NOVEMBER

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Remembrance Day
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In Canada we wear poppies for 11 days of the year. From November 1st through the 11th to honour those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, then at the 11th hour, we celebrate their sacrifice and lay our poppies down at the cenotaph, in our community.

Here in Vietnam it is not the same thing... I do not see beautiful red poppies floating around on the lapels of the people... It is something I am going to miss. 

So in order to keep Remembrance Day alive in my own heart,  I wanted to take a moment to share once again this beautiful poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae.

Share the Love,

M.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky 
The larks, still bravely singing, fly 
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army

In Canada, we try really hard to wait until after the 11th of November to begin Celebrating the Christmas Holidays. I personally do not feel that Christmas in anyway takes away the specialness of Remembrance Day. I don't feel that celebrating Love, Kindness, Peace, and Joy can in anyway take away the sacrifices of the people who gave their lives so that we can be free to celebrate these things. So please do not shame people who start their celebrations early... please choose to spread love and kindness... instead of judgement.   

LostBumblebee ©2016 MDBN
 Remembrance Day
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Hope...

It is just 6 months before we fly away to Uganda to volunteer in an orphanage and to share our love with children who are already here :) I am so excited, I cannot wait, my heart wants to go now, my head says, "whoa Nelly, there is a lot of work left to do... "

In light of all that is happening in our lives, this poem keeps running through my head and my heart, these words, I've shared them before, and if you know my story, you will know that hope is something that is alive and well... most days, sometimes it gets hidden under the weight of the world, but it starts to sing again, and shines its light on the world, and it's like spring in my heart- it might sound corny- but true.

I remember a while ago, I was meditating and I asked it it was ok to let go of hope and just live. I was in a sad place, I didn't want to hold on to hoping for a miracle anymore. It hurt. The bible says "Hope deferred makes the hearts sick..." and my Momma always quotes the rest of the verse, because generally I'm complaining when we discuss this verse - "but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life".  I had literally asked if I could give up on hoping, give up on hope...  that was a Saturday- the next day- our really good friend came and spoke at our church- he spoke about not giving up, not letting go of the promises, holding on to hope. I literally laughed out loud... Yup, what a wake up call.

And I thank God for that wake up call, because it is true "Hope deferred makes the heart sick - BUT when the desire is fulfilled- it is a Tree of LIFE!" 

My prayer for you today, is that if you are hoping and dreaming about something, hold on to that hope, believe it in it, trust that when that desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

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M.

A poem by Emily Dickinson:

“Hope” is the thing with feathers - 

That perches in the soul - 

And sings the tune without the words - 

And never stops - at all - 

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - 

And sore must be the storm - 

That could abash the little Bird 

That kept so many warm - 

I’ve heard it in the chillest land - 

And on the strangest Sea - 

Yet - never - in Extremity, 

It asked a crumb - of me.

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All Good Things...

All good things are wild + free.

Sometimes I feel the only thing about me that is wild and free is the peach fuzz that may or may not be residing on my upper lip. Oh but I do dream. But is Wild and Free actually a reality? Can we ever be truly free? free to just up and go, and if so, where?

I don't really think we can ever be truly free... but can our spirits be wild and free? Can we have our head in the clouds and our feet on the ground? We are bound by family ties, monetary ties, jobs, memories, dreams, goals, life in general, and for me- Timothy the Dog. Is that a bad thing? No... being tied to things in life is not bad- those are the things, I feel, will be most important in our lives - I mean not my mortgage payment, but my home, the place we laughed, loved and grew.

So what are some of the things that keep you from being totally wild and free and you are so grateful for? I definitely have a a few...

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M.

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Hope.

After reading yesterday's blog post to my mom, she got all excited and said;
"Miss, you know what hope is right?"

I thought for a moment, and we both started to recite the beautiful Poem by Emily Dickinson...

Hope is the thing with feathers-
that perches in the soul-
It sings the tune without the words-
And never stops- at all-

This print was born out of that conversation with my mom,
Hope is the thing with feathers...

I used to recite this to myself when I was feeling hopeless about babies... somewhere inside of me, I always said, "but God, I still believe... " ( and honestly after 4 rounds of (ICSI) IVF  you would think you would lose hope) ... and it's true,  my mind did, but my heart and soul still have hope... because hope it's that crazy thing that sits in the soul and believes even when your mind can't... 

If you are going through something that requires hope, belief and trust, learn this verse... recite it to yourself... and allow it to sing the tune without the words- and never stop ... at all.

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M.

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Your Cares.

Who do you go to when you are overwhelmed? When your heart is heavy? When you have too much to do? When you look around, the weeds have over taken your front walk, the dog is shedding big time,  and the house is a mess and you know you are leaving for a week in a few days ... oy.

I have a secret. It might just blow your mind.

I talk to God. Like a lot. (I don’t mean a lot sometimes, I mean a lot all of the time. Day in, day out. I have this ongoing conversation with the creator of the universe.)

I don’t pray, in the way that you might expect. I just talk. and talk, and talk. 

I tell him everything. Even though, I believe he already knows everything, I tell him anyway.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? try it, have a conversation with the creator of the universe... let him hear your heart straight from your mouth...

This verse is one of my favourites- "Cast your cares on him (tell him everything, let him know, share your heavy heart because...) he cares (loves, wants to hear it, already knows, but loves it when you take a minute to tell him) about YOU! (yup, you!)

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M.


I want to say Thank you to everyone who has donated! I will be putting up our "thermometer" with our goal and where we are at shortly! I want to send love and hugs to you all! ~Melissa 

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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My Thoughts on Monday.

Coffee should be:
Black as hell,
Strong as death,
& Sweet as Love.
-Turkish Proverb

My feelings exactly.

Happy Monday, go get caffeinated!
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M.

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Be Salty.

Be Salty.

"you are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything..." Matthew 5:13

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M.

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The Greatest Of These Is Love

I love this verse. Love is the most important.
Happy Friday! TGIF

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M.

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Ruth One Sixteen

It's still February :) I know we are all hoping and waiting for spring! But alas the month of love is still alive and well!

This print is about Friendship, commitment and love. 

This says It's not about me, it's about you. 

I love this- it is used often in weddings for new husbands and wives, but it is actually a conversation between a woman and her mother-in-law. 

Print this off, as a reminder- love is deep, committed and and unfailing!

Happy Tuesday!

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M.

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Love Month. February Facebook Cover Images!

Cover Images for Facebook all about Love, love, love!
Download them, save them, upload them :)

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M.

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Live, Travel, Adventure, Bless.

Sounds like a recipe for success!
Live, Travel, Adventure, Bless.
Happy Friday.

Share the love,
M.

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Love is... Just Incase You Needed a Reminder

Sometimes I forget what real love is, and I need a reminder... you know when it starts to become all about me, Me, ME! Oh what? you don't have days like that... lucky you!

So this one is a reminder for me, if you need a reminder every once in awhile, feel free to print it off and remind yourself of what love truly is.

Share the love, the real kind :)
M.

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