SOCIAL MEDIA THE HAPPYMESS WAY

The past month I have been a part of the happYmess quest to get all of my media frenzy in order. I am a habitual blogger, website starter, facebook poster, frequent frenzy tweeter and Mitzi Jane Media has provided me with so much happYmess to explore that my head might just bust open!

MJM STRENGTH Social Media Conference for Small Business 
has been the facilitator for area experts in every genre of Social Media.

Follow her on Facebook to get highlights and find when the next conference will occur!

As for now, I am pecking away doing a bit of happYmess housekeeping. Here are a few of the baby steps I have achieved this week:

Began the happYmessLIFE BLOG (still in progress...thanks for checking in with me)

Began the happYmessLIFE facebook page

Made a notebook grid of all of my "identities" and sites that I have scattered across the world wide web with columns to connect the many emails to the entity with which they speak to one another. 

(YES I should simplify..but one of those email addresses I have had since I was in college...perhaps I am a virtual junkie!)

Updated my Linked In Account...sorry all of you who just use Linked In...I still don't get it..perhaps because most of you are on the "morning cycle". 

I have embraced my creative inner clock..thus Linked In is not working too well for me!

Pinterest...I have formed a happYmess pinterest account and plan to privitize my personal account in many areas....until the workshop I had no idea it was for followings...I thought I was using it to stash great ideas for me to use only!   Don't be buying up the horses I have pinned! It is my goal to own a flock of them!  a herd of them....

I have updated my bloGSSSSSS....and thought long and hard about where to go from here. We'll see about that.

I have updated my new website that I build myself.....which is FLASH so web crawlers do not find it...but it was easy...free  from WIX.com and I love the graphics.  SOOOOO..re-evaluating that.

www.allisonpadams.com

Please check it out and give me feedback!  It was a hair wrenching project where I had goals to finish it in my journal a year ago today!  I arrived at the conference and had my doors blown by the fact that WORDPRESS is THE way to go...by the way...it and blogger are in with GOOGLE. Thus the ease in searches.
WHO KNEW?  Wish I had a year ago! 

And TWITTER....wow...the value of the conference went through the roof when I learned about a little ap I can add to my phone and IPAD MINI to post and schedule tweets called  HOOTSuite! Thanks to Julie Brannon with TELP Media I have been humming the little lollypop song associated with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang all day....It is a life saver if you are a multiple personality media person like myself!

And THANK YOU to Rachel Callahan, blogger of graspingforobjectivity.com  and active blogger leader of alabamabloggers.com ,who made me feel like a creative spirit again instead of a whistle in a square business hole. The session before was the technical stuff I love to know but hate to do~ google analytics, search engine optimization.  She freed me to blog on what I love in random order, all with handy bars at the top so the reader can pick what they want instead of wading. She is still telling me that Wordpress is the best way to achieve that. I'll be sifting that through my brain after I get back from vacation next week. But so far....Wordpress keeps wrestling me to the ground!

Don't get me wrong Jerry Brown (with InfoMedia), your information was invaluable....it just had my creative self in a tail-spin for a day or two. 

There happens to be ONE MORE SESSION!  

On Monday night, April 29 at 5:30 we will wrap up the month with Maximizing Your Online Productivity with Emily Lowery and the Top Ten Take Aways for Small Businesses with seminar maestro Mitzi Eaker.

IF YOU ARE CURIOUS, IT IS NOT TOO LATE....

Contact Mitzi at the link for MJM STRENGTH Conference to see how you can be a fly on the wall to catch the information buzzing out on 280!  She has a one time admission price under $40 bucks.

You won't be disappointed! If for any other reason than to GET ON THE LIST TO SIGN UP FOR THE NEXT ONE~

Hoping to MAKE MORE SENSE TO MY FOLLOWERS (because you know I usually, truthfully just write for myself!)

 about music, writing, art, fashion fun, fluff! design ideas and all that my life leads me to! I love to share....I love to write....I was born to BLOG!

