Proud of Our Heritage

Although I am thankful every day for something, the holiday season just reminds me that much more of things I am truly and deeply thankful for. My heritage is one of them. Doc and I have been married for almost thirty years and I feel that our families are one not only in faith but in the reflection of our sons. They are indeed a representation of two families that have been strong in faith, honesty, generosity and love. I find myself thinking one or more personality traits are from this grandparent or this great-grandparent, it makes sense that two of our three sons have seizures, they are mixed up kids! Just kidding, but the traits I remember and love shine through in various ways that bring some wonderful memories to my mind.

I remember my Grandmother Newell's fried potatoes and the bouquet of flowers I took home after my summer visits. I believe the secret to her fried potatoes was the skillet she must have used. I remember the lightening bugs fighting with the stairs in the sky over who could shine the brightest while my Grandfather Newell, who never learned to read or write, played his banjo. It makes me wonder what ever happened to that banjo and more so his old green pickup truck. 

When I am at Cracker Barrel and I get three of the soft peppermint balls, not the box full of them because I would eat the whole blumming box, I think of my Papaw Hutty, my dad's father's, small country store he shared with my uncle; I think that is why I love Dr Pepper so much, his store was the first to carry them, even before any store in the city I grew up in.  Although, I never knew Mamaw Hutty, daddy's mother, I have been told that I sing like her which totally blesses my socks off.

Then when I was sixteen-years-old, I joined a family that from the first time I met my future husband's grandfather and he wrapped his long arm around me and said, "Call me Granddaddy and call her (pointing to his wife) Grandma."  The Newtons have brought so much to my life that the list would be too long to even start here, but they taught me faith is first and family is so close to that, you don't know that it's second. Grandma Newton's love for quilts and the treasures she sewed with each stitch and the sweet German Chocolate Cake with five layers will never be made like she did with love and care. Granddaddy Newton's love for reading and his passion for writing songs will be imprinted not only on my life but on my heart as well.  

I can still smell the tea cakes at Mamaw Cobbs's house and the silver Christmas tree in the living room. If I close my eyes, I can see Papaw Cobbs's smile and hug as I come into their house. Both demonstrated their love for each other as well as their love for their family, all of them. I didn't get a chance to know them well before they passed from this life into Heaven, but the home place and the church where they worshiped fills my senses and the Sacred Harp music playing in my mind simply and quickly warms my soul. 

Doc and I are blessed to have parents that have carried on what their parents brought to the table. My father-in-law has a gift of wisdom and carries a quiet gentle spirit just as his father did and loves his grandsons with a passion and has tremendous patience with all of us. My mother-in-law's spiritual gifts have made me more aware of walking by faith and trusting God regardless of the situation and she makes an amazing taco salad.
Even though my father is gone, he believed that if someone purchased a bushel of green beans, you had better shake the basket, make it a real bushel and then add a big handful extra to the bunch and taught me that there was respect and value in working hard. My mother believes that when you feed the body you warm the soul and she taught me that being home with my children is a gift.

Yes, I am proud of our heritage and glimpses of that is all around me. Life is an amazing complex wrap of both family and friends as well as teachers, neighbors and others that influence who we are and who we will become. However, our parents and grandparents give us the choice to follow the good qualities they portrayed. Each of us have so many things to be thankful for and heritage is just one in the realm of who we are and who we wish to follow. Jesus Christ is the ultimate example to follow. Regardless of who raised us or what influenced us as individuals, being God's children and following Jesus Christ is the most important aspect of this life. Although we were blessed with wonderful parents and grandparents, I chose to follow Jesus Christ  more than any other this life has to offer.

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Thankful for My Family this Holiday Season

Our sons, Garrett, Ethan and Joel taken in 2003 at Rhodes Ferry Park, Decatur Alabama

by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs!

This is the season to share all that we are thankful for. I loved our pastor yesterday when he said that when church members are asked what they are thankful for they say their Christian heritage or give theological answers, but we should also be thankful for every day conveniences. I was cheering him on from my place on the pew! Yes, finally someone looks at the small blessings of life too!! 

