Telling Stories

The Happy List {Stolen from my happy sister}

So, I have this sister. 

She has many, many children. (Four. It's a lot. Two of them are twins.) 

Last night, Adam was helping me brainstorm a new novel and we were talking about my protagonist going to visit her oldest friend. Adam said, "Make her like Carrie. Carrie's a great character." 

For whatever reason, that made me laugh.

I knew just what he meant. My sister is a great character. 

Earlier this week, I read something she wrote on Facebook, something no one else would ever think was funny, and I called her. As soon as she said "Hello" I just started laughing. After I squeezed about two words out, she knew why I was laughing and then she started laughing. 

For the next five minutes straight, I laughed that ridiculous kind of laugh that scrunches up your face and brings tears to your eyes. I spent the rest of the night coughing but it was worth it. 

Anyway. Carrie, my sister, has a blog, and today what she wrote resonated with where I am right now. Feeling the pressure to be profound when sometimes  I just need to laugh for five minutes for really no apparent reason. 

Her blog post today is about making a list of things she's happy about. So I'm going to do the same. 

Because I like to copy her. It's why I first bought skinny jeans. 

Nevermind that she's 5'10" and I'm more like 5'6".

Before I go on, the chart-topper of happiness is that this guy releases on October 1st: 

You can click the image to purchase one for yourself, but that means the series is complete! 

I have officially (almost) released a trio of novels. 

insert choir of angelic voices and bring me my vacation bag, baby! (I wish!) 

Also, watch my Facebook Author Page for chances to win prizes. I am cooking up some fun stuff. 

Ok. Now, the real list. :) 

First. I'm happy I got to share this layout on the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog. I kind of love this Webster's Pages collection a whole lot, and Halloween is just around the corner:

Second: I'm so thankful I found this in Sophia's stuff. 

I see her so much more confident and secure than I was at her age. It makes me happy, even though I now worry on the other side that she won't learn to be humble. 

It's always something, isn't it? 

Third. My boys are friends. 

I can't explain how happy this makes me. For some unknown reason I've ended up with two really sweet boys, and while they sometimes fight (over the MOST inane things) they are mostly really good boys with really good hearts. 

That makes me happy. 

Fourth. I've officially uncovered the secret to curbing after school awfulness:

I'm not even kidding. If I show up with one of these, I have the happiest car ride and the happiest evening. If I don't, I lock myself in the closet and go straight for the fetal position. 

Fifth. Doodling. I'm obsessed. 

Mostly what I'm finding is that God speaks to me when I doodle...which always results in more doodles. Who knew God was a doodler too?

Sixth. It's almost the weekend. 

I can't tell you how very much I love the weekend. Mostly because I get to whip this house into shape and daydream about the day I get gutsy enough to paint my ugly living room. 

Seventh. I'm home. 

At least every other day something strikes me and I thank God for bringing us back to Illinois. I'm not sure if it's this glorious sunset (this one literally made me gasp) or the red and orange in the changing trees or the familiarity of the roots we put down years ago... 

But I'm home. And while there are many things I miss about Colorado, being home has brought me a comfort I didn't know I was missing. 

And with comfort comes peace. 

And I wouldn't trade that for the world. 

So what are you happy about today? I need to know. 

Chasing Silhouettes {How to Help a Loved One Battling an Eating Disorder}

I'm not shy in talking about my struggles. My mom is probably horrified at my inability to censor myself but what can I say? This is how I process things. 

The other thing I'm not shy about is talking about my struggle with both anorexia and bulimia throughout high school and college. Perhaps I'm a little different in that my struggle didn't leave me in a dark, depressed state. It was part of how I kept things under control. 

I've always been a perfectionist--an overacheiver--and my weight seemed to always be the one thing I couldn't gain control of. 

Bet you didn't know I moonlighted as a vampire in college, did you? (Holy suntan, batman!)

During that time, there were fleeting thoughts of "maybe I shouldn't be doing this to myself" but it wasn't until I threw up blood (once) and stopped having my period that I started to worry...still, I never told anyone about it. 

I could handle it myself. 

By my junior year of college, I had a bit of a revelation about the way I was treating my body. Suddenly it felt very bold to think of myself as indestructible. And a few years later a girl I went to high school with, someone we all knew to be builimic, had a heart attack. 

She was 26. 

