One Little Word - August

The August prompt in Ali Edward's One Little Word 2017 class was all about taking a look at our life right now and documenting what we're celebrating and where we're struggling.

I'll be adding the prompt card and my three photos to the back of the page protector holding the July encouragement cards.

I'm just getting this prompt completed as August comes to a close. It's been a tough week here in Texas watching all the devastation Hurricane (& Tropical Storm) Harvey have wrecked on our great state. Even though we were not in the midst of the storm, I've felt like everything has been on hold waiting for the storm to pass and the recovery to begin. (My sister in southeast Texas watched the water rise to within an inch of the threshold. They were one of the fortunate ones to not have water inside the house.) Please keep Texas in your prayers - there are thousands of people in shelters and/or beginning the clean-up of their homes, many without electricity and running water, families separated, first responders and average citizens still conducting rescues, and whole communities trying to figure out how to move forward.

Book Swap & Blog Topics

While I've pretty much kept up with reading the books my sister has sent me each month as part of our monthly book swap this year, I have gotten behind on writing about the blog topics she suggests. So, today's post is a little catch up.

JUNE BLOG TOPIC

I think one of the reasons I got behind is because I just couldn't decide on my strengths and weaknesses. Every time I thought of something that is a strength, I realized at other times that same thing is a weakness. I've finally chosen five strengths to share, along with a note about how they might become weaknesses at times.

1. Organization - I'm pretty sure I was born organized! I actually enjoy organizing, whether it's preparing my weekly calendar, rearranging my scrapbooking stash, or straightening up the pantry. I can look at a pile of stuff or a random list of things to do and quickly figure a good way to organize, sort, prepare and get things in order. Of course, this need to be organized can be a weakness when it gets in the way of productivity. Color-coding my weekly to-do list is wonderful, as long as I follow through! And having everything in its place is nice, as long as keeping it that way doesn't mean I miss out on the important things in life.

2. Leadership - Anytime I take a test of skills or giftings, leadership is always one of the top three abilities on my results list. I don't have a problem taking charge, making decisions, working hard, or delegating tasks. I enjoy leading groups and coordinating members to work toward a common goal. Of course, I have to remember not to overstep any boundaries when someone else is in charge!

3. Teaching - Hopefully this one isn't a surprise to anyone. I love teaching, and, based on feedback from many individuals over the years, I'm pretty good at it. Honestly, I enjoy the whole process - preparing, studying, getting everything ready, the actual teaching & coaching & mentoring, building relationships with students & clients, etc. For me, teaching is so much FUN! This could become a weakness if I don't stop teaching at the point that the student is able to continue on his/her own, however, I really don't think this is an issue for me.

4. Creativity - Honestly, for most of my life I thought I wasn't very creative. In fact, I've often said I am the least creative person in my family. I think this is because much of my creativity comes out in the way I teach and organize and lead, however I have also always enjoyed scrapbooking and have tried a variety of creative endeavors throughout my life (like the ceramics class I took in junior high school and those homecoming corsages I created in my early 20s and the wallpaper I hung a few years later). The past fifteen years or so, I have thoroughly immersed myself in scrapbooking, paper crafting, card making, illustrated Bible journaling, and a myriad of other creative pursuits. My creativity only becomes a weakness when I begin to once again question whether I truly am creative, thus hindering the INSPIRATION!

5. Faith - As a Christian, I have a firm foundation and moral standards that I strive to uphold. I know that I'm not perfect, but I have a Savior who died for my sins and continues to teach me and guide me in my everyday life. I know what I believe and am able to defend my beliefs through the truth of the Word. I can't image my life without Jesus. I want to live my life in such a loving way that it points others to Jesus, letting my actions speak louder than my words. This is probably my strongest characteristic, however it can come across as too strong at times. If I am not careful how they are expressed, my views can come across as judgment and condemning.

What would you put on a list of your strengths and weaknesses?Would some items be classified as both?

JULY BLOG TOPIC

I was relieved to get this easy topic and am using photos to showcase some of my (and our) collections.

AUGUST HAPPY MAIL PACKAGE & BOOK REVIEW

This month, we each sent the other a small book so we could get caught up - me with my blog topics and Brenda with her reading. While she didn't send me a blog topic this month, the package I received was full of goodies for Bible journaling, scrapbooking and my One Little Word binder.

I thoroughly enjoyed the small, easy-to-read book, Dream More by Dolly Parton. This book was based on Dolly's commencement speech to the University of Tennessee graduates a few years ago. The message she shares is to (1) Dream More, (2) Learn More, (3) Care More, and (4) Be More. As she encourages us to embrace these four hopes, she shares her own stories of dreaming (to become a singer), learning (as a lifelong pursuit), caring (especially her efforts to give back to her community in rural Tennessee), and being more (with God as her foundation). A wonderfully uplifting read!

I sent Brenda The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson. This small book is based on 1 Chronicles 4:10, a short prayer found in the midst of a long list of genealogies and is a great example and reminder of the effectiveness of prayer as "God granted (Jabez) that which he requested."

Well, that catches me up! We're going to skip the book swap in September, but will start up again in October.

Yet I Will Rejoice

It's easy to rejoice and find joy in the Lord when everything in our lives is going smoothly. However, it is even more important to rejoice during the difficult times. This type of rejoicing is much harder and requires a conscious decision on our part. We see an example of this in Habakkuk 3:17-18.

Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Despite the difficulties Habakkuk was enduring, he chose to rejoice. After a list of the problems facing him, he boldly declares YET I will rejoice. He chose to rejoice despite those circumstances.

I am striving to implement this lesson in my own life. Despite the big issues (the pain and heartbreak of a broken relationship & the fact that we are facing an upcoming transition with uncertain outcomes) and the little issues (the oven isn't working and the printer has an attitude) we are currently facing, I can (and will!) consciously choose to rejoice in the Lord, my Savior! There is so much to find joy in - a strong marriage, a beautiful home, a thriving teaching ministry - but ultimately joy comes from my salvation and relationship with Jesus Christ.

 
 Do you find it hard to rejoice during the difficult times?

Scrapbooking 2016

Do you ever just need a day off - a day to spend in your craft room, scrapbooking memories, gluing pretty pieces of paper together, listening to country music, and ignoring your to-do list? Yesterday was that kind of day for me. . . and it was very productive! 

I scrapped quite a few pages last year with memories from the year, so now I'm working back through those 2016 chronological albums, filling in missing photos and stories (excluding our vacations, which I'll start on once I finish these album reviews.) Here's a look at the pages that complete the first half of 2016.

Have you taken a day off to scrapbook lately?

Let's Paint - Gelli Plate Techniques

My first attempts at using a gelli plate were, uhmm, less than successful. However, I continued to practice (and then teach) this technique and really like the results. The basic idea is to apply paint to a gelli plate, then use a variety of tools to add designs and textures before adding the paint to a page.

I used this technique to create backgrounds for several pages in my worship journal.

I taught this technique at a workshop earlier this summer. Here's a look at some of the designs created by participants in that workshop.

Monday's Mail Memo - A Very ACTIVE Seven Weeks

Once again it seems like time is flying by - seven weeks since my last Monday catch-up! There's been a little happy mail, and lots of ACTIVE and FUN days this summer! (Warning - this post is long & has lots of photos!)

HAPPY MAIL
I received the latest Sweet To The Soul Bible Study & Bible Journaling Kit from my friend Jana Kennedy- Spicer and a happy card from Tonya Hamilton of Messy Bible during the month of July.

And one day a large flat box arrived! It contained the new table I ordered for my craft room. Robbie put it together that evening & now I have double the work space!!

 
TWIN VISITS
Our 12-year-old twin nieces each spent a week with us this summer, and we had so much FUN! As is the tradition before a visit, they each made a list of the things of things to do.

I taught each of them to ice skate (and even scrapped about it already!). There was a morning of swimming with each one, too. During Laurie's visit, we also enjoyed a minor league baseball game, checked out and read several library books, watched movies, played a couple of games of Life, and worked many crossword puzzles. She even participated in a couple of local karate classes to see how they were different from her regular classes. During Paige's visit, we spent lots of time doing illustrated Bible journaling, painted mini-canvases, read several library books, played games, and worked a couple of jigsaw puzzles. She also attended my Christmas in July Card Class. (Yes, we checked everything off their lists!)

WORKSHOPS & EVENTS
I've been very ACTIVE teaching these past several weeks. I taught a small class for residents at a local assisted living facility, sharing how to use gelatos to decorate a hymnal page.

On July 1, I had a huge surprise when my sister and two of my nieces showed up to take my Intro to Bible Journaling Workshop at Scrappin' Goodtime! (I thought they would be arriving around noon to pick up Laurie, but they drove in the day before so they could attend my class!) It was a great class, followed by lunch with Robbie, my sister, brother-in-law, and three nieces (plus one boyfriend!). That afternoon I taught the scripture frame class and the ladies did a fabulous job on these happy frames!

Then there was the Christmas in July Card Class at Personal Scrapbook.

The last Saturday in July, I taught a Bible journaling mini-retreat for a church in Durant, Oklahoma. There were 25 ladies there, and we had a FUN day diving into the Word and trying lots of illustrated journaling techniques.

This past weekend, I co-taught two Creative Lettering Bible Journaling workshops with Jana Kennedy-Spicer at Scrappin' Goodtime. I love seeing everyone giving creative lettering a try!

In other teaching news, there was the launch of the Alive in Christ ~ A Weekend Renewal event. I created a website for the event, and Kelley Raetzsch and I recorded a video to announce the opening of registration. The weekend is already half-full! I also began a free four-part Bible journaling devotional series on the Proverbs 31 Woman for my email list this week. (Click HERE to sign up to receive illustrated Bible journaling INSPIRATION and information on my upcoming workshops & events.)

FUN OUTINGS
One weekend, Robbie and I headed to a trading card show here in the Dallas area. Former Dallas Cowboys Defensive End Ed "Too Tall" Jones was there signing autographs, and I couldn't resist asking to have a FUN photo taken with him!

We also enjoyed a stroll around the Lufkin zoo with my sister and her family during one of our meet-ups for the twins' visits. It was an overcast day, which was perfect because it kept the temperatures bearable!

48th BIRTHDAY
I celebrated my birthday a couple of weeks ago. It was a beautiful sunshiny day, and (as always) Robbie spoiled me with breakfast in bed, lots of gifts, a gorgeous cake, and a made-to-order home-cooked supper!

Well, I think that catches me up to this week, which I'll be spending doing household chores and taking care of car maintenance and catching up on some blog reading! What have you been up to lately?