Portraits of Writing

By Gina Conroy
Copyright 2006
Please request permission to reprint

Letting Go...
Embracing Your Destiny
No Flashing Green Neon Lights Yet
The Lighter Side: I Wanna Muffin or If You Give a Writer a Laptop
Writing Withdrawals
Pardon Me While I Lick My Wounds
Three Months and Counting
To Open or Not to Open
Group Blogging at Writer's of Inspirational Novels
For All You Aspiring Writers
2006 Blog of Beauty Nominations
A Word or Two About Our Rings and Rolls
Mary DeMuth on Publishing
What Number Are You?
Bad News Comes in the Mail: Part 1
Bad News: Part 2
I Was Nominated for a Bob Award!
Wisdom in Waiting: Marilynn Griffith
What's Your TBR Pile Look Like?
While I Was Sleeping...
Carnival of Writing
Proceeding With Caution
Might As Well Face it I'm Addicted to Blogs
I've Started a Webring
Book Meme
A Tear Jerker
My Husband Finally Read My Blog
It Just Makes Me Wonder
On Hubby and Blogging
Writer...Interrupted Blogging Debut
Just Reminding Myself God is in Control
Writing Tips From the Apostle Paul
Jesus, Take the Wheel
When in Enough, Really Enough?
I'm Not Alone
Starting to Feel the Stress
Self Doubts
What's Your Goal?
What's Your Motivation?
Got Conflict?
ACFW in a Word
Why?
Pride! Can You Relate?
Humble
Announcing a New Carnival
Patience!
I'm Writing Again.

Portraits of Faith

By Gina Conroy
Copyright 2006
Please request permission to reprint

Letting Go...
Embracing Your Destiny
Life's Little Interruptions
Getting Real
Big Lessons from a Little Devotion
No Flashing Green Neon Lights Yet
Before the Lord
God Heals All Wounds
Pardon Me While I Lick My Wounds
Three Months and Counting
Silent Sabbath Sundays
Meaningful Mondays
Let Freedom Ring Part I
Let Freedom Ring Part II: America Return to God
Revolution Within
Just Makes Me Wonder
Wisdom in Waiting: Marilynn Griffith
Renewing My Mind
Life's Distractions
The Beauty of Philippians
Experiencing Christ Within
Everyday Children
It's Okay to be Bad
Onward Christian Soldier
It Just Makes Me Wonder
A Solute to Teachers Everywhere: Teachers Need Prayer
Just Reminding Myself God is in Control
Jesus, Take the Wheel
Obedience and God's Glory
What's Your Goal?
Pride! Can You Relate?
Humble
Patience!
Experiencing God in Parenting
ACFW in Five Words
Faith Lifts Meme

I'm All About Organization

I may be all about organization, but that doesn't mean I'm organized. My desk is cluttered with papers, as is almost every corner of my home. It's not that I don't clean and I try to declutter every so often, it's just that there's so much stuff with 4 kids, many hobbies and not enough time to keep up with things.

Okay, I confess I have ADD when it comes to house cleaning. Like Shannon...Dryer, I start a project and then my eyes gaze upon another hot spot (as FLY LADY likes to call the areas in your home that seem to pile up) and I'm immediately drawn to another task, thus leaving the first one undone. But I think I've always been like this. I remember my mom telling me I could never finish a project as a kid without getting interested in something else.

Joey (9) is like this when it comes to crafts. He has so many unfinished projects piling up in my hot spots. I had to put my foot down and institute the "Finish What You Start" rule.

Well, I said all that to say all this. I'm trying to get organized on my blog and while there's probably some easier way to do this, I've compiled all my posts in categories. So the next few posts will be listings in categories and then I'll add it on my side bar for later reference.

I'm just hoping I can follow the "Finish What You Start" rule without getting lost in cyberspace.

Portraits of Parenting

By Gina Conroy
Copyright 2006
Please request permission to reprint

Portraits of Parenting

Works for Me Wednesday

WFMW

This weeks tips are probably not terribly original, but it was news to me a couple of weeks ago. So if your technically/internet challenged this might help.

If you haven't found my delicious.us, then you're missing out. It's a great place to organize your web finds in one place. Once you create an account, all you have to do is browse the web and when you find something you want to save for a later date, click on the post button. When I come across a WFMW I want to use later, I post it to my del.icio.us and tag it with a WFMW. Then when I'm ready to implement it, it's just a click away.

