{HOPE} MY goals, MY one word & MY mission

     

Verb :: want something to happen or be the case.

 Synonyms

 noun :: expectation - trust - promise

 verb :: trust - expect - anticipate

:: the feeling that what is wanted can be had.

:: to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.

:: to believe, desire or trust. 

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  I am a little behind on sharing my GOALS for 2013. Major surgery will do that. ;) But nevertheless, I am a H-U-G-E advocate of creating, making & holding yourself to a list. Ya know THE list of goals you make for yourself. The list you make for your business. I love lists. I love goals. I love *trying* to challenge myself every year to 'beat' the list. lol

Last year was about 'rolling with it' in my business. The major point being to NOT freak about the list - to let things go. Be more flexible. I think I did pretty good. I definitely had alot of things I needed to just 'keep rollin with' and that were out of my control and yet here I am.

This year's list is a little different. I am switchin it up on ya. Also I am incorporating my ONE WORD for 2013 again into it all as well. Last year my word was BUILD. I took that word and I feel successful with what I BUILT - relationships, this biz, the design shop, the blog, a new team & much more. Now time to enter the word for this year: HOPE.
 

image via Trust In the Lord

If you follow my blog, you all probably know I have already been using HOPE as my word through my personal journey & my recent surgery & I just LOVE IT! It brings me great comfort + it is a REALLY great word for business, life & pretty much anything as it has so much POSITIVE backing it up! ;)

Just take a look:

:: "HOPE is a waking DREAM." ~ Aristotle

:: "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without HOPE and confidence." ~ Helen Keller

:: "Don't lose HOPE. You never know what tomorrow may bring"


HOPE & MY GOALS: 
Noun :: a feeling of expectation & desire for a certain thing to happen
I do expect this for my business. I am claiming this for my business and my life. The HOPE that makes me smile. The HOPE that sees the good. My HOPE. 

Verb :: want something to happen or be the case.
I WANT this for my business. I have that feeling of expectation for certain things to happen. For things that I built last year, to come together & bear fruit this year for me. I HOPE this happens. 

 Synonyms
 noun :: expectation - trust - promise
 verb :: trust - expect - anticipate
I love that the words 'trust' & 'promise' are synonyms because how FAB is that rockstar line-up? HOPE - TRUST - PROMISE {giddy on this one}  

Anticipate . . . having HOPE is so much like Christmas morning. You expect it every year, you anticipate it's coming & you HOPE Santa brings you goodies. ;)

:: the feeling that what is wanted can be had.
:: to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.
:: to believe, desire or trust. 

I do have the feeling that what I want this year can be had & so so sooooo look forward to it. I BELIEVE it is possible partnered up with my HOPE. :)

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I am not sharing my list this year as I am not sure you all really care so much about the specifics as I am assuming it's more about the reasoning as I am sharing here today.

One thing I will share with you on the list, is the HOPE mission I am doing. It's about looking past ourselves, reaching out to others - it's something we all "think" we do but it doesn't happen that much (unfortunately). Honestly . . . we NEED to stop & take the time! . . . we need to give people some HOPE. I guarantee you right now, people you personally know - ya know the ones you think are ok & their life is so great? They are more than likely dealing with something every day that you may not know about. Some people are just trying to make it through the day. We all NEED to know someone cares!

The last few months have been a real eye-opener for me personally. I was on this journey, and I didn't know how it would end and I was surprised by how some people reacted to it all, how some people were never there for me & then how some came out of nowhere & made themselves available to me. Going through something life & death will show you who really cares. It changed me. It opened my eyes. Some days it was VERY lonely for me & I HOPE no one ever has to feel like that.

