Homegrown Hospitality

Push Through It

During class last weekend, I used the phrase "Push Through It" a few times.  Okay, maybe more than a few more times, but that is because my classes are not just about Mixed Media, Doodling and Stitching.... 
What I was talking about is when you wanna stop doing something because you feel a little resistance, you know like:

• when you are running or working out and you just wanna stop..
• when you are cleaning the house and you tell yourself you can do the other rooms tomorrow..
• when you are creating something and you don't like where it is going so you want to set it aside or throw it away..
• when you are doing the laundry and you tell yourself you will put the clothes away later..

stuff like that..

I say to others, "Push Through It " but I am here to tell you that I also HAVE TO tell it to myself, pretty much on a daily basis..no, hourly basis.

The surrounding world , media, magazines, books, people,(well, or Adam & Eve) etc. have helped us to create this terrible habit of procrastination and/or wanting a quick fix, immediate results, all or nothing and there seems to be such an attitude of entitlement by so many that it is hard to see straight sometimes. Sit in an airport for a few hours...anyways, we have got to get out of the habit of wanting it all and wanting it now, and practice patience and gratitude wherever we are, whether on a creative, spiritual or personal journey.

Right now on my creative journey, I am learning to watercolor, not the theory of watercolor, but simply creating using watercolors, and I am not loving it BUT I am pushing through it and am practicing, practicing, practicing...and reminding myself of this:"Be encouraged by any progress you do make and refuse to be discouraged by how far you think you have to go" Page 95 - "Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Ones" by Joyce Meyer

Hello Sunday

When I use the phrase "Note To Self" it is not just for me, but for you too.  It is a reminder and "creatively" reminding, I feel, is part of my purpose. It helps me, and in the process, it helps those who need the nudge, the push or maybe the shove. (again, self included)

This mornings "reminder" is just that. This passage came from the Joyce Meyer book I am reading called Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits, page 95.  It is a REALLY great book. (if you get it, get yourself a highlighter, just sayin)

Here are a few other "Note To Self" reminders from the past year:





Have a happy Sunday.

YES

A little word with LOTS of meaning and while we must start saying no to some things, we MUST say yes to others.

YES..

i CAN do...

i WILL do...

i KNOW that i can..

i BELIEVE that...

Do Something

Be positive, think good thoughts and remember we are equipped for hard things.

Lightbulbs & Ringing Bells

I just started reading the latest book by Joyce Meyer called Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits and I have highlighted more in the first two chapters than any other book...ever.

Light bulbs were flashing, too many bells were ringing and a whole lotta "duh's" were going on in my head as I read. 

Press on.

Never Ever Give Up

and for the love of pete, keep going...at whatever it is you are doing.  Stay postive and for gosh sakes, stay hopeful. 

You HAVE to do that. 

Keep the faith and have hope.  Those are two habits you want! (well and listining to Bon Jovi, if you are asking me.)

Here is one for ourselves, for our kids..for our communities, our states, for our nation..for our world.
super, double duh.

Three Things

I did a little praying and asking this morning and the requests were answered.... I have never heard or seen this before and it speaks loud and reads clear to me.  It also goes right along with my life verse Now, here's the "throw myself under the bus" moment...I believe God, I belive HIS word, I believe that what HE says and does and is truth and I believe I have found my purpose, which HE gave to me.  I believe my skills and talents are a gift for me to share with you, which I really strive to do...

BUT WHY WHY WHY do I not believe in myself, excuse me for this...DAMN IT!

DOUBT rears its REALLY UGLY HEAD and I try to kick it down with karate skills that I only learned from watching the Karate Kid. WHY do I continually start to build a wall with the skills that I have learned on DIY (you know, like the one I talked about before) and why am I the only one that gets in my own way.

I am not asking you all of these questions for answers. I know the answers and I am working like mad to face them, work through them and move PAST THEM...

I am sharing what I am going through right now because I know that I am not the only one that goes through this. WE all do, it is just a matter of admitting it and when we admit it, it starts to help and heal and ultimately, reveals HOPE.

There are three things that I hang my hope on...

YES - Saying YES to GOD and being ready for whatever HE has planned, even if I "think" I am not ready.

BELIEVE - In what HE says and what he does....because NO MATTER WHAT, in the end, it WILL be okay.  IT will, it is a promise.

BRAVE - refer to #1

I can do this.

You can do this.

WE all can do this...

whatever "this" is.

HOPE Is Necessary...

If you have been following along with this HOPE piece, I started with markers, then moved onto thread..

and jumped on an idea to rework the piece onto canvas with paint. I don't love it, but I don't hate it either.  I have faith and hope that as I experiment with taking a doodle and making it something else, it will all bloom.

Hope is necessary.  It is what keeps me going, in art, in life, really, in everything.
Little did I know, as I worked on this piece called HOPE Saturday morning, we would receive the devastating news in regards to our church family.

My first instinct, as it was for many, was to reach out to those I know and ask what we could do without stopping to think and know that all we can do is pray. My heart aches for Kay as a mother.  My heart breaks for Pastor Rick as our pastor and my heart is broken for Matthew as he battled so long and so hard with his illness.

HOPE, that is what we all need. We must share HOPE, practice HOPE and remind others that HOPE is a necessary part of our life.  We must,must, must look through to the future with HOPE and never ever give up.

Gotta Have Hope

Personally and creatively, I am not all about the colors of spring but I do know what they represent besides the color of peeps and jellybeans...

therefore, I am giving them equal opportunity EVEN THOUGH THEY PUSH ME AGAINST MY COLORING COMFORT ZONE.Sometimes we all need a reminder of the bigger picture, a little push against the grain and a whole bunch of HOPE...

because how gray things may seem, no matter what..everything will be okay...Just gotta have HOPE.

Updates, New Things and Looking Forward

As mentioned just the other day, there are lots of creative things going on here that I am not quite ready to share yet, but I can give you some updates. 

All of the Erase Human Trafficking orders are just about carved and will be shipping out this weekend!  Thank you for your support and love with helping out!
New Online Doodle Workshop coming soon...IMPORTANT NOTE: This class, A Whole New Doodle,  was previously sold and offered at Scrapbook News & Review.  THIS IS THE SAME CLASS with a few added coloring pages, just for you!.  It is no longer available at that site and I am now offering here for those who did not have a chance to take it.

This class will be released in April and there will be a limited amount of starter kits that will include my favorite markers, paper and liner pens for an addtional price. Details coming real soon...

Thanks for your patience..and a little something that I doodled for myself as a reminder and thought this too needed to be shared...Note to Self (you): Even when I (we) can't see what is going to happen, I (we) must continue to .. Have a GREAT day!

Note To Self: Do It

I write these things in my planner for myself, but I don't want to be selfish so I thought I'd share the reminder..
                                "Keep your heart on the right path" Proverbs 23:19