Happy New Year! 2010 wow...

Blessings, friends, of all the hope of the coming new year! May God bless each one of you, abundantly above all that you could ask for or think about; May He make Himself so visible in His blessings that you will see His graciousness; May He give that peace that gives you all the understanding that your heart and mind so desperately desires. Amen!

New Years are like 'startovers' - sort of 'freebies' - to try it again, especially if it didn't go well in the past one. Yes, all the resolutions are often temporary, but there is always hope. "With no hope, the people perish..." We hope that the sun will come up tomorrow and we will have another try at this 'life' thing. We hope that we are leaving some sort of mark in this life, and that our lives count for something. As those who are 'in the Beloved', we are hoping for the life following this, where it all makes sense.

But, while we breathe, this life has our attention. Now, what, pray tell, will we do with those things which demand our care? Will we succumb to apathy when our beliefs are challenged or ignored? Or will we, having done all we can, stand firm and speak the Truth? Yes, these are the heady things of life, but, many of us never get past the tyranny of the urgent...cares of immediate need - food, bills, clothing, entertainments - you know, those 'can't live without them' things. I certainly am not saying ignore them, but keep them in their place.

Our culture is not used to looking beyond the immediate for goal resolution. It is more about the now, and from it, what satisfaction is gained. Legacy is ALL about beyond the now, but involves how we live in the now. What kind of legacy are we living in front of those we come in contact? "It's all about now!" or "The past is prologue" ?

May our new 'startover' give us a reminder, to pay more attention to the influence of goals farther out than the next new thing that captivates our minds. And may we keep our goals of standing as a legacy, not a stumbling block - as we await the passing of yet another year. Blessings, all!

Holidays 2009

I have often thought that the holidays were the worst time for funerals. Not so sure that I've changed THAT much, but this year, with several of these under my belt, I have had to change my thinking some. Surely, the loss of a family member at a time of celebration is never a happy thing, but one will surely remember them as they celebrate in the ensuing years. And one can hope, remember them celebrating...not leaving.

This year has brought two losses of friends for each Mike and I, with us being able to attend one memorial service - his friend. The fabulous musician was asked (and rightly so) to offer a musical rendition of "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" and "Amazing Grace" at the site, as the friend was an avid follower of his Jazz playing around here. After having asked the Lord to glorify Himself through his horn, it was beautiful, and the wife thanked us profusely. This writing, however, is prompted by another person we had the pleasure of meeting. Pastor Molly...an Episciple pastor who led the service.

Now, I have to explain myself here. I am from a long line of not particularly supportive of women pastors. I believe Scripture to address this and I will leave it at that. However, Pastor Molly was the first of said pastors I've seen who was really herself in her pastoral robes, and not a woman trying to prove herself in a man's role. Her service was totally Scripture based and full of hope of eternal life, evangelical in outreach, and very reassuring of God's care at such a difficult moment. I found myself asking God to bless her ministry as He so chose, for she was all about offering Him glory. Hmmmmmm...won't we all be surprised at the tightly held belief system that we ascribe to here on earth, being altered when we all "see as we are seen" by the One in Whom we believe!

Celebration of holidays is after all celebration of hope - recognizing the past joys, and looking forward to those in the future. While I know losing a loved one during these times seems like a tragic event to focus on, being brought together again as family, whether related, or the family of man, should cause us to remember with deep joy the time we have been allowed here with those we have loved - to redeem the time we have yet, with thanks to the ONE WHO LOVES US BEST.

Rite of Passage...

Today, we attended grandbaby Aubrey's baptism. Yes, we are Presbyterian by birth and upbringing, Calvinist in our doctrine, and Baptist in our church attendance. And, oh yes, we have a beautiful Jewish/Christian blended new branch in the family from Chris's Jessica! So, the outreach in our spiritual walk has many labels, but a heart of the love of God.

The baptism was held in her other grandparents home church, with the relatives from Texas in attendance, too! The charge to raise Miss Aubrey in the nurture and admonition of the Lord was to us all, from NC to Texas, to Alaska, and wherever else God flings the family! I'm sure the "longest distance" family was watching with pleasure, as well.

My father was a Presbyterian minister for 50 years, and had the delight of baptizing ALL of his grandchildren before God called him home. My children have bemoaned the fact that both grandparents are gone and that they left before their "big moments." Trust me, guys, when I tell you, no one misses them more than I, especially at your "big moments." It was, however, perfectly appropriate that your new granddaddy, Coach, held you and charged the congregation to pray for Aubrey and to encourage her growth in knowing God everytime she comes to their church to visit! The pastor was a mission-minded young man who gave a great message on loving audaciously and stepping outside the comfort of cautious caring.

And another wonderful serendipity that my son-in-law explained to me (speaking of Boppa, my pastor father)...the beautiful Maori melody hymn "Spirit of the Living God" was written in this same church back in the 1960's by a precious friend of my father's, Dan Iverson. Right there...in all of our celebration of family at Aubrey's baptism, the circle of our respective lives got a little smaller. Abba, You are awesome...the "long distance" folks really were there. ;o)

My heart is full...

This holiday season, while very different from past ones, has been characterized by a deeply felt gratitude to and from each member of my family. Not that we haven't been grateful in the past - it's just that with us all apart from one another, things said and done were from the heart and shared from love more especially this year.

I shared a story about losing a special friend right before the holidays, which certainly dimmed my outlook however briefly. And even in my loss and sadness, as our God is often known to do, a precious, precious gift was given to me by my son, in the same form of story - but this one about life, not death, about a future here, not just in the eternal. His story follows, and if you didn't read my story yet(two blogs previous "My Friend"), read it first, and have a Kleenex ready, too.

