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A Spark

Hearing about and understanding the definition of  the word "Innovate" has sparked something in my brain and creative soul...

Understanding and working with the concept of innovation is exciting and learning how to be patient in the process is, well...necessary.

I am not one to sit around and just wait for things to just fall in my lap nor "just happen"..I am good for a "whole lotta" R&D and that exactly what I have been doing:

and then, to top it off, like a cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae, I heard this phrase this morning that pretty much sums it up:

"Keep the spirit of what you're doing alive"

so..does it spark something in you???

Do not let that spark die out....let it ignite a fire....(not a real fire)

Practice:Process

It is Saturday, January 21..5:15am...it is raining, it is quiet...everyone is asleep (even coco) and I am working, thinking, listening, doodling, reading, absorbing and something just clicked...a big click....I want to shout..LOUD...but I can't...because it is 5:15 and it would mess up my quiet and for sure wake up the dog, and then he would whine for a bone, and then it would just go a tad downhill from there...so for now... lucky you..you get my silent shout!

Fastfoward...7:30 am

Dog is awake...so is the Valentine..still raining, coffee pot empty...still raining...thoughts down...dreams spoken...doodle doodled and just so you know....I am getting it..seeing more of the big picture

and along with that...YOU are a HUGE part of my process...

So thank you! 

A Whole New Doodle 2012

Months ago I mentioned that I was doodling a whole new way.

Well, not really in a "whole new way"..but kinda..and each time I am able to just sit down and work, I mean "color", I feel so good..so calm...so relaxed..so "right"

and no, it is not the fumes from the pens!

Now I just have to figure out to teach you!

Work in progress...

Practice: Doodle

With "Practice" being my word this year, I have taken a little time each day to practice my doodles, working on new techniques, trying different paper types and experimenting with very basic tools...
(see the pen?? it is a papermate!) LOVE these and super happy that Santa left me a few new packs (that he bought at Target in the stationary section) in my stocking.

and oh, here is another good thing to PRACTICE...

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24

just sayin...you know...in case you were going to ask. 

A Gift For You..

from Me..

because of Him.

To Download the black & white version as a coloring page, click: View this photo and right click on photo to "print".

Merry Christmas!!!

Pray All The Harder

Using my life, being honest and transparent and not "glittering & embellishing" my life is how I write, well type, on this blog, and although I would love to be able to tell you that all is ALWAYS happy, creative, clean, tidy, well and fine here at our little "home sweet home", just like your home sweet home, it has its bumps...its wonderful peaks...a few valleys with overgrown trails, walls that need to be painted, rainbows made with skittles (maybe not) BUT regardless of anything else, at the end of the day...

I know..

deep down...(sometimes deeper than others)

it will all be okay...

because God says so..

and because HE made me a mom of boys (which I realized this weekend, is what MOB stands for)

With honesty and transparency, I also have to respect the peeps and keep privacy a priority, but I will tell you that at a very late hour on Friday night, I sat on the edge of my bed, not even able to squeak out a tear, wondering what many moms wonder....."How in the world to divide myself into three"..for the peeps in the house (excluding the dang dog!), knowing what to do, where to go..when to say yes...how often to say no....enter your favorite "wonder" question here :______________________________

I share this because I KNOW...I am not alone with this. 

I could not sleep, I could not laugh, I could not cry, I pretty much was like an owl, "owling" on the side of the bed..just sitting there...when Ben called my name...

"Mooooooooooooom ???????????"

Without all of the details..he could not sleep and he wanted me to lay with him.  I told him that when I can not sleep, I pray (go figure, maybe the "owl" should have taken her own advice, duh!)....so I suggested that he lay there and talk to God...

That is when he asked me if I could "say our prayers out loud"

Prayers said....and 10 minutes later...sleep found...for the both of us.

The above doodle is on my "today list" because I have a lot of things to do...I am a nurse mom again.. In case you did not see my ER posts on FB yesterday, this MOB has a boy with a broken elbow..yep, another broken bone (MOESLB=mom of extreme sports loving boys) and I have made it clear that 2012 is our summer vacation year, so all broken bones need to be done and healed by July.

Oh...and in the midst of all of this life going on, I have been trying to stitch, paint, sew and figure out what the heck (would prefer to use the other "H" word) I should be doing next...praying for clarity...for a sign...for direction...for something for the love of Pete.....and I happily, right in the middle of REALLY TRYING TO FOCUS AND STAY ON TASK..was BLESSED with a "Whole New Doodle" for 2012.

Yep, a brand new doodle style for 2012...out with the old doodle...in with the new.

Prayers answered...just need to get everything else finished first.

BREATHE..FOCUS..PRAY...

Thank you God.