I decided that this year I was going to begin again to try to spread KINDNESS around like confetti. It is a great thing to do all year, but it is especially wonderful for LOVE month…and also RAK week.
Take this link and post it. share it. do it… SPREAD LOVE & KINDNESS.
Please do SOMETHING to teach LOVE and KINDNESS to those around you and spread it …KINDNESS IS contagious!!
We have enough garbage going around…spread something SO GOOD FOR EVERYONE.
I just wanted to put together something that could help in some way.
YAY FOR RAK KINDNESS DAY….and RAK WEEK (February 14-20 this year)
Get out and do RAK’s and then strive to do a little more and a little more and….BOOOM…you can’t stop.
JUST BEGIN!!
HAPPY DAY.
XOXOXO
PS almost all the images were from Pexels. Thank you beautiful photographers.
PEACE. LOVE. LIGHT. KINDNESS in all you do. xoxo. -H
THEN….you can actually answer this question to your fullest.
WHAT TREASURES DID YOU FIND THIS YEAR? As I ask myself this question and I immediately gravitated to LOVE LETTERS TO MYSELF that I have been writing ONLY since September. For me, seeking a deeper connection with something greater than myself has been a need, I should say longing. When you begin to ask a simple question and then just write what comes to you…its like a secret portal for the soul. Its like another layer to your own story. For me, there is magic in finding the hidden places within yourself. There is a necessary connection to a higher place when you have this knowing that there is more beyond your own stories you tell. There is something greater beyond what you can see and feel and a knowing that you are just a conversation away from that existence. It is a gift. I highly suggest you try it.
Another treasure that I would say….LONG-DISTANT LOVE….TIME WITH THOSE YOU CARE ABOUT. This comes in two-fold. My little family got into a job crisis that caused my sweet husband to pick up and move to a different state so we could financially survive. At one point this year—-I was in one home on the Oregon Coast, my daughter in her apt a couple hours away on her college campus and my husband in an apartment in Montana. Talk about long-distance. We have all been living separate lives, which has been life-changing and also eye-opening. My husband didn’t truly appreciate living in Oregon & his time on the coast–he genuinely just wanted to move back to Utah. Now, he lives in Montana and now talks about just needing to get back home, to Oregon. Sometimes we have to truly lose something to genuinely appreciate it, right? Well, the three of us have been home all together for the holidays. It has been weeks of quality time, laughs, memories, moments creating memories, lots of movies, games and time together. We constantly just keep saying how nice it is to be all together. We are cherishing this time because in a couple of weeks we will all be alone again (my daughter doing a study exchange in France, husband back to work in Montana) and having our long-distance relationships. I don’t think you REALLY appreciate those closest to you until they are gone…or at least…at a distance for a period of time. IF anyone out there is not feeling the love for those closest to you—-maybe take an extreme route and have an extended period of time away to truly find your feelings…to unearth the treasures that you have lost.
The other gift—MY DAD…almost losing my Dad to a five-valve bypass of his heart. He was a walking dead man..that survived. I looked at a picture of him taken for Christmas and thought, “he was almost not even here for that moment…that picture.” Since I am out of the state I flew in to spend some time with him after the surgery. Talk about life-altering. My Dad has always been the picture of health drinking his “green juice” every morning with his supplements, playing pickle-ball with guys half his age, so really he could have probably been gone a long time ago if he had not taken such care for himself. Good for you, Dad!! My Dad has always been the spark that ignites the fun in the family. The guy who works so hard to get family together to make those connections. He has been the one who strives to make it to grandkids recitals or swim meets or soccer games. He truly enjoys his family and those connections. They are his treasure and we almost lost him!! He is the families treasure and we are so grateful to still have him around.
OH, LOLA….This was definitely a treasure and a heart-break. To see the genuine love and care that my husband gave to our beloved dog at the end of her life. To see him sacrifice and clean and wrap her decaying body that was being savaged by cancer and just love her through so deeply. I have seen my husband take care of both of his Dads at the end of their life and I know the great, sincere care he gives, but to see his genuine, deep love for our dog was another level. I watched him with such admiration and bravery as we all escorted one another to the vet to say goodbye. It tore my little family apart. We were all in such tears of despair. To see my daughter so bravely handle such a hard situation, I will never forget. She was stronger and braver than me. I couldn’t be so brave. It was an incredibly heartbreaking day, but our family was there together. The treasure was giving so unconditionally to this little dog that loved so deeply. A dog that my husband didn’t want in the beginning (four years earlier) was now a dog that he has cherished and loved on another level. It was so good to witness such love….that was a treasure. Our Lola…such a gift.
