A Clown’s Smile, Weekly Photo Challenge

Image result for picture of a smiley face in clown

What a fun day today was. As I had said in yesterday’s post, today was probably going to be too busy to get to write anything but when I saw Nancy Merrill’s weekly photo challenge was SMILE, how could I resist with all the marvelous smiles I saw today from our new clowns. Yes, clowns. I am a member of a wonderful clown troupe that does many activities to help the community smile. We go play in parades, we do walks for community awareness situations, we have caring clowning where we visit local nursing homes to bring a little cheer for some sad folks. All the while, creating smiles wherever we go.

Today was the summer Clown Class, how awesome is that. We taught new clowns the history of clowning & the main types of clowns.

Yes there are types – White Face, Auguste and Hobo Clowns and they each have their own specific costumes styles and behaviors. You see, not all clowns are in the circus. Today we also had fun learning to make balloons…

how to do basic magic tricks…

how to be in a parade or do “walk arounds” in a crowd for fairs and festivals and even to create skits that makes the audience laugh or bring an important message. Just putting on silly clothes and slapping paint on your face does not make you a clown. A true clown has a purpose to entertain, encourage, show kindness and bring laughter and it is not all that easy. True clowns work hard at their craft to hone in their specialty to bring that much needed smile to someone, in hopes that for 5 minutes those people have forgotten the pain or frustration of their situation.

So now when you see a true clown that is trying to bring a smile to person or entertain crowd with laughter and kindness, remember the work they have put in to help you smile. The goofball at Halloween that thinks he is funny dressing up like a clown and scaring people is entertaining himself not thinking of others or trying to bring a smile to a saddened face with bring laughter to a crowd the correct way.

I am an Auguste clown and my specialty is face painting. I am not that great at it but the children don’t really care. They are soaking up the caring gentle nature I try to bring to help them laugh with their friends. I have posted my picture before but in case you missed it, here is Skeeter C Clown. The C stands for Christ as I always try to always bring a Christian nature to my clowning.

So as I close I always remind my readers to smile and be kind. Kindness reflects the love God intended us to always share by turning the frowns of this life upside down.

KINDNESS10

Tails Uplifted, #SoCS

I know this is not really due until tomorrow but I will be burning the candle at both ends tomorrow. When I read the prompt and tried it, well, I had to write about it tonight. How many directions can you go with a sentence like tails uplifted. Yes, the brain went there for a split second but we do like to remain family friendly.

You see on my sofa is a book that stays there for me to grab in an instant as I look for any new bird that comes to my feeder, the National Geographic Birds of North America.

My finger landed in the middle of the page of Wrens stating “Tails are often uplifted”. The book is probably pressed to open easily there as I have a bird visiting that I think is a wren but I cant get him to sit still long enough for a good look. I need a set of binoculars so that I don’t run them off when I get close to the window. Below is a picture of “tail uplifted” and they indeed do that plus there is a prominent stripe of white across the upper eye area. I see the stripe of white but the color is grayish instead of brownish. Need him/her to sit still to verify.

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According to the map of location for each bird, the grayish ones don’t come in my area. Well, tell the bird book that as this bird is grayish – but maybe it’s a Warbler – they don’t come in my area either. Hmm, so the hunt is on.

As we hunt for the cuteness of the fluttery type, let us always smile and be kind. A smile is understood by man and animal alike as a kindness tool. So smile and be kind to everything.

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Linda’s prompt for Streams of Consciousness Saturday this week is the fun open and point.

Walk Around Town

In being able to walk around town and get views of neat looking doors for the Thursday Door post, I also ran across some interesting street art that I thought I would share. I have a very busy weekend coming up and may not get to play much so doing another for today.

As those who have been reading my posts, you have seen my posts on the flooding here of the Mississippi River. But this is still an area that loves this monster of a beast. This first painting has some age on it as it is beginning to peel but it really reflects times gone by with steam driven locomotives and paddle-wheel boats carrying people and cargo through the midwest and along the rivers.

IMG_20190523_123408 — Hope they touch it up before it flakes too bad.

Then as you walk around you see street paintings that area different type of detailed and some that are of the modern flare. Back in October, we were challenged with a prompt about what is art? I posted one called Perceived Art that showed the detailed side of the one below. It is so large is spreads across both side of the road under the train track.

