Coffee

As I look back over my last few days of posts, I can see that apparently I've returned to my love of coffee. I can't say I am not happy about this. I truly do enjoy my daily coffee.

Yesterday was our 14th wedding anniversary. It's been a wild and crazy ride. I've learned a lot during 14 years. More than I could ever put on paper. But my favourite lesson is probably this (and i learned it recently):

It's ok to just be us.

Yesterday was a big day, I thought about throwing a party, I thought about getting dressed up and going to dinner, I thought about breakfast in bed, I thought about a new ring, I thought about a lot of things, things that could mean something, but don't necessarily mean anything.

Our day yesterday was filled with enormous amounts of normal stuff. Tuesday's are Duy's day off, so we often book things in that need to get done- and we do them together (- we recently downsized to one car- we talked about this for over a year and finally decided to sell my car and cut costs etc. After all we are Living Our Life on Purpose and having a car that I was paying insurance and gas for, for pure convenience, was a little insane at the moment. Will I have another car? yes... but for now this has worked for us) 

So yesterday was filled with things to do. Starting with a trip to the dentist for the Mr (Oy!), lunch out with our dentist (she's our sister in law, and we love her), picking up prints, purchasing some frames for our silent auction on Saturday at our Fundraiser, having an ice cream, working out, having a friend over and going to dinner, me in leggings and the hubby in jeans. So ya, it was pretty normal. Nothing spectacular if I compare it to someone else... But if I just look at it for all that it was -in all of it's normalcy,  It . Was .  Awesome. It was an amazing day. I got to spend the day with my Hubby, we got stuff done, we laughed a lot, we talked a lot, and spent time with friends. Does it compare to other's who are celebrating 14 years, maybe not. But that is ok. Because I've learned It's ok to just be us.

So in all of our normal moments, I look for the beautiful, the fun, the laughter... In my morning cup of coffee, the mundane normalcy of a cup of coffee, I stop, I ponder, I appreciate and I sip my cup of joe and think... Mmmm Coffee smells like freshly ground heaven... then I make pretty things and share them with you... and think What a wonderful world we live in.

Share the love,
M.

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Monday.

my incomplete versions of this hummingbird :)                  

Was your Easter Amazing?  Sometimes holidays are hard for me, especially my favourite holidays. I feel the older I get the harder it is to enjoy a holiday, I look forward to it so much, and then it falls flat, it doesn't live up to the expectations I have placed on it.  Easter is one of those holidays. I love the idea of a new beginning, of celebrating the resurrection, of spring in the air... a new dress, something that looks like a breath of fresh air... family photos in the sun, church together... dinner... conversation.  When we were little, Easter always happened at my Grandparent's house, I remember all of us cousins eating in layers sitting up the central stairs of their home, all dressed in our Easter outfits... with a 1 pound chocolate bunny waiting to be eaten. It was loud, still too cold to play outside, filled with smoke, and usually a race of some sort, or a sporting match was on the tv. My Uncles would turn up the volume, my Grandma would come in from the kitchen and turn it down, this was the routine of the day. Sneaking the volume back up, and out She'd come and turn it back down. The kids would just giggle and sit closer to the tv.

My own family is split all over the country, sure, my hubby's family is near, but they don't celebrate Easter and never have. I want so badly to create some traditions of our own, I try, it ends up not happening... No family photos, no new dress... no celebration. One thing that did salvage this Sunday was going out to dinner with a friend of ours, and her whole family- eight of us. It was awesome. Sure, it wasn't my family, but almost. It was probably the highlight of my weekend. Does it make me sad my family is not together on the holidays, yes... but can I go back to being eight years old when the world made sense? no...

Next year, I will have to write down my expectations, and try to create new traditions, and follow through... This past Christmas, I wrote out my expectations of Christmas, (what are you looking for, what is most important, what would you like to happen)... I wrote down exactly what I wanted to happen, I wrote out how I wanted to feel (calmness, joy, reflection), and what was most important (time with our families, a time of relaxation for my hubby, quiet time with my hubby)... and then made it happen, it was wonderful, the only thing we didn't do was our annual puzzle... But I was ok with that - I  had no lingering feelings of unhappiness, of incompleteness. I had no sadness when I went to sleep... I knew that my expectations were clearly written down, and they had happened.

Yesterday,  I was working on my print for today, a stylized humming bird... I see them floating and flitting around, I see them as beautiful and graceful darting about... but what I never see is their little wings flapping at over 50 times per second... I only see the beauty, I don't see the work. I have to remind myself of this when flipping through Instagram during the holidays- I see all of these perfect beautiful families, dressed up in new duds for Easter.... I have to remember that Momma is flapping her wings more than 50 times a second, holding back tears of her own, be it happy or sad, trying to create moments and memories for her family, creating traditions of her own... Her feelings are probably not far from my own...

