8th Day

We are all different. But, we are all the same. If you are a human , you are connected to ever other human being alive. We all go to the bathroom, we all have to bathe, we all have to eat. We have families, we have problems. I believe the biggest weapon that the devil uses against people is to produce prejudice against one another.

Because beneath the color we are the same. My Mother is 1/2 Cherokee, and I have nieces and nephews that are bi-racial. But the beautiful thing is that God made us each so unique. If we can just look beyond the color of one anothers's skin and see inside the heart of our brothers and sisters we will be accomplishing so very much. We are the pieces of each other's puzzle. ~nita~

7th Day

Our lives are like a Kaleidoscope

We already have bits and pieces of beauty incorporated inside us, we just need to learn to draw it out. I met a woman yesterday who opened my eyes so very much. She had a neurological disorder. She shook and jerked so much that she dropped her purse and spilled the contents. My Mom and I helped her pick it up. She then dropped a piece of paper and could not pick that up by herself. I picked it up for her.

I noticed people stared at her and some were hiding smiles behind their hands. I felt a white hot anger at that. This poor soul struggling to just maintain sitting in a chair and trying so very hard not to drop anything, and then people laughing at her.

She sat by me and said ,"Thank you for not laughing at me."

I felt my throat get tight and a lump filled it . I said your welcome.

Thank you for not laughing at me. Powerful words. So many times I have been grateful that people didn't laugh at me as well when I did something. But this woman gets laughed at daily! She sat and talked to me awhile about her life and how her condition affected her. How she struggled just to eat without her food falling on the floor before she could get it in her mouth. When I left I felt so grateful about my own abilities. So many times we whine over having a bad day, and this woman has a nightmare of a day and she could still be nice to people. So many times I have heard people grip and grip about everything. I am as guilty as the next person. But I learned so much from this woman how to be grateful for even the smallest blessings in life. There is so much we can accomplish with our lives if we just try.

And, if you can imagine what you want your life to be like you can make it happen. Think about what makes you happy, and what you love, and then do it.

Click on the picture to read it.

~Nita~

How to Make your Dreams a Reality

6th Day

We have a bead shop in our town called, The Byrds and Beads.

In one of the "D's"a sparrow was building her nest. She would fly back and forth bringing bits of straw and grass and whatever material she could find. As I watched she finished her job.

She then perched herself in her finished home. I was amazed at this bird. She basically took nothing and made a home. She had worked hard and now had a place where she could live comfortably. I have learned from birds in so many ways.

You do have to work for your dreams to become a reality. They won't just come to us, we have to actively pursue them. And we can't care what people think of our dreams. I have often thrown my dreams out there before people who were not even worthy to hear them, and was bashed. I have learned you don't throw your pearls before the pigs.

Share your dreams with people who can help make them a reality. Encourage yourself daily by writing your dream on a card and read it aloud to confirm to yourself that it will become a reality. I do this all the time. I keep my dreams before me. If anyone out there has a dream they want to accomplish I am here to encourage you to do it. ~Nita~

Leaps and Bounds

John is doing better than the doctors ever thought he would do. This picture is from day before yesterday. John is being taught how to sit up by himself using his arms. It is still really hard for him to do, but look, here he is doing it!! You can tell he is concentrating really hard.

I went again today to see him and he was so happy I was there. He made me sit by him while he was getting therapy. I never got to see him on National Pirate day yesterday, so I told him a pirate joke and made him go grrrr. He laughed. One bad thing I found out day before yesterday was that John will not be coming home in 4 weeks. He will be going to another Rehab closer to home for 6 months minimum. The doctors say he has so much to re-learn that he won't be able to do that at home. But, one good thing comes out of this, I will be able to drive to see him, because it is closer to home. We didn't know coming home meant going to a rehab closer to home. John was really sad , as was I , but we talked for a long time and he realizes it will be better to learn how to take care of himself before he comes home. I am asking that everyone keep praying for John not to get discouraged. Knowing him he will work hard and get out early. Love to all who have prayed and sent cards. love nita

Sweet Bethany from http://lovefrommystudio.typepad.com/love_from_my_studio

sent me an e-mail last night that really has touched my life. Her 10 year old son prays for John every night. That means more to me than all the money in the world. I told John about it today. Bethany, John told me to tell your son that he believes that his prayers have helped him heal faster .

I have had e-mails asking for John's address at the Rehab. I am sorry I should have kept it posted on the front page, from now on I will . So for anyone who wants to send John a card here it is:

SSM Rehab

c/o John Zimmerman

room 137

6420 Clayton Road

St. Louis, Mo.

63117

Dream

5th day

I have always wanted a Craft Shack. This is one of my dreams. I would like it to be big enough for all sorts of artist to come and teach their craft; quilters, furniture makers, clay art, paper art. I would like to teach garden classes. I would also have part of the building to sell antiques. ~nita~

Psalm 46 Be Still and Know I am God

You will need to click on this to read it since the letters are in silver. This is some paper I have had awhile. I used watercolors to add yellow to the Chinese lanterns, and I used a purple watercolor wash over the whole thing.

This is the 4th day of the 21 day challenge. To be truthful I never even looked at the prompt. I left at 7:00 a.m. and I just got home at 9:30p.m. I spent the day with John. I am so tired right now I am just going to fall in bed and sleep. I have so much to do tomorrow.

John received a card from Susan from Blackberry Creek with this scripture on it. Then later in the evening I read this same scripture in a book I was looking at, it just jumped out to me. I hope it encourages anyone else who needs it. ~love nita

3rd day of 21 Day Challenge

I am experimenting with paper and watercolors. I incorporate traditional decoupage. I want to try different lettering. The small sticker letters don't show up so well. I am looking for alphabet block stamps, but I have had no luck. Does anyone have ideas on writing script, or stenciling it to make it look neater? ~nita~

John at Rehab

I went and saw John yesterday at the rehabilitation center. He was doing really good. He was tired because they have had him in therapy for several hours per day. He is making progress on his recovery. They are all surprised at his strength. He called this evening and told me he had gotten 4 more cards in the mail, he was so excited. He has his whole wall covered in them. He said he looks forward to the mail everyday. I want to thank all of you who have sent cards. It really has made a difference to him. ~nita~

Choices and Spiritual Warfare

This journal page is about choices.

And when I went to church today it was about Spiritual Warfare. The quote on the page is written with a gold paint pen, so you won't be able to read it unless you click on it.

The quote says: Choice Not Chance Determines Destiny

The scripture we studied today was: Ephesians 6 : 10- 17

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this , take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

These scriptures really spoke to me. Especially because of all the stuff that has happened lately. I feel like my faith is getting stronger. I have to trust God to be my protector and my provider. Today I thought about alot of things in church, one was that I want to be a better Christian. I want to reach out to more people. For really there is nothing more important in this world to me than serving God. ~nita~