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."

Prayer Journal Part 1

OK...so I've been procrastinating because this topic is so big and I've been so busy ... it's the end of semester (I'm at college)

I have a prayer journal that I use sometimes when I sit down to do my Quiet Time with the Lord.
I'll describe what it's like right now... but that will definitely change as I continue to use it... that's a given!

It's a three ringed binder - actually a very nice one that Quiet Time Ministries sells for its Quiet Time notebook - it's burgundy and padded - so it feels extra special when you pick it up :-)

I had some extra calendar pages so I stuck them in as monthly dividers (one page per month) I have written some current prayer requests and needs of people who I know in there. I wanted to keep track of how often I used my prayer journal... so I date requests and its sort of a running list. If the request becomes long term, or is for one of my very close friends I will transfer it later to the proper section.
My email list friends requests are there, facebook friends requests, prayer requests for people at church - things that cross my path that I think I should pray for but I would forget if I didn't make a note somewhere.
It's easy to just flip open the first section quickly and add a note about someone.

Then I have a small section where I am writing down ideas about HOW I could use my prayer journal. Sort of a planning section for my thoughts on how it's going and how it's NOT working...

After that I have some divider sections
For me - where I have

• my life goals and other goals written down and I pray about them from time to time
• I write verses and quotes in there that mean a lot to me. If I have a habit I want to establish or break I'll write it in there and keep it at the front of my memory banks!
• I have written some questions that I pray to God to remind me to ask Him about my plans and ideas...
• Prayers I have come across that I want to pray for myself - for example - from Lysa Terkeurst

"God, I want to see you
God, I want to hear you
God, I want to know you
God, I want to follow hard after You
And even before I know what I will face today, I say YES to You "
from "When women say Yes to God"

• I have a section where I write down the main points that I feel God is speaking to me from sermons, conferences, and my daily quiet times - so that I can pray about them and remind myself to DO what God has SAID to me.
• I have a section for concerns that are bugging me personally now... like what courses to choose for school and how to pay for them, things I think I need or want, questions I'd like God to answer...etc. 

For my husband
I have a list of things to pray for my husband and for my marriage - with Bible verses. I got it from a website and from Stormie Omartian's book about praying for your husband. I use a post it to mark where I left off last time... and I write out prayers about specific things about health issues or problems we are facing together...

Family
I have a list of topics and verses for my sons and wives with verses - I found these in the Stormie Omartian book about praying for your family and your Adult Children
Then I write out specific prayers
I have a list of things to pray for my grandchildren - and a section right after it for specific prayers for them
I have some pages for my parents and my sisters... and their family situations.
I mark each person's page with a post it
I date the request or topic and then I write it down. If it's something that will need to be prayed for over a long time, I will leave extra pages so I can add details later...

Friends 
I do the same thing with requests from friends. If they are my BEST friends, I have a page for them marked with a post it hanging off the edge.
If it's just a quick one time request from an acquaintance then I will put it in the front general section. If it becomes a long term request I'll start a new page in this section for them. Since it's all on binder pages it's easy to move pages around when I want to.

Church and missions
I'm involved in planning for large events at church - these will have their own special pages. Right now I'm helping plan a ladies retreat for March. I will put those prayer items on a separate page in this section. I'll write down ideas God gives me as I'm praying.

I have some friends who are missionaries and they will have their own separate pages in here. I put in their latest newsletters and mark down things we talk about when we Skype if I do that...

I support some World Vision girls and their names are here with prayers for them.

Worship
I recently decided I wanted to keep a book on worship handy and read a chapter at least once a week if not more often. I'll re-read the books I have collected over the years and write down the quotes that are inspiring me to worship now... it's been a bit of a dry season and I need to focus on this right now.

Meditation/ Memory
I'll write down verses that I want to meditate on and memorize which to me is one and the same thing.
I'll study them out and put down my information here and then pray through them...

Book notes for what I read about prayer
I have a ton of books I've collected on prayer and I'm starting to keep notes about each one of them as I read. I put the date down every time I read and that way I can look in my journal and see what was happening - sort of cross referencing. Often I will type out the quotes in my computer and print out the page - three hole punch it and add it here. (Saves space and I also have the typed out notes if I want to use them in something else...)

