Hard Times and Art Therapy

It has royally stunk around here. 
Seriously smelly - Literally.  

The sewer line to the house exploded last week leaving a brown fountain in my guest bath.  I spent the evening getting very intimate with my wet dry vac.  We then spent the next five days waiting on help.  Only to be able to flush "when needed".  I spent five days without being able to do laundry ((insert reminder of 4 children)).  The dishes won the battle within the first 12 hours.

Then the tenants called.  They have been having "issues" in the house for a few months and are moving out.  Seriously, the called within 24 hours of the toilet fountain happening.  The "issues" they were having warranted a phone call 2 months ago but they just didn't seem to do that.  

I went over to see the house and all I saw was dollar signs.  It was overwhelming.  I was sad.  

Right now - this all seems impossible.  With a tight budget, a husband who travels all week and four very busy kids - there is a little voice inside my head screaming THIS seems impossible.  

But that little voice is remaining just a whisper.  Because in the midst of the most stress I have had in years, I feel stronger than I ever have.  It is like God has given me a super cape to fly through these problems.  

My cape consists of a daily quiet time.  There are a few close confidants that he has placed in my life to bounce ideas off of.  My husband has exercised a great deal of empathy when dealing with me and that is amazing.  My children even understand the need to bound together and fight thru.  

Then there is the art.  I am almost nervous about calling it that.  I always thought of artists as people who could paint or sculpt.  That is not me.  But according to Webster this is art - 

: something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings

My art has been a gift of therapy lately.  It transcends around happiness, joy, faith, and enjoying all that life has to offer - the good and the bad.  

I am incredibly grateful that God gave me the gift to do what I do.  I pray that everyone who receives one of my pieces knows that life is wonderful - if we choose.