LIVE WITH INTENTION…Learning to be more intentional in all I do from one of our sweet 90 something neighbors who takes time to HANDwrite long cards, she says thank you for every little detail of a gift you give (even down to a banana), she takes yarn and has special knots she ties to make handmade ornaments. She lovingly puts little pieces of herself in all she does. I have boxes of little details she has made that I don’t dare get rid of because I have never met anyone like her. She is a treasure. Thank you beautiful, Patty. You are an incredible example to ALL around you. xoxo
Another treasure—LOTS OF LITTLE MOMENTS that CREATE BIG MEMORIES. Seeing my daughter look up at a giant Redwood tree this year in awe. Watching my daughter laugh with her Dad at funny videos on social media. Walking through the forests where we live and walking strand lines of the ocean together. Seeing my husband so excited to take out tumbled agates after they have been rock polished. Looking at pictures of our beloved dog, Lola that we lost and will never forget. Taking my brothers ashes to the ocean and having them blow back at me into my hair. Love you, Scotty. You will always be with me. haha. Always reading loving letters from my little family. The sincere happiness my husband shared with me in videos, photos and enthusiasm over the phone with his many beloved fishing trips in Yellowstone this summer or his joy at a new pop-up camp tent to make his weekend campouts alone bearable. Finding and seeing JOY in those you care about—priceless gem. My sweet husband giving me one of my beloved childhood stories (The Velveteen Rabbit) and then being able to read it to my daughter this holiday season while she was sick. Lying by myself on the wet, golf tee box and looking straight up into the sky with a prayer and seeing a bird so high up in the sky. It was a beautiful moment to feel like what it would be like looking down from heaven (a very big—I see you moment) . Walking the beach with my Jonny when he is home is a priceless gift and treasure—I appreciate it even more now. Just time together is more appreciated, whether its simply driving to get gas or walking a thrift/antique store together. Seeing the colorful northern lights from the coast with my little family and taking fun photos. Having sunrise and sunset moments with my daughter over the past few months I will always cherish. Seeing my daughter’s excitement and hearing her happiness as she experienced so many different places in the world this year—Her independent adventures & day trips that brought her such happiness—sea shells & big outdoor showers in Fiji…the smallest dolphins, blue penguins, fur seals and Mtn hikes in New Zealand, so many moments & places in France with someone she loves…so many memories of her pure Joy! So memorable. Watching baking shows together and having our family Survivor binge watches are always great treasured time together. Having my daughter break down in tears after I surprised her with a decorated Christmas tree in her room (knowing she had no time to decorate) Watching my sweet daughter mature and grow in her relationships with friends, family and falling in love. Its amazing to see such growth from those you care so deeply about. My sweet dog, Teag that makes me feel so loved and cared about (he has been a huge help when I am all alone) & the little moments when we literally stretch together each morning. Having sincere conversations with my brother and feeling like I am a safe place for him & he for me. Feeling loved and appreciated by valued friends & neighbors. Giving our neighborhood a small lantern fest on Christmas Eve & having people grateful for the light. Convertible rides along the coast with favorite music. Inspired podcasts full of inspiration and life lessons. Books to share wisdom. Music that can transport you to special decades of your life…even a dance, a kiss, a lifetime moment. We were just reminiscing with our daughter about when she was a newborn and how we would stay up watching MTV and listen to the song “Running” by No Doubt & how that song can take us back to that sweet moment in time. It is amazing the power music has….really all of our senses–they take us back to so many places. Which brings me to Photo moments that can touch you with a treasured moment from yesterday to 20 years ago. It is amazing how talking, sharing, seeing, feeling little moments can take you right back to those special, treasured spaces of your life.
EVERY DAY Every day is full of little treasured moments. Write them down or snap a shot so that you hold onto them even longer. It is the moments that are the real treasures in our lives. We live and seek and find them every single day. The moments are what make our lives really rich…..with the things that matter the very most. Those are the real gems. Hold on to those with all your heart. xoxo
Asked my family for their “reaction”Treasures”: They talked about one or two memory highlights from the past year & one tangible thing you could actually put into a treasure chest. Jon–Memory from this past year—walking the streets of our neighborhood, pretty brown trout that I caught that he can still replay back in his mind. Tangible thing—pontoon boat that allowed him to float some amazing rivers. Kate—tangible jewelry that represents various moments and very meaningful memories…photos…moments, intentional photo moments or selfie moments…brings the memories of places, people and important moments to her and her life.
There are sooo many moments for everyone. Take the time to even write down or reminisce over some of the many memories made over the last year. That in itself is a gift—to hear what is meaningful and memorable to one another is a priceless treasure. Take the time together.
HAPPIEST NEW YEAR. May you find everything you hope for…long for…need…wish for…desire…seek…may you find it. xoxo
How lucky we are to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. -Winnie the Pooh
I just got off the phone with my Dad explaining the sad, but loving situation of having to put our dog, our beautiful LOLA LOVE to sleep and send her to heaven. My Dad has never been a dog person and personally admitted to me that he could never understand how people could become so attached to their animals. He thought it was kind of ridiculous. He got off the phone with me and we were both in tears. He had expressed his deep love and care and a genuine understanding of what people feel and go through during such a loss. He thanked me for a lesson he needed to feel and understand. It was a very sweet conversation with my parents. Thank you Mom and Dad for being so genuine in your care, compassion and heartfelt sincerity. It is in moments of this deep sorrow we need to show up for one another and just be compassion. Thank you. xoxo
Lola Lessons
LOLA had so many lessons to share. This little dog came to us malnourished, would literally hide away, poop and eat her poop because she had been so abused. We don’t know her entire story but the bits and pieces we do know—abused by a husband on a farm [he threatened to kill Lola, so the wife was trying to find her a home before Lola was seriously injured]; she lived with multiple dogs [why she LOVED food and ate everything as fast as she could in one sitting & was very territorial for awhile with food]; a child that had mental problems and would just pop bubble wrap [why Lola hated certain noises and would run away]; a woman that had her own problems emotionally & was in no place to take care of anyone. When we got Lola she had recently had a surgery [that we just assumed was a benign tumor], so the first thing we did was get her a cone so she could not lick the wound. Lola was not use to eating food, so after the first couple of weeks of eating she became really sick & literally found a place in our backyard to hide out and die. We couldn’t find her one afternoon & after hours of searching we found her hidden behind the air conditioner system under a bush. She was not well. We did all we could to make her feel loved and cared for.
Then there was our other dog, Teag. The very reason why we felt we needed another dog, so he would not be as anxious when we would leave the house. He and Lola met, were fine, but ignored each other for awhile. Lola even got territorial if he got near her. She had an attitude and so did he. He would get jealous of any and all attention Lola got. It was a tough situation for awhile. They finally started getting use to each other. Teag even started to wag his tail (which he had never done) and Lola began to learn how to play growl and play with toys because of Teag. They were learning to love, play, care and it was sweet. They still just tolerated one another but with a fond friendship woven in. I remember the first time they actually sat together on one of our ottomans and their bums were touching. All of us cheered with happiness, “look their bums are touching.” Eventually they could sit on the same pillow with no growling and we knew they were finally friends. When they would be on walks together—they were a terrible tag team!! If there was a female dog anywhere near by Lola was on it to protect her little man. Lola always had Teag’s back. They were loyal friends. Was there still jealousy and attitude on occasion—always from Teag, but Lola just turned into nothing but Love. She would occasionally throw her weight around to get her way, but there was no question she loved him.
