Now….Oh gosh, I’m excited today. It’s our first Momastery Give-away!!!
If you are new to the blogging world, you might not know how these blog “Give-Aways” typically work. Usually, if a blog gets a lot of traffic, businesses contact the blogger and asks her if she would like to receive one of their products to keep and another to give away to her readers. In return, the blogger links to the business’ site, and often says lovely things about the product. This system, along with ads, is how bloggers usually make money.
I don’t do that. Tragically, I understand clearly that God does not want me to accept a penny or a single freebie for my writing on this blog. This is a crying shame, because I’ve been offered some really cool stuff. Really cool stuff. And trust me, I’ve looked hard for loopholes in this rule. But when I explain these loopholes to God, She just rolls her eyes and points emphatically at the keyboard. So, whatever. No freebies for me. I just wanted you to know that when we do Give-aways at Momastery, it won’t be because I’m getting something free. It’ll be because I found something special that a Monkee makes and I want YOU to get something free and for the BusinessMonkee to get some new business. And if I want the product for myself, I’ll buy it. Money and Monkees don’t have much in common. Well, except for the M and the O. Also the N. And um, the E. Weird.
Anyway.
Ready?
If there were one message that I’d love for the Monkees to take away from this magical year we’ve spent together, and one message for my children to read every morning in our home, it would be this: we can do hard things.
Aren’t they beautiful? Aren’t they just PERFECT?
Kristi will be giving them both away today. The first sign will go to a new follower from yesterday or today… so Come out, Come out shy Monkees…. sign up as a follower! We want you, we need you, and we’re not afraid to bribe you! The second sign will go to a commenter from today. Kristi will choose the winners randomly Sunday evening. So don’t stress about leaving a fancy, smart comment or anything. Any old comment will do. And if you get a chance, go check out Kristi’s etsy shop. She is wonderful. I just love, love her work.
If you don’t win the giveaway, it’s okay, you can still order a sign from her. In any color. And she’s donating $5 from every sale of our custom Monkee signs to the orphanage.
Craig and I are ordering a blue one to send to the orphanage. We hope they’ll hang it in their classroom.
Ladies….WE CAN DO HARD THINGS. My favorite part is the WE part.
Love you.
Gbyrd
I want you to know that “we can do hard things” is my new go to affirmation! I am just reading all the past posts and am so inspired by every word. Thank you for this gift of words,it has helped me more than you can imagine.
Awesome! Love and want this sign.
I got my sign yesterday…it's already hanging over the doorway. Thanks Kristi!
Kristan wrote me and couldn't get a comment on the blog….so Kristi, if this comment is the winner….it counts for Kristan!
This has become a motto in our household! I want it to become my daughter's mantra too… love it! Thanks for making these signs!
I'm so ordering a sign! Beautiful!
Ooooooh lovely signs
. I really like the Family Rules one. Only available within the US though?
abbey – i'll take a cupcake in a mason jar. umm, ok, make it an even dozen!
as for the hats, there is a story there! i had to have a primitive wooden snowman to hang on my door, so I made one. then i thought my friends all needed one too, so i made them as gifts. then their friends all needed one, and then that snowballed into barn owl primitives. and since snowmen melt, i had to make bunnies (BUNNIES, not goats. . .yet!). I was asked by a dear friend to make the hat and it was so cute, i had to make more! patriotic angels are next on the list followed by pumpkins!! i do not like a naked front door, so i'm always looking for unique ways to dress it up!
if anyone has an ideas, i'm all ears!
melinda ~ your "uganda" makes my heart smile too!!
xoxo ~ kristi
just bought my hard things sign on Etsy and when I was typing in shipping address "Uganda" autopopulated in the country text field.
made my heart smile.
have a wonderful weekend.
Melinda
What a fun post to read at the end of a long day! Love the signs. Will have to check out the website to see the other signs (and the rustic bunny too)! I loved the comment about feeling smarter knowing all of you. I so agree with that one!
