2019: Word of the Year

Hello 2019!

It's a new year, a fresh start, the beginning of a beautiful journey!

Each year, and for the past 7 years on my blog,

I have a Word of the Year that's purposeful ~

one that inspires and encourages me to do better ...

BE better.

 What I love about this year's word?

Like many of them in the past, I didn't choose it ...

it chose me :)

In the wonderful way the word tilts and turns,

somehow we find each other, my word and I,

 and

  I. just. know. 

See .... I had a word.

A different one.

I loved that word!

 I remember seeing it and thinking "Yes! That's the one!"

Last week, I was at home about to leave

and I looked back at my beautiful family.

In our home, there is a lot of laughter and love abounds!

As I stood in the doorway and glimpsed  

at their belly-laughing, side-splittin', good time havin' moment,

 I almost gasped.

There it was.

Gift.

 The word itself just warms my heart ♥

Each and every single day, we are given moments so precious.

I love seeing how He works through me, guiding and teaching,

and making it so crystal clear in one quick glance what He wants me to know.

 2018 was whirlwind but filled with grace and beauty.

 I also learned sometimes I didn't always see what was right in front of me.

Where I saw dismay, there was joy.

Where I saw heartbreak, there was blessedness.

Where I thought I was gracefully unbroken, I was being given a gift!

I just wasn't looking.

According to Merriam-Webster, gift is described as:

- a thing given willingly to someone without payment, a present.

- natural ability or talent.

In reading this, I know that both not only apply to me,

and my intentions for 2019, 

I cherish it!

yes.

this is my word ♥

 In keeping with tradition and carrying my WOTY into my crafty goals,

 I've set ones that are attainable and giftable!
.

My crafty goals for 2019: 
.

1.  Christmas cheer all year!

  Oh How December was a blur for me!

It was one big 900 mph, fueled by Starbucks month of merry madness!

I was SO BLESSED to receive so many beautiful cards and happy mails,

and yet I was only able to make cards for my family.

This year, I'll be focusing on holiday cards all year long!

So it might be Easter or 4th of July and you'll see Santa on my blog! :)
.

2.  52 card challenge (not the real name!) :)

Starting this week, you'll see a themed card that will start off

a whole year of cards, one a week for 52 weeks!

I won't spoil the surprise but I'm super excited!

 My family and I had a hilarious contest to come up with the name 

for the 52 cards challenge and mine actually won :)

*insert fist bump!* 

.

 3. One Plus Twelve 

Although the name sounds like a posh boutique, it's a stamp, paper and ink!

I've picked one stamp that I will use all year long, once a month,

as a personal challenge to see how many ways I can use that one stamp creatively!

I've named it One Plus Twelve =  one stamp + 12 months! 
.

4.  James 1:17
'Every good and perfect gift is from above'
This is the scripture I've chosen for this year to go along with my word.
We each have a gift, a talent, to share with someone.
Sometimes my itty bitty brain gets filled up with things I want to do!
I'll spend this year aimed at gifting more.
  .

 As we start a new chapter in a brand new year,
it's a gift to my heart knowing we are on this journey!

 2019 is here!

It's in plain view - for us to see, encompass, believe in.

Gift.

Live yours ♥

Big hugs, bigger blessings!

~Kelly

2018: Word of the Year

Hello 2018 ~ it's so nice to meet you!

It's that time of year when many of us

chose a word to use as a mantra.

I usual strive towards finding a word that resonates with the year ahead,
one to inspire, to guide, to encourage me.
I ponder a few, scribble them out, start to narrow them down.
And almost always, I can't seem to find one.

Rather, my words find me. 

Like last year.

Sitting in church.

Daydreaming away and BAM!

I heard it {Lord!}

 loud.  and.  clear.

This year, it was a quiet understanding with my word and I.

It washed over me one particular day.

It wasn't even a good day.

But, I smiled.

Because I knew.

My word:  Kindness

I see you, little word.

I hear you.
I believe in you.

I chose kindness because on a {what I call} that day,
when the world was shifting, mine was shaking.
And I made a conscious choice to make a difference.
Not just IN the world.
But IN me.

Every morning, I take my son to school.
As I drop him off, I tell him the same 3 things without fail:

  1.  Mommy loves you ♥
2.  Make today count.
   3.  Be kind to everyone.
Like grace at the table and prayers at night, 
I know he lives by these words and his faith and compassion are singular.

The best way to show example is to BE the example!
 

So for the year ahead, some of the kindness aspirations I have are: 

• I'm recommitting to blogging, visiting YOU, being inspired by your creations and sprinkling kind words!
  

