Surviving Christmas

And it’s that time of the year again! Everyone seems to be cloaked in cheery Christmas spirit. Malls, roads, schools, offices, hospitals and every other place is wrapped in green, red and golden hues. It’s the season when everything and every person seems to hyper active. Customers at the malls are over enthusiastic, cafés are overcrowded owing to the holiday season and even normal conversations at home become over animated. To my dislike, the ‘over’ in all the previous adjectives gets to my nerves. Please do not think of me as a recluse who feels his peace has been interrupted because of the festivities. I love the Christmas season! But there are people (for instance me) who do not find it easy getting along with people. 

Nonetheless, everyone has to go somewhere for Christmas and I go home and deal with all the family drama every year. I love my family and friends but it can overwhelm you when there is so much going on. This time around I thought why not fashion a plan to get along well with friends and family, and surviving the holidays without any major catastrophe?

So here’s the plan. First thing that I intend to do this year when I go home, is being at my best behavior, being tolerant and deciphering information that is only positive. Being around people that I love more than anything also means that we know what buttons to push! Consequently, we get snappy sooner than we would otherwise and pick a fight, just what I’m trying to avoid. 

This holiday season, I will play at my strengths. Who doesn’t like a good (gluten free) cookies in December? Well, I consider myself a pro at that, and if cooking helps me spend accident and incident free time with everyone, why not just cook and bake? All I have to do is add water, oil, and 2 eggs!

This time I will participate. Participation helps gain everyone’s approval and that way everyone would for once be able to believe that I am not the misanthrope that my friends and family think I am.

Christmas usually is the time for me to catch up on my favorite TV shows. 

How about making a few changes there? This time I’ll watch anything with Mom, even if it’s "The Newly Wed Show," if that pleases her and not finding my solace in "The Walking Dead" and Candy Crush. I could also discuss a little ancient Hebrew with Dad over coffee. Ah! So many ideas. 

My idea of Christmas might be a quiet night, blankets, couch, coffee and my favorite books, but isn’t Christmas all about spreading happiness? So why aim at devising a survival strategy only! Let’s just play along with what everyone else wants to do, and I promise that would make this Christmas the best you’ve ever had. 

What I've been up to!

I'm in my third year of study at Jackson State University! The classes I’ve taken this year have
been especially challenging. I am grateful for the support and encouragement of my Dissertation
Chair, Dr. Latiker and mentor Dr. Kincaid. My dissertation proposal was accepted in November!
The working title of my research is: Choctaw Tribal School Instructional Aides’ Perceptions of Preparedness for Implementing Choctaw Language Materials in Elementary Classrooms.

My new job title / role with CBTC is Education & Literacy Specialist. Part of the mission statement
of CBTC is encouraging language maintenance and revitalization efforts, especially for young Choctaw Speakers.

Beginning over the summer I’ve been working with the Choctaw Tribal Language Program. My
tasks allow me to use my education and language development training. I am assisting the language
program staff by aligning the Choctaw language curriculum and Choctaw language learning
standards. I am also assisting with Choctaw Language Instructor Certification Course sessions.
My dissertation research, interview Choctaw language instructors, will provide insight for future
language teacher training so Choctaw children will have an excellent language experience.

Back at it...

It's been almost 18 months since I've written anything for this blog. I have a lot going on and I can appreciate how effective it is for sharing information with loved ones.

Today I am grateful that I had an opportunity to meet the new Choctaw Bible Translation Committee office manager, Ms. Millie! She has a great deal of experience and is a welcome part of the team.

I am working this week with the Choctaw Tribal Language Program. I am revising existing Choctaw literacy lesson plans for De. Having files available electronically will make it easier to distribute and share them in the future!

The purpose of this blog is to share news and thoughts with friends, family, and prayer partners.

Thanks for reading!

On the home front, here are two ridiculously cute photos of my dog, Duncan and cat, Kitty Nuggets.

