Lucia, Lucia

I-pad could change your life...

2011-02-14T21:18:00.002-07:00

This weekend sick with the flu, two grad school classes, second grade valentines party to plan and complete, grades and comments to start digging into and Sun Valley hockey tournament this weekend. Happy Monday!

But today is Valentines day and big G got me an I-pad. Which could change my life. I will probably be on facebook even more!

Perfection

2010-11-20T16:59:00.003-07:00

I lived the best three hours today and I need to write about it. I need to know that they really happened and remember them later.

Today Madden and I went to the craft fair and then walked for an hour in the rain/ snow all over town perfectly happy and having a wonderful time. That's it. That is what I lived and I feel so lucky.

I am so aware of the passing of time and how fast my kids are growing up. I morn it frequently and I am terrified of when they do finally grow up and leave the house that a few hours like today felt like a gift when needed most.

He will be ten next month and there are so many things that he has outgrown, while we were walking on the sidewalk and he was talking about his plans to do somethings I was able to just be there with him and laugh and talk and plan.

We weren't ice-climbing or skiing or climbing a mountain or doing any of those things we normally do we were walking down the street, wet and happy.

The NOW

2009-10-09T20:36:00.003-06:00

Fall, I mean WINTER

So an update on the goals. I did ride 80 miles. I rode to Teton Village, through Teton National Park, to Moran. Then I came back on the hwy. Which was not the best, but the ride was beautiful! I went alone because it was kind of impromptu. It worked out great! Not quite 100miles, but close enough.

the 10 pull-ups...who am I kidding?

Student Teaching

I am in my 6th week of student teaching in fourth grade. I am loving this! I love the kids, and I love to teach! This is such a revelation to me! I have NEVER in my life known what I wanted to do. I just usually do whatever it is I am doing. This leads to random and seemingly unconnected life events. Except, luckily God knows this about me and he set me up with a planner husband and he knew I would just follow him around, it works.

WINTER IS HERE

Yesterday it was Fall, tonight it is winter here in the hole. We had this gorgeous, sunny, fall day yesterday and tonight we have two inches of snow accumulating. What can you do? Not ski of any kind yet, not bike anymore, so it looks like I am running this weekend. It could be worse that's for sure.

A Question...

How do you mom's get these amazing blogs written and beautiful with kids yapping in their ear? In the time it has taken me to write this daughter one has repeatedly told me what time she wants to be woken up in the morning to get on the bus for her Cross Country meet, Son has told me EVERY funny line in "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and in third grade all the parts are funny, all this and the other kid is not even here presently. It is enough to make me scream inside my head. OK I feel better now.

What else?

Winter Goals next time! I don't want to give any of the excitement away, but abs of steal might be on there.

The quote of the day...

2009-08-23T22:22:00.002-06:00

"Have you noticed all the homeless people in the world lately? That's why they have the dollar menu at McDonalds now."

I should put this into context. This was said by Addy to Madden in a very-know-it-all voice and with great conviction.

a project for school

2009-08-12T19:36:00.006-06:00

For my bachelors degree from Prescott College I had to take a class called a Liberal Arts Seminar class. This class was taught by this wonderful professor at Prescott.

For the class we were required to read the book, A well educated mind by Susan Wise Bauer. I highly recommend this book. It was really wonderful to read about how to read!

We were then asked to answere a question a week in our journals. The final requirement was a project to complete. I chose to interviews my daughters who are 11. Here are there answers.

And here is Adeline;

The questions I asked them are shortended from the ones I answered, but I really liked hearing what my 11 year olds have to say about who they are and were they want to go in life. It is very inspiring.

I will try and post the questions later this week if I think of it.

Amy and I went for a 30 mi rode bike ride today to Teton Village. It is a very flat ride, but we made it harder by dragging the BOB behind with her kids in it. That would have been a great picture if I would have thought of it.

Have a great night!

One goal down!!!

2009-08-09T21:14:00.003-06:00

So the goal of riding up the pass is GOLD!!! Amy B. and I rode up the pass today with Lee suporting us in the car. Holy Moly I am so tired!

We rode up Teton Pass to the sumit. I thought I was going to die, but I didn't. Not this time. I can't even really say if it was fun or not yet. I will let you know tomorrow! when I have forgotten.

