by: Jes Rodriguez

Comics Never Die :)




by: Jes Rodriguez (Engagement photograph of Seth and Kendra Russell)

My First Art Therapy Assignment as a "Woodsie" at SMWC was this afternoon. We were told to create a visual definition of Art Therapy.
This is what evolved as my visual definition:















I listened to Lauryn Hill's song "Father Forgive Them" to inspire me. Art therapy to me is about self discovery and healing. It is a process and a journey of learning to understand yourself and live with unanswered questions, the why questions. We are constantly becoming . . .

It was so relaxing and fun to sit around working, talking and listening to music with all the other students. Later I will post pictures of the beautiful campus where I will be flying to 3 times a year. I can't wait to see how even more gorgeous it will be with snow this Jan.!

Rush

The day before Mother's Day this year Hanna, my daughter, and I decided that we should really do something special for my sister. She isn't a mother in the traditional way. But she has always had a heart for animals. And since she rescued this little yellowish stray beside the road one day, she and her husband, Jason, have made him family. So Rush, their little boy dog, became my family too. But just before Mother's Day we found out that Rush had cancer. And as you may expect this was hard news for everyone especially for Jen and Jason. So because I love my sister so much and Hanna loves her Auntie Jen we wanted to do something to show her that we really care. Now some of you may think it strange that we gave her a Mother's Day present. We don't really think he is her actual son but when you love someone you cherish and celebrate what makes them unique and celebrate what they are passionate about. So Hanna and I took Rush outside and had him sit on my favorite green chair. We took some pictures of him being cute but not always cooperative and chose one to use for a painting. By this point his bones were starting to show. And he had to be hand fed at times. We didn't know how much time he had left with us. So that same day I sat down and made Jen my version of Rush with the words, each year, each day, each moment beside him. A couple of days ago Rush passed away very quickly. We will miss him. It's strange not having him around. But through our experience with him we will hopefully remember to cherish each moment, each day and each passing year with those we love.

My Article and a Picture I took were just published in a Newspaper . . . This was fun! Thanks, Jen Barbour!



Click here to read the online version of the newspaper article . My article is on page 14 but also check out Jen's picture of Hanna holding starfish on page 1! :)

This was one of my homemade presents for Jen this year!

(click on the image to see the poster)

Just a Weaver
by Benjamine Malachi Franklin

My life is but a weaving,
between my God and me,
I do not choose the colors,
He worketh steadily.

Ofttimes he weaveth sorrow,
and I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper,
and I the underside.

Not till the loom is silent,
and the shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the canvas,
and explain the reasons why

The dark threads are as needful
in the skillful weaver's hand
As threads of gold and silver
in the pattern He has planned.

(Hanna's class had to memorize this poem and I thought the words were so true that I wanted to share it on my blog. It's simple but poignant.)

(Click on the Card to see it up close)


This goes out to all my friends for a little laugh . . . if you're a parent you know the whole deal with sitting the family down and trying to get a picture just right. So Hanna and I decided to do a funny take on The Making of Christmas Cards.

Merry Christmas to you all!!!!

So Life as a 3rd Grade Girl. . . well you have to put up with a class full of boys (yuck) who are only fun when they chase you on the playground. Latin is cool, but music is hard. We take Spanish as well and have to walk in the class and say, "Hola, Maestra." Then there is the reading. (dread) At least this year we get to pick our book report books from a list. I picked the one with the funny name and the green cover. This week we had testing, testing and more testing. So when I get home this is what I do . . . . Make FAceS. And I simply must must must eat my favorite meal of spaghetti or else my brain shrivels up and dies. It's not easy being a 3rd grader.

jessicaPeyton