I didn’t offer up anything on the Hope*Writers’ share thread this week; but it’s not for the lack of wanting to write. My soul is just about always burning to write. I just didn’t have the time.
It’s just these last seven days have been filled with mundane tasks that needed to happen. More than I needed to write.
Like the trip to the Girl Scout Shop at the end of the week to get the badges and pins for Lauren’s new Brownie vest for the troop’s Bridging ceremony (where the girls move up, like from Daisy to Brownie or Brownie to Junior or from Junior to Cadet). Then I had to spend quite a bit of time sewing patches on a rather ugly brown vest. Well, that’s not exactly how it went down. It was more like this: me lugging the iron down from the coat closet because iron-on badges is thankfully a thing. I have to confess, I had to dip into my stash of Badge Magic to bind the majority of the badges because Badge Magic is also a thing (thankfully). By the way, whomever the genius is behind Badge Magic, that lucky soul is my new favorite person. Ever. Badge Magic, in case you haven’t heard of it, well, it’s sort of like a magical spell that kinda sorta turns patches into stickers. Of course, like any good mother, I recruited artsy-crafty Emily to lend a hand. She did most of the work. After all, as sanity-saving as it is, Badge Magic also happens to be a pain in the derrière, a real tool.
Back to the Hope*Writer shares that lead into Weekend Roundups. When it comes to Weekend Roundups, if I don’t share anything there if I don’t share anything here. Translation: I’m only required to share the work of two other writers if I choose to showcase my own work. And like I said, this week I’ve got nothing.
But a funny thing happened. What started as a requirement has turned into a labor of love, which is strange because I normally don’t read other people’s weekly shares around the web. In fact, I delete, delete, delete when they find their way into my inbox. But I enjoy writing them. Creating a space to share the work of others provides me with purpose, focus even and a glorious excuse to write. And for me, writing is like breathing. We all know everything goes better if one is properly inhaling and exhaling.
It’s long past 10 o’ clock on a Sunday, closer to 11, yet it’s time for another Weekend Roundup. Consider it your nightcap.
The first essay I’m going to share is a little ditty that Shawna Letellier wrote on Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday Blog about what she learned being an unknown first time author. It’s called Book Launch Advice from a First-time Author. You can read about it here. Most of my in-real-life friends are not writers so this one may only appeal to a few of you. But I really liked what Shawna had to say. Her words were nothing short of encouraging. I have big dreams, you see. I know I’m not really supposed to admit my wildest of wild dreams out loud, kind of like how a spoken wish isn’t supposed to come true. You know, like wishes made while blowing out birthday candles or as you drop a hopeful coin into the wishing well-type fountain at the mall. But I don’t believe in that. I believe in faith, hope, plenty of prayer, God’s timing and a lot of hard work. So I’m just going to say it. I want to write a book. Someday. When? Who knows. This is my someday maybe dream.
It seems like everyone is writing on their friend’s sites lately. Here’s Crystal Stine’s essay on Tricia Goyer’s site: Walk It Out Stories: An Indefinite Delay. Here ya go. Highly recommend this essay to anyone feeling a bit lost, torn even, over not begin able to live out a calling or serving God in the way you’d like. I’m not in this season, but boy could I relate when the kids were tinier. I couldn’t even play a single song on the piano from start to finish without a little one sneaking under one of the beds in the girls’ room to snack on fruit-flavored chap stick. Strawberry seemed to be the flavor of choice there for awhile. But even now, there are days that I’d rather just write to my hearts content but I kind of have to stop and make dinner, shuttle the kids to and from school, and make a somewhat decent, if not halfhearted, attempt at the battle of the laundry situation, and all that jazz. I don’t think it’s what Crystal meant. Her essay is more about learning to be still before God. Nevertheless, my ADHD mind related to this one.
I really liked Jennie G. Scott’s To the Parent Without the Right Answers. Hmmm, perhaps it’s because I don’t have the answers either. In fact, people who have all the answers are annoying. And boring. Anyway, you can read Jennie’s post here.
Okay, so this next item of news will take a little work on your part. You know how I keep bringing up Dorina Lazo Gilmore in nearly all of these Weekend Roundups of mine? Well, Dorina just published a new book, actually a Bible Study. It’s called Glory Chasers. I just bought it and you should too. No, really. I already have it in my hot little hands. I’m going to work through Glory Chasers with two friends in the next month or so. Here’s a link to Dorina’s website where you can get the book for yourself. Or head on over to Amazon to snag your copy. That will do. But if you’re on Facebook, head over to Dorina’s author page to view the book trailer.
Friends, I have to go. I had book club on Friday and I’m still recovering. I’m beat. I’m simply not as young as I used to be. If tomorrow morning is going to be somewhat successful, I’ve got to get my beauty sleep. ‘Night all.
N.
P.S. It’s finally raining!
