#giveastory

Back in December I posted about Writing, Journals and Children In Need  in support of Gadanke journals and Katie and her newest Time Capsule journal for kids.  At that time, I mentioned I wasn't compensated, I just like to toot the horn of things that I love.  But I'm now part of her Ambassador team to share the message of these special journals that she sells.

I sent one of these fun journals to my niece for Christmas plus one for a child in need.  I never actually got to hold the book and really look through it until Katie sent me two books to review and share.

I love journal writing, although I'm not as good as I'd like to be.  In my defense, I kind of think of my blog as a bit of a journal, too.  But, really I just need quiet time to myself in order to feel the creative juices flowing.  What is great about this journal is that it is guided journaling.  It asks the kids to say... draw a picture of their home on one page, then to list reasons why they love their home on the opposite page or to list their favorite TV shows, or food.  It helps bypass that need for creative juices at it guides them to write down the little things that, when they are old like me, they won't remember unless they recorded it somewhere.

Isn't this a fun way to document a child's youth?  

I think this and a nice pack of colored pencils or gel pens 

would be a fun gift.

Stay tuned...I've got something fun coming up...

 

Writing, Journals & Children in Need

Writing, journaling and blogging can be so therapeutic.  Katie Clemmons over at Making This Home and Gadanke journals just created her first bound journal for children.  She is all about being a story catcher and recording the every day journey and struggles.  While I'm not being compensated in any way for this blog post, I'm just really impressed with her latest endeavor.  Katie says,

"Every year, thousands of children are displaced from their homes because of domestic violence.  Gadanke has created a gifting program to help build these children's self esteem and give them something to call their own.  Folks can purchase a discounted journal at 50% and we will gift it to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to distribute to a child in need." 

How great is that?   

I hope that as we are all about the charitable giving this time of year, that you might consider this gift of love, therapy and, really, self identity that writing provides.  #Gadanke #journals 



Christmas Journaling - A December Daily

Last year as part of my simplification and savoring, I decided to keep a Christmas journal.  It was part Gandanke journal, part repurposing old Christmas cards and part December Daily.

I used old Christmas card fronts as journaling pages.  They are pretty AND functional.  By recording thoughts, feelings, and activities that brought me closer to the Savior I was able to more fully savor the season.

It is definitely something I am doing again this year, though I am throwing a different twist this year and journaling my answers to the questions posed in Ann Voskamps advent book, the Greatest Gift.

What do you do with old Christmas Cards?

Do you do anything different with your December journaling?

**Originally published on 12/11/2013**

 

The Great Disappearing Act

Source

Once upon a time, I was an avid writer and reader.  But, alas, life took over and I let a hobby and passion give.  It was a sad time for me, I lost a love and an outlet and some dear friends.

I've had some major life changes in the past year.  While, my blogging/public life has dwindled, my personal life took off and the busyness was consuming.

I don't know if anyone is still out there waiting and holding their breath to read the words that pour forth from my fingers, but I feel a pull to reconnect.

Recently my husband answered questions on a quiz about me.  He said my best talent was writing, and here I haven't been writing or doing anything of the such for quite some time...I guess I better brush up on those writing skills.

If you are still there and wish to hear more from me, That's What She Said... and my thoughts and chronicles, please give a shout out so I know you are there.  I think I need all the thoughts and encouragement I can get as I re start this here thing...

I'll be seeing more of you, I hope...

1001 Reasons to Love my Blog

Source

Did you know over the weekend while I was composing posts, I hit the 1,001 blog posts marker.  Now that's a lot of diarrhea of the mouth or keyboard....I kid you not!  A lot has happened in our lives since October 2008 when I started this here little bloggy of mine.  And yet, here I am, the same person I was almost 7 years ago and 1001 posts ago.  I believe my writing has evolved and my style, but I'm still me. 

I'd like to share with you some of my favorite posts from over the years.  Don't worry, I won't be sharing all 1001 of them, you can thank me later. 

Revolving Doors and Footprints
Our Image of Self Worth
Definition of My Worth
Elusive Words
Toaster Babies
Christmas Letters of the Past
Bottles, Bibs and Diplomas
I Pressed Submit
My Epitaph
Marriage
Thirty-Two Steps
and
Thirty-Two Steps Continued

I can't hit a writing home run with every post, 

but these are my standout favorites, 

hands down, no questions asked... 

What have you learned about me or from me over the last 6  1/2 years?

Writer's Block and Oneword Exercises

Source

While looking for the website to celebrate my One Word this year, I typed the URL in wrong but I came across this little gem.  It's a writing website that I am head over heals for.  It is called oneword.com and their purpose, they say, is to help writers overcome writers block.  It is such fun!  No, seriously it is...

From their website:

"Simple. You’ll see one word at the top of the following screen.
You have sixty seconds to write about it.
Click go and the page will load with the cursor in place.
Don’t think. Just write."

Today's word was:  Aura
Here is what I wrote in sixty seconds:

"She was drawn to his aura. Not that she was a mystic or anything, but there was just something about him; his charisma, his personality. Something made her want to be around him all the time. She dared say she was falling in love, but, strangely, she’d actually never even spoken a word to him."

