Prayer Request for Lucas

Portrait of Prayer

I got this prayer request from a relative and thought I'd pass it on to all the wonderful prayer warriors out there.

Hi, I need a little help here. Could you put one of our soccer players was hit by a car the other day while riding his bike. He went through the wind shield of the car. It was a real bad accident. He came through surgery well, but has a long road ahead of him. He has five broken vertebrae in his back and now has a rod. He will be in a full body cast for two to three months. They are not sure what type of injury his brain has received or if any of it will be permanent. His name is Lucas Rand.

Thanks for the prayers!

The ABC Car Ride Game

Portrait of WFMW , Fun

We started playing this game in the car a couple of months ago, and I don't know why we haven't played it sooner! It's a great argument and back seat bumping diffuser, and even helps the youngest ones recognize their ABC's.

Start out looking for road signs with the letter "A". You can either have each child find an "A" or have one person find the "A" then move on to the letter "B." The problem with the second way is that the older kids almost always find the letters first. Keep it up intil you get to the end of the alphabet!

Today when my youngest two started to argue over something, I just said, "Can anyone find an "A?" They immediately forgot their argument and the game kept them busy all the way to and from picking up my older boys.

Even my 9 and 12 year old got into the spirit of the game!

Try it out, it just might work for you.

For more great tips check out Rocks in My Dryer.

Blog Envy

Portrait of Letting Go, Writing, Blogging

It just doesn't matter! It just doesn't matter! It just doesn't matter!

There I feel better now that I've got my priorities straight and know that it doesn't really matter how many people read, or comment, or link to me ! What matters is that I'm true to myself and the vision God has given me!

And anyway all my creative genius is tied up in a mystery novella because I'M WRITING AGAIN!

Still it's my birthday month and all I wanted was [slap] okay, I think I'll stop now!

Confessions of a Sinner Saved by Grace

Portrait of Faith, Forgiveness, Sin

Sometimes I feel like I'm just dripping with sin and no matter how God sees me and forgives me, I will never get that unconditional forgiveness from the ones I have wronged.

Sometimes I step outside myself and see myself behaving horribly, and I don't have the power to stop it.

Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed and question my abilities as a mom, homeschooler, wife, writer and just want to quit trying.

Sometimes I'm afraid to look at myself in the mirror for fear that I'll be the same as I was yesterday.

Sometimes I feel so hypocritical as I talk the talk (very loudly I might add), yet stumble and fall on my face as I walk.

To all those I have wronged and offended in my life and for those to come, I am truly sorry.

All the time God forgives!

Monday Party Game

Portrait of Fun, Contests

Okay, who wants to play! I thought it would be fun to make up a story about "ME!" I know I could really get in trouble with this, but hey, I can always DELETE your comments! [insert evil laugh HERE]

So here it goes...I'll start the story and then YOU'll continue the story in the comment section. Then at the end of the week, I'll post the entire thing! And remember this is fiction and a family friendly blog!

[swallowing hard!] Ready... here we go.

Gina's heart thudded against her ribs. The noises in the dark grew louder by the second. She wiped the sweat from her brow and checked the review mirror. Suddenly she slammed on her brakes and gasped. Fear chocked the breath from her lungs. There in the road...

Gotta Love Grace

Portrait of Grace, Fun


Just a glimpse of what I've heard from my princess this last week:

"Please or please. I'll give you twenty dollars when I grow up!"

I touched Jedi's little ballies. Eeww! Do I have to wash my hands? Eeww, Bleck! Do I have to wash my hands three times?"

After riding a real camel at a church's Family Fun Night on October 31, Grace runs up to me and says, "I touched the camel's BIG butt!"

While on a nature walk around the neighborhood, I made up a song to the tune of "who are the people in our neighborhood..." Instead I changed the words to "What are the leaves in our neighborhood?" Grace joins in with her own song and tunejumpingng over bird poop in the street..."

Grace is playing in her bed. She should be sleeping, but instead I hear this..."You're a butt head! Na na na na na na! They're coming! Attack."

And on a morsolemnem note, today the bad guys were nailing her three princess Barbie dolls to the cross. But don't despair, the Rescue Heroes came and pulled out the nails.

Have I mentioned this kid is hilarious!

And The Winner is...

Portrait of Contests, Books

Jennifer at Snapshot. It was really close between Beck and Jennifer, but Jennifer pulled it out in the end.

Your choice of books...

Troubled Waters by Rene Gutteridge (Women's fiction)

Dark Moon by Alton Gansky (suspense)

Distant Echoes by Colleen Coble (Romantic Suspense)

Send me your mailing address and I'll try to get it out on Monday!

Thanks to EVERYONE for their comments and questions!

Prodigal or the Other Brother?

Portrait of Faith, Forgiveness, Sin

Which one are you? Are you the prodigal who after demanding his inheritance from his father went out and squandered it all on "wild living." Or are you the older brother whose jealousy consumed him when the prodigal returned?

I identify more with the older brother, and ironically my sister is the prodigal. But in God's eyes we're both the same.

This is how I started this post a month or so ago, and I was going to share on how God sees our sins all the same, and welcomes everyone back into the family who repents, no matter what they have done. Though the message would have been sound, today at church the pastor took the story of the prodigal one step further and I was blessed and enlightened. This is what I got out of it…

Today at church the pastor talked about the recent fall of a prominent Christian leader and how the rest of the Christian community has a choice to welcome the prodigal back home for healing and restoration, or stand in the cross roads, judging and condemning him.

What was especially heart warming about this sermon was that my pastor spoke from “fallen” experience. Though his sins were different, his brokenness was similar. He touched on the fact though God sees sin as sin, there are those sins that truly devastate a person and leave him wallowing in the muck and mire of condemnation and despair. Though God welcomes this type of sinner back into the fold, this type of sinner really needs restoration, not condemnation.

He posed this question. What if the other brother had met the prodigal in the road before the father? Since I identify with the other brother, I can imagine what would have happened.

There would be an “I told you so”, some blaming mixed in with condemnation and the prodigal would have slumped off, defeated back to the pig pen. I’m so glad the father met him on the road first!

When my pastor was contemplating what to do with his life after his “fall” and the stepping down from his church he remembers thinking going back into the ministry wasn’t even possible. “I feel so unworthy of the ministry,” he cried out to God. God replied, “when were you EVER worthy?”

What a powerful message! It is because of God’s great mercy and grace, that we are able to serve him freely, and when we start looking to ourselves, that's when we are destined to stumble.

I really needed to hear this message. It doesn’t have to apply to just our fallen leaders, but it can apply to our everyday lives. Too often I judge and criticize my children when I should be welcoming them back from their mistakes with open arms. I expect too much and when the fail I say "I told you so." Instead of slinging muck in their face like the other brother, I need to be more like the father who rejoiced that his prodigal had come home and welcome them with open arms.

My First Delurking Question

Portrait of Fun, Me

Received my FIRST question from a lurker! Thanks Susanne for coming out!

Question: No holds barred what would be your favorite thing to do on a date with your hubby!

My Answer:

Date? What's that? Sheesh, we used to go on weekly dates way back when we had a couple of kids. Funny you should ask though, we just started "dating" again. So to answer your question, I love going to restaurants. Just to have someone else cook for me is a treat. We've tried things like bowling and playing pool, but we both tend to get competitive, so I avoid those kinds of dates. Give me a quiet dinner and a movie, or a stroll with an ice cream come and I'm happy.

Now if money and time was NO object, I'd opt for a week long vacation in Hawaii lying on the beach, scuba diving, snorkeling, seeing the sites. We did that nine years ago and it was the most relaxing "date" we've ever had.

Sorry, my answer is so boring. I just can't even remember what there is to do on a date! I'm open to suggestions. Just make it quick, I think we're going out tomorrow night!

My Birth Date

Portrait of Birthdays, Me

Since this question has come up several times already, I thought I should post on it.

I've been reluctant to post my "real" date (thus the month long celebration)because our family is slightly paranoid concerned about identity theft and we're trying to keep as much sensitive information private. My husband actually had his identity stolen once, but thankfully it was cleared up in a relatively timely manner. Though I've known friends to have their assets frozen for months and sometimes years, due to identity theft.

So in the spirit of my new mystery anthology I'm writing, I'd like to keep the date a mystery. I'll answer almost any question as truthfully and honestly as I can EXCEPT for those questions that have potential to come back and bite me in the.... well you get the idea!

