Wednesday, December 14, 2011

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"I think these difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way and that so many things that one goes around worrying about are of no importance whatsoever."               ~Isak Dinesen

Does that include shopping for Christmas Presents!  Maybe I need to focus more on the beauty of the season, I did tell the children Im going to take a day and go shopping and just get what ever I want for them.  That really sounds kind of fun.  Taking time to think about each kid and what they might like and then just not worrying about whether it is on there wish list or not or worry if the store still has what ever it is they are longing for.  I really do want to take the anxiety out of Christmas gift shopping.  It was hitting me today one of the things they wanted I cant find and I dont want to pay the inflated price for the limited addition.  It just to Crazy, and I could feel that anxiety setting in.  So that is how I came up with my plan, I am still hoping they wont be too disappointed.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Mary Star Path

One of the things I thought would be fun as we focused on Mary for our Nativity this week was to make the star path from the book All Year Round.  I have been wanting to make one for a while.  So Im so excited to have finally done it. 

Here is my Mary I had a lot of fun crocheting her and then giving her wool roving for hair.  I just love wool roving.


This is her star journey to the stable.  Each star is numbered with the day of the week up to Christmas Day and that is when she will reach the stable.  She is geting closer every day.   I still need to make a little baby Jesus for her to hold when she arrives at the stable. 

Friday, December 2, 2011

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                                                        Mary
           Reminds us that we need to find a moment to
    ponder the events of that sacred night in Bethlehem
 In that moment we celebrate the miracle of Christ's birth, and  
                          the gift that Heaven gave.     
                                                      ~Emily Freeman

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

New Tradition

I bought this book and have so been enjoying it!  Im looking forward to sharing it with my family this Christmas season.  She has seven traditions that you can share with your family to help them think about the true meaning of this time of year.  The first tradition begins with Mary and it so neat because one of the things she does is she just puts out the different nativity characters one at a time to help build the suspense and help bring the focus to Jesus.  So Mary comes first and her Tradition is Pondering.  To ponder what she was thinking that amazing night when the little baby Jesus was born.  She suggests making hearts for the Christmas tree or heart cookies to eat that night when you share Marys experience with your family.  One thing I was thinking I would like to do is create Mary's star path from the book All Year Round by Ann Druitt and Christine Fynes-Clinton and Marije Rowling . Isnt this time of year just so fun!!!   Yea I love it!!!   Have a Happy Day!!!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Cherishing

                                                           sunserf.tumbir.com  pinterest
It could be argued that creativity is a form of prayer,a form of thankfulness and recognition of all we have to be thankful for, walking in this world.   ~ Julia Cameron

Im so excited to start this day!  First it is my youngest daughters birthday! Then I have a bunch of creative ideas roaming around in my head just begging to get out.  So Im looking forward to start working on them!  Yea happy day!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving



Don't be unduly concerned about anything: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.   ~ Philippians 4:6

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Learn the craft of knowing how to open your heart and to turn on your creativity.  There's a light inside of you.              ~Judith Jamison

This quote make me want to try and paint again.  I can see the picture inside of my head. Right now its more of a feeling but oh to bring it to life.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

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              Its not Joy that makes us Grateful,
             It is Gratitude that makes us Joyful!
                                                                  ~ Pinterest

Monday, November 21, 2011


   " Gratitude is the food of love-and it is the fruit of love as well."
                                                               ~ Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards
                 Rich brought these home to me and it was such a suprise.  I do so love flowers it was fun to   spend time arranging them!!!  One of those moments to cherish. : )
                                                          

Friday, November 18, 2011

"I think these difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way and that so many things that one goes around worrying about are of no importance whatsoever."  ~Isak Dinesen


Another idea for way to cherish everyday this season is a gratitude tree.  We did one a few years back and it has been fun looking over the leaves and seeing what the children were thankful for back then.   Here are a few pictures of the one we are working on this year.  I recieved a new camera so exciting, but Im still learning how to take pictures with it so they arent that great, but it will give an idea of what our tree looks like this year.  We have also started adding to our visual center of thanksgiving.  : )


