Small Faith-Big Mountains {Bible Art Journaling}

It has been some months since I have done any Bible Art Journaling, and it is definitely something I want to keep doing, so today while I was having a difficult time with a watercolor piece, I took a break from that to do a very simple Bible journaling page. This is in my KJV Bible that has fairly large print and a good amount of margin space for art and/or journaling.

Sometimes I get in my head that FAITH is something that needs to be large—I should have a LARGE amount of faith. But in this passage, Jesus tells his disciples that if they have faith the size of a grain of mustard seed (that’s not large), they could tell a mountain to move, and it would. He told them that with that amount of faith, nothing would be impossible for them. Wow.

#BibleArtJournaling #BibleJournaling #IllustratedFaith #FaithArt #Faith #grainofmustardseed

A Life Well-Lived (so far)...to be continued...

On October 18 and 19, my husband and I celebrated a memorable Life Event, as our alma mater, Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO, honored Russell with their highest award given to an alumni: The Life Service Award.

These pictures immediately below were posted on the SBU Facebook Page:

Russell with the SBU President, Dr. Eric Turner

Our family members who were there with us: David (Russell’s brother), Janene (David’s wife and my sister), Keith (my brother, who has always been like a brother to Russell), our daughter Sharida, her husband Greg Green, our grandson Dawson. (Our son Mark had total hip replacement surgery on October 15, requiring he and Kristy to cancel their flight tickets and miss the event.)

From the Honors Chapel Program: “The Life Service Award is given annually to graduates whose lives have exemplified the principles which are upheld at Southwest. Currently, the SBU National Alumni Association Board nominates a maximum of six names of prospective recipients from business, missions, church-related vocations, education, and other fields of service. The award, presented during Honors Chapel at Homecoming by the president of the University, is the highest recognition that the University can bestow upon an alumnus or alumna.”

In our hotel room ready for the day

The above was on the screens in the chapel. There were four Life Service Award recipients: L to R,  Dr Glenn Miller, Dr David Hilderbrand, Dr Russell Ford, Dr Gary Longenecker. Elizabeth Mitchell Pace was the recipient of the Edwin Lightfoot Distinguished Alumni Award.

Russell gave a 2-minute acceptance speech (excellent)

The above was on the screens in the chapel while he was speaking—there are two years listed as his graduation years, because he received his Associate of Arts Degree while the college was still a 2-year institution (1965). Then in 1967 he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the now-4-year institution.

That afternoon, family visiting at the hotel

In the program for Honors Chapel

After the Alumni Banquet that evening

Next morning, headed out for the parade (Russell rode in a convertible)

This event was special for so many reasons, the obvious one being that the university where Russell went as a 17-year old and graduated in the first four-year class in its history (1967), has affirmed and honored his lifetime of dedication and service to the very essence of the mission of this Christian institution. 

But there was something more nebulous that we “took away” from the weekend, where several of the homecoming events included recognition (repeatedly) of the four LSA recipients. In fact, it is so nebulous that it is nearly impossible to put into words.

To put it succinctly, it was a reminder to us that my husband’s dedication to following Christ throughout his years is indeed worthy of recognition. It’s a part of “finishing well,” although he’s not finished yet! He’s still on that journey, and he continues to make a difference in the lives of everyone he knows. 

God has blessed us immeasurably and way beyond what we deserve. That’s grace. God’s grace. We are thankful.

 

CONGRATULATIONS to my very special husband, Russell Ford, on receiving this truly deserved honor.

#SpecialLifeEvent #SBULifeServiceAward #SouthwestBaptistUniversity

Fall Watercolor {Watercolor Practice}

Trying to get back in the groove of blog posting, I have discovered that at least some of my blog subscribers are not getting email notifications of the posts. Apparently, Blogger is aware of the problem and working on it...

Here are a few of my watercolor pieces, all completed while we were in Washington, July through September.

Since we returned to Missouri early October, I have been working mainly on scrapbooking, so I’m looking forward to breaking out the watercolor supplies soon.

#watercolorpractice #fallwatercolor

Back in the Groove? {Out and About}

It’s been so long since I posted, I’m not sure I can even remember how to use this Blog Touch app...this will be a practice run, then!

We have been in Washington mid-July until a couple of weeks ago, and now we are back in Missouri. Fall is my favorite season everywhere, but especially in Missouri! Yesterday we drove out to August A Busch Wildlife Conservation Area, a few miles from where we live, and walked for awhile on one of the trails. 

