Valentine's 2008

Valentine's 2008, originally uploaded by [kmj].

These are the chocolate boxes I made on a whim for Valentine's Day. Check out the rest of the photos @ my flickr site:
http://flickr.com/photos/daedaldilettante/

Happy Sabbath everyone! :-)

"It's Going To Be Okay"

by Max Lucado

Bill Tucker was sixteen years old when his dad suffered a health crisis and consequently had to leave his business. Even after Mr. Tucker regained his health, the Tucker family struggled financially, barely getting by.

Mr. Tucker, an entrepreneurial sort, came up with an idea. He won the bid to reupholster the chairs at the local movie theater. This stunned his family. He had never stitched a seat. He didn't even own a sewing apparatus. Still, he found someone to teach him the skill and located an industrial-strength machine. The family scraped together every cent they had to buy it. They drained savings accounts and dug coins out of the sofa. Finally, they had enough.

It was a fine day when Bill road with his dad to pick up the equipment. Bill remembers a jovial, hour-long trip discussing the bright horizons this new opportunity afforded them. They loaded the machine in the back of their truck and secured it right behind the cab. Mr. Tucker then invited his son to drive home. I'll let Bill tell you what happened next:

"As we were driving along, we were excited, and I, like any sixteen-year-old driver, was probably not paying enough attention to my speed. Just as we were turning on the cloverleaf to get on the expressway, I will never ever, ever forget watching that sewing machine, which was already top-heavy, begin to tip. I slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. I saw it go over the side. I jumped out and ran around the back of the truck. As I rounded the corner, I saw our hope and our dream lying on its side in pieces. And then I saw my dad just looking. All of his risk and all of his endeavor and all of his struggling and all of his dream, all of his hope to take care of his family was lying there, shattered.

"You know what comes next don't you? 'Stupid, punk kid driving too fast, not paying attention, ruined the family by taking away our livelihood.' But that's not what he said. He looked right at me. 'Oh, Bill, I am so sorry.' And he walked over, put his arms around me, and said, 'Son, this is going to be okay.'

God is whispering the same to you. Those are his arms you feel. Trust him. That is his voice you hear. Believe him. Allow the only decision maker in the universe to comfort you. Life at times appears to fall to pieces, seem irreparable. But it's going to be okay. How can you know? Because God so loved the world. If God can make a billion galaxies, can't he make good out of our bad and sense out of our faltering lives? Of course he can. He is God.

From 3:16, The Numbers of Hope
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 2007) Max Lucado

WWF Tiger Update

© WWF-Canon/Edward Parker

Sumatran Tigers Are Being Sold into Extinction
A new TRAFFIC report released this week reveals that laws protecting the critically endangered Sumatran tiger have failed to prevent tiger body parts from being sold openly in Indonesia. Canine teeth, claws, skin pieces, whiskers and bones, for example, were on sale in 10 percent of the 326 retail outlets surveyed during 2006. Based on the number of canine teeth on sale, the survey conservatively estimates that, 23 tigers were killed to supply the products seen. "There are only about 400 Sumatran tigers left; a population that small cannot sustain this level of poaching," said Leigh Henry, program officer for TRAFFIC North America.

Last Lemon

Last Lemon, originally uploaded by MOOHQ.

wow! love the yellow one! can we say chocolate lover?! haha

Christmas in July

moocards3, originally uploaded by Emmalynne.

how gorgeous are these!?!?! can we say additional present for the upcoming "Christmas in July" cards?!

look forward to something in your mailbox if you did not receive a 2007 Christmas card last year!

:-)

New Experiences

invites, originally uploaded by ali edwards.

[how cute are these invitations by Ali Edwards?! i love them! totally going to make some of my own the next time there's a party]

The last few days have been filled with many new experiences. Let's list them backwards, shall we? This afternoon I turn on the tv to find that Namaste Yoga is on FitTV. I have been wanting to try yoga for MONTHS now and I'm proud to say that I finally did it! :-) It was quite interesting and didn't burn as much as I initially thought. Then right after yoga Gilad (whom I discovered from "America's Most Smartest Model") was on and he totally gave me the burn I was searching for! He's tricky! ("uppercut!!!" - inside joke]

Today was a great day at school. :-) I left the house a bit off schedule, since I accidentally slept in. When I got to the Edinburg/McAllen area I thought, "Screw it! I'm going to be late and get some Starbucks!" And so I melted into my 140 degree Cafe Mocha Lite with delight on an unusually refreshing morning in the RGV. On my way to class I was kindly greeted by a fellow piano major in whom I had recently come back into contact with after several years. When I got to my Digital Image & Illustration (studio) class, the professor was doing one of his ever so interesting lectures. I thoroughly enjoy them! 20 minutes top and filled with life lessons, anecdotes, and explanations of artwork from various styles and eras. Just the way it should be! There were no Wacoms left, but the professor offered me his computer and I accepted. He went off to do his thing outside of the class room and only peeked in once or twice to ask on our progress. He didn't come and check my work - which I hate - and that's a good thing. My renderings were surprisingly good for trying this new technique from my other Drawing 2 Studio book, and that makes anyone happy.

Class whooshed by and I found myself walking towards my parking spot. Paid $2.17 for a lunch that completely satisfied me and had enough time to spare to leisurely listen to Insight for Living, study today's devotional, and computer work. I felt excited about my Drawing 2 Studio and was assured that I would make some better sketches then earlier this week. I achieved my goal, despite (what I thought was) a rough start. And though the next project is lengthy, there will be a drawing exhibit hosted by my two studio professors (whom I have just written about) on a man who was their professor at one time. My drawing teacher recommended him, and Dr. Fields' professors knew Picaso and other Greats so there's no doubt in my mind that it will be interesting. Looking forward to it. :-)

And to conclude,I ran into a Belly Dancing Class on FitTV last night. It was fun, despite the fact that I was giggling all over the place! Hey, if those girls with 6-packs are giggling too, then I feel a whole lot better giggling along.

Monday

well today i had every intention on getting to class in time. but it ended up just being that. i skipped class today and opted for finishing my drawing project. we're doing hand studies in 2 of my 3 studio classes and i do find enjoyment in going them. there's just so much to work with! i feel accomplished in studio today and besides the debit card scare i had today, it proves to be a very pleasant monday.