5 Joyful Ways to Celebrate Holidays Away from Loved Ones As I write this, I am newly moved back to England with my dear, sweet, bearded, furniture making Englishman husband, Max. We’ve celebrated Thanksgiving with friends and we’re gearing up to decorate our new place for Christmas. While we’re excited to settle in to life in the UK again, we also have the feelings of what–or who, rather–we are missing.Having lived abroad and away from loved ones whether I’ve been in England missing my Minnesota people, or in Minnesota missing my England people, I know the heartache that distance can bring. And, the good news is, I know the joy of how to connect in unique and joyful ways that are memorable and meaningful. Maybe a family member is deployed this season. Perhaps your sibling is spending time with college friends this year instead of coming home. Or, you just might be the one who’s moved away. It may be just across town, but it still feels far away.No matter how how far away you live from your loved ones, if you can’t be with them when you want to, it can feel just too far. I hope that these five ideas inspire you to find joy as you celebrate together, but apart, and that you feel closer in your hearts this season.EAT “TOGETHER” — Growing up, holiday meals with my family usually involved a broccoli-cheese-rice dish. Nobody I know other than my family has ever heard of or eaten this dish. But, it’s a classic of my family. My in-laws love ice cream any time of year and especially when it’s a special occasion.What are some family or friend favorites you could share near and far? Maybe you will decide with your loved ones on a certain type of meal or food that everyone will eat on a particular day or time. Then, “together” while apart, you each eat that meal. It may feel silly if you’re still on your own, but it is really special when you know you’re all sharing the same meal. And, when you send each other a text or email with a photograph of each of you enjoying your shared meal apart, it’s really special. FLAT STANLEY TOUR — When I first moved to England, my nieces and nephews were much younger. At school, they had an assignment that I found very amusing. I wonder if you’ve heard of it.From a children’s book series from the 1960s...here…you might take inspiration from a “Flat Stanley” approach. In the story, a character ends up flat and is sad about it. But, when he (Stanley) realizes he can be mailed around the world on adventures, he sees the fun in it.You and your loved ones could create a cardboard/paper cut out of your people who you’re away from and then photograph yourself with Flat Loved Ones doing things together. It’s a pretty fun and funny project. You might even be inspired to share some fun facts about the adenvutres you take your flat loved one on. Facts about where you are or silly predicaments your flat person found themselves in.For more inspiration and direction, here’s a teacher’s instructional video on how to do a project with the class, but it could be done with a family, too. WRITE A LETTER — Remember having a pen pal? I have a pen pal locally when I was a kid and then I had a pen pal from Latvia when I was a pre-teen. Being an adult can be too serious and impersonal. Let’s bring back letter writing! It doesn’t have to be complicated or fancy, simply share the simple things you experience that you would share if you were sat in the same room together with your loved on. If you’ve moved away, they’ll want to know what your new life is like. If your loved one has moved away, they’ll likely want reminders of home.Simply write five lines of sensory observations you can make right now as you think of them. Just write those five lines and send the thoughts with your love…pop a stamp on it and then mail it! It’s easy. There is no need for a big time-intensive “Christmas Letter” if you don’t want to write one.And, really, so often we can hold a letter knowing our person has held it, too. When it’s handwritten, we see their personality really shine through and helps us feel close when we are lonesome. TOURIST — Have you ever been a tourist in your own city? This can be such a fun way to interact with loved ones who are far away. You can visit all of the places you’d love to take them were they to visit you in-person. Being a holiday tourist in your own city can be a great way to see your own home from another perspective. You might try new activities simply for the experience of creating a connection with the loved one you’re far away from. You could take selfies or photos of places or sights you experience and want to show them, and then send the photos in a text or email. You could even make a few into post cards (or, just purchase post cards of your local area) and write a simple note to let them know you’re thinking of them while you celebrate (see: “Write A Letter” above). NEW PEOPLE — When your loved one has moved away, or you’re in a new location yourself, it can be a great opportunity to connect with new people you’d never have met were the circumstances the same.This isn’t about replacing your people–of course!!! But, you really can meet “new” loved ones who can be an unexpected friend. Perhaps you find a community choir or class to be part of during the holiday season. From carol singing to wreath making…to mulled wine or spiced cider sipping…or, maybe just a local holiday craft fair(!!!), these activities could introduce you to people with whom you might find long-lasting relationships. And, the reality is that YOU might actually be a gift to others who are lonesome, too.Whatever you choose to do this season while you’re away from loved ones, I hope that you’re inspired to create connections. In the northern hemisphere when the seasons mean earlier nights in the darkness and later sunrises, we could really use a jolt in our social hearts. Trying something out of the ordinary to connect with loved ones could be just what we need this season.I wonder, which activity might you try this season?Click here and send me a note via my contact form. I’d love to hear from you.Happy Holidays!Looking for a perfect gift for your loved one. Poetry, Art, and Journaling supplies could be the unique gift you’ve been searching for. Check out my online shop here.
