The Road Less Taken…

On the Eve of the New Year

I have recently taken to reading several blogs on creativity.  One had some interesting questions to reflect on the year past. I thought it might be interesting to journal them.

1.How is where you are in life today different from where you were last December? WOW! One thing that is a major difference is that my life is not racing at the hectic speed that it was last December. Some serious stress issues were going on in our family. Between work, church service, community committments, Alyssa’s upcoming graduation and senior year, her dance competitions, household management, family and finances I thought I might not be able to hold it together!!
2.How are you different today, internally, than you were a year ago? I think for sure that my faith is stronger and more sure based on my RELATIONSHIP with Jesus and not on the “organization.” I know I am much calmer.
3.Of all you’ve experienced in the past year, what are you the most proud of? I am very proud of my childrens growth and maturity. It was a pleasure to watch them work through some difficulties and prevail stronger. I am proud of myself for perservering and relying on faith of the unseen.
4.What did you shy away from in 2008 that you wish you’d gone for? Hmmm, I had some opportunities to present at a major conference and I did not. While the timing would have put me in a real stressful period I think I would have been proud to have challenged myself a bit.
5.What did you learn about yourself this year? I learned that I am more than just a mom, that I have many creative ideas and talents yet to be explored.
6.Who impacted your life the most this past year? Wow, that is hard to nail down but truly my children impacted most of the years events. Both good and bad. The bad was difficult but we managed and the good is experiencing their growth in the journey they must take seperate from me.
7.What are the most important lessons you learned in 2008 that you want to be conscious of in 2009? I want to be more conscious of my time. Time spent with Dave and our friends. Time spent in service, time spent in worship and time spent in quiet.
8.What are you being called to next in your personal growth? That is easy. I know I am being called to my creative side.  A journey I began in my teens that I now have time to pursue. Pottery, drawing, jewelry making, painting, writing, photography!!
9.If you could create three things in your life the coming year, what would they be? a. Create a studio to work in. b. Adopt a new service possibility (Battered Womens Shelter?) c. Explore having my own business
10.What parts of yourself will you need to call upon to create those three things with wild success in 2009? Financial creativity, discipline, time management, prioritization.

Can it all really be over?

From 2008 Christmas Day

The shopping, baking, wrapping, traffic, parties, Cantata’s, thinking, planning,friends, singing, organizing, celebrating, familyness of Christmas is OVER!! Why do I feel such a sense of RELIEF!!!? While I relish the time with friends and family ALL year long, it seems that Christmas always throws it into overdrive!
I LOVE Christmas. I love the simplicity of the story of Baby Jesus coming to us in such a humble way. I love the lights and sparklyness of the season. I love the smell of my Christmas tree and all those wonderful candles. I love the fun of surprising my loved ones with a wonderful gift. I especially loved and appreciated having both college kids under my roof as I realize that one day all too soon they will celebrate with their own families. I love watching all the old favorite movies, “Holiday Inn, White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Christmas Story, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the new,  Christmas Vacation, Elf, The Grinch, Polar Express and Christmas with the Kranks. I love the music and refuse to listen to ANYTHING else from Thanksgiving on. Get the picture? I LOVE IT ALL!
Then WHY am I sooooo relieved that it is OVER? This year was the year of simplification of Christmas, less stress, less worry…… BUT you still end up in the kitchen for much longer than humans should be in a kitchen and running out to WALMART at the last minute and buying that one extra gift……. I guess no matter how much we LOVE something, if we had mounds of it in hyperdrive everyday all year we would grow weary of it.
All said, I loved it and hope that you and yours had a very blessed and happy Christmas. Just think, we have 11 months to prepare for the next!! Merry Christmas from the Adams Family!

