Sixteen Days of Hope: Day 16

At 4 pm today the Sixteen Days of Hope was officially over.  The hard work of the past two plus weeks came to a close with the visit of a friend.  She came at the moment I needed it most.  She had followed the process and prayed for me from the beginning and it was the best ending I could've asked for.  

My prayer today was to finish strong.  To not neglect the people roaming around at Gateway, to interact with them, and to finish with just as much gusto as I started.  Fewer people at Gateway stopped to ask questions about the project today.  Many just enjoyed watching the detail work being done to finish up the panels.  Most were interested in where the panels were going and asked about the white lines coming from the tree.  I was happy to share that the roots would be finished at Hope Venture's fundraiser on October 21 at Chey Hay.  

My favorite encounter today was to meet a lady from Denver only to find out a bit later that she was related to a gal I work with at Lincoln Berean.  I love how moments like that happen.  I think God smiles when He shows us little connections and we delight in them.  I saw many a person approach the mosaic with the eyes and excitement of a child.  I love watching people light up, learn, and experience pieces of artwork.

I have enjoyed my time at Gateway.  I have met many new people and made some new friends.  I will miss my station by the food court, but am ready to walk the next journey of this art piece.  At 6 pm the panels were removed from Gateway Mall, loaded into my husband's truck and transported to my studio at home.  Less that a dozen pieces came off the mosaic, most had not been previously glued.  They had only been set on, not glued, and forgotten.  When we arrived at home, my husband and I unloaded each panel and set them in our dining room until the fundraiser.  I have to say that I have been blessed with an amazing husband who supports all the crazy art projects I get myself in to.  He is always willing to haul pieces here or there despite their odd shape or size.  And he does it all without complaint.  I probably have a harder time asking for his help than he does in actually providing help.  And without him, this project wouldn't have happened on the most basic, behind-the-scenes level.  I'm thankful to him for "holding down the fort" during the past two weekends while I've been at Gateway.  

Tonight, as this chapter of making art closes, I am thankful for all the people that helped, visited, listened, learned, gave, prayed, followed, encouraged, and supported during this project.  It was because of you that this project truly was Sixteen Days of Hope.  THANK YOU.