Travel Journal Tips Travel Journal Tips: So you’re planning a cool trip–or, even a work trip. What if you kept a record of your time “on the road”? For many of us, we have good intentions to document, but either we forget without a plan or, we are overzealous and overwhelmed by how and how often to do so.By the end of this quick piece, you will have several unique opportunities to try travel journaling for your next trip, along with inspiration from trips of my own.There are many different ways to keep a travel journal. If you’re like me, you start off excited on Day 1 with a written journal entry written at midnight detailing every place you went, person you saw, food you ate, fun fact you learned. By Day 3, you’ve written how tired you are and manage a couple of scrawled lines about something uninteresting and Days 4-6 you forgot you were keeping a travel journal for your special, long-awaited trip.…And, by Day 12, you’ve been home, unpacked, and forgot you even were on a trip because you need another vacation. If you’d like to keep a travel journal that’s not so complicated, read on.Here are a few ideas to simplify a travel journal so its fun and manageable. Be intentional about a theme for your journal. This means you will have pre-decided which details to include because they are the most important to you.1. Collect images and thoughts around a certain theme in your notes app.2. When you think of someone while you’re traveling, send them a postcard or photo with a text.3. Do a daily post on social media with minimal captions.4. Try a weekly reflection (instead of daily) and highlight memories from the week.5. Record cultural “oops” moments that made the travel memorable.1. I love to collect photos and thoughts about certain themes, like: circles, coffee, architectural features, the color blue, food, etc.I love wandering old cities and looking down and up to notice what’s different from usual. Journaling about these differences simply to create captions is really easy. Paying attention to graffiti art and vandalism can spark curiosity and help you see a normal street from a unique perspective–like how spray paint works on a brick building versus the smooth curves of a Royal Mail Post Box.2. If you Think: “Oh, I wish so-and-so was here!” write them a note or take a photo for them.I love circles and collect photos of circles on streets, architecture, art, and design. But, it’s especially fun to receive text messages and post cards from my friends while they are away traveling–that have circles they found that made them think of me. Travel journaling is about capturing the moment of being away. Often we keep journaling to ourselves, but it can be enriching when we share it with others. This can be part of building flourishing relationships.3. Do a daily “post on social” with minimal caption words. This can literally be the highlight reel of your common themes that you’re focusing on. Maybe you watch the sunrise every day from the different places you’re staying. This along with a few notes of your favorite meal or coffee you enjoyed could be a fun way to share, but also to journal in a way that is sustainable.4. Writing a weekly reflection journal entry could help you remember the important moments.Maybe jotting down mileage walked and temperature highs and lows could help jog your memory as to how you spent the week. But you could also use reflection questions like:-I most loved (LOCATION) because of its (BLANK).-I enjoyed (BLANK), but I’d like to come back so I can (BLANK).-I wish I had (BLANK).-I remember when (PERSON) did (BLANK).-I hope in 10 years, I remember (BLANK).A helpful way to inform this type of reflection when travelling to a new place is to find a walking tour. This photo below is of me posing with a walking tour guide in London, in January 2023–we are in a spot where the Beatles famously posed for the photo the guide is holding. Walking tour have built in highlights for discovery and reflection.5. Record cultural “oops!” moments.Particularly when you are abroad in a foreign culture, but sometimes it can happen regionally, you will likely make a cultural mistake. For me, that happened when I first moved to England, thinking that fruit salad was a main course addition to a meal. I thought this because for 25 years of my life, my mom had brought and served fruit salad during the main course. Well, I learned that in England, fruit salad is for dessert (I mean, pudding!) and isn’t meant to even be on the table during the main meal.Another cultural “oops!” I encountered was also in England, involving crossing the street. At busy intersections there are pedestrian areas with big signs painted on the floor, often with arrows, “LOOK RIGHT” so that people familiar with road systems that are based on left-hand drive cars (like America), will know to look the opposite way before crossing the street. I’ve stepped out into the lane of oncoming traffic many times in my travels to the UK–especially when I was just visiting.Some prompts for journaling cultural moments:-I thought it was normal to have (BLANK – type of food), but it turns out it’s (BLANK) instead.