I've got an idea I'm tossing around. I have 2 loves when it comes to writing. I love to write children's stories and I love to write mysteries. I also love Lucy-Goosey, of course!

So why not combine all my loves into one and write an illustrated Lucy-Goosey Mystery children's book? I like it. The ideas are churning and the possibilities are a-plenty. Now all I need is the time to write it. That might be a problem.

Now that I'm working 3 jobs, it's hard to take on anything new. MSOA's end-of-year Art Exhibit & Revue is this Thursday, May 28th. (See www.msoaonline.com for details.) Now that school is breaking for the summer, that should clear up some of my time to hopefully do some of these creative projects I want to do.

I still want to make a special gift for my nephew, Troy's new son, Adam! It's on the top of my creative priority list! I also want to finish writing my novel, Blinded by Sin. I think I found my book cover design! I'm working out the final details and as soon as I'm able, I will show it! It's fantastic!!

I also want to do some scrapbooking with Lennie, Janna, Jessica and Kayla! I miss scrapbooking.

Now I have this Lucy-Goosey idea coming to my mind. I'm really going to enjoy bringing them even more to life in novel form. Maybe by next Fall, I'll have a better idea of when I'll be done writing it.

For now, I'll just keep adding new cartoon strips as much as I'm able. Be sure to visit my newest Lucy-Goosey cartoon strip, "Jack-in-the-Box" on my webpage: Cartoon of the Month.

Thanks for visiting my website, everyone!

Why must life be so hard?

I ask myself this question a lot. It seems like so many times, just when life seems to be going ok....WHAMMO....something is thrown into the spokes of your life's wheel and brings it to a screeching halt.

I keep thinking about Fred. He's been hit with so many things lately, it's a wonder his spirits are up at all. He lost his job a few months ago and there hasn't been anything at all available in his field. So, he decided to join the MSOA Publishing team and has taken the ball and ran with it getting our Publishing company started. Then he gets hit physically with an ailment. He got shingles, pink eye and  a stye all at the same time, in the same place!! Talk about your Whammos! So, he's been struggling with physical pain for the past 2 weeks.

Then yesterday, as if life hasn't been coming down on him hard enough already, he was sitting at a light, waiting to turn left when a car comes out of nowhere and slams into the drivers side of the car. It side swiped him, busted out the tire. It appears our Pontiac Grand Am will be totalled.

Ok....can someone please tell me what's going on?? If this guy isn't under attack, I don't know what to call it. It's almost like he's living the life of Job. Let's just hope God doesn't allow for Satan to take his family, like He did with Job.

So, I ask again......

Why must life be so hard?

"They will call good evil, and evil good"

God's Word warned us about this happening in the end times, but it was hard to imagine ....until now.

A fine example of this has happened just recently when Department of Homeland Security came out with their "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment" report, which you can read all about here: http://www.aclj.org/media/pdf/ACLJ_dhs-hsa-rightwing-extremism-040709.pdf

They are now insinuating that those who are Pro-Life are labeled as "domestic terrorists"....and not just that, but the "most dangerous" kind!! I just find that statement to be so unbelievable, it's hard to wrap my mind around what sort of mentality would come up with such a ridiculous assessment.

So, let me get this straight...those who believe in protecting innocent lives are now deemed "terrorists"? Wow. Ok. That's the sort of upside-down, backwards thinking that can baffle the mind. I would think that the Pro-Choice group are closer related to the true definition of terrorists than Pro-Life. Afterall, Pro-Choice believes in murdering the innocent. Isn't that what terrorists believe?

This is just another fine example of the stupidity and ignorance that will stem from this current Administration. The longer this man (Obama) is in office, the worse it will get, I fear. He is so far left that sometimes I wonder if we're even living in the same country. There is a great divide separating this country. We have "one nation, under God" on one side...and "one nation"...under....??? who knows what on the other side. And this chasm will get bigger and bigger the longer he's in office. And he's only been in office a little over 100 days. God help us.

So, how much longer do we have to go until this Administration is over? Someone please wake me from this nightmare.

I'm so excited!!

Fred and I, along with 6 others from MSOA have decided to start up a Publishing company. We have been working non-stop trying to get the basics down. There's a lot to learn when it comes to starting up your own business!!

But once the passion is there, you find yourself spending every waking moment researching...taking notes....reading, ...learning.....

I love learning new things. Sometimes I feel like my brain will explode if I put another thing in it, and then other times I feel like I can't absorb enough information regarding my current passion. I'm finally realizing that Writing (and now Publishing) is my biggest passion in this life. I can't even begin to describe the joy I feel when I'm writing. There's nothing like creating, with words, a new world that is uniquely yours.

