Invisible Mommies.

Today is the day to remember those women who have sacrificed everything to raise their children. It's the day that children bring burnt toast and warm milk to their mother's nightstand. It's the day where children honour their mothers for all that they have done to raise them. There is this visible interaction between children and mothers today. However, I can't help to think,  on this day, so many mothers who ache to eat burnt toast and drink warm milk. They ache to be exhausted, holding their crying baby in their arms. And they ache to wake up at 5 am to the sound of children's laughter. These are the women that are invisible on this day. I want to say thank-you to these mommies who have babies in heaven. You have put up with the awkward greetings today, the children all around you who hugging their mommies, and the lack of cards and gifts given to you. I want to say that you are a mom and you are loved. Thank-you to the mommies who are missing a part of their family today. You shouldn't be invisible because even though you don't hold that one precious part of your family in your arms, the scent of mother for that child fills your entire being. I want to say to you because I know if I was in your shoes, I would want those words said to me.

Blessed.

Being thankful. A concept we are taught at such a young age and are told to practice but I find it so hard. Why do the hard things seem to mask all the blessings in my life? I have been thinking about this and realizing that being thankful is a choice. It's my responsibility to be thankful. I have the choice to dwell on the negative or look to the good in life. My desire is to continually find the positive in life yet why is it so hard to achieve?

I went to my auntie and uncle's cottage this weekend and as I took a walk on the trails, I thought about everything that I had. I have so much. I have so much that has been handed to me, so much to give, and yet I don't. I think this is a goal I need to make. A goal to give. I think then I can I will find the choice to be thankful. It's easy to say I'll just give back when I'm not a college student anymore or I'll just give back when I have a full time job but it starts today. It's journey to thankfulness starts with giving back today. 

I hope that this gives you a little inspiration for how you can begin to be thankful again.

DIY Painted Globe

A little sunday afternoon crafting was needed. I have made it a goal to have a rest day this semester so, I decided to make my roommates' birthday gift and thought I would share it with you, my friends.

What you will need is a globe, paint and a paintbrush. Then I just painted the globe with my white paint before putting my base coat on. 

Then I put this light purple colour on as a base. But after this the rest is up to your imagination. I decided to put a quote from C.S. Lewis on mine, but the choices are endless. 

                     

Take a day to rest and have fun crafting.

The Balance.

I wonder.

I wonder if I am doing the right thing with my life, who I am supposed to meet, where I am to be. 

Do I wonder too much? Some may ask this and I have asked this myself but I have come to the realization in these last few months, that it is okay to be curious. It is okay for me to be constantly wondering. People who I haven't even said a word to me, have told me I am curious. I never really knew how to react to that.  However, I am starting to find that my curiosity is somewhat of a good thing. Curiosity has helped me get to where I need to be right now. I wouldn't have found my college or the amazing people I have in my life if I didn't wonder. I have such a desire to learn and stretch myself I find it hard to stay still and really love life where I am at. 

This brings me to what is on everyones brain this week, Christmas. I am constantly searching for the "ultimate goal" that when I have a break like this, I start to truly look at things at a different perspective. I start to think about how life would have just stopped as soon as Jesus was born and there would have been such a rich peace. That is my desire this week. Peace. A kind of stillness that is so rare and beautiful. Curiosity can be part of the noise as well as the silence. I think finding a balance in letting our minds think too much or too little is an exercise that is so important. My holiday has been full of thinking in regards of what to do next year, but I know one amazing Lord who will always be constant in my life and I think that is something I really need to hold onto. 

   

Etch a sketch.

As of late, the weather in my town has been quite muggy and cloudy. My natural instinct for less sunny weather is to create! I decided to show you all how to create your very own custom glasses or tumblers with a simple glass etch. 

All you'll need is a glass, tape, scissors, craft knife, printed out image, glass paint, sticker paper (I got mine at dollarama in the office section, just find any sticky paper.)

Take your printed image and tape it to your sticker paper. Then take your knife and start cutting our your stencil.

Next, take your sticky paper and apply it to the glass. Then, take a stencil paint brush and your glass paint and begin dabbing your paint on. Tip: use a very minimal amount of paint to ensure it looks like an etch and not messy.

Finally, peel off the sticker paper and reveal your stencilled image!

There you have it. Your very own glass etch. Enjoy!

Summer Blessings

This summer has been different than most. My "normal" had to be shifted. Opposed to what I had previously done for the past 6 years, working at camp, I got a hourly wage job, I was able to be home and sleep in my own bed every night and I had to figure out how to make time for God. In all of this I have found joy. Knowing that I can still babysit 3 beautiful girls every week, I can see my best friend every day of the week and I can go for a run whenever I need to. I have found a new norm and I have come to a realization that its not such a bad thing. It's different but I am thankful for how God has brought joy into my summer.

If only Matthew Cuthberg was peeking around the corner...

All you need is a little chalk.

I recently have been searching the inter webs to find inspiration for my new dorm room that I will be moving into in the next few weeks. I came upon this cute little chalkboard banner and naturally, thought I could make it. I guess it's the mennonite in me. And it was a success, so I thought I would share it with all you lovelies how to make an inexpensive home decor piece that you can customize to your personal style, just with a little chalk.

This craft is very inexpensive. The only thing you will have to buy is some chalkboard paint which is a great investment. The rest, you can find in your home:

 cardboard.paint brush. triangle template. string.

Step 1. Begin by tracing out triangles with your template onto the cardboard.

Step 2: Take your chalkboard paint and start painting your triangles. (I went for 2 coats of paint)

Step 3: Once the triangles are dry, just use a hole punch to make 2 small holes in the 2 corners of the cardboard. If you don't have a hole punch you can always puncture the cardboard with a scissor or craft knife.

Step 4: Weave your twine or string through the holes you made with your hole punch.

Tip: Your triangles may start to curl up, just stick them under an old phone book and they will be good to go in a couple hours.

And there you have it! Your very own banner that you can make your own and can switch up for every season. I hope you had fun making this and if you didn't because you didn't want to spend money on chalkboard paint, I will let you know you will be disappointed. It's probably the best decision you will make.