another month of grace.

...as in wow, it's March already and there's another prompt up for Ali's class...but before I start that, I'd like to share what I did for February.

Ali's prompt was to create a vision board. I was really excited when I watched the video back on February 1 and immediately spent a few hours poring through magazines and catalogs...but Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living, Southern Living, Traditional Home and Pottery Barn weren't as full of grace as I'd hoped. So I let it sit for while and even visited the bookstore and leafed through a few other magazines to see if they were more inspiring. Nope. So it sat a bit longer. Until last weekend when I finally sorted through all the pages I'd ripped and realized it really was enough. I blocked out time this week to get out my scissors and glue and just.do.it. I did buy a 16x20 canvas, but I had a jar of soft gel medium (from a few years ago; how it survived the scrapping purge is a mystery!).

I started by sorting the pile of pages again...a pile to use and a pile to discard.

the discard pile - I hated that the twinkle lights ended up there, but I couldn't find a place for them!

Then, following Ali's advice, I separated the pile to use into big images and words (and trimmed them all).  I arranged the images first.

And then adhered them. The soft gel worked ok on the paper, but not so great on the heavy cardstock. I ended up not being able to use that piece I'd planned for the lower right, but I got to use the twinkle lights instead (I was glad I hadn't actually thrown away my discard pile).

And finally added the words. Here's the finished piece.

I do need to get some Elmer's glue to clean up the edges (handily cropped smooth for this photo!), but otherwise it's done. and I will definitely do it again. I could see it being an annual process and how cool would it be to have a collection of these 16x20 canvases??!!

And then the intentions and actions I planned back in January.  February's intention was to accept grace, inspired by this verse

As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. - 2 Corinthians 6:1 NRSV

working together. I wanted to dive into my Deacon Care Team assignment and start a Lenten devotional journal. and I did both.

My Care Team is Sympathies and Celebrations; it's a lot about prayer support and connecting with the congregation. I've written a lot of notes and a few emails and delivered flowers. I'm enjoying all of it (although I'm still getting used to having such a long prayer list...it has seemed overwhelming some days). I also volunteered to lead our Meals to Heal ministry (providing prepared frozen meals to folks who need them). The ministry has been around for a few years, but it's under-utilized (our congregation is nearly 1,000 members and we delivered less than two dozen meals last year). After a few discussions, I think all it needs is a good communication campaign and a little bit of Excel to track the usage. [if any of y'all have ideas/experience with similar ministries, please share!]  I'm glad I had this intention so early in the year...I'm not sure I would've said "yes" to another commitment without it.

For my devotion, I'm reading N.T. Wright's Lent for Everyone: Luke, Year C...on my kindle. This is my first experience reading a book like this, which I expect to mark up a lot, make notes, etc., without having a "real" book. So far, it's going well. I have a little moleskin tucked into the inside pocket of my kindle cover so I have a place to write notes, and I'm getting a lot more comfortable highlighting the text (I guess it's helping me get more comfortable reading on my kindle altogether). It helps that Wright includes the scripture in the book so I don't have to look it up separately. This is my first time reading one of his books, and I am really enjoying it. He makes it so approachable, and he has great insights to share. I've had a few aha moments and look forward to more.

and now I'm excited to begin a new month, inspired by the half-marathon on March 17th and this verse:

Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.- Hebrews 4:16 NRSV

bold grace. train. encourage. run!