Prayer Prompts
In just about every book on prayer you will find ideas of ways to pray for sick friends, names of God, how to pray for missionaries. If I have a section these fit in - they will be in that specific section - but some prayer prompt lists don't fit there, so I put them here.

I don't use all the sections all the time
I switch back and forth as the mood fits.
I actually have in the past used a schedule Monday for this Tuesday for that...but I don't end up having a specific prayer time every day where I use my notebook
I've found that the more I have organized my notebook, the more I turn to it and use it though...
Most of the sections are more of a prayer prompter.
The general section and the For me sections get used all the time...

Hope this helps...
I'm sure I'll write more about this topic in more detail in the future.

Please leave your comments and ideas for how you do prayer journaling :-)
I'd love to hear from you!

Deb E

Types of Journals - Gardening

This is the perfect time to start a gardening journal!!
Even though the leaves are falling and the weather is turning colder, you can still enjoy gardening all throughout the dead of winter!

It's the time to write about last years' successes and failures.
What did you plant?
How was the yield?
Did the flowers produce like you hoped they would?
What were the specific botanical names of the varieties you planted.
Where did you purchase the seeds or plants?
Do you have photos? or pictures?
What were your favorites this year?

Then it's time to send for new seed catalogues and order seeds for next year.
Cut out photos and paste in your journal
Draw your garden plans - dream about what your gardens will look like next year!
Map out your garden

Do you have indoor plants?
Take photos and look up information about how to grow the best specimens!
Watering, light, pruning, tips etc....
Jot it all down in your journal where you can find it.

Do some research on the best way to treat the plants you are going to have next spring?
Plan, dream and enjoy armchair gardening :-)

When spring comes - keep track of planting dates
Keep track of harvest dates for your veggies
Keep track of recipes for homemade preserves!

So many ways to enjoy your garden journal all year round

Any other ideas????? Please commnt :-)

and JUST WRITE!
Deb E

Types of journals - Health journals

We've had some health issues this year and are trying to start to eat healthier.
Not that we ate bad before, but sometimes you just have to learn to eat differently than you have been doing.
There are so many diets, there are so many health and nutrition books, magazines and online articles - It's really hard to remember where you read what and exactly what all those different vitamins will do to your body...

There are many reasons you might need to, or want to keep a health journal. Perhaps you're trying to control your weight. Maybe you or your children have health problems that mean that you have to collect some new habits of eating and new recipes. Maybe you have been told you have to cut out this or that - or include some exercise routines into your week or keep track of medications. All of these are things that can be tracked in a Health journal.

Rather than keeping all the handouts from the doctor in a folder, why not start a journal where you will collect all the new information you are learning. There is a proverb that says, "The faintest ink is better than the weakest memory." This is certainly true if you have had to deal with health issues for some years. Write it down and record your journey toward health and wholeness.

I have been reading some different health magazines recently and have started keeping track of the tips and information in a journal. There are so many vitamins and minerals that effect how your body functions. It's confusing unless you can somehow collect and organize this information - especially if you haven't been in the habit of watching out for these things. When I record information when I'm researching, I can find the information again when I want to look it up again.

I've been writing down new recipes using our new diet requirements. Keep track of what tastes great and what doesn't work! Keep track of what we eat - and how much if I want to. Keep track of symptoms and watch for patterns or progress.

If you're going to the gym, write down your weight goals and what you are doing to reach them. Write about your successes and disappointments. Writing about your intentions can keep you motivated. It can reinforce your determination to persevere until you win!

Decide today if there are some things you would like to journal about concerning your health and physical well-being. Will you include it in your normal journaling pages, or will you start a specific journal where you keep the information that will help you feel better and maybe even live longer. :-)

Just write!
Deb E

Types of Journals - Reading Journal

People who like to write, usually like to read too.
My husband tells me I inhale books!
If you are like me, you might like to keep track of the books you read in your journal. Some people have a special journal specifically for recording their thoughts about books they read. Some people simply keep a list of the books they have read right in their normal journal.

Here are some suggestions for keeping a reading journal if you'd like to go a little deeper than a simple list...

