Returning Again

August 12, 2007 · by Christine

I am back home again from my travels.  Today was a very long drive from Ashland, Oregon where we saw a delightful production of As You Like It last night at the Shakespeare Festival.  I’ve been blessed with the opportunity for lots of trips and learning this summer — a season of playfulness and wonder that has done me so much good.  My heart and spirit have been broken wide open a hundred times and I am even more in love with the world than ever before.  My dreams these past weeks have been filled with passion and the joy of more hidden rooms uncovered.

We drove down to Sacramento this last week to spend some time with my in-laws.  They are not doing that well and my heart is heavy for them.  Their spirits are quite low.  My husband was with them the whole week helping them with a variety of errands and tasks.  Part of the week I flew on to Phoenix where I attended Art Unraveled, an amazing selection of art workshops. It was like being at a feast and I indulged with abandon. Here is some of what I created during this time:

Collaging on Canvas –

Expressive Journaling Class –

Fun Lettering Class –

Collage using papers we textured and painted a variety of ways –

I am tired from the long drive.  When we passed through Portland the clouds were rolling in and it began to rain.  After a week of sunshine and temperatures near 100, I was so grateful for this refreshing welcome. It is so very good to be home.

Tomorrow morning I begin to live my way back into my normal rhythms with some new vision.  I have lots of work to do — a chapter of a writing project to complete, an editing project I was just asked to help with, Awakening the Creative Spirit registrations to follow up on (if you want to join us, contact me soon! We are up to 10 confirmed already with several others in the process of discerning), getting my Praying with the Elements journal to the printer finally (look for an email in the next few days with ordering information!), and probably most important, the slow work of digesting the gifts of this most delicious season.

I also returned to the lovely surprise of being included on Tess’ (at Anchors and Masts) list of “Nice blogs. . . that inspire good feelings and inspiration.”  Thanks so much Tess! I am so grateful for your kind and gracious words!

Another gift of returning home was the sky over Seattle this evening –

May you be blessed this week with visions of fire across the sky. May you find time to play in these waning days of summer.  May you discover your own hidden rooms waiting to be explored

-Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts

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