Procrastination Art

I recently bought a wonderful new tool for procrastinating on my homework: 

a sketch book!

and let me tell you, it works wonderfully! Why, just yesterday I had plenty of homework to do, low and behold, I opened the sketch book and out came a procrastipiece ! ... get it? instead of a masterpiece : )

Winterland Adventure

One day, Malakai was quite bored of his toys and staying inside

so he decided to go outside looking for adventure.

He scanned the fresh snow in search of something interesting,  but only found the footsteps of his own, and his girl's.

Suddenly, he spotted something unfamiliar! 

"Who on earth has such small paw prints?"

Malakai investigated further, and found that they led straight to the shed in the back yard.

"Hello?" Said Malakai. "Is anyone here?"

"Hi, My name is Oliver!" Said the small animal.

 

Malakai was puzzled. "You are a very tiny dog" 

At this Oliver chuckled, "I'm not a dog silly, I am a bunny!"

"Oh, a bunny!" Malakai paused, "Would you like to come outside and play?"

"Play?" Said Oliver, "it is awfully cold out." 

                                                "Its not so bad once you get used to it! Come on, lets play Following the Leader, I'll be the leader!"

"Its easy, you just have to follow me and do everything I do!"

Ready...          Set...

GO!

  

And they were off.

a miracle before our eyes

            Today my family woke up early, in order to witness something truly magical. At 4 AM we set out for the beach with our sweat pants on, and big blankets wrapped around us. I was skeptical of the trip mostly because I hate waking up early, but the moment we arrived I realized why my parents thought it was so special.

            The swirls of dark purples, and blues, bright reds, oranges and yellows looked as if a rainbow was not in its true form, but spilled out across a canvas ever changing with each wave rolling on to the sandy beach. The colors becoming more fierce and distinct as time went on.

            I did not know life could be so still and quiet, yet so alive at the very same moment. As we sat on the beach, coffees in hand and multiple blankets surrounding us we did not talk much. As if each finally finding some peace and quiet to evaluate our life, and let the whisper of the wind and the melody of arpeggiated waves break the surfaces of our hearts and minds. Each of us taking in the miracle in front of us uniquely, and individualizing it to fit into our thoughts and dreams, it reminds me of what the poet Jane Van Doe once said, “…Notes for the eyes, a song to see, the magic in the symphony, of a sunrise. The melody is brief, the day is born, tas colors fade and lose the form, of a sunrise. Men toil by day and love by night, but only dreamers cherish the light, of a sunrise.”

a splash of butterfly

Send Me

My heart's prayer has been for God to use me like Esther. She was strong, beautiful, and obedient to God's calling. She was a powerful tool in His hand. There was such potential in her, if she had refused to follow His will, God would have still used her in others ways but her potential would not have been fully met. She would have not had such an incredible story of foiling her calling as a good and faithful servant. I pray that I be used as His servant in a the master plan. I always talk about the places I want to travel, the things I want to do, the new experiences to explore, the lives I want to touch. My heart's verse one year was Isaiah 6:8 then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 
I don't think there was a full recognition of exactly what that verse entailed, what I was declaring when I prayed that. God does not hesitate to test, and I fear I have a history of being unsuccessful.
     This summer I will be working on a short term missions trip to Haiti. I truly felt I was being called there, that I was following out my volunteer "here am I, send me!" There was no resistance of the heart, I was willing. This is what I want to do! 
     Hey wow, this being sent stuff isn't so tough! I am able to do what I want and still follow God.... I am afraid it is not always so simple. 
     I say send me, but do I realize I have no idea what God may have in store for me? That it might (and probably will) be difficult, that in order to carry this mission out, I will need to rely on God, rather than my family, or boyfriend, or friends to support me. 
     There is an opportunity for me to travel across the world and stay there for an extended period of time. This is what I have dreamt of, what I say I've wanted to do! ... but why am I so scared to commit and make a decision?! How do I know if I am called to go or if the sacrifice I make is worth it? How do I truly know what I want! My heart is in such turmoil, and I am ashamed that the moment where I fear giving up something I hold so close to my heart I am hesitant where as Jesus suffered and gave his life in a heartbeat. 
     

GG

      For weeks now I have been impatiently waiting for our tree to blossom and fill with bright magenta flowers. All the trees around our neighborhood seemed to have popped open weeks before, but for some strange reason, our tree wouldn't. Spring is one of the most beautiful times of year with it's fresh flowers and green grass. It is a sign of new life. Why wasn't our tree blossoming and showing the beauty of that life?
      This morning I woke up to my parents coming in my room. Rather than my mom singing her  "Goodmorning" song, they were quiet. Something wasn't right. They told me my GG had passed away last-night. I don't remember them leaving my room, but I laid in bed dozing in and out sleep for hours after not wanting to even move. I do remember how-ever praying "Abba Father, please tell GG I love him, and that I am sorry I never took the chance to tell him." And immediately after, I felt a tremendous sense of peace, I heard words in my heart, no voice but words none the less, saying "he knew all along."
      When I finally got out of bed, I saw my mom and hugged her for a long time. The first thing she told me was "look outside" and there it was. My tree had blossomed into true beauty. I smiled to myself through oncoming tears knowing that his passing did not bring forth death, but rather new life! My tears that preceded his passing were like the rain from the sky that later were a mere step in the process in helping transition that tree from sure death into beautiful new life, my GG is living life fuller than I can imagine now. My heart cries selfishly, knowing he's not here with me on earth. But I praise Jesus that he is home now. GG is not gone to me though, I will carry his legacy of a kind heart, and helpful hands with me as I grow. And when my time comes, I will see him in another life. 

bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles!