Happy 100 Posts!

Wow! I have reached a major blogging milestone today. This is officially blog post #100! I feel like I should have some sort of blog party or celebration.

Instead, I'm going to do what television shows usually do... a "clip show." Many readers have only joined my blog recently, and like most bloggers -- I blew through my best stories in the first couple of weeks. So, this is your chance to catch up. Don't worry -- I'm not expecting you to read them all. I'll include a few categories, so you can just pick ones that tickle your fancy. For those of you who have been with me since day one, I thank you for following me on the blogging journey. There's nothing better than walking every step of a journey with faithful friends. You're the best!

Goofy Stuff:
Coffee Vocabulary
Potty Talk
Shower Terror
More Scary Spider Stuff

Some of what I've learned about God and Faith:
God's Digital Camera
Nasties or Loveables
Prayer: Learning from my kids and husband
God's Gift: Ice Cream?
A First Grader Defines "Meek."
Sliding Down the Mountain

About Writing:
Moms Can Write
The Revision Process
My Writing Journey
Imaginary Friends

And... for those of you who are aspiring writers and are curious about the Mount Hermon Christian Writer's Conference:
It's in the Mail!
Arriving at Mount Hermon
Mount Hermon, Continued
Surprises From Mount Hermon
Laughs From Mount Hermon

I really enjoyed going back and leafing through the older posts. I hope you had fun looking back with me! Happy 100 posts, everyone!

Karen

Friday Book Pick -- Blue Like Play Dough by Tricia Goyer

If you have been following my blog for awhile, you may remember that last July I chose the book Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller as a Friday Book Pick. Playing off of the title of this successful book, Christian author Tricia Goyer has recently released her version, Blue Like Play Dough. I love the way she describes this book on her website: In the squash and squeeze of a mommy's day, could God be shaping something beautiful? In this beautiful treatment of spirituality in the light of motherhood, Goyer reaches into her own past for stories that will take turns make you laugh or shed a tear.

Tricia Goyer is a multi-published author of historical fiction, contemporary fiction and nonfiction titles and she has a passion for mentoring young moms, especially teenage girls who find themselves thrust into motherhood before their time. Blue Like Play Dough was a great read and reached into my heart with God's truth -- even in the midst of laundry, dishes and bickering kids. I'm not sure what God is shaping me into, but I can tell you that motherhood is definitely changing my shape! Hopefully, He will make me into something even better.

The Magic Word

"Come OOOOONNNN!" my ten-year-old griped at me this morning when we were getting out of the car and heading for school. (Usually that's my line, but he was the one in a hurry this morning.)

I answered with HIS usual line, "I'm coming! Sheesh!" ("Sheesh" seems to be his favorite word lately. I don't really know what it means, but I hear it a lot.)

He turned and gave me a smirk. "C'mon is the magic word, you know."

I may have snapped at him a little when I responded, "I thought the magic word was 'please,' not 'come on.'

He shook his head. "No, you didn't say it right. C'MONNNN!' That's the magic word. It gets things done."

I pondered that the rest of the day. How often do I whine at my kids, "C'MON!" It seems like we're always in a rush these days. Get ready for school, get to school, get home from school, eat dinner, do your homework, do your vision therapy practice, practice your instrument, get ready for bed, go to sleep." It's exhausting when you think about it. And my kids aren't even into sports. I pity my friends who have to endure endless team practices.

What's worse is that I whine the same thing to God. "C'mon God! I've waited long enough! What's taking you so long? How many times do I have to ask you?"

I've mentioned in this blog before that God has been impressing a specific verse on me for months now. Psalm 37:4. Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Unfortunately I've gotten a little whiny about it lately. "How long, God? How many more days? How much more waiting?" I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas. I know it's coming, but the waiting is getting painful. "How long" is a common refrain in the Psalms. David often asked God, "How long?" My favorite is Psalm 13:1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? The book of Psalms really puts into words our human feelings and frailties, doesn't it?

Somehow I don't think "C'mon" is the magic word when it comes to God.

Just like I answered my son today, I think God is saying, "Wait, I'm coming, I'm coming. Be patient." God doesn't "run late." He always has a reason for His timing. Time was His invention. So no matter how many times I say, "C'MONNNNN, God," I don't think it will change His timing. I need to learn to be patient and not run ahead of Him. I need to walk at His side, my hand in His.

Maybe the real magic word is "wait."

