A season of new growth...

It's spring! It's spring! The birds are throwing seeds out of the bird feeder for the squirrels. The dog wants out every 10 minutes to chase said squirrels. (At least he's getting his exercise!) And I'm taking photos and sketching, trying to get to the studio to paint and taking long walks by the river with my hubby instead...

And you... how are you doing?

Recently I was doing a review of my goals - a little bit late this month - and I did some journaling in that process. I thought I'd write and tell you how I use my journal to track progress and design a path of growth for myself personally, in relationships and in my business.

At the beginning of the year I sat down for several days with my journal and some other notebooks and set some goals for myself.I wrote them all down and outlined my plans for making them happen. One of those goals was to track my painting more carefully through this year. Another was to enter ALL the local art shows I could and a couple that were further afield. So this month I have been busy painting to meet those goals.

Every three months I have marked on my calendar to review those goals and see just how I'm doing and what course corrections I need to make.

When I actually got around to doing this in April, I took myself out for a date at a local coffee shop with my notebooks in a tote bag and started to write down all the things that happened in March first. Just a list of accomplishments, events and things that went well. Then I noted some things that didn't go well and then I wrote about why and what happened (briefly) to stop me in my tracks.

Then I looked back over the pages I wrote in Jan and February. I was a bit surprised at all the things that have happened since the beginning of the year. In spite of being sick for 4 weeks in the middle of that time, I still got a lot done! And I AM making progress toward those goals I set . That made me feel great!

I think we tend to forget the good and we remember too much of the 'not so good'. Why do our brains do that???  It's good to look back and remind ourselves of our progress and collect the GOOD memories in our journals!

After reviewing my goals again, I wrote down what I needed to do in the next 3 months to work towards them for the next three months. There are areas of my house and areas of my business that need to be more organized so I made lists of things to do to bring that about. There are relationships I want to keep working on as a regular thing - my kids, my grandkids and my friends. I thought about things I might do with them or for them in the next little while so I'm consciously building and maintaining with those people who are very important in my life. Being purposeful...not just letting it drift.

Then I looked ahead to my year. There are some things now coming up in the fall that I need to prepare for today. There are some goals I let slip because I was much busier than I had thought I would be and I made adjustments to those long term plans. I always seem to bite off more than I can chew. At least there's forward motion! That's the aim. Plan for growth. Plan to accomplish stuff. Plan to be... what I know God wants me to be.

It's all about tracking what you've done, and then planning where you're headed for. I think a lot of journal keepers are planners like this - or wish to be!

There are all kinds of things we track in life. When I was a little girl we tracked our height on a doorpost to measure and see in black and white how much we had grown. And in our journals, we can still keep track of how much we've grown. You are also able to design a path of growth for yourself
- not just physically (although a weight loss journal is good!) but also as a way to keep in front of your eyes those written down goals and ideas for things to achieve and aim for in all the other areas of life too.

Here are some examples of practical things to track in your journal:

Books you have read. Write about them and what you thought after reading them
Make a page for recording decisions you have made - why you made them and then draw up a chart to measure your stick-to-it-ivness.
Every month have a sit down with yourself (in a nice coffee shop :-) ) and record your goals.
Measure how you are doing with monthly or weekly checkups. Reset your course accordingly.
Make a template on a sticky note with questions to answer on each day's journal page - especially if you're trying to break or remain proactive about habits you want to change or to add.

Keeping a journal is a great way to look back from time to time to see how far have you come. In art after a person has been painting for a good part of their lifetime, they will have a retrospective show that shows their favourite paintings. You will see the key paintings in their life that showed them new growth in skill or genre or subject matter. You will see the paintings that meant the most to them.

If it's important to you, include it in your journal. It's your own personal "Retrospective."

What will happen to your journals?

What if someone reads your journal and finds something you wrote about them. What if they are offended or hurt by what you have written? 

What will happen to your journals after you die? 

Will you allow someone to read them?

Here are some suggestions from a journaling group I belonged to:

"Have you ever had anyone read a journal of yours with unwonderful
results??? Yes, my husband read one of my journals early in our
marriage and was upset about something he read. I told him that my
journals are a reflection of what I am thinking and feeling at the
time that the pen is on the paper."

Just because you wrote down your thoughts one day, that does not mean you have felt that way every day since then. We often write our thoughts down as a way to work through to a better mental space and heart attitude. As you write you will find your problems get exposed and resolved in your own mind. 

Sometimes you don't even write down that whole process of change. You only write bits and pieces of it.

So when someone reads what you have written, they are only seeing on paper part of your thoughts. And often I write so that my nastier words don't reach other people's ears and destroy their days.

Amy went on to say:

 "I actually have a disclaimer that I glue into the front cover of each of them. It says basically what I just wrote, but it also says that no matter what may show up on any single page, the overwhelming truth of my life is that I am a grateful and happy child of God doing the best I can in the midst of a busy, homeschooling, teaching, traveling, mothering, married - andsometimes discouraging and lonely life. It's all in me, so it's all in my journal."

