New Project / Free Download: "Everything" + Lullabies

In 2012, upon hearing that my friend's sister and her husband suffered a miscarriage, words began pouring into my mind and within an hour, "Everything" was written. A year later, they asked if they could share the song with other families who have lost a child. I re-recorded "Everything" along with two other lullabies I had previously arranged, and am now releasing that as a free download. Please feel free to share it, as that is it's purpose-- to hopefully bring comfort to families who are grieving.

I, Allison Barnes, arranged and recorded "All the Pretty Little Horses" and "Hush Little Baby." I also wrote an additional ending to "Hush Little Baby."

"Everything" was written and sung by me, Allison Barnes, with guitar by David Rose.

Download the album here.

gardening

I really love gardening. I love the flowers and the butterflies and hummingbirds that come to the flowers. I love wandering around nurseries and the home depot garden department. I always find something else to buy (today it was more bird seeds, moss, creeping phlox, and rockcress). If it wasn't already so dark outside, I would be out there, moving the bushes and planting our new friends.

This year in our veggie garden we planted tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, basil, and lettuce, just like last year. But we decided to add to it butternut squash, strawberries and raspberries. The basil is just starting to show its face and the the lavender from last year smells just like relaxation. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to get grapes going too. We don't have a big yard but what we do have I am putting to use.


Do you have a garden going this year?
Flowers and veggies?
What do you love to plant?

Gratitude Journal

Last year I started to keep a sort of gratitude journal. It came after a counselor advised me to begin a journal to keep track of panic attacks/ episodes of severe depression to try to find the origin of those issues, but that just sounded so depressing (which was the point, I guess). So I half took his advice and began a gratitude journal instead. A few nights ago I found it in the rubble of my room and decided to share a few pages from it:

I fell in love with the sentiments I shared in that journal, and decided to start another one for this new chapter in my life. I'm not ready to share the inside yet, but here is the outside of it:

"Let the beauty we love be what we do." -Rumi

I love it. The journal itself was $1.50 at Michael's, the gold letter stickers were about $5. I also grabbed a Smash Stick to make documenting easier (pen on one side, glue stick on the other).

I have filled a few pages so far using instagram picture and a few scrapbooking papers, again from Michael's. It's just so fun. *Note: I print my instagram pictures using this tutorial.

Scrapbooking/journaling inspiration: Dear Lizzy / A Beautiful Mess

"Olive Us" and Positive Familial Interactions

Meet the Blair children of the new short film series "Olive Us."

According to the FAQ's, Olive Us "will encourage your family to get up and do or make or move... We aim to show healthy, happy relationships between siblings. We sometimes feel worn down by the super-sarcastic dialogue we hear on shows aimed at kids — especially between brothers and sisters. We want to share a more positive take." I love this, and I am excited to see what they come up with. You can view the first episode here.

Resources: Stay Strong + HalfofUs.com

Last night I found some links that I wanted to pass on to you, primarily more information about depression and other similar conditions.

Demi Lovato's "Stay Strong," where she addresses her struggles with healthy eating, depression, self-harm, substance abuse, and ultimately rehab. (Yes, I got to it through Perez Hilton. Whatever works). Regardless of whether or not you have struggled with any of these issues, this is a very inspiring documentary for all women. If you have a few minutes, you should definitely watch it.

In the middle of the videos, there was a link for halfofus.com. I wish everyone knew about this campaign. If you have even a minute to spare, please jump on the website and watch even a single PSA. So many people don't understand depression, and therefore don't know how to help those around them, or even themselves. I believe this campaign is essential in increasing the public's understanding of these issues.

Grace

I don't believe in black and white. I believe that we all have had something in our past, or will have something in our past, that defines who we will become, the path we choose to go down, and even defines how people will see us.


If the world were black and white, the labels that I would be stuck with would shatter me. I wouldn't be able to progress. I wouldn't be able to become. I am grateful for my past, for my hardships, for any ounce of pain I have experienced, because it makes me who I am today.


I don't know much about the "People of the Second Chance" campaign, but the concept is inspiring.

From their website: "We are a global community of activists, imperfectionists and second chancers committed to unleashing radical grace everyday, in every moment, for everyone. We challenge the common misconceptions about failure and success and stand with those who have hit rock bottom in their personal and professional lives. We are a community that is committed to stretch ourselves in the areas of relational forgiveness, personal transparency and advocate for mercy over judgment."

I believe in all of those things. Wholeheartedly. And if nothing else, this campaign has caused me to reflect a bit more on my own labels, the ones I put on myself, and perhaps on others. It has strengthened my resolve to love others unconditionally, and to allow the concept of grace into mine and others' lives.


How have your trials shaped your life? Feel free to comment here, or shoot us an e-mail (allisonabarnes [at] gmail [dot] com). We'd love to hear from you.

alice and lucy

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I think until recently I have spent most of my life very selfishly. So concerned with being able to do what I wanted, finding out what I needed out of life, wanting to be happy for me. College was no exception. In fact, my selfishness was fed by living on my own, always working and studying. I did good things with my time but I did it mainly for the benefit of myself.

