Week 34: Who is on your Forgive & Forget List??

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.” 
― Martin Luther King Jr.



There he was, innocent looking enough...smiling and laughing with our kids. I just sat in the corner, arms folded, sulking. My heart was hardened...I knew I would never forgive the wrongs I felt he had done to my family and me...never.

But then, as fate would have it...we would get a call...the news was bad...it was cancer. The bad kind. The kind that takes absolute no mercy and takes your life within months. 

Hearing the news, my heart sank. Somehow in a split second my hardened heart melted and I felt nothing but love and compassion for this man that I had been angry at for years. 

“When you forgive, you love. And when you love, God’s light shines upon you.” 
― Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

Our world has been turned upside down the past 2 weeks...my father in-law was diagnosed with operable pancreatic cancer-Stage4. The cancer has spread to both lungs as well. It is such a somber time in our home as we try to wrap our minds around this. My family and I spent last weekend at his home...reminiscing, laughing and just hanging out.

Grandpa loves popcorn and made a HUGE batch for us while we watched Percy Jackson.

I love this photo of Em and her Gramps:)

Here we are at Pizza Hut last Sunday. We plan on making the most of our time with him, visiting often.

I have known this man for 23 years and in that time have spent much of it bitter and angry. He is very opinionated and most times never, ever admits his mistakes. Hurtful words and actions have come from him regarding our faith....something I hold dear to my heart. His words have cut deep and in order to protect my faith and my family I often feel the need to defend it.

But then...we got the phone call. We drove down to see him. My heart melted. I was devastated. All I kept asking myself was "Why have I been so stubborn?? Why couldn't I have just turned the other cheek?"

“The willingness to forgive is a sign of spiritual and emotional maturity. It is one of the great virtues to which we all should aspire. Imagine a world filled with individuals willing both to apologize and to accept an apology. Is there any problem that could not be solved among people who possessed the humility and largeness of spirit and soul to do either -- or both -- when needed?” 
― Gordon B. Hinckley, Standing for Something: 10 Neglected Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes

It is waaaaay past time to FORGIVE this man. He is my husband's father, my children's grandfather, my father in-law. He is a very good man. He loves his family. He believes in Jesus Christ and has good, strong Christian morals.

 It is time for forgive and forget.

“I want to be the kind of person who can do that. Move on and forgive people and be healthy and happy. It seems like an easy thing to do in my head. But it's not so easy when you try it in real life.” 
― Susane Colasanti, Waiting For You

Girls, is there someone in YOUR life that needs forgiving?? Is your heart hardened towards a loved one, a friend, a co-worker?? I KNOW it's hard to MOVE forward until we FORGIVE. I have known this for years and years but chose not to listen to my heart...it was just easier to stay angry.

I am ready to HEAL MY HEART. I am ready to FORGIVE this man and SEE him for who he is...a kind, loving man that loves his family more than life itself.

I forgive.

**Take out your journals and  heal your hearts. Decide who you need to forgive and make steps towards doing just that. Let me know how you are doing!! How do YOU forgive???

Week 33: What kind of MOOD are YOU In???

Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come.
Robert H. Schuller 

Let's face it...we all have our "moods". And more often than not our moods affect most everything we do.

The year before I made the decision to join Curves Complete my moods were terrible...I mean just AWFUL! My poor family never knew when I may "snap" at something they said or didn't say. I had become so overwhelmed with our financial struggles and my weight gain...that nothing was truly  making me happy.

Now that's not to say I didn't have good times and true, honest to goodness happiness...I did.

It just wasn't consistent and more often than not I was depressed, irritable, obnoxious and sad all rolled up into on. Goodness I was a hot mess!

One day late last summer I just decided to take a look at my moods for a few weeks. I was surprised at how down and unhappy I had become on a regular basis. I knew it had to STOP!

I made a sort of mood diary {i would jot a word or two down on my calendar} for a couple of weeks just to see where I was. It was astonishing! I needed to make a change before I became a cranky middle aged woman that nobody liked!

I went back through my art journals and canvas's and realized that the word SIMPLE was everywhere...I mean on every other page!! The word Simple and Longing and Lead a Simple Life were everywhere!

This week I want you to keep a one or two word "mood journal" at the end of the day. I also encourage you to go through art journals and other work to see what WORDS you tend you use in them.

