Why I Paint

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.

Topic: Paint

This past weekend Mouse and I with her friend spent the day at the art Museum, more on that next week. But this week The topic is paint and it fits so well with what is in my heart lately. I have come to realize I am made to create. That is where I find comfort and peace. It's where I find inspiration and beauty. It's where I find me.

I was never the painter in high school but this past year or two I have really wanted to follow in my Dad's foot prints and learn to paint. One of the amazing things with painting (art in general) is being able to create beauty from nothing. The blank paper sits there waiting for your hand to add life to its pages.

Not that this is the best example of work bringing life to a page, but it's what I have been working on, color washes in watercolor. In my mind I wanted to re-create the foggy mornings in California when the trees were shrouded in fog.

Its not the outcome but the process that fulfills me.

~ Cassi

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What is a Writer

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.

Topic: Writer

What does it take to be a writer? Does a blog make a writer? Do you have to have a desire for a book? 

What if you don't? Or is a love of words and stories enough? No that's not enough. Then what is it.

Is it a combination of all of those? Is it enough that I know my story needs to be told. That all womens', moms', daughters' stories need to be told. That we have let the next generation know our lives. To share words with each other, to learn from, to be lifted up from, to encourage one another. 

And that I know makes a writer, a sharer of stories and words. 

~ Cassi

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Joy in Family

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.

Topic: Joy

 

I love my job and I do love to work outside the home. But my job is not what brings me joy. It is my family that brings me the most joy. I surround myself with pictures of them while at work. To remind me that I work so we can afford to do what we love to do. What brings us Joy.

Whether it is surprise date nights of pizza and breweries or nights out to the theatre. To be able to travel both near and far. To bring joy to this little one.

 

And reminding myself that it is not always things out of the house that bring joy, but the little things to, like curling her hair for a big day at school. Or quiet nights cuddled on the couch.

 

~ Cassi

Choosing Mom

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.

Topic: Choose

I was not a parent kid. You know those kids who want their parent at all their functions, to help in their class and take them places. Yeah, those kids, that wasn't me.
But I parent one of those kids. It comes two fold. It makes my heart swell with love that she thinks so much of us that she wants us there by her side in all things. Not just us but Grandma and Grandpa, her whole family if they can make it.
At the same time I start to realize how it must of hurt my parents that I was so distant as a tween/teen.
As she asks me to please still teach confirmation when I get up to that grade, please still run the camp when I get there, please come to this or that, tears well my eyes. For I know that this will not always be the case, she will one day say Mom stay home.
I am just glad that right now she chooses me.
~ Cassi

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The Small and Not so small

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.

Topic: Small

These two, they have a bond like no other I've seen.
My small child and her monster cat.
Who she named well, Frankenstein.
She's had this cat since he was born and she'd go to my parents neighbor and pet him and his momma.
Since the day she brought him home he's been at her side.
She will call to him at night and he will come running, just to lay by her side.
The love between them is crazy for this "non-attachment to pets" mom.
But it has been so amazing to see them grow together.
And to see she is finally bigger than her cat.

~ Cassi

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A story to tell

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.

Topic: Write

Today's prompt couldn't have fallen on a better week. Wednesday, I wrote about the hand-lettering class I am taking and how we had to pick a quote that meant something to us. My quote: "We all have a Story to Tell."
We do, you know, have a story to tell.
Years ago, I wouldn't have thought so. My life its pretty average. I didn't have a huge crisis conquering event. I don't have a religious conversion story that transforms lives.
But then 10 years ago I had a child and while on bed rest, I worked on our family history and the stories our ancestors had. I loved find tidbits and snapshots of their lives, their story.
But I still didn't feel like I had a story of my own.
Then the fires came and I had a story to tell. A redemption story.
But it was from that story that I realized, I had a story to tell.
A story of the mundane, the average, the 'some days I feel like I am just getting by'.
The story of me, the one I want my daughter to hear. The story of us, the one that helps a friend get through the fires. The story of her, that brings comfort to another Mom struggling to just get by.
We all have a story to tell, so go tell yours. We want to hear it, we really do.
~Cassi

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Holding out for a Hero

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.

Topic: Hero
"Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods
Where’s the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds"

I hope I am not the only one who reads these topics and thinks in song lyrics.

And I think about our trip last weekend. Mouse got to see many of her fictional heroes; Harry Potter, Captain America and Thor.

She's young and idealistic, her world is still filled with heroes.

Will it stay that way? When she is ready to look for love, will she still seek the ideal?

"I need a hero
I’m holding on for a hero ‘til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong
And he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero (hero)
I’m holding on for a hero ‘till the morning light (‘till the morning light)
 I hope when she moves into a relationship she still looks for hero qualities. No, I am not saying that she should have a screwed sense of relationships that there is someone who is perfect out there.