The Ministry of Chicken Spaghetti…

Funny how something so simple as a pan of Chicken Spaghetti can be considered a ministry! For several years, anytime I haul out the big blue pan and put together a meal of Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti and Texas Toast, teenagers come out of the woodwork!! Seriously, I have fed up to 25 (remember the fishes and loaves!!) from this pan!
It is a simple recipe, consisting of a rather large block of Velveeta Cheese, Rotel, Spaghetti and some other mysterious ingredients that I will not reveal! Yet, it seems to contain a rather mystical draw to young people, particulary weary, cafeteria burned out college students. I thank God for this recipe.(graciously shared by my sister in law, Leiah)
It has brought many wonderful evenings with these amazing and precious young people. It is my prayer that they all know the most important ingredient in the Chicken Spaghetti is my LOVE for them! Definitely a batch in the works for the Christmas College Break!!

From 2008 Chicken Spaghetti Girls

The Christmas Art Show

Fabulous artwork from the Kennesaw Wednesday night Pottery class artists. Beautiful pottery, jewelry, slumped glass, photography and handmade handbags made this a great event!!

One of my goals is to have work worthy to show next Christmas!!

Creativity

I think we all have a bit of creativity. I think God puts a little creative juice in all of us, we just have to dig for it. (He certainly is creative, just think of all the wonderful details around us!)
As Christians we know why a work of art has value. Why? First, because a work of art is a work of creativity, and creativity has value because God is the Creator. The first sentence in the Bible declares “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. Second, an art work has value as a creation because human beings are made in the image of God, and therefore we not only can love and feel emotion, but we also have the capacity to create. It is part of the image of God to be creative, or to have creativity.
One thing that excites me about the next fifty years of my life is knowing that I have more time to think big thoughts, dream up ideas and CREATE…
Oh and I really like these thoughts on Creativity…..

Some more first mud efforts….

Soooo, I guess every potter starts with a great collection of lopsided salsa dishes and bowls!! Here are a few things that just came out of the kiln.
Perserverence is an important quality to have in this artistic endeavor… Click below to visit my Virtual Pottery Show

2008 Virtual Pottery Tour

Thankfulness

Thankfulness….

Aware and appreciative of a benefit; grateful.

Such a wonderful holiday, Thanksgiving is! No real pressure for anything. You pretty much know what you will cook because it is the same thing you have cooked for the past 20 Thanksgiving. (Although I do like to be a rebel and throw something new out there occasionally, such as the yummy pretzel, strawberry salad I made this year!)

STRAWBERRY JELLO SALAD WITH PRETZEL CRUST
2 c. pretzels, crushed 4 tbsp. sugar 1/2 – 3/4 c. butter, melted 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened 1/2 c. sugar 8 oz. carton Cool Whip 1 lg. box strawberry Jello 2 c. boiling water 2 pkgs. strawberries (frozen), thawed and drained Mix pretzels, 4 tablespoons sugar, and butter together; press into bottom of 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 6 minutes; cool. In mixing bowl, fold Cool Whip into cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar. Spread over cooled crust. Dissolve Jello into boiling water. Add strawberries to Jello and pour over cream cheese. Chill and let set.

I don’t have to clean house because we always meet at Leiah’s, no turkey to thaw, don’t have to dress up or drive far.

It is a great time for family to get together before the wildness of all the Christmas events, the shopping, pageants, baking and such. I have to reflect on just how blessed I am to have been able to spend the day with both parents in good health and nearby, my brother and his precious wife Leiah, my beautiful niece Madison and very funny nephew Mitchell, Aunt Laurie and Kathy, Roger and his fiancée and her daughter, Leiah’s Mom Ginger and her significant other Don. But especially my wonderful family. husband, David, son, Tanner and daughter, Alyssa who has been away at college since August.

This year was much the same, we met, blessed the food, ate like fiends, retreated to our various areas to veg out, watched the annual Christmas movie, drove around on the golf cart and caught up with all the news.

I LOVE Thanksgiving and I LOVE my family. Click below to see pictures from the day.

2008 Thanksgiving

A New Day

My wonderful friend Patti Chandler shared this with me this morning and I am going to share it on my blog. While I have had many thoughts and opinions on the election and issues associated with it, I never once thought to myself, “If this happens the sky will fall.” I totally believe that God woke up November 5th and HE did not have to look at the AJC headlines to see what had happened. HE IS IN CONTROL!! This is a great post. Feel free to share.