Loss and Grieving

On June 21, CBTC lost a friend, brother, father, uncle, and board member.  Jesse Ben passed away after a long illness. Please pray for the CBTC family as we process.  I am grateful that I had the chance to know you, Jesse.  Your soft spoken nature and gentle manner was so appreciated.  I'll miss seeing you at the office drinking coffee and enjoying conversation with Leonard. 

Summer Intern

This summer we welcome Jill, a summer intern from Wycliffe Bible Translators.
Jill is from Lubbock, TX and she is interested in missions and Anthropology.  . 
Jill's task this summer is going to be work with mother tongue speakers to record children's Bible stories and create a DVD.  Also, she will also being doing interviews and participating in community activities. 

Abby's Learning Adventure: Making, Marketing, and Selling Artwork

About six weeks ago I went with my friend Lily to Jackson, MS to drop off some of her watercolor paintings at a gallery in Fondren.  Lily is a very talented artist who paints portraits and animals using watercolors.  As we were driving back, Lily and I discussed the challenges of making art, finding venues to sell it, and finding a niche market.

Shortly after that trip, we began a creative journey.  Like most things, it's been a learning experience for me!

I'd like to share some things I've learned!

Make the most of social media, like Facebook.  I got a free e-book from Amazon.  It's written for publishers, however the principles are applicable to independent artists.  "Social Media Marketing for Publishers" by Liz Murray is available for download 

First, find a niche market.  Lily's experience at the gallery showed me that you need to find the right venue to reach the right folks.  The gallery in Fondren wasn't ideal for a number of reasons.  The ladies at Magnolias and Sassafras are WONDERFUL!  They asked for pencil drawings (from me) because they wanted to feature a variety of mediums.  This is a deciding factor in my subject choice.  The niche market of M & S is things made in Mississippi.  Lily has watercolor pictures on display.  For both of us, this gallery is a good fit!

The second thing I've been working on is a Facebook page for my artwork.  (I titled it Abigail Farmer Artwork.)  I uploaded photos of my artwork.  Admittedly, it would be better to scan and upload them.  Also, some of my photos of framed pictures are crooked and there's reflection off the glass.  I invited my friends and family members to "like" my page.  I joined the group Mississippi Artists to connect with similar folks.  Finally, I offered a set of note cards in a drawing for people from Mississippi Artists who "liked" my page.

I set up a free online gallery at FoundMyself.com.  I'm still learning about this interactive artists website!  

Marketing.  This is a hard one for me because I'm not a natural salesperson.  I'm an introvert.  And I'm sensitive.  Knowing this about myself - that putting myself out there is out my comfort zone - has been important!  Artists, musicians and other creative types will appreciate this.  It takes a great deal of courage to put something so intimate as your artwork (or music, or stories) on display for others to criticize.  Because, no matter what others say, it's personal.   I know that I have more confidence in myself now than I did as an undergraduate art student.  I know that the things I create are my best and I'm always challenging myself.  My value as an artist is from know I've exceeded my own expectations, but this has to be balanced with a bit of humility and the ability to filter input from others.  I place a lot more value on input from others who understand the creative process.  Finding the right venue with friendly and helpful ladies was so important for me and my personality. 

Subject matter.  What do people in your niche market want?  What are they buying?  This is another careful balancing act.  I have asked my Choctaw friends what they like.  The answers are different from what my White friends like.  Asking and listening gives great insight.  This way you can choose subject matter to meet the market need.  

Do you criticize your audience because they're not responding?  Be careful here - not everyone is going to like your stuff.  Not everyone understands the ups and downs of the creative process.  Offer people grace.  Be mature enough to move on if folks aren't interested.  As Lily says, "There's a chair for every behind."  There's folks there who will understand your work and appreciate it.  There's a place where you'll find a natural fit.  Be encouraged and persevere!

Next steps?
I'm making sure to respond to requests, questions and comments in a timely manner.  I make sure to follow-up quickly with commissions.

I'll be sharing more in the future about this process.  Thanks for your support!  

Gallery update

Two more of my drawings are at Magnolias and Sassafras in Philadelphia,  MS.  

They are located on the square and will soon be in a new store. The drawings are in frames and are featured in the gallery.