Every Little Thing...

Every Little Thing
Making A World Of Difference Right
Where You Are

Over the holidays I was blessed to have a little time to sit and read this fantastic book by Deidra Riggs. Every once in awhile I will write a review of a book, but I stopped that awhile back because I wasn't finding books that resonated with me, and that I felt were valuable to you. This one, however, is pretty awesome... if you think your life is mundane, normal, not spectacular... just average... this one is for you...  I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think you might too!

Take a read!
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M.

Every Little Thing, Making a World of Difference Right Where You Are

By: Deidra Riggs

Once I started reading this book, I was hooked… I wanted to keep reading, hearing more, listening to her stories… This book is full of intertwined tales of Deidra’s life that swirl and whirl like blowing snow with parables from the bible that eventually settle in the soul and resonated in my own personal life, and I’m sure will resonate in yours. Moments of weakness that only in times of real honesty could we ever possibly admit that we might be ‘like that’… but she does… and she mixes it with biblical truths that turn us and keep us focused on the heart of the Father.  

Deidra reminds us, that no matter where we are, what we are doing, in our simple little lives, that we are encouraged to partner with God in his plan and make moments that matter. Doing the house work, or gardening, or cleaning, or parenting, or not parenting, having a career, being a house wife, right where you are is holy ground and we are encouraged to celebrate those moments, taking the mundane and making it beautiful.

My favourite chapter was all about Nebraska, I read it, I laughed, I reread it, I laughed… in her story of Nebraska, she shares her own personal struggles, but also unfolds the truth to us that we’ve all got a Nebraska. It might not look the same, but there is some road in our lives, or some experience, or even a real place, that we are called to walk through. A situation that if we were given the choice, we would much rather get it over with as quickly as possible instead of actually going through it. 

It truly is a book all about a journey of a normal life. Someone like you, or someone like me. It isn’t about having a soap box, or a platform, or a congregation (now you may have all of those, but most of us don’t) It’s about not allowing fear to grip your heart and paralyze you in the life that you’ve been given and seeing that you can make a difference right where you are.

In the simple and in the mundane, we actually will find true life and joy, if we accept the invitation to live fully and loved by our God. 

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

Merry Christmas !

Merry Morning Christmas Photo! 

Me and the Boys!

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M.

Figuring it out...

As we get older holidays become more complicated, especially you have time to think about them. This year I am excited, we are going home to my mom's for Christmas and I can't wait. It's an interesting time, because I know I have high hopes of going and feeling Christmas like I used to, but I also know that it will never feel like it used to- am I setting myself up for failure? (I've got a plan for that too... My Merry Christmas List ) 

Sometimes it is hard adulting when you don't actually ever feel like the adult in the room. The Hubby and I have no kids, not for lack of trying, praying, bargaining, etc... you can read all about that story here: Why I do what I do! ) But when you don't have children, you are still the children- we don't have little people running around the house needing us, we aren't required to have a set dinner time, toast at 8pm while binge watching Netflix is actually not a 'no no'. When you've got kids, you've got other responsibilities... at the moment, the only things I need to keep alive are my Hubby (and generally he can forage for himself), Timothy the Dog, and a few house plants... So Christmas here is a little different. 

I have this belief that when you reach a certain age, most couples have children to relive the wonder through their eyes...  Christmas time is especially difficult for me... Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, I love everything about it, but I've always got this underlying sadness that I just can't seem to shake...

I have to guard myself agains falling into a season of despair and frustration, because that makes me no fun for anyone around the holidays... 

I love this song by Third Day, and I try to keep it in mind... the feelings that I feel are not unique- other's may feel this way too. I never quite understood how the holidays could be hard on people when I was younger, my how the years can you teach you all sorts of things... now I get it... now I understand. But now I also know that I need to focus on gratitude... focus on the beauty, focus on the hope...focus on Jesus... the true meaning of Christmas...  

Although I want to feel Christmas like it used to be... I know- it is probably not possible... but one certainly can hope... and hope I do.

