Sooo... this is Me.

Hey there friends, I know I rarely write here anymore. I guess Facebook has replaced this forum for keeping up on people and pictures. Life is going lovely here, wedding planning is still on the level of fun and ease - no stress on my part or Bens. We are eager to get hitched, feels like we've been saying 'two months left'... for like three! It's been a hoot having our buddy Matt Cook visiting this past weekend, like ol' times as we all laugh and talk together. For those who still check this site, I wish you well, be blessed - savour this moment you are given - its a gift.

Easy Breezy.. Wedding Squeezy

Sooo, the latest update would be that we just got Ben's wedding ring today.. woo hoo... we are the frugal team - got a sweet deal at Tribal Voices for a cool band to fit his digit, and easy on our digits financially too! We're also cruising along at a calm pace now that wonderful friends are helping steer the appetizers/desserts area (THANKS to Julio, Cara, Lynn, ....etc!). Lovely Jackleen is currently sewing my awesome unique dress. I think I'm feeling fairly stoked for this day now, even more so for the days that follow.... just getting to live together, encourage each other forward, make toast, burn popcorn.... all that good stuff!

In other news - go to BUTTERCUP & CO.... downtown across from Charlotte Anne's restaurant.. if you want to see my art up on display!

That's all for now, peace!

Counting down....

Well we are now in full swing planning details for our wedding - this Sept.6th! We are having an afternoon casual outdoor wedding at Hope Valley Day Camp! Tents are being rented this week. Now to plan the finger food for the open reception after! Most of my creative thoughts are now wedding focused, not much new painting lately - but still doing lots of pottery! Not sure if work, or the wedding plans, or both - have had me worn out lately - but for now, there is a fresh sense of hope and delight in it all.

Peace

More Creations of late....

These would be some of my latest painting projects, and recent first time pottery I made at an introductory course - I love the instructor George at Jackson Creek Clay.... he's a jolly ol' soul!

Enjoy!

Recent work

Needless to say, I've been really pursuing the time to paint for the past while. It's been great to be surrounded by so many artworks in process lately. I am excited to do a one day art show in Waterloo at the end of March!

Re:New

Hello friends, just wanted to share some recent thoughts - both from discussions with Ben and friends, and from my reading of late.
I've started into a book we got at work a while ago - "THE FORGOTTEN WAYS" by Alan Hirsch - his tag is that its about 'reactivating the missional church'. He's a very practical, pastoral writer, sharing from his own struggles and successes in his ministry. What hit me tonight was how he shared about creating a hip, funky community church in a cafe - and yet, while it drew a crowd, it didn't transform them. They instead, became a group of people that were now so used to being creatively catered to, that they couldn't connect back into assemblies that were more 'old school' in their traditional church models. The key thing that he states is the problem in many churches - new and old - is that they are built on a consumption model. This is seen in the one man at the front, who usually spoon feeds the Word to the majority in the pews. As Hirsch notes, "We plainly cannot consume our way into discipleship". Building community without discipleship, is simply building another social club of consumeristic desires (i.e. we want it to 'feel good', entertain, and appeal to us).

I guess that's a bit of my headspace, how do we engage and encourage people to come and live in Christlike community most effectively? How do our churches serve that purpose... can we 'be the change' we want to see.... start a renewal from the inside out?

I guess for me the key is that I seek Christ first, above a desire for community... I need to abide in Him, as He doesn't NEED me to be doing His ministry, but He wants me to be close to Him and become more like Him.

That's all for now..... be well.

In*to*me*see

Here's the one that I love - my delightfully unique and wonderously witty - my one and only - my Ben.

Just thought I would yell it from the rooftops (of the digital world) that I am blessed with the kindest heart ever to reside in male form.

I love to hear him talk, its never idle chatter.... never selfish musings, never toxic gossip - he speaks from conviction, from reflection... from his heart. He knows how to care for me... to listen, to support, to counsel. His humility was one of the first traits that wooed me to his side.... and is still so refreshing to see in our third year together.... it seems that I still feel like I am the one winning to be with you!

Love you!

Latest Piece o' Work

The only thing I could think to post right now is a funny painting I did over the holidays. Sort of came out of nowhere while trying to think of an idea with my cousins, we all painted at their kitchen table which was great! Ben inspired most of these components, he tells me what things he likes, and I like to paint them! Seems like a good deal to me... needless to say I see our future home being full of the random and the ridiculous!

The One I love.

So here's my confession friends: often what should be most valued in my life, is shown the least value. Often what should deserve my strongest passion, gets my stubborn apathy. I am talking about my love for my God.

Lately I am struck again by some of those beautiful divine ironies that mark the Christian faith. Those 'tensions' and 'paradoxes' that make me just sit back and marvel again at Who God is. Whether or not you may believe He exists at this time - I would just love to share some of the diverse dichotomies I love about this Divine.

I tried to say them eloquently..but they seem to more so just tarnish the picture of Christ I wished to paint... so instead let me share with you a fantastic quote by a Scottish theologian named James Stewart:

"When I think of Jesus, I think of the mystery of divine personality;
the startling coalescence of contrarieties that I see in him.
He was the meekest and lowliest of all the sons of men. Yet he spoke of coming on the clouds of heaven with the glory of God.
He was so austere that evil spirits and demons cried out in terror at his coming, yet he was so genial and winsome and approachable, that the children loved to play with him and the little ones nestled in his arms.
His presence at the innocent gaiety of a village wedding, was like the presence of sunshine. No one was half so kind or compassionate to sinners, yet no one ever spoke such red-hot scorching words about sin.A bruised reed he would not break.
His whole life was love. Yet on one occasion he demanded of the Pharisees, how they were expected to escape the damnation of hell.
He was a dreamer of dreams and a seer of visions, yet for sheer stark realism, he has all of us self-styled realists soundly beaten. He was the servant of all, washing the disciples' feet, yet masterfully he strode into the temple, and the hucksters and moneychangers fell over one another to get away in their mad rush from the fire they saw blazing in his eyes. He saved others, yet at the last, he himself did not save.
There is nothing in history like the union of contrasts which confronts us in the gospels; the mystery of Jesus is the mystery of divine personality."

That's the One I want to love more and live like more!

Burning out vs. Burning up[ward]

When people are too busy, they often say they are 'burning the candle at both ends'. In my experience, this whole burning from every side usually sheds less of the Light into a dark world. When every side is melting fast, my flame is weaker - not stronger. Seems that fire of busyness often douses what my true business should be about. If I make it my business, to walk in the Light as God is in the light, my whole world is aglow. But if I make it my business, to just be busy trying to shine, my whole world is a show.... a performance.... a cheap sparkler that fizzles out instead of bringing warmth or light.

So I feel the edges of myself starting to melt, as once again I have promoted burning-out to be a better offering to God than burning-upward to Him... and I write this as a reminder to myself, and all of us who have His light in us. Abide in His light, walk in His light, remember what the business ought to be in a busy busy dark dark world.