I wasn’t sure of what to write for today. Sometimes I have ideas ahead of time, sometimes I write about something that just happened and other times I stare at the screen for a while and then I remember how tired I am and all the other items on my list for today and I start to doze off.
Today was one of those days.
Until I saw a tweet by Karen Maezen Miller which pointed to this post by Lindsey which then made me realize what today’s post was going to be about.
Attention.
Lindsey writes, “What we pay attention to flourishes. Attention is love. It is, after all, the only true thing of value we have.”
Isn’t that true? As she goes on to say attention is time and how we spend our time is how we spend our days (and life, of course.) But the part that I focused on isn’t only that what we pay attention becomes our life, but also that what we give attention to flourishes. There are obvious things like plants, cooking, etc. where you can see the actual “flourished” outcome of attention. And then there are the things that take a lot of time to flourish so each bit of attention moves us a little forward and the regular progress is harder to see. For example, art, music or even math. Things that take a long time and a lot of practice. But what is practice? a recurring attention.
And then there are those things that we pour attention to and we might never see the outcome. Or we might never prove that our attention is directly related to that outcome. Things like friendships, relationships, children. There is no doubt that each of these things flourish with attention but the direct outcome of attention might be hard to see. But attention is what keeps all relationships going. The more you give, the more you’re rewarded.
Another thing Lindsey said that really stuck with me was “A critical task of our lives is to truly see those we love for who they are, even when that means accepting that there are mysteries inside of them that we will never understand. To release them from the cage of what we so desperately want them to be, so that they may flourish into who they are.” To me, this is the best kind of attention. The kind that doesn’t judge or expect anything in return. The kind that gives. The kind of mother, wife, or friend I try to be. Imagine if you had a friend who gave you the gift of truly seeing and truly accepting you. Wouldn’t that be the most amazing gift you ever received?
So, I hope that each of you spend a little more time today seeing where you’re spending your attention. And who you could see and love without judgement. And remember that attention is love. Thank you Karen and Lindsey for reminding me of that today. I needed to hear it again.
The following is cross-posted from the Weekly Gratitude Blog. I will post there every Tuesday and decided to post those posts here, too. For those of you who read both blogs, I apologize in advance. Some weeks the content might be different and other weeks, exactly the same.
A few weeks ago Margie emailed me and asked me if I could do a few samples with one of her kits that were scheduled to sell on the Home Shopping Network (HSN). The kit had the Girls’ Paperie Paper Girl papers, ribbons, stamps, and die cuts. No alphabets! Can you imagine me doing a layout without alphabets? Well, I went off and bought the letter punch from MS and decided to step up to the challenge. I will post the 4 layouts I made in two days, over the next few weeks.
Journaling Reads:
Since I am the family photographer, there are very few photos of me and you. So I asked Daddy to grab the camera and take one. You made this weird face so I decided to tickle you and he snapped right then. I love this. Imperfect but authentic photo so much.
Details:
David woke up with a low-grade fever today. Because I hate those parents who hate their kids to school sick and because he looked sad, I decided it was better to stay home and rest up. So he spent the day looking like this.
And resting and watching movies and even a little TV but mostly lying and reading books and coloring. The little one was restless today and couldn’t sit still or stay quiet. He played with his bottles.
And begged for food and whined about being on his chair. Slapped and kicked us without meaning to.
It was a useless day for the most part. I got a bunch of important work done but spent most of the day aimlessly wondering what to work on and not actually working on much. Oh well, tomorrow’s another day.
Things have been quiet here, I hope I am not boring you to tears or putting too many scrappy pages. Let me know if something’s wrong.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for a fun BPS chat tonight!
2. I am grateful that my art journal that I posted here this weekend was the featured project at 2peas today!
3. I am grateful that David seems to be all better. Here’s to hoping the fever doesn’t come back tomorrow.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. watching kid TV
2. eating yummy snacks and fruit and my bagel
3. watching movies on my ipod
Journaling Reads:
Because I grew up with just one sister I had no idea what to expect when I had two boys. As it turns out they are super sweet and a lot of fun. But they also make a lot of noises. When they drive cars or play with superheros for example. I love that at sixteen months you’re already a treasure of crazy, funny sounds and you’re picking up more from your brother every day. I love my boys so so very much.
Tim Holtz Products used:
Lost and Found paper
Symphony Tissue Tape
Journaling Tickets
Alphabet soup Grungeboard
Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink
Shabby Shutters Distress Ink
Filmstrip Ribbon
Mini Paper Clips
Muse Tokens
Tiny Attacher
Details:
Another perfectly calm day. Loving these happy, uneventful days.
Nathaniel’s really gotten to be vocal when he’s not getting his way. Here’s a face he makes often when I refuse one of his wishes.
And he does like to sit down a bunch of times. I love seeing him sit and seeing how much older and bigger he is. It does make me a bit sad, too.
