A Sweet Life Rocks

How To Enjoy Your Home: 3 Easy Tips

Home is a place for family and friends to gather.  
Your landing pad.  
A safe place to fall.

Home is a destination for children after school,
for parents after a long day at work,
for friends on the weekend.

After many years of creating a home for our family, I have found 3 tips that are necessary in order to enjoy my home.

1. Take a hint from nature...... change with the seasons.

Mother Nature offers us four seasons a year, and that means four opportunities to enjoy our home in a fresh way.

Switch the linens: Put away the flannel sheets and bring in the cool cotton.  Make room in the hallway closet for beach towels.  This is also a good time to replace the tea towels.

Switch the wardrobe: Put away the winter clothes, and get excited to hang up the Spring and Summer clothing.  Bring out the flip flops and sandals.  Replace the coats for shawls and light sweaters.

Deep Clean: Most of us are doing well just to neaten up on a daily basis, but deep cleaning is still a must.  Use the seasonal change as a reminder to get the job done. 

2. Go Shopping......... in your own home.

    Yep!  You heard correctly.  Shopping at home is about using what you already have.  The items in your home are there for a reason, right?  Either you were attracted to an item, and purchased it, or they were gifts and have been kept because of sentimental value.

Either way, I would guess that your home is filled with fantastic design pieces.

I learned this tip recently, and the results thrilled me.  I decided to shop at home by unpacking a box of keepsakes.  I found a beautiful wood jewelry box from my husband's grandfather, and pretty vases from each of our daughter's births.  These items are now visible in our home, and we enjoy the reminder of their meaning.

You might have to re-purpose an item in order to make it usable, but the benefit of enjoying your things makes it worth it.  

3.  Be There.......... spend time at home.

It sounds so simple, I know, but this is an important point.  When we spend time in our home it becomes a part of our family in unique ways.  
Roots can only grow when a plant is unmoved for a period of time.  It's possible that the same is true for building memories, strengthening relationships, and creating a comfortable atmosphere in the home.

I hope you are encouraged to freshen up your home, use what you already have, and enjoy spending more time at home.    

The truth is............ a little goes a long way.

 

Loving and Living Life................. Amanda

The Benefits of Laughter

I recently joined the Signature Women networking club. 
We have been learning about, "Beauty and the Brain."  
Very interesting and powerful stuff!

In the last meeting I heard the phrase, "The Benefits of Laughter".  I decided to study it for myself.  
Who doesn't like benefits?  

(Source)

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
Proverbs 17:22 NIV

"A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired."
Proverbs 17:22 The Message 

God created this truth.  
A cheerful heart and disposition will definitely include some laughter.  Therefore, laughing is good medicine.

(Source)

There is a time for everything, 
and a season for every activity in life.  
There is a time to cry.  There is a time to laugh.
(taken from Ecclesiastes 3) 

 There will be seasons of learning, progress, and growing in life.  Those seasons will involve some tears.

There is a time to cry, but thank God seasons change.

"Weeping may remain for a night, but joy comes in the morning."
Psalm 30:5 NIV

"The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter."
Psalm 30:5 The Message

If you are in a season of tears, respect yourself.  
Take care of yourself.  
Feel the process and take your time.  
Keep your head up though, because joy will come.

Joy will come to you!  God said it, therefore, it is a guarantee.

(Source)
Laughter follows joy.

I read a fantastic article about the health benefits of laughter.
Here is what I learned: 
"The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use."

"Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert."
Read the entire article here. 

Where do I sign up?  
These benefits Rock!

(Source)

Laughter relaxes the whole body.
Laughter boosts the immune system.
Laughter triggers the release of endorphins.
Laughter protects the heart.

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

 

Living and Loving Life................ Amanda

Spring Cleaning: Home and Spirit

Are you ready for a season change?
Spring will soon be here, and I intend to welcome it with open arms!

I love Spring because of what it represents.
New life.   Freshness.   New beginnings.  
A refreshing shift after the slow pace of a long Winter.

Easter is the perfect celebration of new life.  The perfect example of death and resurrection.

This is a good time to look at our lives, and determine what needs to change.
What needs to die?
What needs new life?
What needs to be resurrected?

It is good to get to the bottom of the issues that drain us.  The things that zap our energy.  The overloaded schedules that devour our time.  The negative people that pollute our minds.  

If we can understand the cause, we will be well on our way to finding a cure.
We will not be able to reduce the negative until we have discovered and dislodged the source.

Some of the negative caused in life is not in our circumstance.  It is in ourselves.  That is exactly where the remedy must begin. Actually, this is an encouraging fact, because circumstances are often out of our power to alter, but we can defenitely apply change to our own behaviors, feelings, and faith.

(Source)

In Psalm 42, David discovered the cause for the grief in his life. He found the trouble  was not in the severity of his circumstance, but in the darkness of his own soul.