Photo by Cayusa
Attribution-NonCommercial License

November 5, 2008
Two Friends
By Shane Stanford
 In the last 10 hours, two friends called me.  One was ecstatic.  The other very worried.  One friend supported Barrack Obama.  The other supported John McCain.
 My Obama friend talked of a new hope and brighter days.  My McCain friend spoke of difficult times ahead and fears about tomorrow.
 My Obama friend said that Obama would change everything.  My McCain friend said the same thing, but for different reasons.
 My Obama friend gushed at Obama’s victory as though the stars seemed more in line.  My McCain friend recoiled at Obama’s victory as though the heavens had fallen.
 My Obama friend considers Obama a magnetic personality, poised to the change the world.  My McCain friend sees Obama as a polarizing personality—poised to change the world.
I simply listened to both of them and thought about the morning.
For you see, this morning— the world still suffers from the broken edges of our humanity.  8,000 people will die today from AIDS.  14,000 children will die from conditions that we could have prevented.  Young men and women on various sides will die as a result of various conflicts around the world.
 This morning— the complexities of our world still transcend the efforts of one man, one party or, even, one nation.  People will do unspeakable things because they say they love their country or their God.
 This morning— families from all backgrounds will struggle, marriages will fail, and parents will worry about their children.  The most local of our circumstances and problems will still seem overwhelming and hopeless for so many, no matter what the political landscape looks like. 
 This morning— the poor are still poor; our prisons are still full; our schools are still in need.  People still judge too many of our brothers and sisters because of the color of their skin.  People still awaken to lonely homes and even lonelier lives.  And, people still believe that one more dollar, or one more purchase, or one more title, will make the ache go away.
 This morning— our brothers and sisters in the faith still fight over the least of what we can agree upon.  And, people continue to believe that our answers exists somewhere among our own abilities, gifts and graces-a lie told, and believed, from the Garden until now.
And, so, this morning— we need not create another Satan.  That job remains taken. 
But, on this morning— we need not create another Messiah either.  That position is also filled.
And because of that, this morning— the solutions to our problems remain vested in our ability to look past our differences and trust the best of what we can agree upon.
This morning— the Table remains, as it has for 2,000 years and through countless elections, as the real center of hope for both how God sees us and for how God intends for us to see each other.  While the world casts its hope in the extraordinary—buildings made of marble and granite; God delights and offers real hope in the ordinary— bread, juice, and stables made of straw and hills made of jagged rock.
This morning— the message of the Good News remains for those who have and have not, for those who vote left or right or not at all, and for those who consider faith a burden or a crutch. 
This morning— the family of God remains bigger than boundaries and nationalities and ideologies. And, we still pray that men and women of all ages, nations and races, will make good decisions for the good of the world for the right reasons.  Because, our hope remains in something more sacred than even an election, a president, a congress or the concept of democracy.
 This morning— our God still reigns, still loves unconditionally, still offers forgiveness, still calls us to do good and seek justice, still encourages us to live faithfully, still insists that we make peace, still favors the poor whether of material or spirit, still comforts those who mourn, still draws close to those who hunger and thirst for Him, still believes in the communion of the saints, and still prepares a place for when the journey is over.
 Yes, this morning— much is different, but little has changed.
And, so, for my two friends— and for all of us— the real question on this morning— or any morning— is what shall we do with THIS DAY— that the LORD HAS MADE—I say let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Be salt and light… you matter.

Empty Nest Chronicles: Fall in Blue Ridge

Soooo blessed to spend a wonderful weekend in the mountains with our longtime friends, the Leppos. The icing on the cake was going to Brasstown Bald with Dave and Jean Wall. Both have been longtime spiritual mentors and friends. Here is a quick glimpse into our weekend. You can be sure I left out the sad pictures of my sleeping attire!! LOL

And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.Ecclesiastes 4:12

Ecclesiastes 4:12

Holding Pattern

Have you ever been in an airplane and the pilot announces that you are “in a holding pattern”? You just circle around and around not really sure when you are going to land. Sometimes, you might even end up landing someplace different than where you had planned!

