I am a woman.
I am a wife.
I am a mother.
I am a writer.
I am a sister.
I am a daughter.
I am an aunt.
I am a friend.
Today, I'm also a nurse.
Kids don't generally like being sick - unless they get to miss a day of school. They like that. My son was fine after school yesterday, but as soon as evening approached, he got whiney.
I try to keep my son happy, yet well-behaved. I fussed at him for continuing to whine after I'd repeatedly asked him not to. I told him to whine in his own room. He started crying. I was frustrated.
I asked him why he was crying. He kept crying. I told him to stop crying. He kept crying. I was frustrated and annoyed. He stopped long enough to utter nonsense that had the word stomach in it. I asked questions and pressed his abdomen. Nothing he said made sense, except that his stomach hurt. We watched him whine and cry through dinner. He only ate a few bites of kiwi fruit.
All mothers can guess what happened next.
In just a few seconds, I graduated from nursing school. At the same time, I became a professional carpet cleaner. (Club Soda is mommy's little helper.)
Why is it that mothers have this enormous guilt when they look at situations through their 20/20 hindsight? I felt so bad for fussing at my son. I wanted to rewind and hold him on my lap instead of trying to make him go to his room for being so annoyingly whiney.
My kids are well most of the time, but when they feel bad I always want to know the details. There should be a panel a mother can open to see what her child's problem is. The hand on the forehead is good, but doesn't tell the difference between 101 degrees and 99.5. I need one of those diagnostic handheld devices I used to see on the USS Enterprise. I'd be using it whenever my kids exhibit strange behaviors, or if they're unusually cranky.
My son liked staying home from school. I gave him a cup of water and a popcicle, and then he was feeling much better. As a nurse, I give huge doses of tender loving care. It helps with the temperature-taking. In return, I get a little boy's smile and an invitation to play Guess Who.
I'm almost ready to put on my cab driver hat and pick up my daughter from school. I'll try to get a hug and call that a tip.
Work, work, work
Thought for the day: If you never practice the piano, you'll never play in Carnegie Hall.
I feel like a character in a book. I have a goal, but I also have conflict. In order to achieve the goal, I must push through the conflict. I have to work out a plan. I have to be desperate enough to keep at it until I suceed.
If my characters don't feel the goal is necessary, they fade into the page and become nothing. If the goal is absolutely necessary, they will do anything to achieve it.
I have to keep working at writing. I keep learning and applying. I try this and that until I find that plan of attack that is most effective for me.
I don't mind working at writing. I love writing. It's the juggling that gets me.
God has given me a wonderful family, but they take a lot of my time. I do a lot for them, and they give me some time for writing. But just taking off one hat and putting on another several times a day gets me frustrated. I know many writers do much more than I do in any given day, but that knowledge doesn't really help me. Everyone has challenges.
I have to forget what others are accomplishing and focus on my tasks. I have to forget that the dryer is buzzing and finish my sentence. I have to forget about planning a summer vacation and focus on now.
I know I'll suceed as a writer because I know God called me to write. But I'll never be the writer God wants me to be unless I work at it right now.
I feel like a character in a book. I have a goal, but I also have conflict. In order to achieve the goal, I must push through the conflict. I have to work out a plan. I have to be desperate enough to keep at it until I suceed.
If my characters don't feel the goal is necessary, they fade into the page and become nothing. If the goal is absolutely necessary, they will do anything to achieve it.
I have to keep working at writing. I keep learning and applying. I try this and that until I find that plan of attack that is most effective for me.
I don't mind working at writing. I love writing. It's the juggling that gets me.
God has given me a wonderful family, but they take a lot of my time. I do a lot for them, and they give me some time for writing. But just taking off one hat and putting on another several times a day gets me frustrated. I know many writers do much more than I do in any given day, but that knowledge doesn't really help me. Everyone has challenges.
I have to forget what others are accomplishing and focus on my tasks. I have to forget that the dryer is buzzing and finish my sentence. I have to forget about planning a summer vacation and focus on now.
I know I'll suceed as a writer because I know God called me to write. But I'll never be the writer God wants me to be unless I work at it right now.
Happy Valentines Day
Ahhh... February! The month of love.
Anyone that wants to be sweet doesn't have to wait for the month of love. But while it's February, let's focus on the moment.
Not all months get to have a color scheme. March/April (Easter)'s colors are the pale hues of beautiful spring flowers: the beauty of God's love. November's (Thanksgiving) colors are brown, orange, and red: the noticeable bright brilliance (orange and red) of God's love on the earth( brown). December's (Christmas) colors are red and green: true love and fresh new growth.