This is what I am doing today...praying and procrastinating.

2009-07-30T12:23:00.006-06:00

This is Garrick and I on top of a climb in Yosemite. He is on the Grand today with some just graduated boys. They are climbing to top in a day. This would fall under the catagory of PRAYING

I read this blog and Bella's blog and I thought of courage. What it takes to do life. How sometimes it is survivial and sometimes it is joy. PRAYING

Cleaning...kitchen, living room.

Painting...whole house, girls new rooms upstairs. Both of these are efforts to pracrastinate.

All I really want to do is go mountain biking. Again procrastinating.

I have five classes left in my bachelors degree. This degree has spanned 12 years, three community colleges, one distance learning program called Prescott college, (Which I highly recommend) three babies, and one great marriage. WHEW! I will officially be a college graduate this winter after I student teach. Holy Shit!

I know this is a bit rambily of a post, but I have been gone a long time.

Summer goals. I should talk about that because then it is out there and I might actually accomplish them. I think I will pretend that LOTS of people care about my summer goals and they will ask me about them in the future and then I will want to have accomplished them. So here they are;

20 pull-ups (I can do 2 and1/2)

ride a century on my road bike (so far the farthest I have ridden is 35mi)

ride up the Teton pass on my road bike. I am VERY scared to do this. I almost peed my pants when I wrote it down just now.

make it all the way to the top on this trail on my mountain bike. very hard for me as I am a granny rider

OK there they are. now I have to do them.

Pray for Fatcyclist and his family, Pray fo Bella's baby (Yeah!), pray that I will stop procrastinating and get my *^%&$ school work done.

Peace friends, go out and play for me!
Lucia

Only in Wyoming

2008-11-22T21:33:00.007-07:00

I saw this on my run this morning in Teton National Park...too funny!

End of the weekend.

2008-11-02T20:18:00.002-07:00

Every week we host a "small" group. We get together with a group of people from all walks of life and talk about the bible and what God is doing in our lives. This last week we ended up talking about our families struggle with "church". Should we go, how much, is it even important. All of these questions we go back and forth on. We like our church that we currantly attend, I mean in all honesty it is a little boring and redundant, but that's not the end of the world and you could argue about whether that should even be a factor in the attending church factor.

So the conversation in our group circled around and around with people on both sides, but no one saying a firm "yes" or "no". Which is nice.

One person in our group who is quiet and thoughtful started talking about his church experience growing up in Pensylvania. He talked about the pastor who was an amazing speaker and about how the building was very historic and had lots of secret tunnels and cool things for little boys to explore. He also talked about the memories of sitting with his mom and dad and getting mints from his grandma.

I thought about what he said in the days that followed and the question arose, "What memories and traditions are we creating for our kids?"

This is such a broad topic, but one worth thinking about. Tradition for tradition sake seams futile and without meaning, so I do want church to be more than memories and good feelings. On the other hand giving our kids the gift of memories is also invaluable in fostering the growth towards whole people.

All these ideas were swirling around in my head competing with the very real fealings of, "just not wanting to go" in me. When I remembered that way back in July I committed to teaching an art lesson second hour at church. This seamed like divine planning!

So, Sunday morning I dragged myself out of bed, got the kids ready and we headed out the door with everyone protesting!

Five minutes into the second hour children's time the kids were asking me if we could come back every Sunday. And trully what I saw was not the Sunday school of my childhood church experience, but real learning about Jesus and the bible and real language being used and some good topics being discussed.

It then occured to me that church might not be so much about me anymore and more about what lessons and memories could be written on my children's hearts to carry them through their lives into their adulthood.

Peace on a rainy Sunday evening,

Lucia

The day after...

2008-11-01T08:58:00.004-06:00

I am so thankful today for so many things.

The rainy weather feels refreshing this morning and odd for this time of year, but a good day to draw and knit and snuggle in.

I feel thankful that the day after Halloween is a Saturday, and not a school day because that is just torture! Plain mean!

And mostly I feel thankfulness for my "life" friends that I have collected throughout my life.

I think of them all often and the different moments we have shared and the many things I have learned about how to do life through each of them..

