Karla's Korner

Driving Dangerously...

There is no way to effectively describe the traffic in China!
It was mind-boggling to say the least with cars weaving in and out of lanes,
bicycles and motorbikes driving the wrong way even in-between the cars,
and pedestrians NOT having any right of way!

People... including women and children... sitting atop cargo like this
was not an uncommon sight... but don't be deceived by this photo...
they do not always drive in this lane but weave willy nilly amongst the cars!

This photo looks like this family is taking a lazy Sunday afternoon bike ride...
but the reality is that I just caught them during a surprising lull in the traffic!
Driving a bike in China is a necessary but dangerous means of transportation.


Can you imagine taking your children on a bicycle like this... no helmet...
and no safety guard for the little girl on the back?  And this is a very busy
street even though it doesn't look like it here!  It was jaw dropping to see!

These are taxi motor-bikes just waiting to pick up a fare. 
I loved the colorful umbrellas! 
I saw many women sitting side-saddle on these not even holding on... yikes! 
We take so many things for granted my friends!!


Another taxi of sorts.
We also bicycles carrying 3 passengers plus the driver... crazy!

But this one made me LOL... Kentucky Friedn Chicken's delivery service!
No cars... just bikes!  And if you look close...
I'm thinking the colonel is looking a little Asian!  Too funny!

I'm surprised there are not more accidents then there are there... which is
a good thing.  And I'm thankful to live here where we have laws and, for the
most part, law-abiding drivers.  So next time you write in your thanksgiving
journal... you might just want to add US traffic to it!

Well... I have one more China post to share with you...
just to show you why I tagged along... so stay tuned!!

Thanks again for coming along...

Chinese and Chopsticks...

If you've ever seen any of my daughter's posts on her experiences with
Chinese foods you may have been worried for me... but... thankfully for me,
the people we were with only order food now that they know she will eat...
so I was fortunate to reap the blessing of her experience!!


I was also thankful to have a little chopstick experience before going to
China, but I confess that the rice and noodles were still seriously challenging!
Let's just say I gave our hosts, the Chinese people my daughter works with,
lots of opportunity for laughter as they watched me try! It was funny!


I loved how colorful their food was... and how beautifully it was served.
Just look at this dish... it's gorgeous. It was surprising to discover that hiding
under that delightful pile of spicy hot peppers were...


shrimp on a stick...  fried so crispy you eat the shell and all!
I cringed at the thought at first, but they were seriously soooo yummy.


I first thought this dish was pork... but can you believe it's tofu?
I've never been a big fan of tofu but this was so delicious it became
one of my favorites... that and the eggplant!


And yes... believe it or not... I actually tried chicken feet!
Funny things was though, that all I could do was nibble at it... even though
the Chinese manage to eat enough of it to leave only a few tiny bones
as seen on the right.  Trust me... it will not be a food I will be fixing myself!

Trying new foods was a real treat...
but it was the time spent at the table with Michelle's friends that was the
greatest treasure... experiencing a part of their culture first-hand...
enjoying fellowship despite the language barrier...
and sharing love and laughter that transcends differences.
I am grateful for having had the opportunity... thanks to my sweet girl!

Heavenly Father... thank you for creating such an amazing variety of foods
for us to enjoy... and an even more incredible variety of people for us to
enjoy them with. Lord, help us to love people who are different than
we are... wherever they are...to see them through Your eyes
and not our own... and care for them like You care for us. Amen.

If you'd like to see some of the other foods I ate there you can visit Michelle's
China food post for this year... yum!

Love you my friends... and thanks for joining me on this journey called life!

To Market We Go...

We stopped at an open air market... overflowing with beautiful colors...

and friendly smiles like this one... is he just too adorable... or what!
He made my day... following behind me with giggles and cuteness!
They don't see many foreigners in this neck of the Chinese woods so we
seemed to be as fascinating to them as they are to us!


Some beauty is just universal... the glory of God's handiwork!

I thought these were limes but they're not... not sure what they are.

I've eaten all kinds of roots here...
not sure what they are but they've all been tasty!

Isn't this a pretty way to display corn... all except for the flies!


I have eaten the eggplant here... and the way they fixed it was yummy!!