Thanks Mitzi for turning my sprinkler into a smooth flowing water hose...at least that is the GOAL :)

Blessings!

Allison Adams

Visit her blog for highlights. 

This photo from MJM Social Media Conference by Mitzi Jane Media

this post is cross posted on www.happYmessLIFE.blogspot.com

artists of the month of MARCH at ROJO Birmingham

Please join us on Thursday, March 7 at 6 PM at 

ROJO        

www.rojobirmingham.com

for the exhibition kickoff for the show entitled

HEART HOPE AND HOME 

which will feature vibrant artwork on canvas by 

Allison Puccetti Adams  

(www.allisonpadams.com)

and 

Kristin Drew Vickers   

(www.facebook.com/kristindrewvickersart)

20% of all artwork sales during the entire month will go to The Heart Gallery of Alabama, 

which focuses on highlighting the nearly 300 children yearning for adoption across Alabama.

Enjoy live music performed from 6-8 by Brent and Shelton McCollough

www.facebook.com/BrentMcColloughStudios

Prints will be available of the entitled work, “Embrace for Life” by Allison Adams

for $30.00 to benefit THE HEART GALLERY OF ALABAMA. (60% of price goes directly to the Heart Gallery)  

Come out and enjoy good fun, purchase some ART WITH HEART or just learn more about THE HEART GALLERY.

Register for a free painting to be given away!

If you are a family who has been changed by adoption we would LOVE to have you share your story.  At around 8 PM we will open the mic to individuals who want to share their HEARTS.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AT 

 kristindrewvickersart and allisonpadamsartist

we will announce some free giveaways between now and the end of march

For more information contact Allison Adams at 205-914-2400 or visit www.allisonpadams.com

We hope you will spread the love and share this message with friends and family~

Visit the HEART GALLERY WEBSITE to see actual photos of the children awaiting families 

like yours, to find where their next exhibit of photographs will be located or to donate directly. 

Fluff! Designers

This fall I joined forces with two of my creative friends to form the 

LIFESTYLE DESIGN COMPANY

 that is all about the

Fluff!

the blog is www.fluffdesigners.blogspot.com

Lisa Marie McGillberry has had a company called “Choose Healthy Be Healthy” where she creates a healthy, custom designed menu and pantry stocking service for those wanting gluten free and healthy choices for their families. Lisa Marie has directed movies, acted and has a great eye for detail. 

While the new year approaches and HEALTH IS ON EVERYONES MIND, she will be available to

Fluff! your PANTRY! (meal planning)

Susan Wilkinson, married to Daniel, owner of Father Nature Landscapes , brings design experience for exterior and interior design (she has done design for some country music award winners she is too shy to mention and has a natural style). She was in broadcasting and will be our liaison for radio and television as well as design. Susan is Lisa Marie’s sister.

Fluff! your LANDSCAPE! (exterior and live greenery)

I was an interior design major at Bama and designed banks and medical facilities here in Birmingham for eight years back when my eighteen year old was a little peep. I qualified as one of less than 250 registered and licensed interior designers in the state of Alabama.  I have been missing that part of my life and looking forward to offering residential Fluff! as well as services to Fluff! and refresh tired commercial businesses. As an artist and photographer I can supply original works (some in the UAB collection) as well as represent other artists across the Southeast.

Our December focus is

Fluff! your Festivities (parties and holiday design)

We will all be involved in the transformation process of our projects and each brings unique perspective, creativity and talent in our various areas.

We will come in and Fluff! your home to make it ready for the holidays (by the hour) so you get the tree or we can. We can use your existing items in a new twist or add to what you have to make your home express who you are.

Call for a complimentary consultation at 205-914-2400. We charge by the hour for services and cost plus for items. You will have an itemized proposal before we start!

