Joy Leanne

I had a whole blog post written about this photo. About the absolute perfection of that moment, and about all the chaos that came after and how hard things feel in this season. And I deleted it. Some times we get to caught up in the details. Me especially. Maybe it's my journalism training. I can get distracted by the 5 "Ws". Who? What? When? Where? Why? I like to know everything. I have questions and I really want answers. And then there is this... "And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer." Rainer Maria Rilke, 1903 And that is the goal isn't it? To live a life in the tension of hard and beautiful, of grief and gratitude. Learning to live with the questions, knowing we may not have the answers until eternity. Or rather, living with the questions, and realizing that He is ultimately every answer. Today I am le...

Once again I abandoned this little corner of my world for a very long time. My long held dreams of being a "writer" (whatever exactly that means) have shifted significantly over the past few years. Because of that this space hasn't felt as important or needed. I more often than not find myself over on Instagram where the pictures are pretty and the writing is brief. But, I keep coming back to this, I believe that stories matter. And more than anything else, this blog has been a place to capture my stories. So, I am hoping to come back here and dust things off and re arrange and make myself comfortable again with the words. Life is an adventure, and I would like to share that. It has been nearly a year since I have written here, and even longer since I have really written about what's going on with me and my crazy clan. I wasn't sure what to start with here and I figure an update is as good an idea as any. A lot has changed in the past year for the five of...

By Amanda Schenkenberger As a Bible journaling teacher, one would assume I am swimming with Bible journaling ideas. You would think that you could give me a verse and I would come up with all sorts of brilliant DIY entries. While I have a few good standbys in my back pocket, I am  often stumped by what to journal, and especially when I am trying to Bible journal with my kids. Hi: my name is Amanda, and I'm a recovering perfectist. My kids, on the other hand,  are messy and have their own ideas about what to journal. Not surprisingly , when you try to put rigid Amanda into a loosey goosey kid mold, it doesn't go over well. Even though it's a stretch for me, as a homeschool mom who loves to Bible journal, I desperately wanted to involve my kiddos in Bible journaling as part of our schoo l curriculum. I wanted to have deep spiritual conversations about Jesus and how we can apply the Word to our lives but I couldn't figure out how to do it. That was, until I disc...

One of my favorite pages...even with the spelling errors. I am supposed to be blogging every day for 31 day. I missed days three and four. In the past I would have just given up on the project. Missing two days in the first week would have been too much for my perfectionist tendencies.  But I am not giving up or stopping this project. I have learned a lot from my time journaling the Word. And one of the BIG things I God has taught me is that there is no room for perfectionism in the Christian life or in creativity. I could write a whole blog post about how I have let perfectionism impact my personal walk with God, but I will keep it simple. When I give into perfectionism I am saying I believe perfection is possible in my own power. When I believe perfection is attainable in my own power I'm saying I don't need my Savior. Unfortunately I have let perfectionism impact my Bible Journaling journey as well. And I have a inkling that I am not alone. Perfectioni...

I started Bible journaling three years ago. It was back before it was this big thing. There were a handful of women sharing pictures on one facebook page. Since then it has exploded and people's reasons for Bible journaling are as diverse as the people worshiping in the margins of their Bible. Before I go any further in this 31 day journey I wanted to share my personal reasons for adding art worship into my spiritual walk. *I believe our stories matter. I grew up in a family of story tellers. I'm sure I have shared that on here before. My father is a forth generation pastor and my mother is a high school drama/speech/composition teacher. Story telling is my culture and my inheritance. The stories that resonate most with us are the stories that point us back to HIS stories. Bible Journaling helps me record my stories and points me back to God again and again. Every time I take to the pages of my Bible to record my story I see His thumb prints all over everythi...

I have tried doing the Write 31 Days challenge twice in the past. Both times I gave up part way through. The first time I just sorta of gave up. Last year I made it about half way through before God called me to a season of silence. It's been a really quiet year for me. I have only posted on here a couple time since last October as I sat with the lessons and seasons God brought into my life. But, now I feel God calling me to share what's on my heart and how He is working in my life. Over the past few months our life has gone through a lot of transitions and for the first time ever I find myself with a lot of free time on my hands. I recently celebrated my third anniversary of Bible journaling. In my first journaling Bible I did 66 entries in 2 years and 10 months. I started a new Bible 56 days ago and have already done 60 entries in the Bible and two Bible journaling studies in journals as well as a scripture writing challenge in September. I share all this not to make...

Three years ago I was searching for something. We were going through a lot of transition at the time and while my faith didn't waver, my walk had become rather stagnate.  Then I stumbled across this thing online called Bible Journaling. An amazing woman named Shanna Noel had just started a facebook group and I found a community of women who were expressing themselves creatively in the margins of their Bibles. I fell deeply in love with this style of worship, but a recent change in my husbands job meant we didn't have the finances to buy a wide margin Bible or supplies. Then an amazing women I had never met before sent me a package through amazon. A Journaling Bible, some washi tape, and some fineliner pens. Sunday will be three years since that package arrived on my door step and changed the way I interacted with my Savior, The Word, and my faith. I did 66 entries in that Bible in a little over 2.5 years. Then last month I started a new  Bible. Things were shif...