Let's not forget the mega time saver bloglines. I still haven't figured out how to get the little button on my blog, but I LOVE it! I subscribe to my favorite blogs in one place. No messing with on line subscription services that send you email reminders. No checking Rocks in My Dryer every minute for an updated post. This free service lets you organize all your favorite blogs in one place and all you have to do is check the list and they tell you when they update.

Also, if you add the subscription button to the top of your page in the links section, then while you're surfing, if you find a new favorite just click the "sub bloglines" and it will be saved for you! How simple is that! They even walk you through adding the button. If I can do it, so can you! (Don't forget to subscribe to me if you're liking what you're reading! :)

Last is about helping YOU find all my tips in one place. I'm putting links to all my WFMW's in one entry so you can find them quickly everytime you link to me. Every time I post a new WFMW, I'll be adding to the sidebar link. So whether you're a first time visitor or a regular, you can find all my handy tips in one place.

If you've got a great internet time saving find, leave a comment! I need as much time saving help I can get, especially since my time seems to slip away on the computer. For more tips go here.
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

I Was Nominated for a BOB Award!

I'm so honored that someone nominated me for best homeschooling content! That means someone out there is reading! Whoever you are, Thanks! I'm honored to be among so many great homeschooling families out there.

Don't forget to go here to vote for your favorites.




Best Homeschooling
Has the best content regarding homeschooling. (Blog does not have to be exclusively about homeschooling.)

Finalists
Enjoy the Journey
Here in the Bonny Glen
Higher Up and Further In
SpunkyHomeSchool

Nominees
At The Moment
Cindy Rushton’s Desk (TOP!)
Enjoy the Journey
Guilt-Free Homeschooling
Here in the Bonny Glen
Higher Up and Further In
Home Where They Belong
Portrait of a Writer…Interrupted
PrairieFrog Blog
Preschoolers and Peace
Holy Experience
SpunkyHomeSchool

Great Blonde Joke

Great Blonde Joke. Just had to share.

Wisdom in Waiting

This timely word came to me last week via email. I thought it might bless someone out there.


By Marilyn Griffith
Copyright Marilynn Griffith 2006. Reprinted with permission

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. (Psalm 27:13-15, NIV)

Last month, we talked about wisdom in warfare, about how to stand once you've done all to stand. This month, we'll talk about what happens while you're standing there--waiting.

It's hard, this waiting thing, especially when we've already been waiting what seems an eternity to our feeble minds. We received God's promise with joy, but now, so many months, years, lifetimes later, we've forgotten. We've moved on. Our swords have clattered to the floor. We see folks walking in what we thought was our destiny and blink hard like we forgot something.

We did. I did.

See there are a whole lot of things that we can do well, but only after waiting before the Lord can we really walk where we are called. Waiting is part of the work. I've had to learn this in my writing as something tugged at me again and again.

"Wait," the voice would say like a kiss on my heart. "Huh? I've got a deadline, a meeting, a plan--" "WAIT."

For the times I've listened, the costs have been high, but the blessings sweet. For the times I ran on, thinking that was just something biting my ear, I have suffered greatly, using my gifts in places where they were neither appreciated or nourished.
And that's a sad place to be.

My word for this year was wisdom. I had no idea what I was in for when I chose it. The lessons have been hard won and come through great struggle and loss...yet God's peace remains. I've learned that flesh (including my own) cannot be trusted in the same way that one trusts God. Flesh fails. The love of God never does. It endures and does not seek its own way. It holds on even when it hurts. It waits.

As we move into this second half of the year, I urge you to take some time this month and wait upon the Lord. Put your prayer list away. Set your agenda aside. Just crawl up into the Father's lap and wait. He is a God who sees. Those people who've done you wrong, that thing that hurts so bad you can't even get the prayer out, the obstacles that just won't seem to get out of the way... He sees them all and at the appointed time, He will make your mountains like the valley and all the crooked places straight. Folks who are walking on you now will become a bridge under your feet and a blessing to your face. But for now, for today, just wait. That doesn't mean give up though. Whatever He put in your hands, in your head, in your heart, keep doing that thang. Do it the best you can. And if at some point, it's not coming together, get on your knees and call on His name.

