Silkmoth

Today I painted the life cycle of a silkmoth.  Why?  I love insects, but I thought that today, of all days, it was nice to see the type and shadow, even in nature, of the fact that something  slow, unappealing, and gross to some can be transformed into something that can soar, that is beautiful, and that is ever attracted to light.  Happy Easter to all, and may we see the potential in ourselves and others, even when it may not be apparent at the present time.  

Under the Radar

It's been a while since I last posted.  Ive been flying under the social media radar a bit lately, but have continued to doodle.  Here are four more envelopes that I have sent off with letters to the dear recipients.  Two of them went off to amazing Sister Missionaries that I admire. One is serving in Paris, France and the other is serving in Utah.  One doodle ties into the "Fishers of Men" invitation given to disciples of old, while the other is a little garden and empty tomb to reflect on the upcoming Easter weekend.  Two other envelopes went out to dear friends from Georgia that have been asked recently to face some new struggles, yet who are faithfully moving forward a step at a time.  

 

 

 

 

Cherries

This week's envelope and letter goes out to another awesome missionary that is serving in Washington State, home of some of the best growing for Cherries in the Northwest part of the U.S..  No doubt, she is doing a fabulous as she works to bring aid to people in that part of the country.  

 

Tropical Goodies

I haven't posted for a couple of weeks, but I have still been doodling.  Recently, I've chosen to do some envelope art for young missionaries that I know, and that ROCK as examples of great young people willing to step out of their comfort zones to serve other people, full time, for 18 to 24 months away from their families.  The two envelopes this week went out to a couple of Sister missionaries both of which are in different parts of Brazil!  

This one is of a fruit I knew nothing about till I served my mission in Brazil.  It's the cashew fruit, and the cashew nut comes out of the bit that protrudes from the top of the fruit.  

 

This one is just a nod to all of the amazing wildlife found throughout the tropical areas of the world.

Fruits and Vegetables

This week I knocked out a couple of "Mail Art" doodles and letters to people that have brought me specific happiness, or took time to help me and my family feel welcome.  It is wonderful to see just how many tender mercies are afforded each of us through the kind hands of others when you stop to look and take an accounting of the many blessings.  The first, to a friend with the last name "Pepper"...hence, the pepper sketch.  The second, for a gentleman who exemplifies bearing "good fruit" as explained in Matthew 7:20.   These were done in Gouache and I enjoyed the way the color popped on the white background.  

 

Well Done, Thou Good and Faithful Servant

For the past 18 months, our daughter has been serving a full-time mission for our church in the great state of Tennessee, but will finish her labors on Wednesday the 1st, when she comes home!  We are excited for her, happy about her choosing to put others before herself, but we are happy to get her back home.  This week's envelope will be waiting for her in her room, with my final "mission letter."  I think I'll miss writing to her every week...all the more reason to find others to send a little something to each week! 😀 Here's our missionary!  

Here's her envelope:

 

Soccer Parks and Japanese Mail

Today was my turn to take my youngest to his soccer game up to North Phoenix.  He plays all over, but the complex he went to today, the Rose Mumford Sports Complex, is my favorite because of all the older trees that dot the landscape.  So, while he was out there vigorously defending the goal as "keeper", I watched the game, as well as vigorously sketched the trees as a "doodler." The game finished before I did, but here's what ended up in my sketchbook:

 

Also, last week I doodled yet another envelope and sent it off to a friend who is serving a mission in Japan.  I envy the amazing beauty that he is likely seeing every day in the architecture, the symbolism and the culture.