A Quarter of a Century

Can you believe João’s daughter turned 25 yesterday? Neither can she! Wow. Just yesterday she was a cute little girl. Now she is a beautiful young woman. We had a small family celebration yesterday. She went out with her college friends on Thursday, and her work buddies at lunch on Friday and next week will get together with her mother’s family. Talk about stretching out a celebration! And that’s just as it should be. Birthdays are great commemorations of who we are and our purpose. Plus it’s fun to get presents and eat cake.

I am facing terrible temptation here…. While we waited for the meal to get ready, we commented how the living room was dark. We have two burned out bulbs. I joked that now that Bernardo was our son-in-law, he could be pressed into service to change the bulbs since he’s pretty tall. He is so good-natured, that of course he offered (no pressure here…) to do so. Out comes the ladder. Now remember both he and Elly are engineers. One can only remember the old joke: How many engineers does it take to change a light bulb? Three. One to hold the ladder, one to hold the light bulb, and the third to interpret the Japanese text.

Well the temptation is that I snapped a shot of them changing the light bulb and Elly immediately commented… not for the BLOG! Everyone in America will see us changing a light bulb. I promptly said, of course not. But then I thought better. It’s such a cute photo, because the light fixture was actually very complex and you needed four hands, so she gave him her two hands. And João kibitzed, while I photographed. Now come on, don’t you want to see it? I’ll size it really little so as not to make it stand out. Now isn't that worth it?

There is something so natural, so sweet about it. Maybe because as they plan their wedding and subsequent marriage, it’s nice to see them so comfortable together, working to do a “job” together. I wish for them, in their marriage, the chance to work companionably together in many, many projects. Sorry, Elly, just couldn’t resist. Happy, Happy Birthday.

Smudges

My art teacher says art is just a matter of making smudges in the right places. She doesn't like lines. We are never supposed to draw a "nose" for instance. We make smudges in the right shapes and the nose will suddenly appear. I try to do that, but it's a hard thing to NOT trust your instincts and draw a nose. But if you do try to concentrate and draw a nose, you'll get a stylized feature that just won't look right. So the midway process in any drawing looks pretty yucky.
In addition, the same thing applies to colors. You don't "paint" skin with flesh. You apply smudges of color, like blue and red and brown and yellow to make it look like it has depth. So once again, everything looks like a goey mess of weird colors that will never make skin.
Thought I'd share that process on my very first attempt at drawing a portrait with pastels. I sketched it in with light brown and then did the blue around the face (just so I could see the outline) and the black hair.
Since I don't know what I am really doing, I tried to see the colors in the skin and started adding in grey and blue and red and brown and even orange in various shades. I got all these weird combinations going, just to see what would work. In addition I had to pay attention to the smudges to make the various facial features. You can see why I would lose track of time doing this. It's an intricate procedure.
After about two hours of work, I knew I needed to stop. If I work too much longer than that, my shoulders ache and my hands hurt, so I try to give it a break and do something entirely different.
Take a look at the process. You can see the progress. I deliberately did not blend the orange in, as I plan to apply some red over it to tone it down. In pastels you always work dark to light, so try not to panic over the fact that it is all dark and ghoulish looking. By the way, isn't it creepy to see no eye?
Two hours of work and I am still blocking in shapes. I have not done the nose at all. If there appears to be a nose, it's because you know there is supposed to be a nose in the middle of the face. Because of smearing I tend to do the left side first and then move to the right side. Also I work on the top and then down to the bottom. I am having fun experimenting and seeing what happens. I don't really think you should experiment on a real drawing, but I find that a lot more interesting than doing squares of colors!
João hates this photo of himself, but I told him that I chose this photo because we are not fond of it and I knew I'd make a lot of mistakes and this way I wouldn't have a high emotional investment. For instance, I loved Bia's photo and I was a nervous wreck about ruining her watercolor. I know this will be no portrait to hang on a wall, but I want to learn in the process.
Wouldn't life be a lot more fun if we didn't get in a hurry to see flesh color immediately, or try to draw noses instead of smudges? Okay, that's not exactly what I wanted to say, but you get the drift. As we obey God, even when we can't see the "whole picture" or the final "portrait", we are becoming who He wants us to be. Cool, eh?

Transformed.com.br

First off, I wanted to share my final version of Bia’s portrait, because although you may not see much difference, I see a world of improvement in the details that make it “her”. That was the result of last night’s class. We also made the decision that I am going to go back and work with pastels, since I only did one project with them. I had such an allergic reaction, I stopped, but now I have masks to use while I work, so I think I should be okay.