February gets to have red and white: true love and purity. White represents the purity of God's love, and red represents the true love of the Lamb of God who was destined to be crucified before He arrived as a man on the earth - and still He came to us.
In February, everyone gets a card or a verbal greeting of love. Grandparents get cards, parents get cards, school friends get cards, siblings get cards, teachers get cards, etc. If you don't get cards, you get greeted by people in the work force with Happy V Day. Everyone seems happy.
How often do we remember to send God some love notes? I've written out prayers to God and when I think about it, it seems silly. He knows what we're going to say before we say it. Certainly, He doesn't need to read a love note. But reading what I've said to God sometimes makes me remember all He's done for me and that reminds me to thank Him.
God doesn't need glitter glued to red construction paper, but He does want my heart.
Anyone that wants to be sweet doesn't have to wait for the month of love. But while it's February, let's focus on the moment.
Not all months get to have a color scheme. March/April (Easter)'s colors are the pale hues of beautiful spring flowers: the beauty of God's love. November's (Thanksgiving) colors are brown, orange, and red: the noticeable bright brilliance (orange and red) of God's love on the earth( brown). December's (Christmas) colors are red and green: true love and fresh new growth.
February gets to have red and white: true love and purity. White represents the purity of God's love, and red represents the true love of the Lamb of God who was destined to be crucified before He arrived as a man on the earth - and still He came to us.
In February, everyone gets a card or a verbal greeting of love. Grandparents get cards, parents get cards, school friends get cards, siblings get cards, teachers get cards, etc. If you don't get cards, you get greeted by people in the work force with Happy V Day. Everyone seems happy.
How often do we remember to send God some love notes? I've written out prayers to God and when I think about it, it seems silly. He knows what we're going to say before we say it. Certainly, He doesn't need to read a love note. But reading what I've said to God sometimes makes me remember all He's done for me and that reminds me to thank Him.
God doesn't need glitter glued to red construction paper, but He does want my heart.
Good News - Bad News
The good news is... my work in progress is going smoothly.
The bad news is... I still worry about it being less than superb.
The good news is... I've studied my craft well enough to write a good story.
The bad news is... I don't know everything about writing.
The good news is... I know that I don't know everything about writing.
The bad news is... I still don't know everything about writing.
Sometimes I catch myself going through the dismal joyless blues. Then, being the optimist in the family, I find something good to say in the midst of it. However when I stop at the bad news, it takes a little longer to get the cold engine of my optimism running again.
In school, I was the daydreamer. Our elementary school had nice large windows in all our classrooms. When the teacher lost my attention, it was usually because the wind was swinging on our swingset outside. It didn't take long for me to "see" children playing on the playground and imagine what each one would do.
The good news is... I had fun in school.
The bad news is... my mind was playing on the playground without permission.
The good news is... I graduated with my class.
The bad news is... I was totally clueless about which degree to get in college.
The good news is... I got my BSHE and my MRS.
The bad news is... the job I wanted was unavailable because the industry centralized and put the experienced workers out of a job.
The good news is... I got a job as a manager.
The bad news is... I worked in the mall.
The good news is... my husband got a great job.
The bad news is... okay, I can't think of any bad news after this.
That's what happens when I think of how God has changed my life. He has been with me from before I was born and has blessed me in and out of trials. No life is full of only good news. I love knowing that when the trials come, God is already there with a plan. What bad news can stand up to God??
The good news is... Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the Name above every name that can be named.
The bad news is... there are some in the world that don't know this.
The good news is... they will.
The bad news is... I still worry about it being less than superb.
The good news is... I've studied my craft well enough to write a good story.
The bad news is... I don't know everything about writing.
The good news is... I know that I don't know everything about writing.
The bad news is... I still don't know everything about writing.
Sometimes I catch myself going through the dismal joyless blues. Then, being the optimist in the family, I find something good to say in the midst of it. However when I stop at the bad news, it takes a little longer to get the cold engine of my optimism running again.
In school, I was the daydreamer. Our elementary school had nice large windows in all our classrooms. When the teacher lost my attention, it was usually because the wind was swinging on our swingset outside. It didn't take long for me to "see" children playing on the playground and imagine what each one would do.
The good news is... I had fun in school.
The bad news is... my mind was playing on the playground without permission.
The good news is... I graduated with my class.
The bad news is... I was totally clueless about which degree to get in college.
The good news is... I got my BSHE and my MRS.
The bad news is... the job I wanted was unavailable because the industry centralized and put the experienced workers out of a job.
The good news is... I got a job as a manager.
The bad news is... I worked in the mall.
The good news is... my husband got a great job.
