Telling Stories

For Those Who Want to Do it all {by themselves}

I like to fight my own battles. I always have. I'm not good at asking for help, I suppose.

I'm an I can figure this out myself kind of person...

But the older I get the more I realize I really can't do it all myself. Not when there are so many different things that need doing. I need a support system and I need to let some things go... and you know what? That's okay. 

Someone once told me I was so lucky I knew what God had called me to do. I am lucky. I'm so thankful for that, but that calling doesn't come with an instruction book...and that's where the challenge comes in...

I have this theory that if I do enough reading/writing/researching, eventually I'll figure it out. But lately I'm starting to think God doesn't want me to figure it all out...because if I do, what would I need him for? 

So this week, I'm looking at my list. My wonderful, ever-growing, always in the back of my mind list... and I'm asking God what I need to give over to him. Because frankly, I could use the help. 

What are you holding onto today?

What do you need to let go of?

What do you need help with? 

He will fight for you...just be still...

To Thank You... {WIN a BIG book lover's gift basket}

Every once in awhile, I have to stop and think about these three books I wrote... I mean, I still think about the characters as if they're real people--a part of my life. And they were for so many months, it's hard to let them go without so much as a goodbye...

I'm so thankful for everyone who has taken the time to read my books. I didn't know how it would feel to get reader emails {it's amazing and humbling and amazing}...I didn't know how much more I would want to get to know the people who so related with these characters. 

I mean, we must have a lot in common, you and I.

During the month of November, I've decided to create my own "Reader Appreciation Month..." (I'm still working on a snazzier name than that)

A chance for me to give back to all of you beautiful souls who have taken the time to visit Sweethaven, who have come along this journey of writing a debut novel with me. It's been scary and emotional and wonderful and exciting all at the same time.

So November in my world is a month of gratitude... 

And I. Can't. Wait. {Gift Giving is one of my Love Languages...and there will be lots of gifts given!}

Still, when I looked at the calendar, I realized November actually starts this week...and I didn't want to overlook the first couple of days in this glorious, thankful month... so I'm kicking it off with a Share & Win contest...and here is the prize, a book lover's gift basket:

• Signed copies of each of my Sweethaven novels
• An LED Booklight
• A Barnes & Noble gift card
• A cozy throw blanket (a duplicate of the one I love more than all other blankets I own!) 

Here's how it works...

All you have to do is Like my author page & share the above image, which you can find right HERE.

That's it! Once you share the image, I'll be able to find you and your friends will be able to find me and who knows? Maybe they'll even visit Sweethaven...and maybe YOU will be the lucky winner of this fabulous basket of goodies. :) 

What do you say? Wanna play??

######

Also, I'm excited to announce the WINNER of Little Yellow Bicycle's Acorn Hollow collection (and a copy of my book) is:  

Lisa P said...

https://twitter.com/scraphappygirl/status/259313856915066880
tweeted

Lisa, shoot me your address at courtneyrwalsh{at}gmail{dot}com and I'll get that in the mail to you! :) 

And now...let the sharing (and the winning) begin! :) 

How Do You Make Your House a Home? {Blogger Seeks Advice}

This is our house. 

When I turn onto our street and see it at the end of the cul-de-sac, I almost always smile. I think it's the red door.

Lately though, every time I emerge from my spiffy little downstairs office I am faced with the harsh reality of my failure. 

I posted this question yesterday on Facebook: 

Pretend you could hire a personal assistant, a maid, a nanny or a private chef. Which do you choose? {By the way, I cannot hire any of these things...I'm just being nosy.}

Because, truth be told, I often feel like I need all of those things. I'm shocked at the varied answers the question received (and continues to receive) because the truth is, we all could use a little bit of extra help. 

When I walk through my house, I see piles of things that need my attention. I see my daughter's room as it grows arms and legs and critters and more and more out of control with her mess and think I need to help her with that. 

The truth? When we moved in here, I didn't have an ounce of energy to turn this house into a home. After all, I'd just done that very thing in Colorado. (And HERE) In fact, we practically gutted our Colorado house, which meant that Adam and I (and the kids) painted every wall, every bit of trim, every cabinet. We replaced every single floor, most of the fixtures and all of the appliances. 

