Forward Progress...Impact

A new prompt has been posted at Forward Progress and this one is wonderful! Ellen is a fantastic "boss lady" in that she gives us lots of notice on upcoming prompts. Never have I been more glad for the extra time than this month. Here is the prompt:

This month's prompt is about touching people's lives...it's not who you touch but how...

i have always felt that me, as a person and as intense as i am, left an immediate and definitive mark on where i have been and whom i have met. but do i? am i profound? am i in my lines? or do i blur them?

I found this one to be powerful...thought provoking...and life changing. When I stopped to think about how I touch people's lives, flashbacks of meaningful moments came rushing in. Many I could recall with a feeling of happiness...others I relived with shame and regret. Those are the ones I wish I could call for a do-over as I feel certain I wasn't the positive influence I desire to be.

Here is my layout:







I chose the title "impact" and a subtitle "how do I impact my world?". Once I completed my layout, I tried to create to-the-point journaling, but couldn't quite say what I wanted to say in a concise manner. So I chose to include all my thoughts on the back of the LO.



This is how the journaling reads:

"We all have them. Those times that forever leave a mark on our hearts...our souls...our being. Be it a good or bad time, it shapes and molds the person we become. Much of the impact it has on us is defined by how we approach that moment and the choices we make regarding it. I've had many such moments. Big, huge, earth moving moments. Marriage, children, divorced parents...a divorced me. Children moving away and then returning. The death of someone very dear. Some of these were cause for celebration and others were the cause of much pain. But through them all, I learned more about me and became stronger and hopefully wiser as a result.

But not all defining moments are as enormous in size. There are also the little things that can affect us. Little chance moments such as an encounter with another person that leave us with a life lesson all because we crossed paths. There can be inspiring moments of awe and wonder. And there can be misunderstandings or misguided intentions that leave us in a position to choose how we will move forward and whether or not we will allow it to cause harm or good to a relationship.

Lately I have been facing many defining moments. Times that are testing my character and my strength. I'm facing decisions that are almost impossible to make as there is really no good answer. Some days I feel victorious in these situations and other days leave me struggling to not feel defeat. But I am most thankful for these trying times. I know that even on the down days, I am building strength. God has given me the ability to rise above by trusting in Him. And I'm learning with each test and working harder to be a more positive influence."


I would love for you all to join us this month. And we are so grateful for the super showing we had for last month's prompt. The winner of last month's give-away will be posted tomorrow so be sure to stop by and see who won. We have another great gift up for grabs this month as well. Our sponsor is Genuinely Jane Studios and here is a sneak peek of this month's prize.



I hope you will play along with us this month and explore the impact you are having on your world!

Hugs and love,
L

It's Official and A New Forward Progress Prompt

It is official! I am now a bonafide member of These Are A Few of My Favorite Things challenge blog! I announced last month that Julie had asked me to join the team and it is now a certainty! This group of ladies has welcomed me with open arms from the beginning. And from the craziness and laughter that is shared behind the scenes, I can tell you this is going to be one fun ride! LOL! Today the winner of the favorite flower challenge will be announced and the latest challenge will be posted. Are there any movie buffs out there? If so, you are surely going to want to play along this time. You guessed it...favorite movie!



I love, love, love going to the movies! Unfortunately, life has been such that I don't get to go as often as I like. I love mysteries, comedies, action/thrillers...but my all time favorites are of the chick flick variety. Especially those with fairy tale endings.



This movie, "Ever After", is one of those feel good kind of movies. It holds a special place in my heart because Keri and I both share a passion for this one. Most of you know she was a competitive cheerleader. What you may not know is the numerous hours spent each week at practice. Keri and I always made the most of the commute to and from the gym. Laughing, singing, being totally zany. When she was in 4th & 5th grade, she would have 4 hour practices on Saturday mornings. After practice, we would have lunch together, run errands and most often see a movie. This was one of those Saturday movies...and we both fell in love...with the characters, the story, the sweetness of it all. It is a true Cinderella story.



I thought it very ironic that this challenge goes up today while I'm in Georgia helping Keri settle into her apartment. Yes, there are a few tears running down my face as I type this. Can you tell I'm already missing my girl?

I guess the tears are a good segue for my next topic. Have you visited Forward Progress lately? If you haven't, I hope you will. The blog has a new look, a new DT and starting this month, we have sponsors. That's right...an incentive for those of you who play along with us. This month's sponsor is Scrapadilly Products. As has always been the whole point of Forward Progress, the prompts are still intended to help us grow...to reach within ourselves to be stronger...better. This month, the prompt is about forgiveness. As we all know, without forgiveness, forward progress is impossible.



This topic, for me, was easy. In life, we are all exposed to teachable moments. Some we recognize as such, others might slide right past us going unnoticed. Well, I'm hear to tell you, divorce is not one of those unnoticeable moments. There are lessons to be learned at every turn. While I am certain I failed in many ways in my struggle to get through the most painful experience of my life, I am proud to say, I worked hard at forgiving from the beginning. And I firmly believe that it was only by forgiving that I was able to let go and move on.



Here are the details:

Title reads:Letting Go... of hurt, anger, resentment

Journaling: "moving forward means letting go of the past if the past fosters nothing more than pain and anger. learning to truly forgive...and in the process, letting go, has brought healing and freedom."