************************
Here are Gail's thoughts...

"I feel better knowing that if someone picks up a journal and begins
to read it, when they see the disclaimer, they will know that I have
given thought to the possibility that they might read it.

"I liked Amy's statement that she will be too busy in heaven to worry
about people reading her journal when she's gone. PLUS if someone
picks up our journals to read, that person will know immediately what
it is, and he/she will have to decide whether or not to continue
reading. If they read, then they must bear the burden of having
broken into our private spaces and will have to deal with the
consequences. I don't think that I owe an apology to someone who has
broken into my belongings and found something hurtful. It is breaking
and entering, isn't it???"  

* * * * * * * *

I got my Grandfather's diaries after he passed away. I have read some of them. They are so interesting to read. My feeling as I read was - I wish I could ask him more questions about this. I actually asked one of my uncles about something that was written about him. His writing was so brief - but my uncle was able to explain more of what had happened to him way back when. It opened more family conversations and memories. 

I read about Grandma and Grandpa's reactions when my dad and mom eloped the day before the planned wedding date. Grandpa said Grandma gave Dad an earful! I can bet - remembering how she spoke long ago...

I looked up what my Grandfather wrote about the day I was born. It was so fun to read how my dad was so excited to come and tell his parents the news about his first new baby girl. It showed me how much my Grandma helped out my mom during her first few days at home. It made me feel incredibly special to read about their reactions to my birth. 

Reading about these special events and memories from long before I could remember a thing, made me feel like - no matter how much I might find out that might be negative or taken wrong, the good memories will far outweigh any negatives. I think finding a loved one's journals would be a very comforting experience for those left behind after I'm gone. A disclaimer or explanation at the beginning of each journal volume would probably serve as an adequate reminder that I was trying to work out my opinions, attitudes and longings in the best way possible. Even "working out my salvaton with fear and trembling..." 

I hope that I will include enough positive remembrances in my writings that no one will think I hated them... It might even remind me to actually write down the positive things I think about other people in my life. Why do we always wait until someone is gone to say good things?

What do you think? I'd love to hear what you think you will do about your journals...

Would you consider adding a disclaimer to each of your journals? Would you want your journals to be destroyed without letting anyone read them?

Keep writing,
Debbie

A lesson from Anne Frank...

"I want to write, but more than that, I want to bring out all kinds of things that lie buried deep in my heart."  Anne Frank

If you've never read The Diary of Anne Frank you should. It's the story of a young girl hidden away from the Nazis during WWII. Writing gave her a way to express her thoughts about her life at that time. We are still reading this young girl's diary years and years after she has passed away and learning that she was not so different from you and I.

You will find as you write down your thoughts that more and more comes flooding up from the well of thoughts and feelings inside of you. Like a spider does, you pull out longer and longer thread to spin your web of thoughts. Some things may surprise you - you didn't know you thought that! Some things you might like to hide from - honesty can be brutally painful at times. As your pen moves across the page it stirs up more thoughts, more emotions than you ever knew could have been buried beneath the initial surface chicken scratch on your journal page

After you learn to let go and write down whatever comes to mind you will find yourself making discoveries - making connections - making sense of your circumstances, your emotions and your thoughts. Find out what's buried in your heart and excavate it using a pen - or a computer keyboard. Whatever it is, get past the mere writing and discover what lies hidden in your own heart. Prepare to be surprised...and delighted...and provoked.

Keep writing,
Debbie

Talk to yourself....

Tell yourself the truth
Ponder and reason...

Argue it to yourself - Decide what you really think about a subject.

Write about confrontations. Rewrite how you should handle the situation better the next time
OR
Tell that person off - what is the root of your problem with them? Write all you wish you could say to them and find out what it is that really has got your goat!

Journaling is a healthy way to spout off without having to wish you could recall those words you should never have spoken out loud!


Learn how to say things with tact...
Practice HOW to say a thing
Rehearse it
Then say it diplomatically and with reasoned out arguments for your opinion.

Do you ever do this in your journals?

Keep writing,
Debbie

Start a journaling habit…

It takes only 5 minutes a day to start to make journal-keeping a good habit.

So if you are new to journal-keeping just find 5 minutes today to sit down
and write.

Set a timer for 5 minutes.

Start with the date.
Then write about one thing you did today or yesterday.
Write about the first thing that comes to your mind...even if it's nonsense. 

The idea is just to keep the pen moving!

Write about what you notice in your surroundings

Write about what you read lately.

Write about your kids or furbabies.

Write about the weather lately if that's all you can think about

Write about how you feel about all you wrote.

Put a shiny star on your calendar for every day that you take 5 minutes
to add something to your journal. ( I don't know why stickers are motivating
- they just are!)

If you find 5 minutes a day for 30 days, you will have started a very good
habit.

Seeing the growing number of pages helps keep you motivated.
The satisfaction of writing - the feeling of actually moving the pen across
the page - is what keeps me going back to the page day after day. 