Have a great weekend everyone!
monkees ~
i just want to say THANK YOU – (those two little words just don't seem like enough)!
thank you for letting me share in this magic with you today! reading each post, and rereading and sometimes rereading again, i've been moved by all you monkees! WOW – we can do hard things.
and glennon, you can do AMAZING things!
thank you for creating and maintaining this wonderful haven!
looking forward to sunday night monkees!!
xoxo ~ kristi
love you maryann.
LOVE you.
i've been reading this blog for a few months now, and i would just like to take this chance to say thank you to Glennon and all the others who have posted here. you are all so inspiring. you remind me everyday that it's not always about huge grand gestures. most days that most important thing we can do is just try not to be jerks.
thanks for creating a community that i feel like i can belong to. together i know that we can do hard things.
ha.ha.ha! YES, I did! I am giving 'some' away as gifts….
CAN WE HAVE A WHOLE SEPARATE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW FLIPPIN' CUTE THOSE BIRTHDAY HAT SIGNS ARE????? Kristi, I need one for all members of my family. This is exactly why my husband both loves me and continuously rolls his eyes at me. I don't buy everyday things, I buy HOLIDAY and BIRTHDAY things. Don't think I won't be ordering four here in the very near future.
Speaking of, can anyone sew? I of course DESPERATELY need a birthday tablecloth with balloons and sprinkles and cakes all over it. But I digress.
Now I must go figure out how to ship my Abbey Cakes
Then we can all order birthday hat signs and cupcakes from my business. And just a small note that apparently I am NOT humble seeing as how I named my business after MYSELF. Maybe my cupcakes in mason jars will ship??
Abbey. B. Cakes.
Can I just say that I am amazed that Glennon can respond to these comments and remember what everyone says? Amazing.
Glennon please add me to the list for the contest! I love the sign!
If it makes you feel better Glennon, Abbey and I share DNA yet I have never tasted a single cupcake….sigh…but I suppose geography could be to blame for this situation.
courtney ~ didn't you post earlier that you got a sunshine sign and an our nest sign? (at chick's picks, too?)
i think we might need a 12 step program!
xoxo ~ kristi
Does she make signs that say "stop eating all that junk…swimsuit season is upon us?" Ha! Loving the blog as always…
Thanks Tova! Dr. Yunus has several inspiring books under his belt or hmm robe. One of them is a A Billion Bootstraps… loves. He's one of those crazy people like me that believes we can do hard things like eradicate poverty, eliminate hunger, and love our bangs!
I'll add one of his treasures to the list of books I plan to add to your collection G. I hope you are keeping track, one of us should.
Kristi – I just picked up my newest "Corolla" sign from Chick Picks by Hillary. Love it!! Thanks!
-Courtney
Kristi,
I, for one, see NOTHING but bunny. It is SO clearly a rustic bunny. And rustic bunnies are my very favorite types of bunnies, truth be told.
I think the Monkees are just trying to get your goat.
Another potential sign to sell:
"We're trying hard not to be jerks."
Thanks for the votes of confidence–I'll admit now that I still see a goat. I cannot see a bunny. Maybe it's like one of those optical illusions.
vrwfox, please translate Tova's sign for me!
"I already did hard things, dammit!"
G – i love "i can hardly do things"
i think i'll paint one and put it above my bathroom door so that when i drag myself in each morning and feel like "i can hardly do things" or when i drag myself in each night after a long day i can embrace how i really feel at that moment! (someone once told me to embrace those feelings.) but above my bedroom door, the pantry door, the front door…oh yeah and the garage door and the back door and the office door (why must we have so many doors) i'll have 'we can do hard things'.
the "goat" is a really darling, primitive bunny…just for the record!
xoxo ~ kristi
I just want to say that I feel smarter for knowing you all.
xoxo
krystal
I prefer "I already did hard things, dammit!" But maybe it should be in latin so that guests aren't freaked out.
You guys don't have to do this though! Kristi, you should be president! Although as a Canadian I am pretty fond of Obama.
Yunnus? He started the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh which is basically the first Microloan program. It's been wildly successful and he is very inspiring to read. Go google him! I read all about him in one of Anna Lappe's books. New Hope for a Planet maybe? Can't remember.
Totally thought it was a goat.
I want one of those signs!
Love you all,
J
This is my new favorite Momastery day. Even more favoriter than yesterday.
