My Dream Art Studio

My Dream Art Studio:

• Huge windows on at least one wall up to the ceiling. 
• North Light coming from above and plenty of artificial light for painting at night if need be. though I hate painting in artificial light. Check out my blog post about choosing the best bulbs for an art studio.
• High Ceilings
• Room for 3 large tables and one large wall dedicated to creating large abstract paintings
• Room for a library- sometimes I like to take breaks between paint layers/stages and reading helps me unwind while getting my creative juices flowing.
• A dedicated area for my art supplies. Organized and labeled (I love organizing and labels!) and artwork
• Room for a couch and a mini fridge, maybe a sitting area
• Room to hold classes/paint parties
• Large monitor next to my easel for reference.
• Large desk with a Mac desktop and a good quality printer
• Far away from any noise and distraction, preferably on the second floor.
• Lots of wall space to hang inspirational artwork
• Really good ventilation
• Surround Sound 
• Large flat screen TV, because sometimes I want to watch episodes of Peaky Blinders or Game of Thrones when I am painting
• Oh did I mention everything is white? Walls, tables, shelves... I know I am weird.
• Poured concrete floors
• Exposed beams 
• An assistant...

Best Studio Lighting for a Fine Artist

North light is traditionally the best lighting for artists to use. North light or natural light coming from an above north facing window is ideal but not always attainable for most unless you have that in mind before choosing or building a studio space. If you are fortunate enough to be able to afford a custom built studio then more power to you! :) for the rest of us, sometimes artificial lighting is our only means to achieving that "perfect" lighting. Also. It's that when I state "above" I don't necessarily mean from the ceiling. It can be at an angle or simply higher up the wall. 

Yes, it's the bulbs that make the difference. I use CFL bulbs. Def NOT incandescent bulbs. CFL's  take a little bit of time to fully light up but they are worth the little bit of time it takes. I specifically use 3 bulbs in my floor lamp. Each bulb base can rotate making it easily for me to adjust. I also put diffuser on them since the bulbs alone can be quite harsh. Really I should spread the light around by installing track lighting but I haven't gotten around to doing that yet. 

• Color Temperature: I like the way 5000k -5500k looks. It's a white light. Not too yellow or too blue. 
• Brightness: 2600 Lumen/each bulb. Since I use 3 bulbs that's a total of about 7800 Lumen which I like. Another way to measure brightness is with watts. I use 120 watts total, 40 watts/bulb 
• CRI Rating: over 80 is good. 90-100 is best. 

CFL's are def more energy efficient and eco-friendly than incandescents but they are still fluorescent lights and fluorescent lights contain toxic mercury. I try to paint only during the daytime so I can utilize the natural light that comes in through my east facing window and minimize the amount I have to use the CFL bulbs. 

I am currently looking into maybe getting neutral (white) LED lights. They are more expensive but last longer and don't have toxic mercury. 

Also, keep in mind that there is a difference between the lighting used for painting vs display (like in a gallery). 

Art Doesn’t Imitate Life, It Reflects It

Wow. How awesome is this? A good friend who happens to be an inspirational speaker/blogger wrote a blog about little ole' me, well about my art more so than me. I love knowing my art inspires people to think differently. Be sure to check out his website and blog www.baylorbarbee.com

Art Doesn’t Imitate Life, It Reflects It

by Baylor Barbee


I used to hate art. I laughed at the thought of anyone paying money to see some painted scribbles on a page. I scoffed at the idea of going to a museum and just staring at, and even worse, “admiring” the work of the artists. Don’t even get me started on my thoughts on “abstract” art, aka (as I used to think) a bunch of random colors with no rhyme or reason, all flung together on a canvas. If you’re like me, you probably thought the same thing, “I can do that.”


Boy was I wrong. A few years ago, I attempted my first painting, you can read about it here, and it gave me a new appreciation for art. Over the past few years, I’ve come to admire the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jackson Pollock, and a host of other painters.


I had the unique opportunity recently to visit the Jackson Pollock Exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art with one of my personal favorite artists, Geordanna. As I stared at multi-million dollar paintings such as Convergence, which to the naked eye looks like a bunch splattered paint everywhere, she gave me something I had not really seen in art previously – Perspective.


On the caption of a certain painting, Jackson Pollock said, “I like to use a dripping, fluid paint…the method of painting is a natural growth out of need. I want to express my feelings rather than illustrate them. Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement.”


Wait what? Method?! “You mean to tell me it’s not just random paints and colors on a canvas with a high price tag?” I asked myself. I want the same thing in my art, whether it be speaking or writing – to express in an authentic manner my story, not just illustrate it. Geordanna proceeded to fill me on the process of how abstract art is made.


