Baum Family Portraits

I have not posted in so very long because I have never been more busy with school in my life-ever. trying to graduate is exhausting. Especially when you put everything off to the last minute, like me. Anyway, I finally found a pinch of free time and wanted to post these pictures because I think they are great!

Really there is nothing special about the pictures themselves, but I took time to name each of my house plants and found it extremely entertaining! It was kind of a fun break in my homework:)

Berta

Rosie (I know thats not very creative since she's a primrose)

Shag (pictured here with Karl's beloved, Gnomie)

Phil (don't ask why, he just looks like a Phil!)

Legs

Mufasa (this arelia looks like tree from Africa to me!)

Joe Junior

(How could you not name a coffee plant Joe?? However, since my BFF had the original "Joe" in our dorm in college, I named him Joe Junior....also a fabulously creepy character from While You Were Sleeping)

Herbitos (Spanglish for little herbs)

Claude

(since he's in such a fancy vase I thought he needed a fancy name!)

There they are! I left a few out, just because I got tired of uploading pics, but most of them are here. This wasn't TOTALLY random, I used the pics and the names to put in an idea book for an art class I'm taking. So it kinda was homework!

Well, the gang and I are going to bed now-Shag and Gnomie are nicely cuddled already as you see. Good night!

Beauty tips

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. ~ Audrey Hepburn

Oh how I adore Audrey Hepburn! This is probably the only movie star in my life I have ever idolized. The reason for this post is because I watched one of my favorite of Audrey's films today-Sabrina. I haven't seen that film for ages, probably since I was 16 or younger (yes I've been watching old films like that since I was a child, thanks to a wonderfully cultured mother and grandmother) and I had forgotten how wonderful it is. Although, I had to laugh, watching movies at the age of twelve or thirteen means something totally different then watching them at 21. "Oh I never got that joke before" or "so thaaaaats what that means...." are things I often say after watching a movie I haven't seen in a long time. Sabrina is not a comedy but I found myself laughing out loud at a moment between Linus and his younger brother David who has a very sore derriere from sitting on two champagne glasses. David is thinking of writing a poem to Sabrina and asks his brother, "What rhymes with glass?" The two ponder for a moment and just when you THINK you know what word they are going to say, the word "Alas!" comes to Linus' mind. HA!

After the movie I thought about the subject matter of Sabrina and noticed that I haven't seen an Audrey Hepburn movie that doesn't deal with very deep feelings and themes. She was a deep woman, not just a stylish lady or a intelligent wit. She had a big heart (especially her renowned work with UNICEF) and most of all she relished in her humanity. Humans can be lowlifes and dimwits, and she no doubt knew of her own imperfections and those of others around her, but I feel she possessed the wisdom and grace to look at what people could become.

I struggle with that. So often when things or people get me down I am easily discouraged and quick to judge. I often see the faults in others and I forget to "remove the plank from my own eye". I look at the frailty and weakness of humanity and am disgusted at it-as if I were above it. Sometimes I can be so ugly, we all can. I suppose I could take some of Audrey's beauty tips.

For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him...

Psalm 103:14-17

Even though humans are so frail, the Lord is so big and so abounding in mercy and love. I love that he remembers that we are dust. He isn't surprised by the weaknesses of humanity. He isn't aghast when someone messes up. He knows what we're made of and is there to offer strength through His mercy and His love. That's were I believe Audrey's strength came from. I don't know if she believed in the God who penned the verse above, but this verse reminds me of her. She was someone who recognized her humanity and chose to make the best of it. Like her, I want beautiful eyes, lips and a "grace-full" poise. Thanks for the tip Audrey.

My First Blog....in a long time

Hello! This is my first blog in a very, very long time. I used to love blogging when I was in high school; I could share stories, fun times, pictures with friends, or lessons learned. In fact, I was pretty much obsessed with my blog about four years ago.

However, four years and (nearly) a college degree later, I am so very, very different. And whether or not anyone reads this blog, I'm looking forward to a new way to express myself. Blogs are great! I'm not sure if I was inspired to start one again because of one of my new favorite movies Julie & Julia, or because I miss a connection to the cyber world since deleting my Facebook page, or just because my FABULOUS 17inch HP laptop is just to fun to not spend lots and lots of time on. :)

The truth is (and probably an underlying truth for every blogger), I have an ever-growing battle of narcissism warring in my life and why the heck not call it "creative writing" and post it on the web. I suppose narcissism is an extreme thing to call it, but maybe, just maybe, if I put my thoughts into creative, intelligent (maybe) and organized essays I'll be the one in control of my thought processes instead of them being in control of me.

Its a long shot-I know!

I'm not sure what day to day life will bring me to post here, but it promises to hold my thoughts on my relationship with Jesus Christ, various genres of music, books I've read or movies I've seen, or updates on my activities or just my everyday life (mostly to keep family updated).

In today's post, I want to address the title of my blog: His Creative Way. If there is one thing I've learned of myself during my years at college, its that I was made to be an artist. Sometimes I'm not the most original of persons, or the most inspired, but when it comes down to it, I was made with a love and passion for art-mainly music. I praise God for making me that way; I know I was not only made very specifically but in His image. I love that! He put His creative touch-the very touch He used to shape mountain ranges, to form the delicate petals on flowers, to compose the song of every bird-in me. Maybe that is why I love to be outdoors so very much, whether in my backyard or on top of a mountain. I look at His creation and know I'm witnessing the work of the greatest Artist there ever was. I may never be great, but I find peace in knowing I am exactly who He made me to be.

My sister is an artist. She takes beautiful pictures! She can capture angles and lights and focuses on things I would never even think to notice. My dad is an artist. He can draw and paint beautifully-he doesn't do much anymore, but he is still an artist in his heart. My mom is an artist. She can express things with words that no one knows how to explain. She can write words that bring both tears and laughter to your life. I love my family-and I know God created them all just as uniquely as He created me, whether musician, photographer, painter or writer. In His creative way.

There will be days with the "creative juices" will flow more attractively than others, and I'll try to post on those days, but for now, its just enough to start here. Just me, trying to turn self-centered thoughts into words that glorify my favorite Artist.