Opened Door

My Snowy Owl Story

2012-02-13T21:55:00.005-07:00

Psalm 139:1

O LORD, you have searched me and known me.

The story of this owl begins with a little girl

sitting at a table with her grandmother drinking apple cider

and eating a bowl of crackers.

This grandma taught her to delight

in the beauty and uniqueness of each bird.

To become fascinated and have wonder

with what is right outside your window.

Precious shared time.

Together.

The names were important.

To know their names,

was to identify them as a masterpiece.

Sweet, sweet times of togetherness.

That are a memory today.

I went to school thinking

everyone knew the names of the birds.

I did not realize that it was a

special thing

that my grandma had shared with me.

But it was indeed special.

In 2009,

I was going through a transition

and my heart wandered back

to memories of Grandma & the birds.

I said a little prayer, something like this:

LORD, I'd love to see some of those favorites

that Grandma would have celebrated with me...

a lazuli bunting, a rosebreasted grosbeak, and a Baltimore oriole.

On May 16, 2009,

I called my mom and asked if she had

Grandma's photos--

the ones Grandma had taken of the birds

in her yard.

As I was talking to her on the phone,

a rose-breasted grosbeak appeared

in the cottonwood tree in my yard.

I was so excited I grabbed my camera,

stood on the dining room chair,

while my mom said, with a laugh, to just call her back,

and my son told me, "Mom, you are so funny."

I was so thrilled!

I went for a walk on cloud-nine.

As I returned, there was a Baltimore oriole,

bright like orange-sherbert & shiny black,

on my mother-in-law's birdfeeder.

AWESOME! Two birds, same day!

That afternoon on my birdfeeder in my yard:

a lazuli bunting: blue, orange & white.

ALL THREE.

One prayer. Three birds. Same day.

It had been 10 years since I had seen a lazuli bunting and an oriole.

I had not seen a rose-breasted grosbeak since I was about seven years old.

Delight yourself in the LORD,

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

A few weeks ago, Jim and I were with a group of neighbors,

some had never heard my bird story.

We were talking about the playfulness of Jesus,

sparked by John Eldredge's new book Beautiful Outlaw.

Check it out here: http://www.beautifuloutlaw.net/

I am sitting there and in my mind, I hear these words:

Tell them about the birds.

"Really?" I think. My heart starts to pound.

I think to myself, "They are going to think I am such a nerd."

My heart is pounding, my ears are on fire, bright red, I'm sure,

and my face feels flushed.

And again, I hear:

Come on, just tell them about the birds. Tell them.

So I did.

Prior to this evening of sharing my bird story,

I had posted on my facebook page, that I would love to get some photos

of a snowy owl.

We live at a little dot on the map, on the South Dakota prairie,

called White Owl.

I wanted to do an art piece to honor our little zip code.

I had heard that the snowy owls were in South Dakota this year.

I had even prayed privately,

LORD, I just am going to dare to ask you for a photo of snowy owl.

You know it is a heart's desire,

and I will know it is from You.

The next morning, our friend and neighbor, Glen,

who had listened to my bird-story the night before,

called on his cell phone and said there was a white owl

along the highway.

It was about five miles away.

I prayed all the way there that I would get to see it

and that just maybe I could get a photo that I could use for an art piece.

I passed the place where he said it would be.

It's probably gone, I was thinking, but I kept driving, hopeful.

Then on top of an old tire hanging on a fencepost, I see bright white.

I hold my breath, slow down my driving, get my camera ready,

and start to take pictures, hands shaking, saying,

Thank you Jesus. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

My radio is on...

Chris Tomlin's song, How Great Is Our God,

is playing . . .

How great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God

and all will see how

great

is our God . . .

It's cold and windy.

I get close.

He flies off, but stops about a half mile away.

For two hours, we do this.

He flies off. I get close.

He watches me.

I get close, he flies again.

At last, he flies into the sunshine.

And I return home

Exhilirated.

I think I've taken about 100 photos.

I plug in my camera . . .

almost 300 times, I had clicked the shutter.

Psalm 139:1

O LORD, you have searched me and known me.

He knows me.

Knows my heart.

Knows what will delight my heart.

Whenever I start to wonder or question

what my role is

in sharing about Jesus,

He says to my heart,

just tell your stories.

In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well.

At the end of their conversation, she goes to tell the people

in the village, that

He knows me. I think this is the Messiah...

It meant something to her, that He knew her.

Everything about her.

She dropped everything, including concern about her reputation,

and told everyone about it.

And the people listened.

They invited Him to stay with them.

At first, many believed because of what she said.

But then this is what happened . . .

John 4:42

Then they said to the woman,

"We no longer believe just because of what you said,

but now we have heard Him for ourselves,

and now we know that this man really is

the

Savior

the

world."

So that is what I do.

Tell my stories.

Of how I know that He knows me.

And how I know that He is the One.

So that maybe, some will listen for Him,

and then hear Him for themselves and know.

That is my hope,

that each one, as many as possible,

will hear him for themselves and know Him.

Believe Him.

Love Him.

With all their heart.

And receive all He has to freely give.

Life.

Abundant.

Vivid.

Real.

Now.

And forever.

Joining Jen and these lovely women of faith here:

Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright

2012-01-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

Look at the birds of the air,

for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value than they?

Which of you by worrying

can add one cubit to his stature?

Matthew 6:26-27 NKJV

Give your entire attention

to what God is doing right now,

and don't get worked up

about what may or may not happen tomorrow.

God will help you

deal with whatever hard things

come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:33 ~ The Message

Got some worrying going on

in the house.

So I found the Word,

gathered some music,

and made art.

Erin made some "curly-cue" art also.

"Look, Mom, my first sunshine with curly-cues!"

Joining Jennifer and the artists for a sneak peek in the studio:

Pretty Beads On Dirty Carpet

2012-01-17T10:59:00.004-07:00

This morning

Erin called to me, "I need your help, Mom!"

Common phrase.

Like, I don't get too worked up about it.

Into the living room I go.

Here she is on the floor with a pink funnel in my glass bead jar.

She is picking up teeny tiny beads that are spilled into the carpet.

I told her that next time she needed to ask for my help.

"I know," she said.

There is nothing like getting your nose and fingers

down into the carpet picking up pretty beads,

to make me see how filthy, dirty my carpet is. Just gross.

But we did it anyway.

And I said, "Guess what? Even though you spilled the beads . . . "

Erin finished my sentence, " . . . you still love me anyway.

I knew you were going to say that you still love me anyway."

"You are so right," I said. "That is exactly what I was going to say."

She teaches me much.

She came clean and told me she needed help.

She knew that I still loved her anyway.

