Music That Moves Me

I've had the Moana soundtrack playing on repeat in my car for a few months now. It's great having children, because I can say they are the reason I have Moana playing constantly.... However, in reality, it's me that probably enjoys the music the most! One of my favorite songs is I Am Moana. It moves me! I feel it in my soul. The words are beautiful. I hope that my family and ancestors see me in similar fashion. I hope they say that I stand apart from the crowd, that I make my whole family proud. I hope that my scars continue to heal and reveal where I am. The people I love have changed me. The things I have learned guide me. I need to listen to that quiet voice inside me and realize I have come so far. "Do you know who you are?" I'm still trying to find out who I am and what my mission is on earth. I am seeking. One of my favorite lines is "and the call isn't out there at all it's inside me". I've felt I'm missing something in my life. I'm not sure what it is and I have been seeking so many outside sources of knowledge looking for the answer, but the answer is not "out there" it's inside me. When I find it I will carry it in my heart and it will remind me, that come what may, I know the way. I am Sheena!

Gramma Tala: I know a girl from an island
She stands apart from the crowd
She loves the sea and her people
She makes her whole family proud

Sometimes the world seems against you
The journey may leave a scar
But scars can heal and reveal just
Where you are

The people you love will change you
The things you have learned will guide you
And nothing on Earth can silence
The quiet voice still inside you
And when that voice starts to whisper
Moana, you've come so far
Moana, listen
Do you know who you are?

Moana: Who am I?
I am the girl who loves my island
I'm the girl who loves the sea
It calls me

I am the daughter of the village chief
We are descended from voyagers
Who found their way across the world
They call me

I've delivered us to where we are
I have journeyed farther
I am everything I've learned and more
Still it calls me

And the call isn't out there at all
It's inside me
It's like the tide, always falling and rising
I will carry you here in my heart
You'll remind me
That come what may, I know the way
I am Moana!

Eye opening

I have a neighbor. She is AMAZING! I've told her multiple times that if she ever wonders why she moved into this particular place, it's because of me. I need her love, light, and inspiration. Our friendship is pure and authentic. We respect each other. When we are together, we are fully present. We love and lift one another. It's a beautiful friendship and I feel so very blessed that she has come into my life. She had an idea to interview someone in particular and I helped her run through the interview questions with me. I was not told the questions before hand. This is real life my friends. Haha! You will hear our children playing next to us and in the background. It was a beautiful experience and I'm grateful to share it with you! We need more love in this world. We need more positive and uplifting experiences to learn and grow from. I hope you enjoy!

Upload coming soon :)

The beautiful art from our daughters. The funny part is my husband let my daughter "paint" his nails with markers one day and the idea obviously stuck with her from months ago. 

Creating masterpieces.

Sheena & Kristin

My daughter had me "paint" her nails too.

Another Christmas Craft

I finished another Pinterest inspired craft. Making a stable ornament using Popsicle sticks caught my eye. I love doing fingerprint crafts so I put the two ideas together. I stained the wood, used scissors to cut the sticks down, wood glue and craft paint. My husband is Joseph, myself Mary and my son, baby Jesus. I love how it turned out!

#LIGHTtheWORLD

Are you ready to #LIGHTtheWORLD? 

Watch a video and learn more HERE

Children's calendar found HERE

Calendar & quote found HERE

Pass along cards found HERE

I printed 24 pass along cards to send with my son to school. I will write what we are supposed to be focusing on that day so he can remember. Once he has served, he will write it down on the card and place it in an envelope on the tree. Christmas day we will open the envelope and read how each of us served throughout the month. Look for the good in others. Share LOVE and LIGHT!

#LIGHTtheWORLD

I've got the itch...