My story is probably different though, than many people who battle an eating disorder. Because I have such a stubborn will, I think I sort of made this decision to pray...and God set me free of that thing...except there were (and still are) these residual scars that hang around. 

Now that I'm older and I often work with teenagers, I have so much compassion for girls who struggle with insecurity or confidence or self esteem. Years ago, I created a self esteem retreat for the girls in our ministry called The Beautiful Girl Workshop and it's something I still have a passion for... but during all of my recovery and all of that time wandering in the darkness, I never found a really great resource to help those who, like me, struggle in silence, wishing someone would take them by the hand and get them through to the other side. 

But now, there is such a resource. 

According to amazon:

Emily Wierenga gets vulnerable and practical in a revealing book about the thought process of a young woman battling an eating disorder -- herself. Sharing her story, Emily speaks to the heart of those who care about others struggling with an eating disorder and shares a practical way forward from a biblical perspective. Comprised of insights and advice from both families and Christian professionals in the eating disorders field, Emily lays out a pathway that inspires and challenges readers to provide the kind of support a person struggling with an eating disorder needs.

I first discovered Emily because she was doing something on her blog called "Imperfect Prose". It was a chance for writers to hit the same topic on the same day and link up and share. It was wonderful the times I got to participate, but the best part was getting to know her heart. 

Later, I discovered we share the same agent and a similar past, so when I heard about her book, I could hardly wait for its release. Because I knew that now--finally--families would have an invaluable resource from the mind of someone who truly understands how an eating disorder can weasel its way in and somersault your sanity. 

Just like that. 

This book is strong and powerful and important. And if you or someone you love struggles in silence, don't ignore it. It's easy to do. It's easy to thinking "I can't go there with them" or "I don't want to offend them." 

But you could be saving their life. 

Today Emily has agreed to give away a copy of this book...please don't feel you have to leave anything but quick hello so you can be entered...but if you have a story you want to share, my comments are yours.

And you aren't alone. 

Just leave a comment and you'll be entered to win. And be sure to check out the website for Chasing Silhouettes HERE. You can order the book HERE. 

A Space of His Own {Or why a man needs a cave}

I still giggle a little to refer to Adam as a man. 

It's a compliment really, that he's managed to stay as fun as the day I met him, but seriously, how weird to think of him as a man. 

He says the same thing. 

"I'm a grown-up now...?" is often expressed around here. 

But in all the years we've been married, Adam has never really had his own "space." 

I've had many spaces. He's made sure of it, but when we started writing musicals, it became really obvious that he needed a space. Pretty hard to record vocals with a heard of wild Walshes running around. 

Hard to compose when you're in the middle of the chaos. 

So when we moved this last time, we put it on our wish list. Offices for both Adam and I. We knew it was a long shot, so when we found this house, our office spaces were honestly part of what swayed us into making an offer. 

That and the red door. 

I know it seems silly that we concentrated our renovating efforts first into our work spaces, but we have a deadline and a show to write...and I work from home, so it is what it is. 

Don't judge us. The ugly brown and green living room is next, I promise. 

Anyway, Adam's office was a blank slate with a puppy covered wall paper border on the top. I so wish I got a picture of that, but he tore it down before I could, but here you can kind of get an idea. 

The people before us really love the earth tones and several rooms in the house are a sort of muddy taupe. This space had no flooring, so really, it was a blank slate. 

Adam painted. 

This seems a good time to observe that all of Adam's clothes somehow become paint clothes. 

We can't all have the pink and orange comfies that I sport when I get to work. 

Hot stuff right there. 

I did help a little, but truth be told, I painted the entire Colorado house so I'm not pining away for walls to slap color on. 

Lest you think he was in this all alone...

Yeah, he had quality help. 

After the room was primed and painted, I realized he'd chosen colors almost identical to the ones I so desperately want to get rid of in the upstairs of our house, but a man can love an earth tone. I suppose it's understandable. 

We went shopping for new flooring, and he tried to talk himself into liking the cheapest possible floor they had. 

This is when I objected. No way was he going to FINALLY have his own space and not put down what he loved... 

As soon as he started laying it down, we were both really glad we spent a little more to get this floor. He has a hard time spending money on himself, but I kept reminding him he really deserves this. He's been through a LOT the past 3-4 years, and this room should be like a medal for still standing. 

