On being a writer
26 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Blogging, Family, My Writing Life
So its been a long time since I’ve written. Some reasons may have to do with the excitement and business of planning a wedding, getting married, and settling into a new way of life. But if I were honest, its been much before that my writing regularly drifted off into almost never. But then last night, as John and I were talking the idea of writing came up again. I had written something for him, and I think that’s what brought it up. I know I have the ability and I feel as if God has given me so much to share, and I express myself SO much better in writing. SO, what does all this mean? Who knows?
John encouraged me to simply just start writing again. I used to carry a notebook with me just about everywhere I went. And mostly when I was in a time of worship or prayer I would begin contemplating things and simply put pen to paper and out would flow a few pages of thoughts. Some devotional, some emotional! Anyway, it was from the heart, just what I was thinking about at any given time.
So here I am, picking up the computer and writing what’s on my mind. And on my mind at this point is the overwhelming nature of what “being a writer” means. I was ok with it when it was just something I did for me or for a release or for my own sense of processing. But once I was labeled a writer (I had a prophetic word spoken over me a few years ago that I had a spirit of a scribe. That I was a writer), it seems that my writing lost its single purpose. Like it could be for more then just me. Like God is setting me up for writing for greater purpose. And that thought is overwhelming and the task daunting. So, in lew of John’s loving advice last night, “just write what’s on your heart at any moment during the day.” I’m just writing.
I’m getting married!
06 Jul 2009 1 Comment
in Family, Friends, My Ever Changing Life, Single No More, Singleness
Up, Up, & Away
Ok readers…it finally happened! I’m engaged! Its been a whirl-wind since it happened, but here’s the scoop. He proposed in a hot-air balloon, with all my family following the balloon.
He arranged with my best friends’ family (who own a balloon), to have “help” in the process of lifting off…”probably won’t go up,” I was told. So as we were talking about doing this around my family, they all were like, “that’s fun, can we come watch, the kids would love it!” So I was like sure, come on!
When the day finally came, we showed up and I was clueless! My whole family was there, cameras in hand (still I had no clue). We helped in the set-up and then Debbie (my best friend’s mom) asked if I wanted to go up. I said sure, I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity. She asked if John would go. Knowing he’s weary of heights, I said she’d have to ask him. So she did and he said to me, “if you, I’ll go.” So I said, “I”m going, so get in the basket.” So we went up, talking about overcoming fear and whatnot. I thought he was nervous b/c of the flying…not so much! 
So after awhile up in the air the pilot was taking our picture, then John turned to me and said something sweet. (I don’t remember what it was) I didn’t believe he would propose on that day, much less in a balloon so I was like, “stop being corny.” Then he said, “No, really, I mean it” and continued with the sweet stuff. I repeated, “Stop being corny.” Then he realized that wasn’t working so he pulled out the ring. I couldn’t believe my eyes…there it was! Right in front of me. This was it! I started screaming, and jumping up and down, and I said yes before he could even finish asking me to marry him. After we hugged and kissed and then the pilot (my best friend’s dad) let the crowd below know (through a walkie talkie) that “we have an affirmative, the ring is on her finger.” It was SO amazing! After landing I was greated by my best friends with hugs and silly girlie squeals…and then my family made their way through to the balloon. It was so special to share with everyone!
Retelling the story!
Our balloon, and the other that also went up that day.
My Neice watching the flight.
This is about when it happened!
Gene Simmons on Fathering
04 Jun 2009 Leave a Comment
in Family, Singleness, TV Shows
Today, as I am sitting here enjoying my coffee watching Kathy Lee and Hoda on the Today show I found truth from the lips of Kiss lead singer Gene Simmons. He said, “It’s the Father’s fault when families fall apart. Men need to step up and be the men that their fathers were not.” He said many other little things on the same line as well. He spoke on how if the father taught his little boy how to be a man and how to rightly treat a woman, we’d have better men and fathers in the future. He also said (which I can say a loud amen to this) that if a father can teach his little girl that not all men are bad and that they deserve to be treated rightly, we’d have a lot of better women and moms in the future. He said of his daughter, “Sophie won’t be someone’s girlfriend, she’ll have a boyfriend. The moment girls stop defining themselves by a man, the moment they realize they are worth more.” Way to go Gene!
Isn’t it funny in women’s magazine’s how they write articles like, “how to make your man happy” or “10 things to keep him around.” Men’s magazines don’t write like that. Why? Because women’s natural bent toward being in a relationship. We’ve preverted our natural drive into somehow we can’t function without someone in our lives. i.e. if we keep our man, we’ll be happy! Ladies, how about finding what makes you happy, finding what makes you tick, what it is that God has made you for? And then should you be blessed with joining your life with someone, you’ll be a whole person and able to give wholely to him. I think Gene has something going here!
