September 2025 • Second Edition Exuberant Sunflowers and the Spaces Between
Dear Reader,
A beautiful September to you, friend! Fall is upon us, and every year I feel a little bit like a kid, getting excited about pumpkins, apples, falling leaves, and...sweatshirts! 😄 I love all the colors that come with the onset of fall...especially that exuberant sunflower-golden yellow! I hope this edition of Notes from the Bower gives you a moment to pause and spot some blessings and gifts in the time and "spaces between." And don't forget to step outside for some nature gazing!
Look closely… there’s a little visitor hiding in plain sight! And I love that sunlight through the petals! 😍
Notes from Nature: Exuberant Sunflowers
A handful of years ago, neighbors down the road began growing sunflowers at the edge of their field. I get to drive past them every time I go somewhere. While a single sunflower is something to admire, row upon row of them is remarkable. It's no wonder people stop for photos—it's almost as though the sunflowers command it!
Sunflowers strike me as having a wonderfully bold and exuberant disposition. They stand tall and proud, straight and strong. Their striking yellow petals command attention as they throw them out wide, welcoming the beauty of the day...and adding to it. Bright, cheerful, unabashed JOY. They adore the light that is essential for life. All their attention is focused on it.
And through these sunflowers, I hear the call to do the same: to keep my focus on what is good and beautiful—what is truly life-giving. It isn't about pretending that darkness doesn't exist. It does. But so does the light! And if I keep my face turned towards it, I too will grow strong and tall, able to stand in confidence. I too will be filled with life and joy to share with others. One day abundant seeds will fall to the ground, and more good things will grow and bloom, carrying forward the beautiful song of life.
“
For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
— Isaiah 55:12
Notes from the Studio: The Spaces Between
Long before I ever started painting, drawing was my thing. There is something so wonderfully uncomplicated about it: pencil, paper, and an eraser. That’s it. Everything in black and white.
I remember many times when I would begin a new drawing and struggle to get the proportions right. I’d sketch the outline, only to realize how “off” I was. Much erasing would ensue, and I would begin again. Sometimes, this frustrating process repeated itself more than once.
As I practiced and studied more about the mechanics of drawing, I learned the importance of paying attention to the empty spaces around the subject. When I focused only on the “main thing,” I missed the critical relationship between subject and space. But as my eye became trained to notice the shape of the spaces between, proportions began to right themselves (for the most part haha).
Sometimes in life, I can be so focused on “the thing” that is to come—what I want to do, the type of person I want to be—that I forget about its relationship to the space between. That space is not empty. It holds meaning. It holds the process: the starts and stops, the detours, even the interruptions that sometimes turn out to be unexpected gifts. And it is the space that holds God’s quiet work in my heart and soul—the becoming that needs to take place within me.
Seeing it this way—welcoming the ‘in-between time’—not only makes life easier and more peaceful, but opens space for joy. Instead of viewing it as a source of frustration, I can embrace it as a gift, trusting that good, mysterious work is unfolding. And if I pay attention to that space, in relation to where I’m headed, I can trust that the shape of things to come will be in right proportion—all the parts in harmony, forming the true and beautiful whole.
Speaking of in-between time…that’s exactly where these journals are right now—in their first stage of becoming. Here’s a quick timelapse of the beginning layers.
It was really special feeling, writing out everyone's names.💛
Notes of Joy: Friends of the Bower
I decided to start a new little ritual: Friends of the Bower. Every person receiving Notes from the Bower—that means YOU—has their name written on a slip of paper and placed in a special jar, a visual reminder of all the people I get to connect with and share my art, thoughts, and inspiration. I’m so grateful for that! I want you to know that you have someone in your corner, thinking of you and cheering you on each day—someone who truly wishes for you a deeply beautiful life, filled with peace and joy. And so, friend, every day, that is my prayer for you. I hope knowing this adds a little encouragement and brightness to your day!
Always feel welcome to drop me a line—just hit reply—I'd love to hear from you!
Good things are meant to be shared!
Sharing beauty, joy, and goodness doesn't require heroic efforts—it can be as simple as hitting "forward" on this email! If Notes from the Bower has brought a smile to your face or a little peace to your soul, why not share it with someone you love?
The next edition ofNotes from the Boweris scheduled to arrive in your inbox October 15th. I’m looking forward to meeting you here again. Until then, wishing you much peace, joy, and beauty!
Missed the August Notes from the Bower? Read it here.
