I wrote this on a Facebook Note on January 13, 2012 - exactly one year, to the day, before we buried my mother, after living 7 years with Alzheimer's. Just thought I would share this.... January is hard month to get through - especially the first half. I like FB memories... reminds you of things = good and bad. I found Bible journaling 2 years ago this month... January gave me another anniversary to celebrate since my parents are no longer here to celebrate theirs. FB NOTE FROM JANUARY 13, 2012 There are a lot of things that happen in our day to day lives that many may think are just simple coincidences, or neat little things that happen. When 'bigger' things happen I would hope we wouldn't just say it was a coincidence - actually I guess I don't believe much of anything is mere coincidence. God knows what He is doing - he sends little blessings our way - many may be in disguise and we may be asking ourselves is this really supposed to be a blessing at some point? Well - God doesn't make mistakes...and he gives out blessings on a daily, hourly and by the minute basis. Not that I have viewed or will view everything that happens to me, as a 'blessing in disguise' but I have to remind myself to look for the blessings. The blessings are all a part of God's Plan.... As many of you know Mark and I met - really by pure luck - well now I see it as part of His Plan. We both started working at a local theme park the same year. Didn't really meet until the 3rd season we were both there. We were both supervisors/team leaders at our respective ride locations. I went to work at his location because the ride I was working on was too stressful and tiring to me - wasn't automated and ran you ragged. Our Rides manager moved me to work with Mark. When I asked Mark where he lived he thought I would not know where it was - well I did - It was where my mom grew up and my grandparents, and uncles lived while I grew up. He was surprised I knew exactly where his 'little town' was. Well we hit it off. Started dating after working together a whole season (he finally asked me out the last day of the season). hhhmmmm....God's plan?? Also - before I had ever met him - but he was working at the theme park, his mom had died of cancer. I wish I had met her. He was really close to her. I could also tell the way he treated his grandmother that she had to be a wonderful woman to have raised a son who was so sweet. It was through his loss that I could get through mine...a little over a year after our wedding I lost my Dad. Cancer had taken over his mind and body, which led him to take his life after medicine could not heal him. God had given me the man who had lived through the loss of a parent, to help get me through this......God's Plan??? Then when my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and she got worse and worse, we moved her to an assisted living center - you guessed it - in the town in which we live - her hometown. Now - do I see Alzheimer's as a blessing - not sure I ever will....but the fact that mom is back in her hometown and I am a stone's through away from where she is living.....God's Plan??? Everything that has happened in my life - there are many others (I could go on), have led up to where I am today...I believe even my career path as a special education teacher has helped me to deal and come to grips of the reality of my mother's disease, though hard at times. I have had relatives and friends who are going and have gone through rough times recently, and may be asking themselves...WHY GOD, WHY have you let this happen???....I know - I have asked that myself, countless times, and still do....but then I have to remind myself...GOD'S PLAN is bigger than me. GOD has unseen Blessings.... I have to look for the blessings, daily, hourly, by the minute. They are there. Yes along with some trials...but God has and will bring me through it - he promises that...he has HIS PLAN. I sometimes ask to see a peek at His Plan...because I am doubting his purpose.... I know I shouldn't... but I do, I am a sinner, no better than any other....God has a Plan. For those that live without knowing God, or even believing there is no God.... I couldn't live without believing that someone, something greater than me, will get me through this life. There is a reason things happen. Someone greater than me has to be in charge of that....not by chance. Someone gave us life, and the world around us. I put my faith in God...He has the answers to the tests we have to go through...he won't let us look - that would be cheating....but if we believe - then we know how it ends....in Heaven. I believe in Him and that he sent his Son to die for us....one day I will see my Father in Heaven, AND my Daddy. One day my Mom will have a new mind and body.... God has a Plan....are you a part of it? If you read this far - thanks. I hope you get the point I am trying to make. I woke up this morning with these thoughts - and many others running through my head - I couldn't write them all down - I have 3 and 5 year old boys....they kind of keep you from having complete thoughts...LOL January - with my parents' birthdays and anniversary (50th this year) always gets me thinking ....why? I am not even 40 and my parents are not able to enjoy my boys?? I have to tell myself...His Plan is greater than I can ever imagine. Love you Mom and Dad! My parents would have celebrated their 54th Anniversary tomorrow. My dad would have been 80 yesterday and on the 6th of this month my mom would have been 76. Gone too soon!! We buried my mother on January 13, 2013.
God's Plan.... yes.
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I started two years ago with a Journaling Bible. They make all versions and different types. They even have some with about ~500 pages of drawings for you to color, (still plenty of pages for you to put your own touch on) if you are afraid to start with a blank page. There is even an interleaved Bible that has a blank page after each Bible page. So pick the Journaling Bible you like! I even have a small travel Bible that I journal in - on the go! Whenever the Holy Spirit taps me and says get to Journaling - I am ready. You can also use old Hymnals. OR - you can just use a plain notebook of ANY KIND!! I started out with my favorite - Crayola Twistable PENCILS (not crayons). I love them because I do not have to worry about sharpening them. They are always ready to go! You need a fine line water proof pen... that does not bleed through. My favorite is the Illustrated Faith Journaling Pens. But you can use Faber-Castell, Michaels Bible Journaling line of pens, You will also want a good Eraser. I like big chunky white erasers or even the big pink ones will do. That is all...to get started. Later if you want, you can add Washi Tape (lots of washi!!), Water Color (I prefer water color pencils the most - especially for on the go), Acrylic Paint, cut-outs, stickers and stamps - letters and shapes. **You say you cannot draw??!!?? No problem. Find things you want to trace! Use stickers and stamps! Use little swatches of paint, colorful paper (need a glue stick), cut out things you like from magazines and glue or washi tape it in! You can even use th top layer of a pretty napkin! YOU CAN DO THIS!! Even if you cannot draw a stick figure man!!! You do not have to be able to draw to get in to the HeART of Bible Journaling!! **Need ideas?? Go on Facebook and Instagram and even Pinterest. Search for #biblejournaling #illustratedfaith #documentedfaith On Pinterest you can search specific verses easily...example: "Bible Journaling John 3:16" - then up pops lots of ideas for John 3:16 Read and Pray over a passage or your Sermon Notes and GOD will do the rest!! In the pics above you will see that I have used a small travelers notebook to doodle 31 days of Proverbs.....or to just journal on the notebook page. I have also drawn on tags - to use as bookmarks or tip-ins (cards/paper taped in with washi tape so you can write underneath or on the back of it. I have journaled in old hymnals... I found mine at Goodwill. I have stamped on colorful paper and then cut it out to glue in. Below you will see a sampling of what I created in my Bible the first 6 months I had been journaling. The last picture is of the Washi tape I put on the edge of each first page of each book of the Bible. Check back... still working on posting more current pics of my Journaling Bible.
1/6/2018 0 Comments Fresh start to bloggingI will be posting more since this website is easier to update via the iPhone/Ipad app which is what I typically use to take pics of my Bible Journaling. So check back soon. I plan on making a flip through of my Bible. This page is based on Psalm 51:7. He will wash us whiter than snow...
I love Olaf for this... even as crazy as he is... as crazy as I am - I know if I confess that I am a sinner and believe that Jesus died for me up on that cross - that even I am washed whiter than snow! Thank you Lord for that! |
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