I am so happy for your support and comments. This blog was created as a journal during one of my husband’s deployments. It blossomed from there and it turned out that I enjoyed blogging.

As my life has taken many turns since the inception of this blog, I have created two new blogs that are specifically tailored to my passions – art and jewelry design.

I am taking a sabbatical from this blog and invite you to visit me on:

http://paperartscene.com
This is where you will discover artist and gallery spotlights, workshops and classes, art news, and art advocacy.

http://household6studio.com
This is a brand new blog. It features my jewelry design, trending, workshops and classes, and favorite boutiques.

Peace be with you,
~Alie

Jesus statue from our local church/parish

Ash Wednesday is today which is the beginning of Lent. It is a time for reflection and prayer. A time to be more cognizant of helping others and fasting. For our family it will be a time to unplug and connect without all of the daily distractions. My husband is fasting from Facebook, Twitter, and Feedly, which is huge. This morning we actually spent time talking while preparing breakfast for the kids. It will be interesting to see how our family grows during this Lenten season.

The following article, Bread on the Trail: Making Room for God, gives a wonderful analogy about cleaning out the garage and house to make room for God.

The dates for Lent rotate, this year it is 22 February 2012 through 05 April 2012. If you would like more information on Lent, I would suggest reading Catholic Online.

Enjoy your time for reflection, fasting, and paying forward.

~Alie

Our family spent the weekend at a Strong Bonds Marital Retreat, sponsored by the Army. The hotel where the marital conferences were held had a water park for the kids. Also included in the retreat was child care, a date night, and a few meals.

The retreat is based upon Mark Gungor’s, Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage. Scott and I had watched Gungor’s CDs after he returned from Iraq. I wrote about it here. So it was a nice refresher and also beneficial because we were able to talk to other couples.

The book complements the CDs and it has four parts:

1. Setting the Stage

2. The Laws of Marriage and Physics

3. Sex, Lies, and the Internet

4. Till Death Do Us Part

I would highly suggest the book or CDs. Mark Gungor has some sound advice and a great sense of humor. If you are part of the Army and can take the Strong Bonds Marital Retreat then definitely see if you can sign up. It will allow you to spend some time with your spouse, meet other couples, learn skills to keep your marriage strong, and if you have children they will have fun too.

The number one advice we learned from another couple (they have been married 16 years), is to calendar in lunch or coffee dates during the day while the kids are in school. They said that “dates” do not need to have all the “bells and whistles.” Instead it is better to have them anytime you are both free and to keep them “real.”

Scott and I really appreciated hearing how they had worked through tough times and how they are maintaining their marriage. We have tried having weekly date nights and most recently changed them to monthly so we could plan something nice and hire a sitter. What we never thought of was to meet during the day while the kids were in school and that it can be something simple.

If you are married, what do you and your spouse do to keep your marriage strong? Do you have regular dates? How often?

~Alie

New Beginnings

The focus for this blog is no longer going to be a photo a day. It will be the topics; Army life, education, faith, and family. However, I enjoy taking photos and my posts will also include photos, videos, slides, etc.

I have been reading about blogs and the importance of having a niche. I really feel I have that niche with my art blog, but this blog has seen many transitions. It is okay to have transitions. Yet, I feel I need a focus to stay motivated. The photo a day was becoming a task to check off each day rather than something I was truly passionate about.

That is the beauty about goals and resolutions, they can be changed and made better. Through reflection and feedback goals can be attainable, productive, and fun.

Did you change any of your original New Year’s resolutions or goals?

~Alie

This morning through the misty fog the trees had beautiful icicles. I wanted to capture them on camera. However, I was not feeling well. My road to recovery from the surgery was going really well. I was planning all of the things I was going to do this week and then I woke up with a head cold that is making its way through our family. Bummer.

Looking forward to feeling healthy!
~Alie

A very light snowfall. This is the second “snowstorm” this winter. Last year this area had record snowfall, but this year it has been minuscule. Around October I bought the kids snow bibs as I was imagining sledding down our hill in the backyard. Alas, I returned them when my husband said it hardly snows here.

We live in a nice sunny patch of Kansas. I am not complaining. I love the sun!

Anyone from Kansas? Did you experience the heavy snowstorms last year?

~Alie

Buddha

“Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.”

~Buddha

Today is a rest and relax day as I am still recovering from surgery. I was feeling really good yesterday and then woke up today feeling not so great. So, today will be a “take it easy” day.

Flowers from My Father and Mother-in-Law

Enjoy your Friday,
~Alie

Currently, I am recovering from gallbladder surgery that I had done on Tuesday. I am hoping to take more photos and get out of the house in the next few days.

~Alie