The True Christmas Spirit

The above painting is one My talented Giant created a few years back.  It used to bother me SO much, but I have come to really appreciate some things this painting now means to me.  I like it so much so that I leave it up all year long now. I'm not sure what Moses inspiration was for the above painting, but I have an inkling he was trying to make a statement. Giggle.  Moses ... make a statement? Psh...  that's just crazy talk! (insert a huge dose of sarcasm) Now that I have gotten over my offense of the above statement I  have some thoughts about this Creepy, Crazy-eyed Santa as well now. The first of which is the very obvious fact that this is the face of a man/Santa who does NOT have the true Christmas spirit. Or what we have come to know as the peaceful, joyful, and loving face of Santa.  It actually reflects quite the opposite of the that.  This Crazy- eyed Santa reminds me of the frenzy we can all put ourselves in come every December 1st. Enter Buddy the Elf quote, "You're not Santa. You sit on a throne of lies. You smell like beef and cheese!" Oh, how I love me some Buddy the Elf... Rut roh... I feel myself getting distracted from the point I wanted to make here. I suppose why I wanted to write this post is because often times by the end of December that face up there may as well be MY face. Ok... maybe my eyes aren't blue and I'm not a man but whatever you get the point!! I need a few reminders (just a few), and maybe you need them too, that Christmas is about SO much more than the temporal high of retail therapy.  There is something magical about this time of year no doubt about it, but I'm left wondering why it doesn't last? And why is it that this "spirit of Christmas" comes over us all, and the world becomes kinder and people seem more at peace?   I'm going to try and answer some of those questions. At the same time, I'd like to relate to you Beloved reader, what I think the full portion of the beauty of Christmas really is all about. Bare with me as we follow down Dickens road of Christmas Past, Present and Future.  Not really... I just added that for dramatic effect!

I woke up this morning with this deep thought about Christmas and the true spirit of Christmas. We have all heard it said that the best things in this life are free, and while I completely, whole heartedly believe that, why is it that every Christmas season I work myself right up into a full blown tizzy about what to get for who, and how much money it's costing, and how there isn't enough hours in the day to get all the crafting, baking and gifts done, nor all the memories jammed pack with my Fab 4 kids, and so on and so forth.  I literally wasn't sleeping the first week of this month because of all the thoughts running through my brain. 
Can anyone else out there relate?  And then I read this scripture  ; "Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and decomposes(in the using), but strive and work and produce rather for the lasting food which endures continually unto life eternal; the Son of Man will give, (furnish) you that, for God the Father has authorized and certified Him and put His seal of endorsement upon Him." John 6:26
Hmm... lasting food?  A complete and utter stop of toiling, doing, producing? Gifts that keep on giving? Eternal Food? Does that mean I don't have to grocery shop ever again? ;) What does that even look like? As I read this scripture I was reminded about the app I installed Nov 28th  on my phone called, Advent. It consists of daily scriptures all about Jesus arrival to earth.  It was an easy way to remind myself to be determined in having a different attitude this Christmas.  I also really wanted to participate in Advent this year. The word Advent is derived from the latin word that means, "Coming"  So Advent is a time to remember "The Lord is Coming"  Well, as a Christ follower I know the Lord has come,  and will come again, but as we approach the day we have chosen here in America to celebrate as his birthday I wanted to keep my focus on that phrase.... "The Lord is Coming"
This Christmas season I  wanted to be really purposeful to prepare my heart for HIS coming. I wanted to treat Christmas day like a day that I would prepare my house(my house being my heart) for like a visit from the President. In doing this I realized my thoughts keep coming back to what the greatest thing about Christmas is. If I'm being honest I have to say it has been a challenge. Refer to the paragraph above where I admit that I wasn't sleeping the first week of this month. In my mind and heart I believe the reason Christmas is so special is because we celebrate  the greatest gift to humanity. That is the one and only fully man and fully God, Jesus Christ. 

But, in my actions and reactions I wasn't staying there.

On staying there.

