Moving on UP!

Me & Mom in The Old Market, Omaha.

The family 

is a haven

 in a heartless world.

 - Christopher Lasch

A few more photos to share from our Girl's Weekend to Omaha. Again...I am so grateful to my Mom for this amazing weekend!!

The Old Market in downtown Omaha is filled with art, music and so much charm!

Em thought this was pretty cool.

We stopped in a women's dress shop and found a man with this lizard on a leash!

Another pic of Em...this time in the Desert Dome at the Henry Doorley Zoo. 

We can't wait to go back with Dave and Jacks.

Spending time with those you love is so healing for the soul.

Hey...I need to tell you who WON our prize from Week 6!! Congrats to Annie Bella!!

Annie...please shoot me an e-mail with your address...les262@embarqmail.com

CONGRATS:)

Everyone that won prizes throughout the course...I am getting everything in the mail by the end of this week. Soooo sorry for the delay.

A few more things before I go. My wonderful husband, the love of my life, my very best friend...

Dave and I have made a promise to one another. We are DONE. Done with the heartache and sorrow that has plagued us for months. Done with feeling sorry for ourselves. Done with the depression, the late night eating and pity parties.

We are READY to move on. 

To look at our life for what it is. 

A gift.

 A gift given to us from our Father in Heaven. 

Despite all that has been wrong in our lives these past few months...

we are still so very blessed.

 We have our family 

and our friends

 and our faith. 

That is all we need.

 It really is.

Oh...and one more thing. 

This oh, so inspirational Somerset Studio mag from last summer is THIS summer's teacher. Stay tuned for more on that.

How are you all doing???

Ready for the Summer

My side yard

We are having the 

prettiest Spring in

Northwest Missouri this year.

I am grateful for all the

sunshine 

and 

warm

days.

This time of year I start to get ancy.

Ready for the daily grind

to

stop.

Ready to sleep in a bit

or go on an early morning walk.

I find myself making a mental list

of all the summer activities

I'm looking forward to this year.

Art Journal page

On the top of my list is getting to work at The Art Experiencein Downtown Maryville. Not only is it going to be so much FUN...but I am sooo excited to learn many new art techniques!

I plan on painting and collaging throughout the summer. My goal is to have paint on my hands every.single.day:)

Jackson and I are still running the Disney Marathon in January. My official training schedule begins in June.

I am looking forward to my friend Kristin's "Summer of Color" Challenge this summer. If you joined us last year then you know what a creative blast we had. If you didn't...then stop by for this year's Color Challenge.

Our summer will be a busy one...Emma has her first full-time babysitting job, Jackson will be mowing with his Dad and delivering pizza. We hope to go to Wisconsin in late July to visit a friend. Plus there are so many movies my family and I have been waiting for including...

1. The Avengers

2. Battleship

3. Men in Black 3

4. Rock of Ages

5. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter

6. The Dark Knight Rises

7. Total Recall

Art Journal page

In summer, the song sings itself. 

 ~William Carlos Williams

What are your plans for summer? Please share!

It's all those Little Things

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.  ~Author Unknown

Oh, girls...life has been hard in the Ackman house for sure...but let me tell you things are getting so much better!! I am grateful for all the little things that have helped me along the way.

Yesterday I received a sweet surprise from fellow blogger and friend Maggie. We met on the Brave Girl's website and quickly connected.  Turns out we have a mutual friend...how crazy is that?! Remember the little girl, Lizzy that had a stroke last year? Well her family used to live in Las Vegas where Maggie lives and they attended the same Ward {church} and they were {and still are} friends! Small world, huh?!

Anyway...check out this awesome card Miss Maggie sent me....

Along with the card she mailed me two fabulous necklaces and this!!!

Soooo me don't you think?

Maggie, I appreciate your thoughtfulness and have a teeny, tiny something headed your way;)

Painting has been helping me through the stresses of the past few weeks...last night I began working on backgrounds for my "Heart" series.

I want these pieces to be full of texture and depth. Many more layers to go here...can't wait to show you what the finished look will be.

I have also been working on more Brave Girls...

My friend Carolyn was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last fall. Her courage and attitude during this most difficult time has been the inspiration for these Girls. Each one is filled with Words to help those women battling cancer.

Each Girl sells for $20.  Now through June 1st...ten of that will go directly to Carolyn's Relay for Life Team. I am sooo excited to help with this wonderful cause.