Secondly, I wanted to share my excitement over my current writing project, which is a three day Vacation Bible. I have tentatively given it the title of "Transformed.com.br”. I plan on using a “digital” or electronic (computers, video-games, digital cameras, MP3 players, TVs, etc.) kind of theme. The story room will be set up as a LAN HOUSE (perhaps known to you as a cyber-café). The recreation area (ELECTRON) will be like a video-game studio, except the games will be live. I am particularly excited about the live mazes and human tetris games! The craft room will be “Click-click”, like a digital photo album. The opening and closing activities (HOT ZONE) will be led by “Transfomer” Robots, so we will be thinking about the transformational power of the gospel. We’ll be doing stories like Philemon/Onesimus, Peter, the little Sorceress, to emphasize how people changed. In addition we’ll be looking at chameleons, bees, dragonflies, toads and other animals that change colors or metamorphosize. We’ll make robots, make Orkut profiles (like FACEBOOK, but more popular here), do masks and other fun crafts. The ideas are beginning to take shape. I am still researching, but I always get quite excited when things start to have a certain form and I know where I am going with my research. Our music is yet to be written, but I hope it will be very upbeat and “techno” sounding – perhaps led by a giant MP3 player. Doesn’t it all sound like fun? It is right now. This is the easiest part for me – the ideas. Next comes the dirt grinding work of writing it all out so leaders can make it happen. It’s all in my head and jotted down as ideas, but explaining it in details and with illustrations is SO much work. If you have any swell, or even not so swell ideas for activities, games, stories, dramas, skits, decorations, snacks, or crafts, PLEASE, PLEASE, pass them along to me. Through all these fun things, I hope the children really come to understand the total transformational power of the Holy Spirit in their OWN lives.

Checking in

I just couldn’t resist posting these photos of Mia. We had just dropped the phones on the couch (João doesn’t like to get up to answer and since we have three numbers at the house and two cell phones, there is quite a collection). So it looks a lot like she was waiting for quite an important call! Since it didn’t come, she stares down the phone, willing it to ring. When it finally does ring, she leans in heavily to the cell phone to hear what the person has to say to her. Cute, isn’t it? She, like all cats, seems to hate when I talk on the telephone and crawls all over me when I do, but I guess it's okay for her to talk on the phone.

Today I was looking over some of my resolutions. It didn’t seem so ambitious at the time, but it does now. So far, I am keeping up on the Bible reading. (#4) I have finished Ezra, Nehemiah, Matthew (almost) and am working my way through Genesis and Acts. Not doing too well in the exercise part(#1), as my foot still hurts and my knee has swollen from the fall or arthritis. I did try out weight lifting in Brasilia, (#2) at our hotel and I really liked it. João and I are dong the devotional book off and on, as we haven’t been too impressed with the content. (#3). We are still talking about our devotional book, but I need to get with real writing now that we have an outline. I have recently accepted writing another VBS, so that will be quite ambitious and may eventually take the devotional book’s place, as I actually have a deadline on it – JULY! (#5) My art classes are going well, and soon I’ll have another portrait to show you. (#6) I am already behind on inviting people to supper, but in my defense, this is a big vacation month and I was gone for two weeks and sick the other week (#8), so I do hope to catch up. I am enjoying my English Bible study class and had 5 students the other day. I hope it grows. (#7) I am working on the procrastination issue around the house and am pleased to say that I have made a little progress on that score. The house is much nicer without things junked up (well, except for the telephones!)#9. Haven’t started working on the mentoring yet (#10), but hope to get around to that after Carnival. I’ll try to check in with you once in a while on my resolutions, just to keep me honest. How are you doing?

Catching Up

I don’t think I mentioned that I wouldn’t be writing for a while because of our trip to Brasilia. Now I am home and we can get caught up! Last Tuesday we headed out to Brasilia, via plane, for the Brazilian Baptist Convention. The first few days were the preliminary meetings for pastors, pastor’s wives, musicians, youth, women, etc. I openly confess that after last’s year convention, I was deeply discouraged and thought twice before being willing to attend another one. This year, however, it was different. All of the meetings were thoughtfully planned, the music well executed and the speakers were inspiring. I am not always so generous in my evaluation, so you can be sure that it was meaningful for me. In addition, there was the joy of seeing so many old friends, ex-students and acquaintances. Since the government was in recess, the city was virtually empty and the traffic was light. Our hotel was very close to the convention center, so it was convenient. ( In the photo, you can see the convention center. Our hotel is to the left of the TV tower. It is the tall white building.) We stayed in a very upscale (by my standards anyway) apt-hotel, where we had a heated pool and a great workout room. The rates were reasonable, since it is off season in Brasilia. I am very glad that I decided to go this year, as I did return very edified.

