Cultivating Gratitude

I'm currently in Guatemala, attending the wedding of our godson's parents.  This is a re-post about why I keep going back to this beautiful, inspiring place.  As it is the week of Thanksgiving here in the USA, I thought it was fitting to share my love for this country and people, and how it fills me with gratitude.

My family's work in Guatemala started out as service with From Houses to Homes, but it has become so much more.  Every time I go, I return rejuvenated and inspired to do more, be more, help more.   And I can't wait to go back.

What inspires me?  Foremost is the love of our adopted family - the joy of my godson - the hope of his parents and their beautiful dedication to giving him a better life.

Then there is the quiet dignity of people who live in extreme poverty, but who repeatedly teach me about gratitude, loyalty, and what really matters. 

There is the joy and beauty over small things, like receiving one simple gift for Christmas; 

the juxtaposition of ruin and rebuilding

the colors and vitality

the humor

the persistence of life, pushing through decay

hope and reward from dedication and perseverance;

smiles, laughter, and clarity about why I am on this planet.




Here's a quick video my family made after our second trip to Guatemala.  I hope it gives you a little jolt of the amazing inspiration I glean from each trip.



You can also watch "A Child Does Community Service in Guatemala" on YouTube here.

Una pregunta:  What makes you say - OK - I know why I'm here?

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

How Community Service Inspires Creativity

My family's work in Guatemala started out as service with From Houses to Homes, but it has become so much more.  Every time I go, I return rejuvenated and inspired to do more, be more, help more.   And I can't wait to go back.

What inspires me?  Foremost is the love of our adopted family - the joy of my godson - the hope of his parents and their beautiful dedication to giving him a better life.

Then there is the quiet dignity of people who live in extreme poverty, but who repeatedly teach me about gratitude, loyalty, and what really matters. 

There is the joy and beauty over small things, like receiving one simple gift for Christmas; 

the juxtaposition of ruin and rebuilding

the colors and vitality

the humor

the persistence of life, pushing through decay

hope and reward from dedication and perseverance;

smiles, laughter, and clarity about why I am on this planet.




Here's a quick video my family made after our second trip to Guatemala.  I hope it gives you a little jolt of the amazing inspiration I glean from each trip.



You can also watch "A Child Does Community Service in Guatemala" on YouTube here.

What makes you say - OK - I know why I'm here?

If you haven't already - please connect with me here:

InLinkz.com

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

Painting Faces Tutorial

It feels like forever since I posted.  A lot's been going on in my life and I'm sorry I've been out of touch.

I've been painting a lot of faces in my journal lately - some more realistic than others.  I thought I'd share a fast forward video of this mystical lady with her peacock winged headdress using one of my stamps from RubberMoon, and a hint of leaves and branches, from the Three Owls and a Branch stencil from Stencil Girl.  Hope you like it! 

You can also watch Fast Forward Face Painting on YouTube here.

We completed our 10th trip to Guatemala with From Houses to Homes.  Here are a few pics from this past trip.  It was amazing as always.  

dinner with our godson Elmer and his parents Juanita and Edgar

 the "new family" for whom we built a house on this trip. 

I put my art skills to some use, painting a garden on the side of the house!

we had a wonderful day visiting the first family we built for (in 2009).  Aren't the patterns on their clothes amazing?

and we spent time with our "second family" - who we also built for in 2009.  It is so great to see these beautiful people year after year, and watch the children grow!

 No trip is complete without drinks and Nachos at the Sky cafe.  On the left is Oscar Meija - the wonderful Project Director of From Houses to Homes in Guatemala.

We also had a great time at the Choco Museo in Antigua.  YUM!

We came home to the cold and the snow, and a very sick dog who had to have a splenectomy to remove a huge tumor.  She was very sad for a while....

But once the tumor was gone and she began to heal, she was like a puppy again!

I hope spring is coming to your neck of the woods.

Linking to Art Journal Everyday, Art Journal Journey (things with wings) and Paint Party Friday (celebrating its 4 year blogaversary!).  

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

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More Notes from Guatemala

We had a wonderful visit to Escuela Kimna'oj, the school that From Houses to Homes built with donations and love.   Here's what it looked like in February when it was still under construction:

Now it is filled with children learning, playing, and having two hot meals each day:

Samy helping with "concentration."

Samy was excited to see the children in her "sister school" class:

And was particularly happy to see her "sister," Ingrid.

The children love playing in their interior recess courtyard with its beautiful mural donated and painted by a Guatemalan artist.  It celebrates the traditional life lived in this Mayan community.

From the roof, there is a panoramic view of the village...

And a glimpse into other people's lives...

Which is a poignant reminder to be grateful for our many faucets and the water that comes out of them so readily -- and hot to boot! 

I hope you enjoy this glimpse into our trip to Guatemala.  (To read my prior post about this trip, please click here.  To read all my posts about our work in Guatemala, click here.)  Tomorrow we visit our three families, and I hope to have more to share.

Thank you for visiting! I hope you will leave me a comment to let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will answer any questions as quickly as I can.