As she explained to me the different brush strokes, some in dark splotches, which indicated the artist was very near the canvas, to the small sprays of color, which indicated the artist most likely dripped paint from a tall ladder, I began to see the painting in a whole new light. I saw how the various colors weaved in and out of each other as if it were knitted together intentionally. This wasn’t random paint, this was strategic; it told a story. After staring at that painting for at least 30 minutes, everything started to make sense.

All of this “random color and dysfunction” that I previously saw… was that way only because I choose to see it only as that. How many times in your life has someone looked at your life or your situation and saw it as a colorful mess, but had they known what you were really dealing with or what you were working toward, would view you completely differently? We’ve all been mislabeled haven’t we? Inside the beautiful mess of your life is a story, it just takes someone with a great perspective to see it doesn’t it?


All of the sudden, it’s as if all of the paintings on the walls of the museum started talking to me. They started telling me the stories, pain, triumphs and tragedies of the artists who created them. It was truly one of those rare lightbulb “aha” moments in life.


In that moment, I realized the reason I didn’t like art growing up was for two reasons 1) I didn’t ­­­­­understand it 2) I didn’t understand myself.


The second one might not make sense, but let me explain. For days, I literally sat on my computer looking at all the abstract art that I liked and some that I didn’t – looking at it with this new perspective.


A few weeks after the exhibit, I got a chance to go visit Geordanna in her Dallas Studio, because I had more questions and needed more insight. I started to see parallels between painting and what I do as a speaker, author, and entertainer. She told me, “People don’t view art for what it is, they see art for who they are.”


Wow. That stuck with me. She told me how someone would look at one of her pieces and say “oh I see a dark, troubled, turmoil” emotion, while someone else would look at the same piece and say, “I love how vibrant and alive the painting is.” Again, it’s not the painting that changed, it’s the perspective.


Think about your life right now. Is it possible that some of the people or situations you don’t like might possibly be just because of your current perspective, not a finite truth? Aren’t there those out there who don’t like you simply because they are viewing you through the negative lens in which they view the world? Do certain people avoid you or talk down on you simply because they don’t understand you or your passion? That happens to me daily and I’m sure it happens to you as well.


She talked in depth about perspective and how art really reflects not only the heart of the painter, but more importantly, the soul of the viewer. I glanced around her studio at all the different paintings, canvases, paints, brushes, and easels. There I saw one of, if not my favorite piece of art…ever. Not just my favorite piece of hers, but my favorite piece ever.


It ranks right there above my personal favorites:


“The Guitarist” by Pablo Picasso


“Crown” by Jean-Michel Basquiat


“Echo: Number 25, 1951” by Jackson Pollock


It’s one thing to view art online, it’s a whole different experience to view it in person. The painting said so much to me. My mindset went from “oh that’s a beautiful piece” when I first saw it online to “I HAVE TO HAVE THIS.” I see how collectors become collectors.


I asked her, what were you thinking about when you made this piece “Love in the Dark?” Rather than tell me what she was feeling when she created it, she asked me, “What do you see?”


Isn’t that an anecdote for life? The fact that it’s not really about what we create, but how others view it that really shapes the interactions and relationships we have with people, whether that be relationships, clients, or cultures. The more of our authentic selves we lend to our art or passion, the more accurately others can see themselves through our work.

After thinking about it for a while, I realized that the reason I loved this particular piece so much is that when I don’t try and “look” at the painting or try and direct my thoughts to what it kind of looks like, (as I often do in most situations in life,) and instead just let the art speak for itself through this lens of self-reflection, I see myself in this painting. It’s me.


I see The dark hues of blue representing the mistakes I’ve made in the past. But those dark hues also serve as a strong bold foundation for the rest of the piece to sit on. My mistakes, both in relationships, business, and life have shaped the platform that has allowed me to speak all over the country and share my thoughts in books that have become best-sellers. I see the other blue hues going up and down, sometimes left and right as if not sure of the direction they want to go, but understanding that they will never go too far up, and never go too far down – that balance is necessary.


I’m at a point in my career and personal life, where I’m on that brand new canvas. Speaking to crowds and Fortune 500’s that I never would have dreamed of getting to speak to. I’m “up” with the opportunities, but also taking the heartbreaks and things that fall through in stride by realizing that it takes both the up and the down stroke in art to make a complete picture. The sideways brush strokes and thinning light blue hues to me represent expansion, taking new risks, but still coming back to my core principle – faith and inspiring hope before I spread myself to thin.


The parts of the painting where there are many strokes and directions end up being darker. I think my mind is like this. When I have too much going on and my thoughts are everywhere, I get beat down much like the entry room rug of a house with many visitors. This reminds me to keep my mind clear as much as possible as to not get worn down or turn dark.


The gold strokes represent opportunity to me. I look at the painting from a three dimensional view. If you saw it in person, you’d see that the gold paint is on top of the blue, representing the opportunity to turn my pain and mistakes into golden opportunities. It reminds me that these opportunities will only come by staying authentic and true to my craft. If I were to vary who I am, (change colors), then I wouldn’t get the same beautiful portrait or life.


