Welcome

I am so glad you chose to visit my website. This is something I have been wanting to do for several years. I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts, feelings, excitement and ideas with you.

I have been painting since 1960 and continue to be as excited today as I was when I started more than 40 years ago. I want you to be excited about your painting too. If you are not a painter I hope you will get enjoyment from collecting and using this wonderful art.

A New Year....A New Moment In Time

A new year is upon us. Each day is a new day and brings new challenges and new opportunities. I want to always be open and be grateful for God's Blessings and continue striving to be better in all that I do. Keeping my faith strong, loving my family and holding them close, always reaching to grow, in knowledge and understanding, strengthening my skills and sharing my love of decorative painting with others.

This year is definitely going to be a challenge. January 21st, 3 more days and I will undergo a surgery on my right arm that will keep me from painting approximately 6 months. It is hard to imagine that since I have been steadly painting for about 48 years. That doesn't seem possible either. I am so fortunate because my family has shared this love with me all these years. It is apart of all of our lives. We laugh because even our small grandchildren know what Alizarin Crimson and Yellow Ochre is. We speak the language of painting, seeing color, values and shapes. What a joy recognizing God's beauty all around us and being a part of it.

I can hardly move my arm now, so I welcome the surgery even though it will be a long recovery. During this time I plan to bring new ideas and have even prepared some paintings, old and new, to bring to the website. Harold and I thank each of you for your, support, encouragement and response to the website. I hope you will continue visiting often. I will be striving to even make it better for the future recognizing this is ... A New Year...A New Day...A New Challenge....A New Moment in Time.

Mary Jo

Update...Thank You for the Many Good Wishes

Literally minutes before my surgery was to take place it was called off because of my newly found need of more tests. My doctor felt I would not be able to go through the scans I needed with my arm unable to be moved. He felt this would create too many additional complications. It was a real blessing when we were told there was no malignancy after several scans. However, there are still more tests and scans to come as they decide how to go forward with my treatment. I will continue waiting to be released so I can go through the surgery on my arm.

In the meantime Harold was to undergo a serious ablation and before that could take place he had an emergency open heart surgery a week ago to replace his worn out mytral valve of 30 years. It was hard to see him go through this. Because of his poor condition before the surgery his recovery is going very slow.

Harold and I both thank you for your many prayers and good wishes. We have a strong faith and know without a doubt God is in control. He is our strength and our comfortor as we have turned everything over to Him.

Mary Jo

Update.....Feb. 24

Wow! It has been a month. Thanks so much for your encouragement and your prayers. Last Thursday during a terrible ice storm Harold was moved from the hospital to a rehab hospital in KC. I was unable to get to KC to help with the move becuase of the weather. I felt very helpless to say the least. For 2 1/2 hours I was unable to find him at either hospital. Both hospitals had probably never had so many calls from one person in such a short but seemingly long time. They certainly got acquainted with me in a hurry. He was in a hospital gown and slippers but assured me the emergency vehicle he was in was warm. What happened 3 days ago we laugh about now as we talk about the day he was lost for 2 1/2 hours on a wild slippery ride in southern KC.

They told us recovery would be slow. Each day is a tiny bit better

Counting Days... A New Journey

March 26th I was finally released to have my arm surgery. Just a little behind time since it was originally scheduled for January. It is over now, the surgery that is, and I am marking off the days.
It will be slow but the days will become weeks and the weeks will become months. The seasons will pass but we will make it.

The typing (pecking) is slow and I have to wait for someone to do my caps. If you read this too soon you will know I am waiting on someone to come.

Thank you, thank you dear friends for making it easier. I thank God for putting me among you. He knows what we need. He is is our Provider, our Sustainer, our Creator, our Savior.