BTW, thanks for ALL the comments and Beck is catching up! She now has 6 and Jennifer has 9!

Come Out, Come Out Where Ever You are!

Portrait of Fun

It's delurking day in honor of my birthday month. So don't be shy! I want to meet you! If you want, you can simply introduce yourself! Or you can ask me a question, and I'll answer them in my posts this month.

So what are you waiting for? Hit the comment button and join the party!

Book Contest Tally

Portrait of Contests, Books

Jennifer leads the pack with 9 comments!

Beck is next with 3!

Come on guys, that's not even close!

Operation Christmas Child

Portrait of Christmas, Giving



Last year we missed this and we usually do it every year. This year we have our boxes almost stuffed full, and all we need to do is make the cards and get them to the drop off center 1/2 a mile away.

The collection deadline is from November 13-20th so I think we'll make it. And it's not too late to fill your own shoe box or two. This year I got a great idea from Mary at Home-Steeped Hope. She uses plastic shoe boxes and so will we this year! This is such an awesome way to start off the Christmas season! Let me know if your family plans on participating.

Homeschool Record Keeping

Portrait of Homeschool, WFMW


This FREE program has revolutionized the way I keep homeschooling records. I can't remember if I discovered it on a WFMW, but it's well worth mentioning again.

The past couple of years, I bought those spiral notebook type daily planners that all the school teachers have. No design really fit my needs, but I used them anyway, scratching out subjects and scribbling over dates. This year I designed my own daily planner on the computer, one that would fit my needs, but then I found this.

It's a homeschool record keeping program that will work with any commando planner or unschooler. In less than an hour I walked through the set up program, and was able to add my four students and get a feel for the program.

We've been using it for two months now! I rarely preplan their lessons, but what I do is use the tracker as a record keeper of what we've studied. I especially love the reading log feature where it records all the books my kids are reading and the copy feature so I can duplicate a lesson or book to my other kids' log with just a click of a button.

I know there has to be some homeschoolers still using the archaic method of record keeping, afraid of the technology learning curve, but it wasn't that difficult and it will save me tons of time while keeping my records neat and orderly.

Give it a try! And don't forget to back up your homeschool records. A couple of weeks ago I thought I lost 55 days of record keeping! But the computer guys found it!

For more great tips check out Rocks in My Dryer.

Running Tally on Comment Contest

Portrait of Books, Contests

Jennifer 6 comments

Twiga 1 comment

Laura 2 comments

Beck 2 comments

Tina 1 comment

Heather @L'Chiam 1 comment

Come on people! Where's your spirit of competition! Did I mention you get to choose from these three books...

Collen Coble's Distant Echoes

Rene Gutteridge Troubled Waters

ALton Gansky Dark Moon

Grace is Having Bladder Issues

Portrait of Grace, Fun

I don't know if it's all the caffiene she ate yesterday from all the candy, but she's frustrated because she's had to go several times this morning! (I have similar issues with caffiene and going, so I'll have to watch to see if it's hereditary!)

So to help her frustration I've come up with a couple of ditty's I'd like to share since it is my birthday month!

Sung to the tune of Let is Snow!
(This one was inspired when Gracie said, "mom, there's pee inside my body again!")

Gracie has to go to the potty, because there’s pee inside her body! Please don’t fret so, Let it flow, let it flow, let it flow!

Sung to the tune of Who Let the Dogs Out?
(Inspired when Gracie complained about having to go to the potty again!)

Go, Let the pee out! (sound affects) Go Let the pee out! (repeat until the pee is out or the song gets too darn annoying!)

Hey, It's my Birthday...Month

Portrait of Birthdays, Me

And I'm throwing a party here at Portrait of a Writer...Interrupted all month. There'll be fun give-a-ways, challenges, de-lurking parties, invite a friend day and so much more. (If you have any fun ideas, let me know!)

So join the party and spread the word!

Among some of the other festivities, I'll be giving myself a blogging break and posting oldies in between the goodie bag surprises and giveaways...

If you'd like to get me a present, here are some of the things I want for my birthday.

Leave me lots of comments!

Tell a friend about Portrait of a Writer...Interrupted who doesn't already read.

Tell me why you keep coming back to my blog!

Subscribe to this blog! :)

Link to me at least once this month.

So are you ready to party? Here's the first surprise give-a-way! I'll be scouring my book shelf this week to see what gently read books I can part with and the winner at the end of the week is the one whose's left the most comments! You can comment on old or current posts because they all come to my inbox. I will give a running tally throughout the week to motivate those competitive people, then tally the winner on Saturday, announce on Sunday and hopefully mail out on Monday.

My Book's Here!

Portraits of Books, Me, , Writing, Publishing

I just received an email from a lady who said she went to pick up a copy of "Anytime Prayers for Everyday Moms," a book she worked on and she saw my name! I guess we worked on the same book! Hope I can recognized my own prayers!

I have been waiting over a year for this to come out and was told it'd be a couple more months. I think I wrote about 30 prayers in it. I'm so excited it's here just in time for Christmas!

I'm headed to amazon.com right now to see if it's there!

I think this is it! But since there is "no author" and my name is probably teeny weeny on the inside, I'll have to wait and see to make sure!

Taking the BOO out of Halloween andFocusing on the Light of the World

Portrait of Holidays, Halloween, Jesus, Faith, Sin Forgiveness

I wasn't even going to post on Halloween until I read this post. And I'm not going to get into the pagan history of the "fun" holiday because if you want to get picky about things, even Easter has pagan origins, but I am going to share with you a Godly alternative to pumpkin carving.

The Pumpkin Gospel

Open with prayer and share "Every Halloween, people carve pumpkins to make jack-o-lanterns. We're going to carve a pumpkin too, but our pumpkin is going to teach us about the Gospel and God's promise of heaven.

Theme: We become a new creation when Jesus comes into our hearts.

Supplies: Pumpkin, large bowl, newspapers, sharp knife, spoon, candle, matches, Bible

Activity: Cut an opening in the top of the pumpkin and have your kids pull out the seeds and scrape the inside of the pumpkin while you read Matthew 23:25-28 and Revelation 3:20

Ask: How is the stuff we pulled out of the pumpkin like sin in our hearts? (They're both yucky, sticky...)

How is the way we cleaned out our pumpkin like the way Jesus cleans us out when we confess our sins?(Jesus scoops the yucky stuff out, etc)

Draw a happy face on your pumpkin, then carve it out. When your pumpkin has a happy face read 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Ephesians 2:10

Ask: How have we made this pumpkin a "new creation"?

How do we become new creations when Jesus comes into our hearts?

Share: When Jesus comes into our hearts, we become new creations, just as our pumpkin has become a new creation. Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Read aloud: Matthew 5:14-16. Then light a candle and place it inside the pumpkin. Turn off the room lights and have everyone stand or sit so they can see the light coming through the pumpkin's face.

Discuss how God wants our light to shine before others. Read 2 Cor. 4:6

Ask: How is the way the candle light comes through the pumpkin like the way God wants our light to shine?

This can be a wonderful way to glorify God on this day and olders kids can help read scripture while the younger ones will have fun learning the Gospel in a way that will stick with them forever.

If you do this, please come back and let me know how it went!

The Other Blog

Portrait of Writer...Interrupted

I'm working on some new posts, so in the meantime check out what's happening at my other blog. Even if you're not a writer, or DON'T want to be one, you'll find inspiration for your faith walk, and encouragement for life in general.

Button Help Needed

Portrait of Carnival of Christian Writers

In anticipation for the new Carnival of Christian Writers, I've been wanting to make a button, but my button know how is soooo limited, well actually it's nonexistent!

So if any of our readers (or relatives or friends of readers) know how to create one and would like to help, drop me an email! I know exactly what I want, but don't know how to do it!

My Post is Missing!

Portrait of Blogging, Letting Go

Don't you hate it when Blogger loses your post! This has only happened to me once or twice and you'd think I'd learn by now to draft in Word, but yesterday I thought I posted without a hitch. But I can't find my post anywhere. I guess I'll have to rewrite it, but the emotion and energy for that particular piece isn't in me right now, and I probably won't get it back.

I've been thinking of switching to Wordpress, but I'm a little concerned about how transfering my entire blog, comments and all, will work. Have you switched from one to the other? If so, please leave a comment and give me the scoop, or email me! I'd also like to know honestly what you don't like about Wordpress!

