Spoonful of Imagination

Add it to a Family for Something Beautiful

What is an easy YES for you??

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Over the weekend, we were headed out on a little family walk.

Taking family walks is one of my favorite things to do together.

It’s a time to unplug, enjoy nature, get a little exercise, and connect. As we were headed out, I turned around and saw Caleb had a camera. He wanted to take pictures of this winter walk. I smiled to myself and only said, “very fun!”

What are things that are an easy yes for you? When you think through a situation or a plan and there is an obvious alteration to it, what is an easy yes?

In my situation, getting off technology, a screen, and devices is part of my heart for these walks. Yet, Caleb had a camera and I allowed it.

One of my family values

As we walked and I thought through why I allowed the camera, it hit me. An easy yes for me is creativity. I will always welcome the creative process.

For example, we can be pulling out of the driveway, running late for something and Reagan asks to run back inside for markers and a notebook….and I stop the car and allow it.

I can have just vacuumed the house and be ok with Reagan pulling out cardboard boxes, hot glue and making all kinds of little shavings on the floor in her creative project.

Jeremiah might ask for chalk markers to use on his chalkboard wall, instead of the messiness of regular chalk, and I add it to my shopping list.

I can have a sewing project out and someone wants to paint and I clear off my whole desk or table to get them started.

Caleb may want to take a camera on a walk to make this reel and in the process give me all these pictures that I have turned into this post, and I am so proud.

The creative process is something I value and always say yes to.

What is an easy yes for you?

Has something come to mind that is an easy yes for you? Here are a few ideas of things that it could be…

  • heart level talks: will you stay up later, if your kids are wanting to talk?
  • healthy food: will you say yes to a snack at any time in the day if it is something healthy?
  • sports: will you sign your kid up for a travel sport and be ok driving and giving weekend time, if it’s keeps your kid doing a sport he/she loves?

When we normally think of family values, honesty, perseverance, responsibility, character, and kindness might be some that you automatically think about. I think there are also others that you might not realize is also a value. If you start thinking about it, and process through how other families treat that same thing, you can begin to see it as a value.

These pictures help me see the world like Caleb does. What caught his eye, the angle he captured it, and even the placement of his subject is interesting to me.

I will always encourage the creative process. It’s a value to me. What is a value to you?

It’s important to know your values

Life is going so quickly, and I think it’s important to know your values so you can treat and honor it as one. Just because it’s important to you, doesn’t mean it is to everyone. So, to get you thinking more about what you may value, think through these questions:

  1. What makes you really happy?
  2. When are you most proud?
  3. What do you spend free time doing?

Maybe you already know what you value and what is an easy yes for you. If you do, I hope this is just an encouragement that it’s good to be YOU, even if you prioritize something others may not treat with the same weight.

If you don’t know what a unique value that you care about may be, I hope it gets you thinking.

Honoring your family values is a form of creating a connection that matters.

**If the idea of forming a deeper connection with those that matter most to you, sounds like something you would be interested in, I’d love to invite you to join my Create More Connection digital course. I will be back to tell more about it soon, but you can enroll today right here!

Ready to Hear Yourself (your truest self!) Again!?

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Friends!

Today is the day! I’ve teased you for a while, that I have been creating an online course and today is the day you can get involved. For 3 days only, I have marked down an early, bird purchase to grab my course for just $55!

I have created an online digital course to help exhausted, mentally worn down, busy adults, parents and caregivers reclaim some life. This was me. Maybe it is you? In this course, you will go from feeling overwhelmed and mentally exhausted to feeling empowered and excited, while experiencing new confidence and enjoyment of daily interaction and intentional journeying together with those you love for the long haul.

Ready to Hear Yourself (your truest self!) Again!?

This course walks you through 5 daily habits that can help you regain the life you are PRESENT in (your mind is where your body is), while building a connection with your kids that goes the distance.

 

This is where you come in…

For the next three days, I’m opening up 10 spots to enroll in my ($99) course at a massive discount (get it for only $55 right now) in exchange for less than five minutes of your time once per week over the next 5 weeks.

The course-which goes live January 2023-has been written, but I will be taking the next 5 weeks to film, edit, create graphics, printables and slides with insight…from YOU!

I’ll send you a short and sweet email each Wednesday morning with no more than 3 questions. All you have to do is vote multiple choice for your favorite idea or answer a simple question.

And on January 12, after I have opened up enrollment to the public at the full price, you’ll receive the finalized course (and any bonuses I offer during my launch)!

So, are you in??

I’d love for you to be part of this experience and new venture for Spoonful of Imagination! It’s been a year long process of implementing these habits in my own life (that I roll out in my course, with lots of stories and applications), getting to a place to share, and dreaming that being vulnerable with my journey can help you in yours.

