*b* list of challenges…

because i know that i can be motivated by a good challenge, i thought maybe it would be fun to throw a few challenges out to you…and some that i need for myself as well.

first, i need to remind all of my high school senior clients to let me know which image you want me to send to the local paper. just email me: bnovacek@aol.com. don’t scan your photos! let me send the digital files please and thank you!

if you are a high school junior or you are the parent of a high school junior, it’s not too early to book senior photos! last year, i had to turn a few clients away because it was too late and i was booked. so don’t procrastinate! let’s get it booked early rather than too late!

*b* list of challenges

• make 8 (or one for each family member)scrapbook layouts for your albums using the same basic “sketch/design”. since i have a scrapbook for each of my 8 grandchildren, this works well for me to do a layout for each child. so i would challenge you to do at least 4 layouts for this challenge. if you only have 2 children, i would challenge you to do a layout about the adults in the family too. here are the particulars:

            1. create a basic layout using products you already have. no shopping for new products…using what you already have is the really gratifying part of this challenge! most of us already have more than enough products!

           2. find a topic that you really want to either document or convey to your loved ones. i came up with a topic that i am passionate about (more about what inspired me in challenge 2)and then used the same basic journaling on all 8 layouts. that saved a lot of time….and the message was exactly the same for all 8, so why mix up the wording?

          3. keep the basic design the same, but try to use different embellies on each one. i always find boy layouts more challenging….because of my love for all things ruffly and girly : )

here are my 8-

for those of you who work in the craft industry, you know the pressure we feel to do something really great every time we make something…..that’s what you have to let go of with this challenge. these layouts are not masterpieces, but by making them with no pressure, i feel my creativity surging. i don’t know how that works, i just know that it works! try it!

• read something inspiring. my friend sandy handed a book to me last summer during a Bible study we were going to. i hardly remember what she said about it, other than it was really fresh and that she thought i might like it. well, i just got around to reading it and i must say that she was right! i’ve been reading it as i do my cardio and it actually makes me want to work out! i’m only on page 86, but i am finding this little book to be very inspiring. it’s called, “pray & watch” and it’s written by neal and judy brower. i had no idea who they were or where they were from, although i think sandy said that she had heard them speak. so after reading a chapter i found particularly relevant, i brought the book upstairs so i could check out their website. i was surprised to see that they live within an hour of me! i emailed both neal and judy and have their permission to share a quote. i chose a quote from the chapter (which inspired the layouts i made above) called, “the ONE thing”

“the one thing that matters most is people finding Jesus. this ONE thing matters above all else in life”.

i realized as i read that, that i spend so much of my time conveying my own love for my family and friends, but i really haven’t spent enough time expressing how passionate i am about sharing my faith and belief in Jesus and the Word with them. that is what inspired me to create the layouts that i made for all 8 of our grandchildren. i want them to know without a shadow of a doubt what i believe and what my hope is for them. to make their faith their own. i won’t always be here to talk to them. i found it interesting that i wrote my journaling as if i were already gone. of course, i’m hoping that they see humility, peace and joy in my life and want to make their faith their own based on that. here’s another quote from the book that i find so refreshing:

“God has always used broken people who are humble. we are all broken and there is no greater demonstration of our humility than when we come to the Source in open-handed prayer.”

“He put His light in us to shine through us. that has nothing to do with good behavior and is sometimes better exhibited in the grace applied to our bad behavior. it is the good work of surrender that allows that light to shine out of us. guilt, duty, obligation, inadequacy and fear are on the verge of passing away!”

i hope this has made you curious to read more. it’s life changing, refreshing, eternity focused stuff. there is only one resource right now for neal and judy’s books-check out the resource section of their website here. thanks to sandy for giving me this book!

• try a new recipe. if you read my blog, you know that i am on a new recipe kick! btw, roasted veggies have changed my life! last night i roasted all the veggies in my fridge-including roasted brussel sprouts (tomorrow is grocery day) and put them on my half of a homemade pizza (tom had hamburger/onion pizza). i didn’t use pizza sauce either, i just topped my half with a little cheese, then the veggies, then more cheese. yum. i’m having a slice for lunch today.
• step up your workout. i hadn’t been pushing myself at all on my workouts…until i caught a few bits and pieces of biggest loser and realized that my workouts have been totally lame. i was just going through the motions. i’ve been trying to add more intensity to my cardio for the past couple of weeks and i’m adding more crunches every workout. my abs hurt and i like it!
• do more for others. i’m working on this one. i am consciously thinking about getting my eyes off myself and my goals (i’m pretty driven, ya know?!) and find ways that i can give. i shared that i am volunteering my time and photography skills for “royal family kids camps”, which is a brand new local organization that i believe in with every fiber of my being! i consider it an honor to be able to do this. if you are in my area and want to help in any way….time, fundraising, donating….let me know. i can put you in touch with the right people.
• change one vignette in your home. some of us get in a rut. it is amazing how a little change can improve our attitude. i shared a new little vignette in my home yesterday and plan to share a tour of my entire home soon. things are getting in order!

one more thing that i want to share. i get quite a few emails about photography. probably the number one topic is “what should i buy/what camera/equipment do you recommend?” well, i recently put together a simple article (with photos) answering these questions and more. this article is associated with some exciting happenings that i wrote about, but couldn’t share details about, a while ago on my blog. the secret will be out soon and i can’t wait! i am particularly excited about the images. lauren and i had a GREAT time and she looks amazing!

i can’t wait to share this article soon!

God bless your day!