Heaven

"It's like being in a candy store," Janine said.

Carol looked around and sighed.

"Yes," she said. "It is."

Within

Loving my old school kitchen curtains.

Sometimes the best views are from within.

Carol B.

Blue

"Blue Ice"

the bottom of the wind chime

in my backyard

Happy Birthday Janine!!

On Monday I was preoccupied waiting for some particular work that I originally wanted to post. It didn't come through so I didn't think I had anything to post.

WHAT WAS I THINKING??

See how happy my son looks in this picture?

It is because of one thing and one thing only, and that is his lovely girlfriend that is with him, the famous hurry-up-and-be-my-daughter-in-law Janine!

On Monday it was her birthday and I totally forgot to give her a shout out here!

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JANINE!!!!

Thank you for being such a Blessing in my son's life.

I could not ask for a more wonderful future daughter-in-law.

So hurry up, Eric, and get married already so we can all be blessed!! ;)

Much love to you, Janine!

Carol

In All Your Getting, Get Wisdom

"Wise Up"

(said the owl)

"Three Wise Women"

From my sketchbook,

Watercolor and Ink

I was playing in my sketchbook with a sharpie pen.

The cool thing about drawing with a sharpie pen is that you can't erase, so you just go with the flow and see what happens.

Often when you're trying too hard to get something perfect, it comes out stiff and has no character. This is true with drawing and painting, and, come to think of it, with life itself.

Anyway, I was drawing and, as usual, I started drawing a face. I can't help but be drawn to faces. Even when I was young I always sketched faces.

I was originally drawing the woman in the middle and before I knew it she had a friend beside her, then another friend.

Without knowing why, I drew the middle woman with a knit cap.

I didn't know why I would do that, then I realized I must subconciously be thinking of my daughter, who often wears a knit cap.

I think women who can and do wear hats look really cool.

I've never worn hats because I don't think I look good in them. Who knows. Maybe I would look good but have just never let myself. Anyway, I like the way my daughter looks in hers so maybe that's why I did it.

After drawing the picture, for some reason, the title "Three Wise Women" came about. Why I thought about that, I don't know either. Then, again, deep down, I probably got the idea because lately the idea of being a wise woman has been working deep down inside me.

I am thinking, ITS ABOUT TIME after all these years. I am way past the age of deciding to finally become wise.

But I have been working on it. Actually, having become committed to it.

Maybe I thought working on being wise would make me more restricted and repressed than I have already lived my entire life, and that is the last thing I need!

But on the contrary, it is becoming one of the wildest, most freeing rides of my life!

Anyway, it is funny how when something is telling you that a particular area is what you need to be working on in your life, there are signs and teachers everywhere.

Another is the fact that my daughter, featured in the top photo, got this t-shirt that has a photo of an owl saying "Wise Up." Below it is Proverbs 4:7 that, paraphrased says, "in all your getting, get wisdom."

My daughter has surpassed me in many things, one in being a Wise Woman. She has been working hard being a wonderful blessing and influence in this world, as an intern, a mentor, and many other things. She is the Joy of my heart.

It was not until after I had painted the above sketch of "Three Wise Women" and I had thought of writing this post that I asked her to take a picture of herself wearing her "Wise Up" t-shirt and knit cap.

Now, understand that when I drew the picture I was not originally drawing the woman with her in mind, and yet, this morning when she emailed the picture she took of herself, I was shocked. She always takes pictures staring straight into the camera with a big smile and yet this time, she had taken her picture looking sideways with a slightly uplifted smile just like in my sketch!

I was pretty amazed, as well as absolutely delighted.

So after several days of writing short posts I have gone back to writing a long one again, but that's ok. I enjoyed it.

Hoped you liked the photos and the post.

And remember, if you are ready to kick up your life, then

in all your getting,

Get Wisdom!

Much Love,

Carol B.

A Home Called Love

A house is made of sticks and stone

But a Home is made of Love alone.

(Acrylic on 11x14 canvas board)

Having a beautiful home is a wonderful goal.

But if you're a mother out there with younger children still at home and you're working hard and the days seem endless and all your hard work often comes with no thanks, and you still don't have that beautiful dream home and it seems like you never will, you might think all your hard work is for nothing.

Believe me, I know.

But as someone who made it all the way over to this side (as in many years down the road) I can say don't despair.

All your hard work is not for nothing.

All these years later I still don't have the beautiful house I would like to have (but I haven't given up!)

But I can tell you that if you have built your home with love, it is not in vain.

And don't worry if you see all your mistakes and you think your love is not good enough.

However much we stumble with our love, love never fails.

To have a beautiful home is a perfectly wonderful goal, but if you put the material beauty above love, you build your house in vain.

Love first.

Then the beautiful home.

So if you look around and you see the worn rug and the furniture that has seen better days, don't despair.

When your child hands you that picture they drew of you, holding their hand, standing in front of that crooked house with hearts all around, you will know you already have a beautiful home.

Much Love,

Carol B.

Think Again

Some say love is for the weak.

Think again.

Conversations

"I keep trying to get it perfect, but I'm just not good enough."

"What in life is perfect?"

"Nothing, I guess."

"What about God's love?"

"Oh yes, that's perfect."

"You know, they say God is love."

"Yes, I believe God is love."

"Then if God is love, everything He creates must be made from Perfect Love."

"Sounds right."

"Do you believe He created you?"

"Oh, yes."

"So if everything He creates is made from Perfect Love, what does that make you?"

"Hmm..."