Summer of Color-PINK

I am having a blast with the Summer of Color Challenge on Twinkle Twinkle. Kristin is one of the sweetest and most talented ladies on the Web. Our challenge this week was to work with the color PINK.

Pink just happens to be one of my favorite colors ever. So love that line from "Steel Magnolias" when Julia Robert's character, Shelby says "Pink is my signature color."

As soon as Kristin posted this week's color the line from John Cougar Mellencamp's "Little Pink Houses" came to mind. Here's what I came up with....

I really love it!!

For more fab PINK projects be sure and stop by Kristin's blog...you'll be inspired for sure. Why not play along, too. Her color next week is YELLOW:)

I am out of town for the weekend...our Kern Family Reunion is Saturday. So looking forward to some family time!!

What are your Holiday plans?

My Medical Problems Solved?

One Hundred and Eighty Seven Dollars.

That's what a 2 day migraine cost me this week.

Ugh.

But as one of my favorite songs from Annie sings...

The Sun will come out tomorrow.

 And it has.

I can feel it's rays shining down on me.

I am feeling hopeful and a bit excited.

Yesterday was my doctor's appointment in Kansas City. Around here you only go to KC to see a doctor if it's important...and it was. You may remember back in April I began seeing a Pulminologist for my shortness of breath and dizziness. After many tests he sent me on to a thyroid specialist. You see, they thought I had thyroid cancer. I have hundreds of tiny tumors all over my thyroid with one larger one that may have been cancerous. There was even talk of me losing my thyroid. The past month I have been a wreck imagining what it was gonna be like living without a thyroid.

So yesterday {after an hour massage and one chiropractor adjustments and $125 less richer} my Mom and Em and I drove to KC. My neck was still ouchy and my mood was less than jolly. 

We talked all the way down about my headaches and neck pain and how I just can't keep living this way and that along with finding out more about my thyroid I was going to pick this Dr. Thompson's brain about my migraines and see if he could reccomend a specialist for me.

Nearly 2 hours later I was sitting in his office with a list of questions and determined to find relief for my migraines and to face the truth about my thyroid cancer. {if i even had it}

Here's what I found out and here's my "Sun will come out tomorrow" moment....

*I DO NOT have thyroid cancer-Hooray!

* I am NOT going to lose my thyroid-Whew!

*My blood test indicates I have....Drum-Roll Please....Hashimoto's Disease. What's that you ask and what are the symptoms? Well it causes extreme muscle pain in the shoulders {that would be ME} and unexplained weight gain of about 10 to 20 pounds without being able to take it off {Yep, me again} and sluggishness and fatigue {so that's why I've been soooo tired} and depression {i thought it was just me and all the stuff I have going on} as well as a few other pesky problems {most of which I have}.

So today I am starting a drug called Synthroid. This is gonna help my thyroid levels get back to normal and will help all those symptoms go away. Could it be my shoulder aches and pains have been this all along??

Dr. Thompson also gave me a script for a new migraine medication AND the name of an excellent migraine specialist. He was so sympathetic to my issues...just a great man.

Girls, I have HOPE...something I didn't even know I had lost. But I had...because I haven't felt this hopeful in a very long time.

Today I feel like there is a chance for me to get my life back in control again...to minimize my down time with migraines and neck and shoulder pain and to lost that 20 pounds I have been working on for years. This is huge for me!!

I am off to clean my house today. With nearly 1 week of feeling down with pain...today is a good day. Very little pain...NO migraines. It's laundry and picking up and then the fun stuff...a bit of art.

Thanks for listening to me ramble on today. It's a long post without any fun art or photos. You girls are great.:)

I will be sharing my Summer of Color PINK project tomorrow!

What's on My Work Desk-Update!

It's my favorite Blogging day of the Week...What's on Your Work Desk Wednesday!! Love that we get to see what crafty girls are up to all over the world.

Do you remember this from last week?

My daughter's desk she didn't want in her room anymore. I must admit I was quite happy to hear her say that as I have always secretly wanted it. I just knew it would make a delightful art desk...and it has!

