Art Slam

I am waiting on:

• God
• Sunshine
• Flowers in the garden center
• Things to unfold as they may

I don’t know what it is about this winter season, but it has me reflecting on a lot lately. I believe part of the reason is you have no choice but to wait for things to run their course. We have a lot of snow and the heatwave of 36 degrees has started to slowly melt the mountains of snow around my neighborhood. No matter how bad you want that snow to go away, it is going to take it’s sweet time. No matter how badly you want spring to come, it is going to take its time.

Waiting is not a bad thing. It is not passive. It is active, like stillness. It is a choice. And, there is a lesson there, if you are willing to wait on it.

I miss running. I miss the park I run in. An additional 8″ of snow fell yesterday on top of the 8-10 inches we already have. Around this time of year, people start talking about Spring and how they wish it was here right now. I have been one to want to rush it along, but not anymore. There is a time for every season. To rush it along robs you of the blessing of that time.

I become rather reflective during the Winter months. Especially on days like today, I want to be home where it is warm, and stay close to my family. I think about the things I would like to do when the weather warms. I think about what I want to add and purge from my life. I reflect on where I am. Self-reflection is not an easy process when you are totally honest with yourself. I have prayed for God to reveal to me areas I need to change and get in order. My father-in-law mentioned to me yesterday that God is about order and things being of one accord. I have a few areas that could stand some improvement. This slower time of the year is just right for making those changes.

How do you use the winter season to order and refocus your life?

How fitting a heart would appear on the roof of my party bus during the last snow storm. I hope this has been a joyful Valentine’s Day for all of you. It is not about whether or not you receive a gift, it is about sharing your love the best way you know how. May you be a blessing to someone who really needs it today.

How I love this picture of my little people. Everytime I see it, it makes me smile.

I choose a word each year to represent a quality I want to grow within myself. This year, the word Endure selected me. Strange word…maybe to some, but not for me.

Endure means to continue to exist, last. To support adverse force or influence of any kind. Suffer without yielding. Suffer patiently. To bear with Patience.

I like this word a lot. I like what it stands for. There is a quiet elegance about it. It reminds me of a palm tree. The image has been in my head a lot lately; the image of the tree swaying. I love that.

I downloaded Photoshop Mobile to my iPhone a few months ago. Well, since I decided to do the daily portrait thing, I did not exactly prepare by bringing my camera with me…but, I have a camera phone and mobile Photoshop. Ha!!

It will be interesting to see what I shoot over the course of the next few weeks.

Is it just me or does seeing Christmas stuff up before Thanksgiving just seem wrong? I understand in the retail world it is all about getting the jump on the competitor, but seriously, can we enjoy one holiday before we move to another?

As much as I love the holiday season, I wish the commercialism would stop. This year, I am all about the handmade gifts and gift cards. I am teaching my kids it is not about the stuff, but the reason for the season is all about praising the Spirit inside yourself.

I am thinking a new habit is in order. I’m not much for waiting until the new year to get in shape. I will start tomorrow and see what I can achieve in 21 days.

Did you know there are multiple ways to properly peel a pomegranate? Yesterday, I tried a new way and it took me about twelve minutes to remove almost all of the seeds. They are like perfect little jewels, almost too pretty to eat. Even still, I ate them and I liked them and I stained my shirt in the process. But, I don’t care. It was so worth it to taste a darn near perfect fruit.

I treated myself to the biggest bouquet of sunflowers I could find yesterday. I started buying myself flowers about a month ago. It is something I do just because.

I have always liked sunflowers, but these simply blew my mind. They are like pools of sunshine and I can not help but smile when I look at them. They instantly lift my mood. I have decided next year to grow as many varieties of sunflowers as I can find. That way, when I need a little lift, they will be there heads raised to the sun, glowing and full of life.

Don’t wait for someone to give you flowers. Give them to yourself, just because. You deserve it.

These things are all over my house. Even though he has containers to put them in, I find them either as little balls or transformed dragons stuffed between couch cushions, under the television and even stuffed in his rainboots. He tells me, “Mom, I love them. Bakugan are so cool. They are awesome.”

If you have a little person between the ages of 6 and 11, you better get hip to these transforming creatures. There is an entire website and television show devoted to them. And, in case you did not know, they are really cool, according to my boy child.