Five Minute Friday: Song

It's Friday, and I'm actually attempting Five Minute Friday on Friday... that time to just write without worrying if you get it right!

My writing has been sparse lately... too sparse and I'm considering a blogging fast or social media, or internet, or something...

but today, I'm writing and I'm writing with the community of writers and encouragers who meet at Lisa-Jo Baker's place on Fridays.

...Today, it's about SONG.

My bones have a little chill to them, still trying to thaw out from the few nights of frost we had earlier this week. Up here on the mountain the breeze is still cool coming in my open windows. So I head outside to soak in some sunshine and much needed Vitamin D. My heart is down, my soul a little discouraged. I want to write, but just can't find the words. I want them to be positive words.

So I head outside and I take a little walk around my back yard. I head over to my new "Square Foot Gardening" area and smile at the few little plants that are there. I have dreams for more, but don't want to overwhelm myself with too much, too soon. I smile at the fence my darling husband is installing to protect said plants from the rabbits, deer, and maybe even bear that roam "our woods."

Then I head over to my swing... I love my swing. Pull out a cushion and sit on the side that is basking in sun. And I sit, and I soak sun, and I listen.  The birds are all around me, each one singing it's own song, praises to its Creator. Each one unique, each one beautiful.

One sings and another responds and isn't that the way it is here in our internet communities. Leave comments, encourage--fill in that verse that I just couldn't think of when I wrote my thoughts.

Sing a short song, or a long song; each have their place. Sometimes we hear a song that just doesn't quite resonate with us--but others hear it and respond. I love to listen to the birds sing their song. I love to read the words my friends post... especially on Five Minute Friday.

Join in the chorus of writers today over at Lisa-Jo's.

Community Conversation: Do you ever just listen to the birds sing? And for fun, What's your favorite song these days? (I'll go first in the comments)

Five Minute Friday: Comfort

COMFORT:

There is something to be said for a warm cup of coffee and cozy fleece blanket and a good book! And on this freezing cold Monday after Five Minute Friday: Comfort, that is just what I could go for...

but the writing needs to be done. and sometimes there is comfort in the writing. When my thoughts are all ajumble and I can't make heads or tails of my feelings, then writing puts it out on paper, helps me sort it out.

When I'm overwhelmed with daily life and the to-do list is long and overwhelming, a 10 minute writing can clear my head. My writing so often gets done in the after, but when I make the time for it, even in the after, then truth comes out... and it blesses my heart when it encourages others.

I wrote this post last week and when I received just one comment, I knew that I had written and shared what I was supposed to. It didn't need to reach hundreds. It just needed to reach one, ... and look, it reached more than one.

And when I need the reminder that I don't have to save the world, I just need to reach the world God gave me; I take comfort in knowing that God knows who I am supposed to be reaching... my family, my friends, my blog readers, maybe you! There is comfort in doing just what God wants you to do... and it eases my worries and fears about doing it all.

I Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God ... casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto The Lord: trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Community Conversation: What Scripture do you take comfort in?

It's #FiveMinuteFriday time, which means no back tracking, editing, worrying, or overthinking... so I guess I have to leave it. but when I look back at my post, I see a little too much "I." So thankful for grace and comfort of God's Word. I'd really love to know what Scripture you use to renew your mind.

Realizing my God-sized Dream may be Smaller than I Thought (and that's okay)

Dreaming, I'm supposed to write and post about dreaming on Tuesdays... but I like to do everything late... even three of my pregnancy delivery dates were off by 10 days, 7 days, and 5 days... those girls needed more primping time.

I'm a procrastinator, I say that I do better at the last moment, but the truth is, I'm sure that I would turn out better work if I started earlier. I just need to give myself earlier deadlines.

Problem is, I have so much brewing around in my head, I can't get it out in 10, 15, or even 30 minute increments here and there. I feel like if I don't have a 3 hour block to sit down and write and dream and blog and plan, that I shouldn't even bother starting. I'm working to change this! ---Ya know, the Do What You Can Plan!

So today I have less than an hour and we are going to see what I can plink out on these keys...


When I started this God-Sized Dreaming, I thought I would be the Lisa Leonard or Gussy Sews of handmade notecards. That I would be so successful, I would need a whole team to make my card designs for me. But honestly, that scares me just a little too much... and I kinda like making my own cards, it's therapeutic for me.

