#JoyDare No. 2833. A Smooth Move

Our Chautauqua adventure this summer was intense most of the time. From the first 10 days where I was an illegal alien to the last 10 days when we didn't know quite where we were living, each twist & turn was intense! With the battle that I have against anxiety & depression (I'm winning, by the way), I often opt to use my strength for the battle of the day & trust God for strength for the coming battles.

So early on, I decided not to stress over the move from our "porch apartment" to our next place - a very nice hotel. I knew there'd be an element of The Beverly Hillbillies meets Sanford & Son happening in the lobby of that nice hotel for all to see. How else do 3 girls go from living in apartments for 7 weeks of their lives (while cooking all their meals, providing their own pillows & bed linens, doing their own laundry, etc.) to living in a hotel room designed for a stay of a week or less.

But, on Saturday, August 9, 2014, I chose to pick this for one of my "JoyDares"... 

#joydare No. 2833. a smooth move 

Moving out from our over-crowded, slightly disorganized porch apartment before 10am and not being allowed to check into our next place until after 3pm seemed like a horror in the making. But, thanks to God & to our new DOC (Disciples of Christ) family, it went as smoothly as it possibly could! Our DOC family allowed us to "camp out" under their awnings & use their restrooms, etc. until we were able to begin our move into the hotel.

I got in a great walkabout through the property with our sweet little one. My daughter was able to complete a commissioned work - painting of a home there onsite. We enjoyed some time there onsite that we weren't expecting. When we got the call that the room was ready, it took us 3 to 4 trips between Chautauqua & the hotel. AND, it took more than 3 luggage carts to fill our new place. But, it worked out just fine. And, we enjoyed a relaxing evening in a very crowded, but comfortable hotel room!

#joydare No. 2833. a smooth move 

OPENING DAY - So excited...

Sunday, 20 July 2014, 2:50pm and...
I just can't contain my excitement over the OPENING of the Visual Arts of Chautauqua Institution Students Exhibit that I just had to create a little pic for it. I'm on my way and will post more later. In the meantime...

Monday, 21 July 2014, 8:50am and...
The show was GREAT. It opened at 3pm with a line out the door. Within 15 minutes all three of the oil paintings our daughter did were SOLD. How exciting!! The money she will make from those sales will really help with the costs of these 7 weeks for her :) The exhibit will be open to the public for a few more weeks. The individual work continues for 3 more weeks for the VACI students --as they create more art in their studios. 

Here are a few collages of our daughters work thus far at Chautauqua Institution... 

In my opinion... she's holding her BEST piece of ART :)

HOPE, Appreciation of Art & Music 10-13-13

I grew up in a home with parents who valued art & music. My mom had begun drawing at very early age. My dad didn't take up painting until he was in his early 60's. But, he fell in love with painting pictures to remember meaningful locations or to document times with his grandchildren. My mom had been brought up on classical music & church music. My dad liked show tunes, the "crooners" & church music. Our home was always full of art & music.

Two of my favorite things to do have always been going to concerts and going to art museums or shows. My husband & I took our children to such events as they were growing up. Today, both children are talented artistically & musically. And, our home continues to be full of music & art. Our daughter is completing her senior year with an art degree and is already helping her daughter create art even at such a young age...

We are blessed to be able to LOVE on that sweet baby grand-daughter. And, if she's anything like her mommy or her uncle, she will be a lover of art & music as well. If she's anything like me... her "DeeDee", she will love art & music.

The other day (when she gave me the card above), I got to watch our sweet little girl for the afternoon. I picked her up at noon & she feel asleep in the car seat listening to classical music as I headed to Mounds State Park. I enjoyed a leisurely drive through the park until she awoke. We headed into the nature museum to look at God's art :) She loved seeing the displays & watching the fish swimming in a large aquarium. She especially loved a little finger puppet in the gift show - a Monarch butterfly. Naturally, since it was my birthday, I had to buy it for her to document our lovely afternoon at the park on my birthday. 

I can see the beauty of the Lord around me in the sunrises & sunsets... in butterflies & hummingbirds... in a smile... in deer grazing on sweet grass by a pond. And, I believe that art & music are some of the greatest forms of God's creation - each reflecting the complexities of God, as well as the simple pure joy. I see God in art & music>

I'm hoping we will have another family member who will grow to appreciate art & music... but, mostly the beauty of God in everything He created. 

Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them. Psalm 69:34 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! Psalm 150:6

Linking this month with The Nesting Place

 for the 31-day Challenge

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today...

Crazy Mom Love! - 31 DAYS OF CRAZY - 02 October 2012

One of my pet peeves has always been those parents who can't stop talking about their wonderful, talented, gorgeous, smart, out-standing children. I guess it started during my college days when I was working with our local church's youth group.  It seemed like some people could NOT see beyond their crazy love for their kids to what they kids were actually doing -- getting away with, more accurately stated. It continued as I began substitute teaching in the local school system.

I've TRIED NOT to be THAT parent...

• My child will be a famous artist... a famous musician/composer.
• My child could have gone on to play professional soccer.
• My child should have been placed in the TOP group - not the second one!
• I'm pretty sure my child is a genius.
• My child misbehaved in class because that teacher doesn't know how to "challenge" gifted students.

It's no secret, I love my two children & am very, very proud of their accomplishments.  But, I really don't want to be Miss Braggart Mom!

Today, however, the MOM LOVE kicked in like CRAZY when an inspirational website chose my picture to share on their website...

Watching my daughter paint
as she uses her God-given talent :)
Serenity & thanksgiving!!

The blessing of being a mom, truly opened my eyes to the meaning of laying down one's live for another.  The other day, I told that very daughter I'd catch a grenade for her (lyrics of the Bruno Mars song) if I thought her life would be saved :)  She just laughed!

Seriously... CRAZY MOM LOVE!

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