365 Days of Gratitude & Simplicity Day 2

November 11, 2010

*All content has been taken from SImple Abundance. Some content has been shortened for the purpose of 365 Days of Gratitude. 

Loving the Questions

"You only live once - but if you work it right, once is enough." ~Joe e. Lewis

How often have you turned away from all that is unresolved in your heart because you feared questioning?
What if you new that a year from today you could be living the most creative, joyous, and fulfilling life you could imagine? 
What would that life look like? 
What changes would you make?
Where would you begin?

Today's challenge: Ask yourself the questions above. Be comfortable asking the questions. Be comfortable with the "not knowing" the answers. 

Today's exercise: Ask yourself the questions again. Write them down even. The answers to your questions will eventually come. 

Write down you gratitude for the day.

365 Days of Gratitude & SImplicity Day 1

November 10, 2010
*All content has been taken from SImple Abundance. Some content has been shortened for the purpose of 365 Days of Gratitude. 


A Transformative Year of Delight and Discover


"There are years that ask questions and years that answer." ~Zora Neale Hurston


A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived. 


Today's challenge: Find yourself a journal. Something pretty, sparkly, if you like. Something in your favorite color. Something that makes you smile. This is where you'll record your daily gratitude. This is where you'll do the following exercise. 


Today's exercise: Today carve out a quiet interlude for yourself, pen in hand. 
Only dreams give birth to change. 
What are your hopes for the future as you reflect on the past? 
Write down your most private aspirations. 
Write down one thing you are grateful for today. 


Take a leap of faith and believe in yourself no matter where you are in this moment.

365 Days of Gratitude & Simplicity

Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things or more money, in order to do what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works i the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want. ~Margaret Young


It was the end of 2001. I was a new mom with an almost one year old. I was a new teacher and a newlywed. I lived in a new place with family far away and was desperately trying to rediscover the new me. 


Years prior, I knew who I was: cheerleader, small town girl, high school and college grad, daughter, friend, care-free and trying to find my way to my adulthood. 


Once I became mom, wife, and working woman I felt as though I had no control over anything. I had transformed in many ways and my mind had no time to catch up. I looked in the mirror and did not know myself. Not. At. All. 


I did not feel that anyone understood my struggles. Most of the older women in my life had not had to work full time and raise children. Some waited to work when children were older, others only worked full time briefly, or had a number of extra hands or helpers at their disposal. That was not me. 


So, one day in late 2001, I happened to turn on the TV to Oprah. She was visiting with  an author who discussed the power of gratitude and simple abundance. Thus, my true journey with gratitude began and flourished. 


I went out and bought the book SImple Abundance - A Daybook of Comfort and Joy  ~Sarah Ban Breathnach


Excerpt from Foreword: "I began to barely recognize the woman I once was. Simple Abundance has enabled me to encounter everyday epiphanies, find the sacred in the ordinary. . . fully enter into the sacrament of the present moment. " 


"This book is organized as a walk through the year. The Simple Abundance journey is an exhilarating and earth-rumbling awakening that makes the authentic self visible." 


For the entire year of 2002, I read daily the quotes, ideas, and did the challenges presented. I was disciplined in taking that time for myself. As I did this, I slowly began to watch the extra baby weight pounds melt away, my image of myself took a positive turn, my life became manageable and began to take shape, and for the first time ever I really felt like I was discovering who I really was meant to be. The metamorphosis was amazing and I felt better physically, mentally, and emotionally than I ever had in my life. 

I've decided that I, personally, need to take this 365 day journey once again. I need to challenge myself. I need to remind myself, especially after a new baby, that my children need me to take this journey as much as I need it. 


I've decided to share my journey via FB, twitter (hash tags #gratitude #simpleabundance), and my blog. That in itself is a huge time commitment, but necessarily, if only for me. 


I would love for those of you who joined me for 40 Days of Thankfulness and who are ready to take their gratitude to the next level to join me for this new journey. If you choose to join, please comment, text, message or contact me some way, so that I can make a list of everyone and we can cheer each other on! 

This journey is not for those with a skeptical mind. It is not for those that feel "forced" to participate. If you feel like you are in a similar place as I described above and want a challenge. If you believe it will work, help you, allow you to grow, it will. 

365 Days of  Gratitude and Simplicity for me will begin November 10, 2010. 

He is my Thankful.

The past week has been as fast as a NASCAR race. My mind and body have been going so fast that I have not been able to stop and process much. On the one hand that is good, on the other, it is bad. 


I need an internal vacation. The good thing about that is that it costs nothing. The problem is that even for the next 7 days, I cannot see a break in site. My mind, body and soul desperately need it and need relief from the nonstop exhaustion. 


As I drove home tonight and finally pulled up in the driveway at 9 pm, I realized that I was having difficulty finding my thankful thought for today. But as I stepped into the house and found Jason home with dinner waiting, kids ready for bed and open arms to allow me to melt - I knew I'd "found my thankful."


It was him. :) 


I've been meaning to post a blog in his honor for a while. I don't typically blog about him or about our relationship. It is sacred to me and I protect it with everything I have. Put simply, he is the one. My best friend, the one that gets me, reads me, knows my motives, fears, dreams sometimes even before I do. 