Our moods really do dictate whether or not we are a great success in this life. We only get one so why not make it the very life possible with a joy so real that it makes your heart sing??!!

Go here if you are ready to try 52 Weeks.  {yes, i need to catch up the weeks!! i know...working on that...lol.}

Join our FB group.

Art Journaling Ideas

Remember...you are never, ever behind!! You can skip weeks....just do those that speak to you!:) Feel free to print them off, share them, whatever....please leave a link to my blog if you share them on any of your social media:)

Week 32: Letting Your cREatIviTY Goooo.....!

"If you want to be happy, be."  -Henry David Thoreau


First of all girls let me apologize...sorry this is soooo late and my blog posts haven't been very artsy like I promised. I have been creating and dreaming and living my life...full blast:) Life is good here and I am soooo blessed.

Last Saturday I spent the entire day in my studio just creating in my art journal...it was WONDERFUL!

Here is one of my favorites from the day...

Photos of sassy, vintage girls really inspires me!! So happy when I find a new images to create with. If you know of any places where I can find them please let me know...I would be so grateful:).

"Ride into your life on a creative cycle full of juice, abundance and ecstatic wonderment."  -Sark

Something magical happens when we truly get lost in our art doesn't it? We lose all sense of time and place. We become lost in thought. Creating takes on a whole other level. THIS is the place I want to be at more this year. I rarely found this "place" in 2013 even though I worked on it. And really...should art be "work"?

Another favorite from Saturday.

What I learned on Saturday is what I want to carry throughout 2014...just let go and enjoy the process.

Enjoy it.

Why is that so hard sometimes??

"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun."  -Mary Lou Cook

We are in Week 32 and this week I encourage YOU to LET GO. Pull out your journal and paints, crayons, pens, images, words and whatever else speaks to you. Then go and PLAY.

Let go.

"It is neither wealth nor splendor but tranquility and occupation which give happiness."  -Thomas Jefferson

Passion and Fear...& My 700th Post!

"When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."  -Barbara Winter, Writer


A brand new week and a brand new YEAR. I love it!! And I love that we are on Week 31 of Being Me!! When I started this project back in May I wasn't sure I could keep up with the posts and ideas. But I have and look forward to finishing the project strong!! Remember even if you are new here or are far behind...don't worry!! You can jump in anytime!! Being Me is at the top of my blog...ready for when you are. Take your time and learn and grow. That is the point:)

Ok so Week 31 should give you lots to think about and work on. If you are like me {and I'm pretty sure you are or you wouldn't be here} you are a creative soul with dozens of ideas and goals and dreams. Sometimes we can get stuck...even though we still have all these amazing ideas and projects...we get stuck. We don't know where to begin...all of our inspiration and thoughts seem to vanish.

In her book "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" Gail McMeekin invites us to answer these questions and help us use our passions in life to conquer fears and frustrations so we can live out our creative desires.

1. Think of a time you wanted something so much that our were willing to do anything to get it. What was the outcome?

2.  Do you feel exhilerated by your creative work right now? What ignites you the most about it? If you're not psyched about your current work, what would you rather be doing?

3.  What discomfort are you willing to endure to promote and experience your passion?

4. What are your specific fears about yourself and your work?

"Diamonds are only chunks of coal that stuck to their jobs, you see."  - Minnie Richard Smith, Poet

For the past 2 years I have had a dream to submit my work to my favorite art magazines "Art Journaling" by Stampington. Have I done that yet?? NO. Why?? Well because I am constantly comparing myself to others and telling myself I am not good enough....that's why.

Years ago...when I was a scrapbooker I was published in Memory Makers. Talk about a THRILL!! The Editor even commented on MY page which made it even sweeter. Somehow that validated me as an official scrapbooker...which looking back now I know is crazy.

The thing is I have been fearful most of my artistic life...fearful that I am not good enough or creative enough or whatever. Yes, I share here on my blog and have had numerous challenges...I have conquered some of my creative fears, true.

The biggest one I want to conquer this year is to STOP over thinking my work. I just want to create. To take time and play. To get over my fears of not being good enough.

Please take time this week, girls to answer these questions. Remember you can put them in your art journal or just write them on a piece of paper. Just answer them!! I would LOVE to hear any ideas or ephananies you may have...be sure and share here or on our FB page:)