Sticky Notes: The Act of Writing

The act of writing is simple in and of itself, but the endless possibilities it offers are what makes it so compelling. It's a yielding art, conforming itself to whatever niche--large or small--we wish to give it in our lives.

~ Nava Atlas

Ultimate Blog Party: Recording Precious Memories

To help celebrate the 5 Minutes for Mom Ultimate Blog Party 2011 I thought I'd share some precious memories with you of when my sons were young. I'm also giving away THREE prizes!

When my boys were little I wrote a few poems to journal what they were like at that particular age and what my priorities were as their Mom.  Now I look back and have sweet reminiscences and wished the years hadn’t passed by so quickly. I am so glad I did, as now they are 24 and almost 23. Perhaps this will encourage you to jot down some of the memories of your own little ones or the special children in your life.

MAKE precious MEMORIES

SPEND a quantity of quality TIME

CELEBRATE special occasions,
and EVERYDAY occasions

TREASURE every MOMENT

Justin Bradford (1992)

Brandon Michael (1993)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While He’s Still Two (Brandon 2yrs. old)

Looking for bugs.

Now is the time to get things done . . .

sit on a blanket

in the warm sun.

Laugh at the monkeys

on a trip to the zoo -

Enjoying precious moments while he’s still two.

Now is the time to discover books . . .

Sesamee Street,

bulldozers,

how a bug looks.

Sow seeds of laughter,

learn how to pray,

learn his own language,

And cuddle my little one at the end of the day.

On the slide at the zoo!

Later there’ll be time

to talk on the phone,

read my own book,

have time alone.

Organize closets,

and polish the copper

so it looks new -

Later on . . . when he’s not still two.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  

While He’s Still Small (Brandon 3-4 yrs. old)

Feeding his bulldozer obsession.

Now is the time to get things done . . .

Make new friends

with wee little ones.

Build stuff with Legos,

making green bread -

boys will be boys;

teach him how to share his toys.

Learning good manners,

little sticker charts.

Do craft projects and have lots of fun.

Now is the time to do things our own special way -

Read favorite stories

His favorite "Piggy" puppet!

and then read them again,

line things all up

so they all look the same.

Sit upside down,

reciting his numbers,

Kisses times two

goodnight prayers.

Count all the blessings at the end of the day.

Caught a big one!

Later there will be time . . .

for adult conversation,

taking a bath,

eating hot meals.

As for keeping the house neat

and sorting my stuff,

time right now there isn’t enough.

Yet, these moments are precious

I wouldn’t trade them at all;

These things will come later . . . when he’s not so small.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Boy Only Three (Justin 3 yrs. old)

 Now is the time to get things done . . .

consider the lilies

with my little one.

Admire the moon

and the fish of the sea -

Share the adventures of a boy only three.

Now is the time to learn something new -

crafts for children,

making costumes.

To cherish the sparkle

Fishing like Dad and Grampa.

of his eyes so blue.

Dinosuar puzzles,

A B C’s,

Bible verses for him and for me.

Later there’ll be time to do my own thing,

maybe write a book -

something inspiring.

Arrange some flowers,

do something for me -

Later on . . . when he’s not only three.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dubbing him a knight.
Sir Justin Jumps Alot

A Boy Just Four (Justin 4 yrs. old)

Now is the time to get things done . . .

wade in the water,

sit in the sun;

squish my toes

in the mud by the door -

Explore the world of a boy just four.

Now is the time to study books,

flowers,

snails,

how a cloud looks;

to ponder “up”,

where God sleeps at night,

And why mosquitoes take such bites.

First Lobster "Up in Maine"

Later there’ll be time

to sew and clean,

paint the hall

that soft new green;

to make new drapes,

refinish the floor -

Later on . . . when’s he’s not just four.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mom’s turn . . .

Now They Are Grown (Reflections of a Mother)

Now is the time to consider what’s done . . .

Affirm the good choices

of my two sons.

Now young men -

responsible,

driven,

they are finding their way.

faithful sons,

best friends,

loyal brothers.

So hard to believe

how time has passed.

Living and working out on their own.

The Lord lent them to me, now they are grown.

Now is the time for a mother to ponder. . .

Recall motherhood years

of blessed wonder.

Pour through pictures

happy memories I greet;

Cherishing memories,

so very sweet.

Hold in my heart

with a sense of pride -

Nurturing spirits,

shaping character,

maturing steps,

Every drop of love . . . hoping all will abide.

At last I have time to do my own thing . . .

Read favorite books,

talk on the phone,

spend time writing,

enjoy time alone.

Organize keepsakes,

reminisce over tea -

Give up the guilt;

free to be me.

Persue my own aspirations,

reach for my dreams -

After all of these years, I’ve many many it seems.