Bean Enchiladas

Nothing deep today... Just a smile.

A few weeks back my family was listening to the radio while we were sitting in the car waiting for some friends. I couldn't help humming along with the old tune that was playing: "If you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain..." I remember hearing this song playing when I was a kid, but I'd never really paid attention to its meaning. I just liked some of the silly lyrics like the one that said, "if you have half a brain."

I was a little embarassed to sing along with the lyrics knowing that my kids were in the backseat. There's nothing like having kids to make you realize how awful some song lyrics really are! I remember walking through the mall with teenaged friends back in the 1980s singing, "Obsession, you're my obsession, who do you want me to be..." Can anyone finish those lyrics? I'm not going to write it here! (And please don't write it in the comments). But I sang it in public at about age 15! If that came on the radio now, I'd change the station in a heartbeat for fear that my 7 year old would start singing along.

But my husband and I let the "Pina Colada" song play out, figuring our kids weren't really listening. The song was just ending when my nine year old son asked, "Mom, what do they mean 'If you like bean enchiladas?'"

(To read another story of my failed attempts to shelter my kids from bad influences, check out the post, Potty Talk.)

Friday Book Pick: Through the Fire by Shawn Grady

I hadn't even glanced at the calendar yesterday when I decided to pick Shawn Grady's new novel Through the Fire for today's Book Pick. It was only this morning when I realized that I'd chosen a book about firefighters to feature on 9-11. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

This debut author spins a thrilling tale of a third-generation firefighter who is battling far more than flames. Aidan O'Neill, though gifted with a special ability to "read flames," now struggles with grief, guilt, failed relationships and a life that is quickly spiraling out of control. As an serial arsonist brings chaos to his city, O'Neill soon becomes plagued with the idea that the flames are hunting him down. As he questions everything he's ever believed and understood, O'Neill struggles to find hope and peace in a world gone mad.

Shawn Grady is a firefighter-turned-author and his writing is so vivid that you can practically feel the heat of the flames leaping off of the pages. He was named "Most Promising New Writer" at the 2008 Mount Hermon Christian Writer's Conference. I met him briefly at the 2009 conference, just months before Through The Fire released. I was so impressed with the way he lit up while describing this project, that I couldn't wait to read the book. It didn't disappoint. You can find Through the Fire in your local bookstore, or you can order it through Grady's website. Don't miss out on reading this great new novel.

On a side note, I had a odd feeling while reading Through The Fire. My young adult novel, Shaken, also centers around the themes of grief, flames and faith. I found many similar threads running through both stories and was a bit relieved that I had written my story months before having read Through The Fire. If I had read it previous to writing Shaken, I would have been terrified of subconsciously lifting ideas from this story and planting them into my own. The characters, time periods and stories are vastly different, but these core ideas are hauntingly similar. If Grady's present-day "O'Neill" and my 1906 "Wanda" were to sit down together, I think they would be able to have a long chat about how God never abandons us to our grief and anger and that only He has the power to bring us through the flames.

Back to School / Back to Work!

I just looked back at my last blog post date and realized it's been almost three weeks since my last post! I purposely took a step back a few weeks ago in order to enjoy the last few weeks of summer with my kids. We had lots of fun days these past few weeks: visiting the library, hiking in local parks, going to the fair and playing at the beach.

They went back to school today. Phew.

We have a tradition in our house where we have a little celebration after the first day of school. They come home to find cupcakes and a small gift to celebrate the new year. This morning my son asked if we were going to have our usual first day of school party. My response? "I start partying the minute I drop you guys off!"

That's not completely true. Though I relish the time to myself, I walk around in a daze the first few weeks. The house seems so quiet and empty. My mind swirls with "I should's." I should do some laundry, I should go to the grocery store. I should work on my writing. I should vacuum the floor. I should exercise. And so on. But I find myself going in circles and not really accomplishing much of anything.

I did have some time today for prayer and bible study, which was incredible. I placed my book (Shaken) at God's feet, again. He's been faithful at reminding me (even during the past few weeks when I was trying to avoid it) that this is HIS project, not mine. No, He's not speaking out loud, but in gentle nudges and whispers to my soul: the words of a song, the message in a sermon, the odd verse in scripture. I am feeling more and more confident that no matter how weak I am, God is strong enough to see this through. I am so blessed that He is holding me so close during this time.

I hope you feel His arms drawing you close as well.