Better Writer Day 27~ Niche

Today's writing assignment is to write the post that has been nagging on you... the one that you are hesitant to write because it somehow doesn't fit into your 'niche' or makes you nervous to hit the publish button.

I was standing in the kitchen just now, chopping carrots and listening to the littles swinging from the tree in the backyard thinking about this challenge. I don't think I necessarily have that post. I haven't ever really felt like I had a niche to stay in. I think the posts that make me the most scared to hit the button on are the ones that expose me and force me to come face to screen with my own ugly. And I have a lot of ugly. But the thing that God has been teaching me over the last months is that putting those things out there, writing as He guides me and then publishing them lets the Light hit them. And I'm more likely to turn from all that darkness if it's been outed. I'm grateful for that!

So last week I was confronted with some ugliness in my life. A craving that just popped up. Sin. For our first Christmas together, Trace bought me an Empire Red Kitchen Aid Mixer. Upon purchasing it, his friends told him he was writing his own death sentence~ "You're buying her an appliance, and you aren't even married yet?!" But my man knew this girl. And I was beyond thrilled. Ten years my beloved mixer and I have mixed and made, kneaded and whisked. She has been an ever-loyal companion.

Well, in the midst of making dozens upon dozens of cookies in the last few weeks, I began to tire of having to mix each batch of dough individually. Wouldn't it be nice to have a mixer with twice the bowl and motor capacity? Wouldn't it be great to have a pouring shield that would keep powdered sugar from attracting all the ants into your kitchen? And so I began to search online for an upgrade. And I found it in the pro series. And I began to want it. Crave it.

I told Trace, and he agreed... justified it even. I deserved this. Isn't it funny how things begin to snowball? I had talked myself into it, and even Trace was telling me to just buy it. But for some reason I couldn't. So I talked to God. Thank goodness I had a clear head to do that! And as He is faithful, He spoke to me: A craving for more is ungratefulness. Sin. Ingratitude. Unthankfulness for what He says is enough. Ouch.

I was confronted by my own prayers... I pray 'give us today our necessary bread' and then ask for extravagance because I don't feel content with what He's deemed necessary. Proverbs 30:8 says 'give me neither poverty or wealth; feed me with the food I need'. And in that moment, that exposed and painful, wound-exposed moment, I dropped to my knees and confessed my sin. And I can truly say that in that turning moment, in agreeing with Him about my sin (that's what confession means, after all) and in the walking the other direction of it, I felt truly content. Deeply. Because it's enough.

"for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." Philippians 4:11

Better Writer Day 25

Happy Monday! I hope you had an awesome weekend! Today's writing assignment is to write about our weekend, which is nice because I wanted to share some pics anyway, and then choose one part that sticks out and elaborate on it.

Our weekend was full of spending time together as a family...Friday and Saturday long easy days. I had several cookie orders to finish up and deliver on Saturday, and then at Remy's request went for a 'nature walk'. It was a great way to spend a gorgeous afternoon. We haven't spent much time exploring any outdoor areas near our home (we're not what you would call 'woodsy' people, by any means!), so a friend recommended a trail and we just went for it. Later in the day we shared dinner with some friends. Sunday was a long day, as we had to be at church bright and early for worship practice, breakfast, an egg hunt and then the service, of course. But Easter is always worth the extra effort~ we had an amazing time of revelling in and worshipping a Risen Savior!! So thankful for the freedom that is found in an empty tomb!

We found a beaver dam!!

 Taking a walk outside on Saturday was just what our family needed. I think we are so insulated, literally and figuratively, that we just needed to get out and breath... Some of Remy's Easter goodies included a bug box and binoculars, and both littles got a magnifying glass, so Remy The Explorer was ready to get out and make some discoveries. We packed up a lunch and then hit the trail.

The beaver dam was our first discovery, and this was an amazing find to everyone. We hoped to see some beavers, but Remy was convinced that they were hiding underneath the bridge. We stopped long enough for him to draw a picture of the dam in his journal and then kept moving. The binoculars revealed all sorts of amazing sights, and stopping to eat lunch on a bench was a welcome rest for little legs at a halfway point.