I'm also glad that Fred and I are now working together. Unlike a lot of marriages who feel they need a break from their spouse, Fred and I have never felt that way. We enjoy being together and going into business together will be a lot of fun and something we're very much looking forward to.

Our new company is called MSOA Publishing, LLC (MSOAP). Love that acronym! We are a "Family-Friendly" (We're keepin' it clean with MSOAP! lol) publishing company holding to higher standards. Our tagline is "Creative Writers Require Creative Publishers". We have an extremely creative and talented group who are ready and willing to bring a more creative aspect to the publishing field. We have a lot of ideas, and God willing, there will be a constant stream of ideas to come!

One thing that our Publishing company will have, that most (if not all) other Publishing companies lack, is we have a whole art school at our disposal. The talent of Masters School of Art (MSOA) is incredible and continues to bring and build up new and upcoming artists who are sure to get their name on the map and make a huge impact into the art world.

We will not only be publishing works from MSOA, though. We will be open to anyone who has a desire to publish. We are only publishing books for now, but we will evenutally be expanding our publishing efforts. So if anyone has a book that they're wanting to get published, be sure to try the Creative Services of MSOA Publishing, LLC!

I'm very excited about my future with this new company. I believe if we continue to honor God with this endeavor, He will continue to bless our business.

~Lisa (who is now working 3 jobs)

I think I let way too much time go by between my blogs. I never have been a journal writer. Even my diaries from when I was little are filled mostly with blank pages. Writing things here and there. Why should my cyber diary be any different?

I've finally started writing on my novel again. I'm so glad too, because I enjoy writing so much. I've been writing on this particular novel on and off for over 16 years! I think it's about time I finish it. Fred has been a tremendous help to me too. He's my sounding board. It helps to bounce ideas off each other until something finally clicks into place. I've changed the structure and plot of this story idea quite a bit over the past 16 years, but I think I've finally come up with something that works.

For all those interested, the book will be called "Blinded by Sin". Its basic plot is about seven people who each possess one of the seven deadly sins. They are, of course, "blinded" by their sin and some either learn from it, change their ways and move on, or follow a path of destruction. A path that sometimes also destroys those around you.

I'm hoping to have it finished soon. I'm going to try to write every free moment I have, in the hopes that this book will be ready for publication Fall 2009.

I finally finished writing my children's book, "While You Were Scratching". I have also found a wonderful illustrator! My great thanks and gratitude go out to Anna Harrison, who has agreed to illustrate the book for me. She is a wonderfully talented artist and I feel very honored that she has agreed to illustrate. Anna is one of the instructors at Masters School of Art and you can view her art gallery on MSOA's website: http://www.msoaonline.com/apps/photos/

I can't believe it's 2009 already! Boy, time sure does fly by quickly. I remember my mother telling me at a very young age that the older you get, the faster time goes by. I remember thinking back then, "Yeah..sure. Whatever, Mom". But now that I'm around her age when she told me that, I can see what she means!

2008 was a pretty interesting year. I turned 40 in 2008. That's a big step in that journey we call life. 40 years on this earth. There's a milestone. 40 years of wondering around in the desert, ...looking for the Promiseland! Maybe 2009 will be the year that Jesus comes back! This planet is certainly ripe for the endtimes. Sometimes it's very hard to walk through this life trying to avoid all the flagrant sin everywhere. Sin is pounding on our senses and it's getting louder as time goes by.  

Fred was diagnosed with Melanoma in 2008. Can't say we're not glad to see THAT over! Now we're both "cancer survivors". Whoopie!!

The year 2008 ended well, though. I was able to meet back up with an old school friend from WV. It's been great connecting up with Robin again.

I'm hopeful for the year 2009. I think it's going to be a very interesting year.

Happy New Year everyone!

November is a good month for reflecting over all the things to which we can offer our thanks to the Lord. There's a lot to distress over these days, but there is also so much to be thankful for. We live in a great country - a country that allows us religious freedom to worship how we want. Many countries around the world do not have this right. God has blessed America time and time again and I believe He will continue to do so as long as we keep praising and thanking Him.

Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God

I'm thankful for the wonderful school I work for and for its ministry to the children. God still continues to bless our small school. A lot of teachers and even a few of our college students get together every Thursday and Friday morning to pray for the school and the kids. I have noticed in the few, short years I have been with MSOA, that as long as we keep our focus on glorifying Him, He continues to bless us.

