Valentine's Day Art

We did it!  We made art for her daddy for Valentine's Day. It's messy, so far from perfect, but I'm learning to enjoy to imperfections of life. And we spent less than $10.

I used a canvas from Hobby Lobby that I got with a 40% off coupon and red washable tempura paint. Before we started I filled the kitchen sink with warm, soapy water so I could clean Gretchen up quickly.  We washed after her hand and each foot so she wouldn't touch anything with red paint. I'm happy to report that it worked perfectly and we got paint only on the canvas. The "L" and "E" I painted with my finger (couldn't find a paint brush!) and the writing at the top I did with a Stampin' Up marker I already had.

My wish for you today is that you find joy in the messiness of life, knowing that its what's in your heart that matters so much more than perfection.

Elephants Everywhere

Elephants are special to me.  They remind me that we find what we look for.

It started many years ago when I was shopping with a friend.  We took a break in an antiques shop and as we were sitting and chatting, we both began to notice all of the elephants in the room.  Not the figurative kind, though I am sure there were those too; but all the statues and jewelry and linens that had elephants.  As we looked around, one of us wondered aloud, "Have there always been so many elephants around?  Or am I just noticing them?"  Who knows, but once you start to notice them, you will see them EVERYWHERE!  And I do.  I see elephants as I am shopping, surfing the web, watching TV - once you begin to look for something you will see it everywhere you go.

And this is not just true of elephants.  This is true of most things.  Start looking for blessings and you will find them.  Look for bad things, you'll find those too.  The lesson for me, and I hope for you now too, is that if you will look for the good in life, you will find it.  Stop wasting your time looking for bad - people treating you poorly, misfortune, whatever you define as bad for you - and start looking for the good in life.  Because it's there, I promise.

I learned this lesson in the darkest part of my life and it pulled me out of that despair.  Even in the darkest times I have had since I learned this I have been able to find blessings.

My wish for you today is that you will start looking for the blessings in your life.