sacred life *[mr. dalai lama]

"with realization of one's own potential and
self-confidence in one's ability, one can build
a better world." ~dalai lama

i gave myself a little birthday gift. thursday

i hopped in the car and drove to bloomington
to spend a few days with miz c. we went out
for mexican thursday night with her two roomates
and one of their mom's. then friday early morn,
miz c and i went to listen to the dalai lama speak.

as we entered the auditorium, i had goosebumps

on every inch of my body. on the stage sat tibetan
monks and nuns, sitting in yoga form and chanting
their mantras. peace simply overcame my body.
this was a teaching session. the dalai lama spoke

in his native tongue and the the translator spoke

to the audience explaining the readings. at first,
i was a bit taken back by this presentation, but i just
went with it - watching every move he made and held
on to every syllabel that flowed from his mouth.
this went on for over two hours and as time passed
he became more animated, he began to giggle. what
a gift this soul is.

then what i had been waiting for, he spoke directly to

us. his personal ideals and thoughts. i sat high in the

balcony and let the tears flow, i knew i was witnessing
something grand. a kind spirit, a peaceful man, a man
who giggles and makes you feel like you are the only one

in the room.

i wasn't going to go, i worried that the tickets were too

expensive, but for once i just said screw it - and i seized
the moment.

on the way home, i stopped at a funky new age shop. they
have something for every faith, belief or non believer. i picked
up a book that a dear chick had told me about....the four agreements.
i am soaking that up too.

his message is so simple, it is profound. why is something this
simple so hard for us to grasp on to? here was his message....

"whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion."

oh....and a warm heart.

and with that - peace be with each of you.

bless my soul....om

on my way to bloomtown to see the dalai lama

tomorrow morning. i am filled with glee and

anticipation.

tomorrow i will witness greatness and learn from
a peacemaker. and i get to share this all with miz

c. happy birthday to me!

if * [grow ] dear miss allison

i am allison

if - grow

8x24 canvas

mixed media

acrylics, silverleaf and found paper

[for miss allison who is learning to grow

in the midst of some hard circumstances]
if you want to see more growth....look here

I just finished this piece for
miss allison. her sister is caroline who

i have written about many times. allison
just turned 7 and is a very brave and
giving girl.

her mom has been in minnesota with
caroline for over 7 months. allison and her
baby sister have had to be brave girls without
their mom. many family and friends stepping up
to make sure the other girls are taken care of,
but allison sure does miss her mom.

i am hoping this little piece will make her smile.
and that the blues and greens will match her
newly painted room.

now go hug someone you love!

peace....

*[new doo]

new doo - october 16th

so here is the new doo......dark, but boy does it make
my baby blues shine! i was trying to get a decent spt.

i don't know how others get such amazing shots of themselves,
i just not very photogenic - so i sit here taking hundreds of
them, giggling out loud at how silly i look. this one shows the
cut the best - but i was so frustrated i did the stupid tween
shot and i am sorry but i just can't look at my mouth that
way - it was silly!

this is the darkest my hair has ever been. i was a toehead
as a child - so i still don't recognized myself.

five really good things

bourbon street - october 2006

1. another team heading down to work in new orleans.
even though i don't get to make this trip....so happy that
there are still people out there with kindness in there
hearts and can make the trip.

2. hanging my artwork around the house and realizing that
i have been productive, that i do have my style as an
artist and embrassing it all.

3. last month i contemplating throwing the towel in on my
freelance design career. today i am so happy that i got over
that moment of insanity! i am truly blessed and happy to be
working in my little studio.

4. delilahblue nudging her way onto the chair, resting her
chin on my chest as i sip on my morning cup of joe.

5. my sassy new mia farrow doo, darker than ever!

thanks liz for the gentle nudge of five really good things....

seriously!

what is the date today - i have it somewhere.
ah yes, here it is - october 12th. hmmmm.....

october 12th! are you kidding me - why am
i hearing christmas music on 93.1?! seriously -
is this a joke? all day christmas music, and
the sad thing is i sat there and sang along, in
a trance like state as i drove.

what is wrong with this picture?!

brrrrrrrrrrr.....

fall has arrived in middle indiana

last friday nite i stood on the track at 9pm, watching the
athenians thump nmhs. it was over 80 degrees! today,
just 5 days later, i am sitting in my studio wrapped in a
blanket. my finger tips ache from the cold. indiana falls
are beautiful and one of my most favorite times. i am a
summer and fall girl for sure. the summer was so dry, that
leaves are already falling and not the vivid colors that
fall normally blesses us with.

speaking of blessings - here are mine...

