One Sip at a Time.

A lot is happening on our side of the world and nothing is happening on our side of the world. Maybe that is why I don't seem to be able to put any of it into words.

Our adventures continue, and life is normal, and I am creating, making patterns, taking classes, learning Vietnamese and all that jazz...  and above and beyond all of that I have found myself blessed with a group of women friends here that I do not think I would have survived the past year without...
So I will just leave this here for you all to enjoy, because I know this to be true: Friendship grows, one sip at a time...

Share this with your sit, and sip friends :)
Share the love,
M.

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Saddle up!

Yup you may know that one of my favourite quotes if from John Wayne
"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway"

It's so true... and a new favourite for me, is this...
"Life is an adventure so saddle up!"

It's true, and sometimes I forget that my hubby and I have a wonderfully adventurous life, or we have for the past couple of years- and now the adventure continues. Sounds so glamorous right? Oh yes, it would be if this was a vacation, it would be amazing. This place is amazing. But this isn't a vacation, I'm reminded of that every day... it's just doing what I do in a new and wonderful place- which makes it an adventure! There is a language barrier, a culture barrier, a food barrier... it's full of barriers... but it's also full of smiles, and children saying 'hello, what is your name?" it's pretty sweet. I feel very happy to on this adventure...

We recently got in touch with an orphanage here, to see if it would be possible for us to visit and hopefully volunteer, and do life with people who are changing the world. Fingers crossed I'm hoping that we'll be able to visit with them and get to know them. But in the mean time, I'll get back to this adventurous life, of doing graphics for a client, checking on my blog, checking my Facebook, heading over to Etsy to make sure my products are all lined up and looking good, then I'll probably have a peanut butter sandwich, bring the laundry in off the line, start supper and sweep the floor... it's not glamorous, but it's mine, my adventure!

Share the love, and Saddle up!
M.

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The Only One...

The only one for me is you, and you for me, so happy together! 

I've finally figured out how to make me a delicious cup of coffee over here in Vietnam, and this is an homage to the fact that I *might* have a love affair with coffee. 

I do love the ritual of making a cup of coffee, I love the smell of it, I love holding the warm mug, I love that first sip... everything about coffee means that my day is starting, that it will be a good day. I take my coffee with a side of reflection, quietness and peace... it's the quiet moments before the day begins. 

I think I appreciate my coffee so much because of the moments it represents. It's a conversation over a cup of coffee with friends, it's part of most of the memories I have with my friends.

It's what I'm holding when I hear "I've got something to tell you, I'm pregnant..." 

It's what I'm holding when the Hubby and I are reflecting on our life plans.

It's what I'm holding when I'm talking to my momma on the phone.

It's what I'm holding while pouring over my Bible.

It's what's brewing when my friends are on their way over... 

It's part of my every day life, and I love that part...

What is the thing that is part of your everyday life, the thing that you may not even notice- until it's gone...

Share the love,

M.

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The Only One for Me is You
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Shit Happens... Learn to Pray

You know life, as much as we try to control it, it has a mind of its own. It changes, disagrees with us, decides to go in a different direction, changes course and leaves us standing there wondering, what the heck did we do wrong. Probably Nothing. The biggest misconception that we believe is that life is fair. It isn't. Sometimes it is down right unfair. What makes it fair that some people have so much and others have to little? nothing. Life isn't fair, and that kinda sucks.

Take our personal struggle with trying to have a baby... what makes it fair that I have planned my whole life around being a mom, raising children, not following my career path so that we could learn to live on one income, so when we had children I could stay home. That means we've driven rusty cars, not taken vacations, spent less than we made, learned to live without- a lot... what's fair about that?  What makes it fair that someone who doesn't want kids ends up pregnant? Nothing. Life isn't fair...

What makes it fair that faithful people end up dealing with crappy situations? nothing... there is nothing that I can say that will ever make that fair. I wish I could twirl my wand and make life fair... but i can't.

What I can do? What I can do is not compare my life with others...  I can do is concentrate on making my life the best that it can possibly be. I can look to the maker of the sun, the stars and the moon, I can share my hurts, my heart and my hopes... does it change the situation instantly? no... but it does change me,  and prayer changes me for the better.

I have a beautiful friend who is a praying woman... she is a warrior in prayer... her family is going through some stuff right now, and she stays sane through it all because of prayer. The other night I got a phone call, and she told me a little bit about her life... then came this bases of this printable.

"My oldest kid, smelled something a little off in the house, and I did a little investigating and then didn't think anymore of it... the Hubby came home and I mentioned it to him. While he was in the office, he caught a whiff of that unusual smell... so downstairs he goes to investigate... and low and behold the shit had hit the fan, literally... sewer back up, in our storage room..."

We talked, we got frustrated together, we laughed together, we tried to figure out why together... but there is no figuring out why... it just happened... one thing we did figure out, is that:
Shit happens... so you'd better learn to pray.

And that my fiends is the story of this print... Life isn't fair, shit happens, figuratively other times literally. How can you prepared for this? There really is nothing you can do to prepare for a situation like this, until it happens, but what you can do to prepare for life... is pray... have a conversation with the Maker of the universe- don't make it weird, just talk... He's listening, and He cares...

Share the love,
M.

LostBumblebee ©2016 MDBN
Shit Happens Learn to Pray
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Put the Kettle On!

We've got 5 days- we are getting packed, running around to pick up odds and ends, we are organized, we are enjoying our friends and family and I am going crazy.

Duy is grand, not a worry in his head... me, a million things are flying about- I can't shut it off... but when someone says, let me put the kettle on, it's like the stress of the world slips away for a few moments, and I can be in the moment, sipping a cup of tea, holding a warm cup and talking to a friend...that distresses me completely...