Photo by brianwallace
Attribution-NonCommercial License

That is what my nest feels like right now. I find myself not sure where I am going to land from day to day. Some days, I am not even sure where I have been! I feel like this is such a reflective period in my life. Coming from such a long time of frenzied child centered activity it is such an odd thing to be still. It is almost like I have to give myself permission to NOT do anything.
I guess this is my new normal…the holding pattern.

Happily…Some things never change…..

Like clockwork, every September the North Georgia Fair comes to town. David and I went when we were children, we dated at the Fair, the first couple of years we were married, we took our children and now as the nest empties we go together again.
Sparkling neon lights, sawdust on the ground, the Himalaya, ferris wheel, dusty stuffed animals, racing pigs, Giant RATS, the Crocdile Man, skewed basketball goals, BINGO, concerts, dancers, ducks to pick up, rats to bet on, and the FOOD. GIANT turkey legs, funnel cakes, corn dogs, deep fried oreos, apple dumplings, boiled peanuts, kettle corn, cotton candy, enough sugar and carbs to sink even the best diet. I LOVE IT.
We need to have anchors in our lives that are the same. To remind us that our memory was true….If you have a chance, tonight is the last night of the North Georgia Fair. Take your sweetie…….

Day at the Blue Hole

PostParting Depression Reprise

Alyssa just left from her first visit home since she left. As she drove away I couldn’t help but have an image of a bandaid being ripped off a skinned knee. (or heart!) I don’t know if I will ever get used to saying goodbye….

Photo by jspace3
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Tanner left for college two years ago, I experienced my first true post-parting depression! I thought I would share my essay podcast that I published. Click on the player to hear it.

My First Throw….

I could hardly wait to get to the Pottery Shed. Tonight I would FINALLY get to put my hands on the wheel. The last time I did this was 1976 in the Art Room with Virginia Ramsey at North Cobb High School. I remember because I made a coffee mug for my Dad. I made sure it was finished in psychedelic fashion and he still has it today. It holds pens and pencils at his house.
Because I had missed a class last week, I planned to work through the next class so I would have plenty of time. SO I hurriedly finished up my lizard-ivy project and cleaned up my table.
Patty sat at her wheel and showed me what to do. Instructions written on white board in the event I forgot. I put on my apron, got my bat, needle tool, sponge and rib. I wet my clay and started the wheel. Honestly, I can say that I totally went into another world while I was centering my clay. I had anticipated starting out with a ton of clay and ending up with a shot glass as my friend Lynn Graham would say. Or worse yet the whole thing would end up flying off the bat and onto someone else’s work!! But no, the clay was my friend and centered itself and slowly but surely became…..a salsa dish.

Encouraged by my success, I started another piece which due to the fact that it was no so perfectly centered became….a cream pitcher; this was followed by a coffee mug, a cylinder and a perfect cereal bowl.

This was what I have been missing for the past 32 years. Good thing I have another Fifty to perfect it….

The Slab

Next project…..THE SLAB! Sounded a little intimidating but the roller looked really cool. Once in class I got started by SLAMMING My clay down over and over to flatten it out. (that felt REALLY good) I then put it between two pieces of canvas and cranked it between the roller. Cool… Uniform flat clay. I then cut out a bottom and a rectangle and used a cardboard mold to make my base. I had sketched out some ideas for what I wanted to do and using Tanner and his love of lizards for my inspiration I wanted ivy with a lizard crawling down the side of the pot.
Little did I know that lizards were one of the master potter, Patty’s trademarks.

by Patty Caldwell

So here is what MY work ended up like.

iPhone…MyPhone!

