Professor Mom - Authentic Home Education » Journaling

The Habit of Joy

Heather Shanks — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:12:50 +0000

One spiritual habit that has changed my journey is seeking the joy of the Lord. That sounds a little nebulous, doesn't it? Maybe a little too common sense? Let me explain.

I grew up in a traditional, Protestant church – and for the record I still go to a traditional, Protestant church. I saw theology, but little of the experience of God. Today, I also see many churches that focus on the experience of God and pay little attention to the theology. My view is that you need depth in both pieces to create a sound faithwalk. Experience coupled with ignorance builds your faith on a shaky foundation. Theology without joy steals meaning.

So, in these traditional churches, we had a great deal of instruction and a great deal of liturgy, really a great deal of tradition. But, I rarely heard anyone speak of how the Lord had touched their lives in a specific or deep way. As I got older, I found more and more people who shared those experiences. My own view of the Lord became more well-rounded. It was like taking a piece of swiss cheese and filling in the wholes with bread. Cheese and bread both taste good, but together, they complement and enhance each other.

As I pulled theology and experience together, I noticed one element that united them… the joy of the Lord. The Bible says that the fruit of the Spirit includes joy. My experiences of God were joyful.

This is what Noah Webster, the great man of language and faith, had to say of joy:

"The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits. Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good."

Notice that this definition of joy does not simply include rejoicing over something that has happened or is happening. It speaks specifically to the expectation of good. This was a piece that I missed for many years. Then, one of our pastors gave a sermon on this very subject. His point was that God wants to gift us with the desires of our hearts. God isn't sullen and stingy. We are His children. When we seek Him, He delights in giving good.

I had heard that before, however, this sermon touched me in a way that I actually understood what that meant.

Taking that expectation of good, and bringing it into my everyday world, has caused a shift in how I look at my day. Do I still struggle? Yes. Can life be difficult? You bet. Sadness, anger – are they all still there? They are. But, when the darkness comes, I can look ahead and feel joy in the midst of all of the junk. He promises that the fruit of His Holy Spirit is joy. It is with anticipation that I can then feel joy of the coming good.

Letters to Your Kids – Professor Mom’s Free Book Challenge

Heather Shanks — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:25:00 +0000

I have a free book challenge for all you moms out there. The purpose of this challenge is to inspire you during a time of the year when we can all get a little overwhelmed.

First, read this absolutely terrific post at "Our Report Card." Cry, laugh, go hug your kiddos.

Then, let it inspire you to write your own letter to your kids. Post your letter on your blog and drop me the link in "Comments." (If you don't have a blog, email your letter to me.) Since we are all busy, I am going to keep this open until November 15th.

On November 16th, I will pick 3 of your posts. Those three writers will receive one of my favorite books on letter writing in the mail. Free. A gift from me to you in recognition of all you do for your children.

Let's let everyone know about this challenge! Announce it on your blog, email it to your friends. I am so excited to share the love, humor, and depth that are so essential in our relationships with our kids. What a beautiful way to do something that your kids will cherish forever! I plan on writing my own letter as well, although I won't be eligible for the free book;-)

If we get enough responses, I will also commit to putting them together into an ebook and sending it as a gift to all who have participated. It will be like a compilation of momma love.

Even if you don't want to participate in this challenge officially, I encourage you to write the letter anyway. I know from my own family experience that having (or not having) memoirs from your parents can make a big difference in the life of your children.

"Sir, more than kisses, letters mingle souls; for, thus friends absent speak." ~John Donne

Using Journaling Software

Heather Shanks — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:03:50 +0000

Time to test out this new journaling software. I am going to try to use it for 45 days to determine if it will serve my needs. One of the biggest things that I am trying to do with this is determine whether this will provide me with any advantage over paper journals (which is where my heart and comfort level lie). I also want to see whether this helps me to corral some of my writing ideas. Finally, I’d like to really utilize this tool to track the kids homeschooling progress and activities. I’d ultimately like to see this online journal serve as a type of portfolio add-on for homeschool recordkeeping. It’s a pretty tall order. The challenge is to see whether the technology adds value.

Subscribe to this feed to stay posted on the results of my experiment!

