Monday Musings...Messages...

At the top of my blog here you will see my favorite saying. It is by Erma Bombeck. "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me. "" I get the message that we should use our talents that God has gifted us, over and over and over again. It's like it is my calling to carry that message through. My blog, my creative endeavors and my business are being built on this.

I have known deep down for a very long time that I was meant to carry on my mother's creative legacy. Last fall, I was going through photos on a cd that my sister scanned for Mom's memorial service. I found these newspaper clippings featuring an "emerging artists" article from the Mesa, Arizona Sunday paper.

I'm pretty sure my mother agrees with my thoughts on Erma's quote and she wants to let me know this. Because if you look closely at the caption underneath her painting of lilacs it says:

"Lilacs" by Barbara Whitlock. Whitlock says talent should not be neglected. "If you have a talent, it is a gift from God. It is given to you for a reason, and it is a shame not to pursue your talents, no matter what they are." she says.

Pursuing my dreams, carrying on the legacy and using my talents...

Monday musings.... Courage

Someone once told me that I should keep it real here on the blog. So here I am keeping it real. This is not a pity party post. No, it is merely me acknowledging the fact that I am petrified of failing. 

The Lanie J. and Co. Shop has been open for over a month now. I have not sold an item yet. I am slowly adding more and more too it. So when I posted a giveaway on my facebook fan page on a Saturday morning and all anyone has to do is like my page, comment on and share the post and as of Sunday evening, there are only three shares, it is hard not to throw in the towel. I know for a fact that the post has had over 200 views. Wrong audience? Maybe. It's okay though. It just makes me rethink the way I am going about things and remember that the point of my blog and doing art and having an Etsy shop is to teach my children to chase their dreams and not give up.

 Courage! 

I even confessed to my 10 year old how I am feeling and told her that I will not give up, I will keep doing what I enjoy. So, I am going to list the rest of my note cards that I currently have printed and head back to what I love. I have Christmas gifts to make. I'll share what I am doing here as I go. 

Leaving you with these wonderful words of wisdom...

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
~Steve Jobs 

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.

~Mark Twain 

People who lack the clarity, courage, or determination to follow their own dreams will often find ways to discourage yours. Live your truth and don't EVER stop! 
~Steve Maraboli

Love what you do and do what you love. Don't listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life.
~Ray Bradbury

Happy Monday!

Monday musings... She did it anyway!

Today, I am choosing to do it anyway!

Part of the online art journal course I am taking talks about "doing it anyway". The lesson was about the excuses we make, both real and imagined that get in the way of what we really want. "She did it anyway!" is a Brave Girls mantra. 

I had no idea how many excuses I make everyday that keep me from doing what I really want to every single day until I really sat down and examined how I spent my time. Amazing the things that hold us back. Tired, not enough time, don't feel well, fear, disorganization, facebook, words with friends, t.v., kids,

a little laziness and the mother of them all... procrastination! 

Another thing I have learned from the class is that I have a choice, every single day, every single minute, how I am going to feel, act and react and what I am going to do with each moment. I am the only one who has control of me. It's refreshing to realize that with a little faith in God and myself I can change my situation to be more joyful. I choose to find time for creativity, working out, taking care of myself so I can be a happier human being, mom and wife. 

What will you choose to do anyway today?

 

Monday Musings... Friends

This is a photo from my 40th birthday celebration in January 2011. These lovely ladies treated me to an evening painting at a local business. We had a great time eating chocolate cake, drinking wine and painting. What could possibly be better?

Of course, that's me in the princess crown. To the left is Gina, to my right, Chris and Aamie. These are the three closest friends I have right now and I love them with all of my heart. I feel I can trust them with anything I tell them. I know they will love me and not judge me for who I am, quirks and all. We have been through so much together. Births of babies, deaths of loved ones, relationship situations and just the every day muck. We have also had the opportunity to share many joys together as well.  

A lot has happened in the year an a half since this celebration. Of course I found out within a month of this photo that I was pregnant with my third child. What a birthday gift! Gina had been in the process of looking for a job for almost 2 years and has since found one, joining the workforce after around a decade of being a stay at home mom. Aamie's family moved to Rio last summer and we went almost an entire year without seeing each other. She has been home for the last month and is heading back to Rio this Wednesday. :( I miss having her beautiful smile just 3 houses down. And Chris, well, this woman prayed fervently for a child in the 6 years since I had met her. Having had 2 miscarriages, she and her husband were on a quest to adopt a child at the time of this picture. In May of this year, their prayers were answered and they are the parents of a sweet baby boy. We get to raise our sons together!

