Finding my cup of tea...

One of the things I say a lot is, "that's just not my cup of tea".

I tend to speak like an 85 year old woman.  This fact does not escape me.

How do you know what it is that you are supposed to be doing?  How do you find "your cup of tea?"

I love to paint.
I love to decorate.
I love to peruse beauty in magazines, Pinterest, Instagram, blogs.
I love to organize.
I love to cook yummy meals.
I love to fluff the cottage.
I love to grow things.
I love to design.

I used to worry so much about having a "job", but the truth is that what I do here each day is a job.  A real job.  Maybe not one with a huge paycheck, but it definitely pays me back in other ways.

This morning I read this:

You are without a doubt, right smack dab in the middle of God’s will when you are doing all the things you do everyday to serve the people around you.
Read more at Life in Grace

And it so resonated with me.  I was a teacher, then left that and felt pressured to work, have a job- a career.  But really, what makes me happy is being a homemaker.  I love making a home.  Teaching my son, cooking, fluffing/decorating/arranging.  It is my job. The best job.

My cup of tea.

My word of the year...

I began doing the word of the year a few New Year's back.   I have always hated resolutions, which for me became the definition of "things I promise myself and then don't do".   But one word?  A word that I can apply to all areas of my life for the year?  That I can do.

I spent two years with the word "balance".  Little did I know that it would take quitting my teaching job to achieve that balance.  The funny thing is that I quit teaching and took up painting.  By putting myself into a vocation that was fueled with creativity and passion I found that balance was something that came easily.  I'm happier, less stressed, and I feel fulfilled.

I begin thinking about my new word around Thanksgiving.  I reflect on last year's word and then start thinking of a goal for the coming year.  By Christmas the new word has usually floated to the top of my list and...

This year's word is "together".  I really want to focus on activities with my husband, kids, and my parents that center around being together.  It's more than just being together though.  Sharing space, but more about working together and really being present.  I would love to do a marriage retreat of some sort, or maybe just some travel with our family.  To me the word together signifies what is at the heart of relationships.

What is your word for 2014?

Words of wisdom...