Where is Lampe, Missouri?

I used to live on a road named Majestic View, Lampe Missouri.

 This Panorama from the top of a ski run in Colorado almost inspires.

Questions?

What draws me back to the mountains?  Is it the beauty?  Is it because they are gorgeous?  Is it the challenge?  Is it the overall sense of potential imminent danger?  What is the source of the attraction?  And, isn’t beauty in the eye of the beholder?  Doesn’t everybody argue about the best vacation spot? 

Reviewing my Dropbox account revealed a disproportionate number of mountain pictures.  (I even tried to make a separate folder of “mountains” and was overwhelmed before I got even halfway there.) Building log cabins in the mountains. Hiking along alpine trails.  Even just sitting and watching the views always put me in different frame of mind.  Why?  Why do mountains hold such fascination and intrigue?

Then, the other morning during spring break, 2015, while sitting in Missouri, and not Colorado, since I had already gone to Colorado for a ski trip this year, I noticed a possible answer.  Psalm 76:4 claims about the Lord, You are more glorious and majestic than the everlasting mountains.  There it is; a brief but specific feature of our Lord. I began to wonder why use both terms but since we seldom use those in our common vernacular, I googled them. The mountains are used to form a stepping stone for us to describe God.  He is not like the mountains but better.  He starts from the biggest and best and most beautiful thing the ancients would have recognized and took it to another level. 

Glorious

Defined as “having, worthy of, or bringing fame or admiration” or “having a striking beauty or spender that evokes feelings of delighted admiration.”  Of course the mountains do this when we look at them or their pictures but to think of God in these terms?  Really?

Majestic

Googled and I uncovered “having or showing impressive beauty or dignity.”  It was when reading the Synonyms that I was duly impressed:  palatial, monumental, awe-inspiring, just to name a few. 

Conclusion

It seemed like I was not giving God enough credit.  I was selling him short.  I just thought he was pretty good.  I just thought he was “up there” ranked with other cool things in this world. I though of him as my “go to” guy.  But in fact, it is written, he is more, better than, far greater than the best we have!  He is essentially saying to us, “Think of your best view, picture, art, sunset, scene, or whatever and know that I am better!”  We look to the mountains as a favorite vacation destination.  Do we look to Him as a favorite destination, location, place, or objective? Maybe it is a good thing I am from the Show-Me state.  I must see something like these mountains to remind me of the splendor of God. 

Thanks for letting me share.

Tom

PS.  Lampe is 4 miles north of Blue Eye, Missouri.  

This writing is also scheduled to release through Journey Church Blog, Troy Missouri on Thursday, March 19th, 2015.

While conversing about our true purpose...

Just after a conversation about...

While visiting with friends in the mountains, an afternoon squall came up and drove everybody indoors for a siesta, while we waited for the storm to pass.  Conversations deepened. Discussions about life purpose, true callings, gifts, burdens and responsibilities filled the kitchen.  Big picture conversations about getting the most out of life, living life to the fullest and doing our personal very best!

We pondered options and variables and asked the questions, "What if?" "How can anyone know?" "What does it take?" "Do we sacrifice the great and only do the good?" "What if we are supposed to be doing something else?" 

We were stuck on the concrete, even though we live in the abstract.

Then we turned around and saw this rainbow, literally right at the close of that conversation.

This rainbow reminded us of God's presence.  His guidance and provision support us and sustaining.

The rainbow wasn't the answer.  The rainbow wasn't the direction or even a clue to the answer but a reminder of Him.  The answer we were looking for was in response to career questions.  It seemed like our answer wasn't the answer but He was the answer.  He is the answer to our questions.  He will provide.

We often fret and worry about details when He repeatedly reminds us not to worry. 

Maybe the answer is in the process of asking the question, articulating our perceived issues, then trusting him for the answer, in his time.

Not every opportunity is one of simple yes or no.  Frost reminds us to consider the path less traveled. The Word discusses a narrow road and a wide road.  Interstates and jeep trails and forks in every path clarify our focus and priority!

Genesis has a story (Chapter 22) where Abraham is willing to sacrifice his good for something even greater.  This happened when Abraham held onto his son with an open hand, willing to allow God to provide!  How tight do we hold on?  ...  

This different view of the same valley shows a new perspective. We did get to see the big picture!  From the neighboring mountains this desert valley is still gorgeous!

How tight do we hold on to what we have? Who we are? What we think? Believe? or Know?

Just after a conversation about...

