tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12550491049304989552024-03-13T15:21:44.049-04:00Paper SeedsSeeds of Art and ThoughtStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-35815915218639469572011-09-25T18:06:00.001-04:002011-09-25T18:09:31.625-04:00A Charleston Stroll Photo Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Z91bje4hIo/Tn-N5YHmQgI/AAAAAAAAA1w/RgJ61LEiPk4/s1600/Downtown+Charleston+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Z91bje4hIo/Tn-N5YHmQgI/AAAAAAAAA1w/RgJ61LEiPk4/s400/Downtown+Charleston+011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-33488733033494325702011-08-03T10:21:00.000-04:002011-08-03T10:21:59.644-04:00Me and A Tree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XMQYgi8nijg/TjlU39uSK1I/AAAAAAAAAy0/449Xter8LcY/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XMQYgi8nijg/TjlU39uSK1I/AAAAAAAAAy0/449Xter8LcY/s400/001.JPG" t$="true" width="235" /></a></div><br />
Interesting that as I look back through my artwork over the past years, about half of everything I have ever created is a tree. Hmmmm.... never really realized how enamored I am with trees. But come to think of it, most of the photos I've taken are of trees too. What's that all about? I suppose something about a tree just resonates with me.<br />
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Why have I been drawn to trees without really recognizing this until now? Is there anything in your life like that? You feel just a crazy love for something odd like toads, crosses, or a certain color, but you've never really taken it any farther except to think, "I have a real preference for this thing." Do you ever wonder why you prefer it over something else?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3O__to1OPG0/TJ_BZ_NgimI/AAAAAAAAAJA/FlJeaP7YXMs/s1600/114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3O__to1OPG0/TJ_BZ_NgimI/AAAAAAAAAJA/FlJeaP7YXMs/s320/114.JPG" t$="true" width="234" /></a></div>I'm learning something amazing... that our souls speak to us through subtle and simple signs... constantly. Every minute of every day there are guideposts that manifest in our lives through images, people, songs, nature, smells, sounds. But they are indeed subtle. If we aren't aware and open to their soft whisperings, we'll miss them altogether. So perhaps the reason I'm drawn to trees, and you are drawn to grasshoppers or buffalo or shoes is because, on a soul level, we are being asked to take a closer look at that thing. And when we really look at that thing, we learn its aspects and can apply them to our own lives. It's brilliant, really. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ8m4gcupIA/TSzAQgu1pjI/AAAAAAAAATo/Bfwwyw_84W8/s1600/IMG_0325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ8m4gcupIA/TSzAQgu1pjI/AAAAAAAAATo/Bfwwyw_84W8/s400/IMG_0325.JPG" t$="true" width="266" /></a></div>In the next few blogs, I'd love to delve deeper into what I'm learning about symbols and signs and how they are powerful indicators that give us insight and heal us. But today, I simply must talk about trees because I am so excited to finally, (yes, It's taken me years) appreciate their symbology!!!! <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ACJhP75qAic/Tji2Vs8nTEI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/OHCAu1ainXg/s1600/Stacey%2527s+Art+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ACJhP75qAic/Tji2Vs8nTEI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/OHCAu1ainXg/s400/Stacey%2527s+Art+030.JPG" t$="true" width="265" /></a></div>Here's a cool word... <span style="color: #0b5394;">"ecointuition."</span> It's just a fancy new word for a practice that is as old as earth itself - but I like it... it means living in sync with nature and attuning to nature on a soul level - really listening to nature's subtle energies and finding insight and growth from them. <br />
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Back to the trees and my<span style="color: #0b5394;"> "ecointuition".</span>.. After researching the symbology of trees, here is what the trees are teaching me... We aren't that different, me and the tree. The tree is a beautiful metaphor for my spiritual growth!<br />
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Take a moment and picture your favorite tree. So many darling ones to choose. Mine are the Dogwood and the Willow. <br />
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Imagine your tree's strong roots, the foundation, entangled in the ground, anchoring, grounding into the earth, extending themselves to reach for more and more, drawing into them nutrients and water. Our relationship to the earth is like those deep roots... symbiotic... so very connected to an entire system of life. And cool to note that our roots are our belief systems... firmly planted deep inside us. We must dig deep into our very foundations to really know ourselves.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Cgafm8cYsM/Tji-a08oHgI/AAAAAAAAAyI/ZPPJI67ToCg/s1600/blog+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Cgafm8cYsM/Tji-a08oHgI/AAAAAAAAAyI/ZPPJI67ToCg/s400/blog+013.JPG" t$="true" width="266" /></a></div>Here's something else... the roots of a tree are mostly underground, so they are unseen. Like us, our spiritual progress is often hidden from plain view. There's a lot going on underground. Our power rises when we dig deep and work beneath the superficial layers.<br />
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Now move your mind's eye to the trunk of your tree. The backbone of the tree; its source of power and energy flow. As a tree's trunk supports the tree, so too do our human bodies stand tall, our backbones holding us up, supporting us while flowing energy up, up, up to new growth.<br />
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The tree trunk's outer bark protects it from its environment, while the inside of the trunk is an amazing intricate system of energy flow and circulation, just like in our bodies.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xHK_ScGZgg/TJ_CKfM-JAI/AAAAAAAAAJI/_qk8cFasQOY/s1600/Marriage+Tree+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xHK_ScGZgg/TJ_CKfM-JAI/AAAAAAAAAJI/_qk8cFasQOY/s320/Marriage+Tree+3.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div>And remember tree rings? The tree grows from the inside out adding layers upon layers to itself. Just as the tree renews itself, we too renew ourselves spiritually by growing from the inside out. We "grow" by realizing that our true power source comes from within first. Again, it's that going inward that seems to be important. <br />
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Now move up your tree and cast your eyes on its many branches. Just like its roots, its branches and limbs extend themselves to reach for more and more. The branches are the leaves support to seek more light and nourishment and growth.<br />
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The limbs of a tree represent our potential to grow in any direction, our opportunity to develop with our own free will. Perhaps our limbs are our talents and abilities, our many opportunities toward self-expression which we choose through free will.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkmhaRyf49Q/Tjh9b1AyQ_I/AAAAAAAAAwU/_LoJM5zLVMc/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkmhaRyf49Q/Tjh9b1AyQ_I/AAAAAAAAAwU/_LoJM5zLVMc/s320/027.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div>Now look up at those gorgeous and varied leaves on your tree. Leaves are the tree's vitality, the creating part, the manifesting part, the flowers and blooms, the myriad of colors... all those leaves and blooms of different sizes, shapes and color, some eaten away, some brilliant and shiny, some affected by the weather, but all manifestations of what the tree creates.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7P3Gc5kjEBI/TMDhliiEdrI/AAAAAAAAANc/x8AlmaEzpT0/s1600/Stacey%2527s+Art+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7P3Gc5kjEBI/TMDhliiEdrI/AAAAAAAAANc/x8AlmaEzpT0/s320/Stacey%2527s+Art+013.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div>Just like our manifestations, brilliant in size, color, shape, some beat up by life, some brilliant and shiny, but all gifts that we give and bloom into the world. And each bloom bares the very essence of that specific tree and our specific selves.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O5TAf-eridY/TVC3k3vIqmI/AAAAAAAAAXc/dPpPy7KzaPg/s1600/IMG_0418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O5TAf-eridY/TVC3k3vIqmI/AAAAAAAAAXc/dPpPy7KzaPg/s400/IMG_0418.JPG" t$="true" width="248" /></a></div>A tree... here it was before me all this time, and I never took the time to listen. Now, when I look at a tree, I will have a visual reminder of my own potential. The tree says to me, "As am I, you too are linked both to earth and heaven, with your feet firmly planted in this world, but your branches reaching toward heaven, toward your own self expression."<br />
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The tree calls, "Just like me, you are only responsible for your own growth."<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TOzCuIMP_0Q/Tji6OhJYdJI/AAAAAAAAAx8/c2RQfhpoyqE/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TOzCuIMP_0Q/Tji6OhJYdJI/AAAAAAAAAx8/c2RQfhpoyqE/s400/095.JPG" t$="true" width="300" /></a></div>It whispers to me, "Never give up. Look how I grow... my branches are nimble and can grow any which way to reach out for nourishment. My branches always find ways around obstacles. So can you. Never be limited. Reach out as far as you can to grow. Expansion is your birthright."<br />
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And then it sings to me, "Your potential is phenomenal and unlimited and FREE. Just as I begin as a tiny, little, hard seed, I am not afraid to grow and open to life. Just as you open your heart to life, you will grow around and through your limitations and create the most magnificent blooms."<br />
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WOWZA! Those trees are something else, aren't they? I'm going to start listening more often... and now, I think I will go outside right this very minute and hug a tree!<br />
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Thanks so much for visiting. Hope your week is filled with awareness of the signs all around you! <br />
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Stacey<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://spiralupward.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/AlchimiHead.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-41316187903956365572011-05-20T00:58:00.000-04:002011-05-20T00:58:01.703-04:00Loving Right Now - Happy Birthday to my Son<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjTRYnW8OP8/TdXmTndRY5I/AAAAAAAAAc4/IVSN7Di3m3c/s1600/Myrtle+2+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjTRYnW8OP8/TdXmTndRY5I/AAAAAAAAAc4/IVSN7Di3m3c/s400/Myrtle+2+037.JPG" width="218" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our family is in Myrtle Beach, SC celebrating my son's eighth birthday. As I write this blog post, I'm taking in the view of the ocean as its waves lull me into a calm and peaceful place deep inside myself. Tomorrow is Ryan's birthday. Deep sigh... he is my baby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The kids and I were livin' it up in the hot tub last night, and I happened upon an endearing moment. There was a mother and her one year old boy playing close to us. As I relaxed into the steaming hot water, I looked over and saw the mom holding her little boy, and I could literally feel their love connection... it was palpable and beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The smiling baby leaned into his mother's and bit her on her chin... gumming it, kind of biting and slobbering all over it, while the mom smiled and kissed him all over his face. Then the little boy just melted into her arms and they held each other for some of the sweetest seconds I've seen, all the while reveling in each others love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Watching that connection flooded me with my own memory of that same exchange seven years ago between Ryan and I. As I looked across at Ryan, chilling out in the bubbling water, I noticed he saw the "biting chin love fest" too. I said quietly to him, "you know you used to bite my chin just like he did to his mommy."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He smiled, and we had a secret connection then, a knowing of sorts that the bond of a mother and her son is something special. He immediately swam over to me, got up on my lap, and softly bit my chin. Then we hugged. It was just an awesome, awesome moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My baby is growing up. I have revisited, briefly, the memories of his younger years, but I am not mourning them. Sometimes looking back on the memories is bitter sweet. So today, I am instead going to love him right in this moment. Those memories are so deeply rooted in my heart that nothing in this universe could take them from me. So, instead of going back, I am going to celebrate him... fully and grandly... appreciating all of him... every detail, right now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Loving him right where he is in this moment - I'm celebrating who he is right now, today, because it is in this moment that I understand the full culmination of his life. I really see where he has been and who he is now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Because it is in this moment that our point of power for loving and laughing and enjoying each other is creating more amazing manifestations yet to come. Not in the past. It is now, this very second. This awareness of loving in the now plants the seeds for thousands of new and wonderful encounters between us in the future. So today, right this very second, I'm loving...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the new freckles on his nose</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the way he calls me "mah-jong"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">how our feet touch when we sleep together in the hotel bed</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">his spiritual wisdom and intuitiveness</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">his cute little hiney. I just have to touch and pinch and kiss it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">his wide-open screams of joy and huge eyes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">when he rides his boogie board on the ocean waves</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">his thankful heart</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the way he saves his money for just the right purchase</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">his new love of sharks</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">his contentment to sit on the balcony by himself</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and stare out at the ocean</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">how he wants to be a "hippy biker" when he grows up</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(Bike week at Myrtle Beach.... what can I say?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the way he spikes up his hair with gel</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the way he sees right through me</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the way he loves his life right here and right now</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the way he loves me</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">and a million trillion more...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just for this very minute, and the next, and the next, and the next, I'm loving him now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Gotta go! I have a lot of celebrating to do!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Stacey</span>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-75239897151212269722011-05-03T16:10:00.009-04:002011-05-03T16:19:57.699-04:00A Mother Load of Mother Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom and me!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Each mother's day, I ponder a gift for my mother that will demonstrate my love for her. The past few years I've been coming up empty... or should I say, the gifts that I struggle to conceive always seem to fall short of what I believe she deserves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She's had the years of macaroni necklaces and hand-colored, glittered cards that I presented her as a child. She's received the expensive gifts that I sent her in my younger professional years, and she's graciously accepted a few years of simply a card or a phone call carrying a mother's day, "I love you." This year, I'm trying something new, something that was truly a pleasure to create.</span> </div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, this blog post is dedicated to you, Mom!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here are some of my favorite things about you...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gu4pPdUfeNU/TViFhaGeDWI/AAAAAAAAAZA/JeOSKA1ryo0/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gu4pPdUfeNU/TViFhaGeDWI/AAAAAAAAAZA/JeOSKA1ryo0/s400/015.JPG" width="385" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How you bend down anywhere and everywhere...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">just to pick up a penny.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your Donald Duck impression.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The crazy way you drive... gas/brake, gas/brake, gas/brake.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your love for silver jewelry.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The way politics can stir you up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JaGIksbz98/Tb3soGLYdPI/AAAAAAAAAcI/XNV-EpLCIMQ/s1600/mother+blog+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="266" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JaGIksbz98/Tb3soGLYdPI/AAAAAAAAAcI/XNV-EpLCIMQ/s400/mother+blog+014.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your child-like wonder... still... after all these years.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your beautiful smile.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your willingness to try anything.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The way you put Ryan in a trance when you scratch his head.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your ability to love me even when I push you away.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16jXk7zYp2o/Tb3s6TVgV4I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/vkxwBLpNDBI/s1600/mother+blog+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="266" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16jXk7zYp2o/Tb3s6TVgV4I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/vkxwBLpNDBI/s400/mother+blog+016.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How every thing that you touch</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">is transformed into something more beautiful than it was.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your laugh... you laugh more than anyone I know.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our shared Pad Thai moments.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your creative cooking.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your courage.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your crazy, whacked out sense of humor</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and your ability to make people laugh.... HARD!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vpA20pEjv3M/Tb3flqhQz3I/AAAAAAAAAb8/Qz7CwY7rgcE/s1600/mother+blog+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="266" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vpA20pEjv3M/Tb3flqhQz3I/AAAAAAAAAb8/Qz7CwY7rgcE/s400/mother+blog+008.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How you don't care what others think about you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your willingness to try new things.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your love of thrift shopping</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and the ever-present search for a good deal.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your willingness to listen to my ideas</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and spiritual epiphanies.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How you style Erin's hair and nails and buy her beautiful clothes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-69_8ULlT0HY/Tb3sVwIKhRI/AAAAAAAAAcA/wDmE2E4tFDk/s1600/mother+blog+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="327" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-69_8ULlT0HY/Tb3sVwIKhRI/AAAAAAAAAcA/wDmE2E4tFDk/s400/mother+blog+011.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our shared quest for the unknown and the mysteries of life.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your ability to hold our family</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">tightly and lovingly together.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your love of color, texture, and style.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your love of anything theatrical...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the many endless hours we've had wearing costumes</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and creating theme parties. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How you make special treats for Terry.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nr7hQQlre0c/Tb3t2fqS3gI/AAAAAAAAAcc/iE1HMTZw3ZU/s1600/mother+blog+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="266" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nr7hQQlre0c/Tb3t2fqS3gI/AAAAAAAAAcc/iE1HMTZw3ZU/s400/mother+blog+019.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your willingness to drop your busy life</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">to come to me in my time of need.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your artistic creativity and resourcefulness... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You can even turn a dead frog into something beautiful!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How you like to tell a good joke now and then.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You crack yourself up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your soul just sparkles...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">just sparkles.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The way you take care of and love dad.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9KcsOlIqoU/Tb3t90_-o5I/AAAAAAAAAcg/SB8BU6EoX1g/s1600/mother+blog+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9KcsOlIqoU/Tb3t90_-o5I/AAAAAAAAAcg/SB8BU6EoX1g/s400/mother+blog+020.JPG" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not dad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your insane love of dining.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your deep and true compassion.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your openness to play like a child... even still.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your wild blue eyes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-urkMCxb9Dts/Tb3se1JKb7I/AAAAAAAAAcE/lY-bnk7CHe0/s1600/mother+blog+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-urkMCxb9Dts/Tb3se1JKb7I/AAAAAAAAAcE/lY-bnk7CHe0/s320/mother+blog+012.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your absolute appreciation for life.</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How the simplest of things in life</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">still give you such great pleasure.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The way you craft words</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">into breath-taking poems and songs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How you walk like your dad.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3VaJ7-rpIk/Tb3tMIFlAdI/AAAAAAAAAcY/2TeR6r3FF2o/s1600/mother+blog+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3VaJ7-rpIk/Tb3tMIFlAdI/AAAAAAAAAcY/2TeR6r3FF2o/s400/mother+blog+018.JPG" width="266" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How you took care of your mom and dad</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">when they needed you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your adaptability to any situation.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our time together in Naples watching the sunset.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'll never forget that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The way you love my children.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yh_IhxAwZgs/Tb3uHK5QYVI/AAAAAAAAAck/1ARaFYiRtEo/s1600/mother+blog+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="266" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yh_IhxAwZgs/Tb3uHK5QYVI/AAAAAAAAAck/1ARaFYiRtEo/s400/mother+blog+022.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The way you loved me as a child.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your love kept me safe and so so happy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The way you love me now.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your love lets me go to find my way</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">as you stand back and watch me fly on my own.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today, I feel more connected to you than ever.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The silver cord of our love</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">will always, always be... my sweet mama. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Happy Mother's Day,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div></div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-46684418131250900762011-04-04T19:51:00.000-04:002011-04-04T19:51:42.524-04:00Waffles and Spaghetti.... Celebrating Differences of the Sexes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wm6vVJ_Qcko/TZnlY53WY5I/AAAAAAAAAbY/TicaK3BEHFI/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wm6vVJ_Qcko/TZnlY53WY5I/AAAAAAAAAbY/TicaK3BEHFI/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A dear friend of mine from my childhood church came to visit me last fall. As we talked over lunch, I asked him if he had any suggestions for an anniversary gift for my husband, Terry. He went nuts over this book called, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Men-Like-Waffles-Women-Spaghetti-Understanding/dp/0736919619">Men Are Like Waffles Women Are Like Spaghetti, </a>written by Bill and Pam Farrel.<br />