Catching Bugs

We made lots of 'good finds', climbing over logs, sitting on stumps, turning over logs to collect centipedes and worms... but I think the most rewarding thing for me was just spending time without any of the world pressing in. Time kind of stood still while we were out there. The kids played well together and also got nice and worn out! We brought home a bug box full of living things, which we spent an even longer part of the afternoon at home just observing. It really is the simple things, isn't it?

Thanking Him this morning for a full weekend well spent~ time with family and friends celebrating the biggest day of the year!!

Better Writer Day 24~ For Whom

Hello, lovelies! I'm a few days behind... I've been reading books to Halle while the cookies bake, crafting paper Holy Week stories while the icing dries, and catching up on laundry while packaging about 12 dozen cookies this week. With each one saying thanks to God for bringing in these orders that are supporting my trip to Africa this summer. Grateful but exhausted. So I have been reading the challenges and thinking of responses over the kitchen sink, but the words just never made it to the keyboard.

But I'm here tonight with a few minutes to breath. And what do I do when breathing but write... And it's fitting then that yesterday's assignment was to share why I started blogging and what my dreams might be for this medium of writing. I started blogging about three years ago when my littles were really little. I began mostly because their grandmas wanted pictures, and I wanted a way to share them easily without much hassle. I thought a blog would be a way to tell a few stories and catch up the curious relatives. What I didn't realize was how much I would have to say, or that anyone would even listen.

A few other friends and family began 'tuning in', and I started to expound a little. Our days were full of doing fun everyday things, and I began sort of preschooling with Remy, so I started telling a bit more about the goings on in our home. It was a natural process for me, as I've journalled for most of my life. I didn't really have any dreams of growing or of the blog becoming more than a family journal, but I knew that I liked the process and having a place to store the memories (mommy-brain zapped my ability to remember anything!).

It was around this time that I discovered the world of blogging in its fullness... I was completely sucked in by the inspiration, the community, and the craftiness! This stay-at-home momma suddenly wasn't completely alone, and in the quiet moments while Trace was on the road I found that some of these communities and relationships kept me from a complete fog. It was around this time that I began to dream for my blog, I think. I felt like God was crafting in me a story that He wanted me to tell. I began to share more about the goings on in our home and my heart, and while I gained some readers, the healing I gained simply in the telling was miraculous.

I want the space where I write to be a haven. Much like I feel God calling me to create a haven for my family in our home, I feel He's calling me to carve out an online space for other moms and homemakers to find vision, rest and peace. He has placed a call on my life to ministry to other moms and homemakers, and while a large piece of that actually takes place around the table in my home, I believe part of it will be shared in the space where I write. And though I'm still putting together a few of the pieces, I guess I can reveal that I'm going to be moving to a new blog home soon that will sort of culminate this vision for ministry called 'this shared life'.

 My prayer is that God would use me. That may sound over-simplified, but with all my heart I just want to be obedient to whatever it is He's called me.

 

Better Writer Day 20~ The Well

Happy Monday, sweet friends! We had a wonderful, if not crazy weekend. I'm baking cookies like some kind of machine- I've been selling them to raise money for my trip to Africa this summer. So far I've made about 12 dozen, with almost that many more to make this week in time for Easter. I am so thankful for His provision for my trip and that I can be raising funds by doing something I love so much!

Today's Better Writer Assignment is to focus on filling up the well... reading to refresh your brain and excite your perspective'. I am usually reading two or three books at a time, so this one isn't a huge challenge for me. Right now I'm reading 'You're Already Amazing' along with the Bloom/(in)courage Book Study, 'Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Warfare', and then 'Teach Them Diligently'. I know it sounds ambitious, but I like some variety. And I don't necessarily read each one each day... just as the mood strikes.

The second part of today's challenge is to blog about a favorite book. When asked this question, I can give an answer with zero hesitation. In fact, I'm certain that I've posted about it before. The book that has most changed me, one that I have and will continue to read with regularity is Shane Claiborne's 'The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical'. I was given this book by a friend when we were living in Tennessee. In it Shane dares to ask the question 'What if Jesus meant what He said?', and at the time, that question is what my heart was begging an answer to. It still does.