Our interpreter kept saying what these birds were... other then the ducks...
but I could not understand her.  Do you think they know they're on their
way to someone's dinner table?  Ouch!

 


This was too cute... he is looking at a photo he snappedof me just as
I looked in his direction... so I had to oblige of course! 

The only thing I really regret is not being able to have a conversation with
the people here.  I am blessed however that God has given me a smile that
crosses the language barrier... and the people have responded with lots of
smiles of their own. It makes me want to hug them but I don't think that's
socially acceptable... so a prayer instead...
and asking God to hug them with His love and draw them to Himself.

sharing the journey...
with love and hugs...

A Working Holiday...

We have spent much of our time at the factory Michelle works with here in
China developing her product line for her business... Close2MyArt.
It has been such a joy to watch her at work... and to observe the
amazing talent of the artists here and the pride they take in their work.


Here is one of the sculptors working from a sketch Michelle gave him.

I have so much respect for them and there craft and their eye for detail.


Once the sculpt is finished, a mold is made and a sample goes upstairs
and into the hands of the skillfull painters.


Here's that little teapot getting all dressed  up in Michelle's colorful style!


Michelle works with them on each piece until the perfect colors are in place.


It was so great to see how much they love and respect my daughter...


notice how the sweet girl on the right is holding Michelle's arm
with her head resting on her shoulder.  Michelle is so kind and respectful
of them and it shows in how they treat her in return.
That's my girl... so proud.

Breakfast in China...

I was not surprised to know that KFC is in China...
but what was a surprise was that they serve breakfast.
Michelle's friend was so excited to introduce me to congi (spelling ?)...
which is like oatmeal only made with rice and here with red beans... yum...
seriously. And also China's KFC version of an egg mcmuffin!  Go figure!

I'm having a great time and lots to share so more later!

Thank you so much for your prayers... the traffic is CRAZY here...
so keep praying my friends!!
Love and God-hugs... til later

Hong Kong Here I Come...

I am soooo excited!  I am tagging along with Michelle to China!
She goes at least twice a year and I am tickled pink to be able to
go with her and experience a touch of this intriquing culture, eat some
very interesting new food, and meet a few of the delightful people
she's been working with for several years now.
We leave early in the morning and will be there for 6 days!

And... A New Painting in Progress...


I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the progress of a painting I'm
working on.... made me think of the cosmos in pastel at this early stage...


and then I was in the mood to just play with and explore patterns...


all just random... but what about a focal point?


Oh... there she is! 
Totally unplanned... she appeared... looking like a princess!


I've always loved drawing and painting faces but usually a bit more realistic.


But exploring new styles and design is always fun!

She will have to be content to remain unfinished until I return from China.
I'm sure she won't even notice I'm gone.

Michelle tells me I will be able to blog from afar so I look forward to having
some fun things to share with you in the days ahead.

Oh yes... and your prayers will be much appreciated. 
Thank you ever so much!

Blessings and God-hugs...
Karla

A Trip Back In Time...

While in Quincy for our family reunion,
my sister Margie and I took a little trip back in time.

We first headed for Hannibal, MO... about 16 miles away...
yes the home of Mark Twain... because that's where we were born.


We discovered that many of the houses we had lived in when we were children
were no longer standing. This one is a four-plex and my mom, 2 sisters and I
lived in the upper right apartment.This is where we lived when I bit the end off
of a glass syringe and had to be rushed to the doctor who pulled broken glass
out of my throat. Mother loved telling that story. I was about two years old.


Back to Quincy... two more past homes torn down... until we came to this one.
We lived upstairs. What's funny is that my oldest sister, years later, married
the son of the folks who owned this house. It was sad to hear him say that
his dad would turn over in his grave if he saw how run down this house is now.


A year or so later we moved across the street to above this laundromat. This
is where I start having memories of my own... including when the door blew
off the oil furnace and missed me by only inches!  It's a miracle I'm even alive!


The summer between 4th and 5th grade my mom remarried and we moved
across town to this amazing house. I remember they paid $60 a month rent...
is that incredible or what?  It had a "For Sale" sign out front so I called, hoping
to take a tour, but they had just accepted an offer so it was a no... bummer.


