Moving….again…..

It seems that we are nomads! Haha! No matter how hard we try to put down roots, we have to go where the work is. So off on a new adventure we will go! Out East this time, to the Pittsburgh area. We’re still trying to find a place to stay, so if you happen to have any ideas, please send them my way! A couple weeks ago I was able to do a little chalk pastel coloring. It was so fun to get a little messy and I’m happy with how it turned out. Ironically, this seems to remind me of the Yin and Yang of moving and life in general. Sorrow and grief from moving away from friends and family, familiarity, comfort, ease. Discomfort, worry, anxiety and apprehension from the unknown. Stress from packing, and explaining to our kids that everything will be alright even though it seems their world is being turned upside down. On the opposite side is excitement for new opportunities to create friendships and explore places that are rich in history. The hope that we can create a new and more functional space for our family. Peace, knowing that we will have more stability with a new job. And gratitude that our Father in Heaven loves us is opening doors and showering us with blessings. 

Life will always have its ups and downs, and can often be cyclical. Aside from faith, hope, love, and a little bit of grit, sometimes all we need, especially in chaotic times, is simplicity. It’s funny how cooking simple meals, wearing simple clothes, making simple plans, and simply taking care of our bodies can change so much! I’m also re-learning how important self care is, which includes a little down time! So if you’re anything like me, and tend to make things more complicated than necessary, give yourself permission to pull out a coloring page and make it your own. Use whatever you like! Watercolor, acrylic, charcoal, chalk pastels, or good old fashioned coloring pencils or crayons! It’s fun to do something spontaneous, yet simple enough you can finish in an hour or two (or three if you have little ones distracting you. 😉)

I hope you all are well, and I’ll try to update you whenever I can. 

Until next time. 😊

Mothers Retreat

 I had the privilege to go to a mother’s retreat a couple weeks ago. While we were there we did a guided painting. It was so wonderful to paint again after not painting for so long. I’m usually the kind of person that will follow directions in a group setting, but the lady that was sitting next to me just did what she felt like doing, and it empowered me to create what my heart wanted. It was supposed to be more impressionistic than realistic, with stair stepping rolling hills, but I turned it into a mountain painting with snow capped mountains and lots of pine trees. I made a few mistakes along the way, and it took me quite a bit longer to finish than most everyone else. But I’m so happy with how it turned out. I’ve learned so much from following guided art, but sometimes it’s ok to just let the creativity flow and see where it takes you. So if you’ve been feeling like you have to follow guidelines and step by step processes, but want to try something different, here’s your permission to give it a try! Let’s get creative! 

2025 Update, Where have I been?

 Hello all!

You're probably wondering where I've gone, and what I'm up to! Well, since 2018 my husband and I have had 3 job changes, moved twice, had three children, and started homeschooling. My children are now ages 12, 10, 8, 5, 3 and 1, it's so crazy how fast time is slipping by. Motherhood and homemaking are two of my biggest priorities aside from my faith and a healthy relationship with my amazing husband. With all that is going on in our lives, I have not had much time to sculpt, but I have found other ways to have a creative outlet. I've worked on numerous sewing projects, done some painting, and a few other random crafts here and there. I also like to test out all sorts of recipes. I hope to share what I've been working on, not so much to share what I'm putting in my Etsy shop, but more as an outlet for myself. You're welcome to follow along my creative journey, and I'd love to hear what your making too!