And for the links!  Pinterest BABY! It is my favorite source for visual stimulus!  

http://pinterest.com/allisonpadams/

Photography

20 Days of BLOGGING 

Gone are the days of the old rolls of film where you shoot and shoot and hope something comes out that you can keep. I wish I could go back and re-live some trips with my digital camera. 

The memories are great, but now that I actually know how to select the ones that work, tweak them if they don't quite get there and DELETE if they stink, I would have loved to have those memories IN LIVING COLOR!

I recently took some photos of babies~ They make such great subjects!

Photography, another great source for all things CREATIVE~

(and on subject with my blog daily on creativity as well as today's about "what you are doing")

I am available to take photos on location where they are most comfortable~  

$50 fee to come to your house which includes access to one free photo for you to use.

A great way to capture that Christmas card photo or holiday gift idea~  

I also photograph your pet and create watercolor/ acrylic pet portraits.  

ANOTHER GREAT SEAFOOD CO. REVIEW-SUNDAY BRUNCH

See photos of our BRUNCH ITEMS
and a great review

click HERE to read the review~

they gave us 5 stars!

SO WHAT ARE YOU UP TO NOW?

THIS MONTH WE ARE GETTING READY FOR
a fun low pressure, family filled week with Thanksgiving gaining on us and Christmas JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

I have written a book called THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVING

available for a peek at THE BLOG (CLICK HERE TO GO THERE)

and have had booksignings in Homewood, Livingston and Vestavia.

SIGNED BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE AT OUR STORE~ CRESTLINE SEAFOOD CO. as well as NEW ARTWORK~

A portion of the sale of each book goes to local charities.

If you are in Crestline, hope you will stop in~

Chad just got a thumbs up from Birmingham's own B-METRO MAGAZINE

Click here for the article about SOME OF THE BEST GUMBO IN TOWN~

HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Allison

For the MEN on Father's Day

A Note To All MEN on Father’s Day

Today I went water skiing for the first time in 30 years.

It was almost like riding a tricycle. All of the times when I was only twelve, a boyfriend of my mom’s would take us to the river and teach us to ski. The things he would shout, “bend your knees, let the boat pull you up!” came flowing back to me.

Looking back I think, he didn’t have to be so good to us. He didn’t have to pull us up and down sloughs in his boat from early sun-up to dusk. He didn’t have to teach me to back the trailer down the hill while he hooked up the boat. He didn’t have to let me drive illegally.

But he did. And he made a tremendous impact in less than a year while he was with us. He was one of the sweetest men I knew, but looking back, too weak a spirit for our family or for my mother.

I looked him up when I took my Sr. Trip in High School. He was happily married living in South Florida. I was glad he had found a great life outside of Livingston. Mom broke his heart. Think it was the brown van in the driveway that drove her crazy, it had painted designs on the doors. We loved driving it, Danielle and I, up and down the driveway. I think my sister must have been ten then.

I look back at that time, now 44, and cherish the sunset afternoons on the river. My sister and I skiing on his shoulders, my mom watching and I think then she was even skiing.

After we docked today at the lake, I came in, made a post on fb, my latest obsession, and thought, I’ll write “Pete” a quick note. I knew he was most recently a PE coach for a Bradenton High School. “I’ll tell him how much it meant to me, all those days with us.”

And there it was, in Person Search. Died, 2008.

Because of him, I can waterski, I know I could drive a truck, I could trailer a hitch. It is the little things that men take the time to share with us that make us who we are.

I have always been an independent “woman” type all my life and those who know me are quite perplexed with the gentleness I express when talking of Pete. I have run off QUITE a few boyfriends AND a questionable husband or two. (not all mine) But I write this to remind all of the boyfriends, husbands, and even friends of women with children, YOU can make a difference.

How often do you take the time to throw a ball (Jim Pate taught me to pitch when I was about six and I played until I was at least nine, he’d yell at me just as loudly as his boys “catch that ball!”. I loved that he didn’t treat me differently. Back then I think I was always on the “shirts off” team when we played sports. I was one of the boys.)

