Just keep painting, just keep painting. . .what do we do, we paint, paint. . .

I love being a youth counselor.

I'm saying that with a straight face, I swear.

Yes it has it's ups and downs, and sideways, and backwards, and most of the time a feeling of being generally lost when it comes to the world of teenagers.

I really do love it. I wouldn't have continued volunteering my time if I didn't.
For ten years now.

So just chalk the rest of this blog up to the fact that I'm a little nuts about what I do.

I had TWO seniors ask me this year to help paint their parking spots. The fact that the two of them are good friends is probably why they both asked me.

I've never been asked before. I did paint a mural in bedroom of one of the seniors from last year.

Parking spots are a whole other hot mess.

I don't know if senior parking spot paintings are a common thing anywhere else, but it's been a "thing" at West Orange High School for a long time. I did not paint my own (or buy my own) parking spot when I was a senior there in the so long ago year of 2000. They also allow students at Ocoee High School the privilege of painting their spot, but only in a small shield area (a shield, because they're the KNIGHTS).

I'd always wondered about what it'd be like to paint a parking spot. I personally know how hard it is to paint a mural on a wall (and a ceiling). 

I figured painting on the ground would be that much more. . ..fun.

HA!

It was just so much fun, I'm gonna wait for a few more years before I even think about doing that again!

Anyways, here's some pics. My feet are still burned, my back and legs ache. . .and yet I am so glad that I got to experience this and share my gift with these girls.  I've told them it's their graduation gift, so they now have to follow through and actually, well. . .graduate!

Robert Frost's poem "Two Roads" and Hebrews 6:19

The original idea for Annie's spot

Hey Mr. Grumpy Gills!

That memory I go back to. . .

Took a trip a little while ago with Danny and Richard (and the beagles, Copper and Skipper).
Went scalloping out of Crystal River, FL.
Listened to this song on the boat on our way out to the scalloping grounds.
Fit my feelings perfectly.

let go of my past
let go of my future
one cloud at a time
yes I'm dreaming
let me look upon her
one more time
this beauty that I love
before she's gone, before she's gone
                       "I Believe in Everything"  JJ Grey and Mofro

 
I love scalloping, and I don't eat seafood. For me it's therapeutic, diving into the clear water, blocking out all sound and thought beyond that of searching for the scallops and enjoying the underwater landscape. It's a grown up Easter Egg hunt!

If you'd like to see a accurate depiction of the Florida scalloping experience, check out this link to Pure Florida's blog. He took a Go Pro video of scalloping out of St. Joe Bay in Apalachicola.

Honestly, I needed this trip. I needed to be on the river, out in the Florida sun, enjoying the wind blowing across my face as I listened to the water splash against the boat. I needed to let go of all thoughts and simply focus on one single goal: filling my bag with scallops. Oh yeah, and blowing out the salt water in my snorkle and mask. . .ALOT!

Here's some pics of the experience. I'll let them speak for themselves.

Skipper at the Bow, Copper keeping watch

Danny caught a catfish. . .and threw it back

Richard fishing, Skipper thinking bout jumping in

Copper checkin' out the strange noisy things in the cooler

The scallop treasure!

I don't know when I'll get the opportunity to go back out into the water, but here's a shot from the first time I went scalloping. The wind may blow, the rain may fall, the lightning may. . .well, if there's lighting I suggest you get back in the boat and head back to land. . .but inevitably there's going to be a gorgeous sunset and hopefully a bucket full of little gems.

Sing Along with the "Muppets Movie"!

If it weren't for the people who surround me with love, I don't think I'd ever experience anything remotely cool.

Seriously.

I'm such a stick in the mud sometimes. Comes with being an introvert I suppose. My evenings could be consistently spent reading a book at home, and I'd be fine with that.

Last night, however, mom dragged me out of my comfort zone and bought her and I tickets to the "Sing Along with the Muppets Movie".

Never heard of it? Neither had I.

It was located at the Garden Theater in downtown Winter Garden and was hosted by Heather Henson and Davey Rocker. That's right, Henson, as in Jim Henson. Heather is his daughter and is just as committed to sharing her dad's gift with a new generation of Muppet fans.

I wish I'd taken my better camera.

