still here

I really am still here...just working away "behind the scenes"...on all kinds of things...some creative, some just necessary. I have been journaling in tiny increments here and there where I can, but still at it nonetheless...always!  I will add some of the pages I have done as I can...some of them are finished, and some are not...which is ok with me because my journaling is for me...

Last month my daughter and I took a class taught by Dina Wakley at the Stamp Art Shoppe in Roseville...It was a wonderful class and Dina is an amazing teacher...Her "Facing the Facts" class was a complete stretch for me since I don't feel very comfortable with my drawing skills, or lack of them  :)  ...BUT she taught us to draw a face and then challenged us to draw 100 faces...in other words, PRACTICE!  Well, the class was an encouragement to me (BIG difference between my "before" face and my "after" her-instruction face)...plus my daughter inspires me constantly with her drawings...anyway, I have been drawing faces (I think I have sketched 15 so far.)...I'm not confident enough to show all of them :) but this journal page represents this activity in my life right now....

As you can see, she is simple...basic...but I like her...
Like anything in life that is difficult, practice helps so much...sometimes my girls look like aliens...my husband called one of them 'horseface'  :)  ...but I am enjoying the process so much...I highly recommend it.  :)  Think of something you would like to learn to do, get a little instruction and then practice...alot...
                            ...and while you are at it, have a good time...laugh lots...enjoy the process!

the process

Its interesting when you think about "the process" of learning, growing, life...or any project or chore that we tackle...there IS a "process" involved...as I began October's journal, I pulled out paper that spoke 'fall' to me...and then I started to sort through it and narrow down what I would use this month...this is a peek at what that beginning process looked like...

 

...and a little closer look at the yummy papers, yummy colors...

I love that those hot air balloons kinda look like pumpkins.  :)

...then, inspired by our women's retreat preparations, I decided that this month I would make a small "file folder" to hold all the "pages" that I create...

I don't know if you can tell by the pic, but we are making small file folders to hold our retreat notes (the file folder on the bottom of the stack is a normal letter-sized file folder.  The pile of folders on the top are about 8 1/2 x 6 each...super cute!)...
...here is my October journal "folder"...made from Tim Holtz paper...

 

 So that was just the process getting started...Yikes! Its the 8th...I gotta get journaling!  I'll be back with the first page or two...

so long September

October already!
 ...and so here is my September journal...flip through the pages with me  :)

 

 

 

...very fun to see the month all together like this......so long September.

hope

"For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it."  (Romans 8:24,25)

Okay, so my word of the year is SEE, and I am on heightened alert for anything, anywhere that I find the word.  It really IS like treasure hunting.  :)  And it is just one more (fun, in my opinion) way to keep mindful...yes, a "discipline"...well, when I found the phrase: "the best part is what you can't see" (in some random magazine or something), I thought of this verse from Romans 8 (above)...TREASURE!  And OF COURSE it needed its own journal page...  :)

I think I will write "hope" and "faith" on the wheel...what would you write there?

Journal on, and have a hope-full day!  :)

into the depths

"The classical disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond surface living into the depths."
                                                         (taken from Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster)

It is too bad that often we (yes, even I still do) think of discipline as a negative thing...and yet I love the "call", the challenge, the opportunity that the disciplines provide for me in a deeper, more intimate walk of faith, with Christ...it really is just an invitation for MORE...more of Him!  And so, I accept!

Dive deeper!

still counting

Yes, still.....

...still counting.
                               counting. still.
Counting "gifts given" keeps me focused...eyes on The Giver...and as I look to Him, my heart is stilled, quieted...thankfulness is an amazing-and fun!-discipline.  What are you thankful for today?

courage

encourage...to infuse with courage

This is my latest journal page...it took a turn as I was "playing"...this was not the image nor the 'text' that I originally had in mind...but this is the result...hmmm...I guess I needed the reminder...

...so I encourage you (just in case you need the reminder also)...remember Who your strength is, and "be strong and of good courage" as your week begins.   :)