I'M ALIVE!!!

It's been...what...3 months since I've blogged?? Sounds about right. My family and I moved out of our apartment in Nashville and into a quaint home in the semi-country that is Springhill. I love it! Antique shops within a walking distance, pasture land next door, but with all your shopping needs within a 3 mile radius! Woohoo! But the only disadvantage is that I live 45 minutes away from some family. Bummer. Other than that, honestly, not much going on! Still trying to get the house decorated to my taste. Things will all fall into place, in time.

I hope to blog more but I haven't really had anything I felt I just needed to post. The move is pretty much the only major highlight over the past few months. With that being said, laundry awaits! See? Nothing going on! My life lately has just been a mirror image of the day before. But I figure, no news is good news sometimes.

Everyday Matters

Since I've been a mother (three years now), I haven't been motivated to engage myself in art like I used to. Primarily, drawing. Back on Kaua'i, I'd just doodle on whatever paper would be within arms reach, or grab one of my sketchbooks and sketch anything from a monkey on a tree, to a mother holding her child. I've always seemed to have a difficult time drawing something I can see so clearly in my mind onto paper. So the mother's arm looked more like a rubber tube. I need visuals! And so nowadays, I guess because I feel so mentally drained from the constant care and attention for my son and the household in general, my mind and hand don't communicate quite well with one another. My mind is saying "Awww...the little guy is so adorable when he's asleep! Let's draw the lil bugger." My hand responds with "Eh. Some other time." So it's not that I haven't been inspired, it's just the motivation isn't always there.
Just the other day, I went to my sister's house and she showed me a book she has raved about and inspired her. The book is titled Everyday Matters by Danny Gregory. It is a graphic memoir, a journal with his drawings of his everyday life and surroundings. During the aftermath of his wife's accident, he taught himself how to draw once again and through it, it has helped him cope with life's obstacles and see the beauty in everything. The life he knew no longer existed, but is now replaced with even more love, hope, and an understanding that life can still go on when we can't control or predict the unknown that can unexpectedly come crashing down on us. This small book has been a big inspiration to me to see that I've been blessed and to remind myself that not every drawing has to be "perfect", but it's what I see that matters the most. His most random drawings of a can of Chef Boyardee or the contents of his medicine cabinet and the funny captions, put a smile on my face and cracks me up at times. I've decided to start my very own journal containing my little sketches and scribbles. I believe it will be my therapy as well and let me get back into the groove of drawing once again. So thank you Mr. Gregory for opening up and sharing your life's journey, to help people like me jump-start our lives by reopening a door that's been closed for a long time.