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~ … a Night Owl dealing with early morning Personality Disorder

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Tag Archives: faith

The Crippled Lamb

20 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by Gert in About a Book

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being different, celebration, faith, heroes, inspiration, Max Lucado, misfits, special needs

The Crippled Lamb book coverThis is the time of year when it feels like our days are racing by at the speed of crazy. Everybody and everything seems to be rush, rush, rush – and rush some more. No time to dilly-dally, too much to do. But, it is also that time of year when people go out of their way to do special things, and to share special gifts. I was on the receiving end of one of those gifts today, and I would like to share it with all of you.

Technically, The Crippled Lamb is a children’s book, but it touched my heart, and I could relate in so many ways. It was a gentle reminder that sometimes it is the very thing that causes us to fret that makes us uniquely special, and positions us to ultimately discover our place in this great big puzzle called life.

It’s a quick read, so I encourage you to take a few minutes and put crazy on pause. I think you’ll be glad you did.

From the cover:

…the story of a little lamb who is different, who is left out and left behind. But one starry night, he learns a lesson that is true for us all…

The Crippled Lamb coverLucado, Max with Jenna, Andrea, & Sara Lucado
The Crippled Lamb

Tommy Nelson® a Division of Thomas Nelson Publishers
Nashville, TN

1999
ISBN 978-1-4003-1807-0

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NACI: The Making of a Reflections Doll

25 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by Gert in Creative Therapy

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art, creativity, Deco Doll, dolls, faith, inspiration, life, reflections

Reflections DollI’d like to tell you that this is a story about NACI, and the making of a “Reflections Doll”, but in truth, it’s mostly a story about me. Which is odd – I’m usually a pretty private sort, almost to the point of being anti-social at times. Nonetheless, here it is – a story about me, thinly veiled as a craft project.

Several years ago, I signed up to participate in a Deco Doll Round Robin along with several other members of an organization known as the Society of Craft Designers. If you’re not familiar with the Round Robin concept, it’s where one person starts a project and others add to it until it comes full circle back to the creator. (Hmm, very much like living one’s life.) For the creative types in this particular scenario, we were assigned to small groups and each tasked to create the foundation for a doll and a travel journal. We then sent our NACI at CHA Showcreations off on a special journey to “visit” each of the other members in our assigned group, picking up special contributions and adornments before being passed along to the next person on the list. After making her rounds, NACI finally returned home with wonderful treasures and fabulous stories to share. But NACI’s journey didn’t end there, our Deco Dolls and travel journals were featured in a special display at the Craft and Hobby Association 2005 Spring Show (they were a big hit). After the show, NACI was featured in a related article that appeared in CNA Magazine. Those were exciting times for my little deco doll.

NACI was carefully packed away when I moved later that year – the beginning of one of my own travel adventures. Over the next several years I would often find myself thinking about her, but life was happening, and I wasn’t especially inclined to dig through box after box trying to find her. Yes, I still had unpacked boxes occupying my space and openly defying the “one-year rule” of most professional organizers.

One day I woke up with a feeling that I knew exactly where I would find her. I don’t try to explain these things, I just go with them. Sure enough, she was right there, waiting to be freed from the box I had put her in – the box I had used to keep her safe. Finding her again was very much like finding myself. So, if you’re up for it, I would like to share her with you in this story, and in essence, share a bit of “me”.

The Making of a Reflections Doll…
My NACI PurseOne of the first things to pop into my mind with the Deco Doll assignment was to create a doll that was also a purse of sorts – I definitely have a thing for purses (more on that in a future post). Purses always seem to hold such an amazing collection of special treasures and important stuff.

I didn’t write step-by-step instructions when she was created, this was a “just for fun” project. So, I will attempt to describe her key features and give you an idea of the process.

Her head is a painted wooden ball wrapped with a scrap of fiber trim that just seemed to lend itself to becoming hair. Her neck is a decorative glass bead, and the copper wire is there for an extra measure of support and stability. This is all attached with a finishing nail. While her face appears to be blank, if you hold her close you can actually see your reflection, hence, a part of the reason I call her a “Reflections Doll”.

Head Shot
NACI

The arms and legs were created from the same collection of decorative glass beads and 28-gauge wire. They were attached to the body with eye pins that I fashioned from 18-gauge wire.

Her body was made using a wooden frame box that I sanded and painted. I replaced the glass insert with a piece of reclaimed plastic that was cut to size. Glass would have been a bit too fragile for this particular journey. I printed “Creativity the Window to My SOUL” on a window decal sheet and applied it to the plastic insert. I didn’t worry about the bubbles, they gave her character.

Creativity Window
Compartments

Textured cardstock was used for the red background. To create the compartments, I covered medium weight cardstock with satin fabric. When NACI started her journey, only two compartments had been filled. Looking through the opening in the little gold frame in the middle compartment I see a cross, and behind that, a mirror with my reflection in it – part two of the reflections theme. It is a reminder of my faith, and to keep God at the center of my life. In the top compartment to your right is a heart behind a clear cover. That serves as a reminder that my heart needs to be protected, but not hidden. And, much like a sword in a stone, the key is there – waiting for the right person to come along.

When NACI returned home from her Round Robin journey, I happily NACI Treasuresdiscovered that my fellow Designers had captured the true essence of my Reflections Doll in their contributions. Each of her wonderful little treasures reflecting a special message of hope and inspiration.

