Psalm 103...like the eagles

I'm DONE!! i think! :) i'm such a perfectionist that it makes it hard for me to finally just put the paint brushes down and let the painting be as it is...and as always, after staring at it for hours, i've found it hard to know if what i've done looks good/realistic or not. i had moments with this painting of freaking out and thinking that for sure these eagles looked more like Big Bird or Red Robin than the real eagles i was trying to paint. but thanks to dave, trina and kendra, who are either really good liars or who actually think what i do is good, i didn't end up throwing this out and now i'm glad i didn't!



















I painted this from a photograph that one of kendra's friend's husband took up in Alaska. It's his favorite picture out of several that he's taken, so his wife wanted to get it painted for a surprise one year anniversary gift. i hope he likes it.

Of course the way it shows up on the computer is a bit different than real life. The colors show up a bit different but at least there's the general idea.

I want to keep painting. Not every day or every week but more than once every 7 years. It was a huge blessing to get paid this time since it made it possible for me to buy some supplies that will last for future paintings!

Since i think i'll keep painting i decided that i should choose a signature to stick with. I'm using just "CR" for "Cheryl Renea"...cuz you just never know if i'll get married someday :)...this way i can just keep my signature the same. I also like the looks of an "R" instead of a "B" anyway! So now you know that I'm not claiming someone else's painting if you see "CR" instead of "CB"..and hey, it just makes me feel more artsy anyway...you gotta have SOMETHING unique, right!

I'll also be putting a verse with every painting. Psalm 103 is the chapter that i put onto this one. It's a great pslam full of truth...including an eagle analogy.



Psalm 103:1-5
Of David

"Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

seeking sleep wisdom...

Does anyone know which is better....to get more sleep or to wake up at the best time in the sleep cycle? i always try to get at least 7 hours of sleep but it seems like whenever i wake up at 6 or 6.5 hours i'm in a better mood...but i'm SO set on getting enough sleep that i can't convince myself that less might be better. any scientific wisdom out there???

A Great Time with Mom & Dad in Bend

i didn't realize how much i just needed to rest....but God did and He blessed me more than i asked for during the four days at my parents' in Bend, Oregon!!! Just look!! and of course pictures can't fully capture everything...the sounds of birds, the warmth of the sun on your face, the intensity of color in a sunset....the vastness of the creativity of God is just far beyond replicating!! i'm truly rested and encouraged! Thank you Abba!

Chayla, waiting anxiously for a walk.
The sunset in the backyard
These are juniper berries, not to be confused with blue berries!

some pretty cool clouds

An attempt at a self portrait!



































taken in warm springs while driving home...pretty good picture for taking it while driving eh?!

Now I'm home and feeling pretty rested!!!

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:20

(sorry if pictures or captions don't show up right...i can't figure out this picture layout)

I'm Going to PAINT!!!

i've never seen myself as a "real" painter. the only training i've ever had is art class in highschool....but i DO like to paint...i bet most people don't even know that since i hardly ever actually do it...and the paintings I've done are around the state (and one across the world), so no one has even seen them.

i really do love painting tho...and i've finally been inspired to take time to do it again...someone ASKED me to do a painting for them, they gave me a picture to paint, they are paying me to do it(does THAT qualify meas a "real" artist?), and it's for a surprise anniversary gift! Sounds fun to me...now i just hope it actually turns out. i'll be sure to post a picture IF it does.

So if you haven't seen anything I've painted, here's a picture of a copy of my favorite painting. I did it for a Creative Classroom Communication class durig college. I have it up in my room as a reminder of what God has for those who walk with and entrust things to Him- even through the storms He promises PEACE that surpasses understanding! I often find myself stessed or worrying about things...when i see this picture it reminds me to fix my eyes back on Jesus...and when i do, He turns my anxiety to joy and peace! it doesn't mean all is then easy, but the deep-soul peace is very real and changes how i walk through life.

