Day 304 | Favorite Flower

Prompt: Using any creative means you wish, share your favorite flower(s).

Stephanie | I have many favorite flowers, but one of my favorites is the peony. Its so cute and playful, but soft and elegant at the same time.

Annetta | I have a true love for flowers! Some of my favorites are roses, poppies, peonies and anemones.

Day 303 | Journal Page Makeover

Prompt: Remake a previous journal post. Find a journal page you have already made that you may have been unsatisfied with, or your answer has changed, and remake that page.

Stephanie | The prompt I want to re-do is: Make a list of all the things you want to do, try and experience that you would find scary and challenging at the time, but would feel amazing after you have conquered them. (day 58) My answer hasn't changed, but I did add, to build our dream house from scratch. My original post is very uninspiring. I was still trying to figure out how to make my journal pages, and I was working with a lined notebook journal, which wasn't helping. During this whole process, I still have yet to find a journal I actually like.   

Annetta | The prompt I decided to re-do was: Pick a quote you like and share it in an artistic way. For some reason I missed that day, it's in my journal, but not photographed or posted. Honestly, what I did for that prompt was not worth photographing. I recreated this prompt and am much happier with the artistic results. 

Day 302 | October Mail Day

Prompt: Create anything you wish to mail to each other.

Stephanie | I am excited for my gift I am making for Annetta, I know she will love it. I think I just might need to make one for myself as well.

Annetta | I've been preparing something special for Stephanie for a few days now and I'm excited that I get to send it off today. The interesting part about these mail days is we always seem to be on the same page.

Day 301 | Musicians Bands And Songs

Prompt: List your favorite musicians, bands and songs.

Annetta | When I was a teenager I was into the Backstreet Boys. Now I am into Christian music. I don't have a certain band that I like. If I hear a song I like, I'l find it and thats it. I've become really low key with my music as I mostly like silence.

Stephanie | My all time favorite band is The Beatles. After that I listen to all sorts of music, pop, country, classical, oldies, just whatever has a good beat and fits my mood at the time.

Day 300 | Celebrate With Artful Blogging

Today we celebrate 300 days of our A Year To Inspire journal project! 

Today we were happily surprised to receive a copy of the latest issue of Artful Blogging featuring our project. A perfect way to celebrate our 300th day. We are so thrilled to be a part of this magazine, one that we each have been so inspired by. We are so honored to have this opportunity and to share our work with others and be a source of inspiration to so many great followers. This journey has been amazing. 

*We want to give a special shout out to Heba and the Italian facebook group Smash Book Terapia. Heba wrote us asking that we say hello :) Thanks for your support!*

 

Day 299 | Quote Day + Download

Prompt: Pick a quote that inspires you. *download available*

Stephanie | I felt this 'quote' was most appropriate for my journey through this year, not just with the journal but in other aspects in my life. Times get tough and don't always seem like change will come, but they can if you don;t give up. This was my little reminder. 

Annetta | I am very big on not comparing or competing with others right now. It's actually something that I've personally struggled with in the past and still have to work through at times. I've been learning that the best person to be is you and only you can do what you are doing, no one else! I've written articles about this, blog posts and will continue to write this upon my heart. This quote fit perfectly.

Day 298 | Declutter

Action: De-clutter a space in your home. Put on some music, prepare some snacks and remember to do it gradually in sections. Take before and after photos. Report back to the journal.

Before

 After

Annetta | I chose to declutter the main part of my house, my tea cup collection. Often time it accumulates so many little things. Since it's a focal point in my home many of the stuff that has no home ends up on the counter top. I personally love this space free and clear.

Stephanie | I needed to clean up my desk space. This is not my ideal working space, but we currently have another family living with is, so my "office" has been moved to the middle of our living space. This is where all my work and home-school happens, so it can get messy fast. I was in a hurry to put together this workspace, so I didn't put any though into making it pretty, it just had to function, I needed certain items in one place, but it was rather uninspiring. So during my de-clutter session I added some pretty pictures to help add color and inspiration to my work area. Now if only I had some sun shinning through instead of nasty rain clouds....

Day 297 | Photography Prompt

Action: Pick a photography prompt and report back to your journal with your favorite photo.

Stephanie | I picked monochrome using black and white tones.

Annetta | I picked on that was a no-brainer for me, flowers. I wish I had more time for this prompt so that I could pick something more challenging, but towers will always be my first love to photograph!

Day 296 | Poem

Prompt: Write a poem about the first thing which enters your mind after you read this prompt.

