Gratitude Journal Monday

Gratitude Journal Monday here already? Wow! Wondering what I'm talking about? Click here.

Every so often even I get a good shot. Thank you!

I'm going to let you in on a little secret; a Law of the Universe that cannot be denied. Ready? This will defy Newton's Law. When you give thanks and appreciation for what you already have or for what you already are, the Universe will reward your gratitude by giving you even more than what you sent out there in the first place. It's true! When you begin to notice your blessings all around you, when you stop and are sincerely thankful for what you have right now, your reward awaits you. Now that makes for a very promising Monday.

136. I am grateful for long, lingering weekends balanced with a little work, a little play, and a little laziness.
137. I am grateful for the ability to hear. I watched a PBS show where everyone was using sign language to communicate and the communication was verbally overdubbed. I found it frustrating to watch the signing be out of sync with the verbal overdubbing.
138. I am grateful for the strength and guidance I get from above. I just wish I was a better listener.
139. I am grateful for all the newspapers dropped off by my gal pal's husband; it was one less thing to worry about when creating the paper mached crocodile head.
140. I am grateful for the creativity gifted to me at times when I really need it. I know I'm not that good on my own - all the glory be to Him.

Goodbye Week. Hello Weekend. Lessons Learned: Take 29.

Goodbye short week of school (which is why this post is late; I slept in today).
Goodbye lunch with great friends at Michael Symon's restaurant, B Spot.
Goodbye yummy pulled-pork sandwich from B Spot that I simply went head-over-heels for.
Goodbye interesting documentary we saw at school last night, Race to Nowhere about the stresses kids face today to excel and to live an over-scheduled life (I'll post about this in more detail soon).
Goodbye to the first part of What I Made Wednesday's Family Rules Project. I am overwhelmed by the interest out there. Thanks so much for visiting!

Hello 4-day weekend and enjoying some downtime.
Hello new snowfall that came in a flurry.
Hello trip to Hobby Lobby to gather supplies for my son's costume (see Lessons Learned below).
Hello bringing to life the Egyptian god Ammut and hoping it turns out looking awesome.
Hello messy, paper mached fingers, glue-gun burned fingertips, and mother-son bonding.


Yes, I know you're curious. Well, my son's school has a 4th grade tradition: The Mummy Wrap. They've been doing this for 30 years and it's sort of a rite of passage for the kids in this grade because it is an annual event that I hear is A-MAZE-ING! The kids are studying early civilizations and have worked their way through with ancient Egypt being the current area of study. Each student is assigned a part including astronomer, doctor, Pharoah and Queen (the ones who have "died" and are to be mummy wrapped), the wrappers, there are so many I can't name all the roles. The roles I have not mentioned yet are the gods during the mummy wrapping ceremony.

Here's the premise: the goddess, Ma'at has a feather that she gives to the god Annubis. Annubis weighs the feather on a scale against the deceased's heart for judgement of a life. If the heart is lighter than the feather, the heart is pure and the deceased is sent to the after-life to live in paradise. If the heart weighs heavier than the feather, the heart is impure and is given to the Devourer of the Dead, Ammut, the Gobbler, to eat. Hence, no ticket to paradise for you! Ammut has a head of a crocodile, a body of a lion, and the hind legs of a hippo. Guess what role my son got? He is so super-excited to play Ammut. He did all his research, wrote down his sources and facts, developed his own script, has it memorized, etc. He is ready to go, except for the costume. So off to Hobby Lobby we go and I have to say, I'm am rather excited about the prospect. My son has drawn his idea on paper so we have a vision. You may not be aware that the needle and thread and I do not get along very well. I don't sew. Period. The lesson I learned this week is no matter how daunting the project, it's nothing a little paper mache, glue sticks, duct tape, and confidence can't solve. Wish us luck!

Judgement

Yeah, that's whipped cream atop my pancake. Are you judging me?

We're human. We judge. It's what we do. We know it's wrong, yet we just can't help ourselves sometimes. There are stereotypes that make judgement so easy to justify. There are insecurities that help raise us up while we judge others by putting them down. Why do we do this? Who isn't familiar with "Judge not lest ye be judged"? Do we recall the biblical advice of taking the beam out of our own eye before removing the speck out of someone else's eye?

It's hard to be human. Yet, it's also so very exciting. Each day we have an opportunity to get it right. We can all control our own thoughts about ourselves and about others. I've decided to make a concerted effort in doing just that by, first, looking in the mirror. It starts with truth and consciously not taking offense. My heart is always in the right place and if it stays there with all my actions, then I know I've done good, regardless of perception. So, go ahead and add whipped cream to your pancake at breakfast sometimes. I know if I did that every day it would be the wrong decision for me. Remember, conviction is OK. That's that little voice inside you saying you may not be making the best choice. But, thanks to grace and redemption, we are never condemned by our actions. Whew!

Today's post is true to its label, "Random Ramblings". My mind was racing from one idea to another and today's words are what came out. Sorry for being all over the place in thought.

