SEM Sketch Challenge/31 Things

   I mentioned that I am taking Ali Edward's class Thirty-One Things over at Big Picture Scrapbooking.  What I love about this class is the focus on "going deeper" in journaling especially on scrapbook pages.  I am having problems with my camera and had to borrow my sisters for a while so most of my 31 layouts don't have pictures yet.   I decided to combine the SEM sketch challenge with Day 4 of the 31 - word prompt Spirit.  
Here is the sketch we have to work with this month

and my page

I kept with the same overall color theme with the rest of my 31 pages - blues, yellows, flowers and the Pemberley paper pack.  I love this paper!  I also used some blue washi tape.   I cut six squares and hand stitched around each one.  

The flowers were cut from one of the papers that comes with the Pemberley paper pack.  

The hardest part (and best part in my opinion) was the journalling which takes up most of my page.  It is rather long so if you don't want to take the time to read it that is fine and I'm not offended.  If you do read it remember that the prompt word was "spirit" and this is what that word means to me.   Journal: 

“Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so” These words have held such meaning in my life ever since I was a little girl.  Life has been difficult at times – I know the pain of physical brokenness.  I have experienced the betrayal of trust and the loss of life.   I have had my heart broken and my body weep as it could not hold onto the life of my unborn child.  I have experienced much joy in life as well.  The love of a large family with sisters and a brother who make me laugh and cry at the same time.  True love from a man who understands and puts my needs before his own, which sometimes means being quiet and sometimes means standing up to my rants.  Joy in its purest form, wrapped in a blanket and snuggled up to my breast – I am called Mama by three and love it! 

I don’t have to look further than the mirror to see my own brokenness, selfishness and mess.  It does not take much for me to realize that just when I think I can do this life on my own is when I start to screw things up.  Over and over again I have realized my need of a Savior and have found that need met in the very work of Jesus Christ. 

When I hear the word “spirit” this is what comes to my mind . . .  “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to the spirit.  The wind blows wherever it pleases.  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-6, 8 and “For God so loved the world that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.  God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17. 

I am not a perfect woman – I never will be on this side of heaven.  I believe I am worse off (a greater sinner) than I even realize but at the same time I far more loved than I could ever hope for – that is the Gospel – the “good news” that I believe.  This runs through every fabric of my being – it makes me who I am!  When I screw up with my kids I tell them I was wrong.  I feel like in this stage of being a Mama to such little ones I’m messing up a lot, I lose my patience and my temper so much more than I want to, I ask them to forgive me and tell them that I need my Savior every day.  These are the things I want them to learn from me. 

“I believe in God the Father, almighty maker of heaven and earth.   And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, He was crucified and dead and buried.  I believe that He who suffered {and knows the suffering I myself experience!} was crucified, buried and dead.  He descended into hell and on the third day, rose again.  He ascended into Heaven where He sits at God’s mighty right hand.  I believe that He’s returning.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sin.  I believe in the resurrection I believe in a life that never ends.”  ~ Rich Mullins

Every day I live by faith, being sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see.  About a month ago I began memorizing the book of James and have been challenged to put feet to that faith – not merely listening to the word and so deceiving myself but doing what it says. Loving my neighbor as myself, being quick to listen and slow to becoming angry, being kind and compassionate.  I do love but I don’t always love or even love enough.  I am kind but not in every moment.  I do think of others but I also focus way too much on myself.  I am reminded that it is the Spirit at work in me that enables me to even love in the first place. I love because He first loved me.    

I want my children to know that like Rich Mullins “I believe what I believe and it makes me who I am.  It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man.”  I did not make it but it is making me.  

Here is the song that inspired some of my journaling

 Thanks for stopping by - I read each one of your comments.  One last look at my page

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Thirty-one Things

I am participating in an on-line class at Big Picture Scrapbooking with Ali Edwards titled 31 Things.
It is actually a little harder than I thought but I am loving it!  The focus is on the writing.  Each day Ali gives us a word prompt, encouraging us to "give her more" or dig deeper.  I am loving it!  I do feel like the story behind the pictures is very important but often have trouble coming up with the right words.  I do like how this class is teaching me there really are no "right" words - just words.  I need to just get the story out.  These word prompts are great for that!  
Here is my cover & day 1 - word prompt jewelry

 

Jewelry and Elizabeth are not often spoken in the same sentence.  I wear hats more than I wear jewelry.  I have always been a clean & simple kind of girl – from my artistic style preferences to the say I dress.  I don’t like a lot of frill and bling.

My jewelry box (yes I do actually have one) is full and messy.  I own a lot of jewelry; I just don’t wear it – odd.  I vaguely remember playing with my Mama’s jewelry when I was young and wearing a few pieces when I was in high school.  In college I like international and bohemian pieces – collected it but again did not often wear it.

