Writing: The Thinking About Edition

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Elizabeth

Today’s FMF post was something I mulled over throughout the day. I wrote and linked up last night and this morning had two very encouraging comments.
One was from a blogger whose personal blog I have subscribed to for several months, and for a few years on the (in)courage blog. She visited my blog because I left a comment on hers.
I didn’t realize how encouraging that could be. I have had several nice comments from FMF posts, but don’t have any real blog traffic. I’m just writing to write for now. All that to say that I need to comment more. I think it makes a difference. I know it did for me. Thank you, Kristen.
On a side note, along the thinking avenue, I’ve had a little extra time to think the last few days, as I am in the recovery process of minor eye surgery to repair a very lax muscle that should have been holding up one of my eyelids, but decided it would only do it’s job about half-way. It had been lazy for years, (my parents said it has always been that way), but has started giving out slowly over the last three or so. (What’s up with the 40s?)
Anyway, enough about that.
I would like to write more. My husband (The Blog Engineer) would like me to write more. I think there might be some correlation (thank you spell-checker thingy) between the amount I write and the amount I talk. As in the more, the less. Hmmm…
He is going to help me figure out the avatar/gravatar picture posting aggravation. But I will need to wait for a new picture. Maybe at the end of next week, I’ll post for fun some before and afters. Sleepy and hopefully not-sleepy eye. Don’t worry, no in-betweens. Not happening.
Ugh! I’m back on the eye topic. I guess having stitches can do that to you. 😉
Writing.
Thinking about writing.
I’m going to search through my old-has-not-been-touched-in-years writing file to see if the suggested profile questions from Mr. Glazier are in there. I would like to add some about faith and relationship to Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV, 1984)
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Just for fun:

My wee-est one walnut wrangling on Wednesday.

Five Minute Friday: Write

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Elizabeth

Write

Many moons ago, I minored in journalism, with a communications major, after deciding rashly that elementary education wasn’t for me. How funny that I now have my own little homeschool!

All those moons ago, I interned for a local magazine, then did grunt work (developed photos, gathered court documents, and wrote rarely) for a small business newspaper.
After that trying year, went back to the first magazine, as it was a much better atmosphere to try my hand at freelancing, as they specialized in what I have discovered is “my” kind of writing: profiles, which were basically mini-biographies. I even had a cover story way back then. Whoo hoo!
I felt unorganized with my time and writing an article or two a month, wasn’t making much income.
I guess I was afraid to say I was a writer and put myself out “there” to do the hard work of marketing myself and look for other publications.
Long on scared and short on perseverance and diligence.
So, I went to work for a not-for-profit, which I enjoyed and then came home to raise my babies.
The writing stopped, other than a Christmas newsletter here-and-there.
I wondered why I felt to blah about so many things. Homeschool burnout and hormones did a number on me and I needed an outlet.
The blog engineer, aka sweet Kyle, enjoyed the lengthy tome-like e-mails he received at work and bought a domain name for me. I still drug my feet.
After writing fairly regularly for a few months, I stopped this summer because it just didn’t feel right to write. I grew weary of writing about myself.
So, just this week, we have been tossing around ideas of people in my circles that I could interview and write about. I’m looking forward to it. Writing is such a good outlet and I would like to make it a ministry as well.
END
Disclosure: I re-set the timer for another five and finally stopped when the duck quacked for the second time.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV)
“4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.”

“No! No! No!” “Don’t Put Me On Your Blog!!!”

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Elizabeth

The Six Sibs and their Mama are enjoying Glen Allen, VA this week while The Blog Engineer works down the street from our Homewood Suites Hotel.
This morning we visited Crump Park, a Henrico County park.
Luke jumped into the bouncy animal and the blog title was his response to me grabbing my camera (aka phone). He was obviously in good humor about it and is honored (or should be) to be the subject of this post, after all, it was his idea!

He sees his mother with a camera. 🙂

Panicking as the photo shoot commences.

Realizing escape is futile.

Working toward freedom.

Finally!

The youngest brother Paul, who is NOT almost six-feet tall, waiting impatiently for a turn.

Psalm 126:3 (ESV)
The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.

After Attending My First Writing Workshop

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Elizabeth

So, today was the day. The learn day. The day I took the plunge and called myself a writer. I attended a “Writing To Publish” workshop that was held for the first time at our local homeschool convention, which begins tomorrow.

The workshop, (which I repeatedly referred to as a conference yesterday)–newbie oops 😉 was presented by Carol Barnier.

She has written several books and scores of magazine articles over the past decade plus. I have been reading her submissions to The Heart of the Matter homeschool blog for several years.

I was not planning to attend, because:
* I didn’t feel that I was on a track to publish anything.
*I couldn’t really justify the expense of a workshop when this writing thing is just a hobby.
*The workshop wasn’t covering “exactly what I thought I needed, which is creativity and writing encouragement.