The crystal figurine reminds me that I have an inner child who needs to come out and play from time to time. It keeps my imagination alive. The beads remind me that it’s OK to enjoy some of the finer things in life, and that I don’t have to wait until I’m old to wear purple. The bottom compartments hold the cutest little handbag, one of my favorite things, and the word “wisdom”, which is something I have prayed for on more than one occasion. If wisdom is truly linked to gray hair, I have a lot – of wisdom. Although you can’t actually see treasures in the remaining compartments, I don’t think of them as being empty, but rather, yet to be filled. It’s a reminder that I still have room for growth, and discovery, and for living life.

Thanks to one of those rare moments of near-perfect clarity, my doll had finally escaped the constraints of the box she was once in. I sat her in a place of honor on the dresser near my bed so that she would be one of the first things I saw when I woke up, and one of the last things I saw at the end of my day. On my most recent move I kept her with me instead of packing her away. The dresser is still in storage, but she sits where I can see her. She is a reminder of my spiritual center and my creative soul. And, when things get a little crazy, she’s there to remind me that life is indeed a journey. A journey that has led me to the special treasures that fill my life today; a journey that holds the promise of so much more that is yet to come.

Well, there you have it – that’s my story about NACI, my little Reflections Doll. I know her name may seem to be a bit unusual, but it comes from a character in one of my short stories that you can read here.

So, how would you like to make your own Reflections Doll? There are no rules – just follow your heart, and enjoy the journey.

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The Longest Move

23 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Gert in Out & About

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Tags

down sizing, empty nest, faith, moving, South Plains, Texas, travel

The Long RoadThis has been my longest move EVER – and it isn’t over yet. I’m not actually referring to distance, that trophy would go to my Germany move back in the late 80’s, and returning stateside in the 90’s. What I’m referring to for this move is the amount of time invested.

Earlier this year, near the end of January, I started to feel compelled to hit the road again. I had finally emptied my nest and figured the best way to keep it empty would be to move it. I love, love, love my little birdies, but I want to discourage any ideas they might have about moving back in. Don’t judge – it’s for their own good. Besides, after nearly eight years of aging in place, I was more than ready for a change of scenery.

My family has always referred to me as a “road warrior” because I would pack up and hit the road at the drop of a hat. Sometimes it was a permanent relocation, sometimes it was just a road trip to see what I could see. I loved the excitement of a new adventure and I didn’t care if I had to roll solo. In fact, I rather enjoyed those trips with just me, myself, and I. It gave me time to think, and I didn’t have to deal with anybody’s needs but my own. For an added sense of security I would occasionally dress one of my large Teddy bears in a shirt and tie, slap on a hat and sunglasses, and strap him into the passenger seat. And yes, we (meaning me) would talk off and on during the trip if one of us happened to be in the mood for conversation.

But I digress. In the past, I always had a solid plan in place before I hit the road, even if it was a spur of the moment thing. This time I only had a vague idea of where I could end up if nothing better materialized in the interim. This was both disconcerting and exhilarating, but it allowed me to keep my options open. Initially, I figured I would land on the West Coast until I could decide on something more definitive and permanent. So, for two months I packed, and sorted, and discarded, and packed some more. That whole down-sizing thing was a lot harder than I expected. But, I finally got the things I couldn’t part with stashed in a storage unit, sold a lot of stuff at a moving sale, and donated the rest – almost two truckloads. It’s amazing how much “stuff” gets accumulated over the years, especially for a border-hoarder such as myself.

Finally, after months of preparation, and packing, and storing, and tying up loose ends, I crammed my little HHR to the roof with my “necessities” and hit the road. Picture a covered wagon headed west during the land rush, or the Beverly Hillbillies heading down Santa Monica Blvd – minus the loaded bank account. For the past three months I have been living out of my car, heading westward on my latest adventure. Thanks to the generosity of family and friends, I didn’t have to live in my car. So, I meandered through my list of “places in Texas where I might like to live instead of going to California”, stopping here and there to see what I could see. For a while it seemed as though every time I managed to wedge a door open, it unceremoniously slammed shut, right in my face. I was beginning to think that it was time to accept reality and make my way out west – do not pass GO, do not collect $200. Then, I happened to find myself in the South Plains of Texas. Definitely not on the aforementioned list, I was just passing through on my way elsewhere. I decided that since I was in the area, I might as well see what I could see. And the doors opened. In fact, doors are opening all around me, no wedging required. In a few weeks I will go back to Bama and retrieve the rest of my things from storage, and this move will be complete. Finally. Meanwhile, I’ll be roughing it – foraging for food in the nearby woods, writing my posts by moonlight, and sending messages with a smoky blanket. Just kidding – a little.

To sum it all up, and make a long story longer, I guess I just want to say that I’m glad I was open to unexpected opportunities. God has blessed me above and beyond my expectations and I am grateful. I don’t know who originally said this, or remember where I heard it, but there really are times when you think things are falling apart, and they are actually falling into place.

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I'm just an Owl trying to make it in this Early Bird world. I'm dealing with early morning Personality Disorder...and other issues surrounding the sleep-wake cycle. You can call me Gert, and this is my Therapy Journal. Welcome to my world.

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