"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, rejoice. Let your gentle spirit be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

My 40 Kids

i'm still bummed that i can't post pictures of at least a FEW of the fabulous kids that i spend time with every morning and afternoon! so once again, a picture (with fun photo effects added) of the RESULTS of their creative minds at work will have to do...this time on my own face and hands("no, you may NOT paint a huge Cat in the Hat hat all over my face, even if it IS Dr. Suess' birthday...maybe sometime when i'm NOT going somewhere after work).

for those wondering what i do...i direct a before-and-after school child care program with kids in kindergarten thru fifth grade. it really is a great job...i get to play outside, teach art, sports, do messy science experiments...but the best thing about it is getting to encourage and love the kids...who in turn, encourage and bless me just by being the kids that they are. it's a challenging job, mainly facing the various results of broken and hurting families...but the hard parts of the kids' lives are why i stay. what an amazing thing to think that God might choose to reveal His love to them through my life. that's my hope and prayer. so BRING ON THE FACE PAINT!!!:)

thanks for praying

sorry for the slow update...the cat where i live broke the space bar on my computer (if anyone knows how to fix it, PLEASE tell me. i'd rather not have to buy a new computer because of a space bar that won't work. it takes about 30 minutes to write one sentence).

thank you for those who took time to pray about the talk i gave on saturday. i always forget how much i enjoy speaking about the ways God has worked in my life! So how did it go?....it's hard to judge since i really don't know the ultimate impact of what i said in the lives of people there. Since I trust that God was in it, though, i'd conclude that it went well. from what i COULD see, people seemed to listen and interact with it, others have given positive feedback, and it's already opened up conversations with people about deeper things of life. God is working....and I'm thankful for how He chooses to work through me, even in my weak skills in speaking!

"I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." ~Paul

Please pray...even after the fact..thnx

Simply put, i will be speaking to a group of people this weekend...will you please pray that God will lead me in what to say ...that it will be exactly what HE wants to speak to them through me and my life, and that God will bring people into deeper, more fulfilling relationships with Him as a result.

read on if you want more info...
Will you please be praying for me in the next couple days? Every Saturday night i go to Sarah's house (more about her another time) with several of the youth that lived or are now living on the streets (the house FILLS with people). We eat and hang out for an hour....then, after worshiping together someone teaches from the Bible or talks about something relevant to life and how God is working. They are awesome, real, challenging, encouraging times.

.....i'll be talking about how God has filled the need for love and companionship in my life as i've been single for several years....also, the effect on my life in the times that i've quit walking closely with Him and started striving after someone else to fill what only HE can.

Some of these people have faced relational things in life that i can't even begin to imagine, which brings many of them to the place where they are today- going from one guy or girl to another, seeking love...maybe finding it but, more likely, finding something that isn't the best that God has for them. i feel inadequate to meet them where they are, and yet i am confident that GOD CAN. Please pray that He WILL through whatever He leads me to share. thank you so much. i know God hears when we come to Him and answers even when we don't always see.

sunday night

I got to meet 2 BEAUTIFUL kids sunday night....who have 2 amazing and wonderful parents- Jake and Carol! Josiah is a month old and SO cute....i told him so SEVERAL times, which he responded by winking at me and holding my hand..really..it's true!!

And THIS is Josiane...a SHINING Rawandan girl who is soaking in the affection of her new family. she's learning english....but of course her african accent quickly reminded me of my love for the african orphans...it made me want to pack up and leave today to go adopt all the kids who don't have anyone to call mom. well, maybe someday...for now i'll pray...and love THIS one when i can!

And look at THIS....it's not coffee...it's not hot chocolate...it's something i first experienced in Lithuania...and honestly, i don't know the proper name for it...but i think it should simply be called "heavenly"! it's drinkable chocolate...and it's what i came home to sunday night! my wonderfully amazing roomie, trina, is gifted at such things as making food and drinks that you simply have to taste to appreciate! mmmm....and all was well in cheryl's life..... :)

I love this promise...I want to experience it more...Have you?

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in Yaweh forever, for Yahweh, Yahweh, is the Rock eternal." Iasaiah 26:3-4

3 kids i Love

Here are 3 kids that i LOVE so much...who are like family to me...

... Evan (a.k.a. "bear"), Riley, and Allie. this week we had some fun with glow sticks!! if you're looking for a new, creative activity to do with your kids, you should get some. grab a package of 6 at the dollar tree and pull them out an hour or two before bed....see what shapes they can make, take pictures on the digital camera using different settings....the fun never ends!!!

