It's hard to not smile and relax while watching these. Totally agree with the name of the YouTube channel:
FUNNY ANIMALS HEALING. Check it out! :-)
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If, as Emerson says, "the earth laughs in flowers," here's some giggles from our yard to yours. :) Hope your finding joy and laughter in your garden this spring!  My Mom, Mary Anne, 25 holding me with my brothers My dear mother, Mary Anne Jakubowski, passed away in 2018. Since then, in pouring my grieving heart out to God, I’ve discovered this amazing truth. God has all the attributes of an awesome mother! Maybe that’s why the movie “The Shack” is one of my all-time favorites. It shows the character of “God” as a female mother-type. Growing up, though I loved my Dad, I felt much more emotionally connected to Mom, perhaps because we were alike in many ways-- both introspective, creative, and reserved. We were very close and until my husband, whom I met in my forties, I considered her my best friend. Although if I’m honest, she did much more listening, giving, and supporting of me than I did of her. When I say that my whole universe shifted when she left this earth to go to heaven, I am not exaggerating. It still seems impossible that she’s ’unavailable’. Sometimes I’ll see someone that reminds me of her, and startled, I’ll want to reach out and hug her or talk with them, and sometimes do. I have the feeling like she' right there, I just can't see her. If I spend too much time dwelling on missing her or I’ll fall into a pit of despair. BUT, knowing she’s alive in heaven and living her best life IS my great consolation, and the rock of hope I rest on. Because I know she’s experiencing His love, and is flying around (she always dreamed of flying) with no disabilities, a healed, whole heart, smiling, laughing, and having the time of her life with her dad she never knew, her mom, my Dad and brother, and so many more. This reality is what I must focus on now, not just for survival, but because it IS the perfect and amazing truth. The following scriptures resonate with me more deeply. Isaiah 66:13 says, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” The very God who gave Mom her delightful attributes possesses them Himself! Similarly, Isaiah 49:15 asks, “Can a mother forget the nursing child she has borne, or the love she has given to the child of her womb?” Though my earthly mother’s not here, my heavenly One is, and again offers way more motherly love and resources than I could ever return. Mom was my biggest cheerleader, always encouraging and supporting, giving so generously, always happy to see me. Hers is always the first and most beautiful face I will ever know, with those eyes of love and her gentle, steadfast, consistent compassion, delightful sense of humor, and fierce protection. Mom went above and beyond to provide everything she could for me and my brothers. It’s amazing to realize that God not only possesses those same motherly qualities, but is the author and creator of that love that HE put in our mothers for us. And for those who didn’t have a loving mother, God who restores all things, can be that mother to you. With God, every day is Mother’s Day! I also know, like me, she was a flawed and imperfect human being. How much more does God, who IS Love, display the deep, immaculate love and heart of a mother, the perfect Mom. Let’s pray: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you that you also possess all the attributes of a loving motherl. Help me use my imagination to see you loving me like this. I ask you to help me overcome fears of approaching you, and see your love for me as unconditional and fierce. Your love for me is so much greater than I could ever reciprocate. What a fathomless gift! Thank you demonstrating your great love for me by giving your Son Jesus to bear the punishment for my in on the cross, so we are one now forever. Nothing can ever separate me from your love! (And if your Mom is in heaven…) Please give my Mom a big hug for me, tell her I love her and miss her, and can’t wait to see her again!!  Mom and me about 30 years later, 1990s Happy and Blessed Resurrection Sunday!
Hope you enjoy this season of rebirth and new beginnings! More experimenting with white paper collage. These are all approximately 7-9 inches wide.
"The earth laughs in flowers."
Ralph Waldo Emerson   "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life... John 3:16  ...For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:17 I recently took a week-long online workshop with abstract artist Judy Woods (New Zealand) Pros: • Great to learn and try another artist’s process, and experiment in new ways • Judy's bonus handout on "Finding Your Visual Language’ very helpful to me! • FUN to do it with a friend and compare notes and share thoughts and experiences (Lydia!) Judy provides low-cost workshops and other opportunities to learn with her several times a year. For more info please visit her websitse: https://www.judywoodsart.work/ I did my three 'canvases' in Procreate (screenshots below).     Heart Bouquet, 5" x 5" I hope you had an enjoyable February! I’m part of these interesting online paper art groups, Guild of American Papercutters and All Things Paper. They offer lots of great resources on paper art, and on one of the recent Zoom calls, a guest speaker shared her process of working in all white paper. I’ve always admired this and finally got around to experimenting with an all-white piece myself!
