A few things have kept flickering through my mind these past few months as I continued painting among “cricket chirps,” if you will:

1. That simple little prayer on the bottom of the Divine Mercy image, “Jesus, I trust in You.”

2. The grandpa from Where the Red Fern Grows telling Billy that if he really wants those hound dogs, then in addition to prayer, he’s going to have to “meet God half-way.”

3. And the realization that even the crickets sing of God’s glory…so lean into those “cricket chirps” ;)

Anyways, it’s been quite a few months of painting Sacred Art in the early mornings without seeing much come of it from a worldly standpoint. And I’m honestly glad things moved at a snail pace since it truly helped me put my focus on the “why” and “Who” behind my art.

Occasionally the early risers watch me paint while eating their breakfast in my art room, asking me question after question such as,

“Can I have a washrag?”

“Are narwhals real?”

“Mommy, what does ‘fossilize’ mean?”

Definitely not the kind of questions I’m personally seeking answers to while trying to paint the Sacred Heart of Jesus…

Anyway, God’s timing is perfect. I have no explanation as to what has happened this past month, but after months of only hearing those lovely “cricket chirps” I now have my work cut out for me. I somehow received several commissions all within the course of a few days from different parts of the country and one from the other side of the world. Looks like Grandpa from Where the Red Fern Grows was right…. [*insert more tears here]

I’ve only ever wanted to be a Catholic Artist from the moment I learned how to paint with oils 13 years ago, and regret that it took me so long to plunge into this head-first. Please pray for me that I may only seek to give God glory with my paintbrushes.

Peace to you and yours!

Haley