• If you don't have a separate reading journal, keep your reading records in a dedicated section of your journal - maybe at the back. 
• Photocopy the cover (or find it in a book catalogue or brochure or print a picture from an online store) and glue it in your journal.
• If you can find photos of the characters in your book - paste them in - or draw your own.
• Write down the date you started and the date you finished reading - or why you didn't finish...
• Make a note about where you got the book from. Was it a present? A special treat you gave yourself? Did you purchase it new or at a used bookshop? Did you borrow it from a friend? Or from the library? (write down the call numbers and letters and which library)
• Did someone recommend the book to you?
• Write down a quick summary of the main storyline or the main ideas of the book.
• Do you know anything about the author? 
• What do you like about this author's style of writing? Anything you especially enjoyed?
• Rate the book. Did you enjoy it? What did you enjoy most? What did you learn from the book?
• Would you recommend it?
• Who would you like to pass it on to?

As you can see, there are many things you might like to record about your book.
It's fun to look back at the end of the year and figure out how many books you read.

Some of my friends have a reading club where they take turns suggesting books. Everyone in the group reads the same book and then they get together regularly to talk about what they liked (or not).
Why not start a book club of your own? After the discussion, you could write about some of the topics you discussed together afterwards.

I have found that some books have had a profound effect on my life. Some authors have become my long-distance mentors. Reading has changed the way I think, the goals I have set for my life, and they have effected  relationships with friends, how I parented my children and loved my husband. Books have entertained me and distracted me temporarily from problems that had no solution at the moment. I have escaped to far-off places and experienced stories just as if I had actually been there...

So go grab a good book and start your reading journal!
Read ....and

Just write!
Deb E

PS - Do you keep a reading journal? or a record of what you have read? Tell us about what you do...

Writing prompts....

There are lists and lists of questions online that are writing starter sentences called writing prompts. Some people like to use writing prompts to help them find writing topics.

There are prompts that draw out memories - for example - prompts about your family history. As you answer them, you are recording memories you might have from your childhood, or from your early marriage years. You might answer questions about your parent's stories or things you remember about your grandparents. There is more tucked away in the recesses and dark corners of your subconscious than you are aware of. As you answer these writing prompts - using the freewriting technique I wrote about yesterday, you will think of more and more memories that you had forgotten about. As you write the details using your five senses to describe what you remember, you will remember more and more details. It's all stored in that miraculous creation - your brain. Better than any computer, as you write, it will release more and more details. I'm SURE you will be surprised! I know I have been - over and over. As I write, I remember more to write about.

There are other prompts that will remind you to write about things you like, things you wonder about, things you hate, things you would like to do etc. etc. etc.
You could ALWAYS use writing prompts to generate ideas about what to write about from day to day, or you could choose to only use them occasionally. I rarely choose to write about prompts myself but I enjoy coming up with them for others to write about...

If you find your own ideas, your own imagination, and your own daily events seem to be getting stale and ho-hum, do an internet search for "writing prompts" and you will soon find something to get your pen moving again!!

Please feel free to add your comments and links to this blog and share some of your favorite writing prompt sites...

Pick one or two and ....

Just write!
Deb E

Freewriting...

Freewriting is a writing technique that is used by many authors.
Basically, you start writing whatever you are thinking and don't stop writing until you are finished your preset amount of time. You might want to start with 3 to 5 minutes and gradually work up to 10 to 15 minutes or more.
Start writing about whatever is on your mind... or use a writing prompt...(more about those tomorrow)
If you can't think of anything to write, write "I can't think of anything to write about" until your brain thinks of something and then write about that. Follow the rabbit trails that happen as you are thinking. Many authors use this type of writing as an exercise to get them loosened up at the beginning of their writing session. Creativity experts suggest using freewriting as a way to generate ideas for writing, for art, for to-do lists, etc. You essentially dump whatever is in your brain onto a piece of paper. Once the ideas are out there, you are able shape it and enlarge on the idea. You can actually DO something with those idea-seeds and see them start to evolve into finished projects.

For our purposes, freewriting loosens you up and shows you that there is more going on inside than you know! You have more things you could write about than you realize. If you JUST START, you will find that your brain actually enjoys the process and you will begin to think of more and more things you could write about. Writing begets writing.