Oh well, like my previous post stated...The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. I better go check on the kids who are supposed to be doing their morning work. I have a feeling that they've gone awry!

If You Give A Writer A Laptop

Portrait of Writing, Fun

Reposted in honor of the FIRST Carnival of Christian Writers Don't forget to check out the rest of the carnival! You're in for a wild ride!

by Gina Conroy
based on "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff

If you give a writer a laptop she’ll want a cup of coffee before she writes. She’ll go to the kitchen to make herself a pot and realize she drank it all yesterday.

She’ll reach for her purse and realize she can’t find her keys. She’ll dump the contents of her purse onto the table and find her lipstick. That will remind her that she doesn’t have any make-up on, and she’s still in her pajamas. So she’ll splash a little color on her face and pull on her favorite jeans.

Bending over to tie her sneakers, she’ll split her pants and realize she’s gained more than a couple of pounds. She’ll throw on her sweats and decide to jog to the coffee shop since it’s just a couple of blocks away.

As she’s jogging down the street she’ll see a paper sack and clothes scattered in the road. She'll stop. Her writer’s imagination kicks into high gear (unlike her slow jog), and she imagines a kidnapping gone awry, a teen runaway falling off the back of a truck she just hitched a ride from, or an angry housewife kicking her cheating husband out.

As she stoops down for a closer inspection, she’ll notice a wallet. Seeing the empty wallet will remind her she was on her way to get some coffee. And chances are if she reaches into her pockets for her money, she’ll realize she spent it all on the laptop.

Wordless Wednesday: Who's YOUR Hairdresser?

Portraits of Wordless Wednesday

The Best-Laid Plans of Mice and Men...

Portraits of CWO, Meme, Me, Quotes

Often Go Awry.

"Has someone seen the life I planned?
It seems it's been misplaced
I've looked in every corner
It's lost without a trace..."
~ Beth Moore~
From the poem: "The Life I Planned "

Do things always turn out the way we plan? I don't think so.

I dreamed a lot when I was younger of finding love and having the perfect kids. Is it anything like I thought? Yes and no.

It's tons of more work than I ever dreamed, and extremely challenging most days. Many times those I love bring out the worst in me. Why? I haven't totally figured that out yet.

Maybe it has something to do with this quote. Maybe growing up in dysfunction made me have unrealistically high expectations about motherhood and marriage. I didn't really have great examples of either to follow in my life, so I made up my own idealistic view of what each should look like. The reality is, it looks nothing like what I had planned it would be.

But the good news is God can make it even better than I imagined! So as I plug along doing the best I can at this season in my life, I'm trying hard not to plan my future. Because in the end, God is the one who orders my steps. All I have to do is follow where He leads.

My First Rejection!

Portrait of Rejections, Carnival of Christian Writers

Well, it's a half-truth, (my kids and I have been studying when Abram told a half-truth to the pharaoh of Egypt saying Sarai was his sister which was true, but she also was his wife.) We had a great little discussion on whether a half-truth is REALLY a lie, and if we speak against the truth are we speaking against Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life?

But that's not the reason for this post. Though I've received many, many rejections in my writing life, this month I had to GIVE my first rejection. I never thought I'd have to sit down and write on of those emails that start like this...

Thank you for your submission, unfortunately it doesn't meet the criteria for our writer's guidelines...

Have you figured out what I'm talking about yet? It's a rejection letter for the Carnival of Christian Writers. While many people sent in wonderful and thoughtful posts, they were not about writing, the craft of writing or the struggle with writing, etc.

So you still have a chance to submit. Check out this link and send your post today! Only five more days until our very first Carnival of Christian Writers!

And don't worry, if you stick to the guidelines, chances are you WON'T get a rejection letter...from me!

Crossing My Fingers

Portrait of Writing, Laptops

I finally got my laptop back and it's been great using my hubby's old one at home, but mine had certain things to help me get where I needed fast...like having my bloglines and my.delio.us in the tool bar section! (Confession: I haven't checked my bloglines in almost two weeks!)

Now I have to reconfigure all that, but what I'm really praying about is all my homeschool data will transfer. I'm booting up the computer now...

NaNoWrMo

Portrait of Writing

I'm hinking of doing this for my 20,000 word novella I'm plotting now! How abhout you?

Pen Names

Portrait of Writing

I've been toying with the idea of a pen name for years and want your input. I've noticed that most published writers in the CBA use their real names and seem to give out sensitive information about their kids and where they live right on the book jacket. I'm just curious as to why? Maybe I'm a little more paranoid cautious, but a pen name seems like it'd keep away many unwanted problems.

So what do you published and nonpublished writers think? What do you use and why? And why do you think more writers don't use pen names? It seems like in this day and age, that would be the practice and not the exception.

Since I'm not published I feel I still have a choice and want to make the best one for me and my family. So let me know what you're thinking!

Exploring God's Glory

Portrait of Faith, Experiencing God

God’s glory. His holy presence. It’s something so many people desire. But are they really ready for it?

In the Old Testament many prophets experienced God’s glory, and it wasn’t how many Christians today imagine it to be. Most often when God entered a place, the ground shook, the Temple filled with smoke and people fell down in fear.

Isaiah was no exception. When struck with the presence and glory of God, Isaiah cried, “Woe to me! I am ruined for I am a man of unclean lips.” He recognized the awesomeness of and the sinfulness of his soul.

What would happen if we were met with the presence of the Holy God? Thankfully, God will look upon us and see the blood of his son, but still the presence of God changes people.

Thoughts on Experiencing God’s Glory

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “We, with unveiled faces, all reflect the Lord’s glory and are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory…”

I want to be like Jesus, but I’m so far from looking anything like Him. On some days I really wonder if there is any resemblance and if He’d recognize me as his child.

Presence brings purification.

Maybe that’s my problem. I’m not changed because I don’t sit long enough in the presence of the One who can change me

Dwight Edwards says this “Nothing so invigorates our souls, so ravishes our hearts, so diminishes our anxieties, and so ennobles our existence as being supremely preoccupied with God’s greatness and presence. This is what you and I were made for.”

So how do I find the time to sit in God’s presence and absorb His glory when I’m surrounded by “stuff” to do and people to take care of? We all can’t be monks or nuns, called to hours of isolation and communion with God. So how can a normal person, a busy, stressed-out, exhausted mom experience the glory of God in her daily life? I’m still trying to figure out this answer.

Father, I want so much for your glory to be present in my life, especially in my home and parenting. Help me find the time and desire to spend it with you so I can be filled with your glory so others will be drawn to you.

One Reason I LOVE Homeschooling

Portrait of Homeschooling

We're working our way through the states, learning the basic facts like the capital cities and each state's nickname. Where also reading lots of fun books on the each state.

This week we're in Maine and our focus has been on lighthouses. We've learned about the true story of a young girl named Abbie who kept the lighthouse burning during a terrible winter storm while her father was away.

We got the Reading Rainbow version of the book on DVD and Lavar took us on a tour of a lighthouse and then read a book I had in my to be read pile. The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge was set in NYC, so I had tucked it away for another day when we studied NY. But after seeing it on Reading Rainbow we decided to read it together.

It was a sweet story about feeling needed but the best part came at the end when the author said "And every day the people who go up Riverside Drive in New York City turn to look at it (the little red lighthouse.) For there they both are- the great grey brigde and the little red lighthouse. If you don't believe it, so see for yourself!

So that's just what we did. We searched Google Earth and SAW the little RED lighthouse! It was so neat to be able to make a story come alive and actually SEE something right in my pajamas in the comfort of our home.

And that's one of the reasons I love homeschooling!

Time to Make the Salad?

Portrait of Fun, Parenting

Remember that old Dunkin Donuts commercial where the chubby man would shuffle into the store, eyelids heavy, and then he'd drone "Time to make the donuts?" Well, substitute salad for donuts and put my face on his, and you got the enthusiasm I feel about making the pre-dinner greenery.

Growing up it was my job to make the salad. It was a job I hated. I guess it was all the chopping or something. Though I LOVE to eat a good resturant salad, to this day I still hate to make salad. That's why I seldom have it for dinner at home.

But there is another reason my family doesn't eat salad at dinner. I can't make it. Sure, I can cook a three course Italian meal without blinking and eye, but when it comes to salad mine just never turns out right.