He had lost sight of God.

His heart was heavy.  His mind was overcast.  He was oppressed. He was consumed with sadness.

These negatives preoccupied his attention.  His spiritual vision was foggy.  His ability to feel God's presence was diminished.  Feelings of loneliness, and being forsaken, overtook him.

It is when God is out of sight, and we are 'out of touch' with Him that the soul sinks into sadness, depression, and despair.

Have you ever been there?
Each day is a brand new opportunity to re-evaluate life.  It's a chance to create change that will relieve the negative, and introduce fresh purpose.   

To plant seeds of faith, and produce new life.

When God is introduced into our circumstance, then sadness, despair, and hopelessness begin to dissipate. 

(Source)
 As Spring approaches I tend to clean and reorganize our home.  I guess that is what "Spring Cleaning" is all about, right?   New towels in the bathroom, and fresh tea towels in the kitchen.   Light cotton bed linens will soon replace the heavy blankets we needed during winter.  The menu will even change.  Hot comfort foods will be replaced with lighter meals using fresh ingredients.

However, in the midst of Spring cleaning, let's not forget the soul.  The mind.  The spirit.

It might just be the perfect time to 'clean out' and reorganize schedules, relationships, and other matters of the heart. 

 

What are some ways you do "Spring Cleaning"?  Does the season change inspire you?  If so, how?  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Please leave a comment, if you wish.

 

Loving and Living Life................ Amanda

Related articles

Reflections of 2012 - Part Two

Peace Quietness Assurance

Peace Quietness Assurance

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever."
Isaiah 32:17

A life needs days of retirement, when it shuts the gates upon the noisy whirl of action and is alone with God.

(Source)

I need wide spaces in my heart
Where faith and I can go apart
And grow serene.

Life gets so choked by busy living,
Kindness so lost in fussy giving,
That love slips by unseen.

I want to make a quiet place
Where those I love can see God's face,
Can stretch their hearts across the earth,
Can understand what Spring is worth,
Can count the stars,
Watch violets grow,
And learn what birds and children know.
Author Unknown

 

Joy comes in life from knowing God.  
That's the plain and simple truth.  

I always ponder His presence this time of year.  
Easter.  
The purest definition of my faith.

 

 

Loving and Living Life................. Amanda

 

How To Be Strong and Calm

"......... in quietness and confidence shall be your strength."
Isaiah 30:15

 

Do you know what Luther said?  "Suffer and be still and tell no man thy sorrow; trust in God - His help will not fail thee."

This is what Scripture calls keeping silent before God.  To talk much of one's sorrows makes one weak, but to tell one's sorrows to Him Who heareth in secret, makes one strong and calm."
-Tholuck

 

The little sharp vexations
And the briars that catch and fret,
Why not take all to the Helper
Who has never failed us yet?

Tell Him about the heartache,
And tell Him the longings, too;
Tell Him the baffled purpose
When we scarce know what to do.

Then, leaving all our weakness
With the One divinely strong,
Forget that we bore the burden.
And carry away the song! 

(Taken from "Streams In The Dessert" Volume II)

(Source)

 I just had to share my morning devotions with you, my readers.  Isn't this beautiful?  
We can trust that God hears us when we pray in secret.  
In humility.  
In the quiet place.  
Alone with Him.

This was so refreshing to me today.  
I hope it is a blessing to you as well.  
I love how it ended on such a high note,

"...... and carry away the song!"

(Source) 

Do you need strength and peace this week?  Where is your quiet place?  I would love to hear your thoughts on this........  
Please leave a comment, if you wish. 

 

Loving and Living Life................... Amanda

Fear Is A Liar

Courage

I wonder what it looks like.  What it might feel like.  
What does courage sound like? 

Courage is a prerequisite for success.
Love, Life, and Art require it.

Do we understand how to get from where we are,
to where we want to be?

I offer these words as a gift.
A gift that will help you on the journey.

Courage is the opposite of Fear.

Courage is the difference between deciding and doing.

(Source)

Recently I attended the Signature Women networking meeting.  I listened as Dr. Karl Eastlack, District Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church, taught on the stages of fear: 

Reluctant

Fear can cripple us.  In the beginning, fear will lie, and say your dream is impossible.  Therefore, we become reluctant to move forward.    Any steps taken are both timid and slow moving.
Which leads to..........

Hesitant
Fear will cause us to pause and doubt.   It will stop us in our tracks, and make us wonder, "Why do I bother?  Why did I think I could take this journey?"
When we are unable to answer the questions, because of the grip fear has, then we doubt.

Which leads to..........

Compromise
Fear tells us to take the easy road, and to cut corners.  
Fear tells us to compromise.  
At this point, the value of the dream is reduced.  The plan of attaining the dream is weakened.  Any courage that might have survived up till this point, takes a backseat.
Which leads to............