As a child, I would be asked what I was thankful for and I would reply, "My bike (a 3-speed Free Spirit bike from Sears."  Then when I became a teenager, I was thankful for the telephone, all night roller skating and the indoor public pool a block from my house.  As an adult, what have I been thankful for? Well, being a wife and mother are total givens, the obvious, along with food on our table, a roof over our heads and a/c in the summer and heat in the winter. However, if truth be told, I am thankful for the internet, I even wrote that in my Bible for the past ten years. 

The internet gained me employment as well as taught me graphic and web design. Then it brought communication to our family and friends from a state far away when Joel was in a coma. Beginning in 2004, it has brought awareness and encouragement to other families with children who have disabilities. For the past year, the internet has been my communication to the outside world for my role as caregiver. Not to mention all the resources available to allow me to order my groceries online, schedule appointments and to look up information I may need for a particular situation.

I am very thankful for the internet if for nothing more than to share this with you via a blog post. Loving it!! =)

Happy Thanksgiving,

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},

RHC

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Sometimes I feel like the pages I art journal...

Sometimes I feel like this page layout in my art journal. The lines and texture are amazing, waiting for something more to happen to them. I just look at them thinking, "I see myself in these pages, wrinkles and all." =)  I feel like a canvas waiting for something great to happen. I am eager, anxious and ready to create and be used by God for whatever He has for me.  For too long, I let others define who I would be and allowed their influence to lead me into decisions and choices that weren't truly who I am.

I knew that I would be a wife and mother because that is all I ever wanted to be growing up as a child. I think my grandmother influenced that. It is a shame she never gave me her green thumb for growing flowers though.  Then my generation wanted me to be a go to college, pursue a career and gain employment to be a two income family. Some of my work history was needed and I never minded doing my share to help support my family. I look at the mid life spectrum now and realize, I am happy to finally be home, creating art and caring for Garrett every day. I like having supper ready when my family comes home. They would appreciate more if I was a house keeper, but that is something I think left me at my mid life point, that and cooking. =) However, I know that in ten years nobody will care that I decided to paint or write rather than clean my house. I live with four men, they don't care either. =)  If it bothers someone so much, I think they would offer to clean, don't you? LOL

God has created within me a desire to do just that...create. I create a world of comfort and peace for Garrett. I bring the world of knowledge in homeschooling Ethan, privileged to have taught Joel the same way.  I am honored to create healthy meals each day for my family. I am blessed to work with beading, paper, paints, stamps, fiber, fabric and wood on a daily basis. Now I can write my stories that are aching to be told.

I am thankful for where I am, but I sense that God is preparing me for something more, something greater in his plan. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "I know the plans I have for you..." Getting there can be challenging but also filled with joys and praise along the way. A hope that there is victory coming within the painted pages filled with texture and dark places, bright spots within the lines and forming a palate for greater things to come.  I totally love that and think it is Rockin' Awesome to know that you know that you know God is bringing amazing things your way.

What is your pages of life ready to reveal?

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

But it's Naked...

Photo of tree behind my in-laws home by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs.

Garrett hasn't done well with two areas of winter time, one is the time change and the other is the naked trees! I took this photo of a tree behind his grandparents house, not sure if it ever has leaves, looks pretty dead to me, but regardless, the leaves departing gave me an amazing shot of the blue sky and the elements of the tree that led to some amazing thoughts.

When we bear our soul in our work, talents and creativity, we expose everything within us to offer the most amazing features that exist in what we do. If I had taken a photo of the sky alone, it wouldn't have been as effective without the tree. If the sky had been cloudy, then the tree wouldn't have given us the detailed bark and the contrast in colors. I can look at this tree and know that exposed as it is there is still treasured elements that speaks to me as an artist.

That is the way life is. Sometimes there might be naked trees or dead wood in front of us, keeping us from seeing the complete majesty of the sky or victory that is beyond what we are going through or feel at the moment. Each crises or situation I have walked through, I go in knowing there is victory on the other side. This makes a huge difference in my walk as the crises unfolds. By remaining joyful, hopeful, and at peace, I see the situation in a different light, just like the sun reflecting on this tree, even though you can't see the sun, you know it's there. That is the way it is with God, He loves us and when we think we are naked and exposed, troubled and sad, He has something better for us on the other side of where we are walking.

Love, Blessings & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Our House

Photo by Faye Cobbs.

