Be Still and Know

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New Years and Resolutions are upon us.  You can't not see reminders of it all over the internet and social media.  Weight loss goals, financial goals, fitness goals, educational goals.  I like, everyone else, want to start fresh at the beginning of the year.  Over the past several years, I have participated in one word or one little word resolutions.  It's a much simpler way of doing things, focusing on that one word in all aspects of my life.   Words can be very powerful, especially as we ponderize and internalize.

I have chosen words that I really needed at the time and learned much from over the past years.  Some examples of words I have chosen in the past are:

Simplify
Gratitude
Brave
Loved

This year a scripture keeps resonating with me, and I can't quite keep it to one word.  Psalms 46:10

"Be still and know that I am God."  

I almost feel as if this simple scripture encapsulates every one word I have used in the past.

2016 is a year of spiritual growth for me.  While, yes, I have some fitness and weight goals, too, 'Be Still and Know that I am God" sits first and foremost in my mind and heart.

What is your one word or goal for the year?

 

Christmas Journaling - A December Daily

Last year as part of my simplification and savoring, I decided to keep a Christmas journal.  It was part Gandanke journal, part repurposing old Christmas cards and part December Daily.

I used old Christmas card fronts as journaling pages.  They are pretty AND functional.  By recording thoughts, feelings, and activities that brought me closer to the Savior I was able to more fully savor the season.

It is definitely something I am doing again this year, though I am throwing a different twist this year and journaling my answers to the questions posed in Ann Voskamps advent book, the Greatest Gift.

What do you do with old Christmas Cards?

Do you do anything different with your December journaling?

**Originally published on 12/11/2013**

 

Spiritually Preparing for a More Simple Christmas

Back in the day...in the year of our Lord 2012, I wrote a post on my desire to have a more minimalistic Christmas.  It was a quest of mine last year, and you know what?  I think I was successful!  It was a goal in the forefront of my mind, and it was mission accomplished.

I shared my secrets recently to a group of women.  I had a fancy presentation with a powerpoint and everything.  Who knew my hidden talent was public speaking, but when you are sharing something you are passionate about, it isn't too hard...I'd like to share a few suggestions on finding the spirit in a more Simple Christmas that I shared with this group of women...

• Have a Christmas Advent Devotional every morning or evening around the Christmas tree leading up to Christmas
• The Book of Luke has exactly 24 chapters.  God's perfect advent...read a chapter a day about Christ's life right up to Christmas Eve.
• Watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional
• Attend Church services and/or the Temple to partake of the Spirit

"Nothing you buy will make you a better person. 

 Nothing you give will make someone love you more. 

 Spending won't make you happier."

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• Minimize Christmas gifts.  For example, Santa Brings three gifts to symbolized the three gifts brought by the Wise men.
• Make homemade Christmas gifts

• Make homemade Christmas goodies...keep half for "sampling" and half to your neighbors
• Minimize Christmas decorating.  Only put out the most heartfelt decorations with memories attached.  This helps to cut down on stress, too.

Engage your senses

• Christmas scented candles:  Cinnamon, peppermint, pine
• Play Christmas music during the day
• Watch Christmas movies...ABC Family has a 25 Days of Christmas series for Children.  I also love the Lifetime and Hallmark channel Christmas movies.

• Go out for a yummy hot chocolate...or make a hot chocolate bar in your home with all the sweet fixings
• Attend a Christmas music concert.  School choir and band concerts are usually free.
• Go for a drive and look at Christmas lights
• Create a Christmas journal, sometimes referred to as a December daily.  I made mine from old Christmas Cards.  It was very simple.  Document your thoughts and daily ideas on how you are creating a more simple, spirit filled Christmas.  Focusing on gratitude, too.

Concentrate on keeping your stress levels down. 

 The spirit can't dwell in a stressed out vessel.

• Exercise, exercise, exercise - Now is not the time to stop taking care of your body.  Exercise releases naturally occurring endorphins which make you happy and therefore, less stressed.
• Go for a walk in the snow
• Prepare simple healthy meals

Make Christmas an Experience

I once listened to a talk where the man related how one year they were debating whether to renovate a bathroom or take a family trip.  Years later, their grown kids still talk about that family trip.  He didn't think that gathered around the Thanksgiving table their children would have recounted the stories of a bathroom renovation and that awesome toilet.

Last year we had the opportunity to go on a trip right before Christmas.  I was reluctant, because I am a nester and homebody, especially at Christmas.  But, we decided that this would be our gift for Christmas...an experience.  My kids don't remember the trinket gifts we gave, but they do remember the trip.  I'm not saying you have to go on a trip for Christmas, but try to create an experience that your kids might remember.