If you've ever heard my testimony about running away from home... the third
window from the corner is where I piled up the bed sheet that I had torn into
strips and was going to use to lower myself out of my bedroom window in
order to make my great escape... so now you can see why I say it was by the
grace of God that I got caught because I'm sure the knots would not have held
and I would have most likely fallen and made a mess of myself!

I just had to include this church because it's catty-cornered across the street
from the big house and holds my first memories of hearing about Jesus at a
VBS. I can only guess that I asked Him into my heart because my heart was
tender then... but I don't remember... and when life got hard I had no idea
I had a friend in Jesus or a Father God who loved me and would walk through
those hard days with me.

But looking back now... I know He did even if I wasn't aware of His presence.
And today I rejoice that God has healed my heart and given me a new life!
This time it was fun going back... remembering the good...  and knowing God
used the "not so good" to bring me into a saving relationship with Himself.
It is so true...

"...all things work together for good to those who love God,
who have been called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28

Heavenly Father... thank You for loving us and calling us to be Yours.
Thank You that You do work ALL things together for our good and Your glory
and for knowing that You are with us always even in the moments when we
feel so alone. Father... of all the memories we have stored up... may the
memories of what You've done for us be the ones we hold onto. And may we
always remember that You never leave us or forsake us... no not ever! Amen.

Amazing Creativity at CHA...

If you want to be inspired with amazing creativity...
CHA is the place to go!


An overall theme was mannequins...
because they were everywhere... large and small...
all dressed up in paper... paint... jewels... yarn... anything crafty!


Believe it or not... these are all paper... and I'm so sorry my photos
don't do them justice... they were EYE-CANDY GORGEOUS!!


A rep with this company... DCWV...
told me these took months to create... just for this show!! I can believe it!


Exquisitely designed and detailed and...
all made from sheets of beautiful scrapbooking papers...
who would have thunk????


This is one uber-talented designer... I wish I could have met her!!


I was told that the ruffles were created by soaking the scrapbook papers in
water... this must break down the sizing in the paper... letting it dry
overnight... and then using a curling iron to create the ruffles...
fyi just in case you want to make your own ruffled paper dress!!!

As I walked the show... what touched my heart was the AMAZING CREATIVITY
that we have inherited from our Father... the ULTIMATE CREATOR.
For some it comes easier than others but we all have a measure of creativity
in us because of Who our Father is... it will just look different as it flows
from each unique vessel... whether through paper or cooking or writing...
or whatever calling or passion He's given us.

I just hope you are using some of yours today... and thanking Him for it!

I will share more on my weekend later...

Love and God-hugs...

Art Styles and CHA...

I'm getting myself ready to go to CHA this weekend... that's the Craft and
Hobby Assoc. Show held in Los Angeles.  I went a couple of years ago but this
time I'm much more serious about finding out if I fit anywhere in that industry.

I've been working on a portfolio to take with me and thought for today
you might like to take a peek at a few of the 35 pages. 


These pages represent a few of the art styles I enjoy doing.  I've always
loved the detail of pen and ink... and hand lettering.



I only started playing with collage... and acrylics... a little over a year ago
and it is very much a playful style... and very expressive.


My daughter Michelle was a major influence in my art journaling.  It's such
a great way to doodle and be creative purely for the fun of it... now I just
wish I had more time to do it... maybe after the house is finished.


And then there's what I call Classic Karla... the traditional style that has
filled many of the pages of my books and many of the hearts of my readers.

I know that not every style lends itself to crafting...
but I still think it's important to let a potential licensee see the possibilities!

I plan on adding a few more pages as well because I want to photograph and
take some of my more handcrafted items like the most recent purses and a
maybe my sculptures... you do remember Esther, don't you?

I am praying for God's favor.  I don't know if I will find a place to fit in that
market... but He knows.  So I will go in faith... believing He is the One who
opens and closes doors and I will trust Him to lead me in the way I need to go.
So if you think of me... and would like to see my art made available
in the craft world... please say a prayer for me... He hears and listens!

I'll keep you posted... but for now I must get back to work!  Much to be done!

Blessings and hugs...


PS... I am thankful for the huge response to my Valentine freebie....
Sorry to those who missed out... I'll make it up to you another day...
and do hope that some of you will reciprocate the kindness with a photo of your
own creative craftiness using the Valentine download!!
Love you!

