Feeling Blessed

"Keep on keepin' on."  -Popular Saying

Today has already been a very good day.

My alarm went off at 5:15...I hit snooze twice, then finally got out of bed at 5:30. Showered, woke up the kids and got ready. Today was my first day of Seminary teaching. And ya' know what?

It went swell.

I was nervous. Really, nervous. But as I thought about it and prayed for the guidance of the Holy Spirit I knew everything was going to be okay.

And it was:)

In fact I feel more energized than I have in a few weeks. Ready to tackle whatever comes my way today.

"People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success."  -Norman Vincent Peale

I spent about an hour last night catching up on your blogs and reading a few new ones. I went to bed feeling so inspired and ready to create, write, spruce up our home and try a new recipe. I am constantly in awe of all the talented women bloggers!! I feel so blessed to live during this time!! What did we do without blogs??

I wanted to remind you about my friend Jodi's E-course starting up today. It's not too late to sign up!! Check it out!

Precious Time

Time is the coin of your life.  It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.  Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.  ~Carl Sandburg

Time is moving way to fast. I have so much to do. So much that I want to do. 

I don't know how I'm gonna fit it all in.


I mean my days, my weeks, my year is already filling up.

I keep thinking to myself...how can I can do all that I want to do.?


Where should I cut back? 

Should I cut back?

Can I be a good Mom, friend, blogger, teacher?

Teacher?


Yeah, I'm gonna be a teacher.

Starting tomorrow.



As you may know I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints {LDS}. In my church everyone is given a job to do or as we call them a "calling".


My last calling was as Primary President. I oversaw everything the kids ages 18 months through 12 years old did. Classes, nursery, activities, Scouts, etc. Pretty major stuff.

However...


I have an even bigger calling now. {well, to me it is just more time consuming}

Starting tomorrow...


and I must tell you the truth. I am a wee bit nervous about it.

I am the Seminary teacher for high school students {14-18 year olds}.


Monday thru Friday I will wake up at 530 so I can be at the Church by 635. My class starts at 645 and runs till 730. I will be teaching from the Scriptures. This year we are focusing on a book in our church called Doctrine and Covenants, Church History and our Prophets. 

I am a bit overwhelmed.


Just a bit {okay, maybe more than a bit} I don't think it has sunk in yet...I am gonna be busy. Teaching, preparing, cleaning, blogging, taking kids here and there...so much TO DO!

But I can and will do it...


So be patient with me. I may be a little light on creative inspiration and posts for a bit as I adjust to my new schedule!!! 


*So I need to know...what takes up your time these days? And how do you manage your day so you can still get blogging time and/or creative time in? Please share!!!


**I am getting close to my 200th post. Expect a give away soon!!!!!!!

 

Restoring Honor Rally {a sneak peek}

Last Saturday my family and I spent 13 hours at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC to RESTORE HONOR to our great Nation.

I took this photo at approx. 4 AM on 8/28. What an amazing place to be at!! So much Spirit here.

Just a taste of all the people!!

Ms. Emma! So very patriotic:)

More of the crowd. Such a small part...

The sea of people was like nothing I had ever seen before in one place!!


Jacks spent the day filming...

Dave and I before the Event began. We waited 6 hours before it got underway.

I was kind of delirious here...only 2 hours of sleep....

Here is my family leaving the Event. We had already been walking for nearly an hour. 

These are just a few photos from the day. Expect a full story on the Restoring Honor Rally and more pictures next week!!! So much to tell you about the Rally and our trip!! So inspired:)

New Beginnings

Begin somewhere: you cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do."  -Liz Smith


I adore fall.


I mean I love it, love it


love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Everything about it.


Cooler days and even colder nights.


Warm, cozy, snuggly.

Hot soups and fresh from the oven bread.

Yum!

"Autumn.. the year's last, loveliest smile. "
--William C. Bryant

For as long as I can remember the first of September has been a "new year" of sorts for me. Resolutions from January are long gone as well as those lazy, summer days. 

It's during this time of year I find myself more determined than ever to learn and grow and become the person I know I can be.

You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. -Mike Murdock

Last week we wrapped up the 31 Days Creativity Challenge. I don't know about you...but that really had a positive impact on me and how I spend my time. That quote above is so true. Change just one thing you do everyday and you will change your life. Love that!

