Home.

Home By Melissa Baker Nguyen 

After countless moves as a little girl, and a few more moves under my belt as an adult... I think I may have finally figured out what home actually means.

I've not so secretly been working on writing and illustrating a children's book about home. During our stay in Vietnam, we saw people come and go, we came and went, and well... when you pack up your life into 6 suitcases and move across the world, Home ends up having a different meaning.

This book is for the movers and shakers...  it's for anyone and everyone who has ever made a move, or is planning a move... it's for the Expat kids, children of Military men and women, your best friend... it's for everyone.

I hope you will order your copy and enjoy it ~ available on Amazon!

Can't wait to hear what you think about it!
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M.

Homesick.

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Ack, I'm homesick. I feel sad, frustrated, annoyed, antisocial, and lonely. I miss Timothy the dog, I miss my nieces and nephews, I miss the crazy loud Nguyen family (although I do hear lots of noisy Vietnamese people right here in my own apartment. Who knew the Vietnamese were loud a people? I always thought it was just Duy's family, apparently it's all of them! and it's awesome!)

I miss my mom, I don't live close to her - but knowing that she was just an hour flight away had a calming effect, I could go anytime... I miss my dad, 3 hour drive, I can do that solo and hang out... My sister, her hubby and kids... I miss them all! AND that doesn't even get into the fact that I miss things, I miss my mugs, I miss my favourite chair, my books, the blue skies, the fresh air, the familiarity...  I even miss how the dust dances across the sun shining in my windows.

It's crazy what you miss... I mean I am in communication with everyone, but it just isn't the same... they are just that much further away, and I miss them...

Today isn't going to be the only day I am homesick... it'll happen over and over and over again, and somedays I'll entertain it, and somedays I won't... today I am entertaining these thoughts... But I'm also keeping in mind that Home is where you make it.

In order to make this my home, I bought a new couch... looks an awful lot like my couch at home... same colour exactly - and it makes me happy just to see it. I'm on the hunt for a new mug, OR I'm going to take a pottery class and make one, that will kill two birds with one stone. We've found a church that is full of amazing people who are fast friends and we've become part of a new church community. I'm signed up to be a seller at a Christmas Bazaar. I'm getting up my nerve and energy to have a few people over for a CreativiTEA Party-bring the stuff you are working on, and lets have tea, cookies, conversation and create! (and that tea, will probably end up being coffee - cause, well, you know me.)

So I'm trying to carve out a new life here. Is it easy? No. Do I spend way too much time on Facebook trying to keep up with all of my friends from home? Yes. Will that change? Probably not. Will I be ok? Absolutely. Will I be ok today? Well, let's just say I will survive-

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M.

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For Granted to Gratitude

Throw back to Grandma's house and a time when everybody had one of these signs... I guess I got a little nostalgic there for a minute and really wanted one in my house... couldn't find one that I liked -so I made this one, and thought I'd share it!

What is your mantra, or thought process when you are cleaning your home, tidying up after others, or even yourself (I'm the main messy culprit here for making messes- I get all excited to start a project and then I start, and I keep adding to my collection of supplies, then I get side tracked or have to get back to work work... putting supper on, loading or unloading the dishwasher... laundry - ps, I am still doing laundry from our Uganda trip, can you believe that?! ya, me neither...can you say major side track?)

What are the words you speak over your home are they positive words of appreciation?
I thank you that I have clothes, to put in the washing machine that we are so blessed to own...

or negative;
I can't believe this guy, who raised him- seriously how hard is it to put your socks in the hamper... oh these kids they have so much and they don't appreciate any of it, I hate laundry...

Change your words, speak gratitude and appreciation and see how things will change... After spending 5 weeks in Uganda and brushing our teeth with bottled water because there is no such thing as clean drinking water there... no matter how clean you think it is, if you drink it, you will get sick...
every time I turn on the faucet here in Canada I whisper a prayer of thanksgiving. There is so much stuff I take for granted...

So print this sign, frame it, and every time you see it, whisper a prayer of gratitude for the roof over your head and the people you share it with... Every time you walk by it and whisper it,  He hears...

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M.

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Home is.

This is a fun little ditty, because I get so sentimental when I am home with my mom. I grew up, for a big portion of my life, in these parts, and I miss it. I miss the people, I miss the open space, I miss the smell, I miss the sea, I just miss it. When I come back, it just feels normal, like I'm home.

I've started a petition at my house to make a move back here. It has one signature on it, it only needs two- but getting the other one will take awhile. Every time the hubby says "ok, let's go"... I think about all of the packing, the selling, the readjusting... and... well you know how that goes. I just settle in a little more... look around me and see all the wonderful friends and family that surround us, and I appreciate them even more.

My heart is happy here, My heart is happy at my home, My heart was happy in China, My heart will be happy in Uganda ~  Happiness is a choice, Happiness is knowing that all is well... no matter the situation, the location, the participants... Find Joy in the Journey.

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M.

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Shhh... I'm Introverting.

I'm Home! Back to business in my own way. I had an awesome time on the other side of my beautiful Country. I never quite understood the weather difference between one side of Canada and the other, it is so different. I loved the green, the lushness, the tepid temperature... and I even enjoyed the rain. It was beautiful. No wonder they call it Beautiful British Columbia.

