Homegrown Hospitality

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.

Read Between the Lines

This is a long one...get comfortable.

In January of 2008, I made a decision, well, sorta like a declaration and said something out-loud..and well, after what I thought I was going do do 2008, I wrote this in October of 2008.

Fast forward several years, to late 2012, as my church, Saddleback started to talk about the twelve new churches in 12 countries. 

Oh boy, I opened my heart, my mind and my mouth and made another declaration, circled a box on a little white card and made a decision to start planning to "do something"...DUH, I should know...it isn't about my plans. I know that and just as I thought I was ready to commit to a "mission" and just as I thought I would start "planning" what I thought was going to do this year, "my plans" were diverted and things are shifting to HIS plans.

It started with a few emails, texts, conversations, prayers and truth cards that traveled to the Philippines with Melody...and from the day she left, it spiralled perfectly "in-control" and things have started to come together, not by my doing, but by HIS doing. I am not going into all of the details just yet because really, I don't have all the details yet.  I am still in the "give it all to God" and saying "yes" stage, praying for wisdom and direction but I will share this with you...Part one.

I am joining efforts with an amazing team of women and diving deep into the world wide epidemic of human trafficking in a way that is going to "gloriously ruin" me, just as Kay Warren wrote in her book, Dangerous Surrender.

Me?

I am just an ordinary girl and what in the world can I possibly do to help or change this human traffic crisis???  It is way out of my comfort zone, will be uncomfortable and likely disturbing and at the same time, I cannot stop thinking about it.

Me?..yes me.

You?..yes you.

We?..yes WE!

WE can do something by reminding rescued women how they matter, what they can do to create a living, that trusting, having faith and being brave is necessary and that they are loved.

Part one for me is helping to raise money for the She's Worth It Campaign that will go towards rescuing, teaching, empowering, educating and loving the girls that need to know that they matter, that they are capable, that they are worth it!

I am asking for 50, 75, 100...of my friends to donate $10.00 and also share the cause....because we are better together, and together, we can change the lives of many.

Thank you for your consideration. 

 

Online fundraising for Stephanie Ackerman fundraising for She's Worth it! at Razoo

I Took My Own Advice

I have been talking for the past few months about "influencing" and being an "influencer" and again we all need to continue on a daily basis to practice being a good influence and using our abilities and gifts because we are setting the example...to the young, to the old and to everyone in between.

 
The biggest part of this is that you do it for God because He gave us those abilities and gifts but also because you never know who you might influence.

So yesterday, after writing my post, I took my own advice and spent an entire 45 uninterupted minutes in the car...doodling, coloring and watching what seemed to be AT LEAST 7500 people walk in and out of Starbucks. (okay, maybe not 7500...but a lot!)

It was nice just to sit and be quiet, enjoy the clear cold morning and color and here is what my 45 minutes produced...A "lap-top" doodle (meaning I did it on my lap..not a real lap-top) inspired by my "Choose Joy" notes that I keep in my center console for those last minute needed reminders 

Because I stopped, took some time for myself and simply colored, little did I know that by sharing the b&w doodle from my phone on Facebook that it would catch the attention of someone. 

Yesterday afternoon, I was contacted by University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio asking if they could share the doodle with their research program helping caregivers of Alzheimer's disease manage the stress in their lives.

"HELLO....." This is how GOD works...

You don't ever have to read, let alone believe all of my "blah blah blah blogging...." but the proof is in the pudding(whatever that means!)  He gave me the ability to balance a pad of paper on my lap while sitting in my car and then the reminder and inspiration to refer to my notes from Kay Warren's summer study to sit and doodle a pile of words, add some color and create something that we all can use.

 "God has also given each of us different gifts to use. If we can prophesy, we should do it according to the amount of faith we have. If we can serve others, we should serve. If we can teach, we should teach. If we can encourage others, we should encourage them. If we can give, we should be generous. If we are leaders, we should do our best. If we are good to others, we should do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8 (CEV)

What is in my bag...

By the time you read this I will:

A. be on my way to the airport

B. be at the the airport

C. be on a plane (1 of 3) on my way to Pennsylvania

D. be in Pennsylvania (not actually in that Red Barn below..but you know what I mean!)

 
When I pack my "carry on" I am always ready for pretty much anything (I think..at least, I HOPE!) 

I am sooo ready to go (and not even HOMESICK anymore, that was last week!) I even packed my running shoes for some early morning PA runs down the tracks...(yes, the police have been advised that I am coming) and I am NOT kidding!

Anyways...I will be spending many an hour either in an airport or on a plane and because I am pretty sure that I have ADD (it's okay, I know!) I MUST be prepared for a cornucopia of things...so here is a look at what is in my bag besides the normal boarding pass, I.D, phone and leopard snuggie...

 

• A TON of markers...working on A LOT of new things... A LOT!!!!
• My "Choose Joy" workbook to create new doodles from...
• The Power of a Praying Wife book....soooo good!
• My big honkin bible because it is  A. my companion and B. something to grip onto during take off and landing...and anytime in-between.
• 1/2 YARD of canvas that I have been "scrappling" on (details soon!!!)
• A new issue of "Cloth Paper Scissors" that I have been holding out on to look through after I hit the "Sky Mall" catalog!
• My "Windows of the Soul" book and pages of AWESOME notes that friend Cheryl created for us on a new amazing creative venture we are working together on (details also on this soon!!!!)

I probably will not blog while gone...just know that I will be soaking up the AMISH countryside...the Red Barns...the creativeness that we will be generating on Friday night and Saturday...and I will meet you back here on Monday!

Have a GREAT next few days...and do not forget to Choose Joy...regardless of your situation RIGHT NOW...no matter HOW BAD....Exhibit your FAITH by Choosing JOY

and

Laugh until you cry..Cry until you Laugh (THAT needs a doodle!)

 

Kick Start Your Day

The two become one...

Nope..not talking about holy matrimony....I am talking about Joy & Sorrow...and how they are always in our life.  It is how we CHOOSE to deal, see, feel and live with them that matters.

I have something encouraging for YOU to do today...go here:

 http://kaywarren.com/ and sign up for the daily devotionals.  It, along with my Brave Girls daily emails are how I start my day. 

Such a kick start to my day! 

After watching Kay's first devotional, I had to look at the photo that I took last year in PA.  A photo that now has even more meaning, a photo I love (and has a GREAT story behind it...) and the very place I will be TOMORROW!!!!

for right now.......Choose Joy!