The fall colors are not out in full force yet here, but we actually have more color in our own yard than we saw at the conservation area.

On our street, almost to our driveway, in the yard of a new house under construction.

Taken from my front porch, up our driveway.

Both these were taken from our back deck.

Cool fall evening right now. Settled in, watching the World Series, with our little Sassi Girl, who is 16 1/2 now and suddenly cold-natured.

#MissouriAutumn #SassiGirl #BacktoBlogging

Nice Day

In addition to the usual things that make Sunday special, today was just a nice day. 

I got to spend it with my Honey. Well, yes, of course I get to spend almost every day with my Honey, but having been married almost 54 years, I don’t want to take our time together for granted. He is a blessing.

Another thing that made today special was a phone call from an old friend (from my IBM days) with whom I had lost contact. I think of her often but had not been successful in my attempts to locate her/reconnect. An unexpected phone message from her resulted in a long conversation, and it was so great to catch up. REAL-life friendships are so important (and another thing I don’t want to take for granted).

Of less importance, I did finish my Eastern Bluebird (state bird of Missouri) watercolor piece. This one was a challenge, because I am only just now brave enough to try painting a piece from a reference photo (with no tutorial or teaching helps along the way). I think this is my second one. When I try something like this, that’s when I see how much I still have to learn. How in the world DO I make my painting look like the photo?! (My favorite app for copyright free photos is Pixabay.)

Yes, I am blessed, and I am grateful.

#worldwatercolormonth #easternbluebird #watercolorpractice #friendships #54years

Enjoyable Independence Day

Although we would prefer to spend ALL holidays with our family, that’s just not possible. But, Hubby and I did enjoy a laid-back celebration of the birthday of our beloved country. We do love patriotic holidays, and we always shed some tears as we read Facebook posts with a military or veteran or patriotic theme. (My husband served as an officer in the USMC, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, and is particularly sentimental when it comes to the flag!)

Our daytime activity was mainly watching baseball, a win for the Cardinals (our favorite/only team). A snack of homemade sundaes (vanilla ice cream topped with hot caramel sauce and toasted pecan halves) was enjoyed “(because it is a holiday,” we said to each other).

In other years, with family, we might have had watermelon, but not this year. Still, it is a snack I often associate with July 4, and I especially think of my dad and brother—both crazy about watermelon, especially big ol’ Black Diamond melons! I thought of those two as I painted this quick and casual watercolor piece.

That evening, with no baseball to watch, we did the unusual for us and watched a DVD movie, “Independence Day,” one of my favorites. Don’t ask me why it’s a favorite. Well, it IS a combination of extreme patriotism and the mystery of UFO’s, always of interest to me. I know...don’t judge me.

My watercolor pieces lately have been casual and light-hearted (fun).

Today, though, I’m working on a Bluebird, painting from a reference photo. Difficult for me. Not done yet.

#worldwatercolormonth #IndependenceDay # USFlag #patriotism #watermelon #mariaraczynska #letsmakeart

Long Trek Back, Back to the Halcyon Days {Sentimental Journey}

It fell to my brother and me to go through many of the keepsakes that our mother left behind. Daddy passed away in 1988, and it has been six years since Mother passed. The last large box of her things has been stored at my house, and we decided it was time to do our due diligence.

On two different occasions within the last couple of weeks, my brother has made the five-hour round trip to my house, and we have risen to the challenge (that’s what we do). 

There were 60-70 manila envelopes, all organized by year, thankfully. We simply would not have been able to accomplish what we did if Mother had not divided and labeled everything like she did.

 In the end, we spent more than 14 hours of solid work (and fun!). Breaks for meals and snacks — oh, and always coffee—kept us going. But by the time we finished, we were tired—and seeing old photos and mimeographed programs when we closed our eyes!!

My brother was particularly interested in the envelopes that contained keepsakes and photos from Daddy’s time in France and Germany (USArmy Air Corps) during World War II.

It seemed daunting at first. We had thought we could accomplish our goal in one afternoon/evening, but after those first 7 or 8 hours, it became clear that a second attack would be required.

We separated out keepsakes for all our siblings and ourselves—my Hobby Room became a veritable heap of manila envelopes!

So many newspaper articles of their children and grandchildren winning awards and scholarships and accolades (we talked about how we just took it for granted, all the successes in our family, due in large part to our parents’ encouragement and guidance). So many letters from people in their churches that Daddy pastored, and from the professional world (Daddy was also a teacher and Director of Teacher Certification for the Missouri Department of Education)! So many greeting cards and church program bulletins. So many years’ worth of memories. 

