A Golden Opportunity!!!

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“You are a child of the Universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.”

Max Ehrmann

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OK, so the joke about this cover photograph has to do with the beginning of sharing the original manuscript with friends and family, with the first draft completed September 2010. My good friend, Debbie Standard, arrived at Arrowhead Parable Christian Center with her first copy of the story in manuscript format and traded it in for the published book! You gotta love it!

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My cousin, Michelle Michalek, arrived early for her copy of Chert’s story. The book signing had a tremendous outpouring of my extended family which warmed my heart and soul! So very thankful for their encouragement and support in this labor of love!

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So here is the real “synchronicity” about the dress I am wearing. The top beaded neckline of the dress that I made is taken from a party dress of my Grandmother Marge’s. She was my first editor of the manuscript. As a word lady and Scrabble, Upwords and Crossword Wiz, she also had the married name from her first husband of Margaret Mitchell, the author at the time of “Gone With The Wind.” Her use of words has been a strong influence in the building of becoming an author in my life. Thank you, Grandma! Ya Ti Muc Muc Muc Lubiem!!!

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As Aunt Kathy Stolarcyk walked in and saw me, she smiled ear to ear and asked me if that was Grandma Marge’s dress, as I told her it was the collar from her dress. The beaded dress is what Grandma Marge wore to Aunt Kathy and Uncle Mike’s wedding! I could feel wedding energy in the dress, and now know where exactly she had worn it!

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Quilted Painting of Hummingbird with beadwork

As some of you have seen from a previous posting, I painted a hummingbird on the yellow dress of my Grandmother Marge’s and utilized all the beadwork from the hemline of that dress to frame the picture. Interestingly enough, my hummingbirds have been coming back around to the feeder this week and I am reminded of my beloved Grandmother Marge whose first anniversary is on the Blessed Mother’s Assumption. Ironically, my Grandmother Susie Marchell also passed on that sacred day as well, with Mom’s anniversary being Easter Sunday, so I have been very blessed with such spiritually strong, powerful and loving women figures in my life!

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“The color PINK represents caring, compassion, unconditional love and understanding.”

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“The color YELLOW symbolizes friendliness, warmth and honesty; displaying light, hope and encouragement.”

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My cousin Michelle Stolarcyk arrived as we shared our stories about Grandpa Stolarcyk and his crazy wild pants that he would wear as well as Chert’s love of Battaglini Bread from my Uncle Joe and Aunt Carol’s bakery, where no dogs are allowed!

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Now here is another “synchronicity” story about Becky Tinker, a previous co-worker with my Mom who happened to move across the street from me a few years ago! We have great fun together and always feel my Mom’ Joyous Spirit hovering around us when we go for our walks around the neighborhood! I offered Becky the manuscript, but she wanted to book instead!

Thank you to Craig Hall at Arrowhead Parable Christian Store, to all the people who came to visit and hear about Chert’s story and purchase a book for themselves or family and friends! I hope that Chert’s story warms their hearts and gives them some insight into the short and purposeful lives of angels in furry clothing!

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“My Father’s Greatest Gift: Life Lessons from a Black English Labrador Retriever” is available online through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, etc., as well as my website:

http://loridmarchell.com/

©Loriginal Desgins

In Honor of Memorial Day

“No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.”

William Penn

The above photograph was taken of my grandfather, G. Clifford Mitchell with my mom, Connie A. (Mitchell) Marchell, on his return from surviving a ‘million dollar’ wound while serving our country at The Battle of the Bulge in World War II.  Some of you have read postings about Grandma Marge whose first husband was G. Clifford Mitchell.  This first year without Grandma with us, I planted her favorite flowers, red geraniums, at their memorial stone.  Looking around I saw volunteers with little American Flags being placed alongside a majority of the stones at Calvary Cemetery.

In honor of all the men and women who serve and have given their lives for the gift of our freedom, it is a time of deep reflection for the many sacrifices made by the bravery of those who committed to serve The United States of America.  Many families experience great challenges by being separated from their loved ones when they are called to serve their country in the military.  And some are called to make the ultimate sacrifice.  We have so very much to be indebted to these selfless individuals who believe in this great gift they provide for our country.

Let us hope that there will someday be a time where we will no longer require to fight for our freedom but to be able to cooperate and collaborate with one another.  I suppose that is what the new heaven and new earth are all about, where the lion lies down with the lamb and peace reigns supremely across the lands.

