The big reveal!

Finally I can show a picture of the biggest piece I have worked on so far! 4ft 3in x 8ft 3in!! It's for the series happening in my church during the month of July.

Because of the way it's hung, we had to add support bars between the top two pieces. And it was a bear to hang! You can't tell how high it is from this picture but it's probably 15ft to the top. It didn't turn out quite how I wanted but I really don't have the room to do something this big. So all-in-all, I'm pretty happy with it. You can't tell in the picture but I added rocks by the road and blue flowers in the field. I think it shows up pretty well in person. Everyone will see it Sunday 7th.

Hope you are all having a wonderful July.

Amy

So proud of my Drew!!

My oldest, Drew is about to graduate middle school. Kind of a big deal. I can't believe he's going to high school next year. How can it already be time for high school?! While I struggle with the fact that he's going to be 15 on his next birthday, I couldn't be more proud of him. He is growing up to be a thoughtful, caring, ambitious young man. 

I attended his 8th grade awards day this past week. He didn't know it but 3 of his teachers had contacted me to let me know he would be receiving an award in each of their classes. While he is a good student academically, he wasn't getting an award for his grades. He was receiving awards in each of those classes for his leadership, good character and attitude. He can always be counted on to do the right thing and be responsible when asked to do extra work or run an errand for the teacher.

Drew didn't know I was coming. I also brought his grandparents. It was fun to surprise him! We got to see him receive his awards, as well as many of his friends. His 8th grade is made up of 3 teams. Each team had it's own awards to give as well as one very special award for one child from each team. This is called the Principal's Award. It is given to a child who shows exceptional responsibility, moral character and leadership. I was so proud when Drew received this award! 

Some how I think he's going to do just fine in high school.

Drew, we are very proud of you and love you very much!!!

Lets go racin' boys!

If you follow NASCAR, you know what the All-Star race is. It's the most exciting night in NASCAR. It doesn't have anything to do with points or championships - just money and bragging rights. My sweet sister treated us to a night at the Speedway Club to enjoy all the festivities for my birthday. Jeff and I had a wonderful time. 

Of course we had to take the very touristy, obligatory self-portrait in front of the speedway first. Then we walked around a bit and bought a few souvenirs. 

Then we enjoined an amazing dinner in the Speedway Club dinning room. It was buffet style with more food than we could eat! And it was all wonderful! I enjoyed the ham with a spicy mustard spread, chicken cordon blue, pasta, salad and potato salad. Jeff had the ham, prime rib, shrimp and mahi-mahi. 

Then we hit the dessert buffet! It all looked so good, I just had to try some of just about everything! Seven layer bars, brownie with nuts and fudge, pieces of pecan pie, peanut butter and chocolate cheese cake (my favorite!) and the cup cake I never got around to trying. I was stuffed! Jeff had chocolate cake as well as a few other items but then he went back for seconds at the main buffet!

Then we were off to find our seats in the clubhouse. We had a great view of the racetrack and jumbotron. We could see every part of the track and pit road. The clubhouse also has TVs so we could see what was being said and shown by the broadcast as well as view it live on the track. It was the best of both worlds. Our seats were between some very nice couples who had season tickets. They pulled for rivaling race teams and it was fun to listen to them and join in a bit. 

I have been a fan of NASCAR for about 11 years now and have always watched from the comfort of my living room, but there really is nothing like being there. A night race, with the cars under the lights is my favorite. And you truly can not get a sense of just how fast the cars are on TV. I figured out that because the camera you are watching it from on TV is also moving, it makes it seem as though the cars aren't going nearly as fast as they are. They are reaching amazing speeds! And all within a couple of inches of each other! Incredible to watch!

Then began the ride home. I live only a mile or two from the speedway but it took us nearly an hour to get there! The people watching was fun, though. All in all, it was a night (and birthday gift!) to remember. Thank you Sissy!!

Something new...

I keep forgetting that I have this great little app on my ipad that allows me to blog any where! So! Maybe I can do this a bit for often. 

In the past couple of weeks, I was having some trouble finding my mojo so I decided that "it's time for something completely different." I have seen knitting looms and always wanted to try one so I bought one (with a coupon, of course!) and I'm having a blast!

This is so much fun! I have been watching videos on Youtube and learning different stitches so now I'm making .... something! Might be a lap blanket. Might be a shawl. I don't really care right now. I'm just having fun doing it.

And my mojo returned! Yay! If ever you lose your inspirations, do something else. It always works for me. 

Canvas for my One Little Word

This is a canvas I made for my One Little Word for 2013: Grow

It says all the ways in which I hope to grow this year.

Grow spiritually

Grow memories

Grow together

Grow & learn

Grow healthy

Grow love

Grow daily

Grow

My One Little Word for 2013. What? You haven't heard of One Little Word? Where have you been hiding?? Really, Google it and see what you come up with. I don't know who really started it but I first heard about it several years ago from a scrapbook/creative artist named Ali Edwards.

Anyway, it's a pretty neat concept. You pick one little word (obviously!) to sort of focus on for the year. A word that you will be able to come back to all year long. A word that will help to ground you. This year I have chosen GROW.

I hadn't really planned to pick a word this year. I have picked a word in the past. Not every year. And sometimes I picked but simply didn't share it. But I was asked to serve on a committee at church for the next 3 years and the chairperson actually asked us all to pick a word. I sorta got excited because I didn't think anyone else really did that. Just us creative people. I'm not sure why I thought it was like a secret club just for artsy folk. Anyone can do it. So I started thinking.

I decided on 'grow' because I hope to grow closer to God by following a challenge put forth by my pastor to read a chapter a day in my bible.

I hope to grow more knowledgable about my church and how certain things happen.

I hope to grow in my creative life.

I hope to grow healthier so I've joined a gym and am trying to eat better.

My children are growing and I simply hope to survive. (I mostly have the 14 year old in mind here!)

I am in a marriage small group at church so I hope to grow as a spouse and friend.

So, maybe by "putting it down on paper" and sharing it with anyone who cares to read this, I'll achieve these small but significant steps this year. Grow.

Splatter!

So I'm working on a canvas for next Sunday's service and I want to try a new technique. It involves splattering paint which I've never done. So I grabbed a new canvas, paints and the boys and I had fun!