Drastically relaxed Drastically Tired

It's summertime, relax! For the first summer in years, I'm not taking summer classes. Yippee! I have my masters, and no classes that are lurking over my shoulder. I was going to start busting it towards my National Board Certification....but there seems to be a lot of drama surrounding that....will you get the pay or not if you complete the process....and do you have to pay the $2500 fee, or is it waived by the state as it has been in the past. So, regardless I have a reason to procrastinate on that. So, no school this summer.

It's hard for me to relax. But, I'm trying. This helped:

Last week there was a workshop for art teachers. I got to spend a day being pampered and inspired by a local artist, Jan Dietter. She opened her home to 8 art teachers, and treated us like kings and queens. She fixed us breakfast and lunch, made us coffee and opened up her home and studio to us gratiously. We toured her house, she told us stories, and we sniffed through her herb garden. It was like stepping into a beautiful home on a Charleston alleyway. Everywhere you turned there was amazing art and materials that we were able to use freely.

We were to create a piece of art that told a story. Well, of course these drasticallities are the story for me. Her studio had a ton of materials...but of course, I needed a window to work off of. She went into her garage and took one off of the wall, and let me use it.

I wish I had a picture of her studio, it was a transformed barn: two stories, more materials than you could imagine, yet perfectly organized. Inspiring. Papers, rocks, stones, beads galore.

Anyways, I"m getting bored of my story. So, let's get to the point. I had a blast creating my story. First, I got a stuffed doll (that I turned into Jesus). I glued a bunch of hymns to it and scraps from sermon notes and notes that I have written. I tied a huge nail to his hands and crossed his feet with a push pin through the feet. As I was creating this "Jesus" it was symbolic of him taking my worries, my frustrations, my anxiety about what is next with all of this "drastical crap." I glued on a dollar bill too...that felt good.

On the window I painted verses and quotes. So, now there is another window for our abode. That brings sunshine to me. The verses were so applicable. Art is healing. And for me, if I write my prayers, draw, or paint them I just feel like they are complete. do not worry about tomorrow. period. As I was creating that window, I just opened up my bible and ever so quickly the right verses appeared. It was neat. Anyways.........

I was having summer anxiety. I know that sounds stupid...but if you are not living in your own home, days without any plans seem stressful. But, so far each day of summer has been relaxing and full with a sprig of productivity.

Moral of the story: art is healing.

FYI....

For you out-of-towners, I ran across this picture from Feb. This is what our crib looks like. It's not so bad. There is a big bedroom through the doorway, and a full bath & wet bar. Not so bad. There are windows in the bedroom. Just thought I'd give you a visual.

Say a prayer that we would know which direction to go in next. Pam & Bill enjoy us living there, and we are welcome there for quite some time....but we need to get a plan. And, not sure what that is going to be. So, please pray for a clear plan and more patience :)

Happy WEEKEND! AND, HAPPY happy HAPPY summer!!

Drastically cute

AND Drastically Sassy.

Those few faithful friends that look on this blog....sorry for the grumpy in the dumps last post. Here are some cute pictures to cheer you.... To remind us all to keep our perspective. What is truly important? Why do we waste our breaths complaining about things that aren't really that bad? There is my optimism for tonight....

Drastical Sucks...

the moment you are not admist the spirt of God. The moment you are not prayerful. The moment your feet are "of this world." The moment you rely on your own good intentions. The moment you start saying "what if," "I wish," "I should have..."

Drastical is not easy. Drastical is hard. Drastical takes too long. Drastical is not so fantastical right now.

You know that saying...."if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." I kind of feel like that is where I am right now.

Bare with me for a few minutes...I'm going to vent...I'm going to complain...I'm going to exaggerate and make this all seem much worse than it is. And, you are going to wish that I just hadn't said anything at all...

1) We are BROKE. Not poor....but broke. We have been broke for YEARS...but reality is setting in. IT SUCKS. REALLY BAD. Don't feel sorry for me...but we are. We ate at Kimono for $15 dollars last night, and that seemed like a splurge. Seriously. We don't buy anything. So, I'm really starting to feel like a moooooch.

2) I live in a basement with no windows. I sleep on the couch most nights, so when the alarm goes off it doesn't wake up CZ. This little place is a mess...my excuse is that I can't put laundry away after CZ goes to bed. This is a lame complaint. But, I haven't been able to "host" friends since December.

3) I feel disconnected to life because I don't have a place to host. THIS is an exaggeration. I have had friends over here. I have EXCELLENT, WONDERFUL, not-in-my-face-at-all gives me space in-laws (they do exist). But, it's not the same. So, I feel like some of my friendships have grown apart a bit. I miss Wednesday night bible study/eat/hang out nights. YES, we do this other places, other times....but I miss being the leader of this.

4) 2 steps FORWARD, 2 steps BACK: You get everything caught up. NO cars sell. Stuff gets behind. You catch up. 12% interest becomes 29%. CREDIT CARDS ARE OF THE DEVIL. Who cares about your credit score, your points, whatever....there is nothing good about these evil evil people. They LIE, lie, LIE. I'm SO glad that most of you guys that read this are more responsible and organized than I ever will be...so you would never pay something 3 days late. But, it sucks.

5) I have house envy. Envy in general. Jealousy. Resentment. Not characteristics that are typical of me. This will be fleeting, I'm praying through it...but it sucks to have these feelings. Not fun.

6) Oh, back to the 2 steps forward, 2 steps back: I HAVE MY MASTERS. YIPPEE. Pay raise!
Teachers are getting a pay decrease. 2 steps forward, 2 steps back.

Have you ever been asked the question: Are you okay? You respond "yes." And, you feel like you just commited the biggest lie of all times. "If you have nothing good to say, don't say anything good at all." Is that what you really are supposed to do? I'm thinking there is a fine line there.

I'M DONE COMPLAINING....THIS IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE. Let's see if I can find the other side of 1-6:
1) broke: I've never in my life grasped the concept of giving. I'm selfish. I think about myself. By being broke, I'm realizing how much I wish that I could take my mom out to lunch (freaking lunch, come on...this is not expensive)....how much I wish that I was the one buying Charlotte anything. We obvioulsy have not been good "stewards" of our money....and unfortunately this is effecting everyone around us. I see this. In the shower we have written "Live like no one else, so you can LIVE like no one else." Ben marked out LIVE to GIVE. I also see that giving doesn't always come in the form of money...but how much art does someone really need? And, isn't everyone sick of me lingering around? (okay, exaggerating again)

2) My in-laws are AMAZING. Seriously, it is possible. Basically I have live in child care. They get mad if they don't get to watch Charlotte often enough. When we get close to home, I ask Charlotte if she wants to see Mimi & Papa and she LIGHTS up. Papa Bill was in the yard when we got home yesterday, and Charlotte ran to him. RAN. Charlotte will crawl to the top of the stairs and say nock nock on the door. There are benefits to living here. Oh, the other BIG one is....and the only area that I admittedly take advantage of living here...Bill & Pam take great care of Molly and Bitzy. They feel like they are at camp.

3) THE Q. Heather, Kristen & I got a gallery space downtown. This is my one "splurge" so I need to get downtown and enjoy it. We have a huge space (with a window). I've always dreamed of having a store/gallery....now I think I have stage fright. I don't know what to do with it....but, this is a space to host, share, play, dream....just gotta do it.

4) God is good, all of the time. I wrote the bitch-session yesterday. Today, I can see more clearly. Perserverance. Patience. Consistancy. Order. I'm working on all of the above....I hope these efforts STICK with me. They have to! We keep learning in church about how God is a God of ORDER. There is order in nature, order in the house, order in the church. I've got to improve in this area. I want Charlotte to grow up in an orderly house. No, I'm not talking no dirt...I'm talking well run. And, by the way the LIEING credit card company FINALLY was rational today...and it is not the end of the world. (like it really was going to be yesterday). Ugh.

5) See #4. Patience. See #2, there are benefits to living here. PRAY pray PRAY that we will make a good decision as to what we do next....where we go. PRAY that we will manage our money better...businessess better....house better....Pray we will allow God to be in control when life is good and bad.

6) 15 days until SUMMER. A break. Pray that I will use my time wisely. Enjoy Charlotte totally.

What a ramble......there is so much other left out drasticalities.

The BIG drasticality lately....our new campus at church has opened. Calvary West. It is awesome. It is home. It is challenging. It is exciting. It is real.

And, I'm real tired.

OH, I'm working on my "Summer of Cye" series. Stay tuned on www.creativeandcolorful.com. Soon to come... I'm drawing & painting loveable cyclopses this summer. Fun.

What's DRASTICAL in March

Drastical is in the details.

From my experience these "drastical" days, it is much easier to live drastically when you are in the midst of turmoil, major change, up-heavel (is that a word?). When you are scared. When you don't know what tomorrow will bring. When you have to act NOW. It is easy to act drastical when you can totally hear God speaking to you, "move."

So, how do you live drastically when you have established a new normal. I really think it is important to continue living drastically. But, it is not as easy when you know what tomorrow will bring. When you aren't as worried. Does that mean when you have become complacent?

Anyways, that all sounds pretty fluffy. But, my point is....I'm not doing a good job at drastical lately.

Drastical to me is....Mastering the ordinary.
Drasitcal is managing the details.
Drastical is PRAYING during the ORDINARY. Praying when things are going "okay."
Drastical is stepping outside of yourself...finding the energy/time to help others.
Drastical is not losing my to-do list.
Drastical is DEPENDING ON GOD everyday. Not just when things get crappy. EVERYDAY.
Drastical is doing what pleases God, not me, not everyone else. That can be hard.

How are you doing with drastical lately?

STOP multi-tasking

I have a MAJOR problem with multi-tasking. DRASTICAL would be giving Charlotte, YOU, my husband, my students, GOD my UNDIVIDED attention. It doesn't have to be loooooooong periods of time ALL of the time, but DRASTICAL for me, would mean STOPPING multi-tasking. AND, enjoy these fleeting moments, one at a time.

precious fleeting moments....

Let's Do Drastical Together

What would LIVING DRASTICALLY look like in your life?

If you would like to share your drastical adventures....post them under this posting & I will create a new heading to share with everyone. Or, you can e-mail me at drasticalvagabonds@gmail.com.

What are you selling?
What great deals have you found? Money saving tips?
What sales are coming up?
What is GOD teaching you?
What new habits are you forming, that are DRASTICAL for you?

We aren't the only ones "doing drastical." Let's do "drastical" together!