We shopped for a few more things but mostly used what we already had to pull it altogether, and while it's not completely finished (we want to add shelves in the back corner and a curtain over the window), it is coming along...

The thing I've noticed is that Adam wants to write and record more. He feels more creative and inspired when he's in there. (I so get this.) It's like a sanctuary. 

I can sit there and listen to what he's coming up with, and we can meet and brainstorm about the show we're working on in a space that has a built-in creative vibe. 

I love seeing him use this room...

And I love hearing the music flowing out of there even more. 

There's something kind of special about saying "you deserve this" to someone who is always giving of themselves, and in this case, it's been a huge blessing to our whole family. 

So what about you? Does your man have a cave? And would it look stupid if we hung floor length curtains as if that tiny basement window was full size? (Be honest.)

Be Encouraged.

Years ago, I took a spiritual gifts test. 

I was surprised to find out that one of my gifts was "encouragement." Surprised because it didn't really seem all that gift-like, but also because I hadn't recognized this in myself. 

So I took a step back and realized it's true. I am an encourager. Because a kind word goes a long way. Because if I think something complimentary in my head, I usually spill it, even if it's completely the wrong time. Because my big life message is "yes, you can do it. Try. What have you got to lose?" 

And yet, there are areas of my life where I don't follow that advice...

Oh, it's easy to tell other people to jump...but God has reminded me lately it's not something trite, this going after your big dream business. It's big and scary and it takes a whole lot of courage. 

But I still believe when you know God's told you to do something, or when you know you're called according to his purpose or when you know your gut is telling you this is not okay...the decision becomes infinitely easier.

And when you get a divine revelation of the fact that He wants what's best for you, it almost becomes a no-brainer. 

Almost. 

Over and over, he leads me here:

And I can honestly say last week, before I haded to Dallas, I got there. 

With hands turned up, I surrendered it all to him, asked for an emotional calmness, and handed my entire writing career over to the One who gave it to me in the first place. 

It was so freeing. To know that He loves me enough to allow me to do what I really love...and to give me the courage to press forward even when the ugly voice of discouragement tries to pull me down. 

Have you been there? Do you know that pit? It almost holds you under, steals your breath.

And if there's one thing I know for sure, it's that discouragement is not from God. It keeps you from focusing on all the ways He's answering your prayers, on all the ways He's ordering your steps and it whispers lies in your ear. 

Lies you can believe, if you're not careful. 

Be careful.

All weekend, I kept hearing that word: discouragement...because I knew I wasn't the only one feeling it. 

And I can tell you, whatever it is you're carrying, whatever it is that burdens your heart, perhaps it's not something you're meant to bear on your own. 

Hand it over today. Take it to the foot of the cross and leave it there. 

You're not in this alone. I promise. 

So tell me, what lie are you battling? Maybe we can tackle it together. 

Five Things You Can Do For Yourself This Week

This past weekend I had the absolute pleasure of heading down to Dallas for the annual ACFW conference. Every time I go, I come back and do a big blog post on the amazing things that I learned at ACFW or the awesome authors I met or how hopeful the whole conference was. 

(L-R) Our agent Sandra, me, authors Lynne Gentry, Kellie Coates Gilbert and Carla Stewart at the ACFW gala Saturday night. 

This year I had such a different experience. It was the first time I'd gone as a published author, and yet I felt like this year was a good year to break it all down and get back to the basics. Truth be told, I needed to set this time aside to really focus on my writing. To ask God "what do you want me to do?" 

A question I often don't like the answer to. 

Especially when the answer is "nothing." or "relax." 

God, don't you know what killers those are for someone like me? 

I can almost see his raised brow as if to say, "Why yes, I do." 

Annual Friday night dinner (and very late night chat fest) with author, mentor and friend Deb Raney. And that may or may not be peach cobbler...we're not saying a word. :) 

Those weren't the answers I heard this time... this time I whined (a lot) about how I didn't want to leave my family and almost talked myself right out of going. I have a tendency to obsess over the traveling side of these trips, but I have to tell you, I think every mom should get away for a long weekend at least once a year. 

I'm not saying go be an absentee mom, but I came home so exhausted yet completely refreshed. I'm not even worried that I have 2,019 unread emails. I'm saying things like "Here's your breakfast my sweet little man." 