. finally catching up
. the henry tucker foundation - ragball tourney
. girlfriends
. cheri' being featured as a three part series for i.u.
. my colorful walls
. heathly kids
. heather receiving top honors as young lawyer of the year.
. being part of caroline's fundraising

the above images are from priebe's pumpkin patch, right
here in montgomery county. i built there website last year.
it is such a fun place. you can visit them here the pumpkin patch

blessings ya'll!

word

silly silly girls - canon rebel october 07

this is what i constantly find on my little rebel. i go to
load images and i find these little treats the kids leave me.
teen spt's. this is all the rage and they all make the face.

the yearbook is littered with little faces such as the one above.
self expression? can it be considered self-expression since
every kid is doing it? do you notice when you are out and
about that the kids are constantly taking pictures of themselves.
either with a digital or their cells phones.

then of course, we can't leave out the gangsta move....peace
sign at the chest.

word

blueskys

"and a man said, speak to us of self-knowledge.
and he answered, saying:
your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days
and the nights.
but your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge.
you would know in words that which you have always
known in thought.
you would touch with your finders the naked body of your
dreams.

and it is well you should.
the hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run
mumuring to the sea; and the treasure of your infinite
depths would be revealed to your eyes.
but let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure;

and seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or
sounding line.
for self is a sea boundless and measureless.

say not, "i have found the truth," but rather, "i have
found a truth."

say not, "i have found the path of the soul."
say rather, "i have met the soul waking upon my path."

for the soul walks upon all paths.

the soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow
like a reed.

the soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals."
[ kahlil gibran, the prophet - on self-knowledge ]


blessings ya'll

moving on.....

well bless my soul -

3 heathly kids a
art show friday nite a
more paintings on the horizon a
friends who care and help a

one last thing - how do you move on
from anger or hurt. obviously this isn't
my strong suit. how do you honestly
let it go? you are more than welcome
to leave a comment or email me!
indigosoul@sbcglobal.net

blessings ya'll

life

this game of life, some days about does me in.
as my midnight profile states, i tend to "often lie
awake in bed thinking about the world and
my place in it."

i yearn to find a more creative community, i want
to move to a warmer climate.

i have had many big lessons the last 6 months. and i
struggle to find the middle ground. the ground where
i am comfortable enough to tell someone that i don't
appreciate being stepped on. the ground where i stand
up for what i believe is right. when i don't have this
balance - i carry too much anger and sadness and as
we all know, anger and sadness is like a cancer that
grows quickly, devouring your soul.

i have a new nephew who is absolutely beautiful. we
have cute kids in this family. and they all hold their
own beauty within.

i have struggled with several people this last year. and
because of the close relationship....i walk on eggshells
trying hard not to rock the boat. but i am disappointed
in them, disappointed that we are suddenly cast to
the side of their life. family relationships are hard and there
are some that you know if you say anything, the relationship
will be ruined. i am tired of going to gatherings and
biting my tongue. so where do i draw the line and say...
enough!

the little inner voice wants to scream, all the while the
voice of [don't rock the boat, kelly] is whispering...always
whispering. don't rock it, . that is the voice of childhood.
the voice of reason, the voice that i hate. because - i
need to rock the boat. i need to stand up and simply say...

YOU HAVE HURT ME!

and who gets the brunt of this anger, the one i need the most,
the one i adore, the one i am so mad at that we have barely
spoke for 5 days. but he hurt me. he tells me too often, don't
rock the boat kelly.

the boat needs to rocked, it is in the strong current, spinning
upstream. our families need to know that we don't agree with
this or that, sweeping this under the rug serves NO purpose.
that my kids deserve more. not more as in material things, but
the do deserve to have people show up, they need to be
included.

how do you tell family that they are toxic for you. how do
you go to the school board and voice your distaste when you
spouse is an admin? how do you say....you have got to make
the students follow the rules, we are heading in the wrong
direction. i tend to be too passionate, and as i voice my concerns
or opinions, i get louder and talk faster with my hands flying all
over the place.....this gets me nowhere - so i reserve this for
b, or heather or becky, they get the brunt of it.

i have many blessings in my life, but today i want to wrap
those blessing up in brown paper, bundle them up with white
string, gently put them in the back seat and drive south, south where
it is warm, wear i can walk a beach. were we can embrace each
other, without the stress of making everyone else happy.
and where for the moment i know no one, and i don't have to be
walked all over by people i considered friends and family.

and since that isn't in our game plan, i might just stroll downtown
and gaze in the window where my art will be hanging along with
the alaskan art and be happy with myself that i stepped out of
the comfort zone and sent my art to be juried. and i will hug my
kids when the get home from school today, and maybe toss aside
my hurt feelings and move on from my sillyness with b and ask
him to work to fix it.

peace.....

midnight

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

[note: i think out of all of these i have done - this one is the true me!]

peace begins

peace begins at home - 2nd in the h.o.m.e. series

peace begins

8 x 24 x 1.5 canvas
mixed media
acrylics, ink, graphite,
silver leaf and found papers
and an ittybitty bit of glitter

[ whatever comes from the heart
carries the heat and color of it birthplace. ]
~oliver wendell holmes, sr.