This spring, I had a falling out with a person I thought was a friend. She acted like a friend and there are some wonderful things she did that I am eternally grateful for. But in the end, I learned the lesson of friends vs. acquaintances and she should have only been an acquaintance. I guess I can thank her for the lesson I hope I have learned about discernment of who true friends are and who are just acquaintances. I also was reminded of the beautiful blessings in the above photo. My true friends.

I found this quote while writing this and to me it sums up what true friendship is so well...

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” ― Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Road to Daybreak: A Spiritual Journey


Gina, Chris and Aamie, thank you for always being there for me. I love you all so much!

I know there are other true friends who are going to read this. Friends who are now in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Idaho, and Ohio to name a few. Friends who stood by me through a lot over the years. You know who you are. Don't ever doubt I remember, appreciate and love you too!

 

Monday Musings... A space of my own

Part of my space.

This is my drawing table. I have been working to turn it into a place to channel creativity. Upon it you can find a black and white picture of my mother, a small print of a painting my mom did, a picture of my children, a rosary and added just last week, a beautiful orchid.

Habits can be hard to develop, but I realize the importance of some time to myself. It's just making myself do it. I am sure before long I will look forward to sitting at my table once I get in the groove of spending time there.

My mother, rest her soul, didn't take time to nourish herself as we were growing up. She worried a lot about my dad's wants and needs and about what us kids were doing, but she didn't take care of herself. She didn't eat right, she didn't rest when she needed to and she didn't spend time alone spiritually. At least not that I know of. Unfortunately, I have developed my mother's habits of worrying about everyone else but myself. It isn't her fault, she did what she knew and learned from her mom. I think it is time to make a generational change and do my best to save my daughters from the same attitudes.

It will start at this table.

Do you have a space of your own? Is it a corner, a table, or an entire room?

Monday Musings... Back, and learning to "let go".

Original art by The Art of Michelle on Etsy

Okay, so. I have taken a little break from everything for a few months. About 3 to be more exact. After having an unfortunately ugly fallout with someone I thought was a friend, I have chosen to step back and reevaluate my relationships. My real friends have been very patient with me while I go through this process. I am so blessed to have understanding, concerned, wonderful women in my life.

I have also been thinking about my other personal relationships with my family. My husband, daughters and son. I never realized how much I wanted to control them until I recognized what I was doing and am catching myself to stop the madness. The other day, this was posted on facebook and it just fits what I have been going through so well.

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring. It means I can't do it for someone else.

To "let go" is not to cut myself off. It's the realization that I can't control another.

To "let go" is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another. It's to make the most of myself.

To "let go" is not to care for, but to care about.

To "let go" is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To "let go" is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To "let go" is not to be in the middle, arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies.

To "let go" is not to deny, but to accept.

To "let go" is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

To "let go" is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.

To "let go" is to fear less and to love more.

~ Author Unknown~

So, I am back. Posts may be sporadic as Kyle is now 8 months old and on the go. The girls are out of school for the summer and I am trying to make this summer more fun than last year's. I was pregnant and it was extremely hot. So bless my little girls, they didn't get to do much at all last summer. So far we are off to a fantastic start to this one.

Monday Musings... Faith

Original artwork by Lanie J.

“You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.”

~Mary Manin Morrissey

"Fear can keep us up all night long, but faith makes one fine pillow.”

~Anonymous

“I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.

I just wish He didn't trust me so much.”

~Mother Theresa

Participating here:

Monday Musings... Acceptance

I've been given a very special gift. This gift will change my life and my family forever. I'll share soon!

You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Always fall in with what you're asked to accept. Take what is given, and make it over your way. My aim in life has always been to hold my own with whatever's going. Not against: with.

~ Robert Lee Frost

I’m unable to ignore the gift that God gave me, so I’m going to sing.

~Author Unknown

Each day offers us the gift of being a special occasion if we can simply learn that as well as giving,it is blessed to receive with grace and a grateful heart.

