Homegrown Hospitality: Only You Can Be You

August 02, 2012

All is Forgiven

Grab some coffee....

I have been on a personal journey of faith for a several years now and have really started to share more of it with you here on my blog.

Some of you embrace it and some don't .

That is okay with me.

Some of you are of the same faith as me, and some are not.

That is okay with me too.

It is more about the heart...

and we all have one.

More than we may realize, we are all in the same boat. Some of us have paddles, some of us have life jackets and some of us don't. A few stand at the head of the boat and scream "I am the king of the world" and some of us are hanging our heads over the railing throwing up from all of the waves. Thing is, we are all in this together and we all go through similar things.

I hope that by me being authentic and transparent here, it will help someone elses boat ride along the way. Just call me "Julie McCoy"...your cruise director because I am glad you are here.

Okay, so as you know, I am really sarcastic at times, and equally, if not more, dorkey. Here is some good news I found out about that on page 137 of the book "Only You Can Be You"

I am self-conscience about many things (not as many as I used to be) and don't give a crap about other things (see, I told you)

I have always reminded you that I am open minded, share what I believe and create based on it. I strive to walk the walk and talk the talk but I am human and dang it, I stumble and sometimes fall.

We all do.

THANKS ALOT ADAM (okay, and Eve!)

I have to admit, I have fallen hard.

No..not right now, in the past.

The thing is, I get back up, figure it out, confess it, ask for forgiveness (He will forgive you too, you just gotta ask) and then keep going. I am continually and constantly learning who I am, what I am supposed to be doing and sharing it...through the creative abilities that God has given me..

and I am so glad you are still here.

With the completion of the "Only You Can Be You" study last week I was a little "okay, what is next..now what" and happily found the answer with the new series Pastor Rick started this week called "Creating a Positive ID"

whew.

So the big question was "Do you know who you are" and well, since I just finished learning and being reminded that "I am me" from "Only You Can Be You" (say that 5 times fast) I knew I was on the right track (or is it tract?)

and here was the phrase that stuck me like a thorn on a rose bush...10 words that reminded me of something.

"I am a product of my past..NOT a prisoner"

and it reminded me that I was holding my own self hostage.

Duh.

You see, I realized that I was unconsciously torturing myself because I had not fully forgiven myself. Maybe a little, but not completely and it does not work that way.

You either do or you don't...not kinda.

well, how can I not forgive myself when God has already done so..

done.

gone.

forgiven.

surrendered.

I think I am starting to mature.

and I am glad you are here with me on this journey.

in Creative Influence, Doodles, Faith, Only You Can Be You, Purpose | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack (0)

July 31, 2012

Do Something - July 2012

Dang July went fast....pretty sure that I was reminding you that once 4th of July passes..it is all down hill till Christmas...

see, I was not making that up.

It happens every year.

Anyways, if I were a scrap booker, maybe an active participant of Project-Life 2012 (I do have all of the stuff..) or had Insta-Gram (which Jack referred to last night as the "world's greatest invention") then this would you might have seen:

starting at the top and moving left to right:

Working out at Athlete's Choice several days a week..more than I ever have in my life (both working out and sweating..thanks Maria!) http://www.athleteschoicersm.com/
Still displaying the biggest American Flag (probably designed for a building) that you can on a little house
Enjoying the renewed relationship with being creative everyday, thanks Tim! http://timholtz.com/
Documenting big things in the smallest ways
Children being water ambushed by big mean neighbors...(just kidding, they are small..and bald..the neighbors..not the kids. Was that nice of me to say?)
Finding heart rocks
Rollerblading (kids, NOT me!) running, walking and riding around the lake
Baking for a cause http://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org/
Chicken fights & bbqing chicken..alot
Blazing trails with Regina & Amy...and Ben, too!http://www.ocparks.com/whitingranch/
Sailing the Maui sea and tanning feet at the same time http://www.teralani.net/
Spreading the word http://www.jessie.org/
Joining forces with the wives http://www.racerxonline.com/2012/07/27/racer-x-films-surfercross-day-1
Selling cookies for the cause....http://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org/
Watching Plumerias bloom in the backyard, wishing we were back on vacation
Watering and wondering if the pam tree is going to get attacked by the giant zucchini plant
Loving him and wishing he would stop playing car salesman..no, I mean car buyer.
Finding more heart rocks
Trying to convince boys not to throw signs in EVERY picture
Riding bikes
Sailing the high seas of Lake Mission Viejo
Reading & studying http://www.onlyyoucanbeyou.com/
Buying socks for the cause http://www.jessie.org/joyjars/
Becoming more civilized campers...bye bye tent
Sticking to a schedule

Today...or maybe tomorrow, bake some and share some...Click HERE for the recipe.

here is the recipe for these.

in Do Something, Finding Hearts, Good Books, HEart, Joy Jars, Only You Can Be You, Purpose, Summer 2012, Team NEGU, Tim Holtz | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

July 30, 2012

Use 'Em

When I am tired, I become unsettled and when I am unsettled, I start wondering..questioning..doubting...

gulp.

"Am I doing what I am supposed to be doing??"

"Am I doing enough??"

"Am I doing too much??"

Late yesterday afternoon, I started wandering around, not wanting to do anything specific and knew that I just needed to relax.

Easier said than done.

How does one "just relax" when there is so much world noise going on, even when it is super quiet?

and then, last night, I remembered....

I doodle.

duh.

so I wrote out this phrase:

"Only I can be me and you can be you, so let's work together and see what we can do.."

and then I started coloring...and that is exactly what I did last night...

I colored.