What I Made Wednesday {Family Rules Project} Part One

3 gal pals, 3 families, 3 projects: Awesome Results!

I'm so excited to share this project with you that I can hardly contain myself. My fingers can't type fast enough, I can't upload the pictures fast enough, I can't get it all out fast enough. Which is why I've decided to S-L-O-W it down a bit and make this project into a 3, yes I said it, a three-parter! Some of you crafty people out there will know what to do with this project and get it done in mere days. Others of you might be intimidated by all the steps required to get this project done. This is why we're going to take it step-by-step, detail-by-detail, and really include lots of pictures and instructions for even the amateur crafter because I think this project is really THAT important.

Why do I think this project is important? Because it will bring your family together. Oh, don't worry, your family doesn't have to do any of the crafting, that is unless they want to, but the main portion, the most important portion of this project is about bringing the family together and talking about what your family's mantra is going to be about; you'll discuss what's important to your family unit and summarize those thoughts into a beautiful, handmade piece of artwork to remind each of you daily what it means to be part of YOUR family.

I didn't want to hoard all the fun of this project for myself so I asked two gal pals of mine to participate. They would never admit to being crafty but their results may make them converts. Awesome job, ladies! What I love about the three of us doing the same project (besides all the lunches, Hobby Lobby shopping, girl-talk, etc.) is how different each one came out. So, even if you don't consider yourself crafty, I encourage you to give this project a try. By making it into a 3-part series of instructions over the next several weeks it'll be less overwhelming and you can really take it at your own pace.

This project certainly isn't a new concept and has been flying around the Internet for quite some time. Here's a link to see where I got my inspiration, click here.


What You'll Need
For those of you who like to work ahead I'll include a list of EVERYTHING you'll need for this project. For those of you who are taking it nice and slow, you'll only need the first 8 items to get started.

- Your family, to meet with and come up with some Family Rules that represent what's important to you
- Coordinating scrapbook paper for each rule plus an extra sheet for your "Family Rules" header (scrapbook paper can be 8.5x11 or 12x12 inches)
- Alphabet stickers for the "Family Rules" header measuring larger than the point-size of your "rules"
- Blank canvas (my canvas was larger than my gal pals' canvas - mine measured 14x18 and both gal pals went with a smaller size of 10x14, - you'll have to determine the space where you'll hang your Family Rules and decide accordingly.)
- Computer
- Printer
- Wide paint brush
- Paint, color coordinating with where you'll be hanging your "Family Rules" and with your scrapbook paper

- Scissors
- Mod Podge
- Picture hanging hardware kit
- Picture frame for canvas, optional
- Fabric coordinating with color scheme, optional
- 3M Command Strips, optional depending on your project's design (more detail in Week 3)


What You'll Do
It all begins with holding a family meeting. One gal pal of mine made it an extra fun event with her family. They ordered pizza one night and just sat around the kitchen table throwing out ideas and brainstorming what was important to them. When creating your family rules, be sure to highlight ideas. Depending on your canvas size, you are limited in space no matter what you do so keep things simple. Who wants to be bogged down with too many rules? At the very most, 10 rules should be sufficient enough for any family. Remember, they're not really "rules" per se, just ideas and reminders that are important to your family unit.

Once you've hashed out, and re-hashed, your family rules, it's time to pick some fonts for each rule. Sit at your computer and play around with all the fonts you have available to you in your word processing program like MS Word. There should be enough standard fonts that come with the program for you to choose from and still allow for many options. Print out each rule in the font you were thinking about using and have another family meeting to discuss the choices.

When you finalize your Family Rules and the font (no need to finalize on size of the lettering just yet) you'll have to decide where you want to hang this thing of beauty. Decide on the space you have to work with and determine the size of your canvas. You'll have to keep in mind that your option is to add a frame around your canvas which, of course, will add more width and height to your final masterpiece.

Hobby Lobby Fun

Time to take a field trip to your local craft store to pick-up your canvas and coordinating scrapbook papers. Pick what you like and don't worry about fitting the paper through your printer as we'll cut it down to size. The width of each paper strip for each Rule will measure 11 inches when all is done. A note about scrapbook paper: 1) be sure the paper is laser-printer friendly (yes there are papers out there that ONLY work with ink jet printers), and 2) be careful about picking papers with too much pattern as your words will be camouflaged when you go to print. While at the store, don't forget to get your canvas and your alphabet stickers for your "Family Rules" header.

My gal pals hard at work.

When you get home, choose a coordinating paint for the canvas. It should work well in your designated space along with complimenting your scrapbook papers. Take your wide paint brush and paint your canvas. Don't forget the sides! You won't have to paint the middle since it won't be seen once your papers are laid.

What You'll Need to Know to Finish, for now
OK, still with me? This is a good stopping point. Let the paint on your canvas dry. Start playing around with your scrapbook papers and what order you would like them to be in. Also, start thinking about what order you want your finalized family rules to be in and which papers you want assigned to each rule.