We, as women, (and probably men too) feel so guilty to say "I need to be away for a little bit," but what I've found is that time away is often the thing I need to become a better wife and mom (and writer.) It's not something any of us should feel guilty about...it's important. It's critical. And it shows your kids that it's important for them too. 

I hold my breath during photos, FYI. This isn't really a good look for me. I love these girls. 

We put a lot of emphasis on date nights or family nights, but I believe a "me night" is every bit as vital to your health and well being. And if you can cram a few of them together like I did this week and go study something that gets your creative juices flowing, all the better. 

Perhaps you've never even considered this and you need some ideas on what to do to give yourself that mental break you need. Here are my favorites (most of which you can do THIS WEEK!) 

With author Kristy Cambron. Isn't she beautiful? 

1. Go see a movie by yourself. (I am planning to see "Trouble with the Curve.") There is something about getting out and sitting in a dark theater by yourself. You don't have to worry that anyone else is liking the movie and you get to make up your own mind about what you think. For me, this is a great chance to dissect the story and figure out what I loved (or didn't love) and why.

2. Go see a movie with girlfriends. Maybe you like the comfort of having your best girlfriends at your side, but when was the last time you made a point to do this? Call your friends NOW and set it up! You deserve it.

3. Go to a bookstore with no agenda. Flip through magazines or books with a notebook at the ready. Whether you're re-decorating a room, looking for scrapbook ideas or trying to determine the best way to handle your kids, this is a great way to set yourself aside and focus. Oh, and usually the coffee is nice too. 

4. Ask your husband to take the kids for an hour or two and steal away to your art/craft room. Spend some time in your big dream book. Don't "catch up" on anything, just dream. Just spend some time brainstorming. Ask yourself what you need to do to get back on track. 

5. Start planning a long weekend. Depending on what stage of life you're in this may not be feasible. It's harder to leave with smaller kids, but that's not to say it can't be done. I find that if I can schedule time at a conference where I'm going to spend time with like-minded people, I come back so excited my husband can't get me to shut up. What's your passion? Photography? Scrapbooking? Writing? Art? Business? Jesus? Whatever it is, find a way to learn more about it and I guarantee you'll never regret obtaining more knowledge. 

So, my question for you today is this...when was the last time you've done something for yourself? If money were no object and you had all the time in the world...what would you do? 

A Layout, An E-Book & A Giveaway {Meaningful Minis by Elizabeth Dillow}

This week, I'm heading to Dallas to attend the American Christian Fiction Writer's Conference. It's funny because when we were moving, this date seemed so far away. 

It was like I had all the time in the world... but now here it is and I find myself unprepared. I suppose that's somewhat typical. 

As it is, I have a layout to share today. Maybe you saw the ribbon valance I have in my scrapbook room: 

It's not really a secret how much I love ribbon, so I pulled a bunch of my favorites (the same ones that are hanging over my window) and created a layout about my daughter at age 10. 

I used the ribbon like you would strips of patterned paper, careful to cut the ends at different angles so everything wasn't going the same way. I also made sure to vary the lengths. 

From there, I just built the layout on top of the colorful texture the ribbon provides:

Sometimes you need a little extra adhesive, which is why I stitched the buttons in place. I find that some adhesives don't want to stick to ribbon, though for whatever reason getting it to stick to paper is fine.

I use Crafty Power Tape from Scrapbook Adhesives. I wrote my journaling on white cardstock and cut it into strips, applying them around the layout. Here again, I didn't want anything lined up, so I added them at different points, overlapping the ribbon around the page. 

I used foam adhesive (Scrapbook Adhesives) to get the photo to pop up a little bit. 

And that was pretty much it! 

You can see more ideas like this one in my E-Book, Step Up Your Supplies. 

Those Ella girls really know how to put a book together, which is why I'm thrilled to tell you all about this book from my friend Elizabeth Dillow: 

AND! I get to give one away! 

Here's a little more about this fabulous book...

Whatever you make, make it meaningful.

Elizabeth Dillow applies this philosophy to everything she does, and Meaningful Mini Albums may be the meaningfulest* of them all. She poured her heart and soul into 12 amazing albums (some itty bitty and others merely small) that will inspire you to tell your best stories in creative new ways. And your purchase includes a free video tour of 7 of the 12 albums. (Details on page 2 of your download.)

