JoDee Luna's Blog, page 25

Happy Thanksgiving

This morning I’m thankful for family, friends, faith, and good food. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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Imagine

[image error]Imagine…

a chair in a grassy field

where you sit…all alone,

mind connecting with Creator,

perspective peeling away confusion

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Imagine…

a morning plumb with hush

sunlight streaming through blossoming roses,

desires to live deliberately swelling inside,

prayers seeping though pen onto paper

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Imagine…

unrushed moments

when listening permeates your being,

what is pure pervading your mind

a quest for right living aligning

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Imagine…

a glide through cotton candy skies,

worry shrinking into tiny dots below,

thoughts torturing your mind

melting away as you see dragon-shaped lakes

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I’m convinced that moments of imagining draw us into communion with our Creator. Wondrous sights on earth rush our eye gate and usher  in encounters with the majestic.

We stop… and pause… and think about how grand He is and how cared for we are.

When the plane rises above the earth, and people become tiny ants, and cars disappear into blotches, a sense of awe fills those doubting places.

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Yes, opportunities appear all around us, if we but have eyes to see and patience to imagine.

 

*This post is linked to Oikos. Select the photo link below to read more inspirational posts:

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Huntington Gardens: A Refreshing Creative Excursion

Huntington Gardens in Pasadena California is a wonderful place to go for a creative excursion. The flora will delight your eyes and refresh your spirit. There’s something so invigorating about connecting with nature.

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Here’s a few photos from my recent visit. The orchids are amazing.

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I encourage you to take your camera along and snap photos of what catches your eye.

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I’m a lover of roses, so this scene drew me into another world as I imagined a scene from Pride and Prejudice.

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Trellises create enchanting entrances into gardens.

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Take a stroll along one of the many delightful footpaths.

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You can also visit a museum to stir your artistic juices.

[image error]I guarantee you  won’t be disappointed with a day at Huntington Gardens.

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Contentment

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Have you ever longed for something or someone for a very long time? Perhaps the object of your desire was a new job where you could shine or friends with whom your heart-felt safe. Maybe your searching led you to a new home, a new art form, or an adopted daughter.

Whatever the “found,” you noticed contentment nestling deep inside your soul.

2012 was my year of searching and finding: the exploration of mixed media, the purchase of another home,  the transfer to a new job. What I longed for materialized and, eventually, become the fruit of desire fulfilled:

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

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Acrylic by Elya Filler, http://elyafiller.wordpress.com

So if you have an ache for something new, keep searching. Cry out to your Creator; not for what you think you need, but for what He knows you need. I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed.

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Contentment

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Have you ever longed for something or someone for a very long time? Perhaps the object of your desire was a new job where you could shine or friends with whom your heart-felt safe. Maybe your searching led you to a new home, a new art form, or an adopted daughter.

Whatever the “found,” you noticed contentment nestling deep inside your soul.

2012 was my year of searching and finding: the exploration of mixed media, the purchase of another home,  the transfer to a new job. What I longed for materialized and, eventually, become the fruit of desire fulfilled:

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

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Acrylic by Elya Filler, http://elyafiller.wordpress.com

So if you have an ache for something new, keep searching. Cry out to your Creator; not for what you think you need, but for what He knows you need. I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed.

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Setting up an Arts and Crafts Room

Although I’ve written about the importance of setting up creative spaces before, I’ve recently revisited this reality. Due to a home move, I’ve been without an art room for four months. So when I could finally begin designing my new art studio, I had an opportunity to think through what I’d like to do the same and differently.

Of course, I, once again, chose the room with morning sunlight streaming through the window. This is an essential component for me because I enjoy using the sunlight for morning photo shoots.

Yet an issue I’ve encountered is what my sister, Gina, an acrylic artist, put into words so well, “Organizing my art supplies is the bane of my existence.”

Like Gina, I’ve played around with dozens of ways to make my art supplies accessible and organized. What I decided upon was shelving that would lift them off of my art table.

This allows me to have more creative space where I can place specific supplies depending upon what I am working on at the moment.

I also wanted a way to prop up works in process so I could mull over the next step. This shelf provides this useful feature. For example, I’ve not finished an oil painting of my nephew so I placed the canvas where I could see what I have so far.

This hutch has storage space below and display areas for setting up what inspires me.

I bought this art supply organizer at Michaels during one of the 40% off sales. This has been such a handy addition to my art room.

I also like to have a place for my “To Do” items. This magnetic board and organizer is where I put important papers.

My art room decor is not complete unless I can see my mixed media piece, “Oh to be Queen.” The message reminds me to take the time to create: “She believed she was creative-life worthy.”

