bliss

ever find yourself just blissed out on life? ever really stop and smell the roses, daisies or fresh cut grass? ever stop and just kiss your partner in the middle of the conversation? every feel blessed by friends telling you that you inspire them? just a few thoughts...

starting over...

i am going to try this blog thing over. give it another go. my life, pure and simple. love it!

The Power of Positivity, a bit about me!

Hello All-

First let me say that I am writing this post with love- this topic of positive thinking, our children, our companions, communication etc has come up numerous times over the last few weeks. This is something I feel very strongly about and so I am going to share some thoughts and beliefs.  

I probably have had some similar experiences that some of you have had, from being taunted and teased in grade school, to sticking out a bit oddly in high school. I was pregnant and single at the age of 17, later I fell in love with a drug addict who didn't know how to love me... some may call those hardships but I was learning with each day! 

Why did I share that part- because I truly believe it is by those turns of events (there has been many more events than those but we can talk about those later) through my life that has made me who I am. I have taken lemons and made lemonade, lemon curd, lemon bars - well you get the point. I am grateful for that "pain" and those lessons and have taken the good and the bad and learned from them! 

Ok so fast forward to October of 2008- I had a great job for a very well known company but the corporate world had started weighing down on my being!   Life was good but I knew I couldn't take it anymore and something need to change.  

So one night at dinner - my sister and my now 2+ years sober husband James and I make a pact with each other - To not speak unkindly of anyone. To let the negativity go and walk an honest path. So, with my head held high I made that commitment and once again my life was thrown upside down- but this time I was ready and willing to receive the change! With that commitment made it was amazing how clearly so much came - my every day chatter and the negativity that I had surrounded my self with. It wasn't much longer that I parted ways with the company and how amazingly clear things became.

Here it is, I guess the few points I wanted to make through all of those examples:

So often we find ourselves blending in chatting with the neighbor about another neighbor, or how a woman gave birth in a hospital, how a family doesn't have this or that and so sharply our words can cut another person. 

We slash our words out of our mouths so quickly to judge some one else for what they are doing- my question to you then is - What have YOU done to educate them to make A different decision? 

How do your children hear the words you speak? do they speak kindly to their siblings or friends...

Why is it ok for you but not ok for them? do you question others decisions even though you have done they same thing...

When is the last time we really showed appreciation to the people that are out there in our back yards making a difference - a retail owner, a midwife, a neighbor, a friend- whether just saying thank you, a cup of coffee or a hug...

What are we teaching our children? are we teaching them to be passionate, to treat Mother Earth with love and respect, to forgive others...

I am not perfect - oh no by no means! I get caught up in the day to day drama but I also catch my self and make a conscious effort to speak kinder gentler words. I try to surround my self with people of all walks a life as they are all teachers on my path. I show love and compassion to my enemies. I teach my son to be gentle and loving -  to love unconditionally.  I teach him to be kind and give hugs!  

Start a gratitude journal - as a family or by your self write down 5 things every day that you are grateful for and start to watch the creativity and positivity grow. 

I believe in the power of positivity and how karma does and will come back to haunt you! I am a very honest person who is passionate about life, who loves to be active in her community and loves to make a difference. I love having friends all over the world and appreciate their love and respect!  I am grateful to so many. So if you made it to the end of this- much love to you and thank you unconditionally for being part of my life! 

I am also grateful to my husband. When I met him he was a drug addict and an alcoholic. I fell in love with him immediately and knew he was the one. It was about 3 years into that relationship before he got sober and realized it too! I didn't give up on him even when he looked at me and told me he could never love me like I needed him to. I saw his light and no amount of drugs could make it stop shining! I love you James and am so grateful for your unconditional love! 

joyous

fresh baked goods waft from the kitchen and a table full of children and a husband laughing so loud! last night as we watched some friends kids and me, james and camden all joined around the dining room table more memories were made. to hear so much laughter, to feel such wonderful energy protruding around the house and the smiles, oh what joyous smiles! i am grateful to add another night of memories around the table! 

xoxo

rachel 

snow days

working, I always hated the snow. it made me stop, slow down or keep me! I am a goer - I like to go go go! but now being home how I enjoy the snow! we have had our 3rd snow day this week and it has been wonderful. i appreciate stopping were else do I have to go but here! 

the turtle

well its not a bunny, which I guess neither are we...but we welcomed Rembrandt the painted turtle into our family this past Friday! 

It has been quite an adventure and today we even drove an hour and half for a free tank and filter! he has been a welcome though the dogs still aren't sure what to think! This is Camdens pet which he even purchased with this own money and has been enjoying early morning talks with Rembrandt before school.

Cleaning the Kitchen

Ah, how good it feels to get that done! I have cleaned all the cabinets - rearranging, clearing out unneeded items and wiping off the dust! 

There is something about this- the change of energy that takes place when you rearrange them. The positive that can come when your things find their home! I love that shift. It clears the air in your home. We got rid of a big chair yesterday and it made the living room open up, making you want to be there really enjoying your own living space. 

I love how good it feels!