We have had our little Lola for a little over three and a half years. AND after 3.5 years she FELT so much LOVE, but we ended up FEELING and receiving even more LOVE from our LOLA. She became a sincere gift to our family. That may not seem like a very long time, but with this sweet dog—not long enough. She just came to genuinely LOVE our family and we fell deeply in love with her. Her sweet, loving spirit is definitely missed in our home and it has been hard to see her dog dishes, her little, turquoise fleece she would wear everywhere, her toys she loved, the spots she would lay down in our house, her blankets….She would have weekend slumber parties with our daughter when she was home for the weekends from college. She had special places she pulled the leash to go on walks and every time we ventured to a certain green space we called “dog island” her and Teag would jump around and rush to the door. She was full of joy! Another funny story were the squirrels on our deck. Lola would sit at the back, glass door and not move her head but her giant eyes would slowly watch the squirrel get closer and closer. Her body did not flinch and then to see her big eyes follow the squirrels every move & then watch her head slowly begin to move with such intention…priceless. [You had to be there to see it. ] She would have the most intentional stares as you talked to her. She had these big, beautiful puppy dog eyes that seemed to hang on your every glance and conversation you would have with her. AND, don’t even mention, if you said, “treat” or “chicken” she would jump for JOY and almost dance to show and share her excitement. She was a different dog than the Lola who was broken and sad when she first arrived. Despite everything—she always had a loving, no worries soul. She always did her best & had the best attitude. She had a prissy walk, was totally a girly girl and she even had the tiny feet and the walk to prove it. She is and will only be THE ONE AND ONLY LOLA LOVIE…HELLOLA…LOWLY…GOLDEN GIRL…GIRLIE…DOG DAUGHTER. Our LOLA had a zest for life, she would hear a flock of birds flying over head and stop and watch them fly by. She would come across a newt in the yard and gently smell and watch it. She had her paths she liked to walk and lit up at any opportunity to go in the car or on a walk. She loved more than anything to be with her people.
In the end…’having a dog will bless you with many of your happiest days of your life, and one of the worst.’
My husband called her his, “dog daughter” and selflessly has been serving and caring for her health necessities for months. We found out about six months ago that she had cancer and that it had spread to her lungs and she would probably only have a few “good months.” It was a sad blow, but it was harder watching the hole that they took the biopsy tissue get bigger and bigger, not healing, and her body slowly rotting. She would literally smell and lick every spot she would lie down. She did not want to leave a mess or be a burden for anyone. Sadly, we had to pull out the cone for night time sleeps or when we were not around and she was alone because the smell and pain were just too much and she would lick the wound any chance she had. [She had a cone when we first got her and when we would finally have her, sadly—full circle]. My sweet husband bathed and wrapped her wounds morning and night to try to ease her smell and pain. It was a beautiful labor of love. Lola started getting a cough and we knew things were just going to get worse and her health would spiral quickly. We did not want this beautiful, loving, loyal, sweetest little thing to suffer.
In the last couple of weeks, she became even more close—she wanted to always be touching, cuddling, loving on someone. She did not want to be alone. The last few days we all slept on our big, feather couch just to make her comfortable and all be together.
I wrote this in my notes a few days earlier, “As her body slowly rots and the stench becomes unbearable. We wonder how she can stand to feel this way, Yet, every moment she can—-she follows, curls up next to us, wags her tail at any attention, affection or glance. She does not want to be alone in the end.”
Our little LOLA til the very end just kept wagging her tail, smelling and licking up any possible fluids from her body, and just happy to be near anyone. Her spirit was only LOVE. She ran as fast as she could with Teag, she explored, smelled everything she could possibly smell, ate all the treats and just left a huge hole of LOVE in our hearts.. She will always be with us. LOVE YOU, LOLA.
Moments I cannot forget & need to remember
A few sweet moments I don’t want to forget: How brave my beautiful daughter was during Lola’s passing. She was in-tune to Lola’s needs. I couldn’t go through with everything & at one moment I had to leave—it was just too much for my heart. My daughter was strong and helped my sweet husband—they held her tight and were there. They both said it was the hardest experience they have ever had. My husband said, “How could our Lola dying be harder than losing both of my Dad’s?” I said, “because they are so unconditional. Humans struggle in that. Animals are there and effortlessly just love.”
‘BE THE PERSON YOUR DOG THINKS YOU ARE.’ -CJ FRICK My husband got home to our house and broke down in tears, “I miss her so much. I miss taking care of her and feeling like she needed me.” I immediately broke down, “I need you.” We just balled together. It was a huge, very emotional day for all of us. This was so tender to see the sweet relationship that had developed between my husband and Lola. When we first were looking at her and talking about buying her, my husband was not excited and definitely did not want to pay for her. He was going along with the consensus. He did NOT want another dog. Obviously, Lola was not just some dog. Lola and him created such a love affair. She would daily wander down and bump open his office door to just sit on his floor near his desk to be near him. It was so sweet to see them together. Such LOVE was shared.
‘DOGS ARE OUR LINK TO PARADISE’. -Milan Kundera On the way to the vet the sky had bright, blue patches with clouds. We passed some lovely, green fields by my daughters apartment and I just had this thought, “Why can’t this be easier. Why can’t we just let Lola out of the car, watch her run effortlessly into this gorgeous field, headed for the blue sky & poof, heaven takes her in a glimpse. We just smile watching her run and blowing her our love and kisses for her next life.” It was a beautiful image. One that I keep thinking about & trying to imagine that is how it is.