By being creative everyday {even if it was just thinking about writing ideas or thumbing through a magazine} I find myself ready to try new things. For instance, every year at our local tech school there is an oil painting class. I had never even thought about taking that class...

until now.

I am ready to sign up and learn how to paint. 

An entire landscape...

on a canvas...

with oils. 

Pretty cool.

I am also ready to take another on-line course. What makes this one extra cool is who is teaching it...

My new friend Jodi. I met Jodi through Flying Lessons and not only love her blog but she is one creative and spiritually inspired woman. Can't wait!

With the anticipation of the changing seasons I am ready to commit to new goals, inspirational projects and getting to know even more of you. 

I look forward to the coming season in my life.

''Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.'' - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Be sure and stop by sometime Friday for a few peeks at the Restoring Honor Rally my family and I attended last Saturday. Incredible!!

So, I would love to know...do you have any plans, goals, creative ideas for fall? Please leave a comment. I would love to hear what you're up to.

Also...I need your email address if you participated in the 31 Days Challenge!! leslieackman@yahoo.com

I have been TAGGED!! {I'm IT}

So, my dear Leanne "tagged" me while I was DC. What a sweet girl she is;)...Here ya' go...

1. What is your all-time favorite movie (the one that you can watch over and over, when just hearing it in the back ground is enough to imagine exactly what is happening on the screen)? 

I seriously have dozens of favorite movies...I'm a movie kind of gal. But the first one that came to mind is "St. Elmo's Fire". The first time I saw it I was in college at Northwest Missouri State University. They actually showed it on campus in the Horace Mann Auditorium. I was in love with Rob Lowe...hair and all. And I always thought of myself like Jules {Demi Moore's character}. A few years ago I bought the DVD and have since worn it out. I have probably watched it 25 times or more.  A close second is "50 First Dates". It never gets old!!! LoVE it!:)


2. Tell me about one Halloween costume you remember wearing as a child.

 
I was in the first grade and I was a witch. I wore a black cape and  one of those plastic masks from the 70's with an elastic string on the back. Probably the reason I remember it so well is not because of the costume but because it was the  one time my Dad got to take me {he usually worked}

3. Why did you start blogging? 



I LOVE writing. All my life I have kept a journal. Seriously...it is an obsession of mine:) I started out with a website first. Yeah, I don't talk about it much here {still painful, because I loved my site} but I owned an on-line business called "Scrapwords". A few of my readers today are from my site. Love you girls;)  Anyway, I wasn't able to keep it running {finances} and I missed the creative outlet it gave me. So I decided to write a blog. I had 2 before finding my place here at Words of Me Project. This is home:)


4. What makes you happy?  



Sooooo many things!!! My family, going to the movies, a good day at church, my doggie Gizmo, comments on here, knowing I've helped and inspired someone, a good book, creating, reading your blogs, the list goes on and on!!!!


5. If you were able to go back in time, where would you go and why? 



I would go back and spend more time with my Dad and Grandma. I miss them both so much. I would listen to their stories and WRITE THEM DOWN!!!


6. What was the last thing you bought at the grocery store? 



Plums, bananas, milk, orange juice, frozen lean cuisine meals and lettuce.



7. How do you take your coffee? (If you don’t drink coffee … wait, let me get a handle on that … YOU DON’T DRINK COFFEE??? Ok, if you don’t drink coffee, then what is your favorite beverage?)



This is a fun one!! I used to own a coffee shop for 4 years. {yes, I have tried out many business's!!} I LOVED coffee!! Black with real half and half. Soooo yummy!! I don't drink it anymore...I've replaced it with Diet Cokes with Lime from Sonic. It's a daily addiction!!

8. Brag a little . . . tell me about a recent RAK (random act of kindness) that you took part in.


I love surprising people...one of my favorites happened a few months ago. It was a girl from church...she has been ill for quite some time and doesn't get out much. It was her 20th birthday. On a whim I jumped in my truck, rushed over to her house and gave her a big hug and homemade card. She was sooo happy and I felt good knowing I had made her day a bit happier:)

Thanks, Leanne for these very fun questions...it's my turn to "tag" 6 blogs with 8 questions. Here goes....

Trish from Me and My Boys

Sorayah from A Heartfull Life

Becca from House of Henrie

Bev from my awakened heart

Stacey from Sassy and Sweet Scrappin'

Christine from Christine and Co.

