Tis' the Season

So it's been a while since my last post again, but I do what I can. I always tell the kids..."do your best" My best may not be the best...but it's all I got! I joke about what my tombstone will say/read..."She did what she could" comes up a lot , sometimes I think maybe "She like to laugh" but one that comes back to me often is "Soli Deo Gloria" To God be the Glory! Bach the composer would always write this on the bottom of his music pieces. I have been writing this in hidden places on my canvases for the last few years. As an artist, I see life as a painter. I always say that without the darkest colors the highlights do not stand out and the painting doesn't have the depth it could. Such is life, without our really dark days and the contrast of good and bad our life would lack the depth that makes a life a masterpiece. I've said this before, but sometimes things are worth sharing more than once. Perspective is also important in life and in painting. We all have a perspective based on our life thus far, our values our beliefs and these are the things that gives us our perspective. I remind myself...that others are looking at things from where they are and sometimes it's hard to understand, but I believe it's important to respect another person's point of view, so I try.

My life I imagine so far is like a painting that started out pretty good but some where along the middle the light began to changed and from where I was standing in my NEW perspective everything in the painting was off. I feel like God gave me a bucket of primer and even though you are not able to erase what's underneath, the new painting now has an added texture that would not be there except for the painting underneath. I don't regret anything, because I know that I learned a lot from my past and with each brush stroke a lesson is learned. Every lesson helps me be a better painter....a better person.

So tis the season to reflect..the season of Christmas. It's when we celebrate our Lord's birth, it's also a time for giving and being with the one's we love. Why is it just a season ? I only wish we could celebrate the season of love and giving and our Savior's birth all year long. Being the end of a year and the beginning of a new YEAR just one page away, we tend to look back on our year in retrospect, the good and the bad. How we grew and dealt with things and how the Lord was able to use us. I pray that the Lord continues to grow me as a parent and wife and open new doors for me to serve HIM more. Thankfully He isn't looking for perfect, just willingness to serve.

So back to the beginning of my post...I guess it's not "she did what she could" It should be..."She allowed the Lord to do through her" or not "she like to laugh" but maybe " she found the joy of the Lord"... As I reflect on this past year my cup truly runs over!

Update on the family:

Lydia loves to read, enjoys her ballet classes and has started to show an interest in drama and singing.Creighton loves his friends and is so athletic ,he amazes us with his eye and hand coordination. Marilyn loves ballet ,she is learning to read and write and loves kindergarten and singing in the church choir, art is still her favorite. Eleanor is RUNNING every where she goes and with such purpose as she swings her arms. She has added a lot of words to her vocabulary and wakes up with a smile almost every morning. Michael loves his PMS (professor of military science) assignment as I know he enjoys working with the cadets and is reminded daily of why he truly loves being in the army and what brought him to serve in the first place. I'm so thankful for each one of my family and that God has entrusted me with such treasures. A wonderful man to share my life and each new adventure with. These four precious children that truly light up my life...these are the highlights of my life that help to give my life, my masterpiece the glimmer and depth it was meant to have. Thank you God! Tis the season to be THANKFUL!