The Winds of Change

It's one of those times of life for me. Great change is on the horizon. I feel it coming. It's exhilarating. Thrilling...and a little... intimidating. 

Why? Because change is different. The old will be no more and the new will come. 

I've been waiting for this for a very long time. It's the type of change I've prayed about, worked like crazy for, and knew that if it was in God's plan, it would eventually come to be. Standing on the threshold of that change fills me with an overwhelming urge to laugh, cry, and to celebrate. The road will be hard and the road will be incredible. There is nothing to do now but continue to place my hand in the Lord's and with the confidence that we're in this together, take one step at a time. I hope you will be with me to share in this journey. Your comments and support mean so much to me!

Tell me, have you experienced change lately? Looking back now, what advice would you have given to yourself as you were on the threshold of that change? 

Photo credit: Pride and Prejudice, 2005

What Songs Move You?

I'm really curious. Because music is super important to what I do.

I'm a writer. But I'm also a mom. A mom with three kids at home (all day long!) It's not easy to balance homeschooling, a newborn, and writing. So when I sit down to write between the spelling lesson in the morning and the peanut butter catastrophe that's sure to happen in the next hour, I need something to help transport me to the world my characters live in.

I have dozens of play lists put together. Countless songs for particular emotions, experiences or settings. But I'll name just a few. Keep in mind the list changes as I do. It changes as my characters evolve. As they grow. As they experience their world--emotions that are as unique as the characters themselves.

Sorrow. Joy. Tension. Anger. Bittersweet yearning.

So without further adieu, here are a few of my top choices right now:

Don't wait for me by Josh Garrels
Silver coin by Angus and Julia Stone
I will exalt you by Hillsong United

...and of course lots of Adele and Iron and Wine

Often times, I listen to folk music, like the Cold Mountain soundtrack. It helps me feel my setting and my surroundings. Helps me dive into the Appalachian culture I write about. I'm excited to expand on this in another post soon.

I'd love to hear from you. What songs stir your emotions? If you're a writer, what songs do you listen to that reflect the setting of your stories?

Photo credit: Cold Mountain, 2003

"OK, God. When Does it Get Good?"

We drove to Utah this last week. Two toddlers, one newborn, eight hours. Yep. Fun times.

Well, the anticipation for this trip has been building for a while. It's our annual ski/snowboard trip in the mountains. I know, I know--leave the mountains to go to the mountains? Our's isn't exactly the ski-resort type. It's more the mountain man/bed and breakfast type. Point in case, no slopes.

But this is the first year our son was going to snowboard and he was thrilled as we left our little home and drove and drove and drove. And drove some more.

Out of California, through the tips of Arizona and Nevada and into Utah.

Even after this, our five-year old son kept looking up at random mountain ranges and asking, "Is that Utah?"

And we would constantly remind him, "We're in Utah, we've been in it for a while."

But he would still look up to the mountain tops, clearly confused. And we knew why. To his little mind, Utah was snow, slopes and boarding. Not this flat, red state with cliffs and bluffs.

And it hit me that so many times in our lives, we ask God the same question. When are we going to get there? When is my luck finally going to pan out? Surely, this can't be as good as it's going to get.

I know I've had those moments in my life. And what a waste. It's a waste because one day, we could turn around, find ourselves 90 and completely alone, just wishing the grand kids would come for a visit or that our loved ones would send us a card. I hope that in my old age, I will be able to look back and be grateful I counted the little moments--the moments that really mattered. Because, before we ask "When does it get good," perhaps stop and think that today is a day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

If we just live for those Academy Award moments like, a larger home, job promotions or book contracts, we could waste a lot of time realizing that we're already there. God has already blessed us abundantly if we would just look around and see it. 

So how about you? What are you thankful for this very day?

What Are Your Reading Quirks?

I'm curious...what do readers do, act like, think like while their reading. Seriously, its time to dish on your reading quirks. I want to know what's the strangest thing you've ever used as a bookmark. And whether or not you read the ending first. And how many pages do you actually give a book to prove itself? I'm looking to learn more about you. your fancies, your whims. What makes you tick?

And this is not just to see if I'm the only crazy person in the world. Girlscouts honor ;)

To kick things off, I'll give you my own quirks:

When I'm in a bookstore, I study the publishing logos. Yep, I literally run my finger along the top edge of the shelf and do a roll call. Which publishing houses are here, which have the most on the shelves, which houses publish the books I love.

I read every bit of text in a book. From the copyright data to the cover credits on the back. I like to know who edited it, who it was dedicated to, the authors bio, everything. Maybe it's a writer thing. Of course I only do this on books I read. And I'll admit it, I rarely give a book more than 5 pages to get me. I know. I'm a horrible person.

If I get to a really exciting scene, I tend to skip words. I basically just read too fast. It's kind of like eating too fast but without the indigestion. And once I get through it, I might go back and read it more slowly. I should probably develop better patience :)

Ok, I dished. Now your turn. What are your reading quirks?


Photo credit: Beauty and the Beast, 1991

Blogging Break, But Good News on the Way!!

Hi everyone.

I'm spending the week writing, editing and trekking around with the fam so I'm taking a break from blogging this week, but I'll be back next Tuesday!

And I have good news on the way. I am SOOOO excited. I can't wait to share!

Happy 2012 and I will see you next week.