Mondays

Nothing accomplished today.  Boy Scout Troop meeting tonight.  Mind distracted.  Did get a package in today with gifts for the family for Christmas.  Called the phone company to improve our DSL service and create a wireless hot spot in the house.  Going to be a good year, just wish I could get motivated.  More painting & writing this week, hopefully.

Artist as a Young Man - Stage 3

more work on this piece

Artist as a Young Man - Stage 2

Second stage of progress on this one...

Artist as a Young Man

Latest in a series of Self-Portraits...number 4 in the series.  Still a work in progress.

In Memory of Sam

The Book of Psalms offers this:  The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  Psalm 18:2.  I do take refuge in that knowledge.  Today, I found out my niece passed away.  A child, only just thirty years old, she passed in her sleep on the morning of November 8th, 2011.  She leaves a husband, two daughters, a son and grandson behind.  Samantha Charlene Wade was born the eldest child of Darryl S. Abney and Elizabeth Jones.  Brought up in the 1980s, Sam was fun-loving and free spirited, especially as a youth.  Her smile was infectious and her beauty would light up a room.  She married Randy Wade, married life suited her.  Motherhood followed with her children, and motherhood suited her.  Years of medical issues began, as they so often do in many people's lives, to take their toll on her; physically, mentally, and emotionally.  On the morning of Tuesday, November 8th, The Lord brought her home to rest, her earthly pains gone, and in her wake she not only leaves an emptiness and sorrow for her loved ones, but she also leaves behind the memories, memories of happier times, healthier times, memories of peaceful times.  Paul, the Apostle, in his First Epistle to the Thessalonians wrote: For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  I Thessalonians 4:14. Rejoice in the life of this young soul taken from our earthly prison, she will know serenity, she will know peace.  It is written by the prophet John in the Book of Revelation that after the Second Coming of Christ, when the Lord will walk among us that "He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  Revelation 21:4.  Rejoice for Samantha's life; rejoice for the time when we will walk with her again, no more crying, no more pain.