You Just have to Start Somewhere

The saying goes that in order to get where you want to be, you just have to start somewhere. This is my starting point. This is my somewhere.

A few years ago I was having a midlife crisis. My kids were getting older and didn't need me as much. I was getting older and wasn't sure who I was anymore. I prayed to God and asked Him who I was and what He wanted me to do.

He told me I was an artist and then I was introduced to the art of surface pattern design. I gave myself two years to learn a new skill and to create my first pattern collection. I wanted to be realistic about the time I had to dedicate to my art.

While God called me to be an artist, I knew that first and foremost by main calling was my family. I knew if this was meant to be I also still needed to be dedicated to homeschooling and my marriage.

So I started off small and learned more about drawing and making patterns. Day by day I did whatever I could to take one step further towards my dream. One of my goals was to practice and create 100 patterns as I prepared a pattern collection I would be proud of. Here are a few examples of patterns I have made using pictures I took and my own art work.

Now it is time to set new goals and to move forward in my business dreams. This post is the start of these new goals. I did not create my patterns to be hidden, but to be shared with others.

I want to share the beauty that I see around me with others and help make the world a more beautiful place. Through every stage of life, through the good times and the bad the Lord has always shown me He was with me by sharing His beauty somewhere. Whether a flower growing between the cracks, the colors in a sunset, the joy of a child's smile as they run through the yard or the simple glow of candle, the glory of God and his goodness is everywhere.

One of my goals for my business is to share my life with you. Bonnie Christine, a popular Surface Pattern Designer, says, "Your voice matters." We all have something to share with the world, the Lord gives us each a gift. I believe my gift is finding beauty in the small things despite the hardships of life. My prayer is that my art and products will help others find the beauty in the world around them regardless of what they might be facing or going through.

Life can be extremely hard and stressful. We live in a fallen world. There is so much hurting, pain and suffering all around if we look for it. But we also live in a world where despite the terrible things, there is Good God who shares His love and mercy with us everyday. People do help people, pets brings joy to homes, children laugh and couples fall in love. We can choose to see either the ugly in the world or the beauty. I choose to search for the beauty, I choose to look for the good and what is amazing is when I go looking for it I usually find it.

The saying, stop and smell the roses is some of the best advice out there. We can't rush through life and stay so busy thinking that will bring us peace. We have to choose to slow down, we have to choose to look for the good, we get to decide where we will focus our attention. That in itself is a gift.

You just have to start somewhere. Just as I am starting today and claiming this as my starting point, so can you! It is never too late to create a new dream, set a goal or to become the person you always wanted to be. You just have to start somewhere and keep going!