What is a Gift ?

THIS is a Gift.  A gift from God that was given to my Mother-in-law Harriet, that she used to not only satisfy her own soul, but to bring Joy to everyone who ever saw her paint, and the ones that were lucky enough to buy some of them. I know a lot of Marines bought her paintings when she was working for the Marine Corp Scholarship Foundation. She once told me that she would take one in to hang up, and it would be sold by the days end.  We are thrilled that they will now hang on our walls, and will be passed down to our children, and hopefully their children one day.

Here are 2 of her oils of her  Norman Rockwells done in oil.

She also had a true love for birds. I belive some were oils and some were acrylics. I have them marked down, just can't remember off the top of my head which are which.

Also did some water colors.

She had a bathroom decorated in Lighthouses.. Love the thick rope she used for the frame.

This one she gifted to George and I for one of our Anniversaries.

I remember seeing this elephant the day I met his mother at her house. I just stared and stared at it because of all the detail!

Here are a few of the clocks she painted. Also a lover of barns.

This clock was a gift to George the year we moved here to Pa. for his Birthday. The house on the right is our old home in NJ, the house on the left is the home we live in now. The dog was his when he was a teenager, and the tower and the sketch of the world represent his love for Ham Radio and how he  talks all over the world with it.  By the "on the air" sign you can tell it hangs in his "shack" in the basement above his radios.

Another large painting.

This one didn't come out very clear.  I'm thinking about hanging this one in my bedroom. It is quite large too.

This one has a glare on it, but I think you can see it well enough.

And here is a pastel she did I think in I think 1965.

Throughout the years she had painted many more, sold many and gave many away as gifts. She would paint whenever she could.  We almost always got cards for holidays and birthdays that were painted by her also.

It makes my heart so happy to know that the Gift she was given, had touched so many.  Which makes me think about the gifts that are within us.  We all have gifts. I always here people say, I can't do that, I can't do this. True, I could never paint like my mil, nor would I ever be a singer, a dancer, or a photographer (Jackie :) ), and the list can go on and on.  But I feel we all have creativity of some kind. We just need to bring it out, and work with it. My mil took many classes because she wanted to enhance what she was given. To use it to the fullest of her ability.  And boy did she ever!    I will try to learn something from her and take a class or two in rug hooking when I can to enhance my skill and learn something new. And it doesn't matter if what I do isn't spectacular  to others. I'm doing it because it makes me happy, just like she did.

I can only go forward if I continue with the desire to learn.......  Maybe I could even hook a rug of one of her paintings some day..

Hope you enjoyed seeing them~