san diego trip - my favorite things

dave and i just got back from san diego.  we went for the mid-winter conference for pastors within the covenant.  for whatever reason until the morning we left i kinda wasn't thinking about the fact that i was going away - for a week - with my husband - to southern california......  really? what's wrong with me :) 

i thought it would be fun to put a top 5 list of my favorite things from our trip:

sharing the LOVE

whoo hoo!  so many fun things going on at misty michelle design i can hardly stand it!!  with that said, today we are giving away FREE "LOVE" PRINTABLES.

how fun are these cuties!  i can't wait to hear and see what creative things people come up with using them.  click here to download

ENJOY!

love you more - giveaway!

i thought it would be fun to do a giveaway [in a not so secret attempt to boost facebook visibility/traffic].  i figured if i was going to do the giveaway it would also be fun to share the story behind the art too!  there is very rarely a piece of artwork i do that doesn't have some sort of story behind it. 

"love you more".  i have done a number of art pieces based on this simple statement.  why? because i say these three little words no less than 100 times a day to my kids.  i started saying, "love you more" to luke one night several years ago as he kept telling me, "no, mamma i love YOU more".  from that evening on it just sort of stuck.  even still there are times (usually when i am trying to get the kids to bed) when a battle of "love you more" begins as we chant it back and forth to one another.  gotta love those kids and all the love we share.

so, getting back to the giveaway....i will be giving away the above 8x10 wood plaque, just in time for valentines day!  all you need to do to enter is go to my facebook page and "like" it.  i so appreciate all the support and love i have received on this new journey!

Grace and Peace!

doing my part

yesterday, i, along with many others, sat through a beautiful memorial service for a wonderful man.  today, i made the choice to do my part in living out his mantra of "whatever it takes".  after communicating with the family i made the painting, i had done earlier in the week, available for purchase.  100% of the profits will go back to the family (50% to the twins education fund and 50% to their Relay For Life team). 

Please feel free to give directly to their Relay For Life team or visit my Etsy store to view the details on how to purchase a print or plaque.  I have no idea what type of funds will come in as a result - but i knew i needed to do my part.

whatever it takes

"whatever it takes".... three simple words.  however, these three words have moved me and so many as we reflect on the life, drive, perseverance and most definitely love of a family and community. 

andy cross was a beautiful man.  he and his wife fought harder than i can begin to imagine as so many do who are fighting cancer.  they shared and lived out "whatever it takes" as they passionately lived their lives helping others, raising money for the fight against cancer and fighting with all their might through the good and bad news.  they continued to live life to the fullest and showed love deeply.  i am in awe of this family and their strength.

today as i sat down to paint - this is what came out and i wanted to share it and their story.  you can read andy's obituary here.  whatever it takes!

day 297 - caught up in the moment

i got to work today.  not on anything in particular - just started painting......

the next thing i knew painting on a piece of paper wasn't enough - i wanted to go bigger.  i did a quick scan of our craft room and saw a 2'x4' piece of 1/4" thick hardwood resting against the wall.  i grabbed it, propped it up on a chair and started using my hands, brushes, sponges to apply paint.  as i continued i didn't care that paint was dripping on the floor, all over me, my shoes and pants.....

i began the painting with nothing specific in mind and as i watched the colors fall on the board it began to take shape in my mind and i moved the paints on the board in different directions - adding more colors at whim.

by the time it was all finished i realized i ruined our floor, my toms and a pair of jeans - WHOOPS!!  i can't say i love the piece i painted, but i love that it was painted.

day 296 - leaping off the shelf

sitting in our kitchen tonight dave and i found ourselves deep in conversation.  i was doing most of the talking, sharing my concern about some of my recent professional decisions.  questioning my choice to move in this direction, blah, blah, blah.... and share an idea i had.  as i was in the middle of laying out my idea we heard a CRASH!  dave and i both immediately stood to see what had fallen.  there sitting on the floor was one of two, bride and groom, salt shakers that usually sit neatly in our cupboard.

 we had a good chuckle talking about how the "bride" must have pushed the "groom" off the shelf.  i don't know she looks pretty innocent to me!

