Tag Archives: finances

blogger, mindset, mom of boys, musings

Be Striving for Ordinary

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There is a lot of striving for extraordinary in our world these days!

What extravagant location will I visit?

What luxury brand of purse or clothing can I buy?

How much do I make per year?

What private school do our children attend?

What can I post on social media to make myself be seen and be extraordinary?

Me, I am striving for ordinary.

How many walks or hikes can I take around our town and local hills?

How little can I shop or how many weeks can I go between having to step foot in a store?

How can I help my children truly learn in their unique ways?

How many conversations can I have that are authentic and encouraging on a daily basis?

How many books will I read this year?

I have been pondering this concept of always striving for being or doing something extraordinary. It reminded me of my last eight years in the Network Marketing realm. I remember early on when I started sharing the products I love, I met a woman in her early 30’s who was a true light, with two young girls and a house on the hill. She explicitly told me that her sole goal in the company was to speak in front of 15,000+ people at our annual conference. Her financial goals were intertwined with wanting to be in front of 15,000+ people. I always found this genuinely fascinating and unrelatable to me personally as my best moments were often chatting in the line to the washrooms or sitting beside someone in the seats or simply walking down the street. Ordinary moments that turned into extraordinary relationships.

I have realized now in my teaching careers as I am asked to speak and present information to others that I would rather be the person stacking the chairs at the back than speaking to everyone from the front. (I actually shared this two weeks ago to someone in our school leadership team.) I am really happy being behind the scenes. (And clicking away on my computer keyboard as I share my musings. I am so happy right now as I write this!)

Striving for ordinary.

Yup, that’s me.

Have an epic Wednesday and love what you do!

xoxo Joanna

author, blogger, musings, positivity

Be Living Lavish (not lacking a thing!)

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Lavish luxurious living.

Not lacking a thing.

Could you imagine it?

Really?

I am living it!

Truly!

My mind has shifted from living in lack, in scarcity.

It has moved into a place of abundance, of lavish luxury!

I have realized that I have everything I need, in this moment.

I am listening, looking, learning and living as I talk about in my book, “I Am Free!” 

Inside and Out!

I previously believed,  I never had enough time or that time was ‘slipping’ away.  My lists seemed endless and my priorities were blowing in the wind by others visions for me.  I was flitting here and there trying to get things done and make up for “lost time”.   Now I know that I create my time and I have enough each day.  I enjoy and savour moments throughout the day.  The moments create a beautiful life.  I know that I have enough time.

FAITH! (not lacking faith!)

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Before, I would worry about spending money $$$$, didn’t enjoy spending it nor never thought that we would ever have enough.  I budgeted, spreadsheeted, pondered and prayed about how to make our finances “work”.  Now I know that we can create the financial future that we want by being awake to how we are spending money, by saving practically and enjoying the journey along the way.  I now find money EVERYWHERE and my boys do too!  It is fun to see how this currency we have created is coming our way.

FINANCIAL FUN! (not lacking a cent!)

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I used to think, that I was a border collie when it came to relationships.  My role was to herd everyone together and to make sure that everyone was okay.  I would endless reach out to people and communicate in a way that I thought would “make things better” by often listening to gossip or by saying I am sorry are just a few examples.   I now know that I am a loving, strong woman with a wonderful tribe of people surrounding me, with their own personalities and traits.  Everyone is responsible for themselves.  I no longer am responsible for the herd, but choose to enjoy those that are attracted to my golden retriever personality.

FRIENDSHIP (definitely not in lack here!)

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I am humbled to admit that before I never thought that I could do enough. EVER!  I ALWAYS felt that I was at fault if something went wrong. I ALWAYS felt that I was never able to meet anyone’s standards, even my own.  It was pressure, my friends, pressure to perform to the MAX.  I rarely rested.  I never let my mind sit, afraid of the lengthy to-do list that would push my face down into the pavement.  I now know, that I am enough.  I am doing enough, each day, with my gifts and imperfections.  I ALWAYS know that I can add value to people.  I ALWAYS feel freedom just to be.  My mind can sit and I often find myself lying down on the ground in awe of the divine moments that come my way!

FREEDOM (soooo much freedom)

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What are the possibilities for you to move from lack into lavishness?  Is it related to your thoughts on food, friends, exercise, sleep, sex, communication, spirituality, writing…?

As we enter the season of the new school year, may we all move into a place of lavish luxurious living!  This is my hope for everyone who reads this post!

SMOOCH, Joanna

Business, Construction, mindset

Be Rich! $$$

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What would it mean to you to be rich?

Could it be possible for you?

I knew it was possible for me but I didn’t ‘know’ how.

Until now…

Rich can mean having a great deal of wealth or assets. It can also mean being plentiful or abundant.

I have finally figured out that I am rich!  Yup, ME!

⭐️ I have space in my life to create the days I desire.

⭐️ I am privilege to look into the eyes of these beautiful souls on a daily basis and to witness my children’s childhood.


⭐️ I am present with intuitive friends like Ned, Isa, Ang and Mich and talk about healing, dreams or life.

⭐️ I watch our four year old love up his dog while Summer lies in the snow.


⭐️ I smile at people as we walk by each other, sharing time and space.

⭐️ I talk about water, sleep, protein, minerals and poo with people.  (Ah the richness of health!)

* I believe money is a river that flows as we help others around us.

⭐️ We are able to create a suite in our backyard to invite new people into our lives.


My eyes are opened up to how rich or abundant my life is.  I just didn’t see it before.  I lack nothing.

I lack NOTHING!

I have more than enough.

I live in abundance.

I am enough.

With great richness surrounding me everyday.

Look, what riches do you see around you?

