A Little "Tappity"

Each day

Erin's

jeans and shirt

end up in a heap on the floor.



Traded in

for a twirling dress

or princess clothes

and her

"tappity" shoes.

Happy to be back in the studio with Studio JRU and the Sneak Peak friends for Friday

with these happy little photos that

I did a bit of processing with.

If you'd like to see the art in my studio lately,

check yesterday's post HERE.

AND
great news
my e-course Believe Truth is running again
with new dates
beginning February 7!
Click here for details:  Believe Truth E-Course Details
Click here for a Sneak Peek:  Believe Truth Introduction
I'd love to have you join us!
Michelle in Alberta, Canada is leading a discussion group through it
and inspired a second running!

As I share these latest

mixed media pieces with you,

I want to share a bit

of my mental battle.

Because really,

if I only post the creations,

one might think I blissfully

create along

with no struggle.

But I want you to know

that I fight for what I believe in

in my own head

on a regular basis.

So . . .



Just being real,

today was one of those days that

I decided to confront

some of the nagging thoughts in my head

about art ~ painting ~ photography ~ writing.

About me in those roles.

To acknowledge the thoughts were there.

Write them down and bring them to light.

Expose them.

So that I could see the truth.



There is that voice inside me

that lacks self-respect and confidence

for my own strengths.

Is it just me?

Or does anybody else

have a voice in their head

that sneaks in and condemns

the very things that are loved,

that I have deep interest in and passion for,

even the things where I am strong.

 

The thought-voice is

like it is dismissing me.

As irrelevant.

Unimportant.

Insignificant.

Pointless.



I live on a ranch.

But I am not a ranch-woman.

{I know, I know . . . whatever that means . . . a generalized stereotype}

I also am not a super cooking, housekeeping homemaker either.

{another stereotype floating around in my brain}.

But I am a writer.

I am a reader.

I am a researcher.

I am an artist.

I am a photographer.

I am a mother.

I am a wife.

Even if I am not

officially

employed in any of those roles.

But, just being real.

These are some of the thoughts

that I struggle with.

As I learn to embrace who I am.

And who I am not.

And that it is all ok.

That what I am not

does not diminsh who I am.

That each of our uniqueness

is

relevant

important

significant

has a point

is intended

is on-purpose.

That includes me.

That includes you.

Believe Truth

Be Who You Are

Be Real

Savor Life

I believe in that.

And sometimes

I

fight

for

it

in

day

to

day

living.

*
P.S. My Believe Truth e-course is running again with new dates
Starting February 7!
Click Here for Details:  Believe Truth e-course

Established Hands & Guarded Hearts

Two new pieces I put together

over the past few days.

The first is inspired by

my prayer for

my husband. . .

He works hard as a rancher

here with his family.

Carrying on a legacy

of a great-grandfather

who immigrated from Ireland

over 100 years ago.

It is my prayer that the work of his hands

would be established

~ held up ~ strengthened ~ solidified

by the Lord.

Those of you that work

outside year-round in the weather

are familiar with the yellow chore gloves.

The way they smell when they are new.

The feel of them...

the warmth.

But also the cold

when they get wet.

And the smell of them

in the spring.

When the baby calves

are dropping into the snowbanks

and have to be brought in

on a calf sled

to the barn

or to a calf heater

or to a bathtub

to be saved.

In the middle of the afternoon

and

in the middle of the night

when the snow is blinding

or when

the mud is relentless.

The season will come soon enough.

And several pairs

of these yellow gloves

will be thrown away.

Before the season is finished.



And so I pray

that God would establish

the work of these hands

in these gloves.

Make the work firm,

long-lasting,

well-rewarded

fulfilling.

Established.



~

*

~

The second piece is a verse for me.

Reminding myself

that is ok

to protect my heart.

It is ok

to

have

boundaries.

It is ok to have a fence

with a gate.

It is ok to have walls

with doors and windows

to open and shut.

To welcome in

and to close for protection.

It is ok to protect that which is sacred.

And I hope

to teach

my kids

to establish

their

boundaries

and guard

those

especially

around

their

sacred

heart.

The part

of them

that is for

the few

that have proven

trustworthy

and

for themselves

and God.

When it is ok

to

open

and

when it is ok

to

shut.

Learning.

There is a time for both.

Copyright 2011 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw

Branching Out Art & Photography

When you've lost belief ~

This piece

was born

out of the memory of

a heart's cry



prayer.

When my beliefs

about who I was

and how I would make my way



in this life



were challenged.



My heart's cry was this:

"I don't believe in myself anymore."

This is what I heard

in the quiet stillness of my spirit . . .



Little by little

it has been changing me

from the inside out

ever since.

The change

is a relief.

The change

is good.



{Whew.  Deep breath of stepping out with my heart here in this one.}



copyright 2011 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.

Even though it isn't officially started back up yet,

I am sharing this as my

Sneak Peek

In The Studio

which you can read about here:

Studio JRU.

Crown ~ Abundance ~ Authenticity

I joined Beth Moore's

"Siesta" Scripture Memory Team

as a simple goal for 2011.

Every 2 weeks we memorize

a personally selected scripture.



My first verse for 2011

is Psalm 65:11.

You crown the year with Your goodness,

And Your paths drip with abundance.



I don't know if I will make an art piece

for each scripture.

But it sure helps cement it in my mind,

when I engage myself

in the imagery of it.

And I do love the imagery

of this verse.

I see how it was true for me in 2010.

And I look forward to the truth of it for 2011.

He crowns the year with His goodness (not mine).

His paths (not mine) drip with abundance.

It is interesting to see what that looks like.

How His goodness blesses me ~ blesses each one.

How His path for me is unique ~ for each one is unique.

How He walks us through our seasons of joy and pain.

And how His goodness is in there amidst all of it.

And His path is walked not alone, but with Him on the journey.

Whereever it may lead.

Alongside me.

It is not how I plan or expect.



I also made this piece

on request.

Another

"Be Authentic".



Bloom your sincere, genuine, authentic,

unique bloom.

Our authenticity

has seasons.



Of

being dormant

being planted in the dirt

invisibly growing roots

sprouting

maturing

blooming

&

fruit bearing.



I'm learning to be kind and gentle

to myself

and others

in my various seasons

of

authenticity.

Copyright January 2011 ~ Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.

Tea Time Is Good Medicine

I have been fighting a case

of post-Christmas, depth of winter

blue - blahs

this week.

Erin hears the words

"Tea Party" from the media

{even though it was used in politcal context}

and has a

"Great Idea".

"Let's have a tea party!"

The dress-up box is flung open;

clothes are flying all over the floor.

She tries on a lovely white with greeen trim

Scarlett O'Hara inspired dress.

But proclaims, "These are not my favorite colors."

Back to the box.

And here is the result:

"Take a picture of me with Toby."

Our menu: 

{which she packed into a purse made by my mom}

generic Walmart smiley-face fruit snacks

orange cheese cracker packaged sandwiches

an apple.

We added some graham crackers.

I had eggs.

While I had tea, she had hot cocoa with marshmallows.

She tried "pinkies-up"

but couldn't hold the cup and the pinky up

at the same time.

Good Friday mid-morning

medicine

for winter blues.