September turned out much differently than I'd planned. For some time, I've been contemplating going back to teaching, and I had the opportunity to interview for a couple of unexpected openings at local school districts. I was offered a position and spent a week in the (high school) classroom. However, it is difficult to take over a class in the middle of a semester, especially when the previous teacher/coach had very low expectations and an extremely casual classroom structure, so I've decided to continue my "unofficial sabbatical" concentrating on having FUN and finding and acting on INSPIRATION!
September Review
1. Top Five - I'm challenging myself to scrap my top five
(photos or stories or
events) from the previous month. I completed two layouts from my May Top Five list.
2. Blog Series INSPIRATION A-Z - I completed a couple more posts in this blog series. Click a letter below to check out any that you may have missed.
3. Reading for INSPIRATION - Oddly, I did not do much reading in September.
During September, I taught four Intro to Bible Journaling classes and completed quite a few Bible Journaling pages. In these classes, I discussed the beginnings of Illustrated Faith, demonstrated using pencil colors, water colors, pens and markers in the margins of the Bible, and then shared a devotional which class participants used as INSPIRATION for their own Bible Journaling. They did a fabulous job!
Other creative INSPIRATION in September led to 2 completed layouts, 1 canvas, 5 cards, and 1 framed home decor piece (which I'll share in a future post). I also completed a 40-page scrap- book-for-hire album. I published 12 blog posts (+2 on the Scrappin' Goodtime blog and 1 on the Personal Scrapbook blog). I updated and reviewed my INSPIRATION notebook and completed quite a few items on the INSPIRATION to-do list I created mid-month. I didn't actually participate in Shimelle's Learn Something New Every Day class this year, but I did read the prompts each day. (One of my pages from 2013 is actually featured in the handout for the 21st!)
For the month of October, I'll be exploring and acting on INSPIRATION in several ways:
1. Top Five - I'm challenging myself to scrap my top five
(photos or stories or
events) from the previous month. I'll be working on my layouts for May, June, July, August and September. Here's one of my favorite photos from September - just me and Robbie out and about on a Saturday.
2. Blog Series INSPIRATION A-Z - I'll be working on the next series of posts for my blog series on INSPIRATION.
3. Bible Journaling Workshops - I started this month out by teaching two Bible Journaling workshops at Scrappin' Goodtime and have three more scheduled at Personal Scrapbook in the next couple of weeks. (Check out all the details HERE.)
4. Reading for INSPIRATION - I'm hoping to get back to reading and sharing INSPIRATION from Creative Girl, Creative Doodling & Beyond, and Art Journal Freedom this month.
5. Travel - We have a FUN trip scheduled for later this month, which includes a meet-up with Cheri! I'm sure I'll find INSPIRATION for lots of photography along the way, too!
What kind of INSPIRATION did you enjoy in September? What are your plans for exploring and acting on INSPIRATION in October?
I love your journals. I think it's awesome that you are conducting the Bible journaling workshops. This hobby of ours isn't just for memory keeping! Although, I think when you get people in to the Bible journaling, it can't help but evoke faith based memories. So, I guess it really is still memory keeping! Keep carrying the banner!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that you are such a passionate teacher, the right opportunity will come along one day soon. You have a lot to give.
ReplyDeleteOctober? I have to admit that the excuse to do more inside evening activities is what inspires me most
Gosh you have been busy! Love the photo of you and Robbie. As Sian says, I am sure that the right opportunity is going to come along for you soon.
ReplyDeleteInspiration for October? Hugh's big birthday will mean lots of different events to be celebrated with lots of photos and different members of the family to get together with so that should give me some inspiration!
You are indeed very inspiring yourself :). And you've sent me off clicking and hunting and adding books to my Christmas list. Hoping you have a super time meeting up with Cheri and will tell us all about it!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful photo to scrapbook. I can't wait to see your page.
ReplyDeleteI so wis I could attend your illustrated faith class, I'm still unsure where to start
Oh it looks like your Sept was very full. When the opportunity is right, God will open up another classroom door to you I am sure. I'm sorely tempted to head right out to the Christian bookstore and look for a journaling Bible. Do you have any recommendations for one with heavy thick pages?
ReplyDeleteI’ve seen quite a few journaling Bibles in the workshops I’m teaching and honestly they are all a little different. I wouldn’t say any of them have “heavy thick pages” as Bibles just typically have thinner pages. I do recommend trying to find them at a local store so that you can see them & feel the pages. There are several sizes. I’m really enjoying the new one I have because it’s a nice size for carrying, not too large and heavy, but with very nice margins. (Although the print is fairly small.)
ReplyDeleteMy biggest takeaway from seeing various women work with different Bibles is that each one is truly enjoying this form of drawing closer to the Lord, regardless of the Bible! Quite a few, like me, started out with one of the Bibles they already owned, but then purchased a journaling Bible to have more room to journal/illustrate.
Your journals are so beautiful! I love all your inspiration and how you share your talent with so many.
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