There are few others who affected me like Pete and Mr. Jim, as I called him. Mr. Jim was at Ann Kathryn’s graduation from kindergarten, he and “Miss Betty”. Not because of Ann Kathryn, but because their grandchildren are in her class. And it was just as special. It was like having family there.

My daddy, Tom Puccetti, treated me like an adult. At 5 he made me wire my own stereo, I had a dirt bike in the first grade, we’d ride his motorcycle all the way to Meridian where he worked. He would let me drive the tractors at the farm that is now Chemical Waste Mgt in Emelle. He taught me to ride a horse. I think he is the reason I can write, as I would go with him to teach his college English classes. In the fourth grade I would take the exams, sitting up in the corner window. He says I made A’s. I have no idea, but I read every English book he left in the garage when he left after I entered the fourth grade.

Without these influences, I think I might have been one of those gals to “sit on the sidelines”, to not take a risk. I might have been a person without a voice. I might say, whoa, I don’t know where to begin. I would watch them ski, I would be about like when I rolled down the mountain in Vail...not having a CLUE what to do. Too bad mom never had any snow bunny influences in my childhood. I might have been a graceful bunny instead.

Chad and I are making efforts to expose our children to everything we can, so that when they grow up they can become well rounded, adults, not afraid to take chances or “try that again”.

Brent was a natural on snow skis in Breckenridge, Shelton tubes, but we will be sure to put her on the skis at least once. We have no doubt Ann Kathryn will do it all. She tried to get up today on Chad’s feet. She is only 5.

I never want them to look back and say, “Mom, why didn’t you tell us about this?”

So MEN, this is a cry from the little girl inside who was lucky. And yes, we can learn it from our Mama’s, but it sure is refreshing to have a strong figure to look up to.

Blessings and happy Father’s Day to all those who are and who will be a light in a child’s life. We in Alabama have over 600 foster children, and countless others without fathers to believe in. Bored one afternoon? Look into how YOU can be the light in their eyes.


Allison Adams June 2010

HAPPYMESS ART CLASSES FALL 2009

The above photo is a sample of the continued learning that will be passed on to the students. Above: Birmingham artist Justine Rynearson shares tips from a recent workshop at Allison's home.

JOIN TODAY!

HAPPYMESS ART CLASSES TAUGHT BY ALLISON ADAMS
These are designed for children, but we will have some night classes for adults.

Each of the classes will meet on Monday, Tues. and Wed. each week
at my home studio from 3:30-5:00.

Junior High Students and Crestline Students can walk here if necessary.

First week, Sept 14,15,16 every class that week will deal with basic things..foreground/middle/background..some perspective

Pick one day that week or you can come all three that week and build on each day
(Wed. is not harder than Mon, but if you have had Mon, the different subject to be painted will provide more experience)

Week 2: Sept.21,22,23: Still Life same thing..M,T,W
Week 3 Sept. 28,29, 30: Perspective- interior and buildings
Week 4 Oct. 5,6,7 :Perspective and Rendering Techniques/Landscape drawing
Week 5 Oct. 12,13,14: Drawing People (12th is Columbus Day)
Week 6 Oct.19,20,21 : Self Portraits
Week 7 Oct. 26,27,28: Painting Light and Shadow
Week 8 Nov. 2,3,4: Writing and Illustrating (Allison is author of Birmingham Sketchbook)
Week 9 Nov. 16,17,18: Digital Photography (we will work on photo gift ideas for parent/grandparent)
students will need access to a digital camera

Prices until Sept. 14: $10 / class or 25 for three (works $50 for 6 as well) Reserve now by email or phone with questions to 914-2400.
You pick the dates you like.

RE: Supplies:
For the $10 I will provide the items to draw with (pencils, markers, paints). I will have paper and regular paint boards for them to use if they do not have their own canvas.
For Writing and Illustrating: We will have an optional "publish your own book" kit available.