Here are your questions....

1.  What one book has impacted you the most?

2.  What do you wear most days? I live in comfortable jeans and tees with silly sayings. I would love to hear what you spend your days in!

3.  What is your favorite snack?

4.  You have just won the biggest prize on a game show. What game show is it? Why?

5.  You always look at life with the glass.......? Why?

6.  Favorite movie. You know the one you can watch over and over and never get tired of?

7. What town did you grow up in?

8.  Do you have a pet? If so what and what is their name?

Thanks for playing along, girls!!!

I am HOME!!! {and happy to be so}

Hello, my dear friends. I am HOME! What a happy day for me.

I am a girl that THRIVES on routine. Love it.

Washington D. C. was AMAZING. We saw soooo many wonderful things including...

Mt. Vernon

The Smithsonian Art Museum...{soooo inspiring}

Went shopping "uptown"

And of course we spent 13 hours at the steps of  the Lincoln Memorial {more on that later}

I am so very happy to be home. Back to blogging, back to reading your blogs. So much to catch up on!!

Remember if you participated in the 31 Days Challenge PLEASE email me at 

leslieackman@yahoo.com

I have something to send you!!!!

And to my friend Leanne...I saw your questions and I will answer them in a post within the next few days!!!

Can't wait to catch up, girls:)

Vacation {Days 30 & 31}

"Creativity is a central source of meaning in our lives...most of the things that are interesting, important, and human are the results of creativity...when we are involved in it, we feel that we are living more fully than during the rest of life."  -Mihaly Csikszenthihalyi

A little over a month ago I had this idea for 31 Days. Not only did I want to share an idea with you everyday to spark your interest in writing, creating or just "being"...but I wanted to challenge myself to do those things as well.

I hope I have succeeded.

This Challenge for me has been extremely energizing and exactly what I needed to kick my creative self into high gear.

"There is no greater joy than that of feeling oneself a creator. The triumph of life is expressed by creation."  -Henri Bergson

If you finished the Challenge, participated in the Challenge, wrote down the Challenges...please send me an e-mail with your address. I have a sweet, little book I created for you!!!  E-mail me @    leslieackman@yahoo.com

Creative Challenge Days # 30 & 31: Take time over the next 2 days and list all things creative you accomplished during the Challenge. Finish up any projects you started, too. Congratulations on finishing!! Be sure and let me know if you participated in the Challenge by sending me a message with your address!! I have a surprise for you;)

Girls, I am out of here for the next 7 days. My family and I leave for Washington D.C. Tuesday morning. We are looking forward to our trip of a lifetime!!!

I will be back next week. So much creative stuff coming your way in the next few months...excited!!!!

Busy, Busy Day {Day 29}

It's Monday!! And as much as I LOvE Fridays...I love MOndays, too. It's like a blanket of fresh snow.

This MOnday will be a bit more hectic than most. We are packing for our trip to DC. We leave in the morning and are sooooo excited I don't  know how we're gonna be able to sleep tonight;)

Before the day is done or sometime in the morning I will be posting one more time then I'm off for 7 days. I'm sure I'll have much to talk about and dozens of photos to share. If you are a friend on FB I will be posting frequently, sharing our adventures.

Here is today's Challenge...

Creative Challenge Day #29:Only 3 more creative Challenge's left, girls. The month has gone so fast! Today will be spent packing for our DC trip and getting the house all picked up before we leave in the morning. However I still plan on squeezing 10 minutes of creative time in just because it makes me happy! Why not ta...ke 10 minutes for yourself doing whatever it is that de-stresses you and puts a smile on your face:)

And remember to leave a comment here, letting me know if you have participated in the Challenge!! eAch of you will be receiving on of these from me:)

 

 

Road Trip, {Day 27}

One week from today my family and I will be here...at the Restoring Honor Rally at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. 

We are soooo excited!

We are teaching our children that it's important to STAND UP for what you believe in.

We, as Americans, no matter what your political views are, your religious beliefs, the color of your skin or your economic background...each one of us has a God Given Right to STAND UP and let our voices be heard.

I am PROUD to be an AMERICAN.

I am THANKFUL that in our great Nation each one of us is allowed to express our own beliefs.