Seeing a good habit start to form in your life - will keep you writing too.

If you would like to make this a challenge for yourself I suggest that after
you write, you post a note on the FB list saying "I wrote today"

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChristianJournalKeepers/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/JournalKeepers/

Deb E

Should I start a new journal??

A common question at this time of year is..."Should I start a new journal for the New Year?"
What if my previous journal isn't full? Is it OK to leave blank pages...

Of course, this is something you have to decide for yourself! But here are my thoughts. Make a Pros and a Cons list...

FOR a New Journal
1. A new journal gives you a fresh new start
2. It will be fun shopping for something new
3. The pages will be white and clean and crisp and never before written upon - just like my New Year will be.
4. I'd like to turn over a new leaf and this will enable me to start something new - leaving the Old behind
5. New goals - new year!
6. I'd like to switch to a new system

Use up the Old
1. Filling the pages of your previous journal will give you a sense of accomplishment
2. Using up the old will be less expensive - I'm frugal like that!
3. There are a LOT of pages still left unwritten
.
4. I like my present journaling book
5. I can make it fresh by changing pens, using colour, adding to my style of journaling.

Whichever way you decide, you can make some changes!

In your old journal, draw a title page for your new year using coloured markers. Or print out some photos, make a card stock insert (coloured) to mark the new section in your book. Add stick on tabs to mark the beginning of 2017 in a way that stands out.

Changing to a new system
I presently write in some nice bound journals but I might like to change to an Arc binder system or three ringed binder system so I can add things or change my pages around at will.

Whichever way you decide, you can make some changes that will bring back fresh motivation, energy and joy to your journaling time.

Keep writing
Debbie

Goal Setting in your Journal

Every year at this time, I spend my down week between Christmas and New Year's using my journal to review my past year and set new goals for the upcoming year. This year is no exception!

Here are a couple of the tools I use to do my reviews and to set my sails for the New Year. I don't make resolutions... I set Goals. Then I make action plans to work towards them bit by bit through my year.

One of the best tools I have found for my business goals is Lisa Jacob's Your Best Year Ever 2017 workbook.

http://www.marketyourcreativity.com/2016/09/best-year-2017-expect/

I love the no-nonsense planning advice Lisa gives. She helps you focus first on your sucesses and roadblocks from the past year. There is room to analyse what went well, to look hard at your roadblocks and how they happened and then to make plans for the upcoming year. Knowing why things happened the way they did helps you try to avoid making the same mistakes in your planning the next year. I've found it very helpful to follow her blog through the end of the old year and into the new. She is really transparent about her own goal setting and weaknesses which I find strangely comforting - like I'm not the only one who struggles with procrastination and biting off more than I could possibly chew.

have a look, follow her blog and you will get a good idea if this tool is for you.

One of the best tools for my personal life - setting reasonable goals is Lara Casey's Power Sheets. Again, Lara is the most transparent as she writes and shows examples of her own personal goals for the upcoming year. She has coined the term Progress not Perfection as she thinks through all the areas of her life weekly to decide what needs Tending to each week. Progress is made in small achievable weekly steps that bring you closer to living an Intentional life that meshes with your unique life goals. I think what I enjoyed best was the extra help that you get from her blog posts and giveaway freebies during the year. They help keep you on track as you think your way through your year. I add these to my journaling all the time! Lots of questions to think through to figure out what you really desire to see happening in your life.
Check out Powersheets  http://laracasey.com/  #2017Powersheets

Happy Planning!

Facebook groups for Journaling tips

It's so busy at Christmas time, but try to sneak in some time to write in your journal! After evening chores are done or the kids are in bed, curl up on the couch with a hot chocolate and if you have a fireplace get it going!

I inherited an extra FB group this week. So there are two you can choose from if you want to connect. Journal Keeper (I had this before) will be changing somewhat in the New Year. It will be more of a secular group for connecting about Journal Keeping
The new group is called Christian Journal Keepers.
You can get prompts, tips, talk about how other people journal and keep motivated. It will definitely be a source of inspiration for anyone who loves to keep track of their days by writing, or art journaling, or list keeping :-)

I want to build a community where you can share with each other - with people who love to write and who love to chat about notebooks, pens, memories, planning, stories of their life etc.  Come join us!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/JournalKeepers/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChristianJournalKeepers/

35 years! Unbelievable!

Today is my oldest son's 35th birthday. It seems like yesterday that I was holding my first baby in my arms. I was amazed to see his little perfect fingers, his fuzzy hair and his button nose and little bitty toes. Both Paul and I spent hours just holding him and looking at him - watching him grow and learn all the things babies do.

It seems impossible to me that his childhood is behind him, he has babies of his own now and he is spending lots of time holding them and watching them grow. Life has a way of flowing swiftly by us when we weren't paying attention doesn't it?

That's why a journal comes in so handy. I certainly can't remember all the details surrounding his birth and growing up years until I read back in my journal. Then those early sweet mommy memories come flooding back and for a few minutes I'm transported back any number of years to recall the amazement, the wonder, the pride and joy my first baby boy brought with him.

