Finding Your Creative Voice - Day 6: Relax and Enjoy the Journey

When I saw the 31 Day challenge just a day or two before it started I jumped at the opportunity. I chose this topic because it is one I think of often.

But now, six days in, I find myself stressing. I didn't go into this with a clear plan at all. But as I thought about this today, I began to realize that this is often the case with a new journey, a creative adventure. There's not always a clear path, or a detailed map. Sometimes we just need to relax and see where the road takes us.

So that is my thought for the day. Relax and enjoy the journey. Know that there will be twists and turns and we can't always quite see around the next turn, but that okay. It's part of the fun.

To find all the posts on this topic click here.

To find others writing 31 Day series on a wide variety of topics click here.

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Making a Life Worth Living



credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. ~ Sir Winston Churchill

I want to have a life, not simply make a living. I want to experience the richness that comes from giving. Today I want to give understanding, love, my time, and my ears. I want to give prayers for those around me. I want to give hugs and smiles and encouraging words. I want to share laughter.

I want to make a life worth living.

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31 Days to Finding Your Creative Voice - Day 5: Thinking About Our Lists

Yesterday we made a list of the first ten things we could think of that were of interest to us. I did it myself and it was fun, and I actually was a little surprised at some of the things that showed up on that list.

Today, I want us each to pick one thing on that list, and as we go about our daily activities, see if we can think of one or two ways to use these interests that we have never done before.

Write down these ideas somewhere and keep them for tomorrow.

To see all the posts in this series click here. For more great 31 Day series click here.

Hope That Springs Eternal

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13

It can be difficult, when we look around at everything that is going on around us to feel much hope. From the economy to natural disasters to personal difficulties, there is so much that can steal our hope if we allow it.

Yet, as Christians, we are given something that others struggle to find.

Hope.

The God of hope - I love that. The God of hope fills us with all joy and peace. And He doesn't just give us a little hope, a taste of hope. No, we have abounding hope. We know that the God who loves us is in control and that He will lift and sustain us.

To me abounding hope brings a mental image of hope piled high and running over. A hope that cannot be contained but spills out and around to those nearby.

And how to we have this hope? We have it through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is not just a drummed up good feeling. This is hope given to us by God Himself through the Holy Spirit.

This is hope I can hold on to, hope I can live and breathe and move in. Hope that sustains and gives life.

This is the hope that springs eternal.

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Love One Another

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

 

You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back.
– Barbara DeAngelis

 If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12

I really can't say it any better than this.

Today I want to live out of love and not out of fear or selfishness.

 

Finding Your Creative Voice - Day 4: Making a List

Today's post on Finding Your Creative Voice will have a little homework for you to do.

I want you to make a list of ten areas of interest to you. These areas can be anything at all - whatever comes to mind - from baking to basketball to brain development. There are no right or wrong answers here. Each person's list will be completely unique. Don't overthink - just write. You may even surprise yourself when you see what is on your list.

Once you have your list of ten areas of interest just give yourself some time to think about them. Why are they interesting to you? How are you using these interests in daily life?

Here is my list of ten - not prethought - simply written as I thought of them just now.

homemaking
homeschooling
singing
creativity
neurology
thought provoking conversations/sharing ideas
homesteading
community
family
showing Jesus to others

Now that I've shared my list, I'd love if you would share yours in the comments.

To find all the posts on this topic click here.

To find others writing 31 Day series on a wide variety of topics click here.

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Housework and Friends



credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

If the shelves are dusty and the pots don't shine,
it's because I have better things to do with my time.
~Author Unknown

This is a little how I'm feeling today.

My house needs some help and I know it. But I also have a friend who needs some moral support today, so my house is going to have to wait.

The hardest thing for me is that the person coming in to watch the kids while I'm gone is going to see that my house is a mess. But, I've decided to do the best I can before I have to leave and then refuse to worry about it. There are just some things more important than a spotless house.

And my friend is definitely more important than my housework.

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. ~Douglas Pagels

31 Days to Finding Your Creative Voice - Day 3: We ALL Have a Creative Voice

Today I want to make sure we have one thing crystal clear.

We ALL have a creative voice!!!! Every last one of us.

Just think of the awesome vastness of the universe and the amazing intricacy of the smallest microscopic organism.

Take a moment to think of the general geographic area you live in now. Think of the variety of wildlife - birds, animals, trees, flowers. Think of the beautiful sites nearby filled with the wonder of creation.

If really fully considered it is nearly mind boggling.

Now, think of how a small this region is compared with the many in the country, the continent, the world. All around the earth are places filled with just as much variety, and yet, the variety there is totally different.

And beyond this there are planets, stars, an infinite number of created wonders in space.

And yet, the Creator, who created all of this, chose to make US in His image.