The bad news is... okay, I can't think of any bad news after this.
That's what happens when I think of how God has changed my life. He has been with me from before I was born and has blessed me in and out of trials. No life is full of only good news. I love knowing that when the trials come, God is already there with a plan. What bad news can stand up to God??
The good news is... Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the Name above every name that can be named.
The bad news is... there are some in the world that don't know this.
The good news is... they will.
Happy New Year
I plan to have a great year. There's a lot of writing to do, so I'll be busy.
I did some writing on my year-end trip. Not much writing, but I was glad to make whatever progress I could make. We were in the car a lot. A lot.
We saw old family homes and drove out to my great-grandparents' old homestead. We saw the house where a different set of great-grandparents lived in town. My mom was born in their house. That house is now owned by my mom's cousin and is being restored to its original luster.
We saw patches of snow in Kansas and patches of burned grass in Oklahoma on our way home. I'm reminded of how much God has blessed me when I hear reports of people losing their homes to wildfires.
Everyone will eventually have a moment of sadness. When yours comes, I hope you are surrounded by love as my family was in our recent sadness.
I did some writing on my year-end trip. Not much writing, but I was glad to make whatever progress I could make. We were in the car a lot. A lot.
We saw old family homes and drove out to my great-grandparents' old homestead. We saw the house where a different set of great-grandparents lived in town. My mom was born in their house. That house is now owned by my mom's cousin and is being restored to its original luster.
We saw patches of snow in Kansas and patches of burned grass in Oklahoma on our way home. I'm reminded of how much God has blessed me when I hear reports of people losing their homes to wildfires.
Everyone will eventually have a moment of sadness. When yours comes, I hope you are surrounded by love as my family was in our recent sadness.
Change of plans
Don't you love Christmas? I do. I love preparing for over-nighters, dinner guests, and surprise visits. I love decorating, wrapping presents, and helping my husband with the meals. He bought smoked turkey and made an outstanding cheesecake.
This year we planned to have fourteen people at our house for Christmas. We bought food and spiffed up the house. We knew who would be sleeping in each of our beds and sleeper sofas - with kids on the floor.
Christmas is usually fun. But this year we had a tripple whammy.
My mom's cousin, on the mend from cancer, died of pneumonia during the holidays. After that, my grandma, 89 years old, passed away. A few days later, my mom's uncle died.
On December 26th, my family and I put our hats on and went to honor my grandma at the funeral. She was known for wearing hats in church and on many special occasions. Other than baseball caps, hats aren't generally worn in my hometown, so we stood out in church, as she sometimes did. She was used to getting compliments about her hats. We got a few, too, in the reception hall that day. She always said, "A woman should wear a hat."
We didn't have any guests spend the night at our house this Christmas. We took all our presents and food to my mom's on Christmas day. Even at her house, we had every bed and sofa filled, with kids on the floor.
We will drive from Texas to Arkansas for my great-uncle's funeral and then to Kansas to bury my grandma. It's a sad trip, but we'll be surrounded by loved ones.
When plans change, it's good to have God's love in the family.
Thank You, God, for Your peace.
This year we planned to have fourteen people at our house for Christmas. We bought food and spiffed up the house. We knew who would be sleeping in each of our beds and sleeper sofas - with kids on the floor.
Christmas is usually fun. But this year we had a tripple whammy.
My mom's cousin, on the mend from cancer, died of pneumonia during the holidays. After that, my grandma, 89 years old, passed away. A few days later, my mom's uncle died.
On December 26th, my family and I put our hats on and went to honor my grandma at the funeral. She was known for wearing hats in church and on many special occasions. Other than baseball caps, hats aren't generally worn in my hometown, so we stood out in church, as she sometimes did. She was used to getting compliments about her hats. We got a few, too, in the reception hall that day. She always said, "A woman should wear a hat."
We didn't have any guests spend the night at our house this Christmas. We took all our presents and food to my mom's on Christmas day. Even at her house, we had every bed and sofa filled, with kids on the floor.
We will drive from Texas to Arkansas for my great-uncle's funeral and then to Kansas to bury my grandma. It's a sad trip, but we'll be surrounded by loved ones.
When plans change, it's good to have God's love in the family.
Thank You, God, for Your peace.
Making Memories
Here it is... my birthday week.
This year I'm celebrating the birthday of Jesus - and my birthday - and twenty-five years with my husband.
He asked me out for our first date on my birthday twenty-five years ago, and somehow, we've been happily together ever since. We've been through our ups and downs and stayed together in ministry and in parenting. We've had our stressful moments and blissful moments. Through it all, love has been the bond.
