Memories of Summertime

So my plans to paint this summer have fallen by the wayside. Blame it on the creek and the swim hole.
The kids and i have been enjoying the water almost every day, whenever the weather and schedules have permitted. While most people work in a garden i work on the creek, trimming branches and cutting weeds. My efforts have been rewarded with a beautiful place to spend many hours and make many precious memories with family and friends. I cannot complain.
My watercolors are in the same exact spot i left them earlier in the spring. They will be there when the time is right and i can start painting. Maybe then i can paint from memory butterflies, dragonflies and lazy days on the creek enjoying God's creation and the company of loved ones.
Those will be the best paintings because they will remind me of what awaits me next year and fill me with hope during winter's cold.

My Mystery Flower

I am hoping someone can help me out here. The picture above was taken in my backyard but i have never noticed this flower before. So i am wondering if it's not a weed. If it is a weed it is one of the prettiest weeds i have ever seen. There were two more like it close by.

What caught my eye was the detail and the color. It is such an interesting flower. It seems to radiate and as you can see, i was not the only one who was drawn in. The bee lit on the flower while i was taking the pictures.

I am thinking i might sketch this and paint it in watercolor.

Until i know more about it i will call it my "mystery flower". If anyone can help me i would greatly appreciate it.

What to do?

Finally. A few moments of peace and quiet at the end of what has been a busy day in the midst of a hectic week.
It is during the crazy times such as this that i long for a less demanding schedule. But then i wonder what i would do if i had nowhere to go and nothing pressing to do.
Tonight was the last of the children's soccer games and next week will be our last week of school. It is difficult to say who is more excited, the children or me.
We all have some pretty big plans for our summer vacation. To keep our minds sharp we will continue our studies without the structured classroom setting. Trips to the library, parks and other places will provide nice, stimulating outings when we need them. There is also a week of VBS that everyone is looking forward to.
I am hoping to make lots of pictures and paint some masterpieces! I'm just kidding about the masterpieces but i am hoping to break out the paper, pencils and watercolors and see what kind of creations come from the inner artist who is screaming to be let out. My reading list is also growing and i want to start reading some of the many titles collecting on that list. I would also like to start writing and blogging again regularly. There is way too much on my mind to keep it all locked up inside.
Well, with all the plans we have summer should be anything but dull. And you know how plans are...there are sure to be some surprises along the way. The next few weeks should be interesting and i am looking forward to making the most of every one of them!

No More Fear

What you see here is my little "creative corner". It is situated in a tiny spot in our classroom/study. Contained within my creative corner are watercolors, pastels, pencils, paintbrushes, various kinds of art paper and an assortment of craft supplies. It has taken me a few years to acquire everything. Unfortunately, there is still something missing: creativity. I do have my excuses: not enough time, need more room, no good ideas....so many excuses. The truth is, i am afraid. I'm afraid i won't be any good and everyone will know that i am no good. I am so afraid that i will find that it was my own wishful thinking and not God who told me i am an artist. It was just last week that i was talking with my oldest son, Brogan, who wants to be an archealogist. Even before seeing "Indiana Jones", he has enjoyed digging in the dirt around the house in search of lost treasures. So it surprised me when he announced he no longer wanted to be an archealogist. When i asked him why he told me he was afraid of being hurt or killed. First, i explained to him that "Indiana Jones" was a fictional character and though the movie was fun to watch it really didn't accurately portray the life of an archealogist. I assured him that archealogy might be interesting and pretty exciting but that i doubted he would be find himself in the struggles that Indy does in the movies. And because Brogan is so much like me when it comes to fears i told him that he shouln't let fear stand in the way of his dreams. I told him how God has given each of us talents and desires to do things that are sometimes difficult but when with His help we perservere He does great things through us. It was also time for me to share how i have let fear discourage me to the point that i have missed out, how it hurt to think of the time and talent wasted and how i still struggle. I hope Brogan and i both learn from our conversation. Help us, God, to give You our fears.