“We shall find peace.  We shall hear the angels, we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds.”

Anton Chekhov

A Walk to Finch Hollow

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“On a day such as today, may it live on forever in your heart.”

L.D. Marchell

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“Precious are the moments that occur between the breath and warm the soul.”

L.D. Marchell

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“Travel lightly, step softly, live within the wonderment of the present.”

L.D. Marchell

“Mosaic colors of light dancing upon the trees sing joyously in the breeze which hushes our thoughts to breathe.”

L.D. Marchell

“Are dogs the angels in furry clothing which know us better than we know ourselves – our best friend for now and always.”

L.D. Marchell

“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:2

“Only God can make a tree.”

Grandma Marge Stolarcyk

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“Sing to the Lord a new song!”

Psalm 96

©Loriginal Designs

 

Indian Summer at Greenwood Park

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“Steely blue sky against autumn’s wondrous array; summer’s reborn as caterpillars come out to play.”

L.D. Marchell

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“Just when the caterpillar thought it’s life was over, it became a butterfly.”

Author Unknown

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“Go at life with abandon; give it all you’ve got.  And life will give all it has to you.”

Norman Vincent Peale

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“Did you know that by taking leaps of faith, the angelic winds will allow for you to soar?”

L.D. Marchell

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“Timeless meanderings on a stellar autumn stroll.”

L.D. Marchell

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“To be young at heart is the joy of life’s precious gift.”

L.D. Marchell

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“As woodlands whisper and sway in the wind, the call of nature speaks ever softly to our soul.”

L.D. Marchell

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“Upon Mother Gaia we walk ever gingerly, mindful of her gracious generosity if only we pause to listen to God’s unconditional love.”

L.D. Marchell

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“On this magnificent day, may each piece of  the precious moment create the mosaic of your life.”

L.D. Marchell

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“Be ever-present with all the senses, for miracles abound.”

L.D. Marchell

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©Loriginal Designs

©Norman Vincent Peale

 

 

Oh Most Holy Night!!!

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“Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord.”

Luke 2:9

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“I bring you the most joyful news ever announced!  The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem!”

Luke 2: 10

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“The Candy Cane”

The hard candy is shaped like a “J” to represent that Jesus is our rock of all ages.  The candy was made white to stand for the pureness of Jesus.  The red represents the blood that Jesus shed to save us from our sins.

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©Loriginal Designs (Nativity Scenes, Tabernacle Cloth)

©Bible

©Mary Did You Know – Kenny Rogers & Wynonna Judd – KJ Dee YouTube

©Mary Did You Know – 1greysanatomyluver YouTube

 

 

 

Angels Unawares

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“Would you think that for a moment, planning actually matters?  Spiritual unfoldment occurs unbeknownst to us.”

L.D. Marchell

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“When truth is attained, all else ceases to exist.”

L.D. Marchell

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“Irregardless what others say, one must find their own way.”

L.D. Marchell

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“Being raw is revealing all that is true within; there is no fooling Mother Nature.”

L.D. Marchell

 

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“Accents of Light reveal potential within.”

L.D. Marchell

 

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“Oh, to be an evergreen, noble in dignity; As they celebrate the joyous symphony of colors about.”

L.D. Marchell

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“All paths lead home; It’s the journey in the end, which matters the most.”

L.D. Marchell

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“So grey and light, blue sky so bright; Varied splashes of color, God’s paintbrush we adore.”

L.D. Marchell

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“It is the quiet moments between each breath which fill our souls with joyous inner knowing.”


Connie Andrea Marchell

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“Oh that I may be beautiful within!”

L.D. Marchell

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“When we die, we leave all that we have and take with us all that we are.”

Connie Andrea Marchell

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“The barren lands reveal the ending of a cycle in nature; Listen intently as Gaia speaks softly.”

L.D. Marchell

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“As if in unison, the hues and tones speak telepathically to one another; Orchestrating a musical concerto of vibrancy.”

Connie Andrea Marchell

 

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“The Universe adores us, in blissful moments of present awareness; Fully aware of its magnitude, it’s peacefulness remains still.”

L.D. Marchell

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“Oh the novelty of orgasmic colors bring forth the climatic finale; Autumn reveals her full glory in timeless beauty.”

L.D. Marchell

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Then God Said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit and seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was good.

Genesis 1:11

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“The union of Gaia with the glorious hills and trees; Mirrors the relationship of soul mate and twin flame.”

