Have you ever felt like your life is out of control? You have a direction you'd like to go, but your path is anything but straight. If you'd look back, it's as if you're drunk with the way it looks like you've weaved back and forth along the way. For the last few years, that's how my life has been. There are things happening in our home that began in the summer of 2015. While I can't go into details, the seriousness that's evolved as a result has added an enormous strain on our … [Read more...]
How to Combat Overwhelming Sadness
I feel like I've been one of the most unmotivated people to write anything in the last year or so. It's like the zeal for it has all dried up. The hard part is I can't explain why. This makes me sad because when I do write I'm able to express myself in a way I can't do very well verbally. I think others get who I am better because they can see a piece of me with what I share. On April 11 I began to do my personal quiet time again after having had an extended absence away from it. The good … [Read more...]
Life’s Too Short
As I sit here and look outside my upstairs window, the landscape is blanketed in a snowy winter wonderland. While we slept last night, snow fell, leaving about 3 inches on the ground. The trees are covered in the beautiful purity the snow brings. It’s December 1. Christmas is only days away now and we are in full-fledged shopping mode to get all the gifts for the ones we love. As this time of year always comes around, Mari is never too far from my mom. She never far from my thoughts, but, … [Read more...]
The Journey with Stephanie Prichard #acfw
Please welcome this week's guest Stephanie Prichard for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? Riding the Emotional Roller Coaster When my love of writing became an earnest intent to publish, I had no idea I was mounting a twisting, looping roller coaster. Please note that from my perspective a roller coaster is NOT an instrument of fun and delight. Chugging to a peak is no problem, but the other side of that peak? Uh-uhhhh. Not a matter of … [Read more...]
The journey with Leslie Payne #acfw
Please welcome this week's guest Leslie Payne for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? One lovely January morning in 2000 my writing journey began by accident. Snow fell gently from the grey sky as I waited in my car at a red traffic light. Writing was not part of my life. My passion was dance, ballroom, swing, and Lindy Hop. For several years I had kept a delightfully hectic schedule dancing three nights a week. That winter morning I sat … [Read more...]
The Journey with Jaime Wright
Please welcome this week's guest Jaime Wright for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? I quit writing for two years. Those were the months I agonized as I lost three babies, underwent three surgeries, and spent weeks with nails bit to the quick wondering if my current pregnancy would last to fruition. My fourth pregnancy landed me in the ER with a pre-confirmed miscarriage only to result in a miraculous heartbeat that went on to be an … [Read more...]
Day 110: Reading in Russia #acfw
Have you ever read a book and loved it so much you contacted the author either by snail mail or email? I have. I read a book called The Wedding Kiss by the pen name Hannah Alexander. The names of the actual authors are a husband and wife writing team. There real names are Mel and Cheryl Horde. I loved this book so much I wanted to let them know so I sent an email to them to the email address listed in the book. Cheryl actually wrote me back. We ended up talking back and forth for several … [Read more...]
Day 38: Ideal Conditions
Are there ever any? I kind of think about when a husband and wife decide they want to start having children but then they wait. To have enough money, but there never seems to be enough. To have the right job, but never seem to find it. To get that promotion you've been waiting for, but it never comes. To, to, to, there seems to always be something that gets in the way. As any parent will tell you, if you wait until the "perfect" time you will never have them. You just have to do it and … [Read more...]
The Journey with Paula Mowery
Please welcome this weeks guest Paula Mowery for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? Growing up, my mother worked at a Christian bookstore. She would bring me books to read and also journals to write in, so I suppose she is partially responsible for my love of reading Christian fiction and my love of writing. I wanted to pass on this love. As an English teacher for middle school students I urged them to find books they could get into, … [Read more...]
Quitting A Bad Habit
If I could quit one bad habit I have it would be to quit being a procrastinator and just get things done. Why do I wait until the last-minute where I'm running around frantically trying to get done whatever it is I'm doing? I have no idea. I think part of my problem is time management and how I can easily eat away at my time when I should be doing something else. When you work outside the home for someone else you are forced to be accountable with your time because if you don't the chances of … [Read more...]
