This is Judo’s oil painting on our wall. The colors turned out different than I expected and I’m glad- art should be unexpected. I love the swirls and the blotches of red that he calls ‘dots’. What I love best about this project is the excitement he had making it- using real brushes and loading as much paint on at a time as he could. (It’s still drying after 4 days!)

I found this ‘hope’ sign for $2 at the thrift store last week- love the black lettering on my ‘African Amber’ walls. It’s hung with 3 pictures taken on outreaches to Nepal and China and we hope to add a few more as well.

This picture is a bit blurry but I wanted to share an idea I had that turned out well- surrounding the ‘hope’ and outreach pictures I framed cut up portions of a huge map of the world that just never looked nice enough on it’s own unframed. I framed portions of Africa, South America, and China in inexpensive black frames and the look is much cleaner and artistic.

Today I’m trying to focus on the blessings in our life instead of the way my body feels and I have so much to be thankful for. Andrew is such an amazing support and strength to me in general but especially during pregnancy and these last weeks when I’ve been feeling anxious for baby to be in our arms. Jude’s laugh, funny phrases, and silliness fills my heart so full and I am trying to cherish this time with him- life will change for both of us very soon and our days will look a lot different than they do now.

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hoping you have much to be thankful for as well…

Anyone read the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People? I highly recommend it. One of the main concepts in the book is that we have a circle of influence in our life, things we can change or make happen, etc. We also have a lot of things outside of that circle that we cannot change. This is especially true of people- we most likely cannot change someone else, but we have the will to choose to respond differently to someone or approach someone with a different solution, whether or not that person will ever change. The author talks about choosing to focus on the things we can change and influence, instead of worrying about the things we can’t change- sounds so simple but really, when it comes down to it, worry and fear inhibits us in so many ways and keeps us from focusing on that which we can change. A habit to develop then, is changing our thought process- choosing to set aside and not dwell on the worrisome, negative thoughts, and deciding what we can change or make happen instead, and do it.

The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning. ~Ivy Baker Priest

It is never too late to be who you might have been. ~George Eliot

How am I going to live today in order to create the tomorrow I’m committed to? ~Anthony Robbins

Once more to new creation Awake,
and death gainsay,
For death is swallowed up of life,
And Christ is risen today!
~George Newell Lovejoy

And he departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him.
For He departed, and behold, He is here.
~St Augustine

Happy Easter everyone and may you know the Hope & Love that does not fail.