in the hospital for a few days until they figure out what's going on.

I would appreciate your prayers for Sissy's complete recovery.  She is heart of my heart--and the world would be a terribly dull place without her in it.  She's not only one of my own best friends, she is beloved to many people out there.

I will keep you updated here and on facebook.  Please drop by her blog and leave a note of encouragement for her.  You can visit her at Random Hearts.

Leigh Grin

This is a portrait of my delightful youngest sister Leigh. She actually liked it, and hung the original in her house!

Using acrylics, this painting is one of the first surreal pieces I've ever created. The funny thing is, it actually does kind of look like my sister--the impish, fun side of her.

Truly, I have been blessed with two of the most wonderful sisters in the entire world.

She Guards Her Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

I was looking through some old drawings of mine and came across this Pen and Ink of my darling sister Clytie.  I had drawn it from a photo from her younger days.  She had shorter hair then, but was and is, just as lovely.

I thought this piece was especially perfect for today's Guest Heart Thursday.

GUEST HEART THURSDAY

Tiptoe Softly Christmas Angel

Christmas tinsel, wreath and light,
Twinkling bright in dark of night.
Angel tiptoe through our day.
What is this, we hear you say?
Peace on Earth, good will to men.
Watch, listen, He's coming again!

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So, tiptoe softly Christmas Angel,

Spread your message of hope and cheer.

We are grateful for your presence,

And your care of those who are dear.
~ Beth L. Niquette

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SISSY UPDATE: Clytie is still doing great--gaining strength every day. One perk is that her eyesight has improved. She sees more clearly than she has in years. What a wonderful thing for my talented photographer Sis! Be sure to drop by Clytie's blogs this morning--she has two entries you will want to read. Thank you everyone for your warmth, thoughts and prayers for my darling sister.

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Here are the links: http://clytie-randomhearts.blogspot.com/ and http://clytie-randomstuff.blogspot.com/ May God bless you all--and a very Merry Christmas to you!

A Miracle for My Sister

Thank you--everyone who has prayed for my sweet sister Clytie's recovery . . . as I write to you, it is with a thankful heart.

Clytie, darling Queen of Hearts, had a stroke at 5 a.m. Friday morning. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital--it took me an hour to get there from where I live. Her right side was paralyzed and she could barely speak. To write of this, just . . . well, as I type here I am weeping . . . I have lost a brother and came close just now to losing my beloved sister, my friend.

I stood by her side. They had done everything they could do--it was a waiting game. She would get better, worse, then better, then worse—that last time was the most frightening, I was rubbing her numb foot when suddenly I realized she wasn’t feeling the pressure of my fingers.

I walked to her side, looked at her right hand and it was starting to curl. I felt so scared for her. I took her hand into my own. The nurses did some tests and she could not lift her leg or her arm--her speech was blurred. The nurses left.  She had closed her eyes--her face was white and so still.  So I put my hand on her hair.

I was praying over her when I felt that God was telling me to put my other hand on Sissy's head and to pray for her healing. I felt a little foolish—I thought maybe it was my own wishful thinking.  But I obeyed.  As I prayed for her healing, my hands got hot—like an oven. It was the strangest thing--I could feel the heat actually radiating down from my palms. My prayer was that God's healing would pour down through her body like warm oil, sweeping away the numbness imprisoning her. In my mind’s eye, I saw the connections that were hurt, reconnecting and sparking. I don’t know how long I stood there praying.

When I was done praying, I lifted my hand away.  Clytie opened her eyes and said as clear as a bell, “Aren’t you getting bored standing there with nothing to do?”

I said, “of course not, I’ve been praying for you!”  Tears gathered in my eyes as I tried to explain what had just happened.

A couple seconds later Clytie lifted her right hand—the one she couldn’t move before and was looking at her fingers and hand with astonishment. She started wiggling her fingers. She lifted her leg and curled her toes.  The numbness was leaving her body.

Just after that, I left for my parent's place to pick up the twins to see her. While I was at my parents house I wrote the last blog entry. By the time we returned the numbness was totally gone. Clytie could lift both her right leg and arm easily, she could speak clearly, the numbness was gone!

Clytie has steadily improved since then—Last night she ate dinner, she sat up in the chair and she’s been walking the halls—if all goes well she’s going home this afternoon. I’m just so amazed, and moved. Clot busting drugs and the power of God and the prayers of a loving sister--I am convinced a miracle happened.

All the doctors and nurses are just agog. The physical therapist says Clytie is a “rock star!” (grin) They are astonished she’s completely recovered, given that her entire right side was totally and utterly paralyzed. One nurse told me a full recovery like hers is exceedingly rare. The neurologist hardly knew what to say, except to stammer sometimes things happen they can't explain.

Please pray for my precious sister's continued healing and growing strength—the MRI shows she did have a stroke—the doctor says it is an area the size of a Lima bean, with a kind of vulnerable halo around it. She says she doesn’t feel anything is different than it was, but she’s still a little weak and tires easily.

I am so thankful for your good thoughts and prayers for my precious little sister. I promised Clytie I would let everyone know how she's doing and she sends her grateful love and thanks to each and every one of you.

Sometimes we wonder if God cares about us as we live our lives here on earth. He does--He cares. He's watching over us and loves us! All Glory to God for the things He has done!

Sissy in Hospital

No photos, no art today. Just a request for your prayers. My darling Sister Clytie had a stroke at 5 a.m. this morning. I have been at the hospital most of the day with her and as of this afternoon, I believe a miracle has taken place.

She has miraculously regained movement in both her right arm and leg and the numbness in her face and limbs has gone. But she is not out of the woods yet. Her blood pressure is still fluctuating and she will be in the ICU for the next 24 hours. She will probably be at Meridian Park for the next couple of days.

I would appreciate your prayers for my sister--and if you would like to send her a hi and hello and a word of encouragement, you can find the links to her blogs on the sidebar of this blog.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I will update you as I know the facts--please pray. She is one of my very best and dearest friends.

Elves

Here is my sister, little girl and BroBriGuy. Today I get a new brother, my niece has her Daddoo, and my darling youngest sister is starting a new life.

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How grateful I am for their love. I pray their love for one another will last forever. God's blessings over these dear three.

Saturday Morning

When my children were small, Saturday mornings were a celebration--Bugs Bunny ruled the television set, and a myriad of toys covered the floors, draped across the coffee table and over the couch. I would sit in the midst of it all and sip my coffee, my face wreathed with smiles at the children's funny antics.

They are nearly grown now--In another year or so, we will experience what is fondly called an "Empty nest." Those years went by so quickly.

I am not sure I enjoyed my children as much as I could have. In the meantime, I smile remembering.