Adore HIM Creations

Watching Wednesday- Living Life as Prayer workshop

Well, I have so much to share today.

Last weekend at my home studio we had a Guest artist Connie Denninger who led 8 women in a special workshop titled " Living Life as Prayer".  It was a spirit time and great opportunity to look at the ways we can actually make every moment of our lives prayer to God.

Connie demonstrated lots of techniques to use in our prayer time, so keep a record of time spent in prayer, who we are praying for and responses to prayer.  It was such a good workshop, and I am working on putting it together as an online class so stay tuned.

Here are pictures of the books Connie brought and recommended.

 

 

 

 

Some of the participants.



Preparing our prayer journals.

  Thanks Connie for your honest sharing from your heart and for helping us to understand how to live a life as prayer.

Check out Connie's blog Vintage Grace here. Connie is available for Christian retreat speaking engagements.  She is an avid Pinterest user, here is her Pinterest address Connie Denninger Pinterest link. 

My new friend Paula Parkison was able to attend from FL, and it was wonderful to spend 4 days crafting with her.  She makes wonderful Scripture Snippets and we created a Etsy site for her on Friday. Here is the link for her Etsy site and for her blog  Remember the Promise.

Here is a picture of her Scripture Snippets, small custom made scrapbooks full of Bible verses, embellishments and lots of prayer!  If you are looking for a great gift for Mother's day, graduation, anniversary present, you can have one custom made for you if you go to her Etsy site.

 

Watching Wednesday

Great day in the studio last Saturday. A new student Donna came and we had so much fun.

Here are their beautiful faithart canvas projects.  Donna made hers for a co-worker who has cancer and is getting hospice care and Rusty made one for her sister. Love the colors, textures and the love put into each one. Both used the music "Amazing Grace" as their collage papers underneath the texturizing.

Hebrews 11:1 " Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

Psalm 149:3 "...praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with tambourine and harp."

  Heather made her OLW canvas and her favorite color is purple, so isn't this beautiful?

Watching Wednesday

Last Saturday was the last open studio of 2011.

Robin made this beautiful faithart OLW (one little word) canvas for her son and daughter  for Christmas. Robin is a creative woman who has a strong faith.  I can't wait to hear how her children respond!

And Penny is one of my regular students and I love watching her create. She lets her ideas come to live on paper and on canvas.

Have a Merry Christmas! Stay tuned for lots of new classes in 2012!

Watching Wednesday

Just saw this fantastic video from the Worship Studio. Take a few minutes and watch and you will be able to experience a glimpse of my experience at the Gathering in Sept in NC.

 

This was a life changing experience for me and opened my eyes and heart to new ways to worship God.

 

Here are some pictures of the work produced at our studio on Friday  last week. Another opportunity to enable others to express their God given creativity!

 

Watching Wednesday

Wanted to share the beautiful work that God is doing at the studio!

Saturday we had 5 women here creating faith art.

Cuky created a canvas with Psalm 3:5-8. She envisioned the words on the shield of faith.  We made a flower from a soda can. She was very scared to come and create, but she overcame that fear and look at the beautiful art God created through her hands!

 

Jennie is one of the regulars who is really growing in her creativity!  She made these 4 6x6 canvases.  Here is the story behind the art in her own words:

"The Story"  I used copies of hymns on each canvas  1. Just as I am- God takes you as you are a mess  2.  Take my life and let it be- He rearranges our focus pulling us together. He uses us to make a picture.  3.  Be Thou my  vision- He pulls me together  and 4.  Come thou Font of every blessing- we become completely focused on God and He is working through us. 

Here are the finished canvases.

 

Penny  is another regular and worked on her own 6x6 projects. Love the time theme, she cut out the clock with the Big Shot and then inked it to look like metal.    The red piece is about the music. Love her creativity and color choices.

 

Denise stenciled and painted this beauty (12x12).  She has such a great eye for composition and color. It is Phil 4:13  " I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me."

Rusty made a 12x12 canvas also. She used the same bible verse as Denise, and stencils with gesso.  Love how she put her words going up- she said it reminds her - her strength comes from Him!

Great day, lots of fun, lots of beautifull work.

 

Watching Wednesday

Today I am going to begin a new series on watching Christian artists that I met at the Gathering in NC last month. To learn more about that retreat and other Christian artists go here.

Christine Council is in her own words

a sinner saved by Grace, lover of God, minister,
worshiper, artist, singer, writer and photographer

Her work is an expression of her walk with Jesus.

How long have you been an artist?

I have been an artist all my life, but started painting deliberately about 19 years ago.  Something inside of me wanted to create art, even as a child. So one night in 1992, armed with only 6 tubes of paint, I painted my first painting. When I showed it to my family, they didn't believe I had actually painted it--that was all the encouragement I needed!!  Not long after I started painting, I would take my art to work with me to show the resident artist, then coworkers would see my artwork and commission me to do portraits for them.  As a single mom, the extra money came in handy, it seemed the Lord would bring commissions to me at just the right time.

I started dreaming of teaching children art, so I got job as a teaching assistant for a local town art center.  I loved it, and eventually I became a teacher and started my own art school.   I designed my own year long fine art curriculum for home schooled students and began working out of my trunk, teaching art classes in local churches.  www.rainbowskiesandbutterflies.com  I stopped a couple of years ago when my son left home, but I hope one day to start again in a more permanent location.

