What fulfills you? What gives meaning to your day when it comes time to put your head on the pillow at night? I'm not necessarily talking about our purpose spiritually (to glorify God and be in a right relationship with Him) or the other end of the spectrum (merely completing our duties for the day, or doing something pleasurable), though it certainly might touch on one of those.
I believe that God gives each of us something, part of our individual personality or talents that, in addition to His presence, helps us feel fulfilled. For some, that might fall close to spiritual purpose, such as touching lives within their 'job' as missionary. For others, living a relaxed and carefree life or even finishing tasks on a list may be the thing that fills them up.
What creates that fullness in your life? Is it solving a problem? Is it earning a salary? Is it learning something new? Is it connecting with someone emotionally? Is it bringing order to chaos? Is it providing for your family? Is it serving others? Is it sharing your talents (singing, acting...) publicly? Is it teaching? Is it discovering a truth? Is it ministering to another's need? Is it working against social ills? Is it trying something new or taking a risk?
Surely, by now, some of you are wondering what this all has to do with the above picture. Sometimes I wish my 'thing' was as noble as drilling wells for people with no clean water. Or delving into the Bible to find truths that have eluded others. Even taking risks, which I avoid like the plague. But I know without a doubt that it takes all kinds of people to make the world go around. I have no wish to discount either my talents and desires or the talents and desires of the people around me.
When I thought about it today, I was again sure that two of my main 'things' are family and creating something visually pleasing. Which is why I love to decorate my home. And entertain for family events. And scrapbook (which, by the way, hits just about everything on my list of enjoyments). Or how about taking visually appealing photographs of family members?
Yep, at the end of the day, if I have spent meaningful time with my family or created something beautiful, I breathe deeply and am happy with my life. If I have created something beautiful that connects me in some way to my family, even better. On the flip side of the coin, I go to bed troubled when my house is dirty and chaotic, I did something to make me feel like a failure at this 'mothering gig,' I am worried about someone in my family, or I did nothing to nurture a relationship with those closest to me.
I have long wanted to try my hand at creating silhouette cut-outs of my boys. It is one of those things I have 'meant to get around to' for quite some time. Today was the day. I keep looking at them and smiling. When I put my head on my pillow tonight, I will breathe deeply and be happy with my life.
21 comments:
Beautiful!! So please explain: what is the background (the green)??
SmallWorld
I used artist's canvases (canvas stretched over a frame) that I purchased at a craft supply store and painted with acrylic paints. Then I just glued the black paper cut-outs to the painted canvas.
Glad you like them! :)
The pictures are adorable!!!How did you get the profiles onto the black paper? You are one gifted girl, as we have said before. Grandma
Hi, Grandma! I took profile pictures of the boys (probably the hardest thing I did :)) and had them blown up to 8x10s. I cut them out, traced around them on the black paper, and then cut that out. It was tough to get the boys' heads exactly in profile and in relative size!
What beautiful cutouts! I loved this blog, but in a way it made me sad. Your home is so beautiful and your talent is so amazing, yet I possess nothing of this sort! I can copy really well, but can't create on my own. I just wondered in the future...if maybe...you could do like Ree does with her Pioneer Woman Cooks....and do a Heidi Creates...and show us how you make your special projects. (Yah, so basically I'm asking you to do more work and minister to the creatively-challenged!) Some things I've been able to copy myself easily...like the candles (yes, I've actually copied them...and plan to do that beautiful advent calendar, too)...but I have no idea how you did the silouette's (sp?), or what you mounted it on, or how exactly you framed it...ok, now I do because I read the comments!). Anyway, something to think and pray about!
Blessings,
Caralyn :)
This is fabulous- You are inspiring me to use more color- we my 2008 home makeover
Thanks for sharing the great talent!
Angela (WTM Board-Classic Mom)
www.luxetveritasacademy.org
Your mantle is beautiful! Great job!You voiced in your post my thoughts the last couple of days. My conclusion is that God can use what fulfills us for His glory. I think He is all about what "makes us tick." He put it there in the first place. We will never know all the minute things we do that impacts others. Those boys are going to look at that wonderful piece of art you lovingly made and be daily reminded how important and loved they are!
can you just send me the ones of your kids and i will lie and tell my kids 20 years from now that it was them? seriously, they would never know.