December 25, 2009

Once upon a time that same little nobody had three little bodies. Her first one was tall and dark and quiet, and his gift was reading people. Her second little body was small and dark and perfect, and her gift was relating to people. Her third little body almost wasn’t, but she was a fighter, and her gift was meeting people. Each one reflected parts of the little nobody, the little one with her dark hair and ready smile, the perfect one with her compassion and consideration, and the quiet one with his gift for reading people. He knew right away that she wasn’t a nobody, and never had been. She was a Very Special Someone. He grew up and went away, traveling around the world. He came back, dented and ragged and inked, and kind of lost. Rather than be alone, he found a partner he thought would be good. But he held her up next to the Very Special Someone, and she didn’t reflect anything. So he kept looking, working, and waiting. Later, he found another one, and he held her up to the Very Special Someone. This one reflected, but dimly, a small light to the Very Special Someone’s great blaze of light. He was tired, and so tired of looking, for all he found were flawed and broken. But in the middle of a dark and wintery time, he found another, across the world. She seemed perfect, dark and lovely like the Very Special Someone. But he had been fooled by dark eyes and hair before. So he worked to get her close to him, so he could hold her up to the Very Special Someone. And this time, when he did, the reflection was a mirror image! The same light and goodness, love, creativity and humor from the Very Special Someone was reflected in her. The quiet one knew he had found his very own Special Someone, because he knew what to look for from the nobody that was never a nobody, but instead a Very Special Someone. I love you, mom.

Me, writing, now. He is quite the wordsmith, yes? My heart is still full. I am so blessed, by all of my family. Thank you, Lord, for them all, each and every one.

Merry CHRISTmas, all!

This year, we are having a very different CHRISTmas. In years past, even in my own growing up, family being together was the absolute proof that it was indeed the holidays. Even as a young parent, we made the four and a half hour trip with child in tow, just to be where "the stockings were hung, by the chimney with care..." As my own children have past the teens (where they have to be with us!), all of us have been able to have our together time on Christmas Day. What a blessing and privilege that providentially we have been geographically close!

Well, things are beginning to change and, as parents, we expected this to occur MUCH sooner, but are more thankful than I can describe to have had the years all together.

As explained in earlier postings, our firstborn son packed up "life and limb" and moved to the frosty northern regions of Alaska. He is spending his first CHRISTmas in Los Angeles with his new family, who are THE most celebratin' folks I've ever known! He (they) have been enjoying gatherings for a week now, and show no signs of stopping! Go, family, go!

Our newest family member, grandaughter Aubrey, is spending a whirlwind time with her other grandparents and Texas relatives, with a stop off at her very own home to spend her first CHRISTmas at home with just Mom and Dad, then back with the relatives at Appy's house again.

Third offspring, Kiera, and her boyfriend, Scott, are expected here, at our place, for festivities sometime this afternoon. Presents, food, and games...all the regular celebrations at the Minguez household! Only minus a couple of regulars, WHOM we have spent the morning texting our greetings and happenings and plan a SKYPE visit with later today!!! Thank God for technology...and the ability to keep up with it, sort of...hopefully!

So, change has been relatively painless with all the phones and computers in working order. I must here and now, tell my children, if they read this, that Mom and Dad are doing great with the changes and we know that you are just the best!!! Thanks for keeping in touch as you are - from the shores of Californistan to the flatlands of Tarboro, even to right here in town. You are our gifts from God to ourselves and every year, we want to take the time to tell you so.

Oh, and by the way, lest I forget another significant something, the fabulous musician and the pretty good artist celebrated thirty-four years of a life sentence together - one that we each joyfully serve. May God be blessed for all of His great love and mercy poured out on us, not only for our time together, but for the Gift of His Son to this earth, an unfathomable gift, to save us from ourselves and give us life eternal. Merry CHRISTmas, one and all.

My friend...

I know that it is the holidays and I am envious of all of you who have kept up your blogspots and have pictures even now of the decorations and all, already posted. Maybe tomorrow...or the next day...

But, right now, I need to tell a story.

Once upon a time, a little nobody from no place special got the opportunity to meet someone very special - in fact, the very special someone that the little nobody got to meet was royalty - maybe not a queen exactly, but royalty none the less.

The little nobody was so excited that she was meeting the somebody! And even more so, when for some unknown Reason, the little nobody and the special someone became really special friends. They visited each others houses, they met each others' families, they even dedicated a monument together.

The special someone wasn't like a lot of special someones that get all selfish and self-centered. THIS special someone made every one around her feel special, too. She would share all she knew about special places and things in the world, she would even talk to lots and lots of people in their very own language because she could! We all know that special someones are gifted that way - to make others feel special, too.

One day, a very long time after the little nobody and the special someone had become friends, the special someone became very sick - very sick. Because special someones are special, they don't always like to share when they aren't feeling very special, so not a lot of people knew that the special someone was very, very sick. But the little nobody did. And she prayed and prayed that the special someone would get well and not be sick anymore, and that the special someone would ask the One Who made her special, to help her.

The special someone lived being sick with not so many knowing for a long time, but one day, she couldn't keep from showing that she was very, very sick anymore. She realized that she wasn't so special if she could keep herself from being sick.

And the time had come to meet the ONE WHO had made her special all her life. The little nobody was very, very sad when day came that the special someone left to go meet the ONE WHO LOVED HER BEST, the One Who had made the VERY SPECIAL PERSON what He wanted her to be to everyone she had met - and especially to the little nobody, who she had left behind.

The little nobody missed the special someone and trusted that someday, when the ONE WHO LOVES HER BEST comes to take her with Him, that the special someone who was her friend will be there with Him, too.

Goodbye, special someone; this little nobody has certainly been forever changed by your very special friendship. The end....for now.

I must confess, as I sit here being asphyxiated by my self-cleaning oven, that I struggle with the things I write on this blog. What exactly is my purpose in writing? I originally stated that I wanted a way to connect with my students, and if others perused my prose, so much the better. But, the two are not blending in my mind the way I had hoped, i.e. my family stuff is certainly of no interest to my students, and my school stuff is not of much import to my family. Hence, the difficulty in updating as I would like. What stuff is interesting to whom?

So, maybe, I just need to write what I want, when I want, and not have to explain it to either group, as my count of followers is not exceeding any limits as of this moment. And, you say, who cares? Me, too. Who cares? Maybe, all this is the noxious gases speaking, but I do have to have things make sense to me. Maybe, Rivertree Art is not the results as much as all that goes into it. The Giver speaks through the recipient. May it be so, Abba.

That being said, I love reading well written prose and only hope to aspire to such here. Isn't that the bottom line with blogs? Something interesting, well-said? To that end...I will keep writing, for myself, if nothing else! Maybe, someday, Aubrey will read it! :o)

Thankful...oh, yeah!

Blessings to all of the wonderful Thanksgiving season!

