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Time to Play

January 10, 2016 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

play_timeIt is finally 2016, and with the new year comes new hopes, dreams and aspirations with a fresh start. Some of us may make new years resolutions and some may think that is trivial. I think most of us could agree that even if there are no particular goals, we hope to be better than the previous year.

We want to grow, for that means we are alive and living. I do create goals each year, but the bigger thing for me is picking one word that represents my priority and focus for the year. I like that this simple word can help inspire me and be something that I go back to as a foundation and prayer throughout the year.

After the heavy last year, I was scared what word may come to me for this year. Matt and I got to get away for a few days right after Christmas. It was wonderful to dream, laugh, and process life together. As we were having these conversations, I kept hoping a word would stand out as my inspiration for this 2016 year.

During our trip we started reading this book, Essentialism by Greg McKeown, together. It is a perfect read for the new year. I won’t do it justice by trying to explain it. Let me just say, if you haven’t read it, you should!

snow_girl

snowballs

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snow_day

There is a chapter on play that I cannot shake. Again, you should read the book. As a creative person (who loves to dream and imagine), words that expressed the importance of “playing” brought life back into my tired soul. Here are a few notes I jotted down in my journal…

Playing….

  • is not trivial
  • produces imagination
  • gives power to improve
  • leads to brain activity
  • is crucial to survival
  • causes creative behaviors
  • leads to some of the best memories and moments
  • broadens perspective
  • is an antidote to stress
  • is a vital driver in creativity
  • is essential

I don’t think it’s any surprise why kids are so creative. They play so well. May we take note and learn to play better.

peaceI love playing with my kids, but do not always do well just checking out of all the lists, home responsibilities and adult-ing required to just fully let loose and enjoy the moment (or hours) without any of those other worries.

This snowy day a week ago, we just played in the snow for about three hours together. It was beautiful, and I have thought about this day all week-long.

We laughed. We ate snow….got snowballs in the face…built a snowman…chased the dogs…and were just present together…doing nothing but enjoying the time. There was no goal. There was no list of a task or pressure to be anything but us.

snow_couple

shoveling_snow

making_a_snowman

building_a_snowman

snowman

playing_in_snowBy the time Matt and I got home from our getaway, I had my word. Courage.

I’m still processing all that it means, but the concept is largely to have courage in my life. To make brave decisions, to trust, to listen, to talk less, to be present, to be open, to try to break chains and bad habits in me, and fight for a life that I want and feel led towards.

Courage takes strength. It takes bravery and fighting against what may be expected but to do what you know is right. I want to do me well. To use my gifts and passions for good and not try to be anything else. With this one wild and crazy life, I want to have courage to live. On this snowy day, it was courage to play.

Have you found a word for your year yet? More on mine soon. To chat more often, follow me on Instagram: ericadeuel

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Goodbye 2015

December 26, 2015 By Erica Deuel 3 Comments

Pain.

It’s one of those small little words that we all probably wish did not exist. When I think of my 2015, pain is one of the words that I would use to describe it. There are a lot of factors on why that I can’t really share, but I’m sure (more now than ever before) that I’m not alone in some of what I went through.

You might be like me, I often find myself wrestling through why bad things happen to good people. Why are there so many miscarriages? Why do we prepare for and dream of kids, that we never get? Why do we have dreams of paths that aren’t meant for us to go down? Why are we asked to go down paths that leave us raw, tender, broken? Why is there cancer? Why is there hunger? So many questions.

I don’t have real answers on the whys. I know we live in a sinful world. Yet, I also know we have a Savior who hurts with us. One who sees our pains and desires to walk, carry and bring us through these chaotic moments and seasons of our lives.

me and my booFor me personally, we have had a lot of changes in the last few years from two moves, job changes, community changing, being foster care parents, leaving our beloved Georgia, and starting anew with everything in Indiana. It’s been an adventure. One that we excitedly said yes to, every small step along the way. In some smalls ways, I think I felt the pot brewing at the start of this year that I needed to slow down.

I needed some “no more changes” time. My soul was hungrily crying out for rest, quiet. As it turned out, I wasn’t ready for that peace yet. Jesus had some work to do through me and in me. It was a loud year. It broke me. To be just completely honest, I’m not sure you can be “quiet” (my word was for this year) as a foster care parent.

Have you ever looked in the mirror and realized you no longer recognize yourself? I found myself as a weepy, angry, hard person. No one circumstance is to blame. I think it was a slow build that led to where every part of me was left crying out for change.

I have found comfort that the baby born in that stable so many years ago…lives, loves, and is my Savior. He carried me through.

With that fact, I also started going to counseling for the first time in my 33 years of life this year. There’s no shame in being raw, open, and honest. It’s actually one of the truest beauties I know. I wish we could all just ignore all the media screaming for our attention for just a minute (or the whole new year) to breathe and remember who we are without needing to be told what we should be.

I can tell you this. I still feel tender. I still feel like I’m healing. I still feel like I’m broken. But I have peace. I am learning to rest.

No, this is not my year to open a store.

No, this is not my year to try to start-up another entrepreneurial venture like sending out craft kits again or hosting craft events.

