Goals for Summer 2013

I like to make goals. I also live by checklists and tend to have sticky notes and notebooks all over the place to cover my addiction to lists.

The lists can consume you but that is another post.

Back to goals. My husband and I created a few goals for 2013. I will share my goals for summer 2013.

*Clean out the craft room. Donate, sell, trash, get rid off. Enough is enough. If I have not used it then it has to go and disappear by the beginning of August end of July. I have already given away an embroidery machine (used 10 times in three/four years) and a sizzix bigshot with cartridges.

*Clean out the garage. Work on what needs to be sold in a local shop and remove the surplus. Most of what I have was given to me which for some reason makes it harder to get rid of than what I bought. That has to be some sort of sickness.

*Add a new product to my etsy shop. This means taking photos and creating the listings which I don't like to do but really? I think this can be managed.

*Continue to work on my weight loss. My five year old thinks that because I have gray hair it means I am about to go to heaven. Nothing like that kind of crying statement to make you realize that being overweight/fat is not healthy. I have lost 10 pounds. One of my doctors told me to get to a point where I was my healthiest and the weight can be easily maintained. Uhmmmm. Maybe another 10 pounds?

*Turn my money into investments. I looked back at what I made last year from my etsy shops and realized that most of that money was spent on more craft things (not related to the shops and which I am not getting rid of) and picking up junk food with the kids after school. I will be putting aside more money into savings so I can buy what I need to update the house and for a family vacation this fall.

*Continue to work with the women's ministry at church. It weighs so heavily on my heart that we don't see that many young women engaging in fellowship opportunities or giving back. It is so easy to just show up for a church service, leave, and then not make choices to be fully engaged in a faith FULL life. I will be facilitating a women's summer book club with a group of great women and pray that I stay out of the way and let God do His thing.

I could probably keep on going but don't want to be nitpicky. I have a lot to work on.

QUESTION: What are some of your goals for the summer?

Expanding My Business (with shaky hands)

You may dream of finding your products in a store. (Not in a thrift store). And when several businesses asked me 1). to create journals for them and then, 2). have another ask me about my art the fear began to melt.

canvas by Artful Rising (Erika)

I signed up yesterday to rent out a space in a shop.

Me. And my wares.

Well, okay, I won't be on sale but the things I create and place in my space will be for sale. For many people to touch and potentially walk up to the counter and purchase.

Sigh.

Some of you may not know that I have been working with tools since I was a little girl. My dad builds furniture, rooms, and anything he feels like for fun and I paid attention. So now, I am using my teensy skills to rework furniture and build signs and what ever floats my boat.

All because I opened an etsy shop and took a chance way back when.

Funny how little things begin to grow.

QUESTION: What little thing will you work on today?

Big Dreams Can Happen

Artful Rising journal

Yesterday, someone emailed me something about how God can out dream me. That stopped me. I am a dreamer and it is hard to imagine that there could be more than what I can imagine at this point. But the words are there, in my face, as a question:

Are you dreaming big enough?

If Steve Jobs did not dream big then your idea of an Apple would only be something you eat. If Oprah did not dream big we would not have the shows, the book club, the examples of charity.

When I was about 13 years old, I told myself that I could help children that had endured horrific experiences. People asked me what I was doing, why I thought I could do this, or even why I wanted to help kids when it would not be a money-making field. I saw a need and wanted to do something about it.

I was 13.

You are enough. You are smart enough. Your dream is big enough to give it what it is worth and to make it happen.

personal canvas creation

You have been there--that dark, deep place that serves as a guide. You know what it is like -- what it smells like, what it tastes like, what it sounds like. The bitterness of trial and error are still an aftertaste in your mouth. You are qualified to fill a need.

Pull up those bootstraps and get ready. You are needed to create, to live, to help, to listen, to serve. You are ready to live your purpose and follow your dream.

QUESTION: What is your big dream?

I am linking up to the super witty Jenny Matlock for her alphabet series.

Join me on facebook.

Fighting off Lies

burning lies

There was a man that believed he was a failure at his job. He had spent the entire night working and at the end of his shift had to tell another that he had not experienced success. Later, when this man was confronted by a great gift, he exclaimed that he was not worthy of such generosity and love.

Have you ever felt that way? That you were not worthy of goodness, love, generosity, a good job, or happiness because of negative self-talk?

The kind of words such as:
*you are unworthy
*you are not good enough
*you are not pretty enough
*your past
*your failures
*your shame
*your anger
*your insecurity

The above are lies. These are the lies we tell ourselves and that others may tell us as well and they keep us from moving forward.

They keep us from loving ourselves and living our purpose. They keep us from being creative, looking for a better job, and living our dreams. It is so much easier to believe the negative crap at times but the fact is that they are still lies.

I encourage you to write down the lies you tell yourself; the things that keep you from moving forward. Then, write down on another bit of paper the truths (you are worthy, you are creative, you are smart, etc).

Tear that sheet of lies into small bits and destroy them. And let them go. Today.

And hold on to the sheet of truths.

In a class I taught this weekend, I burned the lies for the participants. Start up the barbeque pit and release the negativity while enjoying the day. As you enjoy the good food and the day you can ponder your blessings and the truths of your worth.

By the way, the man from above is Simon (Peter) and his event can be found in Luke 5:1-11.

I am linking up to Jenny Matlock for letter F.