Stephanie | Beautiful barn, how I love you so. Weathered wood and chipped paint, but your beauty never fades. The treasures you hold inside excite me. The ever changing sky awakens to a new day, fresh light light shines on your aged perfection, oh beautiful barn. 

Annetta | Memories Lost
road trips and day trips even across seas
they are memories shared and things we've seen
once they were safe and stored, but now are no more.
lost are those memories from our eyes leaving my heart empty
they can't be restored, new ones must be explored.

Day 295 | Admire Yourself

Prompt: What qualities do you admire about yourself?

Stephanie | A few thing I admire about myself: honest, fair, loyal, understanding, caring, sensitive, and giving. 

Annetta | A few thing I admire about myself: Creativity, artistic, growing, giving, caring, style and generous.

Day 294 | Era

Prompt: If you could choose, which era would you have liked to have been born into and why?

Stephanie | I would like to live in a time where written letters were common, things were re-purposed and not tossed out, clothing was sewn and mended, and life was at a simpler pace. 

Annetta | I would like to try out the Victorian Era. The tea sets with parties, lavish dinner, beautiful gowns and houses. I'd be cross stitching my winters away, strolling through parks in the spring, picking roses in the summer from the garden and going to parties in the fall.

Day 293 | Quote + Download

As Annetta deals with a personal issue, I have created a quote for today's prompt. Available as download.

Day 292 | Ideal Body

Prompt: My ideal body would be...

Stephanie | I have always wanted to look so much different than I actually do. I wanted to be tall and thin, with long beautiful hair, flawless skin, perfect teeth and smaller breasts, but in reality I will just never have my dream body, its not in my genetics. I have always struggled with feeling ugly and unattractive, I have never felt beautiful or confident. I know I need to change my thinking and be comfortable with who I am, flaws and all, and focus on loving myself rather than hating myself. I need to change my view of my ideal body to one that is happy and healthy, because in the end, that's all that really matters, and that's what is truly beautiful.

Annetta | I've always been happy with how I look, but lately I've been realizing that it's more important to be healthy and whole then it is to have an ideal body. What's an ideal body when you are having health issues? It's not about what media puts out there or what I consider to be an ideal body. It's about knowing who you are, improving upon yourself, getting healthy and being happy.

Day 291 | Happy Life

Prompt: What do you think the secrets or keys to a happy life are?

Stephanie | Avoid drama and negative people/situations. Stay healthy, body and mind. Live under your means and save as much as you can. Go after your dreams, don't save them for later. Show love and kindness as much as you can. Do things to please yourself and no one else. Keep a positive min and speak positive words. 

Annetta | In no particular order: love yourself and others, healthy mind and body, knowing Jesus, following your dreams, having good relationships, raising a family. There are so much more, but these are what came to me on top of my head.

Day 290 | First Impression

Prompt: Tell me about a time your first impression or assumption about a person or situation was completely wrong.

Annetta | I remember meeting a friend of mine who is now a dear friend. When I met her my first impression was that there would be NO way we could ever be friends. After we stated forming our friendship I began to see how beautiful genuine she was, like fine leather. We've been friends ever since.

Stephanie | In the 6th grade, I made friends with a girl named Iris. We met in our block class and we became friends. About 1/2 way into the year a new girl names Beth joined our class. My friend Iris said that we should invite her to be friends, but I was hesitant to have a new person join our little group, but she asked her anyway. Beth and I ended up becoming very good friends for many years, long after my friendship with Iris ended. Even though we are no longer friends now, I am thankful for the friendship we did have and that Iris went ahead and asked her to be friends.

Day 289 | Influence Minds

Prompt: If you had the ability to influence the minds of others for 24 hours what would you do and why?

Stephanie | If I could influence the minds of others I would have them be less judgmental towards others, try to put themselves in others shoes and have more compassion.

Annetta | If I cold influence the minds of others for 24 hours I would make them see that they are loved, like really loved. I would have them see the world through the eyes of that love in which they are loved. A lot of people act the way they do because they need love and are in great lack of it.

(ps. sorry that this posted a day too late, it is all my fault as I just spaced for the first time since this project started January 1st).

Day 288 | Laughter

Prompt: Tell me about a time when you laughed so hard you couldn't breathe or when you could not stop laughing as a really inappropriate time.

Stephanie | A few months ago Annetta and I met up at a cafe to draft some journal pages. We snacked on some yummy food and had great conversation through our many hours creating. I cant remember what was so funny, but we both broke out laughing, laughing so hard and so long that we were crying. It was a good laugh that left our cheeks sore. I don't typically laugh like that with people, because I am not usually comfortable enough to laugh like that with most people, so it was especially good for me to get that good laugh in and connect with my friend. 