I had been reading in my Bible this morning.

Seeing and knowing that no matter what, I don't do it all right all the time.

Even though I try, my life still gets messed up with bad choices and thoughts sometimes.

And I was on the verge of discouragement.

Because sometimes I think I'm doing really good

and I get proud.

And sometimes I get lazy and slack off, and other times just exhausted.

Sometimes I do something like blatantly choosing to spend too much money when I should save it.

And I beat myself up in my head, thinking all kinds of mean thoughts toward myself

and get fearful, doubtful.

My "carpet" is dirty. Even though I'm trying my best to keep it clean.

I cannot satisfy every person, including myself, all the time.

And this walk of life and of faith is hard.

But like these butterflies in the mud and with broken, tattered wings,

that still do what they were created to do--

that still fly anyway,

I am reminded by my daughter,

to love anyway,

to live anyway.

and that

God still loves me even though I spilled the beads

when I should have asked for His help in the first place.

And He helps me clean up the mess,

when I come clean and ask Him to help me clean it up.

Erin

Grace.

Thanks, my girl.

I read this in Eugene Peterson's The Message this morning,

it's Paul lamenting about doing what he doesn't want to do

...that battle within us between flesh & spirit...

at the end of Romans 7 and beginning of Romans 8.

It brought much relief to me.

It happens so regularly that it's predictable.

The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up.

I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope.

Is there no one who can do anything for me?

Isn't that the real question?

The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does.

He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions

where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind,

but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved.

Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us

no longer have to live

under a continuous, low-lying black cloud.

A new power is in operation.

The Spirit of life in Christ,

like a strong wind,

has magnificently cleared the air,

freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny . . .

Relief.

Grace.

Thank you, Lord.

Thank you, Jesus.

I think I will vacuum my floor.

Funny how grace doesn't make me want

to keep sinning.

But to clean it up.

Without the condemnation.

But with love instead.

All photos copyright Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.

Sturgis Area Arts Council Artist of the Month

2012-01-11T19:41:00.001-07:00

About 2 years ago,

I had some art ideas in my mind that involved

some unique ways to share my photographs

with a message.

I had taken my kids to the library

and noticed a local photographer's work displayed.

I mentioned to my son

on the way home

that perhaps someday

my art would be in the library.

He was so excited and encouraging

and said many kind and believing words.

So I "tucked" the idea

"in my hip pocket"

for the future.

A little over a year ago,

I started experimenting with collage

incorporating my photography

as a focal point.

It was a bit like scrapbooking,

only on a piece of wood to hang on the wall or set on a shelf.

I knew that I liked it.

And that is truly what matters.

But what surprised me

was how quickly others responded.

So here we are celebrating as a family.

As I tried to think of a way to display a large number of photographs,

my rancher husband's creative wheels started turning . . .

He made me two cedar fenceposts

and

I almost cried.

Because of the love of my husband,

and how perfectly it fit my heart and vision

of sharing my love for this life.

I carried the idea of "story on a string"

that I used for my photos

to also share some of my writing and blogs

about my family as well as the story behind some of my art pieces.

My art is all about

honoring God

and what He has done in me and for me

. . . especially setting me free

from thoughts that robbed me of joy,

and honoring this life that He has given me

right here, right now

with this man

and this family.

It is so rich and fulfilling

to see it expressed

in a way that is true to me and what I love.

If you get a chance to stop in,

my art & photography will be on display

at the

Sturgis Public Library

until January 30, 2012.

What a great experience . . .

Joining Jennifer & inspirational creative women here:

New Starts

2011-12-31T17:08:00.001-07:00

Yesterday.

Today.

Tomorrow.

I'm glad for the journey.

Glad for fresh starts, new beginnings,

another chance to get back up again.

Living moment to moment.

Strength to strength.

Glad for new mercies

each day.

Each day has good and bad.

And that's ok.

Each year has good and bad.

Triumphs and tumbles.

There is a time for everything.

Time for every purpose.

And everything

is made

beautiful

its

time.

Happy New Year 2012.

You crown the year with Your goodness,

and Your paths drip with

abundance.

Psalm 65:11

With My Girls

2011-12-29T22:25:00.000-07:00

Christmas vacation.

Overeating much richness, feasting, celebrating.

Rambunctious kids.

Time for exercise, fresh air, time together, photographs.

Honestly, I was planning to walk alone,

have some quiet,

listen to some Francesca, TobyMac, 10th Avenue North,

get a brisk, quick workout.

But my girls had other plans.

And that was best anyway.

Because we got all that we needed and more.

Can you tell by the looks on those faces

that they had sat next to a pile of deer poop?

And we were avoiding piles the entire time.

Erin had decided to draw a map of our trip.

Syd and I had repeatedly reminded her

that she would have to carry her notebook and pen

the entire way.

Which just made her more determined in her purpose

to use the notebook.

So as she drew up our plans,

I tried to take photos of my camera-shy girl.

This is why I have so few photos to share of my sweet Syd:

She said today that her friend Emily

has helped her to be more confident

and to laugh

and not worry about

other people looking at you

especially for programs and singing.

What a great friend for Emily to be!

We hunted for nests . . .

and good spots for

ice skating on

White Owl Creek.

piggy-back rides

stomping on mole-hills,

love,

and sister-laughs.

Erin's map showed the most important

part of her destination:

Can you see the distinct spot?

Here is a clue that we made it:

no lack of happiness, posing, or cuteness here.

Oh what fun to be four-and-a-half

and make it to your goal!

To jump and play on the haystacks.

She planned it out,

wrote it down,

talked about it all the way,

and took one step at a time toward it,

until she made it.

And then

she reveled in it,

celebrated,

had a blast!

Sigh of Christmas Relief

2011-12-21T17:16:00.001-07:00

{Sigh}

of relief.

School is done.

Programs are done.

{My birthday is done}.

Ready for a

silent

night

holy

night.

Remembering Mr. Monahan

2011-12-10T09:46:00.000-07:00

Sad. Simply sad

to lose my high school art and photography teacher

Mr. Tom Monahan.

I've been reading post after post on facebook

from so many of his former students.

Legacy.

That's what comes to mind.

Here's the legacy he left in my life . . .

When I was a senior in high school,

I signed up for the Junior Miss Pageant

because, well, it was on my "ought-to" list.

But I was SO worried and anxious the whole time

because I didn't think I had a "talent" to perform.

Whining and lamenting about this problem

{that I voluntarily signed up for}

Mr. Monahan gave me this idea.

Using black lights and neon pastel chalks,

draw and dance to music.

He gathered up the black lights and the black felt for me to paint and draw on.