In a class I took, we were discussing the women’s suffrage movement. We read and talked and in the end, watched a film. It was heart-wrenching and inspiring. I learned how they suffered, sacrificed, and endured; how many years, generations fought for the right to have a say in the world. At the end, my professor posed a question:

What in your life is worth all of this sacrifice?

What would you give everything for?

The images of Alice Paul and Lucy Burns and the other women who had fought so hard for something they believed in with their whole hearts lingered in my mind. I could not stop thinking of those questions that my professor had asked. What meant enough to me that I would go to prison, refusing to eat, and then being force fed just to be heard? To stand up for what I believed and felt?

I knew that I cared a great deal about women and women’s rights but would I give everything for that? Of course my family and good friends were on that list of who/what I would sacrifice for but was that all? Could that really be all I truly cared for?

These questions did not leave me for a long time. I spent a great deal of time rereading and rewatching, studying and thinking about Alice and Lucy and what they did. It was then that I truly realized the things that mattered most to me. My family, friends, my faith and my relationship to God. Eventually I would put all my personal goals and aspirations on hold for a year and a half, leave my family, friends, my style, music, and hobbies to go to a different country, learn a new language, and share the things that I hold most dear with people who didn’t always treat me kindly.

It was the first true sacrifice I had ever made. It was the first time I had truly been unselfish. And it was the first time I felt I could become a person who could actually have a positive impact on the world around me.

Those women did great deeds in pushing the suffrage movement along. But their contribution goes much deeper. They help us become good, contributing citizens. They help us find what really matters to us. They help shape us.

In honor of Women's History Month, tell us: who are the women who have helped shape you?

(Left-Lucy Burns and Right-Alice Paul)

women's history month

(Source)

Did you know it is Women’s History month? March always is and I always forget. This year, I did not forget. I remembered and then life got busy and I forgot what I had remembered. Silly me.

Isn’t it fantastic that there is a month that is dedicated to looking at the women who have influenced us as a society and as individuals? There are so many women, well-known and obscure, that have shaped each of us. It makes me proud of my heritage and of my womanhood.

For book club we are reading I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. I am so amazed and impressed with women like Dr. Angelou who have made their place in a world that treated them so terribly. She has used her talents of writing to make a positive contribution to this world. While trying to learn more about her, I came across this video where she spoke of the power of the words that we speak and hear and accept. Until now I have known so little about this striking and remarkable woman and I am so happy to be getting to know her a little bit. (You can see some other great videos of her here and here.)

I think too often we find ourselves surrounded by women in society and culture that have forgotten their divinity and the power of influence they hold. But there are so many that have not forgotten and have used their experiences and talents and passions for good.

Who are the women that have shaped you?

What will you give?

What can I do when I am not financially able 

to donate to a good cause?

That thought crossed my mind a billion times when I came across the website Running with Lisa, dedicated to a beautiful, radiant mother-of-four who is currently battling a brain tumor. They were able to remove half of the tumor through surgery (sucking dry their once-reliable savings account), but now face the coming weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. Four days of a prescribed medication cost over $1000! I can't even imagine. That, plus four kids, running a home while her husband goes to work, and praying for the treatments to show results... Goodness. What a woman! And still, she glows.

There are countless families in similar situations, needing so much, and having so little. And in return, there are countless individuals like me who want to give everything to the cause, but realistically can't do that.

Maybe for the next couple weeks, I will to run at least a little bit, everyday, for Lisa. Maybe I will be a little more conscious in my life, a little more grateful, for Lisa. Maybe I will smile at a stranger, hug a friend, or write a love note, for Lisa.

And maybe I'll be able to set aside a few dollars for the cause, as well.

What are you willing to give for a good cause?

*For more ideas of how to serve others, check out This Mama Makes Stuff, particularly her section on giving. A lot of the ideas involve her kids as well. Family involvement? Even better.

Update: Information is now posted for the 5k Fun Run for Lisa, which will take place on April 21, 2012 at 9am in Midway, Utah. The prices are very reasonable, and of course, go toward a wonderful cause. There is also a pancake breakfast (free for runners, $5 for others), and they're also looking for volunteers to help with the race. This is a great opportunity to serve.

inspiring me today

Are you loving this season? I always hate how fast it seems to flit on by. Here are some things that are helping me to remember to make the most of it and to love the things that really matter most.

Happy Holidays!

Savor // Shutter Sisters

A marvelous Christmas Mix by Marilyn of Passionista!

Sarah of Sarah Jane Studios (she's an illustrator and designs fabric... how cool is that?) posted her Christmas children's book advent last year and I love it. You don't even have to own all the books. You can get some library books, wrap them up (make sure you open them before they are due, of course), read them together, then return. She's a clever one, that Sarah.

I have loved this idea from Danyelle of dandee and I think we are going to try to use it this year with Millie (even though she is nine months old and couldn't careless one way or the other). Want. Need. Wear. Read. (You can read how they got started here.)

This video is so inspiring. The song is from Hue and Hum i.e. Caitlin and Robbie Connolly's Christmas album (that you can buy here). Caitlin is showing how she did the album artwork. Those two. Man. They make me want to create something all my own. (via here)