This is my letter to the world…
…that never wrote to me. (Emily Dickinson)
or, how to get more written in less time.
(source)
I think my writing has gotten lazier and sloppier than it used to be. I have limited time, a lack of patience to write well, and I’m not an English minor in college anymore.
But I don’t want to give up on this (written) scrapbook of life, though it’s always challenging walking the line between transparency and overshare.
I don’t want to give up the friendships I’ve made this way either, for although flesh-and-blood friendships are more real in a sense, these have been a gift too.
What I do want is for my writing to be a reflection of what’s important – ultimately pointing to Christ and reflecting my walk with Him, even though each post isn’t a theological treatise.
So if that means I’m writing more frequently but in smaller tidbits, that might be a good thing. Or if I’m writing less often but more authentically, that’s good too. The former is where I’m leaning now – not letting a lack of big ideas deter me from sharing the small ones.
Just a few thoughts on this stormy Sunday afternoon…
Needed: Inspiration
My mind (and thus my writing) are very much on a pregnancy/mommy track right now.
I love writing and always have, but alas, the dreaded writer’s block is upon me.
Some weeks I feel quite prolific and the words emerge effortlessly from my keyboard. Other times, I find myself staring at a blank page and blinking cursor, then clicking away to something else.
I need to jot down post ideas when they come to me, instead of trying to think of them spur-of-the-moment.
How do you get writing and/or blogging inspiration?
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Titles Gracing My Tabletop
I wanted to share the summer reads I’m breezing through right now (besides the excellent Because He Loves Me).
Life Management for Busy Women by Elizabeth George: I’ve read this several times before, but I’m enjoying going through it again to glean helpful tips.
Jane Addams: Spirit in Action by Louise W. Knight: It’s been awhile since I’ve read a biography, and although Jane Addams isn’t a hero of the faith, she is a fascinating historical figure.
Damsels in Distress by Martha Peace: Written by the author of The Excellent Wife, this book has so far allowed me to feel like I’m receiving personal biblical counseling. It hits too close to home sometimes (in a good way).
Organizing Magic by Sandra Felton: I’m not following her 40-day plan, but I love reading about ways to make my home more organized, so I’m going through these suggestions and storing away helpful ones.
What are you reading right now?
Little handprints, unfinished books, and other miscellany.
1. Father’s Day 2011.
I had fun “planning” Father’s Day with Christian this year. I can’t wait until he actually knows what’s going on!
We got A.J. a card and a double picture frame with a picture of Christian on one side and his handprint on the other. Christian carried the card to A.J. first thing in the morning, all sleepy-eyed… so cute.
Having Skype is such a blessing when you live far away from family. We were able to “see” my dad for a few minutes.
2. Reading blogs and being materialistic.
When I read my subscriptions on Google Reader, I often end up struggling with envy and discontentment. I feel like I should have a handcrafted necklace, or adorable vintage baby clothes, or an expensively decorated nursery, or a huge wardrobe for myself. I need to learn to enjoy others’ finds and creations without stewing over what I can’t have.
3. Unfinished books.
Not finishing a book feels so wrong to me, yet three books that I began several months ago are lying on my bookshelf, incomplete. I fully plan on completing them, but when? I keep starting newer, more interesting ones. Neglected books, I’ll get to you someday…
4. Mini meal plan.
I did my best at planning simpler meals for the upcoming week. Here’s the tentative plan (four of them are crock pot meals):
M: tilapia, rice, asparagus
T: calzones, salad
W: honey dijon chicken, couscous, green beans
R: chicken parmesan, salad
F: turkey tacos, corn on the cob
S: chicken alfredo stew, homemade rolls
S: pork roast and sweet potatoes
5. Another exercise update.
My nausea of last week was a bit of a setback – I only exercised three times, which is less than I prefer right now. I’m feeling a lot better and am excited to get back in gear this week. I just got a new exercise DVD (above), and it’s good for toning and in-between days. I’m so thankful for the energy and physical ability to stay active!
Have a happy Monday, friends!
I Want to Be Like Her
In my imagination, I lived in India and China and Africa growing up. Reading biographies of faithful women impacted my heart. I still resonate with their stories today, even more in some senses.
Who are some of your favorite Christian women to read about?
A Simple Way to Give… With Your Words
I love the work of Compassion International. Last week they sent several bloggers on a trip to the Philippines. I followed the writing of Kat, Lindsey, and Tsh as they shared about a bathroom-sized home, mothers who don’t name their babies, and living in a putrid marsh.
I wish (and so do you, I’m sure) that I could sponsor a million children. But here’s one takeaway I was left with from the week – many Compassion-sponsored children don’t receive letters from their sponsors, but letters are powerful. You can become a child correspondent by signing up to write letters to a sponsored child who doesn’t receive them – no financial obligation required.