I'm a coffee lover, I love my coffee, but lately it's been tea for me, I'm not sure why- but there is something about tea, it's part of home for me... my parents are tea drinkers, a 7 minute steep for the perfect cup of tea- "set the timer- dinner is ready when the tea is..." I can hear those words- my mom would be finishing up in the kitchen, we would be scurrying around to finish up what we were doing and head to the table...

I guess for me, hearing, 'put the kettle on', means we're about to sit down and talk, enjoy each other and enjoy a good cup of tea...

Share the love,
M.

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Let's Keep It Simple.

It's Monday.
Let's keep it simple.
Coffee and Friends make the perfect blend.
Amen to that.

PS. I can't do anything other than simple today, my brain is buzzing, we finished our 2 big fundraisers for our Living Life ON Purpose 2015 Uganda journey, now it's all about tying up loose ends and breathing + believing that everything is going to work out. We are still raising funds up until the day we leave- your generosity and love has been amazing and we appreciate it so much.

You see that thermometer over there- the one that says $1412.00 RAISED? well I just wanted to give you an update on that- soon it will be hitting our $2000 mark as our very generous brother in law and His family have decided to TOP it up to reach out $2000 GOAL to purchase the Diesel Generator + Pump. WE ARE SO EXCITED!! This gift is what YOU guys will be sending to Uganda with us. WE are so happy that we could be the conduit for you to give such an amazing gift!

So continue to support us with your prayers, your positive thoughts and your donations. YOU are a BIG part of making this happen for us and we appreciate it very much!

Share the Love,
Missie + Duy

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Coffee & Friends

Life is too short for anything less than Good Coffee and Great Friends.
Can I get an Amen!

"The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense" Proverbs 27:9 NLT may I just add... the heartfelt counsel of a friend over coffee is as sweet as perfume and incense... 

So share your day with someone you love, have a coffee with a friend and just chat, reminisce, think about the good things, talk about future plans, hopes and dreams, laugh and enjoy. It does the heart good! 

(oh and of course share this print with those you love- I made it just for you. Actually, why don't you have it printed off and give it to your friend over coffee)

Take time to make time for those you love.
Share the love,
M.

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Coffee is Better with a Friend.

It's true, coffee is always better with a friend, and at this moment, I would have to say "Coffee is better with a friend -in Prague." Sometimes that will read, "in Calgary, in Brossard, in Whitby, in Berwick, in Halifax, at home"... but this week, it's in Prague.

I am thoroughly enjoying this city, how beautiful. I can't believe people get to live here all the time :) And it's like a Christmas fairytale. It is unbelievable how beautiful it is! You can see pictures on my Instagram/Lostbumblebee with the hashtag #lostbumblebeeontheloose

If it snows bit fat flakes -I think it might just be perfection.


Share the love,
M.

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Please Don't Rain on My Parade.

Please don't rain on my parade with your dumb cockamamy ideas of reality!

Sometimes you've just got to tell it like it is. 

Let your imagination soar!  Follow your heart! Make your dreams a reality! Believe in yourself!

And ignore all other's cockamamy ideas of reality. 

This one's for you :)

Share the love,

M.

Oh and I've got a simple little reminder - Please Don't Rain On My Parade ~for the kid's room,  or the kid in you, or if you want to post it at the office and be slightly more politically correct :) Take your pick- M.

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Hi Y'all!

Hi Y'all! What's shaking in your world?  We are still in China and I am still loving it... I *might* be missing home a little... and yesterday a.lot.


What I've learned so far:

~ Shanghai is huge, busy, bustling and beautiful- I prefer my small town of Taicang.  And Chinese characters, no matter how long I stare at them, never reveal their meaning to me-  Instead they remain mysteriously beautiful works of art... each and everyone of them.


On another note- This print would look fabulous printed out in card format- who doesn't love snail mail! I'l be ordering some for myself :) 

Share the love,
M.

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A Person's A Person... no matter how small.

I may have watched "Horton Hears A Who" yesterday while weathering out Tropical Storm Fung-Wong. And this line hit me "A Person's A Person, No Matter How Small"  :)
I wanted to share... Now it's your turn to
Share the love,
M.

By the way, this would be great in a classroom, a child's room, play room,  or anywhere for that matter :)

If you haven't read about our Living Life on Purpose Africa 2015  >> Please take a read and if you love free printables please consider giving a donation to help us on our journey! 

 

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Happiness.

Come' on Get Happy! After all Happiness is Heart-made...

I've been thinking about what makes me happy, it's stupid little stuff like a hot coffee in the morning, a warm tea in the afternoon, Timothy the Dog, Duy (my Hubby) coming home from work, the tingly feeling your body gets when the car shuts off (I like to sit in the car and just enjoy it!), talking to my mom on the phone, waking up to sunshine,  a warm house after a walk in cold cold weather, the first snow, a long chat with a girlfriend, my family, green grass, blue skies, the smell of horse manure, eggs, Instagram, my comfy chair, books, quiet time alone to think (I usually get myself in trouble if I take too much time to think!) and the list goes on...

I believe the recipe for happiness is: gratitude + forgiveness + acceptance + fresh air. What do you think? What makes you happy?  What's your recipe?

Share the love,
M.

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Coffee? Yes Please!

It's kind of true, good things happen over coffee; making plans, planning days, drawing, talking, chatting, being on one page over something so simple as a cup of coffee.  Even a conversation starter, "what's your blend" with a stranger... it's kind of awesome... Thank you Juan Valdez. You rock.

Share the love and a cup of coffee with someone today and make a connection!
M.

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Chillin' in China