Joy is something I’ve needed to actively pursue, as it has often been illusive and, to be honest, at times I’ve struggled with depression and the feeling of oppression. Life can feel so heavy, making daily life challenging. I know I am not alone in feeling this way, especially since the Pandemic.

If you’ve read my blog in recent months or took the Plan with me course last year, I often said how I keep moving is by telling myself ‘Just do the next thing.’ I would ask Holy Spirit what the next thing was, and then we would go do that. Progress was made, although often just one baby step at a time.

The moon for May is called the Flower moon because of the bursts of flowers blooming this month, full of beauty. This moon is one of my favorites and is easy to incorporate into the journal page designs.

While making this monthly calendar page and the weekly calendar pages, joy began to rise and I found myself having fun again. I’m learning to trust Jesus more in a world of uncertainty and let go of my expectations. The ‘Still Small Voice’ whispers to my heart, “I’ve got this.” It brings a measure of inner freedom, hope, and yes - joy. I think these pages reflect that joy:

Weekly Calendar pages

Here is a flip-through video of May’s planner journal pages

My hand surgery was scheduled later than I originally thought, so at the time of writing this post, I still wasn’t able to use my thumb like used to. I went with a looser style and relied more on my stencils than usual. You can find the list and links to the stencils and the other supplies used at the bottom of this post. I also used some of the digital downloads from my shop: https://www.valeriesjodin.com/shop.

I am Thankful

My ‘I am Thankful’ page continues to be one that encourages me to focus on all I have to be thankful for and record it. At the end of each month it is good to read through the list. This month I went for floral whimsy and stars, loosely doodling the flowers across the top and stenciling the stars and banner.

Workflow page

As you see, this page could be title anything. For me, it is where I list my art work tasks for the month with check boxes. There are things I need to accomplish every month, so it is good to see them all in one place.

I used the coffee and tea journal specialties digital download set, and the garden flowers stencils (listed at the bottom of the post).

Hymn of the month & Cover Page

In the 2022 monthly cover pages in my calendar, I feature a hymn. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee is one of the most beautiful hymns ever written, in my opinion - a praise to God from all creation. I chose this particular hymn to feature in May because of the beauty of nature during this beautiful spring month, and the name of May’s moon celebrating the bursting of blooms: the Flower moon.

Honestly, I was not pleased with what I did for this month. It looks too busy with too many colors etc. Once again, ‘art reflects life’ and instead of getting stuck or quitting, this time I decided to accept it and move on. It doesn’t change the meaning of the hymn for me. It’s still one of my all time favorites.

The Story Behind Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee

Joyful Joyful was written by Henry Van Dyke in 1907 to the music of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Van Dyke was a Presbyterian minister and professor at Princeton University. It seems there is some discussion about whether the song was inspired by Beethoven’s music or the beauty of creation. This seems funny to me because I imagine Henry, surrounded by the beauty of the mountains, humming Beethoven’s tune and then being inspired with words that join the music.

Henry Van Dyke’s son, Tertius said, ”…the hymn celebrates a joy to be found in nature by the man who finds his first joy in living his own life in Jesus Christ. Anyone who is familiar with my father’s poetry and preaching will at once recognize that the harmony of this double note is his most characteristic accent… How steadily he stresses the joyfulness of a life that rests upon Christ! If a man is a Christian in this simple sense of personal faith and activity, let him step out into the open air and rejoice:

“For the long breath, the deep breath, the breath of a heart without care—
I will give thanks and adore thee, God of the open air!”

If you are interested in finding out more about the story of the hymn, here is a link to an excellent article:
https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/joyful-joyful-we-adore-thee

Being in nature, walking with God, has brought me peace and joy during these troubled times. I find myself craving more. This hymn reflects this so well and I find myself humming it as the words dance for joy in my head.

Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee

Lyrics

1 Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love.
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before thee,
praising thee their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
drive our fear and doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day!

2 All thy works with joy surround thee,
earth and heav'n reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee,
center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
blooming meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain,
call us to rejoice in thee.

3 Thou art giving and forgiving,
ever blessing, ever bless’d,
wellspring of the joy of living,
ocean-depth of happy rest!
Known in Jesus Christ our brother,
all who live in love are thine.
Teach us how to love each other,
lift us to the joy divine.

4 Mortals, join the mighty chorus
which the morning stars began.
Love divine is reigning o’er us,
leading us with mercy’s hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
victors in the midst of strife.
Joyful music lifts us sunward
in the triumph song of life.

https://hymnary.org/text/joyful_joyful_we_adore_thee

Journal page details

As I’ve simplified my calendar/everyday journal pages it’s changed my journaling habits a bit. I find myself using this journal for planning and then another journal for writing instead of mixing the two. I’ve been using the A5 size dotted journal for both and find it is easier for me to keep organized, which is something I need, so it’s been a positive change the whole way around.

Using stencils and digital download papers made the set-up go much faster for me. Making calendar pages each month has been a fulfilling practice for me and provides a record and guidebook for daily living. It helps me go onward and forward, looking upwards.

May you be blessed with joy and strength!
Valerie

Digital Art Downloads used in the pages above are from my shop

STENCILS:

https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencils-valerie-sjodin-s/2044.htm

#L711 Mid Century Modern Banners
#L843 Stars Stencil with Stars Mask Edge
#L833 Script Sans Serif Planner Alphabet + Grid
#L882 Mid Century Modern Circle Patterns Mask
#L888 Mid Century Modern Circle Patterns
#M295 Garden Flowers Tile Stencil Mini
#M795 Garden Flowers Tile Mask Small

SUPPLIES:

• 160 gsm dotted notebook

• Pentel P205BP2-K6 Sharp Mechanical/Automatic Pencil, 0.5mm, Black, 2 Count: https://amzn.to/3m3lPgX Kneaded eraser: https://amzn.to/3m0wDwp

• Staedtler permanent pen set: https://amzn.to/3yQ2Ixy or

• Micron pen set: https://amzn.to/3jpWOup or other waterproof pen set

• White Posca paint pen/s: https://amzn.to/3hhmV75

• Doodle Dazzles Shimmer Marker Set of 8 https://amzn.to/3t5KU0T

• Cosmetic wedges: https://amzn.to/2IVno1J

• Extreme Elmers glue stick: https://amzn.to/3IZTynk

• Misc. Washi tape

• Tombow double sided tape: https://amzn.to/3aRmnDI

• Color M600 Artist Mica Watercolor Paint, Metallic: https://amzn.to/337mfvp

• Watercolors: (Qor brand used)

• Gelatos https://amzn.to/38ql93o

• Stiff flat bristle brush to apply Gelatos

• Ruler

• Craft knife

• Spray bottle for water

• Small Scissors - https://amzn.to/2U7BgeS (comes in set of 5)

I only recommend and link to products I've used and am happy with. The above links are affiliate links, meaning if you click from here and order, I get a small commission. It costs you nothing. Win/Win! Thank you!

Featured Word of the Year Blog Posts

For more how-to videos for your word of the year planner journal scroll through these blog posts and read more for inspiration!