So....I started painting

For a Christmas present, my dear hubby gave me an artist set complete with brushes, paints, pastels, canvases, an easel, pencils, paper, and a carrying bag.  Well, I started painting.  I burned out two paintings tonight (1/30/12) and I did a four canvas painting on Saturday (1/28/12). I haven't had this much fun painting since college.  I had forgotten how relaxing and therapeutic it was to paint.  My love is abstract paintings and these are no exception.  I can't paint anything realistic to save my life....so I paint abstract.  If I were drawing with Chalk Pastels, no problem getting something to look realistic.  It's something about the paints that bring out my inner child.  I have paint smears all over my hands.  My nails look slightly blue because of the paint AND I DON'T CARE!   I can't stop.....I'm off to paint so more.

What Dreams Do Come

Most of my dreams I ignore...they tend to be bad pizza or some strange concoction of late night television.  The dream I had this morning before waking has stirred in me in such a way I can't let it go.  Over the past several months, I have been indulging in a study of the Hebrew names of God.  My personal growth has expounded, and I believe this is where this dream stems.

Let me set the stage for you:  I am waiting with several others to go somewhere.  We are all in what appears to be an airport/mall type place.  We are all talking about various things and walking around looking in the shops while we wait for our turn to go on our journey.  Our turn comes.....

A group of us are escorted to a beautiful room where we change into white robes with gold and crimson sashes.  Jesus appears there to us.  He seems to stay at my side the entire time.  I cling to Him, just holding on to Him. He give me a purple sash to go with the ones I already have.  I just keep holding to Him.  Then He tells me He has to step away for a moment but will be back shortly.  After He leaves, the odd little distractions start happening.  A place opens up like a puppet show behind where I am standing.  These really weird puppets start dancing around and trying to convince people to leave the area and go with them.  Some do....but I look around and I see Jesus standing off to the side.  He just smiles at me.  He disappears and the reappears on another side of the room.  And again, He is smiling at me. It seems no one else can see Him but me.

Then the puppets shriek and disappear and Jesus comes full into view stepping out from behind a rich burgundy velvet curtain.  He comes to me with a bowl and a pitcher.  He stoops down where I am sitting and takes off my shoes and begins to wash my feet.  I keep telling Him that I am unworthy for Him to do that and then I say with tears streaming something to the effect for Him to wash my head and hands too.  He just chuckles and stands up, kisses my forehead and say, "So much like Peter....Time to go."  And that's when I woke up.  This dream has left me broken in so many ways.  The Master of all the Universe was showing Himself, as always, a Servant of all - an example to be followed.

But the thing that has captured my attention more than anything is this, I don't remember hearing His heartbeat.  As much as I was holding Him and close to Him, I never once heard the beat of His heart. Then this thought came to me, His heartbeat is the Church, the Body of Christ.  As long as the Body of Christ is on the earth, we can hear His heartbeat.  It is up to us to show the world the real Jesus.  We are to reveal the heartbeat of the Father to the world -- people. God love all of us so much that He was willing to send His only Son to the earth to be the perfect sacrifice for the remission of sins.  How much more can someone love?  Jesus, for the love of mankind, gave up His throne in glory to dwell among us, to serve us, to teach us.  He loved us so much.

We can't even begin to comprehend how much He loves us.  I just wish I could convey to you the amazing love He has towards us.  I wish I had the words to describe accurately the feeling I had from this dream.  All I can do is tell you what I saw and hope it blesses you.

Feeling Like an Island

Today, I have just really felt all alone.  My husband had a ton of errands today to run before he went to work, then my parents left within 5 minutes of my husband going to run his errands.  Even with the kids here, everything seemed so empty.  I tried to keep busy, but the feeling of being stranded in the middle of an ocean kept sweeping over me.  I tried getting online to chat with some of my fellow Etsians, but I felt like I was being left out of the conversation every time I commented.  I felt as if they were all rolling their eyes and sighing "Oh great, it's her."  I feel like I have been banished.

An ever widening sense of sadness and abandonment has loomed all day. Even now, writing this isn't helping as I thought it would.  I type on the edge of tears...maybe I'm just being hormonal.  That's just an excuse.

My phone never rings. I never receive anything in the mail that isn't a bill.  One might say, "Well, why don't you do those things for others and it will come back to you. You reap what you so, after all."  Guess what, I do those things already.  I call those I don't see in church on Sunday or Wednesday...email encouragement, post encouragement on Facebook, send little happies over text message and through the mail.

We all need encouragement from time to time.  And I am in bad need of some right now.