Approximately 4x6 foot piece of felt/velvety material and mounted it on wood.

Then I used his airbrush to paint the picture.

I also airbrushed a t-shirt for part of my costume.

Each week I would go to practice and the other girls would practice their talent,

and I would say, "I'm working on it."

I practiced a bit at home, but really only did the real thing the night of the performance.

I won the creative and performing arts portion of the competition.

And if I remember correctly, I was a teachers aid for Mr. Monahan and Mr. LaRue that year.

I think I worked on that project when I was supposed to be helping them.

Yes, that was cool then to win an award.

But the legacy is now.

For the past 5 years, I have been teaching Bible school to middle schoolers.

Each year we have a program,

and the older kids seem to lose their enthusiasm for Bible school programs.

So we take the "fear" out of standing up in front of people

by turning out the lights and doing a skit with black lights

and use my old box of neon pastels from that high school pageant.

The kids and I love it.

I have received such notes of kindness about those skits.

And these skits that glorify God go back to my pageant project

that Mr. Monahan inspired.

I never would have thought of that on my own.

In addition, I was part of Art Club.

Mr. Monahan was an advisor and we were able to see first-hand

into what it takes to be an entrepreneur

with Tom's T's and that beginning of T&M Studios.

Because Mr. Monahan was my teacher,

I had the privilege of watching him start this business with Mr. LaRue, and see it grow.

Take something they loved and were interested in and build it.

Create a business.

Create jobs.

Do what he loved.

That was an inspiration to me.

Today, Mr. Monahan is one of many

that has inspired me to take risks

and do what I love.

A few weeks ago,

I was able to give Mr. Monahan a big hug

and proudly show him the work in art and photography

that I am doing today.

I felt like a school-kid again

showing my teacher,

"Look what I did."

I had no idea that would be the last time

I would see him.

But his legacy is carried on in my life.

I know others have their own legacy story . . .

of Mr. Monahan or of a beloved teacher.

I'd love to hear . . .

Simple Real Memories

2011-12-05T07:00:00.007-07:00

There were several years in my life

when I really lost the joy of the Christmas season.

It became a time laden with guilt and shame

about not being all that I thought I ought to be, should be, thought I wanted to be.

From the Christmas letter that seemed

to be mentally badgering me about unfulfilled dreams & goals

to self-imposed pressures of

perfection in career goals, balance as a wife and mom, holiday food, and financial success.

Christmas just seemed to tell me that I was coming up short in all these areas.

I put on a mask to hide all of this. But it was very much a battle within me.

When deep down in my heart,

I just wanted simple, stay-at-home, memories.

Not the grand, impressive successes that taunted me.

But really, truely, I wanted simplicity.

Yet I feared that wanting the different dream,

meant I was giving up, "playing the family first card",

meant I was making excuses for not being where I had set goals to be.

I feared it might just mean that I was a quitter.

But, about five years ago,

I began to let go of the dreams I thought I ought to have and pursue

and embrace the true desires within me.

The truth is

I love things that I was afraid were

dorky, cheesy, nerdy, corny.

I'd rather be a home-body

and make peanut-butter-pinecone birdfeeders

with Time-life classic Christmas music in the background

than be the top-seller of anything for the Christmas season.

I love putting planning and effort into

these lives

in my messy little kitchen.

I love making memories here.

I love that I let go of guilt and pressure.

I love that I let go of shaming myself.

And I love that I had so much fun with my kids

that I have thanked each of them

over and over again

this week

for doing this little

project with me.

I love that we had so much fun.

I love that it was so easy.

I love that I made

a silly production of putting the first pinecone on the tree

to show them what we were doing.

I love that they embraced

my silliness

and did their own little dramatic

hanging of each pine cone.

Complete with chasing each other,

Erin doing the chicken dance

and skipping with her

while Tom took pictures.

Erin always skips.

And do you know how hard it is to skip without smiling??

On this day,

I even loved the clutter of my kitchen

and that my apron made me look 20 pounds heavier than I think I am

{or maybe I really am 20 pounds heavier,

but the apron is a good excuse

--either way, I didn't and don't care}.

Because it just mattered

that I embraced the true me,

the true dreams,

the simplicity,

the imperfect beauty of my kids, myself, my place . . .

and made great memories.

Oddly, those years of lost joy,

seem to magnify my joy now.

So, I am grateful for those years too . . . for what they taught me for today.

Restored joy.

That's what it feels like.

I remember the year that the joy started to come back.

I watched It's A Wonderful Life for the first time.

I cried and cried and cried. Not just a little. But a LOT.

I saw myself COMPLETELY in that story.

That same year, the SAME THING happened

when I watched A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Charlie Brown cries out in his frustration,

"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"

And Linus says, "Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.

And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the fields,

keeping watch over their flocks by night.

And, lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them

and the glory of the Lord shone round about them

and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them,

'Fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings

of great joy

which shall be to all people.

For unto you

is born this day

in the city of David,

a Savior,

which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you,

ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.'

And suddenly there was there with the angel

a multitude of heavenly hosts

praising God and saying,

'Glory to God in the highest and on earth,

peace, goodwill toward men.'

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

I love, love, love that that's what Christmas is all about.

Christ the Lord.

Emmanuel.

God with us.

Totally rescued by Him

from my own thoughts

meeting my heart

through an old Christmas movie and cartoon.

And bringing me back

to simple joy with my kids.

Making these birdfeeders is one of my best Christmas memories yet.

Visit here for other great inspiration!

Be Real

2011-12-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

Be Real.

From The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams:

"Weeks passed, and the little Rabbit grew very old and shabby,

but the Boy loved him just as much."

"He loved him so hard that he loved all his whiskers off,

and the pink lining to his ears turned grey, and his brown spots faded.

He even began to lose his shape,

and he scarcely looked like a rabbit any more,

except to the Boy."

"To him he was always beautiful, and that was all the little Rabbit cared about.

He didn't mind how he looked to other people,

because the nursery magic had made him Real,

and when you are Real, shabbiness doesn't matter."

{Preview of what is to come in the Etsy shop this week!}

Art Moms & Friends Holiday Boutique

2011-11-22T09:55:00.001-07:00

Some of my favorite

work ever.

I have shipped off

to Art Moms & Friends Holiday Boutique

in Sioux Falls, SD.

{For the next 3 holiday shopping weekends}

A year ago . . .

I experimented . . .

making my first mixed media collage.

What a year it has been!

I remember how oddly

scared I felt when

I bought my first art supplies.

Fighting feelings and weird thoughts

like,

who do you think you are?

And showing my art the first time

feeling like a 37 year-old-child

with a

lemonade stand.

