I’m excited to be bringing you a sweet “CUPPA” filled to the brim with POSITIVITY  to start off your week ~ *My “Cuppa Positivity” usually posts on Mondays so stay tuned for it each week on my Facebook page and here on the blog!  I am participating in “The Documented Life Project” which is all about creating a journal/planner that is filled with artwork, weekly happenings, and meaningful tidbits of LIFE…actually, whatever your heart chooses to fill it with!  🙂  It was started by these talented ladies, Art to the Fifth, and we have quite an exciting Facebook group where we share ideas, what our journal means to us, and how we are using it.  What fun it has been to watch this group grow and grow…Roben-Marie Smith, Sandi Keene, Rae Missigman, Lorraine Bell, and Barbara Moore have outdone themselves with the never ending flow of creativity that exists there!  One thing that is fun to do with a journal like this is to add in things such as envelopes, movie stubs, notes from a friend, or anything that touches your heart and reminds you of a special day or week.  I had an envelope I had saved…yes, of course, I knew I would find a use for it!  It was a kraft envelope so I thought it would be just perfect to add a splash of paint to and perhaps a cute girl…and, then, I could add it into my journal/planner…with cute n’ colorful washi tape, of course!  I can add in a bit of journaling under the envelope and to the side of it…maybe put some of my favorite inspirational quotes underneath ~ like little surprises!

I quickly sketched this girl one day as I was thinking about how we often really need to search for grace inside our soul and allow it to be our voice…as opposed to what our hearts may wish to speak.  It can be so difficult to turn to grace when we have been hurt or are faced with a situation that promotes anger to brew.  GRACE…we’ve got it…it’s in us…we just have to choose to use it.  And, oh, goodness, it can be soooo very hard to make this choice, especially when releasing feelings of hurt or anger seems to be the more natural response.  However, when we do reach deep down and pull the GRACE up and out…well, something magical happens.  It’s almost like a test…can we give GRACE our trust…can we let it have the opportunity to do its magic…can we let go and let it nurture our soul ~ and, possibly someone else’s?

I believe we can…in fact, I know we can.  Sometimes grace seems far away, and quite honestly, it is sometimes the last thing I am feeling if I’m stressed or feeling a bit agitated.  Can you relate?  It’s ok though…we are not expected to be filled with grace all the time…to act gracefully in all situations.  And, what a relief it is to know we don’t have to try to search for it all on our own.  I often find myself praying for grace…asking God to help me have grace during a difficult time, to show grace to someone that may really need it, or thanking Him for it when I needed it most.  And, you know what?  It really is exciting to see GRACE at work…it extends our heart to someone else, it creates intrigue, and it allows us to see God at work in our life.  I so love it when I feel it alive in my soul; it’s like this sweet reminder that God is holding my hand, walking with me on this journey as I continue to grow more and more in my faith.

May GRACE become our voice…and, may we share it so it has the opportunity to touch the hearts of others!

{*Creative Peek into this artwork ~ I has such fun combining oil pastels, acrylic paints, india ink, a favorite tool I’ll be sharing with you soon, and of course, fun n’ colorful washi tape!}

**Oh, and about this fabulous journal/planner ~ you can play along, too ~ join in the fun at The Documented Life Project!

Hugs!!

2014 Copyright Ann-Margaret, Artist~Writer~Photographer/Ann-Margaret’s Visions
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