April | 2015 | Uniquely Yours Craft Journal

Old is New again

15 Apr 2015 Comments Off on Old is New again

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Perspectives Tags: Journal, uniquelyyourscards, web

Dear Fellow Journalers,

Have you ever started a journal, got 3 pages in and then abandoned it to a shelf and forgotten it? Sometimes writing a journal is too ambitious or not interesting. Sometimes it is too time-consuming and sometimes you’re just not in the mood. What other choices do you have?

Back in January I wrote a post for my other blog, uniquelyyourscards.wordpress.com entitled Your long-lost and best possible self see below:

http://uniquelyyourscards.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/your-long-lost-and-best-possible-self/

Why not take this idea and transform it? Write yourself a letter, summing up your year so far and what you want to accomplish in the next several months. Put the letter in your underwear drawer and read it every now and again.

I read a suggestion that I had not thought of – say you have 3 or more journals that you found on that shelf. Tear out a few pages from each of them. Staple them together with a blank page in the front and back. Put them in a drawer where you will see them. When you feel like it, write some comments in different colored inks, such as what has changed in your life now.

Make a list of phrases you started using in the last 3 years. Where did you hear them first? Why did you start using them? This is different from a Dictionary Journal. A friend of mine used to have a rather large collection of Webster Dictionaries dating back about 10 years. He liked to review how word meanings changed from year to year. The collection over took his library so he resorted to journaling. Remember when the word ‘web’ meant a spider’s lair or a web of lies? Now of course ‘web’ has a world-wide conation! (sorry, couldn’t resist!)

Please feel free to comment on what you have done with your un-finished journals. Thanks in advance.

~Sallie

Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given

To Sallie and uniquelyyourscraftjournal with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

You may reach Sallie at uniquelyyourscraftjournal@outlook.com

Any given moment

10 Apr 2015 Comments Off on Any given moment

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Seeds of thought Tags: gratitude

In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into gratitude or to step back into safety.

The Power of Words

08 Apr 2015 Comments Off on The Power of Words

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Perspectives Tags: arrows, power, words

Dear Fellow Journalers,

Another though-provoking piece from G.

~Sallie

Isn’t it truly amazing the incredible POWER of words?! Doesn’t matter if they are written or spoken, every one of us has had the experience of words either exhilarating us, or destroying us! Chances are, no matter which was the case, it had a profound impact on us.

Words are the method by which we learn, teach, and acknowledge. We communicate, inspire, and defend with them. They are the sole expression of our thoughts. Words really do almost everything in our lives. I can think of few things they don’t do in fact!

Some one famous (I can’t remember who) once said: Words are like arrows. Loose them thoughtfully, because once loosed, they can never be recalled! Boy do I wish that I had remembered that more often. All too often I have said things in anger that I wish I had never said. I bet you have too. And usually to people that we care about most. Oh, if we only could recall those loosed arrows! But they found their mark, and the damage was done.

So you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to do my best to remember always the incredible POWER of words.

The real meaning of Easter

03 Apr 2015 Comments Off on The real meaning of Easter

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Paper Daydreams

This is a reprint of last year’s seeds of thought but still relevant today.

Easter has always been a religious holiday for me. My Mother made sure that we went to Church but then, realizing that we (all 4 of us) were kids after all, had candy baskets! I always ate the hollow candy bunny ears first.

Now that I’m a Grandma my thoughts are consumed with the first easter egg contest and the dinner.

So I decided to share the best Easter has to offer to all of you. The poem is one of those pictures from my web site that everyone asks for, and the bunny card is another fan favorite. My Easter Bunny poem can be found on uniquelyyourscards@wordpress.com.

Bear with egg

Bunny eggs

Button flowers

Whichever way you celebrate. — Enjoy!

~Sallie

April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month

01 Apr 2015 1 Comment

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Perspectives Tags: April, Child Abuse Awareness, pinwheels

Dear Fellow Journalers,

Do you remember the ad slogan from “Smoky the Bear” from back in the 1960’s – 1970’s?

“ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES!”

I was reminded of this ad when I was on-line recently and saw an article about Child Abuse. April is designated as the month to remind us all not only of these insidious problems but that we can report and prevent them.

I wrote about child abuse last year. Since then, there have been many more horrific instances of the “problem” perpetuated by parents, family members, teachers, coaches and what I call sick and perverted individuals.

I am sure that the cases reported in my state sadly are reminiscent of yours – children left in hot cars in the summer, children left alone on winter streets, sexually abused children and teenagers – the list goes on and on. However, the instances of reporting are up and the abusers are being caught and prosecuted. The most notable case concerns the Grandmother and Step-Mother of a girl named Savannah Hardin.

By all accounts, Savannah was a happy, well-liked 9-year old girl Somehow she managed to separate her horrible family life from her school/social life. Her parents were divorced and her father was a contractor for a government agency serving overseas. Savannah lived with her Grand-Mother and Step-Mother. Her Grandmother was described by the Prosecutor as the “Drill Sergeant from Hell.”

Savannah’s “crime” was eating a chocolate candy bar Her punishment, netted out by “Attila the Hun” (my description), was to run around her house for over 3 hours in the hot Georgia sun. Despite the child’s cries, begging to stop,and vomiting, Joyce Garrand Hardin slapped and screamed at Savannah. Her Step-Mother did nothing to stop the punishment. Finally Savannah fell unconscious and neighbors called the police and an ambulance.

After her death, both women were charged and jailed. On March 20, 2015 (almost 3 years after Savannah’s death), the Grandmother was convicted to life imprisonment without parole. The Step-Mother’s trial begins soon.

These and many other instances break my heart. We have a beautiful, healthy, happy Grand-daughter. I cannot fathom how anyone could hurt a child. What brings me hope is that more and more people are speaking up and getting involved. During the month of April and throughout the year, communities all across the nation are encouraged to share child abuse and neglect prevention awareness strategies and activities.

YOU CAN PREVENT ANOTHER CASE OF CHILD ABUSE IN YOUR TOWN!

Here are a few suggestions from G

Ask stores to put up posters
Ask your town’s officials for their public support.
Ask the Superintendent of Schools to get involved.
Promote the placing of the national symbols of blue pinwheels in your town. Ours are strategically placed in front of our town hall. In the 3 years, that we have been doing it not ONE has been stolen.
Wear blue whenever possible during the month of April but especially on April 11th.
Invite town and state social services to tape a local TV spot or forum.
Ask your Library Director to display books about child abuse.
Be a friend to a parent you know. Ask how their children are. If they seem to be struggling, offer to baby-sit or run errands.
Be a friend to a child you know. Ask about their school/sports activities.
Talk to your neighbors about watching out for one another’s children.
Volunteer your time and money for programs in your community that support children and families.
Finally locate and keep phone numbers to report.