Blog Posts

There is no such thing as an artist – only the world, lit or unlit, as the world allows.

~Annie Dillard

How do we deal with 9/11?  How do we honor and respect those who risked their lives?  How do we face a tragedy, and find goodness and strength?  Most importantly, how do we do this with young children?

The tragic events of 9/11 unfolded, and our country was united in brotherhood.  America had scores of heroes, and we helped one another with selfless acts of kindness.  Since then, my school has celebrated “Kindness, Peace, and Love Day” every September.  We come together to meet and honor heroes.  We talk about the hero in all of us, and the kindness in all of us.

Last year Police Officer Rachel and Firefighter Lindsay joined us.  They told the children how helping one another and being kind makes them a hero.  They shook hands with each and every child.  We thanked them for all they do.

Imagine being a child on a playground with…

**Image found on Pinterest; text added by Natalie

https://www.rt.com/news/402521-sweden-viking-warrior-woman/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome#.WbLX1TZrYr8.facebook

Your smile reminds me of a paradise
With its beautiful calm crystal seas
Smooth serene beaches with palm trees
Translucent skies that are so heavenly

To see your smile each day as I awaken
Simply makes all bad things to go away
Bringing to life such a real happiness
Whose loving embrace I pray will stay

The way you smell without any perfume
Like a flower blooming in the island sun
Is a treasure my heart is grateful for
Making me proud to be your special one

That you chose to share your life with
No matter what things may come our way
I am blessed you will daily inspire me
With sweet joy from your heart each day.

(A reblog)

Google Image Credit,
travelerhubs.hubpages.com

http://www.westbowpress.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000972619

https://www.amazon.com/Matthew-Seufer/e/B00QTW41KS

http://matthew-seufer.pixels.com/index.html?tab=galleries

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Windows-from-Heaven-Yes-I-Believe/53076329?

https://play.google.com/store/books/details

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/windows-from-heaven-matthew-seufer/1120811470

http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/Products/SKU-000972620/Windows-from-Heaven.aspx

http://shoutmybook.com/featured-book/windows-from-heaven-by-matthew-c-seufer

http://www.alethasflorist.net/

A detailed and exceedingly useful post from Hugh on the aternative to the ‘reblog’ button which, although common to most wordpress.com sites, does not appear on self hosted sites or general articles across the web.

I first came across the Press This marklet thanks to D.G. Kaye’s excellent article and it solved my biggest problems with reblogs… how do you reblog when there is no reblog button…and how to schedule a reblog for a future date.

Read on for Hugh’s step by step guide…

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I stopped reblogging blog posts months ago. In fact, I wish I’d never started using the reblog button. Why? Because of the fantastic little feature WordPress call ‘Press This’. But, what is ‘Press This’, where can you find it, and how do you use it?

‘Press This’ is an alternative way to reblogging. It’s like reblogging a post, but you can do so much…

Of course, I’d love to make a living as an artist. But it takes some pressure off to just create art to make my soul grow, for heaven’s sake.

I’m getting ready for my second year in a community art show this weekend and trying not to be nervous about getting everything together. You can read about my first art show here. It will help me to remember that the show I participated in last year was ultimately a spiritual experience for me. It’s something I was meant to do since I was 10 years old and spent much of my free time drawing dogs and horses. But now, I’m mostly painting angels.

For years, I’ve heard myself say, “I’m supposed to be painting angels.” So, I’m taking more time to honor that message which could be from my mom who collected angels until she became one.

Most of my…

Close up of the Guardian Angel on reclaimed wood,  by JoAnne Silvia

I’ve been thinking about angels lately. About how the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, a young virgin who was engaged to be married. He started out by telling her she was favored. “The Lord is with you, ” he said.

Mary was startled and confused. Who wouldn’t be?

So, Gabriel tried to comfort her before he delivered the big news:

“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”   Luke 1:30-33 NIV

Can you imagine how Mary felt? How Joseph…