Karla's Korner

Have Faith... With God All Things Are Possible!

I feel so blessed to share my first traveling inspired image with you here!!

The first night at Lake Billy Chinook, shortly after we arrived, I spotted a
quail sitting on a fence only a few feet away.  I wanted so much to
capture it with my camera but unfortunately the camera was in the camper
and I knew if I moved to go get it the quail would take flight so instead I
sketched it on a scrap of paper and captured it's essence in this painting.

As I created this image, I thought about how this little guys feet... as tiny
as they are... are planted firmly on this branch keeping him steady even in
the winds and rain.  It reminded me of how the Bible tells us to stand
firm in our faith. But that kind of unwavering faith is only possible as we
believe and hold onto to the truth that "with God all things are possible." 
Otherwise the winds of doubt, deceit and unbelief can blow us into
whirlwinds of depression and despair. 



I've just finished making a few magnets with this image... you can find
them in my Etsy Shop... and I'm looking forward to
offering this image as a print and as 5x7 plaks very soon.



So may your faith be encouraged today to look heavenward and rejoice in the
fact that with your God... nothing is impossible!!

Blessings and hugs...
Karla

Have Art Bag... Will Travel

God knew I would need a way to carry my art supplies on the road so...


once a month I am privileged to meet with a group of artful women who
inspire me in so many ways andjust a couple of months ago we talked about
how to organize your art supplies for traveling! These two gals... Teri and her
niece Janene brought their traveling bags for show and tell... WOW!


Michelle and I were so inspired... and it was such perfect timing for me with
our camper travels coming up... that we headed straight for Lowe's
after the meeting to buy our own traveling tool art bag. They didn't have any
black ones the right size so we bought these intensely blue bags instead.
Trust me... I would never have bought blue without Michelle's influence...
convincing me that we could paint them and make them so cool!

That night I went over to Michelle's studio... we emptied them of their tools
and even cut out some of the center dividers to give them more room inside.

And then came the paint... do you recognize this green from my studio trim?

Whew... it was so nice to at least get the blue covered that first night!!
From then on it's been adding more color layers and bits of trim a little at a
time during spare moments... and I love the pom-poms... so fun... so me!

Michelle gave me this little felt flower she made... love it... thanks sweetie!


I added a vintage brooch on the other side... gotta love the whimsy of it!!


Still not finished... look at all those empty spaces crying out for more arting!


But for now... filled with a perfect selection of my own personal art supplies

and set on top of a turntable for convenience and easy access to all sides...
it was and is the PERFECT TRAVELING ART BAG to go with me wherever I go!!

Thank you Michelle and all the girls from my Art Group who have inspired me
to be creative in ways I normally wouldn't!!  You are God's gift to me for sure!

Our First Camper Camping... We LOVED it!!

Thank you all so much for your comments about the camper makeover...
and thank you for your prayers and blessings... I kept thinking
of all the things I wanted to share with you along the way... so here goes!

We left Thursday late morning... we were so excited!!

We hadn't made it very far when our brakes began to make noises... yikes!
My husband assured me we were fine... which we were... but being a girl...
I couldn't help myself and confess a bit (or boatload) of fear off and on.
It was a little unnerving at times but God kept reminding me of my husband's
mechanical know how... and He also reminded me of how many of you were
praying and that He had heard every prayer!!  Thankfully faith won out!!

We arrived safe and sound at Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon early evening and
it was already getting chilly so I set the table for having our first company...
sister-in-law Cindy and her hubby Kerry... over for dinner!  We also
celebrated Kerry's birthday that night... so thankful to have them in our lives.


Can you believe it???? We awoke Friday morning to SNOW on the ground!!


Laughable for sure!!  God's sense of humor I think!! But oh my goodness...
were we ever thankful and glad to be in our toasty warm camper
and not in a tent!!  Thank You Jesus!!


I spent my mornings inside the camper staying warm... reading and arting
or just hanging out with Cindy... while the deer grazed in the field outside
the dining room window.


Thankfully the snow was momentary and the days warmed enough to enjoy
being outside.  Kerry got sick with a stomach flu so we stayed close to the
campground but each day Cindy and I took walks near and around the camp-
ground delighting in God's handiwork. Above is Mt. Jefferson... to the east...