{Click "lemonade stand" above & you can read about that}

Every step of this journey

has felt extremely vulnerable.

Yet authentic.

True.

Wholehearted.

And that is just

how

want

be.

~ Birdhouse Art ~

2011-11-16T21:24:00.000-07:00

The gloss medium on this one

is not even dry . . .

so it is literally dripping

with

newness.

I was so afraid to use the

beads and glitter.

Afraid it would be too much . . .

But I decided to be

fearless . . .

The wings of His grace

fly me

when

I take

flying leaps

faith.

Creating like crazy

for

Sturgis, SD, Chamber Holiday Open House

Friday & Saturday.

And sending more to

Art Moms & Friends Holiday Boutique

in Sioux Falls, SD.

January will be

Artist of the Month at Sturgis Public Library.

And hoping for another BIG event in January.

Hope to make an announcement

if/when I get in . . .

and if not,

there is always

2013.

In The Studio This Week

2011-10-28T14:26:00.002-06:00

Lots happening in the studio this week!

A custom order from Etsy that I've been working on . . .

A lady from Vancouver found me

and one of her mom's favorite sayings is,

~ live by what you trust, not by what you fear ~

Isn't that awesome?

I loved it!

So here's photos . . . the gloss is still drying around the beads . . .

so the photos are "fresh"

Excited about my business facebook page!

Have you "liked" it yet?

You can give me the "thumbs up" here:

Jodene Shaw, Mixed Media Art & Photography

Also getting ready for upcoming events:

Pinedale Bazaar, Saturday, November 5, 2011, Rapid City, SD, 8:30am-3:00pm

Art Moms (and friends) Holiday Boutique in Sioux Falls, SD

Check out the info here: Art Moms LLC

So, I'm making art like crazy!

~And loving it!~

I {may} be at the Sturgis Holiday Open House on November 18-19 also.

Will announce this when it's "for sure" on the fb page!

My "Studio" music this week has been this:

"What If We Were Real" by MANDISA.

An album loaded with TRUTH and powerful messages!

Love this song: The Truth About Me

Creating new backgrounds with

my new Adirondack Alcohol Inks

and loving this

"patterned" background:

~ Proverbs 31 is my inspiration for this one ~

which reminds me of both of my grandmothers

in their own unique way.

And my little creative artist is working

by my side:

on her "Moxie Girl" kit that I am thinking

we need to use for our Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.

I adore Operation Christmas Child

and Moxie Girls.

Have you heard of them?

Check out "OCC" here: Operation Christmas Child

~ Love sharing Jesus with kids with all my heart ~

~ There's no greater difference in a life than wholehearted belief in and love for Him. ~

And here is "Moxie" message:

Here's a fun idea for this weekend: Pumpkin Mess - age

It's a little tradition I do with my kids & at church last year.

Not sure who to give credit to . . . received it via e-mail several years ago.

But the message sticks & is SO good.

Here's to a great week in your studio!

Mother's Encouragement

2011-10-24T10:25:00.003-06:00

Every so often my mom has read my blog or facebook posts

and does not comment online

but waits for a face-to-face word to share.

And so her words of wisdom came to me this weekend

at, of all places, Chuck E. Cheese.

"You're too hard on yourself," she told me.

"Grandma Edna always said about her house,

'Clean enough to be healthy. Dirty enough to be happy.'

Some days when Marlene and I would come home from school,

she would be quilting or doing an upholstry project,

the lunch dishes would still be in the sink and on the counter,

and her project was all over the dining room.

We would look around the house at the mess,

and she'd say, 'Why don't you girls do those dishes?'"

My mom's story about my Grandma Edna

makes me laugh with relief.

I was glad to know she was that way.

Because that is exactly what happens to my house

when I am shoulder deep in a project with tunnel vision for it's completion.

My Grandma Edna and Grandpa Tommy

were two of the happiest people I have ever known.

And everywhere I went with them,

people greeted them with huge smiles.

We would walk in the Senior Center in Miller, SD,

and the men would say,

"Heyyy, Tommy!"

and Grandpa Tommy would have a teasing word for them

and then sit down to play cards.

"Clean enough to be healthy. Dirty enough to be happy."

Ok, so maybe I don't feel quite as condemned about my housekeeping.

Although, I still get a little crazy about it,

I guess that is when it is not clean enough to be healthy

and it is way too dirty to be happy . . .

Thanks, Mom.

I post pretty pictures, and art, and celebrations,

but I am a real woman that gets overwhelmed and frustrated too

with big stuff, but often with the little day-to-day stuff.

So, I have to remind myself to find beauty in the mess.

And I have respect and grace for those

trying to do this life well,

but that fall down, get in a pit, get frustrated, break,

and do their best to get back up again,

get put together again

with God's help.

Gracing myself & gracing others
flows out of the well of grace
that I receive from Jesus.
Giving what I've been given.

I heard this song by Mandisa
while I was folding laundry today
that said,
"Can't live my whole life wastin'
all the grace that I know You've given..."
That's what I'm talking about.
Beating myself up is wasting His grace.
Listen to "Waiting for Tomorrow" by Mandisa here:
Waiting for Tomorrow

Linking here . . . be encouraged . . .

~ More Difficult Than I Ever Thought It Would Be ~

2011-10-20T16:00:00.001-06:00

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches on the soul ~ e. dickenson.
{Available in Etsy shop}

~ reminding myself that life is one moment, one step, at a time and there is grace for all the stuff that I fall down in and grace for everything that is so much more difficult than I ever thought it would be twenty years ago when I thought I could do anything and everything with perfect excellence ~

~ thinking today about grace ~

~ God's grace that catches me when I fall and sets me back on my feet again ~

~ receiving that grace ~

~ gracing myself ~

~ rather than shaming myself ~

~ gracing others ~

~ rather than thinking they should have that fixed, under control, handled ~

~ knowing I need it ~

It's why I placed my artwork here above my

grace-needing kitchen sink

~ because it's one of those places I most need grace ~

~ grace has me thinking ~

~ about how life is more difficult than I ever thought it would be ~

~ kind of like how before a person has kids . . .

they know how they will raise them,

and how those kids will behave ~

~ until their own child is humbling . . . making a person eat their own words ~

~ I've got grace for mamas. ~

Grace for those that couldn't nurse and gave up.

Grace for those that nursed beyond what social rules said was ok.

Grace for those with fearful, cautious, obedient, clingy kids.

And grace for those with courageous, determined, button-pushing, line-crossing kids.

Grace for those whose kids are constantly fighting and wondering . . .

will they even be friends when they are adults????

Grace for those whose kids are adults . . . and aren't even friends.

~ grace has me thinking ~

~ about those who went for their dreams with all the wrong motives ~

~ and failed and beat themselves ~

~ like a body tossed against the rocks by the waves of the sea ~

~ sacrificing what was important ~

~ I've got grace for those with broken dreams ~

~ and those who dared to dream a new dream ~

~ grace for those who dare to stand up again after being broken ~

~ grace has me thinking ~

~ about how it is easy to judge a life I am not living ~

~ grace has me thinking ~

~ about how I used to feel so guilty about crying in front of my kids ~

~ about showing weakness, tears, vulnerability in their sight ~

~ how I used to be afraid of breaking in my own sight ~

~ afraid of failure ~

~ yet how I have learned that we all break sometimes ~

~ and life goes on ~

~ and God's grace puts me back together more beautiful than before ~

~ gives me grace for others ~ compassion ~

~ grace shows my kids that breaking, failure, and weakness does not need to stop you forever ~

~ it's not the end of the world ~

~ I used to be determined not to break ~ not to show weakness ~

~ But I have found grace in brokenness

that allows the false and the temporary to crack and fall off

to reveal the deeper

foundation

character

truth

that lies beneath.

The brokenness bathed in grace

lets the real-ness,

the authenticity

come forth.

And the broken masks fall away

to beautiful truth . . .

maybe messy,

maybe imperfect,

maybe shabby,

maybe limited,

maybe not able to do it all,

maybe not having it all together,

but beautiful, authentic, true,

bathed in grace.

I love what my friend & mentor Joan C. Webb says,

"Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful."

~That's grace.~

{Love her book The Relief of Imperfection}

Linking with these inspiration artists here:

Sunflower Art

2011-10-11T21:07:00.001-06:00

Simply

excited

to share

new

art

with you . . .

Truly.

What you believe, is how you will live.

That is how important belief is.

What you believe about yourself, about others, about life.

You will live the truth of your belief.

Sometimes I have to stop, take a breath, and ask myself,

"What am I believing today, in this moment?"

And then ask myself this question,

"Is this thought that I am believing true?"

"Am I going to choose to believe this, or something else?"

We all believe something.

It might as well be true.

Hold out your hands

to feel

the

luxury

of the sunbeams.

~ Helen Keller ~

Better is one day in your courts

than thousands elsewhere. . .

For the Lord God is a sun and a sheild . . . Psalm 85

I found this sweet little childrens song

in my great-grandmothers hymnal ~

"Jesus wants me for a sunbeam"

Joining my friends . . . in their studios . . .

Western Inspiration ~ Shaw Ranch

2011-10-01T19:09:00.009-06:00

"I just love this!"

I really do!

I really love these pictures

of our home and family.

One of the ways I can tell

I love them is that they make me

fall in love with my husband

and this life he's given me

all over again.

Considering this is my "before" photo of the edited one above:

Last night I had the privilege to see a presentation by western photographer

David Stoecklein at the opening of the Black Hills Photo Shootout.

I could not sleep when I got home

because I was so excited to work with these photos

that I managed to sneak in taking a few weeks ago

when we did our fall shots for the ranch.

So I stayed up until 1 a.m. last night working with these photos.

David Stoecklein was so excited to show his work.

I loved that!

Over and over again, he would say,

"I just love this one!"

and

"Do you guys like this? Because I really do?"

and

"Isn't that great?"

And I thought, ok, there is a lesson here.

And that lesson is this:

Don't be afraid, ashamed or embarrassed to love your work

and say that you do.

In addition to that,

I wanted to remember a few things

that hit me straight to

the business mind

and

the creative soul.

These aren't necessarily his exact words,

but they are what his presentation

conveyed to me.

What matters about composition

is that

you,

the creative-artist-photographer,

love the shot.

Not rules.

But your gut reaction & emotion

about the story of the photo.

Big Sky. Big Land.

You have got to be able to name

the things you do

and

the things you do not like

about your work,

so that you can weed out what you don't like.

This is true about

photography,

art,

life.

Then

your work

your life

will reflect

fulfillment...satisfaction.

Honor people with your work.

Don't make them look stupid.

A photo is a snapshot of someone's identity

Respect that.

{Hopefully I did not do that. I certainly never mean to.}

{My desire with these photos is to honor this life with my husband & family.}

The Gatekeeper.

Every picture

should tell a story.

And you need to know what that story is.

Storytelling helps you make adjustments

in your photos to make them better.

{I've been adjusting these stories I'm sharing here!}

Tell the story.

Story and light.

Those are the two key things in creative photography.

Take things that happen by chance

and learn from them.

Whew! That was good advice for me

to hear.

Because these shots working cattle

were taken by chance . . .

Trying not to get caught

snapping pictures

while I was supposed

to be pushing cattle up the shoot.

Learn from what happened by chance.

Get your name out there.

Submit to magazines & publications.

Name recognition is important.

Name and style.

Establish a signature style.

So that your work is identified with you.

Story.

Light.

Honor.

Love your work.

Say you love it.

Name.

Your own name.

And name your likes & dislikes.

So you can link your name with your

signature style.

This is my story.

My story of

family.

My story of our life.

And

just

love

it!

{These photos & this life!}

{It's not perfect ~ there's always things we can improve.}

{But it doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful.}

Joining Jen {check out her winged art!} and

these talented artists here:

Find Beauty In The Mess

2011-09-30T10:35:00.003-06:00

Find Beauty in the Mess piece is for sale here: Jodene Shaw Etsy Store

Life never lets us catch up

does it?

Especially "balancing"

family {wife} [mom] (self)

household {cleaning} [money] (food-cooking-cost-nutruition)

health {weight} [nutrition] (mental)

personal {goals} [business dreams]

spiritual {growth} [quiet time] (worship)

But there is beauty in midst

of it all . . .

It take a conscious effort . . .

. . . does not come natural some --

no,

most

days

But it is there . . .

right there . . .

. . . so close . . .

like butterflies

in the

mud

beauty

just out my door

in the secret beauty of White Owl Creek,

in a mud puddle on my gravel road,

or in my messy kitchen

smiling through maple syrup and crumbs

on a 4 year old face.

Sneak Peeker, here's my finished "Open the Door" art work

with the doorknobs that I shared a couple weeks ago:

Open the Door.

Thanks for stopping in & visit these other inspirational

artists, photographers, writers . . .

Open the Door

2011-09-30T10:33:00.000-06:00

Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears me and opens the door

I will come in . . .

I am the Door . . .

Art.

Takes me on quite a journey

sometimes.

It can be like a

living

breathing

moving

act

prayer

worship

Bible study

all at once.

In which the LORD

speaks to my heart . . .