So this is my mission for the NEW YEAR . . . MY year of HOPE!  
Connecting with people & offering a bright spot in their day. A lil' HOPE. It's simple, really. I am starting out slooooooow, so I can make it into a habit. My goal is to reach out to just ONE person a week. I want to give back. Make myself available - to let them know I am thinking of them by sending a quick email, text or tweet. Give back by taking a moment to invest in people. Maybe I send something in the mail. Maybe I pick up the phone & have a conversation with them. Maybe I leave a blog comment or like a status on FB at the very least. Every week, every day, will be different. But my goal is by the end of the year (hopefully way sooner) I can check in, reach out to someone EVERY day & offer some HOPE. I want to give someone the same HOPE I was given. The same HOPE I have. :)

I believe, we as women, need to be there for each other & take a minute to check in with each other,  . . . to invest in other people. That moment we take, that minute we give to them, may mean the world to someone else. It may make all the difference in someone's day. That one minute could be all they get from anyone, all day. People assume that others are being taken care of, they have lots of friends looking out for them or someone else is tending to them. What if you assume wrong? What if they don't? Maybe you think that person is strong - she can handle anything! What if she can't? Maybe all they need is ONE person to give them HOPE for the day. All of us need HOPE. We all struggle every day. Our struggles may be huge one day & small the next but they are all our struggles.

Let's assume that we are all anyone has. Does that make sense? Why don't we make ourselves the one little slice of 'HOPE' for others. Make your concern known. Make a hello matter. Make an email count. YOU put that smile on someone else's face. Do it. Do NOT assume someone else is beating you to it. Don't assume people take the time. Don't assume people are ok. Let's get out there and make people see the HOPE. Give them something to hold onto. Let them see the HOPE in people, in you, in the everyday.

We can choose to do nothing & hope someone else will do it. 
Or you can join me in wanting to make a difference in someone's day. To let someone know they matter. What will YOU do? Did this post matter to you? Did it give YOU hope? Will you let me know? Leave a comment & let me know what you will do or if you have HOPE.

I have always said "it's the little things" that make a difference to someone. 
. . . one little minute . . . taking the time to think about someone else . . . 
And did I mention it feels so good to make someone's day?! ;)   I HOPE we can make a difference - in other people's lives, in our businesses, at home, in relationships . . . we CAN have everything with HOPE!

I can't change the world but I CAN change what I do. So watch me. I am only one person. But I am mighty with my HOPE. ;)

  

CRAFT :: Love Letter Box

     

Happy Happy Y’all!

It’s Melissa from My Party Passion bringing you a fun, quick tutorial for you and the kids!  It’s my Love Letter Box!  With Valentine’s Day fast approaching I wanted to make a fun to “house” the Valentine’s we give each other.  This year I am encouraging the kids to draw pictures, write daily notes or little projects to give to others in the family.

Here is all you need:  Empty Tissue Box, wrapping paper, embellishments (stickers etc), scissors and some tape.  (I get a rush using household items, reusing, recycling them for parties!)  

Wrap up the tissue box like a package. Cut a slit in the top for the love letters (I used Washi tape to “clean up” this spot). Now let the kiddies decorate it!  This is the "mailbox" where your children can put their Valentines that they receive.  Great for school, daycare, church or home!  

We are doing it for each person in our family and allowing the children to put notes, pictures - anything they create for each other for the week of February 14th.

A very easy craft for the kids to help with. They can use pretty much anything to decorate their Love Letter Boxes.

Until next time - Party On Friends!

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Guest Contributor: Melissa Newell 

Melissa Newell has been planning and executing parties for over 20 years - parties have always been a passion of hers.

 Melissa’s motto is Go Big or Go Home! She celebrates with her children every chance they get - making each day a celebration of Life!

You can follow Melissa

website

FREEBIE :: Love is all you NEED Art Print

     

Hello my friends!

Here it is! The first FREEBIE of the year! whoohoo! Since THE {love} month is just around the corner, I figured you all could use this to add to your decor - if you like it! ;)

Have a great month but remember . . . ;)

This print is sized for an 8 x 10 frame but could easily be enlarged to fit an
11 x 14 or whatever size you needed. Print it out at home or take it to a printer for a larger size.

Just download your 

"Love is all you NEED" print:

 Free LOVE is all you need Valentines Art Print 
& ENJOY!! 
 
**by clicking & downloading this subway art you ARE agreeing to the RULES & copyright guidelines below! 

 

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RULES for FREE DOWNLOADS:

• Eye Candy Creative Studio printables are designed for your PERSONAL USE only. Please do not re-sell, re-distribute, or claim them as your own.
• I encourage you to share with your fans, friends, on your blog and all I ask is to PLEASE, {be kind} & post/ tag a link back to this website so I know who's enjoying them. Thanks - I appreciate it! =)
• And PLEASE do NOT remove the copyright mark - thanks!

