Many thanks are extended to #HistoricalSocietyofCarrollCounty for inviting me to share the background into the making of "The Bella Rose & Dianthus Bobby"! The book talk was tailored to bring in special details relating to Carroll County. 
 @CarrCoHistory
#HSCCmd

"Precious White Peace Poppies", is a painting by the artist, Brenda Marie Black, and given as a gift to her beautiful sister, Billie Dutterer-Paskoski (and her husband, Craig). This piece is symbolic of all of the precious individuals who fought to preserve peace. Specks of red in the center blooms, reflect the droplets of blood from the peace fighters who gave their all and gifted us with freedom. Subtle gray clouds (representative of the darkness of war and unrest) depart, in the east and west. The sky is clear and blue in the center as a compass for the preservation of peace. The sun (God's light) shines brightly on the white poppies - these flowers serve as memorials of the diverse and precious souls of all the peacemakers now held in Heaven. Clusters of prominent pods hold seeds to sow peace in all future generations. (January, 2021)
                                                                                          Brenda Marie Black

  
​​The vision for “She Dreamt of Dancing in a White Dress” came from quiet devotional time during Lent. The evening of March 2, 2021 brought to mind a remembrance of when I (the artist/writer) was only six years old. At that time, I experienced a vivid dream of happily dancing in a white dress. I twirled in circles as I danced and danced. I felt extremely elegant in the beautiful satin gown. The dress seemingly belonged to me and it was the most joyful experience I’d ever encountered as a child. However, the morning after waking from the dream, I fully recalled what happened as reality. Indeed, I thought what happened in the dream truly did take place. Realizing I wasn’t wearing the gown, I began desperately searching my room and all the rooms of my family’s farmhouse in a quest to find the white dress. I became upset because I could not find it. I was devastated. For a long time after that, I continued to wonder what happened to the lovely gown. Looking back, on March 2, 2021, during my devotional time with the Lord,  it is evident this experience still remained in my consciousness. I acknowledge over the years I’d often wondered why that particular dream seemed so real to me. Was it foreboding that I would never achieve perfectiveness here on Earth? Or, was it to coincide that I would later lose a cherished white (flower girl) gown I’d worn, during a cousin’s wedding? To explain, soon after the dream, I graciously served as a flower girl in my cousin’s wedding. I was given a beautiful handmade, satin and white, flower girl dress to wear in the wedding. I loved the gown so much and wanted to keep it forever. That did not happen. At 14 years of age and while living in an at-risk home environment, my parents separated/divorced, and my younger sisters and I had to abruptly leave our farmhouse - only having a short time to pack our belongings. In the chaos, I didn’t take my beloved flower girl dress. Again, I was devasted. The years following my parents’ divorce became even more adverse and at-risk for me. I transitioned into adulthood and life continued to be a challenge. Thankfully, God lifted me from darkness and brought me to meet a wonderful man, Clay, whom I married wearing a beautiful white satin wedding gown. This year (2021) – God willing - Clay and I will celebrate 33 years of marriage! Thanks be to God!    
​                                                                                                    Brenda Marie Black