More than one poet in this family!!

I always get a chuckle when I read Laid-Off Dad and his recent post about the revival of the humble Haiku led me back to junior high (aaaaaiiiiii!!!) and inspired me to try this subtle art form once again. So little says so much....

Haikus are so hip
Iambic Pentameter's
A thing of the past.

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED BY ARLENE P TRAVNIK

What a team!!

Then I thought, why not pair the understated art of Haiku with the diminutive art of the ATC, or Artist Trading Card? Voila! A match made in Heaven!

Yes, Haiku and ATC's do in fact go together like piss n' vinegar, and once I started I couldn't stop!

The cold weather inspired me...

Some Haikus are moody and sad...as are some ATC's

Actually, I think the cold weather may have addled my brain...but my creativity was off like a runaway snowball....rolling down hill... on a crowded playground!

Oh oh!

It turns out that Haikus and snowmen go together like piss n' vinegar...or would that be like twig and berries?

Hope you're lucky enough to be snowed in like me. Have fun!!

Why DO we want to be parents?

I was asked that question recently on a home education site I frequent. Here is my answer, though I didn't mention the obvious reason...we parent in order to become Grandparents of course!

Hi Emma,

You asked some thought provoking questions.

>>>This idea also brings to my mind the questions of why do I want to be a
parent? If it is to magnify my own glory, then raising a "difficult" child
would certainly burst that bubble. >>>

I think all children are "difficult". It might help to remember that raising a child, like getting or facilitating a
good education, is a very difficult thing to do, even in the best of
circumstances. It's not easy to be a parent, there are always issues and
difficulties, at every stage of development.
Why do it? Because we are made ( I believe) in God's image, and God is
love, so we have this huge capacity to love beyond any difficulty. We are
created to love. That is what any child needs, and the joy of sharing love
surpasses ANYTHING that happens along the way. We will deal with the
difficulties through loving. I don't believe any parent could imagine or
understand the depth of love that we are capable of until we hold a small
hand, and realize the sincerity of trust that a little person places in us.
I believe it causes us to rise to the occasion and emulate our heavenly
Father. It's just natural! The fact that a child is difficult does not
diminish that love.

arlene

Because I know you are going to ask...

The black and white photos are done by the very talented Kristi Larson of Blue Frame Photographics. Are they not beautiful?

My little boy's little boy

Here are two little boys, both so dear to my heart.

Busy Learning

I have been enjoying learning alongside my boys. I have been so busy with that, that I haven't had much time for blogging! But I could combine the two! I could blog about our adventures in learning!
Here is my check list for the next few days ...

___ I made each of my kids laugh today.

___ I found a way to get one of my kids to say “That was so much fun!”

___ We read aloud and I heard the words I read, and noticed one great simile and one great word pair.

___ We followed one rabbit trail today (someone brought up a subject that made me stop what I was doing to go do a google search, to look for a movie or book on the topic, to talk about it and follow it up with a plan of some kind).

___ I hugged each of my kids.

___ I listened to one child tell me a long story about something important to him.

___ I learned how to do something today that one of my kids taught me.

___ I read a blog or book or magazine about relaxed schooling.

___ I didn’t do one thing that I hate to do.

___ I didn’t make my kids do _________ today.

___ I did one thing that made me supremely happy today.

More Books

Here are a couple more books I've created. They were gifts for two of my friends. One has her initials on the cover. The other has a little bit of art pertaining to "Tea" on every page. She is going to have different friends work in the book, with a Tea theme.

On the Beach

We're here on the beautiful Oregon coast today. We're off to go tidal pooling. I hope we figured these tidal charts out. It seems there's two high tides and one low tide per day. Must go find some treasures at a place called "Road's End". A girl in a little book store here in Lincoln City gave me the scoop for the best place to play. I'll be back to browse in her shop at high tide!

Liam and Mommy

How beautiful are they?

Wow, look at that bloggin' Grandma!!

Another masterpiece!

My friend Cindy is an amazing artist! She masters each new medium she sets her hand to. Have a look at this acrylic. I love the intensity and warmth of the colors. I look forward to our monthly PHAP meetings so I can see what treasures she has wrought. Here is her site.