LOVE...more than just chocolate

LOVE.... i'm sitting her at my grandpa b's computer....there's a picture of my grandma taped on the side of the monitor...they have been married over 50 years!...also....my grandma and grandpa g., married over 50 years as well, are still living out love in ways i rarely see anymore. my grandma has alzheimers and grandpa continues to stand by her side through things that i can't even fathom having to face....but he knows what love really is...more than a feeling...more than just getting something from someone to satisfy a longing or emotional desire....I also think of my dad...how just a week ago he was talking to me about my mom and their relationship...i can't accurately express the fire and passion behind his words as he talked about how they've not only stayed in love but have grown into depths in their relationship that i'm certain can only be understood through experience.

thank you grandma and grandpa, grandma and grandpa, mom and dad....for truly LOVING each other. in a world where love is often equated with a dozen roses, sex, beauty, chocolate, and mostly- self...you are all pictures of what love TRULY is...you reflect Jesus.....and that's the kind of love i hope for someday.

The View from my Window

i looked out my window a few minutes ago and saw an older guy racing a bright red shopping cart across the parking lot! it made me smile cuz i still personally get a huge kick out of riding shopping carts, and it's not too often that i find someone who openly shares this simple pleasure in life! (side note- i was VERY disappointed when i went shopping while living in Lithuania- their carts don't have the metal bar across the bottom, so you can't ride them...very sad indeed). anyway, the cart racer wasn't headed to the store but to the apartment complex dumpsters. every day people come and rummage through the garbage to find food, pop bottles, anything they might find value in, and i'm not sure what else. today the man flipped open the black lid, dug around a bit with his bare hands, ripped open a few trash bags, dropped a couple things into the plastic grocery sacks hanging from his cart, and then walked off, probably toward the next full and available dumpster.

who knows, maybe he is homeless and looking for any possible way to get some cash to pay for food. perhaps he has a home but a drug addiction has brought him to this place in his life of dumpsters and having his own personal shopping cart. does he despise and long for freedom from how he's living? is it normal and acceptable to him? does he have family? a place to get out of the rain? has anyone even talked to him lately? prayed for or with him? does he feel loved? how can I show him and others like him Jesus' love?

hey...here comes another guy with a red cart. he seems more tired...slower...has his hood on...he's using a metal rod to dig through every possible part of the trash...even recycling...takes a second to examine the random items on top of the bin left by someone who just moved...now he's moving on....i wonder what his story is? i wonder if he's my brother in Christ? how can i love him?

when i first moved into this apartment i didn't like the view from my window. as time has gone by, tho, i've grown to appreciate it simply because God has used it to keep my perspective right. He's helping me to really SEE the people on the streets, and not just look past them or pretend i didn't notice....or that i can't do anything to love or help them. I don't know how long i'll live in a city or place like this, but i truly hope that i'll keep these guys with red carts in mind...even once i no longer have this view from my room. i know that Jesus wants to love them and others through my life. i'm finding that THIS is LIFE to me!!!

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." ~ Jesus

Kickin' it with my Homies, Yo!

I started "kickin' it" with some pretty amazing people a few months ago. They are people who have either lived on the streets or are still there. They are people who have faced things in life that I can't imagine having to cope with. They are letting go of addictions and rejoicing at being sober or off drugs for "5 days"...."25 days"..."5 months"..and still counting and rejoicing at every new day they make another choice that once seemed impossible. They are people who don't just KNOW in their heads about Jesus' love and how He saved them, but people who have experienced His saving power and unconditional love in the reality of their lives and believe it in their heads and hearts. "If I don't spend time with God every day I know I wouldn't make it...I'd fall so fast...I need God in my life," I've heard more than one of them say. They are people who still struggle, still smoke, still swear, still deal with anger....and God loves, accepts and uses them right where they are in their journey with Him. They are people who need encouragement from other believers just like I do. They are people in love with Jesus. They are people desperate for the life and freedom that only Jesus brings. They are changed people who are passionate about loving others and seeing them find the life, love and freedom in Christ that they are finding. They love deeply. They pray. They are loyal. They worship. They are honest about their weaknesses and sins. They are still facing very difficult and often seemingly impossible situations with family and people they love. They listen to God's Spirit. They respond to His convictions. God uses them in others' lives....i could obviously say so much more about them....They are God's children, adopted just like i am.
When I first started spending time with many of these youth from the streets, I thought that I had so much to offer them. They seemed a bit like a mission to me. Thankfully, God quickly humbled me and has changed my thinking in more ways than I think I realize. These youth have taught me, encouraged me, prayed for me, blessed me and loved me more than i ever could have hoped for. They are amazing people and I have SEEN the Gospel come to life in front of me more than ever before. I hope I have loved and encouraged them toward Jesus as much as they've impacted me. I love them...these "transitional youth".....i hope you can meet them someday. I will never be the same after the last months Kickin' it with my Homies, Yo! :)