It was exhausting and expensive. (And then we moved a year later.) 

Every room in our house needs paint. The upstairs rooms need carpet. Our dining room has one chair in it. (and a random pile of boxes clamoring for my attention.) 

And I LOVE our house...I want it to be a safe haven. I want it to be the kind of place my kids love to bring their friends...and right now, it's not. I have lots of plans and dreams and ideas and Pin Boards, though I'm fairly certain my "style" borders on "pathetic"...

So, I'm coming to you, my snazzy blog readers, and asking for your advice.

What is the best way you know to make a house a home
(on a budget of both time and money?) 

Hold nothing back. Let it all out there. I'm a desperate woman and I have a weekend coming. Tell me how to organize my thoughts, what blogs do you love to help do this sort of thing? Can I pull an I Dream of Jeanie and do this all in three days? (Don't rain on my parade, sister.) 

Last weekend I was thisclose to picking up the primer and painting my living room. 

Something stopped me. The idea that the bedrooms would be easier (and cheaper) to put together, perhaps? 

What about the fact that the living room is the main place we spend our time? Does any of that matter? Friends, help. I am a lost soul in need of a home...

And I know you've got advice...right?

The Day We Met...

My junior year of college I was cast as Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest. It remains one of my favorite productions 1. because I got to wear a really fun costume that looked like drapery (and had a corset) and 2. because I got to learn how to do a British accent. 

I'll also add that one of my lines always got a really big laugh...and I still, to this day, have no idea why. Perhaps the "dim" part of Cecily Cardew isn't so unlike Courtney Walsh. 

Regardless. 

One night, after rehearsal I walked into my sorority house to find I'd missed one of those events, the kind where the girls bring their guy friends in to embarrass their pledge daughters...at this hour, there were still some stragglers hanging around, one of which was a guy I'd met in the dorms the year before. 

I didn't like him at all. 

I'll spare you the details, but this guy was soooo not my type. He was flirty and thought he was so funny and I was pretty sure he'd left a string of broken-ish hearts in his wake. 

And besides, I had a crush on someone else. 

Then I realized that same guy I'd written off last year was sitting at the baby grand piano in our front room. Now, don't get me wrong, I knew this was his way of impressing girls, but and I hated to admit it...it was kind of impressive. I mean, he was good. And several of my sorority sisters were great singers, so I walked into what sounded like a rehearsal for Rent. 

My first thought was, HE has TALENT? 

I admit. I had misjudged him. He was more than I originally thought. (How often does that happen?) So I stayed awhile. And sang awhile (this was before I realized I'm really not a very good singer) and that was that. 

But a few days later, that piano-playing flirt asked one of my sorority sisters about me. 

And I can't tell you what came over me. I think it might've been morbid curiosity, but I agreed to go out with him. I was certain it wouldn't go anywhere (and said as much to him) and positive we weren't right for each other (and told him so) and convinced my initial impression about him had to be at least a little bit right (it was.) 

But that night, I found myself at Perkins after rehearsal where I sat across from this boy until 5 a.m. talking about everything. I drank a Coke and he had a bottomless tea because neither of us had any money.

Turns out, he'd been away at a summer camp where he found Jesus and he couldn't wait to tell someone about it...

That night, I left pretty certain I knew everything about that guy. I mean, he told me things he'd never told anyone. Things you can't un-tell. That's not to say I understood him by any stretch, but he'd let me in to his world in a way that no one else ever had. 

When my theatre professor walked in to Perkins for breakfast, I realized we needed to leave (remember when you could pull an all-nighter and actually recover from it?) 

So we went home. And later that day, everyone I knew told me it was a terrible idea, dating this guy. What was I thinking? Why would I even consider it? Didn't I know his reputation? 

And I can't explain it. Because it really didn't make a bit of sense for someone like me to spend so much time with someone like him...

It's hard to find someone to love when you're young...because neither of you really knows who you are yet. You make mistakes. You say stupid things. But when you get to the other side of it, well, it's kind of a beautiful thing...

