Joy Journal Project

For years now, I've been collecting books and reading blogs about art journaling -- but I've never actually started an art journal that documents my life in some way. This past year, I've also spent a lot of time thinking about joy, and recognizing the link between joy and gratitude. When I came upon Amanda Jolley's Joy Journal Project the other week, I realized it presented the perfect opportunity for me to start art journaling with a purpose. And because it's a once-a-month class, it seems manageable for me. If I get behind -- it will be easy enough to catch up.


The first assignment was to journal about someone that brings joy to our lives. Since my husband and I will be celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary next month, and since he still lights up my life -- I chose to journal about him. After gessoing the page, I started by free-writing about how wonderful he is. That all got covered in paint -- but it got the creative juices flowing -- and I know it's under there! Outside of layers of paint, ink, and metallic crayon, I simply used a couple of photos and a bit of scrapbooking paper (the numbers -- which are representative of days and years of joy together) and added some text. 

I love the idea of altering books, so I chose this library discard as my Joy Journal base. It's thin enough that it's not intimidating -- but it has enough room for about a year's worth of monthly journal spreads. I plan to alter the cover, of course -- but I'm not sure how I will go about that yet.

Have you ever tried art journaling? What are your favourite tools and techniques? How do you find it differs from regular journaling?

Gratitude Challenge November 12-15

Where do the days go???? My lack of participation in the Gratitude Challenge the last few days is not an indication of my state of mind -- I actually find myself more grateful than ever for all kinds of little (and big!) things. But the days are just slipping by so quickly! Let me catch up now . . .


November 12 - I'm grateful for all the support I've been receiving since I was diagnosed with lymphoma. Family, friends, hospital staff, community care workers, cancer support centers -- it's incredible how much love and support my family and I have received! It's overwhelming (in a good way!), really. 


November 13 - I'm thankful for my sisters and brother. We didn't really grow up together, but now that we're all adults (well, kinda ;) we are growing together in spirit. Only one of us six sisters has not joined the Cancer Club, and while that's not a club any of us would choose to be in (or see others join), it has certainly served to unite our hearts. They have become such a blessing to me, and I'm grateful for their presence in my life. 


November 14 - I'm grateful for homeschooling. Today I enjoyed some serendipitous learning time with my littles, and I just felt so blessed to be teaching them, learning with them, and spending time with them. It's not always easy, and I have the perpetual plague of comparison to contend with (Are we doing it as well as ___? Are we doing enough? Would it be better if ____?) -- but I'm thankful for the freedom we have to be living a lifestyle of learning. 


November 15 - I'm so thankful for the variety of foods that God provided to nourish our bodies. I've been reading a lot about juicing lately, which has enlightened me about the many nutrients housed in fruits and vegetables. Last night I juiced some celery, carrots, parsley and garlic (ooohhh, that made it zingy! -- I had to add an apple to take away some of the garlic's zapping power!). Well, I don't know if it was the juice -- the tomato-parsley salad my friend made for me -- or the leek soup another friend gave me -- but after supper, I had more energy than I've had since my diagnosis! For the first time since I started chemo, I felt like my body was working the way it is supposed to work. I think I'm onto something here, and I'm grateful for the discovery, as well as God's provision. 

What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Challenge November 11

It is only fitting that today I express my gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy in our country -- many of which have come at a cost to people's lives. I am thankful for this country -- Canada -- and for the rich heritage it has of people who have dedicated their lives to serving God and others, even if that has meant their own sacrificial death. 


For what are you thankful today?

Gratitude Challenge November 10

I'm a relatively new blogger -- I've only been at it for about a year and a half now. But in that time, I have come across some amazing blogs that offer so much inspiration for me as a follower of Christ, a wife, a mother, an artist, and a home maker. So today I am expressing my gratitude for all of the bloggers that inspire me in my faith and journey through life. 


I'm listing a few of them in case they might inspire you, as well:


Ann Voskamp @ Holy Experience
Sally Clarkson @ I Take Joy
Kat @ Inspired to Action
Emily @ Chatting at the Sky
Emily @ Imperfect Prose


If you would like to read more about my own spiritual journey as I undergo cancer treatments for aggressive large B cell lymphoma, you're welcome to join my family here at CaringBridge. Incredibly, others have been inspired -- so perhaps you will, too. My hope is that you will see the Holy Spirit at work as you read our story! My sister (of All About You Video Productions) and husband just put together an amazingly beautiful video about the journey so far. I am so blessed! 