Now is the time, I’ve plenty to spare . . .

So I remind my sons that I’ll always care.

Occasional guidance,

wisdom for the way,

these things remain devoted to prayer.

One thing they learned

that no matter how old,

a secure place remains

in the heart of their mother.

Yes, now my little boys

have flown from my nest.

And later is here . . . I am so blessed!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ULTIMATE BLOG PARTY PRIZES

To celebrate with 5 Minutes for Mom

I'm offering prizes to three winners who comment
on this post from now until April 8th.
(Chosen with Random.org.)

To be eligible to win please share one precious thing about a special little one you know: a favorite toy, a quirkly little thing they do, something funny they said, something that warms your heart and will warm mine and those who read the comments. And you can also share something about a pet, if you wish!

Extra entries for those who sign up to follow my blog (or already do), follow me on facebook, follow me on twitter, retweet this post, repost this on facebook. INCLUDE THESE IN YOUR COMMENT.
{When tweeting use hash tag #UBP11}

That's a lot of chances to win!

All entrants must include their email addy as such:  myname [at] mymail [dot] com

And now for the prizes . . .

PRIZE 1

Postcards with verses/quotes about mothering,
"Heartstrings" inspirational book and book mark -
enclosed in a beautiful book box.

PRIZE 2

Scrapbooking stickers and papers for
your family pets!

PRIZE 3

A journal to write down your special memories!
Your choice, pink or blue.

Thank you for visiting! I do hope to see you again!

Be sure to drop by 5 Minutes for Mom for more of
the Ultimate Blog Party 2011!

Stained Glass Heart

As a soon to be published fiction author preparing for her career I've been taking time to consider my vision, my mission.

As a storyteller I long to share the stories of my heart. In doing so, I bring much of my self to them. But there is another story on my heart that is aching to be told. This is God's story in my own life. Yet, it is not my story, but His-story. I am living His story as written on the tablet of my heart through the circumstances of my life and my response to His leading.

I am amazed how that even in the midst of the stuff of my life — the chaos, the pain, the sorrow — that I have found purpose and the divine directing of my path. I learned early on that He does not waste our sorrows and that has given me hope to weather the storms, travel the beaten path, to turn the page because the story is not yet over.

I often think of my life as like a stained glass window. Thinking of it in all its intricacy, fashioned by a Master artisan, with purpose, and beauty to be shared. Divine somehow, not because of me, but because of the Master's plan. So many times it has come crashing down, broken into pieces. Broken dreams, broken life. I wondered how anything of purpose could come of such fragments — tiny pieces of broken glass that once revealed a perfect picture. And then something amazing happened, and happened again. The Lord took those seemingly meaningless shards and recreated a new design. It was not the same as before, yet all the pieces were used, not one of them wasted. The restoration process has been a huge part of the story of my life. My heart's desires have been redeemed, though not always, and seldom, in the way I had expected. But I've learned to let my expectation be from Him. The Master Storyteller, the Master Artisan of my life.

As I put on paper the words of my heart in hopes to encourage and bless others, I am an inadequate scrivener. My voice is also inept like Moses, yet I speak in obedience when called to do so. Not my words, but His. So I pray.

"My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer."
~ Psalm 45:1

But it is He who equips and provides the opportunity to share words "aptly spoken". This mosaic heart of mine is yearning to share my voice, by pen or tongue, if simply to touch one heart. One life. For Him.

Over the past few years I find themes burned into my stained glass heart, some which I've been already blessed to be able to share to various women's groups. And as I further prepare for this aspect of ministry, as God allows, I've learned about a fantastic training opportunity for speakers, writers, and women in ministry.  The She Speaks Conference by Proverbs 31 Ministries is about women connecting the hearts of women to the heart of our Father God.  Ann Voscamp, author of One Thousand Gifts, is graciously offering a scholarship opportunity on her website, A Holy Experience, for those interested in a applying.

"For I am full of words,
and the spirit within me compels me."

~ Job 32:18

Would you consider following my blog to keep up with my journey? I have three books that will be coming out over the next two years and have lots of great news to share. Bless you for stopping by. And my you follow that precious path the Lord has layed out for you.

Friday's Fortune: Remote Places

Today's Friday's Fortune takes us to remote places:

Ruth Ann Dell from South Africa shares a fresh view on characterisation using the resources around her to weave stories with:  Banana Leaf Characters

From the Inkwell Inpsirations archive I found a fantastic post that takes you Around the World in 80+ Books by Gina Welborn which features an outstanding list of international fiction. The original post was written in Oct. 2010 so there may be some new books added, but it is surely worth the view!

International Christian Writers is a group featuring authors from across the globe who write fiction with a foreign flair.