Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Documenting Faith, Memory Keeping and Sonshine

 Hello from the Shed!
It feels so good to be plopped in this olde wooden chair
and sharing bits of life with you today. 

I've had interest in the past of how I document my faith and also art journaling,
so today's post will be another  peek into my faith journal and July's memory keeping.
Honestly, art journaling has taken a back seat with all the mowing and gardening I do.
But ... I miss it and in trying to be more intentional with my life; art journaling needs more
priority.

This book pictured; is my 2017 faith Journal.
I have another like it from two years ago but last year I didn't do it this way and missed it so much.

I take no credit and did not come up with any of this on my own.  I learned this through  Documented Life and Art to the 5TH.  I can't thank them enough
because I love these books sooooo much.
So this is a soft, dated,  Moleskine planner.  The paper is awesome... takes a fountain pen really
well, and they just feel good in your hands.  Especially after you washi tape all the edges of the pages.  There is one extra blank page for every week and that's what I totally love!  Because that
is the page you can add to... and paint, glue, add photos, tipins, ... and record your life, or
in this case; my faith!  

One thing I have to share in case you create one yourself is something I wish I'd have done
differently.  I added all my monthly tabs on the top.  I don't know what I was thinking?
The elastic band goes across the top... ?   The last one I made, I did tabs on the side and it
worked out a lot better.  So far the elastic isn't messing up my tabs but she's getting really chunky...
Before long they will start dog earring.  
Anyways, this is my week so far.  
During my time with God;  whatever verse stands out to me; I write it on that day.
Sometimes, it comes through a devotional, or ... through a friend, or sermon, ..
you just never know.  

The verse of the week through the group Documented faith, is the one I wrote on the photo
of the nasturtiums.  I wrote it in my own bible's translation and used a white signo gel pen with a broad tip.  It kinda messed up writing ... and is almost used up so I ordered more - a set of three on Amazon for little over six dollars with prime shipping.  One of my favorite pens for journaling!
The photo I attached to a piece of scrapbook paper, and taped with washi as a "tip in" so it can be flipped to the other side.  If you've never tipped something in before and want to- I would suggest
also adding another piece of washi to the other side for stability.   
Flipping that tip in I glued my handwritten verses from
Documented faith's weekly print out.  
I don't think it's ever too late to sign up there so check it out if you're interested.
I enjoy it and look forward to every week.  

As you can see in the page above, I added another two more tip ins  below the print out.  
One is clipped in... the other on the bottom flips up.  
On the back side is hidden and sacred journaling that  I can't share ... 
But, I also shared a memory of my mentor when she asked me what I thought of 
following my heart.  Everyone always says: follow your heart.  
Do you think that's really right? she asked one day. 
I had an answer on the spot  but found myself thinking on it all day.  
Because as the day wore on I started thinking about the so many things I put before God.  
It came back to me all over again when  writing Monday's verse "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you."  
Seek first... 
Back to the heart thing... 
Yeah I do think it's right to follow your heart-
So long as my  whole heart is following Jesus.
seek first--
and follow Him--


Next, is a  peek into my little personal sized traveler's notebook.
This tn is the my favorite leather ... ever: Kodiak. 
It's rugged and thick yet supple and feels so good to hold.  The maker is 
Speckled Fawns on Etsy.  
It's a book I enjoy so much that I look forward to using it.  
When I order there, I  always leave a message that I love range marks and brands.
Also I asked for the moon shaped peep hole.  I still need to find something tiny to slip in there
to show through. Anyways; ... 
I like picking it up... squeezing it... it smells awesome and is a fun size to keep memories. 

