November 28, 2007 by Kelly.

We’re back from vacation and I’m starting to focus on Christmas. I already have the Christmas Spirit, and I’m looking forward to the next four weeks of preparation and planning. We’ll have a houseful (19 people including us) for three days, plus two more people on Christmas Eve. Then it will taper off to about a dozen people for a week or so of relaxation, fun and fellowship… just like at Thanksgiving!

Today, I’m going to work on our Christmas newsletter. It’s a biography of sorts, reviewing the lives of my children, my husband and myself. We’ve had a busy year. I’ll need to find some photos to include as well since my babies are growing up!

I’ve missed writing our family newsletter. I used to publish it six times a year, and received some wonderful feedback about it from the two dozen people who received it. Maybe “biographies” isn’t the right word… it’s really more like a family history…

Today, I’m going to write HISTORY!

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November 15, 2007 by Kelly.

My youngest child said something quite humorous the other day. Unfortunately, I can’t think of what it was right now! This is why I try to write things down as often as possible–so I won’t miss sharing the moments that make me smile.

I just finished reading Cheaper by the Dozen, by Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr., and  Ernestine Gilbreth Carey (Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, 1948). What a delightful book! I’ve seen the recent movie rendition, starring Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt, which I found hilarious (Hunt does a wonderful job, as does Martin), but this book is really good, if not better (the book’s always better).

Cheaper by the Dozen reads like a journal almost. It’s like someone sat with these two authors and jotted down their memories. Each chapter could be a Christmas letter for that year. It reminds me much of how I like to write. Perhaps someday…

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November 8, 2007 by Kelly.

Does anyone know how to speak “vacuum” language? I don’t. I was vacuuming today, trying to spruce up for company from out of town, and apparently my vacuum wanted a break. Since I don’t speak its language, I didn’t give it one. It took a half hour break on its own. :-\

I think this is a good example of where sign language could come in handy. All I had to do was use my hand to feel how hot it was, and I would have known to give it a break!

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November 6, 2007 by Kelly.

I’m a bit young to actually ‘remember’ that song, but I’m familiar with it because bits and pieces of it were often used in cartoons and movies when I was growing up. All that to say…

I’M GOING TO MOUNT HERMON!!

I won one of the Cecil Murphey Scholarships which will allow me to attend Mount Hermon in March, 2008. I’m so excited! Now I need to come up with plane fare. I also need to plan what to take and who to meet with. I’ve got four months to plan…

Did I mention how excited I am?!

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November 2, 2007 by Kelly.

Garbage bags from his hoodie pocket!

We spent the whole day raking leaves. It’s been dry, so all the bags are free of wet, heavy leaves. We did eight bags between 9 and 11 A.M. Between 12:30 and 3 P.M. we did twelve more bags! Not only that, but we got most of the root of the plant/tree growing under our gas meter removed.

Tomorrow we’ll work on the area around the pool. Next week we’ll work on the front yard. Yup, those twenty bags were all from the driveway (top and bottom) and behind the house (upper yard and lower boardwalk). I’m just glad the leaves were all dry.

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October 24, 2007 by Kelly.

As I’ve mentioned before, Wednesday is my afternoon to write. Imagine my chagrin this morning as I thought about taking my youngest to the dentist at 2pm — and then realized today is Wednesday!

My husband’s parents are in town, and they offered to take my son to his movie production class. I find it easy to get turned around up in that neighborhood, so I couldn’t send them up there in good conscience.

I will have to sacrifice some of my time today.  Hopefully, the dental appointment will go quickly and then I can get some time to write. I will leave it in God’s capable hands.

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October 22, 2007 by Kelly.

Recently, I shared in a discussion about how to be the best wife possible. One woman stated, “This is my first and most important ministry, even above [caring for my children]!”

How true! Like I always tell my kids, “Someday you’ll grow up and move away, but I’m stuck with your father for life!”

