the (little) ones that I love

I love being aunt birdie!  Only a few weeks until I get to kiss them all...

 

5 month old beauties

first day of preschool

"oh look mother darling! my hair is in shambles again"

"yay! almost time to get naked!"

Crank Shaft

There are car parts in my house, and there always will be. I have accepted it. This crank shaft for example, is actually kind of cool, and I am determined to find a way to re-purpose it into something awesome.

Who knows? Maybe some day we could weld up all the old parts that he isn't using and make some cool outdoor sculptures - cars for him, art for me - perfect!

Well,  during a recent showing, we were leaving a property when I saw the mailbox out of the corner of my eye.   I said, "Stop the truck!!!" and pointed out the window to show whatahusband. If I did believe in signs, this would definitely be one. :) Could this be our new home??

Setback

I'm struggling.

When we decided to close my business so I could devote more time to my art, I immediately became nervous and excited. I filled the studio with materials and excitedly went to work.

My excitement waned into sadness. I'm rusty. I'm not as good as I used to be. I feel like I'm back in my freshman Intro to Drawing class..."Is that a Popsicle Lindsay?"  "Um, well it's supposed to be a tree."

I know that I am an Artist, and that is what I'm supposed to be doing right now, so why this barrier? Yeah, yeah I know that with practice I can re-strengthen my skills, but my heart is ready. God gave me a vision and the circumstances to pursue this...but I feel setback.

I was at the college art supply store this week to re-stock. I used to work and teach right across the street.  Back then, I knew the art supply staff and they knew me. They respected me as a noted member of my field. The manager of the store was my friend. Students asked me for my help when shopping. I purchased special paper from the back and used a specific kind of ink that had to be ordered.  This week when I went in, I was a stranger to everyone. I didn't know where they kept the pencils I was looking for. I received advice from an arrogant young clerk who thought I needed some suggestions on what kind of paper to buy. She said it was a great paper for beginners.  I paid for my materials and left. I sat out in my car and cried. Humbled.

The pastor at our church has been preaching about the life of David before he became a King - his struggles, his mis-steps, his strengths, his failures -- the best word would be his journey. God told David he would be a king. David knew who he was. But God didn't put him on the thrown at 10 years old, it was 20 years later, when he was 30. In those 20 years, David went through every imaginable circumstance, and in God's wisdom, was transformed him into the kind of man God needed him to be. I have been most in awe at how David changed.. Here's this kid who was anointed as King, had songs sung about his strength in combat, he kills giants, he was a star! Where did he end up?  Humbled, that's where. God planned for this. He was not surprised that David went on to write part of the Psalms. Sentence after sentence - paragraph after paragraph - these are the words of a man who was changed by a God that he loved.

Psalm 131:1-3 My heart is not proud, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.

I'm on a journey, and I believe with all my heart it has a destination.  And I say to you be encouraged! Whatever God has called you to be doing right now, He will continue to lead you through it, and through life.  The journey may be longer than you wanted.  Wait patiently for what He has for you. Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your path straight."

New Blog Design

So....it's obvious that I LOVE to change my blog design.  I think this is due partly to the fact that #1. Creativity is a part of my soul and making things look new and different is a thrill for me, and #2. I have a DIY streak that has no bounds and I don't know when to stop.

As whatahusband would say..."the Enemy of Good is Better".

Or as I put it..."Petting the cat too long only leads to being lethally scratched."

...or bitten if you have de-clawed cats, whichever comes first. Trust me - I know. Kitties don't like to be pet or held too long...or dressed up in baby clothes. Why would a young lindsay and her sisters want to play with a doll if there were doll-sized cats to dress up instead?  Dolls are good. Cats are BETTER.  :)

Recently I have been searching to find a new web designer to create the website for my art (which should be up and running in a month or two), and in the process I found www.designerblogs.com.  They have tons of cute and affordable designs, and I installed this awesome pre-made blog template (a.k.a petting the cat and walking away) so I won't be tempted to change it constantly (just leave the cat alone.)  And, just so I would feel like I did something - made a new matching favicon on http://www.favicon.cc.

Note: If you're not the DIY kind but still want to spice up your blog, favicon's are an easy way to make your blog a little more personal...unless you love the giant orange and black "B".  You can even upload a picture (or a part of a design like I did) to the website above and it makes the favicon for you.  The favicon's for some reason take a few hours to show up on the website bar, so don't be worried if you upload your new design and it doesn't show up right away.

Easy peesy nice and cheesy. :)

LONG LIVE DIY!! and KITTY DRESS UP!
I'm totally going to teach my kids how to dress up animals.

Pear Tree Greetings Coupon

If you are looking for Halloween Invitations, you might find something you like here - with free shipping!

Where you go, I will go

I remember the day like it was yesterday.  One year ago today Whatahusband and I stood before each other in front of our friends and families and said our vows. 

 

"Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay.

Your people will be my people and your God my God."

Ruth 1:16

Little did I know then the significance of adding another person to my life.  God, in his infinite wisdom, has walked us from standing on the starting line to being on our way together - and we are so excited for what's to come. 

But God... He is so gracious and so patient with us, isn't He?  As I reflect back on the last years of my life I can honestly say that with every step, at every turn, with every move, and in every life-changing decision we have had to make so far, He has stretched and strengthened my faith, and reminded me why He chose my husband for me.  Why He made me wait for him.  Why I should continue to trust my husband and God with more and more of my heart. Because God has used every situation to show Himself faithful.  That's not to say that things have always gone my way.  On the contrary, my plans have come to a screeching halt...many times. And it's probably just as well.  He has shown me time and time again that He is dependable and trustworthy--no matter how things turn out.  With all my heart I can say that my God has never let me down.  Not once.  I knew it the most on the day I married.     

I have a God in whom I can trust.  Explicitly.

Goat Cook-off

We went to the 39th Annual World Championship Goat cook-off this weekend, and it was, as always, a GREAT time!  I have only a few pics to share.

This year was my first year camping outside. Chateau de Stone was very well protected by trucks as you can see...

We always make shirts to represent our commitment to the sport of goat cooking,  and they MUST have a wow factor.  So this year we went with a "pro smoking" shirt.  Smoking meat that is. We followed a pinterest DIY screen printing tutorial, and  I think they turned out pretty nice!

The ladies had shirts with "pro smoking" on the front, and a big black BBQ pit with smoke coming out of the stack on the back.

The boys had an....um....slightly different version.