A Tribute to My Mother

For all the dirty diapers, for all the home cooked meals. For all the books read, the piles of laundry and the cleaned up puke. For all the hair cuts, the trips to the mall, and the new outfits. For all the vacations and sleepovers. For all the heartaches and the memories made. For all the messes in the bathroom, the unmade beds and the hours hogging up the phone. For all the fights with my siblings. For all the boy problems and the missing curfews. For the skating lessons, the cheerleading uniforms and the fights over wearing make-up. For all headaches, the poor choices and the sleepless nights. For every tear cried. For getting me through college. For all the prom dress shopping, the wedding cake so beautifully made, the baby blankets to the babysitting. 

For all the LOVE, SUPPORT and for being my #1 fan. 

But

above everything, 

Thank you for Raising me in a

Christian home,

setting the standards, and mostly for your many, many

PRAYERS!

I LOVE YOU!

Thinking in fast mode

Ever feel like you're on auto-pilot? I find myself on auto-pilot all the time. In fact, Ive started noticing that at times, I couldnt tell you what Ive done for the last five minutes.. this especially happens when Im driving.. scary, I know! So what happens when you have time to do absolutely nothing?! I can honestly say this NEVER, EVER happens in my world. There is never a quiet moment to just sit, and think, and observe. 

This weekend, some friends and I stayed in a cabin. They all got up early Sunday to make their trip home and I found myself with that one thing I never get...time. Free time to do absolutely nothing. I made my way to the back porch to sit in the cool, crisp mountain air and l Immediately noticed the strange calmness. The only sound, was the sound of birds. Suddenly, I felt the need to "hurry up" and get all my thinking in. I knew I was on borrowed time and I felt so rushed that I didnt even know what to start thinking about first. WOW! Really?! Ive let my world become so hectic that I even rush myself to think??  I stopped myself, took a deep breath and realized this was my time to empty my cares. I dont think I have ever in my life had a moment like this... zero commitments, zero distractions... and I didnt know what to do with myself. When I finally gave into the notion, it was complete cleansing for my soul! 

Now, its back to the reality of rush..... sigh.

Time flies...

I fully intended on blogging at least once a week when I started this. Actually I would love to blog daily like some do but time is just not something that I have much of. 

Mariah Kate Flynn

We took my oldest daughter, Mariah, on her first college visit this past weekend. The end of her time at home with us is fast approaching and I cannot believe we are already here. Ive worked so hard raising her that I feel Ive blinked and she's grown. I want to scream WAIT! STOP! REWIND! There's so much I want to do over and so much I want to do with her that I didnt get to do... and now, its almost over....sigh...  I will always hold tight to the promise that God gives me...    

     

Proverbs 22:6  "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." (NIV)

Welcome to my Palette!

Welcome to my Palette! Artsy? Yes! I was born to be creative. But my title means so much more. My love for art has been momentarily pushed aside as I raise my two teenage girls.. constant running, ball games, band concerts, shopping and on and on. I wouldnt trade it for anything but it has forced me to step back and look at the big picture. Have you heard "All the world is a canvas"? This is exactly how I view things. Our lives are very much unfinished paintings. Every day we get up, we choose which colors to put on it. Ive decided that even though I dont physically have time to paint or draw much anymore, I can still work on my canvas and many people that I interact with daily help me paint my picture.  When one day I am finished with my walk on earth, I want to know my artwork is complete. This blog will most likely go many different directions but I hope it will help you paint your canvas, as I will be painting mine! ;•)