My paper heart was inspired by some of the digital work I was doing earlier this month. I was experimenting with these free Procreate flower-heart stamp brushes I received from Teela at Every-Tuesday.com (below left). She along with Jennifer Nichols and Gabrielle Brickey are some of my favorite online teachers who provide free Procreate brushes, tutorials, and assets to their subscribers, as well as paid membership opportunities if you're interested, and teaching events and activities throughout the year. Many of their classes are also available on Skillshare. Delores Naskrent is another outstanding Procreate/Affinity teacher--I was a part of her online school for a year and a half. I work more in Photoshop now than Procreate (and haven't gotten into Affinity yet), but Delores offers a lifetime of experience in the business of digital art, surface pattern design, greeting cards, etc.. I also love Alaina Jensen's brushes, and highly recommend them if you want to try some really cool art effects like alcohol ink, acrylic pour, and all kind of traditional painting effects in Procreate!
Using the stamps is like having your own coloring book pages, and a great way to practice using the various brushes available! This also inspires me to create my own ‘stamps’. If you like to learn new things and are interested in a fun, relaxing hobby, check out some of these websites and the free tutorials and assets they offer and get started in Procreate. :) Like so many other art forms, the possibilities are endless!
I recently started writing devotionals. If you'd like a word of spiritual encouragement, please read on! The Most Wonderful Time of the Year? Yes, and no. Yes, celebrating the birth of our King of King and Lord of Lords-- the magnificent Lord Jesus Christ, who redeems our lives from sin and death. No, because we live in a fallen world with not-so-picture-perfect relationships and circumstances, and a mixed bag of experiences. Things seem to be amplified around the holidays. Especially when gathering with family, we have good memories and sad ones, victories and difficulties, surprises and disappointments. We’re living in a dark world, much like at the time of Jesus’ birth in the town of Bethlehem. As the lyrics of the song O Come O Come Emmanuel suggest, the Israelites were looking for a powerful, conquering King to save them, and the mystery of the Son of God being born in modest circumstances and living the life of a human was utterly unbelievable. What about our circumstances today? I used to think I was an oddball— the rare one who dealt with multiple family losses (through death, divorce in my family, or estrangement). Now, I’m finding many friends are also dealing with the unexpected loss of their loved ones as well. Some losses are more traumatic than others, but all require some type of energy and support to process through. Nothing ever prepares us to deal with death; It’s a thief and foreign to us, probably because when God created us we were never meant to die. Lest this blog post send you in a downward spiral, I wanted to make the point that it is in the very darkness that the Light-- Jesus Himself-- shines brightest, and with Him there is always hope (I Timothy 1:1). It’s in our valleys that we can become more acquainted with Jesus, the Lily of the Valley (Song of Solomon 2:1), as He seeks to draw us to Himself with his fragrant love. After numerous tragic losses, I came to find and cherish many references that refer to God as a perfect father, mother, brother, and sister (as well as best friend and bridegroom)! As the great I AM, He is all about relationships, always drawing us close to receive and experience everything He has for us. I'm glad we have forever to get to know Him! Somehow God promises to work all things together for good, even in our darkest times. One of my favorite names of God is the Holy Spirit referred to as “The Comforter” (John 14:26). Wow - a Holy Comforter! Imagine being wrapped in holy comfort! Another favorite scripture is “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 24:18. We have the promise of his nearness always, even when we’re crushed. God isn’t put off by our breakdowns or neediness, but rather He longs for us to receive and experience the overflowing goodness of His shalom (completeness, wholeness, welfare, prosperity, peace), that His Son, Jesus, died to give us. Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, reveal yourself to me. I invite you into my heart and ask you to fill me afresh with your presence and goodness. Thank you that your shed blood cleanses me from all sin. In the midst of my tragic circumstances, I receive a holy Comforter hug. Thank you that you wrap me in your arms of love and meet me exactly where I am, especially when I’m hurting. Help me trust that You have a miracle for me. Amen! Thank you that you're working miracles in our dark times, Lord. Believing wonderful things are coming your way in 2025!  If you're interested in receiving daily inspiration in your Inbox, click here!
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