Uphill idealist

Earlier this week, I was working on a concept painting for a potential mural project. If you would, please take a moment and look at the painting below. After a good look, please leave a comment telling me your first response: I'd like to know your first idea, feeling, or impression from what you see. Thanks for the research help. Here's to pictures that speak a thousand words...or at least a dozen. :)

Last weekend I watched several episodes of "30 Days" with Morgan S. He' the guy that did the movie "Super size me" a few years ago. While on Facebook, several friends have been posting "30 photos in 30 days". Since I've been a little busy, I've found it hard to be as consistent here at Uphill Idealist - so I thought I'd borrow this 30 day format to get "refocused" here. I think 30 days of photos and blogging might be just the muse I need. So cheers to life in pictures and on to day one! Day 1: Self Portrait and 15 facts... 1. When I was little I either wanted to be a ballerina or a card artist for Hallmark. 2. I am a youth and family minister (which requires some careful dancing) and have begun to reintegrate art into my life and vocation. 3. I love to read, but sometimes have a hard time finding time for it. 4. I hate matching socks. 5. I think my kids are fantastic, but are growing up TOO fast! 6. My household is more interest...

So have you ever wanted to know if you were a hipster Christian? Via the world wide web, I found the quiz to help you discern the answer to this all encompassing (wink-wink) question. Hipster Christian Quiz This was my result -Your Christian Hipster Quotient: 93 / 120 Extremely High CHQ. Congratulations! You are a grade A, Sufjan-caliber Christian hipster! You probably like Thomas Merton, hookah, and lectio divina. You're not above self-critique and meta theory, and thus should definitely read Hipster Christianity. Leave your result in the comments.

This Question Blog Parade was picked up on Looking for something deeper by my blogging friend Lucy . I so enjoyed reading her answers, I thought I'd take a turn at answering the same parade of questions too. Please, feel free to copy and paste the questions to your blog to see how long this parade can become! Here is where this parade began , who knows where it will end... 1. What’s your favorite time of the day, and why? I never used to be a morning person, but for the last two years, this April, I've been adding the daily discipline of getting up every morning and going for a walk or run. After many years of wanting to be more fit, I've also found that having that time and space to run away from and into the world has more that a physical benefit I started waking up early for. 2. If health wasn’t an issue, what food could you live off? Wow - what food would I not choose is the question! I think I'd have to say though if it were not an issue of health or calories I...

A Facebook friend tagged me in this meme and I couldn't resist. Here goes my effort to recall the first 15 books that have stuck with me. 1. Circle of Quiet by Madeline L'Engle. This book made me what to go to back to college. 2. Sacred Space - this devotional book is published every year and has been my most consistent companion in my prayer life. 3. The New Moosewood Cookbook - This cookbook offers incredibly tasty vegetarian dishes. Its always fun to cook out of. 4. The Message - Whenever I'm looking for a fresh way of looking at scripture I look in Eugene Peterson's paraphrase version of the Bible. 5. Bird by bird by Anne Lamott. I don't think this book is one a writer is ever "done" with. Just when you think there is no more to write about, Anne pushes you to dig deeper. 6. The Shack by William P. Young - I read this last summer when I had been laid off and was dealing with so many emotions. It helped me make my way through to the other side. 7...

You've been tagged; so you are supposed to write a note with the 3's of YOU. At the end, choose people to be tagged. You have to tag me. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you - but not in a creepy stalker kind of way...... (To do this, go to "notes" under tabs on your profile page; paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 3's, tag 26 people (in the right hand corner of the app), then click publish. Three names I go by: 1.Tara 2.Mom 3.Miss Tara Three jobs I have had in my life: 1.Worship leader 2.Youth Minister 3.Graphic Artist Three places I have lived: 1. Warren, PA 2. Russell, PA 3. Jamestown, NY Three Favorite Drinks: 1. Water 2. Iced unsweetened tea with lemon 3. Earl gray tea with honey. 4. Diet Coke Three TV shows that I watch: 1. Lost 2. Dr. Who 3. Torchwood Three Places I have Been: 1. Colorado Springs, CO 2. Santa Cruz, CA 3. New Orleans, LO Three people who e-mail or Facebook me regularly: 1. Ian 2. Beth 3. Ja...

