My Happy Place: Two Weeks in Photos!

Hey beautiful souls,

Happy Weekend and Happy December! As we settle into the last month of 2014, my hope for you and I is that we live it to its fullest. With Christmas and the holiday season taking place, it is easy to “stop living” and just coast in December but it takes discipline and commitment to live each day with intention, purpose…and gratitude.

Q: Are you existing out of obligation or are you living out of privilege?

These last two weeks have been amazingly beautiful and bit of a roller coaster ride. We experienced the blessings of love while spending Thanksgiving with our family in Cape Cod and celebrated with joy as one of our little nieces was given the green light to go home this past Wednesday (the twin girls were born in November, 8 weeks early). We were also reminded of the fragility of life. One minute it is here and the next moment it is gone. We can be healthy one day and yet in an instant something can happen that can change it. One of my sisters went to do a routine exercise last week and in the next moment the apparatus fell and hit her head. After several trips to the hospital, they determined that she has a concussion. We are praying and believing that she will have a speedy recovery and be even better than 100% soon. Please keep her in your prayers.

“Greet every morning with open arms and say thanks every night with a full heart. Each day is a precious gift to be savoured and used, not left unopened and hoarded for a future that may never come.”-Regina Brett

Friends, life is precious. Let us not let moments of good health, spending time with our loved ones, etc. become ordinary or things we believe are “owed” to us. Instead, my challenge to all of us (myself included) is that we open our hearts and eyes to the miracles in our midst. When we do so, thanksgiving no longer is a one day celebration but an everyday lifestyle.

 “…and when each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.”-Paulo Coelho

“I no longer squander today being afraid of tomorrow or wallowing in guilt or resentments of the past. God isn’t present in the past or future. The great I AM is in the present moment. When I claim that presence, I can get through anything today. That’s all that is required of any of us, to live today.”-Regina Brett
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We originally rented a RAV4 but through a turn of events we ended up with a Jeep Compass. Well lo and behold as we were driving towards the border, I spotted another Jeep Compass ahead of us with the licence plate “DL JL”…a message from above?:)
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We stayed at a Hotel Indigo for the first time and would do it again. The location we stayed at was amazing especially Dale at front desk! The cool thing about Hotel Indigo is they are all about starting conversations (which is one reason each one is different!). This is the sign that greeted us in the front lobby!
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A view of the Berkshires in Massachusetts.
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On our way to our resort, we stopped at a store and upon getting out of our car, I saw this sign! Coincidence?
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Imagine waking up to one of these on your porch. Lucky for us they didn’t find our room!
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A stunning church in Nantucket.
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A beautiful reminder… #lifestyle
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My happy place…#nantucket
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Wisdom is all around us!
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Beautiful Nantucket
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Love is…
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I had left a rubberband on the table and when I went to get it later, I looked down and saw this…a beautiful treble clef!
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Dark chocolate and himalayan sea salt organic popcorn. #foodielove
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This week I received a very sweet card and this beautiful illustration reminded me of what Pastor Joel declared at the beginning of 2014-that it would be the year of the abundance of rain. The only difference is, my umbrella is upside down to catch the blessings!

 

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Decadent and delicious organic nut-free chocolate chip cookies from the fine folks at Sweets from the Earth. They are DELICIOUS!!!

Video of the Week
I was first introduced to this group a couple of weeks ago (Thank you Brianne Collins of Sportsnet!). These ladies are so talented and upon listening to their tracks, I came across one that was just so fitting given my most recent vacation! Enjoy:)

About Joann Lim Lesiuczok

Lifestyle Designer. Catalyst. Connoisseur of Life. Perfectly Imperfect. Foodie. Allergic to Nuts, Shellfish, and Mediocrity. Love Naps. Thought-Provoker. Soul-Stirrer. Multi-instrument Musician. Professional Dreammaker. Drew's Wife. JE SUiS. 1 Corinthians 14:1. When We Change The Way We Love, We Change The Way We Live. When We Change The Way We Live, We Change The Way We Love. #dangerouslove #generationamazing #lifeclass