Every month I receive a wonderful magazine in the mail. I spend days poring over it and slowly soaking in all the wonderful information it has to offer. The magazine is called Whole Living. It is my very favorite magazine out there. There are sections on healthy food, eco friendly and trendy clothing, natural beauty products, different ways to stay active, eco friendly decorating, and of course there are always a couple of great articles on topics that always piqué my interest.
This months issue was no different. One of the articles I have not been able to stop thinking about is an in-depth guide to meditation. As Christians we are told to meditate on God's word, be still, and listen. Oh how challenging I find this simple little task. Why can I not just sit still for 10 minutes? I know why, it's because I have a million things to do everyday and if I sit around not doing them my life will turn to chaos. Or will it? After reading this article I am thinking if I don't spend at least ten minutes alone with God and my own thoughts my life really will turn upside down.
So, here is what I learned.
Breathing is very important. It is important to listen to yourself breath, this calms you down.
You need to sit somewhere comfortable, but where you can sit with a straight back.
The hardest thing for me is my mind wanders. It wanders to the past, it wanders to the future, rarely do i just sit in the present. This writer of this article says it is okay to think these things, just be aware of them and let them go. She says to think of your mind as a clear blue sky. When a thought comes in that bothers you or worries you, breath it away. Think of it as a cloud being blown past.
We spend so much time and energy worrying about our futures and living in our past, that we don't spend enough time just being fully present.
I know this is all mixed up and I am only going on the bits and pieces I got from the article, but it was really good and I am challenging myself to try.
I will keep you posted on my journey.
Much love,
Larajane
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
100 miles to go
Yikes! I just realized today that I need to still run another 100 miles to reach my goal of 500 this year. Since being sick this August I've had a hard time getting back up to running 30 kms a week. I went out this morning in the cold rain thinking I was only going to do 5, but when I met up with a friend, I found it much easier to go further.
I've been busy moving into a new office. Last week I painted and moved furniture, as well as purging tons of papers that had piled up. I now have my office in a room in the basement. My studio is still on the main floor with beautiful natural light.
I am feeling rather unmotivated to write today, perhaps it's because I know I should be editing!
Many thoughts and ideas are swirling around, so hopefully I'll be able to word them better later this week.
Enjoy the fall weather,
much love,
larajane
I've been busy moving into a new office. Last week I painted and moved furniture, as well as purging tons of papers that had piled up. I now have my office in a room in the basement. My studio is still on the main floor with beautiful natural light.
I am feeling rather unmotivated to write today, perhaps it's because I know I should be editing!
Many thoughts and ideas are swirling around, so hopefully I'll be able to word them better later this week.
Enjoy the fall weather,
much love,
larajane
Sunday, October 17, 2010
half my life...
It all started while I was away in California.
I began dreaming of my own office space. Not really a studio, but just a space I could go to where I could get my work done and not be interrupted or distracted. I looked into leasing some office space in old Abbotsford. A little pricey and a lot of work and effort to go to, all just so I wouldn't be distracted. I brought up my conundrum with my mother. She always has an opinion, and usually it's pretty good. She suggested I take the spare bedroom in the basement (which is the kid's playroom) and convert that into my office and use my current office/studio to make a full natural light studio (hello, my dream!)
So after some discussion with Joel, and the kiddos of course, we agreed that an office in the basement would be a better place for me to work, since I actually have to go out of my way to get there, and I can shut the door and let the world carry on without me. So, yesterday, between two shoots, editing, a run and dinner out, we managed to do a lot of rearranging, organizing, and cleaning. Ohhh it felt so good! I love this kind of change!
The kiddos now have their own space to play, Joel has his workout area, and I now have an empty room that will soon be filled with my desk, computer, packaging materials, filing cabinets, bookcases etc. Just as soon as I get a fresh coat of paint on those walls, which hopefully will be tomorrow!