We are so blessed, I have absolutely no right to complain...but, sadly, I always find a way. Deliver me, Lord. The grace that my family lives and breathes, and walks in, is too wonderful to describe. And lest we take any of it for granted, thank you, God, thank you, Lord, thank you, Abba.

We have had a most wonderful holiday together, if not all in one place, one together, none the less. We called Chris after our feast (he is four hours earlier!) and caught his new "family" celebrating not only Thanksgiving, but Christmas for some of their fam not able to attend the 'real' C-day festivities! This family knows how to celebrate - doesn't matter what the date is - it's time to celebrate.

Our table groaned with turkey and ham, mashed potatoes AND hash brown casserole (just for you, son!), green beans, regular stuffing, and spinach/gruyere sourdough stuffing, gravy, cornbread, cranorange relish, constant comment iced tea, and, oh, yeah, homemade pumpkin and Pa-KAHN' pie with whipped cream! Enough already!! We were joined by hubby's music buddy, Jim P., the instrument repairman, Kiera and Scott, Kellan and Rob and Aubrey, and a good time was had by all.

Of course, after stuffing ourselves, we played games around the cleared table and found a new fav that mom (me) is actually good at! It's an interesting version of 'six degrees of separation' called TRIBOND, where you have to give the connection of three random items from the card which allows you to advance on the game board. Then when Rob's team (Jim, Kiera, and Rob) won, we moved on to Chickenfoot. For those who are the uninitiated, Chickenfoot is a version of Dominoes! AGAIN, Rob won and lest we lose to him yet a third time, we opted to skip SWAP! and go to bed! It, too, is a new and very fun family card game.

Our first holiday with Aubrey was a delight, but before too much of a good thing takes her out of her schedule, Mom and Dad are taking her home later today to sleep better in her own bed. What a precious granddaughter we have. Her smile pulls you right into the depths of those gorgeous brown eyes! Yet another of our treasures of blessing!

I am blessed to be employed at a place where our superintendant allows us the entire week of Thanksgiving and every year, I am reminded of what a blessing that is. Thank you, boss!

And to all of my five readers, May the God of peace who brought our Lord Jesus from the dead bless you abundantly above anything you could ask or think- today and always.

The Bear has officially left the den...

Well, I guess the need to journal has brought me back here...sorry for the delay to the four of you who follow my blog. ;o)

My precious son, Chris, left the Minguez "den" yesterday, to parts north - Alaska, to be more specific, and to Anchorage, exactly. Every time I'm asked "why?" my answer is the same - to follow the desire of his heart to be there...AND to be WITH the desire of his heart. Chris has always wanted to live in the "wilds" and Alaska seemed the best example of the Last Frontier
that would answer that desire. It didn't hurt that the girl of his dreams moved back there last August and has been beckoning him often, and yesterday his dream became a reality.

Our core family, Mike and I, and Kellan (and Aubrey, of course!) and Kiera, spent a family moment time together outside the baggage check aisle that would take him away from us to follow his dream. We will treasure those moments for months to come.

We are rational parents who fully expected the day would come that he would begin his own way in life, but you are never fully ready for it when it happens. His time in Iraq was equally as rending, but in God's mercy and grace he returned and life went on. While this is a very natural progression the distance makes the move more difficult. But, yet again, God will be merciful and full of grace in allowing the distance to only deepen our ties.

We look forward to the new life and opportunities that await him there and will certainly try and keep up better with the news here.

And the story goes on....

Meanwhile, back to work...

My time away from the rigors of the classroom was my vacation
this year.  I so enjoyed being with my daughter, son-in-law, and
granddaughter, but, if I expect to eat, my focus needs to be
redirected to my calling to teach. It was amazing how I simply
could not fully concentrate on things that needed doing when I
began school this year.  I am humbled that God allowed me to
accomplish that which was needed immediately, and then once
the arrival of my granddaughter occurred and I was back at work,
the clarity of focus returned and I am seeing all the undone things
and getting them taken care of.

I am very excited at the level of interest and intent that my students
have this year. I am also overwhelmed at the amount of students that
I have before me.  My AP class has only one student but he is incredible
to see at work (probably headed for a career at Pixar - the Disney
Animation Studio).  My High School Art I class has 24 students, who
surround a small group (six students) of Advanced Art artists, so
that class tops out at 30 students in one period.  What happened to
the small intimate groups that could easily interact with each other and
me???  We are managing to accomplish my lesson plans and if we can
corral some "talkers" that are distracting everyone, we will stay on track. 
Yes, Sabrina, I'm talking about you. ;o)

Middle School Art is a class of about 24 students and they are seeming
to finally get on track as well.  We began the most important lesson that
I teach in art - linear perspective.  I love these lessons because this is
where I see the "lights" go on when they begin to understand just how
it works.  And they find out that it is not asdifficult to draw as they thought...
when you know a few basics.

Elementary Art has begun a new 'Seashore Treasures" project and
everyone is excited about reliving their summer adventures at the beach. 
We are drawing items found on the beach and next week we will spray
paint backgrounds to resemble sand. They love it when I say they can
paint!  And I love it that they are excited.

I have the greatest job in the world...I am blessed.

The Vernon's newest family photos...

Here is my precious family with beautiful Miss Aubrey!

We are so blessed...we are just relieved and thankful for a safe albeit stressful delivery. Mom and daughter are doing well. They are making necessary adjustments to each other in the sleeping and eating departments. Nursing is going well and 'little missy' will be up to birth weight soon.

I have had some adjustments as well, to being back in my own bed again (and not on the floor beside Aubrey's crib!), and sleeping longer than 2 hours at a stretch, and being back at school with lesson plans, ordering supplies, registering for an art educator's conference and making preparations to lead a workshop at another conference. All the things I just couldn't concentrate on while awaiting my granddaughter's birth...well, no more excuses! On with life and the education world...but what a wonderful respite, spending her first few days with our newest 'little twig'.

Beautiful threads continue being woven...

My beautiful granddaughter, Aubrey Virginia Vernon, made her appearance at 10:50 pm Saturday, August 29th, after a day of labor and, once at the hospital later that evening, a surprise C-section. My daughter was delivered of my 10½ lb. grandbaby, who was 21” long with beautiful dark brown hair.

