This Is The Stuff

Lately, the song of my life is

This Is The Stuff by Francesca Battistelli.
(click for video)

"In the middle of my little mess

I forget how big I'm blessed."

In the middle of my little mess,

I receive this card from a friend.

believe . . . keep believing . . . God will show you his plans . . . awesome

What a blessing

in the middle of my

mess.

We live on a ranch.

We are in the middle of calving season in March.

When the calendar

says

spring.

But the weather

says

winter.

The song says,

This is the stuff

that drives me crazy.

This is the stuff

that's getting to me lately.

{That's not mud on those mud boots.}

Sing it Francesca . . .

this is the stuff that gets under my skin

but i've got to trust

You know exactly what You're doing

In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I'm blessed.

My husband just said,

"3 inches of snow forcasted for tomorrow night,

very wet,

very stressful on livestock

especially young livestock...

"how about stressful for my man?" I think.

Go Francesca . . .

might not be what I would choose

but this is the stuff You use . . .



. . . to break me of impatience

conquer my frustration

it's not the end of the world

This is my "mess" of wood

ready for creativity

not to mention the creative mess

that was on my kitchen island.

My husband helped cut these boards

when I am sure he felt like doing something else.

In the middle of my little mess

I forget how big I'm blessed.

A messy pile of wood was the start

of these two prints

of mixed media art that I made this year.

Two photos in my brand new

Etsy shop

just opened yesterday.

Step by step into the life I want to be living.

I am so glad God rejoices over me with singing in my process

so glad that He is transforming me from glory-to-glory into the image of Christ

so glad he will carry on to completion the work He has begun in me.

 

This is the stuff that's getting to me lately . . .

But He uses it mess and all

step by step

in our life.

I am blessed

big.

Linking up with Jen and these sisters:

Soli Deo Gloria

Vote for Black Hills Photo Shootout Shots

Last fall, I attended the

Black Hills Photo Shootout

and had a fabulous time!

For all of you photographers,

this year it will be held  September 30 - October 2, 2011

in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.

Part of why I so loved this event

is because I am always seeking the treasures of beauty and meaning

that are right here where I am.

I did not have to travel far from home to attend

this fabulous event and soak in the beauty of my state

and learn and see fascinating history.

The Shootout is currently working with

South Dakota Magazine hoping to have a spread

in an upcoming issue.

Black Hills Photo Shootout

is asking for two of our best shots for consideration in the spread.

After scanning through my photos,

these four are the shots that I am considering for submission.

The first two are from

a session I attended called

Black Hills Closeups in beautiful Spearifish Canyon

well known for fall colors.

The third shot

I took of my photography friend Dede and I

in a motorcylce rearview mirror

at Boondock's south of Deadwood.

And this fourth is of photographer Paul Horsted.

His book Exploring with Custer is at his feet.

He revisted the sites of

the very first photographs ever taken of the Black Hills

and took current photos of the same sites.

These photos and the experience and history

of the 1874 Black Hills Expedition are the basis of the book.

Dede & I had the unique opportunity

of attending Paul's session as he took us to several

of these sites.

It was an amazing experience of seeing history

and how many of the same rocks and tree stumps

are still there 150 years later!



I included two versions of this last shot:

the original and an edited.

I would love if you would vote for TWO shots

in the comment section!

I am so honored to share what is happening

in my studio this week with these ladies

linking up with Jennifer at Studio JRU!

P.S.  I am working hard at getting pictures and descriptions

of some of my art and photography up on my new ETSY site!

I am super excited and cannot wait to announce when it is OPEN!

You can sign up for my newsletter at the very top of my blog

if you would like to receive the announcement

of the shop opening and of the upcoming events

at which I will be displaying and selling my art and photography.

photos copyright 2010 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.

All photos are property of Jodene Shaw.

Four.

Four.

You are not a toddler.

You are a

"growing big girl"

who said,

"let's have clown hats!"



March twenty-two.

The day you have waited for.

"Why did you close your eyes?" I ask.

" 'Cause I 'uz makin' a wish!"

Aniticipation.

Delight.

You live life fully.

With gust.

With abundance.



You are

all in.



That is how you live.

Often it exhausts me.