Gratitude Challenge November 9

So today I'm expressing gratitude for our fourth child, this cute, little monkey:

He is known for his huge smile, infectious giggle, and mischievous ways. (Today at our visit to the local cancer clinic, a number of people commented how nice it was to hear a child's laughter there!) Boy barbarian through and through, he wields weapons, destroys everything that can be pulled apart -- just because it's possible -- and loudly plays pirate searching for treasure in any pile of dirt he comes upon. Curious and creative, he requires close supervision because those same qualities can get him into some serious trouble ;) One day, though, the traits that are such a challenge to us as parents now will make him a creative genius who will accomplish all kinds of brilliant achievements! (Right???? Tell me it's true!!!! ;)

I'm thankful for his rare cuddles and sometimes begrudging hugs (though they are coming more willingly and frequently these days!) -- and I love the fact that he enjoys reading together at bed time. 


He's our feisty Fireglow -- a burning ball of blessing -- and I thank God for making him part of our family! 


What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Challenge November 8

Today I'm giving thanks for my beautiful, bouncy, bubbly Sweet Petunia. She is pure joy most of the time. Her effervescent personality draws people to her, and she loves on them with her whole being! She is not known as our daughter -- we are known as her parents! EVERYBODY knows and loves this girl, and I'm so proud of her efforts to reach out to people and make them feel known and loved. (One of her favourite things to do at church is stick on a "Greeter" pin and welcome everyone to the service. And she's really good at it!)

She's also a great hugger and kisser -- interrupting her play on a regular basis to fill her love tank with cuddles and kisses. I'm so grateful for the ways she brightens my life, and the lives of everyone she meets, with her sweet, loving nature.

This precious girl loves God and wants to pray and be prayed for so she can know Him more.  I'm even grateful for the fact that her "dark side" makes me more aware of my own need to let the Holy Spirit produce the Fruit of the Spirit in my life. Her feisty fury sets fire to my fleshly ways, proving I need Him as much as she does in those hard moments ;) She is a blessing no matter which way the winds of her passion blow!


What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Challenge November 7

Today I want to express my gratitude for my DS12 (almost 13). Very different from DD14 in many ways, he, too, is funny, creative, and insightful. He's not often a talker, but when he does talk, it's easy to see he is a deep thinker and feeler -- and I can relate to those traits (though the boy brain is beyond my comprehension ;) . He's really "growing up" these days. Even a month ago, I would never have imagined him going downtown to feed the hungry with our church. But that's what he did on Saturday. Not only did he go down there -- he went down there on his own (i.e. without a familiar family member. Of course he was with people from our church, and we felt good knowing Pastor Peter was hanging with him -- but such an experience is waaaaaaaaay out of his usual comfort zone!). I suspected that his withdrawn nature might mean he wouldn't particularly enjoy the experience, but he said it was "Awesome!" and that he definitely wants to go again. That makes me a proud mama! 


I prayed for his presence in our family, and am so blessed to have him for a son. I thank God for him and the ways I grow and learn because of him. He has helped shape me as a person, and I think I'm" better" because of my boy. 

Serving dinner at "Feed the Hungry". Now if only HE would eat as much salad as he was serving!

What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Challenge November 6

Based on this post, you may be able to anticipate the next three things I'm thankful for -- but don't let that stop you from reading ;) 


I am thankful for my 14-year-old daughter. She's smart, witty, courageous, compassionate, creative, and delightfully affectionate. She has some things to figure out about the world (don't we all!) -- but God's going to use her in mighty ways one day -- I just know it. She is the child I longed for when my womb was empty -- and she has been a blessing her whole life. Now, it's worth bearing in mind that my definition of a blessing is "anything that brings us closer to God" -- and she has done so in both sweet and sorrowful ways! ;) But even when I'm driven to my knees as her parent, I am eternally grateful for her presence in my life. I hope one day she will grasp the depth of that truth. 

What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Challenge November 1-5

A few weeks ago I determined to participate in a Gratitude Challenge with Brenda Emmett for the month of November -- and promptly forgot about it! So, I have five days to catch up on in this post ;) Shouldn't be hard, though!


November 1 - I am thankful for Sunnybrook Hospital, and the caring medical staff there. I spent most of the month of October as a patient there, and I felt very well-cared for -- physically, emotionally, and even spiritually (the chaplain visited several times, and made a point of personally inviting everyone on the floor to the weekly tea time. He also made himself available for any of our spiritual needs.) I have been impressed by the staff's interest in the whole person -- as evidenced by the fact that the oncology pharmacist wrote away to a world-renowned pop star on behalf of one of the patients, and that musical icon, in turn, sent her a t-shirt and some dvds! Even the cleaning staff takes extra special care of the patients! (I'm thinking of how thoroughly my Art Lady cleaned my whole area when she was called to simply clean up a spill that was attracting dirt.)  I feel very blessed to be receiving top-notch medical treatment (with a team approach) in a clean, comfortable environment.


