What do you see?

Revisiting an old journal...

 

 

...in this journal I spent some time "studying" some of the great works of art that I enjoy...this is one of Edward Hopper's...I see aloneness, but not necessarily loneliness...thinking, reflecting, processing...stealing a moment...light...pausing to take it all in...
What do you see?

hope!

Here we are...into the full swing of things this holiday season...I do kinda feel like I am moving slow motion in a fast-spinning world.  The "slow" is by choice...and maybe not slow, but slower as (and it almost feels like a stubborn digging my heels in posture)I am enjoying the days...each day with a mind set on what this season is REALLY about...keeping my eyes open for the SIGNIFICANCE of the imagery, songs, celebrations of this season...these HOLY-days...that's what I want to SEE...the days holy...the holy in the days...
As I approached my first December journal page, this is what was on my mind...memories of childhood Christmases and I have always loved the anticipation of Christmas as much as the day itself.  And as I thought about that, I thought about Israel's anticipation (throughout history)of their Messiah, Heaven's aanticipation of God's Son taking on flesh...the waiting...the HOPE!
So, I chose an old Christmas picture of my sister and I (a long, long time ago!)...and put it on a fold-out over this stamped winter scene...then added journaling...

 

Wishing you HOPE and HOLY in your days!  :)

a K, and a S

Finishing up November's journal...
the K page..K is for "Kneeling in gratitude for each and every"...
  Nov. 9th was my daughter's 18th birthday so I decided to journal 18 things I love about her...along with some collage bits...      

and the back...
  (dictionary scraps, gesso, Wild Honey Distress Ink, clip art, zig-zag tape, Broken China Distress Paint for texture)

and S is for "Small, and/or Significant gift given from His hand."
  (magazine pic that had great eyes...highlighted with a grunge-board frame painted with Broken China Distress Paint)

But I couldn't NOT :) -you know what I mean- include this quote that has been a huge help to me...PLUS the word of the year is SEE...and this quote is all about the eyes...looking...perspective...the way you see...

 
...and the last couple of  "pages"...tags...just for fun!

 

 I REALLY enjoyed this theme of giving thanks...and I now will carry these images and processing into December...mindfulness!  :)

Today, each day To Him, my Heavenly Father, Acknowledging, Appreciating, Naming, then Kneeling in gratitude for each and every Small and, or Significant gift given from His hand.

Good bye May, 2013

Another month of 2013 ended...here is a peek at what May's journal looks like...

A simple cover...

 

 

 

Remember pop-up books?  I love to make my journals as "interactive" as possible, so a flap to lift and find something underneath is too much fun.

 

 

 

 

 

yes, that IS a paint chip from the hardware store that I altered.  :)

This is a little acrostic that I did for "SEE"...Setting, Searching Eyes Expectantly...nothing fancy or profound...just for me...(I love the process and challenge of composing acrostics.  Try one.)

That's an overview of how my May "worked" out...and what is on the page represents what I was processing, and what I want to remember...if you don't keep a journal of some kind, I want to encourage you to start one...it really is a great way to record and remember your days...did I say a FUN, great way?!?  Give it a try, and let me know what you think.  :)

Playing with Color

A few months ago I read Wonderstruck by Margaret Feinberg.  I loved it.  I feel like it goes right along with my WOTY, see, and it has challenged me to be "on the look-out" for the wonder of God in my days...At the end of the book, the author includes a 30-Days-of-Wonder exercise, which I have been doing since the beginning of May.  It has been a stretch...a good work-out, in fact...and I think that the days that encouraged paying attention to the wonder of beauty, and of creation...PLUS the need for a bit of "playtime" were the inspiration for this journal page.

I wanted to PLAY with COLOR so I started digging through colored pencils and markers to assemble the colors of this months journal (gray, yellow, green, and blue).  I decided to make a palette "key"...just for fun."

 

 Then I got out my journal and hunted for the right picture...I love this picture of a girl in all white with a splash of color.  I thought it was a perfect image to add to my "color" page.

After she was glued in, I added some fun tape and the palette key.  Then I wrote the word COLOR across the corner and colored it in with some of the pens I found...jotted a few notes on the page...that's it...a little bit of playtime...FUN!

I love color and its always fun to add some to "life", whether in a journal, in my wardrobe, or in the decor of my home...Spring and all the new blossoms are all about color being added to the world after the less-than-colorful season of winter...hmmm...the wonder of The Creator...  :)

How do you add color to your life?

Strength!

During worship I was encouraged..."When we see Him we find strength to face the day"...I DO need/want His strength in and for my every day...PLUS, as I shared last week, I am on "alert" for those SEE words :)...and so, this inspired a quick journal page this week...helping me to remember to KEEP MY EYES OPEN-ON HIM...and the journalling is part of the processing...

I found this girl with super powers :) in a magazine and shrunk her way down to fit my April journal (shown above-its tiny...about 4 x 5).

Then fun tapes were added, grounding her, and bordering the corner.

                               "Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in His wonderful face.
                                          And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
                                                   in the light of His glory and grace." 

Do you have a WOTY?

You know...a WOTY:  a  Word Of The Year.  "SEE" is mine this year. Past years have been:  remember, hope, good, know, joy, celebrate...I take a long time choosing what the word will be...knowing that for the whole year it will be a word to guide my quiet times, help my focus and perspective...that kind of thing...I always ask God to direct me in what HE wants me to "work" with...Afterall, He knows best what it is that I need in this walk of faith with Him...that is really what it is all about...right?!? :)  And once I know what the word will be, it is SO EXCITING how He confirms and incorporates that word (concept, theme) into my life and learning.  YAY Jesus!  So if you "see" :) lots of things here that have to do with sight, seeing, focus, perspective, vision, looking, eyes, watching...that's where I'm coming from...this is the year to SEE God, His Hand...to be mindful to keep my eyes open...to anticipate Him...I don't know about you, but I don't want to miss a single thing that He has for me!   2013-the year to SEE!