-I thought someone said, “(BLANK),” but they really said/meant “(BLANK).”-I had an odd interaction with someone in the (LOCATION) today when (BLANK) happened.Whenever I travel, I love to keep records of the vehicles and types of transportation I use. Whether I’m running and I photograph and jot a note of where I ran and what it felt like, or I’m flying over an ocean and record snippets of overheard conversation, all of these pieces can be great for travel journaling.Other Ideas:-Record bird sounds and names–you could use an app like Merlin.-Use a sketch book to record architecture, landscapes, people, or patterns.-Capture all the flowers or trees and add a couple of facts about the flora.-Write a summary of how you moved around the places you visited–perhaps, include a map. Or, if you run, you could record notes in a running app like Strava.-If you attend a concert, show, art exhibit, history museum, play, keep the ticket stub or program in a scrapbook and write a few words or phrases to help you remember.I hope you feel inspired to keep a travel journal–some sort of record of where you’ve been and what you’ve experienced, so that you can truly remember your time. It’s important to rest, and if you’re like me, it’s so easy to rush through all the beauty and peace in order to chase “it all.” But, so often this ends in exhaustion and wishing you’d never gone away in the first place.And, if you’re able to share your traveling with someone you love, maybe you can (like my best friend and I do) take photos of each other taking photos of things. That’s a really fun way to record our travels.Have fun and happy travel journaling!
Find & Use Your Voice As humans, we’ve all been given a voice. It’s our soul, it’s the thing that happens when we “speak from the heart.” It’s part of who we are, our identity, how other people know us. Our voice is both our audible words that we speak, but it’s also words we write–how we experience the world and express our experience. And, as humans, our voices and the words we articulate with them are powerful.The journey to finding and using your own authentic “you” voice truly is a continuous discovery process. It’s a pursuit of continued curiosity, growing awareness, and an intentional willingness.There are many aspects to finding and using your voice that are compelling and valuable. Today I want to share a few thoughts on how to find your voice, and a few more ideas on how to use your voice.A massive key to this journey is to consider it a practice. This allows us permission to try something new, to believe we could get better, and to recognize there might be a different or better way of using your voice than how you’ve known thus far in life.First, let’s look at “Finding Your Voice.”1. Practice Writing: A practice of journaling or writing for creativity joy allows for concentrated time to get words from your brain to the page. Many of us don’t fully know what we think until we write it. Others of us don’t fully communicate what we think until we write it down in a way we could share it to make sense to someone else.When we practice writing to find our voice, a couple of helpful prompts are to complete the following sentences:– I remember…– Something important to me is…Give yourself a timer for 5-10 minutes and allow whatever comes out to come out. Your personality and thoughts will be exposed for yourself to see. This awareness allows the possibility for growth.Then, once you’ve written it, read it aloud. There’s no need to share it with anyone while you’re in the early stages of discovery. If you do want to share it, be very clear that you simply want them to celebrate with you on the journey toward discovering your own voice–not to hear any critical feedback.Reading out loud doesn’t have to be for someone else to hear, but simply for yourself. Recording yourself reading your words aloud and listening back can be a very (painful, at first, but then) healing process–as well as revealing. When you give yourself time to listen to how you hear and what you’re saying, it’s a practice that can lead toward using your voice in a healthy and proactive manner.2. Listen: Awareness through listening to our own voices and becoming confident in them can be just as beneficial as listening to others.Listening to a variety