My watercolor painting, Deep Roots". After all the painting in my office last week, I've been thinking about color. The colors I choose for my office were spice, cream and eggplant. Only after looking at my office, then looking at the colors on my blog background, and then taking the following color quiz; I'm finally convinced that Violet, yup violet is my color. My mixed media painting, "Jesus Walks". As I look around I keep finding splashes of it everywhere. In what I've been painting, in what I've been wearing and what I had painted on my office walls. The spectrum of my violet tendencies range from red - to fuchsia - to indigo blue - to plum. It's interesting too, that the personality portion of this quiz seems to be just about on track. I would anticipate the answer of the 10-13 year old girls in my youth group what their favorite color was. Ninety percent of the time would hear them chime in almost in unison. "PURPLE!" I guess some co...

I was tagged for this quiz by my friend Julia . If you'd like to play along, enjoy! 1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My first name is for the theme of the film Gone with the wind - "Tara's theme", my middle name was from my Mom's school friend who was French: Lamont. 2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? The other day, when reading The Sacred Echo. 3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, when I take time to write like I'm capable of. 4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Turkey or Cajun Chicken. 5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yes. 6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes, I think I'm good at being a friend. 7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Oh my, yes:) 8.DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No. 9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No. You know those falling dreams, I don't enjoy those so why would I try to fall on purpose? 10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Frosted Mini-Wheats or Rasin Bran 11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Yes. 13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOR...

I think my love of letters and words all began with watching Sesame Street as a small child. Do you recall the animated letter breaks that featured each letter of the alphabet? The bits went something like this , "This episode brought to you by the letter... _____. " I remember waiting anxiously for the letter of my first name to be the sponsor letter. Well, today my friend Libby sent me a quiz based on the first letter of the quiz takers name and it reminded me of the letter fun of Sesame Street. Share your letter proudly, it's a "T"errific day! To play, copy your own note, erase my answers, enter yours, and tag 10 people. Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real. . .nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question. Have Fun!! 1. What is your name: Tara 2. A fou...

Shout out to Jay "Da youth guy" for this fun quiz... You are a Hippie You are a total hippie. While you may not wear birks or smell of incense, you have the soul of a hippie. You don't trust authority, and you do as you please. You're willing to take a stand, even when what you believe isn't popular. You like to experiment with ideas, lifestyles, and different subcultures. You always gravitate toward what's radical and subversive. Normal, mainstream culture doesn't really resonate with you. Are You a Hippie?

My friend Julia tagged me to participate in this "Take a photo now!" meme. Oh my, it's my day off, a snow day for the kids and I've just come back from running some errands. So I'm all natural faced and bundled up even in snow pants for the 12 degrees and foot of snow outside. Hopefully, you still love me this way! Next time I get one of these, I'll be more prepared - or maybe that is the point. Rules 1. Take a picture of yourself.. riiiiiight.. NOW! 2. DO NOT change your clothes. DO NOT fix your hair.. Just take a picture. 3. Post that picture with NO editing. 4. Post these instructions with your picture. 5. Tag 10 people to do this and leave their pics as a comment! I tag: Ian , Mary Lue , Jay , Aaron , Shannon , Mel's Dream , Elizabeth , Nenni , Lisa Samson , and Sarah Louise !

Here are my results - What do you think? Accurate or no? To get your results - click here: Spiritual types test You are a Lover, a feeling type, whose spirituality comes primarily from the heart or emotions. You value freedom, independence, and spontaneity. Along with your gift of enthusiasm, you show us how to have fun and appreciate beauty. More than any other type, you know how to experience joy. This puts you in a unique position to experience God in the moment, to revel in what is happening around you, and to be in the present tense. To Lovers, God is a nurturing parent. Prayer for you is often extemporaneous, speaking to God about what is on your heart at the moment. Music moves you deeply; so does heartfelt preaching and worship. You believe that real faith must be shared. Consequently, many Lovers are interested in missions or in spreading the Gospel through the media. You are passionate about holy living. On the other hand, a Lover's impulsive behavior can get you in trou...