I hope you will be challenged to record today what you wish to recall in 35 years. Make enough time to recall all the details you will want to remember years from now. Don't skip a thing...you think you will remember but I can tell you that you will forget most of it - unless you write it down. Some of the details would have been forever erased in my memory if I hadn't written them down in my journal years ago!

I plan to go into the photo albums and digitize his baby photos with the new photo app I got recently. And I will send him those amazing photos that will show him a bit of the wonder...And maybe send him a copy of some of the things I wrote way back then.

I can write more things now that I remember after I look at the photos - since I really didn't write much that day...but I still do remember some precious moments that I didn't capture in writing. It's never too late.

What are you remembering today - or this past week?
Catch those memories before they float away!
Happy writing

Deb E

Out with the Old - In with the New - Indexing your Journals

The end of another year!! Where did the time go? If you have written in your journal this year, you KNOW where it went! Some Journal Keepers - at this time of year especially - like to take a few pages at the front or at the back of their handwritten journal to index their entries. I like to index mine at the back - usually because I'm so excited to start a new journal that I forget to leave a few pages. I just want to jump right in and write on those lusciously creamy pages with my elegant new pen that I treat myself to every new year.

Number all the pages in your journal to start with. Handwrite the numbers using calligraphy pens or use some rubber stamps and coloured ink to print the page numbers. Stickers or your own handwriting in coloured pens also work.

While you are at it, you might like to continue throughout the journal to stamp patterns or designs in various spots on your pages or add washi tape ( a thin tape that has printed patterns in multiple colours - find it at your local craft store or office supply store ) for added interest and splashes of colour.

Then at the back I start on the very last page. I write one number on each line and work my way backwards into my journal until I have the right number of pages set aside. As you make an entry, note it in the back index on the appropriate line. An index may include the page number, a date when the entry was written and a short phrase or a word or two to describe the event or thought you are writing about. Another way to index is to write the page numbers as you make entries in case you need more space for your descriptions - or if you write very large!

After you have written for a year in a journal it can be difficult to find that quote you wrote down in a moment of inspiration, or that event you might need to look up again to get your details straight. And for sure, if you have kept a journal for a number of years, it will help you find what you are looking for through multiple journals you may have stacked on your shelf. It's also a great way to review memories with a brief scan of your journal index. I've found it to be a very helpful practice especially for my business journal where I keep track of notes from workshops, books I've read, podcasts I've listened to and ideas and studio hours I have logged.

At the end of each year, I like to read through my journal. I will use a highlighter to mark the quotes I especially like.
I like to highlight lessons I learned with another colour.
I make a list of especially memorable events, accomplishments, books I read and even things I bought this year. A review to close out the year helps me make decisions about what I want to do more of next year, complete what I started last year, and decide what new things I want to make sure I record in my journal for this upcoming year. Sometimes I realize I haven't added events in, or I haven't recorded very much for a very memorable day and I still want to capture more details. I can stick an extra page in and add more details if I want. It's just a great idea to look back and remember all the things that happened in a year. Where did the time go???

Have you ever indexed your journals? Do you have an interesting way to do your indexing?

Happy journaling
Debbie

A Journal for Christmas!

Do you ever have someone who is hard to buy for?
The gift of a blank journal and a nice pen is a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. Not only can the giftee use their journal for whatever they like to write in it - like lists and phone messages, but they may also reap multiple benefits if they DO start to be a Journal Keeper.

Consider purchasing a journal that a person might have a difficult time purchasing for themselves. Splurge on a journal that is a little more costly or a little fancier than the normal hardcover or spiral bound book that most of us started out with. The paper should be smooth enough for the pen to glide over the pages and perhaps the pages will be embellished with a small flourish to decorate the corners. For the person who is artistic, perhaps a blank book would encourage some sketching or artsy lettering. The covers I love are pastel faux leather - very soft and padded. Some are embossed with patterns and some have beautiful prints of paintings on the outside. A ribbon page marker is also a bonus!

Include a printed PDF of some great writing prompts or basic instructions for journal writing.
Download a free "Getting Started" page here.

Perhaps your should treat yourself to a new journal for the New Year while you are at it! :-)
It's a little affordable luxury...

Did you ever get a journal as a Christmas gift?
Write about the story in your own journal.

Have you ever given a journal for Christmas?
Who can you share your love of Journal Keeping with this year? Perhaps a grandchild, a close friend, or a relative whom you would like to encourage to write down their memories.

Share your stories below...

Happy writing!
Debbie

Types of Journals - Creativity Journal

I like to think of myself as a pretty creative person! I have WAY more ideas of things to do than time to do them.  So I have different ways to keep track of those ideas - and sometimes work out ways to accomplish some of the ideas that spring to mind.

These days Art Journaling is pretty popular. It's a fun way to play with ideas for my paintings - or just to have some fun with my art supplies finding out what they can do. Playing in a Creative journal or an Art journal can be very freeing and it can help you develop your ideas into something more.

