i'm a cowgirl

I decided after my friends latest shindig that I would make a good cowgirl. Yeah, that's right, a cowgirl. True that I just invested in my first pair of boots (I want to live in them) but sometimes it only takes a day to find one's true calling. Really I just want to ride a horse all day and continue practicing my mad roping skills. I roped a cow ya'll ... of course it was a bale of hay with a plastic bull head stuck in it ... but you have to start somewhere. Plus, how awesome would it be to wake up early, feed the horses, sit and do devotions and read the bible while listening to the early morning aminals and then work on roping a cow and take a ride on a horse through the wild yonder ... pretty freakin awesome ... i decided.

fool for you - nichole nordeman

There are times when faith and common sense do not align,
when hardcore evidence of you is hard to find,
and I am silenced in the face of argumenative debate,
it's a long hill it's a lonley climb. Maybe it's true.

CHORUS:
Cause they want proof,
They want proof of all these mysteries I claim,
Cause only fools would want to chant a dead man's name.
I would be a fool for you all because you asked me to.
A simpleton who's seeming naive,
I do believe You came and made Yourself a fool for me.

I admit that in my darkest hours I've asked what if,
What if we created some kind of man made faith like this,
Out of good intention or emotional invention,
and after life is through there will be no You.

Cause they want proof of all these miracles I claim,
Cause only fools believe that men can walk on waves.
Maybe it's true.

Unaware of popularity,
and unconcerned with dignity,
You made me free.
That's proof enough for me.

I would be a fool for You,
Only if You asked me to,
A simpletonwho's only think of,
The cause of love.

I will speak Jesus name,
and if that makes me crazy,
they can call me crazed,
I'm happy to be seemingly naive,
I do believe You came and
made Yourself a fool for me.

one-piece swimsuits

So, I have signed up for a women's retreat with The Rock church for August 7-9. I am really excited about it because it is something I definitely think I need ... and my sister is going with me!
Anyways, the itinerary allows for plenty of free time to relax, get to know other ladies, etc. Well, there are also hot springs and swimming pools and because it is a church function we are requested to wear one-piece swimsuits. That's fine except that I don't own one and don't really have the money to spend on a bathing suit I don't plan on wearing again, at least not any time soon. But I know my momma has some so I opt to try one of hers ... lol
Momma has 5 that she shows me, in addition to a dive skin (no). Three of them are black so I try those ... the other two, not so much. Do you know what trying on one-piece suits did to me ... made me realize a)I have a freakin long torso and b)one-pieces make people look flat chested ... I don't need help there, thank you. So needless to say, I will be looking for a tankini or a long one-piece, or wearing a shirt over my bikini.
the end.

confuzzled ...

Dear God
it's me again down here
don't wanna sound insincere

I'm lost
sometimes you're so unclear
what can I do
I'm feeling so far from you

frustrated, irritated
disconnected from it all

the weight of the world
has pushed me to the wall

follow up to "news"

I was on the news ... look for the "Alley Cat Summer Fest" under recent videos on the right side of the screen.

http://www.sandiego6.com/content/sandiegoliving/default.aspx?articleID=645791

news

So apparently I am supposed to be on the news tomorrow to talk about an art class I will be teaching at the Alley Cat Art Festival in downtown El Cajon through my work. You should all come out to the festival on Saturday, July 18 from 9am to 10pm ... there will be a job fair, battle of the bands, art walk and wine tasting, kid zones with rides, etc. free art classes, vendor booths, a classic car show, and tons more :)
My news spot will be on San Diego Living ... channel 6 Monday, July 13 sometime between 9am and 10am ... watch me trip over my words and try to get through my stage fright ... should at least be entertaining!

walls

the walls in my room are ugly ... boring old light brownish color with a huge area that needs to be textured and then painted because the closet was taken out. but i am lazy and these walls have been this way for about ... well, over a year. so instead of moving furniture i have decided just to plaster the walls with frames and art work ... it is working for now but it is very unplanned and chaotic ... but then again so is my life.

if i were not lazy and had money i would actually finish my room ... but something about finishing my room makes it seem permanent ... which i don't want ... since i live at home still. that's another reason i have procrastinated on my room i think ... the permanence.

contents of my wall:

1. abstract painting by susan warin (one of my students at smsc) - my mom thinks it looks creepy but i think happy when i see it.

2. my self-portrait painting from one of my classes at chapman - i still dont know how i feel about it.

3. one of my abstract paintings from my jr. show at chapman - depressing kinda.

4. my little doodle-painting of a teal giraffe - cute. i love giraffes.

5. bulletin board i repainted because the color of cork is ugly - with my self-made calendar attached to it ... i love you shutterfly.

6. my mixed-media collage from a teaching arts class at chapman - kinda cool, i like it anyways.

7. my giant picture bulletin board from niki - happy graduation to me.

8. a big frame i repainted and stuck random photos in - really, the photos are random.

9. a drawing by jen lord (one of my students at smsc) - freakin sweet.

10. a drawing by leona melton (one of my students at smsc) - also super cool.

11. four watercolor sketches i did while helping students learn watercolor at work - gotta love my job.

12. a photo of a little girl dressed as an angel and praying - i love this photo. i have no idea where it came from.

13. an abstract painting by beth navarro (one of my students from smsc) - no words describe.

14. a print by rudy salgado (former co-worker at smsc) - a gift from an amazing artist. link on side bar ->

15. three hexagons from a series by justin ostiz (friend and artist) - a lovesick little series.

16. recycled wood angel sculpture by sara palmer (one of my students at smsc) - couldn't live without it.

17. five drawings by various students of mine (at smsc) - the first additions to my walls.

other artwork:

1. nine ceramic birds on my bookshelf by justin ostiz (friend and artist) - i hunted for the best ones in the series.

2. two of my ceramic bowls - just fun to make, not wheel thrown.

3. set of three ceramic boxes i made in australia - those were fun to transport.

4 various picture frames - because you gotta see the love.

5. lots of knick-knacks and stuff - because i like them.

there was a point to this bog but i really don't remember it ... and since i just did all of this typing i'm not erasing it.

Dear Daddy

Happy Father's Day! You are the bestest daddy in the whole world and I am blessed to have you as mine :)

Happy Father's Day all you dads out there. I hope you always remember the importance of just one more story, ten more minutes of play time, one more "I love you," another hug and kiss, an "I'm proud of you," and all the silly things you do and say just to get one smile. Know that you mean the world to someone and have a blessed day!

FREE

I got free movie tickets from my work today ... freakin sweet!

my sister needs me to go to Virginia/Washington DC with her for her husbands OCS graduation ... the plane and hotel are paid for ... amazing

SDSU credential program ... I wish

going to Mt. Helix and loving the view ... inspiring

gotta love free

How sweet is

this life?!

Close your eyes and feel the sun as it kisses your skin. Feel the wind as it blows through your hair and tickles the back of your neck. Open your eyes and look at the sky, how vast, how blue. Watch as the trees dance in the breeze and the ocean spills onto the shore. Watch the birds glide, the dogs play, the fish swim. Experience the range of human emotion in yourself and through others.

There is so much to ponder. There is so much to love. There is so much to be thankful for. It is amazing this life that God has created.

Smile and let it soak in that He loves you.