It's a Gift: Art for the King

I’ve always had a love for the arts. As a kid, I would come home from school, or in my free time on the weekends or at lunch, and I would write. I would write stories and illustrate them. I’d color in coloring books, I’d draw tons of doodles. And once, I picked up a thin (on cardboard like) canvas and I painted it with watercolors. It was a house, and I was in elementary school.

I’d like to think I got it from my mom. She took art classes at the community college when she was in her early 20s, working full time and having a social life as well. She painted this beautiful mural like piece, gosh it has to be like 30”x50” or something ginormous (I haven’t seen it since I was a kid, so it might be smaller). And it was amazing. It hung up in my grandparents house. After they died, she got it back, and now it’s at their house in Las Vegas. It was of a roadrunner and a cactus. Oh how I wanted to be like her. I wanted to be artsy and create the next amazing painting, or write the next Great American Novel.

But instead, “Good grades, Hygiene” in high school. “Good grades, hygiene” in college. It was straight from one set of schooling to the next, so I could make it with a good paying stable job in the adult world.

I wasn’t really allowed or encouraged to pursue arts, or I just changed my mind too much with what I wanted to do that my parents didn't want to "waste money" on a hobby I wouldn't keep up with. Sure, I could join National Honor Society, Book club and cheerleading. I think now, of course, hindsight is 20/20, if I had really pushed to be creative and really go for that artsy line, I could have made it work. I could have learned a lot and maybe been the next Picasso. But I didn’t.

Now, however, my artsy drive is resurfacing. I have a new fire burning in my body to make art, to paint, to write stories, to create poems, to do what I loved to do growing up. Where did this rekindled passion come from?

I’d like to think it rekindled at Picasso and Wine, a local paint and sip place here in Reno. You show up, and they walk you through step by step how to paint with acrylic paint on a canvas. You can enjoy wine and Mimosas with your friends as you take 3 hours of your day to paint. I went to 2 of them here in Reno. And Summer 2016, my husband (fiancé at the time) and I went to visit my parents in Kansas City and my mom and I went to a paint and sip there.


But here's the real story: God blesses us with gifts and talents that just come naturally to us. And artsy creativity is where one of my gifts takes root. There are times I wish I was musically inclined, because who doesn't want a set of awesome pipes? Or Furious Fingers on the piano or guitar? But that's not where God's called me to be. I didn't "Got it from my mama" I got it from my Father, my Heavenly Father.


He's called me to the creative: the writing and the painting, and perhaps the drawing. I've taken one step to let Him be the director of my art. Our Family Bible Study/Home Group had a Prophetic Paint night at the end of January this year. And it was amazing. God moved in so many ways that night. He spoke to me through my painting and my second mother (mother-in-law). It was so cool.


So if you have a God given talent, use it. Pursue it. Take means and measures to make sure it gets done. Listen to that quiet whisper in your heart and mind to lead you in your gifts.


I'm looking into taking some classes at the community college and maybe get an Associates Degree in Painting or the Arts. We'll see where life takes me. But either way, I'm making art for my King for His Glory, to spread His Gospel, to spread His Light.


Amen & Amen.  

Time to answer the phone: Jesus Calling

I love being able to hear other people speak life into people. I love it when they say "I feel God is saying {insert message} to you". It's so cool for me to see people's "Aha!" moments and the little lightbulbs lighting up as things click and register. Sometimes tears are involved, because God is so so good.


But it's recently been cool, because I've been that people, that person? It's been me hearing truths from God through other people. Apparently I haven't listened to His whispers, or have put them off. And He's ready for me to step up, and fully come into what he's called me to.


My sister (well in-law technically, but either you're family or you're not, and she's family twice over, sister by marriage and sister in Christ) Leslie is pretty dang prophetic. The last few times I've talked to her, alone and in a group setting she's had some great revelations about my life. And I'm pretty stoked to put them into action. Same thing with what the Bethel students have spoken into my life. (Side note, they're coming again this weekend, weather permitting, and I'm pretty stoked)


I'm really excited to see what God's going to do with these revelations. Like the home group I'm part of, we are all worshippers and prophetic. Some are both, like my sister Leslie (boy can she sing!). I've been told I've got the calling of prophetic and that it is big in my life. I'm learning to hone that skill and listen to what God is revealing for me to reveal to others.


And last night, Leslie reaffirmed my skills in writing. Writing is what I'm called to do. Writing is a passion. Writing lights me up and I can go for days. I grew up writing stories and illustrating them (with what little talent I had); I grew into poetry in high school and had some work published in an anthology. And then in college and after, it all kind of died off. The intensity of the adult workforce may have jaded me to the creative outlet of hobbies and Godly callings.


