Works for Me...

WFMW

Wow! It's "Works-For-Me Wednesday" again. A friend of mine reminded me of a great idea I shared with her.

My four kids are always hungry, so how do I satisfy their hunger with nutritious treats without having to prepare them every 30 minutes or so? Glad you asked!

I have a drawer in my frig designated as the snack drawer. Every time I go shopping I toss in individual applesauce, granola bars, yogurt, gogurts, raisins, fruit cups, and carrots. Then when they whine, "I'm hungry mom." I tell them to get a snack from the snack drawer. I don't have to worry whether they're eating junk. My only rule is that they can't have the same thing twice in one day. If they did then all the "good" snacks would go quickly.

I try not to restock unless it's nearly empty because sometimes they'd rather eat granola bars instead of applesauce. Try freezing gogurts for a tasty summer treat! My kids love them!

And that's what works for me!

Works for Me...

WFMW

Okay, I've joined the followers of the "Works-For-Me Wednesday" crowd. I've gotten a bunch of great ideas. Now to implement them...

Here goes my first contribution. With four kids, keeping them hydrated is very demanding. Their preferred beverage is water, so when they are thristy I either have to stop what I'm doing to retrieve a glass of water or let them jump up on the counter to do it themselves. Neither option really appealed to me.

So several years ago I figured out if they all had their own water bottles stashed in the door shelf of the frig, it would save me the time and effort getting my little ones their water.

Disclaimer: This idea works great when the water bottles are filled! And if anyone has an idea of how to get the kids to remember to fill them consistently, I'm all ears.

Works for Me Wednesday

WFMW



Just click on the title for the WFMW tip!

Keeping Kids Hydrated Without Working Hard
Kid Friendly Snack Draw
Keeping the Kids Occupied During Long Car Rides
Filling Those Baggies
Backyard Fun
Summer Time Arts and Crafts Without the Mess
Baby Wipes are Not Just for Bottoms
Internet Help for Busy Bloggers
Your Local Library
Affordable Blog Design
Garbage Can Transformation
Dress Up Closet

Three Months and Counting...

Wow! I can hardly believe it's been three months since I worked on my WIP. For over a year I've been going at crazy pace, staying up past midnight writing, getting a babysitter on Friday's so I can write for a couple of hours, and then writing often times on the weekend, not to mention critiquing my critique partners work during the week and usually right after dinner and through bedtime. Sometimes I'd even forget about making dinner!I know my husband is really happy I help with bedtime now.

The longings and desire to write are less intense with each passing day. Sure, I'd still rather be writing than struggling with my kids to sit down and pay attention to a lesson, but there's no longer an ache in my gut or an itch to write. I know it will happen in God's time, and when I have an empty nest there will be plenty of time to write. So I keep telling myself. :)

Yet, I do have a fears. Fear that I will not be able to get back into my WIP when the time comes. Fear that if I do get a green light, I'll forget to slow down when the light flashes the yellow caution sign. Fear that God will want me to abandon my current WIP to work on another.Fear that I'm holding back in my complete obedience. Even though I'm not working on my WIP, this blog is still writing. Am I like King Saul who when God told him to kill everything, King Saul spared the pagan king and some animals for a sacrifice. Saul held back. Am I?

I admit sometimes I still stay too long at the computer and run to it before God, but the computer doesn't consume my waking moments like my WIP did. I also feel that through this blog I'm able to work out my spiritual journey and focus on God. Notice the verse of the day on this blog. That's for my benefit. A little reminder to get into the Word, even if I only have a couple of minutes to do it.

So do I have all the answers? No. Do I completely understand what God is requiring of me? Not really. But like Ronie Kendig pointed out in her interview, writing is therapy for her. It is for me to. Believe it or not, I'm an introvert. And we introverts need lots of alone/quiet time. Unfortunately, homeschooling doesn't allow for much of that so I try and steal a couple of minutes throughout the day on the computer. I just don't linger as long as I used to.

I also feel the Lord is telling me that this is a season on learning. Jesus didn't start his public ministry until he was 30 years old. Well, I'm several years past 30, but I still have a lot to learn in every area of my life.

God is calling me back to the orginal plan of why we decided to homeschool. To help our kids grow and mature in certain areas. The thought of trying to relearn some bad parenting habits is daunting, but I know as we all grow in our relationships with one another, God will offer lots of Grace and forgiveness.

I feel this is also a season of learning in my writing life. I started reading several writing books over the past year, but never finished any of them before I jumped into a new WIP. I'm a little scared to start reading these books again because I don't want to awake the desire within me to write before it is time. So I will proceed with caution.

When Jesus stepped out on his own at twelve, he wasn't ready for his ministry but went to the temple courts to learn. He sat among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. When Jesus' parents found him in the temple, they didn't punish him for stepping out, they gently rebuked him, and Jesus submitted to their authority and left the Temple. So that's what I will do as I continue on this journey. I will gently step out from time to time, making sure I'm still seeking God's direction, and if I'm led astray, I can only pray that God gently steers me back down the path He wants me to go.