I also thought that maybe I could be a Lisa-Jo Baker and write inspiring posts that would be turned into inspiring videos, or Ann Voskamp and write inspiring blog posts that could be turned into best selling books.  So I went back to school for a Communications/Writing degree... but I don't treat writing like a professional. I don't write every day... I barely even write every week.

And then I thought, well maybe I can be a Kristen Welch and start a life-changing ministry in Africa... except that I'm kind of a homebody and chances are I will never leave this country... unless Canada counts.

And then I remembered (and still need to be reminded every day), God didn't call me to be any of those people... He's got them for that! He called me to be ME. Now if only I could figure out who ME is.

This past week I read this post from World Magazine. I'm not saying that I believe everything it says, but I am saying that THIS is what I needed to hear.

"Today’s millennial generation is being fed the message that if they don’t do something extraordinary in this life they are wasting their gifts and potential."

"No shame, no pressure to be awesome, no expectations of fame but simply following the call to be men and women of virtue and inviting their friends and neighbors to do the same in every area of life."

1 Thessalonians 4:11  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

Maybe my "missional" and my "radical" is ... being a better wife and mom, writing as God gives me words to say, and crafting and creating cards, writing notes of encouragement to others.

I am so thankful for the freedom to be who God made ME to be!

I am also super thankful for all the ladies listed above (who have all had an impact on my life, whether they know it or not) and for Holley Gerth, who has been telling me for months through her book, You're Made for a God-Sized Dream that no dream is too big and no dream is too small.


This week was supposed to be about paying it forward, I'm not sure I've done that well. It's hard to do when you are still figuring out your own dream. But I have encouraged one friend to keep dreaming about her desire to be a teacher, and another friend who is feeling lost like me, and I continue to spend time investing in the lives of my kids as the next generation of dreamers...

Community Conversation: Where are you in your dreaming? Do you know what God is calling you to do? How are you encouraging others to follow the dreams God has given them?

Five Minute Friday: Brave

It's Friday... for one more hour and I'm gonna get Five Minute Friday in before I go to bed and start my Analog Weekend!

Five Minute Friday, where we write for 5 minutes of freedom without worrying about what comes out, without editing and backtracking, without it having to be just perfect.

Wanna join in? Be Brave... We would love to have you!!

Start:

Brave.... I was just going to skip this week, because Brave?!?! I'm not feeling it. And I'm tired of being negative so I wasn't going to write, but then I saw this video in my facebook feed! And while I am not a fan of rock music, this?!?!? Gave ME chills!!



Proud to be an American and so thankful for those who are brave and fight for my freedoms, even if I'm using my freedom to be a scaredy cat.

And someday, I'll stop being a chicken and try my hand at being brave and actually take another step toward my God Sized Dream because...

Joshua 1:9 ... Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.

He is with me... in my parenting, in my marriage, in my writing, in my creating, in my friendships and in my community...

I just need to be BRAVE, because God ... the God of angel armies is always by my side.


Stop:

Community Conversation: What comes to your mind with the word 'Brave'? Do you consider yourself to be brave? Is there a verse you focus on when you need to be brave?

I'd be blessed to have you read some of my past Five Minute Friday posts and leave some comment love...

Embracing Beauty

So, I finally drew the winner to the giveaway of last week's post on Embracing Beauty... My readership and subsequent giveaway entries are still small enough that I can just write all the names on slips of papers and draw them out of a cup...  So the winner of the Embracing Beauty ebook by Trina Holden is....

Amy Tilson

And now a little bit about the book from my perspective!

She drew me in with the first chapter and Scripture about beauty and God making us for beauty... amazing!

"He created us in His image, as both a reflection of His beauty, and a celebration of His love for beautiful things. To Him you are His crowning achievement in a world full of beauty."

Why didn't I think of that? Just look at the seasons and God's artwork in each one! He loves beauty. He created us beautiful. He created us for beauty!!

Embrace it!!

There is so much goodness in this book and I'm looking forward to "Finding my Style" and a "Personal Color Scheme." I have already seen it developing since I read the book!  and I willingly got rid of some clothes that I know I will never wear. They were crowding my closet making it difficult to find the clothes I do love!

