My Dad's Paintings

These are just some of the paintings that my dad has done. Most are famous impressionist paintings that he did by looking at a small photo of the paintings. He amazes me at how he can draw and paint anything he can see. He did most of these paintings fairly recently. The painting with the bluebonnet field and a red barn was from a photograph my mom took. He liked the photo so much he decided to paint it. The whole painting was done with painting knives. The oldest painting he did here is the one with a gondola. It was done all with a painting knife as well. They are also all oil paintings. These paintings will probably look freshly painted for over 200 years or more because he used the techniques of the masters to make the paints last.

My Mom's Dolls

This is a collection of my mom's dolls that she has made. I am always amazed at her talent and ability to make things like these. She has entered some in contests has also sold some in the past. She just enjoys making things. I think my favorite is the inside-out bear that she made. She even pinned a heart on it since it is inside out. Isn't she smart?

Is There Life After Divorce?

I know there is life after divorce, but I tell you what, it is not so easy in the first few years especially. I look back at the past two years and can really see that I have learned much and made some real improvement. Of course, it doesn't take much of anything to happen that might make me feel like I have not really made any progress at all.

Divorce seems similar to the death of a spouse with the only major difference (and it is major) is that in divorce the person in the pain and loss of divorce must still interact with the ex-spouse. The wounds that might have mostly healed get ripped open again and are fresh.

I am learning that when my mind starts to dwell on my ex-wife, it is best to try thinking on other things and avoid any thought of her. I wish I felt nothing but anger toward her sometimes, but I know that is not healthy. Other times I wish I just never had to see her or talk to her ever again. But that will not happen unless she died and I really don't want to wish that on anyone. There is not any regret about my ever marrying my ex-wife. I wish we had worked out the problems we had and had avoided any unfaithfulness and saved the marriage.

Yet, one thing I know is that I cannot change the past and the only thing I can really control is myself and how I let things affect me. My son's well-being is my top priority...second only to living a Christian life to please God. I am so very thankful that I was at least married to my ex for a while and that our love for each other produced the son of whom I am most proud. I miss him every day we are not together. Of all the pain and unfairness of divorce, I believe the worst part is that it destroys the complete family unit. No longer is it possible for the child or children to have two loving parents who love each other and the kids and work together to raise their kids as God desires us to raise them.

I have been robbed of being in my son's life every single day as he grows up and that is a crime against me and a crime against my son. Yet, this is again something beyond my control to changeand was not avoidable either.

So, although the answer to my title question is YES, it is a major rebuilding process. It is lonely as well. Yet, as bad as I would like to find someone to marry to ease my lonliness, I refuse to just settle for the first person who might be willing to marry me. I want to avoid a repeat of divorce at all costs. I want to be married to the woman who will always be my best friend and lover and help meet in this life until death parts us. I want to grow old taking care of each other. I am praying that God will help me to find this one special person.

Thirteen Favorite Artists

1. N.C. Wyeth

2. Andrew Wyeth

3. Claude Monet

4. Vincent Van Gogh

5. Leonardo DaVinci

6. Michelangelo

7. GEORGES PIERRE SEURAT

8. Edgar Degas

9. Pierre-Auguste Renoir,

10.Norman Rockwell

11.Rembrandt

12.Georgia O'Keeffe

13.Wyland

Decisions

Click on the pic of the comic and you will be able to read it and see it better. I love Calvin and Hobbes. This particular strip was one of my favorites. It is funny and has an important life-lesson in it as well.

Life is full of decisions. We make them every day. Most are not very important, but others can affect our lives in major ways both positive and negative. I look back at my life and see many poor decisions and I regret many of them. But in many ways, all my life experiences have helped to make me who I am today. I am at another point in my life faced with some difficult decisions I need to make in the next month. The decisions I make can have a major effect on my future career and will in turn effect my family. If I make good decisions, the results will be very positive to those closest to me. If my decisions are not good, it can make things much worse for me and those closest to me.

I am praying often to God about these choices before me. This post is mostly to help me really take this moment in my life seriously. The most important decision in life is the decision as to who we will serve. Will we serve God or Sin? In the end, nothing in this world matters in comparrison to that. So I will do my best to make good decisions in regards to my career, and my personal life, but am comforted to know that I live ultimately for God and will be alright in the end. We do not really even know if we have another day and each day is a gift from God. I hope that you all will be blessed as well with these thoughts I am sharing.

Thirteen Favorite Big Band Songs

These are just 13 of so many great songs that came from the 1930's,40's and 50's. I just love the music and lyrics are just not nearly as cleverly written as they were then. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong generation. Don't get me wrong. I love music from today as well, but there is just something special about the music from back then. I hope you all are familiar with these great songs and if you are not, please try to give them a listen...you won't be sorry.

1. I Love You For Sentimental Reasons

2. Moonlight Becomes You

3. It Could Happen To You

4. I Never Knew

5. Smile

6. Mona Lisa

7. Answer Me

8. Mean To Me

9. My Funny Valentine

10.Someone To Watch Over Me

11. What'll I Do

12. When I Fall In Love

13. Too Young