Homegrown Hospitality

Lightbulbs & Ringing Bells

I just started reading the latest book by Joyce Meyer called Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits and I have highlighted more in the first two chapters than any other book...ever.

Light bulbs were flashing, too many bells were ringing and a whole lotta "duh's" were going on in my head as I read. 

Press on.

Never Ever Give Up

and for the love of pete, keep going...at whatever it is you are doing.  Stay postive and for gosh sakes, stay hopeful. 

You HAVE to do that. 

Keep the faith and have hope.  Those are two habits you want! (well and listining to Bon Jovi, if you are asking me.)

Here is one for ourselves, for our kids..for our communities, our states, for our nation..for our world.
super, double duh.

Do Something - July 2012

Dang July went fast....pretty sure that I was reminding you that once 4th of July passes..it is all down hill till Christmas...

see, I was not making that up.

It happens every year.

Anyways, if I were a scrap booker, maybe an active participant of Project-Life 2012 (I do have all of the stuff..) or had Insta-Gram (which Jack referred to last night as the "world's greatest invention") then this would you might have seen:

starting at the top and moving left to right:

• Working out at Athlete's Choice several days a week..more than I ever have in my life (both working out and sweating..thanks Maria!) http://www.athleteschoicersm.com/
• Still displaying the biggest American Flag (probably designed for a building) that you can on a little house
• Enjoying the renewed relationship with being creative everyday, thanks Tim! http://timholtz.com/
• Documenting big things in the smallest ways
• Children being water ambushed by big mean neighbors...(just kidding, they are small..and bald..the neighbors..not the kids. Was that nice of me to say?)
• Finding heart rocks
• Rollerblading (kids, NOT me!) running, walking and riding around the lake
• Baking for a cause http://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org/
• Chicken fights & bbqing chicken..alot
• Blazing trails with Regina & Amy...and Ben, too!http://www.ocparks.com/whitingranch/
• Sailing the Maui sea and tanning feet at the same time http://www.teralani.net/
• Spreading the word http://www.jessie.org/
• Joining forces with the wives http://www.racerxonline.com/2012/07/27/racer-x-films-surfercross-day-1
• Selling cookies for the cause....http://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org/
• Watching Plumerias bloom in the backyard, wishing we were back on vacation
• Watering and wondering if the pam tree is going to get attacked by the giant zucchini plant
• Loving him and wishing he would stop playing car salesman..no, I mean car buyer.
• Finding more heart rocks
• Trying to convince boys not to throw signs in EVERY picture
• Riding bikes
• Sailing the high seas of Lake Mission Viejo
• Reading & studying http://www.onlyyoucanbeyou.com/
• Buying socks for the cause http://www.jessie.org/joyjars/
• Becoming more civilized campers...bye bye tent
• Sticking to a schedule

Today...or maybe tomorrow, bake some and share some...Click HERE for the recipe.

here is the recipe for these.

New Things

I am reading a few new books, one called "Soup" by Jon Gordon (author of  "The Seed") and the other book, "Only You Can Be You" written by Erik Rees, pastor at our church and Jessie's Daddy.

I am excited to share that there is going to be a new 4-week summer study in July at Saddleback and I would like to invite you to come.  Erik & Debbie Eaton will be teaching this summer study starting July 5th and I am excited, so excited that I got the book early to read up and create art based on it to inspire you here on the blog...which leads me to new art that I just created this morning:

Start off today by reminding yourself  that YOU are ONE OF A KIND and only YOU can be You!

 "..You are a Master-designed, handcrafted original"  Only You Can Be You,  Preface.

Happiness Influencer

I am quoting "The Seed" again and using the Tim Holtz Distress Markers to help influence happiness.

Who knew a book & a marker would make a girl so happy.  You may want to consider getting the book and the markers, well and a highlighter for the things in the book you want to remember.

I was inspired by the colors in the wrapping paper I had so I pulled out the markers closest to them. Using the brush tip and watercolor paper, I just added the color onto the paper:

Then because I was playing, I placed a papertowel on top of the page and with a little spray bottle, I soaked the papertowel with water, patted it down and let it sit for a minute or two.  Then I pulled off the papertowel and was happy to see that it now looked like corduroy..Yay!! 

Then I used a heat gun to dry it which took about a whole minute.  

Insert Picket Fence.

Not an actual fence, a pen.  A magic pen that is a happiness influencer on its very own.

Wrote out my word, watched the magic happen, traced the word, wrote out the excerpt from the book, added another word in Picket Fence, traced around it and called it done.

Today, be a happiness influencer. 

Just added...I got an idea...

Stay tuned...

okay...happier than before..

Something To Reflect On

I am reading a book called "Replenish" in preparation to, well...replenish and a line on page 64 jumped out at me and asked to be highlighted:

"Just because you can doesn't mean you should.  It's a mistake to chase after every opportunity" 

Something great to remember, remind and reflect on.... 