I found this photo on my mother-in-law's Facebook album. It was taken from their patio last year I believe when we got a sweet dusting of snow, a lot of Alabama.  So, here is the story of our house.

The house in the center with dark siding was built more than 100 years ago and moved to this property in 1978, I believe is correct. Jerry's parents used the little house as rental property until we married. This little house has been home to all three of our boys, except the five years we lived in the larger house to the left and on Smith Lake. It has had many transformations in our nearly 30 years of marriage that only added charm and coziness to the little house. 

A few years ago, Jerry and I decided that moving closer to our jobs in Huntsville would be the best for us. So, we found a house in nearby Madison, but the more we thought about the move and our future with Garrett, we realized that no place could be home more than this little house. With that we decided to add on the little house and afterwards we would gut out the little house and make it just a living room, kitchen, and utility area. 

The new addition was designed and started. The architect was amazing. When he learned that we had three sons with disabilities, he began making adjustments to help with each of them. For example, the architect took Garrett's size 15 shoe and measure the steps of the stairs so that Garrett would have a firm step to balance on if he ever wanted to go upstairs. With his room downstairs and a bathroom to meet his needs, Garrett wouldn't necessarily need that accommodation but I wanted Garrett to have the freedom to go where he wished. The architect also made provisions for Joel's room since he would be upstairs and having convulsive seizures, we didn't want him falling over a banister. Also, with Ethan's silent seizures, we eliminated all bathtubs from the 4 bathrooms that were planned, each having accommodations for each person in our family. The architect was further amazing when he refused payment for his services. We were humbled by not only his work but his generosity. 

Our dream was to have the outside finished so that we could do the inside ourselves. My father-in-law is the only person I would trust to set the plumbing and wiring, just because of who he is and that he let Garrett be his apprentice. The walls, stairs, and divided floors were up and even though they were open and ready for walls, we were excited to get this far with the house.

Then in 2008, my father had his fourth bought with cancer which required his leg to be removed. During surgery he has a stroke that caused his dementia to increase. By the time he finished rehab, it was obvious he would need round the clock care as well as moving in with us. Our little house was full needless to say, but we made it work. The heaviness of my dad's motorized chair was more than our floor could take in the little house. With the new addition not complete, we couldn't move him into it.  So, the floor and the supports under the house broke and collapsed under the weight. Then two major storms destroyed the roof to the point that leaks damaged the roof, ceiling and walls. The insurance agent told us, "it would be better to tear the little house down.

In all that life has brought our way, I have held together and cried little, but that day, I sat down on the porch of our wood shop and cried. The little house would have to come down. This is where we are today. We much finish the new addition in order to tear the little house down and rebuild in its place the kitchen, living room and instead of a utility room, we want to add a half bath and a large pantry. 

Jerry and his dad with Garrett in tow, are doing an amazing job on the addition. It's slow but we are doing it the way we want by recycling lumber, lighting, fixtures and other items that otherwise would just wind up in the landfill. Once the house is completed, then we want to do some simple landscapping, beginning with the back yard into an open kitchen and a movie theater to show movies on the back of the new addition. We want lots of rocks and plants that need little attention, we do not have green thumbs among any of us in our little family. Then we hope to add a donut drive to the front. Simple, nothing fancy, just a place to gather with friends and family, to raise our sons in the most amazing location there is. I can look out my windows and see family on ever side. I can enjoy the pasture land and the cattle that are there. It is quiet and I can see the stars at night and often hear the train all the way from Hartselle. We love where we live and have for almost thirty years. This is home and no matter where we might travel in this life, we will come back to home.

Our goal is finish this huge project in the next 3 years. I know that we are where we need to be. Our family is here and our church family is just around the corner. God is blessing us tremendously. If the boys chose to have a different life than living with us, then we will have guest rooms for family, missionary families or friends to visit with us. We are really excited about being host to others and my art studio.

One never knows where they may land in this life, but home is home and how sweet it is.