It has a cork board built-in which I plan on filling up with everything that inspires me....birds, words, quotes, bight flowers and all kinds of happiness:)

See that CUTE little blue square to the left? Here, take a closer look.

Isn't this the CUTEST thing you have ever seen? It's an eraser board with pretty magnets. I found it last Friday at a garage sale for 50 cents!! Can you believe it?! I'm using it to list what art projects I'm working on at the moment. LOVE it!

More views of my space...my "other" work desk-LOL.

Now that I'm in the guest bedroom the bed is making a great place to sort out all my projects. I am a visual person, you know.

Speaking of projects...currently I am in Week 4 of Soul Restoration 2. I am behind a bit...still on Week 3 and building my "Life Journal". Here is what it looks like so far...

Here is part of my Mission Statement. That's one of my fave pics of me.

More of my Mission Statement. That photo of my family reminds me to choose wisely.

Soul Restoration 2 is all about designing and making goals to help you live the life you've always imagined.

Here is one of my Brave Art Girls. Her name is Mary Jane. She is a Birthday gift for someone special to me....

I created this over the course of several weeks. It was so relaxing for me.

What do you think of Mary Jane?

And finally on my work desk this week is my Pink Challenge for the Summer of Color. It's not finished yet but I'll share what it looks like so far...

Be sure and stop by Julia's Blog for over 100 Work Desks this week. So fun!!

Day One on my Life Journey

I am feeling very fragile and alone today. And though I didn't intend for this to happen...it has.

And honestly...it's a good thing.

I have been hiding my true feelings the past few months in order to make everyone around me feel okay.

But the truth is...the plain, ugly truth is...

I hurt.
I don't feel good.
I am trying.
I am trying to be brave and strong and good.

I just lost it this morning. My sweet husband and I were laying in bed talking about this amazing gift we are working on getting for ME!!! And while I should be so grateful and happy...I just burst out crying. At first I when he asked me what was wrong I danced around the truth, making a list of all the standard answers I usually say...but then the more I talked the harder I started to cry until I just couldn't speak because I was crying so hard and then that's when the truth came out....

"I feel soooo alone...with the pain." 

I then went on to say I only had 2 very good days last week and spent the rest of the week trying to figure out how to make the pain go away.

It was then I realized that I truly do spend the majority of my days trying to find relief. A pill, a massage, an ice bag, a heating pad, my massage chair...good grief it's what I do!!

"What do you do for a living?"

"Who, me? Oh, I try to come up with creative ways to mask my pain so I can function everyday with a smile on my face."

In Soul Restoration 2 we are working on creating this big, bold, beautiful life we want. Melody says we must remember that each and everyday is Day One and it's okay to begin again and again. Just as long as we don't give up the big, beautiful life that we were meant to live.

I so want to live my big, beautiful life. I want to live it and love it and be kind and good and happy.

I don't want to live with this pain. 

I don't. 

I am not gonna lie.

I am angry about it.

It makes me sooo mad. 

I go through days of saying out loud..."It's NOT fair. Why me?"

But then I remember my Savior, Jesus Christ and all He went through for me.

I think of this verse from John 10:10 that says....

"But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him."

I don't want to stumble...for you see there is a light in me. The light of Christ dwelleth in me. I know my Savior lived and died for me. I know he suffered more than I could ever imagine.

I know that He is here for me.

He is my Comforter.

In Luke Chapter 8 verse 48 Jesus promises this...

"Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace."

Each and everyday I seek out that peace. I am trying to be still and remember that "this too shall pass".

Despite my very bad days I have very good ones, too. I am so, so grateful for them. My family. My art. My writing. You.

Today is Day One.

Song Challenge Part 2

Like I said before...I don't do much without music in the background. One of the main reasons we bought our home was because of the sound system throughout! So here is Part  2 of the 30 Day Music Challenge....

1. Song that reminds me of somewhere...Make a Memory from Bon Jovi's "Lost Highway" CD. Reminds me of being on I-80 with my family, smack dab in the middle of Nebraska on our way to Utah.

