Tear Falls -Paint Party Friday

It has been a week or so, since the "stay in place" order has been in effect.  There's no traffic in the streets--no rush hour to speak of.  Nothing is open in this little town I love.  I hope the small businesses here will be able to survive.  The joy I have is that my own precious Mumsie has been with me for two weeks now--she can't go home for a bit, until the rules are relaxed a little.  She misses her place a LOT.

I also had to cancel our Lady's Retreat last weekend.  But there IS a silver lining.  With a only few small changes, we'll be all ready for next year.

Ah, well...  Here is a fairy in front of "Tear Falls."   Perhaps thing will be better soon.


Happy Paint Party Friday, sweet Friends.  Stay safe and have a great weekend!

Mysterious Face -Paint Party Friday

When I was in Fifth Grade, our teacher, Mrs. Young, gave each student a piece of black paper and some chalk for an art project.  I still remember the feeling I had as I smoothed the chalk into places of light and shadow.  It was as though I knew exactly what to do.  I still remember the pure joy of creating that face.  My teacher was astounded.

Looking at the drawing--I see I used a fan of pencil lines drawn up from the center of the bottom of the page.  I drew across those lines, to place chin, mouth, nose and eyes.

Mumsie loved it so well, she framed it and hung it in the stairwell.  There it hung years.  Then, almost 15 years ago, Mumsie gave the drawing to me.

When I took it out of its frame to scan it into the computer, I noticed what looked like tears trickling down from his eyes...if you enlarge the drawing, you can see where they seeped through the chalk.  I have no explanation how that would have happened.  None.  The back of the frame was taped into place...

Some have suggested the tears might be a chemical reaction between the construction paper and chalk.  However, if that were the case, the entire drawing would have been affected.  According to my research, colored construction paper and chalk do not chemically react to one another, even with age.

So, as unlikely as it may seem, this person I drew as a little girl, might have shed tears inside the frame during the time it hung in Mum's stairwell...that would be sometime between 1969 and 2003... I love the fact that miracles do still happen!

Blessings and peace to all of you dear ones.  Thank you for dropping by--your visits are such a joy to me.  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Stones and Roses -Paint Party Friday

When hard moments persist, one of my greatest comforts is to let my fingers draw what is in my heart.  This drawing was done in a difficult moment after the Fourth of July, when I was missing my Beloved.

Today is my parent's anniversary--they would have been married for 60 years today.  Daddy flew to heaven in 2012.  It is also my brother's birthday.  Cancer took him in 2001.  So many precious friends and family have gone on.  I am happy for them--but they are missed.

Grief is like the ocean...rising to crash into the shoreline--then sliding back to a subtle life rhythm.  It will always be a part of my life.  The storms still rise now and again, but not as many as before.

This little tear-filled faery leans upon the rocks to weep.  But in a moment she will smile through her tears to flit into the warmth of the sun and the fragrance of the roses.

Have a lovely weekend, dear Friends.  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Her Prayers -Paint Party Friday

I have been away for quite some time.  I have missed all you wonderful people.  Though it has been nearly two and a half years, this past month has been one of the most difficult since I lost the love of my life.  This is a drawing I did just after he passed away--I completed the lineart version last week.

I hope you enjoy the details.  The sea is a picture of grief--how it is always there--the light house signifies the hope of landing on solid ground and the Light which guides me.  The boat represents courage and strength.  I will battle the rising waves--I will hang on.  The high seas engulfing that tiny craft will soon smooth themselves into peace.

Above you see my lovely model Rena.  I adore this photo--there's a sunbeam coming down upon her.  Something the camera did all on its own.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, dear Friends.  It is good to be back.  Happy Paint Party Friday!

A Time for Weeping -Paint Party Friday

February has been especially hard for me.  I have a fondness for the book of Ecclesiastes, written by King Solomon and found in the Old Testament of the Bible.  He was the wisest man in the world and had a lot of wonderful things to say.  In chapter three, he writes, "there is a time for weeping and a time for laughter."  Ah, how true that is.  This has been a month of tears for me, as I miss my Beloved with all my heart.

David, who was King Solomon's Father wrote the songs found in the Psalms.  He wrote, "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18) I have felt the crushing burden of grief, where I am hardly able to function under the terrible pain of sadness.  I  miss the love of my life.  Yet there is hope. 

I will choose to trust the Lord--the One Who loves me--He will bring me through these tears and there will be joy in the morning.

Have a lovely weekend, dear Friends.  

Stars in the Desert -Paint Party Friday

Here is a recent graphite drawing from my sketchbook.  I have started drawing again in earnest.  My fingers are not near as stiff as they were--I believe my inability to draw had much to do with mourning the loss of my Beloved.   I was frozen for awhile.

Sometimes the road I travel is rocky and full of tears.  But then I remember to look up at the stars and to Him Who made the Heavens.   He is the Creator Who loves me and walks with me. 

For the twinkles in the skies, I used the Star of David.  I love the way the star looks--so perfectly balanced and beautiful.

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

Joyful Tears -Guest Heart Thursday

I was doodling in my sketchbook and who should pop from my pencil, but my youngest sister.  She is a beautiful young woman...of course I've hidden hearts 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. 