I learned:
* Magazine article writing would be a great way to be published. (With lots of brushing up and practice.)
* My husband felt the expense was justified.
* Had the workshop covered what I really wanted, I would have been totally overwhelmed.

The conference was a great overview of the writing-to-publish process (just as the brochure promised). I had heard of queries, agents, book proposals, but didn’t know what they were and when they were required. Now I do. And I’m tired.

My three biggest take-aways:
* Don’t wait to feel inspired before I write. Just write. Regularly. It will help develop my “voice.”
* The thought-mapping exercise was so helpful. It made me think about myself, my experience, who I am, what I am living and how that can translate into potential writing assignments. (If I am led to go that route, still not sure about that.) Kyle?
* Everyone gets rejection.

Now, on to some organizing, scheduling of all things Heironimus, more writing and lots of prayer.

Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Before Attending My First Writing Workshop

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Elizabeth

Tomorrow, I will be attending my first writing workshop at the insistence of the Blog Engineer, aka husband Kyle. I’m feeling a bit anxious, as this will be my first conference since my working days way-back-when and I have not written anything for publication since before then. That’s a long time.

The workshop is really a mini-workshop, so that makes me feel better. Only three hours. Surely I can do that?
It will be led by a homeschooling mom who has authored several books and writes for Christian publications as well as a group blog that I have read for several years.

The main reason I hesitated to register (actually I will be doing that in the morning), are that it is geared for writing for publication and that isn’t my goal. Yet. Ever?
I have only written for a local magazine that was retired when the owners retired a few years ago.

Kyle is now making business cards for me to hand out. 🙂 He is sweet and so very encouraging.

This would qualify for the “learn” part of my blog title. Not homeschool learn, but ME learn. Yikes! Going out of my little comfort zone bubble.

More details tomorrow…

Joshua 1:9 (NIV 1984)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Cherished

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Elizabeth

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. That is like the one rule we all really care about. For reals.

This is my first time participating in Five Minute Friday. I have always chickened out before. The blog engineer is asleep, so the formatting may not come out perfectly, but I did all of the writing in five minutes. Thank you iPhone timer.
Here it is:

Cherished.

Do my children know that they are cherished. My husband and I work, sometimes better than others, to cherish each other, but I fear that my children do not feel cherished. Loved, yes. Cared for, yes. But cherished? Not so much.
Why? So many, so close, so overwhelming, so unorganized, so impatient, so imperfect, grumpy, lazy, etc. I simply have not taken the time to cherish them. Individually. I so want to change that. Things are better than they were. Definitely. But while I have the time, the short time that they are all still with us, I want to do better.
Psalm 127:3 says that children are a reward, a blessing, a heritage, depending on the version. I truly believe that, I just forget to act on it in the chaotic everyday of live.
Today was a reminder as I took my only daughter to the doctor for a “slight” case of pneumonia in the lower lobe of one lung.
I am reminded every day how fortunate we are to be able to care for our son with diabetes.
Six beautiful, unique, creative, wonderful blessings.
They are cherished.
Oh, they are cherished.
I am going to show them just how much.

Play dough, painting, Legos, deep, theological talks…whatever it takes.
Stop

On the bridge at Fassnight Park in early June.

(Photo added after I did the writing! )

Day 2: Find a Quote and Use it as Inspiration

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Elizabeth

Worry has probably been the biggest roadblock for me on our journey to living with diabetes and celiac.
I have often thought that if I had personally been diagnosed I wouldn’t worry nearly as much, but since it affects my boys, the worry increases ten fold by ten fold by ten fold, until some days I can have myself worked up, stressed out and fearful about their futures, especially for John, my medium-guy with diabetes.

I thought going to scripture and seeing what God has to say about worry would be helpful to me, and I hope others as well.

In my search for quotes and verses for this post I came across the blog whatchristianswanttoknow.com: Bible Verses About Worry: 20 Comforting Scripture Quotes.

As I read, I tried to put each verse in the context of our life with diabetes and celiac. For length’s sake, I chose the 10 verses or passages that stood out to me today.

Matthew 6:25 and 27 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

I will leave you with a few quotes about worry, from one past and two present Christian leaders. I hope they will bless you today.

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.- Corrie Ten Boom

Worry is the sin of distrusting the promise and providence of God, and yet it is a sin that Christians commit perhaps more frequently than any other.- John MacArthur

No one can pray and worry at the same time.- Max Lucado

Day 1: Why I Write About John and Luke’s Health

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Elizabeth

This is my first time writing for National Health Blog Post Month or NaBloPoMo on my baby blog. One of the choices of prompts for today was “Why I write about my health.”
I am writing about John and Luke’s health to hopefully encourage someone new on the journey to type-1 diabetes or celiac disease that their “new normal” is doable, difficult as it may be at times. Also, I hope to be able to bless someone that has been on one or both of these journeys for awhile. Being a parent of children with health issues can be tiring and lonely and I know that I appreciate any bit of encouragement or help that I can get.

Pray, Love, Learn

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