December Views...I missed a few days

She (Gisele) just couldn't help herself.

December views 13,14 and 15 (I think I'm cheating)

I think that these were businesses in downtown Salt Lake City that closed down and artists made the boarded up establishments pretty. Yay street art!

December Views 9,10 & 11

I'm in Phoenix visiting family for a few days. I went up in my brother-in-law's plane for the first time today. For some reason I wasn't at all nervous.

My stylish headphones and hangover glasses.

One adventure that I can cross off of my list.

December views 10th & 11th

I'm in Phoenix visiting family for a few days. I went up in my brother-in-law's plane for the first time today. For some reason I wasn't at all nervous. My stylish headphones and my hangover glasses!

One adventure to cross off of my list.

This is the little tree outside of my kitchen door. It's been snowing today. The camera picked up some of the flurries but not all of them. I think that snow is beautiful.

I made stir fry for dinner tonight (those are tomatoes). I actually remembered to wear the cute apron that my mom made me for Christmas last year. Except I didn't think to take a picture of it.

I'm a messy cook. Who am I kidding? I'm a messy person in general. I'm going to work at being more organized in 2009.

Sitting down to blog. I read over my last posts and they seem forced, almost canned. I need to learn how to put my guard down and be vulnerable. I'm thirty four and I still struggle to find my own voice. I wonder if anybody else feels this way?...

Sooo...I bought myself a Christmas present.

I believe that when I see, hear, or read something three or more times consecutively, then it's meant for me. I think that this is one of the many ways that our Creator speaks to us.

Well, this has been happening to me all week with either the words "Let go" or "Letting Go". I keep seeing them, reading them, even dreaming them! The words just seem to be everywhere. So when I saw this little hand stamped necklace I had to have it. I went back and forth with myself trying to decide if I should buy it. I envisioned wearing it and reaching up and running my fingers over the engraving every time a bad memory, perceived insult, desire to control something or the pressure to be perfect came over me. The peace that my soul felt, just imagining that, sealed the deal. This little baby will be hanging around my neck in 5-7 days!

I like the idea of taking words or a word and making them my own. Words are so powerful. When spoken they act like seed being planted into our hearts and minds. This next year I really want to work at making sure that I'm speaking life into myself and into others. I want the right seed to be taking root. (Anybody who knows me at all knows the challenge that I've just set before myself. Sarcasm is my oldest friend!)

If you're interested in getting your own necklace or one for a loved one, check out Stacy's website http://www.bellawish.com/ She also takes custom orders.

Merry Christmas!

My new passion!

I've started creating art journals. I'm not exactly good at it yet, but I absolutely adore it. It is such a wonderful escape for me. It reminds me that I'm alive, that I have dreams and passions. You should try it!

I use a leather journal that my parents (Jay & Linda) gave me for Christmas. I had written on a few pages but it covers easily with dark enough paint. I also took decoupage and glued the pages together. This made them more like construction paper, especially with the paint on them. I'm working up the boldness to actually draw some things myself. But for now I'm doing mixed media collage. This is the last entry that I've completed. I'm going to write a poem on the opposite side. The words "Let the lover be" are from a Rumi poem. His poetry is so beautiful...

Let the lover be disgraceful, crazy, absentminded. Someone sober will worry about things going badly. Let the lover be.~Rumi