Looking forward to reading these magazines!! I am a magazine freak. Love them:) 

I was over the moon yesterday when I went to the mailbox and found my latest edition of Somerset Studio.

Not so happy though with this note that came with it...

Hoping I can talk my husband into buying me 2 years this time around...I mean I get that totally awesome clip art CD FREE!

The last thing keeping a smile on my face this week is my daughter Em.

On the Ackman Farm-October 2011

It's been a rough couple of weeks...but my girl...we have overcome a lot and what I know for sure is that I love her. I will protect her and be here for her no matter what! 

We went to Wal-Mart yesterday and she found these....

Lotions and foot scrubs. "Mom, let's have a night of pampering!" I couldn't resist...and at just 98 cents a tube we bought both. Looking forward to spending some "spa" time with my Emma:)

I leave you with this thought...

There must be a tomorrow, because my life overflows today.  ~Lois Chartrand

What little things are you most happiest for today?? Please share!!!!

Word for 2012

Happy New Year!

I am ready to let go of those things that hold me back

and keep me down.

I am ready to create a strong, fit body.

I am ready to open my heart 

I am ready to become all that I can.

I 

am 

ready

to 

tell

my 

STORY.

All of it.

Every last little bit.

The next 365 days will be real.

No fluff.

I will share my accomplishments and strengths
My failures and weakness's.

I am ready to write my heart.

Share my story.

Be real.

This is the year I live my truths.

This is the year I will forgive myself for not being perfect.

For not always doing my best.

For mistakes I will make.

I will take my time,

be patient

and give myself some slack.

This is the year I will share my STORY...

*I will submit my art, my blog and my stories for publishing

*I will write guest posts for others and ask other bloggers to share here
*I will spend time in my Art Journals weekly

*I will get in shape by eating clean and working out, inspiring & encouraging along the way

*I will read my scriptures and other church publications daily, making sure to share

This year my family and I have a very big STORY we wish to share. To celebrate Jackson's graduation in May 2013 we are catching a plane and headed to....

Disney World!! 

Sure, Disney is pretty cool on it's own...

but what makes this story different is

what we need to do before we 

get there.

Run.

And 

run

and run

and

run.

We are training for the 2013 Disney World Marathon

the second Sunday in January!!

This isn't something we decided on a whim.

This event has been in our hearts

for 7 years.

We were there during the race in 2005 

and couldn't stop talking about it.

We promised one another that someday we

would be a part of this race.

That someday is 

NOW.

I know all about marathons.

I ran two in my 30's.

I know the time and effort it takes to train.

It's hard to run 26.2 miles.

But you know what?

It's do-able.

And I can do it!

My kids can do it!

We

are 

gonna 

do

it 

together!!

2012.

My Year.

My Word?

Story.

What's your Word for the year?

Trusting Myself in 2011

Oh how giddy I am about this New Year.

2012.

Somehow it doesn't seem possible

to even be in the 2000's...

ya' know?

I remember when I was in high school

and my friends and I 

would talk about how old 

we'd be in the year 2000.

I think that all came from the 

song "1999" by Prince.

Remember that?

I am 45.

This is the year I take my life up a notch.

No more waiting.

I learned so much this year.

It began with finding Brave Girl's Club

and taking Soul Restoration 1.

Read all about that here.

That class was life changing...seriously.

And this Time Line in particular allowed me 

to see my life...

This page in particular changed my life.

I know it sounds so strange

so over the top dramatic...

but it's true.

It's 100% true.

I realized that those 5 years of my life

between 1972 & 1976 made me 

who I am today. 

The events that happened in those

young years made me see life 

very differently.

I found the Spirit here.

 I learned how to pray here.

Those 2 things saved my life.

I took another on-line class this year...

just for fun! 

SheArt with Christy Tomlison.

This was my first girl...Claire.

Christy's class opened my mind and my heart.

Her class along with all I had learned in 

Soul Restoration really helped me

find my artistic voice.

I began making my Brave Girl's like CRAZY!!

 The more I created the better I became.

And the more I found my own style.

I was so happy putting words with images.

I began creating art to "Uplift, Encourage & Inspire".

I found out that to tell 

my story and 

share what was in my heart

I used birds and butterflies.