Soooo, as we were cleaning, I was creating a pile of clothes that we were to donate to the Salvation Army or MCC. I looked through this closet of old coats with fond memories. There was a jean jacket that I had spilled bleach on, that Joel had bought me when we had been married for about 2 years and just moved back o Vancouver. There was my Taiga fleece vest, Taiga fleece pullover jacket, and of course the Taiga pullover Gore-tex, all from 1997. Oh the memories. My first time snowboarding, living the Trinity Western life, and all those fun adventures Joel and I had as a young couple. Then I came across this navy blue wool parka that I had bought in Fredericton. It was hard core warmth. It helped me get through the -30 temps and the 5 feet of snow. The memories those coats brought back. I haven't worn any of those jackets for years now, and I'm sure I never will. So away they were packed.
As I was packing them away and reminiscing, I began thinking about when Joel and I first started dating. How young I was. I was 16. He drove me home from youth group in his red 1976 Mustang and nervously asked me in parents driveway what I would say if he were to ask me out. I of course squealed "yes!!" not realizing until al few years later that the smart ass answer would have been, "I don't know, why don't you ask me?' Anyway, that was 16 years ago. October 18th, 1994. I have been with Joel for 16 years. Exactly half my life. Crazy! It's been an adventure to say the least. We have had many great times as well as some challenges, I guess all marriages do. I am greatly looking forward to what the next 16 years brings for us, okay maybe not the kids driving and dating, but most everything else!
I began dreaming of my own office space. Not really a studio, but just a space I could go to where I could get my work done and not be interrupted or distracted. I looked into leasing some office space in old Abbotsford. A little pricey and a lot of work and effort to go to, all just so I wouldn't be distracted. I brought up my conundrum with my mother. She always has an opinion, and usually it's pretty good. She suggested I take the spare bedroom in the basement (which is the kid's playroom) and convert that into my office and use my current office/studio to make a full natural light studio (hello, my dream!)
So after some discussion with Joel, and the kiddos of course, we agreed that an office in the basement would be a better place for me to work, since I actually have to go out of my way to get there, and I can shut the door and let the world carry on without me. So, yesterday, between two shoots, editing, a run and dinner out, we managed to do a lot of rearranging, organizing, and cleaning. Ohhh it felt so good! I love this kind of change!
The kiddos now have their own space to play, Joel has his workout area, and I now have an empty room that will soon be filled with my desk, computer, packaging materials, filing cabinets, bookcases etc. Just as soon as I get a fresh coat of paint on those walls, which hopefully will be tomorrow!
Soooo, as we were cleaning, I was creating a pile of clothes that we were to donate to the Salvation Army or MCC. I looked through this closet of old coats with fond memories. There was a jean jacket that I had spilled bleach on, that Joel had bought me when we had been married for about 2 years and just moved back o Vancouver. There was my Taiga fleece vest, Taiga fleece pullover jacket, and of course the Taiga pullover Gore-tex, all from 1997. Oh the memories. My first time snowboarding, living the Trinity Western life, and all those fun adventures Joel and I had as a young couple. Then I came across this navy blue wool parka that I had bought in Fredericton. It was hard core warmth. It helped me get through the -30 temps and the 5 feet of snow. The memories those coats brought back. I haven't worn any of those jackets for years now, and I'm sure I never will. So away they were packed.
As I was packing them away and reminiscing, I began thinking about when Joel and I first started dating. How young I was. I was 16. He drove me home from youth group in his red 1976 Mustang and nervously asked me in parents driveway what I would say if he were to ask me out. I of course squealed "yes!!" not realizing until al few years later that the smart ass answer would have been, "I don't know, why don't you ask me?' Anyway, that was 16 years ago. October 18th, 1994. I have been with Joel for 16 years. Exactly half my life. Crazy! It's been an adventure to say the least. We have had many great times as well as some challenges, I guess all marriages do. I am greatly looking forward to what the next 16 years brings for us, okay maybe not the kids driving and dating, but most everything else!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
life
I have been a really bad blogger of late. This blog, my business blog, facebook, twitter... all of it has been severely neglected.
I love that we have the avenues of social media to connect, but sometimes life gets so overwhelming that I feel the need to withdraw and let life go by without me always throwing in my two cents.
Last week was a super hard week. My little guy is really struggling with first grade and I've been called in to talk with the teacher three times now. I am at a loss. Do I pull him and homeschool? Do I try and get him in to a different class? Is the teacher overreacting?
