create x 7

So my challenge this week was to do/make something creative everyday. This may sound quite easy to some but I am a busy mother of 4, helping run our business and studying at uni. Add to that all the other things I have/need to do and I see why for me being creative everyday is sometimes a challenge. Especially giving myself permission to do it. There is a pile of laundry there to fold, some dishes to wash, an email to write, a family member to call. And I am tired. ALL OF THE TIME. I am tired of being tired.

Anyway, the reality is I am a mother who desires to create and so I am trying to allow myself a little time each day to do something creative that feeds and nurtures my heart and soul. This process doesn't necessarily involve paper, ink, stamps, paint or fabric everytime. Sometimes it involves creating a mood or ambience with freshly picked flowers or candles. Sometimes it involves creating some delicious choc-chip cookies for afterschool snacks.

To me being creative is about playing, enjoying, experimenting, sharing, loving and so much more.

The following photos are a sample of my creative week.

Was I disppointed that I didn't finish my blue painted canvas? No. Was I disappointed that I didn't complete 8 scrapbook pages, 12 cards, 3 pieces of artwork and 2 books? No no no no. I was satisfied with what I achieved. I was blessed by the few moments I had. I enjoyed being creative and I feel full.

Love

I just love this child. He brings pure joy to my life every single day. He is amazing to spend time with and just a lot of fun. Some of our most special times are when I am tucking him into bed. Everynight after stories we lie in his bed together and we talk and pray. He tells me the most profound things at times that I have to ask myself 'how old is he again?'.

I love you Timothy, always have and always will.

Quote

"Only those who attempt the absurd achieve the impossible" (author unknown to me).

Hanging Rock, Blue Mountains

Matt C jumping the gap over to the Hanging Rock

Below the gap .....

A promise

I love winter (actually I love Autumn and Spring too). In fact I really could live in the northern hemisphere. I love sleeping snuggled up under my doona, wearing scarves and boots, drinking tea and hot chocolate, wearing socks. I love sitting on a comfy lounge with a book and a nanna rug. However, I am not a fan of summer. It's okay when the days are mild but when that humidity hits, whoa I am knocked about.


So that is why today I did a little celebration dance. Being the first day of autumn was a promise that the good stuff is coming. Spectacular autumn sunsets, coloured, crunchy leaves (have to travel a bit to see those) and cooler weather with less humidity. I am in a very happy place.

Creative Opportunities.

Over the past 4 1/2 months I have begun to realise that I desire to create everyday. It may be a card, a scrapbook page, an experiment in my art journal, a canvas, a cushion, a stitchery or something as simple as lighting some candles, cutting some flowers from the garden and decorating the table for dinner. I am discovering that being creative is giving to my soul something that has been missing for quite a while.

The problem with this desire is that it comes with guilt. Thoughts about how selfish it is to waste time doing 'art/craft'. Especially when there are still dishes in the sink to be cleaned or ironing to be done etc.

I am not saying that my responsibilities should come second to being creative. Of course not. What I am saying is that if I wait till everything I have to do is done then I would NEVER get to be creative. Somedays there will be an opportunity to be creative for a few hours. Somedays the opportunity will be 5 minutes here and there. The point is I need to keep an open mind. I won't always be able to get out the paint, or scrapbook 5 pages but I can try and do something creative everyday.

A work in progress........

Here is a picture of something I am working on. It is not finished yet but it is progessing. I really enjoyed playing with the flowers and string.

Monday Musings

Sometimes life doesn't go the way I would like. Sometimes I have to be open to change. Sometimes I need to let go and just let life be.

Sarah and I were planning to go to the Papercraft Festival this weekend. We had been looking forward to it for quite a while. A day just for us to be inspired and have fun together. On Friday evening I thought I should go online and check the opening times of the festival. Instead of times I discovered that the festival had been postponed and rescheduled for September. What a disappointment. Sarah, as expected, was upset. 'Was our day out cancelled too?' was her question. Ahh not at all. We were going to have our day out. We just needed to change some of the details.

And so we did. We ended up having an awesome day. We shopped, we ate, we talked, we laughed, we discovered, we learnt some things and we enjoyed being together and just let the day happen. Our planned event had changed but we had a day I will never forget. I love you Sarah and I am so grateful to share my life with you.

Dawn

Tom took this photo whilst he was away on a school camp. It is a perfect image of how I feel at this moment. Calm with a hint of knowing life is still moving along, reflective, seeing clearly despite the mountains still to climb, and beauty. Thankyou Lord for your handiwork. Thankyou for allowing Tom to capture your beauty for me to see when I needed too.

So tired...and yet...

Here I sit at 1.10 am. I am tired yet the sleep does not come. The house is peaceful with the soft sounds of breathing children and a slightly louder breathing husband. I can hear the clocks ticking too. Reminding me of how late it is and how soon it will be daylight. I read. I paint. I drink a warm milk. I pray. I beg. Please come sleep. My mind will not shut down. So many thoughts running circles in my head. I feel anxious. I know I will be so tired come daylight. Come Lord, please. Bring me peace and bring me rest for my utterly weary soul. Soothe the aches, the concerns, the anxieties, the hurts, the busyness, the worries, the loneliness, the brokeness. Calm my thoughts and release my mind to the beautiful place of rest. Allow my mind and body to be restored and rejuvenated.

New Book

This book just arrived in the post. And it is beautiful. I am going to make myself a cuppa and spend some of the afternoon reading and being inspired. The authors blog is here.

I also have a date with my Sarah this weekend. We are spending the day at the Papercraft Festival in the city. Should be lots of inspiration there.