of voices (in books, on podcasts, in documentaries, on social media, in your neighborhood) can be vastly influential in your personal discovery of your voice. When we listen to what a variety of people say, in order to simply listen to their voice, instead of listening to agree or disagree with them, it can be empowering for those to whom you listen, but also enlightening for you as you listen. You’re exposed to different perspectives and ideas.Giving time to listen to women, children, and underrepresented people of all ages and genders means you have a willingness to learn and grow and be in spaces to listen which may not be entirely comfortable when viewpoints aren’t shared. But, listening to people who have a different race or ethnicity or culture from you can truly be a great practice in your own personal growth as you hone your own voice.Second, let’s look at “Using Your Voice.”1. Practice speaking (and keep practicing!)Not only can you read your own words aloud and grow in your comfort level and acceptance of your own voice, but you could read aloud what you’ve written to share with a loved one. It’s important to note that when we share something we’ve written, especially at these early stages, that we are clear about the expectations for when we share.Saying something like, “Hey, I am practicing how to use my voice. I wondered if you could give me your full attention and listen to something I’ve written. And I literally just want you to cheer me on and celebrate with me that I’m learning. I don’t want any feedback. I’m kind of just learning how to be comfortable in my own skin. And, you’re a safe person for me to practice…so…thanks for listening.”2. Use your voice to give others a voice.Is a woman or person of color interrupted during a work meeting? Use your voice to give them the opportunity to finish what they were saying before they were interrupted.You can also try asking, “Whose voice have I not heard?” Then, you can offer an opportunity for them to speak when you ask them to. But, remember that this is an invitation, not a requirement for someone to speak. As you know with your own journey to find and use your voice, not everyone and not everywhere feels comfortable or safe to practice using our voices.3. Look for opportunities (and take them)!There are many quieter, smaller, (potentially less-overwhelming) and very valuable opportunities that can help you grow into your voice.-Local media sources: radio programs, newspaper, magazineExample: One woman I know took a season of regularly writing a letter to the editor about an issue that was important to her. She explored her voice and practiced using it.-Community events: Example: A local community group is looking for someone to help compile, write, and edit a newsletter each month. You can explore your own voice as you write to suit the voice of the group.-Schools:Example: Maybe your niece or grandson’s class as school is running a neighborhood meet the expert panel and you have a special skill. You could visit the school and share what you know, practicing asserting your voice and becoming confident in what you have to say and how you can say it. -Volunteer Reader:Example: Many nursing homes or assisted living homes, as well as schools, would love volunteers to come in and spend time using their physical voices to read books or magazines to their residents and students. This continued practice can help you grow comfortable with physically using your voice with an audience of listeners.4. Recognize the power of your voice.Your voice matters. Your thoughts are valuable. Your presence in someone’s life can be extremely impactful. Consider the words you speak aloud and write.-Who could you look in the eyes and speak an encouraging word to?-Who might you ask for forgiveness from?-Who can you write a thoughtful note of gratitude to?-Would would love a phone call and the opportunity to speak with you?All of these ideas can assist you as you set off (or continue) on the journey to finding and using your voice. As I offered earlier, this is certainly not an exhaustive resource, but simply a place to start or start again. As you work intentionally to find your voice, I hope you can enjoy the process of practicing writing your thoughts on paper and the occasions of listening to voices unlike your own. As you practice growing in confidence in using your voice, I hope you can find favorable circumstances in which you can practice speaking, use your voice to give someone else a chance to use theirs, and to look for and seize opportunities to keep learning and practicing. Most of all, I hope you recognize the power of your voice both in its physicality and its heart. May you use your voice for good!