Death of a Dream
Hope ceases.  Vision becomes blurry.  The dream dies.  Opportunity no longer knocks.  Time passes by.

 All that remains is a bad memory of what could have been. 

(Source) 

When you think your dream is impossible,
remember that Fear is a liar.

When you are tempted to pause and doubt,
remember that Fear is a liar.

When you are tempted to cut corners,
remember that Fear is a liar.

When your vision becomes blurry and you can feel hope dying,

remember that Fear is a LIAR. 

(Source)

When you step out to overcome the fear, you will never be alone.

Promise.

God is always with you.  Loving people will surround you.

Promise.

Be strong.  Be courageous.  Be bold.  Be fabulous.  

 

What is your dream?  Have you experienced a stage of fear?  Are you ready to fight back, and let courage rise up?    
I would love to hear your thoughts......

 

Loving and Living Life.............. Amanda

A Fresh Start

I love a fresh new start to each week. 

Each Monday morning I feel focused and fired up for success.  
A brand new week with endless opportunities.  

I feel free.

(Source)

Free to fill my days with hard work, hobbies, and art.  In my life, they all go together.  Finding a separation between each category is nearly impossible.  
Balancing all my loves together isn't so easy either.

There was a time in my life when I was quite concerned with being successful in the eyes of other people.
As a pastor's wife, I made sure I was 'seen' enough.
As a mom, I would make sure I volunteered enough at school.  
As a business owner, I made sure I created enough, sold enough, offered enough, and worked enough.

Until I had finally had enough.

You and I cannot control the outlook another person has of us.  We should not base our actions, nor our feelings, on what someone else could possibly perceive.

We are only responsible for doing our best in each area of life.
Family.  Love.  Work.   

(Source)
Over time I gave up.  

I gave up caring what negative things people thought.  
I gave up trying to change perceptions.
I gave up hoping smiles, greetings, and conversations would change misunderstandings.

I gave up trying to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right people, in order to determine the right outcome.

I started asking myself, "What would I be doing differently if I wasn't afraid of anything or anyone?"

 
(Source)

I chose to open  my eyes wider, and see the positive that was already around me.
The positive comment via social media.
A compliment from another artist online that visited my shop.
A friendly greeting from a person I saw every day, but hadn't taken time to chat.
The love of friends in my life that know me, and accept me for who I am.

The open arms of so many new people I've met.  You see, I changed my personal schedule so that I can have an entire day available as my Sabbath.  
In turn, I attend church on a different day than I am use to.
It seems like each week I am greeted by people I had never seen before.
Many of these precious people express that worship music led them to church, and now to a better life.   
They are attentive and kind to say a special, "Thank you."

It took courage to change so many things, but I am glad I did.  I would have missed out on all these special moments.
I would have missed out on new experiences.
I would have missed out on fresh inspiration.
I simply would have missed out. 

Don't be afraid to make those changes you've been thinking about.  Find the courage deep within yourself.
Go ahead and give up!
Give up caring what anyone else thinks.  The ones that love you will stay really close, and probably fall in love with you even more.

It's a New Year.  It's a New Season.
Every moment is a Fresh Start.

What would you be doing differently if you weren't afraid?  Do you have dreams that have been put on the back burner?  What is something you want to give up?
Leave a comment, if you wish.  I would love to hear your thoughts..... 

 

Loving and Living Life.............. Amanda

Sweet Endings

I haven't baked a pie from scratch in a long time.  This was the perfect weekend to do just that.  Fresh baked raspberry pie with homemade crust.

A sweet ending to the weekend.

 

Loving and Living Life............. Amanda

Reflections of 2012 - Part Two

So, my reflections of 2012 continue.........

2012 was the happiest year of my life on a personal level.  The lessons I learned caused me to be closer to my husband, children, and family. 

However, it was also a year of trials that stretched my faith, and demanded strength of character.
As well, it was a journey that wrenched my heart in disappointing ways I will never forget.  
I was reminded that God uses imperfect people to speak His perfect word, and to do His perfect will. 

(Source)

We can draw strength and wisdom from the experiences life offers us.
I want to live the demonstration of how to Love and Live Life in the midst of difficulty.

So let's begin.....

'One Day At A Time'
It's not just a song title.  It's not just a good idea.
It's a great way to live.
When the waves of life continued to come crashing in on me, they flooded my days, and threatened to knock me off my feet.
Believe me, they succeeded many times.
Many days I spent most of my energy trying to predict the future, and then prepare myself for it.  
Considering I have never been capable of accomplishing either, I was open to another option.

My spirit was impressed, time and time again, to live One Day At A Time.  Life is good. God is good.  I am here today.  I can do this.  I can do today.
Maybe 'today' is all I can do, but I can succeed today! 