Checking In...

Since the internet at camp is a bit sketchy,
Cindy and I came to town so I could bring you this little update...


This was a very welcome sign to see last Thursday after driving
a whole lot of hours to get here...

We’ve been here one week now and have had a wonderful time of resting,
reading, and playing on the computer for me...
and fishing, fishing, and fishing for Michael.

It’s been great to see old friends and make new ones...
here we are at a camp potluck with Toni, Cindy (Michael’s sister), Michael,
Ellis, and Kerry (Cindy’s husband). Trust me... there has been no lack of fish
stories and boatloads of laughter!


And speaking of fish stories... here is a grand and glorious one that is true...
our friend Bob... who lives here on Vancouver Island... caught this 83 pound
halibut just yesterday... just look at that smile!!  Michael caught a 25 pound
halibut but still hoping he might get one of these whoppers too!


And almost every day has closed with a sunset as beautiful as this one...
a spectacular reminder of the One from whom all blessings flow... and to
whom all my thanksgiving goes!!  I am grateful for this break from packing
and moving... but just as eager to get back home, get it finished and see
what adventures God has in store for us in the days to come!

I'll try to check back in a few days... blessings to you...

xoxoxo
Karla

Taking a Much Needed Break from Packing...

We're heading north to Canada for Michael's annual fishing trip...
and a time of resting and refreshing for me...
truly a much needed break from the move!

Most of our furniture is out and he house is all clean and ready
for the appraisal in the morning... trusting the Lord for the outcome!

So we'll head home in about two weeks to finish moving out and
see where we go from there.

You're going to love this...
ecause we won't have landline phones after we move and our internet
is part of our phone service, we bought a MiFi... which is a like a WiFi
card which is allowing me to write and send this blog to you while
we're driving north on I-5... I LOVE it!!

I won't be using it in Canada though... too spendy but I think the store
there has internet so I'll catch up with you there!

Blessings and hugs...

Karla

Taking Creativity On The Road...

Before we left to go camping last weekend, I just had a desire to take
something creative to work on that I wouldn’t normally do at home...
and so I did... 

Can you quess why this pen and ink drawing might be so different than all
my others?  Oh just wait til you see it fully... so much fun!

This is as much as I have done so far so I think I’ll leave you wondering!! 
If you think you know though you should leave me comment...
we’ll see if you’re right!

This verse... "happy are the people whose God is the Lord!" is one of my
favorites.  I think because it reminds me that when we stop for a moment to
consider who our God really is... to really know Him... and reflect on all He's
done for us and what He has planned for us... the things of this earth will
grow strangely dim... and we can't help but be happy.  Do you agree?

And do you remember my traveling art bag?  I love it!!  And... I never leave
home without it now... at least if I'm going in the camper. So once we
settled in... out came the paints and this is what I worked on...

I love the colors and the sweetness of it...

And here you can see where I started adding some yellow ochre shading.
I'm almost done and plan on sharing the finished cross with you tomorrow!

Search me, O God, and know my heart.
Psalm 139:23

xoxoxo
Karla

A Weekend of Discovery and Delight...

I hope you had a wonderful fourth of July weekend!  We usually have a family
gathering to celebrate the fourth and our granddaughter Jessica’s birthday
but this year the family went in all different directions so Michael and I
took the opportunity to go our own little adventure!

We left last Saturday with boat in tow and headed to Potholes Reservoir north
of Pasco, WA to enjoy our fourth of July weekend.  The sun was shining but
the winds never died so we gave up Monday morning and headed south...

and so glad we did as we found this place... Skootenay Reservoir... beautiful.
Michael caught a few perch and one walleye and I got to enjoy this view from
the lawn chair while he was out fishing!

Okay... are you ready for this? Well... we weren’t sure if we were or not...
but we took Abigail with us! Oh me oh my!  Since we're planning some longer
trips in the days ahead we needed to know how she how she would fair. Let's
just say she spent a lot of time "down under"... not in Australia but under the
seat, under the blankets, under anywhere she could find!  But at the end of
our days away... we're convinced she’ll make a fine traveling cat after all!

I checked off another one of my “58 Things” before we left Potholes Resevoir...
the sunsets there were absolutely stunning and filled my heart with such awe
of and appreciation for the God of the heavens and earth!

