I'm Back

I know it has been way to long since I have blogged. Most of you probably thought I was gone for good. I thought I might be to. But today I have the urge to blog. Probably because I have so much to do right now and I'm avoiding it. Typical me style.

Okay, so update on life since November. Wow, has it really been that long? 

-Finished that painting that I started so long ago. I'll post that pic when I can figure out where I stored it on my computer. 

-Phillip and I have been dating for 9 months now!

-My sweet friend Kate and her man Brandon got married in Dec. I'll post some pics from that. Phillip and I were both in the wedding. 

-I will be done with school in 6 weeks. Gasp! I have so much to do in those 6 weeks.

-I am looking for a job. Please be praying for this. I have a possibility, but it's anybody's guess to whether i'll get it or not. 

-My little sister moved in with Suzanne and I in january. That's right all 3 sisters in one house. It has been an adventure. 

-I have begun to do sound for Kids Village again and I love it. It's so great to be back!

Below is my sweet black lab Stella. She is just about a year old right now and is driving me crazy. I know a lot of her behavior issues are because she has so much energy. But here is part of the problem. She is for some reason terrified of cars. So the last time I took her on a walk she wiggled out of her collar and ran up to someone's porch to get away from the cars driving by. I live in a residential neighborhood, so not a lot of cars going by. So I decided to get her a harness to walk with, she can't wiggle out of that. Ha! But I was foiled again by my dog. I bought the new harness and put it on her. She hated it and within 4 seconds she had eaten through one of the straps. She has also recently been found on top or the trampoline in the back yard tearing it to shreds. Lord help me!

Phillip and I at Kate and Brandon's Wedding
Yes. Disco Fever apparently struck.

Phillip is in Guatemala this week. Please be praying for him. He is there to encourage the team that is living there. He will be coming home on friday :)  Above is a picture of him in Guatemala this week.
 

Maybe A Little Early...

I know it's a little early for Christmas music still, but I just had to share this song with you. I think it will completely revolutionize the way you think about Christmas music. And it will surely become a staple in your holiday playlists. This song brought so much joy into my life today and I'm sure for years to come. I hope it does the same for you. Enjoy

To get to the song...scroll down to the middle of the page that it links to and hit play.

Pictures

These are a few of my favorite pics of us in Denver a couple of weeks ago. I just got them from my awesome friend Lauren who took these beautiful pictures.

Simple Design

The more my artistic talent has grown, the more I am torn in my design aesthetic. In my paintings, I am meticulous, detailed, and try to be as close to perfect as possible. I love to have a lot to look at, much to draw you into the piece. But the work that I am most fascinated by and drawn to is very simple. 

Design has always been a big part of my life. I could spend hours in Ikea just soaking in all the brilliant design compositions. Anywhere with good design really gets me, like anthropology. My goodness, I'm happy just thinking about it.  It's like my crack...the drug...not anatomically  (Chuck and Suzanne).

In my home, I want simple, elegant, good design. Problem: too much stuff. I either need a much bigger house to achieve the simple look, or I need to get rid of a lot of what I own. Problem #2: I am a poor college student with ghetto stuff and no money to update. Not that I have any desire to pay a lot of money for furniture or anything. I would be very happy with ikea bookshelves and curtains, but alas, I can't even afford that. So I have to work with what I've got. I have the organizing, redecorating/rearranging bug. Suzanne is going to love that...Hehehe.

So here is my updated picture of my painting. I know...they have hair. Oh yes...it is amazing. I am so close to being done. I just have a lot of little things to do, which means a lot of paint mixing. I am ready to have this done with. I have so many ideas just bursting to get out onto the canvas, but won't allow myself to start another one until this one is done.  I would have about 12 going right now if I could.

This is an artist named Justin Quinn. These are all E's. So simple, intriguing, and brilliant.
Oh I want this room. I found this pic on design sponge today and salivated over it for a while. I especially love the dandelion picture in the back ground. The space is simple, clean, and designed brilliantly.
Jill Moser. This is an oil painting. One color, simple, so beautiful.
So the moral of the story kids....  Okay, so there really isn't a moral. But I will be doing some throwing out of stuff, rearranging of rooms, and attempting to simplify my paintings. Stay tuned for results. I think I will take some before and after pics of the rooms that I redo....ohh that would be so fun!!! Okay, i'm doing it. Suzi...buckle your seat belt and get ready for some change.

