"I-I-I love JEESUS!": My soul feels so uplifted each time we go to pick up Cat after she's been at camp. She absolutely loves spending time there. This photo, while not a very clear image in reality, is a very good depiction. This last session was a teen camp with 125 campers ages 15- 17 years. This number fills the friendly camp to near overflow. On the last day there is always chapel at 11:30 a.m. Parents are invited to attend chapel. Seeing these young people standing on the benches and standing at the front of the chapel ALWAYS brings tears of joy to my heart. In those moments when the voices are uplifted in the words "I-I-I love JEESUS!", one can't help but feel surrounded by miracles.

sliding through shades of blue:
I've always loved the colour blue. I was so entranced when we were returning from Regina to the farm a couple of evenings ago. Greg was very kind and made some minute detours so that I might capture photos. The clouds, their many colours, the moon, the sunset - all were intoxicating. This photo shows in some small way the layers of blue.



The summer days often make me feel as though I'm sliding through shades of blue, not necessarily in a good way. I'm thinking more of the moody blues. Cat's frequent need for attention, our holiday time being spent mainly at the farm (not really a holiday if you can imagine) and little time to create, especially in my mind, bring on these blue shades.

Here are a couple of examples of some creative time I've been squeezing in between the other blues. Some of the journal pages mention snow, heaven forbid. Some of the writing is newer. I tend to write while on longer road trips. The inks are kind of a new fave - cat's eye color box fluid chalks. Yummmm. They're nearly as scrumptious as the Reese's miniatures I mention on one of the pages.





I've also been doing a tiny bit of writing at windyangelsandyou - more on shades of blue. Take a look.

Who am I?
I stop to think about this quite often. I stop to think about this nearly every day. As I pause to think on it I realize I am constantly growing and changing. I learn so many new things every day - about myself, about the world around me, about life and all its pieces, including death. Though there is so much that changes there are also parts that seem constant - love surrounding me, wonderful family, and wonderful friends. The people that love me may change, the amount of that love may change but there is always love.
This is a year of many celebrations for our family. Greg and I both turn 50 this year. Our daughter turns 16 in September on the 11th. My parents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and Greg and I celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. While these celebrations are note worthy I also try to remind myself that every moment, every day is a celebration.
Angels be with you as you celebrate the moments of your own life,
Wendy


Greg on the morning of his birthday, last Saturday, July 21.


Me and Greg at supper on his birthday.


My parents on June 24th the day of their 60th wedding anniversary.

I have chosen this image for the theme of BOLD at Inspire me Thursday. Rightly you should wonder at the relationship between laughter and boldness. Let me relate a story

Once upon a time there was a young lady named Adah ~ so much around her she saw darkness, sadness. The darkness and sadness seemed to consume her though she longed for joy. Louka Hannah was her dear, dear friend, full of mystery, full of grace and love. Etain too was very near ~ always shining, always full of life, creation.
Adah longed for yet more closeness with Louka Hannah and Etain. She longed to step away from the times when she pulled herself into the dark corners of her closet when the sadness seemed to overtake her. With her own creative spirit she edged further and further away from that darkness. She crept slowly toward that place where light and darkness blend.
One day, as her grace was shining through, Adah realized the error of her ways. The tub being drawn for a bath, had waited ~ forgotten. The inundation accosted her eyes. Louka Hannah, Etain and Adah, burst together in laughter.

I want very much to thank Elena (E.B.) for her recognition of my ability to shine. I want to thank the fae child Helenina for her random acts of kindness. I want to thank Mademoiselle Helenina for sharing her writing of Etain, Adah, Louka Hannah and Everdeene (also part of me) through pictures and prose.

Something to think about:
Your ship was spotted off the coast this morning, slipping silently through the fog... coming around the cape she appeared in a shaft of sunlight... and what a sight to see! Glimmering as much as the ocean herself. Massive and beautiful beyond belief! Laden with treasures, happy times, friends, love, and laughter. Quick, you must PREPARE for her docking... you MUST make space in your life for her gifts... otherwise, just as quickly, she'll quietly slip back out to sea.

Mike Dooley

warm colour choices these days:



This photo was taken at the farm from the creek about 10 days ago. Another in the creekside path.

Curls: I've just returned to artwords with this entry. It's a doodle I started in one of my journals. I finished it earlier this evening. I like the colours and curves and swirls and words. I hope you like it too.

Moving up to her dreams: 8 1/2 x 11 on blue paper.
I can't remember when I did this - last time we were at farm - maybe 10 days ago. I can't seem to settle into one specific thing these days. Perhaps I'm just needing a tiny HA! break to rejuvenate my energy and leave some comments on others blogs. I took a few moments this morning. One of these days I'll get back to you.

Much love,
Angels be with you,
Wendy

WOMAN

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(my creation)

of self

"Our farm" ~ We returned late Sunday from a couple of days at the farm. I decided to share a bit of information about it with this photo which I've posted on flickr. I've shared pictures of "creekside" previously and particularly this little building but I've added notes this time so that you can get a better idea what it's about.



I think this creek is partly why I love nature so much. Another part of it is that I grew up taking walks and bicycle rides along this road. The exercise was important because of the diabetes but it was much more than that. I think I also grew to love art because so very much, I see art in nature. I think I learned much more about colour from nature than from any studying I did or could have done. I am so very grateful for the beauty and miracle of nature.



For the full set of "farm life" pictures in a slideshow go here. I like to watch it in the fast speed which you can find on bottom left side of screen.

"I pretend to be an artist. I pretend to be a writer. Some call me an angel. Mostly - I guess I just want to be me. Thank you for reminding me of that."

Some words I pulled together today for someone. Maybe that someone is you.
I don't really seem to be able to get much farther than this at the moment. Not to mind - I'll be back.

Wendy - STOP already. Take time to play. And what better way might there be to convince myself of that than to have a tiny little fluff ball of a kitty with which to play. Greg and I went to look at the kitties at his brother and sister-in-law's place. Their daughter loves cats. They've decided that they have to start giving some away as their farm is not meant to be a cat ranch - not a money making proposition. Greg told me I didn't have to choose that night. When I picked up this little fluff ball though I just couldn't put him down. I love his softness and to watch him play. Today I got for him a collar. It's a bit big. Tiny sweet Blue - thank you for helping me to realize I must take time to stop and play.

Find a set of pictures of Blue at flickr.