Peach Fuzz & Fire “Peach Fuzz & Fire”Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 11 x 9 inchesBecome a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“Peach Fuzz & Fire”Listen to “Peach Fuzz & Fire” here.How did it get this title? I love peaches and their fuzzy squish. The edges of each of these squareish scrapes are not sharp–they have a gentle fuzz. The lift-off of paint is minor and creates just an edge of blue, like the spherical, though fuzzed edge of a peach. And, the colors are similar to peaches I’ve enjoyed eating. Oh–and, especially the top right square looks like flames to me!Something I love about this painting…is that it has orange and peach and dusty mauve colors. They weren’t colors, at the time of painting this piece, that I usually chose to include. But, when someone viewed an exhibit of mine, they shared an observation: Molly, you don’t really paint with orange, do you? I hadn’t realized! So, I started to introduce warmer colors and this is such a fun result! I also experimented by off-setting the scrapes: I love the experience of how the negative space changes.“Peach Fuzz & Fire”A Poem By: Molly Ovendengushing juicesof fruits in season,tapping toes giddyin queues eternal–that sweetness,so worth it,a delicious reason!oh, to eat them:these long-awaitedpeaches, drippingtastebud joy.encircled by friends,sharing slurps,laughing storiesaround a starry-skiedcrackling summer fireeveryone praysshan’t ever end…Try this: Take a couple of slow breaths to become present in this moment and invite Holy Spirit to come while you observe this painting, “Peach Fuzz & Fire.”What do you notice about the textures the paint makes in this piece?God, why am I drawn most to this particular type of texture?Consider the descriptions alongside the piece–what the artist loves and where the title comes from: How does connecting with the artist through her words create meaning as you experience this painting?God, where might I be longing for fire to be rekindled? Or extinguished?Abba, Father, thank You for loving me as I spend time seeking You now.
Sunshine & Sherbet “Sunshine & Sherbet”Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 11 x 9 inchesBecome a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“Sunshine & Sherbet”Listen to “Sunshine & Sherbet” here.How did it get this title? It looks like a glorious summer day with high up, wispy clouds in the all blue and then there’s this bright spot of yellow joy the color of both a sugary lemon sherbet and of sunshine.Something I love about this painting…that while I tend to go for a warm yellow, this one is much cooler–and, I love the effect. And when I take a moment to really look at this painting, I love how many different combinations of blues and yellows there are without fully making green.“Sunshine & Sherbet”A Poem By: Molly OvendenTrampoline imaginings–free!Those summer daysWay before I reached my teens.Bouncing to fly–high!Those summer dreamsWay before youth washed away.June till August scheming–please!Those summer ice creams,Long walks on the beach,Hiking trails through leafy trees,Swimming with lake fishOr, salty creatures from the sea.Tender dancing–glee!Those summer firefly nightsWay before autumn beckons–it’s sunshine and sherbetMemories to create for me.Try this: Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Then, open your eyes and pause for another couple breaths as you look at this painting called, “Sunshine & Sherbet.”What do you notice about the perspective created in this piece?God, where in my life might You want me to find a new balance?Consider the title or the poem alongside this painting: Can you see the poem happening in the painting? What other stories do you see happening in the painting?God, what might You want to show me about the stories I tell myself about my life?Holy Spirit, thank You for guiding me in this time of prayer and contemplation.