Finally, I love the white paint right in the center of the piece. You probably had to look twice to see it didn’t’ you? To me this represents God being there for me at the center piece of my life, even when I fail to recognize or acknowledge him. When I’m caught somewhere between who I was (blues – mistakes) and where I want to be (golds – opportunities), He’s right there over and underneath both, guiding me, directing me, and shaping my life to be what He created it to be – His Masterpiece.


Remember, “Art is not to be seen, it’s to be felt.” – Geordanna


… and such is life.


And now I ask you – What Do you see when you look at the painting? What does that say about where you are in your life? I look forward to hearing your answers.


Check out Geordanna’s collections at:





http://www.geordannatheartist.com/


https://www.etsy.com/shop/geordannatheartist


https://www.instagram.com/geordannatheartist/


http://www.facebook.com/GeordannaTHEartist


http://www.saatchiart.com/geordannatheartist


Update: I’m proud to announce that I’m now the proud new owner of the original “Love in the Dark” piece that I’ve described above. I’m so glad to join the ranks of some of the most premier hotels and office buildings in Dallas as an owner of original Geordanna Art.

Minaj Drake Collection

I usually listen to music when painting. There is something about music that gets my creative juices flowing. This collection was created when I was listening to both Nicki Minaj's Pinkprint and Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded albums as well as Drake's If You're Reading This You're Too Late. I can't wait for his Views from the 6 to come out this spring!

1. Starships, 8x10 acrylic on canvas

2. Started from the Bottom, 8x10 acrylic on canvas

3. Truffle Butter, 8x10 acrylic on canvas

4. Hotline Bling, 8x10 acrylic and spray paint on canvas

5. Trust Issues, 8x10 acrylic on canvas

6. With my Woes, 8x10 acrylic on canvas

My Art and Endometriosis Story

My Endometriosis and Art story 

I am a Costa Rican-American artist. I have been painting and drawing since I could pick up a crayon at the age of 3. Because I was able to draw and paint much more realistically than my counterparts my parents encouraged and supported my talents by placing me in private art classes. I eventually made it to AP ART my senior year of high school. I then went to Baylor University with an art scholarship. 

I attended Baylor University initially double majoring in Studio Art and Biology, two very demanding majors. This was about the time my endometriosis pain started to hit full force. Causing me to have to graduate a year late. On top of the physical pain I was enduring, academically I was finding college art (or maybe more specifically Baylor art classes) a bit limiting and constraining; and ended up completely turning away from art all together. So like most fickle college students, I ended up switching my major and I dropped art. 

Upon graduating in 2005, I entered the corporate world and for 6 years I was relatively successful but in the back of my mind, I knew something was seriously wrong. I continued month after month to feel the intense progressively worsening pain of my Endometriosis. The type of pain that would render me useless unable to do anything more than sit in a fetal position with a heating bad, popping Advil like candy. My career was thriving but my health was at an all-time low, the pain getting more and more intense. That was about the time I was finally diagnosed with Stage IV Endometriosis after seeing at least 10 different medical specialist over a span of 8 years and all of them telling me it wasn't endometriosis. My diagnosis led to many major, extensive surgeries. (One of those surgeries being an 8 hours laparotomy which included endometriosis and extensive adhesions getting excised from every surface of my pelvic cavity plus two bowel resections) After that major surgery I was forced to retire early from the corporate world, both my husband and I agreeing I should concentrate on my health. 

While painfully and agonizingly convalescing for a year, I was able to do some deep profound soul searching, ultimately leading me to pick up a paintbrush again after almost 8 years. Initially my art was for therapeutic and healing purposes, later evolving on its own into an unexpected career.  Since 2011, I have been trying to pursue art as a full time career and I am loving it. I owe so much gratitude and appreciation to my husband who is allowing me to do what I do.

Presently, my husband and I are on a difficult but hopeful journey in trying to conceive after heart achingly enduring many miscarriages these last couple of years. Since my endometriosis was diagnosed in 2010, meaning it went undiagnosed for over 13 years, the destruction from this benign cancer-like disease wreaked havoc on my reproductive organs. The delay in diagnosis is probably the primary reasons for my recurrent miscarriages.

To fully grasp me as an artist you have to learn specific aspects of my life & personality; my obsessive love of color, my innately introverted personality, my tragic experiences of being a child sexual abuse victim, my present fight against Stage IV Endometriosis (a disease that affects 6% of the women in the world, with the two most common symptoms being extreme pain and/or infertility), my recurrent miscarriages as a result from endometriosis and my lifestyle choice to be a vegan and live as holistically and organically as possible, also as a result of my endometriosis. Going vegan and eating a cleaner diet has done wonders for myself and many other women suffering with the pain of endometriosis. 