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Art Journaling on Rainy Days

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Psalm 139:14

I am taking two courses online that give techniques for art journaling that will play over into other mediums I love to work with. This particular lesson wanted to pull something that emphasized something I might not always feel. Beauty is something women of all ages battle especially when magazines, videos and other media tell us that we must fit into a certain size clothing, have designer labels adorning our bodies, portray personalities that are from a social mold or even defining beautiful by the contour of your body and how much you reveal. Then you are measured by if your skin is virgin or do you have tattoos to a huge number of body piercings. Is there something wrong with any of this? No, but at some point individuality is lost. As women we allow peers and media to define our beauty instead of loving ourselves for who we are and simply be ourselves. It is a constant battle it seems to be yourself, to love yourself and declare you are indeed beautiful. I am designed by God with size, color, shape and, yes, even personality so I am indeed absolutely rockin awesome beautiful! =)

I am...

This lesson was to list things that "I am..." It wasn't hard for me to make such a list, but the greatest of my accomplishments is my family. God blessed the day I became a wife and mother, that is all I ever wanted to be as a child.  Also, it is, in a sense, hard to say, "I am..." good at this or that, I have accomplished this or that. Not the awards or resume achievements but to reach down deep and define who we are. As women, we place these vast accomplishments off as small, minute, when in all honesty they are the greatest of all. Finding peace in who we are is the beginning of inward beauty at it's best.

Think for a moment as you walk with me...the women in the Bible and throughout history are women who were never suppose to succeed at what they were doing. God used amazing women to accomplish his will and did so generations back.  Who would have every thought the Savior of the world would be in the lineage of a king's mistress, Bathsheba. Then there was Tamar, Ruth and Rahab, regardless of profession, faith, reputation or personality, these women were in that lineage. God used those society said were unusable to accomplish the greatest job of all. History is filled with women who were never supposed to be there, but they were and they were successful. Why would any woman be any different? 

As a woman, you are important. Just as God used men to accomplish His will, He also met the women where they were. It is no surprise that someone posted on Facebook that men had to be told repeatedly to love their wives and women were only told once to love their husbands. It is who we are, it is how we are made. We love, nurture, care, create. We are also the Proverbs 31 women. God didn't under estimate our abilities, why should we do that to ourselves much less allow another person to do so?

Walk with me a moment...this isn't male bashing, I just want you to see that you, yes, you, are beautiful and wonderfully made. Period. I send positive thoughts and prayers that you see this within yourself. May you find peace and love in the person you are at this very moment.

I love you for who you are. God loves you for who you are. The hope, love and peace of this life is yours because of the beauty you hold on the inside and the outside. Embrace that and live it with each step you take form this moment on.

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},

RHC

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Lunch prepared by Garrett

I had to share my son Garrett's lunch that he has prepared for me twice in one week...doesn't it totally rock! When I am working on a project, I can know that Garrrett won't let me go hungry. He loves that I am home so "I can take care of him" when in all truthfulness, he takes care of me. Sometimes I will even get a cookie salad, which is at least one of every cookie in the house. 

Life without Garrett? I can't image it. Do I wish he was "normal" by the world's standards? No, I don't. God bless the day Garrett came into my life for he gives me purpose and reminds me that every obstacle isn't worth getting frustrated in trying to go through it, simply go around it, creating a new path of adventure and creativity. 

And so as I create and write, I know that there is one cheering me on, encouraging me with hot soup and salad, offering breakfast runs as a break from the normal daily routines. I am indeed blessed to have all three of my sons and a husband that loves me even though I am inspired by uniqueness. However, we all agree that Garrett is our rock and that he is our joy for without that smile every morning as he feeds his birds and cats then fixes his own breakfast, our day wouldn't be complete. His "good morning" smiles make me want to create amazing master pieces, so what shall I create today in his honor?

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},

RHC

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Early Morning...

The Tennessee River Wild Life Refuge photographed by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

~ Psalm 143:8

I must admit mornings are not my favorite thing to experience,  but how could I possibly get a photo like this one without a morning drive. While people are rushing to begin their week, I am looking past the obvious facts like today is Monday, the long week has begun or that the fog is so thick it could be sliced with a knife, as my dad use to say.  That is how it is with life, our busyness or the crises at hand can't let us see past the fog to the sunrise of victory that awaits us when the fog lifts. Regardless of the haze or the fog, God loves us, as His Word declares. We are to trust our faith and rely on the hope of what is to be. Outward appearance should reflect that faith and that hope by smiling and being happy. However, that large cup of coffee sprinkled with vanilla doesn't hurt either. =)

Thinking a green jadeite and red kitchen could really spark morning creativity for our family. What do you think? 