The beauty of a mini-album is that you can pack BIG memories inside. And these are projects with a clear beginning and end, which means you get to accomplish something grand and set the finished product on the shelf for all the world to see, flip through, and enjoy. Aren't you dying to think mini?

*Yes, we made up a word, but we're in good company. Shakespeare made up words all the time.

So...how would YOU like to win? 

All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post and I'll choose a winner Wednesday before I head off to Dallas! 

For extra chances to win, just Tweet, Facebook or Pin the link to this giveaway and come back here and leave another comment telling me you did! What a great little giveaway to kick off the week! :) 

I'm also giving away books all over the place on Facebook, so be sure to check out my author page for chances to win!  

What's Your Big Idea?

This year, I'm so excited to be a part of something so fun. The Big Idea Festival over at Big Picture Classes. 

The festival is FREE and anyone can join in...and there is tons of inspiration. So much that I can hardly get over it! The best idea is to clear your schedule and go to town catching up on videos, projects and posts. Here's the blog post with my big idea...

To start, they asked all of the instructors "What's your big idea..." And this is mine. 

This is a peek at my Dream Book:

I created this to help me document my dreams. Some are kind of personal and private. Some are in the seedling stages. Some have already come true. 

Seeing my books in print is still completely surreal, and I think I could do 100 pages about it and it would still seem like a dream. 

Oh well, that won't stop me from trying to capture it. 

I used the Studio Calico catalog to create this because I'm kind of stingy when it comes to my new papers. I don't like to cut them up. But catalogs are the perfect way to get the patterns in small doses, so I hoard those just like I hoard pens. And chocolate. 

I've had this book for a long time, but never knew quite what to do with it, and I've wanted to sit down and create a Big Dream Book for a long time but never quite had the chance. 

It was a perfect marriage. 

I didn't want to add too much bulk because it's a spiral bound book, but this cream colored trim was too perfect to ignore. I'm a sucker for cream colored trim. 

This is my all-time favorite, but I used every last scrap of it. 

I decided to create a border out of the circles by cutting around the base of the design but leaving them together.  

And while I'm a fan of big dreams being handwritten, I decided to type and print mine. 

I'm happier for it. :) 

So tell me...what's YOUR big idea? 

Head over to Big Picture and sign up for the Big Idea Festival. I've got a video with a little more detail on this project and I know the other teachers will inspire your socks off! 

For Those Who Feel Forgotten...

Do you ever feel forgotten? 

You remember what it was like on the playground as a kid to be the one that felt left out or left behind? It happens to all of us. Maybe you tried out for a team and didn't make it. Or a show and weren't cast. 

I remember one time in college I auditioned for a Shakespearan play and didn't get a part. I just "didn't fit"... 

Now that I've directed shows, I understand what that means...but at the time, all I heard was "Cain't sit here."

Only there was no "Jenny" to make room for me. 

It's not the best feeling. And lately, I've felt this way.

About God. 

I know I've chronicled some of the issues we've had, mostly with things breaking or not working or not turning out the way they're supposed to. From the cars (both of them) to the plumbing in the house to last week's loss of my computer...it really has been neverending. 

And my first thought was "God, what am I doing wrong?" 

I spent most of the weekend trying to figure out what it was that I hadn't done right. I haven't overcome my cynicism. I don't trust easily. I worry too much... there is a long list...

"God, is this why I'm being punished?" 

This is the way I've always viewed God, like his love is something to be earned...and while I know in my head that he loves me, I still feel like I have to work to prove that I'm worthy of that love. 

So I work. And I do. And I strive. And I see no change. 

Something else breaks. Another issue. Another problem. And I wonder who I have to pay to make Murphy's long take a sharp turn to the left...away from us for Pete's sake. 

And all the while I'm praying those thrown up to heaven kind of prayers... mostly they're short and sweet and consist of "Help me, Jesus..." and then I wonder why I see no results. 

So yesterday I got it all out. I just needed a word from God. I needed to know that He hadn't forgotten me...even though it might've seemed to him in the last couple of months that it had been the other way around. 

But God doesn't hold grudges and he didn't want to "prove a point" or "be the one who was right" like I sometimes do. 

He simply drew me in...led me here...Hosea 6.

It was all written just for me in this moment and I knew it. 

Even the part at the beginning about him injuring us and now he can bandage our wounds seemed to speak to me...because while I don't believe God inflicts harm, I do think he can use it to teach us...

