May 15, 2008 by Kelly.

Alyice, from http://thedabblingmum.blogspot.com/, tagged me. I’ve not participated in something like this as of yet, but thought it might be a way to let my readers learn more about me. Not sure how I will decide what is “unimportant” about me… unimportant to me, or to others, or… ??

The rules of the game are:

1. Link back to the person that tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. Share six unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your entry.

Six unimportant things about me are:

#1- I love Garfield the cat. I used to collect everything and anything related to him. Although I don’t collect anymore, I still have many of the things I acquired years ago. Candles, salt & pepper shakers, pewter figurines, erasers, pencils, comic strips, telephone… yes, I have a Garfield telephone. I also have a huge alarm clock with Garfield on it. It’s round, with the two bells on top. I love it!

#2- I’ve had two nicknames in my life so far: Kiki and Punkin. My maternal grandparents called me Kiki (right up until their deaths), and my dad called me Punkin when I was about 10 or so.

#3- I was a tomboy growing up, but now I love to wear dresses.

#4- Birds fascinate me. I love to hear them sing, love to look at them, and wish I could fly like them.

#5- I’ve always wanted to be a housewife.

#6- I enjoy painting the walls in our home, but I’m totally clueless when it comes to figuring out how much paint to buy and how to prep the walls and prepare to paint… Lay it all out for me and I’ll do it, otherwise, I’ll live with whatever color is currently on the wall.

Now I have to tag six people… (I’m not sure I know six bloggers!)…

Tara
Brandy
Missy
Lindy
Heather
Holly

There! Had to do a little searching, but I found blogs of six friends.

Posted in Daily Life | 1 Comment »

May 7, 2008 by Kelly.

For many homeschooling moms/writers, summer is their time to write. No lesson plans, no teaching– just writing and hanging out with their children (besides the normal day-to-day upkeep of the home). I never seem to have that luxury. Summer is our busiest time, second only to the seven weeks that cover Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. There’s yard work to do (and I’m not much of a landscaper or gardener), house renovations to make (and I am a ‘helper’ not a ‘take charge and do it myself’ person), various church functions including camps and other activities, trips to the zoo and other parks, swimming here at home and at Grandpa and Grandmas… and the list goes on.

Luckily I have a new laptop. My old laptop, Mary, has grown old and slow. Even after reformatting her, she’s still sluggish. Mary was very faithful, and will always hold a dear spot in my heart. Two months ago I purchased a new laptop, Phoebe, with some earnings from a writing job.  Phoebe has built-in wireless capabilities. Phoebe is fast, and her battery lasts much longer. I like Phoebe!

I hope this summer will allow me to do a little more writing. Phoebe can (and does) go just about everywhere with me. She’s become a very faithful companion. Places like Panera Bread, Esspresso by the Book, and public libraries are great for writing time while my children participate in some form of activity nearby. I can even find a quiet spot at church while the children participate in AWANAs! I’ve also been known to write in front of the TV while spending time with my family.

I prefer the uninterrupted time, but I’ll take what I can get. Hopefully, my company will understand.

Posted in Writing, Daily Life | 1 Comment »

April 20, 2008 by Kelly.

I received an update on the Avocet my son and I helped rescue early last week. Apparently the clavicle wasn’t broken, but there was a fracture in its wing. Since there are two bones next to each other there, the good bone will act as a natural splint and it should heal in a few weeks.

Rather than bring the bird back to the golf course where it was too exposed and out of its natural migration path, it was taken to Great Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Oklahoma. This refuge has non-public areas and many Avocets nest there. To read the full story, check out the Tulsa Audubon Society’s page.

(The rescue has also been mentioned at the Ducks Unlimited website and the Tulsa World.)

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April 15, 2008 by Kelly.

I just had the privilege of assisting (ever so slightly–I took photos) with a bird rescue. I’d noticed an American Avocet hanging around the pond at the local golf course, so I contacted the Tulsa Audubon Society and let them know. Today, on our way home from piano lessons, my son and I saw people at the pond trying to catch the bird. We stopped to see if we could help. The gentleman who lives across the street had a really good dog who also assisted. Here’s a few photos…

The Avocet is now being cared for by a veterinarian who specializes in rehabilitating wild animals.