Because there isn't a perfect anyone.

But that is what makes all these heroes so great isn't, their vulnerability, their flaws.

I do hope she holds out for one

"He’s gotta be sure
And it’s gotta be soon
And he’s gotta be larger than life (gotta be larger than life)"

I hope he is sure and strong, in all the areas that matter; faith, loyalty and love.

I hope she holds out for the one God has planned for her. I pray...

"It’s gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet"

 

~ Cassi

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Power of Words

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.

Topic: Encouragement

 

"They've made me feel like a prisoner
They've made me feel set free
They've made me feel like a criminal
Made me feel like a king"

 

This is from a sing a song at church that rings so true, it's called "Words" by Hawk Nelson.

Words can be our greatest encouragement or our greatest weapon.

 "They've lifted my heart
To places I'd never been
And they've dragged me down
Back to where I began

Words can build you up
Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart or
Put it out"

I want to be one that puts a fire in people's hearts. To teach through example to my child that words are meant to encourage and lift up. That the wrong words have a lasting effect. How many of us remember those words, words that still eat at our insides.
 

But what if we gave ourselves new words. Words that brought Truth and Life.

 

"Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

You can heal the heartache
Speak over the fear
  God, Your voice is the only thing
We need to hear"

 

This year my goal is to write more to get the stories out that are in my head. But to also speak words that heal heartache, speak over fear. Because it is scary to say the words, in a society that says criticism and lies are the norm, it takes courage to say words of encouragement. Words of His love.

 "I wanna speak Your love
Not just another noise
Oh, I wanna be Your light
I wanna be Your voice

 I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You"

 

Here is to a year of words.

 

~ Cassi

 

The picture is from a class I am taking on SkillShare on hand-lettering. The quote I am working on says "We all have a Story to Tell".

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How we see

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.

Topic: See

My mind works in swirling lines and snapshots. I see in drawings, paintings, sketched lines on textured paper. That is my world's view and how I see beauty in creation.

Her mind works in thoughts and conclusions. She sees in chemicals, test tubes, microscope and reactions. She sees God's miracles in forming crystals and mini-volcanoes.

Sometimes those views clash. Crashing into one another as we try and show each other the wonder we both see.

So we try, she loves going to the art museum with Mom and I make more time for science.

And some days are to worlds are combined for the perfect project.

 

~ Cassi

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I am Worth It

This past month our Pastor has been giving a sermon series on our identity, titled "I am Worth It". It has been a great series reminding us on who we are in God. That we are worth the gift he gave us this Christmas season.

It is such a good reminder for the holiday season. We are given the best gift long before we knew we needed it. I pray that each of you knows how special you are to God. It is hard to remember to teach that to Mouse during this busy time of year. But so worth the time.

She is the one in the black sweater above in the church's Christmas concert last Sunday. They did such a good job. I wish I would have remembered my camera, blurry iPhone photo will have to make do.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend leading up to the holiday season. I will be taking next weeks off from blogging to focus on the Gift.

Blessings to you all and see you in the new year.

Remember it's Fridays time for  InstaFriday.

~ Cassi




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Birthdays now

Fridays time for  InstaFriday.

I love birthdays!! It's the one day a year we truly stop and tell someone their life is important to us. It's so powerful.

When I was young I loved the event of the birthday but as I have aged it has become more and more about the people.

Steve teaches Awana Wednesdays at church so we spent the night before my birthday curled on the couch with Mouse. Just watching TV, nothing special just together. The Mouse presented me with her gift.

Three hearts, it's us she said pointing to each heart with who it represented. It's lovely. 

On the day of I spent the night with my parents for dinner and shopping. Nothing special just being together, it was fun. 

The Saturday we'll all go out to lunch together. These people who mean the world to me stopping to say it back, love!

~Cassi

Too soon for this

Fridays time for  InstaFriday.

This week has been a plethora things that I wasn't ready for. 

Like the snow that came in full force here.

Pretty yes, in time for Christmas yes, painful commutes Yes!

This week also brought me the dreaded flu, though I am still trying to say it was food poisoning.

Mouse thought I needed something to cuddle in bed with while I was home sick. Yes, home sick, on my second week of work, too soon to call in, but I had too.

 

Now we are at below zero temperatures for the weekend, I am so not ready for this.

I hope all of your weeks have gone better than mine.

Here's to feeling a hundred percent next week.

 

~ Cassi

So Thankful

 Today, I am thankful for my family, friends, health and my faith. Thankful for a husband who takes a day of to shop with his wife.

 

For days cuddling with my small nephew and toddler smiles.

 

For quiet nights with family, just being together. 