Students may bring whatever they like to work on (canvas any size, a piece of wood, paint board)
if they want to paint on a large canvas, or a small one, they can bring whatever they like (can get at Michaels or Wal Mart). Kids are creative and can come up with fun things when they are allowed to "think outside the box" so don't worry about materials)

If you would like to have all materials provided, please note that when registering.
$8 fee for canvases. (note there is no extra charge for digital photography)

The students will have an art exhibit at the end of each month with ice cream at HappYmess Ice Cream (Crestline Seafood)
Thanks so much!

Allison
happYmess Artist


About the teacher:
As an interior Design major at the University of Alabama I had core art classes in their incredible art program, learned perspective drawing,and rendering techniques.
I have experience in wallcovering design, graphic design and publishing.

As a writer, I have self published two books (illustrated one) and written BIRMINGHAM SKETCHBOOK and written for Montgomery Living, Southern Beauty and other publications.
Check out some of our learning exercises at www.highlandartists.blogspot.com for painting experiences.

I taught grades K-6 at St. Benedict School on the Gulf Coast and recently had a show at the Orange Beach Art Center.

Crestline Seafood Company

Click HERE

The jury is in..
we are Open for BIZnezz....

Crestline Seafood Company

I am working on the website..
Let me know what you think!

CRESTLINE SEAFOOD- CLICK HERE

Allison

Painting a Day THE EXPERT

Duane Keiser is the ULTIMATE in painting a day!

Click above to view his latest oil paintings!

I have been painting...not EVERY day but wow what a GREAT challenge to do to get your creativity in motion!
Even if you do NOT meet your goal, it surely gets your creative juices flowing!

I got up the other night at 3:00 am and went down to the paint room...
blasted my tunes (the "big kids" are spending the holiday with their dad so I get full rule of the "creative space" with little complaint).

Anyway...
I cranked out two more and then slipped into bed as the sun was rising.

What a GREAT feeling!

I include the last of the painting a day's for Allison...
as tomorrow we take our little pumpkin, Ann Kathryn to
the world of Disney in Orlando...
for a fancy holiday "before her holiday"
which will begin on Dec. 26 when we pick up her sisters and brother
to begin our OWN Christmas EVE...

The 27th...my sister's birthday too!
so Christmas here will last here all the rest of the year!

But the painting will end...maybe, unless I get a chance to do some
brushwork in South Florida, pool-side :)

Paintings:
Water Series continues....
Water glass
Swimmers (may have seen before, one of those I "worked on more")
The wine bottle and glass on abstract

And the painting I did of my sister for her birthday
(party TODAY) at my house so LET ME GET GOING HERE!

It came from a dream....

Enjoy!
See you in 2009, as we embark on a new venture!

Crestline Seafood Company
HAPPYMESS ice cream
and a space in Crestline to showcase my artwork!
and watch for a booksigning for Birmingham Sketchbook in Homewood in February.

Paintings still at Wildflower Wax as well, so if you need a last minute gift..
grab one of their candles...they are amazing!

Blessings!


Allison

PAINTING A DAY CONTINUES

Ok, it is harder than it seems...
but I still persevere!

well, as my artist's friends point out...as they look at me with dismay
when I tell them,
I decided to do a painting a day in December...

IT IS DIFFICULT TO PAINT EVERY DAY!


And ok, today is the 10th...so I need 9 paintings to meet the overall "quota".

WELLLLLLLLLLLL.......

Here are 3 more....
actually the angel was just "tweaked"
so that makes 6?

Allison...
but it is EARLY in the DAY! :)
(ok for you CPA types like my husband...
no I am NOT painting every day..
did you not see the blog about the cookie parties?
But doesn't painting with icing count?
I CERTAINLY THINK SO! :) )
oh, and the birdhouse..it is STILL coming along between paintings I add
dots or stripes here and there....

