Doodle-le-do!

Do you remember these? Lettering and doodle books were all the rage 10 plus years ago. Lindsay Ostrom came out with most of these along with Zig...{the marker people}. I bought every single one. I was determined to re-create all those fancy letters on my scrapbook pages!

Little did I know that all these years later I'd be pulling them out again for use in my art journals and paintings. I am sooo happy I didn't give these away during one of my whirlwind make-overs:)

With all the STUFF going on in my life right now...time in the studio has been zero. My heart just hasn't been in it. However I longed to create something...

So last weekend I pulled out all these books, my bag of markers and a small journal.

 Here's the first page...kind of primitive I know, but it's been awhile!

My favorite part of these books are all the cute, little doodles!!

They show you how to create everything from flowers to hearts to what they call "swhoopies".

For two nights I sat on my couch, markers in hand and doodled.

Considering the stress I've been under this was the perfect medicine. I can't get over how relaxing it was. For a few hours I forgot about my troubles.

I copied some from the book and made up some of my own. As I doodled I thought of several ways to use them in my art and my Brave Girls.

I think doodling is my new thing. I LOVE it!!

I must tell you, girls...even though life has been almost too much to bear these past few weeks...good, good things are happening.

Sweet things.
Good business things.
Opportunities for my husband that he's only dreamed about.

We are learning from all this hurt and frustration and relying on our Savior Jesus Christ to help us through.

He is the answer.
He is always the answer.


"Fear knocked at the door.  Faith answered.  And lo, no one was there."  ~Author Unknown
 

Have you ever seen these books? Do you doodle? What are your favorite blogs/books on doodling? Please share!!

Be of Good Cheer

We go through our days

working, striving, loving,

coping, doing, creating,

cooking, leading, guiding...

Some days 

most days

time passes so quickly

we forget to hold 

onto what really matters.

Jacks & Em 12 years ago.

What really truly matters

is our relationships to one another.

Are we loving enough?

Do we give and listen?

Are we tough when we need to be?

Are we really listening

or are we just nodding our head up and down hoping 

no one will notice?

Do our kids cry out when they 

need us?

Or do they give

us bits and pieces

quietly

subtley

in ways we 

might miss 

because we just

keep 

going

and 

going

and

 going.

 

Em & Jacks Christmas 2011

 

 

 

 There is always so much to do.

Always places to go.

We need to be mindful of our days.

We need to show our loved

ones that 

YES

WE 

HEAR

YOU!!!

 

Em at 14

 

Not everything that happens in life

can be made all better

with a hug or a kiss.

When my kids were little

and they got hurt

or in trouble

a toy from the Dollar Store

could make it all better.

That doesn't work now.

No.

What works the very best is

love

and 

prayer

and 

setting an example.

Tough love 

works

too.

Sometimes 

it's the only thing

that does work.

 

But that can be 

oh so 

EXHAUSTING.

Oh so

HARD.

 

It drains you

and makes you want

to curl up in a corner

and die.

 

It makes you want to wish your days

and weeks and months away.

Just so you can get through all the hard stuff.

 

Giz & Jacks Christmas 2011

 

Yes,

Life is hard here right now.

But unlike yesterday and the 

day before that...

I am choosing to be 

CHEERFUL.

I am choosing 

to see the positive.

Here is a quote from one of our church leaders...

With God’s help, good cheer permits us

 to rise above the depressing present 

or difficult circumstances.

 It is a process of positive reassurance

 and reinforcement.

 It is sunshine when clouds 

block the light.

 

-Elder Neal A. Maxwell

 

 

I can't be overcome 

with sorrow.

I can't live in the past.

 

Life is hard.

Raising kids is hard.

But it's my responsibility to 

be here for my kids.

 

No matter how my heart aches.

No matter how hard this may get.

I will be of "good cheer".

 

 

 None of us will escape tragedy 

and suffering. Each of us will probably

 react differently

. However, if we can recall

 the Lord’s promise,

 “for I the Lord am with you,” 

we will be able to face our problems 

with dignity and courage.

 We will find the strength 

to be of good cheer i

nstead of becoming resentful,

 critical, or defeated. 

We will be able to meet life’s

 unpleasant happenings 

with clear vision, strength, and power.

 

-Elder Neal A. Maxwell

 

 

Linking up today with

 

Just Write

And

Commit to Write

We all go through Trials

If you know someone who tries to drown their sorrows, you might tell them sorrows know how to swim.  ~Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Nobody ever said life would be easy. In fact most of us know from experience the above quote about sums it up...sorrows definitely know how to swim. 


For each one of us those sorrows are different, true...but without a doubt each one of us goes through heartache and pain. No one is exempt.


Through the years I've known deep sadness in my life. I watched as my father lay in a hospital bed dying of leukemia at the age of 59. I was with my mother in law as she lay in a coma for days after suffering two brain aneurisms. She eventually left this world at the young age of 52.


When my sweet daughter Em was just 9 months old I found her little body, lying in her crib and barely breathing. I remember picking her up and feeling her "thud" against my shoulder. Surely she was gone is all I kept thinking. Miraculously we got her to the hospital in time and my baby girl lived.


What I've learned from all the pain and sorrow that's come my way in the past 45 years is that eventually the sun will come out. Your heart will feel light and carefree again. There will be hope and joy in your days. 


You'll dream again
and wish again
and feel like you can do anything again.


But it's when your in the thick of it that's it's so hard to know that. It's hard to breath because you feel like you're drowning.

Drowning in sorrow.
Wondering what was so bad in your life before that you ever did not feel happy because right now you are smack dab in the middle of pain and hurt and frustration and you just want it all to go away.


That's where I'm at right now.


Yesterday in church two of the strongest women I know gave two amazing talks on trials. It was as if they were speaking directly to me. 


I love the Lord with all my heart. With all my soul. He has never failed me. He has always been there for me.


As most of you know I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Along with the Bible we have 3 other books...my favorite of these is known as the Doctrine and Covenants. This particular quote comes from Christ when Joseph Smith was being held in the Liberty Jail...


"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."  D&C 121:7-8

This scripture gives my heart such peace. I know that what I'm feeling will surely just be a small moment in time. Each one of us must go through a refiner's fire...it's the Lord's way of molding and shaping us, allowing us to become better and stronger people.

I am grateful for each one of you as well. Each comment here and on facebook and email I cherish. My spirits have been lifted and I have even smiled {just a little bit}.

I have been doing a bit of doodling lately while sitting on the couch. I forgot how much fun and relaxing that can be. Very soon I hope to spend some quality time in my studio. 

How are you girls? How do you handle the trials in your life? I would love to know!