Maybe sensitive skin plays a role in this?  I have my ears double pierced but can’t wear earrings.  Two years ago even my wedding ring started to leave a rash on my fingers.  This is the biggest disappointment in the area of jewelry.  One thing I do clearly remember is the day my husband gave me my ring!  I loved looking at it catch the sunlight as I was driving.  Even though I don’t like bling I loved that one!  I still do.  I’m sad I can’t wear it anymore.

My daughter loves jewelry.  My box is a mess because she pulls her little chair up to my dresser and plays with it.  I do love the joy she gets out of going through the pieces – maybe that is why I keep it all?  At least someone is wearing it.  My favorite pieces are my wedding ring, my blue sapphire necklace from my husband and my orange clay “Arise” necklace.  This is a recent one, a gift from a blogging friend who hand stamped it.  I love it because it was made with the CTMH stamps that I sell and it reminds me of a favorite song.  “Arise my soul, Arise.  Shake off your guilty fears.  The bleeding sacrifice on my behalf appears.  Before the throne my surety stands.  Before the throne my surety stands.  My name is written on His hands.”   

Day 2 - morning    and   Day 3 - read

Morning

I’ve never really liked the “getting up” part of morning, but once I am awake I’m usually fine.  Since having kids I have had to get up early and make the most of my mornings.  Two years ago I joined the Maximize Your Morning challenge on Inspired to Action.  Kat is quite an inspiration to me.  Since then I make it my goal to get up at least an hour before the kids wake up.

The alarm goes off at 6:00 am.  I get out of bed, make a cup of tea and do my devotions.  Right now I am studying the book of James. If the weather is warm enough I read outside on the deck or in the back yard.  In the cooler weather I curl up on the sofa and read.  I spend some time in prayer and then plan out my day. 

I have really begun to love my mornings now.  Getting up and out of bed is still so hard for me.  However, when I do actually get out of bed there is so much about the morning that I enjoy!  I love the house first thing in the morning, quiet before the day begins.  Being able to greet my little ones when they wake up is such an enjoyable experience as well. 

I also try to check my e-mail and facebook before they wake up.  I don’t like to be on long but I often get sucked in and before I know it the morning is half over!  That is something I really want to change!  When the house is alive we all sit down together to have breakfast before Tim leaves for work.  I often clean up breakfast and dress the kids before we spend time playing together.  I have been trying to spend the mornings playing with the kids.  The favorites are UNO, Legos, reading books, spending time outside or watching a movie.  Sometimes we play video games together – this is the boys’ activity of choice for sure!

I want to be more purposeful with my entire mornings not just the time before the kids wake up.  Caleb will start school in the fall and I know this morning routine will quickly change.  I will miss our relaxed mornings together.  For this reason I want to make the most of every opportunity I have with my children.  The days seem so long but the years are so short – flying by in the blink of an eye. 

 Read

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” ~ Emilie Buchwald This is so true in my life.  My earliest memories are of my parents reading to me and for as long as I can remember I have loved reading.  Most of my free time growing up was spent lost in a book.  When I got in trouble for not listening to my parents, most of the time it was because I was reading. 

I really have shown no favoritism when it comes to books or even reading material for that matter.  I love all kinds of genres.  Children’s books are perhaps the most enjoyable for me but maybe that is because I spend most of my days reading Sir Maggie the Mighty, Green Eggs and Ham and Flat Stanley.  The kids have always enjoyed being read to and I love that even at ages five, four and two I can sit with them and read the Chronicles of Narnia.  Occasionally I take the luxury of reading an “adult” book and my favorites recently have been One Thousand Gifts and Kabul Beauty School. 

These days most of my personal reading is done on the computer.  I read blogs, news websites, facebook, and pinterest – although I am not sure if that is considered “reading”.  I can spend tons of time on-line going from one blog to another.  Some of my favorites are Inspired to Action, Pioneer Woman, {Capture the Moment}, A Holy Experience, A Layout A Day and Ali Edwards.  I also love finding new blogs and connecting with blogging women over e-mail.  My recent friend connection has been A Girl Creative and I very much admire Diana for so many reasons! 

Sometimes I do think an electronic reader would be great to have.  However, I love the feel of turning pages in a real book, the smell of a bookstore and the thrill I get every time I walk into a library and come out with my arms full of treasures.  As a stay at home mom with three young children I don’t leave the house very often but I travel many places throughout the day in the pages of a book!  That is a gift my parents gave me so long ago, I am forever grateful for the love of reading that was passed down to me.  Indeed one of the greatest gifts, one I hope to pass on to my own children, is a passion for reading.     

     

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