Bible journaling...Getting ready for 2015

"The way we communicate with others, and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives." -Anthony Robbins

"The windows of my soul I throw wide open to the sun(Son)" -John Greenleaf Whitter (italics mine...I want to throw the windows of my soul wide open to the SON!)

"My faith in God is the lens through which I see my life."-Kelly Ishmael

2015...Are you ready?

I hardly know where to begin.  I just know I wanted to post about this before 2015.  Time goes so fast!  There never is enough is there?...yet we are all allotted the same 24 hours in a day.  How we use that time is important, because we will never have that time in our grasp again.  One thing I know is that time spent in the company of our Lord is never wasted time.  How does my quiet time look?  I wanted to have some sort of "alone time with God plan" that I could do everyday for the rest of my life.  I am not an early riser.  I am not like Beth Moore who can get up, and commune with God while it is still dark outside.  I tried it, I would fall back to sleep.  I tried at night... same problem, I'd soon fall asleep.  I decided I would try something totally different.  My very favorite, all time preacher is Alistair Begg.  He is spot on, and solid in his teaching.  I downloaded the app, "Truth for Life".  He has a daily teaching (about 20 minutes) that I listen to, then I read the daily devotion from Morning and Evening, by Charles Spurgeon (updated by Mr. Begg), and a daily reading in the Old and New Testament.  This is all on the Truth for Life app.  It is a "one stop" daily- bible quiet time shopping site. When Warren gets up, I stay in bed and listen, and read.  It helps me wake up slowly.  If Warren doesn't have to work that day, he listens with me.  This works for me.  We are transformed by the Word if we do what the word tells us to do.  One of the ways the word transforms me is by my meditating on it until my THINKING, and BEHAVIOR lines up with the WORD of God.  Easier said than done.  For example, the TV shows I watch.  One of my favorite shows is "Major Crimes."  Recently, it introduced a subject line that was contrary to God's word.  I so wrestled with God.  "Maybe just one more episode."  Can you believe, I bargained with God?  Alas, God won.  I have crossed "Major Crimes" off my watch list.

So the question is how to meditate on the word other than memorization, which is good too.  I meditate by Bible journaling.  All you need is a Bible with wide margins, some colored pencils, an ink pen, and a heart to hear God speaking.  There is a Bible journaling Facebook group where I get some of my inspiration.  I have used the Home Grown Hospitality website as well.  Some of my pages are original with me, some spring from inspiration from others.

For this one, I cut out the girl from one of My Mary Englebriet  calendars.

Inspiration from a FB entry...

another inspiration from FB

 Inspiration from Homegrown hospitality

How did I get started Bible journaling?  I think when you really want to do something, God gives the answer...sometimes in the most unexpected places, or circumstances.  One of my go to websites is Home grown hospitality.  This lady loves the Lord, and has such creativity.  It was here that I learned about Bible journaling...you journal in your Bible your faith walk.  She had a blog post on it...several in fact.  I also learned about the "Documented Faith project 2015".  It is a free class where you will find weekly inspiration.  Just click on the tab "Documented Faith" on the Homegrown hospitality page to participate for 2015.  From there, I learned about another website: His-kingdom-come.  I signed up for Bible journaling class for 2015.  I am ready, maybe sort of, for 2015.

My problem is time.  I need time to do this.   I already have trouble getting done all the things I want to do.  Alistair Begg just finished a series on the 10 commandments.  I was very convicted with all of them, but one that left a big impression was "Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy."  It is to be a day set aside for God, and God alone...not for cleaning, getting caught up, etc.  I have decided to keep it set apart for God using this day to journal how God has spoken, and taught me that week. I have a Moleskine notebook  to keep track of it all.  This is how the calendar looks when you buy it.

Here is a sampling of how creative the pages can be from Martha Lever who is doing the Documented Life project for 2014.  Her pages are amazing...

