Anyway, excuse me while I get really personal for a few minutes.  And you’ll have to excuse me because I don’t have a layout, or even a digi-scrap challenge for you today.  Just some thoughts to share.

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about the “storms” going on in our life, and in the lives of those around us.  It seems like it’s just been one thunderstorm after another for awhile… pretty much all summer long.  Cancer, illness, life-threatening allergies, relationships falling apart, hurting people all around us…

I was thinking back today… thinking over the last few months… wondering if we had any calm before these particular round of storms, and honestly – I can’t remember!  I’ve been stuck in the rain and the downpour for so long, I don’t remember the dry.  I had to laugh as I thought about the idea of being perpetually wet – “it’s probably time for an umbrella already, don’t you think”, I said to myself.

And then I smacked myself, “DUH”.  We DO have an umbrella.  We DO have a shelter in the storm.  We DO have a cleft in the rock in which to hide.  I think it’s time I focus a little more on the RELIEF and a little less on the GRIEF.  I need to stop wishing things would go back to “normal”.  As my mother would say, “I think this is the NEW normal”.

I thought for a little while this afternoon about doing a layout and challenging YOU to do one too, but instead I headed over to youtube, and found a video to share.  This song by Casting Crowns says it all.

So, for today I’m going to sit still and try to enjoy the drizzle.  I’m going to stop waiting for the rain to stop and the clouds to clear, and I’m going to enjoy whatever MOMENTS of stillness I can find – storm or otherwise.

And I’m going to offer my praise… in the storm. What about you?

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This week, I don’t have a specific idea in mind, because I’m still working out details on the series.  However, I think I’m going to start with the following verse for my first layout:

Deuternomy 6:6-9 – These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

My best friend Laura uses this verse as her “theme” verse for her website and blog.  As I thought about how to get started with a book on my spiritual heritage and legacy, I kept coming back to this verse.  So, we’re going with it.  (Thanks Laura, for the inspiration)!

Beyond scrapbook layouts, Allan and I have talked several times about using scripture as art in our home – and with digital scrapbooking we can custom design the “theme” by which we want to live.  I’m thinking small pictures AND large framed posters.  Wouldn’t that be cool?

I’d love to hear YOUR ideas on verses that fit who you are, and what you want to convey about your spiritual heritage.  We’ll be talking more “in-depth” over the next few weeks, and I encourage you to join in via the comments or by email if you prefer.

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