Two years ago, I took a much needed sabbatical of sorts from creating Poetry Art. I have not discontinued doing business or working with select galleries, but I had taken a break from personal appearances, promotion and actual painting. After almost twenty years and three children, it was time for a rest and reevaluation about how I really wanted to go forward with this art form, the business and the ministry of "Art that Heals the Heart."

(We also completed our family by welcoming a 2 year old boy, from the foster care system. He was/is a broken hearted and wounded spirited little guy and my calling as a Mommy is more important than a career! My priority is helping him heal and integrate into our special tribe.) As always, charity begins at home!

Taking this time off was beneficial, as it gave me time to focus on being creative in other ways. I actually wasn't certain whether I would return to Poetry Art at all, as I felt such a need to "lay it all down." It was in the hands of God and He seems to be nudging me forward...so, I am back!

I have been blessed with a new office and studio building on our property and am stocking it with all sorts of good art supplies and fun stuff to go forward. I am absolutely revitalized and have got a better "vision" for what I'd like to do and where I'd like to go.

Poetry Art has always been about helping at risk children and I don't see that ending; not in the least. As a matter of fact, I already have several projects planned that will continue that mission worldwide. As a mom of adopted children, I also continue to see myself as an advocate for the fatherless, the forgotten and those who feel "thrown away" or valueless. The core of what I do is my faith and that focus will continue throughout the imagery and poetry too.

I want to move forward in raising funds for AIDS orphans and HIV+ moms, children damaged by war and natural disasters, adoptees and those waiting for a forever family and displaced women and children. I have a dream of doing art camps in border camps, in slums, orphanages and in displacement camps and impoverished nations around the world. Please keep checking in as I will be promoting a print to raise money for that goal and continue the "Joy Bag" project as well.

Oh, one more thing-

I will be in San Francisco for the ATTACH conference, Sept. 22-25 at the Crown Plaza I look forward to catching up with old friends and meeting new ones there!

Dropping the Rock

It was heavy, quite cumbersome, holding the girth of that rock

My fingers laced around its cool stomach, a white knuckled clutch

He told me to drop it, “Please, just let it go.”

But as awful as that big stone was and as hard as it was to carry

I didn’t wish to see it leave, it somehow felt safe, familiar

For me, it represented love, security, family

He said, “Put it down and I will give you something better.”

“Something worthy of your care, something of real value.”

But I continued to hang onto that stone for dear life

I didn’t want to face uncertainty, I didn’t want my hands to be empty

They had never been that way before

Having this exhausting burden was better than not having anything at all

Or so I thought

“Let it go.” He murmured softly into my ear

So with a groan, I let it slip, it tumbled to the earth

It rolled very slightly and found comfort in a shallow niche

My bottom lip quivered as I fought back embittered tears

Although I felt much lighter already, I was still sad to see it go

I stared at my bare palms, they were open, naked and forlorn

Unused to this barren state, they looked pink and pitiful, terribly small

Here was the moment I had dreaded, it was a terrifyingly frightening time

Now, I had to trust the promise that my friend had made me

This would require pure faith, the kind I wasn’t sure I contained

“Just put them together.” He humbly requested

“To form a deepened cup.”

This he instructed while pointing to my hands, I obeyed in silence

I had given up my cherished rock, what more was there to lose?

With my eyes tightly closed and apprehension in my womb

I waited for that longed for gift, the replacement for my pain

I waited for what seemed like an eternity, I breathed, sighed and waited

It didn’t happen all at once, I even wondered if it would occur

But soon, as he had vowed, it began to pour into my hands

I felt the prickles of a ticklish rain, massage my upturned palms

At first, it stung, then kind of kissed and quickly filled the hole

The sensation was like a spray of baby breath with fairy dust

And a dash of perfect peace

Finally, I could stand it no longer, my eyelids fluttered open

I had to see this thing!

With a cry, with a gasp, to my utter astonishment

Something beautiful had indeed been wrought

My hands were filled with diamonds

Yes, DIAMONDS!

Big ones, clear and true

Like stars misplaced from heaven

They twinkled, glistened and gleamed

I returned my gaze to the brown rock, it hadn’t moved an inch

It was speckled and arrayed in dirt

Mired in the paralyzing clay

I looked again at the gems that were overflowing in my hands

And a realization hit me strong

“I can’t believe I treasured that!” I sighed

My amazement filled my soul

Out of breath, half out of my mind

I began to giggle, loud and unabashed

Still unsure as to what all of this meant

I glanced at my best friend

He was laughing too

There was a mystery here indeed…

“God is pleased to fill your hands with diamonds.” He explained

“But they must first be empty and open…”

So there is room to receive them.”

© Launa Stan