Boys, Parenting, poetry

Be Lighting up Flu February

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3 little sickies lying on the couches.

3 red faces.

3 fevers hot.

White candles burning.

Filling up the space.

3 little boys lit up with light.

Holding space with my boys.

Holding my boys.

Water.

Soup.

Apple sauce.

Toast.

3 little boys down for the count.

Not for long, though, so world watch out!

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With gratitude for the choices that I have made to allow these days to be simple days where I still get paid.

Freedom.

Day by day.

Being present.

Mothering my boys.

Being me.

author, dreams, God, mindset

Be a Dream Car

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I fell in love with a car!

Way back in 2001.

I had the great privilege to commute with an amazing group of human beings to a small outlying “VIlle” to teach.  I taught  thirty-three grade six and seven students and had a third of the school in my class, even though there were 6 teachers on staff.  The school was declining in size!  I was fortunate to learn many new things, fall in love with my students and the staff and find my dream car.

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Is it weird that I had never had a dream car before?

Is is strange that my dream was a van?

Perhaps, God knew about the brood of boys that were coming into our life six years later.

I have fallen in love with how he prepares me for “events” in my life.

Day by day.

Person by person.

Story by story.

In 2001, we commuted in a brand, spanking new 2001 grey Honda Odyssey.   On those 5:45am pick-ups, this vehicle was luxury.  With its captain seats and personal water bottles, I thought that I had it made! And that was how my dream was created.

One day.

Some how.

I would own a 2001 Honda Odyssey.

Ten years later, in 2011, we decided to look for a Honda Odyssey as we awaited the birth of our third and three car seats would not fit in the back of our current vehicle.

Enter stage left, a beautiful grey 2001 Honda Odyssey that we could pay cash for and enjoy every day until last Friday.

She decided to stop on the side of the highway.

Just like that!   She sat there for three days while we pondered and prayed and wandered and wondered.

A few friends sat together in our wonderings.

And we are so grateful!

This van taught me how to dream, about cars.

Now she is reminding me how to dream in others ways.

Perhaps our life is meant to be with one car?

I wonder what will happen in the next weeks so that we could pay cash for a new car?

I am excited.

I am leaning in with anticipation.

I am dreaming.

I am so grateful for this dream car!

 

author, Book, Business, Family, finance, philosophy, positivity, Self-help

Be Creating a Full Time Family 

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A family where we can choose to spend most of our time together. 

A family where the children have equal time with both parents. 

A family that can be full time living life together and part time at work. 

My personal definition of a full time family. 

  
A place where we choose our schedule and money is of no consequence.  (What is money anyways, but a concept of trading money for time.) We are working very hard, every day to create residual, freedom income.  Sexy Neck is working with a contractor to create a rental home on our property. I have launched a book into the world and I love coaching people using nutritional systems I love.  The company gives me rebates for supporting and loving people to reach their individual energy, performance, weight loss, healthy aging or even financial goals. 

My dreams continue to become reality as Sexy Neck and I walked our boys to school together today.  As he is an educator with similar hours, I can count on two hands how many times he has been able to walk with us to school in the last four years. 

I will hold to my full time family vision, not knowing ‘how’ it is going to unfold.   My mom’s death taught me that sometimes we can’t just figure things out, we must walk them out. 

With excitement.  

With gratitude for each day. 

With moments like this. 

As a full time family. 

  

fun, Goals, Holidays

Be Finding Freedom at the Fair 

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Have you ever found yourself doing something you have done many times before but in a totally different way? 

You can experience something as simple as going to the fall fair and find freedom.  

Previously, we have gone to the fall fair and cringed at the prices of the food, rides and even the entry.  We felt we were twenty dollared to death.  It was painful.  We went because we felt it was valuable but the value we got from our money wasn’t worth it overall.  

This year we saw the value. 

Our minds were free.  

The money we spent was worth every twenty dollar bill we spent. 

Smiles. 

Hugs from friends. 

Special fair food. 

Roller Coasters. 

The Ferris wheel. 

 Children will grow up. 

Beloved Nana’s may die.   

But no one can take away  your memories.  
And don’t let anyone steal your dreams 

Be finding freedom in all places, especially at the fall fair this year 

Family, Jesus Christ

Be AMAZED!

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Hi everyone, Joanna here:

Today, I was wondering what to share about this incredibly humbling week. Roger’s blog post inspired me to share our latest journey with you. We have had many emotions this week as we search for a new house.


Here is the gist of our househunting story:
Last week, we put in an offer on a house. The owners took another offer from another family. Yesterday, our realtor phoned us and told us that the financing didn’t come through for the family with the accepted offer. He asked if we wanted to put in another offer. He proceeded to tell us that we should offer $11,000 less than we did last week.  DRUM ROLL PLEASE…. Today, we found out our offer was accepted. Today, we are rejoicing and have a better understanding that God’s ways our not our ways. He has always helped us find a place to live as we humbly ask for His help. We are extremely grateful and amazingly stunned. Glory to God! I can’t wait to see the mansion in heaven that God has for us like Roger Tharpe blogged about!  Thanks for the inspiration Roger.  

two-peace-faced-lovebird-feng-wei-photographyFor the promises of God to be performed in your life you must love God. He must be the object of your affection and not just a byword used when you’re in trouble. You must make a commitment to put him first and for him to become your God.

For the Bible declares that in all things God works for the good of those who LOVE him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). The key in this verse is love. You must love God for all things to work together for his good.

This verse is for lovers only. You must have a relationship with Jesus. You must confess your sins and repent and receive God’s forgiveness. When you become a lover of God all your works will lead to good. This does not mean you will escape trouble or that you will be perfect, but…

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