Smiles are Great Stress Relievers!

Today was a day where I needed some "stress reliefs". You know, one of those kind of days; where you have a million things floating around in your head...and your brain has a hard time capturing the thoughts and holding onto them in order to complete a project or thought?

Nothing unusual or out of the ordinary, but none the less, surrounded by "stressers".

Fortunately, I was also surrounded by people who love me and care for me. They offered "Smiles of Encouragement". "Smiles of hope". "Smiles of joy in the moment". Which all helped me recalibrate and move my focus off of my frustrated self, onto enjoying the moment.

In case you are having one of "those" kind of days, let me share with you one of the very best smiles; which will make you smile BIG!

A smile that will help alleviate some of your stress. At least this particular smile did that very thing for me. So, in hopes of encouraging and helping you...here is that very special smile!

A smile from my granddaughter, Michaela. I hope it cheers you, as much as it did me!
Blessings~

Another New Year

Time is flying by quicker, than I can keep up. 2013 was a good year with my business and personal life.

Pear Creek Cottage is flourishing, and I thank God for enabling me to have such a business, and for helping me keep sane running it! {smile}

My family has grown as we welcomed a new granddaughter this last December. Little Michaela, decided to come on the date of her choosing, and not a pre-determined date by doctors and mid-wives.

Because of her "earlier than expected arrival", things were thrown into a whirlwind of activity. I feel so blessed that I was able to catch the next plane out of town, and be with Michaela and her mom and dad within the first hours of her birth.

What a beautiful, and sacred time. Nothing compares to the transformation that happens between labor, then delivery. Thank you God for the blessed, and safe arrival of Michaela into our world.

I had to include a picture of Gramma Jan with Michaela to document my first visit with her.

Welcome Baby Michaela! We are so thrilled to have you in our lives!

Right Now

Staring at a blank screen. Yes, it has been over a year since I've written on my blog. What happened? One word...LIFE! Days only speed up, not slow down as time passes. I can't believe that over 365 days have passed since I last posted.

Well, now that my unbelief has been revealed, I guess I need to move on, and ask for grace and understanding from myself first, and my followers second.

Even though my days have been full of running a business, running a house, and running after a granddaughter, I do feel blessed to be able to have such a plentiful life.

My business is growing, and keeping me very busy. My house is getting smaller, or maybe it just that I need to clean and remove clutter more than I am. And, my granddaughter is sprouting as a well watered garden, full of life and energy.

With each and every day that has passed, I am thankful. This whole past year, I've been trying to be more mindful of giving THANKS! Giving thanks not just for one day (Thanksgiving Day) out of the year, but as a "way of life".

None of us really knows what will happen in the next minute, hour, or days; so what we do have is RIGHT NOW!

Right now to be happy. Right now to be thankful. Right now to live.

So, with that, I will move forward today being thankful. Being happy for opportunities to share my life with others, and have them share their lives with me. I will thank God for RIGHT NOW!