A little tough stuff and a whole lotta love

Today I walk through a bit of tough stuff. You know those moments in our life that really change our course in life. For me the toughest moment was 9 months ago today. I lost the love of my life,my best friend,my lover,my darling husband Marvin. 9 months ago he lost his fight to Mesothelioma all to young. He left my children and I here at home and in our arms,tears,joys and fears. How can you find joy in your husband dying in your arms you may ask! Here is what I know for sure... he suffered far to long and far to much. In that moment a peace came over him. The moaning stopped and he was free. Joy came from knowing how much he loved the Lord. He had told so many of his faith. Our pastor was here the week before his passing. He and Marvin had a long talk out on our old front porch. I learned the day of Marvin's Celebration of life service that Pastor Terry asked him if he knew the Lord. One of those things Pastor already knew.. but he had to ask. Pastor told us that day that when he asked Marvin, he smiled his big amazing smile and said "Oh yes Brother Terry. Oh yes I do. I love Him and I know I'll see Jesus face to face." For me the joy came from knowing he would be waiting for me at heaven's door. The joy of knowing he was no longer suffering and was meeting our Jesus face to face. How can you not feel joy? Was it painful? Of course,but the pain of his loss was easier somehow knowing of his faith and knowing he was safe and free. I feel my Marvin now around me. I feel him as a gentle breeze that touches my face when I need it the most. I see him in the pink sunsets,just as God sent me the night of his passing. I see him in every dragonfly that I see or create. I know some of you have not heard that story so I will post just a bit of the dragonfly story...The night before Marvin passed away (actually about 3 a.m.) My 2 grown children were sitting on our front porch with only a soft light on in our gazebo. Angi looked up and said "Momma, Justin look... Look !! There is a huge dragonfly under the porch light. We thought she was crazy. Well.. she was not. There under the light was the biggest,most beautiful dragonfly we had ever seen. Angi said "Wow Momma it's Daddys jet plane coming to take him to heaven!" The night passed with us going in and out and the dragonfly never moved. At 8:11,July 14th,2010, Marvin passed away in our arms. When Hospice arrived we had to leave them with Marvin. We went to the porch and the dragonfly looked at us and flew away. His mission was over. Now in every dragonfly we see our angel. With every message we send to eachother we sign it Dragonfly Kisses.

Ok.. now I just have to share something that so touched my heart today. Leslie over at http://wordsofmeproject.blogspot.com/ so touched me with her post and having me on her list of favorite blogs. She told how my little blog had touched her heart. Wow... Girls.. you just never know who sharing your life experiences may touch another. I am so blessed. So very,very blessed !! Hugs n love to you Leslie !!

So for today...here are a few pics of my Marvin,my amazing family and who knows what else! lol!! Enjoy !!

Our daughter Angi and our grandbabies,Connor and Trinity

Our son Justin

Marvin and Angie on his 54th birthday

My little girls, Angel and Annie

til next time.....
dragonfly kisses and great big hugs...

Finding new hope

Hello my friends !!
I hope you will sit a spell and hang on tight...this could be a long entry. I hope you hang on til the end.
Where do I start? Ok... well I will start with saying I am on an amazing journey. As I posted before I am taking art classes and having a blast. I love when I am in my little studio and have paint,ink,gel medium,watercolors all over me ! lol ! Ok.. well my hands at least. I am at peace when I create my art pieces,work in my art journal and on canvases. On April 5th I began another amazing journey through the Brave Girls Club I belong to. The course is called Soul Restoration. It combines art with a whole lot of soul searching . Just what I needed. I won't go into a lot of details about the course,I'm not supposed to. But I can share this with you . I am finding Hope,peace,joy and understanding. I had a heart to heart with my BFF this weekend and she made me realize that I have been stuck in my grief. Just going through the motions,believing so many lies such as I'm alone and will be for the rest of my life. Or... I'm not good enough because...!! You get the picture. Through just the first week of Soul Restoration I have had a huge breakthrough. I realized that at the center of my issues was this one statement... I am ALONE! It is one of my biggest fears. By clothing myself with that statement it has made me shut people out of my life. Not like myself. Feel so unloved and unlovable. Anxious,angry,depressed.. the list goes on and on. By facing the facts and the fears I am realizing... I am alone by choice ! I have pushed almost everyone but my children away. I have not been going to church since December. Ok I have the last 2 weeks... but ! I have been lost in my grief. Through art journaling,painting and writing I am finding new hope,peace,joy,laughter and so much more. I will share a picture of my art journal entry today.