I want to feel Christmas, how it used to be
With all of its wonder falling on me
This season has felt so empty, oh, for quite a while
I want to feel Christmas like a child

I want to see snowflakes fall to the ground
My brothers and sisters all gathered around
Singing, "Away In A Manager" as we sit by the fire
I want to feel Christmas like a child

It's been so long now, I can't say
Just when I lost my way

But I'm going back to how it was

When this day meant everything
And we spent our time remembering
The baby Child born for us

It's all about Jesus
Asleep in the straw
This infant, this King
This Savior for all

So I don't need bells to be ringing
'Cause I'll join with angels singing, Gloria
And I can feel Christmas like a child

(Third Day Music)

How do you cope with Christmas? Do you find yourself reminiscing? For those of you who have Children, do you get to live that wonder through their experiences? Through their eyes? 

Share the love, 

M.

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LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN
A Thrill of Hope the weary world REJOICES !
Free Printable For Personal Use : Donate to download

Dance Dance Dance.

Do I dance you ask?  Well... it all depends on what you call dancing,  where I am,  and what is playing on the jukebox. Ha, ok, in all seriousness if we are out at a wedding the hubby and I generally open up the dance floor and often close it. We love to dance, have fun and pretty much mimic every move from any movie we have ever seen and can remember. There are so many photos of me wide mouth, squinty eyes, laughing my butt off while I shake it on the dance floor.

But this little dance practice sheet, is for those who take dancing slightly more serious. I have a friend whose little girl is in a dance troop, (do we even call them that anymore?) and this is a challenge for her and her class to practice their dancing during the Christmas Holidays.

I wanted to share it with you, incase you have a little one who wants to be a dancer and needs a little encouragement to stay with it over the holidays.  This practice sheet has a place to put the month, the date and a sticker, or a time, or a big checkmark, or a description of what, and then an initial by mom or dad. I'm planning to add to the collection for music lessons, and a few more activities... Do you or your kids have an activity that you need a practice sheet for? I should probably do one for my exercises, hey, I'll stick work for stickers :) somedays!


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M.

LostBumblebee ©2015 8.5x11 Dance Practice Sheet
:: Donate to download :: Personal Use Only ::

Inspirational Digital Calendar :)

Sample of our Living Life On Purpose 2016 Calendar Files.
Don't Miss out!

Happy Hump Day! It's Wednesday December 16th here in Quebec Canada, and we have no snow. I am not sure how I feel about that... no snow for Christmas? I'm not liking that idea. I know a lot of places don't have snow for the holidays, but Quebec - Canada, we have snow, and lots of it. This year... green.... grrrr....

I wanted to share with you all, these Beautiful Digital Calendar files that I've posted in my Etsy Shop.  

12 Digital Files to download and create your very own Living Life On Purpose Calendar. It's way easier than you think. Head on over and take a read as to why I'm offering Digital Downloads instead of a physical calendar you can order.  These 12 beautiful Photos were taken mostly by my very talented husband who developed a passion for photography while we were in Uganda, and a couple by me- but not too many! All Proceeds will be going directly to The Baby Home and the Orphanage that we got to work in while on our Living Life On Purpose 2015 Journey. We will be giving to help raise money for their Christmas Fund- Don't miss out on the opportunity to make ones of these little faces smile on Christmas Morning!

Go check it out and as a thank you for heading over to my Etsy Shop,  Scroll down for a beautiful Printable Sample just for you!

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M.

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN LIVING LIFE ON PURPOSE
: 8.5x11 Printable 100% of Profits go directly to the Orphanage and the Baby Home we worked in to send Christmas to these beautiful faces!

Hope.

Hope...

"Hope deferred makes the heart grow sick",  I am very aware of this verse and very aware of how repeating it to yourself can actually make you sick. My very wise Mama always reminds me to finish off the rest of this verse... "But desire fulfilled is a tree of life" (Prov. 13:12)- 
A TREE OF LIFE!

LIFE.

It's like Christmas... Christmas is a time of hope, not because of what is coming, but because of what has already come.

I wanted to share this print with you, because in my life, holding onto hope is important... I've written about hope before, I've shared my hopeless feelings, and my feelings of hope... and how sometimes I white knuckling hope, grasping on pathetically... or heroically- my view changes depending on the day.

But if you are in the midst of hoping for something, waiting for something, don't give up hope... hold on (this is a reminder to myself as well) hold on ...because when that desire is fulfilled it is a tree of life.

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M.

Larger Prints:
8x10 and 11x14 available on my Etsy Shop


PS. Don't forget to donate to download and help us raise funds to support Edrisa Our (LostBumblebee Blogs + You) Sponsor 2 year old Baby Boy in Uganda!

LostBumblebee ©2015 Hope Chalkboard FACEBOOK COVER IMAGE 

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN : HOPE 5x7

Rustic Noel

My house is pretty much an eclectic mix of all things I love. I'm not sure what you would call my style, it's kinda full, with lots of book, a few plants, browns and reds... not what you see in the house and home magazines, but definitely a place that I love to come home to. It's like a great big giant hug- especially around the holidays. It's full of Christmas charm and I love it. Hints of red be-speckled here and there amongst greenery and twinkly lights... My heart is happy at home. Especially around the holidays.

Enjoy this Rustic Chalkboard Noel Print :)

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M.

For larger sizes visit my Etsy shop.

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN :5x7

All is Calm...

... all is bright...  Ah those nice calm days before the storm of the Christmas holidays really starts brewing... I'm sitting here head whirling around trying to figure out if I've forgotten anything... it's only the 10th, so I have not yet taken on the "well if I have, it's too late now" attitude... there is still time...  But I don't want to get caught up in the crazy, I don't want to get all worried. My goal is to remain calm, remember the reason for the season, share love and laughter and not freak out- but, in the spirit of honesty, I may have already freaked out... more than once... but I digress...

Do you freak out during the holidays? Some people choose wine, I've been known to do that a time or two... some people hide, some people over spend ( I may have done that once or twice too), some people ... I don't know... fill in the blank, how do you deal with the holidays? How do you stay calm?

Share the love,
M.

LostBumblebee @2015 MDBN : 4x6

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LostBumblebee @2015 MDBN : 8x10

DECEMBER!

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN : DECEMBER FACEBOOK COVER IMAGE 72 dpi (not for print)

Oh December- It's the most Wonderful Time of the year... can you hear it, can you smell it... It's beautiful, stressful, full of crazy relatives, phone calls, cookies, Christmas trees, extra stuff in my house, friends, wine, cheer, sadness, Advent, church, more people, food, chocolate, lights, snow, worry.... it really is the most wonderful time of the year... if we keep in mind what Christmas is all about.

Instead of worrying if you've done enough... know that Jesus did it all, celebrate that and know you are enough.

Christmas in our world can cause so much pain, hurt and frustration... try to focus on what really matters to you... don't load up your credit card, instead make stuff, don't spend money on stuff no one needs, spend time instead... don't do what doesn't fill your heart... gently bow out of invitations you don't want to say yes to- and do what does fill your heart, another evening with hot chocolate and popcorn watching a christmas movie with your family, is doing Christmas. Driving around looking at the lights with your hubby, IS Christmas. Don't compare what is important to you, with what is important to someone else... if you don't have time to decorate your house because it takes you away from spending time with those you love, don't decorate your house...

Pick and choose this year what will fill your heart and soul and make you happy... leave behind comparison, which leads to feelings of inadequacy - choose your peace and happiness instead... know you are enough, your children want you, not stuff... your husband wants you, not stuff... be present, be in the moment, capture it in your memory, and if you remember, take a few photos...  this will be the best Christmas yet!

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M.

Check out my Advent Calendars:

Rustic Christmas CHEER Calendar, a fun and inspirational way to celebrate the Christmas Spirit throughout the holidays:
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/247817498/christmas-advent-calendar-rustic-holiday?ref=shop_home_feat_1

Calendrier de L'Avent en Français (Bible): 
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/247943589/calendrier-de-lavent-en-francais-25-4x6?ref=listing-shop-header-0

CHRISTmas Scripture Advent Calendar Version 2:

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/258695253/christmas-advent-calendar-version-2?ref=related-4

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN : personal use only
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