IMG_20190606_101417 — The tentacles go across the street and hold things like pencils

Then a little further down the same street you get a more unrealistic take on art.

IMG_20190606_101528 — Bird in an argyle vest, hmm

But the two below are really creative, making shop windows and doors out of a flat brick wall.

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I didn’t know whether to show this one here or with Norm’s doors. There are 3 doors…

As we smile at the neatness of someone’s take on art, remember to spread that smile around to maybe brighten someone’s day and always be kind.

kind smile

Reckless Love

Are you in need of encouragement tonight. Let me tell you about my morning and be encouraged. Today I awoke with a start at 7:50 a.m. with a strong feeling to pray for my daughter. Don’t usually get up until 8:15. While I always keep my children prayed up as it were, this was a strong urge. I obeyed then went ahead and got ready for work since I was up and going. About 20 minutes later my daughter called me and said I needed to come pick her up. She had a massive blow out of her rear passenger side tire on the interstate on her way to work. Fortunately at that moment no one was around her as she did swerve but was able to maintain control. People stopped to make sure she was OK and to see if they could help but because of the idiotness of today’s auto-manufacturing, they don’t put spare tires or even donuts in cars anymore. Cost savings. Safety hazard in my book. So with my morning of protection and love I want to remind everyone that God is always there, you may not feel Him or like His answer but he does usually answer, even if its “wait”.

The song below is a marvelous song of how much God does love all of us. He throws all caution to the wind for us, He is reckless with love for us. Listen to the song and be encouraged that God does love all of you.

And as you go through your day, remember always His love will shine through us when we allow it. So shine on, reflecting His love and kindness.

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A Badge of Love, 1LinerWeds

In learning first how to blog, then how to link, then all the other things I have learned, I finally figured out how to add text to a photo without losing it when brought it into another format. Yea me. Now I did this so I could participate in the new badge contest for 1 Liner Wednesday. I thought this was a face hard not to love so I submit this photo of Max as a candidate for the new badge hunt.

1LinerWeds Badge by Anita @ anitashope.wordpress.com

If not chosen then I hope you all enjoy this cute photo and good luck to all participants. Thank you Cheryl for the fun we have had this past year.

Come join in the race for the new badge with Linda G Hill’s One Liner Wednesday fun time.

And I can close without the reminder to always be kind.

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Reflecting Back on History

Man has the arrogant attitude that he is superior to all beings because he can communicate and analyze situations. I question that theory as all things were created by God and God doesn’t make mistakes…and the animals were created first. Hmm, ever thought of that? Just because we can not communicate with the animal kingdom, does that mean they don’t communicate. Watching Animal Planet on TV tells you that the animal kingdom is more complex than ever first imagined.

Eden was the beautiful place God created for beast and man, along himself, to enjoy and thrive in. Then when he created man in His likeness and gave him free will, things began to change. In theory, as Adam looked around Eden and saw how magnificent it was, that should have been enough, right? No, but that snake of a fellow, with his lies and twists on words ruined it for all creation and he has been using those same tactics on man ever since for further destruction of this world.

Humans

I bring this up due to a painting on a building that is downtown. A reminder of the cruelty of man since the beginning or rather since the banning of Eden. I won’t open this can of worms any wider as it misses my point of what I am trying to make. When Europe first discovered America, thinking it was India and thus calling the people Indians, that was the first sign intelligence.(Sorry for the sarcasm.)And that wasn’t the first time man ran over a people to prove one groups superiority over another but again we are not opening that can of worms as there are so many many opinions. But today I want to talk about the beauty of art. Wow, that is a full right turn isn’t it? Not really. While I was out walking last week when the sun did dare to shine I ran across this mural and was reminded of the plight of the Indians. Not just in running them off, but the diseases that were brought to them from another people.

This area was inhabited by the Sauk tribe of which Black Hawk was a leader. Because I am not from this area, I do not know a lot of the Indian history or if this mural is of Black Hawk or one of the other prominent leaders. I just know there is a lot of reference to Black Hawk here. A college, a shopping center, banking, street names and so on. When you first walk up to the building you see that the building is flat but when you walk to the front to see the mural, it has a 3D effect and is truly beautiful.