I had been burned by churches. I had seen leaders and ministries fail. I had see so-called Jesus followers overlook the least of these, stepping over the beautiful sun-worn faces of the homeless to get into their flashy church buildings. If Jesus meant what He said, and I've always believed that He did, then why was I so isolated from the very ones He was calling me to love? This book rocked me to my core. Shane challenged me to run, not walk, into the arms of Jesus, which probably looked a lot more like the sweet addicted man on the corner than it did the executive.

I really think that this book was the beginning of my journey into what our church now calls being a 'fully-devoted follower' of Jesus. I couldn't ignore the things He said. I couldn't any longer pick and choose which ways of the cross I wanted to carry and which I could conveniently compartmentalize away for those 'crazy hippies'. I want to be the 'crazy hippie'!! I come back time and time again to this book because I don't ever what to forget that my roots have to be firmly grounded in the ways and words of Jesus, a homeless traveller on His way Home.

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me." Matthew 25:32

Gift

I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo again this week... It's funny because her topic today is 'Gift'. And I had something all in my head that goes with this perfectly. Anyway... the rules are simple~ you write for 5 minutes. No editing, no over-thinking, no back tracking... just write. Go.

Offering.

She holds in her hands a great gift. Tells me it's her 'greatest treasure'... and she's willing to give it to me. To give it up. She holds loosely to the things she values most because she wants me to tresure them too. And there's a lesson in that.

And approaching Easter, I am reminded how He gave Himself up. How Abba Father opened His palms and poured out His heart and Greatest Treasure.

So why do I hang on? Why do I clench fists and try to cling to weeds but miss that the real gift, the reall offering of heart and soul is in the outpouring?

I take the dandelions and put them into a bowl on our table. A centerpiece. And I see them and remember.

Better Writer Day 18~ Limits

Happy Thursday! Today's assignment is to write within the boundaries of a word count, 300 to be exact, about our favorite holiday. I've got to say, that as the consumate rule-follower, I appreciate such boundaries. I sort of love being told what to do... (don't tell my mom!).

I have a hard time choosing a favorite holiday. Right now each comes with a different kind of awe and wonder given the ages of Remy and Halle. It seems that with each new set of decorations comes new excitement about what will happen. But, again because I like following the directives I've been given, I guess I would choose Valentine's Day as my favorite.

I am a girly girl. And I know last month I talked about it here on my blog, but I can fully stand behind any holiday that boasts pink & red as its colors of choice and is all about love. I also really appreciate that there isn't some elf, fairy, mad man in a velvet suit that society wants me to lie about to my little ones. So our home became a pink and red haven for the month of February, and Trace couldn't complain too much because it was all in the name of Love, right?! We cut doily hearts, finger painted heart handprints, I crocheted heart garland to hang, and we filled hurricanes with red & pink candy corn and red candles... perfection!

And I could go on and ON about the food! Not that I ever need a reason to bake, we do it every day around here, but Valentine's Day treats flaunt decadence and chocolate, and that is totally speaking my love language!

Bottom line was that in all the love talk, it made a great transition to talk with the littles about how we treat people. How we show love, and how Jesus came and loved us in a way that no one ever had or could. Love. The greatest of these... why not celebrate that?

** And just in case anyone is checking, without the intro paragraph, which I totally don't count because it's not the actual post (ahem...), I'm at 287**

Better Writer Day 17~ Stream

Today's Better Writer assignment is to write a 'stream of consciousness' post. To just let the words spew out without a thought as to editing or correcting... And let me just say that this terrifies me. I am a perfectionist. And while this kind of writing may help me lay that side down a bit, I don't have to like it. It's uncomfortable. I'm a girl who likes to be liked. I like to edit and clean up and make sure things are just right. But that's also what God has been asking me to lay down, isn't it? I've actually talked about that a lot in this space. So I'll write...

Today has been a pretty good day. I woke up and had nearly two full hours of quiet before hearing Remy's sweet stomp down the stairs. He immediately wanted to watch 'Knight Rider' (thanks to the influence of my 80's tv show and car-loving husband...), and the theme song has now been stuck in my brain for 7 hours. Nice. I took Halle to dance and started reading a pretty interesting book on Spiritual Warfare while I waited for her. It was hard to read with the distraction of the tapping and music from her class. I really can't stand that they don't let us watch, though I understand why...