Yellow, you get me. “Yellow, you get me.” Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 9 x 11 inchesBecome a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“Yellow, you get me.”Listen to “Yellow, You Get Me.” here.https://youtu.be/FgITydzss0wHow did it get this title? Yellow is joyful, triumphant, light, and fun. I want to be joyful, triumphant, light, and fun! So, I feel like yellow understands who I am and who I hope to be. I hope that it could be an encouragement to others who see this painting.Something I love about this painting…is the fact that it is yellow. Because I love yellow! I always say that all of the colors are my favorite, but I think that yellow might actually be my favorite. It’s so happy!“Yellow, You Get Me.”A Poem By: Molly OvendenIn a worldWhere Lonely curlsCosy in at home,FeigningAcceptance whenWe all feel alone–In a worldWhere risking honestWords aloud screamsRetreatingObscurity whenWe all feel misunderstood–It’s a smile.It’s a nod.It’s a “hello”Each todayThat dulls inStreaks of grey…It’s a welcome homeGreeting, of gratitudeAnd joyous relief:“Yellow, you get me!”Try this: Take a couple of slow breaths to become present in this moment and invite Holy Spirit to come while you observe this painting, “Yellow, You Get Me!”Which square are you drawn to? Are you drawn to more than one because of how they connect? Because of something else?God, what might You want to say to me about this collection of shapes?How does your response to the negative space (where paint isn’t) differ from your response to the positive space (where paint is)?God, what might You want to show me through my response?Jesus, thank You for being with me in this moment of prayer.
Ephemeral Iridescence “Ephemeral Iridescence”Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 10 x 10 inchesBecome a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“Ephemeral Iridescence”Listen to “Ephemeral Iridescence” here.https://youtu.be/YgO861O5JtEHow did it get this title? According to lexicom/com Ephemeral, is defined as “lasting for a short time…(chiefly of plants) having a short life cycle” and iridescence, defined as “Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles.” Noticing beauty in nature is really important to me; sometimes it is fleeting, but the beauty in nature is always a gift from God.Something I love about this painting is…the pastel shades and the way that each of these four squares in this “Scraping” create the white, negative space of the white canvas paper, creating a cross that’s slightly at a jaunty angle.“Ephemeral Iridescence”A Poem By: Molly Ovendentrying to catcha leprechaunleft a trail:golden glitterthrough each hallthen gonetrying to recalla dreamleft a whisperstrange memorythrough the mindthen gonetrying to holda hopeleft a yearning:yet unansweredthrough caverns of griefthen gonetrying to kindlea friendshipleft a sweetness:imprinted the soulthrough lifetimes of love–a season ephemeral, fleeting though valued–a grace iridescent,glimmering through raised palmsTry this: Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Then, open your eyes and pause for another couple breaths as you look at this painting called, “Ephemeral Iridescence.”Which part are you drawn to most: The vertical or horizontal space between squares? Or, the space where the paint is?God, why might this particular detail stand out to me today?What do you notice about your emotional reaction to these shades of colors?God, what might You want to say to me about these colors?Thank You, God, for being with me in this moment of reflection.
When Evening Comes “When Evening Comes”Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 11 x 9 inchesBecome a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“When Evening Comes”Listen to “When Evening Comes” here.How did it get this title? In Yorkshire, the latitude is further north than in Minnesota, so the angle of light is different. As an island, Great Britain is surrounded by unique cloud cover. This also alters the quality of light as it dissipates. The rapeseed fields of most delightful yellow thrill my eyes–especially at the low light of sunset. That is the moment I see captured in this piece.Something I love about this painting…EVERYTHING! THe yellow is exactly the yellow of my favourite fields. There’s an indigo-purple-blue situation in the top ⅔ of six scrapes of squares. I love the “sloppiness” of the twilight and how light and shadow interact with the progression of day into night.“When Evening Comes”A Poem By: Molly OvendenWhen evening comes…Today’s fun must pause:Resetting.Returning.Putting it all away.When evening comes…Night’s fears may threaten:Swallowing.Isolating.Mocking insecurities stay.When evening comes…Resting Beauty winks indoors:Basking.Mesmerising.Standing in awe, awake.When Evening comes…This moment’s choice to follow:Seeking Truth.Pursuing Life.Holding Hope for Day when it’s Night,Or choosing lesser that leaves one hollow–When evening comes…May there be pondering peaceAnd intentions of gratitude.Try this: Take a couple of slow breaths to become present in this moment and invite Holy Spirit to come while you observe this painting, “When Evening Comes.”What do you notice about the textures the paint makes in this piece?God, why am I drawn most to this particular type of texture?Consider the descriptions alongside the piece–what the artist loves and where the title comes from: How does connecting with the artist through her words create meaning as you experience this painting?God, where might I be longing for connection with someone in a relationship that has gone dark into the evening?
