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Happy New Year! 2019!

January 6, 2019 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

Happy New Year Friends! Do you come up with ‘one little word’ for the new year, instead of a bunch of goals too?

I have a hard time letting go of my word for the year, when it is time for a new one. This one little tradition of coming up with a word for the year has been woven into my life for years. I can look back on each year and see that year’s word woven through that year’s events as a theme. It’s fun to see how the years build on one another in such a big scoop way.

Going into 2018, I knew we had something with our little art studio that we opened, but the little flame in me was burning out from carrying so many hats. So, I choose CREATE as my word to remember we have power to CREATE the life we love. I pulled back from doing it all. I tried to put people around me who were gifted and found life in areas that were not natural for me. We came up with some standardized systems and methods that helped simplify some of the decision processes. Decision fatigue is no joke.

A small little team took birth at the studio. This team brought me life. I’m still learning and see it’s the constant morphing, being open, and staying humble that is required in leading. I’m up for the challenge and ended 2018 encouraged and filled up more than 2017. I’m better off because of the people around me. It’s because of those journeying with me in the studio’s vision that helped CREATE a life I love.

Life is better with people carrying a part of it. I’m better with a TEAM at work and when my family acts on things together. As sad as it is to say goodbye to CREATE, I’m so excited to embrace TEAM.

To my biggest team player, Matt, I love you. I can’t wait to see how God morphs and weaves this word into our 2019.

Happy new year friends!

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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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Quiet Your Heart

January 7, 2015 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

how_to_quiet_your_heartBreaking habits can be hard. Change can be hard, but it’s a battle worth fighting at times.

My life is pretty busy and full, and I find at times when I am carrying more on my shoulders…my family knows it. What seemed life a good idea, might lead to a load of stress that makes it not a good thing. As a dreamer, a crafter, someone with a entrepreneurial spirit, I constantly have new ideas. Like hosting craft days (my Spoonful Labs) or sending out craft kits (my Spoonful Tribe). Or maybe designing and selling shirts. Or maybe just attacking a mammoth project like My little Girls bedroom the week we moved into our last house.

Although these things aren’t bad, and part of my soul needs to be able to explore, go wild with dreaming, and try new things…I want to carve and shape it more carefully. I am learning that lots of good things turn into not good things if the people you love most carry the weight with you.

flower_wood_sign

quiet_your_heart_signI want to be a better judge of my time. I want to be more proactive with my schedule. I don’t want my little girl to say “mom, move your phone. I want to show you my picture.” I want to be drawing with her. I want to reclaim my schedule and life. I want the ideas in my head to be with where I am. Instead of thinking of the next thing I need/want to do. I want to fight to be present in all the little moments.

quiet_your_heart_teal1My memory is bad, and I am learning maybe it’s because my head is full of lots of little distractions that it’s not remembering the big things. I want to fight for that to change. I want to quiet my heart and be present.

When I think of a quiet heart, I don’t think of one that is subtle or timid. I still think of a bold, dreamer…but with more awareness and intentionality. I want to be aggressive and passionate about my actions and what things define me. When you ask my kids what is something they love about me, one of the first things they say is “i love her crafts”. I’m glad they do, but that answer always comes with a little sting. They say other things, but I want those other things to jump higher to the first things off their lips. They know they are my heart and my priority, but I want them to feel it.

quiet_your_heart_hoops1

quiet_your_heart_hoops3

quiet_your_heart_hoops2So, I will continue to fight for a quiet heart. In my farewell to 2014 post, I gave some ways I hope to gain some quiet this year. I’m excited to say, I’ve gotten up two days in a row before my kids! Yes, change is possible. I got up in a quiet house. Today, I hope to put that phone down until quiet time or tonight. Less scrolling and more talking.

If you are like me and desire some quiet in your heart this year, make yourself a reminder! Write it on a post it. I just recently learned of a book that goes along with this mantra, The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst. I ordered it here (<affliate link) and am excited to start reading it!. Have you read this book?  Want to order it and read it along with me?

As always, thank you for being on this journey with me! I pray you can use your imagination and carve out some quiet time in your heart and schedule this week for you..so that you may be the best version of you.

Ps. I just listed these signs in the shop, if you would like one! Thank you for all your support!

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