The White Buffalo Christian Art Gallery

An amazing thing is happening in my life. Two of my paintings are being featured in the opening exhibit of the White Buffalo Art Gallery here in Abilene. The gallery opened last night. This was not just a grand opening-it was a huge fun incredible evening. The gallery was open, with live music on an outdoor stage, incredible food, as well as a sidewalk exhibit. I want to thank those of you who came out for helping make it such a great evening.

This is so crazy to me on so many levels. I first put a paintbrush to canvas last September so I've only been doing this since then. It's taken a lot of persuading on the part of both God and my mentors to convince me that I am indeed an artist. My whole life my twin brother Randy has been the artist in our family. And he is an artist and he's amazing. I was never encouraged in that direction by either of my parents I suppose because Randy so excelled in that area. In fact, I would go as far as saying I became invisible in any creative realm. I was the functioning person in our family. I was the one who cooked, cleaned, grocery shopped, did the laundry, kept the house going while my parents both worked. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't build up a resentment. That said, after years of inner healing work I've moved past that place of resentment into a place of creativity. And it's blowing me away! (Wow as I reread that I thought I'd written "palace of creativity" which I hadn't. But I like that! I've moved into a Palace of Creativity. That's where I live now!)

The way I go about creating these paintings is amazing to me. I don't touch the canvas until I have a clear vision from Holy Spirit as to what he wants to do. I really do feel like he chooses the colors, the form, the texture, etc. I've even watched the painting paint itself. It is beyond fascinating. It's a spiritual experience and I'm completely convinced that he's doing something in each painting. There's some part of his heart that he is revealing to me through the process. It's very humbling and precious.

So back to the gallery opening, when I walked up to the building and saw my name listed among the featured artists I was moved to tears. This is something I never dreamed I would ever see in my lifetime. I can't even say it's a dream come true because it's a dream I never dreamed. Not even 6 weeks ago. It's completely out of my realm of reasoning. It is so God. I believe I am right where he created and intended for me to be today. It feels really really good. Stop by The White Buffalo and share this miracle with me. They're open 10-6 Monday -Saturday. It's located at 2528 S. 7th, next door to the Natural Food Center. It's an incredible place you don't want to miss.

Finally!

I finally got logged on so I can post. After switching to the new blogger I have really had trouble getting logged on. Wierd. I found out that if I click on the Blogger title at the top of the page it will open up for me. I hope that continues to work. Very strange.

Anyway, I've had a million things running through my mind to write about while I was unable to get signed on. Now I find myself wondering what to get into. Things have been really interesting around here the past few weeks. From a natural standpoint things "look" "normal" around here. But from a supernatural standpoint there is a battle raging. Let me just say I wish someone could explain to me why God made men and women so very different and why He deemed it necessary for me to live my life surrounded my males. I could go on and on but enough about that.

Let me tell you about my dream. My friend who lost her son in December came to visit a couple of weeks ago. She had told me about a book she'd read that meant so much to her and brought it along to show me. It's called "Lament for a Son" by Nicholas Wolterstorff. She told me how this man had put into words the feelings she had been experiencing and the thoughts she'd been thinking. I skimmed through it and could tell it was a most amazing book. When we finally went to bed at around midnight I picked up the book and began to read it. I read the entire thing. I couldn't put it down. I kept thinking that this is what my friend is feeling. This is what she's going through. I was drawn to it, yet I was detached from it. I had no point of reference to connect except through my friend. I laid the book down, turned off the light and fell asleep. At some point during the night I dreamed that my son had died. It was so real. I was experiencing the shock and the grief. I was going through all the arrangements. I even attended his funeral and was greeting all our friends afterwards. I woke up thinking, "Oh God, no!! How can I go on living without him??" Slowly I became aware that I had been dreaming and my reality set in. He was alive. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and began to fervently express my thanks to God for his life. Then I remembered my friend. I felt like I now had a tiny, minute sense of how she is going through life. In no way would I go so far as to say I know how she feels, but I think God gave me that dream so I would know how to pray for her. I am still overwhelmed with pain for her loss.

I got up at 7:30 the next morning and made the coffee. I was sitting at the breakfast table when my friend came out of the guest room. I told her I needed to talk to her. I told her about my dream. We held each other and sobbed. It was an amazing moment for both of us. I hope she knows how much I love her, how much I think of her, how much I care and how much I miss Tyler, too.

More later.