Fresh Paint {& Some Venting}

 Some new paintings to show you!

This modern spin the chrysanthemum flower is already listed in my Etsy shop.

I'll be taking some better pictures and listing this cute ampersand later today. I think it would be perfect for a gallery wall. Remember I can do custom colors and sizes, so if you want something a little different, just let me know! 

This one's not finished yet, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek anyway. I'm digging the mint green. 

So, despite a productive week on the Etsy shop front, it's been stressful around the Wilkins' house. Can I vent just a little here? Feel free to just look at the pretty pictures above if you feel like it. I won't blame you. :)

Chris has had some really stressful and frustrating few months at work. A lot of late nights, extra days at work, and discouraging interactions. I won't go into too many details but let's just say that I (we) were really looking forward to November when we were told that he would be going to training for three weeks here in Pearl Harbor. Schools are generally pretty great, given that there's a much more lenient schedule and none of the usual stress from his work. 

Well, we just found out that he won't be going to that school. I guess I forgot that you can't count on the military to follow through with any plans. It was a tearful evening (on MY part) last night when he broke the news to me. Instead of an easy schedule and getting a three day weekend together, he gets no break from that stress AND he'll be gone for about a week over that three day weekend. I know other people on his ship don't get a break, but I'm just SO ready for the stress to stop. And I know Chris is too. 

On top of that, he has spent months preparing for a board transfer to get to his dream job and we also found out recently that he may not even get a chance to get to that board. I want so badly for Chris to be able to follow that dream of his and it breaks my heart that he may not even get the opportunity to try for it. 

I'm so proud of him. His great attitude, his hard work, days with little sleep. I wish there was more that I could do for him. Dinner on the table at night and countless "I'm proud of you"s seem so useless sometimes. 

So that's what's going on here. Light and happy Friday post, huh? Thanks for letting me vent a little. You guys rock. 

Have a happy weekend! Chris is hoping to get off a little early today and then on Saturday we are taking a boater's course together so we can rent pontoon boats and take them out in the bay! :)