Another thing I don’t want to forget. I had to leave the room because when they sedated Lola she began to whimper and it became too hard for me. BUT, on the way home, I was sobbing and I heard the same whimper sound coming from within me. Like a flood of emotion that washed over me, I felt, “that is the same sound as Lola’s whimper. She was making that sound because of how much she was going to miss us.” A huge wash of peace hit me as I shared that sweet sentiment with my husband. He broke down and so appreciated that thought. He needed to hear that because the whole experience was so hard.
We will genuinely miss our beautiful LOLA LOVIE but we know she is running in a lush, green field with a bright blue sky beyond the horizon with butterflies dancing around, birds flying over head and her little body not feeling any pain…just LOVE. A LOVE SO DEEP THAT OUR SWEET WHIMPERS CAN BE FELT from ONE ANOTHER—it is like a sweet circle of LOVE that goes from our loving LOLA to us on earth and back to her. We have a beautiful connection from heaven to earth.
LOVE YOU, LOLA
We MISS you soo much. You have left a BEAUTIFUL, HAPPY, LOVING hole in our hearts that will never be filled until we hug you again…one day. XOXOXO
Don’t cry because its over, SMILE because it happened. -dr seuss
I am SOO genuinely HAPPY we had this beautiful soul in our life. I SMILE now because we got the short time to LOVE and be LOVED by her. xoxo LOVE YOU LOLA
Peace, Love and Light to you. -H
PLEASE go hug those furry LOVES you have in your life and be so grateful to hug them now & forever.
“At every turning point of my life, I can see your smiling face and my teary eyes.” -SB
Googled “Life Turning Points” and this is what came up: A Turning Point is a critical time in your life where big decisions could lead to big change, both in work and in life.
OR another point of view The idea of turning points in our lives is a powerful one. It’s the idea that at a certain point, a big event happens that changes your life irrevocably. -huffingtonpost
Some turning points are conscious, others less so…But all involve turning away from one path, and towards another. And they shape the self that you experience and define as “you,” along the way. -Psychology today
My husband and his six sisters have been facing a rather big turning point for the past week. There Dad that is 71 has been diagnosed with an extremely rare disease (one in one and a half million people) that is eating his brain at a rapid rate and stealing his life from them. It came out of nowhere and has been a very heavy and tragic time that has humbly brought them together, but has also left them feeling many why’s. They are at a daily turning point of questioning God; wondering why their Dad has to suffer more and more each day; watching people come and go with sorrowful goodbye’s, yet the family still trying to get through the shallow breaths of death each night. He is on the brink of death and at one point just asked them to let him die. It has been dementia on steroids, leaving them all with an empty shell of a man at points, hallucinating the next and then completely lucid. My husband has walked in on him a few times & his body is in motion as if stringing a fishing rod & even biting the line off with his teeth. It is a horrible disease that quickly takes over and it has been a rollercoaster of emotion for everyone.
Each day has been different for each one of the family member’s who stay up all night watching…waiting…wondering when he will take his last breath. They all wonder where he goes when he seems to just be a shell. One day one of his daughter’s who had not slept and was running on a very emotionally empty tank had a psychotic episode and the hospital almost admitted her to the psyche ward for her erratic behavior. She was at a turning/tipping point of her overall experience. She had to step back and have family members force her to sleep, to bring her back to reality, so she could be present as her Dad passes.
The family has been each dealing with their own turning points in different ways. My husband is almost like the father to all of his six sisters. He always has been. He is in the middle of three older and three younger sisters. He is the only boy and they have always relied on him over their own Dad, so nothing is new to him. This is just a different level of a turning point—he is holding their hands each day as they express their feelings, their fears, their needs. His emotional tank is running low, but each day is a turning point of how he will handle each situation with care. He is learning more about himself, more about selfless love, more about unconditional love and servant leadership. I called him and expressed my deep love and appreciation for the man he is & admire how hard he is trying to serve everyone involved. He is better than me. I could not do what he is doing each day.
Turning points have different viewpoints. [Think of yourself standing at a crossroad of two paths–two different viewpoints or life turning points] I may step back from one emotional road & admire how someone else is traveling it. I try to take it in and see it from someone else’s perspective and hope that when I am in the midst of traveling a similar road, that I could handle it with some sort of grace, dignity and selfless action. I can only hope.
Everyone has their journey & each path will be different. BUT Some turning points are conscious, others less so…But all involve turning away from one path, and towards another. And they shape the self that you experience and define as “you,” along the way. -Psychology today
May we each look at each step along our journey and find our best self. May we always seek to learn, grow and strive to be a better version of ourselves along the way.
Peace to all today—Especially my sweet husband and his sisters. Bless you all through this journey. I know it has been a beautiful, but very hard and painful road. xoxoxo
“The turning point in the process of growing up is when you discover the core of strength within you that survives all hurt.” -Max Lerner
My daughter has loved and believed in magic her whole life & I wouldn’t change it for anything!! She has always enjoyed the magic of a jolly, fat man bringing good will and gifts to cheer children. She has had a family of fairies that she has fed chocolate brownies on mini tea sets. We have made fairy houses since she was little. We have had every magical holiday possible, even our very own, made up holiday on May 1st that we celebrate as “Fairy day.” Her childhood has been full of magic, whimsy and wonder.
So, a few of her younger cousins have adored my daughter’s whimsical fairy land & always watch and wonder as she tells them imaginative stories of magic. My daughter loves to nurture the wonder and magic in her tiny cousins. It is so fun!!
So, a couple of these tiny cousins (who are under the age of 10) have wished and made their own fairy houses in hopes of having their own piece of magic. Well, I happened to find a couple of the same fairies that my daughter has on Amazon for a crazy low price, so I told my daughter that maybe we should surprise her little cousins & leave them on their door step with a special fairy note. My daughter was SO excited and knew the little girls would LOVE it!! We put our plan into action, ordered them & then went about delivering them.
