#betterthanworry

My mind and my heart are in battle today, deciding who is going to win the thought war that I'm experiencing.

I'm on the edge.  Worry is trying to needle its way into my day, robbing my heart of joy.

Scotland is delivering it's normal with a cloudy day at hand.  I should be okay with that, since there have been several days of sun...but today?  It just adds to my 'cons' list.

The trick is to pull myself out of this place my mind is taking me.  So I turn to my new tool in dealing with life, the book Shift Happens by Robert Holden. 

Every time you worry you make movies in your mind that are full of imagine horror, disaster scenes, and unhappy endings.  Fear is the director, producer, and writer.  A frightening fiction take the place of reality.  You do not perceive your won best interests   you have no real vision, clarity or perspective. 

Worry solves nothing. The fact is, worry never once in the whole history of the human race saved the day. At best, worry is an alarm bell, but no alarm bell ever put out a fire.  Worry is not enough.  If you are worrying, you are blocking your true creativity. You are not in your true power. There is a better way.  

Shift happens whenever you decide to give up worry for something better.  For instance:  

"I worry about the future." Worry is a waste of time.  It kills spontaneity, fun and happiness now.  Commit to now. Give your best to this day. Bless your past. And put the future in God's hands.                                                             (Shift Happens p 199-201)

So today, I'm going to give up worry for something better.  At least three 'something betters', in fact. I'll document it on Instagram (click there to see the photos online), where I'll hashtag the something betters (I'm obsessed with hashtags right now) with #betterthanworry.

Who's with me?

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it's the little things

It's the little things that I capture with Instagram 

{and some big things too, but mostly little}...

 

like the perfect cup of hot chocolate... 

 

 grabbing a moment in time with a boy that is growing up too fast...

and his little sister too... 

 

the little things like peace in the car

and excitedly watching for the next trick or treater

 

...and the sun.  Oh, the glorious sun.  #thankfulliving

It's the little things that

will someday be the big things.  

The happy memories. 

The moments in time.  

Speaking of time... 

The countdown continues.

 

Minnesota...here we come. 

Well, only for 10 days.  But that'll do.

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Linking up with:

Hello Hue for the FANTABULOUS return of "the little things"
Finding Joy for Friday Favorites
Life Rearranged for InstaFriday

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and here's my little link-up again too.  Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, your blog.  Where ever you please.  Its time for #thankfulliving.  Link up here so we can all be thankful together. 

#Thankfulliving

clouds vs. sun {story of our life when it comes to weather in Scotland}

Another week is done.  And we are nearing the end of October.

How is that even possible?

Starting November 1 it's gonna get 'thankful' up in here.  Each day I'm going to share something I'm thankful for on instagram (I'm jenlives) with the tag #thankfulliving.  And since I know a lot of you aren't over there in Instagram world, I'll share the items here too {maybe not every day, but as often as possible}.

Because, lets be real.  We are all happier when we are remembering what we are thankful for. 

And I'm going to host a little link-up part on November 1 so we can all find each other & be thankful together.  So stop back to link up your blog or Instagram account!

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today I'm linking up over here at Life Rearranged

Now...onto the last few weeks.  A little of what's been happening over here at our place: 

A little lot of being happy that Daddy was home from his trip.

 

A little baking.

A little counting down...I've been doing this with my sweet niece since their visit to Scotland in August.  We started about 100, and now we are getting so much closer to a trip back to MN!

do you see my trees?  I'm such an artist, no?  ;)

A little playing.

 

And a little exercising, of course.  

I've figured out my days go better 

when started off with Jillian Michael's.

{scary?  wierd?  your thoughts?} 

 

running via wii fit

Insta-Friday & AN ANNOUNCEMENT

I'm going to share with you the lovely that is my life via instagram in a sec.  But first? AN ANNOUCEMENT.  

I have an idea. 

Ha.  That's not all.  I want to tell you about it, and I want you to join me! 

Next month is November.  {Thanks for stating the obvious Jenny.} 

November = Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving = being grateful

being grateful = #thankfulliving

An Instagram event.  Join me?  Just take photos of what you are thankful for each day in November.  Easy peasy, right???  Why NOT do it?  And then tag it with #thankfulliving.

Spread the word. And I think I'll host my first ever linky part on this here blog.   We'll do it at the beginning of November, so that we can all meet and find each other on Instagram.  Not on Instagram? Get with the party peeps {said with all the love in the world}.  I want to see what YOU are thankful for.  You don't even need to have a blog.  Nope, no siree...  So, who's with me???

* * 

Alright, now on to our week. Instastyle:

Gotta love her hair, right?

 

with one of our projects from our 31 days of fun over at Intend to Live.

 walking to school with his shadow.

 innocence. 

 

the boyz. 

 

 Weekends are fabulous for exercise; 

I get to do my walk/run in the light instead of before the sun rises!

 a constant companion lately. 

my fruit buddy.

 Look at the almost cloudless sky.  In Scotland?  Priceless. 

A tickle factory. 

his idea.  AND we were featured at lilblueboo.  LOVE IT.  

#choosejoy

 beautiful sunset

 in Scotland, it's "custom my ride", instead of "pimp my ride".  

that made me giggle.

"heart for you mommy"

 my work-out partner

cutie patootie. 

** 

and with that, I'm linking up with Jeannett at Life, Rearranged.

February {in photos}

I am guessing most of you have heard of Instagram {an app on the Iphone to take photos and give them some fun effects}?  My user name is jenbucket.  If you are there, come find me.

I joined in with a HUGE crew to do the #febphotoaday with Fat Mum Slim.

Don't have Instagram?  Want to see my photos?

Well, you ask, and I deliver:

feb 1: my view today {Scottish hills and turn-a-rounds.  The entrance into our neighborhood.  On our way back home from dropping off J#3's nursery school application.}

feb 2: words {on a map}

feb 3: hands

feb 4: a stranger {a neighbor we haven't met yet}

feb 5: 10am {drinking coffee}

feb 6: dinner {the best part...dessert}

feb 7: button {oops, almost forgot to take the photo this day...on an old, baggy pair of jeans}

feb 8: sun {don't get much, but these cute faces make up for it...mostly}

feb 9: front door {all locked up tight for the night}

feb 10:  self portrait

feb 11: makes me happy

feb 12: inside my closet {see the hidden presents? he hasn't discovered them yet.  5 more days...}

feb 13: blue {on my favorite new walker}

feb 14:  hearts {x 2, to prove that yes, valentines is just as "big" of a holiday here in Scotland.  and we still don't celebrate it in our house.}

feb 15: phone {we have 2 home phones.  Scottish & American-via Vonage} 

feb 16: something new {coffee in the evening...decaf, but something new}

feb 17: time

feb 18: drink {blue mountains = ice cold beer = ready to drink}

feb. 19: something I hate to do {dust}

feb. 20: handwriting

feb. 21: a fave photo of me

feb. 22: where I work {so glamorous, no?}

feb. 23: my shoes {favorite ever. I think this is the first time I have actually worn OUT a pair of shoes.}

feb. 24: inside your bathroom cabinet 

feb. 25: green {chair.  and a husband tired of photo taking}

feb. 26: night {in my new favorite place}

feb. 27: something I ate

feb. 28: money {bought this table & chairs.  the best purchase we have made in a while}

feb. 29: something i'm listening to {a Dutch music maker}

Whew...and February only had 29 days.  Wonder if I can keep it up for 31 days in March?  

If you are on Instagram, but don't have time to track me down, leave your user name in the comments below & I'll find you!

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Linking up with a good life.