The other day I was thinking about how many times in my life I have moved. I realized the longest I have lived in one place is six years! That is not a long time. We have already lived here for five years and it is finally starting to feel like home.

With all that being said I find myself on the other end of moving where a life friend has moved away from me. And it feels like a giant hole in my heart and life. It is much harder that I expected, even though we will see them a few times a year it is so very lonely here in Jackson right now.

This is also the sad reality of living in such an expensive a transitory place. People come an go a lot. I like some aspects of this because it brings in new a fresh perspectives and energy in such a small town it is like a fresh sea air, but the hard part is it can make you weary of even forming bonds and attachments to anyone and I know that is not healthy.

Book Recommendation-

My friend Melissa recommended a book to me this summer and I bought it then, but didn't have the mental space for it at that time. I picked it up again this week looking for some inspiration and found myself just soaking in this woman's words of wisdom and thought.

The book is Walking on Water : Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L'Engle. It is a really wonderful book of her thoughts on different things and her vocabulary is incredible. I have had to look up a half a dozen words already!

Here are some of her thoughts;

"It is a frightening thing to open oneself to this strange and dark side of the divine; it means letting go of our sane self-control, that control which gives us the illusion of safety. But safety is only an illusion, and letting it go is part of listening to the silence, and to the Spirit."

She talks a lot about being obedient as an artist and the idea that we must practice our art so that the art can speak through us.

"I believe that each work of art, whether it is a work of great genius or something very small, comes to the artist and says, 'Here I am, Enflesh me. Give birth to me.' and the artist either says, 'My soul doth magnify the Lord,' and willingly becomes the bearer of the work, or refuses; but the obedient response is not necessarily a conscious one, and not everyone has the humble, courageous obedience of Mary."

In other news...

I worked all evening on fixing my computer because my USB ports decided not to work anymore and I wanted to upload some new pictures. I got that fixed and then the very next day at the school Halloween carnival I dropped my camera and now that is broken! So new pictures are not to be!

That is all I have for this Fall morning!

Peace and love to my life friends!

Lucia

The Weekend!

2008-10-17T17:27:00.005-06:00

The above image is me spinning fire! This is my new hobby and was on my list of things to learn in life! It is called Poi, very fun and G. is so terrified!

It is a beautiful fall day here in the mountains. Unusually warm, golden yellow and red from the Aspen trees. It is a day to inhale deeply.

M and the neighbor boys are playing football in the yard and the girls are rehearsing there dance moves that they and 50 other 3rd, 4th and 5th graders will perform during half-time at the high school football game tonight.

Life feels so full right now.

We were talking a few weeks ago in our small group about how God fills your cup with joy. My friend said she looked up this phrase in the concordance and the actual meaning/ translation was "overflowing". So our God actually wants our cups to be overflowing with joy. I feel like that today. The blessings of sunshine, family, friends, and contentment.

Thank you Becoming for the heartfelt comment that reminds me of the importance of joy, not because of circumstances, but because of Christ's love, what an amazing reminder! You are so insightful and honest!

This weekend our town gathers at the town square to buy pumpkins for a PTA fundraiser. So unusual that the weather is so nice!

Peace in the fall!,

Lucia

I am on a roll!

2008-10-13T21:43:00.002-06:00

So now that the guilt is not allowed (thank you Heather for that wonderful reminder!) I feel like this is fun again! An I won't do anything that isn't fun!

Today was Columbus day and we had a teachers inservice. The girls went to a day of dance camp organized by the high school cheerleaders and Madden stayed in my room in the morning and G's room in the afternoon. These days are always a juggle!

The good news is though that my friend taught this inservice and she did such an amazing job that I came home and took a nap because I learned so much! The topic is my favorite and that is teaching reading.

If you can read well, or at all, you can do anything!

I work with students who are struggling at reading. They often hate it, they are often behavior problems, and they are checked out of school the majority of the time. I get them for 45 minutes a day in a small group setting and I am supposed to teach them how to be a good reader, teach them to love to read, and teach them life skills that I think are important for them to be successful in the academic environment. This is one heck of a tough job!

So back to today, the great thing about today is that it was a 100% applicable to by job as a
title 1 reading para and to my upcoming classes! A double hitter! I love those!

