Friday Arts: You've Got Mail

I love You've Got Mail's protagonist, Kathleen Kelly.  Always have and always will.  


Every year, right around that end-of-summer going into fall time I have my inaugural You've Got Mail viewing.


Last weekend was no different.


Is it the enchanting Shop Around the Corner?  Little Kathleen and her mama twirling about? The protagonist's quandary of losing her shop only for new dreams to be birthed?  Is it the budding romance and build up until the very end?


I don't know.


I just know I love it!


(And so should you).


So go sharpen some pencil's and make your bouquet!


Inaugurate this summer's going into fall season with a weekend showing of You've Got Mail. You won't be disappointed!

Friday Arts: Sanctus Real, Get's Real

Today's featured artists are the band Sanctus Real. I was introduced to them through Mocha Club.  I do some volunteering for Mocha Club every now and then and it just so happens Sanctus Real has been one of the sponsoring artists at both events.

This fall at their show, out of all the songs they performed from their new album,

my heart did a double take when the lead singer, Matt Hammitt, introduced the song "Lead Me."  His vulnerability and courage were refreshing as he shared about his own struggles and sin as a husband and father.  He modeled true strength as he openly confessed his weakness and told a story so many relate with.  

Music not only transports us and articulates the human soul in a way few things can but it has the ability to call something greater forth in us....Sanctus Real did this with "Lead Me."  

What I love about the song is the picture it paints of a wife's tender strength in calling her husband out of hiding believing he has what it takes to lead her and the family.

Lovely and powerful!

Listen in and enjoy.  Have a great Friday! (I'll paste the lyrics below).  

Air 1 - Sanctus Real "Lead Me" LIVE from Air 1 Radio on Vimeo.

I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling
But on the inside, I can hear her saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're in independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love,
Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this our home
Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Friday Arts: F.C. Shaw of Sherlock Academy Series

This is her debut novel

Well I am quite giddy about this week's guest artist.  It is none other than my beautiful, creative, and inspiring sister-in-law, Farah Shaw (otherwise known as FC Shaw), and her book series, Sherlock Academy!

The way I recently described her series to a friend is, "think Harry Potter only sorcery is replaced with mystery. Sherlock Academy reintroduces readers to the wonderful world of Holmes & Watson and a new generation of crime solving sleuths--and a quirky lot of folks they are!"

Now, here's a little more about the lovely author.

Farah and my brother visited London last spring for research.  

 

FC Shaw has been writing stories since she was eight years old. While she pursued teaching as a career, it was always her secret wish to write and publish someday. With the encouragement of her husband, she pursued her secret wish. Last summer, she debuted with her first children’s mystery Sherlock Academy. This summer she introduced her sequel called Watson’s Case. This children’s mystery series is geared for middle readers (ages 8-11 years old). FC Shaw is currently writing the third book in the series and is busy with author visits at elementary schools.

The most recent addition to the series

For more information on Sherlock Academy and FC Shaw, visit her website www.sherlockacademy.com or email her at sherlockacademy@yahoo.com 

 

Friday Arts: Tanya's Layers

Today's Friday Arts guest blogger is my roommie Tanya.  Enjoy her work!

Me as an artist:

I have never taken an art class but enjoy painting and mixing colors together. When I began painting I mainly did flowers and recently I have started painting beach scenes and symbolic items. These two painting are examples of my most recent types of paintings. 

Hammocks beach scene:

This painting is a very relaxing one. I spent two years living in Mexico City and each year I spent a week in the state of Oaxaca at the beach towns. This painting takes me back to the weeks I spent in Oaxaca because we often took naps in hammocks while enjoying the sounds of the ocean.

Symbolic Crown:

There are a few hidden words and two verses that were my inspiration for this painting. The verses are Philippians 2:5-11 and Hebrews 4:16. A few of the words are "dreams" "hope" and "ability." The thought behind the painting is that of laying all the things in my life that I would be proud of or want to wear symbolically as a crown before the Lord. It causes me to remember that ultimately Jesus is the one who gave up all the power and rights that he was given when He walked on the earth and became nothing so that we could receive grace and mercy whenever we need it.  

Friday Arts: Michael's Doodles

Meet my brother, Michael.

Last week I was visiting my brother Michael and sister-in-law Farah at their home in Santa Maria.  As we were all chatting in their office, Michael was about his usual antics... fiddling here and there, finding this and that, and doing yet another creative project (there are usually several happening at once).  


As I was talking to Farah I began to laugh out loud as I caught my brother out of the corner of my eye, "Farah, I wish you could have seen Michael when he was a little boy.  Just picture him exactly how he is only smaller." We looked over at him sitting on the floor, cutting out papers, organizing photos, and taping fervently on a frame board.  "Just picture that only 5 years old, with X-men cartoon playing and a couple of chocolate chip granola bars nearby."