 

If you’ve been struggling to enjoy life daily, and intentionally show up for yourself and kids, but feel like life is racing by and you’re left reacting to it rather than intentionally choosing and imagining the possibilities this is your chance to get in at the lowest rate I will ever sell this course for. Plus, you get to have a say in what will be included in the course!

Click here to enroll today at a special discounted rate: $55

Did I mention, you’ll have lifetime access to the course? That means if January is crazy for you, you can watch and follow along whenever is good for you!

If you have any questions, shoot me a message back! In it with you friends. Thank you for letting me share my new venture with you. It’s my dream and prayer that this course helps you re-imagine a life that you feel empowered and excited to show up for every single day. You matter. The world needs a FULL version of you!

Imagine the Possibilities,
Erica

Click here to grab one of the 10 spots now. Early enrollment officially opens today 11/25 and goes until Monday 11/28 (or until it sells out)!

What I am Thinking about my 40th Birthday!

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my 40th birthdayRecently, I was asked if turning 40 was harder or easier than turning 30. This made me pause and wonder more what I was thinking about my 40th birthday, and I am excited to put those thoughts into words with all of you.  Life is a journey and as Peter Pan says, “to live will be an awfully big adventure.” How cool I’ve now been adventuring for 40 years.

This past weekend I turned the big 4-0. We celebrated in the most low key, family way.

I don’t like surprises or having lots of eyes on me, and I just wanted to intentionally enjoy my family. The older I get, the more I want the simple things in life. It’s been the work of the last few months to get to a more sustainable, enjoyable place. The ability and gift to sit in a chair and not be wondering of what you should be doing or what needs to be done, but can rest peacefully is the hard work of coming out of an intense season.

On this birthday, I just got to play, be agenda free, and be in the moment. That was the best gift of all. To me, it showed that I had grown.

What I am thinking about my 40th birthday

handmade birthday cardsOne of the biggest lies and fears I had when closing the studio was how it felt like I was going backwards. At the time, I was being asked, messaged, and emailed regularly about how to open an art studio. I processed and responded to these requests the best I could, but I always was thinking “whoa, I’m not sure. I’m still trying”.

Inwardly, I was also processing how to shut it all down. How do you quit and go back to your roots when the world pushes forward movement, position, and sees only the good?

How I Celebrated My 40th Birthday

On my day, I threw on my Halloween costume and went outside with my family. I was present all day just being with them mentally and physically. It’s in these moments that I am continually reminded I have done the RIGHT hard work.

My head and my heart were at the same place.

This is my 40th birthdayI’m Feeling Free on This 40th Birthday

Matt has told me several times that when he’s asked how I am doing now he responds with ‘she’s the healthiest I have ever seen her’. Wow.

We’ve now been married for over 18 years. We see each other every day and go to bed together every night. For the man, who knows me most, to say that means a lot. I’ve done some hardwork to reconnect with Erica. The Erica before all the expectations and responsibilities; and as a result, it’s made me more free.

I feel more alive.

I feel more light-hearted.

I feel more playful.

I feel more energized.

I feel more confident.

I feel more available.

I feel more content.

I feel more hopeful.

Life is a journey, and I am so thankful for every road and turn that has led me to this beautiful life that I have renewed eyes to soak in the small moments and everyday gorgeous, simplicities.

To celebrate my day, I wanted to adventure with my family. We tried to do a ropes course, but as northern Indiana would have it- most were closed already for the season. We opted to do an escape room, dinner out, and a Target run to celebrate my birthday on Saturday. While we were gone, a huge tree fell in our yard. Luckily, nothing was really hurt except the door to our fence.

We woke the next day, on my actual birthday, and had a relaxed morning of donuts and the sweetest gifts-including my fresh Target haul all wrapped up (still in the Target bag :)). We then went into the yard and climbed the tree, cut the tree, burned the tree and were literally outside all day as a family.

In Moving Forwards, I am Largely Connecting with My Roots

My day was a dream day. As a kid, I always would choose to go camping or do a hike to celebrate my birthday. Being in nature is one of my happy places. I was back doing that sort of thing with my family to celebrate.

There’s something so so satisfying about burning wood. I love it. Can you relate??

I could sit at a fire and feed it things all day long, and I got to do just that. Being outside, off devices and playful with my crew made for an amazing day.

I rescued some wood slices to use in projects and Matt made them our plates, as we cooked over the fire. It was so fun, un-rushed, and relaxing.

The gift and simplicity of a fun day to remember is what my heart longs for now.

Simple Gifts on my birthdayIn conclusion, turning 40 was much easier than turning 30. My 30’s were all about growing the life I now get to live. I grew kids, we fostered other kids, we moved hundreds of miles, we began a new business venture,  and it was a very busy, exciting (while also exhausting) life. There was constant change.

