Category: General

**blink, blink**

First the kids got sick.  Then while I was doing my Dr. Mom bit, I also got sick.  And Daddy got sick too.  Which meant that Mom had no time to rest and had to tend to everyone.  Which also meant that the blog, not being a person, received absolutely no attention, only thoughts, prayers & brainstorming. 

Unfortunately thoughts don’t write posts.  Only I can do that.  I knew it had been a while.  But I wasn’t expecting to see that it had been a whole month (maybe if I whisper it, it won’t sound so bad?!) since I’d last posted.  No wonder why I feel so restless.  No outlet for my creative juices to flow.  I’m dreadfully behind on my #BetterWriter challenge.  I haven’t even done 5-minute Friday in about three weeks.  **gasp**  I know!! Thankfully, there is no end time; I can continue to plod along.  And I can also do the Friday challenges at my leisure, even if I can’t link up.

In the meantime, I’ve gone back an imported all my challenges from the Better Writer series into this blog.  Everything’s in one place.  

Temptation Looks Good From Far…

…but is far from good.

Last week, I asked if I looked like a chicken.  I’m slowly becoming aware of how important it is to keep writing, especially the harder things.  The posts that sometimes cause me the most grief are often times the exact ones that some reader needs right at the precise moment.

Another lesson in keeping with the chickenness theme:

There is no shame in honest posting.

I need to quit second (and sometimes third, fourth & fifth) guessing myself all the time.  I should never write something where I feel the need to prepare defense rebuttals, or have my mouse hover over the delete icon.  More energy needs go into the actual writing and not dreaming up some imaginary defense plan that should never be needed.

Besides, if what I write is true, is honest and is what God has impressed upon my heart, then there definitely is no shame in writing it and sharing it. 

I’ve been struggling a bit for the last couple months, as to what sort of spin I want on this blog and if it was an accurate representation of who I am and what I’m about.  There were all sorts of temptations lurking here and there too.  Opportunities to blog here, guest there.  Opportunities to work as a product reviewer, with perks of increased blog traffic, free product and perhaps even compensation.  Yet, I knew that the public at large would probably think me crazy for including some spiritual discussion and using God’s name in ways more positive than in vain.  It all came down to asking myself whether it was more important to please myself or to please God.

I choose to set aside my material desires and focus more on what God would have me to write and share. 

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I’m linking up with Write It, Girl this month.  Click below to check it out too.

Do I Look Like A Chicken?

I sure feel like one lately.  There are many posts that get composed, then contained all inside my head.  Words just flowing freely, written brilliantly, with descriptions to envelop the reader. 

Yet they bottled up inside because I’m too nervous to write them down.  I once worried about whether or not my dear readers would appreciate the message or my words.  But I don’t write for the sole purpose of attracting readership.  I love my readers and that fact that people actually do “follow” my blog.  How cool is that?!  Thank you!!  I also know that you’re not here because I’m some super-genius writing connoisseur. 

My deeper worry is that I won’t do justice to the message.  There are many a thing I feel impressed to share.  Ideas and lessons that I have been gifted to put into words.  Maybe just one person will read it and be impacted in a positive way.

Despite worry is reality.  If.  When I don’t share what’s been impressed upon me, I’m actually stifling the message.  I’m blocking somebody’s blessing.  What a sobering thought.  What an uncool thought!  I don’t want to be a hindrance.  I prefer to be a vessel. 

So, here’s to March and open hearts and words.  Here’s to remembering some great advice from The Message Bible:

God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.  2 Timothy 1:7

Yet Another Blog?

I opted to start a new blog.  My current space, …And Then Some!, is more about general life, parenting, homeschooling and faith.  I have some readers there and many lurkers.  Yet, I was hesitant to add another branch, the writing limb, to that blog. 

I subscribe to a few writing related blogs that are delivered to my inbox.  The common theme of them all is to practice.  The one thing I haven’t been doing is practicing.  I’m not opposed to practicing, honing my craft.  Rather, I have never had a dedicated place to do that.

Until now.  Now I can keep rehearsing, strengthening my skills.  Gone is the worry that my current readers would be affected.

The happy medium has been found.

I’ll Keep on Blogging

Thank you to my loyal readers.  Some of you I have yet to “meet”.  Yet, I know you read this blog regularly.  To those who have left comments–I appreciate your kind words and your encouragement.  Your words, your acknowledgement of what I’d written have helped me feel like I’m not the only one who sees life in this way.

So much has gone on this past year.  There’s been a lot of reflecting time all over, and in the blogosphere in particular.  During these last few days of December, many people are linking up to posts and/or bloggers that have impacted them.  Others are reflecting on their own favourite self-productions from 2011.  Still others reliving the memories of what they’ve experienced and learned. 

I have written some memorable posts.  I have read many more that have helped to reshape my thinking.  With gentle encouragement and coaxing, I’ve been stretched.  In some spots, things are so taut, so tightly pulled that there’s a risk of snapping.  While I’ve come close, I have not broken.

I have a whole slew of other posts which are pretty much non-existent.  I never wrote them.  For a mix of reasons, there were moments in 2011 where I held back from revealing too much.  I believe that in a few cases, I could’ve shared generalities of my experiences, without harm to anyone or anything else.  While others may have been involved, I feel as though I should be able to share my viewpoint if I so desire.

What matters is how I choose to share.

If I point fingers, call names, go on personal rants in a public setting which could be misconstrued for attacks, I’d be doing nothing but setting little fires here and there.  I’d be like a pyromaniac, who has no discretion when it comes to flames.  My words could get me charged with verbal arson.  That’s not my intent.