The amazing thing about Easter, is it's a NEW DAY... a new beginning, a new time of year, filled with Hope, and expectation, and awesomeness... so today as I am up very early typing this... I feel a sense of peace, calmness and hope. Last night, not so much...but today. Yes.

How about you? How do you go through the holidays?
Have you ever written down our expectations? If so, did you find it made a difference?

Share the love,
M.


Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”  -C.G Jung

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Just Do it.

Me at the John Lennon Wall in Prague

Seize the day.
Do that one thing that scares you-
Do the one thing you think you can't-
Do the one thing that thousands of other people do better than you do- and don't care that they do, just do it!

We were leaving the house, I had packed my sharpie to add my mark to the John Lennon Wall in Prague... then we got there... My Friend asked, are you ready? my first response was:
"no, you know what, I think I'll just take in the moment and enjoy it... I don't need to add anything".

Then this thought crossed my mind;
when are you ever going to have the chance to add something to a wall like this again, when will you be back? what are you scared of?

So motivate by an opportunity to seize a moment, make a memories, I grabbed my sharpie and added something personal from me, I was missing my hubby, I wanted him to know, and I wanted to world to know... so I hijacked some guy's awesome work (you know done with spray paint and amazing) They had spray painted a white heart, I hijacked that heart and left a message that means something to me- It wasn't about adding something profound that would change the world, it wasn't about peace, or war, or politics... it was juvenile, it was simple, it was mine.

swallowing my fear, not worrying about anyone else,
making my own mark :)

I stepped out and created a moment. A moment I won't ever forget. A moment that I am proud of. My moment.

Sometimes you've got to stop listening to the fears in your head, and just seize the day! Carpe Diem.

Share the love,
M.

PS. Add your MOMENT in the comments- a moment that you stepped out and made a memories, a moment where you overcame fear, a moment you are proud of! Let's CELEBRATE!

leaving a little love <3

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Live & Let Live...

In the same style and spirit of yesterdays post, here is another life lesson I've learned over the years. Probably because I want people to let me be me... but also because I have a tendency to *think* I know what you should be doing too!

Oy... seriously humbling when you put it out there for the world to read. *Sometimes* I think I know better than you, and how you should be living your life. But you want to know the silver lining to this beautiful Life Lesson? I don't, I don't know better than you do! I don't know all of the details of your life, I don't need to know all of the details of your life, it's your life. As a friend, a family member, a co-worker, a human... What I do need to know, is that you are ok. Period.

And in the spirit of honesty, I have learned many of my life lessons the hard way :)
Get authentic, be real with yourself- it is kinda freeing to not have to pretend you are perfect - trust me I know, I am the least perfect person out there, I make mistakes all the time, and you know what- I am ok with that...

Go be awesome today and- 
Share the love,
M.

By the way, this print along with yesterday's print: Be Brave- would be an awesome addition in a little persons room :) 

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Be Brave.

Sometimes I mutter this to myself, Be Brave. Just be brave, you can do this... But I know my strength (pathetic weakling that I am) doesn't come from me 'white knuckling' my fear... it comes from a higher power that "will not leave me or forsake me" (Deut. 31:6).

I carry a sense of security with me because I know I am never alone. Even so... when fear does grip me, and it does, sometimes more than others, and sometimes in weird and different ways:

I had a weird bout of this in China where it took my breath away, a fear so overwhelming that I had a physical reaction to the thought: what if we never have children. 

Be Brave.
The Lord your (MY) God goes with you (ME!); he will never leave you (ME!) nor forsake you (ME!).

We are dealing with some serious stuff as a family and we could use prayers for peace in our hearts...

Be Brave.
The Lord your (MY) God goes with you (ME!); he will never leave you (ME!) nor forsake you (Me!).

Some of you are dealing with illness in your family.

Be Brave.
The Lord YOUR God goes with YOU; he will never leave YOU nor forsake YOU.

Some of you are dealing with issues of fear.

Be Brave.
The Lord YOUR God goes with YOU; he will never leave YOU nor forsake YOU.

Some of you are dealing with loss.

Be Brave.
The Lord YOUR God goes with YOU; he will never leave YOU nor forsake YOU.

Some of you are overwhelmed with life.

Be Brave.
The Lord YOUR God goes with YOU; he will never leave YOU nor forsake YOU.

Be brave. Be Brave. Be Brave.


I worry, I get scared, freak out a little, sometimes I have to do sheet therapy (i.e. take a nap). But I have a secret, I have a constant reminder, I know, that I know, that I know... "There is no fear in love; instead perfect love casts out fear..." (1John 4:18)  and I know... "The Lord your (MY) God goes with you (ME!); he will never leave you (ME!) nor forsake you (Meeeee!).” (Deut. 31:6)
and I know.... "that all things work together for good to those who love God..."(Rom.8:28)

Rest in knowing that you are not alone,
and that you are loved.
Share the love,
M.