Sigur Ros in Denver

This past weekend Phillip and I boarded a plane for Denver. What an amazing difference from Texas in September. Everything was so beautiful from the weather to the scenery.  On Saturday we went hiking in Pike National Forest. As you can see in some of the pictures, the aspens were starting to turn colors. My goodness I miss it already. We went and stayed with some awesome friends of ours, Evan and Lauren Perkins. We went out to downtown Denver on Friday night and had some really good Russian food. Yeah, Russian. I know that's random. We ate at this restaurant called the Red Square. It was really yummy. On Saturday afternoon we went for our hike, then took showers and went to the Sigur Ros concert at the red rocks amphitheatre. It was truly incredible. The weather was cold, but not too cold. The venue was amazing. If you have never been, then you should go. It was definatly worth it. During the concert there were the red rock to the side and back of us, starry sky above, and the denver skyline in the distance past the stage. If you haven't every listened to Sigur Ros, I would highly encourage you to check them out. They are from iceland, sing in a made up language, and are very talented musically. Then sunday morning, very early (4:30 am) we got up and headed out to the airport to catch our flight at 6am. We were running late and barely made our flight. Needless to say, I was a little cranky that early. But we were back in dallas by 8:30am and spend the rest of the day resting. Sadly, I never could get back to sleep on sunday and am still catching up on my sleep. But in all it was a wonderful trip. It was some rest that I desperately needed. It was so fun to see Evan and Lauren, and to get to marvel at God's magnificent creation.  

 

Phillip and I in Pike National Forest
The Storm we out ran on the way down the mountain
Posing with some Aspens
Phillip and I at the Concert
Phillip, Evan, and Lauren in the bottom of the picture

Kate Has A Face

Well, she sort of has a face. She is still missing her lips and eyebrows which make her look a little freaky. But I think it is coming along well. I haven't had that much time to work on the painting now that I have started school, and I have all kinds of other art projects that have to be done. But the times that I have been able to paint have been extremely fruitful. I am hoping to get some more done this week, but who know if that will really happen. I don't have much time that is open for the rest of the week. I hope you enjoy seeing the progress on this update! Let me know what you think. I love getting feedback.

Hands

Face
Neck

Current State of the Painting.

Desires of the Heart

Lately I have had no desire for the Word, or much desire to pray. I just seem to have a frustrated spirit a lot lately. I have no idea why. I find myself complaining all of the time, if only to myself.  I don't even know why. Life is so good right now, the Lord has been gracious with me, and blesses me daily. But I just can't seem to enjoy those things. I am constantly picking out the little things that are frustrating or bad throughout my day. Ever Been There? 

So here is my prayer, for myself.

"Finally, Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable --if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me --put it into practice. And the God or peace will be with you."    Phil 4:8-9

So my war today is over my thoughts. I have to choose to dwell on the good things in life, on the blessings, and most importantly on the Gospel. Because Christ died for me, he saved me, and promises that all is for His glory and my good, what can I really complain about?

In an effort to get my mind going in the right direction, I'm going to list some good things that have gone down today.

1.Class went great. I really like screen printing so far. It's very fast, easy, and painterly. I love all those things in art. 

2. My dog Stella is doing much better today after getting spayed a couple of days ago. She just follows me around and leans on me. Such a Love!

3. I made a delicious cake, that turned out better than the last time I made it, even though I took it out and let it cool before it was done, then had to put it back in the oven. How that worked, I have no idea. It really is amazing that anything I bake turns out well. I mess something up EVERY time, no joke, just as Suzanne.

4. I just got my hair cut for the first time in I don't even know how long, and I love it. It's so much better. It is shorter and actually has shape! Yippee!!!

5. I'm hanging out at Texas Roast drinking free coffee (because I work here). Mmmm

6. I get to see Phillip today for a while. Awesome.

7. I get hang out with at least one good friend that I haven't seen in a long time today in Dallas.

8. I am having a nice relaxing day, which I haven't had in a long time.

See, 8 things that are great in my life today. I feel better already. Maybe this will be my new strategy, write things down when I'm frustrated for no reason. I like it. Now I can see clearly, in writing, God's blessings in my life today. How could I possibly not praise him for all of that?