Story of Now

Quite a few years ago I had written something down about how to practice unity and I kept it in my planner and looked at it from time to time. It went like this: Use the phrase "just like me" to signify your unity with others. Whenever you find yourself making an assessment of another person, whether you are saying something critical or something complimentary, right after you think or say it, add the statement "just like me." Unity refers to living in harmony with other people. It means working for a common cause with those around the globe who know that when one person gains, all gain, and when one fails, all fail. We are crafting unity when we build communities. Unity enhances harmony and solidarity. Unity balances/counters loneliness and individuality. I knew that when I had written down the practice there were other spiritual practices on the site that I got it from. I could not remember the site, so the other day I googled "to practice unity" and voi...

Source: ffffound.com via Krista on Pinterest How true it is! I often sit down to write or draw and find myself not wanting to start because I get afraid that the picture will be ugly or I will spell something wrong. What if someone sees this? I can tell you that when I do allow myself to just go with the flow and let my hand do the work without my thinking getting in the way, something magical happens. I feel in tune. I feel creative. I feel a spiritual connection. I feel like me.

It was a year ago that we suffered the loss of a baby with an early miscarriage. A year ago, my husband held me tight as we cried and felt our dream slip away and wondered what the future would hold. Now, my husband holds me as we feel our baby move inside me. We hold eachother and talk about the baby's arrival and dream of all the days that will follow. We feel truly blessed for this journey and all that God has provided us. I am 28 weeks pregnant...the start of the last trimester!! Yesterday, Matt and I went to my ultrasound appointment and the tech surprised us by doing a 3d ultrasound. So, so amazing. Look at our little june bugs lips, cheeks...nose. Awww...we are in love!! P.S. I will have to get some pics of Matt and I together with my baby bump real soon!

Christian D. Larson believed that people have tremendous latent powers, which could be harnessed for success with the proper attitude. Here is one of his works which was originally in his book "Your forces and how to use them." This writing is the optimist creed. I just love this and wanted to share.

I have always had a thing with words. I am attracted to them. The way they are spoken and arranged. The way that someones words can stick with me for years just the way they said it. I love famous words and uplifting quotes. I have written down and bookmarked quote after quote. Sometimes I search for just the right one. Yes, a little obsessed! So, I thought I'd share some quote cards with you. I keep these in my purse. Sometimes I pick a random one to read. Sometimes I leave one behind for someone to find. Print them out, keep them for yourself or spread them around. I print mine on bright white cardstock. http://visualessence.zenfolio.com/kindcards2.pdf If you want to share them, please link back to this post and not directly to the PDF. Live. Love. Laugh. Embrace.

25 weeks here, 26 1/2 weeks now This body isn't mine anymore. It has been taken over for a greater purpose. A purpose that I have dreamt about my whole life. Baby, every time I feel you move, I think about what you are up to in there. I think about the way you will wiggle and giggle when you arrive. I think about how much hair you have and whether you have my curved pinkies. I wonder if you are going to have your daddy's beautiful eyes and his generous spirit. I wonder if you'll think we are goofy or geeky. I wonder if you'll ever realize how much we loved you before we even met you. I gladly share my body with you and hope you stay comfortable because we got a little ways to go.

Well, I recently joined http://pinterest.com/ and let me tell you it is pretty addicting. So many neat, inspiring things all in one place! I just wanted to share a few things that I've pinned. I just love this quote and the way it is artistically expressed here. Source: etsy.com via Krista on Pinterest This little play grocery store brings back memories of childhood and how wonderful it was to be lost in imagination for hours! Source: google.com via Krista on Pinterest And this tree, with it's long shadow and gnarly branches....just beautiful! Source: yayeveryday.com via Krista on Pinterest So, I am having fun!! Live. Love. Laugh. Embrace.

Sometimes the only thing keeping you from your dreams, is you. Give into your dreams. Let them be dreams. Try not talking yourself out them before you even give them a chance. I think we often tell ourselves why they won't work, when we should be sitting back and imagining what it'd be like if they did. What would it feel like if they came true? Go ahead, dream big!!

Love is a beautiful thing. The more you feel it, give it, and accept it, the more it grows. So today, give love and receive love. The answer to life is LOVE!

This is our cat Chi Chi. He gets pretty squeaky sometimes, especially when it's treat time. Every evening, and sometimes in the morning, Matt gives him a treat and this is how it goes.