Update: I added a second version - Scroll down, there is a version without the Bible verse for those who prefer it :) Have an awesome Day!
Share the love,
M.

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Micah 6:8

I keep mulling this over in my mind, thinking about it, talking about it, wondering about it... trying to live by it. It is quickly becoming a daily meditation and a mantra in my heart and life.

What is your daily mantra and meditation? What are you mulling over?
Share the love,
M.

For another version of this printable  >>click here<<

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Comparison

So, you know when you skulk around Instagram, your favourite blogs, and Facebook instead keeping your head in your own work... well... Have I got a little story for you;

Yesterday I took a day off from "working" and I did domestic stuff. In the spirit of honesty,  I finally unpacked from our China trip (some stuff but not everything),  I did some laundry, I cooked a meal, I cleaned out a closet and I stalked all of my favourite people online.

I went to bed last night feeling overwhelmed -not because I was so excited to see what other's were doing and feeling encouraged. No, I was overwhelmed because I felt like I wasn't doing enough. I don't have enough Christmas prints ready to go, I haven't even thought about doing a new Advent Calendar yet, I don't even have my own christmas cards printed. I need to be printing things and having them available on Esty. I need to have an open house and sell some of my Printables all ready to frame for our Living Life on Purpose Africa 2015 trip. I need, I need, I need- ack!

What have I been doing all year? How am I not being as creative, as productive, as awesome as everyone else.

WAIT!  STOP!  HOLD THE PHONE GIRL! 

Melissa! (or insert name here___________________) Stop comparing yourself to others and get your head in your own work and just be creative.

Stop worrying about what other's are doing, stop looking into their proverbial 'bowl' to see if they have more than you do. I once read somewhere:  the only time you should look in someone else's bowl, is not to see if they have more than you, but instead to see if they have enough. Are they ok? 

This sweet image is from:
www.chibird.com

So I'm being honest... because frankly, I dislike this feeling, I dislike looking at others and feeling that I am not enough, and I think I'm probably not the only one...

I saw this awesome little design from ChiBird and I wanted to share it, because we're all different, we are all kinda awesome. And when it comes to creative work, creativity and productivity... the only person to compare yourself too is you. Am I doing all that I can do? Am I the person I want to be?




There are only 24 hours in the day, (Melissa, or insert your name here______________) you can't do everything, but do what you do well... and sleep tight at night knowing you are awesome.

Thanks to Theodore Roosevelt for saying:  Comparison is the thief of Joy. How true. Yesterday I had my very own experience with this. So I've created a print that I will be printing off and sticking to my forehead,  because it is all too true. Comparison IS the thief of Joy.  Booyah!

Share the love,
M.

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Maybe. Just Maybe.

Maybe, just maybe this is the key to having a happy, successful, productive life-  oh ya, throw in a little hard work, a lot of elbow grease, the desire to see others succeed and the ability to just keep on going.

Share the love,
M.

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Frankly Darling...

I don't give a hoot.
Whoo me?
Nope I never feel like this.
Ever. I always care.

Ok, I'm lying- sometimes I just don't give a hoot. I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately... I often worry about things that aren't any of my business, my concern, or anything I need to even be thinking of.  Do you find yourself tangled up in this web of 'false responsibility' because it makes you feel valuable or worthy?

I've taken to reminding myself often "not my circus, not my monkeys" sometimes I have to say "not my circus, yes my monkeys" and still have to let it play out as it will.

I can't control everything, cause If I could, let me tell you... lol no, seriously- sometimes we just have to stop, let it go, and not give a hoot how it turns out for our own sanity! Sometimes we women tend to try to fix everything, for our spouses, our children, our friend's children, our parents - and the list goes on! But you know what... you don't have to fix the neighbourhood... you just have to live in it :)

I mean of course apathy sucks! That we take no part in- for causes that we need to stand for, we stand! For changes that we can make, we make! To fight the good fight, we fight! - I'm not talking about this sort of thing, I'm talking about the little stuff that we burden ourselves with, the stuff that tires us out so that when we do need to fight, apathy is just an easier choice.

What are you concerned about today that you need to let go of? What responsibilities are you carrying that really aren't yours to carry, but because you are such a good person, you took it over?
What do you need to say "Frankly darling, I don't give a hoot" about today?

Let it go... breathe... the world didn't fall apart- nope it's not easy, it sucks to not be in control all the time, but on the other hand, the freedom that it brings is marvellous!

Let it go + 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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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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Love.

God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1 John 4:16

Share the love,

M.

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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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 :)

Share the love,
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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