These will be at the show this weekend!
Hope you can come!

www.wildflowerwax.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I absolutely LOVE Christmas...
it is my FAVORITE time of year...
Christmas music has been playing through the house since Nov. 1...
the first year Chad and I married, it was on October 31 that we decorated...

(Halloween would be the LEAST favorite)

I share some decoration ideas...
from the living room...

But even a Charlie Brown Christmas tree (which is what we had the first year we moved here....because all of my LIFE was in storage)
or any decoration looks great with cookie dough and sprinkles being scattered beside it...it's all about the smell...and a mix of cinnamon, cloves and vanilla on the stove is just as good.

We put ornaments on that tree with paper chains listing what my daughter, son and I were thankful for...including the ONE bathroom apartment we used to be in that made us appreciate "not standing in line" for the toilet...HA

But I must say LAST year we had a tree that went floor to ceiling in our two story space....we had to trim the top...took so much testosterone from the neighborhood...
I felt like Tim whatever his name was here from Home Improvement...
chain saws were blaring..and when we cut the net...limbs spread across the room like my old favorite movie..Christmas Vacation...
The kids did acrobatics from the rails to decorate the top..
I'll add a copy of that photo...

I pray that this Christmas has special meaning for you and your family.

I know it does for us, even though the kids go to their dad's this Christmas..
we are NEVER deterred...we just begin Christmas on Dec. 26...
hey and it SURE DOES LAST LONGER THAT WAY!

Allison

Creative Call Began this WEEK

Every week, for almost three years now...
I have gotten together with a group of incredibly gifted ARTISTS
at my house...

Together we study God's Word about what it is to be CREATIVE
and on every other week we CREATE.

The website for that can be viewed at HIGHLAND ARTISTS (click here)

We started our fall semester this week with about 15 of us and had
a visitor from FORSTALL's come share class information and get to know us.

He is an incredibly talented graphic artist who also is on a creative journey
after he lost his twin brother and his wife of 40 years.

To hear his story, how he worked in graphic design for so long and now has quit his job and longs to be an ARTIST full-time (which he IS by the way...and a gifted one at that) is an inspiration.

We invite any "aspiring artist" to put aside ANY hesitation if you feel ART is your calling...if God gives you a nudge...DON'T DENY IT...just run with it!

We provide on the site some workshop tips from our meetings where we often have "guest artists" share their tidbits. Enjoy!

Allison

MUSICAL TALENT

This is a season of new beginnings...the fall...a fresh start...

Church of the Highlands is the church we attend...along with now over 10,000 people a weekend. Each week on Sunday we are inspired to walk a better path than we did the week before...

That is all we need to do..trust God...learn, grow, and try to improve...baby steps...

On Wednesdays, we get deeper into the word of God..Pastor Chris has messages that he is spreading across the nation and the world.

Also on Wednesdays, SWITCH takes place upstairs in the church, where now 500 pre-teens and teens burst out in song for the love of their God.

I wanted to include a sample of a couple of these teens who are giving it all for God...their myspace pages are listed...
Alexa is a talented 15 year old who writes her own music..Christian songs that we will no doubt find playing on our radios...
the other...a link to my son, Brent's website...where he too is writing songs and wants to be a praise and worship leader.

I think back to what I was listening to at their age...and I am amazed at the clarity they have at such a young age..and I thank God every day that He has led me...and as a result, my children to THE ROCK.

Click here for:
Alexa Rankin

Brent McCollough

CHURCH OF THE HIGHLANDS

God wants us all to use our gifts and talents for HIS KINGDOM...
Blessings and may Fall bring you in touch with your gifts and talents...

and a winning football team (GO BAMA!) :)

24/7

This year I wrote a story about a woman in Southern Beauty Magazine who has had over 100 children through her home as a foster parent.