I learned in this bridge from 39 to 40 how far I can extend myself, before I don’t feel like me. I am coming back into me, and I am here for it. I think my 40’s are going to be some of the best.

Feeling more like me is one of the best gifts.

There’s Hope in Living

If you are still in the hard years, giving your all and coming up drained, don’t give up.

There’s things you can do even now to begin a healing journey. I’ve been doing the hard work of processing my story and writing up daily habits that helped me go from overwhelm and exhaustion to a more empowered and intentional life. I can’t wait to share more, but for now…STAY IN TOUCH. In the next two weeks, I will be sharing more and have an opportunity to work with all of you. It’s more behind the scenes of my journey, but it’s really largely for helping you with yours.

My journey is not done, and wherever you are within yours, I would love to help cheer you on. We are made to do life together, with people and cheerleaders in our corner! Stay tuned and if you aren’t on my newsletter yet, jump in for this weekly goodness. This is where I will share it ALL in just a few short weeks.

Thanks for celebrating my birthday by reading this long post about where I have been, where I am now…and where we can hopefully, go together in the coming weeks. Living is an awfully, big adventure.

 

 

What I Noticed From My Social Media Break

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Hello friends!

Most of you probably know that we have closed our non-profit art studio this summer. With that big change, a lot of questions, comments, and feelings from within myself and from people came as a result.

Change can be tricky, right!? It is one of those layered things that can mix both beautiful and hard. I have found that during change is a tender season, which makes you really moldable. It’s all the more reason to protect what voices you listen too and how you invest your time. I knew for this season I needed to pull back from social media and be more present with those who know me… and more quiet to hear God’s voice.

I took two months off social media, and it was a great break. A few things I noticed:

I looked up a lot more. Have you found yourself saying you wish you had more time in the day?

I got so much more time back in my day when I went off social media. I don’t play games on my phone, so other than normal phone calls, texts, and emails, my phone is a camera. When I stopped using social media, my phone time went down from 5+ hours a day to less than 1 hour. I often would pick up my phone in an empty moment and realize I had nothing to do on it, so I would sit it down and go look to see what everyone else was doing. I’ve watched a lot of live basketball 🙂

I processed my own stuff a lot more. When our mind is full so are our emotions.

I found that not seeing and absorbing as much information, pictures, reels, videos, and content my mind was more freed up. I was able to think through my own thoughts, feelings, and emotions; as well as, have energy to do the same for those around me. As an ennegram 4, I am a big feeler. I can feel what others may be feeling in a situation. That can be considered a gift in a lot of social settings, but it also can be a big weight in processing and carrying things that were never mine to carry. In this time of not seeing others lives so upfront, I did feel a little lost at first. I quickly then got to really understand what I was carrying with closing a chapter of my life (with the studio) and where my kids ages and needs are today.

I focused on what I enjoyed. Take a picture of what catches your eye.

For the first time in years, when I scroll my phone’s camera roll, I see my family, experiences or things that I love. I had no pressure in this social media break to “market” something, or showcase the latest at the studio, yet I could be present in what I loved. As I still took a lot of pictures, I found myself reaching out to family more. Another added bonus, my growing teens were more agreeable to take pictures. They no longer had to worry ‘where was this picture going?’ or ‘who is going to see this?’. They knew their pictures were staying on my phone or going directly to family.

I was more present with those I love. We never outgrow the need for friends.

Without interacting with friends online, I found myself getting together with friends and family more. Sharing laughs over meals, drinks, sweat in the sun or swimming in the rain, I was creating real moments and memories of knowing and being known.

I did activities I enjoy! What things are life giving to you?

I love to read, be in nature, and create. You would think if I love it, I would do it more, but life is so busy. As I had more time in my day, I found myself reading more. I also planted flower bulbs and tomato plants. I even re-did a room in my house that started with pulling up the carpet! As I created time in my day to do things with my hands that I love, I was reconnecting with things that build me up.

Life can feel so urgent. The pressure to see something when it happens, to “be in the know” and to respond to messages immediately can create days that feel like riptides pulling you through. What I noticed when I said no to social media, I was saying yes to living intentionally and life just moved slower.

It’s ok to rest. We were all made to have seasons in life just like there are seasons in the year. Some years are more obviously producing and some are more restful (or work behind the scenes) in nature. I hope if you feel a nudge to step back and take a social media break that you too can make it possible. Time goes so quickly as I can clearly see in these time lapse photos of when we opened the studio and when we closed it five years later.

Thank you for all the support. Remember, you can imagine the possibilities! We only have one life. Go out and creatively live it!

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