Need It Now

I want to write! I want to draw! I want to paint! I want to do photography! I want to cook! I want to create!

So many things I want to do, I crave deep within. I just don't know which to choose, which to focus my energy on. I don't know how to get started. All I know is I want to live out this passion internally, externally.

Do I pick up a pen, paintbrush, spatula?

Help me! Give me a project, an idea, a task. Something. It...is...killing...me!!

Graffiti Of The Heart

I did not permit it to scratch or scribble its way onto my heart. Illicitly, it stained the walls with permanency. It took up residence and I can’t clean it off no matter how hard I try.

A dream…

Of beauty and art

Of delicious emotions

With intense yearning
Of creative expression

I can’t travel without stopping the car if I see a beautiful sunset, a turtle crossing the street, or a picturesque flower. I've stopped in the middle of the street, breaks screeching, slamming the passenger into the dashboard all for the sake of a photograph. (Sorry Brandon)

Suddenly an image will come into my mind. I grab a pen, pencil, or white out pen, whatever I can find and begin to draw. I will pull out my pink bed sheet, a work of art within itself, stained with paint of every color imaginable. I will pull out my sheet and spread it across the dining room table, grab a canvas and paint brush and begin to use my mind to direct my hand.

I can be in the middle of listening to a song on the radio and my mind spews forth words that must be written. I don’t feel as if I can breathe properly until I type the last punctuation mark.

This dream to be creatively free and unafraid comes from a place deep within that no matter how hard I try to suppress it; be it weeks, months or even years…it springs back to life and becomes uncontrollable. Ever since I got my first diary over 25 years ago, ever since I wrote my first book of poems that sits in my closet on the top shelf, dusty; this dream of living a life of artistic expression waxes and wanes through my being.

This year, this week, this day..it is spilling over.

Here are some recent photographs and drawings of mine. I hope you enjoy.
(If the image is blurry, tap it to open)

Annual Family Vacation

This week I am on vacation with my family. Most days have brought rain instead of sunshine. We haven't been able to enjoy much time in the water but we have enjoyed our time together. There has been plenty of food, fun, sleep and rest.

Day 1 We took a trip to the beach closest to our rental home. It was rather hysterical. It looked more like a man made lake than the ocean. There was barely any sand, it was full of seaweed and we found a clothes hanger in the ocean while digging for shells.

Day 2 It rained a good bit and we weren't able to spend much time outside. We did take a trip to the pool and pretty much had it all to ourselves which was very relaxing. My nephew found it humorous that he captured a video and all you could hear were crickets in the background, that is how quiet it was.

Day 3 We drove into Mexico Beach, Florida. It was the perfect day to be on the beach. The wind was amazing, the sun was shining, and the waves were large. My niece took the time to build a sandcastle. We fed the birds. A few of us got brave and with a little patience had them eating out of our hands. I even attempted to try and coax them to take a veggie chip from my lips. It worked and we all squealed with delight.

Each day we've had the luxury of napping and eating amazing meals. Last night we went to dinner and afterwards walked around trying to locate a few perfect spots for our annual family photos. Even though it is day 4 of vacation and we once again are stuck inside due to weather, I couldn't be happier. I have really learned a few things this week about myself and others.

Side note: I prayed prior to and during this trip to feel God more and to see His work in my life. I've prayed to have the opportunity to be still and quiet as I reflect on His goodness and mercy. He has answered my prayer and many others. I am learning to let go of the drama that surrounds me and have shared talks with my mother concerning others attitudes compared to my own. With her advice and the nudging I have felt from God, I have realized that I am only to be Rachel. Rachel is enough for God, she is enough for her family, and enough for her true friends. For all of these, her heart is known and her intentions are clear.

Back to the topic at hand, I would like to share a few photos with you from our week so far. We have been blessed.

To Be Young Again

Facials, hairstyles, desert, sparkly drinks in champagne glasses and a bridal gown…

Last weekend was the best weekend I’ve had in a while. No, I did not attend a wedding. I hosted an “End of School” Slumber Party for my niece and her friend from school. It began several weeks back with a really cute invitation and ended with a very fun photo shoot. I spent a few days prior to the party trying to decide how in the world I would entertain two tweens. I have no children of my own, so I don’t really keep up with what’s hot in the world of 11 year old girls.

I decided to look 3 places for ideas to fill up a night with entertainment and a morning with memories to last.