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},

RHC

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Art Journaling at the River

 I wanted to share a couple of art journaling pages that I plan to use in a digital project. I love the colors that create the center of the right page. The little white flowers was something I created using the wooden tip of a brush. I am falling in love with water color crayons and pencils.

I am truly loving this layout and the colors that it represents. The bottom color is popping through the white paint and I loved that. These art journaling pages I will also use in a digital project. The stamps made the perfect third layer background. Love these colors.

The Tennessee River tonight! I wanted to capture these colors so that I could find paints in my stash to match these vibrant amazing colors of the sky reflected in the waters which are mirroring the fall colors of the leaves in the trees at the waters edge. I felt this was a reflection of my soul, bright, sunny, happy as I think about the whole day. God is so rich and good to give me this opportunity to thank Him for a happy spirit. If I were to write a song at this very moment, it would say "Create within Me..." I want others to see my strong faith of hope, love and peace. In all that paths that I have walked, and there have been many, I know where my strength comes from and that is in the personal relationship I have in Him and the many friends that share my love for creativity and art. There is power in creating with color.

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Recycling a Children's Book into a Vintage Mini Album

This mini album was so much fun to make! Of course, anytime I can recycle materials I am in my comfort zone. There are a lot of new materials especially from Close to My Heart. The colors are magnificent and represent the fall and coming holidays well. 

The base for this mini album is a children's book that was missing elements so I took it apart and recreated it into this lovely mini album. It is a gift for a church minister and his family to show our appreciation for what they have meant to our entire family. I wanted some really vintage detailed elements to the book, but since I didn't know if his wife scrapbooked, I kept the inside fairly simple with photo/journaling spots, simple mini albums within and cute tags. The colors were fall earth tones with turquoise as the main color theme.  Surprisingly the additional frame on the front cover wasn't heavy nor did it take away from the rest of the album. The detailed video of each page can be found on my youtube channel.

Continue to find ways to recycle, reuse, and recreate. It is amazing to see something to damaged turn into something amazingly beautiful.

Love, Blessings & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

A tribute & birthday wish to our son, Ethan!!

On November 1st, 1994, our son Ethan joined our family. It has been an awesome ride the past 16 years, one that has been easier than we had thought, for Ethan is laid back and marches to the tune of his own drummer which makes life relaxing.  It is those qualities that make me stop and spend some time enjoy the moment.

One of the things I love about Ethan is that he stands for what he believes in, knows he has a strong faith in God and family, and doesn't succumb to any suggestion or pressure to be different than who he is. From styles of clothing, including the forever loved converse tennis shoes to trying a different hair color, he is a man in the making who wants to be a chef to the elite while feeding the poor and hungry.

At the same time, Ethan is a survivor and represents individuals that have silent seizure disorders as he does. At age 9, Ethan had his first seizure that lasted 4.5 hours. The following week, he was diagnosed with three silent seizure disorders. He began immediately campaigning for a cure for seizures by collecting pop top tabs and sharing his story of how someone with seizures wants to be treated. Many children, teens and adults saw Ethan in seizure while trying to tell his story and the hope he had that tomorrow would be different for many. He has brought awareness to many regarding seizures and how people with disabilities want to be treated. However, most of all, he taught our family that we have abilities that far out way in disabilities that might exist.

In September 2004, we adopted Beau, a black lab, and he quickly became a self-taught seizure response dog. In March 2008, Beau was inducted into the Alabama Animal Hall of Fame for the work he had down in responding to not only Ethan's seizures but those of Ethan's brother, Joel, who began having convulsive seizures in 2005. A boy and his dog have labeled many of my scrapbooking pages over the years.

One of the favorite characteristics in Ethan that I especially treasure is his sense of humor. That smile will always be a blessing and the carefree attitude that he has about life brings joy and hope to all that know him.  God blessed the day, Ethan came into my life, giving me another chance to witness God's greatest miracle of taking one life, one soul, one experience and bringing others to a new awareness of life, joy and peace.

Happy Birthday, Ethan!!!
Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}}ofLove,
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com