Back to living life at home

We went to look at art materials, so that Rocket could make a glitter vile necklace, 1 for her and 2 for friends. Each is filled with a different color along with a scroll with their name written on it. The Rocker just wanted google-eyes so that he could make aliens.

The Story of A Significant Moment

And just like that, it’s already over

We have been having intern teaching sessions each day before and after the kids' camp: our morning rally and speaker time, EXPLORE, CREATE, lunch with the kids, closing rally, afternoon speaker and discussion groups.
Children brought their families and friends to their showcase. It was beautiful. Kids were proud to show their work.
I can hardly believe that we are already home.

Top floor of the tallest tower

3-day Internship

They weren't exactly sure what they were signing up for. They weren't really sure what they were saying, "Yes!" to. We didn't know that anyone would show up. We didn't know how instrumental they would be!

They are the FUTURE. It's so amazing to stretch them to dream and imagine. I'm learning along with them.

Empowering

I knew that I wanted to come to empower the youth to bring healing to refugees. Last week, I saw a story of healing. This week, I am seeing the empowering. 

Empowering three interns to lead today. Not only in teaching art to kids, but also in thoughtful conversation. In their own way, they are definitely standouts. Each is so eager to learn and grow.

The Beauty of the Future

One project we created was a book to show a significant moment in our life, the before and after. Today, R and A will be teaching this to the children. Please cover them in prayer as they show up hungry and eager to learn and take action, to learn from each other and to be empowered as leaders.
A's story is around their travel to Lebanon from Syria. It was a dark time in her life, but she has hope again. She titled it, "The Beauty of the Future."
R's story is around her journey with Jesus. She came to life and is in the process of growing. Her book is titled, "Born Again."
Hopefully, they bring their books to share again today. I'll be sure to get pictures.
The kids will create their own today.

Sharks and scra

Malakai loves sharks!

Beautiful Hard Day

Setting Up Space and Expectations

The View

Perspective changes everything. When we are tired and frustrated, we pause. Be still. Listen. There may be something bigger going on. I get to step into something beyond me. Let's see what's next! Tomorrow we step into FUTURE: 3-day creativity and leadership conference.

Giants

There are giants in the airport. One thing we're talking about this week is that our greatest giants are within us. It may be fear, but it may be hope. How fitting that it's an art installation. 

Packing Light

We're on our way. We packed bags and bags and boxes and boxes. We brought our underweight luggage to the airport and filled it to the max with things from the overflow of other bags. It all worked out and we're on our way. I haven't traveled in such a large group since my very first overseas trip to India. It was there that I discovered that I would want to create a space for children around the world to create art. There were talented children who would not have an art class because they had to focus on math and language studies. While there were over 1,000 orphans at a single children's home, they were filled with love and joy. I find so much joy in seeing colors. Beauty surrounds us in color. Even the lights in our plane have been changing color throughout the flight.

FUTURE Showcase!

We have been working on our showcase for the past month. And what a showcase it is! This team is so talented and so much dedication has gone into it: the original songs, the spoken word choir, the documentary made by the film team, and translating a song into Arabic. I am so glad to have seen their talents before we go. I am so grateful to be able to be a part of it! This is the start of it all. I know there is something amazing awaiting me in Lebanon. I will come back changed and forever better because of it.

Batman

Batman in the Batcave by the little Rocker

Dream

What people see of you is not everything that you are. We have access
to a world of imagination, a capacity to overflow, the desire to hope.
What do you imagine for your future?

The theme of conference is FUTURE.
Each day, we'll spend time to EXPLORE something new and CREATE with
your passion.
We'll hear messages to challenge and inspire us.

I tried out one of our potential projects with my Rocket.

We cut out a profile silhouette, and she painted a picture of her future.

The Art of Learning Arabic

I had my first informal lesson in learning Arabic. I can confidently say that I learned three words. Clearly I have a ways to go. Thankfully, we will have translators traveling with us along the way. Also, I like to think that art transcends language. Though, I'm sure there are a lot of cultural nuances. Hopefully the emotion, the passion, the hope still comes across. We'll find out if lines, shapes and colors translate at all the same.

We're creating our curricula for the conference and kids camps. And we're creating a team showcase. I'm excited (and slightly nervous) about what we have imagined and how to make that come to life. I like to think of it as a way of introducing ourselves, not only our abilities, but also in sharing what we're attempting to accomplish in our time with them. There is much to do.

Imagine

Taken In All Directions

North India, West Africa, Southeast Asia and now the Middle East. Ezekiel 47. As I am led through the water, it gets deeper, and deeper, deep enough to swim. Wherever the water flows everything will live. Every month the trees grow and bear fruit. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.

Dinosaur Drawings

Having posted the unicorns, it wouldn't be fair to leave out the dinosaurs!

My Rocket and Rocker were inspired to draw on their own this morning. They’ve come quite a way in a little over a year. Scroll down to see Rocket’s instructions of how to draw a dinosaur step-by-step.

A New Thing!

If you've been following along for some time now, you might notice a new thing!  This August, I'll be traveling to Lebanon where we're doing youth creative arts leadership conferences: visual art, dance, film, music, writing and photography, along with soccer and leadership training.  It will be brief, but completely inspiring. 

I've been working on this piece for the past couple of weeks now.  Even though ink is my favorite part of the process, I'm hesitant to do it.  Because once I start, there's no going back.  I suppose this trip is similar.  I'm mildly terrified and yet completely energized. 

So I'm inviting you to share in my journey. Thank so much for following along!

Unicorns and other things unseen

Unicorns have become a favorite in our house.  Rocket's planet project is named Unicorn Island.  "This planet is Unicorn Island. It has two sparkly moons - one for day and one for nighttime. It’s always perfect there. Nothing bad ever happens. Nobody’s ever sad, mad or unhappy. There’s always rainbows.  Nobody’s mean to each other and people can go there too! And all of them have a special power and a special ability like no one else has. There are different kinds of them. Nobody ever gets sick or dies. There’s no broccoli or vegetables." She's painted rainbow-haired unicorns, drawn an endless number of unicorns with wings (named Pegacorns), and even glittery rainbow dragons. It may be just as easy to not believe in these creatures as it is to doubt yourself or to question your gifts, your hopes, your future.  But if we let them, there are people to see potential within you.  There are people who believe when you're not quite ready yet. And when you are ready - What a story, what a beautiful thing! When we see the rainbow in the midst of the rain cloud, When the light that shines reveals beauty indescribable, When we just might be able to see things that were once unseen. 2 View photos

Wet Paint

Saturday, April 13, 2019
While it's rare that I get a chance to paint, I was more than happy to receive a call asking that I do just that. Though I often wish that my skills were more refined, I know that there is a depth of my soul that thrives in the creative process. The more I learned about this new organization - their intent, their goals, the more I knew that I had to be involved!
I had the opportunity to paint live for their fundraising event. It was captured on livestream and recorded. We raise support for a new organization for young artists, pairing them with mentors who would journey with them physically, emotionally and spiritually. Knowing how art has been an outlet and a gift to me, it is so important to know that there are venues for others to create, too! Whether it is an invitation, an art camp or simply a blank canvas and tubes of paint in the corner of a studio, simply create space. Even in the darkness, even in the unknown, there is always hope.