To work with your hands

The "word" is spreading!

I have heard from lots of folks that have been inspired by my "Word of the Year."  Thanks for taking the time to let me know your words too.  It has been fun to hear from yall!

Today, I took some time to make my enough sign.  I kept it really simple - a real quick project -I used just some things I had in my stash that made me smile.... buttons, ribbon, and a cute little bird dye cut that I just found buried.  I used a 4 x 6 inch piece of patterned paper as my template and inserted it into a magnet picture frame.  Right now it is on my fridge.. but I may move it to a nice photo frame some day and place it on my desk or on my bedside table... wherever it seems "fresh" and I still am inspired by it.  If I leave it in the same spot all year, it will become stale and I will overlook it.  You know how that is - right?

  Anyone else out there that has a "word of the year" to share?

More than Enough Today

My first scene of More than Enough:

 

One 80 degree January morning...Check out those blue skies

One cup of coffee with the last of my pumpkin spice creamer .. in a pink mug that makes me smile

Two spray painted black rocking chairs with a story

Two playing children who bring me more joy than I knew was possible

More than ENOUGH for me today.

Word of the Year - 2009

This is my third year to choose a "word of the year."  2007 carried the noun joy.  In 2008, my  word was the verb remember. 

 This year, 2009 will be the year of  the adjective  -

ENOUGH

Websters defines is like this:

Enough:  adjective:  occurring in such quantity, quality, or scope as to fully meet demands, needs, or expectations; sufficient

A new year always helps to get things back into focus... weighing what is really the important stuff in life.  Checking my vision... and perspective.... So, with this word in front of me day in and day out, I hope to dwell on the truth that God has given me more than enough - instead of the "what ifs" and "if onlys" leading to discontent... not a fun place to dwell!

2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient (enough) for you, for power is perfected in weakness."

What am I going to do with my word?  I've started a list of things that I know I have "enough" of.  Some are serious and some are silly... But that is what is fun about a "word of the year" - you make it into a year long project that is unique to you. 

I plan on making a little sign to hang in a special place for me to see each day.  I will probably use the word a lot in my family scrapbooks this year too.  Last year's word "remember" is on the front page of our album from 2008.  I plan to take pictures of different scenes I see that remind me what He has given me is just enough for today.

My mom and her friend have decided to get together once a month and add a page to a small scrapbook - focused on their words.  Cute idea to share this project with a friend or family member!  I heard of another friend who challenged all of her family members to pick a word and share it with the fam... Then they can remind each other throughout the year and have fun looking for one another's words in day to day life together. 

Mom and I have had fun doing this over the past couple of years. Her word is "today."  Good reminder to enjoy life fully each day.

I guess my main hope this year is that I cling to the definition of enough when I start to slide down the slippery slope of discontent.  That is easy to do... but maybe - just maybe - I will remember to say

"What He has given me today is more than enough." 

Pick a word of the year for yourself.  I would love to hear what you chose. 

 

My Word of the Year

Ali Edwards inspired me to choose a "word of the year" last year.  Read here for more about "one little word."

Last year, my word was "joy."  It was interesting to see how that one little word was a reoccurring theme throughout much of my year. 

I had been pondering over what my word for 2008 should be for a while - when one day my sweet Connor helped me out in a huge way.  He is in a stage now of asking me a million questions everyday..."What's that? "  "Why, Mommy?"  "Who is that person?"  and "What is....?" 

One day as I talked to him about something (I don't even know what we were chatting about now), I asked him if he remembered something.  He sat quietly and then asked me this question...."What is remember?"  Boy, was I stumped!  I realized that I use that word all the time, and in his little 2 1/2 year old mind, he wanted to know just what that word was that Mommy repeats all the time.  I stumbled over my words and came up with this answer,"It is when you think back in your head about something that already happened."  I could tell he thought about that a few seconds and then moved on to the next thing... But, I have not been able to get that out of my mind.

So, REMEMBER is my word of the year.  It is an important word to me in different ways.  I am excited to see how it plays out in my life over the next 12 months. 

Remember:

To recall to the mind by an act or effort of memory; think of again; to retain in the memory; keep in mind; remain aware of

I plan on making something to be a visual reminder of my word... maybe something for my bulletin board.  I would also like to make a list of things that I would like to "remember" this year... Truths that I need to "keep in mind" as I go through everyday life... Reminders of the reasons why I do the things I do each day... Little things that I need to "think of again" more often than not. 

Now, i have my brain going wild on this one.... it could even be the subject of a mini album or layout!