I'm knocking . . .

open up the door

. . . you know I am the Door . . .

to walk through for Life

the Door to open and come through

and to get behind for protection too . . .

let's talk, you and Me.

Journey through The Door of passover,

The Door of salvation,

The Door of relationship,

The Door of Life.

This Matters {Part 2}

2011-09-27T10:24:00.001-06:00

This matters.

This day.

This moment.

Of pink boots on the wrong feet

with purple socks, capris,

and a sassy shirt.

This moment of blonde hair in her eyes.

And holding hands with chipped polish.

This matters.

Sunshine through fall leaves.

Climbing on cool rocks.

Sorting cottonwood, ash, elm and woodvine.

Scattering summer's flower seeds.

And smashing wood vine berries.

Just to see what it looks like inside.

This matters.

Right here.

Right now.

Fall leaves are here today and gone tomorrow . . .

just like this young robin

and a little sass-a-frass.

This moment matters.

This Matters {Part 1}

2011-09-26T11:01:00.002-06:00

There is much on my mind

about to-do lists & day-to-day stuff . . .

as well as what to focus on next

for art & photography.

But this morning

Erin is 4 1/2.

And she asks me to come outside

"I need a little push here, Mom."

And I hear these words whisper in my mind:

This matters.

Don't miss {Part 2} here: This Matters Part 2

Ospery On Snake River

2011-09-20T14:40:00.000-06:00

Give me a camera

and I'm content.

A camera while I'm surrounded by birds . . .

well, it's going to be a challenge

to remove me from the situation!

Last month,

we were in Grand Teton National Park.

Ducks, geese, eagles, ospery.

Nests everywhere.

Husband and son fish on the Snake River.

My two girls and I camp on the side.

Girls with a little fish net for minnows.

Me with a camera.

Ducks & "adolescent" ducklings

floating 3 feet in front of me.

I had the camera on wrong setting

so I scrambled for a few shots.

Ospery swooping over the river.

I told my girls to keep an eye on him

because he was looking for fish to eat.

After an hour of them catching minnows,

me telling Erin to stay on the edge,

while I constantly was "bear aware" ~ looking over my shoulders,

here is what we saw . . .

{the photo quality is not great, but the experience was AMAZING}.

After the ospery patiently waited for the perfect timing

caught his fish and flew off,

a young eagle swooped by and bullied him

into dropping his fish.

And then he went back to his tree to start all over again.

Me, being the "bird-nerd" that I am,

was out-of-my-skin excited to see something like that!

I decided I need some lessons though

on bird photography . . . or perhaps some new equipment!

*If you'd like to share, please ask!

*Thanks for your kindness here!

Yes, I Am An Artist

2011-09-19T14:47:00.003-06:00

2012

Senior Class President 1992

~ 20 year class reunion coming up ~

Time to gather a planning group . . .

So this weekend, I look at my junior high & high school scrapbook...

"Class Artist" award,

has a little cut-out that says

"Yes I am an artist."

I didn't set out to be an artist-even a year ago,

but here I am.

Who would've thought???

Yes, I am indeed an artist.

In fact, in that embarrassingly huge scrapbook of report cards, clubs, activites and yada-yada-yada attempts of trying to prove myself...

"yes I am an artist"

is probably the truest thing

about who I was then

in that book

{even if I didn't acknowledge or fully embrace it}.

All those other things I kept in that scrapbook

were like something I was grasping for

to make me be "enough".

Yet I never felt "enough".

Twenty years ago,

what I really wanted for a class award was

"Most Likely to Succeed"

which went to my friend Brooke.

But it seems my classmates may have seen

the real me

when I did not want to look at me.

Really "Class Artist"

was much more true to me than "Senior Class President".

Senior Class President was a title

I sought to feed insecurity and pride

because, really, seeing my name at the top of a list,

somehow seemed like it would make me valid and secure.

Would prove that I had value.

But that title didn't give me value.

I am more embarrassed about that title now . . .

because I know why I wanted it.

Yet, I own that part of my life.

Because it was part of my journey

to today.

And I made it through all of that.

It has taken me 20 years to own it.

But then it has also

taken me 20 years to stop trying to prove myself

to others,

but mostly

myself.

And 20 years

to embrace

the authenticity of me.

And 20 years

to develop a passion

for a message to share.

And 20 years

to artistically express

something that is authentic

rather than what I think

will prove my worth.

And 20 years to know

I am

secure and valid as a person

because of my Savior

Jesus Christ

who took care of all of my

insecurities and ugly thoughts & actions

once and for all.

And 20 years to continue

learning

and

growing

faith

and

truth,

and to be able to admit

I do not have it all together,

and be ok with that

because I never will.

After 20 years,

I can be an artist

because

I know what I believe,

and I'm ready to walk in it

one step at a time,

knowing I will stumble and fall,

yet knowing I can get back up again,

in faith rather than fear,

in truth rather than masks . . .

After 20 years,

I am no longer mostly motivated by

fear and doubt and insecurity

but I am primarily motivated

and make decisions

by faith and belief and security...

in Someone far greater than myself

who gives me strength and courage for all things.

~Soli Deo Gloria~

Moondancers

2011-09-17T23:52:00.000-06:00

~ always fun to play and dance with the full moon ~

Creative Adventures

2011-09-16T11:01:00.001-06:00

Recently, I had the great honor of creating an artwork

for Delain Johnson's new office:

The Sparrow's Nest ~ A Center for Hope and Life Transition

I've known Delain since I was a little girl.

Her sons went to school with my brother Reed.

She has such a heart to counsel and care . . .

I know she will continue to help and encourage others.

When I delivered to her home,

we shared such rich conversation and hugs.

And she gave me many new ideas an inspiration for art.

She was participating in a community rummage sale,

and so I got to trade with her for these:

I am so excited to get to work and share what they become!

In addition, I have a little peg-hanger,

a 5-6 foot wooden shelf with pegs

and 4 hollow wooden columns that are already primed

...all from Delain.

Looking forward to sharing what they become!

Sharing photos of the work in progress on my new facebook fan page:

Jodene Shaw, Mixed Media Artist and Photographer

I'd "love" your "likes"!

Joining some of my favorite inspirational artists and their blogs today

for sneak peeks into their studios visit Jennifer's blog here:

Don't Feed the Bears

2011-09-13T21:25:00.002-06:00

Last month we visited the Grand Teton National Forest.

Everywhere: reminders about the bears.

