7-7-7

This year I decided to forgo resolutions and set 7 goals for myself in 3 different areas of my life. I always make culinary goals because they are fun for me to accomplish and I get the satisfaction from checking an item off my list.

This year I decided to also make faith and writing related goals because they are very important areas of my life.

What about you, did you make any goals or resolutions for the new year?

 

 

Faith

1. Read Bible daily.
2. Read Keep it Shut.
3. Keep a prayer journal.
4. Go to church regularly.
5. Practice being kind.
6. Weigh what I want to say against Scripture before I speak.
7. Share my faith with others

Writing

1. Write the final chapter of my book.
2. Do a weekly Mama Kat prompt.
3. Do a biweekly Daybook post.
4. Do 3+ blog posts a week.
5. Write 104 pages of Patience.
6. Write 24 new Westbound poems.
7. Keep up more with my inspiration journals.

Culinary

1. Make vegetable stock regularly.
2. Learn to make beef gravy.
3. Make a fried dessert.
4. Make a rice cooker cake.
5. Try brownie pancakes (with peanut butter sauce?).
6. Learn to make tortillas.
7. Learn how to make a Korean dish from scratch.

What did you accomplish in 2014?

'Twas The Night of Christmas

Last night was my girls' night in "Favorite Things" Christmas Party. We hada great time and I'll share more details about the party in my next post. But for now I want to share a little poem that I wrote to include in the favor bag.

‘Twas the Night Of Christmas

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

‘Twas the night of Christmas and all through the house,

 all the creatures were reverent, even the mouse.
 The baby was swaddled and tucked in with care,
 and the angels rejoiced that the Christ-child was now there.

A long journey it had been,

from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
On the back of a little old donkey, slowly rode Mary.
Though a virgin, the Son of Man, she did carry.

She was soon due,

but the rooms available were few.

The only refuge to be found was with the animals and hay.

The sign of a star, hung high in the sky, gave the objects below the luster of midday.

The shepherds traveled far from their beds,
while visions of angels and a Savior, danced in their heads.

The wise men also journeyed from afar,

sent out by King Herod, they followed the star.

Out on the street, there arose such a clatter,

Joseph sprang from his watch to see what was the matter.
The shepherds and Magi arrived to worship the newborn King.
Gifts of myrrh, frankincense, and gold, they did bring.

 

They played their harps and sang   
praises that proclaimed His mighty name.
Then the shepherds set out again,
to spread the good news to other men.

 

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Here Me Roar!

I AM WRITER! HEAR ME ROAR!

The lady doing my eyebrows asks...so what do you do?

My husband's friend from work...where do you work?

And my standard response?

I'm a cashier. I work at [enter name of crazy grocery store]

Why? Why is that my answer?

That is not the job I identify with, not the job that is most important to me, not the job I have the degree for or even the most experience in (althought I do spend a lot of waking hours there).

But for some reason thats the answer I give.  I don't feel like I'm afraid for people to think of me as "a nutty artsy person". I sometimes like being that person.

I don't care if some people don't think thats  a "real job". I do it. I get paid for it. I love it. How can it get any more real than that?

I don't know what my deal is but to help myself articulate my job to others I've ordered cute business cards so now I can say  "I'm a writer. Here's my card."

On the subject of jobs, I have/had two interviews  this week. One Tuesday and the other Thursday.
The first is to work in a library and plan and implement their children's programming. Dream job material!  Except its only 25 hours a week.

The second is work at the newspaper as a receptionist. Its upside is its fulltime with benefits at a place I'd like to write for. Can you say, foot in the door? The downside is its a receptionist poistion and doesn't involve kids.

Were you Creative?

I'm trying to participate in the Words of Me Creativity Challenge. I'm suppoused to do something creative every day.

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Monday I did a search for some inspirational quotes and shared those with  you here. I also did some brainstorming for our new business idea. I'll let you know more about that once we get further along.

Tuesday, I went on a hike and took some lovely pictures. I didn't post all of the pics, but some of them can be seen here.  I really liked the way carrying a camera with me helped me to focus on the details around me.

Wednesday, I worked on a personal essay titled Beach Bound.

Thursday, I created a personalized workout plan that incorporates stretches, yoga, fencing exercises, situps and leg exercises. I really like it and its easy to keep track of.

