How Exciting!

Wow is all I can say! God truly is spending a lot of time on this ahh-mazing chapter of my life! I stand in awe of the blessings pouring over me. It truly is like He is answering a prayer I didn’t know my heart was praying!!   You see, 18 months ago I was sent home from my lifelong career as an elementary teacher.  My disabling illness had gotten to the point where I could not perform my job.(my disability story will come soon)   So in March of 2012 I went home.  From March until September I was floundering.  Falling into depression with thoughts of “What is my purpose?” “This can’t be how I am going to live the rest of my life.” “I want to do something!”  I seemed to be so down over feeling like I had no purpose any longer.  When I was in the classroom I knew my life’s purpose.  I was making an impact on this world one little person at time and now I sit at home alone.  Oh, and when the end of July 2012 came and I wasn’t in my classroom getting it all ready for the start of a new school year, that is when the tears fell.

Now, fast forward to September 2012.  That is when this journey all began.  Something inside began to stir.  Let me back up just a minute.  Back in 1990 when I graduated from High School, I attended a junior college on an art scholarship.  I lasted two semesters when I finally told my parents I was changing my major to Elementary Education.  My exact words to them were, “All I can see is myself being a starving artist in the French Quarter.” (French Quarter-the heart of New Orleans).  I pretty much stuffed my dreams of being an artist away.  I was however able to use my creativity in my classroom.  I had like the cutest decorated room in the school.  But anyway, in September of last year it was as if God whispered in my heart to play again.  To dabble in my art.  So, I did.  I began taking some online creativity classes to get me going and I did start to blossom.  I fixed  a studio in an unused room in our home and it quickly became my haven.  Oh, to walk in that room and be surrounded by all the supplies and objects of inspiration was truly amazing.

As time would pass my heart began to tug stronger towards wanting more.  I wanted to be out there.  Out in the world somehow, someway. My prayer was “use me.”   “Take my talent and use me.” I wanted nothing more than for God to help me see a way I could share his love for this world through my art.  I got so frustrated and stumped at times.  You see I couldn’t find my unique thing.  My art.  I could replicate anyone’s art, but struggled so at finding my “thing.”  Something uniquely mine.  That is until three weeks ago.  After church one Sunday I headed my studio and grabbed a ton of supplies I had for almost a year now that pertained to a certain technique of working with plaster that I had always wanted to try but was too scared.  I jumped in blind.  I just decided to go for it and if I failed, then I would move on to the next thing.  Well low and  behold I created a piece that made my heart jump! I loved it!! I quickly made more like four more pieces, loving each and every one of them.  I did it!  I had found a medium that I poured all of my into that in the end resulted in a unique piece of art like no one else’s. I was ignited.  There was a fire burning inside of me like I had never felt before.  I seriously feel as if I am standing on top of the world with all of the praise and glory going to God.  I have found “my thing.”  My little pieces of art that I can put out there with subtle promises of God’s word.

Now fast forward to today.  Sorry for jumping around.  This post is getting way too long and have so much I want to say.  I will be posting more detailed posts about this time in my life soon, because there are so many God moments that I just have share.  But, tomorrow is one of the biggest days of my life.  Through encouragement from my husband, sisters and a friend, my husband and I are taking my art to New Orleans (of all places- Ha since that is where I thought I would be sitting as a starving artist many years ago) and offering my art to several shops for retail.  I am over the moon to say the least.  I dreamed it but never believed it would ever happen.  I just know God has plans for me and my art. I am so anxious about tomorrow.  Fears. Excitement. Joy. Possible rejection.  You name it, I’m feeling it. So, I will leave you here with that.  Many prayers would be greatly appreciated.  I will be back on Friday to let you know just how my very first attempt at selling my art goes.

Cherish your day-g