I learned how to plan wisely for tomorrow, but not live there.  I learned how to be present in the moments of each new day, and how to squeeze every drip of juicy goodness out of this gift of Life.

More prayer, Scripture reading, meditation, and solace were instrumental in teaching me how to slow down.  To calm down.  To Focus.

(Source)

'Things Aren't Always As They Seem'

There will always be rumors talk we hear, perceptions that exist, battles that appear to be lost (or even pointless to begin with), trust destroyed, and issues that entangle the heart. 

Sometimes Fear is at the root.

F-E-A-R

False Evidence Appearing Real

I learned how to dig deep, and remind myself of what I believe.  I learned how to dig my heels in, and take a stand for the truth of right and wrong.  
I determined to make the right decision before God.  
Then move on.

Move on without making a scene.  Move on without proving my point.  Move on without my voice being heard (soooo difficult).  Move on with battle wounds.  Move on feeling defeated, but knowing my feelings do not determine the truth.  Move on without looking back.

Do the right thing, and then move on.

(Source)

"No One Left Behind"

Circumstances will sometimes require us to make changes to the relationships we find ourselves in
(let me clearly say, I am not referring to marriage here). 
Simply stated, boundaries can be a good and healthy way to bring change.

However, implementing boundaries does not mean that one person succeeds and moves on, while the other side is defeated, destroyed, and becomes a failure.

Sometimes it means a simple separation, or increase of distance, where both sides move on successfully in life.  
Success in business.   Success in other relationships.  Success in family. 

Success all around!

God is good.  He has enough goodness for all of us.  He has the power to provide for each person in an abundant way.  

No one gets left behind.  
We are just travelling different roads.  On a different journey.   With a different purpose.

Whether I liked it or not, I learned how to be at peace with that truth.

(Source)
At the closing of 2012 I was stronger.  Physically, Spiritually, and Emotionally.  The only way to get stronger is to work a muscle.  The muscle gets torn and rebuilt, then it is stronger.

What does one do with new strength?

Well, that's the journey of 2013, I suppose.

 

Loving and Living Life.............. Amanda

Reflections of 2012

I have learned that when everything around me appears to be undone, so to speak, as if situations are getting worse, instead of better........... it means that God is working.

When God is the One working it out, then I can hold on.

God works in our favor.  Always for our good.

(Source)

I wrote this post in anticipation of 2012.  I purposed to live it.  I had no idea what I was in for.  

2012 was a Whopper of a year!  
(Do people still say, Whopper?)

God led me through a lesson of 'Focus' that was brand new to me.  His purpose, which I see now, was to lead me to 'Freedom'.

As I said in this post, 

Focus grants me freedom from,

Wasting time and money.

The expectations of others.

Putting things off.

Wandering aimlessly through my list of "Things to Do".

Always wanting to DO more........in order to feel successful.

Always wanting to BE more............in order to feel accomplished.

So, my lesson started with practical everyday issues.  Time management skills were tested and fine tuned.  Lists were made.  Goals were accomplished efficiently.  I was stoked!

The lesson continued in the area of business and creativity.  I chose to focus on my business by taking three creative online courses.  Many of them had 'homework' that allowed me to explore new forms of art, which has taught me the skills necessary to launch the new leather cuff line.   The cuffs are selling steadily locally, and via the Etsy shop.  I learned how to tell the story of inspiration behind each piece.  

My business grew artfully and successfully in 2012.

Then the lesson continued to my personal health and well being. By May I was soaring through the year, and feeling good.  

I wanted to feel Great!

(Source)

I was already involved in Mixed Martial Arts, but as I advanced in that area, I realized I need to get stronger physically if I was going to continue to be successful.  So, I joined the Fit-X team at the same location, and attended classes 3-4 times a week.

"Boot Camp" does not begin to describe it!

I had never been involved in intense workout sessions like these.  I didn't even know that classes like this existed.  It is a non-stop combination of cardio and martial arts. For me, it involved a lot of 'Focus' just getting to class.  Once I was there it involved a ton of sweat, determination, perseverance.......... even some tears.  But.........
                                                      I won!

I lost 26 pounds during those months.

I also gained a ton.......... confidence, physical strength, health, and more. 

Regretfully, I have had to removed myself from the Martial Arts class.  A couple of leg injuries, along with other issues in my knee/back, do not allow me to participate because of the impact on the body.  I enjoyed wearing the full body gear and face mask (wish I had a pic to show you).  I really loved the art of this workout.

I continue to be dedicated to the Fit-X.  I attend 3-4 times per week.  I have never felt this great before, and I look forward to even more success in 2013.

So, the lesson continued.  God had a plan for me in 2012, and it wasn't just about time management, business, and health.  

He had a lesson of 'Focus' that would bring me to 'Freedom', and I want to share it with you over the next few blog posts.

I hope you will come back and journey with me.

 

Loving and Living Life........................ Amanda