The Howards: married 5-24-86 separated 1-9-05 divorced 2006

I said this topic was easy for me. The layout itself...not so much. I wanted it to be somber but light...trying to convey the hurt and the healing. Well, I bombed! LOL! The pic was a no brainer. I knew from the start I would use this one and tear it to represent the broken marriage. It was one of the last good photos of us together. The words also came rather easy. The design...*sigh*...it just never came to me. So please look past the lack of creativity and see the message.

I think that is what is so refreshing about Forward Progress. It isn't all about the layout/project/etc. It is so much more. In the few months I have been on this team, I have learned that this hobby can be a venue for personal growth and inner peace. I hope you will play along this month. Please stop by and let us know what you think of our new look. Feel free to leave suggestions as well as what you would like to see in the future.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! I am typing this on Friday night as I will be truckin' down the highway by 6:00 am on Saturday. I know those lazy days of summer are slip, slip, slippin' away. Please enjoy them while they last!

xoxo
L

P.S. Thanks ever so much for all the encouraging words on my last post. Good news is, everything looked brighter the next day. Partly due to the fact that a new day always brings new perspective. But there is no denying the therapeutic value of getting things off your chest and doing so with those who mean so much to you. People you feel safe confiding in. People who will pick you up with words and with the beauty of their spirit. Thanks for being there when I needed someone to listen! xoxoxoxoxo

It's Forward Progress Time

I'm back from vacation all rested and relaxed. Things didn't go exactly as planned but it was a wonderful vacation. I wasn't looking forward to going back to work, but it is certainly easier after having time to rejuvenate! I have a few photos and a story to share but I have had an exhausting weekend. I will be sure to update you later in the week.

I wanted to let you know this month's prompt is up at Forward Progress. This one was easy for me. It is about reaching a goal or making steps toward reaching a goal. A few posts back I mentioned my dream of being a better photographer. I felt it only fitting to do a layout about one step I'm taking toward realizing that dream. Here is my layout:





The journaling reads:

"On My Way...to realizing a dream. It starts with one step...one.. single..step...and then...and only then...can you take flight! Karen Russell Photography Class June 2009"

Most often the first step toward realizing a goal is the hardest. For me, I kept using my lack of knowledge as an excuse to just stall out. Because I am trying so hard to make 2009 the year I get in touch with my inner wants and wishes, I felt it time to take that first step...taking a photography class. My first attempt left me on the VERY long waiting list. But I persevered and finally got in. Class starts next Monday...and I am beyond excited!!!!!

I hope everyone will take the time to visit Forward Progress and see what the rest of the team has done with this prompt. And if you have the time, please play along with us! I would love to see what you create. More importantly, I would love to know what goals you are working toward achieving.

Much love,
L.

P.S. How 'bout my new blog look? I think it is sooooo happenin'. The wonderful Shaina took charge and VOILA! I have a new look!!!!! If you've been toying with the idea of updating your blog design, I HIGHLY recommend Shaina!

Sun, Sand & Something New!

That's right, baby! Sun and sand are in my immediate future! I'm off to the beach for six glorious days! Woohoo! Of course, I have to go through hell and half of Georgia (literally) to get there. LOL! Tomorrow I will make my usual 3 hour commute to Atlanta. Once there, I will help Keith get Morgan ready for her 2 weeks of Camp Windshape. Then the marathon driving begins. On Sunday, we will drive over an hour to drop Morgan at camp and then we head to Myrtle Beach, SC...a short little hop, skip and a jump away. NOT! According to Mapquest, we will be on the road another 7 hours.

Despite all the driving, I'm really looking forward to this trip. If my memory hasn't totally failed me, this will be the first trip I've taken for this many consecutive days without an agenda in many years. No kiddos. No business meetings to attend. No schedule. Ahhhhhhhhh! Six days of doing exactly what I want to do. Well, I guess I will have to consult Keith occasionally, but I can pretty much call the shots if I want to. I have a few nifty little tricks up my sleeve for convincing him he wants to cater to my every whim. I think I've even mastered the art of making him think it's all his idea. LOL! A one word clue as to what my secret is...doughnuts! Ha!

After some fun in the sun, we will make our way back to Atlanta on the following Saturday and I will head back to home sweet home on Sunday. See, I wasn't kidding when I said I was going through hell and half of Georgia! During my zoned-out, sun-baked absence, I plan to keep up with my blog visits and study my camera manual in hopes of being prepared for my class that starts in a couple of weeks. Also on the agenda are daily workouts and I am stoked! Keith and I have a blast working out together, so it should be easy to squeeze in some sweat session in the gym.

Now for some exciting news! I am now an official member of the Forward Progress blog team! Yep, you could have knocked me over with a feather when I got the email from Ellen asking if I would like to join the team. I've followed this blog for a while now and I am totally intrigued with its mission. The point, as I see it, is to use our crafting talents to explore ourselves...who we are...where we are...where we want to be. Because I have been spending this year searching for direction in this new empty-nest phase, I welcome the chance to dig even deeper with the challenges presented here. Of course, the biggest challenge for me will be expressing my feelings in an artistic manner. But I'm giving myself a preliminary challenge to take a deep breath and just enjoy the process. No worrying about creating perfect layouts...just working toward creating a better me. I encourage you to visit this site and participate in the monthly challenges. A new prompt is posted on the 15th of every month. Knowing the other ladies on the team, you will not lack for scrapping inspiration and I believe any opportunity to explore yourself is always good for the soul.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, sun-filled weekend. Until next time...L.

P.S. I can't sign off without expressing my gratitude for the wonderful words of support for my dream of becoming a photographer. And for all the dreams you dream, my wish is that they all come true! xoxo