Well, hmmm, I don't know about 'reconstructing' for ME... and I guess I don't even know that much about redefining... I guess I'm just taking the same stuff I had and shuffling it.

Yes! I had paints when I was growing up. But not because anyone else did anything creative in my immediate household. I do remember this older couple that lived in the apartments we did, gave me this 100 color watercolor set for Christmas one year. I don't remember having another Christmas like that one. It was the year I was nine years old and I got the cardboard, fold-out Barbie doll house... I think it was the first year that Mattel ever made one, and my mom had worked her fingers to the bone sewing a complete wardrobe of Barbie clothes that were tiny and perfect.... and except for my alcoholic step-father, my life was near perfect. I could paint, play with my Barbie's, or play canasta with some other old neighbors in the building.

Mr. and Mrs. Postell, I think they were in their 60s then... they loved me. They thought I was irrevrant. Ha. They had NO idea that that might come to be my calling card of sorts.

So, yes, after all of that little bit of rambling ...I completely agree with you, I believe we go back to what gifts were intrinsically given to us. I don't usually even like to muddy it up by going to classes to define it for me.... somewhere along the line I've gotten a very heavy "go with your gut" message... I think from God... and I'm only stepping out in more faith now.

So what do YOU think?

Kate