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He had watched the book work wonders for many couples in his church and suggested that it might be just the tool Terry and I use for kicking it up a notch and understanding and celebrating our differences... after all these years. After 16 years of marriage, what could I possibly not understand about my husband? OMG!!!!! PLENTY!!!! He still baffles me beyond belief, and so does my son, so I immediately bought the book in hopes of uncovering the jewels of knowledge that would help me unravel their deep mystery.<br />
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I can't help but share with you some juicy tidbits of this exceptional book because this husband/wife team really hit the nail on the head with their analogies of men and women. I'm amazed by what insight they give to understanding the sexes! So here are the nuts and bolts of it...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9G4QUUbbOOg/TZnlOa5yLDI/AAAAAAAAAbU/L7m_fsi-6hM/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9G4QUUbbOOg/TZnlOa5yLDI/AAAAAAAAAbU/L7m_fsi-6hM/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Let's start with the men. Men are like waffles. Look at a waffle. See all those boxes? Men process life in boxes, just like the little boxes in a waffle... a bunch of boxes separated by walls, compartmentalized into neat little holding spaces. Men think in boxes and only have room for one issue per box. No, really.... only one issue per box. The first issue goes in the first box, the second issue goes in the second box, and so on and so on.<br />
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When a man is at work, he is at work. When he is paying bills, he is paying bills. When he is watching t.v., he is watching t.v.. Have you ever seen that trance-like look when he's watching t.v.? That's because he's literally ignoring everything else in his world and really watching t.v. He's in his one box, and that's it.<br />
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A man will organize his life in these boxes and then spend most of his time staying only in the boxes he can succeed in, because for him, success is a huge motivation... so much so that he will seek out his boxes where he feels successful and literally ignore his boxes that confuse him or cause him to feel like a failure. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jf3ZMPKG10U/TZnk_Uc3xsI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/yUsDqaFRiFI/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jf3ZMPKG10U/TZnk_Uc3xsI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/yUsDqaFRiFI/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Now for the women... women are like spaghetti. Look at a plate of pasta and you'll see many individual noodles that are all mixed together, all slipping and sliding and touching one another. If you try to follow one noodle all the way from beginning to end, you'll cross paths with many other noodles and probably switch to another noodle without even knowing it. <br />
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For a women, every issue, experience, and thought in her life is connected to every other issue, experience, and thought in some way or another. Her life is much, much, much more of a process than a man's, which is why women are so much better at multi-tasking than men.<br />
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I still laugh when I watch my husband or my dad talk on the phone. They are totally in their one little waffle compartment when they are on the phone because they CANNOT... CANNOT do anything but walk and talk, walk and talk, walk and talk. If someone talks in the background, they get panicky, if you try to tell them something, they have to walk outside to concentrate. Me on the other hand, geez, what can't I do when I'm on the phone??? I can carry on an in-depth phone conversation while loading the dishwasher, tell the kids to go get dressed, pack a lunch, answer the door, and feed the dog all at the same time!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both my kids paint their nails (Ryan... black only!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Women want to connect life together. And we certainly solve problems differently than men. We prefer to talk things through. Women naturally "link together the logical, emotional, relational, and spiritual aspects of the issue. The links come naturally, so the conversation is effortless." And if women can connect all the issues, the problem becomes solved. <br />
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Herein lies the age-old conflict for a man and woman... and we've all been there... While the woman is talking, talking, talking, and making all these connections in a conversation, the man is freaking out and jumping all his boxes trying like heck to keep up with her conversation. He is overwhelmed by the amount of information she is throwing at him. By the end of the conversation, she feels better for having talked it out, and he just feels overwhelmed, like "what in the WORLD was THAT?" <br />
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And here's another fantastic fact for us women. Most men have boxes in their waffles that don't have words. They may have thoughts in the boxes about their lives, but they don't have any words! And to take it one step further, some of men's boxes don't have words OR thoughts! Yes, blank, void, nil, zip, empty! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both my kids play with weapons and "gendered" toys.<br />
This is telling because I realize that times are changing...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This helps me understand how my husband ticks because to help relieve stress in their lives, men will go sit in their empty waffle boxes. Just sit.... and of course, as a women, I immediately notice when he is just sitting in his box staring blankly. So I think it's a good time to talk and I ask, "what are you thinking?" And what does he do internally? He freaks out because he really isn't thinking anything.<br />
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If he tells the truth, I think he's lying because I can't fathom having an empty moment in my thoughts. And if he says, "I'm not thinking about anything," I think he's hiding something or that he's just kind of dumb. (No offense, honey, I know you think I'm whacked out and neurotic half the time, so it's fair play...) He doesn't want to disappoint me, so he immediately starts trying to find a close enough box to jump into that has words in it!<br />
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From that point, it can go either really well - if he finds a box with words - or it can go down hill fast. Either way, women could try opening up to the idea that a man sometimes just goes blank. Nothing is wrong with him, he isn't hiding something. This is just how he is wired.<br />
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I've only covered a few points in the first chapter of the book, and aren't they so true? The book continues with so much more valuable information. It is Christian-based and is actually meant to be a guided study that couples work through together and in a small group for weekly review. Pam and Bill Farrel are international speakers and relationship specialists and have written over 26 books. I'm interested in checking out some of their other ones as well.<br />
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I am really pleased to have this book as reference, and I have learned so much about my husband and son from reading it. I like that the authors celebrate and appreciate all of our waffle and spaghetti differences. We were obviously created this way to balance each other perfectly, and it's certainly more fun to laugh and celebrate our differences than to try to change them and stress over them. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camouflage is cool for all genders.</td></tr>
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I'll leave you with a few more gems of advice before I go:<br />
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-Men, when your wife starts a conversation, just know that she wants to connect the issues of her life. Think of the conversation as a journey you are about to embark on... just go with her wherever her talking journey takes her! <br />
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-Men, when she brings up a conversation, don't assume she is bringing up a problem that you need to fix. Just listen patiently and try to stay with her. She's probably just venting or dreaming, or processing life, and she wants to connect you with every bit of it.<br />
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-Women, encourage your man to take time out in his easy boxes. Think of him like a battery that needs to be recharged. He CANNOT process life constantly like you can. He needs his favorite boxes to rest and recharge. What does it look like when he's charging? NOTHING!!!!<br />
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-Women, if you want him to open up to you, go with him into his favorite box and then just listen.... don't talk even if it kills you. Listen without reacting. <br />
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<strong><u>Hints for raising a Waffle</u></strong><br />
-raise his vocabulary, especially when it comes to expressing emotion.<br />
-boys will open up if you go into their favorite boxes with them and just be quiet.<br />
-feed him. Studies say that a man gets happier when he's fed. Give him food and ask away!<br />
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<strong><u>Hints for raising a Noodle</u></strong><br />
-patiently listen to her and touch her often.<br />
-Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk with her, and listen. <br />
-Touch, and love, and nurture her physically.<br />
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And so today, I celebrate the God-created differences in the sexes, knowing that we are perfectly designed just how we are. I will enjoy our differences and know that, together, male and female, we are perfectly balanced.... or at least evolving to be!!!!<br />
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Have any analogies you'd like to add about male and female? Or tidbits that you've learned along the way? I'd love to hear them! <br />
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Thanks for visiting! <br />
StaceyStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-79459742896483303882011-03-14T19:49:00.000-04:002011-03-14T19:49:26.725-04:00A Letter to Mother Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Dear Mother Earth... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FbrjQJATmY0/TX2TGUmazBI/AAAAAAAAAak/IsqFZ91NfsY/s1600/blog+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FbrjQJATmY0/TX2TGUmazBI/AAAAAAAAAak/IsqFZ91NfsY/s400/blog+012.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>As I glance back through my life and our relationship together, I'm discovering the diverse phases you and I have shared. As a child, I loved you whole-heartedly... spending long and wonderful hours in your arms, soaking up your mystery and wonder and energy. You nurtured me and held me closely to you, silently filling my soul with sweet and simple happiness.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--SSb8gANqvQ/TLESDEE9xAI/AAAAAAAAALc/zbMQraFpGQ4/s1600/DSC00388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--SSb8gANqvQ/TLESDEE9xAI/AAAAAAAAALc/zbMQraFpGQ4/s320/DSC00388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>As a teenager, I began spending less time with you, noticing you mostly as a backdrop for my many social activities. Your beauty was lost to me in favor of a connection with people instead. <br />
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As a young adult I walked out on you altogether, just walked out the door and didn't thank you for all your generous, peaceful solitude. I couldn't see your inspiring beauty all around me. I suppose it was my path to leave you and go find my place in the world... my career, my identity, and lifestyle.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rTga9DlRSFU/TX2D4NLxSzI/AAAAAAAAAac/vwEYS36mg14/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rTga9DlRSFU/TX2D4NLxSzI/AAAAAAAAAac/vwEYS36mg14/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>In a sense, I found you annoying. You caused my allergies, and you disgusted me with your creepy-crawly candid rawness. I didn't want your peace and solitude... I broke our connection. I didn't need you anymore.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SHyEMvQPHIw/TX2VpO6vDxI/AAAAAAAAAao/hkktwZUiLRI/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SHyEMvQPHIw/TX2VpO6vDxI/AAAAAAAAAao/hkktwZUiLRI/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And now, as I continue to evolve and grow spiritually, sitting in my mid forties, I am asking for your forgiveness.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sNvY01aId2E/TX6M6LLy6iI/AAAAAAAAAbI/2z36H7mfRlw/s1600/100_1920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sNvY01aId2E/TX6M6LLy6iI/AAAAAAAAAbI/2z36H7mfRlw/s320/100_1920.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I come to you with an open heart of appreciation and new understanding of your brilliant display of life and death, wild fury, peace-filled stillness, ancient wisdom, and yes, especially your creepy-crawly rawness.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vogoqAa9dg0/TX4rcKGF8bI/AAAAAAAAAa0/UDWj6nz9u-U/s1600/IMG_0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vogoqAa9dg0/TX4rcKGF8bI/AAAAAAAAAa0/UDWj6nz9u-U/s320/IMG_0276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I ask your forgiveness for my disrespect and my ignorant disconnect from you. I realize, now, your steadfast love for me... you never stopped loving me... you always kept a perfect place for me, and now you hold your arms wide open for me... still.<br />
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Dear Mother,<br />
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Thank you for sustaining my soul.<br />
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Thank you for your energy.<br />
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Thank you for grounding me.<br />
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Thank you for detoxing my body and mind. <br />
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Thank you for connection.<br />
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I feel sure that I won't stray from you again. For now I know the secret of you.<br />
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Now, I must breathe your fresh air everyday, feel your breeze on my face, and know your stillness to hear my own voice.<br />
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For the rest of my days, I will delight in your curiosities and calm myself through your nurturing soul.<br />
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It comforts me to know that someday, when I am finished here, you will pull me tightly back into your arms and keep me, until you create me again. <br />
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With love,<br />
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Stacey <br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-41497685047180344212011-03-06T15:10:00.000-05:002011-03-06T15:10:13.548-05:00Inexpensive Creativity: Tips to Freshen up Your Living Space<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made this mobile out of paper<br />
and fishing wire.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Hello, hello good people! I just went back to my last two blogs and YOWZA! we need a lighter subject this week! Written straight from my heart, both blogs were dramatic and heavy... which is all good, but spring is in the air, at least here in Charleston, SC, and I'm all over clicking up my heels and feeling light as a feather!<br />
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Since moving to a new home, I haven't given much time to creating new artwork, at least my paper design artwork. I have been enjoying nesting in my new home, and I've been spending any extra time that I have nurturing the kids so that they feel safe and happy in their new environment. I have managed to take some time playing with photography and writing, which I have both thoroughly enjoyed.<br />
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So, no new paper design artwork lately... perhaps I'll come back to it in a while. As with most things in life, I've found that my creative expression is a cycle... Hmmmm, kind of like eating, now that I think of it... Sometimes we gorge ourselves on all the yummy stuff on our plate, and it makes us feel so full and satisfied. And then comes a time when we just have to push ourselves away from the table and digest. We know we'll come back to the table, we just aren't sure what we'll choose to eat. Same with the creative process. I know I'm coming back... there are just so many delicious choices that I think I'll take a taste here and a taste there for awhile.<br />
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Today, then, since you're probably in the season of freshening up your lives after a long winter, I'll share a few ideas that might spark some home improvement ideas for you. I'm all about inexpensive creativity right now. So here are few cheap and fun ideas I've incorporated into my new living space.<br />
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Since the move, I've acquired white walls... for me a bit of a challenge, but I'm liking them right now because I can be very eclectic with color. Amazing what a $2.69 cans of spray paint or acrylic paints can do to jump start some fun. Here are a few items I've re-painted...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZuxIfBvuF-Q/TXKsifSGcNI/AAAAAAAAAZc/8Jnv-kmWMn4/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZuxIfBvuF-Q/TXKsifSGcNI/AAAAAAAAAZc/8Jnv-kmWMn4/s400/005.JPG" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This planter used to be terra cotta color...<br />
a little white paint changes the look.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wzVFCxCuSFA/TXKtIMj78wI/AAAAAAAAAZg/QmWzlnrh1Zk/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wzVFCxCuSFA/TXKtIMj78wI/AAAAAAAAAZg/QmWzlnrh1Zk/s400/008.JPG" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal blue planter? Not anymore!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-txeUga8sorQ/TXLuTVSoeQI/AAAAAAAAAaU/iBL3kRFkdu8/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-txeUga8sorQ/TXLuTVSoeQI/AAAAAAAAAaU/iBL3kRFkdu8/s400/021.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, a bold and black sun! I don't think you can tell from<br />
this picture, but after I painted it black, I added a coat<br />
of glitter paint to add sparkle when it catches the light.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kXKQZMq7Mbo/TXKufAeM8mI/AAAAAAAAAZo/BtEgmSCA_ec/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kXKQZMq7Mbo/TXKufAeM8mI/AAAAAAAAAZo/BtEgmSCA_ec/s400/031.JPG" width="346" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found this shelf at the thrift store. It used to be white...<br />
yep... navy blue now.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Gsu-o9K_0zg/TXKvChMDrwI/AAAAAAAAAZs/alzorvhIvrs/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Gsu-o9K_0zg/TXKvChMDrwI/AAAAAAAAAZs/alzorvhIvrs/s400/033.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These little fishies on a picture frame needed to "pop"...<br />
a little lime green paint did the trick.</td></tr>
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I think you get the idea. My husband says I get carried away with the re-paints, but I always remind him I'm saving him money! So keep that in mind when looking at items in your home... what color do you want them to be? What would brighten up that old item and give it new energy?<br />
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Here's a pretty cool idea to display artwork or pictures, or anything really. I had been wanting to display the kids' artwork around our home, but I didn't want to put each piece in a picture frame and put nails into the walls because we're always cycling in new artwork of different sizes. I liked the idea of black cork board material behind the artwork but didn't want to pay the going rate. So instead, I found a $6.00 black 2 x 6 foot carpet runner to use as the backdrop! I think black and white photos would look awesome on this too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MfiQEY8htD8/TXKxq4BJ_VI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/COpS9xvBT2o/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MfiQEY8htD8/TXKxq4BJ_VI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/COpS9xvBT2o/s320/022.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because it's a rug, all you need to adhere the artwork<br />
is the "catchy" side of the Velcro. Cycle in new artwork <br />
or pictures or whatever you want... whenever you want!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vlyg9_8orYY/TXKxKYbCMsI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/saiioVmKtC8/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vlyg9_8orYY/TXKxKYbCMsI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/saiioVmKtC8/s400/005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come on! Not bad for six bucks!!!<br />
Although, I'm thinking it needs a little frame or softening<br />
on the sides.... hmmmm.... any ideas?</td></tr>
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An easy peasy way to spruce up an old lampshade? Stamp it! Buy a stamp that you love at a craft store, find the color ink you like on a stamp pad, and then go for it! It actually releases a little tension. Here is one I did, and I get a lot of compliments on it. People can't believe that I didn't pay good money for it in some fancy designer shop. I literally spent about 15 minutes on it... <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Hsbvds2PCFw/TXK_XiX4gYI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/PReTgRVR8hY/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Hsbvds2PCFw/TXK_XiX4gYI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/PReTgRVR8hY/s400/001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird stamp and floral branch stamp combined...<br />
blank ink... that's it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XpCb-9H6vKE/TXLA4V1lXUI/AAAAAAAAAaA/CFBWw3Bh41c/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XpCb-9H6vKE/TXLA4V1lXUI/AAAAAAAAAaA/CFBWw3Bh41c/s400/003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Here's another lamp shade I did a while back and sold on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/rosebrocks">Etsy</a>. I papered the lampshade with pages from an old book. Then I traced the bird onto paper and cut it out along with a little branch for the bird to sit on. Then I glued them on the lampshade. Really so easy. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lROWxdc35kc/TXLmGBXqIdI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/L2e1PtVun2Q/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lROWxdc35kc/TXLmGBXqIdI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/L2e1PtVun2Q/s400/092.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
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And one last idea. I think fresh flowers and plants are so important in giving our living spaces wonderful energy, so that would be my first choice for sure. There is, though, another alternative that I have gone a little crazy with because I think they are so fun and happy and adorable. They are "flower-like" but they never die. I make them and sell them on my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/48958084/wish-flowers-large">Etsy Shop</a>, and they are my biggest sellers... WISH FLOWERS! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0Br4gX3C0as/TXLGk9TbmCI/AAAAAAAAAaE/MfyYM7WkfyU/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0Br4gX3C0as/TXLGk9TbmCI/AAAAAAAAAaE/MfyYM7WkfyU/s400/008.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This planter of sea grass was rather boring until I<br />