   His arrival to this planet over 2000 years ago is what we are all still talking about today.  And his walk on this planet for only 33 years is what has eternally changed my life and the lives of so many other people. I say all of this because  whether you believe in Jesus or not you can appreciate the words that he said and the love that he gave to so many. Unlike Santa Clause  HE IS REAL!! HE IS STILL ALIVE!! And  You participate in the "Christmas Spirit" every year by doing what  HE DID! You do unto others as you would have them do to you.  You give more than you get.  You love big and judge small. These are all principles and teachings that are from the heart of God. HE is the Father of Christmas.
Those of us who really truly do believe in him, we above all others should be getting that overwhelming sense of peace that some only experience around this time of year.  We have been given that gift for everyday of our lives. A peace that surpasses understanding is what we all long and look for.  If you don't have it, then may I suggest you look to the greatest gift that was ever given. He came as a baby. He died as a 33 year old man. He lived for you to know you are BELOVED. He heals. He restores. He gives peace. Jesus.
Selah.


 

THE GRAND OPENING

Today is the day. The day they've been talking about. The day they've been dreaming about. The day they jump in and change the world one art piece at a time. 

There have been countless phone calls. There have been so many, many texts. There have been tattoo conventions.

There has been laughter There have been prayers There has been planning and prepping. There has even been mopping.

There has been blood, sweat, and tears.
(Mostly sweat, not a lot of blood, and TEARS OF JOY)
All for this moment.

What an EVENT RENO NEVADA Please come in and support the arts ;)
945 West Moana Lane - Phone 775-209-1612

A New Tattoo

I got a new tattoo last night. Not many of you know this but, my Giant is a tattoo artist.

All the ink I have came from him except the two crosses on my fingers. Those are the handy work of "Slick Rick" from Sparks NV. What a hot dog that guy was. So the story goes like this, back in 2008 I had saved some money for Mo to get a new tattoo for his father's day present. Upon giving him the money he said, "Why don't I just order a tattoo gun and try to tattoo myself? Worse case scenario is I'll end up with some funny marks and a great story"  We got a kit for 200 bucks, it came with a DVD, some fake skin, and Mo taught himself how to permanently mark his body with ink.  Crazy, right?

Right, well my son Solomon is also an artist like his dad. 

When I asked Mo for a new tattoo with the theme "Smile At The Rain" he said, let's have Sol draw it.

So the drawing above is my 11 year olds version of,  Smile At The Rain.

I'd say he's following in those big footsteps wouldn't you?

  It's funny, I never thought I would be a person that would have tattoos.  I certainly never imagined my kids would draw up tattoos for me. I wasn't your rebellious teen who couldn't wait to show her parents that she had a mind of her own so she went out and got a unicorn on her hip. Nope. That wasn't me. But, here I am all inked up by my boys and their creative genius, and I gotta tell ya it makes me smile SO big. This new art reminds me of that fact that in this life there will be rain,  but when you learn to smile at those rainy days, you learn the key to a happy life. It also kinda reminds me of one of favorite musicals. Today I'm singing in the rain people, and it feels pretty damn good.

Irons and Bees

I'm working on ... working on things. Or you could say,

I have quite a few "irons in the fire" right now. Don't cha just love old sayings like that? I just love old sayings like that. When I looked up the meaning of that old saying it made me giggle.  You really should read the back story on that very famous saying,HERE so you can giggle too. It will be an especially giggly time for you if you are a busy bee like me.
Speaking of busy bee's I am one, but I still managed to find this quote for you;
"It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised. The mosquito is swatted." Mary O'Connor
The "why" to my busy is what I want to focus on here for a minute. That quote made me question whether all my busy is God's busy for me? Does that make sense? Cause if it's God's busy then there should be praise, but if it's my own busy then inevitably swatting will ensue.  I mean... I feel I am a bee and to be praised(I want some praise people this is hard work this mom to 4 kids work) while I'm busy about my Fathers business. But how does one know they are about their Father's business, and not their own business, especially when it's my new business that is keeping me busy. Did you know Our Father Who Art In Heaven has a business? Well, He does and I want to be that kind of bee that does it's Father's business. Ya know a bee that should be praised versus a mosquito who deserves to be swatted?

 It's busy, business, being a bee. 

Say that five times fast.