Here's the rules:

BE BEAR AWARE

1. Don't surprise the bear. Make noise.

{That's why there are people with jingle bells on their backpacks.}

{We, however, had Erin who talks or sings constantly.}

2. Don't get between mama bear and her cubs.

3. Don't mess with her cubs.

4. Stay 100 yards away from the bear.

5. Don't leave food anywhere: in your backpack, in a cooler, at camp.

In other words, DON'T FEED the bears.

Did I mention cubs?

Notice the sign above says,

"Removal of this sign may cause INJURY to others."

and

"THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF YOUR SAFETY

WHILE HIKING OR CAMPING IN BEAR COUNTRY"

We learned that, of all bears, "mama grizz" is the most dangerous of all.

She is social {around people}

and she is fiercly protective of what she loves {cubs}.

A tired & hungry bear that just woke up from hibernation is also cranky and dangerous.

NOTE: If you visit my blog for the photos,

feel free to just scroll along to see the Grand Teton photos.

If, however, you read to peer into my spiritual journey,

you may want to pour yourself your favorite drink and get comfy.

Because what I'm going to share in between these photos

of beautiful Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls, and Inspiration Point,

is not really about our hike that day

but about me and my Master.

I have been a tired, hungry "mama grizz" the past few weeks.

And He's been teaching and correcting me

by the patient, gentle, sweet Holy Spirit,

in layer after layer after layer.

Putting out one piece of the puzzle, then another, and another, and another.

This message really is for me.

And if it is not for you, that is totally ok.

But I share because it is helping me . . . and perhaps it might help another.

Linking up with these ladies:

Syd & Erin's hands stamped "Be Bear Aware".

Be bear aware.

Aware of my inner bear . . . my mama grizz.

The layer He gives me first, is this story from Delain that she posted on facebook:

{and I know it is NOT in the Bible, but He is using it to patiently teach me}

“A Native American grandfather talking to his young grandson

tells the boy he has two wolves inside of him struggling with each other.

The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness.
The other wolf is fear, greed and hatred.

'Which wolf will win, grandfather?' asks the young boy.

'Whichever one I feed,' is the reply.”

I read this story and instantly I am "bear aware".

Even though this story is wolves, I can call them bears.

And whichever bear I feed that lives inside of me will grow and dominate and win.

I'm aware of "Mama Jodi Grizz".

I'm aware of that gut-grizzly

that will fight for these cubs

and those that help sustain and nourish me

like my man,

and my "siestas", my "tas philas", my sisters in Spirit, my girlfriends.

That Mama Grizz can take some hidden falls if she's not careful

before she gets to the inspiration point . . . and she has been on edge.

So this edgy Mama Griz takes herself to a teacher: Beth Moore

at a simulcast broadcast from Lubbock,TX.

Knowing there is going to be a word of teaching, even correction maybe.

And the first point the teacher says is

1. We were created to be in good company.

Good company. Social. Mama Grizz is social. And meant for good company.

She reads 1 Peter 1:22,

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit

in sincere love of the brethren,

love one another fervently with a pure heart...

And Beth makes these two profound statements that I personally

have EXPERIENCED TO BE TRUE:

Disobedience to God deforms the heart.

Obedience to God reforms the heart.

To be pure hearted means to be obedient.

It is a difficult, sometimes extremely hard, word to live by.

But I know that He rewards me when I trust that His way is going to take me to a

renewed, rebuilt, reformed heart.

And I know that it will be SO GOOD if I just take a deep breath,

stop my disobedience that is twisting my heart into unrecognizable ugliness,

and obey and let my heart be purified...

which in the end is such

a relief.

Hidden Falls near Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park

She shares point number 2:

2. An individual calling can only be fulfilled in a "we" context.

Of course, just when I'm feeling frustrated with

so many "we" instances,

this social Mama Grizz is reminded that

the good company, the we, is important -- is vital.

Then comes reassuring point 3:

3. God never overlooks a single "me" in the greater "we".

Oh. Mama Grizz. Trust that you won't be forgotten.

Do I? Do I trust that even though

I don't get my way,

or that I don't get to be right,

or that I don't get to be the visible "winner",

that He has not forgotten about me, has not overlooked me, will not take care of me?

I see this in my notes from Beth's teaching:

"Your victory is in His authority."

AND

"Your abundant life is in obedience to God."

And I hear a whisper in my heart . . .

not self, not others, not popular ways,

not politics, not pride, not image, not material stuff. . .

You know it's true . . . you have experienced it.

Another layer of teaching me is added as I teach Sunday School:

Israel demands a king to be like everybody else.

They want to be like everybody else.

God is not good enough to be their leader in their minds.

So, He gives them what they want.

Yep. He has given me what I wanted, what I demanded.

Let my heart de-form.

And He has gently, sweetly, tenderly re-formed my heart when I quit

doing the "everybody else" way.

The focus verse the kids and I had was this:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.Proverbs 3:5-6

Ok, so I had to go back to the beginning . . . this good company thing.

Back to my notes from Beth Moore to look at the scripture . . . alone . . .

just me and my Master.

Writing fast and furious is how I am when learning from Beth Moore

and this was all I got down:

2 Timothy 2:22 ~ in company with others of pure heart.

So I look it up. And as I read, my eyes are urged to keep reading.

So I do.

Good company.

...pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace

with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes,

knowing that they generate strife.

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel

but be gentle to all . . .

And the Mama Grizz in me starts to quiet down,

and the gentle bear starts to be fed and grow and dominate.

I read on. And the words feed the other bear of

peace, love and kindness.

Inspiration Point, 7200 feet. Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park

I begin to remember and see the truth.

The truth that He has my back.

Really. He does.

He always has my back

even when it does not turn out my way.

He always has my back when

people hurt my feelings, offend me, or do not like what I have done.

He has my back

even when it is hard to choose His way.

Even when everything and everyone screams to go this way.

Because He rewards following His path

with strength, courage, confidence, peace, joy

that is bigger than the other stuff

and that cannot be taken away.

He is there protecting the treasure

deep within

down at the core

that, at times, I do not even realize is there.

He knows how to guard and protect

what is important in each "me"

as we live and work with and in

the greater "we".

He knows the rich, valuable depths

that I am unaware of

that he wants to refine, purify, grow.

And so therefore, He really does have my back

when I trust Him with all of my heart,

when I don't lean on my understanding,

but into Him instead.

Because my understanding will tip me over the cliff

and He is like this solid, unmoving rock wall

that is the guard and guide

of my rocky path on the side of the mountain.

And how do I show that I trust Him?

By following this way

that He is showing me

even if the "Mama Grizz" wants to fight and quarrel.

By feeding the gentle spirited bear, so I can be His.

So what were Beth's last points?

