#26 Share

I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.
-Michelangelo

Create a tutorial that can be posted on the blog for others to use. You can choose your subject and format of choice (video, pdf, photos...)

#25 - A Compassionate Heart

During my growing-up years, my father always purchased a bouquet of flowers for my mom on Valentine's Day and a smaller bouquet for each of his daughters.

Last weekend when I was at my brother's home, I learned that he now does the same thing for his wife and daughters. During the first few minutes of my visit Abbey, age 10, took me to her room to show me her bouquet. I told her how lovely it was and how lucky she was to have a dad who loves her so much.

Later in my visit, Abbey came and presented me with one of the flowers from her bouquet. She had realized that I didn't have anyone to give me a bouquet of flowers and didn't want me to feel left out. I was deeply touched by the empathy that this young girl felt and by her very kind act. My lone Valentine's flower means a great deal to me because it was given by one with a very compassionate heart.

25 Heart Break

com⋅pas⋅sion –noun

1.	a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

My sister-in-law is a loving compassionate person, whom I admire. Recently she went to help a friend who is fighting cancer. Her plan was to arrive, with another mutual friend and do what ever needed to be done to help this family heal. What she found breaks my heart, I'm not sure I even know how to react to it.

A mother depressed and having severe side effects to chemo manifesting as a traumatic brain injury. At times she doesn't know who you are or have any short term memory. Two beautiful girls, one 3 and desperately wanting her mother, not understanding why she is different and one 3 months old being passed from care giver to care giver who's mother doesn't have the capacity to mother her now. And finally a husband just trying to keep it together.

My sister-in-law and her friend jumped in with both feet and calling themselves "fairy god mothers" took care of their friends children to the best of their ability. Loving them as fierce and hard as they could for a short time frame. When it was time to leave and return to their own children they were both heart broken and devastated to leave them.

Wanting their love and energy to remain with the girls she opened an opportunity for me to help this beautiful family heal. She asked if I would make fairy god mother dolls of her and her friend for the girls, similar to the 'Aunt Julie & Uncle Cary' dolls I made for my nephews.



I'm waiting for head shots from my sister-in-law. When they are finished I will post a photo.

It's a small contribution, hopefully it helps.

In the mean time I am loving on my son as much as possible and being grateful for my health every second of the day.

25 - Compassion is the Key

Human compassion, or what I sometimes call “human affection,”
is the key factor for all human business.
-XIV Dalai Lama, The Art of Living

This week look for examples of human compassion and perform at least one yourself. Share an observation you make or something you experiences as a result.

#24 - Dream Big!

For a long time I have dreamed about being financially independent/able to retire by the time I’m 55. This year I decided that I ought to see if that dream would ever be possible. I knew I needed to learn more about money in order to live that dream so I enrolled in a money management class and started tracking the money I’m spending, saving, and paying out for my debts.

Over the past few weeks, I have learned that by tweaking a few things in my spending patterns, paying down my debt faster, and investing more aggressively, I should be able to reach my goal – and still have a good life now. That excites me! I’m super motivated to make those changes and put my dream within reach.

#24 Do I dare?

This weeks challenge was a brain bender. What parts of my life do I love, what do I dream would be added or different, where am I sleep walking through life? I thought and thought, made lists, surfed online. Then narrowed it down to a few 'action items' for lack of a better term.

The life I dream of is a life with spirit. It's creative, open, warm, grounded, fun and flows.

Three areas kept coming up in my musing: Keenan and/or parenting, Cary and/or relationships and spirituality. oh, and food, sounds weird but it's important for me.

- Tuesday art projects for me and Keenan (see photo above from today's first art day!)
- Mindful food preparation with blessing (As I prepare this life force for those I love...)
- Gratitude sharing before family dinner
- Saturday night date night with Cary (can just be time spent together after Keenan goes to bed, as we can't afford a babysitter every week)
- Creating a home that better embraces our life, tastes and talents. Starting with decorating, cleansing and organization.

In the scope of the quote for this week, my lists seems small and not very daring. I'm trying to remember that small change adds up!

Dare to live it!

life takes care of those who dare to live it
Maya Angelou

This week trust in the quote above and dare to live some part of the life you dream about.