We made several interesting and fun discoveries. In addition to the envelopes, there were a couple of very old photo albums. These nice 8x10 studio pictures of our parents’ senior pictures and their wedding picture were amazing (also some studio pictures of Daddy in military uniform). 

R.V. and Leona Wilson

1945

Leona Cox (we saw a photo that had this 8x10, in a frame, sitting on Daddy’s footlocker while he was in military training in Florida, before their marriage.)

1945

R.V. (“Red”) Wilson

1945

I framed these to add to my bookshelf where I already had some family and  heritage photos.

#heritage #family #familyhistory

Rainy Days

We have had some rainy days and several thunderstorms this week here in Missouri. That’s one of my excuses for staying in and not doing much! 

The other excuse is that I tweaked my back on Tuesday, and it is not better yet. It’s ridiculous how many little movements I normally take for granted—like bending over and picking up something that I have dropped, or putting on my socks and shoes, or lifting Sassi (who is better now) up on the sofa for her nap...I’m trying to take care of myself, but I’m not very good at slowing down.

Here are a couple of art pieces that have been therapeutic for me while “recovering.” Both of these were from lessons by my favorite teacher, Maria Raczynska.

I think one reason I enjoyed these pieces is because the colors are soothing to me...

#watercolorpractice #seahorse #icecream #WinsorandNewton #MariaRaczynska

June in Missouri

We have been sticking fairly close to home in recent days, since our little Sassi Girl has not been feeling well. She is 16 now and really pretty perky for her age (it’s all relative, now isn’t it?). 

We did venture out on a little road trip on Father’s Day, to join our daughter’s family (about 2 hours away) for church and lunch. Sharida and Greg and Dawson brought along a surprise for us—Evan and his girlfriend Katie, up from Texas to visit Sharida and Greg for a few days.

I am continuing with my watercolor practice, some days encouraged, some days not so much, but I press on.

I followed a tutorial in a Skillshare class for this little hummingbird.

Another Skillshare tutorial, this poppy.

And this little ladybug from a lesson by my favorite artist/teacher, Maria Raczynska.

#watercolorpractice #FathersDay #SassiGirl #tinytoypoodle #MariaRaczynska #ladybug #poppy #hummingbird

Wonder Forest

We have so many woodland creatures in our Wonder Forest (5 acres where our home is located, in Troy, Missouri). I think maybe animals are one of the more difficult subjects to paint, but I am drawn to them. Here are a couple of paintings finished today.

Raccoon (though they are cute, we aren’t thrilled when they try to get to the bird feeders!)

Tufted Titmouse

#watercolorpractice #wonderforest #titmouse #raccoon #MissouriWoods

Golden Retriever Watercolor

This handsome guy reminds me of our Samson, our first golden, our outside pet while we were living in Licking, Missouri, many years ago. 

This painting was inspired by Sarah Cray at Let’s Make Art, although I didn’t actually follow her tutorial for this one. Sometimes I do better just winging it.

Golden retrievers are special dogs. My brother and his wife have two. Goldens are sweet and live to please their people.

Still learning about watercolor, and at some point I will probably focus in on a more limited subject matter, but for now, I’m bouncing around like a ping pong ball—flowers, fruit, dog, bird, whatever...but it does keep me interested, and that may be the most important thing right now!

#watercolorpractice #goldenretriever #letsmakeart #WinsorandNewtonCotmanWatercolors #ArchesColdPressedPaper

Missouri Summer: Here and Now

Well, we did have some beautiful spring days, though interspersed with thunderstorms and tornadoes in the area. But I do believe summer has arrived here in our neck of the woods in Missouri. I can tell, because I just stepped out on the upper deck to look at some flowers, and the heat/humidity practically took my breath away. Yep, that’s summer in Missouri.

On the watercolor practice front, my eye is taken by subjects that remind me of summer, like this watermelon work that I created following a tutorial by @Mariamorjane. She was also the inspiration for an attempt at my favorite rose:

I have arrived at a comfort level on my style, that is, not realism but not terribly loose either. I still sometimes gravitate to “cutesy,” and for that I really make no apology...it’s just my mood, some days.

I created this little bunny in a Skillshare class (online).

#watercolorpractice #mariamorjane #skillshare #SummerinMissouri