The prompt was an arrow...

prompt...stars

Here is my decorated 2015 Moleskine calendar ready for my first entry.   I added tabs at the top for the 12 months...there are how to's at Homegrown Hospitality.

Front cover of my Moleskine calendar

 To make more room for ideas, and journaling, I added "tip ins" which are just extra pages using Washi tape.  It makes the side of the calendar look so cool.  "How to's" also on Homegrown Hospitality.

Side with the Washi tape "tip ins"

 It is decorated front and back.  I spent too long doing my cover.  The first one I did I hated, so I painted over it.  I did not like the second one very much either.  I painted over it again, and did it again. I liked my third attempt.  Third time is a charm.

The black elastic band is to keep the book closed when not in use.

"Let it be your business everyday, in the secrecy of the inner chamber, to meet the holy God.  You will be repaid for the trouble it may cost you.  The reward will be sure, and rich." -A. Murray

Make God a priority in 2015!

Christmas swim class...and other happenings...

"Winter is a time for comfort, for good food, and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." -Edith Sitwell

Today is the first day of winter!  It is not very wintery here though...the sun is shining a very comfortable 64°.  Today is also my son, Mark's, birthday.  Happy birthday, Mark.

These photos were taken by Amber...post processing by me...

Mark and Amber recently spent 9 days in Hawaii.  I think all the dreary weather in Denver got to them...they had to get away.  I love this photo with the rainbow in the background.  ReMARKable (get it?)

Happy Birthday...

Christmas Water Aerobics
Christmas is definitely just around the corner.  In honor of Christmas, I made up a water workout with moves to the "12 Days of Christmas."  I encourage those who come to my class to look Christmas-y by wearing something, well, Christmas-y.  The great thing is that my people do get into the Christmas spirit by coming up with, and wearing some really great Christmas items.  This year I took my camera to document the event.

Small bunch today, but overflowing with Christmas Spirit!

Christmas Program: Warren is in this...
Since before Thanksgiving, I have heard the music, and singing of my husband practicing for our big Christmas program at our church since he is in the choir.  I absolutely love to hear him practicing.  It makes my soul soar.  This year the music was exceptional.  When there was a reading in the gospel of Luke, "For Unto you a Child is born...", I was moved to tears.  And the music definitely brought us into  worship.

One of songs I had Warren sing over and over again to me was "The Bells Are Ringing" from a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  I love it.  Take time to watch the video to learn of its background, and the powerful words.  It is just lovely.

Countdown to the start of the program...

Getting ready...

The projector image of the choir...

And the bells they're ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they're singing (Peace on Earth)
And with our hearts we'll hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

Do you hear the bells they're ringing? (Peace on Earth)
The life the angels singing (Peace on Earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (Peace on Earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men

Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." -Charles Dickens

I cannot believe I have let fourteen days of the Christmas season get by me without posting some Christmas photos.  So much for doing the December Daily this year.  Not to worry, though, I plan to get caught up this week, so beware.  I have the photos, they are just not posted.

Can I say, I have thoroughly enjoyed the season so far.  For one, I am not stressed out.  I have some decorations up, but not many.  I have taken a lot of delight in visiting others homes, and enjoying the fruits of their decorations.  I get immense joy out of some of the shop displays, too.  Warren and I are not getting each other gifts this year.  If we want something, we order it ourselves.  That reduces stress a lot.

My main project for the Christmas holiday was "Pallet Art".  My inspiration was found on Pinterest.  I had my friend, Suzanne help me with the lettering, and the wisemen.  Warren drilled the holes for the lights.  It is gorgeous...especially at night with the spotlight on it.  I am thrilled with the out come.  Maggie is too...she is right above the wreath checking it all out.

I was so pleased that I found a solid pallet instead of one with the slats.  I stained the wood, cut out the letters, and wisemen, applied them to the board, painted the hills, and star, then sealed it.  Warren drilled my holes for the lights.  My wreath is recycled...I sprayed it silver.  

