My Days Well-Lived
I was honored to speak at a breakout session this weekend at the Alabaster Heart conference, Jireh. I’ve stayed home and quiet today. The enemy would like to steal any joy or healing from that event. I’ve tried to be proactive with self-care, good media, lots of reflection, and some art therapy. Interestingly enough, the […]
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This picture of my 91-year-old mom was taken recently. She is standing in front of the paintings she created a few years ago — when she was 85-years-old. She had never painted before then. She was living in an assisted living facility where an amazing Activities Director worked with the residents over the course of […]
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So I painted this picture. The online class instructor suggested that we take pictures of the piece as we painted. That was excellent counsel. Looking back at the progression of this picture, I was reminded of the Master’s hand. I said in an earlier post, this grief art therapy is taking me to places I […]
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I’m finding the creative arts to be therapeutic during this season of grief. I’m exploring acrylics, watercolors, and writing. I’ve never been one to write in journals. But my heart needed to put my thoughts on paper. I couldn’t find a journal that suited me. I ordered several and returned them all. I created and […]
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As I placed the watercolor paint pots on the table, I heard a few moans from around the table. “Where are our markers?” was the question of the day. Earlier in the summer, trying to save myself some prep time for each class, I searched for a way to get my pictures onto the canvas […]
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“Those paintings look so different,” my sister said when I showed her a recent photo from a Cookies & Canvas session. That made me laugh because although Cookies & Canvas is indeed a “step by step, follow the leader” type of paint class, everyone’s finished picture is unique. I tend to follow the rules and […]
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If you are following my blog, by now you know I’ve fallen in love with this simple painting class I facilitate at my mother’s assisted living home. I didn’t want to do it. I did it for her. But the joke is on me because I’m crazy about this class — and these women. I […]
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During the last class in February, as I was setting up the art supplies, the administrator asked if she could talk with me for a minute. As I laid the last of the paints on the table, I followed her into the hallway, assuming she wanted to talk in private about something concerning my mother. […]
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The forecast for Friday was daunting. The news was calling for a winter storm with 14 inches of snow threatening our area. I texted my husband on Thursday afternoon, saying, “I think I’m just going to cancel class.” His reply was almost instantaneous, “just wait until morning.” I think he gets just as excited about […]
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A Snowman picture just seemed appropriate for the first art class in January at my mom’s assisted living facility. The roads were snow-covered and the trees glistened with ice. Brrr. I think we should have had some hot chocolate as well. As Loraine took her seat, she told me her daughter had taken down most […]
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As I was setting up for our first art class since the holidays, Phyllis came into the room, saying, “Connie, I want you to see something.” As she got closer, she opened up her walker seat, and pulled out the coloring book I had given her for Christmas. “Look! I’ve been working on these pictures. […]
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There were only a few moans of apprehension when my class of assisted living artists saw my example of a whimsical turkey. “You want us to paint that”? But once I set the canvas down in front of them, each person took a large paint brush and began to paint the background. That’s how […]
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“I turned down a birthday party invitation because I didn’t want to miss art class.” That’s what Phyllis said as she took her seat at the table. “Oh, Phyllis, I’m sorry you’re missing a party! I hope it wasn’t a family member.” “No, just a good friend.” Oh my…. I am happy that the residents […]
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When attending a writer’s workshop, I heard an author say, ‘writing a book is like birthing a baby.’ And now, even after just 17,000 words, I get that. I have had some labor pains as I’ve worked on this series, a few sleepless nights even. It’s bittersweet that today is my last post for Do You […]
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I wasn’t prepared for the reaction Phyllis had when I set the magnifier in front of her. “Oh my! Look at that! Can you believe it? Wow. I can see the detail! Oh my! Wow. I just can’t believe it.” Her response went on, “I bet I can read the newspaper now! Look at that! […]
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Some of you, who are artists, might recognize this picture. It was one of the very first drawings I did as an adult when I rekindled my interest in art. It is an exercise in the infamous book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, by Betty Edwards. This exercise is titled, “Upside-Down […]
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In my last blog post, I promised to keep you updated on the art class at my Mom’s assisted living facility. We have had two classes since that last post. Not many words today, I’m going to let the pictures from our time together speak for themselves… Here are the pictures from our second class […]
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“I want to come back, Connie. Whatever it takes, I want to come home.” I received a call from Mom last October (2016), and she sounded distressed. She had been living in an assisted-living facility close to my sister’s home — about a 2 hour drive from me. As I picked up the chirping […]
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