I’ve never seen a couple more ready for a baby than Kellan and Rob. Every thing they have done in their home for her, all the paraphernalia they have her, and the way they awaited her birth with such confidence, showed the most maturity of new parents that I’ve ever seen. I feel like a fifth wheel, so much so, I mentioned that they had it so together I might just go home early, since they didn’t need me. There was a bit of panic at the mention of it and the new day has brought news of “little twig” having a high belirubin count and having to spend the day with her “glowworm” pack. We’ve put the day and Aubrey and Kellan and Rob to rest and await the news tomorrow about whether or not they all come home and start life together.

And now, the "Tree of Life" has a new 'twig' (appropriate, but not original with me...a friend blessed us with the thought!). Thank you, Abba, for safety and blessing on this precious family.

The few, the proud, the tenacious...

In all of the whoopla swirling about awaiting "Miss Aubrey's" arrival, a very, very significant milestone was reached by my firstborn. And with apologies, I want to honor him for his determination, perseverance, and sacrifice in "keepin' on, keepin' on." My son, Chris, completed his last class in college two weeks ago, and now has his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry, from North Carolina State University, after a what seemed an eternity.

There won't be a processional, or the usual Pomp and Circumstance that accompanies graduations normally. He passed the class and is now finished. To the uninformed observer, this event is everyday and mundane, but for this young man, it has been a continuing life lesson in 'focus on a thing and see it through' - one in many through out his young life. And, I might add, just the way he wants it...no celebration - let's just move on and really start living.

Chris has always - ALWAYS - wanted to be in law enforcement. A policeman, as a little guy, and then a career Marine, as he grew up. Maturing often softens or lessens those lofty aspirations, but in Chris' case, it brought them more in focus. He began to hone in on exactly what that would look like on him. My ever "outdoorsman" realized at some point that he could mesh the two - law enforcement and outdoorsman - and have just the right career. His degree in Forestry, his experience in the Marine Corps, his experience with weapons, and his love of all things nature, will (prayerfully) come together in a career that he has applied for with the State Trooper Department of the state of Alaska, Forestry Division. Yes, he will be moving there shortly to join his sweet Jessica, written about in an earlier blog, who left a couple of weeks ago to take a teaching job in Anchorage, AK.

Life has dealt him some unexpected challenges, but he has, in his steel-jawed manner, pressed on through each one with 'grit' that I'm sure was from his Mimi (who was called "Sarge" out of loving respect for her pluck). Unrealized expectations turned into different opportunities and nerves of steel were forged and tempered, life always asking for more than was anticipated. I have a remarkable son, and now college graduate.

Son, I am so very proud of you. God made a man of valor, character, determination, with a very sensitive heart and gave you the name "Christ-bearer." As He has led you, so your future is in His careful Hands. Just remember Who you belong to...

One week down...35 to go...

I made it through the first week of school relatively intact. Very tired, though. I always forget how exhausting those first days are. How much walking I do (shouldn't I be skinnier???), how much I sweat in car line (again, skinnier???) which by the way has gone relatively smooth for a first week, and how little time I have to eat because of time crunch (Ok, this is so unfair...) certainly makes this girl a tired puppy! But, as mentioned, I survived.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I have a homeroom for the first time this year, and it is going very well in spite of my anxiousness. Our cafeteria administrator even commented how well I was doing with my lunch orders! You have to know her to know how big that is to me...

I get to share a devotion each morning and that has been very special to me. This time(seventh grade), in most of their lives, is a formation time of morals and character traits that will serve them for a lifetime. I want to be someone who will "light the way" and offer them something to hold on to in such uncertain times. May it be so...

I also shared here that I had the pleasure last year to have four wonderful AP students with whom I shared the book "The Shack" by W. Paul Young. This year I have one young man who is actually looking forward to the book as I mentioned it in his class of Art I last year and he was intrigued. We began reading it this week and his interest is even more than before. He is going to be a gift to me this year. As a young artist, I was captivated by animation. Even now I envy anyone who has had the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Disney animation studios (I actually have a friend who has done it and she said it was the best! And I still speak to her...grrrr). My student is planning on creating a character and developing his own animation short. And from what I see here at the beginning, I think it will be good.

My other students, a mix of elementary and middle school artists, have begun their respective beginning projects and are getting a feel for each new level in which they find themselves. Drop/Add is for two more weeks, so my rosters in Middle School Art are still in flux. I am glad they had me an entire week (before I take off for Aubreyland ;o) so they can decide whether to stay or not. I am an acquired taste...

So, this is the beginning of a new week, new lessons, new projects to conquer, and new anticipations about when "Miss A." will arrive! By the way, transportation issues have been solved!! I can now get to my daughter when she calls and not leave my poor husband carless! Kind friends who have a spare car have turned it over to us for the "Great Escape"! Bless you, friends and thank you, Lord, for providing for our every need - just in time - Yours, not mine.

Perfectionists...

I am a perfectionist...OCD (self diagnosed ;o) about things I expect of myself. Thankfully, God has enabled me to be (or protected me from being otherwise) merciful to those around me. The flaw is truly my own alone. We won't dwell on where that has taken me but give praise to God for the fact that I am a relatively normal person (debatable by some). One does what one must do.

Since I am not one to dwell on past mistakes and reasons for same, it has not become a need to determine exactly what brought this about in my life. But as we serve a remarkable God Who uses all things in our lives to good (and brings things to light), it has come to my attention recently in a study I am doing on my own of the book of Esther written by Beth Moore, there IS indeed a reason and she spelled it out in thoughts even this simple mind can grasp. Please bear with me as I share what she wrote. I can only wish that these wonderful thoughts were my own, but they are not so I give credit where credit is due.

"Extraordinary things happen around us continually. We just don't recognize them. The thought occurs to me afresh that great lives don't always seem great while we're living them. They may seem embarrassingly regular. Seeking to be extraordinary isn't the answer because great lives are never achieved by making greatness the goal..."

"If your identity is wrapped up in the magnificent things you're destined to achieve - as a great writer, musician, scientist, politician, chef - the thought that you might produce something mediocre can be devastating." Perfectionists always lose. Couldn't the craving to do something great keep us from doing something good?"

"Spending ourselves for something infinitely greater still fans our parched souls with the God-given need to matter, but relieves us of the relentless pain of being the "IT" person at the center of it. To live for the greatness of God is to live the great life." - Beth Moore

I have the wonderful opportunity to spend myself for something infinitely greater as a teacher. I matter to about 375 kids every day. What a privilege! May I ever be mindful of the gift God has given me where He has placed me.

