Watcha' doin?

Seriously ya'll, watcha' doin'? 

I am just a little wound up now that I've drank a whole pot of coffee almost finished the upstairs purging and well I just don't wanna do any more cleaning right now.

Sooooo, I tried to get Tuffy to play with me. You know a simple game of hide and seek can be really fun!

But somehow she just kept finding me or could not get the whole concept of "hiding" even though she has perfected hiding some of my shoes.  ( Note to self: must move couch in family room)

Needless to say, this idea did not last to long. So I had a brilliant idea of working on some more creative fun projects cause I'm like getting waaaaay behind in that. 

But somehow that seems to have lost its luster lately as well. Must be because it's so depressing outside. We're supposed to have more white wet stuff flaking out of the sky at some point today. yeah

Well, I guess I'll just go and do a little of this now

 So I'll leave you with a joke and you leave me a comment - ok? Ok, here goes:

A man was driving down the road with twenty penguins in the back seat. The police stop him and say that he can't drive around with the penguins in the car and should take them to the zoo. The man agrees and drives off.

The next day the same man is driving down the road with twenty penguins in the back and again. He is stopped by the same police officer who says, "Hey! I though I told you to take those to the zoo."

The man replies "I did. Today I'm taking them to the movies."

xoxox, 

Ellen

Photo Credit to FreeDigitalPhotos.net

My word for 2011

My goodness, this is the first day I've stopped long enough to even think seriously about posting. I've been slightly busy. I could hardly wait to have the house back to myself and get on with the business of purging. 

I have cleaned and organized virtually every space in my house. Tossing, bagging for others and GW, cleaning and rearranging anything and everything, and boy, don't it feel GOOOOD !!

During the purging and cleaning process I noticed that in my spirit, I seem to be getting ready for something, something very different, something new. Something that is not yet ready to manifest, but is very close to being complete for presentation. I seem to be lightening my load so to speak. I was also thinking about the number of blogs I had noticed were talking about their "word" for 2011. 

I had zero plans of joining in and am not - exactly, however.... 

Every January I participate in the Daniel Fast and this year, my church started the Daniel Fast on January 2. I however, started preparing to fast a week earlier. Not so much by choice as my health has dictated that I have to, once again, make a life long dietary change which, funny thing, is actually like living on a Daniel Fast. Coincidence? Ok, so you're asking what does this have to do with the "word" choice of 2011. Just this. As I was asking Daddy a direct question about my mission for Him for this year, my eyes lifted to the plaque hanging above my door and this is what I saw - 

What I heard in spirit though is to take a closer look at the word Bless. Being one who has for years entertained myself with the mental game of trying to make new words out of one word, this was appealing to me. Here is what I saw. 

Bless = BlEss (be) 

bLESS   (less)

BLESs = (drop the bottom of the "b" and open the top to make an "f", spell backwards and you have "self "

Bless = Be Less Self

Following this was the verse 2 Corinthians 9:7

 ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Yes, this is a highly referenced verse for tithing, but Giving is all inclusive of your inner most being; your heart and motive = blessed to be a blessing. Everyday you can tithe / give your smile, encouragement, positive outlook, a much needed hug. Bless others by Giving your best for their best benefit. 

So this is literally my word - my promise,  my 2011 focus, mission, and purpose.

With that having been said, consider yourself hugely hugged and may you have a greatly blessed day!

xoxo, 

Ellen

Last post of 2010

Can you believe the last hours of 2010 are upon us? Where has this year gone?? Before this year ends, allow me a moment to express my thankfulness and gratitude for each and every one of you. Without you, I don't think I would have been so encouraged and brave to have gotten through the year. It's been rather difficult to say the least and I for one can not wait for 2011!!

I am so excited to see what everyone does in this new year as I know that in this past year of getting to know you all, that you are going to do great things. Thank you so very much for sharing so much of yourself with me and the rest of blog world. Thank you for your visits, humor, and comments. I so appreciate each and every one of you.

I pray for Daddy's best upon each and everyone of you. That you will experience His love and peace in a greater way and in a deeper and newer sense in 2011. I hope that all of your dreams are realized in the year to come. 

Just to back up for a moment, we here in Middle Tennessee had a white Christmas. That is not very common for us so it was actually a very magical touch to the entire setting of Christmas. I have to admit that I rather enjoyed seeing everything covered in a soft white blanket of snow. Changed everything, ya' know what I mean? Made the ordinary look rather special.

I am very much looking forward to the new year. I am soooo ready to put behind me the "old" and get on with the new. Guess I'm like my Daddy in that way. He's always up to the new stuff of life and reminding me, at least, to get over the "old". Maybe that is partly why I'm so anxious to pack up the Christmas decorations (although I LOVE them being out). But I realllllly want to scale back and "simplify", find balance, focus on the priorities of life and just appreciate all that life has to offer.

No matter what my dearest Friends, May this new year bring much love, peace, joy and everyday be Christmas somehow for each of you. 

Happy New Year!!

xoxox,

Ellen

Last of the details...

Ready or not, here is the last hours before the most anticipate day of the year is here! Wow!

I'm not sure if we are as ready as we like to tell ourselves we are, but...

I'm finished with all the shopping, wrapping, decorating, shipping, baking... done!  I'm so done, in fact, that I'm already working on projects that I had planned for after the new year! Maybe this will be a sign of the year to come - working ahead instead of behind. I'm likin' it! So, are you done too?

xoxo,
Ellen

That's My King!

I had been thinking on a Christmas Video Card to post here to wish you all the warmest and most loving of Christmas wishes. But somehow, everything just seemed to fail to truly capture the heart of Christmas because of the Santa's and the over done commercial aspect. Don't get me wrong, I've got a lot of Santa's around here and gifts to give as well. But surely Christmas has a greater, longer lasting purpose, Right?

Maybe this is it.

I believe that the ultimate Christmas Gift is best said via this video. Have you seen it? Do you know?

This is my Christmas gift to all of you, my family and dearest of friends. The real Reason for the Season.

Merry Christmas and lots of love, hugs and blessings to you all,

Ellen