Collage painting

fabric scraps

sheet music

and

lace 

all became my staples.

2011 was the year of the Art Journal as well.

In June I signed up for another

Brave Girl class...

Soul Restoration 2.

Melody taught me that in order

to live my Big, Bold, Beautiful Life

I had to make better choices.

I had to to choose how to use my time.

I took this to heart and am 

still trying to watch less TV, 

limit my computer time

and spend my time doing

what makes me truly happy...

Family

Art

Writing

Reading Scriptures

Taking care of me.

Despite all this encouragement

I had several bouts with the Fear/Doubt Monster

But then

using the tools I learned in SR1 & 2

I had this HUGE A-Ha Moment.

I realized I truly was a 

Brave Girl!!

And I began living MY LIFE

on MY TERMS!

I was determined to live my

life in the best

way I knew how...

With COURAGE!

And 

GUSTO!

And I did.

I even sold my Brave Art in

2 craft shows

and gave many pieces as gifts 

to friends, family

& complete strangers.

I found myWINGS

in 2011.

I am on the right path

going into 2012.

I have sooo many new and 

exciting goals...

so many areas of my life

I want to GROW in.

My WORD for 2011

was REINVENT.

I think I did a great job of

reinventing my art.

The way I think about myself as an artist.

Where will 2012 lead?

What WORD will I choose to lead and guide me in the New Year?

I will share on Monday, January 2nd.

Happy New Year Girls!!

Holiday Photo Shoot

Howdy, Girls!! What a week it's been. Some good, some bad. Through it all I've grown and realized that all that matters in life is my family. Without their love and support life would be a very dark place.

We had such a wonderful Holiday! As you may remember we shut our business down one week before Christmas. Honestly...I wasn't sure what would happen. We hadn't bought many gifts before that and while I know Christmas isn't all about the presents I still wanted to have gifts for my kids. It all worked out so great...and yes, Jacks and Em wanted more...but were quite happy with everything.

Here are our Holiday Highlights from the past few weeks....

Here are Jacks and Em from TEN years ago making cookies at Grammies. Weren't they cuties?

Here they are NOW!

Gotta LOVE Grams! That's Sarah on the left. She and Jackson have been dating over 1 year now.

My Em is just so darn pretty!

You can NEVER put too many sprinkles on sugar cookies!

Christmas Eve was very low-key this year. Loved it!

We played Monopoly and ate munchies. The best:)

After Church on Christmas Day we came home to open presents. Santa was very good to us this year.

One of our favorite parts of Christmas are the stockings. They are always stuffed full! This year I found a white chocolate coconut bar, orange chocolate bar, DVD's and a Barnes and Noble gift card. YES!


Jacks gave Dave a hunting hat with built in lights. Perfect for the man that has everything:)

Toy Story has always been Jackson's favorite movie. When I saw this shirt I had to get it. He loved it!!!

What an awesome big brother!! He knows his sister well....

Christmas afternoon we headed over to my Mom's for a feast and more presents. Doesn't she look like Mrs. Claus?!:)

Jackson with one of Grams'presents.

That night we went to "The Hangar" to watch "We Bought a Zoo". LOVED that movie!! I give it 5 stars!!!! So inspirational.

The next day was our Ackman Family Christmas Get-Together Extravaganza!!

Here we are!

We had a wonderful time.

All the cousins along with Jackson's Sarah and Ali's Cody...

We have such AWESOME kids!!!

The next day...December 27th was Jackson's 17th Birthday!!

How did my little tag along get to be 17?!  He has always been my buddy. Even now when I need a smile or a hug Jackson just knows and lifts me up. He is a good kid!!

Now because of what's going on in our world we really didn't expect to do a whole lot this day. However...my husband is the miracle worker and we were able to go to Kansas City for a night of BBQ...

Oh this was soooo yummy!

Then we headed over to "Dave & Busters" for hours and hours of arcade fun!!

This night was exactly what we needed!!

There is no doubt I am blessed. I know the Lord is watching out over me and my family. I am so grateful.

The past 2 days I have been in bed with the flu and migraines. Today I woke up still a bit ouchy but ready to BEGIN my New Year!! I can't wait to share my 2012 WORD with you!!

How was your Christmas Break, girls? What was your favorite gift?? My wonderful mom gave me an Ott Lite for my art space. Love it!

Please share!!:)