It'll come. So will He. Peace, Marilynn
http://marilynngriffith.com

Moments Like These...

Sweets sounds from Gracie, my four year old, echo through the darkened room where she and my hubby share a snuggle moment. He’s just finished telling her a princess story he made up.

“Come on dad. Sing with me. Tale with old as time. Ah ah ah. True as his cam be (some very mumbled but on tune words)….just a little chance. True why his cam be. Sing with me, dad.”

Reluctant hums come from my husband. Let’s just say my kids didn’t get their musical talent from him. I sit in the dark, wanting to savor the sweetness of the moment. With three older brothers, Gracie sometimes resembles a rough and tumble boy. Right now she’s all ruffles and lace.

“Now it’s my turn to tell a story,” she says. “Once upon a time there was a prince named Joey who picked his nose. He was a piggy, piggy, piggy.” (So much for my little princess.) There was a prince named Timmy who didn’t pick his nose and he was a nice one.”

I ask, “Where did you hear that story?”

“Chris told me that.” She continues the story. “Mom is the nice queen and Gigi (mom’s friend) is the bad queen. And the policeman took Joey away in the big bad jungle and there were animals and they eat him.”

I interject, “I don’t like your story it’s not nice.”

“Now Joey doesn’t pick his buggars. Next prince dad comes and prince mom and she’s a nice queen. Prince dad loves me and Timmy.”

“Is that the end?”

“NO! And bliblubleedadada. There’s the end.”

Moments like these were meant for blogging!

Bad News...Part II

I’m really trying to get my priorities in order, and I’m doing better. Writing doesn’t consume my time. The only writing I seem to be doing now-a-days is on this blog, and it’s mostly reflective of what God’s been showing me. I know in my heart that that’s part of the plan, the process to whatever God’s trying to show me.

In my heart of hearts (or maybe hopes of hopes) I don’t think the purpose of this journey is to give up my writing. I feel it’s to have me completely rely on Him to be my agent and promoter. So even though I am sad about the agent’s rejection, I’m not discouraged. In fact, I’m even more determined to persevere.

This experience reminds me of an old sales jingle I used to tell myself in college when I sold books door to door. “I will persist until I succeed and when I succeed I will over achieve. Only then will I rest because I know I have done my best.”

Sales is a numbers game. Sometimes I’d have to knock on 30 doors just to hear one “yes.” Sounds discouraging, doesn’t it. And it was. The only thing (besides my heart to hearts with Jesus) that kept me going was knowing that if I did what “they” told me and persisted, I’d find that “yes.” And when I found that “yes” all the rejections of the past faded away.

I hated sales, but I was good at it because I followed those simple principles and encouraged myself. I won awards and was top in my organization all because I didn’t give up no matter how tough it got. So now I’m pulling from that experience.

I’m not discouraged about my latest rejection, just disappointed. When it comes to my WIP, there are not many more publishing house doors I can knock on. Many of them have said “no” already. But there are a few more, and I still have a lot more “product” to sell in the form of other WIPs. So I guess I will persist until I succeed!

**I just looked at the scripture in the side bar and it said this...“ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ” (Philippians 1:6)

Now that's an encouraging word!

Bad News Comes in the Mail Part 1

I used to like getting mail. As child I’d wait by the window for the mailman to come in hopes of getting a letter from the half a dozen pen pals I had. I’d listen to my mom’s old 45 record as I bopped to the fifties style music and I sang along to the words…sitting by the window, feeling sad and blue. All because I haven’t heard from you. And then my momma said, “Look. Look. Here comes the postman twisting down the avenue. He’s got a letter in his hands and I know it’s got to be for you…

Yes, I used to love getting mail. That was before I started to see those big manila envelopes in my mailbox with the SASE I put on them! Not a good sign. Any writer will know what I mean when I say bad news comes in the mail. And for all you non writers out there I’ll translate the meaning…REJECTION.

Remember how I’ve been hanging on to that last bit of hope that maybe writing again was just around the corner. I bet the farm, put it all on two things. My Genesis contest entry and my agent submission. Well, the Genesis contest was a complete disappointment and shock when I didn’t final especially when there weren’t too many entrants. Maybe God’s trying to teach me humility. If so, I guess He’s on track.

The second disappointment came today in the mail. I’d been hoping on the last thing I had in the works. My submission to an agent.

