I fell in love with an artist last week.

It happened at Powell's, up in the Pearl Room where they have their art gallery. I took one look at the bold, beautiful paper cuts by Northwest artist Nikki McClure and was instantly hooked. Her work is at once simple and intricate. Her subject matter leans heavily toward nature and scenes of family life. The art on display at Powell's came from her illustrations from a new book by Cynthia Rylant--a children's author whom I admire as well. If I had a spare $1,500, I totally would have purchased one of the pieces on display.

I settled for some $3 notecards instead.



But I love my $3 notecards, and I have them displayed on my kitchen wall, both because they look cool and also because they remind me: there is beauty in everyday life.

I get really bogged down sometimes in all the tedium of the day to day. These beautiful pictures are there to remind me that there is grace and loveliness in the simple act of holding a baby, washing dishes, or picking berries.

"The real test of a saint is not one's willingness to preach the gospel, but one's willingness to do something like washing the disciples' feet--that is, being willing to do those things that seem unimportant in human estimation but count as everything to God."

--Oswald Chambers