added some wish flowers to it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uKfV4S2PFQ8/TXLHBmGngOI/AAAAAAAAAaI/zfG8RTH1a7Y/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uKfV4S2PFQ8/TXLHBmGngOI/AAAAAAAAAaI/zfG8RTH1a7Y/s400/009.JPG" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I added these wish flowers to a store-bought,<br />
pre-lit branch that glows so beautifully<br />
in the dark... love it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NIWJF8NXV0c/TXLH6uWiGHI/AAAAAAAAAaM/GV9k32bd_TY/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NIWJF8NXV0c/TXLH6uWiGHI/AAAAAAAAAaM/GV9k32bd_TY/s400/028.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overkill on the wish flowers?<br />
Probably, but I don't care... they make me happy.</td></tr>
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Also, I totally suggest buying a pre-lit branch to add to a dark corner of your home. I have enjoyed my little branch so much since I got it over a year ago. Its luminescence is so beautiful at night and provides just the right amount of light to create ambiance in a dark area. Very magical indeed and totally worth the money!<br />
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So, that's it for today! I hope your week brings you some lightness and freshness, and that your creativity flows through you like a river! <br />
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Thanks for visiting!<br />
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StaceyStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-22360098081655927272011-02-28T22:51:00.000-05:002011-02-28T22:51:02.424-05:00Passing of a Friend - A Tribute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7crf2qQQ9SY/THM5WHHJuOI/AAAAAAAAAA0/dB-n8xXhtTw/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7crf2qQQ9SY/THM5WHHJuOI/AAAAAAAAAA0/dB-n8xXhtTw/s400/070.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This past weekend, a beautiful soul left this earth realm to go back home. He was my friend. <br />
He was a bright, shining spirit who profoundly affected anyone who knew him. His heart open, warm, and welcoming... his smile more so. His laugh...ahhh, his laugh could be heard in the ethers... an "in-your-face" huge, rolling, belly laugh that went straight to your core... healing you as it reverberated through your entire being. His laughter could literally lift the mood in a room in an instant... you just couldn't NOT laugh if he was laughing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Gy-NGsXl9rI/TLEQ_8SZtrI/AAAAAAAAALY/bINoVvJ9to4/s1600/DSC00342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Gy-NGsXl9rI/TLEQ_8SZtrI/AAAAAAAAALY/bINoVvJ9to4/s320/DSC00342.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>After we heard the news of his passing on Saturday, friends and I went out for drinks in honor of him. He would have definitely approved, in fact, he would have been the one to coordinate it if he could have. The first hour was calm and serene... surreal... a little laughter but a sad awkwardness... a heavy "missing" of sorts. Then my husband suggested a toast, and from that point on the floodgates opened... story upon story of how he had touched us... how he had amped up our lives with fun and laughter.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We laughed hard remembering him and loving him right where we were - without him, but totally with him. Names from our past came up... revived in our memories, and we lifted our glasses to the many faces that we hadn't thought of in years, connecting us to a place and time long gone. I realized, sitting there with friends I'd known so long, that our remembrance of our wonderful friend had connected us to many other friends too... to the funny, crazy, weird and wonderful people that had been part of his experience.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Through his death, he had brought them back to life for us. The connections were palpable... the connection between us sitting there in the bar and those that weren't with us... some good friends, some just acquaintances, but we were all united again in a very special moment. I felt such love for not only him, but all the others too, and I still do as I write this.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mc10l_kwz-E/TWxoPYKNpWI/AAAAAAAAAZY/mGlqWjPU0hQ/s1600/IMG_0430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mc10l_kwz-E/TWxoPYKNpWI/AAAAAAAAAZY/mGlqWjPU0hQ/s400/IMG_0430.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It's funny how that works... through someone's passing, the one's still here have an opportunity to re-connect and love each other all over again. We have an opportunity to not only remember but to bring alive the experiences and people - a revival of sorts. By doing this, I believe we literally summon that energy forward... carry it with us right smack dab in the center of our hearts to re-live over and over again. <br />
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A bright light in my life and the life of so many others... his energy was large, and still is... and will always be. Because for those of us blessed enough to have known him, we're the lucky ones... we get to carry his beautiful energy in our hearts for the rest of our lives.<br />
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So, to you Kris Basala, you awesome crazy, hard-working, fun-loving, fiery, passionate soul, I thank you for the honor of knowing you. And I thank you that in your passing, you have rekindled my love for many others. I will carry them... and you, right in the center of my heart as long as I live. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Things Kris taught me:</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In anything you do, just go for it... just do it...</div><div style="text-align: center;">even if you're afraid... take the leap of faith.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Laugh every chance you get, and then laugh some more.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dress well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Go to the beach as much as possible.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sing out loud.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Always opt for the stick shift.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Get the job done. Figure out how, and then do it...</div><div style="text-align: center;">no ifs, ands, or buts about it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy a good libation well and often.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love loudly. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Feel and emote passionately.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Laugh some more.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A good tan can make you feel great.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Work hard... play harder.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cherish your family.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cherish your friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Give of yourself.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Laugh again.</div><br />
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To all those who love Kris, let's not forget any of it... let's carry his energy forward with us...and each others.<br />
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Thanks for visiting this week. I hope your week is filled with love and hope.<br />
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StaceyStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-80363870334047772342011-02-20T15:55:00.000-05:002011-02-20T15:55:47.093-05:00Phoenix Rising<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em><img height="752" src="http://www.rpgfan.com/pics/souloftheultimatenation/art-002.jpg" style="height: 100%; width: 100%;" width="1003" /></em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="P11"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">Image Source Page: </span><a class="P14" href="http://www.rpgfan.com/pics/souloftheultimatenation/art.html" id="m_isp" onmousedown="return logDetailPageClientClickEvent('sourcepage')" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.rpgfan.com/pics/souloftheultimatenation/art.html</span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>The Phoenix</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"><em>by Rebecca Wiles</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"><em>Beautiful , glorious and sacrificing self for renewal,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"><em>you build a pyre and set yourself ablaze.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"><em>For the sake of self.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"><em>Red bird of fire come forth through your ashes a new bird</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"><em>shedding the old self which no longer is needful.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"><em>You embrace your new strength and fly to new heights of the sky</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"><em>to the city of the sun and give the ashes</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"><em>unto the alter of the sun god for your immortality.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"><em>Embrace yourself for you are a child of the sun</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"><em>and will live eternal through birth, death, and renewal.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>The spirit never dies!</em></span> </div><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The phoenix is a mythical bird richly embedded in Persian, Greek, Egyptian, Chinese, and Phoenician mythologies. We've all heard of her... the legends tell of her colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet... she is well-known for her spirit of fire. The story goes that this mysterious creature has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, and as the Phoenix nears her end, she builds herself a nest made of twigs that ignites into flames. Both she and her nest burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The glint of hope that emerges from this myth is that from the fired ashes, a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again. In some stories, the new phoenix embalms the ashes of her old self in an egg made of myrrh, and she carries it to the Egyptian city of Helipolos (which means "sun-city" in Greek). It is said that her cry is like a beautiful song. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lovely mythical creature so bold and heroic and free. So cyclical and eternal in her death and rebirth. She strikes a deep remembrance in me, a connection... a hinting that although our worlds reside in different realms, she and I are more alike than we know. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img height="802" src="http://www.playcast.ru/uploads/2008/01/24/457751.jpg" style="height: 100%; width: 100%;" width="1003" /></span><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Image Source: http:/www.fashionelli.com</span></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The last two weeks have been difficult. I have been forced to re-visit a place deep in my emotions where I don't like to go. A place that cuts me deeply. Like a physical wound on my body, I have bandaged my emotional wound many times in the hopes that it will heal without me having to tend to it... out of sight, out of mind. Sometimes, though, I have no choice but to tend to it. So I peel off the protective covering and take a new look at what lies beneath it. As I peel the bandage away, I cringe at what I see... still not healed yet... perhaps too much time under the cover of darkness. So I begrudgingly begin the process of cleaning it, nurturing it, airing it out to heal... a sometimes painful process. Very painful indeed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A time of sadness, anger, confusion, fear, and a wallowing in my rawness. Don't feel sad or sorry for me. You have been there too. It is part of the human experience. I throw my hands up at the world and curse it. I scream loud and long, and I weep. I plead for spiritual guidance. I feel exposed. I feel ugly in my ungratefulness - knowing others have much worse fates than mine. I feel my deepest fear exposed, just like that raw open wound. I close down my connection to my Source and fall into myself... collapse into myself and curl up with all those very real and unlikable emotions. I feel as if I am burning from the inside out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I don't want to think positively. I just want to look at the world through "why me?" glasses... As I go through life's motions, my mind's self-pity grows and morphs. But, what was that? Did I just feel a tinge of hope? Could it be a will to gleam a new perspective on my situation? Nope, I'm going to wallow a little longer and coil deeper in my emotional nest. I've got my fingers in my ears, and I'm not listening!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But what's that? A sweet moment of joy sneaking into my experience and opening a door to a better emotion... a slender knowing that I can handle this situation? Okay, I'll accept it... but only for the moment. I like being raw and exposed for a while. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Then slowly, another better thought... another happy moment... another guiding inspiration... a friendly smile... an angelic answer to a question... and before I know it, I am standing up and dusting my self-pity to the wind. Hope and will cannot be deterred for long. My heart opens to the possibilities of my situation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><img height="1146" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/xlerate/ApbNYJStW4LKaVFGfB4pIXhz23OrK7nrzHUAGQaWRMJ3Ab8pobaJtAVQlf6u/Phoenix_Reborn_by_Iron_Phoenix.jpg" style="height: 100%; width: 100%;" width="1003" /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="P11"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Source Page: </span><span style="color: #0044cc; font-size: x-small;">http://xlerate.posterous.com/phoenix-rising-1 </span></span></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">With the support of God's power behind me - the same power that creates the galaxies - and the undying hope and will of human spirit, I am back... but different. I am renewed. I am changed. I am not completely healed... there will certainly come more cycles of changing the bandage and tending to the wound, BUT I am most surely in a higher place than I was. I realize a new sense of clarity and perspective, focus, an open heart, and a new and stronger connection with my source. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I can look closely at my wound and not be afraid to find peace in it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I know that even if I want to, I can't ever go back to that place I was before because I am transformed to something more now. And I know that because of my wound and the "firing" of it... the cleansing of it, I have risen out of the ashes a stronger woman... And my cry is a beautiful song... just like the brilliant phoenix who came to the end of her cycle and fell into the bundled safety of her nest, then burned in the flames... I too am recycled... over and over... through the flames... out I rise... better and better... freer and freer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sometimes we are renewed in the small instances of life, day by day...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sometimes we are transformed in the fiery moments that drop us to our knees...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sometimes we are evolved in the simple passing of time...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But always cycling, always renewing, always moving upward, carrying the ashes of our old selves towards the sun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Thank you for visiting today,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Stacey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-53753804593530624422011-02-13T20:44:00.001-05:002011-02-13T20:58:48.819-05:00Heart Sentiments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YBtuj-VQ64o/TViAWtxhGVI/AAAAAAAAAYc/05hoIzhw2ZQ/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="361" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YBtuj-VQ64o/TViAWtxhGVI/AAAAAAAAAYc/05hoIzhw2ZQ/s400/013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">-unknown</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"I get the best feeling in the world when you say hi or even smile at me because I know,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">even if its just for a second, that I've crossed your mind." </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">-unknown</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
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</div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Just because somebody doesn't love you the way you want them to,</span></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have." </span></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">-unknown</span></div><div class="Quote"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="Quote"><br />
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</div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"A woman has got to love a bad man once or twice in her life to be thankful for a good one." </span></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">-Mae West</span></div><div class="Quote"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="Quote"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="Quote"><br />
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</div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"I am nothing special of this I am sure. I am just a common man with common thoughts.</span></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten.</span></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, that has always been enough." </span></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">-Nicholas Sparks</span></div><div class="Quote"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="Quote"><br />
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</div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Sometimes your nearness takes my breath away;</span></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and all the things I want to say can find no voice.</span></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then, in silence, I can only hope my eyes will speak my heart."</span></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">-Robert Sexton</span></div><div class="Quote"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="Quote"><br />
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</div><div class="AuthorDescrip" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Conquer the devils with a little thing called love!" </span></div><div class="AuthorDescrip" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">-Bob Marley</span></div><div class="AuthorDescrip"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="AuthorDescrip"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"If you wished to be loved, love." </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">-Lucius Seneca</span></div></div><div class="AuthorDescrip"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="AuthorDescrip"><div class="Quote"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></b></div><div class="AuthorDescrip"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gu4pPdUfeNU/TViFhaGeDWI/AAAAAAAAAZA/JeOSKA1ryo0/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gu4pPdUfeNU/TViFhaGeDWI/AAAAAAAAAZA/JeOSKA1ryo0/s400/015.JPG" width="385" /></a></div><div class="AuthorDescrip"><br />
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</div><div class="AuthorDescrip" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"... See there's this place in me where your fingerprints still rest, your kisses still linger,</span></div><div class="AuthorDescrip" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and your whispers softly echo. It's the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me." </span></div><div class="AuthorDescrip" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">-Gretchen Kemp</span></div><div class="AuthorDescrip"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="AuthorDescrip"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="AuthorDescrip"></div><div class="AuthorDescrip"></div><div class="AuthorDescrip"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="AuthorDescrip"><div class="Quote"><br />
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</span></div><div class="AuthorDescrip"></div></div></div></div><div class="Quote"></div><div class="Quote"></div><div class="Quote"></div><div class="Quote"></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Have a most heart-warming week. Love and be loved!!!</span></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thanks for visiting, </span></div><div align="right" class="Quote"></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;">Stacey</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7L_R5pp2b28/TViC_9yd9rI/AAAAAAAAAYs/mfGv1-wZKwE/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7L_R5pp2b28/TViC_9yd9rI/AAAAAAAAAYs/mfGv1-wZKwE/s400/031.JPG" width="125" /></a></div><div class="Quote"><br />
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</div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Forget love... I'd rather fall in chocolate." </span></div><div class="Quote" style="text-align: right;">-unknown</div></div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-53558869271309437442011-02-07T23:57:00.000-05:002011-02-07T23:57:33.850-05:00Get Some Clay... TODAY! Art Therapy Time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TVCzJyymJ1I/AAAAAAAAAXI/o8Y1BmJZq2I/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TVCzJyymJ1I/AAAAAAAAAXI/o8Y1BmJZq2I/s400/066.JPG" width="372" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A recent suggestion from a friend (thanks, Elizabeth) prompted me to open my eyes to the world of art therapy. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I love research more than the average Joe, so I didn't mind a bit diving right into some fun books on art therapy over the last few weeks and soaking in as much as I could ... and after learning more about the many modalities of art therapy, I'm excited about it. Not that I want to go out and get my art therapy degree... I just want to incorporate some of it into my life and see what it might teach me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I mean, I've been "doing" art therapy just by creating art. Creating art holds a healing power. It can carry us away to a place where we lose track of time. Making art allows us to open our minds and imaginations in a way that we can't always do in a "realistic world" of limits, rules, and parameters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Creating art gives us permission to do whatever we want and know that anything we choose to do is o.k. And it gives us permission to imagine new possibilities and to experience them in new ways. I find it just plain fun and grounding to work with my hands... tearing paper, smearing pastels with my fingers, and dripping glue and paint on my hands and jeans. I feel like a kid again!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Erin</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The aspect of art therapy that I hadn't tapped into yet, and that I discovered by reading the books, is the idea that images speak to us in ways that words can't, and these images can help us understand who we are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, you know what a big word lover I am... I've touted the power of our words in many of my past blogs, but I love this new understanding about how important images are in our lives too! It makes perfect sense really, doesn't it? We were drawing pictures on cave walls long before we were speaking and writing.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TVC2oYQOk5I/AAAAAAAAAXY/U0shhTui1F4/s1600/DSC00679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TVC2oYQOk5I/AAAAAAAAAXY/U0shhTui1F4/s320/DSC00679.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Images</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> are the universal connection... the collective unconscious so to speak... "a picture is worth a thousand words." And because art images don't work in a linear kind of way, they don't have to obey any rules like language does - no structure or organization. What might take paragraphs of words to describe can be expressed much more easily in a single image. Very cool stuff!!!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Erin</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia;">How awesome that there are art therapists in our world who help heal people of all ages of all types of traumas and all levels of emotional upheaval. And they do this by helping their patients to express images that come from within them. WITHIN them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Art therapists don't ask their patients to create images that they see from the outside world, but instead ask them to pull images that reside deep within them... our inner world of thoughts, feelings, ideas and images that are vital to our experience. Then, with their expertise, they interpret those images and patient's experience into a process of healing. THAT'S the stuff that an art therapist would ask us to pull from within... but not with words... with images and our imagination and our creativity!!! THAT's where the healing power lies!