Random Thoughts about Family & Writing

by Tricia Goyer, author, homeschooler, mom...
Reprinted with permission


Keeping "Family First" is tough when it comes to writing.

The hardest part is not getting frustrated trying to do it all! Sometimes I get impatient with my family when I have a deadline. Other times, I’m sluggish because I have to work when I want to be having fun with my family. It’s a tough balancing act.

Of course, my dedication to writing isn't all bad. When I first wrote, I did it while my kids were napping or after they went to bed. It was “my time” away from the cooking, cleaning, and diapers. Once the kids got older they had to learn that “mom had work too.” I wasn’t always there to entertain them. This actually turned out to be a good thing. As the kids got older, they knew how to entertain themselves. And since all three of them were home together every day, they were always busy creating forts or producing skits. They became best pals!Having kids who know how to keep themselves occupied is huge. I have a lot of friends whose kids need to be entertained. They have to have mom there, providing them with things to do or shuffling them from one activity to another. So in the end, my writing time has become a great benefit to my family.

I also feel it's beneficial for my kids to see Mom doing big things. It gives them confidence in their own interests. If mom can think up an idea, work hard, and produce a book . . . why can't they follow their dreams?My writing also expands my kids' vision. For instance, my kids hear me talk about my travels and/or the people I interview. Expanding our horizons and connecting with others become common place.

Then again, there is another person effected by my writing. My husband John has always been my biggest cheerleader. He believed in me long before anyone else. Even today he listens to my ideas and gives me great feedback. He’s put up with my trips (to writing conferences, speaking events, book conventions), and he understands when I sometimes get too carried away at the bookstore ($$$!).

Also, as I grow as a writer, I also grow in all areas of my life. I honestly feel I'm a better wife due to the lessons I've learned on this writing path. And personally, I feel I'm also a stronger person because of my path to publication. Writing has opened new doors for me, and it has helped me become more confident. Writing makes me happy . . . and a happy wife is a good wife and mom.

Also, I feel this career is in line with the Proverbs 31 woman. (Who can forget her?) Whether she was reality, or a mere symbol, who this woman was in Christ made the difference in all areas of her life. The Proverbs 31 woman not only focused on her family, she also used her creative talents for God’s glory . . . and her husband and children rose to call her blessed!

Also, as children of God, we NEED to feel like what we do fulfills our God-given dreams. These dreams matter. In my opinion, too many women pour so much into their families that they no longer feel there is any of “them” left. Even taking one small step, followed by another, helps us to feel like we're making progress in following God's dreams.

Of course, balance is everything. I’ve really had to learn when to stop for the day. I usually keep my writing to afternoons. My kids get my mornings (through homeschool) and my husband and family get my evenings. Once my husband’s home for the day, I’m around. I cook dinner and spend time in the evenings with him. I’m sure I could get a lot more accomplishing (writing-wise) if I turned everything over to him and ran upstairs for free writing time, but my marriage is too important for that.

I've also had to come up with "management tips" for life.

1. I plan all my errands for one or two days. Running to the store, post office, etc. everyday would be a BIG time killer.

2. I’ve trained my kids to take part in household chores. My oldest son does all the floors and trash removal. My youngest son sets and clears the table and puts the food away. He also cares for our pets and gathers all the dirty laundry. My daughter does all the dishes and keeps the kitchen clean. It’s great training and a big help for mom!

3. I hire someone to come in a clean for four or five hours every few weeks. It’s been so worth the cost—both for writing time and my peace of mind.

Balancing family and writing is never easy, but I try to keep my priorities straight. They old saying goes, “You’ll never get to the end of your life and say, I wish I would have worked more.”
Finally, my writing benefits from these priorities too. When it comes to putting words on the page, I just do it. Since I have kids I have to sit down and produce. There’s no letting my mind wander, no playing around on the computer. And I actually think that because of this I get a lot more done than others I know who have all day to write.My family is also my inspiration. They have shown me how to love, how to cry, how to rejoice. My writing would be flat and lifeless without those I love most.

What a timely blessing this post was for me! For more information and inspiration from Tricia Goyer visit her here and here and here. In the next couple of weeks, Tricia will return for an interview and as a guest blogger.

Refreshing with Author Rene Gutteridge

Rene, Thanks so much for agreeing to do this interview. I know you must be busy with all the new projects you’re working on. For the latest information on Rene's up coming releases visit her webiste www.renegutteridge.com

I’ve heard you speak several times, and your testimony of how you broke into the business has been a great encouragement to me. Can you share a bit about that ?

Not too many years ago I found myself pregnant with my first child, maintaining a drama ministry at my church, and trying to get a handle on the tremendous passion I had inside of me to write. I was seven months pregnant. I was tired of getting all the rejection letters. I was so confused, because I had this passion that I was certain was from God. Yet nothing was happening. Absolutely nothing. Or I would get really close only to fail. I was unsure, anyway, how I was going to balance all the writing time with a new baby.

