My High School Journal ~

“Poems, Prayers and Promises.”  I hand painted the cover, and lettered it. Yes, for a brief moment in time I was a fan of John Denver music, in those 1970’s.  I still like a couple songs, and this title is one of them.

It’s still stuffed full of things that I wanted to keep; a mix of precious and few, and of cards and mementos. I’m sure many of you can relate to the things we girls save…

I am amused at my handwriting, which was an experiment with a real calligraphy pen and india ink.

Part of the journal reflects cards that were given me for my Senior graduation {1976}.

And I was a decent athlete {back then}.  I lived for basketball and sports, generally.  In fact, sports kept me focused and interested in high school, and probably the single most important factor to my finishing school with good grades.  I was 5′ 8″ by the time I was in 8th grade!  Awkward and gangly,  freckle-faced and shy, but long-legged; a high jumper and wanna-be basketball player.  I participated in track, too, where I ran the hurdles.  Mostly – they ran me, and we weren’t a good match, as my knees {& scars} can attest to!

I’m really blessed to look back through these pages, and see what I was thinking, look at the drawings, and observe what was impacting my 17 year old brain… some of it sweet, some of it pretty doggone flaky!

And here’s my brave side!  Showing you my high school Senior portraits ~ these are the proofs which I stashed inside the journal.

My mom had very little money, but managed to make me this prom dress.  I wasn’t asked to go the prom until I was a junior in high school. I still wish I had this dress!  Isn’t it precious?

Then I found a surprise.  This card tucked inside. From my youngest boy, AJ.  It is priceless…  I can imagine many of you totally know this same feeling!  {he always did like to use my “good” – gold sparkly pens!}

He promises to take out the garbage and mow the lawn in this Mother’s Day card, but of course, I love the exclamation points best.  The funny thing is the notes he still leaves us today; this from just two weeks ago:

And another surprise; a dance card from my Junior prom.  Complete with pink pencil, even.   The theme was “Sugar Baby Love.”   I may have to listen to that tune sometime again! lol   

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Funny little samples of my  black and white pen and ink drawings, and some lame poetry, too:

And this last picture was created using my oil pastels… now I wonder where they went??!!!  Hmmm!

“J.C.” stands for Jesus Christ.  At that time in my life, I really had no clue what it meant to know Jesus, much less to really love Him, worship, or live out my faith very much. 

I’m so grateful for the Grace of God to continue to show me so, so, very much more.  Amen.

EnJOY!