Beth writes, "Every one of us who embraces the glory of God as our purpose will end up doing great things precisely because we do God-things. His Holy Hand resting on the least act renders the ordinary extraordinary." Teach your children, Lord...here I am, use me.

One step at a time...

I packed my "gamma" traveling bags last night. It really messes with my mind that I will holding my offspring's offspring in my arms soon. For those of you, who are just beginning the adult thing, may I tell you from a couple of years (decades!) out that you never view yourself any different than that twentysomething that had great hopes of tackling the world and being a superhero in your own right!

That twentysomething still in her mind almost grandmother, looks at her second baby having a baby and the world goes upside down. How can this be???? It was only yesterday that she nudged me twice and out she popped! And days later that she sat joyfully in front of her dolls and taught them all they needed to know about whatever she thought they needed to know. And then days after that she began her life as a ballerina, first on the stage as a cute little blue flower and hours later on pointe with fellow dancers groomed from the Bolshoi! And then she danced one last time for the man who stole her heart and made her his bride. And now...she's having my granddaughter...who will probably be dancing "Swan Lake" next week at the Lincoln Center!!

Where do the moments go? They are beautiful threads of a glorious tapestry, woven by the Master Designer, Who's love stretches from generation to generation, ever faithful, full of mercy, drawing us ever closer to Himself, where we will forever enjoy the treasures of family. Thank you, Abba...

Countdown...

We have arrived at the point in expectant mother time, where anytime she calls on the cell phone, your heart skips a beat! "IS THIS IT????" But, no, it's just another check in. She says she's going to stop calling and just text me until THE CALL ! I am so not good at this cool as a cucumber grandmother thing! But, it is my first one...there is time for improvement.

And, oh, yes....school starts tomorrow for us all - students AND teachers! My plans are all laid out for the sub to step in at any moment so I can whisk away to Aubreyland! Of course, getting to Aubreyland might prove to be a little tricky...we only have one car and the magical land of my new granddaughter is an hour away. Hmmmm...needless to say, there is much prayer about a request for a convenient departure time for me.

But, back to school. I am, for the first time in my illustrious teaching career, a homeroom teacher. Seventh graders!! I teach all levels from fourth grade up, so I have had most of these students for several years and don't have to get to know them from scratch. What a neat grade to get 'broken in' with! I am a little concerned about all the extra details of dealing with homeroom, but I'm sure we'll make it through together. I've already apologized to their parents for whatever I'm sure to forget to send home or let them know about at some point during the year! Most all are very kind and understanding.

My youngest students will begin the year with a project on geometric quilting designs. This project is some Origami, some math working with rulers, some art creating unique designs all their own. The outcome is always beautiful and we are going one step further this year and actually making a quilt from student colored patches from each class. Big undertaking that I hope I can get support from parents to help me put together!

My Middle School and High School students will begin the year with review lessons on drawing and the elements of art. My new students are often surprised at having tests in Art of all places. But I want them to know how to draw, but also what goes into a well-designed artwork and how to plan on succeeding in their creativity.

So, here we begin, again. I love this time of new beginnings! I am a tree planter at heart and this year like those past, are a privilege that my Abba allows me, to see His Hand at work in the hearts of those students in whom He helps me sow. Let's get going....

Gamma and Geezer...

So, grandparents have this rite of passage to figure out just what the new grandchild will call you. This has been particularly frustrating because I am not really ready for "the home" yet! (Well, this is debatable to my children sometimes and we won't even ask my students!)

My husband and I have decided to make light of the situation to our daughter and son-in-law and come up with some fun monikers that may (who knows!) might actually stick someday.

The latest is in the title and we think it may be a keeper!! But, of course, you really would have to know us to REALLY appreciate it like we do.

AND, by the way, the day's dr. visit resulted in a declaration of 40 weeks but no guesses on the coming event!! Any day now....

Back to work...

School has officially started (for teachers) and I have just returned from Open House for Middle School High School students. What a night!! I can't wait for classes to start and to get to know these folks better!

And, as my life goes, here I am two days later and just getting this posted. Tonite is Elementary Open House and I will meet with some of my "itty-bitties" and their parents. My level spread is from fourth grade to twelfth grade and I jokingly describe myself as having mental whiplash throughout my days of teaching them all. But the young ones keep me going with their unabashed sense of creativity with abandon!

I am a little anxious about the school year for a couple of unexpected unknowns, but what I DO know is that my Abba will give me what I need to make it. The official them of the school year is Courage. The unofficial theme of the school year has been dubbed "Expect the unexpected!" So, stay tuned...my 'tree planting' has stepped up a bit!

Parting is such sweet sorrow...

"Parting is such sweet sorrow..." and it will begin on the next tomorrow...

What a sweet ending to an event filled summer! Our family shared lunch together at a halfway point restaurant, so that our 'soon to be delivered' daughter and her husband could join the rest of the family in a sendoff to our son's "raven beauty," who heads north to Alaska tomorrow morning. She preceeds him to the "land of the midnight sun," to begin a job at a language immersion school teaching a combination Kindergarten and First Grade class. After a valiant attempt to become employed here in the sunny South, she made contacts with former employers up north and was quickly offered a job. Their gain, our loss...but we are all trusting that God's plans for them are much greater than our sadness at our parting. Tomorrow begins the long day's night as she leaves here at 6 am and eventually arrives in Alaska at 1 am their time (5:30am next day, our time!). To say she will be missed is more than an understatement.

And, tomorrow begins my return to my school, with teacher's workdays before the kids come back next Monday. I saw a fellow teacher at church today and was asked, "Are you ready?" and I gave her my traditional answer, "Do I have a choice?" We both smile knowing the answer before we began the exchange. Now, where did I put that seed for the oaks, and elms, and maples, and willows, and pines....?? Here we go, Lord.

Time is moving quickly...

It's Friday before school starts on Monday. Yikes! Time seems to fly more quickly each year. I guess that is how growing closer to eternity works...and, getting ready for Miss Aubrey Vernon's appearance has hurried things along considerably. And that should occur any time now!