I'm trying to figure out why and here's a couple of reasons I come up with.

1. By the time I get around to making salad, it's wilted and old.

2. After I thouroughly wash my salad and use that salad spinner, my greens look like they've been through a hurricane. All wet and wilty.

3. I never have enough good salad extras in my refrigerator. Sure I buy tomatoes and peppers and cucumbers, etc. But by the time I get around to making salad they're wilted and moldy.

So why can't I make a good salad? Any ideas or solutions.

I've tried buying those READY TO EAT THOUROUGHLY WASHED pre packaged types, and I seem to have the best luck with those when I eat them before the experation date. But sometimes I get the idea that I SHOULD wash it anyway, especially with the E Coli scare, and when I do I get wet wilted leaves! YUCK!

So what's a salad lover to do? I guess if I can't figure this out I'll just have to keep ordering salad out. At least I won't have to make the salad!

Wordless Wednesday

Portrait of Fun


I planted these wild flowers in the yard and my husband wasn't thrilled. Now he's so excited about his five foot+ Marigold he's taken a photo of it and was even on the local news!

My Flabby Flesh

Portrait of Faith, Friends

No, I'm not taking about the extra baby fat I can't seem to get rid of. I'm talking about the lazy, selfish part of me that gets tired of doing the right thing. Well, I'm glad I didn't listen to my flesh yesterday because my obedience really blessed someone in need.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up Galatians 6:9

I have a friend with Cerebal Palsy whom I have helped care for in college and on occasion over the last six years. In college she was very mobile in her wheelchair, but for the last 7 years she's been bed ridden due to an wheellchair accident, no fualt of her own.

Most times meeting her needs is inconvient, other times it's just plain hard to drag myself away from my homeschooling, raising four kids, writing routine. I often have to drop what I'm doing to help fill an immediate need.

On Sunday our family was going to visit her in the hosptial, but I didn't feel like it. It was raining and bringing the kids is never fun because they're usually rowdy, plus I really wanted to write. So I did what I wanted, but made myself promise to visit her the next day when I had a babysitter.

Monday afternoon rolled around, and I dreaded manuvering through the maze of hospital rooms and corridors, but I pushed aside my flabby flesh and "just did it" as Nike would say. All week I had been praying that God would show me what He wanted me to do each day. Today He did!

My unexpected visit to her hospital room was an ordained blessing in disguise. Though I could not have known it, God had heard my friends need and filled it through me.

When I showed up she was getting ready to be discharged. It comforted her that I was there. She said she was humbled by God's answer to her prayer. With family in another state, she had no way of getting all her "stuff" home. Though I only expected to stay for 30 minutes, I made some calls and had my babysitter bring my kids over to a neighbors until I could get home.

Then I helped get my friend's stuff home. There was supposed to be an aid waiting for her, but the aid wasn't there and my friend was worried about dinner. I told her I could fix something for her and feed her. Which I did (though it was only a tuna sandwich)! I made it home just in time to feed my own kids and then run out the door to drive my son to play practice.

What God's showed me through the whole thing is that He does provide, even through reluctant flabby people. And that obedience brings blessing. The hardest part of the whole day was dragging my flabby flesh down there, after I did everything else was fine and I enjoyed my friend and being able to meet a need.

No Looking Back

Portrait of Faith, CWO

It doesn’t matter what is behind you as much as it matters who is beside you." ~ Ellen ~"Laced with Grace"

As I stepped onto the ORU campus for the first time as a freshman, I felt a renewed hope for my life. Though my childhood wasn't awful, it wasn't something I looked back on with joyful memories. Many of my memories were of a sad and lonely girl. Yet, I had made it through, accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior as a teen, and having him guide me through some very tough times.

But in college a new confidence took hold of me my freshman year. I made friends easily and was some what popular. Many times I'd catch myself saying something or socializing and I didn't recognize the person I had become. I liked the new me and seldom thought about the Gina of my childhood.

At college on my own with Jesus by my side it didn't matter who I was in the past. No one knew me then. I didn't have to be that shy, insecure girl anymore. I was free to carve out a new identity. Free to have Jesus walk beside me and hold my hand when old feelings crept up. Free to hide in His arms when I needed to and free to be who God had called me to be!

Kristin Billerbeck: She's All That!

Portrait of Writing Mom, Interview


Welcome author mom Kristin Billerbeck to Portrait of a Writer...Interrupted.

Kristen, tell us a little about your family and your call to write.

I'm married to the engineer sort and we have four kids; three boys and one girl. I totally consider myself a boy mom since I was raised around so many, so I'm learning about the world of princesses. Writing is something I do in my sleep, it's just so ingrained in me. When God's not in it, it shows, what can I say?

How do you balance being a mom, wife, and writer?

If you ask my kids' teachers, probably not very well. LOL I'm allergic to homework -- I wasn't great at doing my own, so with the four of them in one of the most competitive area...well, I learn to say I'm not perfect a lot. Scheduling is really key though. When I'm not creative, I try not to waste time at the computer. I hit the grocery stores early Saturday morning before soccer, do laundry while I'm writing and I usually stay up later than I should to decompress and get some "we" time. But I think the writing makes me better all the way around because I have a creative outlet. Oh, and someone cleans my house.

Do you think it’s possible to give yourself fully to raising children, writing and keeping in shape?

I'm a big advocate of taking care of yourself. In the early years with my babies, I was terribly sick with M.S. Now, if I start to feel run down, I schedule a morning at the Spa. Yes, that may sound spoiled, but I know if I overdo it, this body shuts down, so I pay attention to it and listen. As far as staying in shape, that's a priority to my husband, so I make it my priority. I work my day around my iced mocha, but other than that, I can take or leave most fattening things, and I cook healthy because my husband appreciates that. Two vegetables on his plate and he's a happy man.

We all do what is important to our husbands. Mine doesn't care if someone else cleans the house, so I just let that one go. I'm where I need to be, and not guilty over the rest. I've been very anti-hydrogenated oils since first diagnosed with MS (the body doesn't process them like normal fats) so I've raised my kids without most packaged snacks and I think that's helped us all around the house.

The one time I did really gain weight was during our stay in the country. Naturally, that's when I went on the Today Show. God has a sense of humor.

We've also backed off from the processed foods and hydrogenated oils for behavior reasons and I really do see a different in my kids ability to focus better at homeschooling when they eat healthy.

What do you do to encourage yourself during those stormy days every writing mom has?

I quit writing. I've heard from too many writer-moms not to miss out. I schedule my deadlines far enough out where I don't have to. I'm a working mom, there's going to be guilt, but like all Moms, I'm doing the best I can. Dr. Laura always says ALL moms should be home. I don't believe that. I am home, but I believe I'm best serving my God in this capacity. I am not the domestic type, but I do my best.

Do you ever feel like you’re neglecting your children when you write?

You know, we have worked out a schedule. When they were little, it was from one to three. When they stopped napping, I told them that time was "mommy time" and they had to keep themselves busy. Kids have so many needs, and we can't meet them all. I think it's good to know your limits. Being sick taught me a lot of this by default.

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

You can tell if your family is neglected. They're sorting through laundry baskets for socks and feeling like strangers to you. I want to KNOW my kids, know when they're hurting, who their friends are, etc. If I'm getting off, I make a point to rein it back in by family time. Again, the schedule helps. We have family dinner every single night and at 8 p.m., we come together for family time -- be it a game or a TV show (they love Wife Swap). It's been a hard year with a move, my husband going back to work and the kids in their new/old schools. There was a month where I wrote nothing.

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

Honestly? That's one of the reasons I'll schedule a spa treatment when the world gets too noisy. In my house, someone is talking ALL the time. God speaks to me in so many ways. I'm one of those people He has to slap upside the head here and again, but I want to do His will and tell Him so. When something is more difficult than usual, I ask questions. Am I off? Are my priorities screwed up? I immediately go to the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. These books calm me and remind me about His wisdom vs. my own.

I think one of the biggest ways He speaks to me is through the gift of empathy. Which can also be a curse. But I can feel people's pain when they tell me something, I want to walk through it with them, and when I get calloused to things like this, I know I'm off and have to reconnect with Him. I think that's why I love the Silicon Valley so much. Everyone is living the lie, trying to attain perfection, be the smartest, best, healthiest, etc. And yet, there's so much pain, and if you only open your heart a little, God shows you the needs. That kind of noise is often where He speaks to me and tells me to get busy.

