Miracles.

This morning I slept in until 7:30.  Yes, I know that doesn't sound like much but for me it's grand.  No lunches to pack, noone to push out the door with backpacks, water bottles and shoes that match.  Just a nice lazy morning listening to my sweet girls playing together, laughing, daydreaming, singing songs......and yes, the occasional argument.  That's okay.  I'll take it.  

I'm so in awe of my children.  And sitting here listening to them on this fine morning while I suck down another cup of coffee (I thought about fasting coffee today because I've been drinking gallons of it.  You see how far that went) I'm overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude.  And so many miracles God has performed in my piddly little life flow through my mind.

The obvious ones are my sweet husband and awesome kids.  Nothing trumps that.  And I could go down the list and highlight them all.  That will be another, very long, long post.

But I also think about the gallery.  Most people don't know that it was actually GIVEN to me by a fabulous gentleman and his family.  I had no confidence in myself at the beginning of this venture but really believed God was in it, so I did it.

I'm so glad I did.  

Having little confidence or a sense of self worth for years, jumping head first into an unknown venture like the gallery has worked hard to change all that.  I'm a different person.  I prayed for years that God would help me think differently of myself.  And I guess I just didn't think I was valuable or able to do valuable things.   And I truly believe God gave me this gallery because it forced me to do what I believed I couldn't;  run a business, be around people for extended periods of time without being overwhelmed, develop relationships, manage my time, organize, facilitate........

And although I have a long way to go, I've come a long way, too.  And I'm in awe of how God answers prayers and the pathways He puts in front of us.  We choose yes or no.  And every 'yes' I've said has come with a price.  The work has been hard.  Not just with the gallery but with having kids, with marrying the love of my life, with maintaining relationships, with being kind to people......many things.  But the work has been worth it.  And the outcome of saying 'yes' to God has been the ride of my life.  

I can't wait to see what comes next.

I'm in awe.

The Christmas Spirit??

What a whirlwind this Christmas season has become for me.  Since I opened the gallery 2 years ago, I've found that I almost dread Christmas.  Isn't that awful?  I LOVE Christmas!  I don't want to dread it!  But the festivities in Davidson the first weekend in December absolutely wear me out.  3 nights of chaos, although it's super great for sales....followed by an endless stream of custom orders....which is great.  But is that what Christmas has become for me?  A great season of sales and some extra cash?  Yuk.

I yelled at my kids countless times this week because they were cutting into my 'making custom orders' time.  I'm totally out of sync with my husband.  And, quite frankly, I'm a little depressed.  No fun.  I'm quickly losing the reason for the season.

Does anyone else find this happening to them?  Am I alone in this?

In the meantime, I managed to carve out some time to do more new inspiration pieces.  I'm loving this.  Taking my paintings and adding verses to them is making me so happy.  I think it's giving me a little meaning back....in many facets.

This print is the new Nativity scene I finished about 3 weeks ago.

This painting was HUGE!  4 feet to be exact.  I donated it to my church a few years ago.

And the 'All You Need is Love'.  Beatles inspired!

AND.....I finally made my poems into cards.  SUPER excited about these!

Oh, and before I end (and just to add a little more commercialism!), I'm having a 20% off sale.  You can purchase in the gallery OR online by clicking here.  Follow the 'Kristen Feighery Folk Art' link.

Merry Christmas.  And push a prayer or 2 out for me, if you don't mind, about my humbug attitude right now.  Or maybe just pray for my family who has to deal with me until Christmas!

In the meantime, check out this gorgeous song and it's beautiful words and harmonies.  This will put you in the true Christmas spirit!

Happy Sunday!