-now in the happygirl shop -

my sacred life *[ lazy ]

i am a lazy girl....
i waste time.....
i sabotage myself....
i surf too much.....
i love to nap.....
i compare myself to others....
i hold grudges....
i sing off-key....

...i love to laugh
...i love to help others
...i am a hugger
...i can paint
...i am a master doodler
...i am a mother
...i can drive a stick
...i make others smile


i am lazy, i worked really hard
today to make this a great day. lots
of to-do's were scratched off my vast
list, i started a new painting. i shipped
an order today, designed logos, talked
to friends, prayed and hugged my kids.

[realize how good you really are.]
~og mandino

sacred *[ mother mary ]

my sacred life - mary

i pass this holy candle everyday and i gain strength from
mary. the best part is - i bought this while krogering.
somedays i allow myself to get into such a funk, worrying
about the silliest things

why don't i have more clients
what if i never make anymore money
how can we survive on one income
when will i have something big fall into my lap
who is reading my blog

silly - silly - silliness.

recently the national news began chirping about the
finding of mother teresa's private journals - shocking
that she too suffered from self doubt. why wouldn't
she. she is human, after all.

i gain my strength daily from many women i adore...

woman who rise to the ocassion, women who
have graciously embraced me and all of my questions
and curiosities. woman who i have learned what
womanhood really is and my girls who are growing,
and are beautiful in every sense and woman who
believe in me, my friendship and my abilities.

my days are filled with constant reminders of
what truly matters. now if i can just embrace
that each day and get rid of those silly self doubting
voices.

hmmm....my sacred life

-see other sacred lives here-

sacred *[ sixteen ]

sixteen

then out of the water!
sing loud while you dry!
sing loud, "i am lucky!"sing loud,
"i am i!"

if you'd never been born, then you might be an isn't!
an isn't has nofun at all. no he disn't.
he never has birthdays, andthat isn't pleasant.
you have to be born,or you don't get a present.
a present! a-ha!now what kind shall i give....?
why, the kind you remember as long as you live......

[from dr. seuss, happy birthday to you]

happy birthday you big goofball! you add more to

your mom's life - than you will ever know. i love

your sense of humor, your goofiness, i love watching

you swim breast stroke and playing the guitar. you
make me laugh and i love that you still come home
from school, smile and give me a big fat hug.

you are my blessing, you are part of my sacred life.

-see other sacred lives here-

sacred *[ caroline ]

my sacred life - caroline

each morning, i check in on caroline.
she is fighting juvenile myelomonocytic

leukemia. she is now 5 and receiving
her second transplant. the first one
failed. she is now getting a double
cord transplant. i also check in on
the henry tucker family,
evan cousineau
and isabella massa.

they are part of my sacred life.....

-see other sacred lives here-

bless my soul *[ sacred ]

my sacred life - frida

[ there is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's
going to be a butterfly. ] ~buckminster fuller

i have a frida pendant that i wear almost everyday. and
it amazes me when people ask if i know anything about her.
then they always make a big comment of [she was crazy,
or have you seen her art?! almost offended, and i get this
crazy sick gratitude, when i answer - why yes! because
i am not at all offended by frida.

she is the butterfly.

-see other sacred lives here-

IF...*[ alphabet ]

illustration friday - alphabet [ H.O.M.E. ]

" a wonderful realization will be the day you realized that
you are unique in all the world. the world is an incredible
unfulfilled tapestry, and only you can fulfill that tiny space
that is yours." ~ leo buscaglia

h.o.m.e.
10x30x1.5 canvas
mixed media
acrylics, ink, graphite, silver leaf and found papers

bless my soul *[ art show ]

ahead 10x10 and love wide 24x24 - mixed media paintings

these two pieces have been selected for the
downtown fall art exhibit. needless to say, after some
disappointing news last week, this has lifted my spirits.

i will say, when i saw the envelope in the post, i didn't
even want to open it. this is a juried show and these
two pieces will sit somewhere in a downtown storefront
window.

i am a happy chick!

downtown crawfordsville fall art exhibit
september 28 - october 7, 2007

i would say please come and be part of it, but those of
you i talk to are no where close, but i love that i can
share this bit of good news with you.

....and thank you to each of you gentle souls who have
encouraged me, supported me and held my hand along
the way.

peace, ya'll!