Last year I noticed I was spending a lot of time pinning items on Pinterest. I also spent a lot of time making my favorite items. I've got that itch again this year. I'm not sure if it is due to having finals right around the corner and needing a mental break or my LOVE for the Christmas season. I wanted to make an advent calendar for my family filled with small traditions. I found many options on how to make one and this style caught my eye. I spent hours in Photoshop making my own numbers. On the inside of the tins are things to do or to talk about during the month of December. The nice thing is that I can switch the tins around next year (they have magnets on them and are not glued down) so each activity doesn't have to be on a certain day.

I found this book last year and wanted to incorporate the ideas celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas. The items in gold are the days we focus on the special people that fill the nativity scene each year. I also found mini ornaments that represent these people and they fit perfectly in the tins.

I put the tins together over Thanksgiving. I added lights to my shadow box which I love. All in all, it took a ton of time but I plan on having this around for many years to come. I can replace the activities in the tins or let my children help plan next years activities and traditions. 

We decided to go to temple square the night they turned on the lights for the season. There was hardly anyone there a half hour before the lights were turned on. By the time the lights were turned on it was so crowded! What a neat experience. 

Chicken and Lime Soup
Credit: BUDGET BITE$

My mother-in-law makes this for me and it is so delightful! Sometimes she purchases a rotisserie chicken and uses it. I always add more lime, cilantro and avocado to mine. I think she leaves out the jalapeno. Helpful hint, it always tastes better the second day!

CHICKEN AND LIME SOUP

PREP TIME

10 mins

COOK TIME

1 hour 15 mins

TOTAL TIME

1 hour 25 mins

Total Cost: $6.39

Cost Per Serving: $1.07

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Tbsp olive oil $0.24
• 1 medium yellow onion $0.28
• 2 stalks celery $0.45
• 1 medium jalapeno $0.09
• 4 cloves garlic $0.32
• ¾ lb. chicken breast $1.46
• 6 cups chicken broth* $0.42
• 1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes w/chiles $0.95
• 1 tsp oregano $0.05
• ½ Tbsp cumin $0.08
• 1 medium lime $0.33
• ½ bunch cilantro $0.43
• 1 medium avocado $1.29
• 1. Dice the onion, celery, and jalapeno (scrape the seeds out of the jalapeno before dicing). Mince the garlic. Cook the onion, celery, jalapeno, and garlic in olive oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until tender.
  2. Add the chicken breast, chicken broth, canned tomatoes with chiles, oregano, and cumin to the pot. Bring the whole pot up to a boil over high heat then reduce the heat to low, place a lid on top, and let simmer for one hour.
  3. After simmering for an hour with a lid on, carefully remove the chicken breast from the pot and use two forks to shred the meat. Return the meat to the pot. Squeeze the juice of one lime into the soup. Get as much juice as possible from the lime by using a spoon to scrape the inside of the lime.
  4. Rinse the cilantro and then roughly chop the leaves. Add to the pot, give it a quick stir, and serve. Dice the avocado and add a few chunks to each bowl.
  NOTES

  *I use Better Than Bouillon chicken soup base to make my broth because it is less expensive than buying canned or boxed broths.

Pinterest

I struggle with Pinterest. When I'm browsing I find myself starving after a few minutes of looking at delicious food.. I wish I had a magic wand to wave and have food show up on my table looking as good as the photo I saw and tasting even better than I imagined. Then there is the DIY crafts or how to decorate your walls. I'm currently a full-time student living in student housing. My walls are white. White is so white and yet I think of it as a blank canvas! Since I'm a photographer, I enjoy covering my walls in photos. Here are a few of my latest Pinterest inspired creations. I just finished a final and have a few weeks before fall semester begins, so you may not see many DIY projects for a few months. My program is the best in the state which means many credits, lots of classes and lots of time. Yikes! Also next week I have 3 family photo sessions, a family reunion and a frozen treat bake off contest I'm entering for fun. The following weeks forecast looks like a LOT of editing time to be able to get my clients their photos before school starts. Wish me luck!

This was before we moved the crib to the other side of the room.