Anyways, the general principle of the show is like that of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" gatherings. Upon entering the theater you're given a goody bag full of things you use to interact with the movie. As it says in the description of the show: "Children and adults alike are urged to shout out famous lines, blow bubbles, dance in the aisles, and of course, sing along!"

It was great. Really! Just what I needed after a long week of vacation bible school. LOL.
It reminded me of so many things. The fact that you can shout out at the movie, wow. . .Russ and I love Mystery Science Theater 3000, which if you don't know what that is you should check it out: MST3K
Plus, in the movie, Kermit sings "Rainbow Connection" and you're supposed to wave your butterfly fan or streamer. I actually teared up remembering all the butterflies and kites at Jim Henson's memorial service. Beautiful.

Add to all of that the puppets and kites that Ibex puppetry provided, and the "What Nots" who interacted with audience members. . .it was just a really fun night.

If you want more info on "Sing Along" or any of the other IBEX puppetry shows, check out their blogsite at Ibex Puppetry.

Baltimore Mission Trip 2013

Oh Lord, my God, your awesomeness humbles me.

The ways that you push and pull and gently but firmly get me to come out of my comfort zone.

You're pretty cool, and I'm so glad that I've got you in my corner.


Yeah, that was our mission trip this year.
Laughter, tears, frustration, pain. . ..oh the pain. . . .
HA!

The pain was actually nothing in comparison to years past, before my back surgery.
I'm just griping.
I actually tried really hard on this trip to hold back on the complaints. It's hard, and I know it's annoying to other people.
Oh well. I'll just keep praying about it.

Anyways, on to the trip.

What a trip! I had almost no clue what we were doing on this trip, work-wise and play-wise. It is VERY HARD for me to let loose and go with the flow. I like to know what the next step will be.
However, I think I did a really good job on this trip.

First two days of work, the Winter Garden team worked on clearing out brush on the side of a Baptist church in Glen Burnie, MD.

Wednesday and Thursday we teamed up with Ocala UMC youth and worked at two women's shelters in inner city Baltimore.

We also passed out flyers door-to-door for their upcoming Vacation Bible School.

Oh, and I painted a couple of murals.
Hadn't really planned on either one of these pieces. I have however decided that every time I go  on a mission trip that I will be bringing a box of paints and brushes and a sketch book. If a mural is in God's plan then He'll give me the inspiration and the skills needed to complete it.

That's how I go about every work of art. I try to tell everyone that this is a gift given to me by God and I will use it for His people, however that might be.

After our work on Wednesday we took a trip to the inner harbor of Baltimore.
From top to bottom:
USS Constellation Inner Harbor, riding the Water Taxi to Ft. McHenry, a tug boat outside of Fells Pt, Ft McHenry sign, hiking up to the fort, walking along the rampart pathways, inner harbor entertainment.

 On Friday we took the Metro down into Washington DC and visited some monuments and museums.
From top down:
Lincoln Monument (with a sorority centennial celebration in front of it. . .lots of DELTAS), Lincoln himself,
Vietnam sculpture, Vietnam memorial wall, the nurses of Vietnam sculpture, and the WWII monument (which I'd never seen before).

It drizzled rain on and off almost the entire time we were in Baltimore and DC.
No  matter.
All in all it was a GREAT trip.

All before the 4th!

I just got back from our annual week long youth mission trip.

I'm almost over my exhaustion.

Before I regale you with tales from the trip, I'd like to share a few shots of random happenings during the week of July 4th.

Just for fun. . .Jack Skellington workin' the shades!

Did some baking:

Sour Cream Poundcake Perfection!

Enjoyed my swing and my yard:

Anne Lamott's "Plan B"

Stormy afternoons stuck in the van with mom:

Beautiful storm cloud sunsets

Took mom to have dinner with her childhood friend Mary and her family at Olive Garden.

4th of July fun out at Lake Hickory Nut with the Branom clan.

Monica's Patriotic Mini-Cheesecakes

Finally, getting to go watch the Leesburg fireworks with Danny and Richard in their boat out on Lake Harris.

It rained. . .stingingly!

Looking back on all of that, I'm actually surprised that my week was so full in comparison to mission week.