Our plane ride was uneventful, although upon arriving in Rio we were unable to land due to very bad weather and we had to circle for awhile. When we finally did land, and got on our way home, we discovered that the weather really had been bad. The city was flooded and traffic was gridlocked. You just have to love a city where a rainstorm floods the streets and ties up traffic for hours… and where this happens regularly and nothing if done to resolve the issue. These photos were taken near our house. In the nearly three hours in the car (when we went to the airport it took 20-25 minutes, although it’s usually about 45-60 minutes in rush hour traffic), I tried to “enjoy the process”. I watched a wonderful video about the history of Renaissance art and João and I had time to debrief from the convention, so all in all, it was not a bad thing.

Ironically because of the heavy rains, some of our water mains were destroyed and we are without water in our building! Because this happens frequently in our “very well governed and maintained city” (NOT!), there is a system in place to buy water to fill huge holding tanks on the roof of the building. There is water for baths and the like, just no water for washing clothes, floors, etc (they turn off those water registers.) So although I am unpacked, I don’t have have everything under control, since I can’t wash our dirty clothes. That, however, can wait.

While at convention, there were five deaths in our congregation, so our hearts are heavy. In addition, our youth minister is suffering from chronically low blood pressure, and the origins of the problem are not yet discovered, so we are quite worried about him, as he cannot function with such low blood pressure.

Life is full of ups and downs and I know that’s just how it is. I guess that catches you up for now. Sorry to have ignored you these days, but I am back in the swing of things again.

Enjoying the Process

It’s been a challenge the past few days to enjoy the process, not of painting, but of “living”. Besides my sore toe, as I was returning from the dentist on Thursday I tripped in the street and took a full body spill. Nothing broken, but lots of scrapes, bruises and sore muscles. Definitely am not up to doing any exercise these days. Fortunately my appetite still isn’t fully up to par after the problems I had at Christmas. Still, I decided to “enjoy” the fact that I needed to stay  fairly quiet. So I starting drawing slowly from a photo. Then over the last three days I begin adding, layer by layer, watercolor paints. It was fun. I made one consult along the way with my teach (via e-chat). Tonight I finished off the painting until my next class when my teacher will help me figure out how to fix the mistakes.  I won’t point them out because you can see them yourself when you look at the photo, but I did have fun.

And while I was enjoying the process, last night we went out with Elly and Bernardo and they shared with us their plans to get married by the end of the year. Isn’t that exciting? That’s very fun news and gives us something to look forward to for the end of the year! Sorry no photo of us, as I forgot my camera. When we get together for dinner with Bernardo’s parents, we’ll be sure to take photos. Keep enjoying!

It’s All About the Process

First of all, thanks for the advice on my foot. I took it. It is still sore, but seems to be healing nicely. I thought of doing a water color of it since it is so many pretty shades of green, yellow, black, blue, purple and red, but I made another choice.

Last night I went back to my art classes. I decided to go back to something I enjoy – drawing people, so I did a watercolor study from one of my books, to learn something of the technique of working a portrait. Why I like doing people is beyond me, as it is the most demanding of all. I mean if you mess up a flower, it is creative, but if you get a nose one millimeter off, it doesn’t look like a person anymore. Anyway, I was happily painting away, working on learning how to make the colors right for a face, which is like a major challenge for me, and working on learning to shade the face, etc., when my teacher complimented me on my brushstrokes. I knew there was more she wanted to say, so I asked what was wrong. She pointed out that the mouth and eyes and nose were too big. I looked and I knew she was right. It was too late, as there is nothing you can do to correct a watercolor gone wrong. I still had fun and learned a lot in three hours. I commented to her, that I wouldn’t finish it, as I had learned the essential and she agreed. Then came the discussion that led to a huge breakthrough for my life (if not my art). She said the problem with the painting was not the painting, but the drawing. And I said that drawing takes so long, that I just sketched it out and filled in the rest with paints. She reminded me that colors don’t resolve something that is badly drawn. Again, I answered that I wanted to learn watercolor from this exercise and not take time with the drawing which takes hours, if properly done. Now here comes the important stuff: “You have to learn to enjoy every part of the whole process, not just the result”, she said. Stop the train and think about that.