Photo by annilove
Book Review: Beneath the Night Tree
Beneath the Night Tree by Nicole Baart is the third book in a series following Julia, an orphaned adolescent turned college student turned single mom. I was excited to discover Nicole’s writing when I was in college, because it’s simple and engaging and, in my humble opinion, a notch above a lot of other Christian fiction.
My curiosity about this book stemmed from comparisons to the first two in the series. After the Leaves Fall got me hooked on Nicole’s writing, especially because of Julia’s compelling character. Summer Snow was a bit less eventful, not quite as engaging, but still enjoyable.
In Beneath the Night Tree, Julia comes full circle. We meet the five-year-old child she only knew as an unborn baby in Summer Snow. Julia’s motherly relationship with her younger brother is fraught with tension and confusion as she navigates her relationship with her boyfriend Michael, as well as the unexpected reappearance of her son’s father. Julia’s grandma, a sweet and stable force in the series, encounters her own battles as well.
I loved the plotlines of the story. Several unresolved relationships are addressed, and the interplay of action, thought, and dialogue is deft and believable. I was a little disappointed at the direction the story took. To me the ending was predictable a short way into the book, but I enjoyed the journey because I entered into Julia’s confusion and turmoil along with her.
Disappointingly, discussion of Christianity is muted and general. Although this is better, perhaps, than a cliched approach of injecting a sermon into the novel at a climactic moment, I would love to see Christian fiction portray Christ with broad, beautiful brushstrokes instead of in hints here and there.
However, a refreshing aspect of Nicole’s writing is her ability to be discreet – she could carry her descriptions farther and push the envelope morally, but her restraint provides a richer story that doesn’t stoop to the world’s usual smut. Beneath the Night Tree was a satisfying conclusion to an enjoyable series.
Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a review.
Beautiful Monday + Links
Something happens to me when I’m pregnant.
Other than the throwing up, sudden compulsion to be a couch potato, and the joy of growing a brand-new little person…
I forget how to blog.
Seriously, my first pregnancy? I blogged about ten times total. My excuse reason was that I was sick for the first 16-20 weeks.
And this time? Well, I’m more sickly than sick. So I should be able to blog, right?
I’m having difficulties. My right Shift key is broken, thanks to leaving my keyboard within reach of little curious fingers for about 10 seconds. So now I am using my right Shift key. And it’s much harder than you might think to switch. (Seriously, try it. It’s annoying, especially when you’re typing a question mark.)
I had nothing to say tonight, as usual, but I was determined not to be silent for another day. So it’s sort of a weakly-explain-my-absence, and give-you-a-few-awesome-links post. (These posts made me want to blog again, though I couldn’t think of anything to say.)
Amy (I just love her and her blog; I’ve been reading there for probably almost four years) is writing an amazing series about the birth of her second child. It’s not your typical birth story. So far she’s written Prelude, A Doula Provided, Waiting, and Finally, Labor Begins.
If you’ve ever experienced a kitchen disaster you will laugh like I did at this post by my friend Cheyenne: A Lesson in Home-making.
Rebecca shared a heartbreaking story about her work with kids in ::falling apart at the seams day::. I really admire her ministry and her heart.
I love most things Kat writes, and her post today, Is God Safe?, was one of those especially meaningful ones for me.
I’m afraid that’s all for tonight. I’ve been reading your blogs but I’ve been a terrible commenter. Here’s hoping my blogging brain becomes refreshed and inspired!
Remembering the Words
I am ashamed to say that although memorizing comes easily for me, I’ve never intentionally memorized Scripture on my own, without being guided by someone or something else.
When I was 12 or so, my mom led my sisters and me in memorizing Romans 8. I think it took us a couple months during the summer. We read it out loud together every morning, and by August we had it memorized. I still remember most of it! How amazing would it be if I had large sections of Scripture committed to my memory like that?
I think I’m going to try it again, using the daily read-aloud method. We’ll see how far I get!
Any memorizers out there? What have you memorized, and what method(s) did you use?
2011 Reading List
I’ve been spending time with family this week, so if you’ve contacted me, I will be back to my normal responses next week!
I’ve never made a reading list for a specific year, but I’m excited to try it this year.
* buy/borrow
~ already begun
Devotional:
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Jeremiah Burroughs ~
Joy, Lydia Brownback ~
A Godward Life, John Piper
Nonfiction:
If God Is Good, Randy Alcorn
Because He Loves Me, Elyse Fitzpatrick
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled, Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Knowing God, J.I. Packer *
Treasuring God in Our Traditions, Noel Piper
The Hidden Art of Homemaking, Edith Schaeffer
One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp *
The Faith of Betty Scott Stam, Betty Stam
The Glory of Christ, John Owen
Fiction:
Chronicles of the Schonberg-Cotta Family, Elizabeth Rundle Charles
Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
Mansfield Park, Jane Austen *
Beneath the Night Tree, Nicole Baart
Promises to Keep, Ann Tatlock *
While We’re Far Apart, Lynn Austin *
What’s on your reading list for 2011?
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