It was SO FUN!! One of her tiny cousins parents were going on an overnighter, so we were invited to come over for the evening and play. We knew this would fit very well into our fairy delivery. We went and played for a couple of hours, I snuck out of their house & grabbed the fairy from my car & left it on their porch. About an hour later the kids were all walking out the front door to go on and walk & what did they find???
A special fairy box with a note addressed to the two youngest little girls. They were SO excited & instantly began trying to figure out where to put the fairy, how to make her bed…it was a flurry of excitement. Even the young boys in the family began talking about making a ladder and hammock out of sticks and leaves. It turned into a creative spring of JOY for everyone!! It was so fun. Their little imaginations ran wild with excitement. It went on for hours…special lighting, a special rock for food, an acorn trail…It was so fun!!
The next day when the parents arrived home to hear all about the new arrival, their Dad told them he didn’t believe in fairies.
I heard this and my heart sank. I felt so bad.
So, my question is this. Who nurtures imagination and creativity? Children are naturally creative and have an imagination, but if adults so easily squash the magic, the whimsy, the imagination—what happens?
I think we have a role as parents to encourage creative play, to foster their imagination, to ‘play along’ to help them develop their own stories, to write their own endings & not have the ‘adult’ come in and squash the child dreams or the childlike wonder that seeks to find its voice. That is my opinion.
I think this video (below) perfectly illustrates the child vs the adult perspective. Perspectives change, so let our children be little, let them dream, let them imagine having mermaid tails or shark mouths. Let them be little. Let them create their world of their youth, because the world will take it away soon enough. If we don’t nurture their childhood, who will?
I LOVE this video. Enjoy.
Nurture their dreams, put them to bed with stories of wonder, give them gifts that delight in magic. Childhood is too short, so let them be dreamers, creators and let us help them explore their imaginations.
This is also a great video on this topic. Love it!!
Here is another article on ways to nurture your child’s imagination https://www.bubhub.com.au/hubbub-blog/5-simple-ways-to-nurture-your-childs-imagination/
With Halloween quickly approaching I thought it would be fun to put together some ideas to celebrate the many spirits of Halloween. Pick and choose what fits your personality. Enjoy!!
Are you more of a TRICK or TREAT person?
My husband I believe would be both!! He loves a great trick on someone & he loves the treats. I have to share a funny trick he played recently–He was camping out in high mountain country and before the camping trick we talked about pulling a great trick on the brother-in-laws that would be going on this trip. My husband and I talked and planned a very good (some would say MEAN) trick & it went really well. My husband took a small, portable speaker that had a remote that was controlled by his phone. On his phone he put an app that had a “Bear sound.” In the middle of the night, when everyone was in bed, my husband hit the button & the bear sound began. It sounded like a bear was snorting and moving in the woods behind them. First, our brother-in-law, Dan heard the sound & yelled, “Did you guys hear that?” One of our other brothers, Bud was quietly listening to his earphones & only heard Dan yell. Bud began to move around & listen for any noise. Then my husband hit the button again. He could not help lying in his tent laughing quietly to himself. Dan immediately yelled, “Did you hear that? We have something in the bushes.” Dan quickly moved to his tent for his bear spray. By this time my brother, Bud was lacing up his running shoes as fast as he could. My husband stepped out of his tent, waiting to see what was going to happen. My husband climbs out of his tent to find Dan reading the can of bear spray with his headlamp & Bud getting dressed as quickly as possible. My husband grinned to himself & hit the button again. Dan began looking with his light for any movement in the bushes, aiming his bear spray & ready for anything. Dan looked at my husband and Bud, “Do you see anything?” he asked. My husband calmly replied, “I see a speaker!!” Dan said, “What?” My husband busted out laughing & pointing at the speaker. They were all ready to kill him. An hour later, Dan yelled from his tent, “Well played!” My husband just laughed and laughed.
Another fun prank that is a classic is one of the kids favorite!! Down from our house is a guy that changes up his costume each year, but once you visit his house, he will chase you down the street. Gets the kids every time.
Another scary one that the kids continue to talk about was a kid dressed up in a black cloak (the kind that has a hood & long enough to touch the ground). This kid was walking through the forest near our home & scaring everyone in sight. It was probably even scarier because it was NOT Halloween. The kids in the family all still talk about “the creepy guy in the forest.”
A few other fun ideas: when you go to give your kids a Halloween goodnight kiss–throw in a pair of glow-in-the-dark fangs. Write something spooky with liquid dish soap on your kids bathroom mirror, so when they steam up the bathroom, the message will appear. Put red kool-aid in the shower head, so then the water comes out red.
Now for all you TREAT people out there–here are some yummy ideas you could create for Halloween.
PUMPKIN PUNCH BOWL: All you need to make a memorable party punchbowl is dry ice, a very large pumpkin and two large bowls that nest inside one another and are safe to handle dry ice. Hollow out the pumpkin, ensuring the opening is wide enough to hold the bowls. Place the larger of your two bowls in the pumpkin and use tongs to layer the bottom of the bowl with dry ice. Place the second bowl on top of the dry ice and fill the bowl with your punch. Carefully pour hot water into the bottom bowl to activate the dry ice vapors. Replenish the dry ice as needed throughout your party.
You can also do this same idea with a large witches cauldron.
You can also use a pumpkin for a fun ice bucket idea.
halloween26 – Place glow sticks in the bottom of an ice bucket or cooler at your Halloween party. Photo credit: Alison Sherwood asherwood@journalsentinel.com
GLOWING BEVERAGES: As the stream of trick-or-treaters slows, invite your neighbors over for a drink. Toss a glow stick or two in with the ice in your cooler so they’ll open up to an eerie gleam.
YUMMY DEVIL SPIDER EGGS : The usual with chopped olives for decor
SWEET LITTLE BROOM: Recess peanut butter cups stuck in pretzel
HEALTHY LITTLE RELISH TRAY with a cute pumpkin center piece full of dressing
Well, I hope these ideas get you started in planning a spooktacular Halloween!
