Embrace 2011!

As of the time I am writing this post, it is 9:15 AM on New Years Day. My darling little ones and husband are still sleeping from their late night. Our neighborhood sounded like a war zone last night. It is legal to shoot fireworks here within city limits on July 4th and New Years Eve.

I myself have always been an early riser. Yet another gene from my sweet mother I suppose.While I might need a nap later this afternoon, waking early today has given me some time to myself. So... I decided to use my new Christmas gifts and post a doodle for you. Using Faber Castell Pitt Pens, my brand new Copic markers (LOVE THEM!) and my shiny new scanner I came up with this 2011 doodle. It was really fun! What I love about doodling is that you cannot make any mistakes. I didn't spend my time worrying how it looked as I did it. I find that I am more free and creative when I shut out the inner critic. Can I hear an AMEN!?

It seems pretty common around the creative blogs to choose a word for the year. I have mulled this over quite a bit in the last week and I decided on the word...

EMBRACE

Why did I choose this word? Because this will be the year I turn 40. Yep, the big 4 0! In fact, this mile stone will happen this month. I have spent a lot of time pondering this fact, looking back and where I have been and then forward at where I want to go.

I have realized in the past couple months that I spend many a night laying my head on the pillow frustrated beyond belief that I have not spent any time doing any of the things I enjoy, chasing goals and dreams I want to chase. I've been saying yes to everyone else but myself and the one who has given me talents to share... God. Who the heck am I to say no to God?!

Before Christmas. My husband Chuck and I had a talk about being creative.

He asked me, "What do you need?"

 I said, "What do you mean, what do I need?"

He said, "What do you need to be creative? What is it?

Tell me and I will get it for you."

"A scanner/printer, some new professional markers and time." I said.

"There is only one catch..."

"What's that?" I asked.

"That you do something with it. Stop saying yes to things that take your time and energy away from the things you want to do and start doing creating."

So, the very next day, we ventured to Hobby Lobby and using our 40% off coupon (one for each of us) we bought 2 sets of 6 Copic markers. Very expensive, but well worth the price in my book. I followed up the next week and got 4 more colors to add to my new collection. Did I mention I LOVE them? Then on Christmas Eve Chuck went to Office Depot and bought me a cool new scanner/printer so that I can scan my art for the blog and print some for my Etsy shop.

So, here I am this morning looking forward to 2011. Here are the things I plan to embrace...

God

My children and husband

Creativity

Being 40

Talent

Love

Imperfection

Joy

Peace

It's gonna be a great year! I just know it!

What will you embrace in 2011?

Linking to:

Monday Musings... Everyone Has a Story

Let me preface this with a quick synopsis of 2009:

March - I had to put my two kitties ages 14 and 15 down within 11 days of each other.

April - My maternal Grandmother passed away. A long failing heart finally gave in.

August - My Father-in-Law passed away. Rather sudden, he hadn't been feeling well, went into the hospital, was sent home 3 weeks later on hospice and passed away the night they brought him home.

September - I underwent major upper and lower jaw surgery to relieve me of years of sleep apnea.

October - My sweet Mama passed away after a long and painful battle with a body that just wouldn't cooperate and ovarian cancer.

I was tired from lack of sleep, crushed by the onslaught of death in my family.

About a week after Mama passed away, I went to church with my family. At the Catholic Church, in the middle of the mass the deacon and or priest will offer up Prayers of the Faithful. To which the parish will reply "Lord, hear our prayer" after each offer. Wait, let me back up... reminder, my mom lived and died in Arizona, only a scant handful of people here in Texas knew her.  I was standing with my husband when I heard the words "For those who have passed before us.... Barbara (leaving her last name out)". I was surprised her name had been said. Later I remembered that our sweet Deacon Chuck who had married us and baptized one of our daughters had been following it all through my friend Chris and on Facebook. I had to bury my face in my husband's chest so that I didn't cry out. But still, those around me heard. As we sat back down, I saw the woman next to me dab her eyes with a tissue.

As I sat in the church that day, I looked around at all the different people. Our church is big, like several masses a weekend, several thousand parishioners BIG. I thought to myself, everyone has a story. Miscarriage, divorce, infidelity, death, terminal illness and the list goes on and on. We don't know what those stories of other people are, but God does and when we ask for His comfort, peace and healing He is there, even when we feel like he isn't.  I have also learned through hindsight, He is there even when we don't cry out to Him and acknowledge it.... He is there.

Yesterday, I watched my little girls play at the neighborhood pool. At the beginning of this summer, Nikki dared not get her face wet. I watched as she jumped off the side holding my fingers and came up out of the water, hair wet and water streaming down her face with a big ole grin of excitement and then as she swam two feet to the steps, face in the water, unassisted and popped up with a big celebratory, "YES, I DID IT!"

I watched my girls spread their towels on lounge chairs and lay pointing at the sky, chattering in their little girl voices about the clouds and how quickly they were moving.

My heart was overcome with joy. Just months ago, I was overcome with grief and my body was so tired, I didn't even want to leave the comfort of my house. With time and God's love, my spirit is on the mend now and I have the energy to keep up with my sweet babies.

I ran across this video this morning. I have seen ones like it before. I was just reminded about my day at mass and how I looked around. Everyone has a story...