Turquoise Sunshine “Turquoise Sunshine”Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 11 x 9 inchesBecome a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“Turquoise Sunshine”Listen to “Turquoise Sunshine” here.How did it get this title? Haha–isn’t it obvious? Just kidding! This angle of scrapes lends itself to suggesting movement–but, a very slight and gentle movement. It’s this same kind of impression I feel on a cool, summer day with sunshine streaming through the shade of some old tree–the light changes–and so do the colors and leaves.Something I love about this painting…is the gentle movement. I really love it. I love the puffs of white that subtly make them selves known, like clouds on a blue sky canvas of summer sunshine. I also like how clean it feels. And although the yellow use here is mainly like lemonade, I love the little blip of egg yolk in the upper left edge of the piece.“Turquoise Sunshine”A Poem By: Molly OvendenSun cream smeared,–check!Beach lounger secured,–check!Snazziest sunglasses donned,–check!Eyes closed in sunshine,Imagination dreaming peace,Deep breaths inhaled–a pause…Cleansing breaths released.Sun hat? Shading perfection,Cool breeze? Gentle direction,Camera ready? Indeed!With views sans obstruction.A moment by the waterCould be turquoise by the sea,Or simply: an afternoon Near my neighborhood pond.–just sunshine–And, you and me!Try this: Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Then, open your eyes and pause for another couple breaths as you look at this painting called, “Turquoise Sunshine.”What do you notice about the angle of this piece?God, where in my life might You want to show me a different perspective?Consider the title or the poem alongside this painting: Can you see the poem happening in the painting? What other stories do you see happening in the painting?God, what might You want to show me about the stories I tell myself about my life?
Aha! Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 9 x 11 inchesBecome a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“Aha!”Listen to “Aha!” here.How did it get this title? Once I’d held up the matt to “find” the painting, I had a physical reaction, like a gasp–like an, “Aha!” moment of joy and discovery. It’s called what it did to me and for me.Something I love about this painting…is how many colors are used without being muddy. I love the deep blue at the bottom next to the turquoise. I love the metallic shimmer throughout. I love the warmth of peace. I love how the white actually participates within each square–not just as a backdrop. I love how it still makes me gasp with joyful realization long after I created it.“Aha!”A Poem By: Molly OvendenI’ve been waitingI’ve been wishingI’ve been exploringI want that momentTo come in surpriseTo shock me aliveTo ignite my soul–without any warning!I’ve been prayingThrough cloudy nightsI’ve been pleadingThrough foggy daysI’ve been waitingIn Hope until morning“Aha!”When my eyes brimFrom tears as BeautyIn sunrise blazing peachy-blueAnd I praiseIn a gasp of solitude.Try this: Take a couple of slow breaths to become present in this moment and invite Holy Spirit to come while you observe this painting, “Aha!”Which square are you drawn to? What do you notice about how the colors mix together?God, what might You want to say to me about this mixture of colors?How does your response to the negative space (where paint isn’t) differ from your response to the positive space (where paint is)?God, what might You want to show me through my response?Jesus, thank You for being with me in this moment of prayer.