Call me sentimental, but I have a love of all things handwritten. So when my parents recently showed me a letter from the nanny who cared for my brother and me in France, I was mesmerized. Not only by the beautiful penmanship and age of the simple lined stationery but also by how the heartfelt sentiments transcended time, bringing to mind sweet memories and emotional ties for my parents. This nanny was my namesake, so to see a picture of her and to be granted a personal glimpse into her life through a handwritten letter from so long ago was a moment to savor. These were precious years of a young couple trying to make their way in a foreign country, raising small children, and our nanny occupied a tender spot in their hearts, even after all these years. This letter was a Continue Reading
4 Ways to Inspire Creativity
I believe deep down everyone wants to create a beautiful legacy. But beautiful legacies don't just happen on their own; they require consistency, intention, and an abundance of creativity. For me, creativity is the fertilizer that cultivates intention and consistency in whatever choices I make. I simply can't thrive without it, and when life speeds by too quickly, it's usually creativity that suffers first. Sometimes it's time to take a step back, disconnect from routine and reconnect with ourselves. So, for the past 60 days, that's exactly what I've done. Without a plan or an explanation, I completely disconnected...from all social media, including my blog. No emails, no tweets, no pinning, and no posting. I just stopped.. not because I wanted to. I tried Continue Reading
When You Need a Little Christmas Spirit: Hope for the Holidays
When you' need a little Christmas Spirit... “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ” ― Norman Vincent Peale Sometimes..... we need a little help finding beauty and creativity. “Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” ― Calvin Coolidge Sometimes..... we need a little help dreaming again. http://youtu.be/ozVmO5LHJ2k “I truly believe that if we keep telling the Christmas story, singing the Christmas songs, and living the Christmas spirit, we can bring joy and happiness and peace to this world.” ― Norman Vincent Peale Sometimes..... we need a little help Continue Reading
A Simple Tradition of Remembering
Some traditions begin on a whim, and yet in their simplicity, they become a profound bedrock of family celebrations, rich in meaning and steeped in value. And it’s not until we’re given a glimpse backward that we realize how they’ve imprinted faith on our hearts and grounded us in hope for the future. I remember it began early in our marriage, with a simple “baby’s first Christmas” ornament, hung on a short, barren tree, between a few golden baubles. Like most young couples starting out, we didn’t have an excess of anything. We lived in a tiny parsonage and had scarcely enough extra to decorate our first Christmas tree. By the time our first child came along, our tree still lacked ornaments, but our hopes and dreams for what we wanted for our children were never lacking. We wanted Continue Reading