This is Mt. Hood to the north...


And the northern mountain of the Three Sisters just south of Mt. Jefferson.
These mountains are majestic and speak of the majesty of a mighty God!


From the hugeness of the mountains to the intricacy of a blossom... I love
exploring close up and I was on the search for patterns and texture in nature...


seeking to truly see God created designs and exquisite repeat patterns...
and they are everywhere around us if we take the time to stop and look close.


I may not be able to name them... but I love examining their layers...


or delighting in the silhouette of their needles against the sky.


From the odd looking but fascinating...


to the delicate and delightful.


Sadly... between freezing temps, windy weather and Kerry not feeling well...
the guys never got to take the boat out on the water and no fish were caught
but.. Kerry got to feeling better, we had safe travels, LOTS of LAUGHTER and
GOOD FOOD... so we all agreed that we had a GREAT TIME...
and it will forever be a fun and fond memory of our very first God Adventure
in our new home away from home.

Thanks for coming along and letting me share my adventure with you!!
I pray that today... wherever you are that you will stop and take a close up
look at the beauty of God's creativity in nature... a flower,  a leaf, a budding
branch... and be in awe if only for a moment... beholding the glory of His
handiwork and thanking Him for sharing His beauty with us.

And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--
trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.
Genesis 2:9

xoxoxo
Karla

Going, Going, Almost Gone!!!

Whew... it's been a whirlwind around here this past week... and I have
missed visiting with you!  I've been so blessed hearing from so many of
you though... thanks for sharing in my enthusiasm about the camper!

But before I go... Even though I'm not totally finished... I wanted to share
some AFTER photos.  Now you'll have to look at the last post to see the
BEFORE's but I think you'll be surprised with the transformation.

Much less brown... much more bright and cheery!!


My hubby is so smart... he used carpet tape to secure the utensil holder
and soap dispenser... and magnet strips to hold down the coffee pot!


I'm so blessed to have a hubby who doesn't mind a whimsy here and there.


Hmmmm... does anyone recognize that art... perfect fit!
And notice the red panels up above... nice switcheroo!


I still have to do the curtains in the bedroom and bathroom but that will
have to wait... because we are going, going... almost gone!!

Don't you love how even a camper transformation can remind us of how God
can transform our lives from dark and dreary to bright and cheerful. It brings
such joy to my heart to see how a little creativity and loving can make such
a huge difference!  Just think about how much joy God gets as He lovingly
and creatively transforms our lives!!  Thank You Father for making us new
creations in Christ Jesus!!

Okay... I gotta share... what I didn't realize with buying the our home away
from home... and you're going to laugh... was that the camper is
like a truly a second home and must be furnished... bedding, towels, kitchen
everything, etc... which requires thinking, planning and shopping... and
shopping... and more shopping.  I'm not a huge fan of shopping so I'm glad
this week is over and we are almost on our way out the door...
and down the road!!!  YIPPEE... YAY!!

We won't have internet access where we're going but I look forward to sharing
the highlights of our first God Adventure with you as soon as I return!

Lord bless you my friends... and may you enjoy your own God Adventure
this weekend where ever you may be!

xoxoxo
Karla

WE GOT IT... #2 of 58 Things!!!

We finally found the home of our dreams... our camper home that is...
and I'm so excited about it!!

I thought I'd give you a quick tour... starting with our bedroom...
the doors to your right is the fridge... the door on your left is the bathroom.

the height of the ceiling in the bedroom is the reason we ended up buying a
newer 2001 model.  The older models... which we really wanted... do not
allow you the room to sit up in bed and if we're going to spend time in here...
we needed this space to serve as a separate room... and I can already see
myself sitting in the bedroom working on my laptop... sweet!!


This is our closet with mirror doors... good thing I'm not a clothes hog!

Our kitchen... with the showroom flowers!  I see simplify in my future!