I have been so fascinated by owls lately. I have drawn them, bought owl bookends and fabric, browsed online for owl related items etc. I love them! I think it all started when I was taking a walk through the apple orchard last September and came upon this lovely acorn. I thought it looked like a pair of owl eyes. So, I kept it on top of another acorn at my desk. Yes, I think that is where my love started. Now, I have started to envision a babies room that doesn't technically have a theme but I would love to have owls be a part of it. So today, I made a template for a larger owl and a baby owl and cut out 3 owls from paper that I had. I am not totally sold on the patterns on the paper but I like the basic idea. I think I will be putting them on a branch and then into a frame. But this is just the beginning of my idea so we will see how it develops. Live. Love. Laugh. Embrace.

I am 23 weeks along now and I have really started to feel my little june bug moving. It is the strangest yet most amazing feeling!! There really is a little person in me, growing and developing. Baby will have a unique personality all of it's own. Wow! The whole process is just amazing. Last Friday, Matt and I were sitting on the couch and I felt a strong movement and knew it was likely to be followed by another. I put Matt's hand on my belly and he got to feel the baby move too. The look on his face was pure heaven. Such a sweet moment!

Nature called me this morning. We had a long conversation on my way home from work. We talked through the fog and nature told me I needed to get out and take pictures. Nature told me today was the perfect winter day because the temperatures were bearable and God had dusted the trees with a beautiful frost. I gladly went with natures wishes!

If ever there was a time to say "I love you", now is the time. If ever there was a time to squeeze in an extra hug, now is the time. If ever there was a time to make peace, now is the time. If ever there was a time to stop saying "I don't have the time", now is the time. If ever there was a time to steal another kiss, now is the time. If ever there was a time to make that phone call, now is the time. If ever there was a time to follow your heart, now is the time. If ever there was a time to count your blessings, now is the time. We do not know when our time or anothers time will end. We have this moment and nothing else is promised. While we are here, we must remember to be true to our hearts and make time for the important things. Make time for the important people. Make time for love. Many prayers to those suffering this week; especially to some friends who lost their 8 month old daughter, to another friend whose mother is not doing well and to my cousin w...

I adore this story . There is something very powerful in the words we express and the ones we listen to. Just imagine the world we can create around us and for ourselves if we continue uplifting people and if we refuse to listen to the negative comments people tell us. Go on, spread a little joy and encouragement. It'll feel great!

18 1/2 weeks here I am loving this journey of being pregnant. It is so fun to have a growing belly. It is really sweet to hear Matt talk to the baby. I am enjoying eating salads and ice cream. I love thinking about what the baby will look like and what their personality will be. I enjoy dreaming about what we will teach baby and what we will learn from baby. It hasn't all been easy. There has definately been sickness, pain and crazy dreams. But it is so worth the miracle! So excited for the rest of the journey! Live. Love. Laugh. Embrace.

Dear 2010- I will never forget you. It was with you that I spent some glorious, memorable last days with my Grandpa and endured the pain of losing someone dear for the first time. I cherish the 29 years I had with Grandpa but do find myself wishing there were more and wishing I would've listened to more stories and asked more questions. It was with you that I learned I was pregnant and then shortly after what it was like to lose that dream. I hurt often and kept hope always and 6 months later you blessed me with another pregnancy. I am carrying this blessed baby with me into 2011. It was with you that I organized a fundraising event for Free Arts Minnesota. The people that were brought into my life to make the event successful will never be forgotten and the ripples that were made, I will never fully see. I truly believe it may only take one person to have an idea but it takes a community to bring it into fruition. It was with you that I experienced many precious moments during m...

Yesterday around 3pm I started having some severe pain in my upper abdomen and in my back. I went to the ER with my hubby and my mom. They did a bunch of lab work, an Ultrasound, gave me some Dilaudid for the pain and we were out in 5 hours. So, the good news is that baby is doing wonderful! Growing like a champ! I am 16 1/2 weeks pregnant and wasn't due to have an ultrasound until 20weeks. This was a huge blessing to see that all is well with baby. As for mama, they think I am just a little constipated. Who knew it would cause that much pain! I guess since there is a baby making cozy in my belly the other organs get a little scrunched. My biggest blessing: little june bugs first picture =) Baby, you are my miracle!

Matt and I have been together nearly nine years and married for two. We've always known that we wanted to have a family, actually a big family. In June 2011, we will be welcoming our first baby. Ah, a sweet little June Bug. After going through a miscarriage in March to the ups and downs of trying to get pregnant again to hearing the baby's heartbeat for the first time, we feel truly blessed!!

I am thankful for my husband and his generosity, patience and affection. I am thankful for my family who are always supportive and loving. I am thankful for my friends who are caring and empathetic. I am thankful for strangers who smile and open doors. I am thankful when my grandma sings. I am thankful for a warm place to sleep. I am thankful for my health. I am thankful for the everyday miracles that happen. Happy Thanksgiving!!