Did you ever feel like you’ve “missed” God in regards to writing, that maybe you should be doing something else?

I have always tried to be humble in writing. To sit back and wait on Him to ask me to the front of the table if He wants me to go. If He says it's over tomorrow, I can deal with that, because I know Who it's about. He will always give me something else to do. I think in the pursuit of publication, one really has to find their humility. I hear so many new authors thumb their nose at certain types of writing or publishing, and if God wants to hone your gift, you have to be willing to go where He has you.

When do you find the time to write, and how do you handle interruptions in your writing life?

I'm quite certain I'm ADD -- though I have no official diagnosis, I have no attention span either. I can actually leave off mid-sentence and get started the next day where I left off. I learned living in the country (which I HATED!!!) that God is so in control. Nothing you do can fight against that, so when interruptions happen, you have to stop and say, okay, God wants me here right now. I lived a year with no phone and it taught me a lot about contentment.

Tell me about how you got your first “writing break.”

My first writing break was Tracie Peterson picking me out of the slush pile at Heartsongs, and giving the manuscript to Rebecca Germany, who helped me hone it into something publishable.

What do you write and why this genre?

I write because I absolutely love words and books. I love the power of story. I write chick lit because it embodies all aspects of womanhood. I have a real heart for young women and want to reach out through fiction.

Tell me a about your recent contracts and up coming releases.

Calm, Cool & Adjusted has just released from Integrity Publishers. It's the last in the Spa Girls trilogy and the story of Poppy, a fun, but obsessive-compulsive chiropractor with a health fetish.
My next book is set to release next year and it's called Split Ends and chronicles the life of a young Beverly Hills hairstylist to the stars.

What do you hope to accomplish through your novels?

I want women to know they are not alone and they don't have to be perfect because nothing can separate them from the love of God.

What advice would you give to writing moms?

Keep writing. Keep reading. Keep a schedule, even if it's not exact, it's better to build the expectations among your kids that Mommy time is important, just as their playtime is.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Just that having small children is exhausting. I always heard mothers say, "Oh, it only gets worse as they get older. Their problems just get bigger!" I'm here to tell you, I don't think that's true. A pained sixth grader tells you what's the matter, a colicky baby just makes you want to pull your hair out. Take time for you during those years, you'll all be better for it. And lose the guilt, you're doing the best job you can. Not everyone is Mrs. Cleaver.

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and wisdom with us!

Wisdom? Not sure about that. LOL

For a review of Calm, Cool and Adjusted visit Writer...Interrupted!

One Hat at a Time!

Portrait of Faith, Meme



“…whatever you do, do all things to the glory of God.”
I Corinthians 10:31

What everyday things do you find purpose in?

Boy this was a convicting one for me because I am so guilty of not doing all things to the glory of God. Though I am learning about how to invite God's glory into my daily life, I usually grumble (outloud and under my breath) about having to do the laundry, fix dinner, clean up spills, etc, when I'd rahter be writing, blogging or reading.

I'm also learning (though slowly) to be content in all things. That God has't called me to juggle a bunch of hats at once, instead He's called me to wear one at a time..

It's so much easier that way! When I'm homeschooling, I wear the homeschooling hat, when I'm cooking the domestic hat, but only if it were that simple because while wearing one of the not so pretty hats, the dazzling writer's hat always catches my eye. It is then I need to remind myself to be content in all things and the time will come when I get to put on my writer's hat.

Sure sometimes I take off my others hat and place the more desireable ones on my head, but then God call me back to my purpose. To be content in wearing one hat at a time.

Fall Into Reading Challenge Update

Portrait of Books, Reading

Okay, I've been avoiding this for weeks, maybe months, but since my "to be read" pile has doubled in size since I got back from ACFW, I think I need to write my goals down. So here it is: my list of books that I hope to read this Fall.

Non-fiction:

The Mom I Want to be by Suzie Eller
Heartfelt Discipline by Clay Clarkson

Fiction:

My goal for fiction is to read what I'm hoping to write and also some of the books by the new author friends I met at ACFW.

Abduction by Wanda Dyson
Distant Echoes by Colleen Coble
Invitation to Murder by Elizabeth Bright
My Life as a Doormat by Rene Gutteridge
Watching the Tree Limbs by Mary E. DeMuth
Wishing on Dandelions by Mary E. DeMuth
The Wedding Caper by Janice A. Thompson

Bible study:

I'm currently working on this one and hope to finish it before Christmas.

Expereincing Christ Within by Dwight Edwards

Read-alouds: This will encompass different people(mom, dad, babysitter, big kids) reading aloud to different kids.

Little Pilgrims's Progress by Helen Taylor
The Sign of the Beaver Unit Study by Elizabeth George Speare
Stink the Amazing Shrinking Kid
The Boxcar Children #1

To see all the participants and to visit their Fall Into Reading Challenge lists, click HERE. I'll be making the rounds and checking out all the reading lists later today. Can't wait!

Quiz Time

Portrait of Fun

This quiz is eerily on target. I almost went for the color I liked the most, but then opted for the photo. Try it out and tell me what you think!

Your Personality Profile

You are dependable, popular, and observant. Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness. In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do. You are unique, creative, and expressive. You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while. And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!

World's Shortest Personality Test

Okay, I was curious about the red picture and it holds some truths!

Your Personality Profile

You are sexy, powerful, and bold. You're full of passion and energy... Sometimes this passion has a dark side. You feel most alive when you're seducing someone. You never fail to get someone's attention. Quick minded, you're also quick to lose your temper!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

The Long Awaited Kids Meme

Portrait of Meme, Family, Kids

Thanks Code Mama for this Three Word Kid Meme. Now to write it without my oldest finding out.

Chris, 12

1. In a word, Intense. He's my Sanguine/Choleric child. I think? It's hard to pin his personality down. He's creative, and moody. Caring and curt! He'll defend his brother one minute and in the next one tear him down with his words.

But most of all he has a high sense of justice, and it doesn't matter if you,re the president of the US or the principal, chances are, he'll tell you just what he's thinking and especially if you're wrong. I know he'll make a great leader some day, I just hope I don't blow it raising him.

2. Creative: He's a gifted singer. At the age two when he came prancing down the stairs, making up his own words about eating pancakes to the itsy bitsy spider song and singing on key and pitch, I knew it was time to look for a music program for him. I eventually found one when he was four, and he's been singing on stage ever since. But DON'T put him on the spot, he won't sing unless he feels like it.

One of my most proud moments was when he got the part of Dodger in Oliver Twist. Years ago I saw the musical with him and was immediately taken to the part of Dodger. I knew Chris would be a natural in the part and years later, he was. I'm not being bias (okay, maybe) but Dodger was my favorite character in the show this year!

I just love to watch him on stage, and I'm so glad I found the place he really shines!

3. Loves to have fun: If it's not fun, it's not worth doing! That's Chris. He's not motivated to get good grades, unless of course he can earn some PS2 time. Over the years I've also learned he's an extrovert. He needs people, especially friends around him so he can be rejuvenated. So while we homeschool, I try and give him lots of opportunity daily to spend time just playing with friends. Though when he doesn't complete his assignments, it's so hard for me to take away his play time. It's an interesting balance I need to find for him. He needs to be motivated to finish his work, and he needs to play with friends.


Joey, 9 1/2

1. In a word or two, hands on! He's just like his dad, ready to tackle a project and help without being asked (except when it comes to chores, of course.) He's always fiddling in the garage with daddy, and if he has a choice to play with friends or do a craft, my introvert son choses the craft. He's very unorganized and messy, but loves to build and create. In fact, when he was a baby he never played with action figures like my other two boys. He'd play with building toys, and his favorite are K'Nex. He must have about four or five of those giant K'Nex roller coasters.

2. Thinker: I had always thought of Joey as a jokester. While I knew he was a smart cookie, I never knew how smart until I started homeschooling him. He's my kind of student. I teach him once and he just gets it. The only problem is he goes off down these intellecutal rabbit trails that I don't have the time or intelligence to answer. He's way better than me in math, and I'm blown away by his insight and articulation.

This year he's in two homeschool co-ops with all older kids. He keeps up with them academically, it's jut his maturity is that of a silly, 9 year old.

3. Performer: Joey is an excellent gymnast and likes to work hard! He sings and acts as well, and my proudest moment was when he got the part of Chip in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. I honestly never thought he even had a chance. It's no secret that he's not as gifted in singing as Chris, but the director saw something in him! And I'm so glad he did because I got to see Joey in a way I never looked at him before. One bonus Joey has is that he has an excellent memory and learns his lines very quickly. He's also very teachable, just tell him what you want and he'll do it.

The downside to this littler performer is that he's very, very silly and into bathroom humor now a days. He's very, very loud when he talks, and I often find myself shushing him, espeically when he sings silly songs or makes silly noises in the house. I guess it's pay back for me for my singing at the dinner table and opera singing stages I put my mom through.

Timmy, 6

1. In a word, easygoing. From day one we called him our "angel boy" because he was so content. He'd literally sit in the stroller for hours without trying to get out like my other kids. And now at 6, he's the one who's quiet and most often obedient. He usually gets caught in the middle of the line of fire between me and the older boys. I usually have to stop my rant to say to him "Timmy, you're not the one who's in trouble!"

2. Sensitive. As good as Timmy is, even he has his dark side. I recognized it for the first time when he was 3 years old and threw a major fit. I thought my little guy had turned into Mr. Hyde, and I was a horrible mom becauses I had created this monster some how! I had never seen him so out of control. Later on I began to realize that it was his sensitivity that could bring on a major fit. So I learned to understand my Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde son, and soon stumbled upon the fact that distraction and humor could bring back my "angel boy."

3. Funny. Since Timmy is relatively easygoing, I didn't see the funny side of him until the last year or so. The kid has some major silliness going on, and he's got some real style especially when dancing. (Me and the boys took a hip hop class this summer and he had the most style!) His personality has really started to shine, and I love the way he interacts with his brothers and his sister.

Grace, 4

1. Active. When I prayed for a girl, I should have been more specific. I should have requested someone like Timmy, quiet and docile who would sit content in the corner, playing dolls by herself. Well, I wasn't specific and I got a female clone of Chris as a toddler. From age 0 - 3yrs, she was the kid of toddler who you couldn't turn your back on for even a second. When she was two my husband took his eyes off of her for two seconds, and it took us over five minutes to find her somewhere in the museum. She would never stay in the stroller, and climbed every where. Homeschooling the first two years was a nightmare because she was always getting into something and never sat still for more than three minutes. Now at four, she's easier to handle, but she can climb a tree in a blink of an eye and the other day I watched her shimmy up a basketball pole in a dress!

2. All Girl, with a touch of boy. Grace is our little princess. At two she had more shoes than I did and was able to match head bands (which she named "Alice's" because of Alice in wonderland) with her dresses. I think before the age of three she strated changing her clothes three times a day and by the age of 3 she only wanted to wear dresses. Yet, don't let the dresses and Olsen twin face fool you, she can hold her own with her brothers and often was caught wrestling Timmy to the ground. Thank God he was always really gentle with her. She still knows how to hold her own and can yell above the noise to get her way. Yet, she's my little princess who loves her princess dresses and asks "is my hair a mess" before we take pictures.

3. Silly. If Grace doesn't grow up to be a princess than I've got her career all mapped out for her on Saturday Night Live. Though I don't approve of their material most times, I can just see Grace doing some silly physical comedy. If she's not making funny faces, or shaking her "booty" for laughs than she's saying something she thinks is hilarious. She's not afraid to talk to strangers though I never know what may come out of her mouth. Today I caught her peeking over the seat to three business men and saying, "Hi, I'm Grace."

Okay, so it only took me like months to write about my four kids. Now here's my chance to spread the love. I tag Katherine@Raising Five(because I want to see how long it takes her to write about her five kids), Michael Snyder (because he loves talking and posting pictures of his cute kids and he hasn't joined my webring yet!), Heather@Graced by Christ, and Mary@ Home-Steeped Hope, and Becc @Mr. Toad and Frog... because she tagged me last with the three point kids' meme.

Practicing What I Preach

Portrait of Letting Go, Faith

Today I'm having a chance to practice what I preached about here. After getting lost in cyberspace this morning before doing my devotion, I decided to take my computer in the living room and journal about the Bible study I've been going through. It really helps me to grasp the concepts when I blog about what I've been learning, but before I got to that Aluria Spyware popped up on my computer. So after unsuceessfully trying to write with it going, I decided to set it down.

When I came back to it later the screen was blank. So I hit some buttons, but nothing. I unplugged the battery and waited for it to boot up, but my log on logo was different. That's when I started to worry a little. After clicking on the icon it tells me that my documents have been corrupted. My destop no longer existed, and I couldn't even find the installed programs.

Okay, my first thoughts! "Is this punishment for putting off my quiet time or an attack of the enemy? (I just looked at the scriptrue in my sidebar "For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 So I am now taking comfort in that it was not sent by God!)

Trying not to panic, I called my hubby, and he figures a virus got my computer. "But I thought we had protection agains viruses," I said. He replied, "nothing is 100% protected."

So I turned off the computer and refused to think about it or worry. I knew my hubby backed stuff up a month ago, and I just emailed a friend my current chapter I was working on, so I wasn't so concerned about my writing stuff. It was the other stuff. The months and hours of detailed homeschool records and the digital video I had taken over the last year, that probalby hadn't gotten back up because the file wasn't in my folder. If I let myself dwell on that I would have had a horrible day. Instead, I dropped my lap top off at the computer repair shop and prayed they'd recover it!

So here I sit in my hubby's office typing away, trying not to worry. And considering I'm a major worrier, I'm doing a good job! I'm just not letting the anxiety in my gut grow out of control. I'm leaving it in God's hands and whatever will be will be.

It won't be the end of the world if I lose all my homeschool records. I might have to redo some of them, but I will pick up the records from the next school day. And about the video. Yes, I'll be sad to lose that. Though I'm sure I emailed family the best ones from last Christmas. But my kids volcano project might be lost forever, or Gracie's spontaneous antics might be lost, still there are worse things in this world to fret over and I'm chosing not to dwell ont this. (If you really knew me, you would know how HUGE chosing not to worry is in my life!)

Maybe this is one of the perils of internet use or just a test from God. I'd love to think everything will be recovered like when I found my driver's liscence, but if it isn't life will go on.

Still if you feel led to say a prayer in my computers behalf, I won't refuse it! :)

Friday the 13th

Portrait of Faith

My husband just informed me that it was Friday the 13th. Now I'm not supersticious, and I know that "greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world,"but I can't help but think someone out there was trying to wreck havoc in our lives today. Nothing major just...

My computer caught a virus and lost EVERYTHING!

My boys spent hours making clay creations ,and while I was out put them in the oven to bake. When the smoke cleared there was a melted mess of clay for daddy to clean up and a couple of boys having their own meltdown!

Then in the midst of the smoke, someone broke a glass and daddy had to clean it up. (Because I'm here at his office using the computer because mine crashed!) I wanted to go home an hour ago, but my wonderful hubby insisted I stay until he cleaned up the mess.

So how was you're Friday the 13th? I'm not supersticious, but I'm not stupid either. I'm saying an extra prayer as I drive the couple of miles to my home!

Which Sesame Street Character Are You?

Portrait of Fun

Quiz time! I'm sure if I took this quiz again I'd come up with Oscar the grouch or someone else, but today I'm the Cookie Monster! Does that mean I have a free pass to raid the cookie jar? After all, I really can't help it!

You Are Cookie Monster

Misunderstood as a primal monster, you're a true hedonist with a huge sweet tooth. You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around. You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and usual way of speaking How you life your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!"

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Do Not Worry

Portrait of Faith, Letting Go, Auditions, Worry

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Mt 6:25

My grandma was a worrier. My mom is a worrier. I'm a worrier, and unfortunately I see the familiar trait in my nine year old.

And yesterday there was a lot of little things to worry about. Chris got cast in the part of Edmond for the community theatre's version of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Joey got the part of the Christmas Elf, yet he was too worried that the part wouldn't be fun or cool. So after I accepted the role on his behalf, I had to humbly call back the director and decline the part for Joey.

I worried about looking like an idiot because I had accepted the part on behalf of my son after the director asked me if I needed to talk to the boys about the role. I said "no", they were excited about the show. How would I know Joey had issues with the elf part?

Then after I hung up we talked about the elf part and, Joey changed his mind back and said, "I guess I do want the part."