I think you can tell I read a lot of romance books. 

Need some inspiration or just a creative writing exercise?

 

Writers, Reviews and Comments

Source

Not so long ago I fancied myself a writer.  I felt inspired at odd times of the day and words would just flow from my fingertips.  From the inspiring to the snarky, I was in my writer/blogger element.  When life gets hard, creativity seems to take a back seat in my world.  I bagged writing and blogging for a while.  I’m trying to get back in my groove, fake it till you make it, but I don’t really feel like my posts have much substance.  They’re not meaty enough to attract the avid reader/blog follower.  What I have to share is ‘eh’ or at least I think so based on the lack of responses. 

Once upon a time I thought I didn’t care…I write for me.  I record for me.  But the thing is, just as writers are driven by their critiques and reviews, so are bloggers driven by comments.  In the last few months since my disappearance then reemergence in the blogging world, the commenters disappeared.  At one point, I would get 15-20 comments on a post and now mostly it’s a big goose egg.  Is the time of blogging come to an end or are blogs moving in a different direction? 

It was brought to my attention that I might need to move in to the “now”…embracing twitter, Instagram, google+ and facebook to pimp my posts.  But I don’t have time for that…it’s sad really.  Now that I’ve been on my pity pot, please share with me ways that you are able to drive traffic to your blog and encourage comments.

The Best Of...

Everyone has their "top moment" or "top favorites" or "top something or other".  Since this is my blog, I feel like sharing with you some of my top most visited posts of all time..because I'm cool like that.  I'm sharing 7 because 7 is my husbands favorite number.  Weird...I don't have a favorite number...Do you?

#7 - Counting My Blessings - where I name a few missionary blessings I had been receiving.

#6 - Reaffirmations - An alternate to resolutions from 2009

#5 - I Pressed Submit - That time I pressed submit on my son's mission papers

#4 - Toaster Babies - How my children and teenagers have/had sleep problems...Just popping up ALL the time (wouldn't you love to have a cute little toaster like this?)

#3 - Easter Advent - I know we just finished up with Christmas, but it never hurts to look ahead.

#2 - Camp Crafts - Remember when I was in charge of Camp Crafts?  Lots of visits to this one...

#1 - 24 Days of Christmas and a Gift for you - Top visited of all time post! You can never prepare too early for next Christmas.  Just sayin'

Blogging, Balance and BSU Monkey Hats

Something has been missing, and it isn't just my blog.  My blog has been my outlet for creating whether it be words or inspiration I receive from other bloggers.  Something has been missing, and I felt a little inkling of it today...A little spark of creativity coming alive, a longing to return to the living not just the surviving and create.

I'm struggling with balance...working full-time, keeping a house, leading a youth organization, being a wife and mother, etc.  It's hard, I don't know how people do it and still have time for themselves and things they enjoy doing.

I was going through my blog list today and clicking on blogs I hadn't read in a while.  Many of them hadn't posted in over a year!  There was no message saying they needed to take a break...nope, they were just gone.  I started wondering about them, these people I had come to know and their absence.  I suppose someone might be wondering the same of me...maybe, I hope anyway.  Because that means I made an impact on someone, somewhere at some point.

My point is, I'm back, but in a low stress, I'll post when I want to kind of way.  But, I'm back and I definitely need your help in re kindling my passion for life and not getting all caught up in the have to's because they are squashing my creative spirit.

How do you maintain balance in all the craziness?

Living My Book

I used to want to be someone. I wanted to be a writer.  I even considered myself a writer for a while.  I wanted to leave my mark and be remembered in this life as somebody.  Isn't that at the crux of human existence?  In the end we want to be remembered?  Do something noteworthy?  Something of significance?

The past few months have been full.  I've experienced the highs and lows of life.  In a recap, in May Air Force man separated from the military and moved back home to continue schooling full time, we put our sweet dog to sleep after twelve years and only six days before Miguel came home from his mission.  In June, Miguel returned from his mission in Georgia and still wishes he could return.  In July we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with all our kids at the "Happiest Place on Earth".  Then two weeks later I was a camp counselor at a girls camp.  I returned home to a job that went from part time to full time.  Life is full, life is busy.

I've come to realize that my mark isn't set by the words I write, the creative ideas I come up with, the link ups I participate in or the guest posts...no my mark is made by the time I spend with my family.  The living I do within the walls of my home and outside of it.  I will write the words of my book in my actions.  Not everyone can be a Jane Austen or Emily Bronte.  But, I can be me.  I can live my book as Lisa.  And you know what?  I can't put it down.

Source

Back in the Day

Source

Back in the day, I had a lot of things to talk about.  Posts flowed out of me like diarrhea of the mouth...(that's a very talkative person if you didn't know).  These days I'm feeling even more introverted.  Things are going on, but I'm finding myself in a place where my thoughts have become bottled up. and I just can't seem to tip the writer's block and pour it out.