Through being vulnerable, raw and transparent in my art, I hope to be able to reach others struggling through the same issues and/or find common ground with others who share my same lifestyle philosophies. Hopefully showing them they are not alone. But, probably more importantly, my art is for me; to help me cope with the past, appreciate the present and be hopeful for the future.

Because of my introverted personality my art serves as my voice. My art is truly a way that I expose my soul to the world without caution or reservation; two things that I sometimes possess too much of. My art defines my entire being. It makes me who I am. It allows me to create. But not JUST to create but to create through letting go, letting go of over-analyzing, letting go of the pain, the guilt, the insecurities, the unforgiveness brought on by being one of those 1 out of 10 women with endometriosis. And in turn, letting in that which simply. is. Accepting with gratitude and joy my present. My art comes from deep within me, a deep, raw and visceral place I usually only visit when creating. 

Yes, I have had to endure some pretty tragic and earth-shattering things but because of all that I was able to find my power through the power in art, in creating, that helped me cope and heal in unimaginable ways, in ways only God could heal. I discovered that through my art, through the process of creating, I directly connect with God, the ultimate creator. Never do I feel more in tune with God, more present, more at peace, then when I am creating. Though, I would never want others to go through what I went through or am presently going through, I am proud of my past and present; and what I have overcame and will overcome. I would not change anything that has happened to me because it’s made me exactly who I am today, the sensitive artist I am today. How could I fully appreciate and be grateful for the multi-colored bursts of joy-filled experiences that have been beautifully sprinkled throughout my life, without also experiencing those dark and desperate times? After all, only when it is dark enough, do you see the stars.

My work may appear random at first, but upon closer inspection there is a common thread of exemplifying the beautifully chaotic. All my work encompasses equal parts of planning and spontaneity; a mix of direct and indirect intention, chance and circumstances. I believe this allows me to constantly be exploring new and different avenues for my work. I believe an artist should not limit themselves by technique or medium. This allows the opportunity for my art, the basic essence of my art to shine through, rather than merely my need to control. I attempt to manifest through conscious and subconscious color choice and stroke, that which is not seen with the naked eye: emotions, imaginations, faith, the soul...

My ultimate goal is to create an interesting work of art that engages people to debate their own interpretations through creating a meaningful dialogue, whether they become a fan or a critic. 

My purpose in life is simple: to create.... but beyond merely creating visual art, I know my ultimate creation will be when I create life

The 11x14 3D shadowbox art is titled “Endometriosis” (PHOTO 1) I deconstructed my original watercolor cutting out the main pieces then built them up in the shadow box. I pierced and wrapped real wire making sure to penetrate the uterus and snake it around the waist and arms in an effort to depict the overwhelming constraint we feel physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. I used the red wax I originally used to seal our wedding invitations 6 years ago by dripping it on both the actual watercolor and the frame to mimic blood.

My husband and I agreed that the 3D piece will not be for sale BUT I did create an illustrative interpretation print that is for sale and is PHOTO 2.

You can find that print for sale here:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125348785/8x10-print-of-original-endometriosis?ref=shop_home_active_19

___________________________

Please take some time to check out 

My Instagram: 

www.instagram.com/geordannatheartist

My Saatchi Art profile:

www.saatchiart.com/geordannatheartist

And My Website: 

www.geordannatheartist.com

#endometriosisawareness #endometriosisart #understandingendometriosisthroughart #endometriosis  #recurrentmiscarriage #miscarriageart #miscarriage #geordannatheartist #watercolor #periods #menstratualperiod #menstruation #art #artist #texas #texasartist  #endoart #fertility #fertilityart #recurrentmiscarriage #infertility #infertilityart #frida  

A lesson from Picasso on pricing your artwork

Legend has it that Pablo Picasso was sketching in the park when a bold woman approached him.

“It’s you — Picasso, the great artist! Oh, you must sketch my portrait! I insist.”

So Picasso agreed to sketch her. After studying her for a moment, he used a single pencil stroke to create her portrait. He handed the women his work of art.

“It’s perfect!” she gushed. “You managed to capture my essence with one stroke, in one moment. Thank you! How much do I owe you?”

“Five thousand dollars,” the artist replied.

“But, what?” the woman sputtered. “How could you want so much money for this picture? It only took you a second to draw it!”

To which Picasso responded, “Madame, it took me my entire life.”

A good friend requested I create some one-of-a-kind art....

30x40 Kala I, impasto acrylic on canvas by Geordanna the Artist

30x40 Kala I, impasto acrylic on canvas by Geordanna the Artist

24x30 Kala II, impasto acrylic on canvas by Geordanna the Artist

12x16 Kala III, acrylic on canvas by Geordanna the Artist

Finally finished my commissioned work for Magnolia in uptown Dallas.