Thanks go out to John Kennington, current President of the Tulsa Audubon Society, and Gail Storey, Vice-President.

And, of course, a special thanks to Zoe for her help in rescuing the Avocet!

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April 14, 2008 by Kelly.

I can now say I’m writing for my church. We joined the weekend I wrote the post about writing blindly.

If you’d like to visit the site, and download the devos, you can do so by going to ArrowHeights.org and click on The Daily near the bottom. I pray you’ll be blessed, and that God will speak to your heart, as you read!

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April 12, 2008 by Kelly.

I found this on my friend Tara’s blog and wanted to give it a shot. So, here are my One Word Answers…

You’re Feeling: Happy
To Your Left: Window
On Your Mind: Writing
Last Meal Included: Beef
You Sometimes Find it Hard To: Decide
The Weather: Cloudy
Something You Have a Collection of: Garfield
A Smell that Cheers You Up: Citrus
A Smell that Can Ruin Your Mood: Perfume
How Long Since You Last Shaved: Hours
The Current State of Your Hair: Disheveled
The Largest Item On Your Desk/Workspace Right Now (besides computer): Printer
Your Skill with Chopsticks: Beginner
Which Section You Head to First In the Bookstore: Bibles
…and After That?: Nonfiction
Something You’re Craving: Chocolate
Your General Thoughts On the Presidential Race: Scary
How Many Times You’ve Been Hospitalized this Year: Zero
A Favorite Place to Go for Quiet Time: CoffeeShop
You’ve Always Secretly Thought You’d Be a Good: Librarian
Something that Freaks You Out a Little: Blood
Something You’ve Eaten Too Much of Lately: Chocolate
You Have Never: Sky-dived
You Never Want To: Sky-dive

Ha! That was kinda fun! Really made me think. I like that.

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April 10, 2008 by Kelly.

I just remembered that I’m supposed to send some sample writing prompts to Brandy Brow. I’ll have to get to that tonight. In the meantime, I thought I’d share with you something that I do to spark ideas for articles.

I have a subscription to Better Homes and Gardens magazine, and my husband gets a woodworking magazine or two. When I need ideas for homeschooling, home organizing, or writing articles, I find one of these magazines and change the blurbs on the front cover to reflect my area of writing. For example, the March issue of BH&G has just a few words on it:

• Refresh Any Room
• Quick Spring Touches
• Easy Furniture Updates
• Comfy Up a Family Room
• Organize a Bath
• Our Happiest House
• Style in a Snap

From those, I get:

• Refresh Any Subject
• Quick Internet Searches
• Easy Filing Ideas
• Comfy Up Phonics/Reading
• Organize Your School Room
• Our Funnest Fieldtrip
• Community Service Made Simple

I’ve started a file folder where I keep the covers of magazines for future reference. I’m sure it will be one of my most-used files!

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April 5, 2008 by Kelly.

I’ve agreed to do some writing for the church we’re attending. The problem I’m coming up against is that I have no idea what I’m to write. I should be getting an outline within the next few days. They’ve asked for a devotional-style article about Moses. With nothing to go on besides that, I’ve been contemplating the phrases they’ve used to promote the series this will be for. I’ve taken each phrase (there are six of them) and attached them to a different part of Moses’ life. It’s flowing well, actually. I anticipate having a total of five devos when I’m done. It’s a challenge, but it’s been interesting as well. I hope to get it finished and printed tonight, to take to church tomorrow so they can tell me how they want it changed.

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March 24, 2008 by Kelly.

For those of you who wish to “follow” my career, I’ll be posting links here at this blog when things are published.

I’m a regular columnist for TheDabblingMum.com — I do the Grammar ‘n Style column.

I write quite often for SpiritLedWriter.com — I’m also the Webmaster there.

I have numerous articles at FamilyCorner.com, and some other online Webzines. Links to all of those can be found at my HOME Writer site.

If you ever have any questions about any of my work, or wish to reprint anything, please feel free to contact me!

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March 24, 2008 by Kelly.