Fixer upper? or Vision

Fixer Uppers?

 This pile of bleacher boards could be???

Definitions:
What does it mean to be a fixer upper?  A handy-man special?  Needing lip-stick and rouge? Looking for attention? Ready for a face-lift? Past it's prime? Ready for re-hab? Rescue? or As-Is?
Potential in...
All these terms speak to a glorious past, an item beyond its useful life span and not quite as good as it was at one time!  Latent in these phrases is a tone or theme of potential, growth, hidden growth or improvements.  We even refer to animals in this light; rescue dog, rescue pet, waiting for a forever home, orphaned or even abandon.
As a couple or team:
Together, Jayne and I often see the projects as wonderful opportunities to renew or recycle something, maybe even making it better than before. We see a finished product that was never there before.  We see shelves when we find a ladder.  Cobwebs look like latent cuteness. We see attractive as we observe the messy.  We see potential when others look at the problems.  Some see work.  We see equity. This is Vision
Vision is...
In the big picture, vision is a form of creation, or re-creations.  By adding energy, time and attention to an older or obsolete object, we build hope!  We inspire potential and drive encouraging commitment and persistence.  It inspires hope that our efforts are not in vain.  It encourages us to look in places that others would ignore, often contrary to traditional wisdom or understanding.
Trends:
The current trend to retro, upcycle and redo demonstrates this hidden urge we all posses as we look through a thrift store, seeking to find that hidden treasure or gem.  Like gambling, there is a thrill to the hunt or the quest.  Like fishing, we don't know what is at the end of our line till we pull it out of the water.   Like painting a room, we aren't sure of the final product till the drop cloths are folded back up and the furniture brought back.  Then, after all the effort, we see clearly the finished masterpiece.

 This finished product came from the boards above!

 Before, and After:
So far, we have been addressing things, items, houses and furniture, even pets and animals.  What other applications are there?  Can we apply these concepts of growth and progress to people, relationships, others or even internally?  Re-purposing or reusing discarded resources also demonstrates our stewardship, and resourcefulness wen it comes to our stuff.  Finding new life and new uses for stale products by investing back into an item inspires us for another application.  Let's shift our focus from the exterior and our surroundings inward.  What areas of my life need attention?  What areas of my life could improve?  Get better? Where could i smooth rough edges?  How could I be a better servant, leader, worker, husband, father, friend or ???

Are there people in our path that need extra attention, effort, energy or love and care to reach their next level?  We might be able to fix things but can we help polish the people in our path?  Do our friends need some attention to keep or sustain the relationship status?  Does the term deferred maintenance apply to just houses or can it apply to humans as well?  We apply a coat of paint on the outside to clean things up but what does it take to really connect and influence those around us?  Are we willing to invest in that potential?  Do we want that potential realized?

Or is that just too expensive, risky or dangerous?

Janyes Sisters Seven

"Sisters Seven"

Some of the Sisters here gathering in the usual meeting spot:  the kitchen!

SISTERS: 
A group of family and close friends blending their talents and experiences together to create authentic, functional and attractive pieces for their homes, gardens and practical daily use. Their background began in the old country with their parents sewing, crafting and creating since the era of horse and buggy, stretching and forming leather into buggy covers and later, automobile tops.
The girl's gleaned individual styles, tastes and skills that guide their passion and work ethic yet today. From residential real estate to commercial artists to weekend crafters, each offer something unique. They are connected by a common thread.
 

During a cooking competition, this sister, Mary, prepares samples for the crowd after serving the judges her best pork dish!

JAYNE'S:
Their matriarch possessed a drive seldom seen today.  From the perfect St Louis South-Side zoysia grass to the late nights sewing the sisters' Easter Dresses, these girls learned the value of quality and the appeal of style combined to form the best combination.  Few other artists fit into this generational experience and background.  Their collective production creates unique treasures as well as timeless classics, re-purposed with today's style and needs in mind.  

SEVEN:
However, there are opportunities for other talented individuals to contribute to the synergy and offer even greater diversity in both medium and presentation.  Common to all remains the adherence to a strict code of craftsmanship, authenticity in deign and service to the final customer!  Hence the addition or adoption of a few other sisters with the necessary passion, drive and talent.

Joyce, another sister shows off a well presented entry in a competition calling for creativity and presentation as part of the scoring.  

Looks delish!

JAYNE'S SISTERS SEVEN:
When she quit her steady job to start creating, feelings of relief, assurance of success and the excitement of playing without a net welcomed Jayne into her new season of life.  Throughout the fb page, there are many expressions of care, thought and love gone into each piece.