So restarting this blog with a new direction and a new focus is going to be my Step 1 into tapping into the gifting God has called me to. I'll be documenting and just revealing how He's growing my testimony. So if you're interested in following along, please do. :) Until the next post...


Amen & Amen.

With Love from Bethel, part 2

What an amazing experience hosting the Bethel students was. We hosted 3: 2 girls and a boy. The diversity made for amazing conversation, and a great revelation from God. It's so cool how he uses other people to speak into your life. I was completely blown away by Him, and the love that the Bethel students had.

One of the ladies was from Ecuador, and the other from New Zealand, they both seemed late 20s-30s. The boy was 19 and from Oregon. The insight they provided into my husband's and my life and marriage is something only God could have spoken to them, how else would a 19 year old boy know deep wisdom on marriage? There was no way they could have known my husband was hard on himself, scolding himself for this or that, I didn't even know. They spoke wisdom and encouragement into a "bible study of sorts" being held at our house, there's no way they could have known I'm going to start hosting a Jesus centered book club at my house 2 times a month. They spoke a bunch of other things a little too personal to share at this point. It's times like these I cannot deny God exists. It's times like these I want to go and share what happened to prove to people God exists that there's no way to deny or disprove what happened.

God's been leading me through a new season where He wants deep rooted intimacy and relationship with me. And it's been so cool to see it through and the Bethel students even spoke to this as well. I can't wait to see what else I can do for the kingdom, and how I can use the gifts God has given me to help further His kingdom.

I'm definitely hoping this blog becomes one of those mediums I can use to reach the masses and share the love God has for all of us.

Stay tuned :)

With Love, From Bethel

A while ago, some students from Bethel (maybe Bethel, CA? maybe the church is called Bethel? I’m not 100% sure) were suppose to come in to Reno and help serve and minister to the city. A brutal storm came through the pass and delayed their trip. Before we knew about the storm, my husband and I volunteered to host these students. Hosting just means we pick them up when they come in to Reno late on a Friday evening, take them back to our home, let them sleep and then in the morning feed them breakfast and take them back so they can go forth and share the gospel.

They came into town a couple weeks ago, but my husband and I were so busy we couldn’t host them. But this weekend, they’re back again. This time, my husband and I aren’t busy. I’m so excited to be able to serve them by offering up space in our home to sleep and rest before they serve the city of Reno. I’m excited to be able to fellowship with fellow children of the Most High. I’m excited to see what God is going to do having them In the City, For the City.

And, I’m also really excited to cook a nice breakfast for more than just me. My husband is a night owl; he hates mornings and rarely eats breakfast. So when I wake up on the weekends, I usually quietly slip out of bed, tend to the fur babies, and then make a small breakfast for myself. I love him so very much; it’s just been a change of pace for me to not have someone who loves to see the sunrise. I end up usually making toast and coffee, sometimes eggs, sometimes a protein drink. So tomorrow morning, I’ve got plans for waffles, eggs, toast, coffee, fresh fruit and yogurt. So excited to be able to prepare and serve a meal in the morning.

I can't wait to post an update with what goes on in the short amount of time we get to spend with the Bethel students :)

Inaugural Insights

We officially have a new president. A new ruler. A new leader. A new set of eyes to lead our nation. Change will happen, change has already started to happen (with the senate and the Affordable Care Act). We don't know what the next 4 years hold, but according to President Trump, he wants to give the power back to the people, as it should have originally been, as it was originally designed. We don't know if he'll stick by his promises in his speech today. We don't know if America will be made great again. We don't know if other countries will act out and start a war with us due to Trump's election.




But.
 


It doesn't matter. We have this hope an anchor for our soul, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19).
 


Jesus is a permanent king. Jesus is a faithful father. Jesus loves his children and will provide if we ask. Ask Seek Knock. Pray for America, pray for great leadership from Trump.
 


Today starts a new chapter. Let’s not complain about Trump. Let’s not “Well if Hillary was president…” or “Well if –insert name here– was president” We have Trump. We can’t change it. So let’s accept, reflect and continue on. Just as we pray for our pastors lead the church well, pray for Trump to lead the country well. 
 


I believe that something good is coming. I don’t know if it will be right away, or after a trial, but something good is coming. I have hope.


Lifeway Women also addressed this issue on their blog today. They've got a lot more scripture to back up their claims. Go take a look, whether you are female or not, it's a good read.  :)

From paper to plastic: Why I got a Kindle

So for anyone who knows me, or has known me from birth to high school, they can tell you the countless books and bookstore gift cards I’ve asked for for birthdays and Christmas. My parents can tell you the hoards of books I’ve had growing up, from the one 10ft tall bookshelf sometimes double stacked with books, plus a smaller 4-5ft bookshelf full as well. I love books. I love the feel of them in my hands, turning the pages and that oh so satisfying (but awful for the book itself) crack of the spine as I bend paperbacks against themselves. I love the smell of new books, of old books, of ancient books.  I love going to the bookstore, and browsing books for a few hours or just a short trip in to get what I want and get out. I love leaving the bookstore with a fair amount of weight in my hand from the new books. I love highlighting important/relevant passages, making notes in the margins (more for informational books and textbooks, but some novels have some rad passages too!) [Also, I know some people will gasp at the molestation of the books, but to each their own. At least you can rest assured that I’m not one of those savages who dog-ears their pages! I will always use some sort of bookmark.]