48x48 Magnolia II by Geordanna the Artist

30x40 Magnolia I by Geordanna the Artist

Check out my original artwork at 1900 McKinney

Two of my pieces now hang in the lobbies of 1900 Mckinney. Go check them out and tell me what you think.

30x15 Baptism I, impasto acrylic on canvas, by Geordanna the Artist

30x15 Baptism II, impasto acrylic on canvas, by Geordanna the Artist

Large-Format Original Abstract Work

I am just about to wrap up another large project I did for Keaton Interiors in Addison, TX. I had 15 large 4 feet by 4 feet pieces to do! This proved to be particularly complicated bc my studio is so small.

It's like I'm living her life...

*God*

I KNOW that God is good. I KNOW that God is wise. I KNOW that God is love. And I KNOW that God's will and purposes are formed in perfect goodness and perfect wisdom and perfect love. I know this, and I accept His purposes for my life. But that doesn't stop the pain. And that doesn't stop the questions. Why did He create life in me when I wasn't even trying to conceive and then wait just long enough for me to fall in love with my babies and then take them right out of my womb? Why?

Loss after loss I've asked the same questions. And loss after loss I've received the same answer--Trust Me. Love Me. I am here.

Yes, I trust You. Yes, I love You. Yes, I know that You are here. But...

Do you ever want to ask God to leave you alone? To let you live your life in peace? I do, or at least a part of me does. A part of me wants to beg God not to teach me His ways, not to mold me to His likeness, not to use me in His service. But then I think, what would life be like without Him? Would there be less pain? I don't think so, life is painful, with or without Him. I just wouldn't have Him to comfort, guide, and carry me. Would there be more peace? No, life is chaotic, with or without Him. I just wouldn't have Him to shelter me in the storms. Would there be more hope? Impossible, life is short and has a clearly marked dead-end without Him. He is hope. He is my only hope.


*Where to go from here?*

Every time I conceive a new life in my womb, my heart expands exponentially to create a home for that child and my mind stretches wide open to welcome a new life into my life. Every time I lose a baby from my womb, my heart and mind are left with a gaping emptiness I don't know how to fill. In the past I've taken those spaces and filled them with hope for 'the next time.' Now, after growing space in my heart and mind for three babies at once and losing them all, I'm left with such a huge emptiness that I feel lost inside of it. But my husband and I weren't planning on having any more children. God planned these babies, not us. So now what do I do? If there is no hope for 'the next time' to fill this hole, to focus those aimless thoughts in the night, to hold the pieces of my heart together, then what do I do with those thoughts and the frayed edges of my broken heart? I don't know. I really don't.

How can I feel so safe in God's arms, so sure of the rightness of His purposes, so certain of the wisdom of His will, and still feel so lost?

I don't know. I really don't.


*Job*

Have you ever read the book of Job in the Bible? It's always been a book I struggled through and didn't really like. It's all about loss and unwanted advice from family and hurtful comments from friends and the reality of God being God. But it's the story every woman who miscarries can relate to. You know what I'm talking about. We've all heard--"That's just nature's way of getting rid of something that didn't grow right." and "It's not like you lost an actual child." And, from the 'churchfolk'--"You shouldn't feel empty. God is all you need." and "God needed your babies more than you did." What I like about the book of Job is that God didn't get mad at Job for asking questions and for wailing out his pain. But God did get mad at Job's friends who acted like they were speaking for God, like they knew why God did things and how God thought. When people make those comments and when they tell me how I 'should' feel, I just remember Job and those comments lose their sting completely (well, almost completely).


*What it's okay to say*

Here are some suggestions for you friends and family members out there who need a little guidance on how to communicate with a mother who's just lost a baby.

"I'm sorry."
"What can I do to help?"
"I don't know what to say."
"I'm hurting so much for you."
"I'm praying for you."

And don't let a day go by for the first couple of weeks that you don't say one or more of those things. It's pretty much all she can think of at that point, and you not mentioning it keeps her silent in a world of pain she doesn't know how to share. Don't try to make her talk, just let her know it's okay if she wants to.

'what NOT to say':
"You can always adopt."
"You're young. You can always try again."(Would you go to a funeral and tell the grieving widow, "You can always just get married again"?)
"At least it happened early." (A loss is a loss, minimizing it is not supportive, just hurtful.)

God bless.


*Anger*

I debated about whether to include this part or not, but, in the interest of complete honesty, I had to. I know that anger is one of the stages of grief, but it is the hardest stage for me because I'm a peacemaker, and anger always seems wrong to me...especially when it's God I'm angry with.