But mostly,

it inspires me

to

really

live.



2011 copyright & property of Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.

Sneak Peek ~ Works In Progress

This is my first run

with matting prints . . .

I am so excited!

I'm also working on this piece.

A dear friend recently lost her mother.

She had a box of classic vintage patterns

that she was giving away.

I said that I would love to make some projects with them!

This is the first one.

The theme is Romans 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

I am using oil paints.

I haven't used them many times

mainly because of

drying time and clean-up.

But I love the vibrancy in the oils.

Erin also suggested

we take a "nice little relaxing walk".

"You can take your camera, Mom,

and take pictures.

It will be so relaxing."



So we did.

And it was

relaxing.

Looking forward to seeing what

my other friends are working on

in their studios

here:

Studio JRU ~ In The Studio Sneak Peek



My Whole Heart

"We pour out our misery, God just hears a melody . . . "

Better Than a Hallelujah ~ Amy Grant.

This is me.

I give You

what I have to give.

My whole heart.

My searching.

My anger.

My desperation.

My complaints.

My crying.

My distress.

My shame.

My unforgiveness.

My anxieties.

My cares.

My worries.

My grief.

My doubt.

My brokenness.

My trust.

My joy.

My hope.

My boldness.

My timidity.

My faith.

My belief.

My love. 

My praise.

My song.

My victory.

My triumph.

My milestone.

My celebration.

My confidence.

My courage.

My worship.

My authentic heart.

Right now.

All of it.

Here it is.

This is me.

*

*

I am getting ready to start

Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent

by Beth Moore

with a group of ladies.

I picked up my book today.

You know I couldn't resist reading the first day!

To close the day's lesson,

Beth suggested that we could worship

in our emotions instead of pushing them aside to worship.

Then she suggested thumbing through the Psalms

and writing down some of the expressive words.

As I thumbed through,

the most common words I seemed to see were

"cry out".

It reminded me of Amy Grant's song quoted above and here:

"God loves a lullaby in a mother's tears in the dead of night

better than hallelujah sometimes . . .

God loves a drunkard's cry, a soldier's plea not to let him die

 . . . beautiful, the mess we are, the honest cries

of breaking hearts

are better than a hallelujah."

Which inspired me to write "my whole heart".

He wants our whole heart . . . all of it.

Not just the good image stuff.

All of it.

Living sacrifice.

*

Sharing some of my latest art.

A little hand-sized commissioned piece

with the theme verse from the women's retreat.

A surprise piece that I will unveil soon . . .

I just keep getting new ideas for it.

And the shadow box that I finished a month ago

for my sweet friend

to remember God's miracles.

*

*

Copyright 2011 ~ Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.



~ Back From Taxes ~

Ha-lllllloooooo!

Here I am.

I took an unintentional blog break over the past week

as I finished my taxes.

All that

paper

computer

work,

mixed with the

weird emotions,

{like facing fear, inadequacy, shame, never-enough}

that

I have

about

that area of my life

required

a photo break.

It is those

times that

I feel like

I am going out of

my ever-loving-mind

that drive me outside

with my camera.

To restore

my sanity.

With

beauty.

~ He restores my soul ~ Psalm 23:3 ~

*

My heart is heavy for those in Japan.
My little time with taxes is nothing.
Draw Japan into your arms, Lord, draw them in.
Come, Lord Jesus. Come.

*

My husband and I watched the movie

The Book of Eli

last night.

Thought provoking and gut-wrenching.

Not for the faint of heart.
Disturbing, yes.

(Like, Mom...Linda V...don't watch it.)

Hard to describe the emotion, though,

when I saw those words flashing

on the printing press.

Do not want to spoil it for anyone.
But the fight for the end meant much.

Anyone else see it?

Drop me an email.

I'd be interested in your thoughts.

*
Linking up with these lovely ladies:

http://findingheaventoday.blogspot.com/

 

Photos copyright 2011 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.

Tax Break

I have been working

on taxes.

Am I normal

that I get all kinds of funky

emotions

with this project?



Every year.



So the kids and I took a needed

tax break

this afternoon.

And laughed.

And laughed

And laughed.

That is the good stuff.

That is what is really valuable.