The rejection letter was short and to the point, but if I dig deep I can find some encouragement:

Your story was gripping, exciting, and gritty. Unfortunately, I’ve just taken on a number of new clients and am not, therefore in a position to add others. I do wish you the very best in your publishing venture and apologize for not contacting you sooner.

So is that a flashing red light? I’m not so sure anymore. I’m just so confused right now. My heart and mind is torn in two. On one hand, I hear sermons all the time telling me to use my gift and then on the other hand, I want to be obedient to God’s will and the “signs” he’s giving me. But I’m not sure about anything anymore.

Stay tuned for the rest of the story.

It Just Makes Me Wonder…

The doors swung open, and I stepped through the red velvet curtain. A gentleman dressed in a red knee length suit jacket greeted me with a smile and handed me a paper. As I walked down the plush red carpet, dark silhouettes assaulted me with bright flashing lights. I stepped into the smoke filled room, momentarily blinded by the flashing bulbs and fog. The smell of buttered popcorn and espresso wafted through the air. When my eyes adjusted to the scene, I almost gasped out loud. I wished the smoke hadn’t cleared so quickly.

Dorothy, with Toto (a real live dog) in hand, smiled us. Beside her, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion, waved. To the right, a giant mechanical elephant and jungle man greeted us. Further up ahead, CDs, books and t-shirts were available for purchase.

I had to blink twice to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. I’m really glad I didn’t pinch myself because it wasn’t a dream. It was Sunday morning church.

I’ve mentioned before how after 12 years at our church we felt the prompting to find a new church home. We settled at a hip church for about a year, but after a pastoral turnover felt it just wasn’t the right place for us anymore.

On our quest to find a new church home we’ve run the gambit, attending a tradition denominational church, to what I call a “condemning” church where the whole time your repenting from what an evil sinner you are. Then there was the “African” church, the “radical missions” church, the “laid back flip flop wearing pastor” church, the “mega” church, the “conservative” church, etc, etc.

While we enjoyed certain aspects of all these churches, they just didn’t seem to be the right fit. Still we haven’t ruled out all of them for the simple reason that we attended most of these churches during a special program.

Case in point. The church we attended on Sunday. Their theme was “At The Movies.” Now, I have nothing against having fun in church, but when it seems to come before everything else, that bugs me. The praise and worship seemed more like a rock concert, and I had trouble worshipping. The service, though entertaining, was obviously seeker friendly. I came for meat and got a milkshake.

Now I know churches like this have their place. In today’s society sometimes you need the bells and whistles just to get people through the door. Still I couldn’t help thinking about Jesus when he overturned the merchant tables in the Temple. He said, "How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" (John 2:16. For full context go here.)

I just couldn’t help thinking that if in an attempt to make church more fun and attractive, maybe we’re trying to sell Christianity. If Jesus walked into some of these churches would he pull up a seat or start overturning tables? It just makes me wonder.

Think about it. Jesus wasn’t popular. He wasn’t attractive. He didn’t have a mega church with the latest audio visual equipment. Kids didn’t have jupiter jumps and arcades in their church service. His sermons had no bells or whistles (except miracles :)), but what he had was the truth.

Like I said, I like to have fun in church and fun has its place. But when we place that above really connecting with God, it just makes me wonder…

Revolution Within

I'm going to observe the Silent Sabbath again. This time from Saturday night until Sunday night. But before I do, here's a little sneak peak of what I'll be studying tomorrow.

I've started on a spiritual journey that has me intrigued and excited. Revolution Within and the companion workbook Experience Christ Within by Dwight Edwards is a fresh look at God's covenant with his people. I've only completed the first chapter which was very indepth and time consuming with tons of scripture references to look up, but the good thing is I'm doing this study on my own and there's no group deadline. So I can take my time to really absorb these principles.

To sum it up I'll quote from the workbook:

"In the Old Covenant (the law), God's people were instructed with the repeated words, 'You shall...' and 'You shall not...'

But in the New Covenant, the watchword is no longer 'You shall,' but God's 'I will':

'I will put My law in their minds...and I will be their God...I will forgive their iniquity'; 'I will cleanse you...I will give you a new heart...I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues.' (Jeremiah 31:33-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27)

Nothing is more fundamental to understanding and appreciating the difference between the two covenants than these two phrases."

Did you get what the scripture is saying? For Choleric Meloncholies like me it has been the beginning of my freeing from doing, striving, trying to be perfect and right. What the new covenant says to me is that I don't have to strive to be perfect. I can't be perfect, that's what the old covenant, the law, has shown us. I can't do it, so God must! And he did by sending us Jesus.

In the old covenant we are told that obedience is our righteousness.(Deut. 5:28-33; 6:1-9,17-19, 24-25; 8:1-20, 11:8-21) In the new covenant Christ is the end of the law so there might be righteousness for those who believe. (Matthew 5:17-18; Romans 8:3-4, 10:4)

I'm just beginning to grasp the truth of this.

One of the other reasons I'm excited about this study is because it relates to my momlit I'm brainstorming. I'm beginning to realize my character is living under the old law of striving to do what's right, but she's failing miserably. She is easily swayed by other people's advice, yet forgets to turn to God for the answers. She doesn't trust herself to hear the voice of God, so she resorts to living under the old law.

So even though I will be silent (not online) tomorrow, I'm hoping when I study God's Word, His truth will come through to me loud and clear!

Follow Up Interview Mary DeMuth

Portrait of Writing Mom, Homeschooler, Faith, Writing, Interview

Tell us a little about your family and homeschool?

I have three children: Sophie (13), Aidan (10), and Julia (8). We currently don’t homeschool; however I did homeschool Sophie for kindergarten and first grade because, at that time, I didn’t feel comfortable with the school system.

How long have you been writing and what do you write?

I’ve been writing for 14 years. I started off as a newsletter designer and editor, then branched off into writing articles for magazines. Eventually I became a newspaper columnist. Four years ago, when Julia was in preschool, I got serious about my writing, wrote a book, went to my first major writing conference, and met my agent.

Tell us a little about your latest projects.

Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God released in 2005 with Harvest House Publishers. It’s a 60-day devotional for moms. I’ve heard it’s been featured at homeschool conventions. I wanted to write a devotional for thinking moms. I personally grew tired of fluffy writing for women.

Building the Christian Family You Never Had released January 2006 with WaterBrook Publishers. This is a book for those of us who don’t want to duplicate the homes we were raised in. It was a painfully hard book to write because I tell the story of my upbringing in it. The hero of the book is Jesus, who stooped low to rescue me, and set my feet upon a better foundation. By God’s grace, I am parenting differently than how I was parented.

Watching the Tree Limbs released March 2006 with NavPress. This is a novel about a young abandoned girl whose life spins out of control, and the long redemptive hand of God. Its sequel Wishing on Dandelions releases in September

Living abroad has to have its challenges. What are you doing all the way in France and how do you cope with raising kids in a foreign country?

It’s very hard. We put our children in French schools—a really hard decision. Homeschooling here has not been an option. We are trying to be legitimate to the French government as we plant a church. Homeschooling makes officials think we are in a cult. The kids cried a lot the first year (we’ve been here two years), but now that they are fluent and have made friends, it’s been worth the struggle. Just this year, my eldest led her avowed Atheistic friend to Jesus. And another girl is getting close. It’s been tremendous to watch.

Raising children in America is tough enough. How do you encourage yourself during those stormy days , especially in a foreign country?

Pray. Talk to good friends. Set limits on activities. Don’t overextend.

I’m still awed at how moms find the time to write really good books. In your life how do you balance it all?

It’s certainly not easy. When my kids were young, I wrote around their schedules, but I didn’t produce much. I spent a lot of time writing in obscurity, which, in the long run, has really enhanced my writing today. In those ten years of writing before publication, I honed my voice, made lots of mistakes, and also gained confidence. Now? I have a writing schedule. I write when my children are in school and try very hard (though at times, when I’m under deadline, I fail) to quit when they come home.

Is it even possible to give yourself fully to raising children, writing and keeping in shape, or do some things have to be neglected at times?

Of course, life is a crazy balance. One book that’s been particularly helpful to me is The Power of Full Engagement by Loehr and Schwartz. They speak about managing energy rather than time. It really helped me to understand the importance of rest, rhythm and taking time to refuel. Keeping in shape has really helped me cope with the loads of stress we have here in France (church planting, child rearing, writing full time, coping with the language and cultural differences). When I run in the mornings, I hear God’s voice.

