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This painting was a very special project for so many reasons.

 

Jana saw my work a couple of years ago & wanted to commission me then to do a portrait of her daughters.  News of her rare form of ovarian cancer coming back put all plans like that on the back-burner for a while.  A few months ago, she & her family got some bad news that the cancer was growing, spreading again & the prognosis wasn't good.  Our daughter is one of Jana's many friends & knowing her friend's desire to have a portrait done, she contacted as many as she could with the idea to take up a collection to hire me to do that portrait as a surprise.  As each donation came in, I sent a note to thank them & to share my heart.  I wanted each to know what an honor it was to me to be asked to be involved in such a project.

 

We contacted Jana's husband for help to collect some photos for us & it was to him that I sent composition ideas & progress photos.  He was thrilled & encouraging every step of the way.  I decided to include Jana in the portrait thinking that if the worst happened, these daughters & dear husband left behind would have a sweet memory recorded that hopefully would give them comfort & help them recall happier times.

 

Meanwhile, Jana qualified for being part of a test group for one of the final steps in releasing a new cancer-fighting drug.  She & her family were busy with all that involved including a monthly trip to Houston for her treatment.  I kept painting & falling in love with this beautiful young mother & her precious daughters.

 

I knew time might be an issue & I wanted the family to have the portrait for as long as possible.  I was given Favor to paint as thoughtfully & quickly as I never have before but thought I would need another two weeks to be done.  We got the news suddenly that Jana's husband's previous employer in Albuquerque was offering him an attractive & sizable promotion which he couldn't turn down in light of their mounting medical expenses.  They have old friends there including their old church family and their friends here were relieved to find out Albuquerque is just one day's drive away. In light of Jana's energy limitations the new challenge was the job required them to move in two weeks!!  So not only did I get to hear how an army of friends went to work to help her pack & organize and how I had to come up with a new schedule for completing this painting if Jana was going to be able to pack up the painting with her belongings & more importantly, her friends here be able to present it to her before she left, I got to experience yet more Favor as the process was accelerated.  In order for the painting to be dry enough to have it scanned at my printer's for any possible future giclees for the family & for a digital file for my website & then the varnish be dry for framing, I had three days instead of two weeks.......

 

As I was working that day, I got a phone call from our daughter that Jana's family's moving day had to be changed.........I had only one day left to paint........this day.  I couldn't accomplish that.  There was no way.  So as I was processing & thinking about how something of a presentation could take place before they left & we shipped the painting later instead, I had a little talk with my Lord.  I told Him if His Plan was to have this done for Jana before she left, He would have to finish the painting in time...........that I could not.  I don't remember what exactly I asked for.  I just knew that without Him this thing would not happen.  I know certainly that any work I do is Favored by Him, that He is accomplishing something special through me, that anything good that happens is orchestrated by God Almighty.....any Good thing.

 

So I calmly continued to paint the rest of the day, taking my breaks as I needed, holding a cup of tea when the notion struck and I got to behold something remarkable.  The painting was coming together so beautifully, so sweetly.  My eyes tear up even now as I recall what an honor it was to sit at my Lord's Feet & experience Him blessing me so generously so this painting could be done in time for Jana's friends.

 

The celebrations continued as my printer had to figure out how to work around his busy schedule to help me get the painting back in time to varnish for the framing.  My favorite frame shop knocked themselves out to help us when they learned about my special project to bless this precious family.  The frame shop allows its staff two weeks to construct a frame & install a painting with an occasional rush request granted if possible to be done in a week.  The manager took this assignment on himself & said he would have this painting ready in three days.  It was done in two. It seems everyone wanted to be a part of blessing these people.

 

How can I express my gratitude to everyone who helped make this gift possible?  Nothing is adequate.  Only a fraction of what I normally charge was collected to pay me for my time & expenses but I started this knowing I would be content with whatever the Lord said I should have.  & I am.  Nothing can replace or compare with the pure Joy it has been to be used to love on this dear family.  & who knows.......We may get to witness a miracle of Healing! 

Meanwhile, I'll be making everyone homemade cinnamon rolls.