1.       The World Wide Web.
2.        By channeling my inner 11 year old.
3.       Sifting through my creative juices.

I would like to share with you what I came up with and hopefully it will inspire you to be young again and create the perfect Slumber Party for your daughter or niece and her friends.

Ice Cream Sundaes:

Can you ever go wrong with ice cream and kids?

Vanilla Ice Cream, sprinkles, cool whip, caramel coated peanuts, fudge topping, rainbow sherbet topping, and of course a cherry for the top are just a few of the items I purchased. They grabbed a bowl and proceeded to make themselves a treat that would have them wired for hours.

Fruity drinks in a pretty glass:

Who doesn’t feel a little fancy when they drink from a petite little champagne glass? Why would tween girls be an exception? I found a pretty shade of pink lemonade and added a strawberry for that extra “ooh-la-la” effect.

Facials & Manicures:

When I asked the girls if they would be interested in a facial, they squealed with delight. They had so much fun experiencing this first. When the cool cream hit their face they giggled with surprise and laughed so hard that they cried when they saw their green reflections staring back at them in the mirror.

Afterwards, I took requests for manicures. I purchased nail glitter at the dollar store and grabbed my polish. The girls also brought their favorite polish to the party. We decided to paint each nail two different colors and apply glitter. It was a mess and it was exhausting, but it was all girly.

Truth or Dare:

When they asked me to give them dares, I couldn’t think of very many. I looked online to see if I could find some that were suitable for children. Surprisingly, the internet was full of clean and funny ideas for children. A few ideas:

Suck your toe for 10 seconds.

Put 5 marshmallows in your mouth and sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

Say “I’m cwaazy, I’m cwaazy, cause I’m, wooney!” 3 times in a row.

For the next 15 minutes, after each thing you say, you must finish your sentence with “Man, I’m good!” or “Hippity Hop.”

Carry another player on your back across the floor. 

Bride:

Being the center of attention, wearing a beautiful dress, putting on makeup, and holding a bouquet are only just a few things every little girl dreams of.

I pulled my wedding dress from the closet and grabbed some clips from the kitchen. After styling their hair, the girls and I slipped the “bride” into her dress and secured the back with clips. Their little faces lit up when they looked in the mirror. They examined the glittery shadow on their eyes, their new hairstyle, and twirled in the dress that made them feel like a princess. We spent a few minutes taking photos and throwing the “bouquet.”

Every slumber party needs Popcorn and a Movie:

I asked the girls to bring their favorite pajamas, pillows, blankets and movies to the slumber party. When we were ready to wind down for the night, they dressed cozy and grabbed their blankets as I prepared the popcorn. We settled in for a movie-marathon that ended in snoring.

Photo Shoot:

The next morning the girls woke me. I sat them down for painting as I prepared breakfast. They let their creative juices flow as the smell of bacon, cinnamon rolls, and strawberries filled the air. Afterwards, I asked the girls to get dressed and we went outside for a fun round of Hide & Seek. I grabbed my camera to document the fun. When all hiding options were exhausted we decided to end the fun with a photo shoot.

The party was a success! Both girls really enjoyed the time they spent together and the activities were endless. Sure, I was exhausted afterwards, but I wouldn't want it any other way. Not only do the girls have forever memories, but I was once again an 11 year old.

I am in the process of editing of all the photos I took that night and the next morning. I have decided that once I am done, each girl will receive a disc with the memories so they can look back on this party many years from now and laugh.

I hope you are now inspired to throw a Summer Slumber Party and rediscover the tween in you. 

P.S. I sent the girls home with nail polish, nail brushes, glitter accessories, polish remover and cotton balls all presented in a cute jar.

P. S. S. Don’t forget to have fun, relax, and grab a few cans of silly string spray for an all-out girly war!

Where Do I Put This Fire?

I have this deep and intense need to create. To breathe life into something that is of utter importance. I have this urge to connect with myself and others in a romantic, creative, intense way. I want to write words that spill forth from my heart with ease. I want to paint beauty that captures hearts and makes souls cry. I want to share the intensity within my core that shouts exactly how I am feeling through photography. I want to create a dish of the most intense flavor that it explodes passion and cools desire within the mouth of the receiver.

I want to feed my sensitivity with strength that is found only through being vulnerable, open, artistic, and real.