2. A song that reminds me of a certain event....the theme from St. Elmo's Fire. No, not the song by John Parr {although I LOVE that song}...the one I'm talking about is from the album {which I have} called Georgetown. Reminds me of my friend Jamie's wedding.

3. A song I can dance to. Let me tell you...I did a lot of dancing during my college days:) The music I loved to dance to was anything by Madonna, Wham, Michael Jackson and New Order. The song that sticks out though is from Salt n' Pepa's Push It and Technotronics's Pump up the Jam.

4. My favorite band...hands down is Def Leppard. Saw them in concert...their Hysteria tour and have all their albums. Love them! Bon Jovi comes in a close second.

5. A song I know all the words to....Billy Veara and the Beaters...At This Moment. LOVE THIS!! I know every single word and love to sing it loud.

What is one song that YOU know every single word to??

This is the Good Life

"What you love 

is a sign from 

your higher self of 

what you are to do." 

-Sanaya Roman, writer

I am currently taking "Soul Restoration 2" with Melody Ross.

Have I told you lately how much I LOVE Melody Ross?

She is genius! 

With "Soul Restoration 1" it was all about looking to 

our past and trying to overcome whatever

was still holding us back.

This time around we are taking control of the here and now, making

goals for the future and 

reminding ourselves that we can do anything!

We can live our our dreams.

I love it.

The heart of this class is our "Life Journal". 

I am currently making mine, 

setting goals,

dreaming and writing

down everything I hold

dear to my heart.

Here is what I came up with...

Jacks and my nephew Gabe

Collaging & bold, vivid colors

Jackson and our Missionaries together. Priceless!

My sweetie Gizmo

My amazing, artsy girl Emma {at Smithsonian Museum of Art}

The best husband in the WORLD-Dave

Freedom {Restore Honor Rally in D.C}

Our family and our strong convictions {Beck Rally in D. C.}

Art Journaling {there's a sun again}

Art and glue and Mod Podge

Dave and Em together, having fun no matter what they do.

Me being sooo silly!

Brother and sister playing a game of Don't Cook the Goose and they are in HS!!

My kids are just like my Mom-Independent and Sassy!

My relationship with Jackson is such a special one. I ADORE this boy!!

I am so grateful I get to create everyday. It's my passion!

This is what I love.

This is my life.

I am so very grateful for each day 

that I have with all of these things in it.

Life couldn't be better:)

What does your "Good Life" look like. Please share!

What's on My Work Desk

What's on my Work Desk today?

Well, for starters I have been dealing with pain issues every since Sunday. Migraines and now nerve issues. Years ago I cracked my C-2 in my neck and the pain can become unbearable at times. This is one of those times. Having a massage in an hour. I know this will help and am so grateful for Annie!!

Ok, so here's what I'm doing...

I have this fabulous space to work in...

Built in cabinets and shelves...

And while I love it...I have to stand to create...which normally I enjoy.

But this darn old body of mine keeps hurting so sitting is better some days.

So very soon this...

My daughter's desk she no longer needs in her room is going to become my art desk so I can sit when I need to. It is going in here...

This is our guest room downstairs which I'm slowly converting into my art area.

So now I guess I'll have several spaces to create:)

Be sure and stop by Julia's Blog to see all the delicious Work Spaces out there today.

Do you sit or stand when creating?

Summer of Color-GREEN

Creativity is a type of learning

process where the teacher

and pupil are located in 

the same individual.
Arthur Koestler

I am in the process of learning

and growing

and becoming.

This is my GREEN project

It seems like the more I create

the more creative I become.

And the more 

creative I become

the more receptive I am

to the learning and growing

process.

Each day

whether I'm busy or not

I read something about 

Art.

From the Summer of Color challenge

Maybe a new technique

or book on creativity

or finding your inner artist.

Sometimes it's just a quote

or a blog post 

or something on TV.

We are in our 2nd week of Color

I try to soak it all up.

I make creative lists of

all the projects I want to do.

I surround myself with quotes

and uplifting images 

to feed my creative 

Spirit.

I had a terrible migraine the day I created this

I am taking classes to 

not only learn

new techniques 

but to find my

Voice.

What is it and

Where is it I

am Going to?

