National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month.  The numbers are fluid, but on average there are 500,000 children in foster care in the United States and of those 120,000 are waiting on an adoptive family.  Research has shown that if one of every 500 families adopted out of foster care, there would be no waiting children.  I speak these numbers often in my job, but in reality each “number” represents a child, a life.  What does adopting require?  The ability to meet your own needs, unconditional love, meeting the child and their needs at their level (not within a set of rigid expectations) and a support system.  Parenting is a challenge, regardless of how you come to be a parent. 

For more information, call your local or state Social Services or check out the Dave Thomas Foundation or AdoptUSkids. 

November’s alphahop will be about raising awareness for these children.  Write an alphapoem with words like adoption, children or family or just write a post about this topic and link up.  The linky is on the sidebar under the AlphaHop button.

C onsider

H aving No One

I nnocence Betrayed

L imbo Living

D evelopmentally Delayed

R eaching Out, No One

E ver There, Our

N ation’s Children “Ageing Out” of Care

Technorati Tags: national adoption month,adoption awareness,foster care,alphapoem

Treasure Chest

 

A fairy left a present under my maple tree…a treasure chest complete with my journal writing workbooks, Life Lines: Celebrate Your Journey and Celebrate Your Journey ~ A Monthly Planner and Journal Companion, a journal,  a notebook and pen, paper scraps and stickers for art journaling, a lavender sachet, bath salts, body lotion and hand gel (ok, so I put it there but a fairy with buried treasure sounds more fun).  This must mean it’s time for November’s celebration in honor of my first book release anniversary. 

Beginning November 1st, the linky under my page tab “It’s A Celebration” will be active.  The giveaway for the Treasure Chest of goodies is simple, just link up.  If you post, FB, comment or tweet, let me know for additional entries.  Contest ends on 11/24/10 and I’ll use random number generator to determine the winner. 

I’ll also be offering my workbooks at a special price during the month of November, just in time for the holidays.  Normally $12 each plus shipping, they will be offered together for $20, shipping included (see side-bar).

What are you celebrating this month?

Technorati Tags: journal writing,Life Lines,Celebrate Your Journey,celebration,treasure chest

Letting Go

 

 

You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present. 

~Jan Glidewell

It occurred to me recently that this past year has personally been full of change and good-bye’s. As I experienced yet another bittersweet moment I thought about how even positive change brings some measure of stress and sense of loss;  loss of the familiar, loss of comfort and sometimes loss of someone close.  And in this past year I’ve really not taken time to honor those feelings, experience them and allow myself to move forward. 

Write about changes you’ve experienced, how they’ve impacted you and give yourself permission and space for grieving, nurturing and letting go.

Technorati Tags: writing prompt,journal writing,lifewriting,letting go

Words of Wisdom

My blog has been nominated as a Blog of Note at Words of Wisdom.  A big thank you to the individual that nominated me as well as to Pam & Sandy @ Words of Wisdom.  I also owe an apology as I was supposed to write a brief bio a day ahead of time but I thought it was later this week ~ truly sorry!  If you haven’t checked out their blog, please do.  They feature diverse blogs with meaningful content.

For those visiting from WOW, welcome.  My focus is on celebrating the journey through creative expression.  I try to end my posts with a journal writing prompt for others’ self-discovery.  Most of all though, I enjoy blogging for the creative outlet and connection it brings in the blogging world.  If you check out the page tabs across the top, “It’s a Celebration” is about my blog tour & party for the year anniversary of my journal writing workbooks.  “Mom’s Treasure” is about my new “Storybook Workshop” and includes links (building slowly) to resources in reference to raising tween girls.

Here are a few of my favorite posts:

Innocence

Secret Garden

Kiss the Sun

Angel Innocence

Thanks so much for stopping by & thanks again to Words of Wisdom!

Berries Sing

 

 

Only when the clamor of the outside world is silenced will you be able to hear the deeper vibration. Listen carefully.  Sarah Ban Breathnach

How do you create those silent moments?  What do you hear?

