Work and a Gift
Actually the title should be something about how work is a gift from God, which it is. How bored we would be and how little enjoyment we would have if we didn’t have something to do with our hands.
I am excited because the Lord has gifted me with several bits of work to do that may lead to other bits of work in a field I adore. This is especially exciting because it combines skills I have developed over time (which is always nice– I would much rather do that which God has prepared me to do than some random new thing for which I am not designed), books (which if you don’t know already I am passionate about), and creativity (design using Gimp as well as with my pen and paints).
A friend of mine, Grace, owns a small publishing company, Splashdown Books, and was talking about all the work she had to get done this month and I (per usual) volunteered to help. I got to layout a book cover (which I enjoyed a lot more than designing websites) and got to do a small painting that will be incorporated into the covers for the series. And then she paid me for my work on the very first night which I was not expecting (like I said I volunteered) and for which I was grateful. And it looks like she may have other work for me (at the very least the rest of this series which is also exciting, and fun.)
Ever since I was a child and wrote “BCL” in every one of my picture books (B___ Children’s Library) and then proceeded to organize them by author (and type for the non-fiction) I have adored books and wanted to have something to do with them. For a long time I thought I wanted to write and though I do I do not consider myself a “writer”. I don’t care enough about writing itself to research the best ways to write, writing styles, getting published and all that. On the other hand I AM passionate about art, a well designed book cover (I will often pick up a book based on a great cover), and encouraging good writers (and there are a lot though there are also a lot of the other sort of writers out there.) So it is exciting that God is leading in that direction at this time (I don’t know what He has planned for the future but I am enjoying where I am.)
That, combined with doing the box art for the card game (more art from that over here) is making for a very busy me. The sooner the box art is done, the sooner we can get it published so I am working to get it done quickly, and praying over the work constantly.
Also cool is that Shamus has had several possible offers regarding paying gigs (for both writing and his videos). We are prayerfully considering each, especially since we are feeling very led to continue in the direction we are going. He has also been writing about 2,000 words a day on his book, which is coming along nicely.
Finally my mother-in-law showed up with some cash from my father-in-law this morning. She said, “He just told me that I was to give this to you kids.” So that is pretty awesome and appreciated. Have I mentioned that our families are wonderful and have been such a blessing to us? Regardless, I will say it now, they are wonderful and a blessing. 🙂 (Later on Rachel came home (she had spent the day helping her grandma and practicing piano at my mother-in-law’s church) she came laden with perishable groceries that my mother-in-law had gotten us: eggs, salad, fruit, and cheese. Did I mention they are awesome?!
And now back to work. Trying to finish the final element of the box art before Sabbath so I can touch it up then get it scanned after Sabbath.