MARY ENGELBREIT

I like to draw late at night when the house is quiet.

My mother always read to me as a child. I really believe that bonding time between a parent and child is so important and precious. I have lasting memories of those stories because the experience was special.

Life is too short to not tell every one you know about Jesus. I need to practice this more.

Life is too short to rush around and be too busy for your kids.

If you pray for rain, be prepared to deal with some mud.

I am extremely thankful for my family. I am very thankful for what God is allowing me to do artistically. What a dream come true for me! That I get the opportunity every single day to use my talent for His glory.

Learn from the rejection and turn it into an opportunity!

I have been trying to get the hang of not being proud but instead turning that into thankfulness. Really whatever we have to be proud about, it is something given to us by the Lord.

Anything good that we do is because of God. Whenever we get our eyes off of Him we crash and burn.

Bloom where you are planted!

Part of my passion for all things Christmas is seeing my holiday stuff again every December. I suppose I do have more than most folks, so the reunion each winter keeps me in the holiday spirit for a full year. And there are always a few pieces out in my house whatever the month.

Life is too short to sleep it all away!

Life is too short to dust every week.

There's no better friend than a sister.

Life is too short to waste time changing the sheets every week. Especially when you have small children who tend to wait until you change the sheets to then wet the sheets.

The only thing I know for sure about the creative process is it always comes back. Magically. When there are no creative juices and nothing is coming to me - if I wait - it comes!

There are some people who want me and my husband to stay where it is safe and draw a paycheck every week instead of what we are doing (which is creating and sharing our art with others). The truth is that there are people in this world - Dave and I being two - who would die a slow painful death if stuck in an office and made to do the kind of work that we are not made to do.

Life is too short to leave your walls bare or colorless. Unless you like bare and colorless then it is fine.

Things that influence me are my kids, their happiness, colorfulness, and vitality. My husband - he comes up with some great quotes and ideas. God - He is the Ultimate artist. And what I see around me - flowers, leaves, trees, birds, fruit, vegetables.

I wish I would have kept the big picture in my mind at all times - what it most important? That my kids seek to please God and learn about their Creator.

The world would be a vastly better place if people saw their need for God and accepted Him as Savior and Lord. And then lived by His rule of Love being the most important thing. Can you imagine the world if everyone was motivated by love for others?

Life is too short to be safe and sit still and do nothing. Unless of course that is what God has for you to do in a particular place in your life.

Even when sisters are different... Their likeness comes shining through!

My best ideas come to me at unexpected moments, like when I'm reading children's books to my kids (the pictures inspire me), shopping, driving somewhere, seeing different things.

Time flies whether you are having fun or not.