Technorati Tags: sarah ban breathnach,lifewriting,writing prompt,journal writing

Journaling by the Moonlight

 

I would like to introduce you to my friend, Tina Games-Evans, a Creativity & Life Purpose Coach, Journaling Workshop Facilitator, freelance writer….& now, author.  See the review of Journaling by the Moonlight: A Mother’s Path to Self-Discovery by clicking on the picture. 

Having read numerous journal writing workbooks and written a few, I consider myself a bit of an expert (insert chuckle) and want to share that I love Tina’s book.  I have been working with the exercises, learning a lot about myself through moon signs and envisioning a more authentic future through the phases of the moon.  And Tina created this incredible Journaling by the Moonlight card deck.

I’m also including an interview that Tina had with me in her Journaling Mom’s Cafe ~ she’s the one that sounds polished:)

http://recording.freeconferencecalling.com/mp3/276729/276729/IA9688_05212010100512430_1052706.mp3

Enjoy and consider the wisdom and energy of the moon in your journaling!

~ this post is not part of any affiliate, just me sharing a resource:)

Technorati Tags: journal writing,journaling by the moonlight,Tina Games-Evans,self-care

Pumpkin Patch & Consumerism?

 

When I think pumpkin patch, I think simplicity.  When I say simplicity, I mean uncluttered, in harmony with nature, focusing on values that have meaning as opposed to superficial qualities and consumerism.  To be clear, I have bought into the consumer model.  I like nice clothes, hotels and “things”.  I have found though as I’ve gotten older that I am weary of taking care of those “things”.  And although I am glad for the owners’ success, yesterday @ a pumpkin patch I felt like I was at Disney.  The crowds were intense (as was the heat in October!), lines for food, face painting and horseback rides were at least an hour and this year there was even a charge for parking.  I didn’t take crowd shots so I can’t show you here.  Suffice it to say that a drive into the country was not the relaxing laidback day I was hoping for.  Regardless, we still had fun and I was able to capture a few good pictures.

 

 

I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.  Henry David Thoreau

Mom’s Treasure & ATC’s

So I finally tried ATC’s

And as you can see I need more practice and textures but I still had fun

To see gorgeous examples along with a how- to visit Shona Cole's blog.

My 9 year old daughter was really excited about this project and wants to do this with me.  I have seen on some blogs where these ATC’s are traded and would love to see if anyone has children interested in creating & trading with my little one for the holidays…

Although I love technology, I also am saddened @ the lack of anticipation over the mailbox.  Junk mail & bills aren’t fun & my daughter doesn’t even understand the concept of a pen pal.  Let me know if you would be open to our children/grandchildren swapping holiday ATC’s ~ comment here or send me an e-mail @ dawn@lifelinesjournaling.com.

Finally, you may have noticed that some of my posts have focused more on children recently.  I will continue posts about our own self-discovery & finding our voices, but I believe it’s important that we raise our daughters to do the same.  I will continue to weave that theme in some of my posts and have added a new page (tab across the top) called “Mom’s Treasures”.  As I find resources, articles etc I will add links there.

Have a great weekend!

Technorati Tags: ATC's,mom's treasure,Shona Cole

Domestic Violence Awareness Month AlphaHop

My friend Jenny @ Nankoosa's Place reminded me that October is Domestic Violence awareness month.  Quite timely given the recent news of bullying resulting in suicide.  Jenny wrote on my Life Lines facebook page:   Hey fellow Bloggers, I was thinking that in honor of DV awareness month (October) any kind of stories that address overcoming obstacles and challenges might be inspirational! Even if not involving Domestic Violence, the emphasis on survival and resilience is a good theme for the month!
She later made the point that survivors are just as inspirational as those famous quotes I so often use.  She’s right.  To honor that, I invite you to share an alpha poem using any word or phrase that resonates in the spirit of survival and/or anti-violence.  I share my story in my journal writing workbook “Life Lines: Celebrate Your Journey.”  I’ll share an alphapoem I included in the book:
C ome
E veryone
L ook into my eyes
E ven if they cry
B eneath this mask
R ises
A Woman
T alented and Strong
E njoy the Phoenix, A
L egend to Behold
I magine
F ully, Your
E volution
(I’m including this link for another resource ~ Domestic Violence Awareness Month)

Technorati Tags: alphapoem,lifewriting,domestic violence