later we decided it must be a sign about taking a leap of faith.  in the end, although it had NOTHING to do with our leaping groom, we decided to move forward with my new idea and dave did an awesome job of assuring me in my recent decisions.  so, i know i'm being vague - but this is a pretty open platform to share some pretty personal stuff :)

Day 295 - road conditions

today's post is meant as a reminder.  i have said, countless times, "oh, i'll never forget" and guess what?  i forget.  one of the reasons for blogging every day is so i can look back over the year and remember the little, the big, the insignificant, the feeling, the story, etc. of our every day life.  although i can't reveal the meaning behind the title, it is all i will need to remember this day and reflect on this season dave and i have found ourselves in as parents. 

Day 294 - when the pieces come together

i have spent more hours than i care to admit creating all of these elements with the hopes i will find the inspiration to put them together to create a collection of art.  today, i found all those pieces coming together!

the creative process for me begins with an idea or catching of a vision.  from there i begin thinking, processing, sketching.  then comes the mess - both literally and figuratively.  i literally make a mess tearing paper, getting paint all over, gluing random things together and then figuratively in that  i feel like a mess; my mind makes me crazy as it spins all of my thoughts and ideas around like they are on the spin cycle in the washing machine!  if i was honest with myself, i probably go a bit crazy when i find myself in that space :)  then, like lightening striking it all clicks, the catalyst reveals itself, the muse (if you will) awakens from her slumber and suddenly i have found myself able to bring what looks like random unrelated pieces together to create something new and unique.

i live and create for the moments where this time and space exist.  although i don't find rest in the actual moment itself, actually it means i'm about to work really hard, the rest and peace come in the memory of these times and the belief and assurance i will be in that space again in the near future.

i can't wait for the entire line to be finished.  above are only three of the finished pieces.  more to come!

Day293 - being home

this morning we decided to head into grand rapids to visit the church i grew up in, thornapple covenant.  lilly had a soccer game a couple miles away in the afternoon so we left a few hours earlier and went to church.  so much of my youth and formation happened within the walls and amongst the people who make up this church.  my family, at one time, were avid participants in the body who made up this church.  it has been years since my family has left the church and years since i had even visited.  as i approached the doors i was immediately welcomed by a familiar face and then another and another and another.  i was overwhelmed.  our kids left to their age appropriate classes and then dave and i entered the worship space.  singing the hymns of my youth, listening to the choir, and hearing a wonderful teaching about downward and upward mobility i found myself crying through most of the service.  i encountered love and God in that space.  even now as i write this i find myself welling up with tears at even the recollection.  i didn't find myself crying for what had been or even over the sentiment of my youth.  i found myself crying at the peace that overwhelmed me with the feeling of "being home".  the Lord is my refuge.  what a wonderful space to be.

Day 292 - paint, rip, draw, glue

today was filled with art!  lilly and her friend sat with me for hours in our craft room all the while working on their own projects while i was compiling a bunch of random sketches, paintings, and such for a new collection of art i have been inspired to work on.  even well after lilly's friend left, she sat and worked alongside me.  we laughed and talked and worked diligently on all of our pieces.

i wish i had taken more pictures of us working through the whole process - but i didn't.  this collection will be more collage/mixed media like and have a primitive/elementary feel.  so far, i'm not sure i have quite been able to flesh out what i see in my minds eye.  more to come, i'm sure.

Day 291 - thriller chiller

 tonight dave and i ventured into grand rapids for thriller chiller to see the debut of my cousins film cadence.  ok - i am really not a scary movie person, so i was a bit hesitant about the whole experience.  i am so glad i decided to put my big girl panty's on and go - we had SOOOOO much fun and all three short films were great!  i am so proud of my cousins and their willingness to step out and do what they love.  check out the film below

If you would like to learn more about their production company, Tell Tale Productions, click here and make sure you ask for Courtland!

day 290 - soaked through

the weather continues to be awful.  thank GOD we got our new roof when we did - i'm certain there is no way we would have made it through all this rain without experiencing further damage caused by the old roof.

luke played a game today in the cold and rain.  poor kids - i sat in the warm car.  the boys won by a landslide again and are really competing for the #1 spot in their division.

