Left, Right, Wrong, Right

Today I found out my middle child needs glasses, and he's only 5. This was a Blessing in disguise...the reason for having his eye appointment in the first place was not for glasses. It was for a much more serious issue, so we thought. Thank God his left eye is all healthy. However, in that same visit, we discovered that it wasn't his left eye that was the concern, it was his right. Needless to say, he will be wearing glasses for the next two years...

If it wasn't for the concern of the left, we wouldn't have found out about the right. Hopefully we can correct it early enough so he won't have to wear glasses for life like myself. God can use situations and turn them into something good...today was a good example. Sometimes we can get so caught up in what's wrong and miss the whole point of finding the right in it.

GROW up

This weekend has been a very interesting weekend for me. We had our many family activities to do, our weekend service and managed to have a little mommy time for myself. Thinking about everything that's happened this week, I see how much God participates in my life. He's not just there while I'm sitting listening to the sermon at church, but He's everywhere medaling in the things I do. Today our pastor spoke about growing. Growing spiritually. He had us circle two words from a verse in the Bible "grow up". I thought about those two words today and thought how I really did grow up just looking back at these past couple of days. My reactions to certain situations back before being saved would look entirely different to my reactions today. Being asked by old friends about advertising for our church was also something that took me aback (this happened to me twice this weekend). I never realized that ad would get a reaction as it did. God works through people any way He can. And for me, I felt it was another way for me to grow...helping others find Christ. How awesome is that? It's nice to know sitting at church today, that I am a different person from two years ago. I am continuing to grow...and this weekend was a nice reminder of that!! Thank you Lord for continuing to work in my heart.

"Hello, Anyone there?"

Have you ever had that feeling that someone was following you, that you need to look over your shoulders every-now-and-then? I've had that feeling for several weeks now. But it was more like a whisper in my ear or a tap on my shoulder. I've been so preoccupied with life that I haven't had time to sit and do the important things that matter in my life....reviewing our spending plan, reorganizing stuff, finishing my assignment...which is a month overdue. It's so funny how my own needs get so shoved way back, that getting to them is much of a task.

As I open myself up to hearing the Lord speak to me, I hear His voice whisper in my ear about all the things I am neglecting that REALLY need to be taken care of. And what do I do? Look over my shoulder and keep on going. What's that all about? Why do I do things like that?

It's an awesome feeling to know what God wants me to do. But my problem is not knowing, it's doing. Is it my control? Could it be a lack of faith? Whatever it is, it's my struggle. I'm just glad He continues to speak to me even at times I fail to do it. I know I can lean on Him to keep my priorities straight.

The Awakening

Okay, so it's been a few months since my last post. I was even beginning to think if I should continue this blog. But then one morning driving back from dropping my kids at school, I heard the radio host read her blog out loud. "It was the day after Labor Day Weekend. The day of starting over. " Starting over? I thought to myself, then she began to mention how summer was a time for us to enjoy family with vacations and breaks, but Labor Day weekend marked the end of summer. And on the other end, the mark of new beginnings...so I thought hmmm. Maybe I should continue this blog. I took my summer break and now marks a new start. So to new beginnings....

Submit My Submissions

Submitting manuscripts to children's magazines sounds like such a thrill....well, it is, but not you're first one. I'm about to send one of my manuscripts to Spider magazine, but putting all the stuff together; getting the manuscript in the proper format, looking at their specific guidlines, SASE and typing up a cover letter, a cover letter, isn't as thrilling as it seems!!! I haven't even started it...no, I take it back, I have a blank page saved as "Superhero (Part of my story title) Cover letter - Spider". This cover letter is like a cover letter to a resume. It has to catch the editor's eyes even in the first few words he reads. So I need to do that....but I'm not quite sure how I can "sell" my story to them. So that is what is preventing me from sending it. A cover letter.

How can something as little as a cover letter prevent me from continuing on in my writing career? Keep me from possibly being published? I think I'm taking too much control. I need to submit and let things happen the way they were meant to be. Pray about it. Write the letter. Pray again and send it. I need to submit, and let God take it from here.

"Welcome to the Writer's Life!"

I've earned my first writer's disappointment today. I received my copy of the Children's Writer today. It was the issue announcing the winner and runner-ups for the poetry contest I had entered into a few months back. I ruffled the paper to the end of the issue where the announcement was located. I read down, down the list and then it ended. My name wasn't on it nor the title of my poem. Bummer! "Welcome to the writer's life." My initiation into the writer's world. It feels kindof cool. Like I'm in. I'm a writer who felt her first rejection. Well after some revisions, I will be sending the poem out this time to editors....this is a great learning experience for me. It teaches me to have tough skin and not give up. Step back, restrategize and go for it again!

Obedient & Disciplined

This morning I decided I'm going to make some changes in how I handle my day. These past few days have been very difficult for me in all areas of my life including my life as a writer. Life has gotten so busy, I have been pushing off or rushing my time with His Word. So today was the first day of getting up a little earlier than the children in order to have some "me time". Time for writing projects, writing assignments and time with Jesus. I opened up the Bible and decided to add a chapter from Proverbs and Psalms on top of my regular reading. In Proverbs 1-2 and Psalms 1, they speak of listening to God and obeying His instructions. Just what I needed to read....listening and obeying. A revelation, that's why I've had such a difficult time. I haven't been listening and obeying Him.
Well taking that into my writing, I know I have to be more disciplined in setting aside time to write and focus on what I need to do as a writer. I am listening Lord, thanks for the reminder!