Week 21: One Small Thing...Part 2

Practice what you know, and it will help to make clear what now you do not know.

                                                                                        -Van Gogh

I know that I need more time working on One Small Thing!! In case you missed that post here it is. The idea is to take ONE THING in your life and practice it daily....an excerpt from last week's post.

"This week I want you to think about ONE simple practice you can do that will help you connect daily with your TRUEST self. Examples include....walking, reading scriptures, enjoying a cup of coffee with your spouse every morning, creating, painting, writing in your journal, stretching, meditating, etc."

My goal is to get my creating on!! I can proudly say I did pretty good. While I wasn't in my studio most of the week I had my Soul Comfort journal bag with me and journaled nightly on the couch. Love how that simple act kept me connected to my heart.

So girls...keep it up!! Whatever your practice is...keep on working on it for at least 15 minutes a day. Remember we get better at something when we engage ourselves in it!!!

I want to WELCOME all the new girls from our Face Book group Mind.Body.Soul. We are soo happy you are here to share and play along. If you are not sure where to start....go here.

How are YOU doing with YOUR 52 week Challenge?? I find myself growing bit by bit. Some days I go back to my journal and say to myself...I really need to work on this!!

I am not perfect...but I am striving to be the best I can be!! Keep working girls:)

 One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself.  -Henri Matisse

Week 20: One Small Thing

"Wherever you go, go with all your Heart."

Happy Week 20 Girls!! And for those of you just joining us...WELCOME! In the past week we have had over 20 NEW people join our facebook group!! Here is the link to ALL 52 weeks up to this point. Jump right in and get started. I am soooo very happy you are here:)

I gotta tell you...I am a bit behind on my journal pages even thought I am following along with each week's activity. My goal this week is to get all caught up and share next week. I have been creating though which always makes me happy. How about you?? Any creative inspiration you would like to share?? Be sure and post your blogs/ideas in our group. If you haven't found us yet you can go here.

I LOVE , LOVE, LOVE this week's prompt!! I think I have said a few times...but I really am crazy about our activity this week and just know you will be, too.

I know with all my heart that when we practice something we become better at it. And when we become better at things we gain confidence. When we gain confidence we can take what we know and share it with the world. That's how it is with my writing, my art, my teaching, everything I do. The more I practice and share the more I grow and am able to share my truest passions with the world {or at least my little corner of it}.

This week I want you to think about ONE simple practice you can do that will help you connect daily with your TRUEST self. Examples include....walking, reading scriptures, enjoying a cup of coffee with your spouse every morning, creating, painting, writing in your journal, stretching, meditating, etc.

This act doesn't have to be long...you don't have to accomplish anything but doing the act. I know so many times I feel like hanging out in my studio but the thought of hours getting everything out and finishing a project is just too much for my day. What I am talking about is getting our hearts and our minds to come together. I mean my heart is always thinking of the studio and all the stuff I want/should be doing. Many times though I am too tired and the couch sounds more appealing. This week I will LISTEN to my heart....go to my studio and just do something for 15 minutes...it might just be collaging paper in my journal or free painting...but I will do something.

The way I see it...the more I  just show up the more my heart and mind will be in sync.

Am I making sense??

So this week girls...SHOW UP. Take that walk around your block after work, spend some time with your hubby, paint something random...do it everyday this week for at least 15 minutes. Listen to your heart. Trust. Then do.

I caught the happiness virus last night When I was out singing beneath the stars.  Hafiz of Persia

Proud to Be a MARYVILLE SPOOFHOUND!

                         

 I have lived in Maryville, Mo nearly 30 years. Moving here from Fort Madison, Iowa in 1985 to become a Bearcat at Northwest Missouri State University I had no intention of staying here. But as fate would have it I fell in love with Maryville and am PROUD to call it HOME!

My husband and I met at the local radio station KNIM, built our business here and knew we would raise our family here. The people I have met are some of the nicest, most generous souls I've known. We love Maryville and support our local businesses, schools and activities.

A view of our courthouse on the square.

Speaking of schools... I am so grateful and proud to work and spend time with some REALLY AWESOME children and teenagers!! 

I love this little town of mine. I love the people. I love the schools. I am blessed to call Maryville Home.

Week 19:Home

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” 
― Edith Sitwell

Oh how I love Home.

The feeling I get just being here...

with my family.

Makes me so happy.

So peaceful.

Right now

in my

Life

things

aren't 

quite 

so 

blissful.

No.

Worries and struggles

are trying to

drag me down.

Again.

I am well prepared

this time around.

And though it won't be easy...

I know it will work out.

The 

Lord 

is 

always

here.

With me.

Always.

He is what gets me through.

Your assignment for Week 19 is to find a little peace of Heaven in your Home. Whether it's cleaning out your studio, making a studio, finding a quiet spot to read or write...whatever is calling to you. Find a spot, make it comfortable and claim it as your Heavenly Home.

“Home is the nicest word there is.” 
― Laura Ingalls Wilder

Thank My Lucky Stars & CUTE Project idea:)

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.
-- Barbara Alpert


I am an only child. But at least once a year I get to be surrounded by all my Soul Sisters...