Anyway, here goes...after another night of sorrow, I suddenly woke up ANGRY, not a little angry, but really, really MAD--at God. I tried to hide it, even from myself, but it kept seeping and oozing out and when I got a phone call from our realtor that the buyer had backed out of our contract, I lost it. I cried and ranted and raved at God. And once the anger started flowing, there was no stopping it. I spent the whole day in tears, asking God what He was thinking, where He was in all this, if He really thought I deserved to be tortured, why everything seemed intentionally designed to make my loss as painful as possible, and when He was going to finally decide I'd had enough and LEAVE ME ALONE! And, you know what, I discovered some things. First, I discovered that I didn't just suddenly get angry; I'd been simmering for days and just wouldn't admit it to myself or God. Second, I discovered anew that I truly am a sinful person capable of being about as unlovely and petty and spiteful as the next sinner. Third, I discovered that God loves me just as I am. He wasn't surprised by my anger because He knew what was in my heart all along. Fourth, I discovered that pouring out the anger in my heart was the ultimate act of trust. God said in His word that we couldn't escape from His love and that He loved us while we were yet sinners. Trusting Him with my anger was trusting Him to be who He said He was and trusting Him to do what He said He would. And fifth, I discovered that by being willing, finally, to trust God and walk through this part of the valley, the healing could begin. As I released the anger I'd been hiding in my heart, peace seeped in to take it's place. That is the gift of God, peace that passes understanding. And I could finally begin to receive that gift when I fully trusted God with all that I am, the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly.

I know I have a long, long way to go. But a subtle shift has taken place in my soul. I still cry at night and I still hurt all the time, but I am living again, feeling again, moving forward again. And that ever-resilient hope, so fragile, so easily crushed and broken, has risen again.

God bless.

All roads lead to God?

“Remember, the people who know me are the ones who are free to live and love without any agenda." -Jesus

Is that what it means to be a Christian?" -Mack

Who said anything about being a Christian? I'm not a Christian." -Jesus

The idea struck Mack as odd and unexpected and he couldn't keep himself from grinning. "No, I suppose you aren't."

They arrived at the door of the workshop. Again Jesus stopped. "Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslim, Democrats, Republicans, and many who don't vote or are not part of any Sunday morning religious institutions. I have followers who were murderers and many who were self-righteous. Some were bankers and bookies, Americans and Iraquis, Jews and Palistinians. I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of God, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved."

Does that mean," asked Mack, "that all roads will lead to you?"

Not at all," smiled Jesus as he reached for the door handle to the shop. "Most roads don't lead anywhere. What it does mean is that I will travel any road to find you.”

-------

What it does mean is that I will travel any road to find you

Joy in all

God wants us to trust Him in every circumstance. Trust is letting go, knowing that God is more than enough. Trust is obedience because what I do reveals what I believe about God regardless of what I say. I don’t think God wastes His direction on a disobedient heart but does, in fact, reveal His plans to those who will obey them. Trust and obedience go hand in hand. The more we obey, the more we will trust and the more we trust, the more we will obey, understanding that He is indeed Lord of all. The result is joy.

As Christians, we should be the most joyful people on earth, heart and soul at rest, because we serve the God of all circumstances.

When we fail to faithfully and continually seek God, we will likely forfeit our joy to human idols and lifeless activities in which we often exchange holiness for tolerance. No wonder we sometimes find life impotent and dismal when it should be powerful and filled with unshakable joy. We are to be vessels containing, and naturally spilling out, the joy of the Lord on those in our lives. That joy is our strength and the salt that makes others thirst to know Him more. Instead of focusing on what is wrong in life, we need to look on the “right” side of life.

Living in the Rain

Yesterday was such a beautiful day here in Dallas then almost instantly the sky got dark and I could hear the thunder and see the lightening before the rain came. It's been raining HARD for almost a full day. I have always loved the rain but today I love it for so much more...

Today's Scripture

"Just as the rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, making things grow and blossom…so will the words that come out My mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do" (Isaiah 55:10-11, Message).


Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Rain is symbolic of God's blessing, favor, and refreshing. His Word is like rain that causes us to flourish and blossom in every area of life. The scripture says we should live like a well-watered garden, vibrant and growing. We should live under God's cloud of blessing. How do we do that? In the natural, a cloud is formed when moisture vapors rise up from the earth into the atmosphere. Eventually, the moisture is so abundant that the rain begins to fall. In the same way, your praise is like the invisible vapors that rise up to heaven and form a cloud. Eventually, your praise will activate an outpouring of God's blessing, favor, and provision in your life.

Do you feel like you are in a dry season? Begin to praise and thank God that He is bringing you through to a place of refreshing. Magnify and bless Him for His goodness in your life. As you turn up your praise, God will turn up the rain and you will experience His abundant outpouring. You'll experience His blessing and provision and live as an overcomer in every area of your life.