Just me, the couch and my markers...for a few hours...and I colored myself down off that wall of wonder.

This morning, that wonder, questioning and doubt was lifted by a single email that reminded me of what I already know...and I picked up my little Moleskin and added a new page.

and this is me reminding you of something you probably already know...

Use 'em.

Your gifts, your talents, your abilities...

Use' em to make a difference.

in Doodles, Faith, Only You Can Be You, Purpose | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)

July 28, 2012

Our Creative Best

Whether it is being creative with paper, paint, wood, computers, spreadsheets, organization, food,etc. we are all creative in one way or another and it is our responsibility to do our best at what we were created to do. In "Only You Can Be You" page 102 there is a great verse that reminds us of this fact.

"Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life" Gal 6:5

I really love this verse so I painted it on a canvas over layers and layers of paper, paint, texture and more paint...well and added a heart, of course!

It is part of my "HEart" Collection because HE is the reason for my ART and this piece is for sale. I have decided that as I create, share and sell my art, 10% of the sale price will go towards the purchase of socks for Joy Jars.

Canvas Details:

8 x 10 flatback canvas suitable for framing (Frame Not Included)
Created using acrylic paint, distress ink pens, watercolors & ink
Heavily textured

Price $37.00 plus $5.00 shipping.

SOLD...thank you Linda!

More coming soon...

in Faith, HEart, Only You Can Be You, Purpose | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 27, 2012

Do Something

Last night was the final night of the summer study "Only You Can Be You" and I felt a little sad at the end when Erik said "good night" because it was "over" when it dawned on me that it is only the beginning.

The beginning of being fully surrendered and of "Me being Me" so the reminders, art and thoughts about "You Being You" will continue on.

Here is a GREAT reminder and hopefully inspiration for you to do something today...

"Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility" Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Only You Can Be You by Erik Rees, page 166)

in Faith, Favorite Quotes, Only You Can Be You | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 24, 2012

Ask & Listen

Good Morning...here is another great excerpt from the book "Only You Can Be You"

I know so many women right now, including myself, that are in that "Am I doing what I am supposed to be doing" stage of life. We spend more time questioning ourselves instead of questioning the one who designed us...

duh.

For me, the thing I most often forget is to ask HIM and then listen...actually, I do ask (once in awhile) and then try to figure the answer out myself.

duh, again. (Insert throwing myself under the dang bus again..)

IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY. We need to ask HIM...and as it reads in "OYCBY" (on page 94 if you have the book)

Now, based on that phrase, I am going to go create something....be back later!

in Faith, I Love to Make things, Only You Can Be You | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 23, 2012

Creative Best

8 days with no ink, paper, adhesive, paint, chipboard or anything else besides a little bag of markers (I had to!) and a stack of books is good for the heart, soul and the mind. Don't get me wrong, it was HARD for me to just stop and leave it all behind because I have been on a real creative roll, but like I have mentioned before, there comes a point when I have to STOP because if I don't, I am out of focus, off center and I malfunction.

Now you might be thinking "Oh, sure...we can not all take 8 days on an island.. " but the fact is, I have to do it EVERYDAY so that I can stay centered, focused and at my creative best.

....so do you.

It is our responsibility, like the verse says above. (If you have the book "Only You Can Be You", turn to page 102)

Now speaking of creative best, I have been working and teasing you on the projects that I have been working on for last weeks CHA show in Chicago and now that I am home and the show is over, I can finally share with you EVERYTHING...yay..but a little at a time.

First is a canvas I did for the Tim Holtz booth using several of the new Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz stamps.

I started with a blank 8 x 10 canvas and stamped the entire background with a stamp and black archival ink. I overlapped here and there and it is okay....The one thing that you are going to learn about my stamping skills is that I have none...which is perfect!

The I used a border stamp (one of my favorite sets!) and stamped the large scallop several times on on paper

and trimmed it out

I used another border stamp from the same set and stamped out several of the images on kraft paper

and handcut letters to read "Create Soulful Art" (if you do not want to hand cut letters, just run the paper through your diecut system) then I arranged it all on the canvas BEFORE adhering it down.

After laying it all out, I stood back and knew it was missing something so I grabbed a piece of paper and tore out a big ol' red heart (duh!) distressed it a bit and adhered it to the center using my new most favorite glue-sealer ever...Glue-n-Seal Then I glued down my words and finished up by adding a little shading and shadowing using my black TM Distress Ink pen...

Today, take some time to STOP, rest, refocus and do your creative best...it's our responsibility.

InLinkz.com

in Faith, Only You Can Be You, Tim Holtz | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

July 13, 2012

Up to Something & On the Road....

I have NOT been a good blogger this summer and I apologize, but while I have been working, living and doing new things, our garden is going crazy...

I have been working like one of Santa's elf's getting boxes packed and off to Chicago for CHA with things like this:

and this

and this...

but I will not be in Chicago because in just a few hours, along with this stuff

we will officially be on vacation, so that means that the blog is going to be quiet for a week....

While I am gone, please consider checking this stuff out:

Courtney's new book is coming out in just a few weeks...and if you have not read the first one, A Sweethaven's Summer, um, you should...and it is only $.99 to download...
There are NEW Brave Girl Camp dates up for this year and I am almost brave enough to decide on a date...yikes! oh, and Soul Restoration registration is open and class starts in a few week...and it is oh so good....
My new doodle class is open and ready for you to get your doodle on. You can read more about the class here and you can go over here to sign up and doodle!
Speaking of doodles, here is a doodle that I just posted on Facebook and want to share here, because I know you go to Target...and Michael's...and there are LOTS of little toes that need warmth...and for a $1.00...shoot....