Great, just great. If we didn't call back soon enough the part would be given to someone else. Now I really was worried about looking like and idiot, so I did what any self respecting coward would do, I asked my hubby to call. He did and the call went to voice mail.

Great! Just great! Now for sure I was worrying. The part had probably gone to someone else, but maybe not. I'd had to wait until morning, but I did I worry all night? I could have, but instead I chose to lay it at the feet of Jesus.

In the morning the director called and said he had already given the part to someone else and though we were a little sad, we were all okay.

Then as I was running out the door to take Gracie to preschool I realized I lost my driver's license. So I back tracked to the three places where I thought I could have lost it and is wasn't anywhere. I decided to give it to God. Worrying wouldn't make my license appear, so I prayed that it would turn up. And it did! As soon as I got home, I searched through the last place that held my license and it was wedged in the side of my purse.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Mt 6:25

Do not worry! Such wise advice I'm glad I listened!

I Confess! I'm a Writer Who Can't Spell

Portrait of Writing, Spelling, Fun

And according to it doesn't matter. Don't believe me? Keep reading.

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht Iwas rdanieg The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnigto rscheearch taem at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn'tmttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olnyiprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in therghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitllraed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mniddeos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as awlohe. Such a cdonition is arppoiately cllaed Typoglycemia.
Amzanig huh? Yaeh and yuo awlyas thought slpeling wasipmorant.

But I am truly grateful that I'm teaching my first grader phonics. I acutally learned the doubling rule. I always had trouble remembering if you double the "p" in hop when you add "ing". Well I'm no longer clueless.

If there is only one final consonant you double the consonant. If there are two, you don't. And if the word ends in an "e" you drop it and add "ing."

ex. jump-jumping, hop-hopping, hope-hoping

This has just revolutionized my spelling, and my critique partners are going to love me for it!

Teaching Your Kids to Soar

WFMW

This book totally changed the way I viewed each of my children. In fact, I think it's time I read through it again.

When my oldest was two, he drove me crazy with his bossiness and his involvement in everyone's business. He was demanding, confrontational with other children, and often had trouble in social situations. He never obeyed and often ran off on his own. Now he's twelve, nothing much had changed, except that I read this book and realized he's just who God made him to be.

And there's a profile in this book that fits him like a glove. It helped me to understand the places in where my son would soar and excel. Here's a glimpse of the table of contents.

Helping Your Child Fly

Finding Places Where Your Child Soars

Unleashing the Power that Keeps Your Child Soaring

Understanding How Fast and How long your Child Can Fly

Understanding How Your Child Works with Others

Dusting Off Discipine and Helping Your Child Find the Right Skies

Helping Your Child Navigate Treacherous Skies

Putting Your Child in the Best Possible Position to Learn

Wow! After reading those great chapters, I really DO need to go read this again. And maybe this time I'll pick up the workbook.

One downside to this book is that it's out of print and you have to search around on ebay or Amazon. I was lucky enough to discover this on a discount book table!

Wordless WednesdayMy Little Toe Nail Clipper

Portraits of Fun, Wordless Wednesday

Faith Lifts Meme

Portrait of Fun, Faith



I just love this new blog and wanted to share it with you! It's faith lifting (hence the name), so I'm giving their Monday Meme a shot! Go here to read the original post and then read all the responses!

Discussion questions:

What does it mean for our hearts to start beating more and more like God’s? How could this change the way the world sees Christianity?

The first thing that comes to mind is compassion. I know I need more compassion in my life and so does this world. Or to bring it closer to home: America. I used to be a very empathetic person, aware of the needs of others around me, but somewhere along the way I lost my compassion. Maybe I've fallen for the American motto "It's all about me!" How can I get, be the best, have the best and make the most money.

I've lived over seas in a third world country where people had nothing, and they were happy. I was happy and content living there. It was easy to see the needs of others. I was easy to feel the heartbeat of God. But that was a long time ago and God's heartbeat fell silent, well not really. It's just the noise of my life drummed louder.

I know I need to look to others instead of myself. Isn't that what Jesus was/is all about? I think if more people looked to the needs of others in their social relationships, and in their marriage (preaching to the chior here) then we could change the world! I have no doubt about that!

When it comes to church, what do you think God has in mind?

I have to confess I don't really like church. Never did, maybe some day I will. I hate the denomination divisions that keep us separated instead of united. I hate not feeling like I fit in. I hate feeling like I have to wear a mask, or hold my tongue or dress a certain way just to be accepted.

Did I mention we're between churches right now? And I feel so spoiled living in a city where there's wonderful God-fearing, Bible believing churches on every corner. I know not everyone has the luxury of choosing between so many great churches, and I wonder why it's taking us so long to find a place to call home.

But that's what I want it to feel like. Home! Where I'm accepted just because and people are honest and friendly and aren't afraid to be real. Where broken people can be lifted up. Where God is worshiped and praised instead of being asked to bless His people every Sunday morning.

That's the church I want to find, and I think that's the kind of church God had in mind for his people!

ACFW 2006 in Five Words

Portrait of Writing, Faith

ACFW in a Word

Why?

Pride! Can You Relate?

Humble

Patience

Experiencing God in Parenting

Portrait of Parenting, Faith, Experiencing God

As I’ve been Experiencing Christ Within, I’ve also been challenged in my parenting. A while ago God led me from my restrictive, by-the-book parenting to a more Grace based parenting. It wasn’t an easy switch, and I still struggle with doling out consequences as my first reaction to parenting.

But I’ve learned over the last year that most times my kids will react positively to a positive mom. I’ve learned that I don’t have to crack the whip to get them to obey my every command. I’ve learned that my job as a parent is not to punish and give consequences all the time, but it’s to train them in the way they should go and sometimes that means listening to their grievances and offering Grace instead of discipline.

In week three of Experiencing Christ Within, Dwight Edwards touched on the subject of becoming spiritually provocative. He asked some great questions, and I want to share the thoughts I wrote in the margins about parenting.

If one of my jobs as a parent is to give my children a better glimpse of God, how can I do that? Do they need more discipline? More Grace? Initially more Grace comes to mind, but sometimes my children are so selfish and difficult. They lack respect. How can I offer MORE Grace without having them walk all over me?

But if I don’t teach my children the consequences of disobedience does that glorify God.

So what did I come up with?

I think there needs to be a balance. For my parenting personality I need to offer more grace in my discipline because I’m naturally bent toward the authoritative style of parenting. But my children need to know the consequences of their sin.

We’ve been studying Genesis and the consistent message is so clear. It’s obedience to God. Adam and Eve disobeyed and they were kicked out of the garden. God didn’t tell them they’d be kicked out before hand. (That’s one of my kids arguments. But you didn’t tell me I’d get such and such taken away…)

But focusing on God’s glory in my parenting would help me give my kids the Godly discipline they need to be trained up in the way they should go. Focusing on God’s glory would take the focus off my self, off my anger, off my kids’ disobedience and back onto God where it should be. It would help me be more patient and kind toward my kids.

And what if I started thinking this way in my marriage? In my social relationships? If we all started asking the question, how could God be glorified in this situation, think of the amazing transformation the world would go through!

If I take one thing away from this study, this would be enough!

Show me Lord, how I can glorify you today in every situation!

Audition Time

Portrait of Fun, Family

My boys have two auditions this weekend. Joey (9) wanted to audition for the musical THE WIZ and both he and Chris (12) want to audition for the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Joey did pretty well in his audition today and though rhythmically challenged he managed to be asked to stay late with a group of dancers. They went through this incredibly fast and difficult dance, and I was in awe at my little guy keeping up with the others. (Guess our hip hop lessons this summer paid off!)

I guess I should be thrilled he's probably going to be in the show, but a part of me doesn't want to commit to the rehearsal schedule which involves 4 months of Tuesday nights, Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons.

Then there's tomorrow's audition. What if Joey AND Chris make that one? Then Joey will have to decide and if he chooses THE WIZ, I'll be carting two kids to two different shows. So, right now I'm not sure what we're going to do. I just thought it was important they audition so they wouldn't regret it later.

Now I'm starting to regret it!

I'm a Goalaphobic!

Portrait of Letting Go

Okay, there! I admit it! I'm a goalaphobic, but I haven't always been this way. I used to make lists and write out pages and pages of goals and plans for my life five and ten years down the road. Then I had kids and the exercise, career and life long goals in general went out the window! My baby is four and I'm still trying to lose twenty pounds!