Thursday, November 17, 2011

"Attitude of Gratitude"

I found this really neat idea from the book LightPost for Living The art of choosing a Joyful Life byThomas Kinkade.  He suggests creating  a visual center for all the things you are grateful for.
"Simply hang a big bulletin board in your family room and fill it with reminders of everything you have to thankful for.  Add pictures of your family and pets.  Tack on mementos from trips or cards from people who care about you.  If the brilliance of autumn leaves make you joyful, add a few leaves to your board.  If you love the funny papers pin up some cartoons that make you laugh.  The point is to fill a visual center with reminders of the blessings in your life."
"If you prefer, you can set up a small table or bench and fill it with favorite things-a jar of sand from your favorite beach ,a sweet-scented candle,some framed photographs etc."
I thought this was such a fun idea I have a bulletin board  in our dinning room, Im thinking maybe I will put a shelf under it and then we can also put little treasures we find that represent the blessings in our lives.
Now all we need to do is start adding things to our board and shelf.  : )

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

                                                                                             Thomas Kinkade

"Thankfulness can reduce stress in your life by making you more content with who you are and what you have.  If you make a habit of accepting every circumstance gratefully and assuming there is a purpose in it, you'll be relieved from the worry and anxiety that go with being resentful and dissatisfied."  ~Thomas Kinkade

What an amazing thought,who would have known that having a grateful heart could relieve stress.  I like the idea of accepting the circumstances that you might fine your self in.  Sometimes that can be so hard but it seems that if I could do that it would open my heart up and I would be able to relax and simply enjoy this journey of life.  It seems alot of times that I cant change my circumstances but I can change my perspective about them.  Today I am going to try and be grateful for the crazy in my life and create moments to cherish.

Oh Happy Day!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Thomas Kinkade
"Gratitude is not precisely the same thing as optimism.  It's more the attitude that makes optimism possible.  It is essentially a habit of thinking, away of understanding who we are and what happens in our lives."~Thomas Kinkade

I am finding the more I strive to look at life with a grateful heart the happier I am and the more content I feel with the circumstances I have in my life.  Instead of hating having to get up early to take my boys to early morning seminary finding that I love seeing the sunrise and having time to write in my morning pages.  I am finding that gratitude is helping me cherish the moments of my life.

Friday, November 11, 2011

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                                                 blog.cellardoormagazine.co.uk

"Gratitude requires awareness and effort, not only to feel it but  to express it."  ~Bonnie D Parkin

Thursday, November 10, 2011

                          Pinned Image
                                                                      image found on Pinterest

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

A Grateful Heart

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"A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness.  It is an expression of humility.  It is a foundation of the development of such virtures as prayer,faith,courage,contentment,happiness,love,and well-being."
                                                                                                                          ~Elder James E Faust

I really like the idea of finding inner contentment being at peace in what ever situation I may be in.  Having a sense of happiness, being able to express love, and having a feeling of well being.  Wow to think that just having a grateful heart and an attitude of gratitude could create all of that. So what could I do today to cherish these thought and apply them into my life?  I think I will make time to write in my Evening Pages.  My evening pages is a journal I started to write in.  Its all the lovely thought and events that happened during the day.  I find it so easy  to focus on the negitive things or the things I didnt get done so a lot of the time I go to bed feeling discouraged.  So I decided to focus on the good and the positive because every day has it ups and downs in it.   I have been feeling that to truly cherish my days I need to focus on the positive.  I havnt been doing it as consistently as I would like so tonight Ill get back to writing and cherishing the beautiful events of the day. 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Blessings

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"Hold fast to the blessings which God has provided for you.  Yours in not the task to gain them, they are here, yours is the part of cherishing them."  ~Pres.J Reuben Clark



Counting my blessings:  Warm home, Sunshine, Beautiful autumn leaves, Sweaters, Children who can make breakfast, : ), Laughter, Hope, Running water, Electricity, Washing machine, Wonderful uplifting books, Music,Time...