• Attend a Christmas craft fair
• call a loved one far away
• Read a Christmas book
• Make some crafty Christmas decorations
• Go to a tree lighting
• Go on a sleigh ride
• Play in the snow
• Attend a Christmas carol sing a long
• Walk around the mall and look at all the decorations and busy shoppers and savor the simplicity of the experience you are creating for yourself and your family.

Try to create family friendly time...nothing is a 'have to'.  

Do not set up unrealistic expectations.  

Quit comparing yourself to everyone else.  

Get lots of rest and remember:  

Christ is the true reason for the season.  

***This is one of my favorite Christmas posts.  It originally posted 12/4/2013***

Loved and One Word

In years past, I have focused on various words as a New Years Resolution.  Instead of goals, focus on one thing in all aspects of my life.  It is that one word thing...you can do it, too.

In years past I have focused on Simplify, Grateful, Be Brave.  Every year, the word just seems to find me.  Somehow I have a spiritual epiphany of what exactly I need.

I recently made an order online that included a free gift.  I wanted to give it for Christmas...I had already gotten Ladybug some jewlrey, my mom makes her own jewelry and it seemed a little over the top for Miguel's girlfriend.  I mean she would think I was weird or something.  So, here I have this lovely necklace that just couldn't find it's right owner.  It didn't seem appropriate to give it to myself.  I can't give myself a necklace that says I am loved.  That's presumptuous isn't it?  And sometimes, I don't feel loved.  Trying to deflect all those Satan darts, I sometimes forget that I AM LOVED.  So, I guess what I have decided as my word of the year is LOVED.  I need to focus on feeling loved, realizing that I am loved whether it be from my family or my Savior and accepting that love...feeling worthy of it instead of dismissing it.  I AM worthy of His love.

We all have things we need to work on.  Don't overwhelm yourself with too many goals.  Choose one word that you truly need to learn from.  It has been life changing for me...

 

The Year there were NO Stockings Hung With Care

Life is complicated you know?  Here it is December 23rd, and I still haven't gotten all my decorations out.  I mean getting decorations out would have meant cleaning out a closet in order to access the bulk of my decorations and who has energy for that.  Not me, not lately...My kids just realized that the stockings aren't hung from the chimney with care.  Nope, they are not there.

I'm not being grinchy...just overwhelmed.  We put up the tree because it was in the garage and a small box of red balls that I could reach in that blasted closet.  But that was it...I happened upon a Christmas clearance sale and bought some pinecones and woodsy animals all under $20.  Then in my sacred, few and far between sitting down moments, I made that pom pom garland.  Wallah, Christmas decorations, and a nativity, of course, because I love my Savior.

Here it is December 23rd, the day that has traditionally been set aside as the day of baking and Christmas movies with my daughter, but I made 5 visits today to families trying to spread my Christmas cheer...plus a dentist appointment.  Now I sit on the floor surround by gifts to wrap and there are things to bake, and dinner to make and I feel so completely and utterly overwhelmed and am wondering where is my Christmas cheer.  Did I give it all away?    I know I have lost sight of what this here holiday is all about.  I mean my shoulders are only so broad to carry what I carry and do what I do.

We all struggle with this and that, but this year has been a little more difficult for me.  I suppose I have forgotten my own advice from years past and it feels like sucking on lemons.

Be Brave

Back in 2012, along with many other bloggers, I participated in the Word of the Year.  My word that year was Simplify...I simplified in many areas of my life from physical clutter to spiritual clutter to clutter of my time uses.  Then came 2013, and the word that chose me was Grateful.  That word was life changing and I will forever be focusing on it daily.  Shortly before December I decided that the word of 2014 would be Brave.  I had been asked to teach a group of women on Sundays.  It was a stretch spiritually as well as, my nerves just being frayed speaking in front of my peers.  So Brave for 2014 has become my motto.

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Since then, I have been asked to do even harder things through 2014.  I have been asked to run our Youth organization over the Young women...to be their mentor, their leader, helping them learn to Come Unto Christ.  I have chosen several wonderful, strong, Christ-filled women to serve alongside me.   I am grateful for this experience, and I know that as I Simplify and prioritize, I will have the time to devote to this awesome responsibility.  It is interesting to me how these two words have helped prepare me for being Brave.  However, I am humble and nervous.  Scared, yet excited.  I am a paradox.  I know that as I am Brave, that "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."  Philipians 4:13.