I have always been fascinated with foster children, perhaps because I, at age one, was "adopted" by my "daddy" who raised me. (I never got to know my father...who was from the small town where my mom grew up...and they divorced when I was one...he remained in California where I was born (Newport Beach) and she moved back here where she married my "daddy")

My mother was adopted...from an orphanage within our state...and her mother AND sister were both adopted from Chicago, IL. So there has always been some fascination with adoption and foster care for me, although I can't say adopting more children of my own has been an urgent calling.

However, that interest and love has been fulfilled in my writing the inspirational tale of Beverly and her "children" and has become a quarterly activity I do with my children, to gather things for these children and to provide them with whatever we can, when we can.

God plants seeds in our hearts...there are some people who can't see a dog on tv without thinking about finding ways to save them all...I like animals and all, but that is NOT mine.....

We recently had an opportunity, through our church to open our home to two college students. These boys moved in with us in September and moved out in May. They were mentors for my three children. The week after they left at 4 am to leave for a mission's trip in China (they are still there...in the midst of the earthquakes), my three year old daughter kept asking...
"where is Ron? Where is Chadwick?)
They had their own room where the girls playroom used to be..in my son's end of the house. They had their own kitchen and "den area". Since they have been gone, we have redecorated...with disco circles and chalk paint in the playroom and 50's style kitchen so the girls can once again play "restaurant".

But for nearly a year, these boys taught us so much about God. They are training to be pastors. They were big brothers to my son, they played music together, we had a songwriting group that came here every Monday night. We created seven songs together that we are working on getting recorded, if only for ourselves.

We had family night on Tuesdays, we would eat around the table, Chad usually cooks...he loves to cook AND grocery shop...wow did I do SOMETHING RIGHT...he surely has spoiled me...I love to cook but I despise the grocery store...

When I lived in Montgomery...I got delchamps delivery...and a cab driver would bring my groceries INTO MY KITCHEN AND PUT THEM ON THE COUNTER...now WHERE is this service in Bham?

Anyway...back on track...

These boys put their heart and soul into GIVING their lives to God.
They left at 6...I might hear them in the kitchen grabbing a pop tart or packing a lunch...and then they wouldn't come home til 9...
except on family night...and sometimes on Mondays which was supposed to be "free day" but they always seemed to have something to do.

we played cards..went bowling...played games....swam...cooked out....went to their pool parties that families or the church would throw...we saw them at church on Wed. and Sundays...but most of the time they were fully involved in their training.

They took a trip to Mexico in the Spring. We got to see the skits they do for the children in an orphanage there. In their one year of life here they must have affected the lives of hundreds of people.

Ron...everyone in our church knows RON...out going...25....so naively on fire for God...with the child-like spirit God talks about...eagar to learn and do...he's also a handy fix it person...when he is around...a talker...a talker...a talker...

And Chadwick...the polar opposite...easy going, quiet, with such a gentle spirit..steady wins the race...when he speaks...he means it...otherwise, he is sizing everything up. He is 19...straight out of high school and the 24/7 director laughed when he said he was "putting those two together".
They were so opposite...but became incredible friends...

These kids climbed mountains, biked, hiked, survived on bugs and ate more pizza in a year than I did at Bama Bino's in College (did I spell that right?)

Right now they are leading 122 student missionaries with our church (12,000) members this summer in China. They were the first 21 to go to get ready for the 60 youth that are leaving this week, age 14-25.

Read about it at al.com
Greg Garrison wrote a story about it on May 31. (link)

I have been called to court by my ex husband and his wife (who happen to be my ex husband and my husband's ex wife...yeah, think about that for a moment) twice over our choice to follow our hearts and to open our home, as God asks us to do...
and we have had NOTHING BUT BLESSINGS for doing so. One judge in Baldwin County got furious and threw it out...the other is pending in June....where they are using ad lidem because according to their filings..two "teenage boys" live here which has NOTHING to do with this situation as it is used typically for "abuse" (which they stated in depositions Friday that they never alledged ABUSE)...not to mention that the boys have moved out. My children were actually going to go to court to stand up for these boys against their father and step mother at their own choice...they never had to.

