Update Numero Uno

First of all - a VERY Happy Mother's Day to each and every single woman that has lived their lives as a wholehearted servant dedicated to their children. I am so thankful for my mom and everything that she means to me. I could never ask for a more beautiful woman to follow in the footsteps of one day. Sure, we've had our ups and downs and bickerings here and there - but she is, by far, the closest and dearest best friend I have in my life. To be even a morsel like her as a mother will speak words to my children AND my husband - and they will be deeply blessed. I wasn't able to spend this day in honor of her WITH her because of work / the distance barrier, but I took off work this upcoming Wednesday through Sunday so I can spend it with her (and the rest of my family, of course) and play with all of the new things we've learned in the world of art! I will put up pictures of our Mother's Day celebration in a few days. I can't wait! 

In the meantime, I must deeply apologize for neglecting my blogsite this semester. It's been pretty rough with classes and, well, life, so thanks for your patience. With that being said, I am so thankful for this semester - even though it entailed the most intense growth period I've ever encountered in my life. Some of you are thinking... "Right, 21 years... you've got A LOT more to grow and encounter." This, my friends, is so true. And as tough as it's been on my heart and even mental state, it's been sooo good. The Lord has been faithful in refining me and showing me His truth. Therefore, this has turned out to be the most beautiful season of my life. My roommate, Hannah, encouraged me to read 1 Peter because she saw my heart in it as she read it. In chapter 5, verse 11, Peter says, "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen." Please don't jump to assumptions that my sufferings entailed that of physical suffering or ridicule or loss of someone that I hold dear - rather, it was suffering from a mental state, a disease - the disease of doubt and of heartache. That - that - is a disease I would never wish upon anyone. The Lord is still in the process of healing it - but as Peter said, He has been and will continue to be faithful in restoring, confirming, strengthening and establishing me. What a beautiful promise! Through this restoration, He has brought people into my life that have been deeply encouraging - people that I have no clue how I've even lived without until this point - people who I joke around about, but truly believe that they are my soul mates - not the "man-husband-like" soul mates, but the soul mates who know your heart just by looking at your face and know to sit and listen rather than try to solve the problems. For each of you, I am eternally grateful for the confidante and safe place you have been for me. 

Now that the semester is over, I need to share with you my "adventures" since final exams. I wish I could say I travelled to great lands and stood under the most extravagant waterfalls, in awe of the One who created them. Rather, I've travelled into the depths of my imagination - which is always pretty adventurous - and delved into the interior of the right-side of my brain. First, I finished the book "Noah's Ark" by Judy Baer. Know, that if you start to get into the Chick Lit genre, you will most likely be criticized because it's a romance novel. Sure, there is a handsome hunk involved that sweeps the girl off her feet - but normally, the girl is too busy with her focus on the Savior that she barely even realizes the guy's around. If you're into the sappy retreats from reality, here's a little teaser from the end of the book - but I won't give away any names.... "I don't know how God manages these things but He knew _____ and I needed to be together and He let nothing stand in the way. It took a while, of course, and it wasn't without trauma, but the results are definitely worth the wait." I'm not much for receiving Truth from fictional books, but I sincerely believe that statement. If God intends for it to happen, He'll make it happen - there will be tough times, refining times, but when it's in His plans, it will happen. There are the cheesy statements too. The statements that classify it as those "that will probably never happen, and if it did... well, I might think the guy was joking" statements: "Norah, if I'm going to be set adrift at sea on an ark, there's no one I'd rather travel with than you." Regardless, it's an incredible book and I had a pretty difficult time putting it down - but then again, I go weak for books like this. 

I decided to do a small series of paintings called "transition" because there are so many people in my life going through... well, transitions. Some are taking it well, and others are having a terribly tough time with it. College draws in way too many opportunities for people to journey in and out of your life and I'm sad to say that there are a few special people that are - or will be - doing that within the next few months. Some are moving to near cities like Birmingham or Atlanta... and then others will be moving to the other side of the world - Hong Kong. To each of you - I will miss you terribly. I cherish you but am so proud of the steps you are pursuing in your lives. May the transitions in your life bring you joy and an abundant life in our Savior. 