Easter is that time of year where you try to think of how to make it magical and memorable with the true meaning of the holiday. I am going to seek and find a variety of ideas that will make your Easter beautiful in every way.
Little Details that make holidays memorable: There are those little things that make you think of certain people in your life. My daughter has a grandma that has always made yummy, homemade braided bread for special times of the year. We thought it would be fun to make a braided bread basket and fill it with colorful eggs to remind us of special memories with her. We love her so.
Making special intentions this holiday will make Easter even more memorable. Whether you buy new easter clothes, a special ‘last supper’ meal or have a spiritual resurrection egg lesson, decide on a few little things to make this year special. It is all in the details of your day.
The Colors: Easter brings Spring and Spring is full of new growth, birth, green grasses, butterflies, flowers…there is color everywhere and after a stark winter, color is good. I love decorating my front porch with a fake green tree that is covered in silk butterflies to ring in the new color of Spring. My table is adorned with an arrangement of long, green grasses with fluttering butterflies and an Easter Lily. I have a long ribbon that I hung from my ceiling fan & clipped 7 various bright butterflies. Add a little color to your home.
Martha Stewart had some fun candy jars that were full of color that would be darling anywhere, especially a kitchen counter or table.
I also came across a fun paint chip garland idea. Umbrellas are always a fun addition to Spring.
Creative egg decorating: What about emoji eggs! What about covering eggs in fun stamps! What about fun tattoo eggs for kids! We LOVE the fake, white eggs that you can decorate and then keep from years to come. Chalk eggs are also a fun thing. There is also a white paint pen you could add fun designs to your brown or colored eggs. You could also do clear glue over plastic eggs and wrap them in thin yarn. Fine tip colorful sharpie markers can add all kinds of fun details to your eggs–add names, doodles, patterns, etc. You could also use nail polish that you have around the house to create fun patterns and designs. Washi tape is also a fun accent to add to eggs.
Fun for an Egg Hunt: What about putting confetti and a fun fortune in some plastic eggs for your kids to find. I also thought Disney Mini Tsum Tsum toys, mini pets, mini toys would be perfect to fit in eggs for the easter hunt. What about mini nail polish or $1 bills for teen age kids. It might be fun to put foam letters in the eggs that spell out fun words. A cute idea from kidsactivitiesblog suggested creating ‘Bunny Munny’ & have that in some of the eggs, so then the kids can buy items from the ‘Bunny Emporium.’ I LOVE doing glow in the dark egg hunts. We put glow sticks in the eggs with candy & the kids have a ball. Turn it into a scavenger hunt–ie:find four blue eggs, two chocolate eggs, 5 pink eggs, one striped, etc.
Fun Foods: I funny idea from country living–Hatching hard boiled eggs. What about easter basket cupcakes or the chef mix bird nests. Every year we buy the hostess snowballs and make bunny faces with paper ears, licorice whiskers, gumdrop or jellybean eyes. Deviled eggs are always a yummy treat, but who don’t you use your colored eggs to give them a little flare. There are lots of fun recipes out there to make the holidays fun!
Putting Jesus in the details: I have done the resurrection eggs which are wonderful. [there are DIY ideas & some great kits you can purchase on Amazon] I have also read different books each season that tie in Christ or the meaning of Easter [The Legend of the Sand Dollar, The story of the Easter Robin, The Legend of the Easter Egg, Benjamin’s Box to name a few] I also like thedatingdivas idea to have a Sunrise Breakfast on Easter to remember Jesus rising from the tomb. [they have 100 other ideas–a couple I added here that I liked–here is a link http://www.thedatingdivas.com/holidays/easter/100-ideas-for-a-christ-centered-easter/
I just came across a fun idea to take a nature walk with your family & look for specific items that coincide with special meaning of Easter–here is the link http://ourjourneywestward.com/the-easter-story-nature-club/
Here is a printable for a Good Friday Nature Walk from theunlikelyhomeschool
I also like the Resurrection Scavenger hunt idea from fancy shanty http://i1.wp.com/fancyshanty.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Resurrection-Scavenger-Hunt1.jpg
Celebrating Lent (Lent is a period of fasting, moderation, and self-denial traditionally observed by Catholics and some Protestant denominations. It begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. Many Catholics believe that giving something up for Lent is a way to attain God’s blessing.) I read someone’s idea of celebrating Lent (even if you are not Catholic) I like the idea of taking the full time or even if you had your family ‘sacrifice’ something for the week before Easter. Have everyone give up something [ie: TV, Sugar, Soda, Games, etc) for the week & have it symbolize remembering the sacrifices Jesus made for us.
Dye one egg Red (we always do the first one red by leaving it in the pink then the orange dye for a long time – I lived in Bulgaria for a while and that was the tradition there – the red represents death and the egg represents new life – great symbol of death and life coming together). -idea taken from powerofmoms.com
Service messages from happyhomefairy.com–Write phrases like “Jesus thinks you are Egg-ceptional!” or “You are Egg-stra special” with colorful chalk on someone’s driveway. Deliver a large chocolate bunny and deliver it to someone with a note that says, “No Bunny loves you like Jesus!” Drop an Easter Lily on someone’s doorstep with a note that says, “Joy comes in the morning…”-Psalm 30:5 She also has a whole Easter printable of “Joy Journey” activities you can do for Easter–I printed them & figured I could do our favorite 10 within the next week. I put each idea in a plastic egg & marked them with numbers. A fun way to put a little extra Easter spirit into the week ahead.
Science Experiment: Place a white carnation flower in a vase with water. Add a dozen drops of red food coloring to the water. Wait. The carnation will gradually take on the color of the dye. Read 1 Peter 1:18-19 and discuss how Jesus took our sins upon himself when He died on the cross. -happyhomefairy.com
Well, I hope these ideas get you thinking of ways to make this Easter full of JOY and I hope a feeling of LOVE will bloom all around you in everything you do.