Some people like to use various background treatments like layers of paint and collage. Some people just like to sketch a simple item. Some people like to do mind-mapping. Some people get creative with various types of pens, coloured pencils or markers.  Whatever you use on your pages, you usually do your creating without making a plan in advance - working it out as you go.

Click here to see my Pinterest board on Art Journaling. These are sample pages that others have created that inspire me as I create my own pages and I use them as a spring-board for my own creations!

I like to use a regular sketchbook. Others like Moleskine notebooks. Some like lined or quad-ruled grid pages. Whatever makes you comfortable!

Some days I will just list a whole lot of words or phrases or ideas and challenge myself to see how much space I can fill.

Other days I will work with my art supplies and sketch or paint my ideas. I use quotes or a pre-chosen colour scheme or a special new technique as a jump off point.

Then I will write on the page using pens of various colours.
I will often keep a record of all the colours of watercolour paint I have in my studio. Or I will sketch objects from magazines and art books to practice my sketching skills. Anything goes! It's your creative outlet!

The whole idea is to get the ideas out of your brain. To have fun with colour and texture. To come up with something that looks interesting. To expand on the ideas you have.

Being creative helps you to be MORE creative. So get out your art supplies and your fancy pens and pencils and make a fun mess!

Creativity is a messy business!!

Types of Journals - Spiritual or Prayer Journal

With the release of the movie "War Room" this summer/fall, there has been a renewed interest in keeping a Spiritual Journal. I personally love this kind of journal the best!
I have kept a spiritual journal alongside my daily journal for years and it is a blessing and an encouragement to me to look back over its pages from time to time and see all the things God has been teaching me as I have studied the Bible and kept track of book notes I have read.

Everyone needs to carefully nurture their own spiritual life. I personally believe that people are 3 part beings. Spirit - which connects to your Creator, Soul - which includes your mind, will and emotions, and Body - your physical being. If you ignore any of these three, over the long haul, you will not have a balanced abundant life.

A spiritual journal can include many things. Here are some types of things I record in my Spiritual Journal. (Some of these can overlap into the Soul area of mind will and emotions)
I often write about:

• notes I take while I am doing my Bible study each day. I find sometimes that verses will "jump off the page" and I write those out. I will take a few minutes to write down what that verse made me think about in my life, a lesson I learn from it, or I use the verse to write out a prayer asking for that verse to become real in my life. 
• notes I take while I am reading good books. There may be some excellent quotes, some interesting information about the history of the times, a word study that opens up the meaning of a passage of Scripture, or just something that reminds me of a time in my life when I faced a similar situation as the author. I will copy these into my spiritual journal and write my thoughts about what I read. These are lessons for life that I want to capture and remember.
• Bible verses I want to memorize or study more.
• Song lyrics that speak to me right now. There are many songs that have really meant a lot to me - they brought encouragement, or reminders of some truth that just fit my situation at a certain time of my life. I will write out the words and meditate on them - often writing out why they were special to me. 
• Ideas that come into my mind as I read - something I should do for someone.  People to pray for.  Ideas for a new aspect of my business or something I can do with my grandchildren. I believe God directs us as we quiet our hearts and absorb His words.
• Words God speaks to me. When I read God's Words and listen for His voice, He may speak to my heart. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice..." I write down what I think God is saying and pray about it more, maybe I will share it with a friend or my husband to ask for their input. Sometimes the words God speaks to my heart are simply encouragement, or words that let me know how much He loves me. I treasure these words and if I write them in the moment, I can re-read them and remember how it made me feel as I heard and wrote down those things.
• Quotes that make me think. 
• I write about troublesome emotions, joyful things that have happened and difficult situations I have questions about.
• I write out prayers. Sometimes I copy prayers others have prayed. And I write out my prayers - it helps me to focus and keeps me from getting sidetracked. I love to go back and re-read the prayers I have prayed. Having a written record helps me see when my prayers have been answered. 

These are just some of the ideas of things you could include in your spiritual journal. It will help you to see how you have grown, it will help you to overcome difficulties in your life and it will definitely see how God has spoken to you, taught and directed you, encouraged you or brought you comfort in hard times. 

Do you keep a spiritual journal? What do you include in yours? Can you share a story of how it has been a benefit to you? Leave a comment below :-)

Keep writing!

Deb E

5 ways to find ideas to write about in your journal

Oh my goodness! There are so MANY ideas out there...most of the time it's hard to settle on just one...
But here goes...

Join a journaling group. This is a good way to keep yourself motivated and on track when you decide to keep a journal of your life. You will meet friends who have an interest in journaling and you will get inspired by what other people are writing about. Someone will write about their eventful day and you will remember a day when you did that too - then off you go...grab that pen and write your own remembrances. Join Christian Journaling on Yahoogroups
Join my own Journal Keeper page on Facebook.