Isn't He the most incredible Painter of Color you've ever known!!
All the fireworks in the world could not compete with the brilliant iridescent
colors that lit up the sky for God’s personal fourth of July party...
and we were blessed to be invited!!

And of course... with camera in hand... I kept my eyes open to new and
delightful discoveries to share with you!  Aren't these seedpods incredible?

I loved seeing this black bird sitting in the very top of the tree... it was
as if he was posing for me... so much fun!

And I had never seen a pelican in real life before and you know how excited
I can get over new discoveries so can you imagine my glee at this moment?
Truly a little gift from the Lord!

Michael actually got to see one come down and swoop up a fish out of the
water... right near his boat... I probably would have been so excited I would
have fallen right out of the boat!

And then later in the day... two pelicans came to visit overhead and I was
astounded that I could get the camera to focus on them... thank You Lord! 
You cannot see the black on the underside of their wings unless they fly!

Jeremiah was a bullfrog... okay... not sure this was Jeremiah but isn't this
little guy cute?  Okay... he wasn't that little but since I had not seen one
before it was a treat... especially in this murky water.


Seagulls are always a delight...

and this was the view on the way home... exquisite!

Thank you so much again for allowing me to share our journey and the beauty
of the Lord wherever we are and wherever we go!

Tomorrow I'll share the artsy part of my trip... more fun and creativity!

Land of the Free... Home of the Brave...

On our drive home today... I was able to catch this shot of one of the most
precious symbols of the land that we love...

the American Flag... and it only flies freely because of the brave men and
women who we honor today... those who sacrificed their lives for this
country... and for us... so that we can enjoy the freedom that is ours today...
Lord bless and comfort those who mourn their loss.

 Mike and I enjoyed a few days away with his sister Cindy and hubby Kerry...


We camped at Farewell Bend State Park on the Oregon/Idaho border...


right on the Snake River... don't you love those rolling mountains?


Cindy and I loved walking this tree-lined paths...


and delighted in the blessing of these brightly colored flowers.


There weren't many wildflowers around there but...


I was tickled purple... LOL... to spot a few morning glories on our campsite...


especially with my focus right now on Morning Glory Art and having just put
the free Greeting Card on for you to download...I felt like it was
a little gift from the Lord.  And don't forget... just two more days left...
so if you haven't downloaded it yet and want to... you better do it now!


We drove in and out of the rain coming home but the clouds were gorgeous...


even breathtaking at times... we were blessed... and thankful to live in this
country... even with all its problems... it's still the land that we love!

Thanks for letting me share a little of our weekend and the beauty of God's
handiwork with you... blessings and hugs...
Karla

Lord God... bless America... and draw the hearts of the people to Yourself...
for Your glory!

How Time Flies...

...and I've missed you!!  I kept thinking about you and how I wanted to
share all the fun stuff that was keeping me so busy...
but in all the busyness, there was no time to share! 
I guess that's just how life is sometimes!

I've been working on the house... cleaning out a few more cupboards...
keeping it show-ready and steadily getting ready for the day it sells.

I've also been working on some licensing opportunities that came knocking
on my door... and even though I can't share with who or what for...
these are a some of the designs and patterns I've been working on...


 

I love creating patterns... so I'm hoping that there's a company out
there who will want to take my art and turn it into products you
might want or need in the days to come!  Did you know though, that even
if a design is chosen by a company today, it will usually be a year or more
before you would see it in the stores?  Talk about planning ahead! Whew!

The other big thing that took priority in my life was preparing to be
the speaker for the Granite Falls Community Bible Church Women's Tea
just last weekend. We had such a glorious time... God showed up...
and we were all blessed beyond measure!



This is me with their leadership team... from left to right...
Michel, Debbie, Genevieve, me, Joy, Sue, Cindy (hiding), and Becky.

I shared with them about "Blooming Where We're Planted" which is a message
we all need to be reminded of on occasion... including myself.  Every woman
received this magnet to remind her of how God spoke to her there...


Granite Falls is north of Seattle so Michael and I took the camper up and hung
out for the entire weekend... we were shown so much wonderful hospitality
we're not sure who was more blessed by our being there!

