"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." 

--Philippians 4:13

Photo taken by Jess Rose

The Backburner Studio // copyright 2012 // All rights reserved

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Pushing Through Towards Something Better // Eating Your Carrots

I'm finishing up my last week of college. It's been all the cliche-ique things... harder than I ever imagined, an up-and-down roller coaster, super expensive, etc. Ten years ago exactly, I was pushing through to finish my Associate's Degree in Arts. I was pregnant and extremely apprehensive about the future. I wasn't even sure I'd be going back to school.

I'm still not sure about the future. That baby is almost ten now. He's a lot of the reason of why I am finishing. My mom and I call it, "eating our carrots." I know school was the right choice for my future,  just like my mom always stressed to us the importance of eating our vegetables.

What I didn't know was the absolute struggle it would be... late night classes, financial aid nightmares, "group work" that I did on my own...

My mother disliked carrots, but she ate them in front of us anyway. She knew she was setting an example.
We laugh now about it, and every time I've had yet another academic hill to climb, we say "gotta eat your carrots!"

My son will later see how hard I've worked towards this goal, and more than anything, I hope it inspires him to eat some carrots of his own.

Thanks mom, for eating your carrots.

Pushing Through // Knowing When to Stop

In the past, I've found it hard to stop with my artwork, pushing and reworking until a piece was ruined. 

I know now, it was a lack of confidence. 

It takes a certain level of trust to listen to that voice within that says, "It’s finished."

I'm learning. There’s an artist within me, and she knows. 

It’s liberating to let go and believe. 

Almost finished:

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Pushing Through // Shading

Something that occurred to me as I was shading tonight...

I could take the easier route with this drawing and start smudging, but I had a goal. I wasn't going to do that, I was going to do everything by shading. My skills are definitely rusty, but I have to push through. Otherwise, I know I can't progress past where I stopped four years ago. It's a slow process.

Life's definitely like that, for me at least. I want to rush ahead and achieve my goal the easier way, but God knows what's best for me. I learn best when I take things slowly, give myself time, work through the ADD tendencies, and absorb the lessons.

Here's the progress so far...

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Pushing Through Towards Something Better

Post by Jess of The Backburner Studio:

I pulled drawing off the back burner last night. It's sad really. I hadn't picked up a pencil with the intent to draw for about four years now. 

My thinking was... 
I don't want to keep doing what I'm doing for the rest of my life. It drains nearly every ounce of creativity I have in me. Even so, with those last few ounces I have right now, I'll push through towards something better. 

I don't want to be "afraid of what it takes to give it all away" or keep "doing just enough to get by." 

[Lyrics from "Just To Get By" by Pillar]

I want more, and my Heavenly Father wants more for me too. 

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" --Jeremiah 29:11

Some of my previous work:

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