Find writing prompts online. This year I hope to publish some writing prompts...so you can subscribe to my blog and find out how to be inspired.  If those don't get you writing, google "journal prompts" and you will find MORE than you could ever possibly use. I have suggested a book in the sidebar - 365 Journal Writing Ideas.

Do Morning Pages (or Nightly Notes) Morning pages is an idea that Julia Cameron writes about in her book "The Artists Way" and others. (See the Amazon link in the sidebar.)
Every morning you write three pages - longhand with a pen on paper. You write whatever is on your mind and you do not stop until you have written three full pages. The topic can be anything that pops into your mind. As you are writing, you think of something else and you write about it until you think of something else to write about. Writing triggers more ideas - that's how it usually works! You start writing not knowing what you want to write about and you soon find yourself thinking of more and more to write. I personally enjoy doing this at night because it helps me to wrap up my day and get the thoughts and the 'to do list' out of my head and onto the paper...I sleep better at night because I empty my brain and its saved for me on paper so I can get a running start by re-reading it the next morning. Some people like to make a separate list of "To Dos" after writing their daily pages. Just the act of writing will get you brainstorming and remembering things you want to do.

Buy a new book There are MANY good books out there on journal keeping, journal writing etc. Go to a book seller's website and see what they have.  Some of my favorite books are listed in the sidebar of my blog. (you can help finance this blog by clicking the links and shopping on Amazon. I earn a few pennies every time you do that)   :-)
You can also find good books when you join a journaling group. Just ask them "what's the best book you've read on keeping a journal?" and you will probably be overwhelmed with the number of choices. Of course you have to weed through the suggestions and look for ones that fit your beliefs and your area of interest - but you will get many recommendations and reviews of good books from other journalers. People who keep journals usually read a LOT!!

Be aware that many writers now are publishing e-books that aren't worth the 99 cents that you can purchase them for. Look and see how many pages there are. Fewer pages = less value. They may have good titles but very very poor writing skills...Voice of experience.

Please leave the names of good journaling books you have read in the comments section at the bottom of this post!

Collect Quotes  I like to collect quotes by famous people. Facebook is great for this. Every day people post photos with quotes. Right click and save the photos quotes and print them out to add some colour to your journal! Or, if you are good at handwriting fonts then use some coloured pens and fancy up your own handwriting. Joanne Sharp's Whimsical Lettering book is fantastic for this.
I will write about how quotes are true or not true in my life, how they "speak" to me, why I think I need to remember this quote etc. Maybe you want to write the quote down (or the writing prompt) and put it on a scrap of paper in a journal jar. Pull out the slips of paper one by one until you find one you think you have something to say about today...you choose!

Please add more of YOUR ideas about where you find things to write about below so others who read this post can be inspired to write too!
I love to read your comments, suggestions and questions about journal writing :-)

Just write!!!
Deb E

Bullet Journals

Who doesn't want to be more organized!!! Do you find yourself forgetting details? 

Do you ever forget to journal when you're busy or stressed ??? How do you catch up and keep track of details?

I was doing some web surfing last week because I was thinking about how to keep MANY projects spinning in the air at the same time....and I discovered some blogs about Bullet Journaling. 

Bullet journaling is done in various ways  but most people use bullet points and checklists to keep track of all the routines they want to accomplish each week as well as details they want to remember. Bujo's as they are called are very good for keeping yourself on track when you are trying to start a new habit!  LIKE journaling!! Make a calendar or checklist and keep track of how often you write.

On the first page of a bullet journal  you keep an index - which is a good idea for ANY journal. You write a list of  topics you wrote about in your journal - a quick list so it saves time trying to find something that you might want to refer to later.

Then you have a monthly spread (2 pages). On the left side you put the numbers from 1 to 31. Then you write a simple few words about what your major events were or what you are planning on the corresponding line to the date. 

On the right page, you write a list of To Dos for the month and major goals you are working on that month. 

Next comes your daily pages. On the left page - write down today's date. Write a list of things to do today - your menu - your cleaning schedule etc. It's helpful here to look at the links below to see photos of how people design their Bujo's. 

You don't have to start a new page for each date, just draw a line - fancy it up with some zentangle doodles or washi tape - and then write down the next day's date.

The next page you can start listing anything you want to keep track of.

Keep track of weight goals, exercise, meds you take, blood glucose, books you read, recipes, grocery lists, Bible reading plans, steps for projects you want to undertake etc. 

Here are some links;

A video  – This is from Ryder Carroll who started Bullet Journaling. He uses his bullet journal (which has grid paper) as a planner but many of these ideas can be incorporated into any kind of journal. 
I think it’s neat to have a single page that has an outline of all the major things you did that month!! You can look back and review really quickly.
There is a whole list in the left sidebar to read that explains his system for planning

He has separate notebook pages to show what he’s talking about in the right column.

http://www.bulletjournal.com/

A Blog to read 

This is a blog written by Kate who expanded on what Ryan did in the previous video

Bullet Journal 201

A Blog post that shows where she changes how she does it   (sounds like the rest of us eh???)