I start reading Methods, Language arts methods, and education for the future next week and my mentor is one of my all time favorite Kindergarten teachers in town! She was Madden's teacher and I am so excited to sit down with her and just absorb her enthusiasm and energy. Should be great!

We also had church tonight and our pastor guy was talking about work and the reason we do work. This was a good reminder for me because even though I really love my job and I really like working, I do get the jealousies every now and then. I start thinking about how I wish I was still a stay at home mom and how I really wish I was called to home-school my kids, This is a whole other topic, just believe me when I say I was not called and there is no way around it at this point!

So tonight message was that God created work to not only bless him, but to bless US as well. That we as created people need work and it is good. His reference was Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 that not only is work a blessing from God, but a gift from God.

Tomorrow is a great day to be mindful of doing my work for God and not for men.
Peace,
Lucia

I am back...I think..oooh commitment is SO hard!

2008-10-12T09:04:00.003-06:00

After six months of quiet and guilt feelings on this end I decided just to jump back in today and start talking about our life, the crazies, the struggles, and the joys!

So here is an update for the record.

I went back to school! I am finally finishing my bachelors degree from Prescott college. I will have a bachelors in elementary education with an endorsement in art. This gets me a gigantic step closer to my dream of being an elementary or middle school art teacher. Now I just need a job opening, an interview and no other candidates with their MFA's!

A and B are in fifth grade a really seem to have come into their own this year. They decided to be in different classes and they both have amazing teachers. I don't know if it is a combination of factors or if it is part of their growing upness, but they are just becoming their own people, growing in different directions, and still maintaining their wonderful "twinness". It is so fun to see and be a part of!

M.J. is in second grade and just about the sweetest little guy! He is doing so good too! Reading is a bit of a struggle, but we are hitting the "confidence" factor hard!

I am having a really amazing year at my school! I love the other ladies I work with, they are wonderful and I LOVE my kids! It is so fun to be doing something everyday that you really love!

I haven't figured out how to make art a part of my everyday, but that is a goal! I have included my creativity in my school work and that has been extremely rewarding.

G-man is doing OK this year. He started a new engineering program at the High School and I think for him when he is doing something new and writing the curriculum (so he doesn't know exactly what he is doing) he gets overwhelmed and tired and then frustrated. So, I hope things get better for that guy! He is excited about the program, it is very cool! Eventually it will be great for him.

My USB on my brand new computer is defunked, so I have to go talk to Mr. Dell and figure that out, when I can I will post more pictures!

Peace,
Lucia

2008-03-26T23:30:00.001-06:00

Well.....

Clearly I SUCK at this!

I have failed the blog test and I think I can live with that.

I might start back up again, I might not. You never know and I make no promises.

Have a great day!

Lucia

Tuesday

2007-08-21T12:14:00.000-06:00

Today is Tuesday! I hate to count down, but this is the last Tuesday of my summer! AHHHHH.

My big sister is here for the week with her two little people and it is so fun.

I was thinking about stuff the other day thinking that my life really is flying by. I turned 30 this year, which seems substantial somehow. It also feels like it is about time that I just jumped into life and did what I was made to do.

I am going to take this year and really figure out how to make a living from home and how to do what I love.

My goal for this week...even with my sister here, is to start building my website. I want one that integrates my art and my design business.

New fun coming...stick with me I will work on being more diligent!

here is my new haircut...I shaved it, fun for summer.

Lucia

2007-08-09T09:20:00.000-06:00

Good morning friends!

August already! I am not sure where I have been, but it's obvious that I haven't been here!

We have been traveling a lot and I have been working as a mt. bike guide this summer. BUSY

Also we have been working hard on our outside. So fun,

Here is our back deck which is so fun to have! I just feel like it enhances our lives so much to be able to sit out there and enjoy the warm weather. Gar did a beautiful job building it!

Today I am in bed with my foot propped up for most of the morning I am going to attempt to sit still and let my foot heal! On Saturday I ran for six hours and the next day the bottom of my foot started to hurt. It is very painful to walk on it. So today I have nothing really to do and I thought it would be a good day to just chill.

I am training for this marathon in September. It is an amazingly brutal marathon with extremely hard-core people. The fun part is is you are running this marathon with people out there who are running 100 miles and they have been running since the day before!!! It is seriously insane!!!

