Keeping up with my Blessings Journal

It’s been almost a month since I began this journal, and the blank pages are being consumed, day by day, week by week.  I’ve noticed that by keeping track of at least one blessing every day, it’s becoming easier and easier to identify the good things that happen.  I’ve been a little stressed recently- jobs, money, and trying to keep up with everything while remaining cheerful everyday takes it’s toll, and it’s such a relief to spend a few moments every day reflecting on the good that has happened.

In the October 2007 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Pres. Henry B. Eyring spoke about keeping a journal. “As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day.  I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what he had done.”  This is exactly what I have noticed as I’ve begun dotting down at least one blessing a day.  The Lord does bless us by bringing those things he has done to our remembrance.

Of course, Pres. Eyring wasn’t really speaking of keeping an art journal, but developing my talents while I keep track of my blessings seems even more appropriate.  If we can each take a minute each day to write down those things that have blessed us, it will be well worth the little time it takes.  Remembering is so important, and ink is far more lasting and accurate than memory.

As for the art portion of my journal, I’m having such a great time coming up with ideas and researching techniques for all my pages.  A friend suggested I get addicted to art video tutorials on youtube, and I can say with certainty that I have followed her suggestion.  There are so many amazingly talented people out there!  Thanks for sharing all your ideas.

For these last pages I used pages from an old pocket dictionary and modge podged them down.  I painted over them with white and cream acrylic paints, then I drew and painted the hearts.  Once they were dry, I used charcoal around each one.  I scratched some of the paint off inside the hearts, which I wasn’t expecting, but I love the way it made the hearts look more distressed.  Then I simply added my journaling to the sides.  I love how these layouts turned out, and the fact that each page is leading me to more blessings as well as ideas.  Happy Crafting!