Monday, November 7, 2011

Cherishing the Day

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"Gratitude,and recognizing gratitude,can have a powerful effect on our whole lives.  When we feel grateful, we feel full-full of love, full of inspiration, full of ideas, and full of creative spirit."  ~Amanda Blake Soule

Today to cherish my day I did some cleaning.  It feels so good to have tidy up from the weekend.  Im always amazed at how fast the house can become dirty.  I also was able to get some pants fixed for my sweetheart and a shirt ironed.   I am so grateful for a home, a vacumn to clean with, and sweet children that pitched in and helped. : )  It is looking better.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Cherishing the Day

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                    "Gratitude, is the heart's memory."
                                               ~French proverb

Friday, November 4, 2011

Cherishing the Day

image from google

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude makes sense of our past,brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~ Melody Beattie


I am so grateful for Autumn it always helps me to start slowing down and rethinking what is really important.  What kind of life do I want to be living, how can I reach my dreams, and be the kind of person I want to be.  Time is flying by so fast, I want to savor the moments I have with my family and friends to cherish each day.  Our lives are so very precious, how I want to let go of all the negative and stressful and simply relax and enjoy this journey called life.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Cherishig the Day

Jane Rowley pastels
... "to express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven."  Thomas S. Monson


One way I have found to try and have gratitude ever with me is to write in a gratitude journal.  It has been such a blessing in my life.  The amazing thing is how it helps in changing my perspective and when things seem so hard and nothing is going the way I had hoped and planned taking the time to write in that little gratitude journal helps me realize what is really important, and how many blessing I have been recieveing.  My perspective is changed and my attitude becomes one of hope and joy.  Instead of lack I find my life is filled with abundance.  Perhaps we can make a heaven on earth. : ) 

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Cherishing the Day


"Very few people realize that the power of metamorphasing the ordinary lies within each of us.  One way to bring about this magic is through the art of appreciation."  Frugal Luuries~Tracy McBride

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Echidnas Dancing on The Roof Tops

Echidnas Dancing on The Roof Tops
My daughter has caught the blogging bug and she has started her own blog at the link above.  Its been fun following her posts, she loves to draw anime and its fun seeing her posts about her art work.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Beauty of The Mind

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One of the places I would like to start beautifying  is my mind.  Its amazing to me how little dark thoughts and negative feelings can come creeping into the corners of my mind and before I know it they have come in and started having a party with out me realizing it.  Which then begins to affect how I feel about myself and my own dear world.  It can all look so dark and cloudy so quickly.

So one of the tools I've been using is my Morning pages.  Morning pages are a wonderful tool I found in the book the Artist Way by Julia Cameron.  Its were you write down every thing in your head when you first get up in the morning.  Write it all out the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Its amazing how after doing it consistently you find yourself figuring out problems, encouraging yourself and finding ways to keep going.   I've also decided to start what I call my Evening pages and what I'm doing with them is recording all the good things that happened in the day.  Write down the things that I'm grateful for.  Even if its been a super challenging day, I'm sure there is one thing to be grateful for if not two. : )  Perhaps I could find a lovely quote to ponder on so that I'm filling my mind with something beautiful. If everything else fails I believe I will simply write "Stay Calm,and Carry On"

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I made my journals from the composition books you can get at Wal-Mart.   The best time to get a really good deal on them  is when they are having there back to school sales, they were only 25 cents last school year.  Then I go looking through my favorite magazines and find pictures that inspire me.  Then paste them on.  After I have the pictures  looking just the way I want them I cover my journals with contact paper to help them last longer.  Ta da!  I then have my own personalized journals.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

A House of Belonging

    
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Anne Garry, Managing Edit...
                                                                                                                                Image From Victoria Mag.