Milestone moments are great times to remember who you once were and thank God for personal growth. Hopefully, as we get older, we get wiser. God gives us His wisdom, and then He gives us a family to keep us from thinking we're wiser than we really are.
I thank God for my family. They keep me laughing. I can't take myself too seriously because of them.
This week is my play time. The work gets done, but it's not really work when you're having so much fun. I'm hosting my family at my house this Christmas, and that by itself will liven up things.
The writing is on PAUSE this week - and maybe next week, too. It makes sense to cherish kids when they're small and family when they're here. I'm anticipating my joyful return to writing. But, for now, I'm seizing the moment and making memories.
This year I'm celebrating the birthday of Jesus - and my birthday - and twenty-five years with my husband.
He asked me out for our first date on my birthday twenty-five years ago, and somehow, we've been happily together ever since. We've been through our ups and downs and stayed together in ministry and in parenting. We've had our stressful moments and blissful moments. Through it all, love has been the bond.
Milestone moments are great times to remember who you once were and thank God for personal growth. Hopefully, as we get older, we get wiser. God gives us His wisdom, and then He gives us a family to keep us from thinking we're wiser than we really are.
I thank God for my family. They keep me laughing. I can't take myself too seriously because of them.
This week is my play time. The work gets done, but it's not really work when you're having so much fun. I'm hosting my family at my house this Christmas, and that by itself will liven up things.
The writing is on PAUSE this week - and maybe next week, too. It makes sense to cherish kids when they're small and family when they're here. I'm anticipating my joyful return to writing. But, for now, I'm seizing the moment and making memories.
The Sound of Words
I love to hear
the mourning dove's sweet wake up call outside my window,
the clink of a spoon in a mug,
the wind composing new melodies on the wind chime in the backyard,
the whine of a dog as his master leaves,
the steady rhythm of the jogger's feet,
the constant in and out of his breath,
the lapping of small waves on a sun-sparkling lake,
the whisper of the wind through the trees,
the crunch of dry leaves under old boots,
the crackling of the fireplace,
and the creak of an old recliner leaning back.
the mourning dove's sweet wake up call outside my window,
the clink of a spoon in a mug,
the wind composing new melodies on the wind chime in the backyard,
the whine of a dog as his master leaves,
the steady rhythm of the jogger's feet,
the constant in and out of his breath,
the lapping of small waves on a sun-sparkling lake,
the whisper of the wind through the trees,
the crunch of dry leaves under old boots,
the crackling of the fireplace,
and the creak of an old recliner leaning back.
Thanksgiving
I love being with my family at Thanksgiving. God has blessed me with a very loving family and many good friends.
There are many things for which I am thankful. Most of all, I'm thankful for God's patience with me. He's helped me develop a relationship with Him and He's taught me about Himself.
That relationship has helped me in other relationships. I've been able to see through the anger to the hurt beneath it in some people. I don't take things as a personal attack if God is able to make me see beyond the immediate emotion. If I allow God to guide me, I can speak words of peace. I can be used by God if I'll keep my eyes on Him.
God has shown me love and expects me to show His love to others.
I'm not perfect, but as long as I remember that God is my Teacher, I can continue to learn. I can have patience with others because I've seen His patience with me. I ask for patience from others because of my weaknesses and failures.
There is a situation in my family that has family members sitting at the edge of their chairs waiting for a happy resolution. We all want the hearts healed. We all want the rebirth of joy.
Other families have situations that call for a cover of love, a show of mercy, and a flood of patience. We all have moments when we must forgive or ask forgiveness. It is our job as God's people to go beyond who we think we are. We must be the people God created us to be.
We must reach beyond ourselves and allow God to strengthen us in our weaknesses.
This Thanksgiving, I thank God for letting me know that I'm not expected to do everything right. But I do have to do my best.
Thank You God, that You have invited me to have a relationship with You. Thanks for giving me the desire to write. Thank You for the love You've given me through my family and friends.
Have a happy Thanksgiving one and all!
There are many things for which I am thankful. Most of all, I'm thankful for God's patience with me. He's helped me develop a relationship with Him and He's taught me about Himself.
That relationship has helped me in other relationships. I've been able to see through the anger to the hurt beneath it in some people. I don't take things as a personal attack if God is able to make me see beyond the immediate emotion. If I allow God to guide me, I can speak words of peace. I can be used by God if I'll keep my eyes on Him.
God has shown me love and expects me to show His love to others.
I'm not perfect, but as long as I remember that God is my Teacher, I can continue to learn. I can have patience with others because I've seen His patience with me. I ask for patience from others because of my weaknesses and failures.