• Practicing more random acts of kindness.  I've planned more giveaways :) It's incredibly enriching to bless someone with a surprise, including unannounced ones picked from a kind comment left on my blog on a random day ♥  

•  Bless your mailbox with card kindness and bringing back SNAIL MAIL!     An actual card, with a postage stamp, on a plane, delivered from me to you!  If I have your address, blessings forthcoming! (if not, let's connect!)  

• Share more random CRAFTS of kindness!  I've learned so much from this creaitve life and hope to absorb, share, inspire, create and pass it on via YouTube and other forms of craft-happi-ness!

 And so so SO much more!

2018 is beckoning me and I feel it's greatness ♥ 

 We can do this, you and I.

The world seems to be going plum crazy ~

and it needs a whole lotta kindness.

And I'm here to do my part ♥

Big hugs, bigger blessings!
~Kelly

Abide: One Word 2017 ♥

You know those moments in life 

when you just know something is meant for you? 

That was me. In church.  'Bout a month ago, give or take a Sunday :)

I was daydreaming.  Not even gonna fib.

I was lost in thought, thinking about who knows what ...

laundry, the kids, chicken or beef for that night's dinner ...

literally staring up at the ceiling.

See, that part was kinda great ...

it fit.

At least to those around me.

I looked like I was seeking, praying, nourishing.

BUT.

Because I wasn't paying attention closely enough,

I didn'nt notice that Pastor had started to walk down
 from the stage and onto the floor.

Getting closer.

Preaching to us in the congregation.

 "Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." ~ John 15:4

I nearly jumped off the pew!

Okay, Lord ~ I hear you.

Loud. and. clear.

I knew right then in that moment,

before Christmas, before ringing in the new year,

that it was a word meant for me.

Abide.

According to definition, it means: 

1.  to endure without yielding, to withstand, to bear patiently, tolerate 

2.  to accept without objection

2016 was not a year without it's flaws,

but 2017 will.  be.  different.

Each year holds 365 days.
Blank pages, one for each day, and it's up to us to fill them up. 

God has spoken to my heart and for this year's story
I will reconnect with Him on a deeply personal level ~ 
listening, enduring, withstanding, tolerating, dwelling, abiding.

My goals for this upcoming year are simple.
 I will abide in growing my faith, my family, my creativity, 
my friendships and my passions.
Simply, that means I'll savor the world in which is our gift.
I'll trust in Him that all is designed for me.

Three hundred and sixty five ways 
to abide in grace and wonderment ..
three hundred sixty five opportunities!

My story starts today.
And I'm excited to see where this journey takes me ♥

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings! 
~Kelly

 

    

One Word 2016!

 

"Let's go on an Adventure!" 

 Those are five precious little words that I still recall from my little boy,

 always skipping along, jumping around, happily wearing his forever smile.  That's one thing he never takes off - his smile :)

Every year, and at least for the past 4-5 years here on my blog,

 I always chose a "Word of the Year" ..

that one little word that nudges me along to a goal I'm striving toward

Last year was Focus.  

And ...... that's about the one thing I didn't do.

  I was all over the place - literally!

Last year was horrible for time management, 

changes (some good, some not), life being off balance, 

and me generally running myself into the ground full speed.

Now, that's not unusual for me, just not acceptable, 
especially when I was striving for a year of trying to focus!

That didn't happen.

This year, my word came so effortlessly.

As lightly as the evening breeze that flows through our palm trees,

I heard it echo in my mind and I just knew.
I heard it, it spoke to me, and I never faltered in knowing it was mine.

This will be the year of Adventure!
 

While I'm not planning to swim with the sharks off the coast of Gaansbai,

or climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro,
adventure will lead the way to a healthier, happier year ♥

Adventure is defined as:

1. an exciting or very unusual experience.

2. participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.

 That's a mantra that make ME smile, too :)

A year filled with imagination, creativity, exploration, learning, growing.

 

When I quick glance at my year ahead,

I know there are areas this will hold steadfast:

*Church: I love my bible study friends!  So So much!  

I'm looking forward to our adventures together

 as we lead into new chapters - bibles included!

Our biggest adventure will be finding a new church, but we have faith!

*Children:  Can adventures be anymore enriching than when shared with 

the babies?!  Immeasurable possibilities!  

We're a big, busy family but this year,

we plan to document our areas of exploration each month ~ 

and somehow my creativity will tie that into a card ♥

 

*Crafting:  When the entire craft room is downsized

 to a rickety, teeny tiny wooden desk, that alone is an adventure!

I jest :)

 I've packed, organized, peeked, repacked, purged, donated and refreshed.

There's no out with the old, in with the new for this gal ~

I've dusted off, polished up, and welcomed my old stamps as new this year!

 

 

  So here's to 2016!

  Adventure awaits.

    Find your tribe :)

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly