An Ag-Man's Prayer ~Finished Piece~

It is finished.

Inspired by my husband.

by the cries of our heart

sometimes spoken

sometimes silent.

by the song 

Amarillo Sky by Jason Aldean.

Art for our home.

Psalm 65 answers the heart's cry . . . 

We soak in and savor the green

when we have it.

Photos & Art property of Jodene Shaw.

Please Don't Let My Dreams Run Dry

My husband told me once

that this was the song he listened to while he was haying,

taking his swather for another round of cutting,

and his tractor another round for baling.

He and the lifestyle he has given us

are often inspiration for my art and photography.

You can listen to my man's song in another tab here: Amarillo Sky by Jason Aldean

as I give you a sneak peek at this piece I've been working on for the past month.

This ranch where we live and work

has been in his family for over 100 years.

His great grandfather came from Ireland

and homesteaded here on the prairie of western South Dakota.

It was a leap of faith for his great-grandfather

to come to America for a new life.

And a walk of faith for 

the next three generations.

Our kids will be the fourth generation.

A 

walk of faith

and

a

way of

life.

A way of life.

Feeding the world.

To

feed

our

kids.

Layered into this piece

is an anonymous poem from a book

from the late 1800's

about a husband

working and waiting 

on the land

weary,

facing

doubts and fear,

and

drought

and

who cries out 

to 

God.

It could be the prayer of 

my husband,

his dad,

his brother,

his granddad,

my dad,

my Grandpa Tommy,

my brother,

my son Tommy 

in his future.

It is much like the Amarillo Sky prayer,

Please let my crops and children grow.

Lord, I never complain, I never ask "why",

Please don't let my dreams run dry . . . 

Today, as I work on this piece to honor our

walk

of 

faith

and

way

of 

life,

it

is

raining.

And the answer to the prayer

seems to come

in the words of Psalm 65:

You visit the earth and water it,

You greatly enrich it;

The river of God is full of water;

You provide their grain,

For so You have prepared it.

You water its ridges abundantly,

You settle its furrows;

You make it soft with showers,

You bless its growth.

You crown the year with Your goodness,

And Your paths drip with abundance.

Psalm 65:9-11

Grateful

for our way of life.

And for God.

Who is Faithful and True.

No matter what seasons and circumstances come upon us.

Additional inspiration this week came from

these links:

{Wonderful photography/art/message in these links}

Ranch House Designs, Inc

~ We are grateful here at Shaw Ranch, Inc. for the opportunity 

that our kids have to work on our ranch. ~

~ They learn skills and work ethic and responsibility for life and for family. ~

Farmers Feeding the World

This is the statistic that they shared:

97.2% of America's young farmers and ranchers

plan to farm and ranch for life.

90 % would like their children

to follow in their footsteps.

More Jason Aldean songs:  Fast and Fly Over States

When I first heard the lyrics to Fast,

I thought about how the thought of saying goodbye to the hardships

would be like saying goodbye to family . . . to our life.

And from Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts

here is her Canadian heartfelt blog fitting this post's inspiration:

When You Want A Great Life Plan

And last, but not least,

joining these bloggers

for sneak peeks into their inspirational spaces:

Go After It With Intention

Gratitude.

Often

it takes

intention.

On purpose,

hunting for

what is

beautiful,

wonderful,

helpful,

nourishing,

fun,

intimate.

Mundane,

everyday,

normal,

ordinary,

can

become

a

treasure.

Really.  It can.

Sacred.

Moments.

What do you want to remember?

What matters?

What moments do you not want to miss?

To catch in your net,

and look closely and see the beauty up close?

My camera has become a tool

that helps me capture

 gratitude,

honor,

the sacred.

My art helps me remember

those things I don't want to forget.

I am working on a series of workshops.

I can hardly stand not to tell all about it!

But I want you to know that it is coming.

And this is the theme ~ gratitude and wonder in everyday life.

It will involve

your camera,

a taste of art,

and a big dose of heart.

~ Watch for an announcement ~

~ Sign up for my newsletter at the top right column of this blog ~

~ Online and/or face-to-face opportunities ~

~ SOON! ~

Orange Cutie Birdfeeders

My California cuties were getting wrinkled and dry.

And our Christmas pine cone birdfeeders were empty,

some laying on the grass.

Yesterday, a friend asked how I get so much done.

My first thought was, "I don't."

I almost laughed because in my mind and as I look around

I think,

"Why can't I get everything done?"

"Why can't I take care of what is important?"

"Why is my house such a MESS?"

"What is the matter with me?"

We talked about the internet culture.

How some of us share so much of our lives online

through social networking and blogging

that we feel like we really know people,

yet we've never met them.

Or we know much about them,

but they don't have a clue who we are,

even though we are "followers".

Hmmm . . . and I thought about what I share online.

I share this fun birdfeeder project with my girl.

And it looks like I'm getting so much done with her.

But how long have those old pinecones laid in my yard?

4 months.

I don't share the photos of the pinecones

that are lying in the grass

with outdated Christmas ribbon attached.

Or photos of my moments that I am feeling so inadequate.

Or that I was so busy getting ready for an art booth

that I never even looked at the school calendar that told me

my daughter was preschool leader for the day

and I was supposed to bring snacks and help the teacher for the day.

And all the way there, after her call,

I called myself horrible names and shamed myself for being so irresponsible and inconsiderate.

Thinking my daughter was going to be upset

that we didn't prepare special snacks and select a book for her teacher to read.What a horrible mom I am!

I am so irresponsible.

Tears are threatening.

I don't take pictures of the crumbs that build up on the step of my kitchen floor.

Or the grease that builds up on the stovetop.

Or the dust-bunnies in the corner.

