Everyday Can Be New Years Day

I have been giving lots of thought as to how I can work towards a better me everyday and live each day like New Years Day.  The reason I went into this year looking at each day as a fresh start is because that is exactly what it is.  I am imperfect, I have amazing days, in-between days and really bad days but thats my life and I try to ride each of those days for what they are.  If I did something yesterday I am not happy with or feel bad about, I give it some thought and try not to do that thing in the future.  Even with this thought process, there will still be bad days because thats life.  So, heres to a new day!






Here are some of the things I am working on.

1.  Reading More

I am a binge TV watcher and since getting pregnant and signing up for Netflix, it is becoming increasingly difficult to go to bed at a reasonable hour on the weekend.  I am not giving up TV completely, I am simply trying to read more and watch less TV.  I am currently reading "Darling You Can't Do Both And Other Noise To Ignore On Your Way Up".  I got this book after attending a presentation by one of the authors, so far it's an interesting read.  You can grab a copy at Sarnia Bookkeeper.

2.  Get Motivated

While reading my book I thought "I need a book mark!".  In place of bookmarks I have written inspirational quotes and Bible verses on a bunch of que cards and am using them as markers in anything that requires one around the house.

3.  Get Up Earlier

The motivational markers are also geared towards getting my behind out of my warm bed on cold mornings before Luke wakes up.  He is a great sleeper and I want to start taking advantage of his schedule and hitting my yoga mat, reading the Bible and praying before I start my day.

4.  Improve Our Diet

I don't believe in diets, I believe in balance; putting good things in your body, treats, movement and habits that are realistic for my lifestyle.  I am just trying to put more good things in our bodies to keep us fuelled through the remainder of the winter.   I am finding endless food inspiration on Pinterest, you can check out my boards here My Pin Boards.

5. Keep The Creative Juices Flowing

I made some of my Christmas gifts last year and decorations, and I found that working with my hands really helps to free my mind.  I have some new home decor projects planned for the next few months which I will be sharing here as well as some sewing, knitting and crocheting projects.

What are you working on?

My Christmas Story

Empathy - The intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts or attitudes of another.

The Lord has given me an empathetic heart, I believe it is one of my unique gifts.  My ability to consider what it would be like to be in someone else's situation, causes me to make some good choices when I listen to my gut, provides me with various perspectives and also gives me a thought process that allows me to tell stories.

Last weekend we attended The Nightingale Christmas show, it's an annual holiday tradition for us to attend the show as a family.  The music is beautiful and we always leave feeling Christmassy.  This year I paid extra close attention to the songs about Baby Jesus.  I am not sure if there were more than usual this year, or if I am just extra tuned into the Christmas story, but I couldn't help wondering what Mary really felt like knowing her Son was the Son of God and that He had come to save the entire world. 

I have known the Christmas story my whole life, as I get older I do my best to focus on the true meaning of Christmas each year.  This year, the Christmas story was so easy to keep in my heart, I think because I am a new mom.  I have spent so much more time contemplating our Saviour coming to us as a child and what would have been going through Mary's mind as she held her baby boy on the first Christmas Eve. 

If I were Mary I would have been so scared at first, instantly loving this little boy so much and scared of what His big life may hold.

I have also been thinking about how much God loved us all, to have given his only Son to the earth to save us.  Now that I know the love of a parent, I can begin to somewhat understand the love God has for me.  A love I try to accept and feel worthy of, a love we are all worthy of and a love I hope to share with others so they can know the peace and joy I continue to learn more and more about.

I am grateful for this new level of understanding I have for the Christmas story, this year is the first year that it is really filling me with joy.  As I celebrate another Christmas, Luke's first Christmas, I pray to hold the Christmas story in my heart all year and really spread the love of Christmas everyday.  I am grateful for the Christmas story and the hope and peace it brings each year.

Merry Christmas!

John 3:17
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. 

I Will Remember

This morning I read "Young Sons" by Bill Mitton.  It was shared by someone I follow on Instagram  and its the first time I have read this poem.  I read it and the reality of this new angle and understanding of the loss that comes from war washed over me.

 YOUNG SONS
A mother takes down a photo
And she holds it to her breast
Just has she’d done the child it shows
The little boy she’d washed and dressed.
She remembers how his hair felt
His soft scent still fills her nose.
And one again she curses, 
the path her young son chose.
With boyish smile, and happiness
he’d picked the shilling and the gun
she remembered still the fear and dread
when he told her what he’d done.
Yet she’d smiled and waved him off
as only a loving mother could
If God was good, her smiling son
would return as young son’s should.
but then fickle fate, it knows no God
it makes it’s judgments where it will
and IED’s they don’t discriminate
about who they should maim or kill.
So young son’s often come home
fulfilling all their mothers fears
not with happy smiles and laughter
But, draped in flags and mother’s tears. 

Bill Mitton

When I was a child and they talked about war in school, I wondered what it would be like to have my father go off to war.  As a married women I wondered what it would be like to have my husband fight in wars and now as a mother, with these words in my head, I wonder about the pain a mother would feel to have to send her young son off to war.  Luckily I have never had to experience any of these pains.

Today Luke and I went for a swim at the Petrolia pool and then for a walk through pretty downtown Petrolia.  We stopped at the war memorial for a moment of silence and to show our respect for those who have fought for our freedom.  I read all the names of the soldiers on the memorial, something I have not done before, and I thought about all the people in their lives that were effected by their loss.

I am so grateful, more than ever today, for the great sacrifices of those who fought and fight to protect our country so we can live free.  I am proud to be Canadian and glad to live and raise a family where I do.  I could list all of the things that I am grateful for but my son is starting to wake from his nap.

Thank you to our soldiers and their families!

Lest we forget.

Love,
Audrey 

Pisces

I am a pisces and I definitely think that my sign has something to do with my personality and character traits.  One thing that leads me to think this way, is the piece I feel when I am near water.  This could also be because I grew up on the beach but when I need time to reflect and find piece, I often find myself by the water.  It's easy for me to think clearly near the water and sort out my thoughts or simply forget about things that are bothering me.  I feel close to God and a connection with nature near water as well.  Where do you find piece?