My cousin Beth, who is my one of my best and longest lasting friends…reads this blog everyday but sends me her smart ass comments instead of posting them. I love this about her.
She just wrote me that she saved a comic forever in which one lady was talking about "doing hard things" and the other lady said "I can hardly do things!"
Also, Kristi, I'm telling.
Tova- Kristi just emailed me and said that she would absolutely love to make you a sign with a better slogan for your family this year. On her, as a gift.
Kristi for president.
Should we go with "I can hardly do things"
or "I ALREADY DID HARD THINGS, DAMMIT"
Chimmy….YES. THAT is what I'm talking about, Monkee business. Other measures of success than money. Yes Ma'am.Thank you Muhammed. Also, I'm sure I'll be embarrassed for asking, but who is he?
Kelly and Wakomom and GracenMercy and McDaniels and Courtney and Kirsten….welcome welcome!
Love today.
Kristi, love love love your signs! My sister knocked on my door at 4:30 am, when we had to get to work early and said, "Get up, C, we can do hard things!"
I'll be needing one for the office and the gym!
Also, monkees! I heard Muhammad Yunus speak this morning. It was an inspiring pep talk any monkeey would have loved! loved! loved!
His challenge is for the world to embrace "social business", saying that there is room for another kind of business with a self-less model. One where we are not seeking to maximize profits, but solve humanity's problems. One where our success is only measured by feeding a child, clothing a child, keeping a child in school, keeping a child healthy,… where investors don't look for a 30% ROI (return on investment), but expect nothing more than a better world, one small step at a time.
He was soooo talking about monkee business!
TGIF sisters!
P.S. – Sister mentioned possibly taking advantage of IJM offices dedicated to cooperatives. If that doesn't pan out for whatever possible reason, Walking with Africans Foundation (WAF) could be all about it! That's what we do, organize, train and mobilize rural entrepreneurs! So we could set up shop in Uganda too, if we did our research
Ok, I'm in. (steps bashfully out into the sunlight)
Diane– just went to the etsy site. I am still thinking it's a goat.
And I love Tova's sign too. I make sure I read the paper and do the Sudoku every morning, even if I means that my toddler twins have to flip through books in their cribs for a while longer. In fact, that's what they are doing right now as I type. Never feel guilty for taking a few minutes to do something that relaxes and heals you (provided it's not illegal/destructive). That would not make a good sign, but I stand by the advice.
And if you want to class things up, I will happily translate anything into Latin for Monkees who want their signs to look fancy.
Oh Man! I better watch what I say from now on…can you imagine that saying on a beautiful sign hanging in my living room. I can't decide which I would feel more… hysterical laughter or mortified whenever someone would visit.
I used to have a big sign in my room which was a quote from the Queen in Alice in Wonderland which read something like 'Why sometimes I believe as many as 6 impossible things before breakfast.'
Kelly – My counselor (am I allowed to say that here) once told me that every person should make one decision everyday that only benefits you and is for your enjoyment. So today, do one thing you want to do for you, intentionally.
Mine today is to eat chocolate and drink expensive tea while my children nap. It will only last five minutes, but the alternative is to work or clean or, or, or…
love the sign.
yes, we CAN do hard things.
reading a book right now called "Do Hard Things" – it's written by teenagers TO teenagers. VERY cool ( i hope to read it to my kids as they get a little older…but wanted to read it first!)
anyways…LOVE the sign!
Yay for the Monkees! Hope we all have a peaceful, wonderful, dance-filled weekend!
Hi I'm Kelly. I'm one of Erin's best friends, and I started lurking and reading when Erin started her Full At Last blog and told me about the Monkees. The sign has inspired me to sign up as a follower today….
I've been reading along for a while, and some days I laugh, and some days I sit at my desk and try hard not to cry, because I have a rule: No crying at work. I'm a mom to a 2.5 year old girl, and a wife to a guy I've been with for nearly 15 years and a working more than full time lawyer. I have a great life, but sometimes it's challenging and hard and overwhelming and lately I've been feeling like I CAN'T KEEP DOING ALL OF THIS IT'S TOO HARD AND I'M NOT DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB! But I'm still reading, and I'm trying really really hard not to be so hard on myself, you know?
anyway, the sign inspired me to speak up today, and say Erin, thank you for introducing me to this blog, and Glennon, thank you for writing and sharing everything.
The "Deal" sign, Tova, not the hard things one. You should have it.
Tova.
Im gonna ask Kristi to make you that sign. See if I don't.
I can't wait to really introduce you to these Monkees.
Write us a post, sister.
My last few years have been so FREAKING hard that I find myself resenting those beautiful little signs. I know I can do hard things, I'm tired of doing hard things. I want a sign that reads "I'm sitting on my butt and being selfish. Deal!"
Please don't pick me for the sign, give it to someone who wouldn't hate it.
Tova
PS. They are beautiful, it's not them, it's me.
We can do hard things! I hope that includes mulching my entire yard tomorrow….I'm dreading it. I will just have to take a few breaks to go shopping for our little lovelies in Uganda!!!
Welcome New Monkees!
Oh, and Abbey- to learn more about how noble I am (and why I chose a non-karmic faith) please see Monday's post about my trip to the Indian Reservation.
G
What a beautiful idea! I just started following yesterday so maybe God will bless me
. I just want to say how blessed I am to find your blog. You have a gift and I'm so glad God led me to you! I cant wait for each day to read! Stay blessed and continue to do his work!
great sign – oh and I also thought it was a goat on top
I just stumbled across your blog and am so grateful for the realness, insight and encouragement – truly refreshing!
Wow. I so needed this reminder today.
I am in my post partum, oh woe is me mode right now and things like "I can't do this" keep spilling out of my mouth as I try to keep continue healing, take care of the little newborn, spend quality time with the older two and prepare for teaching.
I know I can do hard things but why do the easy things that I once could do effortless have to laugh in my face now?
I love them. I have often wondered where G gets her wooden signs, it seems like something I would to have. So this will probably be my first. Thanks for introducing us to Kristi – she is one of my "favorite" sellers on etsy now.
Tricia
Thanks Kathie ~ I will definitely take you up on the offer!!
For those who missed the "goat", head over to my etsy shop and click on the sign! You can check it out there!!
xoxo ~ kristi
Yeah! I have the custom Baseball sign in my sons room and I love it! When I went to pick it up I saw all the amazing work that Kristi has done. I'm so excited about this!
Kristi-If you need any assistance, let me know. Even if it's just taking you out for a drink so your hand can rest.
Kathie
I'm a new follower! I love the signs and am going over to etsy now to check out the store.
yes WE can and yes WE will!!
missed the goat, bunny, zebra, whale, anteater or whatever it was. i was looking at the pictures closely thinking where is this thing? i know i didn't get home until 2 am, but then saw G's post.
i am stilling sitting on yesterday's post. so many things running through my brain. so i'm going to just BE for a bit and see what comes. loved reading everyone's ideas. can't wait dancing monkees, can't wait.
I love the giveaway signs! I am going to check out Kristi's website now.
Happy Friday Monkees!! 
Dang!! I want one, too!!
I also LOVE the Sunshine one. I just need to figure out where to put it. Courtney, me too! me too!! I sing that many nights to my children and as they drift to sleepy land I always get teary eyed.
L-
Anna's gonna love these signs isn't she?
Excited for when she stops by.
OKAY Monkees!
Pictures are now goat-less!
Jeesh.
And yes, Ab. Really am getting offered cool stuff.
So far…I have been offered NO CUPCAKES, however.
Love, love, love it! And yes, we can do hard things!
LOVE the sign – I"m with Colleen – have been drooling since Glennon's obsession started and she posted the link a few weeks ago. LOVE the sunshine one too! Thanks so much for putting your time and energy into this sign – it's perfect for us monkees!
"Any Old Comment"….this is what Glennon said to write and that this will do
I am officially signed up as a follower. A follower who promptly forgot my password because apprently I CAN DO HARD THINGS as long as there is not memory power involved. AKA, I'm kind of an idiot. But I CAN do hard things as long as it involves mass amounts of cupcakes 
So that's something.
Abbey B.