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">How beautiful that by creating artwork we not only get lost in time, have child-like abandon, and open our imaginations to possibilities, we also can heal some pretty heavy-duty "stuff" by giving it permission to surface from within us - stuff that doesn't always want to get worked out through words. Not everyone feels comfortable talk-talk-talking out our problems... well, men for one aren't usually chatty Cathy's, and also children who don't necessarily have the words to communicate... it's sometimes much easier to just draw it or collage it or smear paint to express ourselves.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TVC5443XlJI/AAAAAAAAAXk/PFftKoMdAUE/s1600/DSC01062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TVC5443XlJI/AAAAAAAAAXk/PFftKoMdAUE/s320/DSC01062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">And now I understand that there are so many levels of art therapy and avenues for incorporating it into our lives that I am tickled to get started. No, I don't know how to interpret it... yet, but I bet you by patiently playing with artistic creation and drawing from within myself, I will eventually start figuring myself out a little bit more than the day before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So every once in a while, I'm going to sprinkle this blog with "non-professional art therapy posts" so that you can keep abreast of my attempts at possibly healing my family and myself. (if I can get my hubby to sit down and "do art.") I'm going to check this out just for fun to see if and what "comes up for any of us." I'd love for you to try the exercises out alongside me if you feel moved to, and I'd love to hear how it goes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So, without further ado... my first attempt at a new aspect of art therapy... drawing from within. I based my idea off of an exercise in the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Therapy-Sourcebook-Cathy-Malchiodi/dp/1565658841">The Art Therapy Sourcebook</a>, and added my own spin on it using some good old spiritual healing as well. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TVCy1rFs2eI/AAAAAAAAAXE/IAfmj2NiJS0/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="204" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TVCy1rFs2eI/AAAAAAAAAXE/IAfmj2NiJS0/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I pulled some <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sargent-Art-22-2000-2-Pound-Resalable/dp/B001BYK7MU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297136378&sr=8-1">"Sculpt It"</a> out of my art cabinet. It's a little softer than clay which I find easier to work with. And if you don't have any clay or Sculpt It, good old Play Doh will work too! I lit a candle, called my son down - who will always partake in a good adventure - and off we went.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As I was rolling out the clay, working my fingers through it to soften it and shape it, kneading it with each finger and rolling my hands along it, I closed my eyes and took some deep breaths, getting comfortable and relaxed - clearing my mind of all the clutter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As I became aware of my breath, in - out - inhale - exhale, I pushed my thumbs into the clay in sync with the rhythm of my breath for a few moments. Just enjoying the process of feeling and meshing with the formless mass. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Then I thought about what clay comes from (even though this wasn't real clay - stay with me on this one...) the earth... Clay comes from the earth! The earth is a wonderful sponge that draws out our toxins.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TVC74TfMDAI/AAAAAAAAAXo/zNqXRbgxSy4/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TVC74TfMDAI/AAAAAAAAAXo/zNqXRbgxSy4/s320/056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">So I imagined that with each push and pinch of the clay, I was releasing negative energy, thoughts, and feelings from my body through my fingertips ... I asked the clay to absorb anything from my body that was not serving my highest good. And I imagined that the clay was happily sucking up the toxins of my body, emotions, thoughts and the day's stress... just taking it away from me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My son and I relaxed into the process as the clay softened to our touch. We rolled it, flattened it, ran objects through it to make different indentations, made it into several forms - no preconceived notions about what it should be - no rules or objectives - just thinking and forming, releasing and creating... </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I liked squeezing it into thin wispy strands for some reason</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryan liked using tools to mark his clay</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What the? I don't know, but I wanted to make bridge-like links connecting everything.... hmmm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know... I reached into the candle holder and pulled out a pebble to brighten it<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">got a little pebble happy</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And so the session ended with both of us feeling relaxed and grounded and happy with our little creations. I noticed that with all of my moldings, I created curves and wisps and connections. I noticed that I added color by placing the pebbles into the clay.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So I will now be more aware of what the "curvy connection thingys" represent in my life. I'll see if I can spot that image in other aspects of my life and perhaps come to a conclusion about why I do this. I'm sure an art therapist could tell me... but I'll enjoy the process of figuring it out on my own. And then when I do my next session, I'll see what comes up for me then... </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fun, simple, expressive, different. I think you should go get some clay or Sculpt It, or Play Doh and keep it at your desk at work, or in your bathroom, or by your t.v. so that you can just see what comes up for you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It also might be interesting to ask a specific question while we create something (like working with clay, or painting, or just doodling on a sticky note) and see if our creation (or the process) gives us any hints to the answer, or at least allow us to take the time to meditate on it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Good stuff, good stuff.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>And so today, I'll get some clay! And I'll play and maybe learn something I didn't know about myself. Maybe even answer a question I have been wondering about, or just have some relaxing, creative time with myself! And I will put no parameters or rules around my creations... just a safe place to allow my inner voice to speak.</em></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I hope for you a wonderful week! </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thanks for visiting,</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Stacey</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-12120786429090775772011-01-31T01:00:00.000-05:002011-01-31T01:00:02.586-05:00Photo Walk on a Sunday Afternoon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TUY_8XZBiaI/AAAAAAAAAVU/84ZRpKHuGb0/s1600/blog+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TUY_8XZBiaI/AAAAAAAAAVU/84ZRpKHuGb0/s400/blog+024.JPG" width="387" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Easy like Sunday morning... well, Sunday afternoon actually. That's what today's walk around our neighborhood was... easy and nice. It was an absolutely gorgeous day here in Summerville, SC, so my son and I took advantage of it and went on a "photo walk" around our new neighborhood to see what we could get into. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Recently, Ryan has shown interest in photography, so the two of us, together with one camera, snapped and clicked a ton of pictures. Some we thought beautiful, some I thought "telling" about life... some we liked the angles and colors of, some we had so much fun editing by cropping and coloring and turning upside down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ryan teaches me almost daily to be aware of the little things. So today we did just that. We took pictures of images I've driven by or walked by many times but never really have taken the time to "see."</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The images may not mean as much to you as they do to me, but I'm sharing them with you because a photo walk is a great way to remind us to be aware. It's free, it's fun, and it gets those creative juices </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">flowing! And you just can't mess it up!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A reflection from the lake... Ryan's idea!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I hope your week is mucho wonderful and that you take some time to be "creatively aware." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thanks for visiting,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Stacey</span></div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-65499535017041857942011-01-25T00:32:00.000-05:002011-01-25T00:32:48.733-05:00Allowing Instead of Trying - Letting Go This Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5OiU6XYjI/AAAAAAAAAUo/nVHB7QetdYI/s1600/IMG_0427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5OiU6XYjI/AAAAAAAAAUo/nVHB7QetdYI/s320/IMG_0427.JPG" width="215" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy Day to you! I hope you have been warm enough this week. I am so ready for the thermometer to rise just a few degrees! Last week I talked about </span><a href="http://paperseeds.blogspot.com/2011/01/living-our-words.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">words</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. Some words are disempowering and others are empowering. And by using the empowering words we can sharpen and clarify our intentions.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also said that I would create a piece of art this week that incorporated my new empowering words for 2011. And I said I'd walk you through my process. Well, I did indeed create a piece of art. And I did incorporate my words... ummm, it didn't turn out quite as I'd hoped. In fact, I was pretty grossed out by it. I mean, it's one thing to create something for yourself in the privacy of your own space, and then throw it away if you don't like it. It's another to announce that you'll create something and show it to people!!! What was I thinking???</span><br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You know what, though? This really works out quite well because my utmost intention for this new year is to stop trying so hard and just be. Last year I tried hard at much of what I did. And I'm exhausted. It was fun, it was invigorating, it was exhilarating and full of achievement, but guess what? Done! Finito! Been there - Done that - moving on into the realm of relaxation, rest, and just "being."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This year I am <em><strong>allowing</strong> instead of trying.</em> I'm dropping the oars that I have been rowing rowing rowing my little boat with, and I'm just letting them slide right out of my hands. If I say that I trust this beautiful universe to guide me and provide for me than let's see my belief in action.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm not setting goals, I'm not comparing myself to anyone else. I'm going to play when I want, eat what I want, do what I want, be who I want.... just be. If something moves and motivates me, then that's fantastic (and I'm sure it will because I can't sit still for long), but until that time, I'm chilling out and doing my thing. And I won't know what my thing is until I do it. So take some of that world! Are you ready for my "beingness?" I'm feeling the power of it already... just letting go and dropping the oars. (I'm pretty "Type A" anal retentive, so if you see me slipping from my plan, will you please remind me... It's going to take some effort just for me to allow -ha!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So back to the "word art piece" that I worked on. It fits perfectly into my new intention... It didn't work so well, so I'll show it to you anyway and move right along... Maybe I'll have a go at it again... maybe I won't, but I'm not trying.... I'm not going to row row row my boat upstream and make it happen just because that's what I set out to do. I'll allow the process to flow through me whatever I decide. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="cssfloat: left; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5L7NqQe4I/AAAAAAAAAUk/CYBelWbF9-0/s320/IMG_0395.JPG" width="320" /></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A blank canvas... my page full of words, and a pencil. I love my words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">"connection," "release," "expansion," "heartspace," "ease,"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">"surrounded by guidance," "embrace the unfolding," "rest," inner sight," </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">"nurture me," "fluid," "blowing joyful kisses," "inner smile," "authentic," "comfort," "swirling energies," "joyful abandon," "surrender," "I am abundant..."</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5RaDHOq9I/AAAAAAAAAUw/yXqVwCWX_pg/s1600/IMG_0397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5RaDHOq9I/AAAAAAAAAUw/yXqVwCWX_pg/s320/IMG_0397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>In my imagination, I'm seeing this ethereal word spiral... I am speaking my new words out into the quantum field, out into the universe, and the words will spiral outward waiting to be scooped up and embraced by the powers that guide me... my intentions embraced and manifested! Isn't that a cool thought? O.k., I thought so too,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5SORr0tUI/AAAAAAAAAU0/VnJRN8e7gwo/s1600/IMG_0398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5SORr0tUI/AAAAAAAAAU0/VnJRN8e7gwo/s320/IMG_0398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I break out the pastels! (Like sticks of chalk) and I start swirling the energies of the universe. Pastels are so much fun. You should really give them a try if you like playing with your hands. I love smearing the colors together to create new hues. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5S2NwcwDI/AAAAAAAAAU4/nBKXb5peICE/s1600/IMG_0399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5S2NwcwDI/AAAAAAAAAU4/nBKXb5peICE/s320/IMG_0399.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>O.k., I can kind of see the spiraling background preparing for the words...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5TWuHrxmI/AAAAAAAAAU8/q1gqrgKvUJo/s1600/IMG_0400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5TWuHrxmI/AAAAAAAAAU8/q1gqrgKvUJo/s320/IMG_0400.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I flick some white paint on the canvas with a toothbrush to give it a "space/galaxy effect"... This is FUN!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5UC7np-xI/AAAAAAAAAVA/qiuISiQwrsY/s1600/IMG_0403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5UC7np-xI/AAAAAAAAAVA/qiuISiQwrsY/s320/IMG_0403.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Start adding the words...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5U3wDCO8I/AAAAAAAAAVE/KMeH_fP0Wjk/s1600/IMG_0407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5U3wDCO8I/AAAAAAAAAVE/KMeH_fP0Wjk/s320/IMG_0407.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I add more pastels over the words to soften them because they seem too much, which turns out to be a mistake because it really dulls the color. I also add some stamps (suns and planets) in the background which I'm not sure about. And my last touch is adding an acrylic shiny paint - streaking it throughout the swirls - attempting to show energy moving... spiraling... swirling. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5ViRDKa3I/AAAAAAAAAVI/6RZNkKeCtxU/s1600/IMG_0416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TT5ViRDKa3I/AAAAAAAAAVI/6RZNkKeCtxU/s400/IMG_0416.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I stop here and say "enough." It just doesn't move me. It's o.k, though. I learn that in order to get a spiral effect, I could make the words smaller as they go outward, and I could make the spacing get bigger as I go outward. I could make the center look farther away by darkening it. I'm thinking I'd like to take an art class this year so that I can figure all this out faster to save myself some time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all it was a good lesson on what to do differently next time. Just like anything in life really. Just live it and learn it. Get better as you go. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I came upon a quote today that was nice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"<em><strong>Courage doesn't always roar.</strong></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><strong> Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." </strong></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><strong> -</strong></em> <em>Mary Anne Radmacher</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's that "try" word again which I'm not going to do so much of this year. I did like the quote, however, because the process of creating ANYTHING isn't about getting it perfect or even close to perfect... especially the first time around. Be soft and kind to yourself... allow for learning curves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em>So today, I'm letting go, surrendering, dropping the oars, and allowing my life to unfold instead of planning and trying and rowing upstream. And when I am moved to action, watch out world... because I'm allowing a whole lot of power flow through me when I open myself to the potential of this beautiful universe! </em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you for visiting. Allow yourself to flow with your week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stacey</div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-36156440530933748022011-01-18T16:54:00.000-05:002011-01-18T16:54:50.137-05:00Living Our Words<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXTFx4k_rI/AAAAAAAAAT0/PZA_-luDKyk/s1600/bwbirds+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXTFx4k_rI/AAAAAAAAAT0/PZA_-luDKyk/s400/bwbirds+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original Paper Collage from my "Word Bird" Series</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I absolutely love words. I like speaking them, thinking them, writing them, reading them, dreaming them, creating art with them... and living them. "Living them?" you ask. Yes, I say living them. What I mean by this is that words are powerful tools that can clarify, ground, connect, and direct our lives, <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and the words that we choose make a difference in our lives</span>. Without words, we'd either shrivel up and die of boredom, or we might just evolve like the Aboriginal Real People who use mental telepathy, (which you can read about </span><a href="http://paperseeds.blogspot.com/2011/01/compared-to-nomadic-aboriginals-im.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">here.</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">) It could go either way I suppose, but for the sake of the blog, let's pretend that without words, we'd all go insane...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXo5ozyZ6I/AAAAAAAAAUA/_ZVf722FU6o/s1600/IMG_0386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXo5ozyZ6I/AAAAAAAAAUA/_ZVf722FU6o/s320/IMG_0386.JPG" width="183" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">No newspapers, FaceBook, magazines, or blogs! No love letters, songs, or chatty phone conversations. No novels, restaurant menus, plays, or poems... or cheesy jokes on popsicle sticks. Without words, we'd be living an alien existence on the flip-side of reality... not much communication going on without those descriptive, clarifying creations we call words. I talk about the power of words and writing in two past blogs, </span><a href="http://paperseeds.blogspot.com/2010/09/to-do-lists-for-soul.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"To Do Lists for the Soul,"</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> and </span><a href="http://paperseeds.blogspot.com/2010/08/so-i-finished-reading-julia-camerons.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Soul Talking,"</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> which both express how privileged we are to create our reality by choosing our words deliberately. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXmna0srHI/AAAAAAAAAT8/0u-z_u3sZm4/s1600/IMG_0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXmna0srHI/AAAAAAAAAT8/0u-z_u3sZm4/s320/IMG_0377.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I bring up the subject of words again because I just finished a book called <em><u><strong>The Language</strong> <strong>Codes</strong></u><strong>,</strong> by R. Neville Johnston</em>. This guy is a total hoot, and I had a ball reading his thoughts. I consider myself pretty open-minded, so I found some of his ideas to be delightful, although there were a few thoughts I just couldn't wrap my mind around. I like an author who stretches my mind to new dimensions. He did an excellent job explaining how words manifest in a quantum theory kind of way...</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXqFZKFkQI/AAAAAAAAAUE/4cTupba6H1U/s1600/IMG_0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXqFZKFkQI/AAAAAAAAAUE/4cTupba6H1U/s320/IMG_0354.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Ethers" - Original art using pastels</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Beam me up, Scotty," cause we are sitting on the tip of an enormous iceberg called the Quantum Field. We are just beginning to scratch the surface of understanding how our intentions and thought-projections create matter and reality. In my simple understanding of quantum physics, the main thing to remember is that everything is vibrating... EVERYTHING. Every thing. The computer you are looking at right now, the ring on your finger, the chair you are sitting on, the air you are breathing, the clothes you are wearing - all vibrating. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Living or not, everything has a vibration - some low vibrations - some high, but all vibrating. So when you open your mouth and talk, you are literally vibrating a word into existence, and when you do this, you are programming that field - that quantum field - to create a new reality by directing and focusing that vibration - that word. Mind blowing, isn't it?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXrUqn_ViI/AAAAAAAAAUM/icU55vB8__Q/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXrUqn_ViI/AAAAAAAAAUM/icU55vB8__Q/s320/IMG_0376.JPG" width="182" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You know the singers who can shatter wineglasses with their high-pitched notes? Well, that's vibration - at a very high frequency! Johnston reminds us that "sound directed by thought in the form of words has great power." If sound can break wine glasses, imagine what sound paired with thought forms spoken into words can create! This is because words focus intention into "beingness," therefore creating reality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So if you believe this premise, then couldn't you be more aware of the words that you are putting out there? I could be more deliberate in choosing my words to work for me in the quantum field, that's for sure. Johnston says that for way too long we have been living a "language of lack." He suggests that certain words in our language are disempowering and that we need to get these words out of our vocabulary. Here are my favorites to share:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000;"><u><strong>SHOULD</strong></u> <span style="color: black;">- whenever you say, I "<span style="color: #cc0000;">should</span>" do something, you are making a judgement on yourself. When you say, "you <span style="color: #cc0000;">should... </span>" to someone else, you are making a judgement on that person. The intent of it is to make you or someone else feel guilty if you don't do the action you are "<span style="color: #cc0000;">shoulding</span>."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;">As often as possible, replace "<span style="color: #cc0000;">should</span>" with "<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">COULD</span>." For instance, "I <span style="color: #cc0000;">should</span> go to bed instead of watching t.v." Now instead say, "I <span style="color: #3d85c6;">could</span> go to bed instead of watching t.v." Doesn't that free you from something that was an obligation to something that is now voluntary? I "<span style="color: #0b5394;">could</span>" do this thing, but I don't have to if I choose not to"... It puts you back in the driver's seat. The guilt goes away.