 These beautiful girls are my Cousins, my Aunt, my Daughter and my Mom. We all live several hundred miles apart which makes our Girl's Weekend even more sacred.

This beautiful lady is my first cousin Lora. She has always been a kind, caring and very important person to me. She opened up her gorgeous home in Springfield, Missouri a few weeks ago and made us all feel so special!!

Lora is a Nurse Practioner, amazing Mom and a professional chef and decorator!! I swear...everything she does she does with all her heart:)

My Mom and Aunt Ruth and I all have October Birthdays and Lora made sure we had a very special and DELICIOUS cake!!! YUM!


This was my piece with pumpkin spice ice cream!!

Happy Birthday to Us!:)

I knew I wanted to create something really special for these Soul Sisters of mine...something they could enjoy all year long. Something that would lift them up and remind them just how precious they are.

Here is what I came up with....

I call them Lucky Stars.

These were SO FUN to put together!!

I bought the plain paper mache type stars at Micheal's. First I collaged scraps of paper to each star then painted over most of that...leaving just a few patterns to show through.

After the paint dried I took my favorite stencils and sprayed ink on the stars...love the look of ink and stencils!! 

I picked a favorite script and dot stamped and used those on each star. Each star got a butterfly, two word strips and some other type of embellishment...like a button or epoxy sticker.

To the sides of each star as well as the tips I applied paint glitter...to make each start shine!

My finishing touch was seven different fibers and ribbon tyed to the top along with a cute charm. I used keys, hearts and flowers.

I LOVED making these and giving them to the girls was even better!!! My favorite part was picking just the right phrases for each of the girls. I wanted them to be very unique...just like my Soul Sisters are:)

We may look old and wise to the outside world. But to each other, we are still in junior school.
-- Charlotte Gray


I love these women and am so grateful for each of them!

Week 18: Thinking about the Past....

"Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these." — Susan B. Anthony


I was  born around noon on Wednesday, October 12th, 1966. My parents waited over six years to have me and after I was born decided one was plenty:) My childhood wasn't perfect but yet it was just what I needed to become who I am today. My Mother worked in the kitchen at the High School and my Father was employed by Dupont Paint Company. We lived just a few blocks from the factory in a small home...just two bedrooms, one bath, living room and kitchen. Nothing fancy...yet perfect for us. My neighborhood was AMAZING!! Lots of kids...Jamie and Johnny, Jancy,  Rose and Renee. We would spend hours playing Midnight Ghost and Monopoly, Barbies, Tag and Store. 

I will be 47 this Saturday. 47 years old. 

Somedays I feel this old.
Somedays I don't.

Most times I still feel like that little fat girl I was in school...scared and vulnerable. Try as I might to overcome these feelings...it is still hard. I was made fun of relentlessly in grade school due to my size. It was no fun, I assure you yet I learned so much from that time in my life.

The courage I have today is due to the struggles I was dealt as a child.  Being made fun of, having an alcoholic Dad and parents who constantly fought isn't exactly the best was to grow up...yet I am grateful for family and the good times we did share.

Yes, it's my Birthday this Saturday and I am so grateful for the life I have lived and the one I am making for myself now. 

I have grown wings and I am flying. I am creating my life based on what  I love...teaching and creating and writing. Exciting things are ahead and I couldn't be more grateful for what's on the horizon!!!

"There was a star danced, and under that was I born." — William Shakespeare

Your assignment this week is to think about how far you have come since your childhood. Are you pursuing what you thought you would? Is there a part of your childhood you need to resolve? What would it take to put that in the past and move forward? Think about those HAPPY times!! List them in your journals...the people that meant the most to you...your activities. 

Week 17: Abundant Living makes a Difference!!!

“Reflect upon your present blessings -- of which every man has many -- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” 
― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol 


Oh girls....so sorry it's mid- afternoon on a Tuesday and I am just posting. Yesterday was just one of THOSE days...nothing at all went right. And the more I tried to make things right...the worse it got. By the end of day I was in tears and ready for quiet time!! I locked myself in my room, took a bath and journaled. It was just what I needed. Woke up this morning with a whole different perspective:)

How are you?? How is your 52 week journey coming along?? We have been working on ourselves for 17 weeks now!! It's crazy, I know. And even though I KNOW I am getting stronger, trying new things, working on my dreams...I still have bad days. We all do though don't we?

Yesterday I was living in the past and finding fault with all my past mistakes. It made me feel sooo yucky!!

This week girls I want us to live each day with ABUNDANCE. I want us to wake up and tell ourselves that we do have enough. No matter our circumstances, no matter how much or how little money we have...tell ourselves we have enough...we ARE enough!!

Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.
Wayne Dyer


Girls...this week let's tune into our ABUNDANCE. Let us SEE all that we have. Our family, our friends, our art, our home, our ability to run, walk, dance, enjoy one another. Practice everyday!! Tell yourself everyday!

"I live my life with ABUNDANCE!"

Tell me how you are doing this week!! I would love to know!!!