Or the carpet that hasn't been cleaned for . . . . .

Or the corners that are stacked with papers and books and clothes that need sorted, thrown away.

Or the holes in the skirting of our mobile home

from the hail that came through a few years ago.

Interesting how I am careful not to have any of that in the background of my photos.

People see this fun birdfeeder project

and think I have all the time in the world.

But I don't.

I let something else go.

Something else doesn't get done.

Housework.

Building a business.

Making money.

Laundry.

Ironing? Ha! That's never done.

And some days I am frantic trying

to pay bills and make it all work

and create more art

and find a way to promote my work

and work on ideas for the future

and my daughter watches television while I pursue my own stuff.

I fight in my head either way.

If I am working on art business

I am feeling guilty about not spending enough time with my girl.

If I am doing a project with her

I'm beating myself up for being luxurious and playing.

If I'm doing Bible study,

I'm thinking I should be cleaning my house.

There is always something else calling to me to take care of it.

The guilt gremlin never ceases.

But I have to silence it.

I have to choose to be present to the moment.

I have to own my choice in the moment.

My choice is different than everyone else's.

And I choose to enjoy it, savor it, work hard at it.

Or indulge the guilty feelings.

It is a concious choice.

A battle.

I spent my morning with my daughter today.

Making birdfeeders.

I loved it.

I did not work on new art projects.

I did not work on my online business class work.

I did not scrub my very dirty kitchen floor.

I have a load of unfolded laundry on my couch.

I'm wondering if I should get a "real" job.

I did not do a morning quiet time of prayer and Bible study this morning.

Life is not perfect.

Not easy.

But it is good.

And when it is good,

I grab that moment and enjoy it.

Moments with my girl are fleeting.

She will go to kindergarten in the fall.

Five days a week, all day.

One foot in front of the other,

I do what I can.

Making memories.

And sometimes working

while she watches tv.

Grateful for grace.

God's grace.

I will never be enough or do enough.

But because Jesus is more than enough.

He makes me enough and do enough.

And if His grace is good enough for me.

It is good enough for my girl.

It is good enough for each one

who would reach out

and take the gift

of

grace.

My life is real.

My moments are real.

There is good woven in with the bad.

Beauty in the mess.

Joy in the midst of unfulfilled goals and plans.

Fulfilment and satisfaction in simplicity and chaos.

Moments of sacred-ness in the midst of frustration and fury.

Journeying toward what we believe and hope for.

Things that didn't turn out the way I'd hoped,

but that turned out so much better than I could have planned.

Life.

Crazy Beautiful

Sometimes

I can't believe

that

simple things

can be so

crazy

beautiful.

I just have to

stop

and

look.

Exceeding

abundance.

*

Linking with these ladies:

2012 copyright Jodene (Jodi) Shaw

Become Fascinated With the Ordinary

Life lessons from Erin.

Last week,

Erin was ecstatic!

*

Celebrate!

*

The dandelions are here!

*

She was so excited that she grabbed

two mismatched

flip-flops for her feet.

What a lesson

in

joy

and

abundance

and

simple

delight

and

happiness.

Jesus said,

"Let the little children come to Me,

and do not forbid them;

for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

{Matthew 19:14}

He keeps teaching me simplicity and joy

through the heart and mind and hands

of a little girl

with a fist full of dandelions.

The Lord keeps teaching me

that He came

that they may have life,

and that they may have it more abundantly

{John 10:10}

through simple little things like this.

A fist full of dandelions

is

a

little

glimpse

of

abundant

life.

Have a Happy Easter.

Enjoy a time of remembrance today:  Good Friday.

And celebrate His resurrection

and the

beautiful newness

He has given

and will continue

to give and create

in

your

heart

and

life

forever.

Last year's Easter Post here with my mudpie making girl:  Gotta Love Her

Communion with Erin was a challenge in 2011.

This year, she is excited.

She said,

"Yay!  Communion!"

My adult mind thinks, "Yay? Excitement? Should I teach her reverence?"

And I say,

"What do we remember when we have communion?"

She says, "Jesus."

Yes. Jesus.

She is five. She is excited.

Should I let her express her genuine 5-year-old feelings?

Or teach her false reverence that she doesn't understand?

She will learn the true reverence

on her

own,

I believe

as she gets bruised and banged up by this world.

So, today,

I am glad she is excited for communion.

Does she understand it all?

Hmmmm . . . .

Excitement for dandelions?

Let the little children come to me

for such is the kingdom of heaven . . .

I think in some ways

her childlike faith

understands much more of the kingdom of heaven

than my adult mind that

has been wounded and wearied by this world

and has to be

taught

again

the

truth

of His kingdom.

I teach her about Jesus.

And she teaches me about Him too.

*

*

*

I found this little hymn in my great-grandma's hymnal:

Little Sunbeams

I think God gives the children, as through the land they go,

The most delightful mission, That anyone can know;

He wants us to be sunbeams of love and hope and cheer,

To brighten up the shadows that often gather here.

O we are little sunbeams, sent down from God to man;

In all life's shady places we shine as best we can.

The clouds may hide the sunshine of heaven from our sight,

And life have much of sorrow to mar the heart's delight

But if like faithful sunbeams we children do our part,

we'll bring a ray of brightness to ev'ry shadowed heart.

O we are little sunbeams, sent down from God to man;

In all life's shady places we shine as best we can.

Then let us live our mission of sunbeams day by day,

And scatter joy and brightness about us all the way;

Let's chase away life's shadows with loving thought and deed,

And be the sunshine makers of which the world has need.

O we are little sunbeams, sent down from God to man;

In all life's shady places we shine as best we can.

copyright 1902 by E.O. Excell.

Photos and art copyright 2012 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.