I will no sooner get to school and get started before I start my next vacation...with my new granddaughter! Yay!!!! But the getting ready is the big thing right now. Classes don't start until two Mondays hence, but teachers go back this Monday. And due to the plethera of meetings I am expected to attend, no time is available to set up my room and complete lesson plans for my time off. So, this week, while my husband is at school for Band Camp, I have been there for a while each day, setting up the room and trying to order the room to resemble the first of the year introduction that I always prepare. Room is ready, sadly, lessons are not yet. A quiet Saturday should help that and then I can await "The Call" and be ready to fly!

Here we go, Lord...another year and thankfully, more grace to make it through.

We are much blessed...

Remember the Emergency Room trip and the five stitches in the writing hand???? The following pictures are of my handsome son and his lovely lady together. Today we celebrate the goodness and mercy of the Lord...






Our son, Chris, has just finished the last of his finals and the finish line of university obeisance is in sight. He was able to word process the essay test and apparently (who's surprised?) wrote his answers out to Calculus, hurt digit and all. When asked whether he had any pain meds, he looked like I had asked him something ridiculous. Mr. Toughguy...

But then, this has been his life...adult life...cause the "up to" years were nothing but "wonder years". We were blessed with a child whose insatiable curiosity brought him information the old fashion way - reading! Having been taught to read in Kindergarten (maybe before), he would read anything and everything. His grandfather and grandmother sent us the Reader's Digest for Christmas every year and Chris would read all the stories he was interested in. And this at the ripe ole age of 6...we remember him remarking to a friend of his, the definition of some word that should have been beyond their comprehension, and the friend asks him how he knew what it meant. "Do you read the dictionary or something?" was the question that followed. Figuring that everybody read it as he did, Chris answered, "Yeah, don't you?"

In school, his favorite method of a copious lack of attention, was to open his textbook for the class, and open his current reading material inside it, appearing, of course, to be paying attention to the teacher. Do not expect the expected here...my brainchild was able to answer any question put to him about the day's lesson as though he had been giving it his full attention. I'm sure that there is a psychological learning process going on here, where, even when part of the brain is engaged in pleasure reading, it is processing factual information being heard as well, but to his mom, he's a stinkin' genius!

Late teenager years brought the opportunity to begin to follow a life's passion - the military. Through the unimaginable gift of friends, Chris attended and graduated with honors from Hargrave Military Academy, as the second in command cadet officer to the whole of the cadet population. Next came Parris Island and the dubious suggestion from his parents to sign up for reservist training because "they never send the reserves into a war first." Yes, we ate those words five years later when, just months away from exiting his six year hitch, he was one of the "few, the proud, the Marines" that were sent into Iraq to begin the war. He extended his time by about a year and retired active duty to finally begin college which had seen quite a delay.

Today, it's over. He has worked full time and done school full time for these last years and only God knows how many times he wanted to quit, but Marines don't quit. I only know One way he has been able to accomplish this... "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen..."

The degree is in Forestry, which leds to the beauty beside him in the pictures. Jessica and Chris met finding out many things they had in common, one of which is the picturesque state of Alaska. Jess has family there and has taught there in the past. Chris has ALWAYS wanted to go there. And go there, they are. She leaves (way too) soon to take another teaching position there ahead of him, and he leaves before the first of the year to begin state trooper school there. In Alaska, they have two types of troopers, we're told. The traffic ones and the forestry "search and rescue" ones. He hopes to join the later.

It is never easy to let them 'out of the nest,' no matter how old they are and how long they have literally been out of it. But our hearts are so very comforted that God has provided for him a future doing what he loves with a very special young lady beside him. "But, God? ALASKA???"
Just kidding, guys...go with God and our blessing!

We have just had a most eventful weekend and have come through it with much thanksgiving!

My expectant daughter was being given her last baby shower at my home on Saturday. While this normally would not have been anything but delightful, it arrived with a wee bit of concern because of some circumstances which became greatly out of my control. We have been without central air conditioning for going on three weeks and the maintenance folks decided to replace the outer unit first, hoping to solve the repair. It didn't, so work began on the inside parts. As it would have to be, the inside required ordering that elusive part, that needs to come from Siberia via every slow boat between here and there. After the wait which went on forever, it was decided to just replace the inside workings, too, on Friday, before the shower. Brand new everything should work great, right? Not hardly...

Now, when one hosts an event, one cleans one's house and makes sure that all of the proverbial "ducks" are in their proper rows and the 'dories' are all 'hunkie'. And I would have been happy to oblige these expectations except for the five or so maintenance folks, who spent all day Friday with us and then had to come a spend all morning Saturday as well. I don't know how you do it, but cleaning in front of, let alone, around a group, is not my favorite way to prepare for a party.

Creative cleaning 101 happened anyway, and we literally were prepping the food right up until the first guest arrived. The delightful finish of this part of the weekend was a fun time had by all the sweet friends that came to honor my daughter. And the air conditioning keep us all cool as cucumbers!!

Sunday dawns with the news that our son had spend the previous evening in the ER getting five stitches in his middle finger (left hand) after an accident at work. This would be one of many little nuisances at the ER for him and normally a small thing. However, my young man is about to graduate from college on Wednesday and has his last two finals Monday and Tuesday, one of which will require him writing an essay. He uses his left hand to write, or should I say, normally writes with his left hand...hhmmm.

And, did I forget to tell you that our youngest daughter tripped over her roommate's dog and had a black eye and sprained wrist???

Well, here it is a brand new week! The last before school officially starts again for me. Maybe all the mayhem of the weekend was just getting me ready for juggling 2,225 balls in the air again.

So, our loveable "labrawhatzit," Ella, is quite the yogurt lover. She can hear the top being removed from the container wherever she is and comes running and whining...(I'm thinking..."don't eat without me...don't eat without me!")





But, as you can imagine, "someone" had to introduce our black beauty to the wonderful stuff. And by the way, the by product of such a love of the vanilla treat is an absolutely gorgeous shiny coat!






Uh-oh...there's the culprit now!! Making sure she doesn't miss a single tidbit of her favorite morning snack. Oh, the other side benefit of yogurt-loving dogs is a substantial girth...did I say benefit?!!

Absence from posting...

For such a city girl, I am enraptured with the beach. My first memory as a child was associated with the beach. I was crossing the street to go to the ocean and remember how incredibly hot the street was.