It was a cold February night, around 3 a.m., when I rose from an already restless sleep. I got down on my knees in the middle of the living room, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. And I said, "I can't do it any more, Lord. I can't keep going to the mailbox everyday with my hopes up that there will be a positive letter from a publisher. I can't keep writing things that nobody will ever see. I'm done. I'm finished with it. If you want me to be a writer, then it's in Your hands. I know You can make it happen, but I can't." I rose, and went to bed.

That night I slept better than I had for years. Literally like a baby. And I felt a tremendous peace, I think mostly because I didn't feel the burden any more. I had convinced myself that God wanted me to be a mother, and that the sacrifice I was going to make to be a mother was my writing career.

Well, the rest is history. My son was five weeks old when I got the call from the publisher that they wanted Ghost Writer.

Wow! Everytime I hear that story I am encouraged knowing that God is the one who has to do the work, and all I have to do is hand my dreams over to Him. There is definitely peace in giving up that kind of control! I'm still learning how to walk in that peace.

Is there any advice you would give to young moms pursing publication who are feeling the weight of rejections?

Don’t give up! Every writer, mom or not, feels the weight of rejections. We often feel like, “Well, if I didn’t have to mess with the kids, this dream might happen for me.” Remind yourself that kids or no kids, God’s will is going to be done in your life. The writers journey is filled with rejection. If it were easy, everybody would be doing it.

You’re a mom to two small kids, a best selling author, and a wife. How do you do it all?

Some days I don’t do it all. Some days I’m on top of my game. I have a friend in California who keeps saying, “I look at you and I don’t see how you do it all.” I tell her, “No, you don’t look at me. You hear me over the phone. If you saw my house you would see I don’t do it all!”

I hear you! Add homeschooling to a writing moms life and you've got C.H.A.O.S. Can't Have Anyone Over Syndorme. I stole that from the FlyLady.

So, how do you balance everything?

Everything falls apart when I’m not close to God. I’ll go through a season where I put off my daily prayers and Bible reading, and I can feel it. My focus strays and everything comes unwound.

When do you write, and do you ever feel like you’re neglecting your children?

I don’t feel like I’m neglecting them. I spend a ton of time with them. I think it’s good for them to see me working, and I often explain to them how much hard work my husband and I do to make sure they live in a warm house and have food. As for finding the time, it’s what every writer must conquer: self-discipline. Whether or not you have kids, you still have to find that discipline.

There are plenty of things to take you away from the story. And it’s easy to do when the story isn’t moving like you think it should. It’s easier to go in and turn on Oprah or whatever. I write two hours in the morning and some on the weekends. I owe a lot to my husband, who is very helpful in this area. He watches the kids a lot.

How do you handle interruptions in your writing life?

I just roll with them. It doesn’t really break my flow. In fact, sometimes it actually helps! If I miss a writing time, I try to make it up, but I don’t panic. Kids get sick, cars break down, you just have to go with the flow. I’m getting better at this the older I get!

How do you get back into the flow of writing after you’ve been interrupted?

I basically just re-read the paragraph I was working on. It usually starts clicking. Long ago I had to abandon the idea that I can only write when I feel inspired. That’s a MYTH! You must write when you don’t feel inspired, which is most of the time! Or, like with me, inspiration hits when I can’t get near a computer!

How do you position yourself to HEAR God’s voice when all the noises of life are swirling around you?

I try to listen, all day long. I talk to God a lot, pray, trust Him to lead me the right way.

If you feel your priorities slipping, what do you do to get back on track?

Pray! Read my Bible! Pray! It’s the only way I’ve found.

Has there ever been a time God told you to set aside your writing to focus on other areas of your life? If so, how did you handle that?

Not really. This is my profession, it’s how I make a living, so it’s a part of my everyday life. Early on I gave up my writing dreams, before they even got started, to God. It felt so good to give it all to Him. My priorities can slip very easily, and I think if they got too messed up, God would take drastic measures. But so far, I haven’t had to put writing aside.

I’ve heard many published authors say that once they got published they lost their joy for writing. Has that ever happened to you?

Nope. There are hard days, really hard days. Sometimes I sit and wonder who in the world I think I am doing this writing thing. But I’ve never lost the joy. I’m working on my eleventh novel right now, and it’s as fun as the day I started.

I know God’s timing is perfect, but if you had to do it all over again in regards to being published and raising your kids, what would you do differently?

I think I’d be more laid back. I’m kind of tightly wound, a little high strung. But a lot of that part of my personality allowed me to the adrenaline to get through. I do struggle with stress, though. I like taking the world onto my shoulders and seeing how much I can hold. Not a good thing.

Rene, thanks so much for this wonderful glimpse into your life. You'r journey is an inspiration to writing moms everywhere.