A Reminder of Old Things

My mom came over yesterday and with her she brought a bag full of momentos and trinkets. It was fun going through them there on the couch in late afternoon. All these things brought back wonderful memories and experiences that I hadn't thought about for a long time.

What struck me (other than the 80's were not good to some of us ;o) was that she had hung onto them for over 35 years. Can you believe it? Come one already... just let go...I'm 40- for crying out loud :o) (I say that with a big smile), but seriously...she had artwork, dance pictures, stories I had written in 7th grade,craft projects with rusted pipecleaners from my kindergarten days( hey kids this is what happens to a pipecleaner from the early 70's. One child pipes in:" they had pipecleaners back then...?") Oh my word! You just gotta love them when they say that kind of stuff! I thought my mom was going to colaps a lung from gasping- she was so agog! Guess that would make her how old?... anyway, I digress.

Remember the little books you made that talked all about YOU? All your old friends and class pictures? Each precious gem had a story or memory and we whittled away the afternoon as the sun settled into evening remembering when. My children got to learn more about their mother as a young girl and youth in high school. What a treasured time. I may joke, but, I am really glad she has the sentimentality to save those parts of me.

Time can mute the memories and smugde away the little things so easily. That is why I have many treasure boxes in my house. Places to store up those memories no matter how small they might be. In the bible they are called Ebenezers isn't that a funny name? I'm sure that you are reminded of Dicken's tale of Scrooge when you hear that. But in biblical times, an ebenezer was a marker of significance. The Isrealites used such a marker when they were going to cross over into the promise land under the leadership of Joshua. They did this so that they would always remember and anytime they past that way and someone would ask" what is that pile of stones for?" one would remember.

I like tangible reminders of where I have come from. It gives me great perspective on my life. But most of all, it keeps me looking heavenward.

It seemed to me that part of my journey had come full circle somehow and yet I don't quiet know how to articulate it other than a feeling deep inside of me was warmed and comforted, maybe stirred by the Holy Spirit as a sort of Ebenezer. Something was happening generationally. I can't help thinking that it was a blessing coming to fruition, an ebenezer.

Does this say Delightful to You?

Here is another expression of God's word through my art. I signed up for a swap at a christian art yahoo group and this is what I came up with for the swap. The only requirement was it had to include a pocket, the size of the foundation had to be 5x8 and that it had to have a scripture on it. I think that they turned out delightful don't you? I made 6 of these all a little different and using different color schemes of butter yellow, rose, and sage green. This is the one I did in sage green.

I used this scripture from the Holy Bible:

"I delight to do our will, O my God, And your law is within my heart." Proverbs 40:8

I used acyrilc paint and oil pastels on the background. Background has also been stamped. I used printed paper and pages from an old book for the boarder along with real shell buttons from my button stash. The pocket is made from an old tissue pattern and the heart is made from coffee filters I dyed and then colored over with oil pastels(one of my favorite mediums). They are stuffed and sewn onto sheet music and embellished with other fun things.

I hope this expression of God's word in art will bless some one who gets it in the swap!

Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend

I tend to be a sentimental heart. So, when I tell you that I said goodbye to a bush please give me some grace and read on I think you will be able to relate to my sentiment, especially, if you are a lavender lover like myself.

It was a beautiful winter day today, the dappled sunlight falling on the frosted lawn in the back yard. It was the kind of day that makes you want to break out and do something vigorous to shake off the pudgy winter blahs, the kind of day where the air is bitey colds and the kids still want to go outside without a coat on because "do I have to...?the sun is out mom".

It was also a sad day for I labored over and pulled out the old lady lavender bush in the garden. She was the beauty of my garden and always receive an unsolicited sigh of admiration from visitors, gardeners or not. Old Lady Lavender was my very first Mother's day gift from my husband David. I know it seems silly that I call her Old Lady Lavender but she was a gracious friend to me and taught me many things about my garden in the early years.

The act of pulling and breaking was both invigorating and anguishng. The cold air rushed about me, making me move and work quickly to stay warm yet, as I would pause the saddness would resonate in my muscles as ache. Oh, how I wish I didn't have to give her up to make room for another.

I felt like I was saying goodbye to and dear faithful friend, actually... I was! This friend blessed me every summer with heavenly scent that permiated my senses and reminded me of my grandmother Mimi. Her display of lovely misty purple was such a sight to see especially at sunset. I love the sweet and dilligent hum of the honey bees who frequented there, no doubt someone enjoyed the lavender honey harvested from this hardy gal. The bees like to come in the dusk of the day just as the light would fall into evening and whisper that the rythmn of the twilight was upon us. And most evenings I would find all my bee friends intoxicated with the fragrance and napping on Old Lady Lavender's leaves. All the pungent filled buds that I harvested , dried and used in my crafts and our soothing pilows. These still warm us with yummy healing fragrance and comfort even today.

Thank you Old Lavender Lady. I will miss you , faithful friend.