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Cherie Burbach

writer, artist, poet

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Home | Faith | My Mission | 52 Notes | 52 Notes

52 Notes

December 20, 2018 Leave a Comment

For my birthday this year, I’ve got 52 gratitude and encouragement notes I’m sending. One note for every year. I’m excited to share this project with you because I like it when people do things like this and then share their experience. It is inspiring. I hope to inspire you to celebrate all the years you’ve been given in a positive way.

Here’s more about this project.

Choosing the Cover Art for the 52 Notes Project

For the cover of these cards I chose my “Bold As Love” image.

This painting was inspired by the Jimi Hendrix song of the same title. It is a favorite image of mine, one that celebrates community and sharing and pulling people up with you. It celebrates sisterhood, and while I plan to send these cards to men and women alike, I’m always about my soul sisters! I value the women I have in my life.

 

The Gratitude Message

The inside of these card has a pre-printed message that explains what this project is about.

This saves me from writing this each time and allows me to get right to the individual message of gratitude and encouragement.

As I begin this project, I have some people in mind, but honestly I want this to be organic and I know that in the course of doing this God will nudge me toward certain people, so I also want to pay attention to that.

I’m excited to share this because I think things like this help us balance out the negativity in the world. This is not a huge project, not in the sense of time or money or effort, and yet I feel that any positive thing we do can help another person. Don’t you remember the kind words spoken by someone else? The thank you notes you received? All of these things are small and very often people don’t even know we are doing them, but they matter.

52 Notes and My Card Ministry

I have for years had an informal card ministry. This project puts something more formal into place and announcing it like this allows me to be accountable to the intention. I think in this world of electronic notes and texts, a handwritten card really goes a long way. As you know, I value these cards when I receive them from someone else. I have turned many cards I’ve received into mini-pieces of art, adding them to a small canvas and then placing them along the ceiling of my office. I love having these pieces to look at while I am typing or filing. In fact, the time spent in my office is the least favorite of mine (I’m more of a “spend the day in the studio” type of girl) but having these pieces in front of me reminds me of positive things and people who care. This motiviates me. (It also helps when I get rejection letters. Hello reality of being a creative person!) I was featured in an article in Green Craft last year for this very project. I have also taught classes based on this concept and created an ecourse about it.

I know that in a project like this, God is working. He is perhaps working on me (not perhaps, He is) and maybe He is working in other ways, too. So I know doing this will reveal something to me. I can’t wait to share my progress.

UPDATE:

I’ve finished the project, and have to say that I felt it was a very good experience. It was awesome to focus on other people and to reach out in a way that is meaningful. As I look back at the list of people I wrote to, I am very surprised now. (I’ll tell you more in the video on why.)

Here’s an update to this project.

The response I received from this was very positive. In fact, I am still doing a regular gratitude note practice, which has been a huge blessing for me.

Many of you have asked me how to go about starting your own card ministry, which fills me with such hope because just when you think the world is so dark you see people desperately wanting to spread some goodness.

Writing cards can seem like such a small thing, but God works in every single thing so I think that is why this type of practice can be so powerful.

Final Update

A couple years later I posted a final update. In it, I talk about how this process has changed me and the surprising way it has changed how I look at some relationships.

Tags: 52 notes, gratitude Categories: 52 Notes

About the Author

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Cherie Burbach is a full time artist and writer. Her art prints, originals, and functional art pieces are available in artsy stores and galleries through the country and here at her site. Join her for Painting the Psalms. She is the author of over fifteen books, which vary from nonfiction to poetry to kid's books. Just for fun she created a family card game called Cupcake Commotion. Her first novel is The Space Between Dreaming.

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Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers’ Favorite

The Space Between Dreaming is a moving novel written with warmth and heart and which contains valuable wisdom. I loved that...
Cherie Burbach
2020-02-16T15:00:57-06:00
The Space Between Dreaming is a moving novel written with warmth and heart and which contains valuable wisdom. I loved that the work tackles difficult topics about childlessness, childhood trauma, and betrayal by friends with sensitivity. It tenderly captures the social and emotional toll of being childless. I loved the main characters and found them to be realistic and engaging. The work masterfully explores the themes of friendships and relationships, drawing important lessons that can be applied in real life. The inclusion of art and the process of painting also enhance the story. Cherie Burbach's unforgettable novel will resonate with readers for its applicable themes and compelling characters. Fans of women's novels will love it.
https://www.cherieburbach.com/testimonials/lisa-l/
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Cherie Burbach's writing is surprisingly vivid, this being her debut attempt. She can take you inside the character's mind within...
Cherie Burbach
2020-02-16T14:48:24-06:00
Cherie Burbach's writing is surprisingly vivid, this being her debut attempt. She can take you inside the character's mind within a span of words, all the things they're struggling with put bare before you. The prose isn't flowery, but gentle enough to nudge you into relating your traumas too, and heal as the characters do.
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K. Fink, Amazon

Loved learning more about art, and the community surrounding the people in the book. Couldn't wait for the next chapter...
Cherie Burbach
2020-02-16T14:49:12-06:00
Loved learning more about art, and the community surrounding the people in the book. Couldn't wait for the next chapter and following the women in this story. I am hoping the author has a second book in mind, to continue the journey of Jane and Grace. I would recommend this to book clubs, so they could meet and discuss what they read and what they think will happen next.
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Julie, Amazon Reviewer

A beautifully written story about the lives of two very interesting women who come together and form a life long...
Cherie Burbach
2020-02-16T14:50:50-06:00
A beautifully written story about the lives of two very interesting women who come together and form a life long bond. I love how this book is written. I found myself placed in the story like I was an innocent bystander watching each moment unfold and learning more about art than I ever thought possible. As the book ended, I found myself wanting more. My hope is that there is a 2nd book in the works so I can continue watching the friendships unfold and the lives of the main characters continue to grow!
https://www.cherieburbach.com/testimonials/shelley-w/

Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers’ Favorite

The Space Between Dreaming is a moving novel written with warmth and heart and which contains valuable wisdom. I loved that...
Cherie Burbach
2020-02-16T15:00:57-06:00
The Space Between Dreaming is a moving novel written with warmth and heart and which contains valuable wisdom. I loved that the work tackles difficult topics about childlessness, childhood trauma, and betrayal by friends with sensitivity. It tenderly captures the social and emotional toll of being childless. I loved the main characters and found them to be realistic and engaging. The work masterfully explores the themes of friendships and relationships, drawing important lessons that can be applied in real life. The inclusion of art and the process of painting also enhance the story. Cherie Burbach's unforgettable novel will resonate with readers for its applicable themes and compelling characters. Fans of women's novels will love it.
https://www.cherieburbach.com/testimonials/lisa-l/

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