Friday, I started to slack off. The only thing remotely creative was brainstorming and searching for gifts that would be good to give Mr. Groom's groomsman.

Saturday, I wrote in my journal and did crossword puzzles to help stimulate my mind. Its been in a lazy fog lately. I can't wait for it to be reenergized and have plenty to do.

Today, I've been lazy again. So far all I've done is stare at bits of poetry. Its too hot to do much more!

In what ways were you creative this week?

Don't forget to link up to Saturday Smiles!

J is for Journaler

I have always had journals. People always give them to me for birthdays and holidays. I have many that, as a child, I only wrote in for a few pages and then tossed aside.

Recently (maybe since 2007), I have started to write in them more often. One of my goals on my 101/1001 list it to write daily and writing in my journal is one of the  ways I accomplish that. I also count blogging, and of course creative writing, whether it be a poem or a character sketch.

In my journal I writer down my thoughts about the day, or my plans for the day or tomorrow. I write lists. Just this morning I started a list of 15 recipes I want to try-in preparation for completing number 44 on my list.  I write down wedding ideas and blog post ideas. I've made comparison charts for things like my bridesmaid gifts and I've started on a wedding day timeline. Occasionally, I start writing prompts in my journal. I have another journal that I glue quotes into.  I often write down my prayers in my journal. I am a better writer than speaker so I find that when I write my prayers I don't "fumble" for words as much. God made me a writer for a reason.

My journal serves as a record of my thoughts but also as a planning tool and a spiritual tool. No one is allowed to read my journal but me. My journal is the grown-up version of my imaginary friend.

Do you keep a diary or journal? What do you use it for?


Oh! One last thing! I found out about this thismorning and figured it would tie in perfectly with my post about journaling.







Its a commitment to 31 days of being creative- whether it be through scrapbooking, decorating, cooking or simply journaling. Even though I won't be able to do much besides journal as the 31 days ends soon after I return home I will be journaling and possibly sharing some writing on the blog over the next 31 days. So, if you'd like to join the challenge, head on over and check it out!

Letting the Creative Juices Flow!

This week has definitely put my creativity in gear! I had my first masterclass with Peter Meinke on Wednesday. Last year I dreaded my night classes but I'm loving this one! Meinke is so witty and open. He really makes the class enjoyable.

We have one class a week, and then a one-on-one conference with Meinke. Mine was great. Meinke had read my poems in advance. He had me read some of them aloud for practice, which made me feel good. I mean, if I'm practicing now then maybe some day I'll be reading them for real, with an audience. He then went through my poems and told me what he really liked and why. Which gave me an awesome feeling as well. He then suggested a few (minor!) changes and wished me luck! I'm really looking forward to this Wednesdays class. Check out his website at: http://www.petermeinke.com.  I've  read poems from his book the Contracted World and really enjoyed them.

Friday, I took myself to Hallmark on a research trip, so that I could get in the right frame of mind to work on my internship application. I spent an hour in the store just reading cards. And then I took a break and found a really cool "something blue" themed wine glass, that I really want! It has  handpainted blue swirly roses, and a real garter along the top of the glass! Totally adorable! I also went and saw a free showing of  500 Days of Summer at my favorite library.

Today I woke up and went to a seminar given by the wonderfully talented, Sarah Kennedy. I own a copy of her Witch's Dictionary and love it! So it was amazing to be able to attend her seminar. In the seminar we learned about dramatic monologues and how to write in the voice of another speaker. I wrote parts of poems there and came home and expanded further on them . I also wrote the first fifth of my internship portfolio application.  I see some card making in my future!

Better Get Writing, Annoying Bitches and My Engagement Ring

Better Get Writing:

I'm taking a poetry class this Janterm and it looks like its going to be a really great class. I love to write. Although, I am new to poetry. The class only meets twice a week. And as good as that sounds, its got a downfall. My calendar minded self sees lots of free time  to sleep in, scrapbook and hang out with my friends. I need to learn to make myself sit down and do some writing every day. I'm hopeing that going to a poetry reading tonight will help jumpstart my urge to write. I'm also hopeing to make it to a "make n take" tomorrow at a local scrapbooking store that should help me boost my creativity levels.