What do you want me to learn? 

I kept reading until I stumbled upon verse 6. I wasn't reading my normal New King James Bible. For some unknown reason, I picked up a New Living translation. It says: 

"I want you to show love; not offer sacrifices.

I want you to know me;  more than I want burnt offerings."

 I want you to know me. 

The words melted right into my heart. 

Do I know Him? Am I too caught up trying to do things for him that I've forgotten to know his heart? He doesn't want our works...he wants our love...he wants us to stop trying to DO so much and start resting in Him. 

Are you trying to do it all? Trying to fix what's broken on your own without taking it to the foot of the cross? What if today you lay it all down and simply rest? What if you strive to show love rather than strive to do more? 

What if? 

LOTS of Giveaway Winners {And What I'm Up To Today}

It's been giveaway central over here, and I'm not even finished. I think gift-giving is my love language, and plus I have a bunch of really talented friends to tell you about next week. 

In the meantime, I am meditating on this...

Looking forward to this...

Studying these: 

(for the new musical Adam and I are writing for Spotlight Youth Theater...) 

Preparing for this: 

...and choosing paint colors because I'm gonna KILL my ugly living room this weekend. 

I feel like the resting I've done lately has been really good for me...who knows, maybe it's good to power off the brain every once in awhile. 

Anyway, remember a little while ago, I announced this: 

And I told you I was going to award some awesome prizes? 

By the way, that necklace has gotten a LOT of comments and I am just as in love with it as you are!

Even if you don't win, you should RUN check out Beth's website because her jewelry is GORGEOUS! 

Anyway, I had some amazing entries, and I'm always so excited to run around the internet and see what you guys are creating!! I sort of want to pack everything up and scrapbook today...doesn't that sound fun? :) Thank you to everyone who entered!

While it WAS difficult, I've chosen three winners...so those prizes will be divvied up and awarded to the following...

First Place: Cresta Woodruff:

I just fell in love with the enlarged photo and this color palette. The doiley is perfect with the gray, black and salmon colors and the sentiment is pure Sweethaven. Cherish those old friends...they are such a gift! 

Second prize goes to Deanna Koontz: 

The thing I really loved was something Deanna wrote in her blog entry. She said of her husband "Darrel is my happy place." I can so relate to that, and I loved the way she captured it here...the layout is so beautifully put together. 

Finally, I couldn't steal this image, but go check out Dana Cheney's layout. I love the patchwork chevrons and the way Dana included several photos on this page. What a great idea! 

Thank you so much to everyone who entered, and if you won (YAY YOU!) send your address to me at courtneyrwalsh{at}gmail{dot}com (don't forget the R in there!) and I'll get your prizes out! 

Speaking of prizes...you might be wondering about my other giveaways...

The Winner of The Studio Calico September Kit (and a signed copy of one of my books) is: Miriam Pranther!

The Winner of the Three Memory Verse CDs (or Schoolhouse Rock for the Bible) is: Shannan Martin (What?! I swear I am using a random number generator and it pulled out my homegirl's ever-lovin' name?)

The Winner of Brave Girl Art School is Terri at Create Scrapbooks:

You lucky winners need to send me your addresses (or email addresses) too! (send to: courtneyrwalsh{at}gmail{dot}com and I'll get those taken care of too! 

Thanks so much for playing along...and for hanging around here...and for telling people about my books. I'm having one of those sappy, grateful moments again. I better sign off before I start blubbering. 

What are you doing this weekend? 

 

Art is a State of Mind {And WIN a spot in Brave Girl's Art School!}

It took me a long time to start referring to myself as a writer.  I think it was ten years of professionally writing that finally made me realize "Um, yeah, this is what I do..." 

This is what I do...

I write. And I LOVE it...

But calling yourself an artist is something else entirely. While I do believe writing (and all creative mediums) are art, that term seems so hoity-toity.

Surely I can't call myself that. 

But I'm starting to believe that being an artist is really a state of mind. Last week, it dawned on me that part of the reason for my funk is that I haven't been creative. At all. After you release a book, your extra time is spent getting the word out...because if no one buys it, you probably won't write another one. 

It's a lot of pressure. 

But I've been feeling off and I think it's largely because of that lack of creativity. 