I think I am done with marathons for a while though. I am tired of training for them.

So the scoop on this blog. Major life changing earth-shattering changes are coming to this corner of the universe. Becoming has given me feed back on what she would like to see in this space so since she is about 50% of my readership I am listening to my audience and incorporating changes.

Enjoy Thursday!

Lucia

Sleep Talking and Apologies

2007-06-18T07:58:00.000-06:00

In true ME fashion I have to make cookies this morning and bring them around to my neighbors behind us because well I was sleep yelling last night!

"Get the F*** out of here!" was what I said (because I thought someone was stealing our pine cones!) it seemed perfectly acceptable to me for me to yell this even though our neighbors have small children, I have small children and it was 1:00 in the morning!

Oh man I can't even grantee that I will never do this again! I really could.

Embarrassing!

Have a great Monday!
LUCIA-the sleep talker

2007-06-13T09:52:00.000-06:00

Summer!

2007-06-11T08:30:00.000-06:00

SUMMER!

Yeah for Summer!

Three cheers for summer!

OK so a few blogs ago I waxed on and on about this amazing run I went on with friends and guess what? There is a grizzly bear hanging around there! Jack, who was running with us, said he smelled it. I did not know grizzies smelled, but there you go!

Pretty crazy. Pretty weird, and I am pretty darn glad I didn't see it! A friend of mine was running up there a few days later and she said she ran right by it and saw it! and this is the same bear that tracked a man for a mile! This is very scary. The trails we were on are VERY popular so it is surprising to hear this!

So yesterday a couple of us went up Philips Canyon Which was really amazing! I didn't get any pictures, but there were amazing views of the valley, amazing views of Driggs and a lot of uphill! Loved it!

In other news art school is calling my heart....the problem is there isn't an art school here, anywhere!

More later!
Lucia

Rainy, Flue Day!

2007-06-07T08:24:00.000-06:00

Yep it is a rainy/ snowy day and little M has the flue! Up all night with multiple trips to the toilette to be support, which means I will get sick soon...such is life!

Here is a picture from a few days ago, when it was sunny, of my favorite sign in Jackson. It is really old and makes me smile!

Have a great day, I will not let rain and flue slow me down!

Weekend!

2007-06-04T06:53:00.000-06:00

One of the things I LOVE about Jackson is all the amazing trails right in town!

So yesterday my running friends and I went all over the Cache trail system. Everything was blooming and we had a killer view of the Tetons.

Friday night we went to the Spud Drive in in Driggs and watched Pirates, Long and boring was my take!

Saturday Cleaned out the garage, on going in our house, and went over for a cozy fire to a neighbors. Really fun night!

We are ready for our last Monday of school before summer!

Woo-Hoo

More Oil Pastels!!!

2007-06-01T08:18:00.000-06:00

Here is some more oil Pastels fun.

I sealed it with the Utrecht gloss medium which is really fun stuff for collaging, as a sealant for acrylic paintings and it is cheaper than the golden brand (I do love golden acrylics too!)

Sorry the picture is so fuzzy.. I am still working out the camera kinks!

Bella the challenge for you in the next few days is when that beautiful baby is sleeping to bust out your pastels and do a quick pastel of your sleeping babe! Nothing perfect, just loose and beautiful!

Heather T. my challenge to you is to grab yourself a set if you don't already have one and draw/ trace/ photo copy something simple and have fun, while your new babe is sleeping!

Anybody else reading pick up the challenge and post a comment with a picture. should be cool!

CREATE!

ooooh...... Fun With Oil Pastels!

2007-05-31T19:41:00.000-06:00

So I busted out the old OIL PASTELS today and drew a grapefruit. I had so much fun playing and playing for over an hour!

I fallowed the "Tiplets" from Kal's site...check her out she is so fabulous!

6 more days left of school! Wooo Hooo

Have a great night!

Memorial Day !!!

2007-05-30T21:56:00.000-06:00

What a fun weekend! It didn't snow which was awesome and it was even hot! We were surprised!

We went climbing at one of our fav spots! It is way out in the middle of no-where southern Idaho outside of Burly. It is called City of Rocks State Park. It is beautiful granite everywhere!

All five of us climbed up to the top of Elephant Rock! So fun!