Hello Dear Friends! It's been a long time. Nine months to be exact and I have missed this space. I tried writing a number of times, but every time I tried I felt God telling me it was time for silence. But at the prompting of some dear friends I think it's time to get back in this space. I'm not exactly sure what that looks like, but I would like to share more about my creative journey the past few years. Today I wanted to share a little bit with you about my journaling process lately. Our church is nearly two weeks into a 100 day Bible Reading plan that walks through 100 essential Bible passages starting in Genesis and going through to Revelations. Currently we are still in Genesis and I have been stumped more than once. Doing pages for the "stories" is a bit of a challenge unless you want to draw illustrations. Since that is not my talent or my desire I've had to really think about each entry. Today's reading was about Joseph and his dreams a...

In my mind I am 11, but the math says I couldn't have been more than 9 maybe 10. Either way, I was in upper elementary school the year the associate pastor's wife decided to put a new "spin" on the traditional Christmas pageant presented every year at the Christmas Eve service. Preschoolers in cardboard angel wings and bathrobes weren't quiet enough, so we added a bit of creativity. My best friend, her brother, and I were selected to play three siblings who were so excited for gifts that they missed the true meaning of Christmas. We were visited by a special angel: the associate pastor in a white sweatsuit and the special cardboard wings that were covered in glittered and typically reserved for "the angel of the Lord". The "angel" narrated the Christmas story to us while our classmates and younger siblings acted it out. Have you ever read "The Best Christmas Pagent Ever"? If not, you should! While our nativity play wasn't qu...

I wrote a little bit the other day about perfectionism and how it holds us back from journaling.  I think we each have a lot of reasons for not journaling. Perfectionism is a big one for some of us. Another thing that has kep me from journaling for years was feeling like it was a chore. I loved the idea of journaling, but actually sitting down to write felt like home work. No fun. Over the past few years though I have unintentionally developed little rituals that have made time in my journal feel like a mental retreat rather than an assignment. While I some times journal on the go, I prefer to journal at home in one of three spots: my dinning room table, my office writing desk, or a giant, leather chair next to the front window. Before I start journaling I make sure I have any and all supplies I might need. Pens, pencils, journal, embellishments, glue sticks, photos, all in close reach.  I normally keep a drink close by as well. In the summer that normally means ice water, lem...

I love an empty notebook. There is so much beauty and possibility in an empty page. While I enjoy the occasional guided journal, blank journals are what really make my heart skip a beat. The best thing about good, old fashioned, journaling is that all you need is any empty notebook and something to write with.  Over the years I have used everything from $.50 composition books to embossed, leather journals with beautifully thick pages.  That may be the very best part of using a blank book. There is something for every style, need, and budget. Later this week I will share some of my favorite ways to use a blank journal, some prompts to get you started, and a few extra things. Tonight though, I wanted to share with you my two favorite styles of blank notebooks to use. Hands down my favorite style of journal is a hard back spiral bound notebook.  The thick cover is ideal for journaling because it doesn't require a desk or table for writing, and I just love the ease of writing...

I am half way through this series and I have written/posted every day. That's huge for me and I was super excited. Then I logged on today and saw my stats. Right now my posts are being viewed, on average, 5 times each. That's a record low for me. And I was crushed. So much work and my blog is doing worse than it has in years. Seriously? My first reaction was to walk away from the whole thing. I couldn't have been more wrong. It easy to give up when things don't go the way we hoped.  Perfectionism kills creativity.  It's also the main reason we don't journal. We miss a day. We make a mistake in pen. We can't spell. We hate our hand writing. We try something new and it doesn't turn out. We see beautiful photos on social media and convince ourselves we don't have the "right" talent or skills. Our fear of imperfection keeps us from recording the moments and memories that make up our stories.  So, I'm going to keep writing here, and keep jou...

So I wanted to show you what this spread looks like after the pen.  The beauty of decorating/laying out your journal a week at a time is that it makes it super quick and easy to jot down a couple thoughts.  I love th simplicity of this and the fact it can be as detailed or as basic as I want. As you can see some days I wrote an entire paragraph, other days just a sentence, and today I simple recorded a list of the things that made me happy.  They say that life is made up of moments, and this is my way of capturing those and jotting them down to remember on a rainy day.  

