Welcome to Write Saturday. This is the Saturday we post some journaling prompts, share some layouts, and hope you'll play along. Please join in and post your inspired layouts to our Flickr gallery! Thank you for joining in!
From our journaling jar this week, we have three prompts:
1. A Garden Story
Flower or vegetable, public or private, arboretum or farmer's field: gardens add a rich layer of beauty to our lives. As bleak November sets in, revisit the warmth of summer by telling a story you haven't told before that involves, even in a small way, a garden in some form.
2. Something in Common
Write about something two people have in common. You can think personal or physical characteristics, likes and dislikes, habits, favorites.
3. A Small Thing You're Grateful For
When we think about things we're grateful for, we tend to think of big topics (health, marriage, and family, for example). Instead, try writing about something small you are grateful for, like the perfect cup of hot chocolate (or the cup you drink from), pretty toenails (or socks that keep your feet happy), your favorite sweater (or the stranger who complimented you on it). This is a great chance to scrapbook about yourself! Or, think about a small thing your subject might be grateful for and write about how it influences his/her life for the better.
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Here are some examples from the Write. Click. Scrapbook. team to show you how the challenges translate into layouts:
A Garden Story
Back when my son Jake was just three (he’s nearly 14 now, and taller than me!) we spent a perfect afternoon together, planting hostas. This fall when I was trimming away the dead leaves, I realized I never told the story of that afternoon. It’s never too late to revisit an untold story!
The reoccurring nature of the living things in our gardens helps tie years together. In this layout, I wrote about how our catalpa tree connects me both to perfect early-summer evenings and my last son’s first few weeks of life. Are there certain trees, bushes, or types of plants you love because of something they remind you of?
Something in Common
For this prompt, Christa wrote about the physical commonalities she shares with her daughter Ella. It really is quite remarkable how much they look like each other! What about in your family—which physical traits do your family members share?
I wrote about a fondness my daughter and I share: we both like reading dystopias. Our reading tastes are fairly different in some ways, but we definitely agree on this one. Do you share a similar fondness with one of your family members? Or, you could look at it another way: how are your reading habits similar?
A Small Thing You’re Grateful For
Kelly Jeppson shares this cute gratitude project. Here's another image:
She explains:
This was a project that I downloaded from Jessica Sprague last year, but didn't get to until now. There are 30 little envelopes to put notes in, etc. Kind of like a countdown for November. I decided to write a note every day (or have my kids write one) that indicates one little thing we are thankful for. So far, we have "changes in the weather," and "great parent/teacher conferences." We will add photos and other embellishments as we go. I think it will be fun to sit down and appreciate the small things we have to be thankful for.
The fun thing about this project is how it captures the little details that might otherwise be overlooked in the rush of busy days.
Lisa’s layout focuses on her gratitude for the great outdoors. (And even though we’re focusing on journaling here, it begs to be said: these are gorgeous photos!) In her writing she discusses her gratitude for the opportunity to wander freely in nature. What outside moments are you grateful for?
Even though they’re battered and scuffed (and maybe a little bit out of style?), I am grateful for my favorite boots. Not just because they’re great footwear but because they remind me I’m more than only a wife, mom, and librarian. When you think about the little things you’re grateful for, consider how those things impact you at a deeper level.
Good, creamy coffee and a pile of fresh photos to scrap: certainly the perfect “little things” to express gratitude for! Donna’s evocative layout helps us remember what we love about our craft. By stopping to be grateful for the everyday in our lives, we bring ourselves more happiness.
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That's it! We hope you feel inspired to record a memory or two! Please don't forget to leave a comment and a link to your layout if you make one!! Thank you for stopping and have a wonderful weekend!