I am SO busy, but it's a good busy.  It's a healthy busy. It's a (I'm -right- where- I'm -supposed -to- be) busy. It's the kind of busy that makes my heart sing.

I'm driving my kids here, there, and everywhere, and they in turn are driving me nutts!  No, really I am throughly enjoying them and their very active, very healthy lives right now. But when I'm not driving the Fab 4 here, there, and everywhere here are some other irons I've got heating up;

I have my shop that I'm loving so much. I'm sewing up a storm to stock the shelves of NodotsShop just in time for Christmas. And I'm trying to really prepare for having a booth at the Farmers Market here next Spring. I'm a bit excited about that little dream come true, bucket list, adventure. I sure hope they like me and my stuff. I hear the jury process is a rigorous one, but I have all winter to prepare.
And then I have my son Solomon and his art work that I'm trying to get packaged and ready for Christmas presents(hold tight family your copy is coming) and possibly future retail. Yes,  He is my 11 year entrepreneur, artist, inventor child. He wants to sell prints of his artwork at the Market next year with me. Well, really he wants to sell them right NOW he's an ambitious lil fellow that Sol Doll ! He started his own little business at the young age of 10 and he calls his business Donut Productions. I wonder where the love for Donuts comes in? Psh... certainly not from his mother who buys them all the time!

This recent piece of art work that he and his dad worked on together  a few months back has gotten quite the buzz. Buzz, buzz, buzz... there's those bees again.
Solomon came home from school one day inspired by Van Gough and he asked me what my favorite Van Gough piece was, I said A Starry Night, and that is where Rainy Night was born. He sat down with a Sharpie and drew with such detail that My Giant was super impressed. Mo finished the piece with some amazing color and I might be bias but I think it's better than A Starry Night.  Psh... totally better!!

And then I have that little writing project that I was working on, Brody the Bishop and The First Day of Spring is no longer on the back burner people. Nope.  I put him back up on that front burner and I have a goal to get him full blown cooking by next Spring. That's right you heard me, I have a GOAL.  Just one or two, or maybe a few more than 5 ?
Remember this guy? 
Well if you don't you can read more about that HERE or just stay tuned. You will be hearing more about him in the future.  

Of course I still have my everyday life jobs, laundry dishes taxi cab driving vacuuming  cooking taxi cab driving shopping cleaning did I mention taxi cab driving?

Really, I promise I'm a happy taxi cab driving mom.

Most of the time I'm a happy driver.

Clearly, not a happy driver here but.... 

There ya have it folks,  the Irons and   The Bees. Linking up here

My book and freaking Artist's who are freaking flaky

I have had my first real frustration with this book deal.  My publishers called about a week ago and informed me that they were still interested and were just wondering if I was still waiting on an artist. I told them yes, that I was probably going to fire this artist because although he is very talented he has been a bit of a slacker. 

The problem lies with the fact that this was an artist from Mo's work and I didn't want to make things weird for him. So I tactfully asked what the status was on his work and he informed that it was the same as last time, which is pretty much nothing. He had a few ideas but basically he has done nothing since we spoke at Christmas.

Well, I was not too upset because during this time I realized that another person I know would make a fabulous children's illustrator and so I asked her if the job comes back to me if she would be interested. She said yes, and so I hired her on the spot. 

I am hoping to have the 5 pages they need of illustrations done by the end of this month and to get this ball rolling once again.

I told the previous artist that once I am raking in the dough I won't gloat too much :)

The Giant

My Giant came home tonight with a mission. To paint(sorry Gardners he started a new one). Do you know how exciting this is?? PROBABLY NOT, so let me explain. He hasn't picked up a brush since Christmas. That's an awfully long time to not engage in a hobby that you love, that relaxes you, and even inspires you.
So needless to say, while he paints I scrap, blog, read, watch movies and wait for the finished product. I can't peek over his shoulders or comment until the end because I have learned that these are not good things to do to someone when they are creating a masterpiece. Didn't know that before but now after many years I do. Everytime he paints it's like Christmas to me. So excited to see what this will be. Just thought I would share and when he's done maybe a picture will appear here of the finished product.