All that to say, I have said and will forever go on record as saying, my brother Michael R. Shaw is a creative genius!  He teaches, writes, paints, sketches, designs, had a blog before blogs were cool, publicizes, creates plays....


That said, he is our artist pick for this Friday.  Hope you enjoy his fantastic doodles as much as I do.  You can follow him (and his wide variety of "doodles" at www.igmasterw.blogspot.com, go back and read some of his entries when he was writing more...hysterical. And his movie reviews dead-on.)

I picked a random grouping of characters.  Go to the blog to meet a lot of other random peeps! (I feel you could spend hours making up short stories about each one).

 

 

Friday Arts: Matt Wertz

I haven't really featured a musician yet so I thought this would be fun for Friday Arts.

I was introduced to our artist of the day, Matt Wertz, by these guys.

Good stuff.

So much so that we decided to go see him live.

We caught his show in Orange County.

And I got to meet him.

Nice guy.

I was especially interested in a song he had called "That for You" (which, ladies, kinda sums it all up that a guy can never be that for us. God wants that position.) We got to talk a bit about that and I told him I wanna put it in the book. It's in the chapter about dismantling the idol of a man.

Ok back to Matt's music.

Since that show I've become a fan of his work and a charity for Africa he and other artists promote (see my blog sidebar for Mocha Club: Wonderful & Practical).

On that note, I think he is a great summer listen. He even has a whole album "Under the Summer Sun" that you should be blasting on those trips up Highway 1 and on the 101 .

Now get off the internet and back to the beach....Enjoy!

And here's the one I mentioned, "That for You"

Friday Arts: Guess What? I Met a Great Artist in Tahoe

Let me attempt to create the illusion for you that my family is a yuppy, highly-refined, artistic bunch. Well one word out of three works...

We are artistic.

And so everytime we go to Tahoe we go visit a lovely little gallery at Stateline.

They happen to carry some amazing pieces and the gallery never seems to disappoint.

Enter John Mark Gleadow.

BRILLIANT!? Right! Books...books...and books. Look how flawless it looks! Like a photo. This is just one piece, he has dozens! (and a special one my sister-in-law and bro bought but that's their story to tell).

We were all intrigued by his work--the simplicity yet brilliance of it! (and by simple I DO NOT mean easy rather the simple beauty of how it juxtaposes fine art, story, and nostalgia).

So please check out his work www.johnmarkgleadow.com

He's a humble guy and while talking to him it slowly leaked out that what makes his work even more extraordinary is (ready for this?) he is colorblind.

Yea, you heard me right. He went to school for engineering and mid-education switched to fine art. (I am telling the back story here to set you up for my theory about his unique skill set). The way he is able to create accurate shades is by creating a grid on his pallet, thus perfecting where to go for what color. That said, I still think it's a modern day miracle! You'll see as you look at the vibrancy of color in his work.

So now I'm curious...if you could commission John Mark to do a painting for you what 7 books would you pick?

Friday Arts: Art that looks so good you just might wanna eat it!

Today we have a special guest blogger, Lindsay Snyder. Besides being one of my best friends, Lindsay is a beautiful soul with a knack for food! (see why I keep her around...smile). Truly she embodies the phrase "food for your soul." You can follow her blog at www.lindsaysoulfood.wordpress.com

This strawberry pie is my most recent masterpiece. My own piece of art, and it was delicious!

My name is Lindsay. I love to cook and bake. It's always been a favorite past time of mine. Just being in the kitchen provides such a creative outlet for me.

I'm not sure when my love for food started. I think it's always been there and I know it's always been growing, especially this past year. I didn't realize how significant cooking, baking and creating was for me until I was unable to do it these past few weeks. I was busy, I'd been traveling and was unable to get into the kitchen. I really missed it. I was finally able to get back into the kitchen today, which is why I created this pie, and it felt like I was home. When I am creating in this way, it just feels right.

For me, it all brings great joy to my soul. I believe this is the way God's created me. I love getting to plan and prepare new dishes. I also enjoy getting to bless others with what I create. More than anything, this is what truly brings me the most joy, allowing others to be blessed by the work of my hands.

A few months ago I decided to create a blog. It's called soul food. (www.lindsaysoulfood.wordpress.com)

I created it because I want to share my adventures on this journey with food with others in hopes of both inspiring and encouraging. I encourage you to take a peek at my blog. I hope you like it!

p.s. the recipe is on Lindsay Lou's blog

Friday Arts! "Rooted"

This is a small, mixed media canvas I did after a women's small group. We were discussing the joy of being transformed from the inside out through love.