Bullet Journal 202

You Tube videos 

Mrs Modest Amanda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOQ5GxxVTFM

Hailey Cairo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o1n1D37W8s

There are lots of other you tube videos about bullet journals – you’ll have to weed through them – But I think Bujo's would be great if you wrote down a simple list of major things you did each day - in case you don’t get a lot of time to journal. Then you can always look back and see what happened and late go back to add a few words to your journal when you DO have time to sit down to write!

The key to USING these journals is probably to keep them out and accessible – on the kitchen counter or table. Its easy that way to quickly jot down a word or two to jog your memory. 

Google “Bullet Journal” and look at the images…some of the journal pages have washi tape and stickers on them.  I think it looks much prettier and maybe will encourage us all to “pretty up our journals and use them more”  

I’ve found washi tape at Michaels (and other craft stores) and at Staples and WalMart

It’s usually around $2.99 for a roll and they last quite a while.

You can also search on Pinterest for “Bullet Journal” to see a whole lot of pages which will give you inspiration for how you can use this type of journal.

I’m on pinterest and I think I will have a board on Bullet Journal pages if you want to follow me 

There is even a Bullet Journal Facebook page

Bullet Journal Junkies on Facebook

Enjoy exploring and Happy Journaling!

Deb E

A Holiday Journal

Christmas is a-coming!
You can use your journal to capture precious Christmas moments, magical experiences, or frustrations, or disappointments! Some years we experience ALL of these things. Expectations are high, we are anticipating and planning with so much hope and sometimes it all works ...or NOT! What could be a nicer thing to hand down to your kids than a book filled with memories of Christmases past. Even if THEY don't want it..it will warm your heart to recollect years gone by when they are...gone by :-)

You might want to keep a separate journal for your Christmas memories.If you hit the stationary stores right now you will find Christmas journals with pretty pages all laid out for you.  Like this one. Or if you are a scrapbooker or artistic type you might like to buy a really nice new sketchbook with good paper (I suggest a heavier weight paper - 90 lb or more) Try out all your art supplies and make it colourful with stencils, paints, gold and silver pens and metallic paints. I just took a FREE lettering course given by Joanne Sharpe called Five Golden Letterings. That should give you some ideas to start with if you want to make your own book - just use her ideas in your sketchbook instead of on wrapping paper, gift bags etc.

Add a few pages of hand-written memories and some photos each year. Take a few moments each day to write about your plans, projects and preparations. Keep lists. Add your most favorite cards received and sent. It doesn't need to be a huge long story to bring those memories flooding back in future years.

Things to write about in your Christmas or holiday journal...

• Traditions from when you were a kid  (Santa's whisker left on the cookie plate...watching the Queen speak before opening presents...)
• Traditions you started with your kids and how they got started (pizza on Christmas eve -my youngest started it and never lets me forget!!)
• People you saw at Christmas that you haven't seen for a long time...and memories about them (the family gatherings - where, when, what happened)
• Memories of previous Christmases - My best Christmas ever (the year my grandpa wrote a book of his life and then ended up in the hospital because of a car accident - we almost lost him...the year my hubby and I went Christmas carolling inside an old covered bridge - hot apple cider, folks dressed like old fashioned carollers - snow falling :-)  )
• Gifts given and received
• Pictures of your collections and the stories behind them.
• Games you played...movies you watched - your favorites on TV this year...
• Who was at each celebration or party - what you talked about...be sure to take photos of your family and friends at Christmas
• Your favorite Christmas carols and songs
• Pageants, plays and concerts you attended that got you into the Christmas spirit
• Your Christmas tree this year and all the ornaments - what memories are associated with your ornaments and Christmas decor. Include photos!!
• The Christmas Dinner! Recipes you always use etc.

I'm sure you're getting the idea. 

You can jot down ideas on post its and take your time over this next couple of weeks writing by the light of the Christmas tree with a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate or apple cider. 

Memories are precious and fleeting...catch them while you can!

I want to hear about some of the things (general and specific) that you write about in your Christmas journal. I'm sure others will want to hear about those things too! I love to read your comments :-)

Just write...

Deb E

September!! New school supplies...

September!! The memories of brand new books, fresh sharpened pencils, new boxes of coloured pencils and the smell of Crayola crayons! Nothing makes you want to start writing more than the smell of NEW!

Why not treat yourself to a new writing journal and enjoy the feeling of September!! all over again!

Spend an afternoon browsing in your local Staples or Indigo and find yourself a new journal to fill with words, words, words...

While you're at it... why not reminisce about first days at school

Write away!

Gardening journal

Well this morning I am thinking of gardening...nevermind that it is blowing and snowing and grey and blustery in my little corner of the world! I need something filled with beauty and filled with colour to look forward to!!