Seriously, this is something I’m passionate about. The anonymity of the Internet has made it so easy to complain about our husbands to others. Once we’re in a complaining mood, it’s easy to make a snide or snippy comment to his face, too. Is that honoring God?!

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

You’ll notice in the above passages that we are never told to “love” our husbands, but to submit to them. Proper submission is a form of respect. Men need respect! Men are told to love their wives. We need love — they need respect.

That is not to say that men don’t need love and women don’t need respect. But, it’s our inherent perceptions of the above that make us feel loved. For years I would do things that I thought would make my husband feel loved… but I was doing what would make me feel loved. Once I changed my way of thinking, and held my husband in the highest respect, his attitude toward me changed as well.

Yesterday we celebrated 19 years as husband and wife (24 years as “us”) and I must say, I have never felt more loved than I do at this point in my life!!

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October 20, 2007 by Kelly.

I used to attend writing conferences before we moved out of state. They were short conferences, only one or two days. I only needed to spend one or two nights away from home. They weren’t very expensive, either, because of the short duration of the conferences. I think I usually spent under $200 including hotel, gas and food… way under $200 usually. (Gas was much cheaper back then.)

So, why am I longing to attend a conference now? Networking. Christian fellowship. Meeting writers I know from online. Learning more about the craft of writing.

I’ve been looking at the various Big Name conferences for next year, and I’ve applied for a scholarship to one in California (Mount Hermon is considered “the best of the best”). I should know sometime in November if I’m going. Until then, I’ll also consider conferences in Colorado and Texas… maybe even Florida.

There is one person I would dearly love to meet. If I can get to a conference she is attending, I’ll place that one at the top of my list! I didn’t know until this month, but she’s been praying for my writing career for a couple of years now. That must be why it keeps progressing, why I can’t seem to give it up. (Thanks, Lisa!)

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October 16, 2007 by Kelly.

Am I spending my time wisely when I blog? This question often comes up among writers, and the views are split. There are numerous writers who have gained fame and recognition without ever having a blog. There are others who have made a name for themselves in the blogging world and then moved into the publishing world. Which do I want to be? Which do YOU want to be?

My original goal, when I had two blogs, was to post once a week at each. Life got in the way, and I’m lucky if I post twice a month. Then I began this blog. (What was I thinking?!) I’d still like to post once a week at each blog, but I have very limited time to write. (Which means our homeschooling is going well… and that’s good!) My writing afternoon (Wednesday) is very productive. I’ve completed five articles in four weeks, and roughed out two others!

You may be thinking, “Why doesn’t she just write some blog entries on Wednesdays?” I can’t do that– I write for paying markets on those afternoons. Today is Tuesday. I have a few moments of free time while the children have lunch, so I’m writing now. Perhaps this will become my blog day! Check back next week and see if I stay on track!

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September 24, 2007 by Kelly.

My husband suggested I write each Wednesday afternoon. This was a big blessing and boost for me! I’ve been trying to “find” a time to write, on a regular basis, for a few years now. My second oldest son has a class away from home that goes from 1:30 until 4:15 each Wednesday afternoon. So, I pack up my laptop (Mary) and sit at the library to write while class is in session.

At first, I thought I’d also be answering email, or doing online research, but that’s not happening. Why? Because I can’t get my computer to sync with the library’s wi-fi. So, I’m offline the whole time I’m there. I’m finding that it’s forcing me to actually write!

It’s been two weeks so far and I’ve completed one article of over 1,000 words, plus a sidebar for said article. This has really inspired me to write more at home, too. Since I don’t leave my Internet cable plugged in all the time, I’m finding that works as my excuse to write instead of surf. If I need to, I can plug in my Internet, but usually I just try to write as much as possible.

Technology is so wonderful. But, I’m finding there’s a fine line between e-a-s-i-e-r and b-u-s-i-e-r … only two letters difference, really. Society may tell me I’ve got it easier, but I know better… I’m just busier!

Yes, I think unplugging is going to work quite well for me.

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