My children are on fire for God...they are some of the most incredible people I know...and I am so proud of their dedication to do and be MORE than the "world".

We don't plan to have another student this year..unless God gives us a hint that we need to...but perhaps when we can build a guest house...we will not hesitate...

When I moved into this home as a single mom...before I knew what it would become (and it's not big...just full of love) I promised God that it was HIS...that whatever I received, I would give back more..because frankly, with the support I had from my ex..there was no way I should have ever been able to live here. And then I married and we have a daughter...and he has the same values and beliefs...that what we have we are to give...and so we do..
Mondays the sixth grade bible study is here and at night Christian songwriters gather with my son and I to write songs we plan to record, if just for all of us....and Tuesday, my husband and I lead LIFE..living in freedom everyday...an incredible lesson that tells us that we are NOT perfect...and that we can live freely knowing that God is leading us each and every day..and Wednesdays, artist come to paint because they know there is more to their gift than making pretty paintings...and Wednesday we go to church as a family..the kids have SWITCH...which is INCREDIBLE! WWW.CHURCHOFTHEHIGHLANDS.COM and on Thursdays, the children dash early to school to their Bible study small groups (or maybe that is Tuesday...I am not really a morning person :) ) Thursday night...date night...(for me and my husband to keep LOVE alive !) And we offer our home for Prayer Force gatherings...so those who pray for our church and our leaders can meet..and teach other how to pray for our city and our nation...(that will go on during the summer with ONE...where our entire church of 12000 will be doing outreach into Birmingham together all at the same time. And on Friday, my son and three other boys lead a bible study before school on their own. (Most of mine are during school hours)
But I have found that even my writing can be a voice that is bigger than my own...

And even as summer rolls around, and our "children" are away..whether at the beach visiting their father for 6 weeks in the summer or the "adopted ones" are in China...
this home has a purpose...

We will miss our "children"...and can't wait to see what they do with their lives...I know their hearts...it will be HUGE! God is planting some HUGE SEEDS!

ARTISTS- Check out the Cultural Alliance!

Today I spent the day with fellow artists, who are looking into the methods behind the madness of becoming a FULL TIME artist.

While everyone does it differently, the Cultural Alliance here in Birmingham has incredible resources to provide information to artists of all kinds. From visual artists and performers, to graphic designers and literary artists.

I have taken advantage of two of the many seminars offered throughout the county, and best of all, they are free of charge. (thanks to a grant from the Appalacian Regional Commission. info@arc.com

I attended the seminar entitled, Turn Your Passion Into Profits! during the monsoon of a storm a month ago at the Hoover Library, which was presented by Stephen H. Craft, Ph. D.

He provided insightful information on everything you need to know about creating a business to a room full of potential small business entrepreneurs who did not let a few weather warnings get in the way of their ambitions.

Today I attended Marketing Your Art, with Michael Bell and Bradford Kachelhofer with THE MODERN BRAND COMPANY.

It was an informative and inspiring look at yourself as artist.

It will be offered three more times before March 8 and provides insight on branding, website creation, determining your market, Print resources, and ideas for publicity and public relations.

Attendees are encouraged to use the website www.AskArtie.com

and artists can post their information there for FREE as well, where they have created an extensive database of artisans at your fingertips.

There is also a new website that offers a wealth of information about what is going on in the artist communities state-wide.

If you are an inspiring artist or just LOVE THE ARTS...

it is the place to go to find the most current shows, exhibits, theatrical events, courses, classes and art related activities! If you need more information, go to www.activeculture.info

Be prepared to get out your calendar! You won't want to miss one of the events!

Written by Allison Puccetti Adams

www.allisonpuccettiadams.blogspot.com