We have been so very blessed to have had many treasured trips to the NC coast by way of the generosity of friends throughout our years here. Our children have grown up having the privilege of summer vacations at the ocean. I hope they always remember what a gift that was.

My husband and I spent this past weekend celebrating our summer time off from school by taking a side trip to my expectant daughter's (to wash and prepare baby clothes) and traveling on from there to the beach to spend some very quality time with just us two. Brief, but special none the less. In this case, as is often the case...less was more.

I could spend the rest of my life as an artist, photographing God's creation - beach, flowers, animals, forests, creeks...there is such beauty in all that surrounds us. I am brought to being speechless at some of the "wish I had my camera" moments that I see around me that will be forever burned in my memory, but seeing it in a picture would have been great, too.

The above pictures were taken in Beaufort, NC, and the beach near there. We had dinner and breakfast on the boardwalk there. We actually saw a yacht that was an incredible 90 feet long! Couldn't fit the whole thing in a picture worth showing.

Time is ticking by for several upcoming events in the life of this artist...school starts in 12 days and also the stork is planning a dropoff nearby as well. Excited about both, one definitely more than the other... :o)

the wonder years...

Yesterday was a busy one trying to help my sisters get some "moving" stuff done. The fun part of that besides being with my 'sis's was reliving memories from - what's the new phrase - "back in the day..." with my older sister who tells me what I was like as a kid.

I had a great time as a kid and lived the "Wonder Years" for real. And if you are up on your current events, please note that all you have heard in recent days about the first moon landing and the newscaster Walter Cronkite being the voice of America about these amazing times, was what fueled the imagination of this 'wonder years' little girl. And, yes, like Winny, I had glasses that would be considered 'geekish' now, but all the incredible things I saw about life back then through those specks made for a vivid pretend world of my own creation. I think it's why I love to read so much now.

Imagination is not as utilized now as "back in the day" or at least isn't given as much time to accumulate. Too many other things grab for our time, whatever age we are...and our percolating time for imagination is boiled down to a little pre-REM time right before we are finally resting our brains from the day's assault in sleep. And who remembers those nuggets the next morning?
I wish I did...I probably had some multi-million dollar ideas that just evaporated in REM.

I think one of our classes to teach at school should be "Imagination Class" and give students assignments that make them use it...oh, wait! We do!!!! It's my class! Yay! ;o)

Countdown...

Two weeks and counting...school starts, again! Well, band camp starts for my hubby, so in essence school starts for me, too.

This summer, like all of them lately, has flown by, with all the usual resolutions only half accomplished, and anticipation of a new set of "trees" to plant making me a little nervous. If things were as we all wish they were sometimes, I would be a 'homebody' in a heartbeat...but, sadly, one cannot live on "homebody" alone. Unless one has the "home business" of life, with all bills paid and savings that has survived the assault on the economy, working in the home studio becomes a wonderful "get to" for the summer months/weeks and a distant "wish I could" during the school year. And this said, it is not because I don't enjoy teaching; it is that part of the artist that gets in the "zone" and would love to stay there all day. [By the way, for the uninitiated, the best description of the artistic "zone" would be that sudden awareness, after driving from point A to point B, that you have indeed arrived safely and have no idea how you did it because you don't remember a thing about the trip. Scarey, isn't it?]

A very wise AP instructor was asked during our time training with him, how he overcomes the time crunch juggling between his teaching and his craft. He said he finally decided that the two should not be mutually exclusive - he set aside a corner of his art room that he made into his studio at his school. He works on his art while his students work on theirs, and he takes a break every so often to check on them and answer questions, etc. He has the benefit of working while he teaches, and they have the benefit of SEEING how an artist actually makes art a living. Win - win!! I have made an attempt at doing just this in my room at school - first, because I believe his suggestion to have great wisdom, and second, because I'm tired of introducing myself to professional artists as a "jack of all mediums - master of none" artist. You know, the old saying, "them what can, do, and them what can't, teach..."?

I love using many mediums (media???) to work in, not at the same time. ;o) I sense that my strong suits are in pencil, colored pencil, and pastels, each of which are a time consuming medium. So, usually, I have several going at the same time. Also, I try to keep the project I am working on with my elementary classes "in process" so as I help them accomplish it weekly. This often necessitates my doing it twice - to have a finished product and one that is still being worked on. I teach a rather large expanse of levels, so keeping projects going for all of them is consuming in itself (hence my summer attempts at readiness!), but I have enjoyed working on my own projects at the same time the kids are. And the oooooohs and ahhhhhs are quite the heart booster...;o)

Well, I know I won't have this much time to blog once the mayhem begins, but thanks for bearing with the ramblings from my time off. To us all, "Carpe' diem..."

Yesterday's creation!

The time spent in my studio yesterday was for a special reason! In only a few weeks, our first grandchild will arrive on this side of God's creation!! Today my nieces are holding a baby shower for cousins and family for Miss Aubrey Virginia and her mom at a local tea room.

My daughter and I found this precious illustration while shopping last winter, right after we found out that she was expecting. She has just completed the baby's room recently and very pointedly reminded me that the walls are still bare in her room. ;o)

It was my joy to watch the development of this gift to her and realize that someday she might have this in her nursery for my greatgrandchild! Oh, that all the gifts we offer our loved ones would translate into beautiful future memories...trees whose shade we may not get to enjoy!!

Hope you enjoy my offering...and I hope my daughter likes her gift!!

A day in the studio...

Wow, for me to spend a whole day in my studio doing a project is very, very rare! Because of all else in my life that pulls in a hundred different ways, time is precious for me like that. And I was in my "happy place" the whole time!! Well, mostly the whole time, except when I was scared out of my wits that I would mess something up and have to start it all over. ;o)

And what, pray tell, was the result of all this creativity? That, gentle readers, will have to wait until tomorrow. Partly, because it's late in the day and partly because, I can't show it yet...

I have what is typically called "artist's block" about my artwork. I often come to the place in a drawing where I am stalled - by distraction, by fear, by indecision, by difficulty - you name it, it is a stumbling block of a huge nature. Pretty much always stops me. I am trying to do better lately, where having begun a project, I set myself a time limit for completing it. And I had, last year, a set of "cheerleaders" who tried to keep me accountable to completions! Nothing like teaching to your weakness...I am, quite thankfully, much more understanding about completion deadlines in my students, but laziness is not tolerated - in me or them!