We should be able to have our own opinions and discuss, in a civilized way, our differences.




In today's volatile, political environment I was hesitant in sharing our trip on my Blog. It is not my intent to offend anyone but rather to share my life with you.

That's what I do here...share the bits and pieces that make me...ME.



I believe in STANDING UP for what I believe...




But I also believe that you should STAND UP for what YOU believe...even if we don't agree.


Ok, on to our CHALLENGE!! I really love this one:)

Creative Challenge Day #27 Today's Challenge extends through the weekend. I want you to choose a THEME WORD for the weekend. Mine is AUTHENTIC. I want to be AUTHENTIC all weekend! Be me. Do those things that align with who I really am. What WORD will you be this weekend??

So fun Surprise!

Be sure and let me know if you are participating in the 31 Days Creativity Challenge. I have a little something for you;)

{Day 26}

As the Challenge winds down I'm finding myself not able to spend the time I'd like being creative. I am still writing and planning and dreaming...but not always able to be in my space in the zone.

When I'm stressed the zone just doesn't happen...know what I mean?

I am feeling stressed...

Give your stress wings and let it fly away.  ~Terri Guillemets

Today, I'm gonna take a deep breathe and imagine my stress fluttering away up into the clear blue sky.


Oh and stress? Yeah, I want you to stay away...

for a loooooooong while....

Creative Challenge Day #26: Thank goodness it's FRIDAY! Today I need it!!! Today I want you to make time to write in your journal. Write down any and all frustrations you have about anything...I find when my heart and mind is bogged down with all that negative energy it is nearly impossible to be creative. Try it and see how much better you feel;)

 

Happy Friday Girls!!

School is IN session {Day 25}

If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers.  ~Edgar W. Howe

So, yeah...today my kids are back in school.


Jacks is a Sophomore.


Em is an 8th grader.


And while a big part of me felt like I needed an asylum just a few days ago...


today, watching them get ready to leave...


my heart ached a bit...

Each one of my kids is such a special soul.


Jacks is independent. outspokem, brash, dramatic and a jokester.

Em is sweet, fiery, loud, outspoken and a bit over the top :).

I love them so much...




On to today's Challenge...less than a week to go!!!

Creative Challenge Day #25: Today, with the kids back in school I plan on working on a project I started last week. Do you have something you've put off doing for lack of time? Why not take today and put a few more touches on it or try something new!! Let me know how you're doing.

Just what I needed {Day 24}

Yesterday, if you stopped by...you may have noticed I seemed just a wee bit

cranky.

grumpy.

worn out.

I was.

I think I'm feeling better now.

My Challenge to you was to just listen to your soul and let it be your guide for the day. What did it want you to do.

All day my soul was telling me it wanted rest.

It wanted solitude.

It is only when we silent the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts.  ~K.T. Jong

When our lives seem to be spinning our of control and are surrounded by chaos...this is when we need to stop and hear the whispers of truth. 

My energy level was low yesterday. To top it off it rained for most of the afternoon. My soul was telling me to put on my jammies and head downstairs for a leisurely few hours of creating.

However, there was too much to do including a trip to St. Joe for Jackson's orthodontist appointment. 

Strangely enough, it turned out to be a restful trip.


Jackson spent the 40 minute drive texting friends while I just let my mind wander about. 


Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.  ~Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun

Okay, so I wasn't just sitting, I was driving...but it was peaceful. I thought about all kinds of things...but mostly I thought about blog post ideas, project ideas and my goals for the fall {which I will be sharing here in a few weeks} 

After the appointment  I treated myself to a trip to Borders Bookstore where I found the most amazing book on collage techniques!! I can't wait to try all 24 ideas!!! It's like a "collage school". Exciting:)

Inside myself is a place where I live all alone, and that's where I renew my springs that never dry up.  ~Pearl Buck

Here is today's Challenge...

Creative Challenge Day #24:Today's Challenge may seem odd. But today I want you to go for a walk! Nearly 13 years ago fitness became an almost daily occurrence for me. My walks are almost sacred. I say that because of the way they make me feel. Refreshed, de-stressed and usually very, very happy. Many times I'm inspire...d during my walks. Getting our hearts pumping can give our creativity a boost!

 

 

What are your thoughts on solitude? When do you find yourself needing it the most? Please share!!