Yesterday I had a dear friend drop by who was having a bad day and needless to say I think anyone would understand, her mom had just died a couple weeks ago. I gave her a big hug and my heart sank at the thought of losing someone so dear.
We began to talk about feelings and emotions and she expressed how she wished she could of..should of..and I could only imagine how she felt. I had not lost a mother.
I did have an aha moment after our conversation. I put myself in her place and tried to feel how it would be if I was unable to call or text or chat with my mom and dad. It put into perspective how short life is & how we often get stuck thinking we can tell someone we love them tomorrow, or have breakfast next week or stop by there house and visit another time. Our conversation made me feel the urgency to reach out now, not tomorrow. You never know when you will never be able to have those heart felt moments, those conversations you wish you would have taken the time to have, to record their voice so you will never forget it, to hug them & know you did all you could to love them while they were here.
After she left I did a couple of things–I jumped on my email and I wrote my parent a note and told them I wanted to share a few thoughts and feelings of what I would miss & what I love about them ‘because I can.’ It was an emotional write. I got teary eyed thinking of the little things I would miss most.
Then, I sent a text to my husband’s 6 sisters who have a beloved mother that I know needs to hear and feel of their love. I then sent my mother-in-law a note of love…because I can!
I know one day those near and dear will have moved on to another life & I don’t want to have regrets or should have, could have feelings. I am sure when some one passes you have those feelings no matter what, but this conversation made me stop for a moment, drop the to do lists and send some love from my heart.
So, ‘because you can’ send some love notes to those you love because you never know. Things can change in a moment.
The holidays are a time where we have moments of stress and joy!! Like the darling apron I gave my mother-in-law, “Desserts” is “Stressed” backwards. Funny, right!! For a fun-filled holiday we have to enjoy the good and the bad, so I am going to do my best to give you some great ideas to make your holidays a little more Merry and Bright. EnJOY!
Breakout of the USUAL: During the holidays try something new–if your family has never gone tubing, ice skating or caroling, a bonfire on the beach, fed the homeless or made homemade cards–maybe try it! Shake it up & do the unusual. Last year we tried snowshoeing and made a great memory.
Keep a stash on hand: I know I am always looking for movies, stocking stuffers, or little gifts last minute to give to a neighbor or friend I forgot. If you have a stash on hand, you will have less worry.
Keep it casual and cozy: Many people would tell you to overdress for any occasion during the holiday, but I would say keep it casually nice and cozy. Where we live it is cold!! Recently we went with my extended family to a performance that was a dressy occasion & everyone kept reminding me, “dress up,” but I used my common sense & went warm. All night everyone was wishing they had dressed warmer. Tips: Make Nice scarves and hats your new best friends–they dress up any outfit and keep you warm during the holidays. Also, keep it simple–black with a little sparkle fits any occasion.
Set the mood: I think candles and fresh scents stir the senses and make the holidays even better. Where we live it now gets dark around 5pm. Yikes. I begin to get tired even earlier and the darkness seems to zap energy. With twinkling lights, candles and fresh aroma’s of citrus and cinnamon simmering on the stove, the holidays are a little more cozy and relaxed. Here is a link to some stove top recipes http://www.spendwithpennies.com/homemade-air-fresheners/
Stop, drop and stretch: Even a little exercise is better than nothing. Doing simple stretches moves your body and keeps the healthy endorphins pumping through your body. This will help with any holiday stress. Here are some simple stretches from Real Simple http://www.realsimple.com/health/fitness-exercise/stretching-yoga/stretching-exercises
A little more activity: While you are out and about, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park a little farther from the stores and enjoy a good snow shovel for a friend or family member.
Prepare and avoid the last minute low-down: If you wait till last minute you will begin to feel more pressure, stress and it will leave you feeling low. If you begin to prepare now for gift giving, card creating and overall holiday cheer—everything will be brighter. Make a list of friends and family that you want to send cards or gifts–check it twice. Decide how much you want to spend this holiday season & don’t overspend [this will leave you down after the holidays]. Remember: giving a gift from the heart (homemade cards, knit gift bags, personal photos, etc) are treasured and won’t cost you as much.
You can say NO: There will be many work parties, family, friend, neighborhood parties and events to attend. If you sit down with your family before the hustle and bustle of the season & make a list of the things you want to do for the holidays, you will see the things most important to those you love. So, when invites come, you know what you can and cannot do with the time you have during the holiday season. Remember, “Holidays” means “Holy days”–so keep each day special with those you love. Cherish each moment.
Embrace the holiday spirit: Have a focus on the meaning of the season–giving, being like Jesus, spending time with family. Create special traditions to truly embrace the holiday season—see my other posts on traditions. Go out and pick an angel off an angel tree & wrap up the spirit of giving. Purchase a special book on the nativity or have a special night where you watch it with your family. Make the season memorable.
Remember this key thing—what do your children really want for Christmas? This will eliminate many of the $$ stress. According to child experts, what children really want more than anything else during the holidays are: 1. Relaxed and loving time with family 2. Realistic expectations about gifts 3. An evenly paced holiday season 4. Family traditions taken from http://counseling.eku.edu/dealing-holiday-stress-0
Just Breathe: Take a moment and take a breath. When you are feeling overwhelmed by the foods you need to bake or the presents you need to make—take a breath.
Give the gift of gratitude: Give people what they truly need–praise, appreciation and the gift of a grateful heart. Call, Email, Write cards to those you love and include something you love about them.
Hope these ideas help you make your holidays a little more Merry & Bright
This time of year makes me truly reflect on the many things I am grateful for. I think my heart gets to a place of deeper meaning, of stepping more outside of myself and wanting to do more for others. I think we all begin to feel this sense of holiday spirit. We gather with our families, grateful to have family. We see fall colors and are grateful to be given the gift of seeing. We see the seasons change and are grateful for change within our own lives. We sit together and give thanks.