Psalm 118:29

 

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

I am thankful for so many things, but I am most thankful for God's gift of love to us, in His son Jesus Christ. This thanksgiving, let us all give thanks to the Lord. His name is wonderful; He's Master of everything!

Psalm 30:4

 

Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

I'm a-feeling mighty low lately.... ....oh, woe is me...as my mother used to say. For one, I haven't been feeling the best physically because of fighting an infection. I had to go to the doctor last week because my temperature kept raising. When it reached 100.3, I finally broke down and agreed to call the doc. I hate going to the doctor, but sometimes it's just a necessary evil.

He put me on antibiotics and I just took my last one. Hopefully, I'll be over my infection now! Antibiotics make me feel all weird.

Emotionally, I've also been  feeling so blue. I'm not sure why. I feel a deep heaviness weighing on my heart....like the weight of the world is resting on my shoulders. I've been doing lots of praying about it. God will give me peace when it's time for me to have peace...this much I know.

In the meantime.....I'll just have to deal with the blue.

Roses are red

My emotions are blue

Jesus is coming

So I'd just better snap out of it and get back on track and continue to live life to the fullest until He returns for His bride because if you are watching the signs, we are certainly in the season!

-Lisa <----not the best poet in the world.  

  I can't believe it's been a whole year since inception of The Barnyard! Happy Anniversary Barnyard!! There's been a few changes to the Barnyard throughout its first year. Lots of different looks (anyone remember the newspaper layout?) That was one of my favorites. It then had the blue frames for quite a while, but I had to end up looking for another layout because the frame layout was messing with my forum layout. I then settled on the current green layout. This one is nice!

Freewebs is constantly adding new layouts, so maybe one day I'll change it again.

I'd also like to thank all my subscribers! Thanks for being part of The Barnyard! Please continue to keep visiting for I am constantly updating it. See y'all around.

Vote for McCain/Palin!

Well, school has begun and it has gotten off to a great start! I'm pretty busy this year with not only the classes I'm teaching, but also with the classes I'm taking to earn my Art Teacher's Certificate.

This term I am teaching Cartooning I and Cartooning III. I'm not teaching Cartooning II this term for the first time because a couple of our college students are teaching a specialized "Superheroes" Cartooning II class instead.

I'm teaching Cartooning III - Graphic Novel for the first time this term. Since it's a brand new class, and because it's a level 3 advanced class, it puts a bit more pressure on me in coming up with the lesson plans. God helps me with my stress level though...through lots and lots of prayer! I'm having all my students do their first graphic novels on Bible stories. I'm allowing them to choose whichever Bible story they wish and they can either do it biblical times or they can modernize it. Fun stuff and I'm really excited about what they'll come up with!

I'm also teaching Creative Writing. I have to admit, I think I enjoy teaching writing more than I even do Cartooning. I know... I know...that's a shocker even to me! But I just get so much joy from teaching Creative Writing. It's fun to come up with unique and exciting ways to get the kids to be creative. There's some awesome resources all over the internet which helps to take a bit here...a bit there....mix it up/change it up..and come up with my own unique assignments. My students seem to enjoy the lessons and it's fun listening to their creative stories. There's some wonderfully talented writing students at MSOA.

I'm also co-teaching Color Pencil with Lennie this term. This is also the first time I've taught Color Pencil. Lennie is a great teacher and I'm learning a lot just by following her example in this class.

So between Thursday and Friday school, I'm teaching a total of 7 classes. (Phew!) That's a lot of lesson plans to prepare!

I'm also taking 4 classes this term for my college certification. I'm taking Watercolor & Ink from Lennie. Right now I'm working on a rooster, so if it turns out decent enough, I'll post it in my portfolio. This is a class I'm enjoying very much.

I'm taking Cartooning II - Superheroes as well. I'm going to turn Lucy-Goosey into superheroes!!  ....nothing permanent, just trying it out to see if I like it. It's fun to experiment with Lucy-Goosey and try out different things. It's a fun class!

Drawing 301 is probably going to be my hardest class, but I'm still enjoying it very much. Drawing is the solid foundation to all art, in my opinion. It's what I started out doing at a very young age and I'm so thankful to finally be getting a good drawing art education!

And last, but certainly not least, I'm taking a class called Book Illustration. This class is being taught by a published author of a wonderful children's book. I'm currently working on writing and illustrating my own children's book, so this class is going to be so useful in helping me accomplish my book and get it printed and published! What a joy it would be to have my very own published children's book! God willing!!