Wednesday's Walk - An Easter Brrrrr!

We just had some more snow fall last night, grrrrr. I would really like to see some warm weather head to northern Michigan, fast! I keep remembering one Easter nine years ago and then I feel a little bit better about the weather right now.

We lived further north back then. One Easter morning, I woke up to this beautiful picture outside my window. It was rather breath taking. I didn't seem to mind snow on this Easter morning because for some reason it came with a deep meaning for me. The work on the cross on good Friday...makes me whiter than snow today. His blood covers my sin. His victory over death and the grave allows me to be able to stand pure before God with the hope of life. Wow...what a wonderful message for me that cold, cold morning.

That morning, I did not mind the brrrrrr on my face as I went out and grabbed some pictures.


Easter is such a wonderful, fun time for our family. We were warm inside looking for eggs.

Playing with the treasures in our Easter baskets....
Getting ready for church...
Worshiping Jesus for who is and all that He has done! Have a wonderful Easter, stay warm and....
GET JOY!

Jenilee at The Goodwin Family is hosting Wednesday's Walk.

Favorite Art- From Da Vinci to Cassatt

Some day I want to go here and see the the amazing work of ...
Leonardo da Vinci


And then I will hop on over to here....to see some of this artist amazing work!
Michelangelo
Here are some other favs....
Raphael

Edward Hopper

Edgar Degas


Georges Seurat

Pierre-Auguste Renoir


Mary Cassatt

I hope you enjoyed these pieces as much as I have!
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Favorite Art- Georgia O'Keeffe

Just beautiful! I don't need to say anything more!
GET JOY!

You can learn about her here!

Favorite Art- Van Gogh

At the Detroit Institute of Arts I was able to see something amazing a couple years ago....

I literally nearly jumped out of excitement when I had the opportunity to see this piece in person. I know, I am crazy! Who gets excited about seeing famous pieces of art??? Me!!! Whoo HOO!

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. -Van Gogh

Did you know he was a Pk and a lay preacher???

We reproduced this piece on a wall in art class. This is the picture I helped with.

As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed. - Van Gogh

My daughters and I love this one, Starry Night!

I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process- Van Gogh.

Why are artist so eccentric?

Crazy Van Gogh... I love your stuff!
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Favorite Art - Claude Monet

I would love to have this really big painting hanging over my piano....sigh!

I just love these. When I look at Monet's art, I feel so peaceful. Don't you just want to stroll through these paintings? I think... I also feel connected to these pieces because I love to do impressionistic art. Just beautiful Monet...just beautiful.

No one is an artist unless he carries his picture in his head before painting it, and is sure of his method and composition. -Monet

Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love. - Monet

Here is my daughters interpretation of Monet's water lilies.

Mr. Monet, your paintings help me...
GET JOY!

You can read his biography here.

Favorite Art - M.C Escher

I love, love, LOVE M.C Escher. Some of his work is so creepy; but I love the mind tricks he plays on us through his art. I have a book with a lot of his work. It is so fun to look at. I think I also like his stuff because I love to do black and white, pen and ink, pencil drawings best.

He did 137 pieces and these 4 are my favorites!

Are you really sure that a floor can't also be a ceiling? -Escher

This last one is my all time favorite of his!

Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible. I think it's in my basement... let me go upstairs and check.-Escher

This quote made me laugh....

I don't use drugs, my dreams are frightening enough. - Escher

Here is his official site and you can read about him there. I could have went to see a traveling exhibit of his work 2 years ago...I didn't go. Here is some advice...if you ever have the opportunity to go see something that you love...DO IT, DO HESITATE, JUST GO! I found out his work is rarely on display because it is sensitive to light. I should have went....lesson learned.

I will enjoy his work from afar and
GET JOY!

Favorite Art - Norman Rockwell

I love art so much. The one thing that I want to do someday before I die, that is just a personal desire, is go to Paris and sit for hours in the Louvre Museum.

One of my all time favorite is American artist, Norman Rockwell. Even though he was just considered a illustrator, I find that his art came from a deep part of him. His ability to capture expression is astounding to me. His work has the ability to make me laugh, smile, cry and feel. He is truly an amazing artist in my book.

This first piece just makes me laugh.

I'll never have enough time to paint all the pictures I'd like to. -Norman Rockwell
He painted over 4,000 pieces!

Some people have been kind enough to call me a fine artist. I've always called myself an illustrator. I'm not sure what the difference is. All I know is that whatever type of work I do, I try to give it my very best. Art has been my life. -Norman Rockwell

I have this one hanging in my kitchen...it makes me smile!

I just love art, it really helps me....
GET JOY!

There is a great biography of him here!

Getting Ready for a Party....

I will post my daughters 11th birthday party in a couple weeks...come check it out! I am so excited!

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Freeing the Fat Friday - When You Want To Cry!

God's Lesson For Me
"If I eat one more bowl of oatmeal, I am gonna scream!" There are a lot of days I feel like that. In fact, last week and this past week I think I have felt the emotions of that everyday. I have had a few little things that were just really discouraging to me in the past several days that just made me want to cry.

My cousin has a fabulous restaurant that I only get to maybe once a year. They serve my favorite dessert of all time there. I was really struggling! My sister was being my personal Holy Spirit and it was making me mad. I just wanted to justify it and eat. "Come On!" I only go there once a year and I never make that stupid dessert anyway. I nearly burst into tears right there at the table in the middle of Rebecca's.

But then my irritating sister reminded me about my diabetic father sitting across the table from me and that diabetes is my story if I don't let it go. I just wanted to cry more. I finally realized after much pondering later why it was such a hardship to me...

• I was sad for my dad for my bad attitude.
• I was frustrated with my sister because she only need to lose 5lbs to my 45lbs, she doesn't understand. Sadly, I wanted to punch her. Sorry sis, it was just how I was feeling.
• I was realizing that diabetes is my story if I let my food addiction win.
• I was letting go of my love for food for the love of health.
• I was fighting self-control.
• I was realizing how far I still have to go because food still has a hold on me.

The dessert is in the picture with my parents on the paper in front of them. Just in case you were wondering, I did not order the dessert. You may say "Yeah, for Me!"; but I did not feel like I won some personal victory. I was mad and it took some time to sort it all out.

Whew and if that wasn't enough...I also found out that my scale is a good ten pounds off. I still loss the same weight. It was just so discouraging to think I weighed much lighter and then find out I actually weigh ten more pounds...UGH! That was a HUGE set back for me even though I had some personal victories like fitting into size 10 pants or being on vacation and keeping to my 1,200 calorie diet. It is funny how seemingly bad things can overshadow all good things.

I just wanted to cry and give up this week and for the most part I did. Somehow, I just need to press on. Changing your eating habits is not like a sprint....more like a marathon. I just need to keep pressing on toward the finish line even though it is still so far away. I feel like I tripped and I am all a mess. This week I am going to try to pick myself off, brush the dirt off and start running again toward the goal.

Meals for the week
I did my best to keep it at 1,200 calories...I did not gain any weight but I did not lose any either.

Exercise
Boooooooo.....none!

Food's Favorite Friends
I heart Taco Bell and their Fresco menu. It is cheep and only 150 calories for some of them and they are so good! Yeah for Taco Bell, they rock!!!!!! Now if only we had one in my town where I live!

Goals For Next Week!
Work really hard at the 1,200 calorie diet and begin walking! It is getting warmer out ...no more excuses.

GET JOY!