IMG_20190523_125639 — Ordinary flat face building.

IMG_20190523_125732 — Amazing art looking like he is inserted into the building and standing on a protruding rock.

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So remember that sometimes we all have our own agendas but those agendas must be thought on correctly so that we don’t overrun someone just because. And the “because’s” could have as many reason as there are sands on the beach.

I challenge you to remember the love and kindness God initially intended for all of us and that if we truly stand with Christ then we must remember to reflect His love, not our history. Let the love of Christ flow from you and reflect the graciousness He lavished on all of us and always be kind.

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My Heart Breaks

Words can not be found to console families across this word when useless meanness and violence erupts destroying the precious lives God made when he created each and every individual. As we gain ever closer to the last days, and only God knows when that will be, we see the evil one ramping up his efforts gaining more and more control of the minds of people who never were taught or refused to be taught the beauty and love of God. As a Christian my heart breaks for all of mankind who suffers from the after effects of the evil one’s rampage and as a warrior of Christ I stand firm on His word and send my prayers out to all who need them. God will direct as needed. I post these thoughts below to help encourage us all that even though the evil one seems to be winning these battles, in actuality, he lost a long time ago. Reach up to the hand offered down to you and feel encouraged knowing God is still in control.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) - Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Godâs will for you in Christ Jesus — Pray continuously

Sharing our testimony of what God has done in our life encourages others to have faith in Him. #testimony #faith #encouragement — Stand Firm, Don’t lose Hope

This happens in my life all of the time. I'm so grateful God is in my life because He always knows what is best for me and always has perfect timing! — Just Believe

And as you watch other’s struggle in life, offer kindness to help bridge the gap from I can’t to I can.

Elephant with girl

Healing Powers of the Sun

It is amazing how fast nature can recover from harsh weather or natural disasters. We have now had 4 sunny days in a row. Still flooded down at the river but at least its sunny. That has been a major blessing in so many ways and my flowers are drinking it in like warm sweet honey. They have exploded in bloom like I had given them a shot of medicine. Well, they did get a shot of medicine, God’s glorious sunshine. It make all of us feel good with it’s warmth on our backs.

Even my peonies all of a sudden have burst into bloom, literally with 2 days of sunshine.

Its amazing that the healing power of a ball of fire can give us as we rotate around it. Sometimes it can be too much but for now it is welcome.

I still have 3 large planters to fill but am waiting to see how the week goes. Maybe get some hardy mums for summer. My flowers make me smile and I wanted to share that smile with you. And I am reminded that even the smallest gesture of a smile can actually be a bright spot for someone’s day of gray. So smile often and always be kind.

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White, a Positive Color, Weekly Prompt

Today is June 1, the start of a new month. When we think of starting anew as it were we feel we can start with a clean slate. The weekly prompts is a continuation on with the monthly color challenge and June is the color of “white”. Appropriate color as June brides dress are usually white but out of a day of total relaxing I took the time for a little research.

White is a color of innocence or purity. It is also a color for completion, as in finishing one status and wiping the slate clean for newness. I think of the biblical purity or cleansing purity associated with white. Psalm 51:7 states – Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. But we also think of things in heaven as white like the robes of pure white, angels as being white, God or Jesus being in white. White is a positive color.

In the manufacturing word of plastic injection molding, some people don’t realize that white is actually a color. You have to add white color beads to get white product. White is not the absence of color, it is actually a color.

But for me today, as the sun is in its 3 rd day of shining, my flowers are finally reaching out to the beauty of the light and are showing off a bit. Below are my white blooms.

I am joining in with SueW and GC to play with the weekly prompt for June and white color.

Photo Challenge White

So join in with us and show of you ideas, thoughts or pictures on white. And in closing as I like to do, I encourage you to be kind. Kindness through a gentle smile can brighten someone’s day.

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Escapist Coloring Prompt for June

Each month Linda Hill gives us a prompt for those of us who still enjoy coloring and now books, calendars and such have pages to color and enjoy. It is relaxing, as mine stays by the bed on nights when the brain will not shut down.

I think it very appropriate that my color page this month has a river in it as we are fighting the mighty power of water in a river.

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And in closing, I remind us to always be kind.

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