Minerva Rewards

Minerva Rewards: It's about time somebody came up with something like this! Brilliant idea. Totally awesome.

Week of 1/3/2012 Featured Shop

This week I am featuring Spirit Scroller

Meet Danny Knox, creator of Spirit Scroller

I discovered the scroll saw when I was about 27 years old. I played with it a bit here and there, but it wasn't until my 40's that I really started to get into it. it was also about that time that I was introduced to Jesus Christ and entered into a relationship with Him. I believe that God has given me a woodworking gift and I have an overwhelming desire to share the creations that come out of that relationship.

Thank you so much for supporting what I consider to be a ministry. I pray that these items will bless you and those you come in contact with. I hope to hear from you real soon.

Featured Shop of 12/26/2011

This week let me introduce you to Madison Street Beauty, a mineral makeup company from Etsy.com

Madison Street Beauty offers 100% natural mineral makeup, such as foundation, eye shadow, eye liner, blush, bronzer, lip balm and more! They guarantee our mineral make-up will never contain anything artificial or bad for your skin. Madison Street Beauty's makeup contains absolutely NO: synthetic dyes, fragrances, preservatives, chemicals, parabens, fillers, additives, fragrances or talcs.

About Madison Street Beauty:

Madison Street Beauty's cosmetics are handmade from scratch, all-natural and most items are also vegan. It's important to the makers of Madison Street Beauty to create a product that is safe and sustainable for humans, animals, and the environment. They are proud to say that we have never and will never test on animals.

*All of Madison Street Beauty's cosmetics are safe for sensitive skin and non-comedogenic. They strive to make a high-quality product that is intensely pigmented to last you a long time. All of Madison Street's mineral make-up will never ever expire! *as inorganic material, it can not support the growth of bacteria of any kind.

*All of Madison Street Beauty's items are safe to wear whilst you work out, swim, sleep and are all photo-friendly. The photo-friendly quality is achieved by taking special care when making formulas that include reflective minerals so that in photographs your makeup will always look natural and beautiful.

Here are some reviews and tutorials of our products:
http://www.youtube.com/MadisonStreetBeauty#p/a/f/0/T_BooFhkMJc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpXc2kZSDlo
http://mynuttylife97.blogspot.com/2011/11/makeup-tutorial-bonfire-night.html
http://jendeleon.com/business/madison-street-beauty-review/
http://mynuttylife97.blogspot.com/2011/10/makeup-tutorial-midnight-plum.html
http://jacketofblue.blogspot.com/2011/09/etsy-beauty-finds-madison-street-beauty.html
http://mynuttylife97.blogspot.com/2011/10/hello-bloggy-friends-remember-when-i.html

Please take this opportunity to see what Madison Street Beauty customers are saying by visiting their feedback page here http://www.etsy.com/people/MadisonStreetBeauty/feedback

~Join Madison Street Beauty on Facebook and meet our 8,000+ fans and get to take part in their  regular giveaways. www.facebook.com/MadisonStreetBeauty

Become a fan of Madison Street Beauty for samples, exclusive offers, discounts, giveaways, makeup tips, tutorials and more!

~Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/MadisonSBeauty

~Blog:  http://madisonstreetbeauty.blogspot.com/

~Youtube: www.youtube.com/MadisonStreetBeauty
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Please visit Madison Street Beauty's other shops as well
www.CuffandCollar.etsy.com
www.MadisonStreetVintage.etsy.com
www.MadisonStreetStudios.etsy.com

Featured Shop of Week 12/19/11

This week I am featuring Etsy.com shop EweniqueDesigns.

EweniqueDesigns' luxury soap is made using the cold process method of soap making, where sodium hydroxide is mixed with oils and butters resulting in a chemical reaction which produces soap. Only small batches are made at a time, and each bar is carefully cut by hand. EweniqueDesigns has developed recipes/formulas that result in soap that produces a silky, bubbly lather that gently cleans the skin. Each soap is made with fine vegetable oils and shea/cocoa/mango butters, scented with fragrance oils, and colored with body safe oxides and ultramarines or natural powders like spirulina or cocoa powder. Some may include extra additives like goat milk, oatmeal, calendula, or salt for an out of the ordinary soap. These soaps are different shapes and textures, and most will weigh a little over 4 ounces. EweniqueDesigns strives to create soaps that are a delight to the senses - fragrant, beautifully colored and textured.

The process of making useful handmade items that are both pretty and practical is enjoyable and satisfying. As well as being a soap maker, EweniqueDesigns quilts and knits. Over the years, EweniqueDesigns has made numerous quilts, knit afghans, patchwork bags and pouches. Now these items are being shared with you.