This is what I did the other morning. I really like it.

Help Me Expert Bloggers!!!

2007-05-18T17:25:00.000-06:00

OK, so here is the Friday night skinny....

I hate my blog! I want a cool banner that I made and I want to add other things where I want them!

So, help! How do I do it? Anybody know how to change my blog so I can put things where I want them?

Please let me know. I am so ashamed of my plane and boring blog!

Mom's Day!

2007-05-13T11:32:00.000-06:00

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Mom here is what is in the mail to you! A fun, tiny little painting. (it looks better in real life!)

Love you!

girls night

2007-05-10T20:43:00.000-06:00

Thursday night at last! What a great day! drinks with friends where we spent two hours talking, drinking, and eating. And then we walked around the square where, because it is after 6:00 everything is closed! So fun!

Here are the paintings I painted for H for her birthday. I just felt that she needed these words to encourage her right now. She has started on a journey toward pursuing her passions and it is so exciting to be a part of it. So I painted these sweet images for her to inspire her when things felt hard. Fun.

Tomorrow-Friday!

catching up!

2007-05-09T16:05:00.000-06:00

Just beautiful! Isn't she? I love her shinnig eyes and her bright smile! She is my introspective, competitive, sociallite who loves to read and write. She is funny and goes with the flow. A surprise to her father and I that turned us around and turned our lives upside down. Thank goodness for unplanned miracles!

One more thought for now

2007-04-22T21:53:00.000-06:00

I read this article in "Delicious Living" and it said the things I feel better than I can! So please read this.

I think it is our responsibility as children of God to be stewards of the things he gives us and the things he has created for us. And I am so glad someone has said it in a natural health foods forum.

When we were climbing last week I looked up at these cliffs in this valley and thought about what a perfect composition it was. Everything was perfectly balanced. And I thought that it seems that God must have really enjoyed creating this beautiful earth. Just like I love to make something for someone I love. It is a small thought, but a new one to me.

The more I experience God, and his love for someone like me, the more I am floored.

Spring break!

2007-04-22T21:37:00.000-06:00

We had the most wonderful time!!! Spring break is almost officially over as I write this and it feels a little hard to head on back, but what a great two weeks we had!

We spent ten days down in southern Utah outside of canyon lands in this spectacular place called Indian Creek. It has the most beautiful crack climbing outside of Yosemite that I have ever seen!!! Cracks after cracks after cracks! So fun. We had friends join us and we met new friends. It was really fun. Our kids were so enjoyable too. So many times we just sat back and watched them play together or explore the area. And all three of them climbed so well! It was great!

The desert was spectacular too! Everything was in bloom and green. This is a must see!

2007-04-02T08:36:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends,

Well I haven't touched this in a while so a good update is in order!

My project is going really well! I have gotten over my embarrassing nerves and have really had a good time with these H.S. Kids! I first had them trace or draw a picture from one of the Spanish masters they had already studied, (Velasquez, Goya, Gaudi, Dali, Picasso, and Miro) and we started to talk about how each piece would work to translate it into a tile mosaic. The next week we ripped construction paper and started gluing it onto the image, this was to get them used to thinking in terms of shape instead of lines. The did great! Last week we smashed plates, bowls, and vases. and now they are working on putting the pieces together. There was some freak out! But over all it seems to be going well. We will pour cement on Wednesday and put them together! Should be really fun... and a little terrifying!

Today is a rainy/snowy day we had about a week and a half of this balmy gorgeous weather and it was wonderful! We are back to cold now though. And I feel really tired of the snow!

This is our last week until spring break! We have two weeks of pure fun! Yeah! We are going to go to Zion national park and then on to Moab!!! Which I still haven't seen even though I have dreamed about it since I read Desert Solitaire in college! Very exciting!

That is all have a great day!
Lucia

Lessons in Teaching

2007-03-20T09:00:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I was that guest teacher in High School...remember that one? The one that sweated (profusely), rambled on, and forgot to tell you significant things about what was going on? I remember being in HS and thinking..."What is this person's problem, why are they so nervous?"

I am teaching an art unit in a Spanish Four class. We are taking a Spanish masters work and translating into a tile mosaic stepping stone. Pretty fun, but I was a wreck trying to explain this to them. I can't really remember what I said to them. they were great though, although I think it was more that they love their teacher who is a good friend of mine, so I will take what I can get!