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

Sure, there are times I feel that way. Sometimes that means I stop. Sometimes that means I explain. I have a life coach who helps me stay accountable to my schedule, particularly to my children, and I’ve given close friends and my husband permission to tell me when I’ve gotten too busy. One good thing, though, is that my children are my biggest cheerleaders. They celebrated when I landed an agent. They screamed when I got my first contract. They jumped up and down when my first book arrived in the mail. It’s been such a fun adventure, having them alongside me.

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

Pray. Repent. Reorganize. If necessary, ask forgiveness.

If you could do this parenting, writing thing all over again, what would you do differently?

I don’t know. I’m pretty thankful for my dear family who have supported me so well in this crazy dream of mine. The calling God has placed on my life is very strong (of course it takes second place to following Jesus and being a good wife and mother). I really feel these past few years have been guided by Jesus.

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?

I’m taking a break this summer to regroup and refresh. I’m happy to do that. Though, I must say, I am happier when I write. I feel God’s smile when I do.

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

No. I am confident God has called me to do this.

How do you know when you’re in God’s will?

I have His peace. I have heard from many good, godly folks who have confirmed this calling on my life. I give others permission (particularly my prayer team) to let me know if I’ve strayed. Being a missionary to France is hard. Writing is hard. Being a mom is hard. But I know God has called me to do all three.

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

I get quiet. I hear Him when I run in the hills of Southern France (it’s surprisingly quiet here). I no longer watch much TV, so my day is quieter.

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

I have a writing schedule. I’ve learned to be kind when I’m interrupted and to gauge whether the interruption merits my attention or if it can be dealt with later.

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

Take a deep breath and go forward.

Tell me about how you got your first writing break.

I suppose it was meeting my agent at a writer’s conference. You can’t really sell a book to a publisher without an agent. When I went to the writer’s conference, I didn’t even know I needed an agent. So I didn’t really pursue one. But a few weeks after the conference, an agent from the premier Christian literary agencies in the states emailed me and said he wanted to agent me. Wow. I screamed. My kids hollered. My husband celebrated. From that point on, I’ve been writing books that have been published. I chalk it up to God’s sovereign hand.

What do you hope to accomplish through your novels?

When someone puts one of my novels down, I want them to long for more of Jesus and His healing redemption in their lives.

What advice would you give to writing moms?

Keep at it. Write when you can. Don’t despise laboring in obscurity. It’s a time for you to hone your voice, to learn the craft of writing.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Pray for our family as we plant a church in Southern France. It’s a difficult place to plant a church and there’s a lot of spiritual warfare.

Thank you so much for stopping by! May God bless you as you write, raise your children and pursue His calling in your life.

For more from this author visit
www.relevantblog.blogspot.com
www.pioneerparenting.blogspot.com
www.relevantprose.com

What Number Are You?

Every time I read Mary's article on "Pubishing doesn't Validate Your Life" it helps me put my own writing journey into perspective.

I'm a very competitive goal oriented person. I like to plan, dream and work to make it happen in whatever I do. Sometimes though, I plan and move forward on my own, without the leading of God. That's how it's been in my writing for a while. I would plunge into a story line without consulting the one who gave that story to me. I got lost in my creation and forgot the Creator.

When that happens (and it still does), I feel the leading of God pull back. If I don't heed the voice of God, then I know he'll do something more drastic to get my attention.

Since I'm not writing on my WIP right now, I've poured myself into this blog. But I feel myself slipping to the dark side again. Becoming obsessed with hits and counters and referrals from websites. Thankfully God revealed this to me, I've put it in his hands. So what if I don't have tens of thousands of hits. I can't compare myself with others out there. I have to do what God has called me to do and not get distracted by other things.

So what exactly has he called me to do right now? Not totally sure and that's part of it. To learn to hear His voice better and find out what exactly He wants me to do.

I'm at number four right now. Waiting and hoping on the agent thing to happen, but over the last four months I've learned not to dwell on the "What ifs." I'm slowly learning to get my priorities back in order.

God first, family second, writing third.

I'm not there yet, but I'm taking baby steps in the right direction. With that said, I still have my writing goals and dreams. I'm just not letting them control my life anymore. It's hard. But I take it one day at a time. Will I ever fall back into the "What ifs?" Sure. It's something I will have to battle daily. My name is Gina and I'm a writer...

I've printed out Mary's "What I can do", list and I plan to keep it taped to my desk so I can see it before I write. I think that's a good place to start.

