Begin Again

 

This morning, I just needed to dig my brain in to something new and a little challenging.  I'm not sure why I thought I needed that as I've been learning to use a new app on my phone and it's been making my brain hurt already.  I suppose though that the time spent learning in Photoshop this morning will also help me learn that new app.  The negative space font was a free one on Creative Market and I just wanted to learn how to use it.  I did!  Now...if I'll remember how when I come back to it again, ha!  But, seriously.  I learn and forget.  Forget that I even learned in the first place sometimes.  Can anyone relate???

So I made this little digital art piece.  Just like the learning of the software and apps, if we don't keep working at our faith we will lose it or it will become stagnate.  Daily practice for art and creative work is touted everywhere and is so truly beneficial.  But first, please, daily practice of our faith.  Scripture reading, prayer, meditation, adoration, praise, good works...whatever and however your desires and God's promptings lead you.  That daily practice means more that any organized drawer, tv show, special dinner, new skills, etc. 

 My husband and I finished this book a few weeks ago.  So good! It was the first time we've read a book out loud together. We didn't really plan to read it that way, it just happened.  I think we will do it again.  Takes a while to get through, but a spiritual book is usually best in small bites with time to talk and think about what was read.  That's how this transpired too. I'd read, then we'd talk about it.  

The main message from the book to take away was to "begin again".  To nurture your faith and if you feel like you failed, let it go and begin again!  And again.  And again.  (You get the picture.)  Words to live by for sure. Continuing on with the garden metaphor;  When a plant doesn't do well in one location,  I change the watering/fertilizer practice:  Begin again if you will.  Still not doing well?  I move it.  Begin again. The book was full of encouragement, and very easy to read.

I'll leave you with a quote from the other book I'm just finishing, Anne of Green Gables:

"Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it...Yet." 

Begin Again

Sticks and Stones and Bricks

"See you make a wish and try to break some glass-you've got to be a pretty good shot these days--oh no George don't, it's full of romance that old place..."

Just in case you all don't watch the movie every year...the quote is from "It's a Wonderful Life" while George and Mary are out walking after falling into the school swimming pool.  

Not a lot of romance here I have to say.  But, it's what I thought of when we saw this room and the bricks.  We had permission this weekend to explore a couple of abandoned buildings on an old property.  I sure do enjoy photographing abandoned places.

I'll post more pictures tomorrow, but I wanted to leave this one by itself.

The metaphors are poignant here.  Life is metaphor and it's completely by design, of that I have no doubt.  Divine design.

I saw the scene and was drawn to it and so took the photo, but I didn't see the metaphor until I began to edit it.

::

The words, judgments, insults, snide remarks we cast land somewhere within.  

There is someone inside looking out.

Damage is done.

A Celebration Cake

The first "Celebration Cake" I made was three years ago and I posted about it here.  It now dresses up my sewing room since my Mom passed away two years ago. 

This is now the third one I've made.

This one is less "scrappy", a little smaller, and has a more fancy vibe than the other two.  I have a nice stash of vintage velvet thanks to a great garage sale score a while back so my "icing" is velvet. ♥  

I took these pictures last month while the house was decorated for Christmas and temporarily set it here.  Hard to find good light in December!

When I first made book page flowers years ago, I made a number more than I needed for the wreath I was making so I have a jar of them ready to use when needed.

Having your own hand made supplies ready to go is great!

I'm sure you know that the "cake medallions" are vintage earrings with the backs clipped off.

This one was a gift for my sister's 60th birthday.

The post I linked to at the beginning gives a few more details if you are wanting to make yourself a celebration cake.  I imagine a cake either labeled with what you are grateful for or perhaps a cake to celebrate a personal accomplishment?  I can see making a little flag on the cake "Hope" or "I am a child of God".  A little joyful reminder of gratitude.  :)

My daughter talks about the importance of celebration.  It really is important.  It goes along with gratitude. 

Celebrating makes space for gratitude.

♥

On Envy

Become the person God created you to be.

This you.

From my cereal box to you.

♥