So though it doesn't seem like much... this was my life for the last couple of
weeks... but I'm back!!  Yeah!!

A Visual Gift...

I can't express how blessed and in awe I was to see the beauty of
Desolation Sound and the wildlife that greeted us there...  I'm only
disappointed to know how much my photos lack in conveying its splendor!

I am also blessed that you are allowing me to be your eyes...
and I just want you to imagine you were there with me...
the excitement I experience and the joy of the Lord...
to delight along with me in what you see... so here goes...

On our way back to land after the prawning... I could hardly believe my
eyes as we approached this island... do you wee what I see?  Incredible...

I could hardly contain myself...sea lions galore basking in the sun!!


For a moment... I felt like a National Geographic photographic...

it was glorious!!


Even sea lions tell secrets!


Awwww... is that so sweet!


And such personalities... I think he was just trying to say "hello"!

I was so surprised how much the seals looked like big rocks... I'm glad some
of them were laying on the moss or you'd have never seen them!

These cormorants had their backs to us basking in the sun... their coloring is
exquisite... talk about creativity... our God is such an amazing artist.




This was one of my favorite shots... hmmmm... can anyone guess why?  LOL
I may have to frame this one!

Love the twisty  branches growing out of rocky crags... it's called arbutus.


And once we got back to shore I discovered all these shells attached to a
concrete wall... and it was a great visual end to a fantastic day.
I may have to frame this one too!!!

I truly felt as though seeing this island and all the wildlife it harbored was a gift
from the heart of God to my heart... I was in awe... smiling from ear to ear!
But He didn't give it to me just for me... but to share with you!
So thank you again for allowing me the privilege of sharing a little bit of God's
love and creation with you... through my eyes and with all my heart!

Love in Christ and big God hugs ...
xoxoxo
Karla

A Prawning We Will Go...

I loved that Carol commented on the last post that she had to immediately
stop and pull down her dictionary to find out what prawning is...
oh a girl after my own heart!!  Well, I knew what a prawn was...

but until yesterday I had never experienced the adventure of prawning...
and I'm so glad I get to take you out to sea with me!

We spent most of Thursday packing, driving up I-5, across the Canadian
border to the ferry.  Thank you Susan for the offer to have tea in Vancouver
but we took a 2 hour ferry from Duke Point to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island
and then another hour or so to Courtenay where our good friends Kevin and
Bob live. They generously invited us to stay with them and to take us out
prawning... so... no Mama Bear... we didn't take the camper on this trip.

God blessed us with a beautiful Friday morning... yeah... and we headed
out on their boat with Kevin as our Captain and Tour Guide...
you can tell just by looking at him that we were in for a good time!!


We left land near Lund and were instantly greeted by this amazing view...

and the further out we went into Desolation Sound... even though it was
overcast... the more spectacular the view became...


and the more majestic each peak of the Cascade Mtn. Range loomed...

The water was like glass as we made our way out about 16 miles to where
we would let down the baited prawn traps in hopes of a glorious bounty...


We did a little touring around the islands... which I will share tomorrow...
before we went back to pull up the traps.  The first few traps had captured
very few but it didn't matter... look at this face...

is this a happy camper or what?  Yeah!


Here we are cleaning the little critters! Sweet success!


They are called Side Striped Prawns and they are quite beautiful with white
stripes along their sides, bold stripes on their legs and antennae and
iridescent eyes. Can you believe this is me holding the little guy? 
Okay... I confess... it did take a bit of squealing and dropping them
before I got used to holding onto them! Hey... I'm a girl... what can I say!


Isn't this a beautiful sight?  By the end of the day we had about 300 and were
thanking God for gifting us with such wonderful friends, the beauty of His
creation, and an unbelievably gorgeous day!!

Thanks for coming along... but just wait until tomorrow's post...
I felt like a National Geographic photographer and I'm so excited
to share with you what I was so BLESSED to see and experience...
a once in a lifetime... you'll be delighted I'm sure!!

My God shall supply all your needs
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

Thank You Lord for all You provide in every way... from friends who share
their hospitality to friends who come along via blogdom... from the beauty
of majestic mountains and glassy seas to the beauty of the food You provide
in such a variety of ways... and for the way You reveal Your glory to us from
the smallest of ways to most glorious... we give You praise! Amen.