I decided to put the fruit on the bottom to symbolize that a strong root system established in love will always blossom but it may take a while to see it on the outside. The important thing is that the roots are growing deep.

Ephesians 3:17-20 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁷May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,

¹⁸That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];

¹⁹[That you may really come] to know [practically,through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

²⁰Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--

Friday Arts: Anne of Green Gables

Anne Shirley.

Is there any character more delightful? (Ok Elizabeth Bennett is a close second or tie).

Last week, something kept gnawing on my heart as I half-heartedly plowed through another book... Anne. Anne.

So I made the little trek back to my local library and checked out Anne of Windy Poplars, by L.M. Montgomery. (I'll admit it that the book jacket's description nailed the choice in the series for me, "More than any other 'Anne' books Windy Poplars is the love story of Anne and Gilbert." What can I say, I needed a little oomph in my romantic hopes!)

I love Anne's winsome heart, playful rabbit trails, and delightful diction:

"It's dusk, dearest. (In passing, isn't dusk a lovely word? I like it better than twilight. It sounds so velvety of shadowy and... and... dusky.)"

"Rebecca Dew is 'around forty' and if a tomato had black hair racing away from its forehead, little twinkling eyes, a tiny nose with a knobby end, and a slit of a mouth, it would look exactly like her. Everything about her is too short... arms and legs and neck and nose... everything but her smile. It is long enough to reach ear to ear."

"I wended my way to the graveyard this evening. I think 'wend your way' is a lovely phrase and I work it whenever I can. It sounds funny to say I enjoyed my stroll in the graveyard but I really did. Miss Courteloe's stories were so funny. Comedy and tragedy are so mixed up in life, Gilbert."

What I adore about all the "Anne" series is the permission Anne gives herself to "simply be." Reading this lively character's adventures gives me the courage and gumption to more fully embrace life--all the little dramas, funny characters, life lessons both big and small, and afford myself the grace and dignity to be a learner and observer in the school of life, like Miss Anne Shirley.

To Anne, may we all live a little more with her zest for life and liberty 'to be.'

Cheers!

Friday Arts: Family Summers

I did this mixed media piece 2 years ago, just a couple months before I packed up my room and drove the moving truck back home to the Central Coast. I'd been gone 10 years and the time just felt right.

It was the beginning of June, my favorite time of year, and summer was in the air. My heart lingered back to old memories....

. . . long summer days at the Foxenwoods Country Club swimming and laying out for hours by the poolside

. . . enjoying Santa Maria world renown strawberries with spongy shortcake and whipped cream!

. . . eating grossly oversized scoops of ice cream dripping down the cone.

. . . Pine trees and emerald green waters reflecting the cool calm water of Lake Tahoe on family vacations.

And all these memories involved family.

The little art doodling was a reminder to me that I was making a choice to move toward family. Sure there was a cost leaving friends and a big city, but the rewards and the new memories made were gonna be worth it.

So now it's early June once again, 2 years later. The nostalgia still lingers here, but new memories are being born.

Some involve places of old, we'll be going back to Tahoe in July.

Some are new, Vancouver this weekend!

But you know what? It's not necessarily the big family events or vacations that stand out, though memorable, it's the little things...

Unexpectedly dropping in on my niece and nephew to be greeted by ecstatic little faces, fogging up the front window, "Auntie Sue! Auntie Sue!"

It's my Mom & Dad waving me good-bye and blowing kisses each and every time I drive away (much like my Grandma and Grandpa did when I was a little girl).

It's having my Aunt Diane drop in on a whim at Starbucks just because she loves me, misses me (cause she hasn't seen me in over a week), and can't wait to catch up!

It's driving with my sister Katie on errands and actually enjoying the experience cause I get some mommy in-action time with her. Here is my little sis, all grown up, savoring the little joys (and moments of annoyed aggravation) with me and her kids.

It's getting a text from my brother Michael and his wife Farah, that they are in town "toodling" around and let's meet up.

It's my lingering walks at night scouting out neighborhoods envisioning where my sister Lisa and her hubby may one day live with their precious baby girl.

Ahhhh....Summer Days.

Oh and by the way, I've had a pint of of strawberries a week!

So, how are you gonna enjoy your family and friends this summer?

Friday Arts: "Pregnant Desire" (mixed medium)

I hesitated.

I remember when my bro-in-law saw this art piece for the first time. His first response was, "Cool, I really like the font and design on that!" Then..."You may want to put that away before the guys come over for the party."

Smile/Sulk

This was me "putting it out there." One of those times where so much hope and longing was being awakened I literally felt pregnant with desire.

Sometimes though I confuse the HOPE that fills me with getting my desires met right away.

Case in point. When I painted this I had met someone who really intrigued me.

And as the story goes, he turned out not to be good for me.

