Inspiration for the piece:

May the words penned from my heart and the strokes of my brush serve to do as John the Baptist did in preparing the way for real hope: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)

Cycles and seasons are part of every life journey. Motherhood, career, fitness, education, justice involved, our walk with the Lord - each of these knows ebb and flow. There are indeed seasons for everything in which we struggle, persevere, thrive and revive again and again.

This painting is for those who wrestle with the seasons of the heart. It's for those of us who need to remember that who we are and who He is never changes, even though everything else, including our own hearts, rarely stays the same.

This painting speaks what my heart would speak if it had a voice. While sowing and growing through my own changing seasons of storms, losses, blooming, waiting and persevering. We don't have to have the same circumstances to recognize how the grace of God is woven in and through each page of your story and mine.

What role does art play in your life?

See above.

Artist statement:

I grew up in a small town called Grygla, Minnesota with two of my seven siblings. My older sister Teria and my younger brother, Nick were and still are my rocks through all of life's trials. My mom and stepdad married when I was 9 months but divorced when I was 12. Since then my life has been full of ups and downs. A true journey with creative explorations. I am a mother of 3 boys and 1 daughter and I have always enjoyed painting with my children, staying and feeling connected to them from where I'm at. I also love using milk paint to redo furniture. I most value my family and making people proud. I must say the things I learned here in prison I could have never learned out there. I was part of the problem and now I'm part of the solution.