Good morning Friends,

Happy April to all of you.  I hope your Easter Sunday was full of blessings and a beautiful day for all.  Our children were home from college and we had my mom over for Easter brunch and early dinner.  We celebrated in church where I got to play the handbells and had an Easter egg hunt for the kids.  They never get to old.  🙂

We are now in the second quarter of the year and it is good to reflect how things have been going and make any changes as needed.

My word for the year is Ease and when things seem to feel like they are getting out of hand, I bring that word back to the forefront of my thoughts.  It hasn’t been a stress free quarter, but everything has been manageable with thankfully nothing spinning completely out of control.

One thing I told myself at the end of last year, I was going to do a better job taking care of myself.  Since the year has started I’ve exercised at least three times a week, either going to the gym, walking, or joining my daughter at the YMCA. (The YMCA has been a lot of fun for us.  I’m not a member but on Fridays during March she could bring a friend or family member for free).  The closest YMCA is about 30 minutes from our home and is affiliated with rehab of one of our local hospitals.  Emily receives physical therapy there as part of her recovery from her rollover car accident last July. (PS. She is doing so much better.  She faces one final foot surgery this year and has been accepted into nursing school!  God is so good!)

I’m eating better and have lost 16 pounds, 14 more to go.  I’m determined to do this.  I’m reading and studying about “Autophagy.”  You can google it to find out more but it is basically a system in our body that clears away cellular waste and by doing things to activate it can improve our health.

I’ve tackled most of the furnace room – aka junk room.  That area of our home was out of control and I’ve taken several loads to charity.  It feels good to have space back and to move around there and find things.

Another big thing is I’ve been feeding my mind and reading much more than in 2017.  I rarely read fiction.  Most of what I read are true stories or business and self help books.  I’ve actually already finished more books this year than listed here, but I’m sharing here only the best ones that I recommend and think you might enjoy as well.

• Josiah’s Fire by Tahni Cullen – This book was recommended to me by my friend Michelle who owns Needle Little Embroidery.  Oh my goodness friends, this boy is autistic and he writes on an iPad.  He sees God, Jesus, angles and his story is just so amazing I cannot recommend this book enough.  If you like books like Heaven is for Real and 90 Minutes in Heaven, you absolutely MUST read this book.
• Believe Bigger by Marshawn Evans Daniels – I heard this woman speak on a podcast and just knew I had to read her book.  She speaks about being open to God’s plan for our lives.  I started to read this book and then started over as I knew I had to journal as I read it.  There are so many nuggets in this book and it would be a good read for a book club.
• Glow 15 by Naomi Whittel – This book speaks about the autophagy I mentioned earlier and speaks about the science of improving our health.  Some of it I’m sure you’ve heard, but some of this is new to me and having been a nurse for many years I find anything with our health fascinating.
• The Most Powerful Goal Achievement System in the World by Mike Pettigrew – When you are having trouble achieving your goals, this is the book to read.
• Massive Action Equals Massive Results by Sunil Saxena – He says to believe you are capable of doing 20 times what you are currently accomplishing and suggests doing things like 30 day challenges, developing mini habits, setting a schedule, blocking uninterrupted time and believing in your goals.
• Mini Habits by Steven Guise – This is an excellent book if you have a habit you want to create.  There is a huge benefit of doing mini habits.  They create success quickly and easily to propel you forward to even bigger habits.
• Finish by John Acuff – If you are a starter and not a finisher, this is a must read.  Lots of great suggestions on ways to get through the difficult part of any project and finish.

Anyway, if you are looking for a good read, I think all of the above books were just excellent.

A final area of my life I wanted to work on was getting out of the house more and to be around others who share similar interests.  I signed up for a monthly class at a local sewing store.  You can see the applique April egg in the photo above.  We are gong through the months of the year making mini quilt blocks from the book Count on It – Art to Heart by Nancy Halvorsen.  I’m also enjoying my weekly handbell practices at church.

So now moving into the second quarter of the year here are my plans.

• Continue exercise 3 times a week minimum
• Continue eating healthy
• Continue studying autophagy and try some occasional short-term fasting
• Continue reading – I’m finished with my good books and need some more recommendations 🙂
• Spend regular time outdoors – the yard needs lots of attention now that winter is coming to an end
• Continue monthly applique classes at the sewing store – scheduled
• Attend Michigan Embroiderers Spring event – scheduled
• Attend a Kimberbell event – scheduled
• Trip to Phoenix to see my in-laws – scheduled
• Weekend trip to Mackinac Island here in Michigan for our anniversary – scheduled
• Host a dinner in our home everyone who went to the Holy Lands with us – scheduled
• Plan birthdays for my children – one in May, June and July
• For my Embroidery It business
  • Blog more here – I’m feeling a calling to do more writing on this blog
  • Continued monthly sew-alongs
  • Continued free weekly alphabet letters
  • Plan the Embroidery It Birthday Party – Embroidery It turns 4 on June 20th
  • Plan to have new designs out every couple of weeks
• Continued caring for my family and my mom’s needs

Whew, that seems like a lot but really most is easy, fun and relaxing.  I hope the first quarter of 2018 has been good for each of you and that you are following your path to reaching your goals for the year.

Sending each and every one of you much love,

Nancy

be creative daily and live life beautifully