Freshly Squeezed Lemonade

Today is Lemonade Day! At least it was at work. I am a big fan of lemonade mostly because I don’t like the taste of water. Isn’t that odd? Water (unless it is salt water) does not taste like anything. Of course, Denver water did taste–and it was a nasty taste!! My habbit of drinking Sobe Lifewaters or lemonade is the key to quenching my thirst. Nothing like lemonade on a hot summer day!

Lemonade fits any occasion…small patio parties or barbeques; kid’s lemonade stand with cookies; reading on a lawn chair; at baseball games or any other outside event; or even a tasty treat when I paint. 🙂 How did you like that transition sentence?? 😉 No really, I wanted to share with you the latest of my summer theme paintings:

Tidal wave

8×10

I painted this a few days after watching Soul Surfer with my sister. Believe it or not, it was my first time watching it. Bethany Hamilton’s story of faith and perseverance is inspiring. I was encouraged to hear the questions she faced in going through losing her arm. Even with totally different health issues, I think we asked some of the same questions. Bethany lives out Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” So when I went to paint a few days later, I had her story in mind.

Seeing people surf amazes me. They hold onto the water like a wall. The waves are rolling in and coming down, but they continue on…persevering to get to the end of the wave and come out on the other end. Reminds me of Psalm 42:7-8,

Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your  waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,     and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

 My next paintings were just for fun…

8×10

(I know it looks a lot like the one I did for my Mom. The only painting I have ever tried to copy a 2nd time around. Nothing better than the first one. 🙂 Lesson learned.)

Country Pleasures

11×14

Buckeye Pride

8×10

Notice the way I used a map behind? I used Mod Podge glue. 🙂 Also notice you are staring at the northwest part of the state. Well, I used the other half on Dad’s Christmas present (which was a painting), LOL. If you don’t know what this stands for…it is The Ohio State University logo. A mere try, but the leaf turned out more Maple looking I think.

Sunset

12×12

For this last piece, I found my favorite hymns (I own several hymn books) and used them as the background. I wanted it to be more just an outline of paint so most of the words showed, but it turned out better. The mod podge worked great, but when I went to paint, the papers shifted a little, leaving texture on the mountains. I like the way it turned out!

A few of the hymns I used: The Old Rugged Cross, For the Beauty of the Earth, All Creatures of our God and King, Draw me Nearer, Standing on the Promises, Crown Him with Many Crowns, Heaven Came Down, Surely Goodness and Mercy, To God be the Glory, and a few more. 🙂

18×24

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.