Unique Contribution

Today I am sharing a new doodle with you that I am sending to all of the Scrapbook LIFE Journal 2012 class participants. It was inspired by a sentence in the book, "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown. This month we are focussing and learning about Talents, Abilities and Creativity and here is my shameless plug..."read more about the class here"

Something that I think we all forget and need reminding of  is that we were each individually handmade which means we are unique...

and when we use our "unique" as a tool to better this place...it makes a difference. 

Soul Care

I started reading a new book on Ministry & Leadership and just in the first few pages, I have highlighted more than I might want to admit.  I am quickly being reminded of things that I already knew, just forgot to remember.  Good stuff, not just for ministry and leadership..but for life.

As I continue to read, be reminded and learn, I will share with you..lucky you!

Winning

Sunday I sat in church and listened, laughed and learned from Dave Ramsey.

WOW.

I walked away thinking, looking and feeling 100% different about business, leadership and faith and I am ready and anxious to do it all different.  I got all of that from just an hour of listening to him. (Julie, if you are reading this, I think GOD heard me talking to you on Friday night)

WOW.

Now I am reading his new book and already highlighting and underlining even though I only made it to page 17..because I fell asleep. (that is what happens when I slow down to a "reading pace"..it had nothing to do with the book!)

Can I suggest that YOU get this book...

 and lookie here..already doodle'd something from page 5:

whew. 

Things To Do...

I may be one of the last people on earth that NEEDS to write things down (and then cross them out) on paper vs. typing info into my "smart" phone(even though I have a new phone and a super cool little stylus to poke the screen with..hey,it is the little things for me)

I suppose I could choose to switch over to "smart" skills...but, I choose NOT to.  As Bobby Brown once sang..."It's my Perogative" (and don't hate me if you sing that song today.)  Three cheers for all of you that rely on your phone...Personally, I just have visions of me once accidently throwing my phone away, into a empty trash can that had water in the bottom...

the only GREAT memory about that is that Tim tried so so hard to be my super hero and save the phone....thanks buddy, I appreciate your trash can diving skills to this day...even though the phone ultimatly died.

Anyways...my 2011 Day-timer only goes to July so I COMPLETELY relish in the day that I "GET" to go purchase my new calendar inserts (I know...just hold your comments!).  Last week I had not purchased my inserts when I realized that I was hitting the road, so I bought a little "purse sized" calendar from Wal-Mart for like $4.94 that has become my go-to-handy-dandy-journal-doodle-calendar and I am highly suggesting that YOU go get one...oh, and treat yourself to a few new felt tip pens while you are in the office supply/stationary aisle and tuck it into your bag. 

This is a great example of RANDOM CREATIVE...Use it for notes....for ideas...as a journal...heck..use it as a calendar (duh) but use it...and enjoy it.  It may just be the best $4.94 you spend!

No need to thank me...it is my pleasure!

What is in my bag...

By the time you read this I will:

A. be on my way to the airport

B. be at the the airport

C. be on a plane (1 of 3) on my way to Pennsylvania

D. be in Pennsylvania (not actually in that Red Barn below..but you know what I mean!)

 
When I pack my "carry on" I am always ready for pretty much anything (I think..at least, I HOPE!) 

I am sooo ready to go (and not even HOMESICK anymore, that was last week!) I even packed my running shoes for some early morning PA runs down the tracks...(yes, the police have been advised that I am coming) and I am NOT kidding!

Anyways...I will be spending many an hour either in an airport or on a plane and because I am pretty sure that I have ADD (it's okay, I know!) I MUST be prepared for a cornucopia of things...so here is a look at what is in my bag besides the normal boarding pass, I.D, phone and leopard snuggie...

 

• A TON of markers...working on A LOT of new things... A LOT!!!!
• My "Choose Joy" workbook to create new doodles from...
• The Power of a Praying Wife book....soooo good!
• My big honkin bible because it is  A. my companion and B. something to grip onto during take off and landing...and anytime in-between.
• 1/2 YARD of canvas that I have been "scrappling" on (details soon!!!)
• A new issue of "Cloth Paper Scissors" that I have been holding out on to look through after I hit the "Sky Mall" catalog!
• My "Windows of the Soul" book and pages of AWESOME notes that friend Cheryl created for us on a new amazing creative venture we are working together on (details also on this soon!!!!)

I probably will not blog while gone...just know that I will be soaking up the AMISH countryside...the Red Barns...the creativeness that we will be generating on Friday night and Saturday...and I will meet you back here on Monday!

Have a GREAT next few days...and do not forget to Choose Joy...regardless of your situation RIGHT NOW...no matter HOW BAD....Exhibit your FAITH by Choosing JOY

and

Laugh until you cry..Cry until you Laugh (THAT needs a doodle!)