Bless the Little Children

Our hearts are breaking as we hear reports of a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Connecticut.  I can't wrap my mind around what happened there this morning.  Our hearts and prayers go out to all the people touched by this awful tragedy.  They will never be the same.  None of us will.

May God's strength, comfort and compassion surround this community--especially the parents, families and friends who've lost their loved ones. 

Heart Breaking News

Heart breaking news.  Our dear Mumsie will be staying at the VA Hospital in Portland with Dad, until Daddy flies away to heaven.  I am so grateful to the Veteran's Hospital for their great kindness to Dad and to Mom as they share their last days together.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for our precious family during this time. 

On Wings of Doves

Dad has taken a turn for the worse and is now in full Comfort Care.  Daddy is getting ready to go  home to be with His Savior.  Though our hearts are full of grief and we will miss him, we take comfort in the words of our Lord:  "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself that where I am, there you may be also.  And you know the way where I am going."   (John 14:2-4)

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then He said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."  He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.  He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son."   (Revelation 21: 4-7)

When I called this morning, Mumsie told me her special prayer--she says when it's time for Dad to go, she's praying an angel will arrive in a long, gold-plated muscle car with big fins and the rag top down.  Bro Dow, Dad's sweet Mom, his brother and sister will be riding shotgun--there'll be hugs and greetings, then with a heavenly smile, the angel will open the door of that car.  I can see Dad grinning as he hops into the driver's seat, to drive through the gates of heaven, golden winds cooling his brow, the love and laughter of His Savior and family in his ears.

More than just about anything else, Daddy loved to drive his car everywhere on all kinds of adventures.  It seems only right he'd drive into heaven for the greatest adventure of all.

There is a hush in the air as we await Daddy's homegoing.  Please pray for our family and especially for Mumsie, as she is going to miss her very best friend--the love of her life.

Thank you for your prayers for Dad and Mom--and for our family.  We treasure you.

My Tears

Tonight I cannot sleep.  It is already tomorrow.  This afternoon, we will learn the results of the biopsy my beloved husband had last Monday.

I confess a disquiet in my soul.  A grief, a fear.  It seems, so far, as though anything that could go wrong has done exactly that.  What would I do without my Beloved?  I can't even begin to imagine life without him. 

Yet, I trust in God.

I trust Him.  Even though there are those who have mocked my prayers in the midst of this darkness, I know God hears me. Thank the Lord for you dear ones who have prayed for us.  And I thank the mighty Creator for you precious ones who, though you do not believe the same things I do, have always treated my heart's love for God with deep respect--who have lovingly sent warmth, light, and kindness our way.

The prophet Zepheniah writes these powerful poignant words, "The Lord Your God is with you.  He is mighty to save.  He will delight over you.  He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

I trust in the Creator Who sings and in His Son who weeps with us.  Ah, in these are difficult, dark days...May His light shine through my tears--and yours.

Unspoken

 

This graphite drawing was inspired by a photograph of a sculpture found in a graveyard.  I was so touched by her face and body language.  The grace and beauty of this statue filled my eyes.  I felt something unspoken from the hand of the artist who originally carved this beautiful woman--I hope I was able to catch that mystery.

Her Heart is Broken

I remember the first time my heart broke. I sat in the middle of the living room floor, knees drawn up to my heart, weeping--and would not be comforted. The pain was such, I could not escape. It covered me like a thick, stabbing blanket of darkness.

It seems inevitable our hearts will be broken.  Sometimes we can slip into the pit of despair.  But God sends angels to minister supernatural loving kindness and comfort to the brokenhearted. 

The truth is, our tears are never wasted. Psalm 56: 7 tells us our tears are so precious to God, that He keeps them in a bottle.   It is a stunning revelation--the Almighty Creator treasures every tear we've ever shed. Not only that, He is near and His tears mingle with ours.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 (NASB)

You are not alone. He is near, and He weeps with you.

Tender Tears

Because this blog augments my art web page, I will occasionally be re-submitting some of my earlier art stories. This morning I decided to re-visit Tender Tears, and the mystery which surrounds this chalk drawing.

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I was 11 years old when my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Young, gave the class a page of black construction paper and a thick stick of chalk. I vividly remember drawing a fan of lines from the bottom of the page, with horizontal lines crossing where I thought the eyes, nose and mouth should be. Time seemed to slow as I gently smudged chalk into the darkness of the paper. Slowly a face emerged. I did not know who it was, but I loved the tender expression of his eyes.

My Mother liked it so well, she framed my drawing and hung it in the stairwell of our home.

Over 30 years later, I slid the picture out of its frame to scan it into my computer.

Here is the mystery.

Imagine my astonishment when I noticed tear stains soaking through the chalk, trickling from those wonderful eyes, seeping down the plane of one cheek. If you look closely you can actually see the tear stains pushing through the chalk lines. How on earth did they get there? My drawing had been sealed in its frame for more than 30 years.

Today the picture, which I've entitled Tender Tears, hangs in our upstairs hallway gallery. Every now and then I stop to look, and to ponder how those tear stains got there.

Sissy thinks the picture looks a little like my husband. I am not sure. Either way, it's a wonderful mystery.