Update: The review has begun! Read Part One and Part Two…

Online Journaling Review – Part 2

Heather Shanks — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:32:09 +0000

Here is Part One…

One goal of mine in using journaling software is to journal on a more consistent basis. One of my best friends is a dedicated "journal-er" and I see daily the insights that she gleans from taking that time to reflect on her experiences and thoughts. Unfortunately, I have an on-again, off-again relationship with my journal. I will sometimes go for months without an entry. I find that the busier I get, the more my journal gets sidelined. That makes sense, right? However, those busy, productive (sometimes traumatic) times are the ones I most want to record and dissect. When I do get back to it, I often feel as though I need to catch up. This creates more stress and really nuetralizes the benefit of journaling in the first place.

So, what am I doing to build the habit? By focusing on three minor changes, I am revamping my personal writing experience.

1- Guard the Quiet. I do my best writing in the evening. Scott and I keep the house pretty quiet after the kids go to bed. We aren't big television people, so the only background noise we keep is usually some soft music. For some of you, the morning time or the children's quiet time works best and that is fine… do whatever works! The secret is turning off the noise, any noise. Even the clinking of zippers in the dryer can be distracting if you are trying to commit your thoughts and feelings to paper. Sit on the couch for a moment and listen. Can you turn off some appliances? Is the ringer off so you are not interrupted? Are the kids trained to stay in their rooms and keep to themselves for a set amount of time? By examining your environment, you'll see areas where you can reign in the distractions.

2- Have it Ready. I often have ideas come to me when I am doing housework or during school time with the boys. I keep a notebook on the kitchen counter where I jot down these thought triggers. I can then sit down in the evening with starter thoughts, rather than having to stare at a blank screen. (Hint: this also lets you maximize your quiet time, since it is often scarce and hard to come by:-) Another good idea is to keep your journal and favorite pens, along with any reading material you may find inspiring in one space (pretty cloth magazine racks are an attractive storage solution for this). This negates the need for a late night or early morning search for materials, which can be just discouraging enough for you to give up the good fight.

3- Freewriting. When I used a paper-based journal, I was as much aware of how I was writing as what I was writing. The beauty of The Journal software is that I don't have to self-edit as I go along. I have the security of knowing that the thoughts tumbling out of my head and onto the paper can be cleaned up nice and pretty when the time comes. Cut, Paste, and Spell-check are all my close friends. I find myself relying on this feature more and more as I test out the software. I really love the girly feeling that comes from a gorgeous leather journal, and I am a paper-lover in general, but having quality thoughts captured in an efficient way is really drawing me in.

The Web is full of terrific resources for developing your journaling habits. One I found this week (and you morning ladies will love it) is on the Write to Done blog. It is a quick and focused read, so I encourage you to check it out. Most of these habits can be applied to any time of the day. Remember, the quality of your journal comes from consistent interaction with it. I am taking on the challenge… how about you?

Online Journaling Review – Part 1

Heather Shanks — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:20:28 +0000

I have been using the online journaling software, The Journal, for a few days now. I am trying to get used to the computer format. I have always been fond of leather bound journals with off-white writing paper. Sometimes, I can just think better when I have a pen in my hand.

I have to confess, though, I am starting to come around. The thing I love most about journaling with my computer is the "capture factor". When I am pouring my thoughts onto paper, those thoughts seem to generate offspring. The Journal allows me to immediately start another entry in what is called the "Notebook" section. In the Notebook, I can capture and categorize ideas for later expansion. It is a terrific feature because I don't lose my current train of thought. I also don't lose those valuable ideas that spill out while I am freewriting. In a paper journal, I often forget to go back and do a scan for new ideas.

Even in the first few days, I have captured a plethora of ideas for articles and for the blog. Now, when I have a small window of time, I can pop into one of these ideas (they are set up similar to the file folders in MS Word) and spend some time freewriting. I can outline, attach images, and search within my posts for relevant thoughts. I'll then often print out the Notebook file and keep it in the kitchen. While the kids are working on seatwork, I can sit at the table with them and get my "pen and paper" fix while editing my work.

The Journal looks promising to track writing ideas. If you want to try a free 45-day trial, visit the site. I loved the fact that no credit card information is required. It really allows the product to speak for itself. One point to note, I am not affiliated with the company and do not receive any type of compensation. I stumbled on the software online last week and it intrigued me, so I thought I would pass the information on.

Here is Part Two…