I don't like the scan of this.. but my Digital camera is having issues ! Anyway.... In the heart on the right I am placing words that I am using to fill the darkness in my heart. Words like So Loved,Joy,Laughter,Peace,Beautiful,Happiness,Creative,Inspired and at the center...God !! I am on my way... I am walking through the grief of losing my dear Marvin. I will survive ! I will keep going until God takes me home !!

Ok... on the lighter side here is a silly picture ,also from my art journal. This is of a whimsical girl,dressed as a bunny with her child close behind. Traveling up the yellow brick road headed home. Lol !! What can I say? lol !!

And last but not least a small 6x6 canvas I did which will be for sale when I get my Etsy shop set up ! lol !! Again the scan does not do it justice...but until the camera and I get on speaking terms again.. here it is...

It's title is Love Deeply.
Well my friends this entry did not end up as long as I thought it would. But I hope you get something from it. Please leave your comments.. you know I love hearing from you !!
Til next time....
hugs...

Whole lot of creating and soul searching going on

Hello my beautiful friends !! I have been MIA for a few very good reasons. First...We have been on a weather rollercoaster here and having Fibromyalgia,arthritis and a spinal disorder.. well lets just say I have been in so much pain. On a 1-10 scale.. it has been a 24! So having to take too many pain pills to keep me going. Going from the bed to the recliner,which has heat and vibrate on it. When the pills kick in I am off to my studio to create as long as I can handle it. I have changed my diet so much,following others prompts who have Fibro. Well after 3 weeks,lets just say... not seeing much change at all. But will keep trying.

Second... on the creative,art classes, soul searching side. I have been happily busy taking 6 classes. I am finished with one and started a new one yesterday. I am learning so much and so happy I took the plung and dove in. Following a life long dream and getting amazing feedback. Counting my blessings and thanking God for this gift. My camera is being stupid (Could be the medicated operator) so do not have pictures to post ready. That will come very soon.

The latest class I a taking is amazing. It is from Melody and Kathy over at Brave Girls Club. It's called Soul Restoration. It combines art,heart and healing. It is only the 2nd day and I love it !!! I would recommend to any girl (Young or old) to take this course. It is 8 weeks long and packed full of great videos,PDF's and a classroom to cheer eachother and eventually post some of our work. I love this so much !! You can check it out here...

I am also taking a course by Amanda over at Kind over Matter...She has a course going that also makes you think and search your heart and soul. Adding in fun art prompts and journal prompts. Amanda is an awesome young lady full of inspiration.

I continue in my classes over at willowing.org and love,love ,love Tam and her amazing way of teaching. Her amazing gift and her beautiful self are so inspiring. Learning so much and having so much fun.

Well, off to finish up a piece of artwork that has been drying. Then I am off to bed early. Worn out !!! Check back on Monday, I hope to have pictures to share and more links to things I have coming up.

Thank you so much for you sweet comments and welcome to my Brave Girl followers... you rock !!! To my MJF Sisters... I have not forgotten you . Check in everyday, just not as much time to comment as before !!!
Hugs to you all.... Kristy

Hello world !!