In the coming years we shall need all the charm,aplomb and philosophy we can get.  It will be the task of women to keep the world from despond, to keep the prettier gestures of good living going with meager materials...We will not fail in any crisis to come.  To the extent of our ability we will keep the torch of civilized home-life burning.  We will create beauty with whatever materials are at hand.  We will fan the embers of kindness in a brute-stricken world...We will heal and hold to our hearts the wounded, the young, the needy.  It is a great privilege to be a woman today. ~  Margery Wilson 1928

Monday, February 21, 2011

Changes

 

I just wanted to write and share that I am wanting to revamp my blog.  To have it become more of a journal a resource for me to keep all the cool things I find on the internet and to organize my thoughts.  For Homeschooling and also for a desire I have to explore how to Create a House or Home of Belonging and is there a difference?  I think there maybe.  I would like to also explore writings from Women Writers of the Thirties and Forties how did they create their homes.  Is it possible to make a home with nothing.

Just some thoughts I have been having and would like to explore more of.  Im hoping you will join me on this new adventure and I did want to let you know I am hoping to make some Changes.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Beauty

I have decided my word of the year is going to be beauty.  I'm hoping if I am striving to create a beautiful surrounding then order and tidiness will follow : )  One of the first places I would like to start beautifying is my thoughts.  I want to chase away any negative thoughts that still want to lurk in the corners of my mind.  One of my favorite authors to help with this process is Norman Vincent Peale he has written a lovely old book   called the Power of Positive Thinking.  It is  really very charming and I'm finding it to  be a wonderful resource.  I  like all of the books I've found by him.
I've also decided to create a picture of my word of the year so I wont forget!  : ) 001
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I would love to hear about your word of the year and how it is effecting your life.
I'm hoping to post each month of an experience I have been doing with my word of the year.  : )

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Word of the Year

I found this article through

Courageous Beings Blog - Karen Kindrick has some wonderful information that she shares through her blog and news letters here:http://karenkindrick.typepad.com/courageousbeingshomeschoo/

I really found this one to be so inspiring and have decided to create a word of the year myself. : ) 

"How to Make 2011 Your BEST Year Yet" 
by Christine Kane

Best Year photoThe regulars at the gym were joking about it early in December.
"Have a good workout now," they said. "Cuz you know what it's gonna be like in about three weeks!"
That's because all the folks who have made their New Year's Resolutions will show up. They'll stick around for a while. Then, around Valentine's Day, the regulars get to have their old gym back.
The hosts of a satellite radio talk show were discussing the most common New Year's Resolutions and the average success rate. Among the most common were Get Organized, Be More Spiritual, Lose Weight, Quit Smoking, and Spend More time with Family.
I don't know about you, but this kind of To-Do List approach to life-transformation does NOT inspire me. And it doesn't surprise me that the success rates were low.
Why Resolutions Don't Work
The reason most resolutions don't work is that they address only one level of your life.
The DO level.
It's the DO-HAVE-BE model.
It goes like this: "I will DO this thing." (i.e., Lose weight) "So I can HAVE this other thing" (Self-Esteem) and I can BE this thing. (Confident.)
The average New Year's Resolution doesn't address the core of the issue:
The "BE" level.
The best order for creating positive change in your life is the BE-DO-HAVE model. This means you start from the BE level. When you begin changing on the BE level of your life, then the DO level and the HAVE level follow more easily.
When you start only on the DO level, then the blocks on the BE level will often become the obstacles you can't overcome.
How to Tap into the True Power of your Intention
Several years ago, my friend Kathy and I decided that, instead of making resolutions, we would pick a word that would guide us throughout the year. It would be our touchstone. It would remind us of living our lives at the BE level.
This didn't mean that we didn't take action. It meant that our actions were inspired from the BE level. In fact, I took more action than ever with this new approach!
For several years now, I've blogged about this inspiring way to begin the year. The response has been huge. So have the success rates! I regularly hear from people who have created big changes in their lives because they focused on one word.
How to Choose A Word
Look through the list below. Get quiet and listen to your Wise Self. Pick a word.
Then, hold that word in your mind throughout the year, and let your word guide you to take action.
Here's an example:
Let's say you're one of the many people who would normally choose "Get Organized." You're tired of chaos and clutter. So, you think, "I need to get organized. That'll be my Resolution."
But then you read this article. You decide to try this new approach.
You sit with your clutter. You spend a few days pondering words. You realize in an "Ah-Ha!" moment that you hold on to lots of things. You're scared to let go.
So you choose the word "Release" because it inspires you in a bigger way than "Get organized."
So, every time you approach your clutter you remind yourself of that word. "Release," you say softly. You start to let the clutter go.
Eventually, you realize that you're still holding on to lots more than just physical clutter. You realize that you hold onto resentment at old relationships. "Release," you remind yourself.
You realize that holding on is affecting your diet and health. "Release" applies to some of the extra weight you've gained as well. Throughout the year, you can see clearly how much you hold on. "Release" is your touchstone. It grows you throughout the year. It becomes your guiding force, not your harsh standard.
Your clutter became your teacher simply because you shifted your intent towards it. This wouldn't have happened if you'd opted only to "Get Organized."
What word to choose?
Many people know immediately which word resonates with them. For others, a little contemplation is required.
As you read through the list of words, see if one stands out. It's tempting to choose four or five, believing that you can do it all! (Or that you're so messed up, you can't possibly narrow the mess down to one!) I recommend that if you can't choose just one, choose no more than two.
One is ideal. It gives you focus. If you master that one word, you can choose another one in June.
Compassion
Delight
Generosity