These expressions are from the heart!  

Are there obvious favorites?

 

An artist is... An artist does...

Fulfilling.  Inspiring. With vision. Motivated. Driven. Ambitious. Aspirations.

 This hand painted "birdhouse" took a few treatments of color, distressing and attention to detail before it was ready to sit outside in the elements. When is an item actually completed?

How does one know it is ready?

These terms all seem to describe or identify characteristics of an artist.  The desires of one that knows what they are looking for in the finished product.  When is a project done, completed or finally meeting the standard?  In many situations, there is a definition for perfection.  Rules apply. Laws govern. Manners dictate.
On the other hand, an artist is often times ahead of the curve.  Separate from the pack.  Different from the crowd.  Unique.  For instance, consider Michelangelo up painting The Chapel ceiling.  Maybe laying there on  a scaffold system, bringing all his supplies up and working from 8-5, coming down and washing up for dinner.  It might not have happened like that.  Consider this as a possibility:  He heads up the ladders and paints till he his exhausted.  Takes few breaks.  Reduces his food and water intake to minimize bodily interruptions.  His co-workers probably couldn't get his attention by any means, even promising a good meal.  He was driven to complete the task till it matched the vision in his head.  He was an artist!
What drives you?

Encore to Sisters Seven

Encore to Jayne's Sisters, Seven.

An sunrise picture of the Lincoln County Courthouse after a January snow, 2014.

Why Sisters Seven?

After repurposing many feet of bleacher wood and barnwood, reconstructing frames from old building trim and various items, such as boxes, shelves, displays and gifts of all sorts, we decided it was time. Time to take the passion of design and blend solid traditional proportions and strength with color, shade and hue  to create functional yet attractive pieces for use and decoration throughout the home.

Raw material in various stages of preparation.



Our Experiences:

This gift, eye or sensitivity to decorating influences both the structure and the finish to build useful art.  We like making things together.  We design together, Tom builds, Jayne completes through finishes and presentation!  It is truly a team effort.

 

Titled: Grey Day. 

This northwesterly view looking over Table Rock Lake in the fall is all Jayne.

She painted it while gazing out the back window.

Barnwood from that same property finishes the frame!



Our Passions:

Fast forward, skipping over many dives into many dumpsters returning chairs, lamps, cabinets and other items into their original and often improved condition and purpose, we wanted to combine talents and abilities with passions.  Repurposing, recycling and upcycling has always been our hobby.  We have even done complete houses, seeing a vision for a better future for a "handyman special" or "tlc required."  Yet all this experience with "fixer up"  things leaves us both missing a connection. We enjoy the creativity and finished product but missed the social connection in the cycle.  



Our Intent:

Hence, with a name like Jaynes' Sisters Seven, we embrace the family support necessary to create an atmosphere that produces these types of pieces.  Each piece has a heart of its own.  Each piece gets a finish technique and color and message that blends the natural bent of the piece with the heart of the artist.  Of the artists, there are the family members, often times lending ideas, remembrances about the past and contributions concerning style, taste and markets.  A very close first cousin, raised like a sister fills the number six slot and the 7th slot could be filled by ???  The passion is set up a system for anyone to find success through expression in various mediums! 

Thanks

Janyes' Sisters, Seven

Jayne & Tom

God Bless You

 

Repurposed?!

Repupose, restore, renewal & recycle; These terms all speak to a similar characteristic of second chances.  This video is a short clip that shows how reclaimed wood benches from a school gym were saved from the trash heap and given a second chance! There are pics tracking the progression of events from a stack of lumber to a trailer load to floor boards to the installation process followed by the tung oil application.
  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyUt6v5yfqc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Interestingly enough, this reminds me of our lives after a change occurs and we turn over a new leaf!  So many times we, or others around us, want to make a change but then, we return to our old way of doing things as soon as we run into the slightest distraction.  Similarly, installing the wood floor literally took a couple of months to get measured, cut to fit, securely anchored and then protected with a natural finish.  Our lives also take time to change.  It will not happen easily or overnight! Often we must act, even if it doesn't feel right or easy.  This is when our actions determine our attitudes!  We choose to act a certain way, even if it is not natural.
   Take a quick look at the video.  Then consider and examine familiar relationships needing a boost.  What connections could use encouragement?  What tender growth could use fertilizer, or maybe just some water and sunlight? 
Where can good discipline not diminish hope?