What hard things have you been asked to do? 

Have you chosen a 'Word of the Year'?

 

Frugality, Repurposing and {MMB}

Today I am posting over at MMB.  I'm discussing Living Frugally and Repurposing and the contribution it can make to your home and family.  I'm no expert, but I share some ideas I've picked up over the years.

"When I was a young stay at home mom, I often wondered what it was I financially contributed to the family.  I was often left with low feelings of self worth.  I remember seeing on a talk show once someone compared a stay at home mom to a "kept woman".  I recognized these things as Satan thoughts and his fiery darts were firing away.  What better way to destroy a family, than to start with the degradation of the mother?!  I have never watched a talk show since...."  

Read more here... I'd totally appreciate your feedback and comments.

Dinosaurs and Landlines

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The other day we fully immersed ourselves into the 21st Century.  We've moved into the now, and dusted the past off our shoes and left it at the door.  Strange that I should feel some nostalgia over a landline.  We had that same number for 17 years!  But, landlines are dinosaurs!  I mean who has them anymore? Well, we did!

One day I realized that the only people that call on my landline are phone solicitors and my Mother in Law.  Who wants to pay an extra $60 per month for that?!  And the Mother in Law rarely calls anyway....So...

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KT had express instructions to let his mother know of the change.  First day disconnected...she calls!  Since she rarely calls, I sensed a bit of irony in that.  And the first thing out of her mouth?  "Why didn't you pay your bills?"  Um...yeah...

We did pay our bills, just opted for a little extra cash in our pocket each month...I mean we are paying to support a missionary.  We sided with simplicity...

For your weekend, I hope you can find something to simplify 

whether it is financial, physical or time.

Journals, Oh My!

Remember when I recently blogged on the topic of journals?  I felt, I needed to go there again.  I'm kind of obsessive that way.   You see I am a lover of books, and journals aren't any different.  I love to caress their cover and smell their pages and wonder of the stories that CAN be written within.  I have a fascination with journaling, though I haven't done much of it in the past...at least consistently anyway.  I have many journals for different reasons.

• I have journals containing bits of my own poetry
• Other journals contain others' poetry
• Another is for taking notes and thoughts during church meetings or conferences
• Another journal is for reflection on my scriptures study
• A journal for the funny things my children said and did when they were younger
• I have another journal where I write things I love about my husband or things I have appreciated he has done.  I saw a lovely journal on Dayspring, but came up with my own.  I wish I were more consistent  but when it gets tucked in a drawer I forget.
• I have a journal for regular thoughts and experiences.
• I have my own "Smashbook" creation.
• And, I now have started a Mother/Daughter journal for writing back and forth with Ladybug.  I saw it on Gadanke and could not resist.

It would be lovely if all these thoughts were written in one place instead of scattered amongst a variety of journals, but each has it's own purpose.  Not to mention the fact that I blog, which has become a journal of writing, of sorts, as well.  I guess you could say this is most definitely not an area I have simplified in.  I really love the quote on the top journal, "Happiness is found along the way of this journey."  ~Howard W. Hunter~

These are my favorite pens for journaling and writing.  

They have a nice weight and feel to them.

What are your favorite things about journaling?  

Any creative journal ideas?

**This is not a sponsored post.  I'm just sharing information about a topic I am excited about**

 

Happy New Year: Word of 2013

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Happy New Year!  As we begin anew and make resolutions and goals, I have been thinking on my 2013 word of the year.  I have spent 2012 working on Simplify  my word goal.  I feel I have made great strides in that area and plan on continuing on in my quest for Simplicity.  My 2013 Word of the Year is (drum roll please)..........................

Wellness

Medical Dictionary

wellness  well·ness (wěl'nĭs) 
n. 
 The condition of good physical and mental health, especially when maintained 
by proper diet, exercise,and habits.

The American Herita

For me, Wellness will encompass so much more than just working out.  I will seek wellness and physical well being in all aspect of my life....Spiritual, mental, physical, nutritional, emotional and relationships....basically a Wellness Balance between all aspects of my life.  

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What is your 2013 Word of the year?

Flexibility

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When I say the word flexibility, you are probably thinking of the yoga classes I've added this December.  But, no, I am not talking about the Yoga class I'm taking.  I am, however, talking about my own personal flexibility...not digging in my heals for traditions sake.  I figure this is all part of simplicity.  Getting rid of my expectations, flexibility with traditions and just going with the flow.  Things are going to be different around here...When I say around here, I mean here at my house this Christmas.  And, I seriously think I should get the Gumby Award!  Just sayin'.