So cracking her open, 
here are a couple pages of  "memory keeping."  
Throughout the day, I grab my camera or phone and snap lots of photos of things
that jump out at me.  Here I was riding with Myguy in the olde 66 Chevy he brought home
for me several years ago.  I love taking photos of our vehicles to document because
they're always something we look back on and say remember when we had that olde
 Chevy or Ford... etc etc.  Cars and trucks are fun things to remember! Especially for
guys like mine; they're all motorheads.  Some day... they will open these books
and remember how much their folks loved eachother.  They'll remember
this olde Chevy truck... and all the good times we've had in it.  They might
recognize what road we're on ... remember the rose I keep on my dash... the turquoise
handkerchief and dream catcher... and how I liked holey jeans. There's just a whole lot of story in
a simple photo like this.  

I know in memory keeping; getting photos printed can be a total pain.  
Having your own photo lab is so much easier and enjoyable I think and
that way you can just print what you want ever day.  I have a canon sephy that prints 4x6 photos.
Also a Polaroid Zip.  The zip usually sets on my nightstand so I can add photos and jot down a memory every night.  Otherwise I use the selphy if I want something better quality and bigger.  The zip is handy though because it has sticker paper so you don't even need glue.  The photo's are just  not as clear though so if it's
something I really want to capture ... I go with the 4x6 and cut it down to size.   
Here is another page I thought I'd share.  
We were in a flea market type place and if we'd have had a place for it..
this chair woulda come home with us.  We both sat in it and loved the look.
It's an antique rocker that looked tiger oak... and had a cowhide seat and back.  
So often antique rockers are kinda rickety... but this one was solid.  
Geez... -- I took a photo and walked away... fast.  If we would have 
brought it home... something else had to go. With this photo.. the lesson I learned
that day... is what I really hope to remember?  You can have too much stuff!
And if something new comes in... something else has to go.   
Now this was from yesterday.  
I had our grandgirl all afternoon and she's 
 into evvvvverything now.  Ohmygoodness! 
 She has a lot of toys here but now loves
my plastic baking things... measure cups... metal measuring spoons and tubs... I think she's gonna love baking!  I can feel it!

--Here; later in the  afternoon, she started getting so sleepy.  I was holding her and we were listening to 
the message music channel on tv.  It plays all my favorite praise and worship music.  A song came on I knew well, and I turned her around in my arms lengthwise like when she was a tiny baby.  She reached up and yanked on one of my hoop earrings and I smiled and went "ahhhhHHHH!" she giggled that glorious giggle and I swear it was mischief... she yanked my earring again.  I went AHHHHH! and she giggled smiling so big...  Then the chorus of my song came on... and I started singing with all my heart... and swaying in the living room with babygirl... her eyes drifting.. and then she fell asleep...us  dancing in the living room.  It was  this ... "moment."  The ordinary... extraordinary... beautiful thing happening.  As I sat down on the couch with her... I closed my eyes and prayed... thanking God for her... and then prayed for her...Afterward, I grabbed my phone and snapped a pic -- It didn't turn out too great but the moment was captured and that's the important thing to me.  So this verse with a thankful heart... went on the photo:
"For this child I have prayed and the Lord has granted the desires of my heart."
1 Samuel 1:27 

Alright...before I sign off for today... 
I leave you with a new scripture picture.
Feel free to use and share it.
Thankyou for visiting me here at the potting shed!

Til we meet again, 
Leaon Mary

2 comments:

Jean said...

I love this post Lea especially as I am not on social media. It was as if I was spending time with you and enjoyed your sharing of your faith journal. Thank you for the tip about the monthly tabs at the top and also the zip and selphy pics.

It is such a great way of recording moments in the day. What a Blessed time you had with Blakelea.

I saw swallows this morning but wasn't quick enough to catch a photo. I guess they are getting ready to leave us again.

God Bless

Leaon Mary said...

Hi Jeanie! Thank YOU for spending time with "me!!!" I am so blessed for that! When I go for my walks I often think of you out walking on the other side of the world from me... with your Ghyllie! I love hearing about the swallows and all the wonders you see in your path a well! Thank you for sharing life with me Jeanie... I'm so glad our paths crossed you just have no idea!!! xoxo