For the past seven months, we’ve been living at the beach. We leased a fabulous little cottage-style furnished casita in a beautiful gated community in the hammock area of Palm Coast. As many of you know, we moved there for a Montessori school for our toddler. When it didn’t live up to our standards of a traditional Montessori program and was not even a recognized Montessori school, we had to bid farewell to our shabby little beach life and move to Jacksonville where there were Montessori-accredited schools.

We took possession of our new home as soon as it was ready and have had the past few weeks to move out of our beach pad. We’ve traded in the sound of the ocean waves for a large natural preserve where the birds sing and play. I’m surprised how much I love it to be honest! I do miss the beach (above) but happy for the time I had there.

It’s funny how we have the ability to turn lemons into fresh lemonade. This is a perfect example of that. We had a beach for seven months, built a new business, formed lasting business relationships {love you, Office Divvy} and learned that we must do our own due diligence before getting involved with a school, business or service. It’s an absolute must in a world where anyone can appear to be all that and then some.

After this week, my new home studio will be set up and I’ll be photographing, designing and blogging from “the preserve!”

Thank you all for sticking by as we made this change. Keep your head held high and eyes wide open to wonderful new opportunities!

Terry-Anne

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I shot this photograph of these nesting birds in Kentucky that lived right outside my bedroom window. I always loved this photograph. This morning, I looked at it again and saw it very differently then just two birds nesting. One bird is extroverted, inquisitive and curious about life. The other is just there; calm, not really interested in all the adventure life has to offer. I don’t get it. Sometimes when people are so different, they still somehow find a way to be mates and just “be.”. I have friends like that. How they do it is a mystery to me.

Jim Kukral, one of my instructors from an internet marketing program I took through the University of San Francisco said something in class to the effect of; “I don’t know how I am going to do this, but I am sure going to try and figure it out.” When an issue comes up where it’s just tough…. TOUGH; that message somehow speaks to me loud and clear.

Back to the birds… at the end of the day, we should always want the best for every single person out there. Different, indifferent, black, white, purple or pink. That’s my wish!

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I created this as part of the 31 Days of Creativity. I tossed in a prop, a bird and some texture as a backdrop for this quote.

We all must hold tight to our dreams and fight to keep believing in them. This is for you. Click on the image to grab a copy and put it on your desktop as a reminder.

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Yaaay! I am now 38 weeks into my pregnancy with just a couple more to go. I can’t wait! It’s been a challenge the last couple of weeks with back pain, acid reflux, major water retention in my legs and feet, insomnia and okay, a wee bit of anxiety! Every little contraction makes me think; “Is it time?! Maybe this is it!” It hasn’t been though.

Travis has been amaaaazing. He has been doing so much of the necessary things around the house and cooking dinner for me! I am constantly thrilled when I open the dishwasher to find it emptied already or how he is always willing to help me get my socks and shoes on or help with the daunting task of getting up off the couch!

As for the baby, I can’t even believe how I can love something so much that I’ve never met. She’s our little world and we talk about her now like she is already with us! It’s the sweetest thing. Friends and family have been writing the kindest things on her blog which is just so meaningful to us. Natalie is having a baby shower for me on the 1st which I am so thankful for and excited about at the same time! Travis’ mom flies in on the 1st, in time to get to the baby shower and my parents already have their bags packed and are ready to head down from Canada (14 hour drive) as soon as we call them. Who wouldn’t be excited despite the aches and pains?!

We have everything done as well from the crib being made up to the car seat in the truck and a pretty little sign for the front door that I made and Travis laminated that says; “Please do not ring doorbell. Our newborn has arrived!” We’re so ready!

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I finished packing up all the gifts that are being mailed out and made this little desktop calendar from a photo this past summer at 7F Lodge Bed & Breakfast which was so awesome. So here’s Travis on my desktop… I can never get enough of my husband! (Like Martha would say; “And that’s a good thing!” Ha ha!).

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After the cookies were done and wrapped, I made this framed sign for Travis’ brother and sister-n-law for a wedding gift. The craft shoppe on post has the best prices on custom matting which is where I went for the sage matt. I really like how it turned out. The sage print actually matches the matt although it doesn’t look like it in the photo.

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At a little more than 7 months into my pregnancy, I cannot think of anything more scary than that moment when I saw this Dodge Durango going so fast towards a 6-lane road of traffic in the rain. On top of that, there was already another car coming out of the same place. That didn’t seem to stop the driver in the Durango. I can’t imagine the driver not getting a wreckless driving charge, but the police officer wasn’t thorough in his questioning to the parties involved. He did however, recommend that I travel by ambulance to the hospital due to being 7 months pregnant to which I am thankful for.

When the Durango hit us, we were sent to the opposite side of the road into oncoming traffic while spinning around twice. Thank God the oncoming cars had the space and distance to swerve around us. Next thing we knew, we were turned around yet again and now facing oncoming traffic, but now we were back in the northbound lane. I thought for sure we were going to get hit head on. The oncoming traffic facing us was traveling pretty fast and after the SUV we were traveling in came to a stop, it wouldn’t start so we could get out of the lane. My poor, poor neighbor who was driving us home was just so worried about the baby and I. I don’t know anyone more selfless and caring than Christine. When she got out to wave people around us, she actually had one driver give her the “finger!” What has our world come to?

I traveled by ambulance to our hospital on post where I was under observation for 2 hours and then sent home. The baby’s heart rate was normal and thank God again for Christine being there with me for the entire time.

Although the damage wasn’t that bad, the impact and spinning circles into oncoming traffic on a 6 lane road was the scariest thing. All I could think about was; “Please let my baby be okay.”

My husband is in the army in a unit with the most caring people surrounding us. Their response along with my dear neighbors’ kindness is beyond words. We are both so thankful for them all.

This little instance of fear has taught me SO much. Don’t take a single moment for granted. Pray. Cherish and appreciate your friends. Drive for everyone else on the road. Lastly, make sure you have everyone you know and might need in your cell phone’s contact list!

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