So what number are you?

Mary DeMuth on Publishing

Portrait of Writing Mom, Faith, Writing, publishing

Mary DeMuth’s articles have appeared in Marriage Partnership, In Touch, HomeLife, Discipleship Journal.

Her books include Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005), Sister Freaks (Time Warner, 2005), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), Watching the Tree Limbs, and Wishing on Dandelions (NavPress, releasing in 2006).

This post really touched me and I wanted to share it with you. I know you will enjoy it and don't forget to come back tomorrow for a follow up interview with the author.

By Mary DeMuth
Reprinted with permission

Someone I respect in the publishing business recently made this statement: Publishing doesn't validate your life. How true.

I have to admit before I was published, I thought that if I reached that nirvana called "published author," I'd have sweet validation. Every day would be smiles and dancing. You know what? I was wrong. Being published is terrific, mind you, but it doesn't bring happiness or validation. Instead, it adds more stress to your life.

Gone are the days when I could write for the sheer joy of it. Always looming is a deadline. And though I pinch myself because I "get" to write, and I feel like I'm doing what I was created to do, I sometimes get lost in the cycle of publicity, sales and marketing.

Maybe I'm the only one (and I'm embarrassed to admit this publicly), but I check my Amazon ratings for the three books I have in print. I know, know, know that these ratings mean very little. I know that a high rank (which is bad) just means that during that hour the book didn't sell. I know that if a band of readers (like a book club) went together and bought ten of my books in one hour, my rating would shoot lower (which is good). But it doesn't mean anything.

Why do I pester myself with such nonsense? After all, publishing doesn't validate my life, right?

It's like this weird endless cycle of neediness. It evolves in incremental steps of if onlys:

1. If only I could be published in a magazine, even if I'm not paid.

2. If only I could be paid to be published in a magazine.

3. If only I could go to a writer's conference and have an agent show an interest in my proposal.

4. If only I could sign with an agent.

5. If only that agent could sell my work.

6. If only I could have more than one contract.

7. If only I could earn out the advance for the book I wrote.

8. If only I could sell enough books so a publisher would want another book from me.

9. If only a publisher would treat a midlist author like me kindly.

10. If only I could make a living at writing.

That's a lot of if onlys!

I remember reading about blocked goals once and it's stuck with me. A blocked goal is a goal that is dependent on other's actions or happenstance. All these if onlys fit, albeit somewhat awkwardly, as blocked goals. I don't have any control over whether I'll get a contract offered. I can't make people buy my books. I can't make my book sell enough to earn back an advance. I can't control the fickleness of this industry.

What I can do is create goals that can't be blocked. Goals like:

1. I will listen to the heartbeat of God and write what He inspires me to write.

2. I will not let writing, by God's strength, overshadow the needs of my family.

3. I will write the best books I can write, always seeking to improve, abounding in humility and teachability.

4. I will be patient when sales wane and trust God's sovereignty.

5. I will promote my books with this motivation: to see the kingdom of God advanced.

6. I will laugh at the unpredictability of this industry and strive to be lighthearted.

7. I will serve others and not let elusive and fleeting fame (if that happens) inflate my head.

8. I will attend conferences, read writing books, and welcome critique.

9. I will serve my readers by praying for them and answering emails when God provides time.

10. I will write for the sheer joy of it, not despising unpublished words.

So, yeah, publishing does not validate me. Sure it feels great to hold my book in my hands. It's lovely when I get a good review. But it's the hand of God on my life that brings me ultimate validation. That God stooped to earth and chose me, a frail, needy girl, stops my heart every time. And by His grace, I will carry on.

A Word or Two About My Rings and Rolls

Check out my interview here.



Okay, I've gone a little blog ring crazy lately (check sidebar for new rings). But there are so many great ones out there. Please check out their guidelines for joining and specifics about their content. I try and join those I have lots in common with, like being a mommy, Christian etc. but just because someone is on a blog ring doesn't mean I "endorse" everything they say or do.

Same goes for my blog roll. Not all of these people have the same values and beliefs I do, but that doesn't mean I can't learn a thing or two from them.

Right now I have categorized my blog rolls in a way that it's a quick and easy reference for ME to run to when I need certain encouragement or questions answered. I hope you find if helpful as well.