November 2 - I am thankful for my awesome husband. He is no ordinary guy. He's kind, creative, romantic, spiritually sensitive, insightful, funny, self-less, and incredibly hard-working. He has been a solid rock for our family, running hither and yon to ensure that everyone is well-taken-care-of and that life is as "normal" as possible for everyone while our world is turned upside down by my cancer diagnosis and treatments. Truly, he's the best husband and father a woman could dream of being married to -- just look at him:

I can't imagine doing life without him, and am so grateful God brought him into my life so early (grade 8). I am so blessed by my beloved!


November 3 - I am thankful for an amazing church family. Every once in a while we think about moving -- going somewhere far away where the pace of life might be a little slower, less demanding. But then we think about the fact that we'd have to leave our church peeps behind -- and suddenly the thought of moving is not so appealing. We have an awesome, Spirit-led pastoral staff (with equally wonderful wives!) and a fabulous congregation of people who do life together in a rich and real way. I love them all!


November 4 - While I'm not "happy" to have cancer, I'm grateful for the opportunity it is giving me to reflect on life and my faith -- and to share my testimony of how God is working in my life. (I'm doing that here, if you're interested in reading about our faith journey through cancer.) I'm also grateful for the way it has revealed how much people care about me and my family. It feels so good to be overwhelmed by LOVE! 


November 5 - I'm thankful for sunny fall days. I missed most of October, but these crisp, bright days full of fall foliage are some of my favourite days of the year. They make me happy to be alive! 

What are you thankful for today?

Monday Musings on the Creator in Me

What's in a Name?

I knew I was onto something when I started my little Joy Notes book . . .

There was just something about taking stock of the things that make me smile -- it made me more aware of them . . .

Of course, the idea of keeping a gratitude journal is not a new one. It has actually become quite trendy, I suppose. And I grew up with the song, "Count your blessings, name them one by one -- Count your blessings, see what God has done. . . ."

But it wasn't until I began reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts that I really began to understand how important it is to take detailed stock of God's gifts -- the Presence of Grace in our lives.

We all know the verses about giving thanks for all things (Ephesians 5:20) and being content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:12) -- but sometimes it's just a little too easy to cast a broad sweeping brush over "all things" and miss out on the important details. We look at the forest with general gratitude for its beauty, but don't see the minute moss that feels like velvet, the bud of blue periwinkle peeking out of a sea of green, or the texture of the birch bark -- and all too quickly we don't think that forest is so grand because it blocks our view of the lake or harbours night-time pests. We thank God for "this day,"  but grumble about its string of interruptions, rainy weather, and tedious tasks.

But as Ann points out in her book, what was the first task given to Adam and Eve? What did the Creator of the world ask them to do? Wasn't it to name all of the things God had given them in Eden?

Think of it -- this Monday Musing on the Creator in Me --  does He not still ask us to do that? The Giver of Great Gifts that abides in us still asks us to name each gift -- because isn't it in the naming that we recognize the abundance He gives?

Naming our blessings gives them weight -- significance. Attaching a name to anything demonstrates its value to us. (Ha! DH and I used to name all our major purchases -- cars, special pieces of furniture, homes!)

And when we start to give value to all the little things that delight us, somehow it becomes easier to give value to the gifts that don't delight us. We begin to see the world differently. We start to truly recognize that we are loved by a Good God -- and a Good God only gives good gifts. So, when we hear that dreaded diagnosis, or when we confront that catastrophe, we can see past the pain to a glimmer of glory. We can know that even though we would never have asked God for such a gift, it is a gift of Grace nonetheless.



It's not easy -- but it's simple. Like any good habit, it takes practice -- to consciously look for and at the daily gifts God gives -- and give thanks by naming them as blessings. And counting them. And knowing that they are all good -- even if we can't see the goodness in the moment.

So, if you haven't already clicked on the "Count your blessings" link above, do so now and get that little ditty running through your head . . . and I challenge you to start actually counting your blessings! You'll be amazed at the difference it makes in your life!

Have you found a creative way to document your blessings? Do tell! (You can read about the journal I altered here.) And if you have a story to tell about how it has affected your life, please share it in a comment below.