My Sweet Phone

As you all know, I AM a gadget girl. I have coveted the iPhone from the moment it arrived on the scene. (Roughly 2 months after I had just signed up for a new contract with Cingular/AT &T) But I patiently waited and sure enough one month before my birthday came the announcement I had been waiting for. The iPhone was now going to be available as a 16G phone and would come in WHITE!! Oh my Lord, and the PRICE HAD COME DOWN!!
This immediately became my short list for the Fiftieth Birthday present!! The day AFTER I received my birthday cash I SPRINTED to the AT & T store only to find that my contract would not be up for THIRTY more days!! WHAT!!!!??? Okay, I would survive, after all I had waited for almost 2 years!
Sooo you guessed it on the day of August 31st, I headed straight to the AT & T store where I received my beautiful WHITE iPHONE. Crazy I know, but for a gadget girl like me, it is the bomb!!

Pinch, Coil and Slab

When you first begin a pottery class you must be introduced to the basic handbuilding techniques BEFORE you can even think of touching the wheel.
My second piece to create was the coil. I came to class with a really great idea of building a large coil vase, smoothing it out and glazing it with something fabulous. Well, have YOU ever tried to roll out piece of clay in a smooth even coil. LONG enough and all the same size to create a LARGE pot!! I quickly realized that I needed another project.
I remembered Patty telling me that the clay would speak to me… She was right, it was screaming “EMPTY NEST, EMPTY NEST!!” So that is what I made. I created a coil nest and then began the very lengthy process of adding twigs. (MORE COILS!) When I finally finished I added a tiny pinch pot broken egg and a feather. Very symbolic. I felt like an artist again….

Simplify

So why does it all have to be so complicated? We are born, we grow, we are schooled, we become independent, we marry, we reproduce, we watch them, grow, be schooled, become independent, marry and then reproduce…… Sometimes I look at my life and am overwhelmed with how much I have seen, done and experienced and other days, I look at it and wonder why I have not done more.
Simplify is the motto of our best friends who pulled up and moved to Midtown in a small condo with a new lifestyle. I agree with the simplify part.
I want to shed some of my possession, the strange odds and ends that I have accumulated over the past 50 years. I want to pare down my “responsibities.” I want to have more time to walk down paths that I have missed, to travel to places that I have never been, to eat at hole in the walls that may or may not be good. I want to spend more time with my husband and rediscover all of the things that made us so crazy about each other and have held us together for over 20 years. I want to dance and paint and drink good coffee and strange teas.
I want to pray and listen to what God has for me, where he wants me to go. I want to love the unloved and help the helpless.
I want to simplify…..

Our Journeys Begin…

The day had finally come. It was time to take our daughter to college. All of the events of the Class of 2008 had ended. The ball games, pep rallies, Prom, Graduation, the summer trip to New York. The shopping and endless paperwork was done.
We loaded down a van and my Rav and headed South on I-75 for 4 hours to Valdosta, Georgia home of the Valdosta State Blazers and future home of my daughter, Alyssa.

So many thoughts ran through my mind during the drive. What had I failed to tell her? Would she remember everything that I did tell her?! Would she be lonely, scared or love it so much that I would never see her again? It was a wonderful ride full of funny stories and future dreams. I will cherish those four hours forever.

Next morning bright and early we headed to Hopper Hall to join the other Freshman for MOVE IN!!
It looked just like the movies, girls with piles of objects on the curb and fathers hauling mini refrigerators and boxes up the stairs.
Okay is it a DORM or a SPA!!
Soon we were busy at work setting up her adorable room in all things hot pink and lime green.

Her roomie Anna arrived with her family and the fun began!!
and we were all having a great time until I realized, everything was put together, unpacked, stored and she was good to go.
It was time for me to leave. Even though I had a hard time breathing, I sucked it up like a good mom and let David lead me out the door… through the rain… to the car…..Bless his heart, I couldn’t really talk on the way home. Just intermittently cried and let the memories of 18 plus years run through my head and heart….
I’ve said it once and I will say it again. Being a parent is not for sissy’s………

PS If you want to see the whole trip click here.