I also enjoyed the chapter on thrifting, which is why I asked her to cover that topic in her guest post last week.

and if you follow me on Instragram (I'm an addict) here are some of my thrifting finds...

for me...

for the kids!

and me with a scarf tie that Trina demonstrates in the extras!


You must buy the book and check it out!!

Community Conversation: Do you know your personal color scheme? What is your favorite color to wear? What color would you NEVER wear?

When my (in)RL meetup didn't happen

Early this week, I posted about the effort involved in being a friend. I would love to have you join the conversation.
I feel like a failure in this area. I feel like my local friends don't understand my online friendships, but I desperately wanted to introduce them to each other during (in)RL ... I'm sorry to say that didn't happen.

The post I wrote back in January? I'm all talk, no action. The whole idea of hosting an (in)RL meetup was terrifying to me... terrifying enough that I didn't make the effort, didn't pursue and invite and encourage my local friends to attend, didn't find childcare for my kids... the list of excuses is endless.
Partly because my husband's work schedule created a conflict, but mostly because I was lazy, I ended up doing (in)RL all by myself with a huge pile of laundry while the kids had quiet time, and finished it up while they were outside running off some energy.



And all those stories on community and staying and mentoring, they spoke to my heart and encouraged me. And I loved following the tweets and instagram shots of those across the country that were a part of (in)RL. But it could have been soo much more.

Imagine if I had made the effort to see if I could have hosted an event in my church building and invite ladies of all ages to be a part (side note: there was a conflict at church, too, but that is not the point). We have mentors in our church, and we have mentorees (is that a word?) in our church, too. But to grow that ministry and to encourage more women to step out and ask for a mentor... Well, this would have been the perfect opportunity.

I don't have the answers and I don't know if I will be any more successful next year, but I am being honest with you. I have a desire (maybe even a God-sized Dream) to be better at community!!

Some things I loved about (in)RL...

• Seeing the lovely faces of those dear friends that I met face to face at Allume.
• Hearing those voices again... I love voices (which is kinda funny because I hate the phone)
• Being challenged and encouraged to stay... even when it's difficult
• Listening to others tell their mentor stories... and giving thanks for my mentor
• Listening to the Incourage writers read their blog posts out loud... again with the treasure of voice.
• AND the "bloopers" reel... I watched it AT LEAST three times!!

It was such a blessing to watch these videos as I experienced "real life" ... folding laundry, loving my kids, feeding my kids, breaking up fights, missing my husband, laughing and crying and connecting on twitter...

I've been blessed!





If you don't want to wait until next year (and I hope you don't) to be a part of the (in)courage community, stop by and join their incourager groups... there is something for everyone!

and they have a facebook page

Community Conversation: Did you participate in (in)RL? ...by yourself or with a group? How do you connect with your local friends?

Five Minute Friday: Friend

Five Minute Friday always gets written in the leftovers and sometimes there are no leftovers and no writing. When I saw the prompt friend this week, I immediately had 2 or 3 ideas pop into my head, but by the time I could sit down and write, those ideas had fled! I hate the leftovers... but it gave me another idea for my 5 minutes.

Start: Friend

Sometimes, If I'm honest-- most times, my friends, my real-life-I-can-touch friends get my leftovers. {I'm not proud of this fact and I want to change this}

• I'll call her ... after I get my laundry started.
• I'll meet you for coffee ...after my homework is done.
• Go to Salvation Army together on half-price Wednesday? Nope, I'm too busy picking up the pieces of a house showing serious signs of being lived in.
• I should really have so-and-so and her family over for dinner, but we already have Awana and karate and... and I would rather veg on the couch this evening.

A man that hath friends mush show himself friendly--- what does friendly look like?

Is it just a smile and a wave in pickup line at school?
Is it a deep felt but short "How are you, really?" on Sunday?
Is it a 10 minute phone call, when it's convenient for my schedule?

Or
Is it stepping out of my comfort zone, risking rejection and inviting someone to my home even when my fridge is nearly empty and I desperately need to go grocery shopping.
Is it writing an encouragement note from my heart for ONE instead of writing a blog post for many ... or a few.
Is it meeting for coffee, praying together, being authentic, making a sacrifice.

Being a friend takes effort. Are you willing?

Am I willing?


Community Conversation: What is one way you connect with your local friends?