The rules of freewriting are simple:

• Set a time. Start with 3 to 5 minutes and increase the amount as you get more experience. Write for that amount of time or longer if you are on a roll.
• Once you put pen to paper, don't stop writing whatever comes into your mind.
• Don't correct or erase or stop writing. 
• Follow rabbit trails as you think of them. Relax and enjoy the process.
• If you can't think what to write, just write "I can't think of what to write" until you do think of another subject. Do NOT let your pen stop - keep it going.
• When you are done, go back and highlight or circle thoughts that seem important to you and then you can freewrite more about them, or actually use them as a starting point for some more serious journal writing.

I can promise you, you will definitely be surprised at how this technique will free you up and make you WANT to write! You can use this technique to find writing subjects and to develop new and creative ideas. Once you start writing, you will be surprised at some of the memories you will remember that you had forgotten about. There's a lot more in that brain of yours that wants to be put on paper!

Just write!
Deb E

What MY journals look like...

As I wrote before... I started out using spiral bound notebooks. But I had so many things I wanted to add into my journal - and I was already using a planner binder, so I started using the same binder for my journaling pages.  I have binders that are about the same size as the smaller 3 or 5 subject school notebooks commonly found in the stationery stores. I rip the paper out of the spiral binding and I cut off the top margin. Then I use a smaller sized 6 hole punch and punch the paper so it will go in my planner binder. It's less expensive than purchasing the already packaged binder paper that is the size of my planner. I write a LOT...Every once in a while I prepare the pages - it just takes a few minutes.

I don't carry my planner with me everywhere I go anymore... but I used to. I would write in my planner in the journal section and regularly transfer the pages to my journal storage binder. I started off having just one fat storage binder (3" rings) per year, but now I normally have 2. I still keep blank pages to write on in my planner and sometimes that's what I'll take to the coffee shop with me to write in...then I just transfer the pages to the binder when I get home.

My main problem with the binders is that after 30 years you have a lot of them sitting around. Small house... no storage space left... where do the binders go so they won't get all dusty and be subjected to the ravages of humidity and any insects that DARE to enter my castle!   :-/

I just got a new TV cabinet (used - from a friend) and it has some shelves with a glass door. Since the binders are black, and the shelves deep, I've put them in there. They will be protected AND accessible. I can always put some photos in frames or something in front of the storage binders to make it look pretty. :-) It's a lot better than having them stacked under a desk - that's where they've been for quite a few years already... (I have more than what's in the photo!!)

I'm gradually going through the old journals and typing the entries into my computer journaling program. I don't think I'll transfer everything since some of it is unimportant and junky writing that I can't even remember what I meant when I wrote it...But, obviously, I can't keep on collecting storage binders since I AM going to run out of space again...

I still will not give up writing by hand though. I love the feel of the pen sliding across the paper and the slowness of the thinking process as I decide how to word what is pouring out of my heart.

Using a computer journaling program means that I can search for entries, I can tag my entries and I can find what I'm looking for more quickly than if I have to search through pages of handwritten journals. You can now have more than one page per day so I can incorporate my Daily Events journal along with my Spiritual Journal and still keep them as separate entries but tied together. I'm starting with the most recent writing and typing while I watch TV at night. I'll work my way back in time and eventually I'll be able to condense the size of my storage and retrieval system. AND I'm making sure I back up my files to my external hard drive as well as to DVD discs. I wouldn't want to lose all those memories!!!

The great thing about the computer journaling program I'm using is that I can add my photos to it if I want - or scan some of my handwritten pages and insert them. It takes up MUCH less space and I'm journaling half in my computer program and half in my handwritten journals these days. I find that I can type faster than I can handwrite so I'm definitely writing more. Best of both worlds!

I love The Journal by David R Michael. He's the BEST at keeping his software fresh and bug-free. He has a great support system and quickly answers any questions you might have about how to do something you want to do. I've downloaded several of the journal programs out there for free trials and while they all have a wonderful variety of options, I've found that this program fits me the best :-)

Why not explore your options?

I have a friend who uses a Rollabind system. She makes her own spiral bound journals.
I have other friends who purchase pre-made journals with beautiful covers. I use those too for some types of writing. They are handy and portable enough to fit in your purse (if it's big like mine!) and take with you so you can jot down things you are thinking about wherever your are, at any time of day or night :-)
Experiment....you can always try something new later...
Go shopping and see what you can find. But whatever you do...

Just write!
Deb E