P.S. Diane, I totally could not figure out what the white animal was either. I stared in confusion ALMOST as much as I did at that yoga person without any, ahem, ta tas.
P.P.S. Glennon, are you really getting offered cool stuff or are you saying you are so we can all sit here in suspense, wild with wonder? Need examples so we can all see how truly noble you are for turning it down
;);) LOVE YOU!
Diane, I thought it was a goat too.
And sign is beautiful, of course.
Why haven't I run into you again? I still smile every time I remember your wacky introduction.
What a wonderful idea and a beautiful piece of art! I've been drooling over these since discovering Owl Primitives on FB a few weeks ago!
I ordered the "You are my Sunshine" sign (a song in which I cannot get through without crying) and the "Our Nest" a few weeks ago. They ARE adorable!!
-Courtney
Good Morning Monkees! I'm so exicted about these signs that Glennon asked me to make especially for each of you! And I'm even more excited about the opportunity to donate $5 for each sign sold to those beautiful children that need our love and support!
Please remember that I'm one Monkee…so if you decide to order a sign, you might need to be a little patient with me! I hand paint each one, so it takes some time!
we can do hard things!!
xoxo ~ kristi
Um, bunny. I was never good with my farm animals. So Kristi, consider this valuable (and free) consumer feedbacki: you may want to reshoot the pix of this sign. Without the bunny.
Sign is adorable, hope I win!
Damn good thing I get paid soon. LOVE IT.
Diane – I was wondering the same thing, lol
Not only is the sign absolutely wonderful … it was a much needed reminder for the week I've had
Just bought mine and am trying to figure out where the best place to put it will be!! Thanks monkees
Diane, it's a rabbit.
Diane,
I'm laughing.
That's just the display. The sign is just the wordy part. No goats. Even though I'm pretty sure that's a bunny.
Right now there are 379 followers – plus 1 because I do come here every day and I love Glennon – I just don't follow. At any rate, if everyone bought a sign, the donation would be $5×380=1900 already! Or, if everyone donates $5, same thing.
The force of numbers just blows me away.
And, in case I get the random number generator, PLEASE bless someone else with it. Let Amma pick the comment (since she can't read it will have to be the one with the coolest photo, I guess). I love the signs – they're very creative. I just don't need one.more.thing.in.my.house!
OK, I have to ask my dumb question…is that a white goat attached to the sign? Wearing a necklace? Or did that just happen to be on the mantle behind the sign when it was being photographed? Inquiring minds want to know.
I have to let you know I am only commenting because this sign is PERFECT and I really need one for my house. But, more importantly, I need my $5.00 to go the bebes, so I ordered my own. I'd rather my $5 go somewhere it's needed than get this sign for free (not that I'd win, I have the WORST luck with stuff like this).
Thanks, Ladies. I am eagerly awaiting mine in the mail. Can't wait, can't wait!!!
The signs are great — I love them all! I'm hoping to win, but if not, I'll just have to order one.
That sign is perfect! I love it. Kristi is very talented.
Speaking of perfect…my verify word was dance!!
It's awesome! I love me some wooden signs! I will definitely check out Barn Owl Primitives.
I am hoping I win one, but if I don't I will be ordering. Needed to be reminded.
Love the signs! I just checked out etsy and LOVE the Sunshine one. And the family rules one. oh, and the "our nest" one. uh, oh, I think I may be spending some money today….
All right, I want one. I've never commented before, but this blog is so inspiring. I read it every day and am blown away with your perspecitve on life. I don't need to win one, am happy to buy one, just let me know how! Thank you Glennon for all the wonderful opportunities!
Curses, I should be a new follower
j/k…I just ordered mine and can't wait to see it.
I've need a huge dose of reminders this week about doing hard things.
LOVE the signs. We've taken that saying and taught it to our kids at school- it's been amazing to watch them stand a little taller when they mutter, "this is hard" and we reply, "yes, but we can do hard things". It's like we're giving them the keys to go ahead and drive head on into a challenge.
Great idea Glennon! I just went over to the Etsy shop and I am in love. . . with every sign. They are beautiful and filled with meaning. This is a happy Friday indeed.
TGIF Monkees!