resurrection and life

Ever-faithful God,

by divine wisdom you gather us out of the darkness
that has spoken its worst in the death of our Savior,

into the light of Christ.

Enable us to recall your many acts of mercy,

the miracles by which you delivered us,

and the signs of your unwavering love for humankind,

which proclaim the gospel of resurrection and life. Amen.

(from the Revised Common Lectionary)

without you

Without You, we’re wandering deserts

Without You, we’re heavy with burdens

Milk and honey running dry 

When we’re making our own way

Under heaven’s heavy eye, Without You

Without You, we’re praying to idols

Without You, we trust in our own hands

Sweat and toil, sow and reap

When we’re making our own way

Just to toss in troubled sleep, Without You

Emmanuel, draw near and and dwell with us. 

Without You, we’re far from our homeland

Without You, we’re under a tyrant

We are one with Babylon

When we’re making our own way

 Prisoners without a song, Without You

Without You, we’re up on the mountain

Without You, we’re staring at Canaan,

This is where the journey’s done

When we’re making our own way

Hopeless way without the Son, Without You

Emmanuel, draw near and and dwell with us. 

-B. James

Bri wrote this song a few months ago for church. It's one of my new favorite songs - period.

 I'll have to post a recording of it one of these days...

Art: a monoprint I did in college - circa 2006

these days

These days, I'm..

- reeling from a non-stop few days, thankful for some quieter days to come
- forcing forsythia from the garden
- looking forward our first Easter weekend at church
- enjoying Brian's article about his baker brother
- pining, just pining for spring (or spring weather, rather)
- hoping our car repairs are minor and inexpensive
- missing Kimmie, reading of her journeys
- joyfully working through my painting 
- laughing at Levi's ever blossoming sense of humor
- planning and executing Easter ceremonial piñata 2013 (2009/2010 here)
- working on 3rd quarter evaluations
- trying to be still
- wearing new glasses
- preparing for my spring art show at school
- painting custom pendants
- watching my son play, read, run, draw, talk, experiment and explore
- listening to my husband quote passages from "Romeo and Juliet"; always my favorite time of the his school year
- still amazed and thankful for Dad's clean scan
- welcoming a new piece of art in the kettle; an amazing piece of graffiti-inspired art by a good friend, bought at ArtSpeak.
- feeling altogether thankful and blessed

Thankful

Thankful for a full and busy week; for the culmination of many months of thought, prayer and hard work; for beautiful and meaningful musical and visual expressions of "Restoration"; for $3000 raised for victims of human trafficking; for the loud and clear declaration to our community and neighbors of the only One who truly and completely restores.

Yes, very, very thankful.

busy..

..getting ready for this! 

If you're in the area, I hope to see you there! Free concert (Brian will be playing a few songs) and an art show featuring 30 local artists and their response to the theme "Restore". We're auctioning off all of the pieces to benefit isanctuary,  an organization that fights human trafficking. Tomorrow night (3/22), 7-9pm at the Old Town Hall in Salem.

Art Room Diaries: Of late..

Watercolor and Ink Landscape Silhouettes

Oil Pastel Cityscapes Inspired by Miro's "Castle and Sun" 

Ink and Watercolor Pencil Character Studies on Book Pages

Surrealist Shoe Drawings Inspired by Magritte

Cardboard and Oil Pastel Cityscape Collage

Acrylic Still life Paintings Inspired by Morandi

the new rug...I mean race track

This weekend I finally finished the rag rug I've been working on for the last couple of weeks. It's made out of old bed sheets, ripped into thin strips and crocheted together with a large crochet hook (using this pattern). 

It's thick, soft and cushy and I generally just love how it turned out. I'm not the only one- as soon as I tied it up and laid it down on the floor, Levi immediately started using it as a race track. Of course.