I Saw God, and He was Dressed Like a Lumberjack

I have moved quite a few times in my life.  It is usually a small adjustment period and then it feels like home.  Well, it has been harder this time.  I left a community that we wonderful and moved away from the support of family and long-time friends.  Although I have made some great friends here, I have had a bad attitude much of the time...

So, I am changing my attitude.  Today, and I hope everyday hereafter, I am going to "look for God" in people and things around me.  I am hoping this will help me focus on the good and improve my attitude.  Here is my first story.

I saw God at the laundry mat yesterday.  Hurray that this is the last time I am going to the mat here as we are getting our new washer and dryer on Monday!  Anyway, as I was loading my wash I started chatting with a man who looked like a lumberjack in his late 40's / early 50's.  In the course of the conversation he asked what my husband did for a living.  I answered that he was a mechanical engineer.  The typical next line came as no surprise.  When you live in Cedar Falls everyone assumes you work for John Deere if you are an engineer.  No, I answered.  I explained that my husband works for a small company but would eventually love working at Deere.  They have a great benefits package and retirement.  He said he knew that because he was able to retire from Deere at an early age.  He encouraged me and my husband to keep trying, not to give up, to work for what we wanted. 

When I got home, I thought about what he said.  I was lifted by his encouraging words.  I know that the job Paul has is a good one, but it was nice to know that it is alright not to settle but to keep striving and enduring.  So, I saw God at the laundry mat and he was dressed as a lumberjack.



TV

Just trying to get a handle on the amount of time my kids watch videos at our house... I want some feedback on how many minutes a day does/do your child or children watch a day?  If not a day - in a week?  Do you watch with them or is it something they do by themselves or with each other... 

Just tryin' to work it out...

On Being Creative

In high school I was always in an art class.   I loved Ms. Google and I loved creating art.  But, when it came time to think about college and apply for scholarships, I found out - from deep inside myself - that I did not want to go to art school.  I know Goog went through a lot of trouble helping me make a portfolio and take slide etc... And, I am grateful to the people in Iowa City who were interested in interviewing me and learning more about my art. 

When the day arrived to go to Iowa City, I didn't go.  I called Goog on that snowy morning and said that the weather was too bad to go.  Really it was me.  I didn't want to go.  I didn't want others to "judge" my art.  I didn't want to "explain" my style or thinking.  I had no real talent, I just enjoyed creating.  I felt that if I had to be creative for someone else that it would ruin my enjoyment of the process.

I did a little painting in college and then I discovered scrap booking (thanks to my sister, Linda).  This was perfect for me.  I loved photography, so I had boxes of pictures just waiting!  I found out how much I missed creating.  To take something and build on it and change it and manipulate it to make it something of my own.  And, I still love to scrap book.  Sometimes with paper and scissors and sometimes on the computer. 

One of my favorite high school art pieces was a couple of sheets of homemade paper - made with pulp and glue and sea shells...  I put the two small pieces of paper one on top of the other with some crushed shells trailing out the side of one of the pages...  I now don't make my own paper, but I do make paper in an entirely different way.  As I have gotten more into card making and paper crafting, I have learned to create my own background paper.  What a neat skill. 

I love card making in particular.  I can sit at my craft desk in my bedroom (thanks to my hubby for suggesting this) and make a card in a few minutes.  With my own space I can make cards almost every day.  I can get my crafting "high" and then return to cleaning the bathrooms. 

Creating is important to me... it makes me feel alive - whole - special - vibrant...  I am hooked on being creative...

If you are interested in the picture above, see the link below... We loved Frogner Park!
http://members.cox.net/c.kau/Vigeland/walk1.html