So, I sat down and started doodling one night while I was watching TV: 

I decided to doodle for Sophia, who seemed to need a bit of extra encouragement. I thought of her and all the things I wanted to say to her...and I doodled. I've always been a doodler, and I've always collected quotes on pages like this...

Though I didn't color it till days later and only then because I had downtime while Ethan was writing a proof for his story problem. {I am not the parent who should be helping him with this. It's a sure-fire way to make sure he isn't successful.}

Then I started surfing the web and I stumbled upon a few doodly painted pieces and I thought "I've never doodled in paint..."

And then I thought "But I sure want to try."

I mostly do mixed media, so having just the canvas as a background was sort of weird. No texture showing through...would it turn out?  

The jury is still out...but the point is, I actually had fun. I unplugged my brain, pulled out the paints and just doodled. In living color.  

It was a little sloppy and drippy and I wanted it that way. Full of imperfections and perfect for the bare walls on my scrapbook space...

I started with two different shades of pink and yellow paint and then misted with similar colors... and then I just kept adding to it with pencils, markers, lots of paint, water...

I honestly can say I just played. 

It was such great therapy...so good for my soul. I felt happy as I worked on it, happy as I kept adding to it. I tried something totally different and while I'm not 100% sold on it, I'm 100% sold on doing it again!  

As I tell Sophia, you have to work to get better...at anything...and that includes art. That's why I am THRILLED to start Brave Girl Art School.

It started this week, but I'm having computer issues...so I asked Melody if it was too late and she said NO, which means it's not too late for you either! 

And let me tell you, Melody gets it. When I told her about my painting experience, she said, "It's therapy, isn't it?" And it is. It just really is...there's something about looking down at paint-covered hands...or finding a stray turquoise dot on your elbow later in the day... 

So how would you like to WIN a spot in Brave Girl Art School? 

Brave Girl Art school is one of the prizes in my Sweethaven Scrapbooking Challenge... but I'm also giving away another spot today, winner to be announced tomorrow {lots of winners announced tomorrow!} 

All you have to do is leave me a comment and tell me...

What is it you most want to learn right now? What is the work you're longing to do? 

I'll enter you to win a spot in this amazing class taught by one of my dearest friends, the fabulous Melody Ross. 

If you want an extra chance to win, just SHARE the link to this post somewhere on this here world wide web and come back and tell me you did. See, it's all about sharing around here. I'll choose one lucky winner to join me as a student in this class...and I promise, we'll both be happier for it. 

 

The Post With No Photo. And No Point.

There's a season for everything. I know this is true because I remember hearing the Byrds' song on one of those infomercials for a compilation record album as a kid. 

Yes, I remember records. 

And yes I know it's in the Bible. 

Mama didn't raise no heathen. 

The truth is, I'm sitting in my front room cozied up in my red chair, wallowing a little bit and wondering what on earth it is I'm supposed to be learning in this weird, funky, whatisgoingtogowrongnext season...because between you and me, I'm a little dumbfounded at how many "little foxes" are still trying to spoil my vines. 

All of my vines. 

It's enough to make me tear down the dang vine and stomp the grapes Lucy-style just so I can have some wine. And I don't drink wine. 

But something occurred to me this afternoon as I looked back on the countless wasted hours I spent on the phone with Mohammed, Johnothon and other various tech support people who offered me about as much support as a training bra...

I'm not learning...anything. 

I'm in this odd mental limbo, and it's almost like I walked away from my overanalysis...like for some reason I couldn't process it anymore. Truth be told, I've been avoiding everything, getting lost in the house projects and finding new and interesting ways to transform the ponytail that is rapidly becoming the only way I wear my hair. 

Turns out long hair does have an upside. 

I spend my evenings sitting in this same chair watching my kids play in the front yard (Sam was actually dancing with a rake tonight, a rake he wielded at a little boy doing laps on a Big Wheel in our cul-de-sac.) 

I've abandoned some of the ideas I had, deeming them unimportant or too involved...and now I'm wondering if I just got tired? Am I just out of energy? Or could it be that I'm in a resting phase...storing it up for the busy that's about to occur? 

Lately I've been trying very hard to be present, to nurture, to do more than wander through my days, rushing from one place to another...

It started when school started...and I had to leave the house. I have three kids in three different buildings, so there I was trucking around town, working my afterschoolroutine, breaking the carpool rules (unintentionally, of course...) and proving that I didn't read the traffic flow chart.