And then all my boys watched football for a bit while I made a layout.
And I captured the feet. I love these toes.
And he’s obsessed with the waters. The top on and off, on and off, all day long.
David spent quality time working on his market, putting lego men in it and making notes along the way.
He also read some of the books I bought at the fair. He’s becoming such an excellent reader and I am so incredibly proud of him. I read most of the day. I made a layout and rested and mostly read. I have a few todo items to get done tonight before I will let myself go back to my book. But I can hardly wait.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for another great book and mostly for time to read.
2. I am grateful three happy layouts I made this weekend. I love all three of them.
3. I am grateful for a quiet and still weekend. Love love love love those.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. reading my amelia badelia book and cowboy roy book
2. coloring
3. playing with my market
Since I am a guest designer for My Mind’s Eye this month, I wanted to make sure to post a copy of each of my layouts here, too. These all use the amazing My Mind’s Eye products.
Journaling Reads:
You really like playing in the back yard but hate wearing anything on your head. David and I have been trying many things so our latest attempt was this fun hat he got at Google. You thought it was fun but only for a split second.
Details:
Nathaniel woke up at 3am last night and though he desperately tried he couldn’t go back to sleep. I tried everything I could think of. I hugged him, left him alone, held his hand, and even put him on the big bed and nursed him but nothing worked. By then I was wide awake, so we just got up. I read, he played, we hugged, he ate, David woke up and then I decided Nathaniel could go down again. So off he went and so did I. Jake woke up and fed David and I slept for a few hours. We both woke up then and it was much better.
A little while later David started his wii day.
I read more of my book (I am enjoying the Kindle a lot and don’t miss my Sony much) and then I fed the kids again and went to the book fair to get David some early reader books. Then I decided I needed to get out more so I took Nathaniel and went to a local cafe so have a sandwich. We ate and laughed and I read. I finished my book and then we went grocery shopping. I am always so much happier when there is a lot of fruit in the fridge.
When we got back, the kids ate again and Nathaniel was in his pre-bed funny mood.
I snuck a smile from David.
Nathaniel was lying on the floor and laughing and laughing.
And making these weird, funny shrieks.
And of course David joined in, he never misses a fun playing opportunity.
Then the kids had their baths and are now in bed. I did a few of my todos and rested a lot today. Now I am off to do some gratitude art and some layouts.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for simple books that you can get lost in.
2. I am grateful fruit. Fresh, happy, tasty fruit.
3. I am grateful some fresh air and quiet time Nathaniel and I got today. It’s rare I am out with only one kid but it’s also fun.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing wii
2. watching cinderella on my ipod
3. coloring
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve tried to do an art journal and for how long. Three-four years? I’ve done so many versions. All of which are half done. Just like a written journal,this is something I can’t seem to make a habit of. A month or so ago, I was in a really bummed mood and I said something about it on Facebook and the amazing Caroline of Maya Road sent me some Maya Road goodies in the mail to cheer me up (and cheer me up they did!) and just a few weeks ago my awesome friend Katie had also sent me a few things. So I dug into my stash of other MR stuff and since Caroline had sent me two awesome books with canvas and I religiously watch Donna’s amazing inspiration wednesdays, I decided this was all a sign to tackle this task again:
56. Create an art journal and fill all the pages
I took the binder and pockets from this album and the canvas pages from this one. Since I love color lately and I am trying to choose joy I decided to focus my album on happiness and went hunting for quotes around happiness.
I printed a bunch of them, painted my album and the pages in colorful colors and just had fun.
For the cover, I painted it with teal fluid Golden acrylics. Then I put it back on. I attached a prima flower I’ve had for a long time and painted the letters with magenta and then covered them with stickles. A little tag with the year and it was done.
I removed the rest of this cause this minibook is being published. Will bring it back in January
On the back, I put a reminder that I get to “choose” my days and to choose joy. And a little part of a doily.
I like the way the branch goes across my cover.
I originally painted the inside magenta. But then it felt too loud so I covered it with offwhite, seethrough cute tape I had so now it looks magenta but also a bit more interesting.
I painted the pages with Claudine’s paints, which I love. This quote says: “Some pursue happiness, others create it.”
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. ~Robert Brault”
“The greatest happiness you can have is knowing that you do not necessarily require happiness. ~William Saroyan”
“But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads? ~Albert Camus”
“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet. ~James Openheim”
“For happiness one needs security, but joy can spring like a flower even from the cliffs of despair. – Anne Morrow Lindbergh”
“The fact is always obvious much too late, but the most singular difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is a solid and joy a liquid. ~J.D. Salinger”
“You need to learn to be happy by nature, because you’ll seldom have the chance to be happy by circumstance. ~Lavetta Sue Wegman”
this one was for fun. i wanted it to look like two people were lying down, holding hands, looking up at the stars.
another just fun page with no quote.
