Understanding Others

A Picture tells a thousand words, and if you wish to understand others, look at what they paint or draw. Working in Mental Health I encouraged the patients to paint. It wasn't an easy task as suspicion rises.
So I set up a huge table with paints, paper and water and started doing a painting myself. Gradually they came. First they watched and then brushes were sort as they commenced to paint their feelings.
"That's wonderful!" I'd encourage....can you tell me about it. Some gave a great story, others nothing. Recently my little granddaughter has closed off and isolated. Realising there was more to the heart of the matter I suggested we paint. She landscaped a field with flowers and a house. No people just isolation. So I understood this is how she is feeling. A little lost, with only nature as her friends. We talked about it. I shared parts of my childhod and gave her lots of love. Going home she hugged me and said, "I love you Nanni."
Below is one of my own paintings. A house standing with trees all around (trees depict people). The front gate is open with stairs to walk up and enter in (if you take the effort to approach me, you will be welcomed). Note the red on the outside bush, (my heart is outside myself, it is with others).
I called my painting Kirra, Emanuel...... Kirra after my eldest granddaughter and Emanuel  because God is with us.   So much can be learned from paintings.

Comfort so Close

When tears are dry behind my eyes
and all within my spirit cries,
PLEASE PRAY FOR ME
When life is like a leaning tower
and I can hardy live the hour,
PLEASE PRAY FOR ME.
When you are also weary weak
and can no longer reach your peak
I'LL PRAY FOR YOU
When the problems of this life are many
and comfort cost an earthy penny
I'LL PRAY FOR YOU


Our Father in Heaven is as close as a prayer
Omnipresent, never sleeping, watchfully there.


On Angels wings he lifts us up high
Close to His heart, we comforting lie.


In His arms of love He whispers our name
Reassuring His presence, always the same.


Softly and tenderly, secure in His care
Lean on Him only..........The Fairest,
                              ....SO RARE........


C.M.L.

ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND.

Rockin' It!

Before the Superbowl on Sunday I'm going to a Guitar Hero pre-party, and since I've hardly played since the semester started, I've been brushing up on my skillz. I'm pretty awesome lol. Since it's purple week at MUA and I had the perfect untried purple with the perfect name, I tried it out! I'm wearing Essence Rock It, Baby! and it is divine. The color is a true purple, deeper than what my pictures show, and the shimmer in it is a little blue and a little red, which comes out in bright lights, but in dimmer lights they mix together so it just looks purple. Love it! For an accent I wore Rock n Roll, another perfect name for my theme! It has teeny silver glitter mixed with slightly bigger pieces, so pretty! The purple Essence is from their Color and Go collection and it comes in a smaller bottle. I'm always leery of these things, because our American versions of quick dry (Sally Hansen Insta Dri) really SUCK! I only bought one, and while I like some of the new colors, I'm reluctant to buy them... but this little Essence is amazing. It has a wide brush, but it's more like OPI's Pro-Wide, and while it did dry REALLY fast on my nails, there was still plenty of time for me to swipe it on evenly. And it was really easy to work with on top of all that! I wish I could get these nearby!

Words can Hurt

People can be cruel by the things they say. Especially if they turn on you when you believe you have just done something very special for them. Its not always what we say but how we say it. Thinking before the words burst forth, should be considered.  No wonder someone once said, God gave us two eyes to see, two ears to listen and one mouth to speak.
My wonderful sister Janiece has a note attached to her fridge. "If its not nice, don't say it."
Which reminds me of the fruits of the spirit.
Galations 5: 22-23.
But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such, there is no law.
Beautiful isn't it....... 

My Needs OR My Wants....what is important?

Could anyone NOT love the 23 Psalm?



It gives such re-assurance in every line. Reading from the ‘New Living Translation’ we are told that, The Lord, leads us, He guides us, He gives us rest, He is with us in our darkest hour, He sends Angels to keep guard over us and He has Eternity prepared and waiting for us as our final destination.


Verse 6 says, “ Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me.”
I prefer the King James version of, “Surely Goodness and Mercy will follow me all the days of my life.”


Here I picture Goodness and Mercy as the names of two Angels…..they follow behind me wherever I go.


Note: They are not in front or at the side. They don’t guide or direct where I should go. God didn’t make robots, He allows free choices. Yet when I stumble and fall, Goodness and Mercy step forward and lift me up……..holding me steady until I am ready to continue on.


Not a word is said.
No condemnation, no reproof, or chiding, just loving understanding.
I am allowed to think for myself. To consider what I have done or failed to do right.


Reading the 23rd Psalm I am told it all………
The Lord surely is my Sheppard and I shall not want (for anything)…..Amen.

More Water Marbling

Here's attempt #2 at water marbling! I used Essie Mint Candy Apple, OPI Sapphire in the Snow and Dating a Royal. This time it came out really watery. I think it was maybe the polish combo that did it? Or maybe I used too much polish this time? Last time I used 1 drop of each and swirled, this time I was using 3 drops MCA to start, then 2 Sapphire because I wanted more purple and just 1 drop DaR for a little blue. On my index finger the polish started sliding down the sides and pooling on the tape around my cuticles, making the swirls I had so carefully made just a blob of color. It's pretty, but not what I made. All the designs came out really undefined, unlike with attempt #1. I still like how it turned out! I'm still to afraid to attempt my right hand, I'm way to clumsy, so I took this off to wear something glittery!

Groundhog Day (February 2nd)

February 2 is a sacred day.Punxsutawney Phil is the world's smallest and furriest weather forecaster and the 2nd of February is his day! On Groundhog Day, it is said that if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of bad weather, and if he doesn't, that spring will be here soon. The legend of Groundhog Day is based on an old Scottish couplet: "If Candlemas Day is bright and