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;">And besides, "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">COULD</span>" just carries much more possibility. Once you're saying "<span style="color: #3d85c6;">COULD</span>" instead of "<span style="color: #cc0000;">would</span>," step it up a notch and say, <span style="color: black;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: purple;">I INTEND</span>," or <span style="background-color: white; color: purple;"><span style="color: black;">"</span>I WILL</span>." That's where the real power and movement of vibrational creation comes into play. Can you feel the difference in these words?</span></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXsLvNpFdI/AAAAAAAAAUU/5yQyuZwPK78/s1600/IMG_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXsLvNpFdI/AAAAAAAAAUU/5yQyuZwPK78/s320/IMG_0384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong><u>WAIT </u></strong></span><span style="color: black;">- Oh, boy this word slips out of my mouth all day long. "<span style="color: #cc0000;">Wait</span> a minute, I'll be there after I finish loading the dishwasher." "<span style="color: #cc0000;">Wait</span> a sec, I'm busy right now." "<span style="color: #cc0000;">Wait</span>, I can't right now... can't you see I don't have any TIME?????"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;">"</span>Wait</span><span style="color: black;">" </span>is disempowering because as soon as you say it, you are putting someone on hold. It's saying that either you or someone else is not where you or they "<span style="color: #cc0000;">should</span>" be, not doing what you or they want to do.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">Perhaps instead, say,"<span style="color: #0b5394;">give me ten minutes, and I'd love to come play</span>," or "<span style="color: #0b5394;">YES, I will come as soon as I go to the bathroom</span>," or " <span style="color: #0b5394;">this time is not good for me. Let's try again later</span>." The difference in the clarity of the words just feels better and directs the quantum field into a more decisive and positive direction.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXs2eKj8nI/AAAAAAAAAUY/-_p1FhtuNFQ/s1600/IMG_0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXs2eKj8nI/AAAAAAAAAUY/-_p1FhtuNFQ/s320/IMG_0372.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong><u>BUT</u></strong></span><span style="color: black;"> - "I like your writing, "<span style="color: #cc0000;">but</span>" it lacks a certain creativity." "I like those shoes, "<span style="color: #cc0000;">but</span><span style="color: black;">"</span> they are too tight," "I love you, "<span style="color: #cc0000;">but</span>..." When you say, "<span style="color: #cc0000;">BUT</span>" in a sentence, you're taking back everything that precedes it. Do you like my writing or not? Do you like the shoes, or not? Do you love me, or not? Don't muddy the quantum water by mixing your thoughts in one sentence. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">Be clear... Instead say, "<span style="color: #0b5394;">The last few paragraphs you wrote lack creativity. On the whole, you are a beautiful writer</span>." "<span style="color: #0b5394;">I would like these shoes in a bigger size</span>." <span style="color: #0b5394;"> I love you, and when you act like that it confuses me.</span>" Doesn't that feel clearer? "<span style="color: #cc0000;">BUT</span>" says that you wish to take back a part of what you just said... you're "canceling" which really confuses the quantum field and slows the vibration. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXtnsUyn6I/AAAAAAAAAUc/uEb2-gLMHXk/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXtnsUyn6I/AAAAAAAAAUc/uEb2-gLMHXk/s320/IMG_0371.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">NEED</span></u></strong> - Oh, this word steels your power right away! It snatches your creativity and replaces it with lack and fear. "I <span style="color: #cc0000;">need</span> to do this right now because if I don't I'll be late" (fear of being late). "I need to pay that bill" (fear of lack of money). </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you "<span style="color: #cc0000;">need</span>" something then you don't have it, which is lack... and fear. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How about instead say, "I <span style="color: #0b5394;">CHOOSE</span> to do this right now so I won't be late." See the difference? It gives you back the control and creativity. Or "<span style="color: #0b5394;">I DESIRE"</span> to pay this bill." Or "I <span style="color: #0b5394;">WISH</span> to go to the meeting today." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do we really desire to pay our bills? Probably not, but at least when you say you "<span style="color: #741b47;">choose</span>", "<span style="color: #741b47;">desire</span>", or "<span style="color: #741b47;">wish</span>", you are holding a positive intention for manifesting abundance instead of lack. YOU are in control of creating your experience. You are clearly stating your intention to the quantum field, and the quantum field is responding. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Saying, "should", "wait", "but", and "need" day after day creates a murky, sticky, and slow quantum field. Try catching yourself saying these words, and I'll bet you'll be surprised. I was!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now for some <span style="color: #741b47;">EMPOWERING WORDS</span>!!! These are the words you want to keep in your pocket at all times.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXsHF_f8hI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/OdlBmmi8ESc/s1600/IMG_0380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXsHF_f8hI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/OdlBmmi8ESc/s320/IMG_0380.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: #741b47;">EFFORTLESSNESS</span></u></strong> - "I make money "<span style="color: #741b47;">EFFORTLESSLY"</span>." Doesn't that sound nice? We often believe that money can only come to us one way... by one narrow, little avenue. By saying "<span style="color: #741b47;">effortlessly</span>" we open up the possibility that money can come from any direction, any avenue, any where, any way, from <strong>ALL</strong> directions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This applies to just about any situation in your life... "I write this blog <span style="color: #741b47;">effortlessly</span>. "I clean my home <span style="color: #741b47;">effortlessly</span> today." "I drive through traffic <span style="color: #741b47;">effortlessly</span>." "I pray the surgeon operates <span style="color: #741b47;">effortlessly</span>." </span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When we do what we love, it's usually <span style="color: #741b47;">effortless</span>. When we try to make something happen, we often come up against resistance. "I move through this day "<span style="color: #741b47;">effortlessly</span>." "I give this presentation <span style="color: #741b47;">effortlessly</span>." You get the idea... it's just popping the lid off the can of possibilities and opening up to so much more than we can imagine. Try incorporating "<span style="color: #741b47;">effortlessly</span>" into your day and know that the quantum field is responding to your words. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNTDAl_3JCI/AAAAAAAAAPM/ionSY9Uqts8/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNTDAl_3JCI/AAAAAAAAAPM/ionSY9Uqts8/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: #741b47;">NO</span></u></strong> - No, this word isn't in the wrong place. It is supposed to be in the "empowering words" section. "<span style="color: #741b47;">No</span>" can be a real powerhouse, and it is perfectly o.k. to utter! YOU own your own power. Saying "<span style="color: #741b47;">no</span>" is often very appropriate and good for you. Be o.k. with it... Use it! Own it!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXv0zPlseI/AAAAAAAAAUg/BuIDpUZGTgQ/s1600/IMG_0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TTXv0zPlseI/AAAAAAAAAUg/BuIDpUZGTgQ/s320/IMG_0373.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: #741b47;">YES</span></u></strong> - Although this word could be a disempowering word if you are saying it because you "<span style="color: #cc0000;">should</span>" or because you "<span style="color: #cc0000;">need</span>" to, saying it for the right reasons gives direct and clear intention to the quantum field. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"<span style="color: #741b47;">YES</span>" is a word of giving and receiving. Giving and receiving is the balance and cycle of the universe, so say <span style="color: #741b47;">YES</span>!!! When someone is generous to you, say "<span style="color: #741b47;">yes</span>" to it and thank them. When the universe offers you a choice or a possibility, say "<span style="color: #741b47;">YES"</span>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"<span style="color: #741b47;">YES"</span> is also a word of GENEROSITY (giving). When you say "<span style="color: #741b47;">yes</span>" in giving of yourself, your time, your creativity, or your money - and you feel good about it - you are sending out a powerful intentional vibration that will be bountifully returned to you.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">By sneaking just these three words into your days, you'll begin to feel a difference... the quantum field will respond to your words by mirroring them right back to you. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TGyuitF6_gI/AAAAAAAAAAc/w7PEXFZ0jy0/s1600/Stacey%2527s+art+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TGyuitF6_gI/AAAAAAAAAAc/w7PEXFZ0jy0/s320/Stacey%2527s+art+006.JPG" width="257" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The past few years I've enjoyed creating an art project with my intended words to help steer me through the new year. So this coming week, I'm going to work on 2011, and for next week's blog, I'll walk you through the process and show you what I've come up with. Perhaps this would be a great way to start living your words too. If you're moved to choose a word or lots of words that you'd like to manifest in your life, go for it! I'll be glad to help you along... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>So today, I will remember the creative power of my words and their effect on my life and those around me. I will create my reality by choosing words that empower me and others, knowing that I am literally vibrating words into existence, and that it is a privilege and an honor to do so.</em></strong> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thank you for visiting. I hope you feel the effects of some wonderful words this week! </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Stacey</span></div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-49188197942033977082011-01-11T15:37:00.000-05:002011-01-11T15:37:10.279-05:00Compared to Nomadic Aboriginals, I'm a Mutant!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TSu5kYb0nrI/AAAAAAAAATQ/hLwjCXUyyH4/s1600/IMG_0341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TSu5kYb0nrI/AAAAAAAAATQ/hLwjCXUyyH4/s320/IMG_0341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, I've been out of commission the last few weeks because my family and I have been moving to a new home! Who moves two days after Christmas? We do! And if you've moved before, you know what I'm talking about...</span></div><a name='more'></a><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">a whirlwind of packing, unpacking, cleaning, keeping the kids happy... still unpacking, living out of boxes in two homes, dealing with an over-flowing dishwasher, broken doors and blinds, trying to keep my psycho-overly energetic border collie happy and not digging in the new yard, a foot problem that just won't go away -shooting and throbbing pain every time I walk or don't walk, and... still unpacking. It's been a really happy move.... seriously, BUT I have been living on overload, and I have been feeling a little sorry for myself.</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The first night in our new home, as I lowered my sore, worn-out body and my throbbing foot (which was becoming an entity unto itself) onto the bed, I knew that even though I was exhausted, I still needed a book to read. So I reached into the closest book box and grabbed the book right on top... the one I'd kept for about a year and always passed over for a more exciting choice. But this time I was too stinkin' tired to even think about getting a different one, so I read it. It comes as no surprise to me anymore that we get what we need when we need it... timing is perfect because this book, <em><u><strong>Mutant Message Down</strong> <strong>Under</strong></u>, by Marlo Morgan</em>, is just what I needed to kick me in Super Hero Action Mode to finish the move with grace and dignity. AND it has made a profound impact on my life. I want to tell you about it. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It's a true story about a 50 year old Midwest physician woman who went to Australia for a few years to head and teach a patient-education program for preventative health. While doing this, Marlo also created this betterment program working with urban-dwelling Aboriginal adults. So she was feeling pretty good about herself and loving what she was doing for the community. She had even gotten a good reputation in her community and met a man. Marlo was feeling on top of her game.</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TSu8dlTbVnI/AAAAAAAAATg/b8zG20i4mig/s1600/IMG_0343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TSu8dlTbVnI/AAAAAAAAATg/b8zG20i4mig/s320/IMG_0343.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">She received a strange summons from a Native Council Aboriginal tribe 2,000 miles away on the opposite coast of the continent. She thought she was receiving some kind of award for helping the Aboriginal community, so off she went, spending $700.00 on airfare, a hotel room, and new clothes to go and accept her award... boy was she so wrong!</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Instead of getting a trite reward at a hotel luncheon, this ancient tribe of Aboriginals, who called themselves the "Real People," drove her four hours into the Bush to meet the tribe. First thing they did was kindly strip her of all her belongings - including clothes, money, and jewelry and watched as it burned in flames. They gave her a not so fashionable cover up, and they started walking... and I do mean walking... walking barefoot at that! Come to find out, they wanted her to accompany them on a four month walkabout through the Outback - 1,400 miles of crazy intense desert terrain for what reason she wasn't really sure because there was only one tribe member who spoke her language, and he wasn't giving up the info.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So there she was thinking, "o.k., they've just burned my stuff, no one knows where I am, and I can't get any info out of these people, but something about this crazy summoning is extremely mystical and alluring. I don't want to offend them, so I'll walk one day with them and then ask them to take me back to civilization. Marlo knew this was nuts, but somehow felt drawn to this tribe, so she went for it. And as the story goes... she walked the whole way with them.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TSu7COQrudI/AAAAAAAAATY/eOLsq1jk07w/s1600/IMG_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TSu7COQrudI/AAAAAAAAATY/eOLsq1jk07w/s400/IMG_0344.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The intense physical extremes that she faced are amazing. The environment was barren and hostile - too much for humans to bare. For instance, just after her first two hours walking barefoot on the searing ground with piercing thorns (beach grass) covering her feet, she was gently told by her translator to "Forget the pain. Remove the thorns when we camp. Learn to endure. Focus your attention elsewhere. We will help your feet when we get to camp." And guess what? Marlo DID focus her attention elsewhere and she DID make it the rest of the way to camp, and the medicine lady DID soothe her bloody, thorned, numb feet with herbs that night. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And as Marlo continued to walk through the days barefoot, and as she developed thick corn-like skin that deformed her feet to look like hooves, she came to know that the "limitations of her endurance were expanded over and over." And miraculously, every time she thought she couldn't go on - literally couldn't walk another step on her bloodied, swollen feet - a distraction would always come and give her a second wind until she made it to camp. (Guess that puts an end to my foot pain complaining, eh?) </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Another example of the crazy conditions of the Outback were the swarms of bush flies. Yes, it is as gross as it sounds. As the tribe walked, the skies would turn black with hordes of bush flies surrounding them... The flies entered their mouths, throats, ears, and noses. They even clawed at their eyes. These were truly Marlo's most unbearable times. She noticed that when the Real People sensed the flies onset, instead of freaking out and fighting the flies, they would stand perfectly still, and close their eyes with their arms hanging limply at their sides.</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Marlo came to understand that everything has a purpose in Oneness. There are no freaks or misfits or accidents, including the bush flies. (it might take me a minute to digest that.) Here's the kicker... a tribe member said to her, <em>"There are only things that humans do not understand. You believe the bush flies to be bad, and so for you they are, but it is only because you are minus the necessary understanding and wisdom."</em> It turns out that the darn bush flies were extremely beneficial to the tribe members. They served a purpose of cleaning out the sand and wax from their ears. The flies cleaned their nasal cavities which help them endure the extreme heat. And they exfoliated all the skin on the Real People's bodies. The Real People believe that <em>"Humans cannot exist if everything that is unpleasant is eliminated instead of understood. When the flies come out, we surrender."</em> So the next time, Margo heard the bush flies coming, she surrendered, and she wondered what else in her life might she be perceiving to be wrong or difficult instead of exploring to understand its true purpose. Wow, good stuff. </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The Real People's ideas on healing are beautiful and wise. They performed a type of Reiki ... moving the hands up and down over the injured area without touching to "reconnect the former patterns" of the pained area. They would "talk" to the affected body part into healing itself... and Marlo was blown away when it actually worked. She watched a tribe member heal a broken bone - totally split in two - heal in minutes... not weeks, but literally minutes. This is because they believe healing has nothing to do with time. The healer sent thoughts of perfection to the bone. And so it was. Simple as that.</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But let's not forget it takes two to tango... the receiver of the healing was also totally open to receiving the wellness and completely believed that he would be healed. The Real People think that how you feel emotionally is what really registers and is recorded in every cell of your body and in your mind, so it's important to learn to master your emotion. When your thinking becomes flexible, your healing becomes flexible. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And remember how I mentioned that the healer "talked" to the injured bone? Well, the magic goes WAY beyond that. Marlo witnessed, on many occasions, The Real People using mental telepathy to communicate. She couldn't figure out why the tribe was so quiet all the time, but after several of the tribe members answered questions that she was asking in her mind, she realized their amazing talent. They could hear her, and they could hear each other, and they could communicate that way... no voices whatsoever. Their advanced communication was possible because of their child-like honesty. They helped Marlo to see that the only way mental telepathy can work is to accept, be truthful, and love yourself so that you can do the same with others. You have to come to peace with everything. (yikes, that's a pretty big one!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The tribe believes that mental telepathy is the way humans were designed to communicate. They call it "head-to-head talk." They think our voices weren't designed for talking because when you talk, you tend to get into trivial and unnecessary conversation, whereas, if you communicate from your "heart/head center", the conversation is more spiritual - more of the essence. The voice is best used for singing, celebration, and healing. WOAH!!!! Very advanced stuff here!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TSu73Kkv3LI/AAAAAAAAATc/xKl8TVqo3_g/s1600/IMG_0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TSu73Kkv3LI/AAAAAAAAATc/xKl8TVqo3_g/s320/IMG_0348.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The Real People believe that they are direct descendants of the first beings. They believed Marlo to be a "Mutant," which sounds just terrible, but when you understand that these people don't have a bad bone in their bodies, you see that they aren't judging, just observing. I'm sure the Real People think all of us are Mutants. Being a Mutant isn't so much a physical trait but a state of heart and head, or an attitude. It's someone "who has lost or closed off ancient remembering and universal truths." </span></span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The Real People believe that mutants have a hard time defining God because we (yes, sorry... I've officially coined you a mutant) are addicted to form. For the Real People, Oneness (what we call God) has no shape, size, or weight. Oneness is essence, creativity, purity, love, unlimited, unbounded energy. But we have a really hard time defining this because we have been so firmly planted in form all our lives.<br />
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They define Mutants as having certain characteristics like <strong>1)</strong> Mutants can't live in the open environment. (In other words, we're pansies!!!) Most of us die never knowing what it feels like to have stood naked in the rain, instead spending our time in buildings with artificial heat and cooling. <strong>2)</strong> Mutants no longer have a good digestive system. We pulverize, process, and preserve food, and we eat more and more unnatural things. <strong>3)</strong>Mutants have unlimited understanding because we measure time in terms of ourselves not seeing the big picture. We fail to recognize any time except today and so destroy without regard for tomorrow (talking about how we're destroying the earth).<br />
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And <strong>4)</strong> Mutants have a core of fear. According to the tribe, fear is an emotion of the animal kingdom. It plays an important part in survival, BUT if we truly understand Divine Oneness, and we know that the universe is not a haphazard event but is an unfolding plan, we <strong>cannot</strong> be fearful. We either have faith or fear, not both. They think that "things," generate fear. The more things we have, the more we have to fear. Eventually we are living our lives for things. But the King Daddy concern of the Real People is that we spend way too little time developing eternal beingness... hmmm... point taken. <br />
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I could go on and on about their "knowingness," but I'll wrap it up with a few of my favorite ideas that we could incorporate into our own lives.<br />
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<strong>Manifesting:</strong> The Real People perfected the art of manifesting. First thing they do is request, then always expect it to appear, and then they are utterly grateful when they receive it. The tribe begins each day by saying "thank you" to Oneness for the day, for themselves, their friends, and the world. When asking for something, and this is key... they phrase it, <em>"if it is in my highest good and the highest good for all life everywhere."</em> I Love this so much!!!<br />
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<strong>Multi-talented:</strong> They believe that each tribe member is multi-talented and progresses through a series of strengths throughout his/her lifetime.<em> </em>They spend their entire lives exploring themselves as healers, cooks, musicians, storytellers, dancers, herbalists,etc. But they don't stop there! They give themselves promotions and new names when they feel like they have discovered a new attribute of themselves. How cool!<br />