Now I'm home and getting back into the swing of things, back to my favourite chair, back to my office, back to my list of things to do, and back to introverting. I got to spend an entire week working with a friend on a really big project, and life, and living, etc. It was awesome, and today back in my own little world... I hibernate.

It's going to be awesome.
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M.

If you haven't seen my video on our Living Life On Purpose 2015 Africa Journey- Please check it out here.  We are in the throws of fundraising- and I'd love for you to be part of that. If you like our story, and like my blog, please share it with your friends!
Thanks~
Missie.

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Fat Tuesday or Cat Tuesday?

Is today Fat Tuesday? or Cat Tuesday? the cat totally won.

I don't have a cat, but for those of you who do, I know you love them as much if not more than I love my Timothy the Dog. Also I believe If I were an animal, my preferred lifestyle is that of a cat, or a bear. Cats always find the sunniest spots for napping... and bears, well they eat all summer and sleep all winter... So Maybe I'm a CatBear.  :)

Anyway Happy Shrove Tuesday!
If you haven't seen my Lent Calendars, perfect to start tomorrow!
Check them out here >> LENT CALENDAR <<

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M.

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Home is...

Home is where the heart is,
where the art is,
where the good coffee is,
where the Dog is,
and Home is where I want to be.

I'm so happy to be home, now if I could just shake this jet lagged feeling of wheezy breath, heavy ocean waves running through my body and the desire to do nothing more than go to bed. Ah- but you know what- tomorrow it will be less, and the day after that- and then gone, and life will be back to normal. My Favourite.

What is your favourite thing about home?
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M.

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Home.

So we've been away for about 21 days...
and I am starting to miss the things that make home -home.
Namely Timothy the Dog.

If you are a Dog lover than this one is for you :)
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M.

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Go Explore.

I'm trying to convince myself to go explore today, for some reason I am so tired and cold, I can barely keep my eyes opened let alone go explore. All I want is peanut butter and toast, a hot cup of tea and a nap.

So instead I'll encourage you, go out and explore something, do it for me, I'll be napping :)

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M.

This was actually yesterday's post, but I couldn't upload it, so I gave up  and took a nap :)

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Messy Missie.

I just looked around my house, and this is all I can say...
"creativity is messy, and I am *very* creative"

In all seriousness though, I've always kept my house tidy, but this year, my creative year, it has really gotten away from me. I need someone -anyone- to help me... I have so much stuff! I know I need to get rid of some of it... but when I look around my home I love to be inspired by beautiful things that I love,  that make me laugh or that bring back memories. I think I can give myself a pass on those things... but let's talk about the fact that I have not unpacked from my previous trip and I ought to be packing for my next trip. The next trip means serious packing, long haul, not just blasé packing. Oy! Get it together Messy Missie!

Oh well! for the moment I'm ignoring the mess and enjoying my coffee!
Happy Thursday!

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M.

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Tea?!

I've been slightly incognito lately and that wasn't by choice. My body revolted, got sick, and threw me under the bus along with it. The way I was feeling coffee just wasn't an option, at all. I know, I know, very unlike me. You can tell I was really sick if my drink of choice was hot water or tea! This little print is in response to my past week...

Share the love and pass the tea please...
M.


three colours to choose from- if you like these, please Pin them, share them on Facebook,  and g+ them :) Thank you!

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Home.

I'm packing and running around the house trying to tidy up (and posting a blog, because I do it on the fly) before I head out on a little teeny tiny mini weekend away with my mom. The train awaits!

This one is for the hubby, he's not coming on my teeny tiny mini weekend away because he has to work... and Monday is our 13th wedding anniversary, so I made this for him!  It's kinda crazy how time flies...

I wonder if he reads my blog?  :)

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M.

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In This Home... By Sarah Magill

This quote is on a beautiful peg board that my mom gave me- it sits in a place of honour in our home. I read it a lot. I try to live by it... the loud part, I have no problem with, the grace part is another story.

I wanted to share it with you. It was originally written by Sarah Magill for Hallmark- you can follow her on pinterest here. She is a talented and inspired woman- be inspired.

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M.

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How Appropriate.

This is my 300th post, how appropriate...

A week ago, I had been thinking about what I could do to celebrate 300, nothing came to mind, so I just left it, haven't thought about it since, until I go to post today- how serendipitous.

This morning, I was just crushing on my coffee and doing some hand lettering- and this cute little saying was born- It came from seeing a Valentine's day card that said "I like you a latte".  I turned a phrase and created a quick printable so I could share it with you guys!


Happy 300th Post DAY! Thank you for being so amazing- I like you a latte!

I hope your Tuesday is amazing!
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M.

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Home is...

Home is where the good coffee is. Period.
I've been a few places, I know it to be true.
The best coffee is the stuff you make at home.

It's 4:30 in the morning, I am dealing with jet lag, among other things, can't sleep- dreaming of my morning coffee, but I know if I try to have it now (which I did yesterday) it makes for a long hard day.

Happy Tuesday!

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M.

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Home Sweet Home!

I'm Home! Not for long, but I am home! I thought I'd celebrate.
Happy Monday!
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M.

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