And finally... these are a few sketches from my sketchbook I've been working on. Nothing too big - just a few starting steps and inspiration for the future pieces I'll actually have time to work on this summer!! Yay! 

These are some journal entries I've been playing with. Sometimes I go days without writing/drawing. Other times I can just play all day in it sporadically and do about 6 entries. No limitations. 

This is one of mine and Chase's favorite songs. Whenever we would drive long distances this past summer, we'd always crank it up and sing it in the car. It's a little hardcore but it has beautiful lyrics. Our favorite part is the "ooooooh oooh oh - can't find any way out." We harmonize. Or attempt to at least. My favorite part is "I wish I could live where the sea meets the land. The ocean and I would be the best of friends." It just fits me. 

I did this one a couple of months ago. I can't explain to you what happened behind it but I can just say from experience: 

(1) Those whom you care about the most are the ones who know how to cut the deepest.

(2) Pain can bring out the best art in people. Though there was a lot of pain within this page, it's one of my favorite drawings. It truly came from the soul. 

If you've been keeping up with the blog, you've read enough to know that I've had a few pretty rough months behind me - emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I just go to the point where I decided that I wouldn't let it get any worse. Compared to the rest of the world's problems, I have an extraordinary life - and I realize that. Without that comparison, I've been blessed and realize that I still have an extraordinary life. However, life is really tough to push through when you're dealing with doubt and broken relationships. They weigh you down like icy 10 ton blocks just hanging out on your shoulders. You get to a point where you think, "Wow. It can only go up from here." Obviously, I didn't scan in the rest of the pages because it talks about everything that only my mom and best friends know... but things are getting better. I just know it. I'm finding myself and realizing my passions. I'm finding my strength in Him. Even when I have the world pushing me to doubt and no understanding. I'm being forced to push the world away and seek faith in Him and in Him alone. It's a beautiful thing in the end, but in the midst of it - it stinks. 

My notes (revised / I didn't doodle during church - no worries) of an incredible message from church (at auburn) in December. 

I tried sushi with the guy who is teaching me how to play the guitar. Mmmm! 
  

So this one is pretty lame and shallow which is why I saved it for last. Don't judge me. :o) Sometimes, you need to write down the things that happen throughout the day that make you feel good about yourself. Or even the things that hurts you. Whatever it is, let it out on the blank pages. 

My Journal & Playlists

*For the Elsie class, she encouraged us to get a journal. I love sharing these pages with you... however I left out quite a few pages - because it's a journal, of course. I share these in hopes that you may be inspired. The first two pages consist of dialogue between a sister (in my sorority) and myself during a beauty pageant we had to attend. I don't understand the concept of beauty pageants... but that's for another day. It was a funny night though. 

*Elsie also encouraged us to define magical. These are my definitions. You can see that the left-hand page is covered up. Not to block out anything but I had messed up on a page, ripped it out and then left the page that was bound on the other side.... so it was falling out. I made do and created a little flap to hold the part of the binding together. The flap says "Armstrong Browning Library" and the quote it's covering is from Elizabeth Barrett Browning. I also have "Disney World" written on there.

 
*Jack's Mannequin
    

*My Biggest Fears

*My brother and I were talking about what we wanted to do in life. I would love to enter into the career of public relations... however, more than ANYTHING, I just want to be an artist and play all day in a studio... and make things for people that make them happy and enjoy the little things in life. He wants to do the same. Maybe not so much the artist route, but still the same idea. Therefore, we call each other "renaissance babies". 

*The last pages are a filled with a quote out of a book I'm reading called "Georgia On Her Mind". I feel like this quote defines my life... MANY nights of my life - which isn't bad. In reality, it's better to kiss hundreds of coffee cups than hundreds of guys, right?

*Finally, this is my specialty. Call me old school. I'm a junior in college and still LOVE making mixed CD's for people. If I knew my friends still had tape players, I would make them mixed tapes instead. So these are for my friend, Alex. He made me a mixed CD and although it was AWESOME, he's still only qualified as the 2nd best in my book. I made a third playlist but it didn't scan correctly. It was the coolest one too. Oh well. Enjoy! Oh - and thanks to Elsie for the inspiration for some of the doodles!