Hello South Africa!

Mom and I decided to take a trip to see Kristin in South Africa and what a wonderful time we've had so far!--we've seen and done so much and we just got here Friday night!

It has been so cool to see where Kristin lives...her awesome apartment, where she buys groceries, where she works, where she shops, where she goes to church, etc.  I only wish we weren't so far away so we could visit more often.

Here's a look into Kristin's apartment...notice the amazing artwork on the walls.  Not surprised.  At all.

Kristin driving on the "wrong" side of the road in a standard!  Mom should not sit in the front anymore!  TIA (this is Africa)

The morning after we arrived Kristin and I went to pick up Catherine and Christine from the airport.  It was so crazy how it worked out that we would be here the exact same time--they met a group from Texas later that day to do some work in a township close by.  So we got to hang out all day--went to the Organic farmer's market and saw some awesome artwork!

Sunday after church we ate lunch at this awesome place called the Tea Garden.  Then Ethan took us to a Fine Arts market downtown...We got to see some amazing art from local artists.  Very appropriate and inspiring!

Yesterday we went to the Lion park--got to pet some cubs and drive around to see the Lions.  It was crazy because there were no fences in between us and them!

For lunch afterwards we went to a place called Monte Casino...the architecture and interior was beautiful.  I guess being a casino I wasn't surprised...but it was amazing.  Extremely Italian.

This is just the beginning of our trip...Thursday we leave for Cape Town!  So I will definitely have more pictures soon!  I wish Buster could be here...Miss you babe.

Happy Tuesday!

We Are the Body


Recently I heard this song at church and haven't been able to get it out of my head...or heart.  Perhaps because I see God's purpose for the body of Christ more than I ever have.  I am overwhelmed by the need and the hurt that I am witnessing all around me.  There are SO many lives who are desperate for help, for answers , for the right words to pray...for light in the darkenss, for hope in the midst of sorrow and tragedy.

We all need Jesus.  We, as the Body of Christ, need His saving power.  We need His healing touch.  We need His compassion...His heart for the broken, the desperate, the helpless.

I'm realizing more than ever that the Church is more than a place where we come to worship.  The church IS the body of Christ.  We are His Hands and Feet.  We have His heart and His Spirit!  It is the Lord's desire that we be the Body of Christ to our brothers and sisters.

Romans 12:5 says this:
"...in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."

Throughout Scripture Jesus teaches and shows how to care for others.  It is the heart of every Christian to follow in His footsteps...In fact the Greatest Commandment Jesus gives is this:

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."  Matthew 22: 37-39

We can't love Him or love like Him without His help...Let us pray desperately for His love to overflow out of us as His Body.  Let us not be passive in our prayers for others...but let us pray with intention to do whatever is required of us to meet the needs of those around us.  Ask Him to open our eyes to how He is working--even in the darkest places of our lives.  Let us not miss the miracles.  May He be glorified through His Church.

We Are The Body of Christ

by Mandi Mapes, Jim Watkins

We are the body of the most High

We are the bride of a Savior

And we fall for the King of the kingdom

As we sing the songs of salvation

And we stand for those who cannot stand for themselves

And we love the loveless

And we go where Your light's not shining

We are the body of Christ

We shine like a city on a hilltop

We boast in the Spirit living in us

And we march on a road leading to freedom

As we reach out our hands to the fallen

And we bring living water to the thirsty and

We live for the One who was and is to come

So our life counts for something greater than ourselves

We are the body of Christ

And our anthem will be a song of praise to the King

"He is worhty, He is worhty"

With one voice we will sing, "Where oh death is your sting"

He is mighty, He is mighty 

My First Arts & Crafts Show

Last week was Spring Break...I spent the entire break getting ready for my FIRST Arts/Crafts show in Tupelo, MS--The North Mississippi Green Festival.  I am excited to show some pictures of what I've worked so hard on over the past few months!  But first let me share the top 5 things I learned on my first go-round at this sort of thing:

1. You never know what people are looking for or what they will be willing to spend their money on.  

2. Setting up takes so much longer than taking down.

3. Never try selling at an Arts/Crafts show by yourself.  I was so thankful to have some close friends that helped me do everything.  Next time my husband will be there:-)

4. Advice from other vendors is so helpful.  I met a really cool artist, Billy Moore, from Memphis, who gave me some helpful words of wisdom.  We actually ended up trading at the end...I gave him a piece of pottery for a painting (I love it!)

5. I will never go to an Arts/Crafts show as an observer and be the same.  So much work goes into doing shows...I look up to all the vendors I talked to who do this just about every Saturday!  You really never know if you will sell out or not even make enough to cover fees and gas!  

Now that I've shared my experience, here are some shots of my work and my booth.

I received so many compliments and was very encouraged by how many people asked if I had a store!  I would love to have my own studio/gallery one of these days...it is definitely a dream of mine:-)

Here are some close-ups of work I took to the show.  I am planning on putting some of these things on Etsy very soon!

Here is some of my current pottery--I have fallen in love with turquoise and brown...

Somehow can't get away from it! 

I've also been playing around with making jewelry from ceramics and am having so much fun!

 

These are some close-up shots of some picture frames I've been making with old tongue-and-groove boards.  The glass is held on with magnets...and the pictures are actually cut out from the latest issue of Real Simple magazine.

Here are some frames I painted, antiqued, and made flowers out of synthetic fabric.

  

And lastly, a couple of paintings I've done recently:

Would love to hear what you think about my recent work--please leave a comment to let me know!

Happy Monday!

Love,

Right now I am linking up to:

Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle

Newbie Party at Debbiedoo's

Take A Look Tuesday at Sugar-bee Crafts