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<strong>No Happy Birthdays... Just "Getting Better" celebrations:</strong> This is definitely one I'm going to incorporate into my Mutant family's lives. Forget celebrating getting older... The Real People celebrate "becoming better"! They honor people not by age but instead acknowledge tribe members' talents, contribution to the community, and personal spiritual growth. And here's the fun part... only the specific tribe member knows best when he/she has hit the new level of "betterness," so he/she tells the rest of the tribe when it's time to have the party. They know their strong points and aren't afraid to let other's know them and celebrate them. <br />
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The Real People use their dreams to guide them. They are the ultimate recyclers leaving nothing wasted. They laugh a lot. They have no competition. They believe <em>"there is no limit to what you can release and what you can acquire." </em> They believe you are never too old for worth. They live to the fullest without any material attachments. They believe that life and living is all about movement, advancement, and change. They believe that the world is truly a place of abundance if you are open and receptive to it. They believe you cannot hear the voice of Oneness when you are busy talking. They believe that Divine Oneness plans no suffering to any living creature, except what the creature accepts for itself. They believe there is a difference between observing what is taking place and judging it. And finally, that everything is an opportunity for spiritual enrichment. Brilliant, I say... just brilliant!<br />
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As I finished this beautiful book, amidst the chaos of cramming all my material possessions into my new home and whining about my inconvenienced life and an aching foot, I realized what a pansy I was being. I also noticed that so much of what I have strived for spiritually and learned on my personal path was culminated in this book... I have connected to a group of very evolved yet simple humans... all the way across the world. I won't ever know them in this life, but hopefully in many to come. The Real People touched me from far far away with their ageless values and simple truths. This Aboriginal tribe had, since the beginning of time, remained truthful and peaceful people who have never doubted their connection with the universe. I am in awe of them and thankful for them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And I leave you with a quote from Marlo that I adore...<br />
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"I came from a left-brain world. I was raised on logic, judgement, reading, writing, math, cause and effect; here, I was in a right-brain reality, with people who used none of my so-called important educational concepts and civilized necessities. They were masters of the right brain, using creativity, imagination, intuition, and spiritual concepts." <br />
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Boy, that was really lengthy. Thanks for sticking it out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><em><strong>So today, I will allow the peaceful release of some of my Mutant values and open my heart to the simple yet brilliant truths of a people thousands of miles across the earth. I will expect abundance and be totally thankful for it when it arrives. And when I ask for something, I will say, "if it is in my highest good and the highest good for all life everywhere." Oh, and when the flies come out... I'll just surrender.</strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><em><strong><br />
</strong></em>Stacey<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-20882299483320806822010-12-19T21:21:00.000-05:002010-12-19T21:21:57.896-05:00My Favorite Christmas Poem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQ6x8BpDBlI/AAAAAAAAATI/0qkTkDcBKcY/s1600/IMG_0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQ6x8BpDBlI/AAAAAAAAATI/0qkTkDcBKcY/s320/IMG_0132.JPG" width="272" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">During the holidays, my mother has a lovely way of decorating her home so that you feel as though you're stepping into a fairy wonderland of pure, childish delight. Her attention to detail, lighting, sparkle, and whimsy greet you at every twist and turn... magical vistas everywhere! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One of my favorite magic touches is a poem... a poem placed in a beautiful frame that sits on her library table in the living room. And when I am lucky enough to go home for the holidays, this poem seems to beckon me. As I walk by it, I feel its energy call out to me, always touching me deeply as if I'm reading it for the first time. I am awed over and over again by its simple and poignant articulation of how the power of the universe lives the human experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The more I understand that we are brilliant, positive universal energy... eternal souls created from the very energy of the universe and thrust into a physical human body, the more I appreciate this poem about Jesus' experience here on earth. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;"><em>Mary's Song</em></span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blue homespun and the bend of my breast</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">keep warm this small hot naked star fallen to my arms.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rest you who have had so far to come.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now nearness satisfies the body of God sweetly.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quiet he lies whose vigour hurled a universe.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He sleeps whose eyelids have not closed before.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His breath so slight it seems no breath at all</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">once ruffled the dark deeps to sprout a world.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charmed by dove's voices, the whisper of straw,</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he dreams, hearing no music from his other spheres.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Breath, mouth, ears, eyes he is curtailed</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">who overflowed all skies, all years.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Older than eternity, now he is new.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now native to earth as I am, nailed to my poor planet,</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">caught that I might be free,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">blind in my womb to know my darkness ended,</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">brought to this birth for me to be new-born,</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and for him to see me mended I must see him torn.</span></em></div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><em></em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Patty Shaw</span></em></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQ6w-R69gEI/AAAAAAAAATE/QM-yXY-0YaM/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQ6w-R69gEI/AAAAAAAAATE/QM-yXY-0YaM/s200/IMG_0133.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Merry Christmas!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Stacey</span>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-38612366700196609482010-12-12T19:17:00.001-05:002010-12-13T08:29:02.710-05:00Birthday Reflections and a Rampage of Thankfulness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPqtaep_0I/AAAAAAAAATA/ckCBhHGRAUQ/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPqtaep_0I/AAAAAAAAATA/ckCBhHGRAUQ/s400/IMG_0009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Last week Friday was my 45th birthday, and a very good day it was. I find closure in taking a few minutes around my birthday to look back and assess each year's experiences. I remember my gains and losses, summarize the year, and then let it go. So this year I took some time to revisit my 44th year, but I found that my reflections left me with mixed emotions about how well it had gone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I did indeed accomplish many of my goals, and yes, I was proud for what I had worked hard for and allowed in my life. But still, something was bothering me... some dreams were left undone or even forgotten - some even smashed flat like a bug. Yes, I had laughed hard in my 44th year and had a lot of fun, but I encountered a good bit of struggle, pain, and sadness too... or at least more than I was used to. My family and I were healthy and well cared for, and I couldn't really think of anything catastrophic that happened, but I wasn't quite feeling a "thumbs up" year. And to be honest, I wasn't where I thought I would or should be at the ripe age of 45.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hmmmm, I needed to sit with this a while and figure out why I was bothered with my reflections of the previous year. I know that we don't always have perfectly wonderful years, but somehow this year I was sad because it seemed that my struggles may have slightly outweighed my gains. Was this o.k. to admit? Was I just having a negative moment? Why couldn't I wrap my year up nicely in a neat little bow and put it on the shelf with happy closure even if it wasn't all I had hoped?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And literally, right at that moment, I looked up on my dream board and saw these words...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPfB3wVSjI/AAAAAAAAASk/5pK9HeAwM0g/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="191" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPfB3wVSjI/AAAAAAAAASk/5pK9HeAwM0g/s320/IMG_0023.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Wow. One of my favorite quotes of all times, written by I don't know who, spoke right to me... showing me what I needed to do right in that moment. I just knew that I could gain clarity by having a big, fat rampage of thankfulness for whatever I could think of in a short amount of time. So, I went down and made breakfast, took a shower, hung out with the kids - all the while carrying my paper and pen with me and writing anything and everything that I could think of that I liked in my life and that I was thankful for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After I finished, I was amazed that through my begrudgingness of not having an awesome year like I had planned, I instead realized the power of now. It dawned on me that I had indeed assessed my year correctly... it was not one of my "best years" as far as my wants and dreams go. I couldn't tie it neatly in a bow and say it was a "wonderful" year, BUT, I did come to understand that it was a year that I needed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A year that built my patience and my hope. A year that molded me spiritually. A year that continues to show me dead on that I can and will continue this really amazing journey with grace and joy and a love for life no matter what I encounter. A year that I'll look back on and know... "that was one of those years that I was being fired and sanded and polished." <em>Sometimes the days and years that we <strong>want</strong> turn into days and years that we <strong>need</strong> instead...</em> to build us and fine-tune us and evolve us into much more than we ever could imagine for ourselves. I know that this year was that for me. And I am learning gratitude for it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So here is my rampage of thankfulness if you care to read it. Just the thoughts I had in a few hours of living. And I really get it now that when I am low on the positive thoughts scale, I just need to recalibrate my soul by aligning with thankfulness. All my power is in the present moment of appreciation. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPlAIQOsQI/AAAAAAAAASo/xIScgnxCrVg/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="166" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPlAIQOsQI/AAAAAAAAASo/xIScgnxCrVg/s200/IMG_0016.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The brilliance of Harry Potter; the quiet; a good smelling lotion; my shriveled, faded Mickey Mouse tattoo; sense of community; dairy-free cookbooks; good pillows; the sun; theater people; my camera; the wind; the house where we grew our family, and our new house where we'll continue our awesome journey together; and a good shower and leg shave.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPl3763RYI/AAAAAAAAASs/yJ2puyjuTLU/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="158" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPl3763RYI/AAAAAAAAASs/yJ2puyjuTLU/s200/IMG_0017.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Polar Express movie; eyes that see; giving to others and doing for others; my fun and active dream life; melatonin; memories; advanced age-reversing makeup; friends who leave fun phone messages; the color of my hair (even though it's from a box now); Werthers original candy; the word "create;" that I'm being more candid and bolder in my writing; nice souls in large crowds who I seem to connect with through a smile; and the unconditional love of my dorko dog.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPmm3ljTwI/AAAAAAAAASw/-yfyHqVT2Mc/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="133" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPmm3ljTwI/AAAAAAAAASw/-yfyHqVT2Mc/s200/IMG_0019.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">baby powder; how my jeans are fitting just a tad bit better these days; connection to people; sunlight filtering through trees; very vanilla soy milk and vanilla rice milk with Tazo chai tea over ice; homemade cards from my kids; a night off from cooking; the trust of a child; opportunity; wigs; belief; laughter; color, and possibilities.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPnG3gBoEI/AAAAAAAAAS0/89i9jRQbIgw/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="108" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPnG3gBoEI/AAAAAAAAAS0/89i9jRQbIgw/s200/IMG_0018.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the love of my parents; the smell of Christmas; capability; all you can eat oysters; a car that runs on a cold day; watching my daughter acting in a play; peace in the midst of chaos; mammy; my new boots; the footsteps of my waking kids above me... spry and ready for the day; my friends' support; my son's energy; my health; my family's health; the bond of love that is unique only to our family; and the smell of pluff mud.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPn3siiMEI/AAAAAAAAAS4/Vx7XVqsGFsM/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="133" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPn3siiMEI/AAAAAAAAAS4/Vx7XVqsGFsM/s200/IMG_0025.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I earnestly ask you to do the same for yourself... just stop... and take ten minutes to write down and be thankful for whatever it is you see in front of you. No, you probably don't have the time, but just do it. It realigns your soul so that you get back on track. It helps you understand that in every, every, every moment, no matter how absolutely terrible it is, there is something... maybe the tiniest little thing, but something to be thankful for. And it just feels gooooood.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPoI1CfqwI/AAAAAAAAAS8/x2jOAJ_Olto/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="174" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TQPoI1CfqwI/AAAAAAAAAS8/x2jOAJ_Olto/s200/IMG_0020.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, Today I will find things to be happy about even if I'm not feeling it. They are jumping up and down trying to get my attention and gratitude! I will create thanks no matter how mundane or joyful my life seems. I will know in my heart that the days when happiness and thanksgiving are hard to muster that I am learning some really great lessons that will help me evolve. And that sometimes I am receiving what I need instead of what I want. I am THANKFUL for being here right now, in this very moment, just doing my thing. I am thankful!</span></em></strong>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-22280087076546747812010-12-06T11:19:00.001-05:002010-12-06T11:20:11.498-05:00Don't Forget to Breathe with the Holidays!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz0QKqdMuI/AAAAAAAAASA/mFYy2Vwnyic/s1600/DSC01150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz0QKqdMuI/AAAAAAAAASA/mFYy2Vwnyic/s400/DSC01150.JPG" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James Island County Park <br />
Festival of Lights Holiday Card</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span id="goog_1444702439"></span><span id="goog_1444702440"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The other night I had a crazy, fierce allergy attack. Some innocent,</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> unknowing little allergen particle floated far up into my nasal cavity and reaped havoc on my being. I was sneezing with such force that it literally almost knocked me off my chair. One violent sneeze after another, sometimes 20 in a row, brought me down like a sick buffalo.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<a name='more'></a> After using almost a box of tissues and taking the maximum dose of Benedryl, I fell in a heap onto my bed and realized that I could not breathe... to the point of "scary not being able to breathe." My sweet little bloated sinuses were so ballooned up and worn that they smothered my nose-breathing completely until I was gasping for air. Yes, I'm probably being a bit dramatic here, but I want to be sure you get the idea that I couldn't breathe very well. <br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It just so happened that around the time that I was gasping for fresh air (you know, the kind of breathing where you're mouth is totally hanging open and gulping for air - where you don't even know that you have a nose because it is utterly useless) - I was also thinking about blog topics, and hence a blog about breathing was born.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz0732qIyI/AAAAAAAAASE/VmH__SPNTCs/s1600/DSC01153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz0732qIyI/AAAAAAAAASE/VmH__SPNTCs/s320/DSC01153.JPG" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festival Of Lights Holiday Card</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Because at that very moment, when I didn't have air, I realized the importance of it. I needed it, and I didn't have it. And I thought myself fortunate that, most of the time, I AM able to breathe. There are many who have asthma and other breathing issues, and my heart goes out to all of them because breathing air is fundamental to our very existence. I mean, really - without breath, there is no life. And I often take my breath for granted. So this post is a reminder to me and you, if you need reminding, that we are blessed to be breathing.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz15ZXY1mI/AAAAAAAAASI/J223O3LD_jM/s1600/DSC01149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz15ZXY1mI/AAAAAAAAASI/J223O3LD_jM/s320/DSC01149.JPG" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festival of Lights Holiday Card</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I took a Transformational Breathing Class a few years ago. It was impressive and "transformational." I've forgotten the techniques I was taught, but I did go back and re-read some of the instructor's statistics and info, and it's interesting how important, yet too often forgotten, our breath really is. Being aware of our breath and knowing how to breathe properly are so beneficial to our health and happiness. Breathing well supports all kinds of health benefits and is central to every aspect of our health. So here are some thoughts from my instructor: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">-When we alter our breathing to a slow and deep mode, our blood pressure decreases.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">-Breathing well helps us to cleanse the lymph system.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">-Many diseases are caused by not enough oxygen at the cellular level. Breathing well gives our cells that much-needed fresh oxygen that heals, regenerates, and restores our cells.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">-Breathing well lowers our stress, brings us peace, and can increase our energy as well as our insight and clarity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">-Did you know that 70% of our energy comes from our breathing? I had no idea. That's incredible!!! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz2nCVAF3I/AAAAAAAAASM/Qe5_1WsBuhE/s1600/DSC01152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz2nCVAF3I/AAAAAAAAASM/Qe5_1WsBuhE/s320/DSC01152.JPG" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festival of Lights Holiday Card</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Most of us tend to breath with small, shallow breaths. Can you feel that sometimes? Your breaths feel restricted... like someone is sitting on your chest or caging your breath. Have you ever noticed that when you are stressed, worried, or fearful you tend to hold your breath? I catch myself doing it a good bit. This is the body's way of protecting us from our emotions to help us get through the present moment. By holding the breath, our bodies are suppressing our emotional energy... kind of like absorbing the negative emotion into our bodies to keep us sane in that moment. But keeping these emotions stuffed in our bodies for long periods of time can create a big old pile of "blah" that festers in our deepest corners causing negative health issues later. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz3km-Pf2I/AAAAAAAAASQ/N_Rn8JrKdHk/s1600/DSC01151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz3km-Pf2I/AAAAAAAAASQ/N_Rn8JrKdHk/s320/DSC01151.JPG" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festival of Lights Holiday Card</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So next time you catch yourself breathing shallow, or literally holding your breath... be aware that this is a natural instinct, but that you can create a much healthier and happier existence if you take a few long deeeeeep breaths and exhale those sticky, dark thoughts, fears, or emotions. And in turn, take a huge, fresh inhale of energy into your being. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So how do we "breathe well?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Are you inhaling deeply and fully into your belly? They say this is key to good breathing. Is your exhale an easy release, or do you blow and push the air out? I just heard my husband, Terry, exhaling really hard the other day... almost sighing.... over and over again. I suppose this is our body's way of releasing stress. It's almost as if his body is MAKING him exhale so that he has to breathe deeper. But instead of putting your body under that stress in the first place, next time try to catch yourself and guide your breath into a flowing circle of inhales and exhales. Try to think of your breathing as one continuous cycle of easy but deep connecting inhales and exhales.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz4q28YTWI/AAAAAAAAASU/6ZpZbV9hK0M/s1600/DSC01157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz4q28YTWI/AAAAAAAAASU/6ZpZbV9hK0M/s320/DSC01157.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festival of Lights Holiday Card</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Kind of cool to think that we have control of how we breathe. We either limit or allow the amount of energy flowing through our bodies at all times. We control that 70% of energy flowing through us by how we breathe. As for me, I want the full 70% as much as possible!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So I put these "breathing well" strategies to the test the other day at the doctors office. I was waiting to be "mammogrammed" and "ultrasounded" and get the results of a suspicious lump they had found earlier. My mind went to places that it didn't need to go... you know what I'm talking about... foreseeing all the outcomes of different scenarios that I didn't need to be doing yet. So I became aware of my breath, and for about ten minutes in the waiting room, I breathed well. I felt so calm and peaceful. The worrying literally went away quietly. It really worked! It really worked. And, as a side-note, the test results were thumbs up good.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz5MTrc_JI/AAAAAAAAASY/-h5GX8yDFvM/s1600/DSC01155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz5MTrc_JI/AAAAAAAAASY/-h5GX8yDFvM/s320/DSC01155.JPG" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festival Of Lights Holiday Card</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, I just want to remind you and me, in this busy but beautiful holiday season, to stop and listen, and be aware of your breath. Just take some nice deep, slow breaths of open space into your body and soul. Imagine that the breath you exhale is carrying with it your worries and stress and negative thoughts. And the breath you are inhaling is filling up every one of your cells with clear, fresh energy and positive emotions, thoughts, and ideas. Imagine that you are inhaling the potential of the rest of your day, and that you have the power to create your day however you want through the way that you breathe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><em>So, today, I breathe WELL! Deep and cyclical. Flowing. Connected. I am aware of my breath and its beautiful energy flowing through me, my life force... renewing my cells, renewing my thoughts, creating peace and wellness. Thank you for this energy of life... thank you for my life force</em></strong>.<strong><em> I will use it well.</em></strong></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz56Jif8aI/AAAAAAAAASc/1jW6U5twotY/s1600/DSC01156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPz56Jif8aI/AAAAAAAAASc/1jW6U5twotY/s320/DSC01156.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite card of all...<br />