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Have a FABULOUS day my friends! xoxo

Are you loving the "eye candy" here? 

Then join me over on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter & Instagram so you never miss out on an exclusive deal or any behind the scenes photos!  

Check out my designs, artwork & decor in my Etsy shop!

{HOPE} my results & sharing the HOPE

Waiting is NOT something that I am good at. You see, I am about the most impatient person in the world. Sometimes I think God does this on purpose . . ya know . .the waiting part  - just so I can learn to be more patient. =)

So yesterday was "results" day. The day I was to find out if I was going to be a 'cancer' person or not. If you are just tuning in, you can catch up on my story here. I have had to wait just a little over 2 weeks for these results & let me tell you - longest dang TWO WEEKS of my life! uggghhh . . . could the time have taken any longer to get here?! See guess this is where I need work on my patience - lol.

HOPE ::::::::
 . . . it's been MY word and will continue to be for this year! It's my safe haven, its where I find my solace from all of this - this journey I have been on. It's where I take comfort because I know I am NOT alone. He is and always will be here - right in the middle of everything I am going through - just as promised. =)

This is what i wrote on my personal FB page yesterday . . . 
 
"I.Am.FREE. ♥
I am at a loss for words . . . God is so good . . .I am overwhelmed & can do nothing except to give ALL the glory to Him - thank you GOD for saving me again! ♥ Pathology report came back clear & I do NOT have cancer!!!!! =)
The dr. told me the TIMING on this surgery was PERFECT as I was in BAD shape with tumors, cysts, etc. along with being in stage 4 endometreosis - things were starting to affect my organs (not a good thing) . . . in 3 months, we would be talking something entirely different as the outcome. Praise God for blessing me through all of this! I am heartbroken over never being able to have another child but grateful I can be around for the one I have! Do NOT ever doubt what God can do or the mountains He can move! I am so humbled by His ways & love! Praise God Praise God! Praise God ♥"

~ "Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me." Psalm 103:2 NLT 



I still have 2-4 weeks of recovering to do but I am HOPEful that I will be back to normal in no time. I have lots of emotions I am trying to get a handle on, some of them have been surprising to me. At moments, I do not feel like the same person at all & that is something I am trying to figure out as I go along. But I remain so humbled, so appreciative of this second chance I have been given.

AND one thing is for sure . . . my HOPE is strong, along with my faith. I just want to take a moment & THANK YOU all who have been there with me on this journey. The comments here on the blog, the emails, the prayers, the well wishes - it all means so so much to me & it DID help me get through all of this. It gave me some HOPE. So THANK YOU again & I am so THANKful to you all who were there. I also want to THANK YOU for hanging in there with me, being patient & NOT leaving since I was sharing some personal with you. I have always felt compelled to share my personal journey with you from the start . . . why? . . .I can only guess it was God's way of helping someone else struggling & me needing to share my story as to the why?

One thing I have learned through all of this, (or maybe a better word is reminded of) is we NEED to help others! . . . we need to give them some HOPE. People are suffering every day. People are dealing with something every day. People are trying to figure out how to make it through each day sometimes. We all NEED to know someone cares!

We as women need to be there for each other & take a minute to check in with others, to invest in other people we care about. That moment, that minute may mean the world to someone else. It may make all the difference in someone's day. That one minute could be all they get. Alot of people assume that people are being taken care of, they have lots of friends looking out for them or someone else is tending to them. What if you assume wrong? What if they don't? Maybe you think that person is strong - she can handle anything! What if she can't?

How about if we all start assuming that we are all anyone has. Does that make sense? Why don't we make ourselves the little slice of 'HOPE' for others. Make your concern known. Make a hello matter. Make an email count. YOU put that smile on someone else's face. Do it. Do NOT assume someone else is beating you to it. Don't assume people take the time. Don't assume people are ok. Let's get out there and make people see the HOPE. Give them something to hold onto. Let them see the HOPE in people, in you, in the everyday.

This is my mission for the NEW YEAR . . . MY year of HOPE! I want to give back & make sure people are ok. I want to give back by taking a moment to invest in people. I want to give someone the same HOPE I was given. 

Hopefully you will join me as I make a mission out of this second chance I have been given. I want to make a difference in someone's day. I want someone to know that they matter. I have always said "it's the little things" that make a difference to someone. That's all it needs to be. That's all it takes . . . to give someone what they're looking for! Join me in giving others the HOPE they may be looking for right now! ;)
  

{HOPE} holding on & waiting

hellooooooo . . . . just checking in for a minute to let you know how I'm doing. It's been a little over a week since my surgery. If you missed what is going on, here is the post explaining what I went through. I am so thankful to be here chatting with you right now. I am VERY thankful I am here. It's funny when you are faced with a major surgery how your mind goes to "that place" you know the one that tells you that you may NOT make it back. Stranger things have happened  & you never know. But as much as I "may" have thought that or it crept into my mind, I knew it was just ridiculous. Psssst . . . total whatevs! I had HOPE. I held on to my HOPE. And HOPE is getting me through.

So like I said surgery went as well as to be expected. They did have to take it all. My days of wishing for another child are over. As much as I would have given anything to have a second, I have ONE and she will be enough for me. Some days this is easier to swallow than others but it's the way it is now. Something about "life" making the decisions for you that just sucks. Just SUCKS - ya know? {sigh} The issues I had going on warranted the outcome of this surgery, so I am focusing on the fact that I am HERE and that is enough for me & I am grateful for another day or two or two thousand or two bazillion . . . . 

This whole thing is so surreal though . . . .they sent everything they removed to the Pathologist & I won't know any results until next Monday - ONE WEEK from today - in ONE WEEK - is when I find out if I am a cancer patient. A.Cancer.Patient. Or maybe I will have HAD cancer & they got it all. If that IS the case . . . Does that still make me a 'cancer person' if it's gone? Do I still have that 'label'? Such weird questions rolling through my mind. So crazy to even fathom all of this -really is . . .

I went to my moms to recover for the first week & it was great to be at my momma's & have her care for me. Nothing beats momma's lovin when you are not feeling good. =) I just vegged out, tried to relax, control my pain & get as much sleep as I could . . . all while watching an INSANE amount of HGTV - love love love everything on that channel. Trying to have patience while recovering is going to be a challenge . . .I can tell already. I am used to doing a bazillion things at once & then some.

It's been hard dealing . . . I had some issues this past week - coming out of surgery puking my guts out, then . . . itching like a mad-woman because something obviously from surgery - I was allergic to . . . it was not fun.
Then once at my moms, I was waking up every hour all through the night - sleep schedule was all out of whack. . . an annoying cough that hit about day #4 & felt like I was being stabbed with a knife every time I needed to cough. I thought 'seriously - am I NOT in enough pain already?. I am still dealing with the cough but at least it's NOT as frequent. 
Then on top of all of this, I am trying to deal with these emotions I have - some of which make me very sad. Crazy emotions that I PRAY will eventually level out with the hormone meds or I may be wearing a white straight jacket soon (lol)

Journaling helps. My HOPE journal from my dear friend Melissa N. is helping me through this as my thoughts need to be directed somewhere & writing them down always helps. It will also be uplifting to look back at this one day soon & see how God had His hand in all of this the whole time. =)

I know He is getting me through this. I know it will get easier. I know I will be fine. I know He is giving me the strength I need to get better and I know He is where my HOPE comes from.

HOPE: Hold On & Pray Everyday.

btw - if anyone sees anything out there with the word 'HOPE' on it, let me know as I'm kinda LOVING this word on anything right now! =)

I appreciate all the prayers, emails, etc. from all of you. It means soo sooo much to me & you will never know how much they have meant to me, so THANK YOU! xoxo

I promise little by little I will be "coming back" this week & next & just taking it slow to start bringing you more inspiration, designs & more FUN for the new year. Thanks for being patient & hanging in there with me as I have some BIG things planned for this year & I know you will LOVE it!  xoxo