I had to leave for LA on Thursday morning. The night before my son lay in bed sobbing and begging me not to leave. The next morning as I dropped him off at school we were both a mess of tears. Before heading to the airport a group of friends gathered around me and prayed for Connor and I. I drove to the airport with tears flowing. I was sad and worried for Connor, but I was also so touched with the love and compassion my friends shared with me. I felt so truly blessed to have amazing friends who would be willing to walk and pray with me through this trial.
My trip was a blur. It was super warm, sunny, lovely, relaxing, challenging, exciting and fun. It was a great break from reality and in the end, is probably exactly what I needed. I came home last night to my wonderful family. So many hugs and kisses. It turns out they did survive without me, and Connor even had a good few days at school.
Although I missed out this Thanksgiving I have so much to be thankful for.
I'm thankful for my wonderful husband, my beautiful children, my family, and the amazing girlfriends God has brought into my life. God is so good.
I hope you all enjoyed your turkey dinners and pumpkin pies :-)
much love,
larajane
I love that we have the avenues of social media to connect, but sometimes life gets so overwhelming that I feel the need to withdraw and let life go by without me always throwing in my two cents.
Last week was a super hard week. My little guy is really struggling with first grade and I've been called in to talk with the teacher three times now. I am at a loss. Do I pull him and homeschool? Do I try and get him in to a different class? Is the teacher overreacting?
I had to leave for LA on Thursday morning. The night before my son lay in bed sobbing and begging me not to leave. The next morning as I dropped him off at school we were both a mess of tears. Before heading to the airport a group of friends gathered around me and prayed for Connor and I. I drove to the airport with tears flowing. I was sad and worried for Connor, but I was also so touched with the love and compassion my friends shared with me. I felt so truly blessed to have amazing friends who would be willing to walk and pray with me through this trial.
My trip was a blur. It was super warm, sunny, lovely, relaxing, challenging, exciting and fun. It was a great break from reality and in the end, is probably exactly what I needed. I came home last night to my wonderful family. So many hugs and kisses. It turns out they did survive without me, and Connor even had a good few days at school.
Although I missed out this Thanksgiving I have so much to be thankful for.
I'm thankful for my wonderful husband, my beautiful children, my family, and the amazing girlfriends God has brought into my life. God is so good.
I hope you all enjoyed your turkey dinners and pumpkin pies :-)
much love,
larajane
Friday, October 1, 2010
Wants and Needs
Where is the line? I am trying hard this week to figure out just this.
My dishwasher is falling apart. It's rusted inside, the seal is broken, my dishes are covered in white soap after the cycle is finished, and it is leaking onto the floor. I would love a new dishwasher. Do I need a new dishwasher though? I went for a walk with a friend last night and she said years ago when this happened to her she just washed the dishes by hand and used the dishwasher as a drying rack. Brilliant. A lot more work, but it works.
My washer and dryer...nearly dead. Now I realize when these guys bite it, I will need to replace. I found a beautiful pair yetserday on sale. No really, they were beautiful. Front loaders, heavy duty, all computerized with special sani cycles, even a special shoe dryer....I could go on. So even though I will need a net set, do I need these super beautiful ones?
Wants and needs. It's a tough one, especially when I'm trying to convince Joel ;-)
My dishwasher is falling apart. It's rusted inside, the seal is broken, my dishes are covered in white soap after the cycle is finished, and it is leaking onto the floor. I would love a new dishwasher. Do I need a new dishwasher though? I went for a walk with a friend last night and she said years ago when this happened to her she just washed the dishes by hand and used the dishwasher as a drying rack. Brilliant. A lot more work, but it works.
My washer and dryer...nearly dead. Now I realize when these guys bite it, I will need to replace. I found a beautiful pair yetserday on sale. No really, they were beautiful. Front loaders, heavy duty, all computerized with special sani cycles, even a special shoe dryer....I could go on. So even though I will need a net set, do I need these super beautiful ones?
Wants and needs. It's a tough one, especially when I'm trying to convince Joel ;-)
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