Live & Let Live...

In the same style and spirit of yesterdays post, here is another life lesson I've learned over the years. Probably because I want people to let me be me... but also because I have a tendency to *think* I know what you should be doing too!

Oy... seriously humbling when you put it out there for the world to read. *Sometimes* I think I know better than you, and how you should be living your life. But you want to know the silver lining to this beautiful Life Lesson? I don't, I don't know better than you do! I don't know all of the details of your life, I don't need to know all of the details of your life, it's your life. As a friend, a family member, a co-worker, a human... What I do need to know, is that you are ok. Period.

And in the spirit of honesty, I have learned many of my life lessons the hard way :)
Get authentic, be real with yourself- it is kinda freeing to not have to pretend you are perfect - trust me I know, I am the least perfect person out there, I make mistakes all the time, and you know what- I am ok with that...

Go be awesome today and- 
Share the love,
M.

By the way, this print along with yesterday's print: Be Brave- would be an awesome addition in a little persons room :) 

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Be Brave.

Sometimes I mutter this to myself, Be Brave. Just be brave, you can do this... But I know my strength (pathetic weakling that I am) doesn't come from me 'white knuckling' my fear... it comes from a higher power that "will not leave me or forsake me" (Deut. 31:6).

I carry a sense of security with me because I know I am never alone. Even so... when fear does grip me, and it does, sometimes more than others, and sometimes in weird and different ways:

I had a weird bout of this in China where it took my breath away, a fear so overwhelming that I had a physical reaction to the thought: what if we never have children. 

Be Brave.
The Lord your (MY) God goes with you (ME!); he will never leave you (ME!) nor forsake you (ME!).

We are dealing with some serious stuff as a family and we could use prayers for peace in our hearts...

Be Brave.
The Lord your (MY) God goes with you (ME!); he will never leave you (ME!) nor forsake you (Me!).

Some of you are dealing with illness in your family.

Be Brave.
The Lord YOUR God goes with YOU; he will never leave YOU nor forsake YOU.

Some of you are dealing with issues of fear.

Be Brave.
The Lord YOUR God goes with YOU; he will never leave YOU nor forsake YOU.

Some of you are dealing with loss.

Be Brave.
The Lord YOUR God goes with YOU; he will never leave YOU nor forsake YOU.

Some of you are overwhelmed with life.

Be Brave.
The Lord YOUR God goes with YOU; he will never leave YOU nor forsake YOU.

Be brave. Be Brave. Be Brave.


I worry, I get scared, freak out a little, sometimes I have to do sheet therapy (i.e. take a nap). But I have a secret, I have a constant reminder, I know, that I know, that I know... "There is no fear in love; instead perfect love casts out fear..." (1John 4:18)  and I know... "The Lord your (MY) God goes with you (ME!); he will never leave you (ME!) nor forsake you (Meeeee!).” (Deut. 31:6)
and I know.... "that all things work together for good to those who love God..."(Rom.8:28)

Rest in knowing that you are not alone,
and that you are loved.
Share the love,
M.


Update: I added a second version - Scroll down, there is a version without the Bible verse for those who prefer it :) Have an awesome Day!
Share the love,
M.

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Micah 6:8

I keep mulling this over in my mind, thinking about it, talking about it, wondering about it... trying to live by it. It is quickly becoming a daily meditation and a mantra in my heart and life.

What is your daily mantra and meditation? What are you mulling over?
Share the love,
M.

For another version of this printable  >>click here<<

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Comparison

So, you know when you skulk around Instagram, your favourite blogs, and Facebook instead keeping your head in your own work... well... Have I got a little story for you;

Yesterday I took a day off from "working" and I did domestic stuff. In the spirit of honesty,  I finally unpacked from our China trip (some stuff but not everything),  I did some laundry, I cooked a meal, I cleaned out a closet and I stalked all of my favourite people online.

I went to bed last night feeling overwhelmed -not because I was so excited to see what other's were doing and feeling encouraged. No, I was overwhelmed because I felt like I wasn't doing enough. I don't have enough Christmas prints ready to go, I haven't even thought about doing a new Advent Calendar yet, I don't even have my own christmas cards printed. I need to be printing things and having them available on Esty. I need to have an open house and sell some of my Printables all ready to frame for our Living Life on Purpose Africa 2015 trip. I need, I need, I need- ack!

What have I been doing all year? How am I not being as creative, as productive, as awesome as everyone else.

WAIT!  STOP!  HOLD THE PHONE GIRL! 

Melissa! (or insert name here___________________) Stop comparing yourself to others and get your head in your own work and just be creative.

Stop worrying about what other's are doing, stop looking into their proverbial 'bowl' to see if they have more than you do. I once read somewhere:  the only time you should look in someone else's bowl, is not to see if they have more than you, but instead to see if they have enough. Are they ok? 

This sweet image is from:
www.chibird.com

So I'm being honest... because frankly, I dislike this feeling, I dislike looking at others and feeling that I am not enough, and I think I'm probably not the only one...

I saw this awesome little design from ChiBird and I wanted to share it, because we're all different, we are all kinda awesome. And when it comes to creative work, creativity and productivity... the only person to compare yourself too is you. Am I doing all that I can do? Am I the person I want to be?




There are only 24 hours in the day, (Melissa, or insert your name here______________) you can't do everything, but do what you do well... and sleep tight at night knowing you are awesome.

Thanks to Theodore Roosevelt for saying:  Comparison is the thief of Joy. How true. Yesterday I had my very own experience with this. So I've created a print that I will be printing off and sticking to my forehead,  because it is all too true. Comparison IS the thief of Joy.  Booyah!

Share the love,
M.

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Eat, Drink & Be Thankful!