Have Passport... Will Travel!

I FINALLY got my passport!!  Yeah! And just in time...


because hubby and I are heading north to Canada to visit some friends
and go prawning!!  I'll take you with me as we go... of course!


You know... it is true that life really is a journey and we are traveling through
it every moment of every day whether we ever leave home or not.
And my hope is that as I travel... whether through time or on the road
that I truly will... LOVE passionately... LIVE abundantly... and LAUGH heartily.
And I hope the same for you!

May God's love fill and overflow your heart with kindness.
May you live each day as if it's your last...
and may the Lord tickle your funnybone and bring a giggle to your life today!

xoxoxo
Karla

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

Young in Age... Big at Heart!

We've made the decision to sell Grace Acres... our beloved home... again!

But this time we're serious... whatever it takes.
We know it's God timing, so please please pray for the sale of it...
and for the family that God has already chosen to love living here...
that they would be in the right place at the right time
to find the answer to their prayers for the perfect place to call home.

So... most of my energy has been spent cleaning up and cleaning out...
that's why I've been so quiet!
And... what a blessing it was to have the girls come over and share some
of their heart... sweat... and youthful energy with me a couple of days ago.
(Michael was still in Canada so it was great to have the company... and help!)

This was Lex's muscle man look... gotta love it!


And Jess manned the hose and cleaned the outdoor furniture for me!
They love their grandma... and their grandma loves them!

Well... gotta say...
I am SO excited about taking you along with us on this new God Adventure.
We're not sure where we're going for sure but we've been DREAMING a lot!
I will say that our dream includes a CAMPER, a truck and a map of the USA!
I just know we feel a bit like Abraham when the Lord told him to just leave
the country he was living in and head out... IN FAITH.
That would be us... so stay tuned!

We live by faith and not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7

Heavenly Father... I am so thankful to know that even though I don't know
what our future holds... I know You hold our future in the palm of Your hand.
I am so excited that You... the God of all creation... have invited us...
all of us... to be a part of Your Adventure in the land.
May we all learn to trust You more and learn to live by faith
and not by sight.... in Your love and for Your glory. Amen.

Love you guys... and thank you for your prayers!
xoxoxo

A Weekend Away...

My hubby left Thursday night for his annual Canada fishing trip...
so Friday morning my sis-in-law/love Cindy and I headed to the beach
for a little fun, food and frivolity!

Our destination... Lincoln City.  Our first stop... lunch at Mo's!


Their famous clam chowder was a perfect way to start the fun!!

 
It was mostly cloudy with a touch of blue hovering just above the horizon...


but the cooler ocean air was a welcome break from the 100+ temps at home!


This quaint little quilt shop, one of our many shopping stops,
 was an inspirational treat for Cindy...

 
while a visit to the Pacific Artists Alliance Gallery, a co-op of 41 artisans,
 stirred my creative spirit. This fish was amazing and I could hear him
luring me to want to play with copper!


We stayed at The Coho Lodge where one of the perks was drinking french
press coffee made from freshly ground gourmet coffee... a first for me.
The even greater perk was that Cindy and I had the pool, sauna
and jacuzzi all to ourselves for a leisure afternoon spa retreat!
Nope.. sorry... no pics of us in swimsuits!!! LOL!!




On our hike around Devils Lake (no idea why they named it that)
we discovered flowers we'd never seen before and...


and houses we'd like to visit if only we knew the folks who lived there!


We ate at lunch at Tiki's in the historic Taft District on Saturday...


and the fish tacos were sooooo yummy good!


We also met Gypsy there and it was so fun to see Cindy get her talking
and hamming it up for the camera.


Saturday's beach walk included the fun of seeing a few sand sculptors
at work... isn't that amazing! I've always wanted to try that... maybe next time.

And I'm sure there will be a next time!
Cindy and I had so much fun together... just laughing and loving life!
And best of all, we spent some good time encouraging each other
 in the Lord because what a great place to be reminded that our God...

He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be numbered.
Job 9:8,10

Thank you for letting me share my little weekend adventure with you!
Oh yes... and I brought back a few keepsakes I want to share with you too
so make sure you come visit tomorrow to see what they are!

Blessings and hugs to you... xoxoxo...