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. ~Mahatma Gandhi”
“A sure way to lose happiness, I found, is to want it at the expense of everything else. – Bette Davis”
“Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length. ~Robert Frost”
“Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open. ~John Barrymore”
“Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important. ~Janet Lane”
“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. ~Marcel Proust”
a little detail.
I covered the inside here with tape, too.
and finally a top look:
I can’t believe I finally finished an art journal. Not your typical one but I love love love it and it sits on my desk and reminds me to choose joy every day! Thank you so much, Deb!
Nothing like nature to inspire and awe.
This week felt like it went by too too fast. I have a bunch of items on my todo list but none of them are inspiring me all that much so I keep putting them off. But I feel guilty about it so I get nothing else done either. Great, eh? Happens sometimes.
Nathaniel’s been really obsessed with shoes lately. Puts them on, takes them off.
my sunshine.
And eats them, too.
After we picked up David, he decided to play with Nathaniel by putting legos behind his back, inside his clothes.
And then they laughed.
And laughed.
And then came the hugs.
Love that they love each other. Love love love it.
And then Daddy came home and there was much much rejoicing. And playing with a box of goodies he got. They both sat in the tiny box and laughed and then cried and started having tantrums. Which meant it was time to eat and sleep. And me, I’m going to ignore my todo list, and read tonight. And then cuddle with my love. And then read more.
Here’s to a good weekend.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for my kids’ laughter.
2. I am grateful for the weekend. I will enjoy a little rest this weekend with no deliverables.
3. I am grateful for the pack of white cardstock I got. 100 sheets. You know I’ll be using them.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. reading the IQ book at school (about a mouse who wanted to be a student)
2. getting to read the story about our class and apples at school
3. putting legos in nathaniel’s clothes and making him laugh
Since I am a guest designer for My Mind’s Eye this month, I wanted to make sure to post a copy of each of my layouts here, too. These all use the amazing My Mind’s Eye products. This uses this month’s sketch.
Journaling Reads:
David, before your little brother came along, I was hoping that you would like him and my mom thoughts you’d be jealous. But neither of us imagined how much you would love him and how nice you would be to him. Thank you my sweet son for being the best big brother ever.
Details:
When I first got the sketch, this is what I did with it.
Then I thought it was too blank and I added journaling and more stuff.
Journaling Reads:
My sweet, incredible boys, there are no words for the amount of joy, love and happiness you’ve brought into my life. You make the moments in every single day so much fun. You play, fight, share, hug, and laugh and I am regularly awed by the amount of love I feel just by watching you and being present. I love answering your questions and sitting with you and hugging you and seeing how your clever minds work. I can go on and on. You have made my life so much more full. I could never have imagined the amount of joy and I am thankful for it every single moment. i love you.
Details:
Then I still hated it and decided it wasn’t “me” so I did the one above. Which feels a lot more “me”!! 🙂
Journaling Reads:
Just a few months ago, my little son, who is a seventeen months old, learned how to give hugs. His favorite person to hug is his older brother.
It has quickly become my favorite thing to photograph. I already have hundreds of pictures of the two of them hugging and I am pretty sure I will keep taking them for as long as they keep hugging.
I come from a culture where people touch a lot. We hug each other, we hold hands, we kiss each other on the cheek. When I first moved to the United States, I was amazed at how little people touch each other and I still feel sad about that so it makes me extra happy to see my boys hug. It is proven that hugging makes you feel happy and watching them hug makes me happy, too.
There are many downsides to having two kids instead of one. It’s a lot more work, the noise level is much higher and there’s the bickering. But watching them play together is a wonderful gift to me and watching them hug fills me with pure gratitude.
I have a ton of imperfect photos today. There’s a lot of movement in my house when the kids are both here and it’s hard to capture that in a photo. It means blurring and missing limbs. I rarely take photos like that. But today I decided it would be fun to just snap photos anyway. Here’s one with the boys wrestling and laughing.
Nathaniel riding the car.
More wrestling, pulling, laughing.
Tugging back and forth on the quilt Jake’s mom made for the kids.
And, me, I got my Kindle in the mail! So I immediately made a cover for it. Sick of seeing this fabric yet? Not me!
Nathaniel looking out the window longingly. He loves loves loves being outside.
And focusing hard on the legos. I love that he sits on the chair now.
And David with his new crane that he made all by himself.
This is us. This is what our days are like. Work, play, laugh, whirlwind. But most of all, joy. A lot of joy.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for my new Kindle. What a joy.
2. I am grateful for the joy I’ve been able to hold on to for a few days now. Joy feels great.
3. I am grateful for kind words in emails, notes, messages from friends. Some even without my knowledge. So wonderful to have kind people around me.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. finishing putting together my new legos crane
2. being the star of the day at school
3. having my teacher read the book I brought to school for share day (Harold and the Purple Crayon)
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projects for twenty twenty-six
projects for twenty twenty-five
projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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