My hope, my aim is to encourage my readers.  Sometimes with humour, mostly by sharing my life lessons.  I don’t know everything–I don’t even know a fraction of much.  But I don’t think that people are looking to know everything either.  They just want real stories, from real people, and how they really coped in a real situation.  The good, the bad and the ugly…

…and then some.

Dancing From Dominoes

We have a set of double nine Dominoes, as part of our math manipulatives set.  The other day, Jamayiawas lining them all up in some creative design, with the intent of knocking one over and watching the chain reaction.  I offered to teach her how to play.  She was eager to learn.

I separated the domino set, removing everything higher than double six.  We picked out seven tiles each, and I began teaching her the basics.  She caught on quite quickly, and her enthusiasm seemed to double.  She knew that she had to watch the game area for the numbers at both ends and match them up with the tiles from her hand.  If needed, she could pick up tiles from the extra pile.

Later that evening, we played again, as a family.  Incredibly, this girl managed to find even more exuberance for the game.  She remembered how to play and was having a blast. So much fun, that each time she lay down a tile, she stood up to dance and cheer.  Hard.  Jhyelle started copying her too.  So now we had two princesses, dancing and cheering their hearts out after every turn. 

It was adorable.  Loud, yet neat to see their excitement and their passion for learning and celebrating even in a simple moment.  While I was trying to get through a few rounds of the game, my older girls were relishing the game.

The thoughts started coming to my mind.  When did I stop enjoying the learning process?  At what age did I figure out that all inner joy must be restrained and contained, kept only to myself?  And why?  Not all situations call for such displays of excitement, of course.  Discretion must be used.  But by myself, in my home, where I have free reign to do whatever, should I not freely celebrate life?

Thanks, Jamayia, for teaching Mommy in this moment.  Thanks for reminding me that there’s fun awaiting in every nook and cranny of our home.

There Is Laughter After Death

Death.  This is a topic that most common talk seems to respectfully avoid.  Yet, there are many neat things that happen surrounding the death of someone. 

My cousin died last week.  (I’ll have to post more about him later).

While that was sad, what happened next was neat to watch.  People seemed to appear out of nowhere.  I saw a longtime family friend for the first time in eight years.  One extended relative returned home for the gathering (no formal service at my cousin’s request) and had time to spend and catch up with people he hadn’t seen in 20+ years.  Relatives I hadn’t seen since the last year’s huge family event, made an appearance.  Sometimes I forget that we all live in the same city.  Some of my cousin’s friends who had long ago lost touch, reappeared to share their condolences and memories with the family. 

It was wonderful.  A chance to reconnect, with the intention of maintaining contact.  Thanks to modern technology and social media, this is truly possible to do.  Pictures were taken and shared and will be posted online for everyone near and far to enjoy. 

And there was lots of laughter.  Though death is sad, it was nice that the time spent with loved-ones wasn’t soaked up by tears, regrets and nose-blowing.  People left with a light heart, happy to celebrate a life.

What encouragement to do my best with the life that I have. 

The Choice Is Ours

Free choice, while a free gift, does come with a high price.

I have a relative who was raised in a Christian environment and taught all about God.  Education was done at a private Christian school, helping to emphasize and reinforce the teachings in the home.  However, the home life wasn’t the most ideal.  As a result of a combination of things, this relative has chosen to turn away from God.  Completely.

It’s their choice to do so.  God has given all of us the power of free choice.  He outlines in His Word the benefits and blessings of life with Him and the great reward.  He also outlines what life is like without Him in it.  It isn’t as promising as life with Him.  Yet, in the end, the choice lies with each one of us.  We can choose either way.  And you also have the power to change your mind.

I know a number of people.  Not all are Christians, nor have they all been taught about the option of living life with God.  Yet, for the most part, the majority of these people are nice, kind, generous, sincere and loving in their own way.  Some are searching for a deeper meaning to life and are going along a more self-directed thinking.  Others recognize the need to acknowledge the power that is beyond them, outside of themselves and so, choose God.

The relative who has chosen to turn away from God has done so with such a vengeance and anger that it has made them bitter and spiteful and unattractive.  What a lonely life.  It’s been sad to watch.  Yet, it’s their choice.  Regardless of what I think and regardless of what I believe, it’s not my role to act as persuader.  Even if it helps them to become nicer.

All I can do is hope that my life painted a different picture of God than the horrible memories they’re clinging too from years past and refuse to forgive others for. 

This is enough motivation to always choose life.

Happy Birthday, Jhyelle

My little miracle girl is now 3 years old.  (She looked like this her first few days.  She spent a total of 2 weeks in the neo-natal intensive care unit.)  Where does the time go?  One minute, she was born and promptly whisked off to the NICU, with no guarantee of returning.  She was quite sick, but survived.  Then, we were told that she could have some developmental delays as she grew older.  The medical staff had no predictions, only precautions.

Jhyelle is doing wonderfully well!  She’s happy, she’s growing, she’s developing and she’s healthy.  My girl is all smiles and loves to have fun.  She’s into the mimicking stage, where anything she finds remotely entertaining gets copies or repeated, as she erupts into giggles.  Her vocabulary grows each day and she’s now speaking in sentences.  She shocked me a few months ago, when she pointed to some letters on my shirt and named them–correctly!  She’s growing up.

As a big sister, Jhyelle had adjust quite well.  She can always be found touching, hugging and kissing her baby sister.  She’s always trying to help care for her and keep her happy.  Her appetite clearly comes from daddy.  She’s also quite adventurous and seems to know no fear.

My dear preschooler is such a special part of our family–we’re so glad she’s here.  It’s amazing how each child just fits so perfectly into their uniquely jigsawed design, as a part of our puzzle.

Opening a few gifts at her party.