Quietly present.

My DH says to me, you know when you are getting old because the music is too loud.
I have little patience for noise, I love solitude and the quiet. It can be kinda hard when you live with a young child. Miss M likes everything to be loud (especially her singing heh). I envy that you can get away to the bathroom. For me nothing is private anymore unless I really put my foot down about it.
Love your journal entry.
{r}

Very cool page, Ali. Love the typewriter pic, too.

a lovely, thoughtful essay.
thank you.

Boy, I can certainly understand this.
Here's are two cool somethings I read this week in a chapter of a book about the discipline of prayer:
"The irrepressible medieval monk Brother Lawrence recorded his experience of continual prayer in the classic Practice of the Presence of God: "In the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees."
"Susannah Wesley, mother of nineteen children (including theologian Charles Wesley and hymn writer John Wesley), used to enjoy the Lord's presence right in the middle of her noisy kitchen, just by sitting down and throwing an apron over her head. She created a quiet space, however small, to be with the Lord."

Wow, I can totally relate to your bathroom retreat comment!! It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one. :) When our Bug was born, I can recall several instances where the bathroom was the only place I could get a moment's respite, the only place I could be by myself. I still use this tactic.

This is really terrific, Ali. Sounds corny coming from me, who??, but I'm proud of you for stepping outside your box with this challenge. (I'm not involved in the class but I've been art-journaling for 8 or 9 months) It's cool to see you going with the flow within ya and breaking all of the rules (and, frankly, my stereotype!).
As far as the noise, I can't say I relate. I'm extremely auditory so silence drives me insane! Ya know, other than the dripping faucet when I'm trying to sleep...

I can sooo relate. Thanks for sharing this with us... it made me feel really good.

Great blog and great page A~thanks for your subtle inspiration. I find myself wanting to forge ahead so often. I get quiet for a short time and then an idea hits and boom! I'm back in that stage of researching and writing and thinking and dreaming of "oh, I could do this with it, and than this!"....to a few days later realize it was just a nice idea and not one that is ment for me to pursue at this time. I want to stop and "be" as you said and not think that every creative spark is something that deserves to become something great....it can "be" just that...a little blessing and I need to just sit with it and enjoy how the thought alone makes me feel :c)
I'm rambling now...thanks

Wow, do I ever relate to the "escape to the bathroom for a bit of silence" bit...I desire a good silence every now and then, but it seems so hard to find!
Thanks for sharing this...it hit home with me...

Ali, I love this page... The cut-out journaling on the bottom is so me! You don't usually do the mid-week sparks, do you??
Listen, I have a weird question to ask... I saw your "Day in the Life" lo in CK and I'm dying to know----Where did you get your toaster!!??? I love it! And I know my husband would love it...He's a chef, so I'm always trying to buy him cool kitchen things for presents. If you get a sec, hit me back and let me know! I hope it's not an antique or something, lol!!!

Can totally relate. Husband did his own thing today and my daughter is at her dad's so I got to just scrapbook all day with very few interruptions..was so nice..and I got so much done:)
Thanks for sharing. You are always so inspirational:)

I'm so there with you. Dh doesn't always understand my need for quiet. I find noise can be very distracting..particulary noise from multiple sources all at ones (tv, E, music, lawnmoer, etc etc) Cool page too!

mmmm, a yummy page on a Sunday morning. As I'm enjoying the quiet. I can totally relate. The *quiet* is exactly why I forego an extra hour of sleep in the morning. I need the quiet before the house wakes up. Can also relate to the music. I can enjoy it sometimes, but it reaches a point where it annoys me and to turn it off is sudden bliss. Awesome entry! Thank you!

I loved what you typed on your page- "I cooperate with the divine solution". I think that's it right there Ali. True peace and rest can only be found in the One who created us, and the more we fight to seek our own will, our own solutions, the more unsettled we will feel. To cooperate with God, to let go of our burdens and worries and cares, that's where freedom lies. This side of Heaven, there will always be forms of noise, seasons of discontent... so we seek and cling to the fragrences and tastes of peace and rest we are blessed to experience. But that's all they are- brief fragrences and tastes. Those precoius moments that define rest and peace and tranquility for you. Thanks for your openness and vulnerability again, Ali. -Kels

Ali, Ali, Ali!!! This is amazing! I just love how you were so free with your journal entry! It speaks volumes to me in so many ways! Thanks for sharing!!!

You are so good. Very cool journal entry. Totally relate to what you wrote. Rod just took both boys to the park and I am savouring the silence at the moment. :)

I know what you mean....I actually look forward to going to the carwash...it's a few precious minutes where I am not needed and can rest in peace and relative quiet. :)

Love it. Thank you for your inspiration.

mmmm...to just be. i have been having trouble with that lately. Because I'm always thinking i have to be "doing".
I heard a goofy thing once....you're a human being, not a human doing.
i too love silence. take it every chance i get.
love
c

Great thoughts and words today. I can so relate!
Shelley