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, today I choose to bless and honor You. Thank You for this day. Thank You for giving me life. Thank you for making me new. Thank you for saving me and filling me with Your peace and joy. Rain on me today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

CHRISTmas 2011

This Christmas was full of love and excitement! This year more then others I felt especially close to our Savior. This year more then any other i felt a real and deep connection with our King. I loved that J and I read the Christmas story from Luke snuggled up in bed on Christmas morning, a new tradition we intend to keep. I am happy. I am joyous! I am full-filled! I am.
Eph 3:14-21

Because of this AWARENESS that our Lord was THE reason for the season my family and I demonstrated His amazing selfless and sacrificial love by giving some pretty awesome gifts. Not that it's about that at all.. We all know it's about the heart...

I was able to make some very meaningful gifts for most of my Family which I enjoyed making almost as much as watching their reaction when I gave it to them. I helped my mom give my dad a new home theater system and helped my dad give my mom a Mercedes! By help I just mean I figured out a creative way to present the gifts lol. I LOVE giving gifts!!

Plus, everything I Got was to further my art making... :) which makes me super happy! and j got me a super cool gift that he put a lot of thought into.

I loved waking up in the house I grew up in. I loved talking to my mom about life, over coffee or in my case caffein-free tea. I loved spending time with my sister, my cousin and my best friend. I absolutely loved waking up to the sound of my nieces talking and playing...

*sigh* I MISS MY FAMILY :( but I praise God everyday for allowing me to be born into such a close and loving family. I am happy. I am joyful. I am more than FULL-filled!

I am so excited about the new year! I know The Lord Has big plans for us. I just know 2012 is going to be a great year!

Does God command us to be vegan?

"Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of this whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.' Gen 1:29

To be or not to be...VEGAN?!

My first normal period after my D&C has brought the pain back with a vengeance. I think I'm more disappointed then anything else. I was hoping that the 4 months I was period free because I was pregnant might act like Lupron therapy. I refuse to take Lupron because of all the side effects but essentially you take it to supress ovulation/period for three months right?

I am so thankful that I am not working anymore because I can try to manage this pain without stressing about missing work. I was for a moment thinking about working again but I think it's pretty clear I need more time to concentrate on my health.

Everyone knows I already have a pretty strict diet: gluten free, no processed sugars, no caffeine, no red meat or pork, no dairy, ect.. but now I think I will be going vegan. on my Facebook page for Endo support there gas been one particular women you had recommends to me before to go vegan but I didn't really look into it since I had thought my pain was gone or at least wouldn't cone back for a while. For the last two days I have been in some serous pain and honestly am willing to try anything to prevent from having to go through this again... So I am declaring that I AM GOING VEGAN! wish ne luck!

Miscarriage (Blighten Ovum)

Well it been quite sometime since I have written. I know I posted about the Royal wedding but honestly I think I was just trying to stall.

I'm sure you can figure out from the title that I had a miscarriage. I was about 10 weeks along but sac was only measuring 6 weeks. Never saw baby or heartbeat. I'm not sure why its taken me so long to write about it.

From 8 weeks until my D&C at 10 weeks I was pretty miserable. This was I was very nauseated and very tired. I did nothing but lay on the couch all day and night. I was utterly useless. This was basically the whole last half of March and the first half of April that I was rendered incapacitate. It was horrible. I literally did not want to do anything. I didn't even want to think. LOL Seriously. I never made dinner once, we were always getting take out and I let our monthly budget go way out of hand bc again I didn't care about anything. Its funny to me now how utterly useless I was.

So let me backtrack. At 6 weeks we had a "suspected" blighted ovum, which basically means an empty gestational sac. I wanted to be 100% positive that what it was so we had an ultrasound every week. Technically no doctor can diagnose a blighted ovum until you are at least 8 weeks. I desperately wanted our lil seed to miraculously come up on the sonogram screen with a string heart beat but that was not meant to me.

I am not sure why but I have actually been quite ok with it all. I know some women take a miscarriage very hard and there is nothing wrong with that but I only had 1 day where I was really sad. It was about a week after D&C and we went to go visit my new niece in Amarillo, TX. I was so excited to see her but when I walked into the house I could literally smell the baby and oh boy when I saw her face I nearly lost it. I had to get to the other side of the room before I started crying uncontrollably. Th entire time we were there I couldn't hold the baby much less look at her. The next first half of the day I was a mess. I was very sad and would cry about anything. The dramatic hormonal drop that occurs the first week after a D&C is pretty harsh so logically I knew what was happening but it still did nothing to help with the way I was feeling.

Luckily my husband had the sound mind to let me wallow in my sadness for just the right amount of time before he came swooping into our room to try to get me out of it. We hugged, cried and hugged some more. Prayed ALOT and by that evening I was able to go to the family's Easter Bar Be Que. I still didn't hold the baby but I was completely fine with being there.

I am very good. My mother said I have been dealing with my loss very well. I'm not sure why. I expected to be devastated but I am surprisingly calm and still thankful for everything. I think part of my peace is that I KNOW we will be having children soon. My sister went through the exact same thing and 3 months later she had my niece so I am VERY hopeful! God is good and he promised me that he will give me what ever my heart desire as long as I love for him... so I am confident!