The following song videos are our songs. The first one is a Matthew West song called I Do:


There must be a God, I believe its true.
Cause I can see His love, when I look at you.
And he must have a plan for this crazy life.
Because He brought you here and placed you by my side.

chorus:
And I have never been so sure of anything before,
Like I am in this momment here with you
Now for better or for worse are so much more than only words
And I pray everyday will be the proof
That I mean what I say when I say 'I do'
Yeah I mean what I Say when I say 'I do'

You see these hands you hold, will always hold you up
When the strength you have just aint strong enough
And what tomorrow brings, only time will tell
But I will stand by you in sickness and in health 




The second is a NKOTB song called Close To You. It was our song especially during the time in our relationship that was long distance. It described perfectly how we felt during the long weeks before seeing each other again. 


I know that it's hard (I know that it's hard)
To see me go (To see me go)
To see me standing so close to the door

I know it's hard when I'm far away
But I promise you when I get back,
I'll stay (I'll stay)...

Close to your hands, close to your legs
Close to the way your body fits on the bed
Close to your hips, close to your lips
Close to the only one I can't resist
Close to your laugh, close to words
Giving you everything I know you deserve
Close to you, baby, close to your world, close to you

There are times in your life when you just know that God put someone in your life in order to make you a better person, show you a love you've never known, and to remind you that you are deserving of it all. 

He is my thankful. Always.

xoxoxo 

Bootiful Winner!

I'm a loser. 


It took me forever to get this blog posted. 


Ok, I'm not a loser, just a busy working mom of 3. I wish I had more time, but alas all I've been praying for lately is HEALTH for my family. 


So, our "Bootiful GIrls" Winner is. . . . . . . FAIRY PRINCESS GARDEN!


Here's her best girl advice: 


". . .  remind them as they grow up is to be TRUE to themselves always, their values, beliefs and dreams. No matter what you go thru, what happens and how you react this will help keep you grounded and moving forward."


Thanks to everyone who has participated! I'm working on at least 3 more giveaways, so stay tuned! :) My next giveaway will involve something I LOVE LOVE LOVE! (and very possibly will be autographed by the owner!)

Girls Are Bootiful!

There is nothing quite like having a little girl. In my case, little girls. 


I'm not sure why, but it's such a huge responsibility holding that precious little bundle of love in your arms. I guess it could be because you know at some point you'll have to "give her away" to someone else, so it seems like your time with her is already limited. 


I will never forget the moment I found out I was having a girl. What would I do with one after growing up with brothers? I wasn't what you'd call a girly-girl either, so I was already anti-pink.
I was use to riding three wheelers, jet skiing and playing softball. I'm pretty sure I didn't play with a Barbie. Ever.  


It didn't take long for me to fit right into the role God intended. Before long I realized what a treasure it was to be able to have girls. Now, 10 years later, we are all extra girly and proud of it. We sparkle and shine with the best of them. 


Tonight as I was running the track in the moonlight, I saw a tall shadow in front of me. The figure had long legs, bouncy hair and began skipping along. I almost cried. 10 years ago she was this itty-bitty little thing and now here she is on the verge of pre-teen hood. I ran up to her, hugged her, told her I loved her and how proud I am of her. 


I also reminded her to always remember to be herself, to run her own race, and to remember that people that follow the crowd don't make an impact and that even when it's hard to do what she knows it best.  I reminded her that it's always the ones who think outside the box, are a little bit different than the others, the ones who steadily set their sights on a goal and aren't afraid to take risks that make the biggest differences in the world.  


I hope she remembers just 1/2 of what I tell her. 


So, in honor of all the sweet little girls out there and the fact that they do eventually grow up, my friend, Tiffany, is helping me do a giveaway! 


Here is the prize: 

Here is the way to enter: 


1. Be a follower of this blog
2. Visit Tiffany's website
3. Go follower her blog
4. Comment here your best piece of advice for the girl in your life - 20 words or less. 


We'll pick a winner Friday, October 15th and have your prize sent to you so you can enjoy this cute bow and a crochet headband for Halloween! 


**Thank you, Tiffany! Visit Tiffany's etsy site here! 

Of Course, I'm thankful.

Today begins my annual 40 Days of Thankfulness. Check out my Facebook group and join in if you'd like!


I always love what this exercise does for myself, personally. As the mom of 3, wife of a man that I love with all my heart, and a team member in bringing home "the bacon" I find myself sometimes drowning in the stuff that life often brings during the fall. 


Illness
Holidays
School functions
Illness
Work, work, work
Family
Illness


Then, I reflect back on some of life's toughest times and wonder if I really was as thankful during it all as I should've been. Death. Divorce. Broken Relationships. Financially broke. Hurtful words. 


It's easy to be thankful when prayers are being answered, everyone is well, money is abundant, and things seem to be "just right."


But what about when someone you love is gone in an instant? 
What about when someone you love is terminally sick? Or when you find out you are the one with the illness that will take months to treat?
What about if you lose your home? Your job? Your livelihood?


As humans we have a tendency to become very selfish in times of hardship. It's easy to have the attitude of entitlement. It can be natural to think that we are owed all of the good. It's easy to become angry with God, others, or ourselves or to push the blame onto someone other than ourself. 


But just like everything else, we must be disciplined in our thoughts and words, especially to ourselves. 


This is why I think the 40 days is so powerful. Yes, we are throwing our positive thoughts out to the world, but most importantly we are consciously reminding ourself daily what is important, what is not worth the time, what things make life worthwhile, and how even the "bad" things in life really are important to get us through our own personal journey. 


An attitude of gratitude really does bring about a sense of peace, a feeling of balance, and a sense of security that nothing else in life can give us. 


So, will you join me?