It's that time of year, October in Canada, where the trees are all turning yellow and red and we get to celebrate thanksgiving. We celebrate it,  a month (plus some) earlier than our friends in the US, and I secretly love it! Canadians get to celebrate in October and then, because the world is so small- thanks to the internet,  we get to continue celebrating until the end of November!

I love that in my life there are almost two months carved out for being grateful, reflective, and thankful.  And that we get to celebrate this act of gratitude.

Yesterday was a terrible day in Canada. One of our own, Cpl. Nathan Cirillo (age 24) was shot while on honorary guard at the National War Memorial. It's a sad day in Canada, we are all rocked to the core with this horrible news... in this time of horror, it is hard to look into our hearts and choose gratitude instead of fear, retaliation, and hatred.  But we must, we must. Hatred breeds hatred... Love breeds gratitude and gratitude breeds love. I am so grateful to those men and women who put their lives on the line daily for our country and for other countries (maybe our Peace Keepers have even put their lives on the line for your country). I am grateful for the men and women who are first responders in emergency situations -who put their lives on the line for us every day. I am grateful for the people who stand for us and with us in times like these.  I pray peace over our Nation and over your Nation... 

In all things, give thanks... even in times like these...
Share the love,
M.

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JetLag and Jesus.

I am jet lagging really badly, and I need all of Jesus I can get.
(and all the coffee I can get) 

Thanks for requesting this Elena (<- she's the very talented lady over at Just Me Prints & Paper Design. ) 

Share the love,
M.

Oh and if you haven't stopped by my Etsy Shop in awhile- I've put up some Christmas Prints- But keep a watch out here on the blog for lots of free Christmas Printables coming soon too!

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It's October- I know.

I know, I know- it's only october...
but my brain in already wandering to those cold evenings with snow twirling down...
I've got Christmas on the brain,
and I can't get this song out of my head...

Share the love,
M.

Scroll down for Watercolour Version :)

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Home is...

Home is where the heart is,
where the art is,
where the good coffee is,
where the Dog is,
and Home is where I want to be.

I'm so happy to be home, now if I could just shake this jet lagged feeling of wheezy breath, heavy ocean waves running through my body and the desire to do nothing more than go to bed. Ah- but you know what- tomorrow it will be less, and the day after that- and then gone, and life will be back to normal. My Favourite.

What is your favourite thing about home?
Share the love,
M.

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1 Million + 1

I have 1 million and one reasons to be thankful... today I am thankful for you, for this community of people who are extremely supportive and encouraging always. I appreciate you.

This weekend is the Canadian Thanksgiving... I am going to miss the festivities, we will be on a plane headed home- also on my list of 1 million things I am thankful for, home. I cannot wait. I am excited to get back to my community of people and Timothy the Dog of course.

I compiled this little list of Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Joy and Fall prints that I've put up over the years- trust me it isn't complete in any way, but just a few to remind us to be grateful :)

Share the love,
M.

http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2013/10/what-are-you-going-to-do-choose-joy.html

http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2013/11/name-them-one-by-one-can-you.html

http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2013/09/every-leaf.html

http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2014/09/its-fall-yall.html

http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2013/10/thanksgiving-treats.html

http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2014/09/gratitude.html

http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2013/09/stuff-it.html

http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2013/09/thanksgiving.html

http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2013/10/happy-thanksgiving-canada.html

http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2013/11/last-minute-detail-thanksgiving.html

http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2013/11/thank-you-and-you-and-you.html

Give Thanks.

Gratitude, always. There is always something to be thankful for, you've just got to look for it, celebrate it,  and give thanks for it.

Share the Love,

M.

I know we haven't even made it through Thanksgiving yet, in Canada -> this weekend and in the USA-> end of November- But if you are starting to think about Christmas- make sure to check out my Christmas Cheer Advent Calendar here >> CHRISTMAS CHEER << or my CHRIST in Christmas advent Calendar here >> CHRISTmas << 

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Maybe. Just Maybe.

Maybe, just maybe this is the key to having a happy, successful, productive life-  oh ya, throw in a little hard work, a lot of elbow grease, the desire to see others succeed and the ability to just keep on going.

Share the love,
M.

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Frankly Darling...

I don't give a hoot.
Whoo me?
Nope I never feel like this.
Ever. I always care.

Ok, I'm lying- sometimes I just don't give a hoot. I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately... I often worry about things that aren't any of my business, my concern, or anything I need to even be thinking of.  Do you find yourself tangled up in this web of 'false responsibility' because it makes you feel valuable or worthy?

I've taken to reminding myself often "not my circus, not my monkeys" sometimes I have to say "not my circus, yes my monkeys" and still have to let it play out as it will.

I can't control everything, cause If I could, let me tell you... lol no, seriously- sometimes we just have to stop, let it go, and not give a hoot how it turns out for our own sanity! Sometimes we women tend to try to fix everything, for our spouses, our children, our friend's children, our parents - and the list goes on! But you know what... you don't have to fix the neighbourhood... you just have to live in it :)

I mean of course apathy sucks! That we take no part in- for causes that we need to stand for, we stand! For changes that we can make, we make! To fight the good fight, we fight! - I'm not talking about this sort of thing, I'm talking about the little stuff that we burden ourselves with, the stuff that tires us out so that when we do need to fight, apathy is just an easier choice.

What are you concerned about today that you need to let go of? What responsibilities are you carrying that really aren't yours to carry, but because you are such a good person, you took it over?
What do you need to say "Frankly darling, I don't give a hoot" about today?

Let it go... breathe... the world didn't fall apart- nope it's not easy, it sucks to not be in control all the time, but on the other hand, the freedom that it brings is marvellous!

Let it go + Share the love,
M.

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