And when His Creation that He loved chose to walk a path of destruction, He came and died for US - YOU - ME - because His love for this special Creation of His.

These facts are why I believe each of us has creative voice. One of the reasons we are so special to and so loved by our Creator is because we ARE made in His image. He has given each of us a similarities to Himself, He the ultimate Creator.

Because we are made in His image each of us has that spark of creativity within us. And when we are not fanning that spark into flame we feel cold and lifeless. And the Creator who loves us, did not create us for this.

I believe He created each of us to show a facet of Himself to bring to glory to Him, and as a way of helping those around us understand a bit more about Him. As we do this we are fulfilling what we were created to do, becoming who we were created to be, and this brings a sense of joy and fulfillment that cannot be reached any other way.

Tomorrow, I will be looking a little at finding that spark of creativity smoldering within each of us.  I hope you will come back to read more.

To find the rest of the posts in this 31 day series click here. To find more blogs participating in 32 Day challenge and writing on a variety of topics click here.

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Morning Musing Over Coffee - Each Season Has It's Gifts



credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn. ~ Elizabeth Lawrence

It's hard to believe it's Autumn again. It seems that it was just Spring and then I blinked and it was Summer and now it's suddenly Autumn. There is so much to appreciate in each season if I will take the time to see it.

At one time I thought that Spring was my absolute favorite season, but as time goes on I'm learning more and more to appreciate the unique gifts of each season. I just need to slow down sometimes and take the time to notice them.

In the same way life has it's seasons and sometimes it's tempting to pick and choose which season is the "best" and feel dissatisfied when we are not in that particular season. But if we take the time to look for them, their are gifts in each season. Gifts that it would be a shame to miss.

photo credit: porbital

Finding Your Creative Voice - Day 2: Five Quotes on Creativity

I was planning to write a more indepth post today but a night of very little sleep plus a day full of church activities has left my mind scrambled. So today I'm going to share five quotes on creativity.

Here they are ~

There is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. ~ Martha Graham

Everyone who's ever taken a shower has had an idea. It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off and does something about it who makes a difference. ~ Nolan Bushnell

The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones. ~ John Maynard Keynes

The world is but a canvas to the imagination. ~ Henry David Thoreau

Creativity is contagious. Pass it on. ~ Albert Einstein

I'm hoping you will come back tomorrow for more thoughts on finding your creative voice. And for more reading on a wide variety of topics check these sites that are participating in the 31 Days challenge.

You can check out all the posts in this series here.

31 Days to Finding Your Creative Voice - Day 1

A large group of bloggers is commiting this month to writing for 31 days on a specific topic. I thought I it sounded like fun, although I know it's also going to be a challenge.

The subject I have chosen for this month is 31 Days to Finding Your Creative Voice.

I firmly believe that God has given each of a voice. I also believe that the Creator, who made each of us in His own image, placed within each of a spark of creativity.

So, just to get us started today I'm going to look at a few definitions of the words creative and voice. These definitions come from

Creative*

adjective

1. having the quality or power of creating

2. resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.; imaginative

3. originative; productive

Voice*

noun

- something likened to speech as conveying impressions to the mind: the voice of nature

- expression in spoken or written words, or by other means

*I only used the definitions listed that I felt applied to the subject at hand.

I'm looking forward to exploring these ideas further in the days ahead and to reading the posts of other 31 Dayers.

You can check out all the posts in this series here.

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Morning Musing Over Coffee - Moving Beyond Irritation

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

I'm irritated this morning and wallowing in it. And I really need to get over it. It's not doing me or anyone else any good. It really doesn't matter what it is that I'm irritated about, we all have our individual irritations and have to struggle with them at times. What does matter is that I find a way to rise above the irritations and move on. So this morning I'm looking at some ways to do just that.

The first step is to pray about it. There's no point in trying to hide how I feel from God. He knows how I'm feeling and why. He made me the way I am and knows, better than I do, all the ins and outs of what is bothering me. So in telling Him about it I am reaching out to the one who best understands and has the power to help me pull out of my irritation.

The second step is to take a few minutes to focus on the good. No matter how irritated and frustrated I am, there are always good things to focus on. And the more I think about it the more I realize the good far outweighs the bad.

As some of the bad feeling begin to slip away, my third step is to take a short amount of time to think through the problem and see if there is a constructive way to minimize some of what is bothering me in the first place. Is there one thing I can do to help keep this from being an issue. I need to take responsability for my feelings and take positive action toward making it better. It may be as simple as choosing to smile in spite of it, or choosing to change my attitude.Maybe I need to calmly and respectfully explain why I am irritated and work on together on finding a solution.  Or their may be another solution that I had not thought of before. Sometimes I simply need to laugh at my childishness at letting small things bother me and move on.