Book with hand sewn binding

Pass it on!

A couple short weeks ago Josh was wanting to take a course to learn how to do book binding. Today he tutored his friend in the art of making a hand-sewn book. And what a good team they made! I'd say he is as gifted a mentor as he is a student.

Liam update.

Awwwwww. Isn't he the sweetest? I held him yesterday at church. He finds me very comfy, and slept the entire time. Such a good boy...and smart! I bet HE could win at poker!

Rockin' in the Real World

So, I love CBC radio. No pulp, no pop, no ads hurting my psyche. It's usually on in the van, in the kitchen, in my studio.
On Saturday I heard this local guy, and I just had to contact him. He was gracious enough to send me a transcript and give me permission to post it here. He also sent me the mp3 version. If you contact him, at jonathan.gonyou@spaconline.com he'll probably send you the link too. Give it a listen. Tell him I said hi.

Here is the whole thing. Authored by Jonathan Gonyou, assistant pastor of "worship arts and maturity" at Stony Plain Alliance. Great stuff!

THE LEAST LIKELY GOSPEL SONGS

Some of you out there in radio-land may not even know that there'’s a whole sub-genre of music out there called "“Christian Contemporary"”. You'’ve got your Newsboys and your Michael W. Smiths and your Jars of Clay. And it'’s all come a long way baby. In fact I'’d put up the likes of unknown quote "Christian bands"” like the Violet Burning against Radiohead and the "“Lost Dogs"” against "“Wilco" any day of the week.

There is a lot of people who classify or maybe qualify music of "faith" by it"’s "“JPM"’s or“ "Jesus's’ per minute"”. I wish I were making that up.

But if you'’re like me and believe all truth to be God'’s truth, than maybe a gospel song isn'’t just about being on a Christian record label or getting Christian radio airplay.

There'’s the usual suspects of course. Johnny Cash has been singing and writing gospel songs his whole career and his last recording "“The Man Comes around"” is straight out of the last book of the Bible, Revelations. U2 have worn their faith on their sleeve and have written more overt "“Christian"” songs than your typical southern gospel quartet. Check out their song "“grace"” or their perennial concert closer "“40"”, verbatim from Psalm 40. Bob Dylan wrote 2 landmark Gospel albums with classics like "“Saved", "“Gotta serve somebody", ” and "“Lord protect my child"”. Willie Nelson, the Byrds, Moby, Kanye West, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Switchfoot, Sixpence to name a few have written profound songs of faith and devotion (a little DePeche mode reference there for you synthpop geeks).

But some of my favourite quote "“gospel"” songs come from the least likely of sources.

Prince, of all people took a break from writing soft core porn to music to pen one of the most compelling songs about that day 2000 years ago, that changed the world. "“The Cross"” is only 2 chords but persuasive and touching.

Indie poster boy Sufjan Steven'’s song "“The transfiguration" ” from the album "“Seven Swans"” is a riveting account of Jesus last few days on earth.

And is there a better song ever written than Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen? A word that transcends language and culture. The most succinct word of adoration to God. Jeff Buckley'’s version is, in my humble opinion, the best.

How about Lauren Hill'’s "“into Zion"”. A Biblical allusion and ode to the miracle of life of her newborn son.

And the Violent Femmes, ya, I said it: the Violent Femmes have more JPM'’s than, well, than you'’d ever expect from a band with the name "“Violent Femmes"”. Check out "“Jesus walkin'’ on the water"” or "Faith"” or "“Rejoice and be happy"” almost a transcript from the sermon on the mount.

And finally, the Velvet Underground, known more for writing gender-bending- drug-binging stories of New York'’s underbelly and yet when Lou Reed sings "“Jesus, help me find my proper place, help me in my weakness, ‘cause I'’ve fallen out of grace."” Well, it cries of a man, of all of us, in need of redemption. And I don'’t know about you, but I'’m one Pastor in need of redemption.

Gonyou out.

Sunday Thoughts

I thought the topic of blasphemy doesn't get discussed often enough. What is it? Am I guilty? I think this article is really interesting. Tell me what you think.