 

For Aunts that stand in place for Grandparents at Grandparents day. She is such a gift to our family. Mouse loved showing off her "Crazy Aunt Gail".

 

Thankful for parents who are healthy and doctors who know what to do. 

~ Cassi

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Watch you fly

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.

Topic: Fly

Girl with each passing day you grow more and more independent. Your love for life is contagious to all you meet. It makes my mommy-heart proud to watch you. 

You are learning to spread your wings and testing the wind. 

I can't wait to watch you fly.

I pray your path will be straight but I take comfort in knowing God is in your life. That He will catch you when you falter. 

You my little one will soar far. 

~ Cassi

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Stand in the Truth

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.
Topic: Truth

  "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong."
1 Corinthians 16:13

 This past weekend I attended a training put on by our church conference. Parts of it was great. I got to worship with friends I rarely see. I was able to learn and by taught by my Pastor and others I normally don't get to hear.
Then things went a bit off. The conference let a group do an alternative worship training. But they used adapted scripture to fit their needs. I was confused and up set by this. So I did the only thing I knew I talked to those Pastors that were there and that I looked to for spiritual guidance.
They agreed with my assessment.
This brought to this point, the part I haven't done yet. I need to write to the conference and explain my issues and concern with what was taught.
I need to stand firm in my faith.
I will stand firm in the TRUTH.

~ Cassi
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Teaching Grace

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.
Topic: Grace

This year I am teaching the first year confirmation class at my church. Above is their journals I have asked them to keep this year. I told them that it's hard to remember God's love and grace through out our days.

Because...

I know most days I don't. I remember frustration, anger and sadness. I remember this.

I forget to remember the good, happy and grace-filled moments. It's so easy to let life just slip by and not reflect. But when I take the time to reflect, pray and remember grace,

my life is filled. Even during the frustrating, hard moments grace is there to fill us back up.

 

~ Cassi

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Working on Together

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.
Topic: Together

Steve and I both work outside of the home, between that a side business and an active 10 year old, live gets busy. We weren't very good at carving out together time before. Now we have realized we have to make it a priority, otherwise it doesn't happen.

That means we have to look for things to do together. Last weekend we took Mouse to a haunted mystery walk through a local historical site. It was cheesy and not that great but she liked it. And that to me is all that matters. She loves history, so finding things to do that embrace that is key for me.  

But it's not just finding events to go to. It's also carving out dinners together between work and volleyball and conferences and.... It's making a point to be together, showing her and each other that we want to be together. It's essential.

I hope it fills her heart and Steve's as much as it does mine to see these pictures, pictures of together.

 

~ Cassi

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Celebrating and relaxing

I've talked a few times about Steve being laid off this summer, well we finally have good news. He got a new job this past week. Praising God for this.

This past week my brother and his family moved into their new home also. 

Which means in the past few days our lives suddenly when back to normal.

So, we celebrated with new wine from Apothic wines. Seriously so good!! It's a limited run so go grab some soon. Then we just hung out at home with no worries or stress underneath the current of everything else. 

We also did some other stuff, that we can't mention yet. Mouse and Steve are making the most out of their last days together before he goes back to work. And now he can do those things without the worry that he should be looking for a job or not spending money or all the other things that people worry about.

We also are starting to get back into our projects so you will see more DIY posts coming up.

As for this weekend, we are surprising Mouse tonight with a historical reenactment and mystery tour. She is going to be so excited.

I hope you all have a great relaxing weekend too.

 

~ Cassi

 

Join up with the other Instagrams for  InstaFriday.

Take your everyday, ordinary life...

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.
Topic: Ordinary

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." ~ Romans 12:1-2 (The Message Bible)

I love this line " Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking."

It is soo true. I will lay it before. I will stop and think. 

I will feel humble in my offerings to him. I will think about the sunsets and realize he is amazing.

I will think of my child and wonder at her future. Teach her that it's not about what culture says it is. 

I will not think of us as ordinary but as blessed in God. We will be mature in his Word.

 

~ Cassi 

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Written Words

Fridays I fluctuate between Five Minute Fridays and InstaFriday. But we are all community here, right? They can be combined into one post.

So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from this week that match the words of this week.
Topic: Write

I don't consider myself a writer. Grammar, spelling, prose have never been something I have excelled at, but I am here writing.

I am a reader, the written word inspires me. So I draw them out in detail, giving vision to the words that have stirred my soul.

I long to sit on the shores and write. Write in words that inspire. Write in words that draw a picture of what I see, feel and need to say. But the words don't come.

My pencil finds the shapes to other's words. But still I try...

Trying to find words to match the pictures in my head, camera and drawings.

Words to match my heart

 

~ Cassi

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