I keep telling myself these two things.

I’m still working through what my one little word will be for 2016, but I am excited.

deuel kidsI know I am carrying some burdens from 2015 with me, but I don’t feel shame or like they are holding me down. It feels like a conviction that can only lead to a renewed refreshment. It has me begging Jesus, “where do you want me to go from here?” “How can we use this year of pain to grow and change?”

I’m not done. Jesus is not done with me. I’m ever-changing. This world is ever-changing. I have things I need to learn and practice. God is at work, and I am so thankful I am not alone to journey this life. He sees me at my worst and wants to carry me to my best. I just need to lean in and fully accept.

deuel familyHow are you processing your year-end? How are you feeling about a new year?

These next few days of processing and planning in between years are some of my favorite. Matt and I always try to get away or at least get a date night to talk, process highs and lows of the previous year and set goals for ourselves, marriage and kids for the new year-while expressing things we feel are stirring in our hearts and dreams of where we want to head.

Take a chance. Take a night to do this too. We can journey it together. And because we can all only handle so much heaviness, I put fun Christmas pictures in this post. I am truly blessed. I can’t wait for the new year and to see what good things God has in store for us. I pray you rest well till the norm of life sets back in, after the holidays.

deuel family christmas card

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Goodbye 2014

December 31, 2014 By Erica Deuel 1 Comment

2014

Have you ever been sad about a year being over? I’m not sure I have, until this year. 2014 was a big year for our little family.

I know I have so much to catch you up on and I can’t wait to do just that. Logging in to write this post made me smile. I have missed you all. We moved and have been unpacking and traveling to see family for Christmas. It’s been crazy busy, as I’m sure your holiday season has been as well. There are lots of things ahead that I am excited about. I can’t wait to get back into our school routine, making this house our home, slowing down this pace of life, hanging with new friends, traveling to see family, and so much more.

embroidery_hoop

In all the excitement, I can’t help but be a little sad that such a special year is over. 2014 was a year our family embarked on new ways of life together. We became a foster family and experienced the love of Christ in a new way as we poured into the little lives in our home. One little boy stole our hearts, and we are finding the term family means more than who we share blood with or who lives under our roof. We found Jesus in a new, fresh way. We found ourselves desperate for a Savior and needed him to fill us with a strength, peace, and love that only he could.

As a family we had lots of milestones. One of the biggest is we moved from Georgia to Indiana to follow a path we feel Jesus has set before us. We sold a house, moved, bought another house, changed jobs, started new jobs, said goodbye to family and friends, and started putting ourselves out there in a new community.

Our baby is about to turn four and is no longer a baby. We gave away the rest of our baby gear in the move which ended a chapter in our lives as the baby days are behind us. Our oldest is a fabulous reader and loves sports. (He’s planning on being the next Julio Jones) Our second learned to swim and ride a bike without training wheels. All three kids just seem to have grown up.

As I reflect on all the changes, I remember my word for the year was SHINE. It was constantly in the back of my mind. I did not do it perfectly, but I feel like I kept trying to empty myself and shine a love much greater than mine. It was a special year and one that has marked our family. Although the year is over, I know that word will carry with me for a lifetime. It’s a lifestyle that I want to try to always live.

we_are_so_blessed

2014 is over, but I know God is just beginning something new with us. Although I am a little sad to see it go, I am excited to think about what 2015 will hold. We are in a new state, town, church, and neighborhood. We have each other and are following a calling and are on a path created for us. We are so blessed.

In a season of lots of change, I don’t want to lose that calming voice that speaks to my soul. I need Jesus just as much now as ever before.

My new word for this coming year is QUIET.

To be a better mom, I need to get up while the house is still QUIET.

To be a better friend and wife, I need to be a better listener. If I talk a little less and be a little more QUIET, I will hear more of those I love dearly.

My anxious heart is always thinking of the next thing, and I just want to whisper to it-be QUIET. Be present where you are in person as well as in your mind.

I want to hear that still small voice of my Savior in my heart, so I will find ways to be QUIET to hear him more loudly than ever.

In all the noise and pulls of my heart, I want to remember what is important and what matters most. I need to QUIET some distractions and learn some balance.

My heart soars when I get outdoors in nature and just be QUIET and enjoy the creation of the master creator. I need to do that more.

we_are_so_blessed_embroidery_hoop

I’m excited to start thinking through my days with this little word running through my head. Do you come up with goals or new years resolutions? Do you have one little word that you use for your year too? I would love to hear what it is! Please leave me a comment. Change can be hard, but it is also exciting to think that everyday we can learn and grow and be a new and better version of ourselves, if we are just open to it. I have some ideas that I can’t wait to start implementing to help me break habits and have a more quiet heart. Let’s encourage one another and those around us to use our imaginations and not give up on ourselves or those around us. 2015 will be great!

Thank you so much for walking this journey with me! I am so excited to continue to share our story with you as well as my creations in 2015. I’m sure it will be as crazy and exciting as ever!

Ps. I will slowly be filling my store back up with my creations. If you are interested in this hoop, I just listed it here. Thank you for all your support!

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