My main goal before leaving for the conference was to not get overwhelmed while there. God was faithful in helping me to not be anywhere near overwhelmed. I had made a list of all the people I wanted to meet, and I managed to shake hands and/or hug all of them. When I discovered a few more people (from the roster of attendees) I crossed paths with the majority of them as well before the conference ended– God even brought one woman right to my table! There were only two women I didn’t get a chance to meet, but with 400+ people in attendance, I’m blessed I met as many as I did.

As I said, I didn’t get overwhelmed. I wasn’t upset when my pre-submits were rejected. The only thing that really upset me was when my 2nd son (15) told me he loved me (on the phone) without prompting. That’s when I started aching for my family. But, I knew this trip wasn’t forever, so I resolved to “do the next thing” until I was home. Prayer was a big help, too.

Prior to the conference, people spoke about “meeting God” at MH, so I was really hoping to have my own moving experience– I was hoping He would tell me whether I should focus on writing, or homeschooling, or Web design, or a combination of two, or what. I was hoping for some confirmation. I saw many people getting emotional during the conference– made me feel a little left out. But, I was able to remind myself that it’s not about me. One woman, whom I knew years ago and was surprised to find at the conference, pointed out that maybe my “experience” had happened before the conference, or maybe it would come after. Another friend pointed out that perhaps I’m just so in-tune with “seeing” God provide that it doesn’t “hit” me like it does so many people.

To make this long story short, I think my “experience” started three months before the conference, and culminated during the two days following the conference. It’s been one long story of God providing for me. Now, if you want to hear that long story, keep reading…

Back in December, Alpha Omega Publications decided to hire me to help write copy for their redesigned Web site. After much prayer, and discussion with my husband, I accepted the job. Writing the copy for The Weaver Curriculum line paid for my plane ticket to CA. I foolishly jumped at the chance to write copy for the LIFEPACs too, without praying first, or discussing it with my husband. I finished that job and earned enough to buy a new laptop, but I also learned a valuable lesson: Seek God in everything first, and discuss everything with my husband, too.

So, then I had a ticket to CA and a scholarship to a writers’ conference. God provides! During the conference, I learned a lot from Susan King about writing for The Upper Room. Many of the things I already knew about writing magazine articles were reinforced, and I even learned a few new things. I also learned that all these people I “see” online each day– they’re just people, like me. They all have their flaws, and they all love writing and helping writers.

When I left MH, I learned my flight was canceled due to heavy rains in TX and OK. I shared a shuttle to the nearest Holiday Inn and checked in– only to learn another conferee had paid for my room! God provides! Later that night I learned that 8 other conferees were also stranded at the hotel. We met for dinner and one of the men picked up the whole tab. Again, God provides!

The other conferees were able to reschedule for Wednesday flights. I spent time in the lobby, waiting to see people and say goodbye. I paged through my binder from Mount Hermon and proceeded to draft an article as I waited. I spent time walking around the grounds, taking photos of squirrels, trees, plants– there was a finch cage in the lobby that I got a few pictures of, too. Back in my room, I sat by the window and drafted a second article and made notes for my next DabblingMum.com column.

When I called my husband to give him my new flight info, I realized I had been bumped to First Class. God provides! I was up at 3:45am and in the lobby by 4:15. The shuttle took another guest and I to the airport early since we were ready. Once on the plane, I was able to switch seats with the person next to me so I could have a window seat. We chatted some, off and on, throughout the flight. I gave him my very last business card. My connecting flight in Dallas was a few minutes late, which was good because I didn’t realize how soon it was supposed to leave. God held that plane for me. God provides!

I had made a to-do list while at MH, outlining the things I need to do for clients, and articles I need to write. I also drafted a few articles into my journal, which I now need to query a few magazines about. I’ll get back to work later today. This past weekend was set aside for my family, and for thanking God. I am one of those who “pray without ceasing” as I go about my day. My focus is on God and how to give glory to Him. This past weekend, rather than ask for anything, I thanked Him for all He’s done, and all He will do, in my life. Everywhere I look I have something to be thankful for!

So, what have I learned from my MH experience? God provides! It’s not about me. My job is to do the task He sets before me, and do it to my best ability.Sometimes that job is writing. Sometimes that job is Web design. Always that job is “wife/mom.” If He wants me to do something, He will provide the way, the means, and the people. He will provide for all my needs.

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