I know for me, I especially want to do more, to serve, to be an instrument in God’s hands, so I decided that I wanted to create a list of opportunities for all of us to GIVE, because WE have all been given much. I hope you will look at this list and find an opportunity or two that your family can embrace together. I hope you will find a little more service this holiday season, so when you are sitting down with your family, your heart will be even more full of giving, of love and grateful for the abundance in your own lives. Peace to all of you this beautiful holiday season.
Some fun ideas to share with your families: Spread the LOVE. If there are some ideas you like—share them with your friends and family and make the chain of LOVE even bigger.
Samaritan’s Purse: Operation Christmas Child. I LOVED this idea because it is not hard to do, benefits children around the world and will bring smiles to all who open. You literally fill a shoebox with small gifts for children and then send it. You can even pay a little extra $ to track it and discover the destination it is going. I think it would be a great project to do with your family just before Thanksgiving. The drop off dates are just before Thanksgiving Nov 16-23. Check out the link to this great project. http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box/
Create No-Sew Fleece Blankets for groups like Project Linus, Wrap them in Love, Stitches from the Heart, Binky Patrol to name a few.
Donate items for The Hugs Project: They are looking for a variety of items including handmade christmas ornaments and stockings, food items, socks, etc. They create care packages for troops http://www.thehugsproject.com here is a link to the full item list of what they are looking for http://www.thehugsproject.com/care-package-items/
SoleHope: Makes shoes out of jeans for Kids in Uganda. http://www.solehope.org/who-we-are/
Make a dog treats for a local shelter: here is a recipe from the Humane Society http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/eating/recipes/animal_treats/bowser_biscuits.html
Make a bird feeder to feed the birds in your backyard–that is giving too! Here are some directions: http://www.marthastewart.com/270700/pinecone-bird-feeder
Well, I hope these ideas get you started to giving of yourselves even more during the upcoming holiday seasons. Remember, it is easier to give with a grateful heart.
“At every turning point of my life, I can see your smiling face and my teary eyes.” -SB
My daughter has loved and believed in magic her whole life & I wouldn’t change it for anything!! She has always enjoyed the magic of a jolly, fat man bringing good will and gifts to cheer children. She has had a family of fairies that she has fed chocolate brownies on mini tea sets. We have made fairy houses since she was little. We have had every magical holiday possible, even our very own, made up holiday on May 1st that we celebrate as “Fairy day.” Her childhood has been full of magic, whimsy and wonder.
PUMPKIN PUNCH BOWL: All you need to make a memorable party punchbowl is dry ice, a very large pumpkin and two large bowls that nest inside one another and are safe to handle dry ice. Hollow out the pumpkin, ensuring the opening is wide enough to hold the bowls. Place the larger of your two bowls in the pumpkin and use tongs to layer the bottom of the bowl with dry ice. Place the second bowl on top of the dry ice and fill the bowl with your punch. Carefully pour hot water into the bottom bowl to activate the dry ice vapors. Replenish the dry ice as needed throughout your party.
YUMMY DEVIL SPIDER EGGS : The usual with chopped olives for decor
SWEET LITTLE BROOM: Recess peanut butter cups stuck in pretzel
HEALTHY LITTLE RELISH TRAY with a cute pumpkin center piece full of dressing
The Colors: Easter brings Spring and Spring is full of new growth, birth, green grasses, butterflies, flowers…there is color everywhere and after a stark winter, color is good. I love decorating my front porch with a fake green tree that is covered in silk butterflies to ring in the new color of Spring. My table is adorned with an arrangement of long, green grasses with fluttering butterflies and an Easter Lily. I have a long ribbon that I hung from my ceiling fan & clipped 7 various bright butterflies. Add a little color to your home.
Creative egg decorating: What about emoji eggs! What about covering eggs in fun stamps! What about fun tattoo eggs for kids! We LOVE the fake, white eggs that you can decorate and then keep from years to come. Chalk eggs are also a fun thing. There is also a white paint pen you could add fun designs to your brown or colored eggs. You could also do clear glue over plastic eggs and wrap them in thin yarn. Fine tip colorful sharpie markers can add all kinds of fun details to your eggs–add names, doodles, patterns, etc. You could also use nail polish that you have around the house to create fun patterns and designs. Washi tape is also a fun accent to add to eggs.
Fun for an Egg Hunt: What about putting confetti and a fun fortune in some plastic eggs for your kids to find. I also thought Disney Mini Tsum Tsum toys, mini pets, mini toys would be perfect to fit in eggs for the easter hunt. What about mini nail polish or $1 bills for teen age kids. It might be fun to put foam letters in the eggs that spell out fun words. A cute idea from kidsactivitiesblog suggested creating ‘Bunny Munny’ & have that in some of the eggs, so then the kids can buy items from the ‘Bunny Emporium.’ I LOVE doing glow in the dark egg hunts. We put glow sticks in the eggs with candy & the kids have a ball. Turn it into a scavenger hunt–ie:find four blue eggs, two chocolate eggs, 5 pink eggs, one striped, etc.
Fun Foods: I funny idea from country living–Hatching hard boiled eggs. What about easter basket cupcakes or the chef mix bird nests. Every year we buy the hostess snowballs and make bunny faces with paper ears, licorice whiskers, gumdrop or jellybean eyes. Deviled eggs are always a yummy treat, but who don’t you use your colored eggs to give them a little flare. There are lots of fun recipes out there to make the holidays fun!
Putting Jesus in the details: I have done the resurrection eggs which are wonderful. [there are DIY ideas & some great kits you can purchase on Amazon] I have also read different books each season that tie in Christ or the meaning of Easter [The Legend of the Sand Dollar, The story of the Easter Robin, The Legend of the Easter Egg, Benjamin’s Box to name a few] I also like thedatingdivas idea to have a Sunrise Breakfast on Easter to remember Jesus rising from the tomb. [they have 100 other ideas–a couple I added here that I liked–here is a link http://www.thedatingdivas.com/holidays/easter/100-ideas-for-a-christ-centered-easter/
yourhappyplaceblog 