Today, I saw a new technique of light painting.  I came home, put up my lights, and enlisted my favorite subject.  See how excited he looks...

My Ho, Ho, Ho Santa...and subject.  

When he saw what I was trying to do, he got into the Christmas spirit a little better.  This is sort of the effect I was trying to achieve.  I want the lights to be a complete circle, so I will have to keep working on this.  I suppose I should have cropped off the dark spots on either side too, but I sort of liked them too.

This is better...

This better yet...Just like the Grinch, I think his heart grew three sizes!  See he's smiling!

As always, Maggie was right in the middle of things, so Warren picked her up, to add more to the photo.  She doesn't look too happy either.

I was sort of Christmas-y, too.  So I had my picture taken too, by Warren.  He did a very nice job.

Earlier this week, I was experimenting with some new photo apps on my iPhone.  Here's a picture using the app, Stackables.  Can I say, I love the app.  It is like having a mini photoshop on your phone.

App: stackables,  two photos used, blend mode: multiply.  Masked off the face.

Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving was different for us this year.  I was in SAM's with my good friend Deborah.  She had come to town for a day of quick shopping with her mom.  When she's in town, she calls to see if we can get together, even if it is only for a couple of hours.  I was debating what kind of turkey to buy...smoked, just a breast...or maybe not a turkey at all.  I said that I hated to buy a turkey just for Warren and me.  That's when she said, "Come to Carlsbad, and have Thanksgiving with us.  It will just be family."

This is her "just" family...people from Montana, Kentucky, and various parts of New Mexico.

So we went...

Warren driving...I love to take pictures of him driving...

...and I am so glad we did.  We had a wonderful time.  Allen started it all off with a prayer of Thanksgiving, and allowed others to join is as they felt led.  Oh my goodness, I do not think there was a dry eye in the place.  Such sweet prayers thanking God for His provision, care, and love.  The young man standing next to me...who has some limitations...thanked God for allowing him the ability to be on his own: living as well as working, and for making him just like he was...limitations and all.  So precious.

The spread was amazing.  All the men and women in Deborah's family are fantastic cooks.  There were green beans, and sweet potatoes grown from their garden, pecan pie made with pecans from their trees, and Elk tenderloin from one of the boy's hunting expeditions.  There was the traditional turkey, and ham plus all the fixings.  We did not lack for food that's for sure.

Starting at the left: ham, turkey, elk tenderloin

After we ate, Allen had a prize for anyone who could answer who had the first Thanksgiving parade.  Everyone thought it was Macy's, but they did not.  Gimbel Brother's in Philadelphia had the first parade.  The winner was Demetrius (who also brought the elk).  He won this wonderful prize...

 Yes, I bet you wish you had one!  Allen called it a nose bra.  Not to be alone in the wearing of this wonderful item, Demetrius had his girlfriend model it as well.  I was so glad I did not win this treasure.

my awesome man...so thankful for him.

our selfie.  

Me and Deborah

Best friends...

Okay, when Deb lived here, people got us mixed up all the time...even her husband got us mixed up. Back then, we had the same hair color.   If my hair color was not from a bottle, my hair would be the same color as her's is now.  The interesting thing is that one of her brothers looks like my brother.  The first time I met him, I could not believe it.  Tom is on the left...Deb's brother right.

Amber sent this picture of Mark and his friend, Spence cutting their turkey.  Mark and Amber had Thanksgiving at their friend's house since they were moving back to LA the next day.  Amber made the meal though, because Kristina and Spence were going to have pizza for Thanksgiving.  

Spence (left)  Mark (right)

This spread is for 4 people

Amazing pies

Luke sent us this video of Sawyer's sledding experience Thanksgiving day.

Anyway, it was a good Thanksgiving for all.  

Another selfie... to wish all a Happy Thanksgiving. We do not look the greatest here...Warren was back from a bike ride, and me from a run.  We sort of had sweat hair...

So Thankful!