This is a truth I need to hear daily. It's so easy to start the day and already feel like I'm failing at life, behind and always scrambling to catch up. Anyone else with me?! I need a conscious reminder that I am not failing. I was wonderfully created with a purpose and intention. I am not a failure. I am an awe-inspiring creation. AND. SO. ARE. YOU. And so are you kids, grandkids, or loved ones. Every person matters. We were all made amazing. 

​My friend Trina commissioned me to paint her daughter standing by the edge of Lake Sammamish. She wants to give this as a gift to her very artsy daughter. Together Trina and I brainstormed another painting to hang along side the larger landscape.  

We wanted her sweet daughter to remember her true worth and value in God's eyes each day. In a flurry of text messages, Trina and I both wrote "How about something with the fearfully and wonderfully made verse?" at the same time! It was meant to be! So as I finished up the landscape, I used the extra paint on my palette to create an abstract on two 8"x8" canvases. With paint pens, I wrote Psalm 139:14 on top. I was so excited with how it turned out, I shared it on Facebook. Within five minutes, another friend requested two for her twins. This brother and sister are just beginning their teen years. What a better time to be reminded daily of their worth and purpose! One has a blue room and the other is bright yellow, so last night, I got straight to work after dinner--(when I was needing some peace and quiet after a challenging mom-day--imagine here that my kids and husband are doing the dishes--score one for mom!)

This morning, I finished these two and cannot wait to hand them off tomorrow! 

​How about you, what's your favorite quote or verse that inspires you? Would you help me build a collection of great quotes by posting yours in the comments below?! 

In my spiritual life, it seems God brings certain images or words for me to focus on for a season. This summer the two words were Surrender and Wind. At first glance, "wind" seems totally unspiritual, right?! I spent weeks this summer sketching and painting designs representing the wind and scouring the Bible for wind references. Did you know that the original word used for "spirit" in the Bible can be translated  as wind, breeze, or breath? At creation, God breathed life into Adam. The breath of life creates. At the Red Sea, God used the wind to make a path where there had been no path. The wind makes a way. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit rushed in on a great wind. The wind ignites the soul. Jesus talks about the wind separating the wheat kernels from the chaff. The wind purifies. I'm in awe of the wind...tornadoes, hurricanes, the power in windmills, the carving of wind erosion, the power to push ships across oceans. In this series, I took these ideas and played with line and color and movement, all the while keeping this spiritual parallel on my mind. Some of the paintings seem more peaceful while others are much more whipped by the wind. These paintings just happened to be on vintage sheet music. There was no forethought to that, but it is ironic since the wind is also what powers many instruments with the human breath...a joining together of the beauty of music, breath, and now paint!