I love your home!!!
I made silhouettes for grandparents two years ago, using photoshop, but I was inspired by Martha Stewart who did the silhouettes the same way you explained. I must do it again because their profile changes so quickly.
Yours is a beautiful piece of art.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments, everyone!
Caralyn~ Thanks for the input. Maybe I'll do a step-by-step for the silhouettes this week. I really don't think up things on my own. I usually copy something in a magazine, catalog, or elsewhere. My projects rarely turn out the same because I often do something wrong :), have to use other materials, get lazy, or tweak an idea.
I went quite some time without creating anything... I was just overwhelmed with being mom to little guys. My youngest is just now at the point where he can play for a while with the other boys! My advent calender what the first project I had done in a long time!! So, we'll see if I can keep it up. I'll definitely consider doing instructions on my blog for my next project. :)
Oh Heidi, thanks! I just LOVE love love you home (if you ever want to visit Toronto, stay with me...and give me tips!) and I truly scour each photo to see what you've done. I'd love it if you could give tips, etc as it would really help me! :) Thanks for your blog and all those wonderful photos (especially the ones of those cute boys!).
These are on my "beautiful-things-cut-out-from-magazines-and-tacked-to-my-decorating-bulletin-board-ideas",too! Did you get all of that? I would have never thought to use green and brown. I love this look! I can completely resonate with your post, family and beauty are my deepest earthly loves as well!
I love the silhouettes! I am going to try this. I've been trying to get the photos taken this morning...it's hard! I see the challenge of getting them the right size and I have the added challenge of a girl with long hair. I put it in a pony tail and that seems like it will work okay. If only I could get her to stop giggling and sit still! :) Actually, the giggling has made this project QUITE memorable. Thanks for the GREAT idea. I'll let you know if I actually accomplish it. Oh, what is the size of the canvas yours are on?
Thanks again, Heidi!
~Amy
These are amazing. I haven't created anything yet this month (only 10 days to go!!!) despite the little January Project Challenge.
Anyhow, I tagged you. Check out my site for details.
Caralyn~ One of these days, my family is going to go on a cross-country trip (and why not Canada?). I'll start taking everyone up on their offers. :)
The Good~ You should give them a try! They're so much fun, and a wonderful keepsake.
Amy~ I'm so glad you are giving it a try. You'll have to send me a picture if you get yours done. I was thinking as I was doing the cutouts that I was glad I was doing boys. The hair does make things more tricky, I would imagine. I think the girl silhouettes turn out so beautiful, though!
I decided to use 8x10 canvases. So I enlarged the pictures to 8x10 as well.
Carole~ I read your post earlier today. :) I'm so glad you posted those things about yourself, because I didn't know them and I was fascinated! I doubt I can come up with anything fascinating details about myself, but I'll give it my best!
An heirloom-to-be, I'm sure! I enjoyed this.
Seriously, a few posts on how you create the beautiful displays in your home would be a big help to us less-decorating-gifted people. Even little things like how to arrange things on a mantel so they look nice together, just don't come naturally to me, and I would LOVE any tips you have.
Thanks, Poeima! Nice to 'see' you!
Jen~ I will seriously consider doing that! The only thing is that I don't really have an original bone in my body, LOL. I'm a great copier, though. So I could do a series called 'Heidi saw this in a magazine and now she'd like to show you...' :)
Are those candles atop your piano from Poet's? I need some.
Trish~ Howdy! Nope. I bought inexpensive 'religious' candles in the ethnic section at the grocery store and covered them with papers and ribbon myself. It is a fun and easy project! Maybe I should make some for Poet's, though. Hmmm....
Hi there - over from Simple Mom. These are absolutely beautiful - we're moving at the end of the month and I can't wait to get settled in and try these for our new house. I'm inspired!
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