This was very theraputic for me to do

To make my creations

truly 

my

Own.

She knew she could fly

I am drawn to Words

and 

Birds

and 

Houses

and 

Flowers

and 

Sunshines.

She is perfect just the way she is

I love

collage

and

painting

and 

layering

and 

gluing

and 

using

Words

in 

My

Art 

to 

Uplift.

 Be sure and stop by the Summer of Color Challenge at "Twinkle Twinkle" to be inspired. Thanks for looking:)

Just a few of my Favorite Songs Challenge

Music cleanses the understanding;

inspires it,

and lifts it into a realm

which it would not reach 

if it were left to itself. 

~Henry Ward Beecher

Ever since I can remember music has been a part of my life. Everything from rock, country, big band, classical, jazz, pop, dance, folk and everything in between...I love music.

Songs invoke memories from days long gone and people I haven't thought about in ages. Memories come to life, tears are shed and dreams inspired by one single song.

It's magical, really.

Several weeks ago while visiting Nicole's Blog "Destination Unknown" {if you haven't been there GO today. She is a VERY GOOD writer!!} I read with great interest her post titled "30 Day Song Challenge". It was great fun seeing what songs Nicole loved, brought back memories, etc. I knew I had to share my very own faves {and not so favorite} songs with you.

1. Favorite song of all time...Don't Stop Believing by Journey. There is just something about this song...and yes I loved it way before the whole "Glee" thing:) Steve Perry has my vote for best Male Artist. His song "Oh, Sherry" happens to  be another fave of mine.

2. My least fave song of all time...That song Big Butts. Not sure who sings and don't care. Just one terrible song.

3. A song that makes me HAPPY! Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves. I still remember a warm summer day...watching MTV and this song came on. I can still see the sun rays shining through my living room window. I remember dancing around my living room dreaming of college. {I was leaving in a few weeks for my freshman year at Northwest}.

4. Makes me sad...Memories. I think the song is from the musical "CATS". Just makes me sad.

5. Reminds me of someone...I have two songs that every single time I hear it I think of 2 very special people in my life. The first one is When I Close My Eyes by Night Ranger. I always think back to summer and all the fun I had with my best friend growing up...Jamie Gregg. He was my neighbor my whole life and he knew more about me than anybody. Love that guy. The next song is Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes. Makes me think of my Dad. This was his fave song. He used to always sing Sammy Davis eyes-LOL. I can still see him cleaning his paint brushes {he painted homes for a living} and singing that song. This is one of my all time favorites!

I hope you enjoyed a few of my fave songs. Be sure and stop by again this week...I'll share a few more...

In the meantime...what is YOUR favorite song of all time?

Living your Best Life...

"I fear the venture

into the unknown. 

But that is part

of the act of creating

and the art of performing."  

-Martha Graham, Dancer

Summer of Color-BLUE

My friend Kristin has a fabulous creative challenge going on for the next 6 weeks called Summer of Color. I was so excited when I first heard about this but knew with Camp I would be a bit pressed for any creative time.

However, all that changed yesterday when I FINALLY made it to my space. One of my favorite supplies of the moment...

Just looking at these puts me in a happy place;)

When Kristin announced the color of the week as BLUE I knew instantly what I wanted to do...one of my Brave Girls!! I could see her in my mind and she was darling.

But...being stretched for time, making one of these cuties was out of the question. I had to think of something else.

And I did.

With all the camp planning, housework and final soccer games I had very little creative time. And for me art is like air...I just gotta have it. I was feeling a little down about all of it and thinking about the color BLUE and these lyrics from the 70's kept coming back to me over and over...

"Blue-er than blue
Sadder than sad...."

I created this Art Journal page yesterday afternoon....

putting my thoughts on paper about my need for time alone creating. The red "Be True" stamp is there to remind me to be true to myself.

Along with my journal page I worked on my Soul Restoration 2 journal and am nearly finished with my latest Brave Girl. Here's a peek...

Thanks for stopping by today. If you'd like to participate in Kristin's Color Challenge be sure and click here for all the details.

What is your favorite color to use in your projects?