Day 39

Fresh Air, Times Square! How wonderful it was to catch the scent of wild chives in the air as I emerged from my home this morning. That unique scent brings so much joy that I immediately envision a veritable plethora of dishes topped with this Spring divinity. In a few weeks, many tufts of this delight will emerge and spread throughout the fields. As the weather turns warmer, I look forward to rolling down my cars windows and inhaling this familiar scent. Fresh air, who needs Times Square?

Day 38

Chasing bubbles because as opposed to chasing rainbows,
upon occasion you can actually catch one! 

Day 37

I am writing early this morning because after reading my devotions, the 3 x 5 card that I keep in my Bible which has a list of people I pray for, fell into my hand. As I thought about my prayers for them, I realized that I was praying for each of their happiness in special ways. Then I thought about this blog and how my prayers relate to it's theme. So today, I wanted to recognize these people and pray for each of them publicly. Please pray with me.

Dear Lord,
Please give give B. a moment of happiness in which she fondly thinks of her father.
As J. struggles to breathe, please bring a smile to his face as he reads something which gives him joy.
Please bring joy to Mom's heart as she looks out her window and glimpses signs of Spring and her flowers preparing to bloom.
Please bring my husband joy as he is not feeling well and is so far away from us working to support us.
Please let my children feel joy when they are around me and help ease conflict between us.
Please ease R.'s OCD and let her enjoy everyday happiness. She is such a beautiful person.
Please help M. and her husband to glimpse how they used to love each other and work within their marriage for healing.
Please ease K.'s loneliness and ache in her heart. Bring a smile to her face when she thinks of all those that love her.
Please let G & A share in many smiles and laughter today.

Lord, I know that we often come to you with a list and today is no different. But I come to you with this list because I know that all things are possible through you. I love you Lord.
Amen.

Week Six Paintings

Getting Ready for Easter

Day 36

I find great joy in old things, esp. old pictures. I collect all types, but my 2 favorites are stereoscopes and old black and white photos of everyday happenings. I love to look at informal pictures of people from long ago. It always makes me slightly sad when I walk into a shop and see them for sale. I imagine that one day pictures precious to me may also someday find their way into a shop. So I rescue them and am compiling a box of these precious images. One day I am going to make a special scrap book of these pictures and call it "This is Not My Beautiful Life". Thanks David Byrne.

S.O.S. con't

So back to the cat. He still makes me itch, but boy is he loveable. As I write, he's sitting here on my lap, purring away. Problem is- as soon as I get up, I'll have to wash my hands or else I'll break out in hives. Can anyone take him?

Day 35

I read a statement today which I found to be quite profound. It read, "The young man or woman who aspires to become an artist but who is not willing to take that risk will have no chance whatever of being remembered. Art is a confrontation in which one gambles his or her life." (The Novel, James Michener) With this statement I am in agreement and yet I find it somewhat limiting in respect to my philosophy about finding joy in everyday life. There is risk in art. No doubt any time an individual creates something and "puts it out there", the artist risks criticism, failure, non-interest and self. Yet, perhaps not all art is to be remembered. Indeed, much of it has been forgotten, neglected, down graded or even simply discarded. That does not mean it has not been meaningful in it's base creation. For instance, on Wednesdays, I paint with my best friend. Neither of us is particularly good, but the camaraderie felt during those sessions is priceless. We laugh, we cry, we talk, we are silent. We simply exist in the moment and art is the thing of beauty which binds us in that moment, so even though perhaps we are not gambling with our lives, we are creating memories and synthesizing a relationship which will last forever.

Day 34

Teddy Bear Picnic

Q: Ever wonder what to do with all those Honey Bear jars?

A: Have a Teddy Bear Picnic, of course!

Decorate jars with colorful craft paper and ribbon. Coat inside with glow in the dark glitter glue.

 Decorate dining room with trees, bear books, bears and blankets.

Set out picnic food including honey and peanut butter sandwiches.

 Display more bears and teddy bear craft. Read Teddy Bear Picnic during dessert.

Send children home with cool glow in the dark bears.

Admittedly, I'm crafty and love throwing theme parties, but this was really easy. The cousins (all 8 of them) really enjoyed it.

Day 33

Good Neighbors. I live in a town, technically a borough, filled with good neighbors. In my last home, an apartment complex of roughly 1,000+ people, I didn't know one person. Now, I am on a first name basis with many of my neighbors. Many a warm day I'll spend time talking "over the fence" with one of my neighbors.

Today, I took some time getting to know a single mother who lives next door to me. She was very nice and I really enjoyed in our conversation. Not only that, as we were talking, she told me she was planning on entering a nursing program to provide a better life for her and her son. I was thinking about this and remembered a program I had heard about which helped low income individuals enter the nursing field, but I could not  remember the name of it. I told her that I knew another neighbor who would know and that I would get in contact with her within the week. It wasn't 20 minutes later that I saw that neighbor. I asked her to join our conversation and she told the mother all about the program. When I left, the Mom was so excited, she planned to go right inside to Google that program. Just think- had I not taken the time to speak with her, she might never have known about this fantastic opportunity. Taking the time to get to know people can really produce amazing results.