Pinterest Projects That I Actually Completed #2: Joy Wall

Gratitude.  Thankfulness.  Mindfulness.  These words were on my mind at the first of the year when I was trying to come up with New Years Resolutions.  A friend of mine shared on facebook what she and her family had done in 2014:  a joy jar.

something like this

Throughout the year, they wrote down on little slips of paper things that had brought them joy--a beautiful sunset, a good grade on a test, a family vacation.  They kept those slips of happiness in a large jar and at the end of the year, they took them out and read them, experiencing that joy all over again.

I knew I'd never be able to keep up with slips of paper, but I had an idea.  I had seen this chalkboard art print on pinterest:

for sale here

I have a small wall in my kitchen that had 80's country wallpaper on it.  Over the last couple of years, I had stripped the floral wallpaper out of our two bathrooms and retextured and painted the walls and I was in NO HURRY to do that again.  Ever.  So, I painted the wallpaper with black chalkboard paint and had fun quotes, grocery lists and schedule reminders on it.  After seeing this little art print, I decided to create a joy wall.  Here's my wall and art:

Each month we write a joy and the date around the big "joy jar".  At the end of the month, I photograph it and then we wipe it clean and start the new month.  

Here's February:

At the end of the year, I'll make a collage page for our year's Shutterfly album from the 12 walls.  This family journaling has been an eye-opener and a blessing for us as we remember daily the joys that fill our lives.  I hope you've found a way to remember all the good things that come to you every day!