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How did you come to know Jesus?
Caught up in a cycle of drugs, alcohol, unhealthy abusive relationships, and completely broken by life, I became pregnant...and it wasn't the first time.  Twenty five and unmarried, I humbly asked God to “save” me.  I just said very plainly to Him,“I don’t understand what it means to be saved, and I do not understand who Jesus is, but, if you ARE God, surely You can show Yourself to me.”  I changed my journal entries that day from “Dear Diary” to “Dear God”.  He was faithful to answer my prayer and 4 years later I was baptized in water and was filled with the Holy Spirit 3 years after that.  It was in those times of writing that God started talking to me.  One word, or sentence at a time, I would just write what I heard.  When I would go back and re-read it, I knew it was not my own imagination, but His voice I was hearing. 
My favorite scripture is the story of the sinful woman that went into the room filled with the religious leaders, anointed Jesus with the costly perfume, and washed His feet with her tears.  Like her, I have been forgiven much, and so I love Him much...I am His Princess Bride.

God moved her to give me a print of this work on the last night of our worship time. I was so blessed to receive it and it sits on my desk and reminds me of how much God loves me!

Please spend some time getting to know Chrisie!

Forgiven and Redeemed...

Father Forgive Them Acrylic 24 x 36

A couple of years ago, I attempted to paint prophetically up front at a church in Va.   I painted the canvas yellow...and started to paint words with the color purple like, King of Kings, Glory...etc.  I was so nervous...I messed up a word...and completely mispelled it.  In a panic and so ashamed...I just started blending the 2 colors together to make an ugly swirl of shame...and then eventually...because I wasn't sure what to do, I just set the canvas aside.  Some people actually came up to me and said, "What are you going to paint on there?"  I had no idea...I just wanted to hide it.

Late last year, I was led by the Lord to paint For You! Liberty.  To prepare I needed to see how the red "blood" would drip, so I used this discarded canvas as my trial run.  I covered it with drips of red glitter paint and another thick liquid red I had gotten at the art store.  I left these raised streaks all over the canvas, let them dry so I could see how they would turn out.   Again, when I was finished, I put the canvas aside, because I thought it was ruined.   It not only was covered in paint, but there were bumps and ridges from the drips. 


This week I was cleaning up my art studio and I came across this canvas again.  But this time, I started seeing something in it, on it. I kept thinking, "I should paint something with the blood of Jesus dripping on this canvas".  So I looked online and found this photo, from the "Passion of the Christ."  It touched me.  Moved my heart...  So I considered painting it...but since it was a photo from a movie, I knew it was copyrighted...and so I would not be able to sell prints without writen permission from the Production company.  So I decided to keep looking...

Then the next day, someone tagged me in that very same photo!!   So there it was...I was tagged.  Then I knew I was supposed to paint it...as worship...whether or not I could sell copies of it...maybe people will be touched by just looking at it and possibly even saved...

So I started painting.  

I took this old discarded canvas, a canvas that had once been a source of shame for me.  A canvas that had been used and set aside...that seemed to be good for nothing...and I began to cover it with a the image of Christ.  As I did, I noticed that the texture, the ridges and bumps from the streaks of blood were the best part of the painting and I loved how the red glitter would shine through.   I marveled at how that horrible color I created from the swirls of gold and purple in an attempt to cover up my mistakes, how it was coming through from the background, and was now, one of the most beautiful colors of the painting.  It was like His Glory and Royalty were radiating through to overcome the shame.

As I painted, I wept and thanked Him.  I felt His presence so strong as I did.  I just kept saying, "I LOVE THIS PAINTING!" because it was just speaking volumes to me.  Painting this made me think of what He did for us.  We, like that canvas, had made mistakes that were shameful, been trashed, set aside...and even labeled "good for nothing failures."  But then Jesus, in His love, chose us to be His, He covered us with His blood and then made us beautiful and useful again.  He took the very things that seem to be the biggest weaknesses in us, and made them the most special, unique part.  And now...when the Creator looks at us...He doesn't see the shame or mistakes, how we were used and discarded...now when He looks at us...He just sees Jesus. 

Watching Wednesday

Another studio day and Jenny, Penny and Connie came to make art!

God has given Jenny and Penny a new passion- faith art. What a pleasure it is to see them blossom and explore their creativity.

Jenny is working on creating faith word canvases for her home. Love this one - she really learned how to use stencils to tell her story.

   Penny made a gift for a family member and I love how she used the different crosses to complement the faith word.

Connie is working on her art journal aka Smash book. Didn't grab any pictures of it this time.

How has God inspired your work lately?

Watching Wednesday

This week I wanted to show you a special project that I got to be a part of.

Ryan is a Eagle Scout from VA Beach. He was moved to create a special gift project for a family in VA Beach  who suffered a extreme loss about 2 years ago. A couple who were trying for a long time to have children, were blessed to get pregnant with twins. Sadly, the outcome wasn't what they hoped and dreamed for. One of the twins died at birth and the other lived for a few weeks. Each day as they went to the hospital they walked down this long sterile hallway. They mentioned that it was so depressing to walk down that corridor many times each day to see their child.  Ryan decided to create some faith art for the corridor. We made one piece last year and then it has taken a long time for the hospital to approve, and for him to do fund raising, and create special enclosed frames.

Well, finally we were able to finish the project last Saturday. Ryan, Ethan and Daniel- his fellow eagle scouts arose at 5:30 am for the long drive to our studio. We were able to prime the boards with gesso, paint the backgrounds and add the embellishments. We made 5 more paintings (24 x 40). Ryan's dad Pat created the frames and used plexiglass for the covers.   This is the first one we did over 18 months ago. The picture was one I got at a yard sale as a set of 4 for $5. They had some ugly old painting, that we covered with gesso and paint.

Since the pictures will be in a hallway, the hospital requested they be protected with a plexiglass cover. So here is what Ryan and his did did.  It looks great!

Ryan named the project "Healing Flowers".

 Here are the other 5 pictures.

Great job Ryan, Ethan and Daniel!

Watching Wednesday

Open studio was last Saturday and it was wonderful to have some of the women in my small group attend.

Traci is one of the women who keeps telling me she is not "creative".  I am beginning to realize that my ministry is to allow women to come to the studio, relax and allow their creative side to emerge!  I love encouraging women to explore that inner spark that God gave them.

Look at her beautiful 16x20 canvas that she made for her beloved daughter Jackie!

  Denise tried a new technique and created this beautiful faithart canvas. Love her bold use of colors! Doris said it "reminds me of a heart bursting with love, joy, and feeling awesome in His presence". What do you think?

Jenny is new to the studio. She is Penny's neighbor and friend. Love her faithart canvas with the word joyful!

And last but not least, Penny. Penny has a remarkable ability to translate feelings, color and words into images!  I love this picture. She is not afraid to try new techniques or to work hard to make it work. Don't you just love this?  Look closely and see the images of people in the clouds above the eagle.

Watching Wednesday

This week I am featuring my daughter Deanna ( 13). She and I are alone this week because Vera and Natalya are in NC at church camp. We are having a great time crafting together, going to the library, reading some great Christian fiction and cooking really tasty food!

She has been creating her own set of bible verse tags and I am proud to show you her work~!

Luke 6:45  is about the treasures in your heart, she used the Tim Holtz man ( without the umbrella) and then added a clear epoxy heart on top. Love the color scheme ( rubbed distress inks).

  The next tag uses layers and the arrows symbolize  God's ways.  The arrow pointing to heaven shows her that God's ways are different and better than her plans for her life.  The arrow going down towards hell is about her ways leading to misery and dissatisfaction.  She used a Christian book page as the background layer and sprayed color washes on top.

The third tag is about singing to the Lord. She used purple because it is her favorite color ( regal and symbolizes God).  Music notes are in the background. The flourish is about worshiping God.

Another singing to the Lord tag. This one uses the embossing folders, distress ink stains and stamps. 

The tree embossing folders symbolizes power that we can reach when we reach for God.  The man is trying to be open to God in his life.

The final tag Hilarious is about the colors and textures that make her happy!

She is a quiet worker, always thinking and absorbing. It has been my pleasure to showcase her faith art.

Some of the tags may end up in our bible verse tag class!

 

Watching wednesday

Class #2 last night was a full house! We had 9 people at the studio to make 2 more tags  in our bible verse classes. Our bible verses for this session were

Psalm 98:1  Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things;

Joshua 24:15 ...but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

Lots of fun techniques  ( dry embossing/texturizing with the Sizzix, heat set embossing,stamping) and lots of products  glitter glue, glossy accents, StazOn, distress inks, glimmer mist spray inks.

Here are the finished projects. I love how each person has the same stamp, same background but what a difference color makes and fibers/ribbons!

Next class will be Thursday July 28. If you are in the area, come join us. Here is some information about the class with pictures of the next verse tags we will make.  Download Studio Bible verse tags 6-11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watching Wednesday

Last week 7 women bravely came to the studio and participated in the first Bible Verse Tag class.

What is the bible verse tag class?  What do the tags look like?

Are you ready  to try a playful way to memorize bible verses?

Adore HIM Creations new class combines bible study and art!  Beginning with prayer, we will seek God’s presence during this creative time.  We will worship Him with our hearts and minds through the process of bible study. Next we will use our hands to create a  #8 (3x 61/4”) tag that symbolizes His word.

 You will learn God’s word, and create a beautiful ring of bible verse tags.  Each session will showcase new techniques (embossing, painting, stamping, UTEE, distress inks, painting, spray inks and glimmer mists.)  Even if you haven’t ever stamped  before, or think you have no artistic talents, you will be guided step by step to create a unique set of bible verse tags!

We used these techniques last week ( distress inks, UTEE {ultra thick embossing enamel}, paper flowers, glimmer mist, glitter smear, clear embossing, stamping, fibers/ribbon.)

Each person creates 2 tags per session and we add them to a metal ring, so that we can carry them with us to do bible verse study and it is a great conversation piece and evangelical opportunity.

Here are the finished results!

Sorry Denise, I didn't get your picture with your tags.

Next class is July 12 and there are 5 openings if you are interested.

 

Watching Wednesday

With school out the girls have more time to spend crafting and they are working on some beautiful projects that I want to share. The projects are beautiful but the accompanying in depth bible study that is driving them is precious.

Vera- I felt led to document my summer feelings so I decided to create a ring of tags instead of a scrapbook.  I like the small format of tags, because I can express myself without having the concern of filling up a whole scrapbook page.

The first one I made is about the feeling of being still with God. I was angry at my mom and needed to process my feelings, so I made this tag to remind me to stop when feelings overtake me and I don't want to say words that would hurt or get me in trouble.   I love the bible verse  "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10    Technique:  used  a stencil and gesso for the background; painted with distress stains, smooch spritz sprays, oil pastels. Stamped the Be still with stazon ink.  I took tulle and sprayed it with glimmer mist ( granite), then put it on top of the tag. I used a red and white crayon and a heat tool and melted them on top.  The white represents purity and the red represents my anger and leading me toward destruction.

 My 2nd one is about peace- the peace I have in Christ.  Journaling helps me stay connected to God and this tag reminds me to journal each day and I will experience peace!   Technique: glossy paper, lettuce and stream alcohol inks ( on the craft mat), sprayed water and then dipped my paper into it for the background.  I stamped the pen , background fruit and peace with stazon ink.  The Christ is with stickers. I added fringe lace.

My 3rd tag is about Trusting in the Lord. This is to remind me to keep trusting in God, to let go and let Him have control in my life.  Technique:  background tag- acrylic paint and water (drippage). Used wood chips that I painted and glued to the tag.  I used a skin my mom made for the verse and the Trust is a rub on.  I used a red crayon and a stamp with a hand that has a heart in the middle of the hand on the bottom.    The bottle and sea shell remind me of summer and the beach.

My next tag is about the verse Matthew 7:7  "Ask and it will be given to you, Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you."   There are 3 promises in this verse and they are beautiful and the flowers remind me of Him, so that is why I used them together!  The flowers I made each one individually ( see the video we made here about making the flowers ) . 

Natalya:  This is a continuation of my 3 hearts project.  This page is about being pure and my purity ring that symbolizes my commitment.  I added gesso to the whole page first, used a stencil with gesso to get the texture for the frame, then I used glimmer mist to add the colors to the page.  (Tattered Angels: Chalkboard strawberry shortcake, Glimmer mist candlelight, starfish).  I stamped the picture border in stazon ink black, added punchinella with gesso ( for the white dots). I had more journaling, so I added a flap with the picture with tape. 

My journaling reads: I choose to be pure in spirit, heart and love. I want to be committed to my true love. I want God to purify my heart. I want Him to teach me how to love others plus Him.  I want God to take away all the things that keep me captive from getting to know Him. I want Him to make me pure in heart so that I can do what God asks me to do. " Show me how to love and think purely and do what pleases God."

Watching Wednesday

Today I am going to share our first faithart canvas class with you!  Monday night we had 8 women brave enough to allow themselves to create a faithart canvas using a 10x10 stretched canvas, gesso, stencils and  Color Wash sprays!

Watching Wednesday's is all about watching God work in people to speak to them, to use their hands and hearts to tell His story through paint, paper, color and texture. I am blessed to have a studio in my home and to have lots of people interested in exploring their faith through art!

I created bible verse skins ( another technique I will show you some time) with one of my favorite verses...

trust in the LORD with all your heart Proverbs 3:5.

Each woman was given the choice of stencil, color and design, along with her bible verse skin. Here is a picture of my faithart canvas that was the inspiration.

   I love teaching women how to ignore the censor in their head- you know the one who says- "you can't do this, you are not an artist, you can't create anything....".  This class was about relaxing, trying and listening to God.

I learned a lot of new techniques in watching and guiding the women.

Look at the amazing results!

Dana had a verse in her mind about singing to the Lord, and chose not to use Proverbs. I love her tree, use of color and composition!

Connie's, simple, elegant soft color and composition were the perfect background for the verse.

Melissa chose a bouquet of flowers, soft colors and used the verse around the flowers. She hand painted some of the flowers and added beautiful depth.

Dani is becoming quite the artist!  She used the tree stencil and I love the way she painted, and created a niche for the heart and verse!  It looks like you have to go through the forest to find your heart and trust Him!

 

Anne's was a soft composition that perfectly suited the way she emphasized the words. I love the soft colors too!

Julie loves bold colors and I love her bold composition!

Lee used the bird stencil and then hand painted it. I love how she created this free feeling in her faithart!

Terry used a new stencil and I love how she emphasized the heart in the verse.

  When you look at them all lined up you get a sense of the beauty of God and his blessings.

Enjoy!

 

Watching Wednesday

Final pictures of the girls my 3 hearts books.  This was a great opportunity for them to delve deeper into themselves and who they are in relation to God. I sure am proud of them and hope you have been enjoying their work.

Vera:   This was the heart she hides. The one only she knows about.

 

Natalya:  This shows the path her heart has taken and where she wants it to go.

The bible verse Natalaya uses sums up their pictures so well

"God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for thei will see God."  Matthew 5:7-9

 

Watching Wednesday

Natalya:  I am really loving this class. This week was about the heart we show our family. It is amazing how God has been revealing the heart that I have for my family this week.  I am aware of the things that I need to do and think to bring honor to Him.  Instead of doing things for my benefit. 

The heart that I want to show to my family is pure, honest, committed, creative and loving.  Being committed has been really hard for me because I start a lot of things and that they will be easy to do and then the reality is that it is much harder than I thought and I give up. I have to think and I don't like to think before I do!  It is a struggle because I like to promise things to people but my delivery isn't always a match to my promises.   I am also working on my stuttering problem. My mom is helping me with breathing and pausing, which really helps when I do it!  In fact this whole last weekend, I really tried hard to breath and pause and I was successful!  So now I have to keep at it, which is the hardest thing for me.   That is a commitment that I want to make, I ask God for his support so that I can keep doing the right things!

   Vera:  My family heart is something I never thought about before.  It is hard for me to be vulnerable with people and even with my family it is difficult. Because I don't want to be hurt like in my past. So I protect myself, by not sharing my past and not sharing my dreams for my future.  A closer look into my heart, I realized that I put up a wall around my heart by always being helpful, strong, crazy, crafty, anything that doesn't have to  do with expressing my feelings.   I keep myself busy doing things instead of feeling my feelings. 

I am really enjoying this class as I evaluate my heart.  I am learning a lot about myself. This is showing me that I want the fruit of the spirit to be seen by my family.

Exodus:15:2  " The Lord is my strength and song. He has become my salvation."

Next week I will show you my true heart, it is painful to discuss, but it is helpful for me to share and be vulnerable! 

Watching Wednesday

As I mentioned yesterday my girls and I are taking Christy Tomlinson's She Had 3 Hearts class.  An art journaling class full of techniques- like 28 technique videos the first week alone!

Natalya and Vera really embraced this and here in their words are what they learned, are learning and some of their pages.  I am so proud of their commitment to God, their willingness to learn and explore their faith and to try new art techniques. They are really deepening their walk with God and becoming young women of faith who inspire others!

Vera:  This class was an springboard to expressing my heart in art and with my family.  When my mom first told me about this class I wasn't excited, in fact I was afraid the truth coming out to my family on paper.  I didn't want people to peek inside my heart!  However, I have really  taken the opportunity to look into my heart and I am learning about myself not just to please my mom or others.  I am learning that there are positive things in my heart- I am caring, friendly and some negatives that I have tried to hide like being judgemental and  being a know it all.  I chose a blue color scheme because they remind me of my life- blue and green  are the colors of nature and make my heart feel renewed and awake.  I am really enjoying doing the class.

I created an outline of the 3 areas of my heart- how the world  sees my heart, my heart toward my family and my private heart.  Then I summarized it into one word expressions as a title for each page and then I journaled.  I looked up bible verses to give me some direction and support my feelings. Here are my pages that I created (8 1/2 x 11) that represent my heart  the world sees.  Next week I will share my heart that I show my family.

 

 

 

 

Natalya:

This class has showed me  that I have three hearts that I share. One  with others, my family and God.  I really took this time to embrace and search my heart for what really matters to me.  It is really amazing that I can create things and express my feelings at the same time.  It feels like I did two things at once and that feels goods.   I feel my burdens are lifted from me burdens that keep me captive - my sadness and anxiety.  I really love pouring out my heart to God because I know he really cares and loves me. 

My pages I am sharing today are the heart that I show the world.  I picked pinks, greens and yellows because they symbolize happiness and joy and that is what I like to feel.   I chose a song called "your love" Brandon Heath because it speaks to me how much God loves me. unconditionally.

I want to worship God no matter what my circumstances. I used stamps and some words I found in a magazine as my journaling.

Watching Wednesday

This week on Watching Wednesday, I am watching women grow closer to God through creativity!

Last Saturday was open studio and we had 6 women here who all worked on individual projects. It was a blessing to see God opening their hearts and minds to the word- some did the canvas about the word that they are focusing on this year, some did collage folders and Connie did a beautiful altered book journal. Here are the pictures!

  Faye is an accomplished oil painter, and I loved watching her use acrylics  on her background. She blended them so amazingly.  I love the restful feeling her picture generates.  She is a talented lady I am blessed to call friend!

 

 

Deshua's canvas is rejoice. She has such a sweet heart and it was a joy to help her create her canvas.

 

Julie  was very original and created Passion. I love her rainbow effect and how she used white crackle on the letters and then edged them with distress inks. I love all the flowers too. Isn't it just beautiful and happy?

Connie created a personal journal book from an old book I found called Roses- it was some fiction story, but the cover and the inside pages had the most beautiful antique roses paper. Connie loves antiques, so this was the perfect vehicle for her to create her one of a kind journal.  Here are a lot of little pictures of the pages inside.

Lee and Casey created collage folders. Love their use of punches, stamps and papers and the cool sewing.

Yes, I am a blessed woman, that God has given me my studio in my home, and the opportunity to teach and share my love of creating for God.

Watching wednesday

For the past couple of weeks, Natalya has been struggling with a comment. For anyone else, most comments don't affect us that much.  But for a child with disabilities, some comments can turn your life upside down.

So, what was the comment?  I casually told Natalya that she was good at expressing her feelings on paper. My intent was to compliment her and build up her fragile self esteem. However, when you have reactive attachment disorder (RAD), a comment like that can send you off in a complete tizzy.  Natalya suffers from RAD that has an anxiety- people pleasing component. So if someone else tells her something about herself, she believes it totally and gives them authority over her. That is what happened in this situation. A casual comment meant to love her, turned her upside down into "now I have to be a writer."  Writers write books, I don't know how to write a book, so I better figure it out. Obsessively she began to ask so many questions, how do I write a book ( this from a girl who struggles to write a one page story), how do I name characters, do I type it or write it......

Finally I asked her if she was nervous about this, and she confessed that she felt all this pressure to be a "writer", but that is not what her heart was telling her.  So, after a discussion, she realized she didn't want to be a writer, so the pressure was off. I encouraged her to write about her feelings, and  she was able to journal.

RAD is a very sad emotional  condition. All of my daughters suffer from it in one degree or another.  For Natalya, RAD is more about being anxious and preoccupied.  It  causes her to be anxious most of the time, to spend all of her energy trying to please others instead of being at peace with herself in the world. She is very clingy and impulsive.  She will say she wants to be emotionally close with others and is uncomfortable when she isn't, and she feels it is her fault. Actually they view everything as their fault.

I am proud of the progress Natalya has made in the past 5 years.  She has gained some understanding and control of some of her issues and she is learning to lean on God more and more.  She is working towards being free of the emotional chains that bind her.  She is a daughter of the King!

Watching Wednesday

Last Saturday May 7, I was privileged to be a guest speak for River of Joy . River of Joy is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that raises financial support for orphans in Crimea Ukraine.  They held a fund raising Tea for the children to go to Christian summer camp in July.  It was a really special time and they raised over $2500 for the children!

Vera was a speaker also!  She was asked to share her testimony about being adopted. I am so proud of the work God is doing in her life and her heart!

Here is her story that she shared....

I was adopted from Ukraine 5 years ago. I was born to alcoholic parents, who focused on satisfying their needs.  They wanted to be happy and used substances to make the pain go away.  When I was 1 1/2 my birth mom had another child- Natalya, who is my half sister.  My birth parents were drunk most of the time and made poor choices as parents.  My parents kept drinking and I was the one who had to take care of my sister.  My father’s mother-  my Baba did not like my mom but because I was her son's daughter, she fed me and took me to church occasionally which I really enjoyed.  I enjoyed going to the Baptist church with my Baba, because it allowed me to step away from my terrible life for a few hours.   

Five years later my birth mom had another child -Deanna also from a different father. I became the mom to two younger sisters when I was 5 years old.  While I was taking care of my sisters, my mom and dad put us in danger by bringing drunken men into our house to party with them. As children my sisters and I had many sleepless nights and terrifying experiences.

This went on until I was 10. Then the local police and government said it was enough,  and took us away from our parents.  We were put in 3 separate orphanages for 2 1/2 years.  We didn’t get to see each other and it was frightening to be separated.  I didn’t have any hope of a future during that time.  I was only trying to survive living in an orphanage.   In 2006 my sisters and I were adopted by an awesome single mom who had 3 grown sons.  I now have a wonderful family and 3 big brothers!

  When we came to America I was confused, where were the gold streets, where were the private airplanes that I was supposed to have?  Instead of the private airplanes, we had food on the table, doors that locked and a mom who would listen, even though we didn’t speak the same language!

 The only way I have been able to escape my pain and suffering  growing up as a child in Ukraine was through Jesus Christ.  I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior in August 2006.  I received Jesus into my heart and life and  I got protection, hope, and true joy!

I did not experience joy as a child in Ukraine. If you were to ask me what joy was  when I was in Ukraine I would have told you that happiness was if I did not have to take care of my sisters for a hour, be around my drunk parents, and be able to be a kid.  When I was in the orphanage I would have loved to hear God’s word. And that is exactly what you can give to the children from River of Joy when they go to Christian camp and hear His truth and the plan He has for their life.

Summer camps are so important to the children in the orphanages.  I went back to Ukraine on a mission trip in the summer of 09. I taught vacation bible school and played with the kids in the same orphanages my sisters and I were in.  The best thing that I heard from more than one child was “when you guys come next time- can you go a little deeper in God’s word because we want to know more about him.” That was the highlight of my trip and I know that these children are going to do the same thing.  I know this because I was that child in the orphanage, hungry for God’s word. They look for comfort and encouragement and we all know that only God can provide hope and comfort through your gift of summer camp.  Thank you for your contributions and support of River of Joy!

Vera is becoming a young woman of God who is growing, and learning  how to walk with God, to heal the hurt from her early life, how to share her faith with others and be a light!

 

Watching wednesday

 Natalya:

"I have always believed in prayer but it never came through to me that God could answer , even the smallest prayer. It really made me think about how I pray. I need to pray wholeheartedly. I need to share my feelings with God, out out my heart and be honest. My next prayer is for God to give me the courage to feel like I don't have to please everybody, because I am still loved by my family. I can be myself and I pray that God will give me self control. I need self control because I am struggling with being focused and thinking."

Vera:   Last week Vera was asked to lead the "Edge Club" lesson.   Edge Club is a student sponsored Christian club that she joined a few months ago. 

She decided to use the song by Selah  "One Thing I Know" to discuss pain.  She wrote out her testimony and agreed to share it here. 

" You might not know but I was adopted from Ukraine 5 years ago. When I was born my parents were alcoholics and smoked cigarettes.  They only worried about satisfying their pain with substances. When I was 1 1/2 my mom had another child- Natalya, my middle sister. My sister is my half sister because my mom did not have her with my father, but with another man.  My mom was a town prostitute, although she did not do it for money. I don't think she ever meant for it to be that way, but there was little she could do because she was drunk most of the time.  My dad was not much better than her, but he did adopt my sisters as his own although it wasn't a legal process,it was considerate of him. My parents kept drinking and I was the one who was left to take care of my sister.  We had a grandmother, but she did not like my mom and because I was her son's daughter, she fed me and took me to church occasionally.  My sister she did some things for her because she felt sorry for her.

Five years later my mom had another child- my youngest sister also from a different father. I became a mom of two- Natalya and Deanna. While I was taking care of my sisters, my mom and dad were putting us in danger by bringing drunk men into our house to drink with them and when my mom was drunk, she would have sex with them in front of us 3 innocent children. Luckily, we were never touched by the men, but we had many sleepless nights and many terrifying experiences.

This went on until I was 10. Then the local police and government said it was enough, they took us away from our parents.  We were put in 3 separate orphanages for 2 1/2 years until we were adopted. In 2006 we were adopted by a awesome single mom of 3 boys. Now she has 3 boys and 3 girls.

There is a lot of pain in this story but its not a story it is a reality. The only way I have been able to escape my pain and suffering is through Jesus Christ. This is one thing I received from Jesus, but most of all I got protection and hope!

One Thing I Know (Selah)

 Something in your eyes I see
Reminds me of what used to be
When I was still uncertain of the truth
Sleepless nights that turn to days  (have you ever been sad or depressed that you could not sleep?)
Alone inside an endless maze (Are you really alone?)
Counting on someone to see me through (Have you depended on humans to lessen the pain or fix the problem?)

Chorus:
If there's one thing I know,  
You are never left alone (Psalms 55:22, 1 Kings 8:39)
'cause You can always call on Jesus' name (=Power like no other and that’s a promise)
If there's one thing I pray, ( prayer is us connecting with Jesus)
It's Jesus helps you find a way (Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me) (John 14:6)
To make a change and listen to Your heart
God will take away your pain  (Truly He will take your pain away no matter how big it is)(Tell a bit of my story)
If you choose to let it go (You have to really want to let it go full hearted ly)
If there's one thing I know

How can I convince your heart
His light can find you in the dark (He is omnipresent. He sees everything)
And only He can make your blind eyes see (He is the only pain meds)
For if we speak of lost things found
Of lives that have been turned around
Then tell me who knows better, child, than me?

(Repeat Chorus)

Bridge:
I would never stake my life on any lesser thing
Than the cross of Christ where he gave His life to ease my suffering.

(Repeat Chorus)

I challenge you to listen to this song and ask God to speak to you!

 The bible verses that tell this story are:

 

Cast your cares on the LORD
   and he will sustain (support, hold or bear up from below) you;
he will never let
   the righteous be shaken.   Psalms 55:22

God alone knows every human heart. 1 Kings 8:39(so your never alone)

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6

Watching wednesday

This week Vera is sharing  the completed page from 2 weeks ago.  Psalm 25 :1-4

 ¹ O Lord, I give my life to you.
    ² I trust in you, my God!
   Do not let me be disgraced,
      or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
 ³ No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
      but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

 ⁴ Show me the right path, O Lord;
      point out the road for me to follow.

The pink is a passion color and she is passionate about pursuing God in her life.  No journaling on this page, just the bible verse.   She is asking him to help her make right choices in her life and lead her down the right path.

Natalya:  This is from the song "Jesus Take the Wheel" by  Carrie Underwood. 

Jesus Take The Wheel lyrics
Songwriters: James, Brett; Lindsey, Hillary; Sampson, Gordie;

She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy
With the baby in the backseat

Fifty miles to go and she was running low
On faith and gasoline
It'd been a long hard year

She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention
She was going way too fast
Before she knew it she was spinning
On a thin black sheet of glass

She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was so scared
She threw her hands up in the air

Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
?Cause I can't do this on my own

I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheel

It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat
Sleeping like a rock

And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I'm sorry for the way
I've been living my life

I know I've got to change
So from now on tonight

Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own

I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on

Oh Jesus, take the wheel
Oh, I'm letting go

So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
From this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheel
Oh, take it, take it from me
Oh, why, ooh

Natalya's words: I have been experiencing the need for God in my life to control my life and me.  When I think of Jesus taking the wheel, I think of letting go of what I want and putting him first. 

Watching wednesday

Since the youth retreat the girls are really focusing on their relationship with God. I am so proud of them. These journal pages are examples of faith art journaling. Pouring your heart out to God, using color, symbols and songs to express your feelings.

Natalya: Journaling: God put this verse on my mind today. I think he wants me to spread the message  and grow in my faith.

^{Eph 4:13}     until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

I am having a hard time hearing God's voice. I want to know what God is saying to me but I think that I am making my words God's words. When I make a decision about what I want, and I want to ask God if my decision is right but I don't take the time to listen because I want an answer right away. 

April 19: This week I want to take the time to draw closer to God and to listen to his voice. I want to have a relationship with the creator of the Universe. I know the only way I can do that is to spend time with him. This is a perfect time because I know that He died for me and because I  can thank him. 

The tag has the song "Glorious Day"  Casting Crowns  " living He loved me, dying He saved me, buried, He caried my sins far away. Rising He justified freely forever, one day He's coming, Oh glorious day, oh glorious day."

Vera:

Song: Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall

" into marvelous light I'm running, our of darkness, out of shame, by the cross, you are the truth, you are the light, you are the way...."

Journaling: " Into the marvelous light I am running to God, to truth and to honesty. In the light everything is better, because I have God on my side. God help me to sprint into the light, help me to seek you with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my mind. I love you Lord."

Watching wednesday

Vera's journal for this week.

April 7: Trust in God with everything is very hard for me.  God, I want to trust you with everything. Lord please help me to remember that you are the Lord of my life and that you are big enough for my concerns and problems.  Thank you for helping me and forgiving me every time I mess up.  Lord of Lords, King of Kings, almighty God, you are so perfect and powerful and you would even consider helping me. Thank you for caring for me. I love you.

Natalya's journal:

April 5, 2011

I had the best time at the retreat, worshiping God and getting to know him better. I came there desperate for God and in need of something to make me happy.  I have found out that true happiness comes from within God. The topic was being a fool, and I think I have been a fool . God has changed my heart. I thought that i could do things on my own and depend on myself, but I cannot. 

 

Be Here:  Natalya made this page because she wants to be present and listen, process and confirm what she heard. She is struggling with over promising and under delivering.  

 The images symbolize that she is happy to be with God and to praise Him.

 

I am so proud of them. They have come so far in 5 short years. They are beginning to "own" their faith. To love Jesus because they do, not because I do.  God is doing a mighty work in their hearts and lives.

 

watching wednesday

Who and what am I watching today? I am watching my girls become Godly young women!

Natalya and Vera went to our church's youth retreat this past weekend and it had a profound spiritual impact on both of them. Primarily about deepening and owning their relationship with God.

They both became aware of the fact that my faith is my faith, not theirs. To become the woman God wants for them means they have to own their faith, take the steps to grow closer to God, spend the time with Him in prayer, meditation and to rely on Him to support them during school hours.

It reminded me of how far they have come. On April 1 last week, was their 5 year anniversary. They have been my daughters for 5 years.  It has been a rocky road, filled with happiness, fulfillment, sadness, pain, grief, major behavior changes and most importantly letting go of survivor skills and living in abundanceland.  It has been difficult, but we all keep going, growing our relationships with each other, with God and with our family.

I am very proud of all of them. They are honor roll students in school ( remember they were illiterate only 5 years ago), do their homework and chores each day without nagging, attend church, babysit their nephew ( my 1st grandchild Patrick) and rescue doodle dogs. They read a lot, craft almost daily, work in  the yard, build things with me ( our deck, decorating our home), enjoy cooking and enjoy daily life.

I have a blessed life with them and they are a blessing to our family, their brothers, my friends, our church and our neighborhood.

Thought it would be fun to look at the before and after pictures of each of them.

Deanna 3 months in America age 8.

Deanna 5 years later, age 12.

 

Natalya  her 10 yr birthday party. The first Birthday party ever for her.

Natalya at her purity ceremony last month age 15

 

Vera came to America for 2 weeks in Dec 2004. This picture is the last one I have of her before she left to return to Ukraine Jan 2005.  She was 11 years old. 

Vera last year at age 16.

 

They are both blessed and a blessing!

 

Watching wednesday

Natalya's page this week is a departure for her. She decided to write bigger and use the entire page with her thoughts about what God is doing in her life.

Here is her journaling:

John 8:32 "If you know the truth, then the truth will set you free."  "Being honest at my youth group is something I need to ask God to help me with. I am afraid that the people might not like me, but if I am open and honest about my feelings, then I am an example to others. I need to be real about how I feel, and not pretend that I am fine and everything is under control. God, please help me to be open and honest."

Vera did a abstract art project for school this week.  She had to create an abstract project using color to represent her favorite song.  Her favorite song is " Sing, Sing Sing".  I love the movement she got.

Her technique was to prep the page with gesso first, then paint acrylic paint all over the page. Using rubbing alcohol, she dropped it into the wet paint and it separates the paint and creates beautiful effects. She then did another coat of acrylic paint with another color and did the alcohol again. The last step was to use gesso and a stencil for the curves.

What do you think of my artists????

 

watching wednesday

God has been working in all my girls over the past 5 years. I have seen them face some difficult behaviors, challenges and pain and come out on the other side with healing and hope.  When you grow up in deprivation and neglect, survivor skills are necessary if you want to live. How many of us have had to make the decision to live?  I know that I have had to face challenges but they were all based on what I wanted , not my very life.  I have compassion and understanding for them because they are survivors, they kept themselves alive- so that God could give them a new live and new hope. 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity."  Jeremiah 29:11-14

Now they are learning to live in "abundanceland" because they are done living in "survivorville".  It is very difficult to live in "abundanceland". You constantly want to return to what feels comfortable, and your very beliefs challenge you to leave abundanceland and return to comfortable survivorville. Only with reliance on God, lots of prayers and support can they experience the abundance that God wants for them and is trying to give them.

As a mom of these children, I have to be on my toes all the time. I have to watch for signs of slipping back into the old ways, I have to lead them to the promised land, and sometimes I have to drag them to abundanceland. It is my mission from God- thanks be to Him who gives me the strength and knowledge to lead my daughters.

I love this piece Natalya did about a year ago. We were talking about what voice she should listen to and here is her visual interpretation.

Isn't it true?  Don't you hear God whispering in one of your ears- come to me, I love you, you are ok. The other ear hears the devil whispering to you- what makes you think you can do that, it would be so much easier if you did....   Which voice do you listen to???

 

 

watching wednesday

Natalya had her "purity" ceremony on Sunday at church. What an awesome young women she is- to recognize that God calls her to be pure in all areas of her life, not only sexually.  She found a beautiful ring to wear to remind her of her commitment.  It is 3 small bands twined together ( Father, Son and Holy Spirit). 

 I thought I would share Natalya's own words from her faith art journal about her week with you today.

 

"  March 11: Awesome day I got my ring. Yeh! but its too big. It slips off when I put my hand down. I am so happy, I can't waite to to the ceremony. 

March 12: We had a grea day today. I had a lot of fun. Mom had an open studio today and I had a lot of fun helping people.  We had Penny, Rusty and her daughter and Doris. I had fun because I was busy.

March 13: Today was a great day. I had my ring ceremony. I mad a commitment to stay pure. I am excited because I want to grow with my relationship with God and I want to be closer to him and trust him with my life. 

March 14 Today was awesome. I felt so close to God that its amazing to feel the love of God and I just want to grow with God- trust and be honest with him.  Today I had a great day at school. When I got home Mom had a woman who is a friend and she loves crafting to mom is really excited because she has been praying for God to send her a person who will minister with her and hold classes.      When I am honest with myself others and God, I can have a great life. I feel very excited about my faith in Christ. I feel like this is a journey into the land of great joy and happiness."

I love how Natalya lives in the moment, feeling close to God, wanting to please Him and is finding joy in the everyday.

What a blessing she is!

 

watching wednesday

Beginning today, each week on Watching Wednesday's I will be sharing my daughter Natalya's faithart journal! 

Let me tell you a little about Natalya. Natalya was born in Ukraine in 1995. She has 2 sisters Vera, 17 and Deanna 12 ( almost 13).  Natalya was a sickly baby and was exposed to alcohol in utero. She has FAS ( fetal alcohol syndrome), PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome) and RAD ( reactive attachment disorder).  She was placed in a orphanage in 2004 along with her sisters, although they were split up into different orphanages due to age and disabilities. I met her in 2004 when I went to Ukraine on a mission trip, although at the time I didn't have any idea of adopting her or her sisters. However, God had another plan and with his call and guidance, I adopted her and her sisters  March 23, 2006. Natalya came to America on 4/1/06 with no English skills and a very limited Ukrainian vocabulary.

So fast forward 5 years and you can see why I am so proud of her and how hard she works to do well in her life!

Here is a picture in front of the courthouse in Dubno Ukraine, right after the judge pronounced the girls as my daughters!  Vera was 12 ( left) Natalya was 10 ( right) and Deanna was 8 ( center).

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a picture of Natalya now at 15.

Natalya is very artistic and sees the world in pictures and color.

Here is her latest journal pictures.

Here is a picture of the pages before she added her journaling. 

 

Natalya is growing into a blessed daughter of our King and she is a loving, kind sister.

She shares her heart openly and unashamedly with everyone and loves God.