~Sarah Ban Breathnach

Everything in life is most fundamentally a gift. And you receive it best and you live it best by holding it with very open hands.

~Leo O'Donovan

Monday Musings... Friends

“This party is not just for me, it's for my friends.”

~Mary Hayes

I've been away for a couple of weeks. A couple weeks ago on a Thursday, my 5 year old woke up with strep. Three days later after 3 separate visits to Urgent care on the same day, the rest of us were diagnosed with it. I haven't been that sick in a long, long time! I have lost my creative edge and my edge on my house and home. I am still working my way back!

On January 19th, I joined the ranks of the 40 and over crowd. My birthday plans for a day of shopping and lunch with a friend were "crushed" for that day as my sick 7 year old so eloquently put it. Fortunately for me, the Friday night before, my 3 friends (Gina, Chris and Aamie) surprised me with a night out at a local painting place.

We had so much fun painting, drinking red wine and eating a yummy chocolate cake. They showered me with gifts, but none as wonderful as the gift of their friendship. I love these ladies! Thank you all for making my 40th birthday so special!

Speaking of friends, my friend Gay at It's a Hodgepodge Life asked if she could interview me for a feature post on her blog. That interview was posted today! I'm hoping you will go and visit Gay today and leave a comment to tell her hello. While you are there, be sure and take a look at all her beautiful projects and ideas. I have been "blog friends" with Gay for quite some time. I am sure you will love her too! :)

What about you? Do you have fantastic "in real life" and "online" friends like I do? Please share!

Monday Musings... On Being Real

How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone. 

~Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel

He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away.

~Raymond Hull

Always be a first-rate version of yourself,

instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.

~Judy Garland

We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves

to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves.

~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld

It takes courage to grow up

and become who you really are.

~e.e. cummings

Let the world know you as you are,

not as you think you should be,

because sooner or later, if you are posing,

you will forget the pose, and then where are you? 

~Fanny Brice

Monday Musings... Beginning

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.”

~Plato

"There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth...

not going all the way, and not starting.”

~Buddha

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

     “The first step towards getting somewhere

is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.”

~Anonymous

"The most sacred place dwells within our heart,

where dreams are born & secrets sleep,

a mystical refuge of darkness & light,

fear & conquest,

adventure & discovery,

challenge & transformation.

Our heart speaks for our soul every moment while we are alive.

Listen... as the whispering beat repeats:

be...gin, be...gin, be...gin.

It's really that simple. Just begin... again."

~Royce Addington

Monday musings... wishes...

While we try to teach our children about life,

our children teach us what life is all about.

~Angela Schwindt

This list was found taped to the inside of my 7 year old's armoire door.

 Sing BIG baby girl! I love you!

Monday Musings... Inspire

(photo courtesy stock.xchng)

If you look up the definition of  inspire  you will find beautiful words like...

impel

motivate

affect

infuse

incite

“To do something, however small,

to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition,

the most elevating hope,

which can inspire a human being”

~John Lubbock

"Words mean more than what is set down on paper.
It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning."

~Maya Angelou

“In art the hand can never execute anything higher

than the heart can inspire”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

What  inspires  you?

Monday Musings... Worry

I have always been a worrier by nature. My Mama knicknamed me "the worry wart" early on. What did I worry about? Everthing! As an adult, I have lost most of my worry habits. I attribute that to the fact that I know now that I am not in control of every situation, God is. So when I start to worry, I start to pray. However, I do still have a tendency to let worry back in. Old habits die hard I guess.

Here are some quotes about worry...

"Every evening I turn my worries over to God.

He's going to be up all night anyway."

~Mary C. Crowley

“When I look back on all these worries,

I remember the story of the old man

who said on his deathbed

that he had had a lot of trouble in his life,

 most of which had never happened”

~Winston Churchill

“There is nothing that wastes the body like worry,

and one who has any faith in God

should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever”

 ~Mahatma Ghandi

(well then, what a reminder for me!)

“Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.” ~Proverb

“If you can't sleep,

then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying.

It's the worry that gets you,

not the lack of sleep.”

~Dale Carnegie

“Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind.

If encouraged,

it cuts a channel into which

 all other thoughts are drained.”

 ~Arthur Somers Roche

“Every tomorrow has two handles.