Our dining room... with the showroom table setting.
I'm so excited about brightening up the place so  the next time you see it...
those brown cushions will be GONE... GONE... GONE!!!  I can hardly wait!!
I already have the fabric and you're going to LOVE the new look!!!


and last but definitely not least... the bathroom... small but SWEET!!!
No more going outside with the bugs in the rain in the middle of the night
to go potty... yippee... yay!!!  Thank You Jesus!
And believe me... I am thanking Jesus for the blessing of
finding this camper that just fit inside our alloted budget.

And even more... I'm so excited to see where all He's going
to take us... even though for now... with the house still not
sold they will have to be short trips close to home.

Our first one is planned... we are going with my sister and
brother-in-law to Lake Billy Chinook to celebrate Kerry's
birthday... I would say that's a good way to start our God
Adventures... with a celebration of life!!

Thanks for letting me share... I'm so excited...
but I know you can't tell!!

Bless you my friends... and keep your eyes open for whatever
adventure God has for you today... even in the ordinary
everyday moments of life!!

Standing on the Promises of God... Magnet!

I once met a woman who literally placed her Bible on the floor and then
stood on it while boldly declaring that she was standing on the promises
of God!  While I'm certainly not advocating that you physically stand on your
Bible, this imagery does give us a great visual of an important spiritual truth.
And it also prompts the question... what is the foundation of your faith? 

I created this art as a reminder to check my own heart on occasion...
especially when I feel myself drifting into discouragement or doubt...
to question if my hope.. or lack thereof...
is based on anything other than the person and promises of Christ?

 
There is a peace that fills our hearts and minds when we trust God and I
love how this peace is reflected in the face of this girl... she reminds me
that I too can have this peace as I stand with the feet of my faith firmly
grounded on the foundation of God's promise! And the same is true for you!


If you'd like this little magnet for yourself... I just added it to my Etsy Store. 
If you'd like it to give as an encouragement to your friends or
Bible Study group, I've created two listings with discounts for buying
multiples to hopefully help with the budget.

As you consider where your hope comes from...
I pray you are encouraged today...
because God's promises are sure and He is always faithful to His Word.
May your heart be filled with peace as you stand on the rock of God's Word!

xoxoxo
Karla

Baltimore Sunrise... #21 of 58 Things!

When I wrote #21... photograph a sunrise...
on my "58 Things" I want to do before I turn 59 list...
I imagined myself walking or camping in a beautiful outdoor setting...
not standing inside a crowded Baltimore airport!  But I'm not complaining...
I love how the window created this ethereal effect!







It was a beautiful blessing to end a wonderful weekend!
I had the privilege to be the guest speaker for an incredible group of women.
It was evident that God was there...
and I know lives were touched and hearts were changed in His Presence...
and some of the women went home different then when they arrived!


Thank You Lord for Your Word and Your love that transforms lives!
And thank You for all the wonderful women who showed me such love
and kindness while I was there... bless them Lord!! 
And bless all my blog readers who prayed for me and this event...
their love and prayers helped pave the way for You to move in my heart
and the hearts of the women there. Let them know they're loved..
by You and me too. Amen!

Hold On Journal Page...

I've had so much fun with this page and it's not finished yet!
Can you tell I love pattern and design... AND God's Word?


I want to be like this girl... holding onto the promises of God...
letting them be my covering as well as lifting me up above my circumstances.

Today I need wisdom to make a big decision and I'm holding onto James 1:5-8.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all
without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must
believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea,
blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive
anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

I memorized this promise years ago and it has been such an encouragement
to me... especially the part about "without finding fault". But it is a
conditional promise... and I'm reminded that if I really want God's wisdom
I have to believe...without a doubt... that He'll give it to me... and I am.

Thank You Father.. that we don't have to wait until our prayer is answered
or your promise is fulfilled before we get to soar in the heavenlies with You.
Thank You that it's the hope You give us that lifts us up and fills our hearts
with peace and a confidence that cannot be shaken. Lord, forgive us
for our unbelief and give us fresh faith to hold onto You today...
in Your love and for Your glory! Amen,

What promise are you holding onto today?

PS... please pray for me as I prepare for a women's retreat this weekend
where I will give three messages on Savoring Moments of Joy!
Thank you and God bless...
xoxoxo
Karla