4. Jesus became a friend of sinners so that we could become a friend of God.

{She was teaching about Luke and shared that his writings were dedicated to a man named Theophilus, which means "friend of God"...some scholars think Luke was writing to the "greater we" rather than an individual person. Luke wrote more about friendship, about outcasts, about healing, and about women than any other New Testament writer. She encouraged us to be empowered by the invasive, pervasive love of Christ so that we can live the "most excellent way" in 1 Corinthians 12:31 which is love. Love.}

5. We can revel in the certainty of the things that we've been taught.

We can know that what we have been taught in His word is true, is certain.

And that His teaching is not meant just for our brain, but about reaching us.

It is not about having knowledge, but about living a relationship with Him & others.

My certainty, our certainty is not in circumstance, but in Jesus Christ.

She said {and this is such a foundation of my personal faith}

The more you need Him, the more of Him you get, the more of Him you receive.

6. Jesus has passed us the salt also.

We are to be salt.

Salt enhances flavor, cleanses, preserves, melts, and causes thirst.

7. We can also be many convincing proofs that Jesus Christ is alive.

We can choose it. I can can choose it.

Or I can choose not to.

Disobedience to God deforms the heart.

Obedience to God reforms the heart.

Which bear will I feed?

To learn more about Beth Moore and her teaching, events and resources

Visit the Living Proof website here: Beth Moore Living Proof

The Medicine Wheel

2011-09-11T16:41:00.001-06:00

When I was a girl,

my parents loaded my brother and me

up in the pickup camper for a trip to Yellowstone.

On our way, Reed & I rode in the camper.

Even if we would fight, they couldn't hear us.

Or at least they pretended they couldn't hear us

banging on the camper window.

{Hmmm . . . the pickup-topper camper is sounding good.}

On one of those trips I remember looking out the camper window

being terrified by a narrow cow-trail-thin road with steep cliffs out the side.

My dad, always interested in native history, was taking us to the Medicine Wheel.

10,000 feet above sea level {and it looked like it}

in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming.

So, for nostalgia sake, I wanted to revisit the site and take our own kids.

{They were about as excited as I was at age 9 or 10.}

It appeared they no longer let you drive to the top.

So we set out to walk the *3 mile* round trip.

Last summer we took the *3 mile* Lover's Leap trail in Custer State Park.

Which you can view here: Hiking Lover's Leap 3 "so-called" miles with a 3-year-old

Neither seemed *3 mile*.

But perhaps with "little E", now 4 years old,

*3 miles* feels much longer.

{But do I recommend both hikes? YES! ABSOLUTELY!}

So even though, we said "yes" to

"how much farther?"

We also said yes to

chipmunks & pikas

marmots and mountain views,

wind and a trail that looked

oddly like the Great Wall of China

that stretched out to the horizon . . .

We said yes to,

"Is that where we are walking to?"

and walking

some more.

Yes to hearing the story

of the Medicine Wheel

given by a woman with beautiful raven-colored hair

on a wind-swept mountain top.

Yes to "I'm cold."

Because we didn't bring sweatshirts

but decided to go anyway.

Yes to piggy back rides.

And we said yes to spotting a herd of elk . . .

on what looked like a giant's golf course.

And yes to the experience

of watching some yearling calves

up for the adventure

of chasing a herd of elk off their

grassy knoll . . .

Which was a "yes" to something

we had never seen before . . .

Yes to alpine wildflowers

and "yes"

to new

shared memories.

Sunflower~A~Day 15

2011-08-31T16:18:00.000-06:00

Exceeding Abundance.

Now to Him

who is able to do exceedingly abundantly

above all that we ask or think,

according to the power that works in us,

to Him be glory

in the church by Christ Jesus

to all generations

forever and ever.

Amen.

Ephesians 3:20

Sunflower~A~Day 14

2011-08-30T13:58:00.000-06:00

"You've been halfway living your life for too long . . .

when it's time to die, go ahead and die,

and when it's time to live, live.

Don't sort-of-maybe live, but live like you're going all out,

like you're not afraid."

~August Boatwright~

from The Secret Life of Bees

Sue Monk Kidd

It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink,

and to enjoy the good of all his labor

in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life

which God gives him;

for it is his heritage.

Ecclesiastes 5:18

Live like you mean it.

Now.

When life is good,

enjoy it.

Praise God.

When it is bad,

lean into God.

Praise God.

Gratitude for blessings.

Gratitude for His strength.

Sunflower~A~Day 13

2011-08-29T11:01:00.003-06:00

The grass withers,

the flower fades,

but the word of our God

stands forever.

Isaiah 40:8

~ Linking with Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood ~

Sunflower~A~Day 12

2011-08-27T09:47:00.002-06:00

an excerpt from The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd . . .

"Was your Big Mama the one who taught you to keep bees?"

August took off her glasses and cleaned them on the scarf at her waist. "She taught me lots more about bees than just how to keep them. She used to tell me one tall bee tale after another."

I perked up, "Tell me one," I said.

August thumped her finger on her forehead like she was trying to tap one of them off some back shelf in her head. Then her eyes lit up, and she said, "Well, one time Big Mama told me she went out to the hives on Christmas Eve and heard the bees singing the words of the Christmas story right out of the gospel of Luke." August started singing then in a humming sort of way, "Mary brought forth her firstborn child and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in the manger.'"

I giggled. "Do you think that really happened?"

"Well, yes and no," she said. "Some things happen in a literal way, Lily. And then other things, like this one, happen in a not-literal way, but they still happen. Do you know what I mean?"

I didn't have a clue. "Not really," I said.

"What I mean is that the bees weren't really singing the words from Luke, but still, if you have the right kind of ears, you can listen to a hive and hear the Christmas story somewhere inside yourself. You can hear silent things on the other side of the everyday world that nobody else can. Big Mama had those kind of ears . . . "

I get that.

I hear that.

This makes me feel like I'm not the only one.

Like hearing those things

is real

is good

is ok.

{I know. This is just a fiction book. But I relate.}

This is what I get:

God speaks my language.

He knows each individual language.

Deeper than English, Spanish, Japanese.

He know the language of my individual, unique, authentic heart.

Of your individual, unique, authentic heart.

And if I listen wholeheartedly

He will speak to me.

And if you listen wholeheartedly

He will speak to you.

In the core of your being.

I believe that.

That is when the words jump of the page in my Bible.

And that is when He is speaking to me

through birds, butterflies, stars, flowers, my kids . . .

on the pages of my journal and through paint and pictures . . .

{like August and the bees}.

*~*

That passage reminds me of this:

For since the creation of the world

His invisible attributes are clearly seen,

being understood by the things that are made,

even His eternal power and Godhead,

so that they are without excuse.

Romans 1:20