Introducing Paloma
and The Woodland Journal
Meet Paloma, my 15-year-old daughter. She is an artist through and through, and Randy and I have said many times that everything she touches becomes more beautiful. She loves to draw and paint and sew, to bake and decorate, to make and conspire tiny surprises for her little brothers and sisters. She is kind and sweet and just as lovely as she seems.
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For years, we have dreamed of making her artwork come to life in a journal. I am so happy to tell you that we have finally done it. The Woodland Journal is here! Today we got our finished proof in the mail, and we looooove it. The journal features two of Paloma’s original watercolor paintings reproduced in brilliant color on the front and back board covers. It is an 11 x 7.5 inch landscape-format blank book, bound with copper wire-o binding for easy lay-flat journaling and sketching, with 70 lb. unlined cream paper and rounded corners. It just feels good in the hand and is begging you to put your thoughts and scribbles down on the pages. In my opinion, the most endearing feature of this journal is the adorable tiny drawings in the corners of the pages. Paloma has a darling, cheerful, whimsical way of drawing, and I think these little sketches are absolutely inspiring. (Just watch me turn the pages in the video below…)
I should also mention that these journals were designed by Paloma and myself, and they are printed by a personable company made up of real humans in the USA.
Next week, we will be placing our first bulk order of journals. Would you like to help us??? There is a minimum order, but we would like to be able to buy more to make the production cost per item less. If you would like to support Paloma’s first journal project, you can help us by pre-ordering a journal today! All of the money we make from pre-sales will go directly to production costs so that we can buy more copies to stock our online shop and to sell in person at events.
If you would like to preorder, you can do that in our family shop by clicking the photos below.
Another way you can help:
We have been very blessed to have people in our lives over the years who have wanted to give to the work we are doing. As Paloma is starting out with creating these beautiful products to sell, we know there may be some who would like to sow seeds into her life and help her. We would be very grateful for any donations towards the cost of printing if you feel a nudge to support Paloma’s work. You can send a one-time gift of any amount via Venmo by scanning the QR code below (or clicking the image), and write “Paloma” in the message box. This money will be used to stock our online bookstore and for live events. Your support means more than you will ever know!
Coming up on Thanksgiving, I just have to say it: I am so thankful for my life. For these nine children, who greatly challenge inspire me to see the world with fresh beauty. For my husband, who loves me, whom I love. For God’s presence in our lives and his continual reminders that He cares about every little detail. Nothing is too small to bring before him. Truly, I believe He delights in the small things. And I think that when we are tuned into the wonder of the very small, we are more aware of God’s grandeur.
Also, I am thankful for you. Thank you for being here. For reading these words, week after week, and for the encouragement your presence brings to me.
Hoping and praying that your gatherings are filled with small wonders this Thanksgiving season. That you will look for God and find Him in the details of your life. He is with us.
Sending love,
Mackenzie
From the Family:
My daughter, Rosie’s new song, Snow on the Ground. I love this song! It captures the joy and wonder of snow. I have so much to say about Rosie’s music. But I’m saving it for another day. If you like Rosie’s songs, subscribe to her Substack
, and please, take three minutes to listen to this song. I guarantee you will be more fun this year when it snows if you do.There’s a girl in the window
Looking out at the snow
And the light frames around her
In a warm, yellow glow
Come out with me
The best fun is free
It’s dark all around
But there’s snow on the ground
Come play with me
Race you down to the mailbox
Never mind, you’re too slow
Okay fine, prove me wrong then
On your mark, get set go
You can’t catch me
I was born to be free
There’s snow all around
And we fall to the ground
And we’re happy
Just like gingerbread houses
On our street, in a row
Our neighbors are crazy
To waste all of their snow
When I’m forty-three
You’ll never catch me
Lazing around
When there’s snow on the ground
Just wait and see
From the Podcast:
I don’t want my children to be simply entertained through life. I want them to show up for the purposes for which God has created them. I want them to do the things that only they can do. I want them to have the living conversations that can only come from their hearts and mouths. I want them to build the structures that can only come forth from their minds and hands. I want them to create those songs and paintings and drawings and phrases that put substance to the impressions that others feel but cannot themselves articulate. I believe in these little people. I learn from them. I see my greatest role as a mother and home-educator as this: Assuring my children that they were born for a unique purpose, praying and watching and listening as that purpose is revealed, and giving them the tools to become the people they are meant to be.
Information has never been cheaper. You can ask a robot anything and find the answer. But understanding the value of your one and only creative voice… Knowing that there are secrets inside you that cannot be found by typing a question in a search engine… I want these precious little people to know this truth intimately.
In today’s podcast, I share some thoughts on homeschool and how we use the structure of it to go deep into building a creative family culture.
(Recorded October 2022)
