Testing Waters

Each day

is

testing

new

waters.

Putting

one.

foot.

in.

front.

of.

the.

other.



A

new

today

to

begin

again.



To bloom.

To be real.

To be me.



To

take

another

flying

leap

of

faith.



Each step

with

writing,

photography,

and

art



has

felt

big,

risky,

vulnerable.

Fifteen months ago

I bought

my first

"grown-up" art supplies,

and I took a deep breath of courage when I did.

I

felt the same

way

yesterday

when I bought my first canvases.



I can't believe how much courage

it takes to move from

found wood that others were planning to burn . . .

to a canvas.

And that was just buying them.

I haven't even begun to paint on them.

But these pieces of wood and my newly matted photo prints

that I have poured

my heart into

will be part of my first public events.

And my "studio"

is  full of

works in progress.

Small steps and big steps

toward living the authentic & creative life I want to be living.

Each has felt big.

Resigning a work position.  Beginning a blog. 

Speak at Women's retreat.

Flying Lessons e-course.

Black Hills Photo Shootout. Writing Believe Truth.

Painting~collage~mixed media.

Showing pictures of my work.

Opening an Etsy shop.

Art booths

at

Cammack's Open House, Union Center, SD, April 14

Faith Spring Fling, Faith SD, April 15

South Dakota Chocolate Festival, Spearfish, SD, April 30-May 1.

This is a sneak peek of what I am preparing for

in my studio

{which is in my kitchen}.

Each is a step

that requires me to be

brave,

and

have faith in the One who called me on this journey.

To

be strong

and

courageous,

not terrified or discouraged

for the Lord my God

will be with me

wherever I go.

(Joshua 1:9)

I am so proud and happy

to have been invited to be a part

of Jennifer's

In The Studio Sneak Peek Friday group

which is on

(in) Courage this week here:

In The Studio on (in) Courage

I have been richly blessed by the talents of these women

and

grateful to Jennifer for hosting, brainstorming with me,

and inspiring me with her

creative life.

*

Art & photography copyright Jodene (Jodi) Shaw 2011.

Sneak Peek Friday: BEGIN...one small step at a time

Today is . . .

Sneak Peak Friday ~ In The Studio

Sponsored by Jennifer over at Studio JRU

If you'd like to join, just click above!

So here is my sneak peak of creativity this week . . .

I am working on a piece

"Begin...one small step at a time"

It is what I have been doing lately

even though some steps have felt like

giant leaps of faith

those did require small steps to get to the leaping point.

It seems to be a theme at this time of year and life

*back to school for my kids

*New friends from Flying Lessons~artists, photographers, writers taking new steps

*writing this Believe Truth e-course

*registering for the Black Hills Photo Shootout

Beginning one small step at a time

often includes walking toward one thing and away from another.

Even when we know we should and want to

there is a part that wants to stay and hang on to where we have been.

This morning my three year old daughter Erin wanted to visit Grandma.

So we decided it would be a step of courage for her.

She was quite hesitant to go,

but Toby, the beagle, went with her.

I gave her a popscicle for the walk...a treat to occupy her mind.

She walked along the road

looking back at me every so often

standing on the deck.

Then started down the hill.

I saw her blonde top-knot pony tail bobbing along

until it almost disappeared.

Then she called, "Mommmm??"

And the pony tail reappeared.

"It's ok!"  I hollered to her.

Then she disappeared completely from my sight.

Again, she called, "Mom?" from the point where she could not see me

but she could still hear my voice.

"You're ok"  I called back.

She has to pass through a spot

where she can't see home

and she can't see Grandma's house.

But then I saw her appear again at the bottom of the hill . . .

first the pony tail along with the white tip of Toby's tail.

Then bit by bit her whole little body,

and Toby's too,

were visible.

At that point, I could hear Grandma call, "Hi!!"

Erin started skipping and faintly I heard, "I have popscicles!"

Grandma's yellow lab Ruger started barking his greeting.

She was at her new destination.

Starting with one small hesitant step in the way she wanted to go.

Isn't it like that?

I know I am supposed to go a new way.

I have to take that hesitant first step in this new direction.

I take a companion for comfort.

And maybe a little treat for some diversion.

But then I cannot see where I left, nor where I am going.

Yet, I am on the road.

And the road keeps going showing me the next steps.

I call out to God.

To know He is there.

I cannot see Him, but I can hear His voice.

Even if it is not audible to my ears.

I can hear it in my spirit.

And it gives me courage when I can't see where I left

and I can't see where I am going.

But then, stepping one small step after another,

I begin to get a glimpse of the new destination.

And there it is that my fear turns into enthusiasm.

And I start skipping.

Photos and text copyright Sept. 2010 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.