Day 289 - end of a season

the last 9 weeks caleb has worked his heart out at practices for a whopping 6 games in his season.  today was his last game, and due to bad weather it was cancelled.  what an anti-climactic way to end a season.  caleb, we are proud of you and all the hard work you put into this season. way to go!!

Day 288 - haunted mansion book report

it would seem my world is revolving around lilly lately.  as my dad always says, "every dog has their day".  lilly and i have been working hard on her latest school project - a haunted mansion book report.  we had so much fun walking all of the aisles of hobby lobby dreaming up what her project would look like.  i can't say the project went off without any drama -- there were tears, yelling, rolling of eyes, pouting BUT there was also laughing, giggling, "i love you's", "thank you momma", and creative thinking that took place too.  the end result........

Day 287 - unexpected keepsake

have you ever come across a seemingly silly, unimportant, trash-worthy item before and upon further inspection realized it was precious?!  the other day we received a circular in the mail from American Girl.  I set it out on the table knowing full well lilly would LOVE to flip through it.  little did i know this silly little magazine would become a precious keepsake...

the cover reads, "start from the back and work your way to the front".  upon lilly's request i am not posting more than the cover - but, let me tell you she went through each page with a fine tooth comb circling, making notes and highlighting all of the things that her sweet heart desired.  words do no justice to how precious each page is.  who knew we would find such a keepsake in a silly advertisement.

Day 286 - favorite dish

when you were growing up did you have a favorite dish your mom made?  i remember mine, homemade tortillas, pork chili, beans and rice.  i can remember sitting around the table and grabbing as many tortillas as we could, without getting in trouble, and putting the extra ones under our plates just in case someone tried to steal one.  i loved that meal! 

lilly has a favorite meal....chicken pot pie.  i do my best each week to put a menu together that way i am a bit more prepared and hopefully less frantic as dinner approaches AND because it is so nice to have an answer to the kids (incessant, at times) question, "what's for dinner".  this week i planned on making pot pie on friday.  the kids were anticipating it.  however, at the last minute an audible was called and pot pie was pushed to the wayside.  tears were shed, literally, by our little girl who so desperately desired the ooey gooey goodness of chicken pot pie!

much to lilly's delight we enjoyed her favorite meal today and i thought it appropriate to share the recipe...

 Chicken Pot Pie
Ingredients:
1 Pillsbury Pie Crust (or you can make homemade)
1.5 cups cooked and shredded chicken breast
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can Cream of Potato Soup
2 cans Veg-All (DO NOT get the low sodium - gross)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.  Lay pre-made pie crust in a 9-10" pie dish.  Mix all of the other ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.  Pour filling mixture in pie dish and then place 2nd pie crust over top.  Crimp edges and cut a few slices in the top.   Back for 45-60mins or until bubbly.  Let rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.  Enjoy

Day 285 - to know and be known

do you have people in your life who really know you?  after a fabulous night out with your dear friends dave said to me, "it's so nice to know and be known".  i have thought quite a bit about that simple statement and can't help but agree.

how often do we feel as though we need to be "on" or give the impression that we are something different than we really are for the sake of the company we are keeping at the time.  i am blessed, beyond words, by those people in my life who "know" me and have allowed me the privilege of knowing them.  i love you jamye and jason and treasure our friendships - thanks for such a fun night out!

day 284 - beautiful colors

the colors around here are amazing today.  we woke up to a light frost on everything outside, blue skies and incredible color.  the trees look like they are on fire.  after getting the kids off this morning i grabbed my gym shoes and bundled up to head to the lake for a walk....

we live in such a beautiful corner of the world. 

day 283 - getting the part

this morning caleb found out (via the directors blog) that he got the roll he tried out for!!!  oh my goodness - he is so excited.  the musical is the little mermaid jr. and he got the role of grimsby, prince eric's funny butler.  as we sat through the call-backs last night and i watched him and the kids and thought back to my days of auditioning and theatrical fun i couldn't help but think about all the fun in store for caleb.  great job caleb!!