True.

Everlasting.

Treasure.

Walk In Love

~from my journal 1/31/2011~

When you ask Erin what she wants to be when she grows up,

she answers with one of three things:

a princess, a basketball coach, a doctor.

She will be four years old on March "twenty-two" as she says.

Today I came home from church with a headache.

Seems I don't get minor headaches,

only major,
"pull the shades and put a pillow over my head

give me silence and darkness"
headaches.

"I'm worried 'bout you, Mommy."

Erin says.

That afternoon, Erin had been her normal

boisterous, stubborn, high-spirited, loud self. 

I could hear her on the other side of the door with Tom and Syd,

with her vehement protests when she didn't get her way.

But then I heard the door softly open.

It was Erin.

"Hi," I said quietly. "Will you come snuggle with me?"

"Where do you hurt, Mama?" she asked softly.

She planted a magical kiss on my neck where I pointed

and patted my collar bone with a tender, gentle hand.

"I'm so sorry you don't feel good."

Nodding her head with big sincere eyes, she said,

"I promise I won't let you die."

Touch.  A soft voice. 

I was amazed at the healing in that.

Those simple things.

And then, all with soft footsteps and voice,

here is what she did:

*brought me her Goodnight Moon book and whispered,

"I found it under my dresser.  It's a great book."

*"Oh!  I'll get you my blanket to snuggle.  That will make you feel better."

She sweetly, gently brought her favorite blanket

and tucked it under my cheek.

*"I'm going to get you something special. 

Something breakable. 

And I'm going to give it to you."

She came back with a Cinderella button pin from Disney World

that said "happily ever after",

which she had gotten off of her special, breakable shelf

in her bedroom.

I knew without seeing her that she had

"risked her life" and

climbed up on her sister's dresser to get it.

*brought me a picture she had drawn of me on yellow construction paper,

and said, "Here this is for you," lying it on my stomach.

Every so often she would pat me with her little hands.

And I was amazed.

Amazed at the healing of touch

and a soft, gentle voice.

Amazed at the healing of sweet gifts.

And amazed at her loving compassion for me when I felt bad.

She was gifted in this.

And she was giving from a very special place within her heart

that was swelling with sincerity.

With love.

I was thinking that this is exactly what people need

when they are hurt, ill, sick, recovering.

This is healing.

This is compassion.

This helps.

This is love.

I remembered that she has said,

"When I grow up, I'm going to be a doctor."

"Yes," I thought.  "This is exactly the kind of doctor that people need."

One who looks into your eyes and says,

"I will help you.  I care about you."

And then loves you with their actions and words and touch

as they care.

Before she was done,

she had also brought me 

a pillow for my neck warmed in the microwave,

colored in a princess book beside me,

did a puppet show,

brought her photo book from Disney,

gave me a doll,

made a lite brite picture,

and brought popcorn.

I said, "Erin, you really make me feel cared for.

You are good at this.

You give me . . . "

I hesitated and started to say compassion

when she finished my sentence with

"niceness."

"Yes," I said, "niceness.  You give niceness."

When I came home from church that afternoon,

after hearing a sermon on binding up our wounds

and pressing on through the battle in our pain,

I had prayed.

"What would you do with this, Lord?

What are you going to do with me now,

with this headache

in which I am just laying here in the dark and silence?"

And this is what He did.

He showed me through my daughter

what love is.

What giftedness is with love.

How showed me her gift--

something from within

this high-spirited, determined, rule-resistant child

that was of Him.

Was a spiritual gift with love.

He showed me the power

of tender touch

and

a kind word spoken.

That it is indeed healing to the bones.

Sincerity.

Touch.

Gentle words.

Niceness.

Giftedness.

Giving.

In love.

This was

walking in love.

*

*

This is what I read at the womens retreat

leading in to our Bible study

last month

on "Walking in Love".

I had known that the Lord had led me

to write the study on spiritual gifts walked out in love,

but not what I would introduce the study with.

He gave me this experience

through my own pain of a migraine.

And I clearly knew

this was the real-life story to share

of

walking in love.

*

I love that He teaches me

about Him

and about living life

through my kids.

*

Honored to be linking up with Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood.