Seasons—Looking Ahead

If you’ve read my last 2 posts, you know that as I transition from the busy holidays into a New Year, I take a week for Reflection. Looking back and Looking forward. I know very little about what the New Year will throw my way, but I focus on what I desire to create more of in my life—as well as look at what I want less of, (and how much of it is in my ability to get rid of.) Life will throw us enough curve balls that there is nothing we can do about. But we can do… Continue reading

Seasons—A Look Back

Creativity for many of us can look a bit different in December. We maybe focused on making Christmas cards, or gifts, or baking, or decorating, or… for me, many additional music performances. I’m sure you have plenty of added activities and events, too. Busy holiday times can change our availability, our creative schedule or style, and even our mojo and inspiration. These times may not be as soul-restoring as our usual creativity time—especially if we’re rushing to get things done, and fit them into an already extra busy schedule. But I find that staying creative, even in different ways, helps… Continue reading

Silent Night

Yesterday was my annual “Me & Jesus” Day. While everyone is celebrating the hustle bustle of “Christmas,” (most with no Christ acknowledged or included,) my hustle bustle, family celebration of Emmanuel, God with us in the human form of Y’shua, the babe born in Bethlehem, was completed the night before. Christmas Day has been, for almost a decade, a day when I’m alone, (as my children continued their dad’s side’s traditions, initially all day by court order.) That, of course, has brought grief, but also I chose to rewire my thoughts and redeem the day. With everyone off doing their… Continue reading

Creating a Life I Love

❤️‍🩹Domestic Abuse Awareness Month❤️‍🩹 I’m resharing this journal for #DVAwarenessMonth 💜 Every once in a while I share art pages here that are noted as “created in my She Created a Life She Loves Journal.” I created this blank eclectic journal in 2022, (see how-to video) and have slowly been art journaling on its pages (videos and web articles linked below.) It is a slow, contemplative journal, filled as I determine how I want to artistically represent things that I love in my rebuilt life. Although my greatest “creations” are all my dearly loved children, this is not a photo… Continue reading

How Mixed Media Ruined My Art

How Mixed Media Ruined My Art… But brought healing to my soul. Perhaps you can relate in some way. Are you being held back from creating because you think you can’t do it? Won’t be any good at it? Don’t have any natural talent for it? Can’t take the time to do it if it doesn’t turn out great? Were you driven to perfectionism as a child? Or did an abuser shame you into it as an adult? Were you an overachiever? Put that pressure on yourself? What holds you back? My Journey Creating with a goal of perfection came… Continue reading

When the Lights Go Down

Tonight the lights go down. It is the last night of our Frontier Revue show. Although I post a lot about creativity being a huge tool in soul care, most of those posts center around visual arts creativity. But there is another powerful tool for our soul’s wellbeing, perhaps even more important. That is music. Although listening to it is good, creating it—when it comes from your own heart, is even better. I’m not saying you have to be a composer, but rather a producer of music—even if no one else hears it. The healing powers of music range from… Continue reading

Egypt to Shiloh

Many times I liken our journey out of a destructive marriage to the Exodus from Egypt. (And no, we most likely will not receive “riches” on our way out.) Rather, it compares in the trust we have to have in God as we do what we know we need to. The waters will be stormy and scary as we start crossing out. The enemy may pursue—perhaps with ‘sweet words’ like Pharoah, “sure I’ll let you go” and then fighting it every step of the way. Some sisters may complain and want to go back, thinking things were much better when… Continue reading

Rocking R&R

Survivors need self/soul care, to heal and rebuild. And being out in God’s Creation is a great natural, rest giving healer! This is the view of a little R&R from my porch rocking chair on the Lord’s Day morning, at the Called to Peace ministries abuse survivors Retreat that I attended in NC this past week. The clouds that stayed low on the mountains, all of yesterday, have rolled out. The rain last night only leaves its scent. The sun in shining. The birds are chirping. Beautiful peace. Take care of you, sisters, so you can be freely whole! Or… Continue reading

The Power of Creativity

People tend to think of Creativity as a hobby—or a job, if you’re super skilled and have great marketing. Something you are skilled at so you do it—or not. Something you love doing and do well—or not. They are thinking in terms of Fine Art. A painter who brings color to life in beautiful landscapes. A sketch artist who draws lifelike portraits. Or a sculptor who mimics Michelangelo. Creativity can lead to that—for a relatively small number of people. But creativity (and art) are so much more. They are for everyone! Creativity is an innate part of everyone of us…. Continue reading

Rise Up O Army

💯 If this isn’t a perfect verse/description of Christian marital abuse survivors! March on, sisters! Jesus has given us life again and raised us up! I am so happy to see the rising up of the advocacy against abuse (psychological, not just “physical”) in the last decade. In reading this verse today, God gave me a picture of how He has breathed life into post-abuse survivors, many of them who have all but given up on life, and raised them up as an army of advocates against abuse—whatever form it takes, (in my view, especially in the Christian marital setting,… Continue reading