We can take hold of it

with the handle of anxiety

or the handle of faith.”

~Henry Ward Beecher quotes

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Since you cannot do this very little thing,

why do you worry about the rest?" ~Luke 12:25-26

What about you, are you a worrier? How do you keep worry at bay?

Monday Musings... Faith

(image courtesy www.sxc.hu)

“When you have come to the edge

Of all light that you know

And are about to drop off into the darkness

Of the unknown,

Faith is knowing One of two things will happen:

There will be something solid to stand on

or

You will be taught to fly”

~ Patrick Overton

“Faith isn't faith until

 it's all you're holding on to”

~ Anonymous

“Faith is the art of holding on to things

your reason has once accepted

in spite of your changing moods”

~ C.S. Lewis

"You block your dream

when you allow your fear

to grow bigger than your faith.”

~ Mary Manin Morrisey

" I may not have gone where I intended to go,

but I think I have ended up

where I intended to be.”

 ~ Douglas Adams

“Faith is a knowledge within the heart,

beyond the reach of proof.”

~ Kahlil Gibran

Monday Musings... Contentment

It was Spring, but it was Summer I wanted:

The warm days and the great outdoors.

It was Summer, but it was Fall I wanted:

The colorful leaves and the cool, dry air.

It was Fall, but it was Winter I wanted:

The beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday season.

It was Winter, but it was Spring I wanted:
The warmth and blossoming of nature.

I was a child, and it was adulthood I wanted:

The freedom and the respect.

I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted:

To be mature and sophisticated.

I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted:

The youth and the free spirit.

I was retired, but it was middle-aged I wanted:

The presence of mind without limitations.

My life was over,

and I never got what I wanted.

Author Unknown

Something for you to ponder on this Monday morning... I am sharing a poem I originally found on Grace Violet.

Be content and enjoy the moment today!

Monday Musings... Summertime!

Ah, summer, what power you have

to make us suffer and like it.

~Russel Baker

Oh, the summer night

Has a smile of light

And she sits on a sapphire throne.

~Barry Cornwall

Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.

~Sam Keen

Being a child at home alone in the summer

is a high-risk occupation.

If you call your mother at work thirteen times an hour,

she can hurt you.

~Erma Bombeck

Summer is the time when one sheds

one's tensions with one's clothes,

and the right kind of day is

jeweled balm for the battered spirit.

A few of those days and you can become drunk

with the belief that all's right with the world.

~Ada Louise Huxtable

Monday Musings... Funnies

Because I believe we all could use a good laugh, especially on a Monday, here are some funnies to get you going in the right direction...

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said,

but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”
~Robert McCloskey

“I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand

a single word of what I am saying.”

~Oscar Wilde

“Before you criticize someone,
you should walk a mile in their shoes.

That way when you criticize them,

you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
~Jack Handey

"I have six locks on my door all in a row.

When I go out, I lock every other one.

I figure no matter how long somebody stands there
picking the locks,

they are always locking three."

~Elayne Boosler

"The only way to keep your health is to eat
what you don't want,

drink what you don't like,
and do what you'd rather not."

 ~ Mark Twain

"Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
~Douglas Adams

...Have a great Monday and don't take things to seriously!

Monday Musings... Mothers

(My beautiful Mom at about 28 years old)

A father may turn his back on his child,

brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies,

husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands.

But a mother's love endures through all.

~Washington Irving

Who fed me from her gentle breast

And hushed me in her arms to rest.

And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?

My Mother.

~Anne Taylor

A mother is the truest friend we have,

when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us;

when adversity takes the place of prosperity;

when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us;

when trouble thickens around us,

still will she cling to us,

and endeavor by her kind precepts

and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness,

and cause peace to return to our hearts.

~Washington Irving

All women become like their mothers.

That is their tragedy.

No man does.

That's his.

 ~Oscar Wilde

I remember my mother's prayers

and they have always followed me.

They have clung to me all my life.

~Abraham Lincoln

Woman, how divine your mission

Here upon our natal sod!

Keep, oh, keep the young heart open

Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages

Are from mother-love impearled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

~William Ross Wallace

All that I am, or hope to be,

I owe to my angel mother.

~Abraham Lincoln

Monday Musings... Creating

If you have a few minutes, this is a beautiful video about our human need to create...  Happy Monday!