Hello my blogster friends !! Wow, I have MIA from my own blog for a while now. I am having a blast with my art classes and having so much fun creating. Life is better... can't say great ,as I don't know if it will ever be great without my dear husband. But, I am OK... I think that is where I should be. I am coping and realizing I still have dreams. I am following a dream with my art. Learning tons of fun techniques and developing my own style. Art has always been an outlet for my souls need to speak through color,texture and word. I guess I was doing art journaling before it was called Art Journaling. It is very healing for me. I can express through paint,paper,pens,pastels,and so many more mediums,what my words can not express. I have never been good at putting my thoughts art you are free to put it all out there. Through color and word if you choose. God is good having given each of us a way to express ourselves. Each of us have a gift. One we should share with others. Speaking of sharing with others... I have recently completed a couse called She Art Workshop with Christy Tomlinson. She is so inspirational and so darn cute ! She has another Workshop coming up for She Art. (((Check the button on the side to find out the date!! My mind went blank! LOL !! )) I am so excited as she is having a new Art Journaling workshop that begins in May... here it is. I signed up right away !!!

Come and join me!! You will love her workshops. Packed with PDF's and videos.
I have been busy creating and haven't taken time to take pics! So that is on my list of to do's ! LOL !!

I am off to play in my little studio here on the farm. I pray you have an amazing weekend and are blessed in all you do. Sending hugs to each of you...
Live like you were dyin... Kristy

hEaLiNg ThRoUgH aRt

REMEMBERING MARVIN...
Today marks 8 months since my dear husband got his wings and flew up to heaven. He went peacefully from our arms to heavens door. I know he watches over me and is my guardian Angel. I miss him so much,but I know I would not want him back having to suffer the way he did the last year of his life. With everything going on here on earth lately... he is in a far better place. Will I go on? Yes. Do I like how life has changed? NO and yes! NO,because I would have much rather lived the rest of my life with him by my side.
YES...because I am following a life long dream. I am persuing my art studies. I know without a doubt that if Marvin was here he would totally agree. He always loved when I was creating. He was my biggest cheerleader. I can still hear him saying " Oh honey, I love it. I don't know how you do it !! I'm so proud of you !!" I know he is watching over me and saying the same thing. Ok... tears again !!

Collected and ready to share a bit of my journey with art . I so love the She Art Workshop with Christy Tomlinson. This is the last week and it is sad in many ways. I so love Christy's way of teaching. Her excitement is contagous.She has given me so many tools for my creative tool box. I can not express my gratitude to her enough. Her class was my very first online workshop. I am so blessed to have been led to her and her amazing workshop. Speaking of... she is having a giveaway for her She Art Workshop that will begin in April. Please click the Scarlett Lime button on the right hand side of my blog if you are interested. I know you will not regret it !!! I have posted several of my She Art Girls.. Scroll down !! LOL !!!

I have discovered a whole new world. I was again led to an amazing young woman ,Tam, at www.willowing.org. She has an amazing number of workshops that I so love. This is where I am learning to do faces,watercolour and mixed media faces / characters. I joined her group Willowing and friends and I love it there !! I have posted a few of my pieces here on the blog. I finished another yesterday. Here she is....

I so love where my life is taking me. I do not know where it is taking me ,but I know there is a reason why this world has opened up to me. I am just hanging on for this amazing ride.

I want to leave you with a piece of a song that Marvin and I lived by the last year of his life... it is from Tim Magraws song.. "Live like you were dyin' !" I know what it means through the eyes and voice of my husband. He loved, laughed and cried. We grew closer than I could ever explain. His smile came easily, even when he was so ill. So dear friends.... live like you were dyin' . Don't put off telling someone you love that you love them. Do it now.. walk away from the computer , or send an email,text,write a note. Just do it !!! You never know dear one.. when someone you love will not be here on earth in the next moment !!!

Hugs and blessings...

Loving life.....