But what I don’t love is those books I’ve bought and read once because I just wasn’t that into them. I don’t love all the space taken up by my books. If I could have a dedicated storage space for my books that also doubles as a library, I’d take it. But at my current stage in life, my house I share with my husband doesn’t quite allocate for a library.

Enter the E-Reader. When they first came out, I was so against them. I would pack 5-9 books with me on car trips, I would lug those books in carry ons and checked bags flying from point A to point B; once I finished them on the trip, cart them back home and add them to my shelf.  No one was going to have any business taking away my experience with books. I was set firm in my ways.

Until I wasn’t. At the end of last year, after talking with my husband about my plans to read a crapton this year, “Well I’m going to be bringing up my stuff from my childhood home to this one” “Stuff?” He looked at me with the chagrin of “What more do you have?” I had 18 years of my life in that house. 18 years of stuff, and yes, 18 years of books! (Plus a few summers between college and vacations and what not) “Ok, well not so much stuff, just books mostly” “Where are you going to put them?”

Therein lay the problem. I couldn’t bring my bookshelf with me. Our 1100 sq ft home had 7ft ceilings. And I certainly couldn’t saw 3ft off the bookshelf, it just couldn’t work. And then I realized, with this house that I’m in, I just couldn’t keep my library I had acquired. For the amount of upcoming books I want to read, there won’t be space for them to make a home.

So, for Christmas, I asked for a Kindle.  Christmas Day, (well we celebrated the day after Christmas) I opened a kindle from my parents.

Go ahead. Moan and groan, call me a traitor.

But let me tell you, I haven’t fully forsaken books. I will still buy the occasional book here and there. The majority will be bought on my kindle, for less than a physical book, which is actually a nice relief on my pocketbook (aka wallet, aka bank account).

Being about half a month (ok like a quarter) into using my kindle, I quite like it. I’ve already read 2 books. I didn’t have to wait for them to be restocked in the store, or wait for them to be shipped to my door. When I finished one outside of the house, I didn’t kick myself for not packing a second book in my purse, I wasn’t weighted down in my purse by 2 books. I had the next book already in my library and I just clicked over to it, and voila, I’m ready to read.

I’m thoroughly impressed and in love with my kindle. It came default with “Samantha’s Kindle” as the name. (It takes your name from your amazon account and just calls it “(Name)’s Kindle”. But you have the capacity to rename it.

Possibilities.

That’s what I’ve renamed it. So many possibilities of books. So many possibilities of just everything. And convenience, but possibilities sounds like a cooler name than convenience.

So that's my thoughts on it. That's why I made the switch, and I couldn't be happier :)

Let's Get Personal: A life Update

I was so busy the majority of this year, doing life, traveling and experiencing milestones, that throughout my posts, I forgot to post about some of the great things that happened this year!
 
So, first off, April 2nd was the 1 year anniversary of me dating my boyfriend (at the time!)


2 weeks later, right before my birthday, we bought some chickens, and 2 days before my birthday, on April 15th, 2016, My boyfriend proposed! And then he was called Fiancé :) 5 months and 2 days after the proposal, on September 17th, 2016, we got married! Immediate following, from September 18th-24th, we went on our honeymoon!


Check out my instagram for some Wolcott Wedding Pix and Honeymoon Pix :)
All of our wedding photos can be found here.

At the end of October, we celebrated 1 year of being in our house. And what a great year it has been. Super trying, super rewarding, and now my boyfriend turned fiancé turned husband and I have a wonderful life. We're still not perfect at the marriage thing, afterall, it's only been about 2 months, but I'm happy. He's happy :)

I definitely fell behind on the PfWo (Pfisterer-Wolcott) House to Home project series. Now it's just the House to Home since I'm no longer a Pf, and there's no need to distinguish the fact that there are 2 bodies in the home, "the 2 will become 1 flesh". We haven't done a TON of remodeling, so there's still hope for the series.

Definitely fell behind on the reviewing front, but planning a wedding kind of took precedence. And my husband uses our 1 computer for editing his photos, so when I want to blog, it seems to come at the most inopportune time, so it's been set aside and I haven't been able to blog much.

I won't set a schedule for myself with the holidays coming, but I hope to find some sort of regular schedule to post and hopefully build this blog into something amazing :)

Until next time

-S