There is a situation in my family that has family members sitting at the edge of their chairs waiting for a happy resolution. We all want the hearts healed. We all want the rebirth of joy.
Other families have situations that call for a cover of love, a show of mercy, and a flood of patience. We all have moments when we must forgive or ask forgiveness. It is our job as God's people to go beyond who we think we are. We must be the people God created us to be.
We must reach beyond ourselves and allow God to strengthen us in our weaknesses.
This Thanksgiving, I thank God for letting me know that I'm not expected to do everything right. But I do have to do my best.
Thank You God, that You have invited me to have a relationship with You. Thanks for giving me the desire to write. Thank You for the love You've given me through my family and friends.
Have a happy Thanksgiving one and all!
Getting Active
In August, I wrote about my plans to start a regular practice of exercise. I'm reporting now that I'm currently involved in regular exercise.
No, I'm not jogging four miles each day. I'm not ready for that yet.
I'm walking twenty minutes to a friend's house, walking around her neighborhood, and walking back. It's approximately an hour of exercise for that day. Last week, I did a separate walk which brought my weekly total to one and a half hours of exercise. I'll try to maintain that schedule and gradually build on it until I'm satisfied with my new healthier body.
My daughter wants to join me on Friday mornings. I may try that in the next few weeks to see if I can keep up with her.
I'll report on my progress.
No, I'm not jogging four miles each day. I'm not ready for that yet.
I'm walking twenty minutes to a friend's house, walking around her neighborhood, and walking back. It's approximately an hour of exercise for that day. Last week, I did a separate walk which brought my weekly total to one and a half hours of exercise. I'll try to maintain that schedule and gradually build on it until I'm satisfied with my new healthier body.
My daughter wants to join me on Friday mornings. I may try that in the next few weeks to see if I can keep up with her.
I'll report on my progress.
The Seminar
Last weekend, I attended a writing seminar that really opened my eyes to some things. I loved it.
You know how a person can know something, and then it somehow sinks in and pops into place in that person's brain? Well, I had one (at least one) of those moments this weekend.
I write my way. I try to learn from others, but I have my own writing style. And I like it.
But if you stop what you're doing and look at it from a different perspective, you learn things. I could compare it to sitting on the opposite side of the church from your "normal" seat. Or maybe sitting on the opposite side of the dinner table.
People sometimes get in a rut, doing the same thing the same way. When you inflict change upon yourself, it shakes up the brain enough to have to sort out why you're doing it that way.
Change is good.
I've already sent a thank you note to Donald Maass and his staff for an enormously encouraging seminar. I just had to tell about it here so other writers (the few that don't already know) can know about his great seminars.
You know how a person can know something, and then it somehow sinks in and pops into place in that person's brain? Well, I had one (at least one) of those moments this weekend.
I write my way. I try to learn from others, but I have my own writing style. And I like it.
But if you stop what you're doing and look at it from a different perspective, you learn things. I could compare it to sitting on the opposite side of the church from your "normal" seat. Or maybe sitting on the opposite side of the dinner table.
People sometimes get in a rut, doing the same thing the same way. When you inflict change upon yourself, it shakes up the brain enough to have to sort out why you're doing it that way.
Change is good.
I've already sent a thank you note to Donald Maass and his staff for an enormously encouraging seminar. I just had to tell about it here so other writers (the few that don't already know) can know about his great seminars.
Thinking of God
I went to an awesome concert recently. I knew most of the songs already so I, like most in attendance, sang along with the performers most of the night. It wasn't a concert in the traditional sense: listen to the song and clap when the song is over. It was a church service in a large auditorium: people standing, hands raised, eyes moistened with emotion. The energy level in that place was great.
I believe this concert's goal was not to draw people to the performers, but to draw people to God. I felt like the whole room was leaning in to God, pressing in to His presence, asking to be closer to the God who is absolutely... Indescribable.
I want my writing to be like that.
When someone finishes one of my books, I want their first thoughts to be of the God who gives good gifts and who stirs up those gifts by His Spirit.
Praise, Glory, and Honor to God, for He alone is worthy.
And thanks, Chris. I enjoyed the concert.
I believe this concert's goal was not to draw people to the performers, but to draw people to God. I felt like the whole room was leaning in to God, pressing in to His presence, asking to be closer to the God who is absolutely... Indescribable.
I want my writing to be like that.
When someone finishes one of my books, I want their first thoughts to be of the God who gives good gifts and who stirs up those gifts by His Spirit.
Praise, Glory, and Honor to God, for He alone is worthy.
And thanks, Chris. I enjoyed the concert.
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