That comment just reached out and grabbed me. She’s right! I have lived my life always in a hurry to see results. I can’t wait to finish the articles I write. As I do my Bible reading, I am anxious to finish the chapter. The same is reflected in my art. I want to see the finished work of art. I don’t like waiting. I don’t like ambiguity. I don’t like “in-between” stages. Even in my life, I am always anxious for the “next” thing. I definitely do not reflect patience in any aspect of my life. So what would happen if I could slow down and enjoy the journey, instead of worrying about the destination? Would I cease to be Peggy? Would it be earth-shattering? Effective change requires small steps. I am going to try to learn, with my artwork, to enjoy the process of creating and not the final product. Trust me, this is a BIG thing.

That being said, I must say I was happy with the result of last night’s class. I learned something about painting portraits and came out with a new way of working. Two for the price of one!!!

Mommy let me write today

Mommy give me helps, but today she do be sayin' that I can do the 'ritin'. I be sorry if I make mistakens, but I only has 9 years and I don' speak da English so good.
Today I be soooooooooooo sad, because she do take down my twee. She make me live in big old apartment and no have plants. I so happy when I see big twee in corner. I sleep there everyday. Now she pack it up and put it away. Do that be fair? Not very nice of her.
So today I sleep under rocking chair. She alway say she gonna go in garden an' eat worms when she frustrated. (Don't sound so bad to me.) But I be so saaaaaaaaaaaaad, that I sleep under rockin' chair. I no it be dangrous. But I real sad.
She be tryin' all day to get me to come out and play. Why I want play with her? She took my twee away. I hangin' on for dear life. She want sit in rocker, she has to sqwash me. I donna understand the hoomins, speshully my mommy. You sad too, when your mommy take away Christmas twee?
Now she be tellin' me I can write on the compooter, if I leave rockin' chair for Daddy to sit in. She always yells at me for eracing all her icons on laptop (why be called laptop if she be usin' it on the desk?), so I think it be fun to play with the keys today. You like my story?

Broken or jammed?

Hows about a long distance consult? Last night I jammed my baby toe and it hurt as it always does, but I noticed it felt funnier than usual. It was sort of stuck out at a right degree to the other toes and then it started to throb. I thought to myself, oh no... I think it's broken. Or maybe just dislocated. I put it on ice. This morning it was pretty black and blue. It hurts to walk on it, but not too bad. I decided not to ruin my weekend spending 8 hours waiting to be looked at. If it still hurts a lot and I can't walk right on Monday I may seek out an orthopedist. Since they so love casts here in Brazil, I figure whatever it might be they will put it in a cast. I don't do that heavy old fashioned plaster stuff they still use here. I figure I can tape it up myself. I kept it taped up for a while and the toe came back to the right angle at least. So what do you think? Is it just jammed up good or might it actually be broken? Is it really worth wasting a day to get it looked at? If you were me, would you do anything besides keep it propped up with ice on it? Ain't life grand when you are clumsy?

Happy New Year

In Brazil, at least, this New Year's Day is celebrated as International Day of Fellowship. So, people get together or call their friends most of the day. Our telephone was quite busy, from morning til night. In addition, we had a slightly modified traditional southern New Year's Day lunch. The traditional part was black-eyed peas (not a great hit - I think I was the only fan), cornbread, green beans and baked ham. I added in rice pilaf and barbequed ribs, in addition to lots of fruit and fresh juices. You will see a pitcher of watermelon juice that I made just before lunch. That was so good!
Our lack of sleep didn't seem to keep us from eating. I was glad to be able to eat again, after last week's prolonged semi-fast. There were seven of us, which is a good number for conversation and to fit comfortably around the table. After lunch we enjoyed a couple of rounds of UNO and I loved that, of course. Lots of talk and lots of laughter and lots of fun. It's quite a handsome group, as you can see. Just so you know who we are, if you look at the picture on the right and start with João and follow it around clockwise, you will see Juliana and Elio (our youth minister and wife), Sissy (her boyfriend couldn't make it), Elly and Bernardo (her boyfriend). We are all perky, as it was before we started eating! After the meal we ate chocolates, chocolate-chocolate chip cookies and expresso coffee with whipped cream. Ah... the good life! They say whatever you do on the first day of the year, you will continue doing the rest of the year. I think that means I'll eat lots of good food and have lots of fun.