Annetta | I'm with Stephanie on this one! I too don't remember what it is that got us laughing, but I do remember that me laughing like a horse or a hyena kept us laughing for a long time. I have one of those laughs where if you get me really going you won't hear a sound from me and then all of a sudden when I catch my breath it makes a high pitch ugly sound, yup that would be my laugh. I inherited from my mother.

Day 287 | A Special Person

Prompt: Tell me as much as you can about a special person to you who has passed away. What did they enjoy doing? Where did they work? What did they teach you? How did they make you feel? Add a photo if you can.

Stephanie | My hubby's granny passed away earlier this year. I didn't know her very well, but I am thankful for the time I spent writing her while my hubby was deployed. She was so sweet and adorable, she loved her colorful jewelry. I am still learning things about her, she loved to fish, that was her favorite hobby, and going camping. She had a farm many years ago and raised 6 children. She loved to write and wrote many poems, the one I used in my journal is from 1937, she even won the Golden Poet Award in 1985. When I first met her, she hugged me and said to my husband "she is cute!". It was sad to hear of her passing, but we were comforted knowing she had a full and wonderful life loved by so many.

Annetta | I miss three amazing people that went to heaven at the same time. I am reminded of so many memories, but there are moments that's its too painful that they are not here!

Day 286 | Biggest Dream

Prompt: With no limitations or inhibitions compete the following statement in as much detail as you and your pen can handle: My biggest dream is to....

Stephanie | My husband and I have a dream to have our own farmhouse and barn on several acres. We want to have a large flower and vegetable garden and fruit trees all over the property. A place for chickens and other farm animals, a horse stable for our oldest daughter. We want to be able to grow and produce our own food and live off the land away from the rest of the world. 

Annetta | My biggest dream that I have is to have my work, all of it which includes being a wife and a mother, reflect God's love. I've been finding out that no matter how big my dream is, if God's not in it, it means nothing. Even being "just a mom & wife" with God is a bigger dream then say having my own best-selling book or having everything I could ever want, but still be empty inside. This is what I truly believe and I hope that my life speaks for itself. PS. I AM NOT PERFECT ----> ask Stephanie.

Day 285 | Denial

Prompt: What are you in denial about?

Stephanie | This is really difficult for me to answer, I am not sure what I am in denial about. I am aware of my faults or other things, I just may not be ready to deal with them just yet. 

Annetta | I'm not sure I'm answering this questions correctly. What I think I've been in denial about is the fact that I had to wait 5 full years per doctors orders before getting pregnant with more kids. For the longest time I would remember that deadline, but not really believe it. I guess it was true because in January it will be 5 years since I had my son. A choice that was not my own, I was forced to wait all of those 5 years out because if it was up to me, I'd be pregnant right now and announcing the great news.

Day 284 | Job Aspects

Prompt: What aspects of your job do you enjoy? Big and small. If you are between jobs what will you enjoy about being employed or about creating your own opportunity?

Stephanie | I enjoy being able to be at home with my kids and have a fairly flexible schedule. I like that we can work in our pj's if we want or stop all work if my kids are sick or need my attention. I am able to keep my family my number one priority.

Annetta | I really enjoy working with flowers, one of the best parts about what I do. Photographing flowers isn't my 'job', but it is my career. I also get to do all this from the comforts of my home while being a mom, what is there not to love about that?!

Day 283 | Self Confidence

Prompt: We all know that self confidence only grows when we expand our comfort zones, so tell me about a time when you pushed your boundaries and felt rewarded with a boost of self confidence afterward. Now write down at least 5 things you could do to earn more confidence.

Stephanie | Doing this A Year To Inspire project has helped boost my self confidence. I am so critical of myself and my work that I don't find anything I do to be great. Working on this project, sharing my art and myself with the world has been rewarding for me because so many people have been loving what I share. I have become a source of inspiration for others, that is such an amazing compliment. This project has certainty pushed me beyond my comfort zone in many ways, my art, sharing my stories, talking with and submitting articles are magazines, I just love the confidence I have gained through this journey and the lives I have touched in the process.   

Annetta | As some have come to find, I'm not much of a writer. Not only do I have spelling issues, grammatical errors, but I at time don't make sense! When I write an article for a magazine and later get an email from someone who had read it and I was able to put into words what they couldn't I defiantly felt rewarded with a boost of self confidence afterward. There is nothing more rewarding in my career then stepping into something that I'm not confident in, but when I do it speaks into others lives in a beautiful way.