Hello world !! I am having so much fun on my new journey taking art classes. I am just so happy when I am creating. I am blessed to have been led to some of the best teachers. I am touched by their enthusiasm,excitement and their way of teaching. I thought I was too old to learn new tricks... well... so not so. I know I have a long way to go...but we all have to begin somewhere. A beginner is not such a bad place to be. Looking forward to the ride up!! LOL!!

I am currently taking 5 classes online. I know... I should have spaced them out a bit.. but it keeps me busy. You know how much I needed that. I am so enjoying the She Art Workshop with Christy Tomlinson from Scarlett Lime. We will begin our last week on Monday.. it's going to be sad for it to end !! We will have our wings to fly by then !! LOL !! She is having another class beginning April 10th I believe!! Check the link on the right side of my blog !! lol !! So.. here is the last She girl I created.. I had so much fun with her.

The other 4 classes I am taking are through willowing.org. Tam is a brilliant artist and instructor. I am having so much fun with these classes as well. The one I am proudest of is the Fabulous Faces Workshop. For week one we did graphite portraits. This is the last one I finished.

I am now working week 2. You can study on your own pace on 3 of the classes I am in. This week it is on color Full facing portraits. I love the whimsical style of this girl. Having fun with different shaped faces,eyes,nose and mouths.. I guess the whole thing when I say that!! LOL!! Anyway.. here is the one I did today!!!

Well.. that's what I have been up to. I need to post from my other classes. But didn't want this post to be 10 miles long !! LOL !!!
Thanks for stopping by...
Hugs and blessings

Ya know....I'm doing the happy dance again..... Twice !!

Ok my friends... this is just amazing to me ! Uhh... I was notified today that I have won awesome prizes from two of my beautiful Brave Girl Sisters !! Yes... 2 of them !! Wow !! Ok... a few details.. Brave Girl Club (Check the button on the right and join.. it's free !!) . It is an amazing place for women to meet,heal and truely be blessed. I joined a while back and so love it. Anyway this past weekend a bunch of my BG sisters had a blog hop. (If you have never been on one.. it is so awesome. Start at Sue's ,comment and hop to Jackies... you get the idea!) Anyway it was a wonderful way to meet Sisters I may have never met in the club. Most of them were posting about their recent experiences of taking Melody and Kathy's (Creators of BGC) Soul Restoration courses. Sharing some of the tools they learned along the way. Inspirational and has me even more excited to start the next course in April. I hopped most of the night (Another I can't sleep night!) and left comments along my trail. So.. back to I won... I was notifed by 2 of my Sisters that I had won the prizes from their blog give away !! Wooo hooo !!! The really exciting thing is that all the gifts I will receive will help while I am taking the Soul Restoration 1 Workshop !!!Yay !! Goodies I don't have to purchase for the workshop ! God is so good !! This is the 4th time in a month that I have one prizes from going on blog hops ! I have met such wonderful women along the way. I have made connections with many of them that I know will last a long, long time. I am so blessed to have met you and so proud to be among the best Brave Girls in the world !! Come and join us my girl friends !!!
Here is a picture of the one I could find of my winnings.. this is from Jule's blog..

So excited !!!

Ok.. on to some of what I have been up to. I am so loving my online art classes to pieces. What I am posting is the pictures of my latest masterpiece from the She Art Workshop by Christy Tomlinson. It is so fun !!! You can find her button on the right side as well !! SHe is an amazing ,energetic ,fun ,creative young women. I am so enjoying her class and all the girls I am meeting in this class.

This is from week 2.. have one more to create for this week.
I am also loving 3 classes now with Tam at Willowing.org. She is so much fun and has such great videos and PDF's for the classes. She is from London England and is just a hoot. Love you Tam !! I am working in watercolour,pencils and Acrylics now. I am so loving diving into these medias deeper. Learning so very much and feeling so much joy doing it. Tams button is also on the right side of my blog !!

Ok my friends... I am off to play in some paint !! Love getting messy and creating something beautiful. Well.. most of the time !! LOL!!
Hugs and blessings my friends..
Kristy
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