The last step is to take action. Whether it's on the specific issue at hand, or on something else constructive, taking positive action helps to pull me out of my pit of self pity.

Life is always going to have it's up and downs. That's just life. And sometimes the little bumps along the way serve to remind me to stop and look around for the good things that I am so richly belssed with.

Or as this quote so aptly says -

It just wouldn't be a picnic without the ants  ~ Author Unknown

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Today's Adventures - Homemade Hot Pockets, A Spider and More

Today's Verse
But the Lord is the true God, He is the living God, the eternal King . . . Jeremiah 10:10

Today's Quote
Though our feelings come and go, God's love for us does not. ~C. S. Lewis

Playing, Learning and Working Together

Putting together picture and word puzzles

Playing memory with transportation cards. And apparently I was being told something very important although I cannot remember now what it was.

Busy working on our writing practice worksheets.

It was wet outside from a rain shower this morning so outside play was on the front porch.

Austin: "Look what I found. Can I hold it?" Me: "NOOOO!!!"

Michael doing his afternoon work in his workbook.

Overheard

Amanda as she struggles to get the broom out of the closet and the swiffer keeps getting in her way "The swiffer and the broom are in love. The swiffer doesn't want me to take the broom away."

Austin chuckling to himself as he watches something about liverwort on his science video clip this afternoon "Liver wart. That would be painful! "

From the Kitchen

I made two recipes of Traditional White Bread dough today and then made all the dough into homemade hot pockets.

Amanda helped me make the first batch this morning. We filled half of these with pepperoni and cheese and half with sausage and cheese.

I got distracted on the second batch this afternoon and by the time I got back to the rising dough it looked like this. When I uploaded the photo I noticed the drawer underneath the dough is open  slightly. I'm so glad it didn't spill over far enough to get in there.

Michael helped me fill the second batch. We filled half of these with bacon and cheese and half with sausage and cheese.

He got a  little over enthusiastic filling the first one but he soon got the hang of it and did a good job.

We had these for lunch and the older kids and Doug had some for snack this afternoon. The rest (17) I put in the freezer for later snacks, breakfasts and Doug's lunches.

Tonight I am Grateful For. . .

A quiet evening and an ice cream date at DQ with Doug.

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Step by Step



credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

The road leading to a goal does not separate you from the destination; it is essentially a part of it. ~Charles DeLint

I am the kind of person who sets a goal, or sees something that needs to change, or it suddenly struck by a wonderful idea, and then wants to see it all happen right now. It is so easy for me to forget that the road is an essential part of the fulfillment of the goal.

Without the journey, the step by step walking out of ultimate fulfillment of that dream, their is no context, and I would never experience the growth that comes along the way.

God gives us dreams a size too big so that we can grow in them. ~ Author Unknown

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Finding My Voice

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Each of us has a voice, something we want to say, something we want to share. And even more importantly, there is something that God wants each of us to share with the world around us. Whether is be to one or two people close to us or to a large audience, that voice is there, waiting for expression.

I am realizing this more and more lately as I find myself at a bit of a crossroad, looking at new directions and opportunities, wondering, waiting, praying,  listening to the voice rise up within me and yet, at the same time, unsure of what, exactly it is trying to express.

But as I explore new options and paths, I am excited for what is ahead, and for the adventures waiting as I share this journey with those around me. I know there are topics I am passionate about, I am pretty sure of the general themes that run strong in the nature God has made me with, and the talents, interests and strengths He has given me. I know there are things I am not cut out to do, that are simply not what I was made for. And although there is at times a very real pressure to try to be someone I'm not, or to do things that I was not cut out to do, I am learning to recognize this and move in another direction.

At the moment, finding my voice seems to taking me in these directions

1. Becoming more involved in the church I am now in. Learning from and with, encouraging and being encouraged by, sharing the voice within me as I listen to the voice of each one around me.

2. Writing. Using this blog as a way to share, to speak out about those things I am passionate about, and again learning from and with, encouraging and being encouraged.

3. Within the community. Each of us, in our own community, are here for reason. It is time for me to take a more active role within my own community, to be more open to those around me. I'm not sure what direction this will take me, at the moment I am simply paying more attention to the needs and opportunities around me as I wait for direction.

4. And last, but probably the most important, within my own home. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in all the other opportunities around us and forget that those within my own homes, whether immediate family or simply in my care for the day, need me most. They are the ones who need my best, who need me to be the person God created me to be, right here, right now.

Jeremiah 29:11 is a great encouragement to me. I know that God has a plan for me. I can see how He has worked in my life up to this point. And I am excited to see where He will lead me next and the new ways He will have for me to express the voice He has given me.

 

 

 

"For I know the thoughts I have for you" declares the Lord. "plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11