An Ornamental Christmas

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My favorite part of decking the halls is trimming the tree. Opening the box of ornaments and oohing and ahhing and laughing as we hang them on the tree. Each one holds a special place in our hearts. At least, in my daughter's and mine. The guys seem to care less.

Every Christmas my husband and I buy the kids a special ornament depicting some event from the past year. When my son was into collecting dog figurines, he got a dog ornament. When my daughter did cheer, she received a cheerleader ornament. One year my son got an ornament that said, "Oldest Child...Mom's favorite" and my daughter got one that said, "Youngest Child...Mom's favorite." Here are a few of the other ornaments that have been added to their collection over the years:

The skateboarding phase

Zach played tennis for 4 years

Lyndsey finally got that iPod she'd been begging for!

The year Lyndsey got glasses. She's already moved on to contacts.

Last year (way back on the 2nd of January, 2010), my son turned 16. He officially got his drivers license a few months later. My daughter was in 8th grade. She was on the volleyball team and played the drums, but she'd already been given a volleyball and drum ornament in past years, so I had to come up with something different. Then I thought of something absolutely perfect for her. Below, is a picture of the ornaments my kids received last year.

I'll probably order their 2011 ornaments sometime this week. I have ideas for both kids and can't wait to shop around and see what I can find. (by the way, eBay has tons of ornament stores with endless options!)

Our Christmas tree is very eclectic. I think themed trees are beautiful, but not nearly as much fun as a tree decorated with ornaments that tell a story. And as we hang our ornaments every year, we enjoy looking back at each of the "seasons" the kids have passed through so far. And these memories never fail to bring smiles to our faces and warmth to our hearts. Maybe a little bit of sorrow, too, knowing that there probably will never be another "skateboarding" or "ballet" season. But definitely happiness that there will never be another "braces" season! (At least for my son. Daughter just got hers this year).

So what about you? What event or milestone would be on your (or your child's) ornament this year?

 

Seasons Change

Well, today starts a new season for me. The consignment store where I've worked for the last 10 years is going out of business. Yesterday was my last day. It feels kind of strange knowing that not only am I done working there, but the store won't even be a store anymore. I've shopped there for my kids since they were little. Got lots of great deals and adorable clothes. But, sigh...another Michigan business bites the dust. Unfortunately, this time it affects me.

So now I have to figure out what I'm going to do. Should I look for another outside job to make up for the consistent paycheck no longer coming in? Or should I really hit the freelance circuit and see about finding online work? Or should I just write, write, write and submit, submit, submit, hoping to make some extra sales?


Hmmm....I can't help thinking that a contract would be nice about now.

Double sigh...


Anyway, I have to admit, I'm a little excited about beginning this new life chapter. I'm trusting that God will work it all out (as He always does) and give me direction. In the meantime, if you know of anything out there, I'd love to know about it. Or, hey...while I'm asking, if you're a philanthropist and feel like throwing a bit of change my way, I won't mind.

Q4U: Do you work to supplement your writing? If so, what do you do?

Falling back into Writing

OK, no more slacking. You've taken enough time off...now it's time to get busy. Don't wanna hear those lame excuses about what a perfect pool day it is or that you're taking the kids to the movies or it's just too stinkin' hot and you've got no energy left to write. Blah, blah, blah. It's not gonna work anymore. Renew your mind, focus, and get to work. Got it? That book is not going to write itself, you know.

No, I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to myself. Although, maybe you need a little pep talk, too. I love summer, but during the months of June, July, and August, calling myself a writer would be, well, lying. I'm sorry, but adding a measly 1,000 words to my novel over the course of 3 months does not a writer make.

Just as plumbers must plumb, and nurses must nurse, and salesmen must sell, writers must write. Like every day. OK, a brief vacation is in order, particularly during the beautiful summer months, but I've been on what you could call a three-month leave. Only mine has not been a medical leave, it's been a mental leave.

The good news is that the time has come. In one week, the kids go back to school and I go back to work. Fall is my most creative and productive season and I am truly looking forward to creating and producing.

But that's next week. For now, if you'll excuse me, it's going to be sunny and 90 today. The pool is calling my name.

So what's your most productive season of writing? Do you struggle to make time to write during the summer months?

Springing into something new

Saturday marked the first day of Spring! The air was fresh, birds were chirping, flowers were beginning to bloom...

Oh wait. That would be my dream. In reality, I woke up to a blanket of snow covered the ground. And it continued to snow and blow all day long. Welcome to the first day of Spring in Michigan.

It doesn't really matter what it looks like. The calendar states that it is now Spring - even if it's twenty-five degrees and snowing. It's all good, because sooner or later, I know the weather will catch up with the calendar. But, I'm happy to add that by yesterday afternoon, the sun was shining, the snow had melted, and I really did get a nice glimpse of Spring. Yay!

The point is, Spring is the season where everything is new and beautiful (eventually). So what about you? Is an idea for a new novel beginning to bud? Is your new project starting to take shape? Have you had a new opportunity present itself? Entering a contest? Just had something published? Or maybe you're simply at the point where you're beginning to transform your caterpillar first draft into a beautiful butterfly.

What's new and beautiful in your writing life?

It is Good...

My absolute favorite time of the year is fall. No, not because my kids are finally back in school after a summer of noisiness (and bickering) and I'm relishing the quiet (although, that's wonderful, too!). The reason fall is my favorite season is because there is no other time of year when my breath gets totally taken away simply by beauty.

As I drove across town to my bible study this morning, the magnificence of God's glorious creation brought me to tears. The brilliance of the reds, yellows, oranges...so prominently displayed by the sun's radiance. In those few moments, I was reminded once again that our God is a God who loves beauty. Who IS beauty. It exudes from every ounce of His being. And he created it just for me. He delights when I delight in his splendor.

This morning, I felt closer to God than I probably would have if I had been reading the Bible in my living room just by experiencing the beauty of His creation.

As a writer, the desire to create has been planted in my heart. To take a blank sheet of paper (or computer screen) and turn it into something beautiful. Because I was created in the image of God, the desire for my work to be good has also been planted in me. There is nothing wrong with wanting to create something for others to enjoy. Delight in.

Whether it's a poem, a short story, an article, or a full length novel, I long for people to take pleasure in my words. To laugh, to cry, to pause and think.

Most of all, I want to point people to the Master Creator. The one all beauty and enjoyment comes from. My work may be well written. It may have a good plot and likable characters. It may even have a good message. But when it brings someone closer to Christ, that's when I can step back from my work and declare, "It is good."


"Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking; I compose songs on your wonders." - Psalm 145:5