But that doesn't mean the desire and longing expanding within was wrong, rather whom my heart was tempted to attach to was misdirected.

That's what is so tender about H O P E.

When we choose hope we are saying my longings aren't something to kill, rather something to open up to, expand in me, carry me...

I live in this tension. Wanting to kill my heart to longing for fear of disappointment (this of course is self protective) verses opening my heart and bringing the longings to Jesus (if I don't do this the greater risk comes from pretending it's not there and where my heart may wonder to try to fill it).

And so I'm learning to bring all of my desires, longings, hopes, disappointments, frustrations, you name it, all of it to Jesus.

Laying them at His feet. (well, it may go more like, here you go, wait can i have that back, oh okay you have my good, here you go again)

This is what "Pregnant Desire" is about, the call for us to live with hearts full of longing and hope for more, faith for what is unseen, and abiding trust in the Good Author who writes the best story for each one of us (even when, for the moment, it may mean hope deferred).

How is your longing and hope being expanded lately?

p.s. spend some time in Hebrews 11 and let it expand your vision to HOPE

Friday Arts!

Well here we go....day one embarking on Friday Arts! This will be something fun to take us into the weekend--art, music, film, books! I'm giddy with the possibilities (o;

This week's art form is FILM: The Tale of Despereaux.

In the far away kingdom of Dor . . . lived a brave and virtuous mouse with comically oversized ears who dreamt of becoming a knight. Banished from his home for having such lofty ambitions, Despereaux sets off on an amazing adventure with his good-hearted rat friend Roscuro, who leads him, at long last, on a very noble quest to rescue an endangered princess

and save an entire kingdom from darkness.

Loved it! A classic fairy tale with a twist (a courageous little mouse who defies the odds by not giving way to fear and instead rescues the princess and the Kingdom from darkness!)

What I loved about the film (and the apparently incredible original author) was the underlying message of HOPE throughout.

H O P E for RESCUE (the princess),

H O P E for RELEASE & HEALING (the king from grief of a lost queen),

H O P E for LIGHT & RENEWAL (the kingdom that was banished from celebrations and lived in darkness)

H O P E for a NOBLE QUEST (little Despereaux who was told to tame his courageous heart and settle for a mundane existence)

H O P E.

Each character throughout the film must live with it, wrestle in it, question it, but ultimately let it lead them, opening their hearts anew.

I also loved the word choice the narrator used to describe the Princess' quandary, "she was one with longing." And what needed to be protected and fought for was keeping this beautiful maidens heart open and alive. It was an important element to the greater story and the freeing of the kingdom.

Sound familiar?

And strong, little Despereaux doesn't shrink back from her heart or the mission to free the kingdom. He regularly reminds himself of the greater story which requires him "to be a gentleman of courage, honor and truth."

The kingdom had lulled itself to sleep by letting go of joy, desire, hope, dreams and settled in to a life of cowering fear and loneliness.

And this little mouse, because he had the courage to believe, changed everything.

Hope is contagious.

Here's to The Tale of Despereaux!!! (and all the little tales we are courageously living out today).

"The lives of many rest in the courage of the few." John Eldredge

Melody Mondays? Friday Night Films?...

My sister and bro-in-law are both very gifted marketers (amongst other things), my sis for AOL, her hubby for Six Degrees LA.

I am not sure I got that gene.

So I rely upon smart people, like them, to help me birth musings that lie dormant unless someone says, "Hey, what are you doing with that? Have you ever thought of....?"

That said, this weekend my sister started encouraging me with my blog and the way it's progressing, she then suggested I devote a day to something.

The question is what? What is that something?

I'm still gonna muse about all things close to my heart: FAITH * FAMILY * SINGLENESS * FEMININITY & MASCULINITY * THE MAJESTIC TO THE MUNDANE, but i think she's on to something. But rather than decide for you, I thought I'd put it to a vote!

Let me offer a few things I enjoy and would have plenty to muse on (and you as well):

• Melody Mondays-- Ok Donald Miller you beat me to it w/ "Sunday Morning Music" but I have lots of music that plays in the foreground of my life that I'd love to share.

• Friday Films--For years I've watched movies and loved looking for a greater story being revealed within the story. And sometimes I just love musing about the characters, costumes, beauty, darkness...I'm sure I'd have ample movies to review and dialogue about.

• Weekend Book Fair--I'd revisit some of my favorite books over the years, why I love it, why I return to it (or the author), or perhaps why I've gone off it...

• Friday Arts--this could include my art, friends' art, films, plays, music.... (oooo I think I have a favorite emerging)

Or perhaps you have an additional one to suggest? What would you like to consistently see here on a given day?

Ok, have at it!

p.s. or... Friday FRIGHT Night!