That Perkins date was 16 years ago today. And while I won't lie to you and tell you everything has always been perfect, I will tell you that I'm very, very thankful I didn't listen to everyone else...

Because this guy? He's my favorite "mistake." 

No one, not even me, can believe how thankful I am to have this man in my life. Because every day I think of another reason to love him. Even though he taught my kids to throw their socks in the ceiling fan.

Today I'm celebrating 16 years with my best friend...

And looking forward to 100 more...

On Being Still.

Sometimes, I can't wait to blog. I have just the right words, so much so that I've practically written the post in my head. 

I love when that happens. 

Other times, I stare at the screen wondering what to say. What do I have to offer? What am I learning right now? What's the take-away? Why would anyone want to read this drivel?...

Do you other bloggers do this? 

It dawned on me this morning that these sorts of dry spells are often tied to my lack of spiritual focus. And today I'm thinking that lack of focus stems from my focus on something else entirely. 

Myself. 

Yesterday I was flat funky. I was in such a weird place. I was blaming it on my phony Seasonal Affect Disorder (did I mention I'm also a hypochondriac?) but now I'm not so sure. Maybe it's not SAD that I struggle with. Maybe it's the fact that I let myself get all twisted in my own woe. 

Because sometimes I think I know what God's told me, and it should make more sense than it does. It's like being told to put a puzzle together without all the pieces. 

The fact is, when I get so mired down in my own self, I forget that sometimes God's will is carried out in baby steps. Oh, I hate the baby steps. I'm a jump right in kind of girl. None of this waiting around. None of this timing.

We're trained that way, aren't we? We live in a fast food world... so when something doesn't go the way we think it should we try to force it. 

We try to force God's hand. 

And when we do that, for some reason, all the peace of the thing disappears...because it's no longer His will at work. Some of us like to do. All the time doing. We like to solve the mysteries and uncover solutions and make things work...

So when God asks us to be still and stop doing, it goes against everything that's at work inside of us. 

But today, because I know it's the right thing...I'm going to be still. Somehow. I'm going to find the calm. I'm going to rest in what I know He told me, even when I don't have all the pieces of the puzzle. 

And it's not going to be easy. 

Will you join me? 

Spotlight Youth Theatre, Weekend Recap & Scrapbooking Your Faith

What a FUN weekend we had! Our whole family is exhausted, but we were so thrilled with the way Schoolhouse Rock turned out. Sophia fought through some sickness/losing her voice, but it all turned out wonderfully...

People often ask us how we could leave Colorado for Illinois, and of course I then give my "I love cornfields" motivational talk which always results in that glazed over yeah, you're nuts look. 

I don't get it. There's nothing like a good cornfield in the summer. Sorry, mountain lovers. 

I'm also a sucker for Illinois in the autumn. And places that readily stock goats on rickety bridges. 

But truly, this weekend I was reminded of a big part of the reason why I am thrilled to be back here in Illinois. Working with Spotlight is one of the best things we've ever done... and the organization has been amazing for our girl. 

It's made me refocus on why theatre really is important and valuable, whether you plan to pursue it or not. 

Not only is it an excellent tool for building confidence and self esteem (when the right people are in charge), but it teaches so many important life skills. For instance, how to speak in front of a group. How to work in a team. How to think on your feet. How to stay cool under pressure. 

I can't explain how excited I am about the whole thing. Sometimes I wonder how we survived two years without it. 

Anyway. I'm geeked out and it shows.  

I'm also excited because I got to share this faith-themed layout:

...using Webster's Pages Park Drive Collection (which I LOVE) over on the Creating Keepsakes Blog today. There are lots more details on sharing a "pocket full of promises" for yourself or someone you love so I hope you'll get a chance to check it out. 

Was your weekend as full as ours? What fun things did you do with your two glorious days? :) 

Sweethaven, Acorn Hollow, Kelly Goree & A BIG Giveaway! {Phew!}

After I wrote A Sweethaven Summer, something really unexpected happened. I started to get letters from readers. 