Life happens, things happen, there is stuff to blog about.  But, I find myself wondering if anyone really cares about my every day mundane.  Because it is my every day mundane, it is not mundane, but others might be like, eh...

So, as I get over myself and figure things out and try to uncork this bottle I have found myself stuck in, know that I am still here.  Just a little eh...

Pressure to be Perfect

Source

A while back I wrote a post about how I wasn't really great at anything, but I was okay at a lot of things.  There is the inner pressure to be perfect.   I want to be the perfect daughter, wife and mother.  I want to decorate the perfect house, cook the most delicious meals where everyone enjoys them, create the perfect scrapbook, or write the best blog post ever.

That inner desire to be perfect can be debilitating.
I don't know why its there, I'm not even sure where it comes from.

In our various religious organizations we are taught to try to be like Jesus, and He was perfect.

The message that often gets lost on me is that He offers me His grace because I am not perfect nor can I ever be...without Him.

It's a balancing act really...

But by my struggling for perfection and trying to do everything perfectly, I've realized it is like spitting upon my Savior, and I definitely don't want to do that!

Yes, it is good to strive to do your best, but that guilt when I'm not, is where Christ comes in.

His grace makes up that difference...

Even in my mediocre scrapbooks or my severely lacking meals...

Because through His grace and love, He knows the intent of my heart.  He knows that I want to be the best to honor Him, and that is enough.

Through Christ I will always be enough...

How wonderful it will be some day to hear "Well done, thou good and faithful servant...You are enough."

Do you struggle with trying to be perfect and the guilt when you come up lacking?

Time is a thief

Time...you can't stop it...it continues on unless it is daylight savings and you fall back and even then you have to give back.  Time has been on my mind a lot lately and not necessarily because of Day Light Savings.  No...the passing of time has brought on the aging of two of my children.

My oldest turned 22 last week and my baby turned 16.  Not that they changed over night or anything, but in my mind they have.  Time is like a thief and it has stolen yet again.  Where has their childhood gone?

I lament the passing of time...It is agonizing sometimes to watch.

Each time I look in the mirror I wonder who is this woman staring back at me, and where did my own 16 and 22 year old self go?  Every wrinkle is a reminder of the passage of time and of living.

It's sad really, and also sweet.

It's about the destination and how we get there that matters.  Time continues on and we press forward living the best life we can, and being the best person we can be, because we want to matter in the end.

I want to matter.

When I look at my 16 year old, I relive where I was, evaluating where I am, and focus on where I am headed...jogging down this pathway of life.  And, despite my heart's lamentations of time, it's all good.

Time is often a welcomed thief...

Turns out I was just really sad...

Source

The other day I was diagnosed with moderate depression.  I was shocked.  But then again, not so much.  I went to the doctor to have my hormone levels checked since I am getting to that age of changing hormones.  Weeks of crying at the drop of a pin, loss of interest in things I used to love (like blogging), not able to do much besides lay on the couch curled up like a ball apparently are all indicators of depression.  The funny thing is, I didn't think I was sad.  He said that months sometimes years of stress can catch up with you, and the strongest coping person can sometimes succumb.

I didn't think I'd been stressed particularly, but then I thought back over the last few years...TJ left for the Air Force and Miguel left for his mission.  Both of which were very hard on me...For someone who has been used to mothering three for so long, I suddenly had to reevaluate who I am besides a mom because then there was one (Ladybug...love that girl).  I had my back issue last summer and then the surgery in September.  Being in constant pain, I remember understanding why someone would commit suicide in a similar situation.  Not that I would, but I could empathize because quality of life is all but diminished and waking up in the morning thinking, "Is this all there is?" while life goes on around you and without you, can be quite depressing.  Then the holidays came, and as hard as I tried to embrace a minimalist Christmas this year, I was still overwhelmed.  Then the weather, oh the weather!  For over a month, we were smothered under a blanket of inversion.  At times I felt like I was going to suffocate beneath this foggy darkness that I just couldn't rid myself of, there was no escaping it, and I so desperately missed the sun.

Being called to be the Youth Leader was a blessing with excitement and also stress because therein lies a lot of responsibility and expectations.  But the kicker, the one that broke the camel's back, so to speak, was when I learned my parents wanted to move 12 hours away to Las Vegas.  Poof!  A light went out, I broke, I felt like I had nothing left to give.  I was not worthy, worthwhile, why me?

I'm so glad I went to the doctor, even though it wasn't what I thought.  Going to the doctor gave me answers and choices.  I could go the medicated route or I could make an attitude adjustment.  I decided to adjust my behaviors and attitude.  I needed to get back to working out since I hadn't been able to run in so long.  I needed to enjoy all those natural, happy endorphins, watch what kinds of food I eat and diligently fill my soul with the Word.  Because, quite frankly, I should be the happiest person ever!  I have awesome kids, a loving husband, a good job, a cute house, the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.  Turns out I was just really sad, and an attitude change and faith in Jesus Christ will bring healing to my life.  I am stronger than depression and this is, yet, another opportunity for bravery.

And now you understand why I quit blogging, but then didn't...