If you are popping over here for the first time to discover that I have completely fizzled with the creativeness factor that was this blog, I still blog at my first love...Slurping Life. Drop by to say hello...but yell over there because the boys are really loud.
Days have passed. I have been trying to decide what I wanted, needed to say. I couldn't even complete my own project of the last two weeks. My apologies. Where has my time gone?
Life is pulling me, turning me, twisting me. Have you ever been there?
My family is quite consuming...there are a variety of special needs at work. There are day-to-day needs to be met. There are normal aspects of life to live.
I also have my passions. One of which is photography. I've been studying, working to truly learn the art.
Lately I am working hard to meet the needs of my family, but also I have discovered my needs and passions. I am not ready to lead here at Wrapped Emotions. Time and energy are limited.
I want to thank each of you for your enthusiasm and creative, emotional sharing. You ladies are inspiring...you truly know how to live with your hearts. Don't stop. Live with your heart...you know how...maybe someday we'll meet here again.
Take care and blessings to you.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Pulling ,Turning, Twisting
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
A Map Of Your Heart
If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, it would be helpful for you to read this post. Thanks for visiting.
To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive. ~ Robert Louis StevensonKnowing what you truly love is the key to loving how you live. A simple way to begin to know what you truly love is to gather beautiful images that speak to your soul. So, let's do just that.
Gather scissors, glue, your favorite magazines and your art journal. Place them all together in a basket or other container and keep it by your bed. At night after the kids are asleep, the day's responsibilities are (hopefully) taken care of and you can devote a few minutes of relaxed down time (stop laughing), crawl up on your bed and flip through the magazines. When you see a picture you love, cut it out and paste it in your art journal. Spend several quiet moments doing this. When finished, put your journal away for another night.
I realize that night may not be your relaxing time or your bed may not be your comfy contemplative place, adjust accordingly. Find your spot.
Now listen to me because this part is very important. Do not over think your choices. You do not need to have a reason why an image speaks to you...it simply must speak to you. Also, do not plan or fret over the arrangement of the images on the page, just paste them on a page one at a time. Let your collages happen, evolve.
Now listen to me again. If you begin this one night and the love is not flowing, drop it. You will know if you are forcing the process. Also, do not feel like you must work on this every night.
At the end of two weeks, (yes, do this for two weeks) crawl onto your bed, snuggle up with your art journal and look at the pages you have created. I expect that you will find colors, patterns, themes, styles, things...something...which reveals loves, hopes, passions you've never realized. Your collages will give you directions where your heart wants to go...a map of your heart.
Try it.
Tell me, where does the map of your heart lead?
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Here are the specifics of weekly participation:
* Leisurely, happily create your project for the week.
* Post a photo or scan of it on your blog any time, any day Tuesday through Sunday with as many or as few words as you choose to accompany it...no words?...no problem...unless the week's prompt calls for words.
* If you so choose, and I love it when you choose, include the WE button in your post. If you choose not to post the button (and I will still love you), please link back to the current week's post at WE within the text of your post. Thank you. Grab the button code.
* Come to Wrapped Emotions and sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your WE post for the week. Please don't make visitors scroll and search for your week's contribution by merely linking to your homepage.
* After signing Mr. Linky, please also leave a comment on the Mr. Linky post here at WE.
* Use Mr. Linky to visit the blogs of fellow participants. You have all week to pop in and out to visit. Offer words of observation, sheer delight, support, encouragement or comfort.
* A new prompt will be posted each Tuesday.
Questions or comments about this week's prompt...please let me hear from you on this post.
A Map Of Your Heart ~ Mr. Linky
Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' prompt, A Map Of Your Heart, please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your post. Please note, this prompt is for two weeks.
Comments are always welcome. Thanks for sharing.
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Saturday, January 26, 2008
Negligence Of A Blog
One thing is for certain, when I do something I strive to do it well. Take for instance neglecting this blog...it is a bit past January 1. I apologize, but will not bore you with the reasons why there have been no Wrapped Emotions prompts. It does boil down to me being compassionate with myself, and I know you understand. I trust that during the first month of this new year you have allowed yourself compassion, maybe even hugging yourself a couple of times along the way. Go ahead, give yourself a little squeeze right now...you deserve it.
Now let's talk about WE prompts. The first one of 2008 will be posted on Tuesday, February 5. My most recent plan was to begin this Tuesday, January 29, but then I remembered...Monday - surgery for me...Tuesday - orders to rest...Wednesday - celebrating Wil's tenth birthday (my baby will be in double digits *sniff*) and the restart of Wil and Mac's weekly therapy sessions which include three for Wil and two for Mac...homeschool...this and that. The compassion factor kicked in as I told myself, "Melody, you'd better hold off another week until you have almost gotten back into the swing of life's routine." I replied to myself, "Yeah, good idea."
In the meantime, if you have in the past been a regular participant here at WE and are not on the blogroll...check it out in the sidebar...please drop me an email with your blog title and URL so that I may add you.
If you have happened upon Wrapped Emotions and haven't a clue, this post will fill you in as to what we do here. We would love to have you join us.
I have missed you and sharing how we are living with our hearts. See you on February 5.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Be Compassionate With Yourself
As we face the New Year, my hope for you is that you will be compassionate with yourself. This is the one New Year's resolution I have made.
In being compassionate with myself, I will not think reactively. I will let go of my mistakes and simply begin again...no matter how many times I must begin.
In being compassionate with myself, I will be understanding, loving and giving to others.
In being compassionate with myself, I will honor God.
As women (human beings) we judge ourselves harshly, set standards which are nearly unattainable and beat ourselves up when in our own eyes we fail. Please, be compassionate with yourselves...allow yourself to begin again.
"Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over." ~~F. Scott Fitzgerald
Mid-January we will begin again with the prompts here at Wrapped Emotions. I'm allowing myself time to regroup after the holidays while the family strives to become healthy; we prepare to celebrate two children's birthdays; and I keep several follow-up doctors' appointments. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts during the month of December. I am a firm believer in the power of prayer and the love of friends. The camaraderie which has formed between Wrapped Emotions ladies is a blessing to me, and I hope you feel a bond with and encouragement from one another.
I look forward to a year of creating, connecting and expressing ourselves together...of living with our hearts.
Blessings to you.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
The Gift of Every Moment, Week Four ~ Mr. Linky
Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, The Gift Of Every Moment Week Four , please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your post. Comments are always welcome. Thanks for sharing.
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Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The Gift of Every Moment, Week Three ~ Mr. Linky
Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, The Gift Of Every Moment Week Three , please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your post. Comments are always welcome. Thanks for sharing.
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