At present time, my blog roll is manageable, but one day it might morph out of control. At that time I'll have to make the difficult decision of who and what to keep. So if you don't see your link on my blog roll, it doesn't mean I'm not reading. I have just moved you to my bloglines to manage all my extracurricular reading.

So now that that's said, feel free to browse the sidebar. If you ever put me on your blogroll, a million thanks and don't forget to let me know. I love to stop by blogs and make new friends.

Let Freedom Ring part 2

America: Return to God

We've been studying the American Revolution and the celebration on Sunday was a great way to wrap up our unit. The church dramatized the founding father's and their discussion of freedom. It was fun to see Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams come to life before our eyes. We had come to know these men a little over the last couple of months. One of the thoughts that stuck with my kids was how this small group of "rabble rousers" were able to get so many people behind them to start a revolution.

We saw how these founding father's were men of faith and learned to read using the Bible. And I posed the question, "were these men a bunch of rabble rousers wanting to pick a fight or were they men of great convictions and knew the importance of freedom in Christ and in their own lives?" I don't have the answer to that question because I wasn't there at that time, but it made us all think. And we decided that the answer would really depend on who you asked.

One of the things my children found fascinating in our study is that even back before the Revolutionary War, George Washington seemed to have a divine protection over his life. Standing well above 6 feet which was way above the average colonist, he managed to escape harm and death in the heat of battle with bullets whizzing by and men dropping left and right.

Then my children were introduced to terms such as human secularism, atheist, abortion, homosexuality. Though the terms all went over their heads, it was hard to ignore the images of teens and horrifying statistics flashed on the big screen.

For me it is easy to see the decline in our society's morality is linked to its Godlessness. Statistics and quotes were read from humanists years ago and how they were targeting the children through public schools to get God out. And their subtle influence is now evident. No prayer in school. Take God out of the pledge. Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. That's one reason why I choose to homeschool.

We've also been studying about Abraham and Lot. We just finished learning about the destruction of Sodom. After service, my 9 year old asked if God would destroy American like he did Sodom. If you compare America to Sodom, one may think the two have a lot in common. But God promises in his word, 2Ch 7:14 "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

So as you pray for your children before you send them off to school, remember to pray for our nation, the president, the troops fighting for freedom all over the world. God's Word will not return void, if we humbler our selves and pray and seek God's face our land will be healed.

Not Just For Bottoms...

Here's a quick idea for several uses for babywipes. I still keep them around even though my kids are out of diapers.

Keep them in your car and purse for quick clean up after messy drive through meals.

Keep them in your bathroom for those quick sink, toilet clean ups. I like to use them to clean the seams around the faucet, tooth paste off the counters (your kids can do this) and at the bottom of the toilet where it connects to the floor. (Really gross if you have boys!)

Use them for quick carpet, wall (watch out they may take off your paint), table clean ups (great for marker clean ups on our table). It's amazing how much these little guys will get out.

Use your imagination and you can come up with your own uses.

I also use clorox clean ups for tougher jobs, but they cost more and are harder to tote around.

For more great ideas that work for others go here.

And that's what works for me!

Let Freedom Ring part 1

On Sunday we attended an amazing service at a local mega church. They had advertised an "America: Return to God" patriotic service and since we're between churches, we thought we'd go. The service was not lacking in patriotism or the spirit of God.

The choir dressed in red, white and blue, belted out patriotic songs like God Bless America, The Star Spangled Banner, and America, The Beautiful. But when the men and women in union started marching onto the platform, I couldn't hold back the tears. Young and old, men and women lined the stage. A youth who'd be returning to Iraq. An old sailor dressed in white who could hardly salute the flag without his hand shaking. A buffalo soldier. And a WWII Pearl Harbor survivor. I don't know if I'm getting more sensitive in my old age, or if in the recent years events I'm able to appreciate what these men and women sacrificed for our freedom. Even hubby had tears in his eyes.

We celebrated freedom and worshipped Jesus in a wonderful service and it seemed fitting since Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. I looked over at my 11 and 9 year old, singing and worshipping and wondered if they really understood everything that was going on. If they really understood about freedom. I don't see how they could. In fact, how can I even truly appreciate freedom when that's all I've known. Still, I'll celebrate this day like every other American and hopefully sit my children down for a moment to reflect on what freedom really means.

God Bless America. Happy 4th of July!