No one tells you when you're writing that first book that something so amazing as that will happen one day...(Future writers, take note!) 

The thing I didn't expect to hear was "this book made me want to scrapbook again." Or "I'm not a scrapbooker, but after reading this book, now I want to try." 

I can tell you, it wasn't my intention to convert a new crop of scrapbookers...though, if that were a by-product of writing these novels, I'll surely take it. :) 

See, to me, there really are some wonderful reasons to scrapbook...to preserve, to capture, to process (I often process my thoughts while I'm scrapbooking them.) So, it was a natural fit to tie it all in...

So today, I have a super special, awesome treat for you (and a big giveaway)...and it comes from Little Yellow Bicycle & the FABULOUS Kelly Goree. Over the next few weeks, Kelly & I will be sharing at the LYB blog  some inspiring layouts inspired by Sweethaven...and many chances to WIN awesome prizes. 

So, I asked Kelly to create a layout about her oldest & dearest friend...after all, Sweethaven is a whole series celebrating oldest & dearest friends...{the kind I call "life friends."} She used LYB's Acorn Hollow and look what she came up with: 

Here is Kelly's sweet journaling: 

"To say I was blessed the day you walked into my dorm room almost twenty-five years ago wouldn’t even begin to describe it. There was no way of knowing that you, my mid-term replacement roommate freshman year of college, would become my lifelong best friend. I know physically we’re as different as two people can be (and you got the good end of that deal!) but we were soul sisters from the very start. We complimented each other. I talked you into trying things you never had done before (including coloring your hair for the first time – sorry!) and you taught me what true friendship was all about. I am so grateful and humbled that you are my “person.” 

What's that you say? You want to win this collection for yourself? 

Well, guess what? You're in luck. Today, I'm giving away an Acorn Hollow prize pack {the whole collection!} that will also include a signed copy of A Sweethaven Homecoming, the second book in my Sweethaven series.

Because this is the PERFECT time of year for Homecoming & Acorn Hollow, I am going to give you lots more chances to enter my drawing. Blog, Tweet, Facebook or Pin this post/giveaway, then come back here and leave another comment for each one you do. That's four more chances to win just for sharing the news! 

BUT! That's not all!

There's also a SECOND chance to win! Head over to the Little Yellow Bicycle Blog for yet another chance to WIN A Sweethaven Homecoming. 

 

Ten Things I'm LOVING right now...

In no particular order. 

1. Undaunted.

This book was recommended by a friend, and as soon as I started reading I knew Christine Caine wrote it just for me. And you. It's already challenging and inspiring and incredible. Go get it. 

2. This girl and her art. More than that, her spirit. She is beyond incredible. I want to learn from her. 

3. Being a stage mom. 

Schoolhouse Rock is this weekend, so that means we're all in show mode. I'm not just proud of my own daughter, but of all these kids...have you ever thought of putting your kids in a theatre class? Think of the valuable things they'll learn...conducting themselves in front of a group, working in a team, excellence...I could go on and on and on. I'm LOVING it.  

4. My new notebook from Target. It's actually from Carolina Pad, and it's helping me sort through a jumbled mess in my mind. What is it about a good journaling notebook? 

5. Emily Owens. MD. I caught this show last night on my DVR.

I really loved Mamie Gummer in her guest appearances on "The Good Wife" and I love that she's Meryl Streep's daughter but doesn't like to talk about it. Mostly I love how quirky and relatable she is. I found her so fun to watch. I think this is a keeper. 

6. Popcorners.

A gluten free cross between popcorn and a chip. It's ridiculous. The white cheddar is my favorite. And you have to be careful. If you're not, you'll eat the whole bag. 

That's what I'm assuming anyway. Not that I've ever done that. 

7. Finding & sharing encouraging words from my novels:

8. Giving away things on my Author Page on Facebook. (And planning for more big giveaways...as a thank you for everyone who has read or is reading my novels. Gosh, I love presents.)

9. My favorite store in the world. 

I can't explain why, but the Barnes and Noble here in Illinois feels so much more comfortable and familiar to me. I love this place. I'd go there daily if I could, but then I'd be broke because I can't go in without buying something. (Do you have a place that makes you feel instantly peaceful?) 