Yes, setting up a creative space will inspire you to explore your creative interests. So consider these important components when planning:

A space large enough for working on art or crafts projects
Assessable and organized materials
Natural lighting for photography
Display areas for inspiration

I can guarantee that you will pursue your art if you make room in your home and mind.

You can link your post about creativity or creative spaces using the InLinkz below.

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Dry at Times

When the words don’t come easily.

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Befuddling Directional Shifts

Have you ever been befuddled by a directional shift? One moment you’re whistling a happy tune, rambling along your usual way, when POW! Circumstances send you off on an unexpected diversion, or something new calls to you and you just can’t seem to help yourself. Off you go to explore an unfamiliar path.

Befuddling directional shifts seem to be standard operating procedure for me. In fact, I often suspect my Creator has something to do with some of these odd occurrences.

For example, I lurch left, going off in some innovative tangent, convinced my talents would be better served in some new project, and then, to my surprise, He redirects me back to the profession that stretches my heart far more than it stretches my mind—education.

Recently, I assisted a planning day for a group of teachers. All of these stellar individuals care for kids and give far beyond the required time and energy needed to teach struggling readers.

So as I listened to their stories, heart-wrenching accounts of youth having to endure far more than we adults could handle, I marveled at the privilege it was to serve as their facilitator.

I also couldn’t help but think: I can’t believe my path ended up this way. 

You see, I was so sure I would retire early and pursue my writing and art fulltime that I wasn’t looking for this new job opportunity when it was posted online.

Yet, I’ve never enjoyed such a sense of satisfaction as I have while working at my new job as a Middle School Support Specialist.

Sure, I’ll still move forward, slowly, and publish my other manuscripts. I’ll still create art and post “How to” lessons online, but just for today, I’m welcoming God’s heart stretching, the building of capacity in me, this redirection into working with teachers who are helping struggling learners.

Befuddling directional shifts.

They come along when you least expect—most often when you don’t feel prepared.

They weave your life’s themes through the tapestry of everyday.

They tug on your heart until your mind and body follow.

So when life takes you on a new tangent you would never have dreamed up yourself, go with the flow.

Perhaps your heart will wander to what brings you the greatest soul satisfaction.

*This post is linked to

The Importance of Creative Spaces

Creative spaces invite artistic flow over and around the obstacles of life. 

Without table tops, nooks, and arts and craft rooms where we, creative eclectics, can put together what delights our eyes, our streams of artistry run dry.

This awareness revisited me yesterday when magical moments plumped up the pumpkins and crackled the candles I placed in a centerpiece on my dining room table.

Contentment swirled around dinner conversations with loved ones, and I felt full…

Full of dreams come true because of hard work and grace
Full of gratefulness for abundance in people far more than in possessions
Full of expectations for more good to come because I have a loving Heavenly Father who enjoys giving gifts

This morning, as I nestle into the couch’s corner and write, the dishwasher’s hum soothes the silence and invites a flow of words. I finally feel somewhat settled after a rigorous move. Paintings and wreathes grace the walls just in time for the weather’s turn to frosty nights and wind-swept sidewalks.

And then the artist within me tugs on my shirt tales and whines; “Finish setting up your art room so we can play.”

So I meander down the hallway into my new creative space. My eyes gaze the blank wall above my art table, and my mind concocts a dozen different configurations of how to organize this prime piece of possibility.

This is the place where I will grab paintbrushes and paints and prop up unfinished canvases so I can brood and imagine ideas into realities.

“The how-to-set-up my art supplies is the bane of my existence,” My sister’s words from our time together the other evenings return to me. We both gazed at the area and brainstormed ways I could organize.

And although the solution didn’t come to us then (the wall is blank this morning), I know I must press through with this important part of my art room set up.

For in this moment, I realize how essential creative spaces are for the creative eclectic who is pulled in so many different directions.

Whether a dining room table hosting a centerpiece, desk area where you can leave out your supplies, or an art room where you can surround yourself with tools for inspiration, creative spaces facilitate art exploration. Sure, they take an effort to assemble, but once in place, you will find yourself returning to your project repeatedly.

When art supplies remain packed away, those dustings of magical musings fall to the floor, only to be swept away with your hopes deferred.

So as I set up my creative space, I encourage you to design one of your own. It doesn’t have to be an entire room (which is heavenly, by the way). You can quarantine another area of your home. The important thing is that you set out your art supplies and leave spaces for propping up art in progress. This way you will gaze upon your newest venture every time you pass by. Ideas will pop and you’ll find yourself returning to work on your project.

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Promises

Today I’m thankful for promises, those perplexing tantalizers and tormenters. When fulfilled, promises blossom our hearts’ longings. Yet when broken, promises cause considerable consternation.

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