My first wood project was a spoon. I had some extra cedar wood laying around and decided that I would see if I could make a spoon. It was quite the struggle in the beginning, but after I made the first one I tried to make a second one and noticed then that even though it was the same piece of wood the grain was different.

So fast forward until today and one of the most unique things that I have found is that God is very very creative and each piece of wood, even if it's out of the same tree, can be unique in its own way. So three spoons made out of the same wood won't look the same. They may be the same size and the same shape, everything's the same, but the insides are not. One of them may have knots, one of them may have a streak going through the middle or the side of it or even have worms or wormholes in it.

It was then that I realized how truly amazing God is. To translate it to each person, we all may be the same color, same height, same color eyes, but the insides of us and what makes us tick are all different. I believe that's the same with identical twins. Even though they don't have much of a difference, I still believe that God in his creativity didn't make a single person alike. The really really great thing to me is that since he created us, he knows everything about us.

Me, for example. I had no idea at all that I had any creativity with wood in me, but my sobriety allowed that to come out instead of drowning it with a bottle of whiskey. I was able to sit here in my carport/shop and make things. To see things in wood that I never would have seen before. I take no credit at all for the stuff that I make. The only thing I do is just allow the creativity that my Lord and Savior has given me to make things.

The wonderful part about all of it is that some people will think it's beautiful, some people won't, and to me, that's okay. Not everybody has to like my stuff. I do this for my therapy and my well being instead of buying a bottle of whiskey! After each piece, I am absolutely amazed at the wonderful things the Lord has allowed me to make. Make no bones about it, all I am is a vessel he is using. He is allowing me to make things and show off his awesomeness and creativity in wood. I am honored that he saw fit to save my life. By his Grace and Mercy, I am able to make these pieces!