I'm a closet rebel. 

That little taste of life outside my own little world did something to me. It changed me...but as good as I think that is, it's left me in this odd funk. This questioning of what am I doing here? what do I want out of this life? 

I'm in a funk, my friends. 

The kind of funk that's left me with nothing to say...gaps in my blogging and the photo-less post are evidence that perhaps I'm losing a little something here...?

Or maybe I'm finding something...? 

I don't know. For now, I'm just going to go with it...

Cause that's how I roll...all kinds of crazy and overanalytical. 

And it doesn't make for interesting blogging, does it? 

The Big Idea Festival, Nesting & Another inappropriate story...

I guess I needed to take a little break? I went a lot of days in a row without blogging, and it felt strange, but necessary. Sometimes I think you just need to ponder. Or nest. And that's mostly what I've been doing. And no, I'm not pregnant. 

Just a new homeowner...on a mission. 

We spent the weekend chasing down our to-do list andI'm happy to say it's all coming along. Adam's recording studio is nearly finished (except for the shopping) and I've mentally moved on to the 'green room." 

This is what it looked like in the Realtor photos:

I really think they kind of pulled it off, but it's not working for me at all. In fact, I've taken to calling it the "Poo" room because honestly the color on the walls really reminds me of a baby's diaper.

A dirty one.

My mom is shaking her head. I can hear her now... "You really need to learn to censor yourself..." 

I'm currently in the indecisive "what color do I paint, my whole life depends on this decision" phase.

Which has led me to the "but I just did this, for the love of Pete. Why do I have to do it again!?" phase of self pity. 

Mostly I'm at war with the fun, vibrant, color-loving side of myself and the "it's time to grow up and choose neutrals" side of myself. Trouble is, I'm drawn to lots of different styles...so it's difficult to pick and choose and commit. 

I'm still gathering my thoughts on the subject (as if my decorating skills, or lack thereof, need to be psycho-analyzed?) 

Anyway. I'm also choosing winners for all kinds of goodies today (stay tuned!) But in the meantime, I wanted to tell you about this: 

I'm still kind of floored that I get to be a part of something so amazingly cool. Have you been over to Big Picture lately? There is SO much to learn and what a great place to do it! 

Click on the photo to read more about the Big Idea Festival! 

In short...this is a FREE 14-day festival filled with big ideas, big prizes, and big fun!

Grab a front-row seat; you won't want to miss the spectacle of the season. Seven of your favorite BPC instructors are teaming up with seven surprise instructors—who will be unveiled on opening night—to share their biggest big ideas with you.

While we can't guarantee that there will be elephants and acrobats, there will certainly be energy and excitement to spare. Register now for your chance to join in the hullabaloo and share your big ideas, too.

Check this out!

 

I'm still sort of shocked to see myself with these girls. They're fabulous in every way! You can come get big ideas from Ali Edwards, Cathy Zielske, Stacey Julian, May Flaum, Karen Grunberg, Amy Sorenson and myself. 

The festival is 14 days straight of  daily challenges and amazing giveaways...and did I mention this is FREE?! What? 

So no matter what kind of papercrafter you are, this is a GREAT opportunity to join in the fun! 

And as a side note...

Sam's been really into his muscles lately. The other day he lifted up his shirt to show me his 4-pack. At the risk of writing yet another inappropriate blog post, I have to tell you about our ride home from my parents' house last night. 

Adam likes to play car games. I won't tell you that I loathe them because I don't want everyone in my family to call me boring and because it keeps the kids occupied. 

And because every now and then, we get a little gem.

Yesterday, they were playing "Person, Place or Thing" (which is basically "20 Questions". Or in our case, "152 Questions.") 

So, Sophia has chosen a "Thing" and we're all guessing. 

Ethan: Can you buy it in a store?

Sophia: It depends on who you are. 

Me: Is it prescription medication? (No wonder I hate these games.) 

Sophia: Um. No. 

Adam: Is it man-made? 

Sophia: Yes: 

Sam: It's BOOBS!

Don't worry, after I wiped the tears of laughter off my face, I did reprimand him for being inappropriate. I'm sure it made a huge impact. 

Sometimes I feel sad that time goes fast...and other times I find it impossible to not be so thankful for this exact moment right here...because these moments are just so fun, and I am just so blessed. 

Hope you had a good weekend!