Three years ago when I started homeschooling I had grand ideas for the first year. I planned out our entire science and history curriculum for the year. It's been three years since I made that plan, and we're half way through the curriculum I planned for the first year.

I guess the problem with me is I'm a great planner, but lousy at follow through. I tried FLY Lady. You know the one who sends you emails daily and tells you to put on shoes and shine your sink. Well, I had to drop out because I don't wear shoes in the house (and refuse to) and I don't care if my sink shines! I just want the dishes in the dishwasher!

If you haven't guessed it by now, I'm a perfectionist and falling short of my goals discourages me. Take exercise for instance. I used to work out consistently before I homeschooled. This year I decided my goal would be to work out at least three times a week for 20 minutes a day. Not too difficult, right? Wrong! Kid stuff inevitably comes up, and I lose my scheduled exercise time and momentum. If I only had myself to take care of I'm sure I'd reach most of my goals, but my life is not my own! SIGH!

I gave up on morning quiet times with God(or quiet times in general). I really tried waking up early before the kids got up, and when I did it was great! Peace and quiet in the morning and my attitude was better during the day. But when I didn't do it, major guilt! So I put it back on God. If he wants me up early he's got to make me WIDE awake before my kids get up. It happened for a week and I thought I had finally over come not being a morning person. Then it ended!

I've also tried to find quiet times during the day, but in a house full of four LOUD high spirited kids there's no quiet, and I refuse to sit and read the same scripture over and over again. Instead, I just try to commune with God all day. I listen to praise music in the car, read a quick devotion in the bathroom and pray whenever I feel the urge. Then on Sunday's if I'm lucky, I get a REAL quiet time where I read and pray and contemplate and hope I don't get distracted. Last Sunday I started my devotion time and half way through I was plotting my characters spiritual journey! It was perfect for her, and I learned a bunch as well!

Is this where I'd like to be in my relationship with the Lord, no! But it's where I'm at right now in my life. And that's okay!

So back to goal setting. I'm really afraid to make lists and set goals, but this is the third time in a month I've been assaulted with the idea from different places! Do you think God is trying to tell me something?

I'm reluctantly making my priorities list and trying to set some reachable goals like "think about God once a day." I already know I can do that! But what about the harder goals like "set up specific days to blog and other days to write." That one will be a little harder.

Thankfuly I've already planned out my days by the half hour on Monday through Friday. I did this the second week into school because I wanted to get those priorities in. So I guess I'm not a goalaphobic after all! I can set them, now let's see if I can reach them!

So are you a goalaphobic? Maybe we can over come our fears together!

I'm Writing Again!

Portrait of Writing

That's right! I've got a green light! After my incredible experience at ACFW this year I felt an unexplainable peace about my writing or lack of writing. It's hard to put into words except that the anxiousness to write and be published was gone, I was finally able to accept God's timing. I knew I'd probably get to work on my WIP on the weekends, and not much more during the week due to homeschooling and keeping up with Writer...Interrupted, but I felt okay with that.

My biggest dilemma was which WIP to work on. I still had an incomplete suspense that I refused to pitch again until it was finished. But I did talk with one editor at ACFW about my Cozy Mystery idea. I really only wanted feedback, but she said to send it on when it was completed.

Well, I came back home and asked God which WIP I should pick up. I didn't get an answer right away, and I guess I was looking for a "real" sign. A couple of days later I got an email saying I had won a chapter critique several weeks ago and they were sorry they were just not getting in touch with me. I was surprised because I didn't even know I had won!

The person who was doing the critique was someone I had wanted to run my cozy by at ACFW but couldn't find her, and she is the one who reads for the editor who wants my cozy. Light bulb moment! I took it as a sign that I should work on my cozy and that's what I've been doing for the last couple of weekends.

It's pretty scary trying to write in a new genre and many times I just want to throw in the towel and quite, but I'm learning so much. If I can manage to keep my anxiety level down I know it will pay off in the end. Not so much as in a book contract, but in invaluable writing experience.

It's Been One of Those Days

Portrait of Family, Fun

Let me set the mood by saying Blogger just crashed and lost my original post...So here's take two:

My body is weary, and my brain is fried. Maybe it's the nine hours I spent at the State fair yesterday, (or maybe it's all the mid-way junk food I ate!)Maybe it was one too many rollercoaster rides, or the fact that the October sun wore me out. (I'm so ready for Fall and the cool weather.)

Or could it be waking up early this morning, scrambling to get four kids dressed, fed and out the door to make our 9 am homeschool co-op where I had to teach 15 preschooler (thankfully with the help of three other adults).

But whatever the reason, I'm exhausted and just don't care about the school work or chores that haven't been done today. I did manage to slap some lunch meat between bread for my kids for lunch. Then I sent the little ones up to play PS2 and the older ones to finish their grammar. Then, guilt free, I vegged in front of the computer surfing, unable to piece together a coherent sentence. In a zombie like state, I remained ignoring the noise and growing chaos until screams erupting from upstairs snapped me out of my trance for the moment. After settling the PS2 arguement and managing to help my kids with vocabulary homework, I planted myself back in front of this screen and have remained here since.

Though I might be tempted to tear myself away from our friday pizza movie night. [sniffing the air] Smells like dad's home!

The Tag Of Four

Portrait of Fun, Meme

Beck has tagged me with the four word meme. I have to personally define them, and THEN I get to tag four more people with words of my own choosing.
Beck's words:

Callipygian: While studying biology this year I came across this term as some what of freakish species in nature. It's the cross between a caterpillar and pigeon. Now that's scary!

Cholera: What I do to my mom when my email is down. I "Cholera" on the phone.

Circumnavigate: To go climb over the yard fence because my four year old has locked me out.

Calliope: The female cousin to Guadalupe?

Now for the tag. [insert evil maniacal laugh] Katherine of Raising Five, Code Yellow Mom for that really hard kid Meme I'm still working on, Tricia because she tagged me last and [drumroll please] the Dark and Disorderly dude because he probably has no idea what a meme is!

Okay, radomly looking in the dictionary now because my brain is fried from homeschooling or maybe I'll stretch my homeschool vocabulary wings...

Silt:

Schwa:

Digraph:

Calendula:

and one for good luck...

innocuous:

Homemade placemats

WFMW
When my kids were younger I wanted to find a way for them to feel connected to far away relatives and friends, so I made placemats with all the photos they sent us.

On one side I put photos of my family, grandparents, cousins, etc. On the other side I put friends. Then I laminated it. So each day they got to "eat" with their family and friends and when it came time to visit, relative faces were already familiar so my kids didn't shy away from the hugs and pinched cheeks.

It worked for us, maybe it'll work for you!

For more ideas visit Shannon.

Patience!

Portrait of Writing, Faith, Letting Go

It's funny that you had to wait for this post entitled patience! I've been really busy right now in my life, but those details will have to wait for another post.

Patience! That's one of the words God spoke to me at ACFW this year. And no word is more dreaded to a choleric then the word patience. My family can attest to that. When I want something done, I mean yesterday. Sometimes I rattle five things off to my ADHD son and when he doesn't do them all quickly, right at the moment I tell him, I get upset and wonder why?

Sometimes my behavior makes me laugh. Intellectually I know I should give him one task at a time, but God made me a choleric, "get the job done NOW!", kind of person for a reason. I'm sure way down the road it'll really come in handy when I'm on a deadline or involved in marketing my book, but for now it's hard for those who live with me!

So in my home and in my writing, I need to learn patience. Especially since God is speaking the word "wait" into my life and waiting means I have to have patience. It makes me wonder why God made me a choleric and then decided he wanted to make me wait!

But He has His reasons. If it was up to me I'd just plow ahead and learn as I go, making tons of mistakes along the way. But maybe He has a different plan for me. One I can't see or imagine. For example, I would never have dreamed my little webring would be over 40 members after only 3 short months in existence. That was one venture I just dove right in to, though I did let it stew for a couple of weeks. But when the desire wouldn't go away, I ran with it. I figured if I couldn't find a group that fits me, then I'll go create one. And I did and others came!

So patience. I don't like it, but I believe it will save me a lot of heartache and stress in the end. I just hope I can hear God's voice when he tells me the next part of His plan.

And thank you for having patience with my jumbled, homeschool fried brain as I tried to peck out a thoughtful post!