Some of you lucky people in Florida have already started digging and eating fruit off your trees, but I'm still dreaming of the day I can even SEE the dirt out there :-)

I bought some seed packets a couple of weeks ago when our Sketch Club went to a local plant nursery to spend a delightful couple of hours sketching and watercolouring amongst the primulas and hibiscus. I must say there wasn't as much variety as other years we have gone, but it was probably because it was in January!
After sketching and watercolour painting some peacock feathers and some orchids I wandered around the seed racks for quite a while trying to decide what I would like to have in my garden this summer. Totally lifted my spirits!!!

So it's almost time to plant some of those seeds so they'll be ready for outside in May or June.

My garden journal is one I keep in a sketchbook. I like the Robert Bateman sketchbooks that have 110 lb paper - a little thicker than most or I will buy a field sketchbook with 140 lb. watercolour paper in it.

I like to use watercolour crayons to scribble sections of colour all over the page. Then I take a watercolour brush and a tiny bit of water and smoosh that colour all around until I get rid of the lines. Not all of them disappear. That's OK - adds texture. As I smoosh the adjacent colours mix together and I get that lovely watercolour blending happening. Love it!

When the page is dry (and I don't worry at all about buckling - it's part of the fun) I like to write and sketch on top of the colour. I use gel pens and Pigma pens (pigma pens are waterproof) Sometimes I will paste a photo into my journal and add writing around it. I use a kind of glue called "Yes!" glue. It doesn't make the magazine paper buckle. Check to see if you can get it at your local fine art store. Otherwise I use a glue stick that's archival but that tends not to stick forever.

Sometimes I will colour a border around the outside edge of the paper and draw or write in the center.
Sometimes I will colour sections and make each section about different topics. I like to embellish the sections with borders I draw with my pigma pen or with gel pens. Sometimes I use metallic acrylic paints watered down - leaves a wonderful shimmer, but pens won't always write properly over every surface treatment so you just have to experiment with what works for you.

I will draw a little map of my gardens and then draw where I'll want to place the plants in the spring. Researching heights of plants and how much they will spread is all part of this mapping out process.

I might make lists of plants that grow to a certain height
I'll list plants of a specific colour.
I might stick the outside packets right on the page.
I might draw the flower and paint it from the photo on the packet or online.
I write about things I learn about that flower - like - the butterflies like it - then I draw a couple of butterflies.
If you don't draw, you can cut and paste photos from gardening catalogues. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Birds and Blooms magazine for this!!! Lots of really wonderful photos for artists and lots of info about flowers and birds and butterflies - what they eat and the habitat they like to live in....GET it!
Great for us northerners too who are still dreaming about brown and green instead of white, white, white :-)

I like to have a little herb garden every year and I also collect recipes for using them right in my gardening journal. You could intersperse these in the pages as you find them or you could have a section in the back just for recipes.

I also like to learn about the local birds I find in my backyard in my gardening journal. Birds and feeders are all about gardens too :-)
I take photos and add them into my journal. I learn about them and their habits and preferences. If you love nature's creatures, you love learning interesting facts about them too.

Have fun with this and happy dreaming!
Deb E

Memories....

Just thought I'd post a picture of my son reading to his babies...It brought back a ton of memories of me reading to my boys when they were little. Dawson...on the left looks like he is trying to wiggle off daddy's knee just like his dad did!

Raising children takes hours and hours of talking, teaching, reading books, playing games, wiping noses, changing diapers, and all the other thousand and one jobs you have to do until they can do it themselves.


Life is so DAILY! It's made up of all the little things we do for others every day. Do not be discouraged by the daily-ness of life. It's all worth it! Concentrate on the moments of blessings each day - like a quiet time to sit and cuddle and read. Or like I did this morning - take time to stop and watch the squirrels playing and chasing each outher through the treetops. Appreciate your daily routine and the people you are with each day and the everyday moments that make you happy... Write about your day TODAY. Remember the details - the things you loved most about today... and be BLESSED!!!

Prayer Journal part 2

I spent a good long time this morning looking for articles about prayer journaling. I found some real gems...
Here are some of the things I found that were inspiring...

I found the PRAY! magazine website. Although this magazine has been discontinued, they still have some of the archived issues online. You can search for different topics. :-)

Keep a running list of thank you notes to God

Keep a section for prayer techniques
- pray for suffering people when I hear a siren
- set an alarm and pray X times a day
- pray while I dust or exercise
- prayer postures list and where they are found in Scriptures - try a different posture

People from David to A.W. Tozer INVESTED TIME to write out personal prayers...consider them your own personal psalms

Meditate on Bible passages about prayer or copy Bible prayers into your journal to pray for people.
Eph 3:20 comes to mind

Talk to God about your prayer life

Here are some journalling questions to be used from time to time...see if keeping a prayer journal changes your spiritual life and prayer life.

• Reflect on the impact prayer has made on your spiritual life.
• How has God used prayer in your life?
• How has prayer deepened your walk with God?

Consider your prayer journal entries as a kind of "Stones of remembrance"
Look back on your weekly and monthly entries to write down answers to prayer
Look back to see how God has been leading you and teaching you.
Look back to look forward.

And a quote to leave you with today :-)

"When God says no, He's saying yes to something better."