“Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying.

Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day.

Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now.

There are only so many tomorrows.”

~Michael Landon

While I've been taking the last month off from blogging (evidently, it didn't seeeeem like that long to me) I have been:
~spending quality time with family and friends
~including short walk/hikes in the woods
~celebrating 16 years with my amazing husband
~watching lots of British T.V. on Netflix (love you Netflix)
~hanging with the girls at a girls night...good times
~teaching myself to crochet (so far so good)
~working
~reading
~just being
....Life is good.

on my nightstand.

When things go topsy-turvy, upside down, when things hurt and I'm trying to heal I turn toward books. I try to look up and in and hold on tight to beliefs that have gotten me through so many tough times. This is not always easy which is why books can be so helpful. At least to me.

So, on the nightstand right now are The Me I Want To Be by (one of my favorite Christian authors) John Ortberg.  I just finished a powerful chapter on Surrender. I love his humor, his honesty and his straightforward ideas on living our best life. I picked this book up a few months ago and right now is the perfect time for me to be reading it.

Next is The Gift of Imperfection by Dr. Brene Brown. Her blog Ordinary Courage has been in my reader for several years and her words are truth and thought provoking. Courage, Compassion and Connection. Setting boundaries, loving and belonging - so many great topics woven together.

Both of these are easy to read, tender to digest. I find myself stopping, thinking and exploring...it's all good. I just wrote my cousin and in our exchange I think I said it best as, "I'm raw right now so right now is the perfect time to tend my heart and grow."

The last book in the pile is The Awe-manac. This one is fun filled with daily doses of inspiration for creativity. While I haven't been fully engaged with the book I have been following along daily, reading, reminding myself that writing/creating is important to me and my well being. The website for the book is a fun stopping point for me in my blog reading.

And of course at the bottom of the pile is my journal. Never far from me I use it for prompts, spontaneous writing, lists to keep my mind from forgetting what it is I'm suppose to be doing...

“The greatest and most important problems in life are all in a certain sense insoluble. They can never be solved, but only outgrown. ” - Carl Gustav Jung

Things have gone a bit topsy-turvy here. Well, not here exactly but around me. Some extended family issues, some friend issues that need time and attention.

It's always eye opening to work through the hard stuff and sometimes I think it is even more of a learning experience to work through the hard stuff that isn't one's own. When it's not my own I can step back and evaluate with fresh eyes. Even when my heart is breaking. Even when I am crying. I can put the emotions aside for a moment or two and really evaluate.

A few things I've learned in the past few weeks:
- help when I can. listen when I can. be open.
- don't judge
- it isn't about me. I'm a tool to be used for the project, not the project itself.
- when praying for change be specific.
- sometimes the best way to help is to step back
- love

So, I am going to continue to help and learn. To heal and grow. To love.

In other news:
- I have my word picked out for the year. There is lots in my journal about it and it's proven to be powerful to me so far.
- I'm reading a great book by one of my favorite authors.
- I'm feeling a creative burst coming on. I wonder where that will lead me.

Happy day my friends. Happy day!

Loving right now:

1. OhLife. Every evening this site sends me an email that says, "How did your day go?" Then I respond with a sentence or two, a list, or a paragraph that says something about my day. I always want to write a daily journal, just a line or two about my days, however while I do write a lot it isn't daily happenings more introspection, etc...So, this site is perfect. Loving it so far.
2. the Project 365 app for my iPhone. I've started 365 projects in the past only to quit at some point. I'm thinking if it's on my phone maybe I'll actually do it everyday. We'll see. I love the calendar view of photos. My plan is to not have a plan - no theme, no stretching my skills - just me taking a photo a day that reflects something in my life.
3.  Angry Birds. I'm addicted that's all I have to say about that.
   

Happy Day Happy Day!

Here it is. Another "year according to facebook" post. Kinda cliche but I love it! Some of my statuses make me chuckle, all make me realize how much has happened over the past year...I'm definitely adding this to my Journal Your Christmas book (which is coming along albeit slowly).

Last day of winter break. I'm so not ready. I'd love another week at home with my guys...yet, here we go!

“Every piece of the universe, even the tiniest little snow crystal, matters somehow. I have a place in the pattern, and so do you.” - T.A. Barron

Happy New Year from our house to yours! We celebrated with Archer's annual New Years Eve party with all the usual suspects in attendance. (here's a look at last year...)
We are savoring the last few days of winter break...moving slow and enjoying doing a bit of nothing.
Getting ready for the new year...I'm choosing a word, getting organized and ready. Here we go...

Happy New Year!

twas the night before Christmas...

...in wordle form!

Merry Christmas Eve friends!