L.D. Marchell

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“Would dancing leaves and whispering trees be glimpses of an angelic autumn breeze?”

Connie Andrea Marchell

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“Are angels floating upon the clouds, watching intently over us unawares? “

L.D. Marchell

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“Sacred union occurs when the inner work reveals all that is balanced; An equilibrium of the yin and yang energies.”

L.D. Marchell

*Bandit

 

 

“…But when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away…”

1 Corinthians 13

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And God Said “Let there be light,” and there was light.  God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.  God called the light “day” and the darkness he called “night,”  And there was evening and morning – THE FIRST DAY…

Genesis 1:3-5

©Loriginal Designs

©Connie Andrea Marchell

©S.A. Gwin Photograph*

©NIV Bible

 

 

 

Amazing Love!!!

“Hope in God!  For I shall again be thanking Him; in the presence of My Savior and my God!”

Psalm 43:5

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“And He will…make you shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his Hand.”

Michael Joncas

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“Who gave Himself for our sins, to rescue us from the present evil age, as our God and Father willed – to Him be Glory for Endless Ages!”

Galatians 1:4

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“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

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“Doghead is easy to learn, you just have to speak from the heart.”

L.D. Marchell

As some of you may know, through the tragic loss of my Mom, Chert Dog saved not only my Father’s heart, but my brother, John’s and mine too!  There is something about unconditional love from an animal, so altruistic, pure, peaceful and kind.  Angels brought to us in various forms, to be embraced and cherished or relinquished forever as we are all given that chance to choose the highest and best for all concerned.

It is during these most tremulous times that we are being given the opportunity to make new consciously aware and awakened choices with our most precious gift of life.  Allow for your new preferences to include:

“…Whatever is true, whatever is kind, whatever is lovely, and if there be anything worthy of praise, think then on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

https://youtu.be/nwjTT2bqKk0

©Loriginal Designs Photography

©Bible

©Newsboys “Amazing Love”

On Eagle’s Wings!!!

“You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, Who abide in His shadow for life,  Say to the Lord, ‘My Refuge,’ My Rock in Whom I trust.  And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings, Bear you on the breath of dawn, Make you to shine like the sun, And hold you in the palm of His Hand.”

On Eagles Wings by Michael Joncas (Psalm 91)

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This is the last in The Three-part Romeo Series of oil paintings inspired by Tofino Photography.  My eternal gratitude for the empowering photographic compositions which bring one to a place of such beauty, tranquility and peace!

As I took a break from painting the second layer of oils onto the canvas yesterday, I went outside to walk barefoot in the lush, soft grass.  As I walked around my prolific blooming garden, I knelt in the grass next to my Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue that I have placed in front of my white with pink-tipped flowering Peony plant, whose buds are just beginning to form.  The statue is with Jesus dressed in his white robe with the red over shawl, as some of you have seen in my photographic image of the setting sun in my posting entitled Jesus Walks Among Us.  If you look into the setting sun over Highland Lake, you see an image of what appears to be an individual wearing a white robe with a red shawl.  It also appears that this image has an individual alongside him as the red material seems to be wrapped out around another image. When my Dad was alive, I recall him sharing with me a dream he had which impacted him for the rest of his life.  It was a vision of Jesus, shining in his glory in a purple glowing cloak with his ethereal eyes gleaming compassionately to envelope ones soul with peace. So I ended up repainting the Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue’s heart and his wounds in red and the cross, chain and shield in gold and the collar of his cloak in gold.

I do believe that the Romeo Eclipse is an important message for us all, that we are to be living heaven on earth now, and that the lion shall finally lie down with the lamb.

“Let there be a world to see, Let it be of Inspiration, Let there be a world to be, Let it be of God’s Creation.”

John V. Marchell (My Dad)

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted.  He has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted…Beauty for ashes; Joy instead of mourning; Praise instead of heaviness.”

Psalm 61: 1, 3

©Loriginals Designs Oil Painting

©Tofino Photography, Eagle Eclipse April 6, 2017

https://tofinophotography.wordpress.com/

You Belong To Me, Now and For Always!!!

“All you birds of the air, Bless the Lord; Praise and exalt Him forever.”