My kids' homeschool group made this!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I appreciate your visit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Enjoy a week of wonderful breathing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Stacey</span>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-66445339182638791952010-11-29T21:53:00.000-05:002010-11-29T21:53:10.284-05:00An Interest in Mandalas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQguovre4I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/5n9RkmD-aOk/s1600/DSC01064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQguovre4I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/5n9RkmD-aOk/s320/DSC01064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Last year, a sweet and thoughtful friend gave me a "coloring book" called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Power-Mandalas-Klaus-Holitzka/dp/0806928832/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291063233&sr=8-1">Power Mandalas</a> for my birthday. She knew of my combined love for anything artistic and spiritual, so this really was an ideal gift for me. I had heard of mandalas but had never understood the concept behind them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"Oh, this will be great, " I thought to myself. "I'll use this all the time!" And so... months later... there it sat on the art shelf like so many other things in my life... waiting patiently to be discovered, loved, and used. Yes, I opened it every once in a while to take a look, but I felt like there was never time to invest in sitting down with a box of colored pencils and actually coloring in the mandalas. I mean, really what was the point when I didn't have the time? </span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQhWYxHSFI/AAAAAAAAARA/Oj_3c63IeOk/s1600/DSC01067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQhWYxHSFI/AAAAAAAAARA/Oj_3c63IeOk/s320/DSC01067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">All year long, my attention was drawn to mandalas. It seemed I saw them everywhere and thought them very beautiful and intriguing. But I never took the next step to unravel the mystery of them. Life's timing is always perfect, though. Just several weeks ago, I found the mandala book on my art shelf, and this time I was ready to receive it. I love how that works!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So I sat on the couch with my kids, and we colored. They drew, and I colored in my mandala book, and I've got to say that it was a lovely experience. Curled up on the couch with my children's voices in the background peacefully just coloring a trail of design, I finally understood the importance of nudging myself to just sit and color the mandala even though time was an issue. Since then, I have been coloring lots of mandalas and have become quite fascinated with them. So I thought I'd share a little bit about them with you, in case you might be interested too! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQkqw3xacI/AAAAAAAAARI/uD2YEsQJZEg/s1600/DSC01060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQkqw3xacI/AAAAAAAAARI/uD2YEsQJZEg/s320/DSC01060.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first Mandala</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The word "mandala" comes from Sanskrit... loosely translated it means <strong><em>"circle."</em></strong> But it's far more than just a simple shape. It represents the idea of <em><strong>wholeness</strong></em> and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself - a cosmic diagram, so to speak, that reminds us of our relationship to the infinite. Pretty cool stuff. </span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQmJFechoI/AAAAAAAAARM/Q0AQ0VA0yok/s1600/DSC01061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQmJFechoI/AAAAAAAAARM/Q0AQ0VA0yok/s320/DSC01061.JPG" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the meditation that<br />
accompanies the mandala above.<br />
You are supposed to think about it<br />
while you color the mandala.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The mandala goes waaaay back. It has been used in many religious traditions: the Indians of the Americas used medicine wheels and made beautiful mandalas in the sand, the Aztecs created the circular calendar, and the Taoist "yin yang" symbol is a mandala as well. Tibetan mandalas are very intricate religious illustrations and are still revered and used for meditation today. Even labyrinths are a type of mandala found in many cultures which are used as tools for centering. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The principle behind the mandala is of <em><strong>"an integrated structure organized around a unifying center."</strong> </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>- Longchenpa</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I interpret this as an all encompassing source in the middle... the unifying center... and the interlocking parts branching out from it in amazing and brilliant varied designs - showing the connection of all things!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And how cool that the mandala is found throughout many culture's buildings and structures... from Buddhist stupas to Muslim mosques and Christian cathedrals, the mandala is a common theme in architecture all over the world. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQngX5_ETI/AAAAAAAAARQ/KfwAflo8PrM/s1600/galaxy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQngX5_ETI/AAAAAAAAARQ/KfwAflo8PrM/s1600/galaxy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">galaxy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Here's my favorite part of it... the mandala actually represents the universe itself. It is both the microcosm AND the macrocosm... the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds. The mandala describes both material and non-material realities and appears in all aspects of life: the celestial circles of earth, sun and moon, as well as a conceptual circle of friends, family, and community. And what I'm discovering is that </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">so many of the universe's creations ARE mandalas: spider webs, flowers, galaxies, seashells, oh my gosh - the list goes on and on! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQn2fDH2zI/AAAAAAAAARU/_rm44zps4F0/s1600/yin+yang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQn2fDH2zI/AAAAAAAAARU/_rm44zps4F0/s1600/yin+yang.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yin yang</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I am only beginning to understand the power and the complexity of mandalas and how they have affected humans for thousands of years. I can't wait to delve further into them and learn more of their archetypal mystery. LOVE IT!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So how do mandalas relate to you? Well, you can simply look at mandalas because they are truly a visual delight with all their colors and intricacies. You can take it a step further and let your eyes follow the lines and colors: If you look from the outside to the inside, it is said to increase your concentration. And if you look from the inside out, it is said to help open yourself up to something. It will center you by leading you to your center, becoming a kind of meditation for you. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQjllSzsEI/AAAAAAAAARE/-yqrsvg0Lbo/s1600/spiderweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPQjllSzsEI/AAAAAAAAARE/-yqrsvg0Lbo/s320/spiderweb.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Or you can also color mandalas. Watercolors, colored pencils, felt-tip pens, or whatever you choose, just follow your colorful desires and have fun. And it's not important how well you paint or color. The</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> goal of the mandala is pleasure, but you'll be having such fun coloring that you'll not notice that something else is happening. "They" say that you will begin relaxing, gradually becoming calm, you will playfully circle around your center and see yourself in the great scheme of the whole. Creating the circular design of a mandala is a meditative practice, a healing exercise, and a pleasurable act of creativity. It is a symbol of the Self and can provide a connection to our innermost being.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I am starting to feel these things when I color a mandala, but even if I can't quite get to connecting to my innermost being or finding my deeper self, at least I am taking some time in a meditative state... just following a path... just wandering with my thoughts and coloring... It's all good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">If you are interested in some cool holiday Mandala gifts for yourself or others, check these links out:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/results.cfm?keyword=creating+mandala">Creating Mandalas</a> For insight, healing, and self-expression<br />
<a href="http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/results.cfm?keyword=The+Mandala+Workbook">The Mandala Workbook</a> A creative guide for Self-exploration, balance, and well-being<br />
<a href="http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-57062-583-1.cfm">Coloring Mandalas I</a> For insight, healing, and Self-expression<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=power+mandalas">Power Mandalas</a> (this includes others on Amazon)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPRa-hACU5I/AAAAAAAAARY/48tBGsgiARc/s1600/DSC01062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TPRa-hACU5I/AAAAAAAAARY/48tBGsgiARc/s320/DSC01062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">still working on this one...<br />
a meditation of energy and power</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So today, I will allow myself the time to quiet my mind, look deeper into myself, and find peace... whether that be through looking at or coloring a mandala, taking a walk, meditating, or staring off into space. I will respect and love myself enough to find the time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Have a wonderful and colorful week!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I appreciate your visit, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Stacey </span>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-11667979765556600442010-11-21T21:59:00.000-05:002010-11-21T21:59:13.409-05:00Keeping It Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><em>"To laugh deeply is to know God."</em></strong> - Alan Cohen</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOnTbXTqvCI/AAAAAAAAAQs/eTxer4bJoA4/s1600/DSC00607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOnTbXTqvCI/AAAAAAAAAQs/eTxer4bJoA4/s320/DSC00607.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have two dear friends, one I have known since middle school, and one I have known since college. Even now, after all these years, I am blessed to STILL have them in my life because they live here in Charleston. Can you imagine that? How lucky I am. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Both very different personalities and energies, Leigh and Jackie do share one attribute in common... <strong><em>the ability to laugh and find joy in any situation.</em></strong> In our younger days, Leigh and Jackie were the "go to" girls if you wanted to have a great time.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOnUGJu-naI/AAAAAAAAAQw/5-BCA-CY-kM/s1600/100_1678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOnUGJu-naI/AAAAAAAAAQw/5-BCA-CY-kM/s200/100_1678.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">They knew how to party and entertain a crowd. Each of them had magnanimous energy. I would sit back and watch as they worked a crowded room, leaving trails of laughter as they sauntered off to their next fun-filled moment. All I had to do to find them was follow the laughter, and sure enough at the end of the path, I'd find Leigh or Jackie surrounded by a hysterical crowd of purely joyously entertained people. And this love of life and laughter wasn't a surface characteristic... it came deep from their souls.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOnSxukVRSI/AAAAAAAAAQo/y5wWc0fZg0Q/s1600/100_2237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOnSxukVRSI/AAAAAAAAAQo/y5wWc0fZg0Q/s320/100_2237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Two better friends I could not have in those "Splendor in the Grass" days. My days and nights were filled with wig-wearing, song-filled, toilet-humored silliness and pure comedic delight....an unabashed, infectious, expressive love for life... and oh so much laughter.... laughter that comes from so deep inside you that once you start, you just can't stop. A laughter that fills you with so much good stuff that when it's over, you feel like you've run a marathon. "No more - gasp - I can't breath... please no more." </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TKX5hCA_65I/AAAAAAAAAKY/lizOB4OrxnA/s1600/100_2030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TKX5hCA_65I/AAAAAAAAAKY/lizOB4OrxnA/s320/100_2030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As we grew older, married, and started families, there was still laughter, but along side the good times came some heavy hearts and tough circumstances. And even today, just having talked with them recently, I am amazed by their resilient comedic nature... their ability to joke and laugh at pretty much ANY situation... and believe me, they've had some tough times. Their gift is to gleam even the tiniest spec of joy from any situation and magnify the energy of that tiny spec into a funny story, a joke, a good laugh... transforming the experience into a lighter and laughter-filled incident. To them, nothing is beyond making fun of, especially themselves. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">One of Jackie and my favorite quotes in college was, "God has a sense of humor too!" I really believe that laughter is a gift from our Source, and that it is meant to be used as a tool to maneuver through life's challenges. We are given the gift of laughter to heal pain... it's the perfect antidote! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOnWk-NIksI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/h4CrNZ5EEGs/s1600/DSC00491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOnWk-NIksI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/h4CrNZ5EEGs/s320/DSC00491.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I wonder why we forget to laugh as we age... I mean laugh <strong>hard</strong>. Yes, we laugh now... chuckle here and there, but when was the last time you really belly laughed? Tears coming down your face laughter? Muscle aching laughter? Pee your pants laughter? Maybe we forget that we don't have to have a reason to laugh! We don't have to have a reason to experience joy!!!</span><br />
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When we find ourselves becoming too serious about life, it's a true gift for someone with a light heart to remind us that we don't need to be afraid. Fear and love cannot share the same room. If only for a few moments, laughter allows us a space to re-align ourselves with Source. It creates a space for peace to come through and perhaps take hold and grow. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Alan Cohen, the author of <u>Dare to Be Yourself</u>, has a very interesting theory. He believes there is one criterion by which we can ascertain if we are looking at a situation with a clear mind: Can we laugh about it?</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOnV7f5LxYI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/keuVIzuT1Lw/s1600/Stacey%2527s+Art+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOnV7f5LxYI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/keuVIzuT1Lw/s320/Stacey%2527s+Art+077.JPG" width="211" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">If we cannot, he says, the fear has gotten foothold on our consciousness and clouded our ability to see the bigger picture. This is a difficult one for me... you mean, sickness, financial loss, betrayal, death??????? Wow... I'll need some time to wrap my head around this, but I believe he is on to something... there is nothing in this world that is beyond laughter. He believes that the heavier the situation is, the more we need to laugh about it. If we are unable to see the humor in a situation, then we are stuck and need to zoom out and look at it from a higher perspective. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Perhaps if we create a space of lightness and laughter for our somber challenges to rest for a time, they would disappear more quickly. And isn't it true that when we look back on times in our lives and re-visit the experiences that were painful - the ones we thought we'd never recover from - we can usually look back and laugh on it now. If we can look back and laugh now, then maybe we are truly healed with a situation. It's quite a measurement for understanding if we actually and truly healed something in our lives... Can I laugh about it yet? Can I find joy in it? </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TKX3t2aQFtI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/7RiVmeZuq78/s1600/100_2137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TKX3t2aQFtI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/7RiVmeZuq78/s320/100_2137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong><em>"Gravity is the thing that keeps us bound to earth. Celebration is the energy that brings us true release. The lighter we are, the closer we rise to Heaven." - Alan Cohen</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So, today, I am thankful for Leigh and Jackie, and the many other wonderful people in my life who just plain make me giggle and laugh and act stupid and silly and joyful and celebrate life. I open my heart to the possibility that laughter will heal my hurts. And I ask that I attract more laughter and silliness and joy into my life so that I can flow it right back out and spread it around to others. Today I may have no reason at all to laugh out loud... uproariously, belly-achingly loud - but I will, and I can't wait!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Laugh a lot this week for no reason! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Thank you for visiting,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Stacey</span>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-9867004290611419932010-11-14T22:38:00.000-05:002010-11-14T22:38:01.691-05:00The Cycle of Connection<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOCd-cAKVmI/AAAAAAAAAP8/D5jq-Q8dWeM/s1600/DSC00897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOCd-cAKVmI/AAAAAAAAAP8/D5jq-Q8dWeM/s320/DSC00897.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My booth at the Artists' Market</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Over the past few weeks, I've been especially aware of the different stages and intensities of my connection with life. It's interesting to watch the cycle of our connection with our higher selves, our Source, God - whatever we choose to call it. We connect beautifully for a while, then we disconnect, and then we connect again, and disconnect... over and over and over. I suppose this cycle of union is the process of life - always reaching for the connection and holding it for as long as we can, until perhaps we stumble, trip, and fall away from it. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOCfGtqj-KI/AAAAAAAAAQA/REdOSZsVNxw/s1600/DSC00898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOCfGtqj-KI/AAAAAAAAAQA/REdOSZsVNxw/s320/DSC00898.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower magnets, bottles, ornaments, etc. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When we are connected to Source, our days seem effortless, easily flowing, and happy. When we aren't feeling that union with Source, our days seem stuck, overwhelming, unbalanced, stressful. I'll give you an example of what I mean.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOCg15a4N7I/AAAAAAAAAQI/g25StcO0bho/s1600/DSC00907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOCg15a4N7I/AAAAAAAAAQI/g25StcO0bho/s320/DSC00907.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet mom and dad and Erin at Artists' Market</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Three weeks ago, I was creating all kinds of goodies to sell at the Artists' Market that happened this past weekend. I was feeling good - really into it, feeling the flow of life coursing through my veins, loving the process of realizing a vision in my head and bringing it to form. And then, like the flip of a light switch, I was disconnected. I was looking around me completely overwhelmed with what I had to accomplish in time for the show, and wondering how I could possibly continue balancing my busy life of homeschooling, mothering, "wifing," "friendshipping," housekeeping, and "artsing."</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOCiTFJxcGI/AAAAAAAAAQM/zMVK965b4K0/s1600/DSC00908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOCiTFJxcGI/AAAAAAAAAQM/zMVK965b4K0/s320/DSC00908.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Could I hold it all together, or would my balance un-evenly lean me too far over? Would I fall on my face? Had I cooked a good meal for my family recently? Not really. Had I spent enough one-on-one time with my kids? Not to my liking. Had I had more than a two minute conversation with my husband? Nope. Had I been a good friend? I don't think so. Had I been wearing the same jeans for a week because I hadn't done laundry? Yes. It was like I was happily cruising on my bike one minute, and then tripping over a rock and loosing my balance the next minute. I laid on the ground looking around me and wondering, "how did life get out of hand so fast?" </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOCjk_CZ4JI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/e_gq10lOWD0/s1600/DSC00982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOCjk_CZ4JI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/e_gq10lOWD0/s320/DSC00982.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Park Circle - where my artwork is being displayed</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But eventually, I got up off the ground, re-connected as best I could to find my balance, and I got back on the bike. O.k., it was working.... Two weeks ago, I was setting up an art display in Park Circle, North Charleston, feeling pretty good about myself. I had cooked a few good meals. I had spent some fun times with the kids and managed to homeschool every day that week. I even managed to mop my floors and spend some time with Terry. "I got it going on," I thought. I even created space for meditation and prayer. "This is good. I can be balanced and connected to my life - no prob!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And then, my son became sick. Here we go again... DISCONNECT... Then, a few days later, I became sick perfectly timed to accompany my daughter's birthday week... BIG DISCONNECT... there I was trying to create this beautiful time for my daughter and failing miserably. Feeling like a big, fat, grumpy snot factory with a fever and a fake smile. I realized when I was in the midst of sickness that I was completely severed from life... from Source... from any sense of well-being. But then, a few days later, I woke up and couldn't wait to see my kids. I knew I was back in the game. I felt alive again. I felt life trickling through me much more than the day before. "Yippee," I thought. Getting back on the bike and pedaling again... CONNECT! SHE SCORES!!! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOClDBpVpDI/AAAAAAAAAQU/Adxr0mTC7CA/s1600/DSC00976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOClDBpVpDI/AAAAAAAAAQU/Adxr0mTC7CA/s320/DSC00976.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This past weekend... Somewhat connected again... ahhhhhh. Deep breath. Artists Market completed... CHECKMARK. Slumber party completed... CHECKMARK. Six batches of rice crispy treats and coaches gifts finished... CHECKMARK, seeing my wonderful parents who were in town... making it happen...CHECKMARK. Finally sitting on the couch with my kids and just hanging... CHECKMARK. About fifty percent connected is better than 0%. I'll take it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And then, tonight, as I write this, BIG DISCONNECT.... again. I'm sick again, my son is sick again, and now my daughter is sick. So at this point, what else can I do but chuckle and realize that life is one big cycling of balancing the intensity and the consistency of our connection to Source. And it's okay. We've got to chuckle about it or we'll go crazy. It's okay to be 50% connected one day and the next 0% connected. It's those days that graciously guide us to be thankful for the 51% days, and the 70% days, and the 100% days. And yes, there WILL be lots of 100% days again! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOClfMjo_MI/AAAAAAAAAQY/8FdjePSFMDc/s1600/DSC00979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOClfMjo_MI/AAAAAAAAAQY/8FdjePSFMDc/s320/DSC00979.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I think I've learned in these past few weeks, that it's okay to be right where I am. Yes, I will try for that connection, but some days and weeks, it's just not gonna happen, and it's okay. Life is a process. Life is a process of managing and balancing our union with Source. But I've also realized that if I can put more effort into staying connected on a regular basis, the external complexities of life, such as a busy schedule or a sick family, or bad news tossed our way, won't trip me and throw me off balance as much. If I can take little moments throughout each of my days to acknowledge my Source - just a quick hello- a prayer here and there - a "thank you" now and then - I am steadily strengthening my endurance. I am training myself to live in the flow of Source without being tripped up by life's sticky situations. My power to deal with life's ebb and flow will be internally connected to the greatest power. I'll be rooted well and not so "trippable." </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOCmCcvCU3I/AAAAAAAAAQc/-MpcbtXCfFg/s1600/DSC00953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TOCmCcvCU3I/AAAAAAAAAQc/-MpcbtXCfFg/s400/DSC00953.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong><em>So today, although the balance and connection to Source isn't where I would like it to be, I am thankful for standing exactly where I am. I am learning how to gain endurance in balancing my connection with Source right where I am. And there is no greater reward than being rooted in the most magical and abundant power of all. Tomorrow is a new day. It may be a 30% connection to Source, it may be a 99% connection. Either way, I'm trying, and I'm proud of myself for trying.</em></strong> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I hope for you a very connected week, or at least a really good attempt at it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I appreciate your visit!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Stacey</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-10352971350326598962010-11-08T22:35:00.000-05:002010-11-08T22:35:16.425-05:00My Greatest Creation EVER!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My best creation ever... is not a piece of my favorite art, or a kissing ball, or a decoupaged bottle. It's not my branch art, or my paper flowers, or my blog thoughts. <br />