Anyway, I better step it up, take a DEEP breath, or else I am screwed!

Pray for me, I really hope this goes well, I love doing these projects.

In other news at the Hart residence, Climbing season is here for the moment and we are ready to be outside in some moderate temperatures. That means ski season is over which is weird for here. Who knows we could easily get a lot more snow!

Hope all are well, drop a comment if you have any funny teaching stories. I would love to commiserate!

Adios,

Lucia

Little inspirations

2007-03-14T21:13:00.000-06:00

I love my half-time job! I work in a first and second grade classroom as a Paraprofessional, which means I help teach reading groups. I am always inspired and constantly amused at these little guys and their personalities. It is so fun.

So one of my little second grade boys always says, "Well, I am an artist you know."

This makes me laugh every time to hear his high little voice in my head saying this with such child like conviction.

I have been repeating this over and over this week as my mantra.

I have always been in the closet about my artiness. I can hide no longer!

I used to look at artsy girls (see bellaartgirl for examples of beautiful, cool, artsy types) and I was sure they were too smart, creative, and self assured for me. I was so intimidated.

People have often asked me, "Oh, are you an artist?" and my reply is always, "Well, I enjoy art." So, I will just keep repeating my mantra to myself, until I can easily say "Yes", without sweating too much, when someone asks me that question. =)

Letting Go

2007-03-14T09:55:00.000-06:00

How do you let go? When do you step in? and when do you step aside? These are questions I am wrestling with.

Am I doing my best? Am I working as hard as I can to be a good mom? Doubts are the hardest for me. They run through my mind over and over.

They are so precious to me and I feel so blessed to be a part of their life...Being a mom is hard!

Good Morning

2007-03-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

Good morning friends!

Happy first day of March! My sister in P-Town said her crocusses where blooming! That means spring. Here, well, I have cut tulips on the kitchen table that I bought at the grocery store! The only other sign of spring is it is above zero! Yeah!

We are all doing great here. Today B is going snowshoeing in Grand Teton National Park for school. When I get home sick I will think of that!

I took some pictures of my kitchen and the view from the upstairs window. We aren't fortuneate enought o see the grand from our house, but we have some pretty hills to look at, so it will do!

My parents came to visit for a few days and that is always fun. It does still get lonley here in the middle of the country, So we love it when people from Oregon come! Start planning that trip Heather T!

I was thinking again about God's grace and the ripples it has caused in our lives. We are finally really plugged into a church that we love and making some really great friends.

I keep wondering where I and my family would be if I hadn't said yes, hesitently, to Jesus way back in 8th grade? All the amazing blessings I wouldn't have seen, or I would have said it was by chance or fate!

Knowing me and my propensity to want to try EVERYTHING I can tell you for sure I would have many deep regrets (more than already exsist) and many experiences I don't need.

Just some thoughts on the power of God's mercy.

Lucia

Answered Prayer!

2007-02-27T21:07:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for your prayers!

The update yesterday was they did get a continuance from the court! So praise God!

This will give the lawyer a chance to prepare the case!

Please keep this little one in your prayers over the next few months!

prayer requests

2007-02-26T08:16:00.000-07:00

Dear faithful friends,

I have a prayer request for a friend's sister this morning. My friend's Mother is in court today hoping to get full custody for her 5 year old daughter. The father is molesting this little soul and at every turn the court system has sidded with the father and not the little girl. My heart is breaking for this brave mother who keeps fighting for her daughter and Ali a little five year old who in a big voice is telling anyone who will listen what is going on.

The father is trying for full custody too. Please pray that, that specifically, will not happen.

I think as a mom one of the hardest things to face would be a situation like this where you are unable to protect your daughter. Where you have to leave her with someone who is hurting her. I don't really understand what is going on there in that court system that this little girl has not been heard, but please pray that today this judge will hear her.

Thank you Friends,
Lucia

Life Lessons

2007-02-14T17:33:00.000-07:00

God has been teaching me amazing things.

I don't really know where to start so I will just jump in. I am not a great writer or organizer of thoughts.

