Finally, my brothers,

whatever things are true,

God is all powerful and holy.

whatever things are honest,

I am a sinner.

whatever things are right,

I deserve hell.

whatever things are pure,

Christ, son of God, son of man, lived a perfect life.

whatever things are lovely,

Christ chose to die on the cross for me.

whatever things are of good report;

By believing in His right to allegiance as God and resurrected Redeemer I am forgiven!

if there is any virtue

Christ works in me to eliminate sin and teach me holiness.

if there is any praise,

Christ can be trusted to do what He promises.

think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

Just a few pictures of what I'm up to... and a link

First, the link...

My new card store, still in building phase, but expanding quickly to cover more moments and celebrations. Phoenix Karenee Cards

Also... most recently I finished "Lost" which is going to turn into a t-shirt design, I think.

And ...


which is already a t-shirt, as you can see... but it will be a valentine's card too

I suppose it's time to let you know...

I've got a "business blog" or a "creative blog" or a blog run by my muse, quite literally. Before I give you the link, hear this warning.

All those who enter there must expect to encounter random creativity. I don't always try to make sense, like I do here out of consideration to my readers. I often post art (my own and others'). I'm intending to post a poem or a painting (of my own) every day, to keep in practice. And, well, I write as if I have a split personality or something, creative side vs. day-to-day practicalities.

I'm not going to say the same things here that I do there. This is my "friends and family" blog, and I will continue to post random devotionals, commentary on the kids, daily life moments, and the odd photo of cooking, cakes, or handicrafts.

This is your final announcement. All future posts at the other blog will post without alerting the media (i.e. you), so if you happen by some incredible chance to be more interested in my art and writing, and find yourself wishing day-to-day life didn't feature here so often, well... go to my creative blog. That's where you want to be.

The rest of you, just be happy you don't have to sort through everything I plan to post there, because I've held back a lot of art related stuff over the past months, just to save your sanity. Yeah, I know, there were leaks in the filter.

Alright, and now the link! (You thought I'd forget to post it, didn't you?) Phoenix-KaRenee's Blog

If you want to know, "Why a phoenix?" Well, ... go there. But don't say I didn't warn you!

Dentist...

Our teeth are finally being cared for. After months of other distractions, I made appointments.

Good thing. Pixie has and abscess beneath a tooth that lost a filling! I'm not sure how this happened without her mouth hurting. Her Spyness has no holes in her teeth. She's the only one of us to have this felicitous news. If she doesn't grow into her teeth, she might need braces though, so the long sigh of relief is only temporary. Munchkin had two little holes and went in with me yesterday to get them filled. No numbing! "It didn't hurt, mostly," he said. Now he's done too.

Pixie and I will get to know our dentist well over the next couple weeks. She's a lovely, friendly person, though, so this is no burden. I have more holes than teeth (though this number includes all previous invasions and may still be a dramatic fallacy, since I neither know how many teeth I have, nor how many holes in them ). If you're local and looking for a dentist, just ask and I'll give you the name. She's very good with children.

And now, to sleep, perhaps. My brain recently has been churning out poetry as if it were profitable or something, and falling asleep is interspersed with dramatic leaps for the notepad. I wrote in the dark last night, and still haven't completely deciphered the result.

Good night.

I'm so excited and honored!

My poem, Creative Resonance, has been featured in the writing section of the international artist community of Red Bubble!

I hoped to begin to learn to communicate within the world of art, and to place my work where it could be appreciated in a tactile way should anyone care to do so. I wanted recognition, but with clear perspective, was certain this would be a long time in coming. And so, my expectations have already been exceeded.

I am singing with excitement at having been chosen. It makes the fog around the top of the mountain clear slightly so I can glimpse the peak against the sky, giving me hope for touching it one day. *cries* So ... happy!

Meeting Authors Randomly

I stopped by Barnes and Nobel today and ran into W. D. Gagliani, author of the Wolf Cycle series, and his co-author (of another book), who I'm afraid I practically ignored, since he remained in the background as his friend did the talking. He seemed nice, too.

I haven't read the series, but might. The plot concept is interesting, but how does one ask the author about the moral world-view portrayed in the story to his face? (All of the sermons from the past few weeks about not fearing man have just sprung up to haunt me. *sigh* Wish they'd hit me harder at the store! Could have had an interesting conversation, perhaps?) On with the thought process... I've bought too many random books and found myself wishing I'd read them at the library first. I like keeping what I buy, and while a certain amount of opposing world-view won't prevent me from keeping the book, there is a point where I eliminate them from my library and a point where I stop reading. (Neither of these points are something I can easily define and have a lot to do with my own weaknesses, therefore they cannot be applied to everyone.)

Besides, we were buying history and Clive Cussler for David so he can survive the plane ride to California next week. (Have I mentioned he's going the the company conference yet?)

Is it kosher to keep an author occupied when you have no intention of buying the book that very moment? I don't know. Being married to an ex-salesman/current marketing and managment genius, I've learned to think about these things. Customers can bait and switch too ... don't wanna do that, especially to a friendly gentleman and his associate who are simply sharing their stories with the world.

Except, if I am ever published, I'll enjoy the conversations even if someone won't buy. And since I'm a relatively normal human, perhaps I've just gone and pressed a world-view onto someone who would never buy into it? Ah, the introspection ...

Speaking of introspection, I've noticed something that happens when I'm in a social situation outside of already established relational parameters. My thinking brain goes on hiatus. My creative side (known as Phoenix due to certain posts about muses and musing on the blog of my fabulously fascinating aunt) kicks in. Suddenly, many words surge forward. I talk to myself as I observe the world around me. I talk to strangers. I exhibit a strange tendency to shake hands with people and nod my head (don't ask why). However, it has to be odd to face that side of my personality. There isn't much depth to it. That's why just creativity is not enough. One has to have perspective, meaning, depth... or at least, that's what I look for in others, so it's highly likely that they would notice the lack also.

Gah, I've got to stop being afraid of people! This is ridiculous.

Now, back to folding laundry, ironing, and all the lovely things I've been too sick to do for the past few weeks. Isn't it wonderful that I'm feeling better in time to get David ready for his trip?*

Thank you for surviving this eruption of post-social-trauma.

*The answer to the question posed is, "Yes."

What am I doing?

Painting the fall of Constantinople/final battle of Constantine XI.

Why, you ask? Because I have a friend who likes history and I thought I'd try...

Now excuse me while I go back to researching the armor of the era and redrawing the helmets on the soldiers to match their nationalities...

While you wait for me to finish this massive project, you can look at the background. I'm not sharing the soldiers until they are dressed and looking human.

Oh... Dawn... dawn is a time of day that's hard to draw.