There is a humorous side to this procrastination, though! Years later, I am finding some pretty neat pictures that having been started, won't take much to finish!!

Fear is a big weakness about creating, though. And I am spilling my artistic guts here admitting this. My greatest joy about teaching is giving whatever encouragement I can, to a student to "keep on keeping on" and see God do a work of beauty through their hands, as He IS the author of the gift we have to create. So, why am I not taking my own advice...hmmmm. Today, I worked through that fear and pressed on. Tomorrow, you can decide whether it's done or still need some work. Until then...blessings on the rest of the day!

These are the books that I referred to in the next blog. Great books all!!

Car smiles...

There is a car outside our place that always makes me smile. It is a silver Mazda sport something and it smiles. It occurs to me that including a section on car personifications might be fun for my photography students. I am always looking for new and different ways to engage students to step outside the expectations and see something unexpected - like looking at clouds and seeing images, remember that?

I have a new book this year that I am excited to use in class, and am planning on teaching a workshop on it this fall at the teacher convention our school attends every year. The title of the book is "Keys to Drawing with Imagination" by Bert Dodson (author of "Keys to Drawing," another favorite), and he has a delightful approach to "gaining confidence and enhancing your creativity." I tend to be rather narrow (hence the book is probably more for me ;o) when teaching students the fundamentals of art, using the premise that I was taught, "learn the foundations" then build on them however you want. So, my students seem to think that I only want the expected "in the box" drawings. One of his exercises is to "cloudwatch" and draw the result. We do an exercise in my class of drawing popcorn kernels and making them into a recognizable illustrations. Kids find it intimidating at first, but eventually get the hang of it, and come up with some really great pictures.

Speaking of reading, I have another aspect of teaching that is, perhaps, quite unconventional as far as an Art class goes, and that is we read a lot in a couple of my classes. Now "a lot" is relative according to who is listening (or in this case reading), but research on memory application is finding that several different methods of presenting material helps a student assimilate the information and be better able at applying it later. [Twenty years at this and you'd think I had this teaching stuff down...Abba is always teaching this old dog new tricks!]

Last year, in my AP class, we read "The Shack" together, some aloud, and some assigned. What could this have to do with art, you ask? [I am such an anticipator and don't you love me answering my own questions? But, after all, you aren't here so we could talk face to face. :o( ] There are books that just have a profound effect on you and this was one of those books. As I stated in a previous blog post, our creative outlets are varied and many, and life effects us all in so many differents ways that also effects our creativity. Paul Young wrote "The Shack" as a story to leave his kids and grandkids, never anticipating the resulting widespread popularity of the book. He never planned on the story being published, but was pressured by friends to do so, and the rest is... - it has been on the USA Today and NY Times bestsellar list for two years in the top ten.

What a story...read it! You won't be sorry. I say that when God has a plan to do something big, he won't let our reticence stand in His way. This is a good thing where artists (students) are concerned (and everyone else, too!) It is why I love my job planting "trees." God will bring the gift out so everyone can see it!

Makes it worth it!!!

So, yesterday, the real meaning of the life of Rivertree Art was to plant trees whose shade we will not have the privilege to enjoy. Today, the shade was briefly enjoyed from some 'seedlings' from one of last year's classes.

I have the absolute joy (and it REALLY is joy) of teaching an AP Studio Art class at 7:00 AM at my school to advanced art students. Their commitment must obviously be high for that hour of the day! This class has been my privilege for the last five years and the students' scores have steadily risen in those years to finally include a score of five from a student this year. I share this as, not a pat on the back, but a reminder to me of the great Grace that allows me to be a teacher.

First of all, as explanation for the uninformed, AP students submit exams (in Studio Art's case, a portfolio of advanced level work) at the end of the school year to AP Central, the governing board of all AP level classes around the US. The scores in Studio Art are determined by "readers" - college professors and/or High School Art Instructors who have completed a training course to score. Seven "readers" are assigned to each portfolio (which includes about 25 works of art) and they "read" several hundred portfolios in the course of scoring. Scores range from 1 - 5 (maybe 6 in art) and colleges will use this score to assess the level of ability each student has in a given subject to place them appropriately in their first college classes. A student must receive at least a three to be considered for special placement in college. My students from the last three years have received threes and one four. This year, a five is added and I am humbled. I delight in seeing all of their gifts mature and grow. Thus the shade...and to complete the metaphor, it is my desire to stay in the shadow (shade) of the One Who gave each of them their wonderful Gift.

What a summer!! But, I say that every year, just ask my friend, Jamie...this year however, has its own bit of unease to it. I've moved a child across town, I'm expecting a granddaughter in August, and will have a son newly graduated from college and ready to move to Alaska, also in August! I'm so glad that Abba has all this completed in His tapestry for each of them. Mom would most certainly have (and has) tangled the threads completely! And, as a teacher, I must be ready for the start of school with all my new and exciting lesson plans completed and lessons prepped, ready for me, and/or a sub, so that school life transitions smoothly!! No pressure...

And what this has to do with an art blogsite, you might ask? I believe we are the sum of all that God allows to shape us, and all that shapes us affects us in ways only He can explain. Often, this is expressed through how He gives us creative voice - one, through music, one, through visual presentation, one, through dramatic recitation, one, through creative movement, and last but not the least at all, to one, the ability to see, hear, and enjoy the first four. What would gifts be, if not appreciated by someone? It has been said of life, "the true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."

Rivertree has a long history with me, so it is not unusual for this blog to have been named so. My college degree is in Art for Visual Communication, and at one time I had hoped to begin a business for commercial art called Rivertree Art and Graphics. I even have my personal car plate that says RIVRTREE. But, life goes on, children are born (and grow up!), visions fade. My calling into teaching has, I trust, produced the fruit of the river tree, as God has made it clear my gifting is to be shared in the classroom and not the storefront.

Thus, the true meaning of life for Rivertree Art is to further plant trees, under whose shade I will not expect to sit. May it be so...blessings of the day to all!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blogspot! Where to begin is always elusive, but here goes!
I am always looking for ways to keep in touch with my students and for ways to keep up with the technology that seems to be changing every second.
This seemed to me to be a way to accomplish both goals and share some thoughts, ideas, blessings,
and whatever else that is the way this pilgrim sees it.

So, if you are game to share some time here, thank you and we will enjoy the ride!