I started drawing at church services this Monday night. Most of you who know me, know how ADD I am. Church has always been hard. And then you throw in singing and I am really lost. It is not often that I am really inspired by singing I am just not good at it. In fact it is painful!

So, for the first time, I drew in my journal, among strangers.

Duh Duh Duh Duhhhhh!

It was terrifying. I was literally sweating. What if, What If, What if. Would people stare, would they want to look, would the snarl?

But it turned out to be wonderful, for the first time, in maybe ever, I was tuned into what was being said up front, what the songs were saying, and more importantly what Jesus wanted to say to me. I am thrilled.

I have been devouring the book called "Creative Call" ( it is on my list). She talks very frankly about the gifts God has given us. I have heard that God gives us gifts since I became a believer, but I never imagined God was talking to me and talking to me about my art! Art has always been a guilty pleasure, a distraction. Something more to hide and be embarrassed about than something that I could use to celebrate and worship Jesus.

This news is revolutionary to me.

Since learning this my mind has spread wide open. Suddenly, my time painting is important and worthy. I feel set free. I feel affirmed and I feel created with purpose.

Also, this focus has taken the rejection fear away. You don't like my work? Well, it's not really for you anyway! Yeah I hope people enjoy it, but its intended audience is love and Grace.

Please read this book, It is so wonderful to see what ever your creative passions are there is a reason and a purpose for them.

God authored art and created the artist. It is time well spent.

In Love,
Lucia

Febuary Art Every Day

2007-02-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by other bloggers to try art everyday so I picked February as the month I would begin. My goal is one month, so we'll see. I have set aside a specific time everyday and I have asked my family to respect this time when I am in my studio as a Do Not Disturb time. I am excited about this venture.

I would not call this my favorite piece, but it felt so good to get paintbrushes back in my hands and move some paint around.

Oh the mud that was created!

Here is a picture of my palette. If any one has any suggestions for better palette management I would love to hear them.

This is an icicle hanging off of our neighbors roof.

It looks like fingers...cool!

Saturday morning!

2007-01-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

Saturday Morning! I love Saturday morning. Especially sunny Saturday mornings when G is off Ice climbing. It means I get to get up slowly make some coffee and some sort of yummy creation. and then do what ever I want for a little while... until the day really starts. I have decided that this day does not really start until 10:00.

Last night Hubby and I were talking about how much we love this house that we spent so much of ourselves on. It is fun to be on this stretch, the end where we know the house is livable and warm in the cold winters. and everything works! what a relief.

There are also all these little imperfections in our house that I might be so frustrated by, but I am just not. It is wonderful. I know the reasons behind each of them and I love the house more for the memory of it.

It was also so refreshing to my spirit to see how God walked us through this. We really had no idea what we were doing, but at every turn God provided someone for advice, services, or just support. And some amazing friends who traveled to help us! Wow!

I love that about God. It is tempting to think that the creator of the universe might not be interested in the little things that go on in my world, but then I look at our front window and door and it is clear, God orchestrated that, because I sure didn't think they would look that great together! We bought the window at one bone yard at the beginning of the summer and I liked it, but thought it might look odd, or out of place because all our other windows were plainer. Then three months later at a different lumber yard we got this beautiful front doorfrom their bone yard. When we finally installed them, a month later, I was floored to see that the arch in the window perfectly compliments the arch in the door. I totally did not see that. I smile at his love for me every time I think of it.

I wanted to say to Bella if you are reading, HD called me yesterday with the news! I cried! God is so good. I am thinking of you and your family today! I know you are enjoying W's first full day on this earth. What a marvel! Rest my friend. Love you! Send pix as soon as you can!

Well 10:00 is approaching fast. I must shove off!

Lucia

Ice climbing

2007-01-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

This is behind the local K-Mart one sunny day last winter.
Granite hot springs this year.

Two different climbs on different days in Teton Canyon.

house pictures

2007-01-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

This is my first posting!
All summer we built our very first house!! And the biggest accomplishment... My hubby and I are STILL talking and we even like each other! Miracles, Miracles!!!

This first picture is of the fam on our lot in June.

I hope you enjoy our work and more on this blog later!

Little M working hard! The Trusses, big day! Yep that's my guy!

before the roof. Our favorite roofers!

Closer! Our first snow!