Daniel 4:80

On this Mother’s Day, Grandma Marge will be flying around as a hummingbird in her angelic realm for certain! The above painting of a hummingbird in acrylic I painted on one of her party dresses and used the beaded hemline to create a border around it. She was so thrilled when I brought it for her to see, and am so very thankful for the time I spent with her throughout my life! But especially during the time from when my Mom passed and I moved back to New York from California. Our relationship merged into that of Grandmother/Mother and Granddaughter/Daughter. It is these memories that are cherished in my heart for always!!!

I was with her a few hours before she passed. It was the Feast Day of The Blessed Mother’s Assumption. During that most sacred time, she emphatically asked me to put her “poppuchies” on now (slippers in Slovak), put a hat on her head now and she wanted to sit in her chair as if to wait for the angels to come to carry her home! When she had spoken with Father Tim earlier that week, she said that she just wanted to go home and be with Jesus, her best friend! I recall the gathering of birds that flew by me that evening, their haunting calls were not of common birds. As some of you have read from my previous postings, Grandma gave me a gift of spiritual stigmata on my left hand the following day of her passing and it disappeared when I brought her rose embellished urn vase to her resting place at Calvary Cemetery seven days later.

In memory of her unconditional love and forgiveness, I am posting a short video of her singing at United Methodist Homes accompanied by Ralph with his harmonica. She sings “You Belong to Me, Now and For Always.” Ya Ti Muc Muc Muc Lubiem Starinka!!!

©Loriginal Designs

You Light Up My Life!!!

Romeo’s Sunset Rapture Revisited

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“All things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.”

Matthew 21:22

As an Artist, Pianist and a Creative Life Coach, I am continually opening myself up to a variety of inspirational experiences to expand my horizons.  Tofino Photography has brought a whole new perspective to my landscape, seascape and wildlife palette’s perspective!  The pristine, untouched captivating beauty of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada is a kaleidoscope of color full of richness, solitude and preserved nature.

This oil painting is an interpretation of “Romeo’s Sunset Rapture”¹ with similar composition, texture and colors, yet allowing for the essence of deeper hues intrinsic to the moment captured in timelessness to be preserved.  Through these splashes of vibrancy, frequency and light, our spirits quantumly soar!

“This is the mastery that is inside the DNA…of love, unity and peace…For when the DNA is working at 100%, you have the empowerment of the Creator fully manifested within…The efficiency factor is not chemical, but informational.  It’s about multidimensional energy…not chemistry.”²

 

©Loriginal Designs

¹Tofino Photography March 17, 2017 ©

https://tofinophotography.wordpress.com/

²”Kryon Book Twelve:  The Twelve Layers of DNA (An Esoteric Study of the Mastery Within)” © pages 104-105

http://www.kryon.com/

 

The Yellow Brick Road Pathway

“In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

Isaiah 3:15

Yellow, one of the three primary colors in an artists’ palette, it is often used as the color of sunshine, optimism, enlightenment of creativity and symbolizes spring.  It communicates our third chakra’s empowerment and is the center of our very being.  Being a Pilates and Yoga Instructor and Creative Coach, this is where all our emotional health and wellness, confidence and ability to believe in one self centers from.  As a pianist, it resonates to the letter “E” of the scale and uses sight and fire to create confidence within as music can sooth the soul.

It’s luminosity has actually changed the yellow hues of our planetary sun into a brilliant diamond of crystal prisms of dazzling white light. Yellow was my Mom’s favorite color, and ironically it symbolizes that angels are in our presence.

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“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Hebrews 13:2

In memory of Connie A. Mitchell Marchell whose anniversary will be this Easter, and ironically she passed on Easter 22 years ago.  Who many have called an earth angel, whose unconditional love, generosity, pure, open heart and sparkling smile radiated God’s Love, Joy and Peace and touched everyone on her Yellow Brick Road Pathway.  She would oftentimes say to me that “Sometimes God allows our hearts to be broken so that He can beautify our souls.”   Sunflowers are one of the many things which remind me of her essence and presence in my life.  I do believe that these flowers cry tears of joy, too.

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“All in good time and measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.”

Luke 6:38

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“For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1 Samuel 15:17

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“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence and anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

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“Love requires sharing; Sharing requires struggle; Struggle requires faith; and Faith requires Love.”

Connie A. Mitchell Marchell

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“The Lord shall open unto thee His good treasure.”

Deuteronomy 28:12

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“If you love something, set it free; If it comes back it’s yours.  if it doesn’t, it never was.”

Richard Bach

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“When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’

And bowing His head, He handed over His Spirit.”

John 19:30

©Photography Loriginal Designs

Biblical References