Review of 2009 in the life of Raphaella Vaisseau

A year ago I declared 2009 to be a Year of Discovery during which I would continue to assimilate the new attitudes and understanding of seeing the good and focusing on the best feeling thought I can in any given situation or circumstance. At times during this year keeping this focus was a full-time job for me. Yet I persevered and I am reaping the results of my improved focus. With all the practice, I continue getting better at it every day. Most recently I’ve discovered how important it is to pay attention to the words I use and the stories I tell. I’m creating a new future so I’m telling new stories. I’ve been doing a lot of studying -- mostly with Abraham-Hicks, but also with Landmark Education, writer's groups, study groups, NLP and hypnosis. It’s all paying off. I’m committed to continuing my studies in 2010 and look forward to even greater expansion.

Kittens have been a big part of my life in 2009. I became a Kitten Foster Mom in March. Since then I have had a continuous blessing with the little ones coming to me for a day, a week or a month while they look for their forever families. I adopted Diana who is a beautiful addition to my family. For more about the kittens I foster, take a look at the Key West Cat Society / Venice Cat Coalition blog I created for them.

The other big news of 2009 in my life is the adventure of traveling to arts and crafts shows around Florida and setting up my Heartful Art booth for sales. My first show was in October here in Venice. My first road trip was to Dunedin, FL in November, and I fell in love with Safety Harbor, FL when I went to a show there on Dec. 13th. Exploring other cities, discovering new things about life in Florida, and meeting all the people who come to the shows brings me much happiness. I am grateful to have a new mini-van to make all the extra traveling safe and fun. I hope to expand even further in 2010 to attend shows on the East coast of Florida as well.

I SO appreciate my beautiful little house here in Venice, the fabulous friends I have (both old and new), my cats, my family, my art and creativity, Heartful Art, my customers, my car, social security, Facebook, Twitter, my cell phone, technology, and the joys and challenges of living life as a grand adventure that’s really, really fun! Onward, I say. Onward into the future.

Safety Harbor, Florida - One Cute Town !!!

One of the things I like the most about my new life here on the Gulf Coast of Florida is packing up my van with Heartful Art and traveling to neighboring towns for art fairs. After the Venice Farmer's Market on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, I traveled to Safety Harbor, Florida to explore the town in preparation for the Arts & Crafts Fair there the following day. I arrived with plenty of daylight left to wander the streets, and I'm so glad I did. I discovered Safety Harbor to be a charming little town where shops and homes were decorated in festive colors and adorned with objets d'art. It occurred to me that every one in this town must be an artist! Murals were everywhere -- even on the Fire Station and the Post Office. I found an amazing place to treat myself to dinner: Green Springs Bistro. Check out the slide show on my Flickr site for photos and more information.

ReDEFINING The DREAM and Mobono.net

I found this beautiful video by following a tweet of my friend, Stephen Marcus, which led me to Mbono.net which led me to the YouTube page for ReDEFINING The DREAM. All the words below are theirs. Enjoy the video, explore Mbono.net and check out the Facebook group: "One Billion People for Higher Consciousness" ... have fun, dream big, love everything.

How do we use the Law Of Attraction to effect change on a Global scale?
How do we keep our minds focused on the Possibilities, in spite of the problems?
If we take the time to contemplate what change looks like, what freedom, equality, peace, justice, perfect health, food and shelter for all, looks like, we can begin now to write a new script, we can begin now, individually and collectively to ReDEFINE and in so doing, ReDESIGN the World we wish to live in.
It is up to us to ReDEFINE our future now. 

It is up to us to ReDEFINE everything!!!!!!!
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" Mark 11:24. Begin by watching this 24 verse affirmation of gratitude, inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech, and Bob Proctor, (The Secret).
www.http://redefiningthedream.com

TUBFRIM - helping the children of Norway

I first learned of TUBFRIM in 1998 while living in Ashland, Oregon. The local Sons of Norway there collected used postage stamps and sent them off to Norway to help raise money for the children. I loved that it was such a simple way to participate in making a difference. I've been saving my postage stamps ever since and once a year I package them all up and mail them to Norway.

Postmaster Ditlef Frantzen in Nesbyen established TUBFRIM in 1928. The aim was to collect and sell used stamps and use the proceeds to aid the eradication of tuberculosis among Norwegian children. TUBFRIM is owned by the Norwegian Health Association (Nasjonalforeningen for folkehelsen). Today the profits are used to help handicapped children and youth in Norway, and to finance the efforts to eradicate tuberculosis.

If you'd like to join in the fun, send your stamps and used phonecards to TUBFIRM, N-3540 Nesbyen, Norway. You can also mail them to a participating Sons of Norway lodge in the U.S.A.

Gingery Carrot Soup from the SF Farmer's Market Cookbook

Wow! Inspired by the ginger sitting on my counter from last week's trip to the Farmer's Market, I found a recipe from the San Francisco Farmer's Market cookbook for Gingery Carrot Soup. Keep in mind, I've never made homemade soup before. I didn't have the right quantities but I was motivated to create something healthy for a cool winter day. I chopped up onions, carrots, a potatoe and the ginger and cooked it in chicken broth for 1 hr, blended it together and OMG! what an amazing meal.