Spoonful of Imagination

Add it to a Family for Something Beautiful

Vision for 2023 -get those dreams to come to life!

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Happy new year friends! How has this year started for you!? Our family has had quite a bit of sicknesses go through our home, but we are slowly getting in the groove of a new year with routines settling in.

Life goes crazy quick doesn’t it? If we aren’t too careful, other priorities, schedules, sicknesses and shiny new objects (in the form of whatever we are interested in) can pull us off track to take action on our dreams.

Have you created a vision board before to use as a guide for your year?

I have found that adulting and responsibilities can be a lot. Often what is fighting for our attention is not aligned with our goals and dreams. A vision board can be a physical reminder to you of what you really want.

I recently used one of my art journals to be the base for my vision board for 2023.

I thought through what were some things I wanted to achieve this year. If you haven’t created a vision board before, a good place to start is to ask yourself these two questions:

  1. What do you ultimately want for 2023??
  2. How do you want to show up for it??

I incorporated my “word” for the year. I am aiming to RENEW my mind, time and business this year with more truths and systems for this season of my life.

Last year, I had so much change and this year I want to just work intentionally on where we are now. I love to put my vision boards in  one of my messy art journals, so I can flip through the pages and see them all. It’s like my personal diary.

Do you write stuff down?

If this idea of creating a vision board sounds appealing to you, I’d love to invite you to take my FREE digital vision board workshop. By the end of the workshop you will know the answers to:

  • What is a vision board?
  • Why should I use a vision board?
  • How do I make a vision board? What supplies do I use!?
  • Where do I go from here?

Claim your life. I’ll help you with the how, but you do need to know the why-if creating a fulfilling year sounds exciting, choose to say yes to making a plan for it. If I can help, jump over to this workshop, and we will get started. I’ll see you soon!

Happy New Year! 2019!

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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!

My One Little Word for 2016: Courage

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courage for 2016Its taken me a while to wrestle out all I’m feeling with my new word for 2016: Courage.

When I think of the dictionary definition of courage it reminds me that courage is a choice. Courage enables a person to face difficulty without fear. It allows you to persevere and stand tall even though your circumstances make you uncomfortable. 

For someone who doesn’t like change. I realize that for me to change some of the behaviors and patterns in me and my life, I am going to need courage.

I knew I couldn’t have a year like last year. We needed change to survive and not just stay there…but to be who we were created to be and use our God-given gifts in the best way possible. As I stepped away a little from blogging and social media in the last few weeks and months, I was able to think more for me. I went back to the basics as I was challenged by Rebekah Lyons in Freefall to Fly.

I charted out my gifts.

I reconnected with the things from my childhood that I LOVED and made my spirit come alive.

I processed, what are my burdens today? Those things that make my spirit hurt.

When I look at these lists and see who they represent…I see I have some work to be that person, alive in the ways I was designed to be. I need COURAGE to be me.

be_courageousI became a wife when I was 21 and a stay at home mom straight out of college. There are lots of ways that the Erica I know today was transformed by the immediate need to grow up and take on my two new roles. Through the years I have fought to be me. I have blogged. I have crafted. I have hosted craft days and even tried to send out craft kits so that people could join me in crafting from all over the world. None of these things succeeded in bringing me fulfillment or contentment. I got tired of them. Worn out and moved on…even though they were using parts of my gifts. I don’t think they were things I was created to do.

Through two books, alone time, journaling, lots of talks with my husband and a few close friends, I now see why I have wandered.

My greatest burden is kids. I hunger for kids to feel seen, heard, and loved. Kids in foster care need that person, an advocate. They can’t speak or have authority over themselves. No wonder my most successful moments in adapting to change and the times I feel my spirit has been moved to be the most alive are wrapped around my experiences with my own kids and the ones that I have mothered from another mother under my roof (foster care).

Now the question is, how can I best play a part with my talents and wiring to be used in influencing kids with Christ’s love? How can I best be a part of bringing restoration to hurting kids?

(For the DIY version of the sign, please see the caption under each picture.)

courage
Instructions: I started with wood letters From Hobby Lobby and I found a board that was long enough to hold them.

I’m wrestling through what is next for me. I am learning to allow the questions and processing to have their time to marinade and not just jump to assumptions. I am discovering that the think time and space for these thoughts is a courageous act alone. To feel all the feels…to think all those thoughts as you process takes work and energy. To not let life, business, or welcomed distractions stop the process takes courage.

I desire to trust my heavenly father as the author of my story. I long for him to pen out a story only he can. I feel I’m in a season of waiting for what is my next thing. What is my calling? Can I simultaneously go for that as I a mom and wife (and teacher! I always forget the little detail that we homeschool)? I believe I can, but it is a timing thing.

painting_wood_letters
I then painted each letter with a small brush and an acrylic paint color that stood out to me.

I need courage to wait…

Courage to trust…

Courage to be content with where God has me now…

Courage to be faithful with the things and people God has already blessed and entrusted to me. (my kids, Matt, our home…)

Courage to discover the real me and not the Erica I want to be.

painting_wood_sign
Next, I painted the board with a slightly bigger brush and a paint sample from Lowes.
staining_wood_sign
I then sanded and stained the board. I used my favorite Minwax color of wood stain, Early American.
courage_sign
Once the board was good and dry, I used wood glue to attach my letters to the board. I was then ready to frame my sign.
Ryobi Tool
I used my Ryobi tools to cut and nail smaller, stained garden stake pieces of wood around my sign.
word_of_the_year
My sign was then complete!

This one little word holds a lot of depth for me. I realize I am making a choice to be courageous after life rather than being swallowed up with lists, mundane duties, stress, and the pressures of this world. I am fighting for a healthier me. One that is alive in who God intended me to be.

courage_motoIf I can be fully me. I think my family, friends, and small world around me will be better off. I want to be fully set free and will have courage to fight for it. With this one little life, I want to believe I was made for a purpose and for it to be used to paint a story of God’s faithfulness in rescuing me and pointing others towards HIM.

This might all seem confusing and broad as I know the in and out daily details have been left out. I hope you see the heart. I want to live with courage. I want 2016 to be marked by how I had courage for change and trusted God with my story.

courage_wood_signI made this little sign to hang in our kitchen as a daily, hourly reminder.

I’m only a few weeks into some new routines. This long time “kids get me out of bed” girl is getting up early and reading. I’m getting lost in stories and learning for the first time (by choice) in a long, long time. I’m eating healthier…drinking more water…keeping my phone mostly docked on the kitchen counter, and learning what things to say no to in life. I’m finding rest in my schedule and spirit and seriously feel the rawness of 2015 melting a way and a beautiful surrendering soul being restored in the process. To God be the Glory.

Go for it friends. It’s never to late to change and find those hidden dreams and wires that have gone awry.

Did you come up with a word for your new year? Tell me @ericadeuel on Instagram.

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