All for now. See you next week for Part 2. If you have ANY questions, please drop me an e-mail listed in my "View My Complete Profile" found in the left column. Just click!


To Summarize
This week you will:
* Gather the family and finalize your family rules
* Procure your canvas and paint it
* Pick your scrapbook papers
* Choose your fonts for each rule


What's important is the family togetherness of this project. Have fun with it and expect a great experience.

Eastern Orthodox Christmas: January 7

In last Friday's post I mentioned I'd be celebrating my second Christmas on January 7, the Eastern Orthodox Christmas. Although it's the same holiday as Christmas celebrated on December 25, the Eastern Orthodox tradition follows the Julian calendar, recognized long before the Gregorian calendar our days are based on today. If you are interested in finding out why we as a society abandoned the Julian calendar for the Gregorian calendar, click here.


My whole life I have been lucky enough to celebrate both Christmas days. As a child you can imagine what a thrill it was for me! What is interesting is that the Christmas I celebrate on January 7 is more subdued and simple when compared to the grandeur of decked halls, spiked eggnog, and shimmering lights on a tree on December 25. January 7 is bursting with tradition and I wanted to share some of those here with you.

Christmas Eve is referred to as Badnje Vece. During the day, we do not consume any meat, egg, or dairy products. This fast is not broken until Christmas morning. We do have a meal of fish and potatoes before heading out to the church service. At the church an oak tree is sparsely decorated with oranges, apples, nuts, and paper streamers. This is the badnjak, or Yule log, and it is burned after the church service. Luckily, the children are able to pick the fruit and nuts off the tree prior to it being lit aflame. Each person is able to bring home with them a small branch from the oak tree for their own home to decorate. Also, we bring home a small handful of hay that has been blessed by the church. The hay, of course, signifies Christ's humble birth. My son lights a candle in memory of loved ones that have departed and it's always a good time to remember those people.

On Christmas Day we say these words to each person we greet, "Hristos se Rodi! (Christ is born!" And the other person responds with, "Voistinu se Rodi! (Indeed He is born!)" I always try to greet the person first since the first phrase is easier to say.

The morning breakfast consists of a corn meal porridge. The tradition is to look into the porridge and try to see your reflection. The porridge is typically sheathed with butter so seeing your reflection is pretty much a given. With the mirror of butter atop the porridge I wouldn't think the American Heart Association would approve, but it's tradition!

The next part of the meal is the round-loafed bread. Hidden inside is a coin. Everybody gathers around the bread and grabs hold of a portion of it then pulls their piece in hopes their portion has the coin. The person lucky enough to have found the coin is to have luck all year!

Another fun tradition is walnut bowling. You pile the walnuts high, stand back aways, then bowl your walnut into the walnut stack, hoping to get a strike. My dad and son love playing this game together.

I hope you enjoyed a glimmer into my Christmas traditions for January 7. Does anyone else out there celebrate Christmas on the same day?

Gratitude Journal Monday

Ahhh! Another Monday gifted to us - imagine the possibilities today holds. To jazz things up a bit I've decided to make my declarations of gratitude today with a twist. Want to play? I'll be declaring my gratitude with words that start with the first letter of my name, "L". Go ahead and try it with the first letter of your first or last name. This will be fun! And, if you're not quite sure what a Gratitude Journal is all about, click here to find out more.


131. I am grateful for this day to Love.
132. I am grateful for this day to Live.
133. I am grateful for this day to Learn.
134. I am grateful for this day to Laugh.
135. I am grateful for this day to Listen.

Thanks for being here. I hope you give this a try today. Happy Monday!

Goodbye Week. Hello Weekend. Lessons Learned: Take 28.

Goodbye back on a regular schedule and being tired as all get-out.
Goodbye snowstorm and slow driving.
Goodbye Etsy for Dummies reading and taking lots and lots of notes.
Goodbye killing time and pondering better solutions.
Goodbye warm-cuddle wake-up calls on bitter-cold mornings.

Hello Christmas celebration #2 on January 7th (Christmas Day on the Julian calendar).
Hello wanting to know more about Orthodox Christmas, click here.
Hello more gifts, more food, more family-time, more fun.
Hello undecking the halls of Christmas decor for another year.
Hello lots and lots of thank you cards.


It's when life's everyday experiences intermingle into life's lessons that just jolt me awake and I get revelation. We had a pretty severe snowstorm the first day back at school and I puttered along the highway road barely seeing where I was going. I kept pushing the washer fluid button to clear my windshield to make it crystal clear. But, seconds later I couldn't see again so I'd push the fluid button, over and over again. I like to have a clear view. I need to be able to see what is in front of me clearly. But, sometimes, this is not possible. Sometimes through the storms and harsh weather there cannot be clarity. So, what do you have through the blur? Trust and belief. Sometimes in life you can't see what's in front of you very clearly. But you have to trust that you'll get to something good. You'll get to that final destination in one piece, even if the vision isn't crystal clear. Eventually, slowly, we got to school that morning in one piece. Note to self: buy more windshield wiper fluid!