Transitions, Changes, and …
27 Mar 2009 1 Comment
in Family, Friends, Ministry, My Ever Changing Life, My Writing Life, Singleness
“…” usually means there is more to the thought, but the writer couldn’t find words to fit the situation. And that is the case here, I can’t find a word to fit with the rest of the title for this post.
The one things constant in everyone’s life is change. And so I guess I’m normal now beacause the last year of my life has been that, changing. It was about a year ago that the changes were happening for me. I knew that they were coming, I’d known for a long time, but it was around March of 2008 that they really started kicking into effect. The place I had known and loved as a church home, work, and over-all “safe-place” was coming apart right in front of my eyes. The way God moves in the lives of churches and the people within one church is a mystery to me (part of what I’m trying to be more sensitive to these days). Let’s just say God has people together to form a church, but he also has people together for seasons. And it was clear that a season was ending. It was tough…more then tough. I don’t think I cried so much in my life. It was an intense time of letting go. Letting go is never easy. Abraham had to let go of Isaac, his one and only son, his heir to the promise from God. I found much strength in the life of Abraham because he didn’t know what God would do with Isaac, the knife, and the sacrifice. BUT, he did know God and he trusted in Him totally! I had to learn that the hard way. I had to go up the mountain and take a knife to a relationship, take a knife to my comfort zone, and kill myself. But I’m getting it back, better then before. Enough about that…
Since then, I worked for a company that sells agricultural supplies. It wasn’t my “dream job” by any stretch of the imagination, but it was good while it lasted. The way in which I found the job (really the job found me) was full of God. The outcomes from being there are still being reeped. It provided for me for that time. About a month ago, they let me go…economy stinks! When taking the news of my release I wasn’t scared, I knew it was part of the plan. And so for about a month, I’ve been looking only to be “found” again.
Since leaving the church, I have been connected with some of the leadership who also left the church. There is a new ministry being planted as a result. This ministry is based on the 24/7 prayer movement God is orchestrating all over the world, in such places as IHOP-KC. Our goal is to initiate a 24/7 prayer room right here in Northeastern, Ohio. I am excited (and nervous) about what this is going to be and how it’ll play out here locally. It is an amazing move of God to draw His people closer to himself, and ready the bridegroom for His return! For me, its been a divine set up personally for the last few years. Someone asked me what this last year of my life has been about. I told them its been the toughest times, but also the sweetest. If I had to pick a one word theme for it, it would be “intimacy.” The Lord is teaching me intimacy in SO many ways.
One of those ways is through John. John and I have been friends for about two years. We met at church through the young adult ministry we were involved with. He was on the missions trip to Jamaica. Although thoughts of John and I together had popped into my mind a few times, it was never something entertained for many reasons. After leaving the church, and looking for a new job, John and I would talk on random occassions, as our group would still hang out from time to time. The job that I found (that really found me) was the one working with the agricultural supply company. John works there, in the warehouse! Ironic,huh? Well, it wasn’t my choice of jobs, but it was at the “right” time, they paid the “right” amount, and it just seemed like the “right” place to go. So I did, we started dating and here we are over 6 months later, and beginning to plan a life together! YEAH!!!
All of these things have played together to write the story of my life. It’s been rough, it’s been up and down…but God is the author of it all, so it’s good! There are SO many details that I’ve neglected to write, but simply because I don’t want to recall them all. Keeping with it, it has been a season of transitions, changes, and … (a whole bunch of other stuff to keep me going!)
Blogging Basics
27 Mar 2009 2 Comments
in Blogging, Family, My Writing Life
So today, my mom asked me to come into her school and help one of her co-workers on blogging. This co-worker wants to make blogging part of a project for some well advanced second graders. Mom offered me as an “expert” on the subject. I chuckle b/c I think mom thinks I am an expert at just about everything I do…honestly, I just do things. I may be successful, I may not be…either way it’s fine with me. I guess I just don’t understand the whole mom thing yet. But, since I don’t feel adequitely prepared to be an expert on blogging I was doing a little research tonight, before going to sleep…now I realize this is actually keeping me awake. Its been so long since I’ve been around that wordpress even looks different. I did find some good stuff, every thing from Blogger to Typepad to startingablog.com. Each has its own way of going about things. Each with its own unique spin on the world of blogging. I even found a site that listed 26 sites that will pay someone to blog. I thought about investing more into doing this, as I could always use the touted $500-$1000 a month most of these sites promised, however, its really not too realistic that I’d stick to it long enough to make any money from the deal. Who knows, maybe the money would give me incentive. I did find an informative website called, “How to start a blog” that seems very good. It’s basic, simple, and easy to follow. I think its what I’ll use in sharing with mom’s co-worker.
