August 5, 2011

"Therefore by the grace of God I go."

Biopsy negative.

So, when I start a creative endeavour, I have to push through until completion, I can't have stuff lying around unfinished, it makes me nuts. Got off work Wednesday morning, in pain, pending biopsy results weighing on my mind, although I felt incredibly peaceful about it, I went into 'get your mind off of it' mode. Stopped at Home Depot, chose a paint color and rushed home, immediately going into overdrive, never slept until 10pm that night. In this 31 day journey to 40, one of my goals was to get my studio in order. We have lived in our new home for 3 years now, first time I have ever had my own space, and although I have been creating in it, it housed the Wii, the X-box, and became a catch all for everything 'not me'. So I announced 'Get your stuff outta my studio'! I have been working on it since Wednesday morning, paint completed that day, now going through and organizing, making it my own. My place to rest. To create. I am SO looking forward to having this space of my own as I enter into my next journey.

Blessings!

Shay



August 4, 2001

This is actually a picture from the flag that is currently hanging off my front porch. As mothers, we want to keep our children 'in the nest', protect them from the things in this world, keep them safe, keep them innocent. It's our instinct. We are protectors. But just as God created the sparrow, giving them the instinct to teach their young to fly, so must we allow our children some freedom 'to fly'. It's frightening, and we want to hold on, but have to have the faith that when we let go, everything we taught them, instilled in them, they will carry on their wings and know God is with them.

In the next few years, I will begin to experience the 'empty nest syndrome' myself. But I know they will never be alone with God and they know my nest will always be waiting for them.

Blessings!

Shay

August 3, 2011

The 'web' of this spider fascinated me, so intricately designed. I couldn't help but think of Jesus and everything that He is about, how God designed Him so intricately as well. God wove into Jesus; grace, mercy, hope, unfailing and unconditional love, beauty, forgiveness, steadfastness, trustworthiness and so much more. All these intricate details woven into His only son.

And far beyond that...how God designs us each uniquely and intricately. I don't think we can begin to imagine all that we are as individuals in God's kingdom.

I know we can only hope to be woven together as His only son was and portray ourselves as such.

Blessings!

Shay 

August 2, 2011

What if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments, or the aching of this life;
Is a revealing of greater thirst that a world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life, the rain, the storms, the hardest nights;
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Laura Story

"Blessings"

Shay

August 1, 2011

The Harvest Story

"The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the Word, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams."

Matthew 13:23

Blessings!

Shay

31 Shots in 31 Days

As August approaches, I will embark on a 31 day journey. Carry my camera with me everywhere, take a picture daily, of something that makes me stop, makes me think, moves me emotionally in some way. This is the final 31 days until I turn 40 on September 1st. I hope to be quiet, stop and watch, listen to God's voice. In this 31 day photo shoot, I hope to hear from God, take time to fully see His creation, and find scripture that correlates with each photo in my mind, getting me into the Word daily. A few others will join me on their own journeys, I hope they are blessed as well. I will post daily, except when I am in Maine for a few days, I will post a multi-day post when I return. Pray for me to see the world as God sees it through the lens of my camera.

Blessings!

Shay

A Mother's Love~

Gael

(Rebekah Shae)

I was blessed when God entrusted me to nurture and carry Gael into this world. I have been blessed again to come full circle, beginning a new journey of love and family. She is a bright and shining star in God's kingdom. Her joy and laughter fill me up. My heart is now whole, that empty space over 18 years is full again. I was overcome with emotion seeing her again, and have to admit impatience now, because I want more. More time. More hugs. More talks. More of looking into her beautiful face, her loving eyes. Thank you God, for our blessed reunion and thank you for the journey we are embarking on. My love is overflowing for her. My daughter. My friend. I can only pray that she and I will have the friendship that my mother and I have one day. God's love will build a bridge, between her heart and mine. 

Love you Gael! 

Shay