I could probably do an entire 31 days on guided journals, but I have a feeling that would get very boring, so I won't. I do want to share one last style with you before we move on, however. I haven't used these myself, but friends and family have and they love them. If you are a new Journaler just getting started this is so perfect.  There is one page for every day of the year. At the top of the page is a question and bellow is space to answer that question 3-5 years in a row.  There's only room for a few sentences which makes is an easy commitment. It's also fun to see how you answers to the same question change from year to year.  The are a wide variety of ranging from general questions, to mom questions, to journals for kids, teens, and college students.  Come back tomorrow for another Follow Friday!   

    I'm so excited for this workshop Wednesday! If I could I would invite you all over and we would do this one together. In fact as often as I can I DO have people over to do this excercise with with me.  My friend and I are constantly reminding each other that things are more likely to be used if they are pretty. From cleaning supplies to water bottles to journals we are way more likely to use things if we find them attractive.  Some times though, it can be really hard to find the time to journal, much less make things pretty.  When friends ask me where to start, or when I need to go back to the basics, I always go back to the basics. Finding time to journal a page daily can feel daunting. But taking ten to fifteen minutes once a week is reasonable (and even advisable) for most of us!  At the top of the post I shared two #beforethepen lay outs. Typically this hashtag is used for planners but I love predecorating journals as well!    Use whatever...

  So, it may seem a little unorthodox but I love a good doodle journal. For me journaling is a creative outlet and some times I don't have the time or desire to write a lot but just want some silly expression. I love the idea of art journaling but it can be a little overwhelming so the doodle books are a great way for me to express myself with out having to use a ton of supplies.  So, with out further ado some of my favorite doodle journals for you to try out.   Art Doodle Love   Year of the Doodle Love both of these books because they offer space to Doodle and regular prompts. There's a lot of room to write as well if you like to combine the two. Doodle Zen  I haven't tried this one but I love this illustrator so I feel confident recommending it. Draw Every Day Every Way This is on my list of ones to try!!  So there are some fun Doodle journals? If so tag me on Instagram! I would love to see them!    

Continuing our conversation about guided journals I thought I would share another guided journal style that I have enjoyed over the years.  As my Dad said, some day you will want to remember what year your daughter sang "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" every day for two months or what year you caved and bought your kids a puppy.  Enter Holiday or Season Journals. Journals Unlimited Christmas Journals I have used this one and love it. It captures 25 years of memories and it so special.  Susan Branch Christmas Memories  I've also used this book. It holds 5 years of memories and it's one of my favorites. It's so fun and whimsical.  Thanksgiving Memory Book   I've never used this one but it looks super fun. Vacation: The Traveler's Journal  This is another favorite of mine. It's not a holiday journal exactly but still seems to fit in here. One of my favorite wedding gifts is to get a Vacation, a Christmas, and a Thanksgiving journal for the married couple s...

It's nearly 8:00 pm and I haven't written for today yet. (This is getting to be a bad ritual.) Tonight I had no idea what to write about. I was seriously looking for ways to get out of writing, but my husband wouldn't hear of that.  So I sat here looking at a blank screen me thinking about how much I that. Some times blank pages and screens are an invitation, other times they are overwhelming.  That is the beauty of guided journals. You have something to jump start the ideas.  I knew I wanted to spend a couple of days exploring different kids of guided journals so I decided to start a day early. I've have used all kids of guided journals over the years. A have a couple styles that I come back to over and over. List style books are probably my very favorite. Not only do they give me a place to start, but often times it triggers an idea I want to come back and explore more later.  So, here are some fun list journals to check out. The 52 Lists Project  Listography:...

Today is my in-laws 39th wedding anniversary. It is also my uncle's funeral. It's a bit poetic. As my mother would say, "Grief is the price we out for love."  We cannot love with out risking grief. When we journal there is room to document, embrace, and remember both.  This week has been so much of that for me. Sitting with the sorrow and celebrating the joy of this season I am in. I have been so very blessed by people who have been willing to do both with me.  I sat down today to journal and I wrote about both bitter and the sweet.  Finding the balance can be a challenge.  We live in an Instagram world where it's tempting to share just the high points.  If we are not careful it can be easy for that mentally to transfers itself into our journaling. The opposite is also true. Because it is a safe place for reflection, if we are not careful, a journal can become a dumping ground for negativity. A place to unburden the pain and then lock it away in the back of...

Today is day 7 of writing and posting and I am frankly shocked that I have stuck with it this long! Between my uncle passing and the due date anniversary or our miscaried baby this week combined with a lap top that doesn't work to work at all (I'm writing and posting on my phone!) and being in the middle of prep for a local art and craft show, there were so many reasons to quit. But I haven't yet and I am so very glad!  The main reason I am doing this series is because I am passionate about it and because I want to inspire others. In that vein, I wanted to do at least one "Follow Friday" post and share with you some of the accounts I find inspiring. Hopefully you will find some one new to follow. Instagram  Lucky Letters HowToBulletJournal TheDailyWriting TheResetGirl Boho.Berry Do you follow any journal ackcounts? Which are your favorites? Share bellow!