Effortlessness
Wealth
Gratitude
Abundance

Creativity
Willingness
Change
Growth
Freedom
Mastery
Kindness
Health
Presence

Acceptance
Courage
Confidence
Self-Love
Action
Forgiveness

Forgive
Release
Trust
Knowing
Patience
Friendship
Fun
Grace
Laughter
Love
Expansion
Exploration
Adventure
Openness
Discipline
Awe
Awareness
Risk
Gentleness
Choice
Spirit

Prayerfulness

Power
Allow
Artfulness
Attention
Beauty
Joy
Focus
Ritual
Heal
Order
Clarity
Pioneer
Peace
Laziness
No
Yes
Deliberateness
Commitment
Savor
Integrity
Listen

Note: Click here to download a powerful journal writing tool that I created. It's called The Word-of-the-Year Discovery Tool. Give yourself the gift of connecting your hand to your heart and write about what you want to create in the coming year. This tool works! I promise!

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Christine Kane is the Mentor to Women Who are Changing the World. She helps women uplevel their lives, their businesses and their success. Her weekly LiveCreative eZine goes out to over 12,000 subscribers. If you are ready to take your life and your world to the next level, you can sign up for a F.R.E.E. subscription at http://christinekane.com.

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Sunday, January 16, 2011

Winter: Time for Reading

There is something so wonderful about curling up with a really good book.  One of my fondest memories is of my mother reading to us on those cold winter evenings.  The fun thing for me now is to build a fire in our woodstove and then watch the orange flames dance around during our own story time.

Even if you don't have a fireplace or a woodstove it can be fun to light candles and stringing up white Christmas tree lights they can add a bit of magic to your evening story time ritual.

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I've decided to have January be the month of light.  So I've been seeing how many ways I can bring light into our evenings.

I would like to share with you some of the fun books we have been reading this Month:

For my two teenage boys~ The Lonesome Gods by Louis Lamour

Then my eleven year old girl~ Little Maid of Virginia by Alice Turner Curtis.Little Maid of Virginia      Very sweet little book we read it together  and thoroughly enjoyed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For my eight year old boy~Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osborne

          The magic tree house books have become a family classic.  We have been reading them since the older   boys were younger.  Its fun to now share them with Loch.

Then for my three year old~Everything but the Horse by Holly Hobbie

        very endearing and charming artwork it is going to be one of our classics : )

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Happy New year!!!!