Once we got back to Dallas I had my 2 week post-op appointment. My Doc said my uterus had already shrunk a significant amount. He wanted to check my beta HcG levels every week until they drop below a 5. Once they are below a five he said to count 30 days layer and that's when we can actively start TTC, until then we have to use condoms.

My first blood work about 3 weeks after D&C was at 100. AT 4 weeks they were at 30. I got back this week so hopefully they are already below a 5.

I still haven't gotten my period and honestly I am a little worried about it. I guess a positive thing from all this is the fact that since I was pregnant I haven't had a period for over 3 months. That's a lil over 3 months with NO endometriosis pain!! I think i have actually started to forget the all about the pain until I remind myself I should be getting my period soon. I am believing, through the power of Jesus, that at least one of my prayers were answered. Healing me from endometriois!

I'll keep ya'll informed.

The Royal Wedding Homily by Dr. Richard Chartres, Anglican Bishop of London

I hadn’t planned on watching the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton live, but I’m so very glad I did.

I wanted to share the words of Bishop Chartres’ absolutely marvelous homily from this morning’s wedding at Westminster Abbey.

It is, quite simply, the best wedding homily I’ve ever heard and among the very best homilies I’ve had the pleasure to hear on any occasion.

Here is what the bishop said to William and Kate after they exchanged their vows and her brother James gave a beautiful reading from the Book of Romans:

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” So said St Catherine of Siena whose festival day it is today. Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be, their deepest and truest selves.

Many are full of fear for the future of the prospects of our world but the message of the celebrations in this country and far beyond its shores is the right one – this is a joyful day! It is good that people in every continent are able to share in these celebrations because this is, as every wedding day should be, a day of hope.

In a sense every wedding is a royal wedding with the bride and the groom as king and queen of creation, making a new life together so that life can flow through them into the future.

William and Catherine, you have chosen to be married in the sight of a generous God who so loved the world that he gave himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ.

And in the Spirit of this generous God, husband and wife are to give themselves to each another.

A spiritual life grows as love finds its centre beyond ourselves. Faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life in which we discover this; the more we give of self, the richer we become in soul; the more we go beyond ourselves in love, the more we become our true selves and our spiritual beauty is more fully revealed. In marriage we are seeking to bring one another into fuller life.

It is of course very hard to wean ourselves away from self-centredness. And people can dream of doing such a thing but the hope should be fulfilled it is necessary a solemn decision that, whatever the difficulties, we are committed to the way of generous love.

You have both made your decision today – “I will” – and by making this new relationship, you have aligned yourselves with what we believe is the way in which life is spiritually evolving, and which will lead to a creative future for the human race.

We stand looking forward to a century which is full of promise and full of peril. Human beings are confronting the question of how to use wisely a power that has been given to us through the discoveries of the last century. We shall not be converted to the promise of the future by more knowledge, but rather by an increase of loving wisdom and reverence, for life, for the earth and for one another.

Marriage should transform, as husband and wife make one another their work of art. It is possible to transform as long as we do not harbour ambitions to reform our partner. There must be no coercion if the Spirit is to flow; each must give the other space and freedom. Chaucer, the London poet, sums it up in a pithy phrase:

“Whan maistrie [mastery] comth, the God of Love anon,

Beteth his wynges, and farewell, he is gon.”

As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West, there has been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We are all incomplete: we all need the love which is secure, rather than oppressive, we need mutual forgiveness, to thrive.

As we move towards our partner in love, following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is quickened within us and can increasingly fill our lives with light. This leads to a family life which offers the best conditions in which the next generation can practise and exchange those gifts which can overcome fear and division and incubate the coming world of the Spirit, whose fruits are love and joy and peace.

I pray that all of us present and the many millions watching this ceremony and sharing in your joy today, will do everything in our power to support and uphold you in your new life. And I pray that God will bless you in the way of life that you have chosen, that way which is expressed in the prayer that you have composed together in preparation for this day:

God our Father, we thank you for our families; for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage.

In the busyness of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy.

Strengthened by our union help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Not ectopic!

I am so happy! Went in Thursday for my sonogram and they confirmed that is was NOT an ectopic pregnancy! YES! First hurdle successfully jumped! I really believe God has a HUGE plan for this little guy. I don't think we would have gone this far if he hadn't.

My doctor said he could faintly see the line that is the fetal pole starting to emerge so I am set to come back in in 2 weeks and by then we will be able to see so much more.

Think about it guys: I was supposedly infertile! Doctors told us I would never be able to naturally conceive and that we should start looking into IVF! But J and I held steadfast because we knew that when God has a plan there is nothing that can stop it! We are so happy right now. :) Over and over, everyday, I declare out loud that this little baby has Jesus stamped on his heart!

THIS IS A MIRACLE!