We came home and I decorated another batch of cookies while my girl played on the table with water in her Barbie Water Park set. She had a blast splashing and dunking all the Strawberry Shortcakes and her conversation with them and me kept me entertained as I piped. I really love making cookies... I also am so thankful for the orders right now. Looking at the cookies and my girl and the things around us, I step back and am just in awe of the way God takes care of us. We are the richest people I know. Deep sigh.

Now Hallelujah is begging me to play, so I stop. Stream ended. Happy Wednesday!

Better Writer Day 16~ Brainstorm

Today's Better Writer challenge was to pick two topics and brainstorm about them. Get them out onto paper and just dump all the ideas that come.  I love brainstorming. And I actually have a ton on my mind, so the practice was a great one for me this morning. I am also rejoicing that I actually had time to sit down and do it... Halle-lujah went back to school this morning, so I had the morning free to 'work'.

I must say that my favorite thing about this challenge so far has been that it has kept me consistently getting words out. I have really felt like God is calling me to write, but until I make it a priority, it obviously won't just happen... have to get pen to paper. And this has been just the 'monkey on my back' to get me to do it! I can't wait to fill y'all in on the project I'm working on~ hoping to reveal next week a culmination of some things God's been doing in my life! Today's assignment was just what I need to get some clearer thoughts on a small piece of what's next!

Completely random, but I also wanted to throw it out there that I made these last night. And they might have been awesome.

Better Writer Day 15~ And Then I

Happy Monday! We're getting back to (if we can call it that) normal here after spring break. Remy went back to school, somewhat begrudgingly, and I am thankful to get back into a routine. We have been enjoying some amazing weather here in Illinois... Spring has arrived! I hope you had a great weekend!

Today's Better Writer Challenge is to write about a process. A tutorial, how-to, recipe, whatever... but to avoid the boring 'and then I' approach. Monday is the perfect day for this because Monday is cleaning day in our house. My absolute favorite day! (Yes, I'm one of those...)

You see, I have this sweet, chattering shadow. "Mondays are made for cleaning!" sounds off my little curly-haired shadow. "You're right! And this is the day the Lord has made." "For cleaning!", she chimes in. We spray matching blue microfiber cloths with lemon-fragranced spray and play Follow the Leader... over tables and under chairs, fingers around wooden legs and "Whee!!!" hands slide down stair rails. Under pictures and over shelves. Teaching tenderness of cloth around circled glass rims of hurricanes, all the while singing "We're the cleaner girls" to the tune of Strawberry Shortcake.

Soon we stand in the doorway and survey our citrus-scented success. It is a grand one. And my perfectionist tendencies must be laid aside, not allowing myself to swipe the smudges that she misses. Because it is truly about the process sometimes and not the final product. My heart is warm, knowing that she is learning that keeping a home is about how you make the home-dwellers feel.

Our task culminates in a chocolate chip cookie on the couch. Snuggles and crumbs abound while we take pride in our work. This is also why the next lesson is that vacuuming comes last.

"A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding; by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure." Proverbs 24:3-4

Better Writer Day 14~ Loud

Happy Friday! I'm so thankful I've made it this far this week... Spring break has been hard and frankly has me a little fearful of summer. Who knew that once Remy was in school it would be difficult to have both littles at home all day for a week?! Is this some mom secret craziness that no one bothered to fill me in on?  Anyway...

On to today's challenge. Today we are supposed to go over to The Gypsy Mama's blog and write about whatever prompt she has... her 'Five Minute Friday'. You write for 5 minutes, 'no editing, no over-thinking, no back-tracking'. And this terrifies me. But I'll push forward... Today's word is 'Loud'... Go.

Loud.

My mom always defined me as one with a 'voice that carries'. Even last weekend a the Hearts at Home conference, one of my friends told me that she knew I was there working, in a room full of literally hundreds of women, because she heard my 'y'all' above the crowd. Seriously?!  I am loud.

I was surprised once my littles became old enough to need correction how loud I am. I am a screamer. It kind of shocked me, but yelling 'No!' just sort of poured out of me at crazy volume from the time Remy was old enough to reach for things he shouldn't or head for something hot.

But this is not necessarily a quality I have wanted. And I fear that my loudness, perhaps to the point of being abrasive, is getting in the way of my being effective. (Yes, I once caught myself screaming 'DO NOT YELL!' Insanity!) In meeting and spending just a few minutes with and around Michelle Duggar last weekend at Hearts at Home, I was struck deeply by the gentleness with which she carried herself. She exudes peace and calm. One of her parenting principles is that she never raises her voice. Did you hear that? In a house of 19 children she NEVER raises her voice!!

I have found myself in the last few weeks praying for gentleness in the way that I deal with my family. And even more so since last weekend, I have been trying to catch myself before raising my voice. What good does it do? Yelling only adds to the craziness of a situation... So I am praying the words of Paul in Colossians 3, that I would 'put on... gentleness'. So, I am loud. But getting softer. Gentler. As He makes me more like Him.

Better Writer Day 13~ Vox Vocis

Welcome back, sweet things! Thanks for hanging with me as I work through this series! I'm finding the challenges great for this overworked brain!  Today's Challenge is two-fold: First I am supposed to choose five words to describe my (writing) voice or what I know of my voice. Then take two or three excerpts of my work and see how it matches up with my voice or ways that I could improve. I know it's often easy to fall into the trap of wanting to 'sound' like someone else whose words impress us... I hope to really carve out my own voice and be true to myself!

Okay, so words that I would use to describe my voice:

~Honest

~Conversational

~Sweet (sometimes a bit too drippy and Southern for my own good?)

~Poetic

~Superfluous (I find myself using too many flowery adjectives to describe things and have to edit!)

So this post, 'Reclaim', is one that I'm proud of and think really defines my style. I feel like this post sounds like the real me having a conversation with a friend over coffee. I think I could have used more paragraph breaks, the first especially was a little long, but I don't think I said too much.

This second post, 'Today', is another one that I think reflects a style that's personal to me. It's different from the first in that it almost begins like poetry. It's simple to read and I think my point was clear.

There are many posts in my last few years here that I'm sure don't sound like me... couldn't narrow that list down. But I'm thankful that I'm starting to feel like I'm carving out my place, finding my own voice among the many, and feeling like my voice is a valid one. I think I have long lacked confidence and tried to be someone else, but God is showing me that if He asks me to say something, He wants my voice to say it! This has been a great exercise!

I would love your thoughts here~ critiques welcome!



Better Writer Day 12~ Finding Your Voice

Today's Challenge is an exercise in writing with one's own voice. The action step is to make a list of ten things that you are passionate about (that's the easy part!) and then choose one of them to write about. Tell why you are passionate about it, the story behind it, the ins and outs. My list wsa pretty quick to write up, and I could write long and hard about all of them. But one stuck out to me because I realized I hadn't really written much here about it. I am heartbroken for and deeply moved by the orphan crisis around the world.

Pure and undefiled religion before our God is this:

 to look after orphans and widows in their distress... James 1:27



God's call and His word are clear. We are to care for the fatherless and the oppressed. I think especially after I became a mom, I have had a deep-seated grief for the children in these positions... of having no one who calls them their own. I have prayed for orphans. We have sponsored a Compassion child for a long time. But I have never felt equipped to actually do anything about it. Have you ever fallen into the thinking that if you can't save them all it's not worth trying? I think a lot of us fall into that, the problem seems so big. But there are so many ways, little ways that we can help one. Love one.

Last year, actually around this time, I felt that God wanted me to pray for Uganda. It was strange and definitely God. I had never wanted to go to Africa. Other than our Compassion child in Kenya, I had no frame of reference for anything African. But I agreed to pray. And I dug in deep. It wasn't going away, gnawing at my heart, and I knew something bigger was unfolding. For months I prayed, just in my quiet, but without ceasing and truthfully without much action otherwise.

 

 

Then through a series of online events, I 'stumbled upon' (though we all know that Jesus-followers don't just stumble into anything, agreed?) Katie Davis' blog and her organization, Amazima. This momma's heart of mine was in awe of her ministry in Uganda. She has adopted 13 girls and cares for many, many more. She is Jesus in ways that are incredible. Through more research I saw that the organization Visiting Orphans was taking a trip to Ethiopia and Uganda in June of 2012. As I saw the trip and dates on the screen it was like the words came flying out and God said 'Go.'

 

 

So I'm going. This summer for two weeks, I will be joining a team on the ground in Africa loving on orphans and trying to be the hands and feet of Jesus. And I'm terrified. Because this is so awesome. And because I feel like I will be walking out in blind faith and obedience. ("What, God?! Raise a huge amount of money and go with a team of people I've never met to a far off place and love on some little ones?!") And Jesus wants to use me to be Him to these sweet children of His. I would love for you to join alongside me in praying for these precious, created in His image kids. Not just for my trip, but that God would be glorified and this crisis around the world would be ended.

I didn't really start this with the intention of making it a 'commercial', but if you would like to find out more about Visiting Orphans, you can go to their site- God is using them to do some awesome things around the world! There is also a place where you can donate or purchase items. (Shameless plug, if you would like to donate to my trip, please put 'Mandy Pfeiffer- Ethiopia/Uganda June 2012' with your donation or purchase. Thanks!)

Better Writer Day 6~ My perspective

Well, yesterday was a crazy day, so I missed posting the challenge. But I was thinking about it! The challenge was to write something from your perspective, something from your unique voice. Truthfully first thing in the morning I was stumped. The voices in my head were telling me that I'm not unique... 'just a mom'. But friends, I know those voices aren't from God and that is not what He says about me. So I pushed them and out and went about my day. But I still couldn't really think of anything that makes my voice on this page different from anyone else's.

My day yesterday was long. A long, drawn out day with an even longer to-do list. But after it had been put to bed (literally!), this morning I woke up blissfully looking back in deep thankfulness to a Great God, because I spent the stretched out hours doing exactly what He's called me to do.

I'm living in the sweet spot.

Thrive is the word He's given me for this year, and it's days like yesterday that remind me what I'm living for... Amidst the chaos, the feeling like I just may not get everything done, I handed it all to Him, and in His peace, I made the most of each moment. A couple of hours shopping for something that doesn't seem to exist, taking my girl to and from preschool, then nearly ten hours at my table making cookies. I chose to see it all in the light of His Presence and just do.

A sweet friend, home from college joined me for much of the afternoon. As I rolled dough and we made treats, we talked about life and laughed about boys and I stopped every once in a while just to thank Him that through this little bit of Housewifery life is shared at my table. Because I have sort of a mission statement, and that is it exactly: He has called me to pour into others as we gather in my kitchen, as we work these doughs and days with our hands.

Do you have days where at the end, though the hours are long and exhausting, you wouldn't trade a second because you know that you're sitting right in His mighty hand, right in the place He has for you? I'm praying that you do, lovelies! That you diligently seek Him and find His place for you~ that you can thrive there! And I pray that this perspective of mine wouldn't be unique to me, but that you too, through His renewing of your mind you will be able to discern His good, pleasing and perfect will! (Romans 12:2)

Better Writer Day 5~ First and Third

Happy Monday! I'm walking away from a busy weekend into an even busier week, but I'm hoping to keep up with these challenges at least until I leave for a conference on Thursday. Today's challenge is a fun one! We were given a picture and asked to write about it from First Person perspective and then change the story to Third Person about the same character. (Sorry, the picture has rights reserved, and I couldn't get it to paste, but you can see it here if you want to!)

~First Person~

I can remember this day like it was yesterday. It was one of those gorgeous, in between season days... the trees were still bare from a long winter, but we were able to shed our coats for a bit to take a walk into town. My brother, John, and sister, Hannah, were in their matching outfits as usual, and of course I had on my wildly printed knitted knee socks that mama made each year. That's me, in the middle. I smiled for the camera under the brim of my hat, though it felt like it took papa forever to get the picture taken. I can remember every time he'd say 'Smile!', I would wonder if my face really could freeze like that. We were on our way to the dime store to spend the last of our Christmas money on penny candy. The excitement of all the sugary sweets alone was enough to mark this occasion in my mind forever because it so rarely happened. We made our way into the tiny store, and the three of us rushed to the counter stocked with rows of glass jars containing mounds of glimmering treats. I can almost taste the peppermint sticks, my favorite!

~Third Person~

She could remember this day like it was yesterday. It was one of those gorgeous, in between season days... the trees were still bare from a long winter, but they were able to shed their coats for a bit to take a walk into town. Her brother, John, and sister, Hannah, were in their matching outfits as usual. She had on her wildly printed knitted knee socks that their mama made each year. That's Emily, in the middle. She smiled for the camera under the brim of her hat, though it seemed like it took papa forever to get the picture taken. Every time he'd say 'Smile!', she would wonder if her face really could freeze like that. They were on their way to the dime store to spend the last of their Christmas money on penny candy. The excitement of all the sugary sweets alone was enough to mark this occasion in their minds forever because it so rarely happened. They made their way into the tiny store, and the three of them rushed to the counter stocked with rows of glass jars containing mounds of glimmering treats. She could almost taste the peppermint sticks, those were Emily's favorite!

Hope you are off to a great start to your week! I am hoping to post a book review and a new recipe this week... See you soon!

Better Writer Day 4~ Sense of Tense

Today's challenge is to write one piece and change it to become each of the three tenses: past, present, and future. I am really enjoying these exercises, as much because it is getting me into the habit of writing each day as I am the actual things I'm writing.

Past: Yesterday's morning routine was much like it is every day. I got up around 5, which has been a habit I've been loving for the last few months. I didn't use my alarm, but rather felt this great nudging from God, and it was at the exact same time, to the minute, as it is most mornings. I loved this date with God! I prayed and studied for about 90 minutes, until I heard my sweet Remy's footsteps padding on the stairway. He came down for snuggle time, and we talked about the things I was praying about and what his day ahead looked like. These moments were precious to me, as I found a certain ease in his way. He was willing to talk, and I was more than willing to hear random six year old thoughts. Behind the sleepy eyes and wild bed-head was a mind that began working from the second it awakened. God entrusted me with such abundant blessings, and I was thankful He made me a morning person to enjoy them!

Present: Our morning routine remains much the same on each weekday. I get up around 5, which has been a habit I've been loving for the last few months. I don't use an alarm, but rather feel this great nudging from God, and it is almost always at the exact same time, to the minute. I love this date with God! I pray and study for about 90 minutes, until I hear my sweet Remy's footsteps padding on the stairway. He comes down for snuggle time, and we talk about the things I pray about and what his day ahead looks like. These moments are precious to me, as I find a certain ease in his way. He's willing to talk, and I'm more than willing to hear random six year old thoughts. Behind the sleepy eyes and wild bed-head is a mind that begins working from the second it awakens. God has entrusted me with such abundant blessings, and I'm thankful He made me a morning person to enjoy them!

Future: Our morning routine will remain much the same each weekday next week. I will get up around 5, which is a habit I've been loving for the last few months. I won't even use an alarm, but rather feel this great nudging from God, and it will be almost always at the exact same time, to the minute. I love this date with God! I'll pray and study for about 90 minutes, until I hear my sweet Remy's footsteps padding on the stairway. He will come down for snuggle time, and we will talk about the things I pray about and what his day ahead will be. These moments will be precious to me, as I'll find a certain ease in his way. He'll be willing to talk, and I'll be more than willing to hear random six year old thoughts. Behind the sleepy eyes and wild bed-head will be a mind that begins working from the second it awakens. God has entrusted me with such abundant blessings, and each day I'll be thankful He made me a morning person to enjoy them!

Better Writer Day 3~ Extrapolate

Photo courtesy of Mr. ThinkTank

Today's challenge is to write about the picture above. And the point is to focus, to focus on a small part of the bigger picture and draw a story from it. Extrapolate. Because so often our minds are spinning with ideas, content, and words that we can't pull out the story that we need to tell. I really like that word.



