Since the month of May focuses on Mother's Day, the topic for our challenge is "Feminine Influence." Not everyone is privileged to have a loving and caring Mother, but most of us have been influenced by a woman in our lives in some way.
Scripture has many examples of how a woman can give to others, enriching their lives. And there are examples too of what we should not do as well. Probably the most famous woman is the Proverbs 31 woman -
"Who can find a woman of virtue? Her price is far above rubies?" Proverbs 31:10
She seems near perfect - but just like the real women in our lives, she is not super human, just an excellent example for us to follow and strive after. Is there a heroine in your life whose price is far above rubies?
One such person in my life was my Great Grandmother Winnifred Kirkland Tisdale. In this layout, created with my Heroine Digital Scrapbooking Kit I journaled about how I found out why she had a beautiful ruby wedding ring. When I found her autograph book, the first one was from my great Grandfather Frederick Tisdale, though he signed it "Hubby" and he wrote out Proverbs 31:10. It was then that I knew he had chosen her beautiful ruby ring, which must have cost a fortune in his 1905 pastor's salary, because he considered her worth more valuable than rubies! Her life, like many Godly people, had a trickle down effect so that even though she died 9 months before I was born, she has greatly influenced me.
"Legacy" highlights another wonderful Scripture section about women and their influence, Titus 2, where Paul admonishes the older women to be examples and to train the younger women. This layout highlights my Grandmother whose influence on my life was huge, though our relationship was sometimes rocky. I do journal about those types of things too in my personal layouts. Please do not feel that your journaling needs to be "Pollyanna". You may never share your more private journalings, however, it can be healing and rewarding to share your feelings in the written word. Sometimes there are ugly facts of life - and I do not advocate airing dirty laundry or gossip - but there can be appropriate ways of sharing the truth. It was a blessing in my relationship with my Grandmother to realize before she died that the conflicts we experienced were often because we were too much *alike*, not because we were different. And I share that with my children because that may be a key for them in understanding relationships in their own lives. (Layout uses Heirloom Heritage Starter Kit)
Here is another Titus 2 layout that I created using my Farm Kitchen Digital Scrapbooking Kit. I scrap about my Grandma a lot, not only because I love her but because her life is well photographed! Both of my great grandfathers were photographers and there has been at least one in every generation - I am that one in mine! Women influence us spiritually, mentally, emotionally, socially, in our kitchens, in our bedrooms, in our craft rooms - in so many ways. In this layout I featured a page from my Grandma's hand written cookbook. I do like to personalize layouts when possible. When you are working on your page about your influential woman, be thinking if there is anything personal you can include about her. When our layouts contain only facts and dates and photos, we are leaving most of the story untold.
Lastly I will share a layout of my dear friend Laura. This was created a couple years ago when I had fun on the Faith Sisters Creative Team, using a couple kits from Willro & Co Designs. I want you to know that heritage does not equal Victorian or frou frou or any particular design style. Heritage is your story, it's who you are, what your life is about and what your family is about. Do not be afraid to scrap and journal it. This is an every day layout about a lovely lady who is now with the Lord after a brief and jarring battle with cancer. When I was alone and had 3 babies within 17 months, Laura came every Monday faithfully and spent time with my son and held the babies so I could take a shower or go to the bathroom without company. Sometimes she just listened while I shared how overwhelmed I was. Before this time, we had been in Bible study together but didn't know each other. She saw a need and filled it. What an amazing gift of love and what an amazing example she has been to me. Because of her death and talking through our journey of grief, all three of my children came to faith in Christ!
I look forward to reading your stories and seeing your art. Please come play with me! I'm giving you a little treat to use if you like:
You can download it here.
FINALLY! I know I'm verbose! Here are the details:
1. Create a layout that journals as well as shows art and pictures about a woman who has been of influence in your life - your Mother, Grandmother, an Aunt, Sister or any other woman who has come along side you and made a positive difference in your life or shown you what is like to be a Godly woman. If possible/applicable, share a Scripture that exemplifies that relationship.
2. Post your layout in the Heritage Challenge Gallery
3. Post again in the Heritage Challenge May 2011 - Feminine Influence Forum
goodie!
God bless you and Happy Scrapping!
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