This creation means more to me than life itself, and is by far the masterpiece to which I am most attached and connected.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It is a creation that evolves and becomes more lovely and more beautiful every day, and when I look at it, I see the best of myself in it. It is a reflection of all my hopes and dreams and love come to fruition... a masterpiece so full of possibilities that it is bursting at the seams. So rich and colorful and bright and shining is this creation, that it literally takes my breath away and fills me with unequivocal joy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My Erin. Happy Birthday to my eleven year old daughter. I could not be more proud... ever. I could not be more blown away... ever. Just a brilliant, beautiful, joyful, easy soul that I am blessed to be with every day. Happy birthday, my sweet! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNca2S4A0_I/AAAAAAAAAPo/6vyn5LpRieI/s1600/100_1928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNca2S4A0_I/AAAAAAAAAPo/6vyn5LpRieI/s320/100_1928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-71780296415979805532010-11-07T22:32:00.000-05:002010-11-07T22:32:29.515-05:00November is Bizz Buzzing with Activity!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Grow" - with hand-rolled paper flowers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happy November! This month is buzzing with activity and is so full of fun stuff. I'd love to show you what I've been working on lately and tell you a bit about an exciting show coming up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><strong><em>The Etsy Holiday Show</em></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Held at the Music Farm, in downtown Charleston this <em><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Saturday, November 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.,</span></strong></em> this event is delightfully packed with local Etsy vendors selling their wares and having a lot of fun... well, at least my friend, Laura, and I had a ton of fun at last year's event. Check out Laura's blog </span><a href="http://www.heartsongfineart.com/etsy-trade-show-wrap-up/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> to see what the show is all about, and see what adventures the two of us had! Also, be sure to check out her beautiful creations while you're on her site! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This show is a wonderful way to support local artisans! And I have to say that the quality of the workmanship of the Etsy vendors is really quite impressive. You'll walk away feeling good that you supported local artists AND perhaps get some Christmas shopping done - or at least bring home some wonderful holiday ideas to try for yourself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here are a few items I've been working on to bring to the show...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here is a set of four bird silhouettes. I tore out pages of an old book, painted each page a different color and smeared pastels over each one to give a little more depth. Then I placed the bird silhouettes on top! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm making some fun holiday ornaments to hang on your tree or anywhere in your home to brighten spirits! This is a 3-D cardboard heart that I painted and decorated with paper. Then I added varnish for protection and shine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">These are smaller versions of my kissing balls... perfect to hang in a corner, over a doorway, or on your tree!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNTGJitnjxI/AAAAAAAAAPY/G4WY1Xfn-eY/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNTGJitnjxI/AAAAAAAAAPY/G4WY1Xfn-eY/s400/045.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here is a cute birdie ornament with two sides... one side....</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNTIz-nvU9I/AAAAAAAAAPg/XazYNYDQQyU/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNTIz-nvU9I/AAAAAAAAAPg/XazYNYDQQyU/s320/054.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and the other side...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNTIWvnW_xI/AAAAAAAAAPc/n_orPEf1iH4/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNTIWvnW_xI/AAAAAAAAAPc/n_orPEf1iH4/s320/050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Birds, birds, and more birds... this is a cardboard shaped bird.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I glued hand-torn paper and added a rhinestone eye -</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">then punched a hole and added a sweet ribbon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNTKHeumRvI/AAAAAAAAAPk/azQ-cs2wWw4/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNTKHeumRvI/AAAAAAAAAPk/azQ-cs2wWw4/s400/062.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and another...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNcp8-dV-aI/AAAAAAAAAPs/qG4-daXWlfA/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNcp8-dV-aI/AAAAAAAAAPs/qG4-daXWlfA/s400/067.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'll be selling boxed sets of stationary printed from my original artwork. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNdOvflLsDI/AAAAAAAAAP0/njCaLsJb8Ck/s1600/DSC00866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNdOvflLsDI/AAAAAAAAAP0/njCaLsJb8Ck/s320/DSC00866.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moon Swirl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNdNVOIbqVI/AAAAAAAAAPw/evaQvUwI01w/s1600/DSC00864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TNdNVOIbqVI/AAAAAAAAAPw/evaQvUwI01w/s320/DSC00864.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dream Trees</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Of course I'll also be selling some artwork, my decoupaged bottles and hearts, wish flowers, beautiful hand-rolled flower magnets, and much more! If you stop by my booth and mention my blog, I'll give you a 20% discount on your purchase! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Next week, I'll let you know how it turns out and also tell you more about my Exhibit at Park Circle in North Charleston! Have a wonderful, crisp, and active week!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I appreciate your visit!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Stacey</span>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-49631422644143736682010-10-31T16:29:00.003-04:002010-10-31T22:26:10.523-04:00Marriage and the Choices we Make<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDi8idAunI/AAAAAAAAANs/AT884bvDoj4/s1600/DSC00600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDi8idAunI/AAAAAAAAANs/AT884bvDoj4/s400/DSC00600.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You were born together,</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and together you shall be forevermore.</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You shall be together when the white wings of death</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">scatter your days.</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ay, you shall be together</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">even in the silent memory of God.</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But let there be spaces in your togetherness,</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And let the winds of the heavens</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">dance between you.</span></em></strong></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Love one another, but make not a bond of love:</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Let it rather be a moving sea</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">between the shores of your souls.</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fill each other's cup, but drink not from one cup.</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Give one another of your bread,</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But eat not from the same loaf.</span></em></strong></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sing and dance together and be joyous,</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">but let each one of you be alone.</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Even as the strings of a lute are alone</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">though they quiver with the same music.</span></em></strong></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For only the land of life can contain your hearts.</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And stand together yet not too near together:</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For the pillars of the temple stand apart,</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And the oak tree and the cypress</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">grow not in each other's shadow.</span></em></strong></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuGAth2RMI/AAAAAAAAAN8/qh3YYa2gkEE/s1600/DSC00350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuGAth2RMI/AAAAAAAAAN8/qh3YYa2gkEE/s320/DSC00350.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This poem, by<em> <strong>Kahlil Gibran</strong></em>, melts my heart every time I read it.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a>Sixteen years ago, friends and family were sitting in church pews reading this very poem printed on the back of our wedding program. Sixteen years ago, Terry and I were married with the sentiments of this poem brightly dancing in our minds not really having a clue of how the words in this poem could truly affect our lives.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuNJx7blnI/AAAAAAAAAOs/NlZDvwhfqeI/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuNJx7blnI/AAAAAAAAAOs/NlZDvwhfqeI/s320/011.JPG" width="315" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And now sixteen years later, after just celebrating our anniversary last week, as I revisit this lovely poem, I sit and chuckle at how much we really didn't know back then... or did we? We were mere babies relatively innocent and unscathed by life. And yet, somehow we knew to choose each other, and we knew to choose this poem as the wind beneath us... we knew on a soul level exactly what to do.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuIKoueAmI/AAAAAAAAAOA/VdlZXl4enSQ/s320/DCP_0085.JPG" width="320" /></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This poem wouldn't work for everyone. It just wouldn't. Many couples feel the need to be extremely close in their love - to eat from the same loaf and drink from the same cup... and that's all good, but it's just not how we do it. Terry and I like our space. The space between us is probably the very thing that keeps us strong. He knows to let me do what I want and when I want because he innately knows that I am happiest when I have the freedom to be me. And I know that he too needs space... I'm always loving him, but sometimes from a bit of a distance...letting him go into his cave by himself to figure out life. We both love our space, and we admire and respect that about each other. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Did we really know this about each other back then? I don't know. I really can't remember. I was just looking at his darling legs and his bright blue sparkling eyes and thinking that I wanted to have his babies!!!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuJM7Kw4rI/AAAAAAAAAOE/M-q7hCdg7cY/s1600/DCP_0494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuJM7Kw4rI/AAAAAAAAAOE/M-q7hCdg7cY/s320/DCP_0494.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And this poem makes me wonder..."How did I know back then that I was giving myself to Terry because he would be the one to allow me this space? I didn't even know I needed space let alone that Terry was the right man to give that to me.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuKbCCQb5I/AAAAAAAAAOM/q0L0Wdb4SVc/s1600/DCP_0726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuKbCCQb5I/AAAAAAAAAOM/q0L0Wdb4SVc/s320/DCP_0726.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">How was I to know he'd turn out to be the most amazing father ever? How was I to know that he would do just about anything to make me happy? And how was I to know that after sixteen years, we'd still be laughing together and loving each other on a level I never knew possible? </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The love we shared back then was so different than the love we share now. Both extremely real -but many more layers now. It was passionate and intense back then. It is constant and secure and safe now. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuNjcqYZDI/AAAAAAAAAOw/vnhCEaeGO1Q/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuNjcqYZDI/AAAAAAAAAOw/vnhCEaeGO1Q/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now we run like a well-oiled machine. Together we have a unique rhythm that just knows how to get the many daily activities of life done efficiently and happily. We had no idea that we would face some terrifying and crazy challenges together - that we'd be so tired and battle-wounded and heavy-hearted at times. We didn't imagine how exhausting raising a family would be, or how keeping each other happy in the low times would be, or just how tired we'd both be just living.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuLbkqCX0I/AAAAAAAAAOc/qfhqDfIhM1s/s320/Vacation+July+2005+-+Harbor+Island+071.JPG" width="320" /></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We also didn't understand how amazing the journey would be. That even through the tough times, we are riding those waves and standing tall and proud on the board!! And not only are we standing on the boards, we're laughing and loving and having a darn good time doing it!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuMNrVqyaI/AAAAAAAAAOk/6kjxx3mH9B4/s1600/DSC00158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuMNrVqyaI/AAAAAAAAAOk/6kjxx3mH9B4/s320/DSC00158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I could never foresee that a look between Terry and I could say so much... that when our kids do or say something funny, one look in each other's eyes says, "That is hysterical. Can you believe that we created these amazing creatures... high five, back at ya!" Or one look can say, "Don't you dare even go there with me right now because I'm about to lose it." Or one look can say, "Damn, you're still really cute!" or, "If we don't get the dishes in the dishwasher, we're not going to have enough plates, and that's going to throw off our time frame before we need to make it to soccer practice. Can you please move faster? type look. It's those layers of experience that I so appreciate now. Terry knows me better than anyone. He sees me in a light that no one else does... in my most raw and real and vulnerable times, and I know that I am safe with him, even after all that he sees. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuLswyqfJI/AAAAAAAAAOg/7PWCz2uLH8A/s320/DCP_1534.JPG" width="320" /></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, I think I've figured out an important life lesson. Trust your instinct. Trust that voice inside you. Trust your heart. Because only my instinct, my voice inside, and my heart could have known the happiness Terry could bring . That internal guidance that says, "Do this!" "Pick him," "Take that job," "Don't go that way, go this way," "slow down," "do it now!" That's the soul talking!!! And when we are letting our souls lead us through life, we are sure to be blessed abundantly. And when we look back through our pasts and see a totally different person than we are now, we often realize that our whole lives our souls have been trying to guide us. And if we just let them, the consequences are rich.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuMY26KQgI/AAAAAAAAAOo/Hlm91-27yRY/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMuMY26KQgI/AAAAAAAAAOo/Hlm91-27yRY/s320/125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So today, I am thankful for my husband, Terry, and thankful that way back then I had the sense to let my soul guide me. I am reminded that my higher self wants the most amazing life for me, and all I have to do is open up and ask. I ask for guidance in keeping myself open to making decisions based on my soul's desire... it will lead to great blessings and abundance. </span> </span></div><br />
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</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1255049104930498955.post-50557103755731746782010-10-24T17:29:00.006-04:002010-10-25T23:09:05.119-04:00My Latest Creations... <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDfvq19_OI/AAAAAAAAANA/j_oObDuCA0M/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDfvq19_OI/AAAAAAAAANA/j_oObDuCA0M/s400/025.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hello and thanks for visiting today! I'm going to take you on a tour of some of my recent creations... Come on, let's go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">During the last few months I've been extremely touched by nature's beauty... I mean I've always been awed by it, but lately I'm just blown away by it. The beauty of a simple branch that has fallen to the ground in my yard, a piece of beechwood discovered on the beach, or a pine cone that my son brings to me all seem spectacular. I've seen these products of nature a thousand times, but it's as if I'm seeing them for the first time and truly appreciating their potential. I attribute this awakening to the fact that I'm creating more... and the more we create, the more open we become to see the beauty in just about anything. Nature is raw and simple beauty. It just never gets old and never goes out of style... nature's beauty is steadfast and true. It grounds us and reminds us of our connection to our surroundings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I wondered how I could merge my craft with this natural beauty, and so I came up with these whimsical creations... </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDf_0ZE2AI/AAAAAAAAANE/m7DhSKSb98Y/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDf_0ZE2AI/AAAAAAAAANE/m7DhSKSb98Y/s320/050.JPG" width="229" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is the pine cone my son found. I rolled paper flowers and added wire for their stems, then I wrapped them around the pine cone and voila! A weird, wonderful, whimsical little piece that is a simple reminder of the outdoors... and my son.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDgYBPEbVI/AAAAAAAAANI/4VdEV-LDwJM/s1600/DSC00519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDgYBPEbVI/AAAAAAAAANI/4VdEV-LDwJM/s320/DSC00519.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is a larger piece of driftwood that a friend gave to me. I varnished it and added wisps of pearlescent white paint to give it an enchanted glow, then I added my hand rolled, hand cut flowers. This would make a really cool centerpiece, or it would compliment a shelf or fireplace mantel nicely. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDgsn3bKjI/AAAAAAAAANM/rGJuoL7jl1Q/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="168" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDgsn3bKjI/AAAAAAAAANM/rGJuoL7jl1Q/s320/037.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDg45ZvTsI/AAAAAAAAANQ/tJCEqrRzLRM/s1600/DSC00532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDg45ZvTsI/AAAAAAAAANQ/tJCEqrRzLRM/s320/DSC00532.JPG" width="246" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I found this tiny wreath at the thrift shop, and it was begging me to buy it and give it some TLC, so I added a few paper flowers and a funky curtain tie-back. </span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDhXv-EmNI/AAAAAAAAANY/7Nz0De8Ofhw/s1600/Stacey's+Art+003+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMDhXv-EmNI/AAAAAAAAANY/7Nz0De8Ofhw/s320/Stacey's+Art+003+(2).JPG" width="204" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And I am so in love with these Hanging Floral Wall Branches. I found this branch in my front yard and added strings of ribbon with paper flowers on the branch itself and cascading down the ribbons. These would be adorable in a girls room or any place that you want to add a bit of whimsical nature to the mix. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here's another Hanging Floral Branch I did in red and white.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And now shifting gears to another project... A dear friend of mine recently got engaged, and my friends and I threw the couple a most enchanting and lovely engagement party. The theme was French Country so my friend, Chris </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Charleston-SC/Chris-Tertzagian-One-Love-One-Skin/149354257177"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(An amazing photographer and artist),</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> and I created a huge piece of artwork (5 x 3 ft.) for the event. We ripped different color schemes of paper and made them into rolling mountains. We painted the sky, sun, and little wedding couple with pastels and acrylic paints and wrote "Congratulations" lightly in the sky. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Chris took a picture of the artwork, and we used the picture to print invitations for the party. So our collaboration conveyed well through both the invitations and the actual artwork which we hung above the entrance way of the engagement party. And as a bonus, the artwork now hangs somewhere in the couple's home. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMSfXqW8vkI/AAAAAAAAAN4/Wkgxrf7OJ24/s1600/100_2323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ssBBgY5VJiE/TMSfXqW8vkI/AAAAAAAAAN4/Wkgxrf7OJ24/s320/100_2323.JPG" width="227" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I created a Kissing Ball out of paper flowers to hang at another entrance way of the engagement party. And it turned out to be a smashing success, or should I say... a "smooching success!" </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In a few weeks, I'd love to show you what I'm working on for the Etsy Show in Downtown Charleston coming up in mid November... Christmas ornaments and much, much more! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And... don't forget that most of these items are in my Etsy shop for you to purchase! Or I'd be glad to do a custom order for you.</span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Today, I celebrate my creativity and allow it to flow freely no matter what I'm doing and who I'm with. I am open to the beautiful possibilities of my creative spark!</span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Have a really fantastic week!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Stacey</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887407673830160779noreply@blogger.com0