I'm thinking of the creative soul that must live in that third house on the left. You see it there? I remember a crayon from my younger years called 'Purple Mountain's Majesty', and I wonder who might live in a house so bold. And the turquoise trim and green yellow window? She's an artist, but not the painting kind- the kind who creates Life wherever she goes. And walking down this street, mother, holding hand of skipping toddler, carrying her canvas bags full of fresh picks from the farmers' market just around the corner, she's singing. Her silly song is about the rain falling on her sweet baby girls lashes as they carry their day's finds home to sort. You can bet that her littles will be out puddle-stomping just after school. That purple house and the family in it is life to a street like this.  I've lived near streets like this. I love the windows and the porches, places to gather, and the sweet popsicle-stained kids that run and laugh in the summer. Majesty house draws to it all the life and hands out lemonade... Life, like color, draws.

Better Writing Day 2~ a paragraph

Well, today's challenge is simply to write a paragraph or post. The idea is that the first draft isn't something that is supposed to be perfect, or it wouldn't be called a draft. So this paragraph will be reworked as we go further into the 31 days. I had a hard time thinking of what to write that I hadn't written before. Do I tell a story? Share some random thoughts? But here goes... I decided to pull some thoughts from my journal- definitely rough!

Psalm 37:3-4 "Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires." My Bible says that 'live securely' can also be translated 'cultivate faithfulness'. Isn't that interesting? This is such a rich verse, in light of that... cultivating makes me think of gardening... to work the land, patiently turning, waiting, getting it ready to grow things, then planting and waiting again. And therein lies the faithfulness... in the waiting, staying. Dwell in the land. Abide in Him and desire the things of the Lord. I find pleasure in Him and suddenly the things my heart craves are exactly the things that He pours out on my life with great abundance. It's an amazing cycle! So the question becomes: What am I cultivating? What kind of soil am I stirring up? As I look at my days, more and more are the things God desires aligning with the desires in my heart?

Better Writing~ Day 1

Allume is hosting a series for improving writing, and I decided to go ahead and post the assignments here for posterity's sake... Be gentle if you want to comment, haha. I'm always looking for ways to improve my writing skills (or lack thereof...). And if you want to join in, hop on over!

Today's Challenge is: Write five nondescript sentences. Look at them again and re-write them to show and not tell what was happening. Go over them one last time and pump them full of interesting and descriptive words to really drive your point home!

Simple Sentences:

1. Halle woke up happy.
2. My dog tracks in mud.
3. I found a great dress on sale.
4. That was a good recipe.
5. I hear birds singing.

Show vs. Tell
1. Halle got out of bed all snuggles and smiles.
2. My dog's annoying habit of tracking mud into my clean kitchen makes me crazy!
3. I'm so excited that I got a great deal on the perfect dress for Easter!
4. I tried a new pulled pork recipe for lunch, and not only was it simple to prepare, but it tasted amazing.
5. I love that as the seasons are changing, I can hear birds singing during my morning quiet times.

Spice it Up!
1. After a sound night's sleep, Halle came out of her room all snuggles and smiles ready to start the day. A well rested, singing toddler makes for a great morning!
2. Rueger, our precocious doberman, has a terrible habit of tracking mud onto my clean kitchen floor after his many hunting adventures in the backyard.
3. Imagine my surprise when I not only found the most perfect blue & yellow floral Easter dress in my size, but upon taking it to the register, I was told that it was on sale as well. Score!
4. After finding a recipe for Root Beer Pulled Pork on pinterest, my curiosity was peaked and I had to try it. Not only was it super simple and fast, but the flavor was amazing, and everyone in my family loved it!
5. I am reminded that spring is just around the corner, as every day during my morning quiet time the sun is rising earlier, and I can hear the songs of birds. They seem to be as happy as I am that the seasons are changing and warmer weather is on its way!

I've been thinking lately about why I write. Why I write volumes in journals that will never be seen by anyone but me and God. Why I write notes on napkins and gum wrappers. Why I write poems in my calendar and lists on receipts. I am a writer. I love the feeling of a Pilot G-2 in my hand (only the World's Greatest Pen, if you didn't know!) I scribble notes during sermons and phone calls and movies... God has given me words, and it's my responsibility to use them. Wisely. Carefully. Words can be life or death to a person or situation. That's a lot of responsibility, right?