10. Written reminders of what God's telling me. The kind I tuck away in my journal and find just when I need them...

What are YOU loving right now??

Schoolhouse Rock Makes a Mom Do Crazy Things

Yesterday I forgot to take Sam to school. 

I'm not even joking. We'd been at the doctor in the morning for both he and Sophia, and when I found out he has this weird respiratory thing going on I thought "Should I keep him home?" But then I realized since he feels fine and it's not contagious, I should probably take him. 

He loves school. 

So there I was chatting it up with the little guy when I glanced at the clock and realized (out loud) "SAM! I forgot to take you to school!"

I must've seemed as exasperated as I felt because I plopped down next to him and said, "I really actually FORGOT about  school." 

This wasn't like a minor "I lost track of time." It was like I forgot who I was and what my job as a mom was for a minute. Thank God I didn't forget him at the grocery store or something. 

He stared at me, as if assessing the situation, then slow-shook his head. "It's okay..." he said, all the while whipping out his "calm down" hands. "It's okay..." 

I've never been consoled by a four-year-old. 

But see, we're all a little preoccupied right now. 

Our girl is performing the role of Shulie in Schoolhouse Rock Live. 

The show opens Friday night with performances all weekend long here in Rockford. 

When I found out we were moving back to Illinois, one of the first things I thanked God for was Spotlight Youth Theatre. I knew this was something Sophia needed to be a part of, and when we were in Colorado, there just wasn't the opportunity for something like this. 

With Sophia, I don't have to wonder where she fits...we've been thankful to figure that out. (The boys are a different story, but at least we've got one down.) 

And it also gave me an instant connection to her.

Something I'm thankful for as she enters the pre-teen (and later the teen) years... I mean, don't we all want a point of connection with our kids? 

Without that, I wonder, would we slip into that battle of wills at every pass? Would she feel misunderstood and frustrated because no one gets her? Because she loves this so much, I get her. And I love that I do. 

For now, anyway, Sophia is great at taking direction (even from me). We'llsee how that plays out down the road. 

But I'm proud of her. And excited for her. And impressed by her. And thankful for her. 

And apparently that makes me forget myself a little. 

Or at least, it makes me forget that my son is now in preschool. 

Geesh. 

So...what's the craziest case of forgetfulness you've had as a mom? (Or maybe I'm the only one who does stuff like this on a regular basis?) 

Am I the only one? Oy. Say it ain't so, sister. 

And come see the show. :) It's gonna be fun! 

For Those Who Are Seeking...

I spent the weekend seeking. 

Arms open, face heavenward, asking to see a little bit more of the plan. I told God everything I wanted and all the reasons why...and then I said something that kind of surprised me. 

But if it's not your will, then I don't want it. 

I remember years ago, I heard a pastor tell this story about going dress shopping with his wife. I can tell you in no uncertain terms that Adam would probably never go dress shopping with me (nor would I want him to), but apparently for this couple, it worked. 

She came out of the dressing room and asked what he thought of the dress. 

He shrugged a little and said something along the lines of, "I'm not really that crazy about it." 

I imagine there was a moment between them--that brief did I just offend her? or maybe that doesn't he think I look pretty? 

She responded differently than I probably would have. She simply said, "Well, then I don't want it" and changed into the next dress. 

When I heard that story, in the stubbornness of my youth, I thought "Well, geesh, how cruddy that her husband didn't ask her what she wanted...he just made that decision for her. And she went along with it!"

I think I probably told Adam I didn't ever plan on taking him dress shopping. And I hoped he would never try to tell me what to wear. (I told you I was stubborn.) 

But now, years later, I see the point the pastor was trying to make. 

He asked his wife later why she didn't fight him on it. She liked the dress, so why didn't she buy it? And she told him that he was the one she wanted to please...so if he didn't love it, she wanted no part of it.

And that's how we should be with God. 

I have a long list of plans and hopes and dreams...but today I can truly say that as I offered them up to God, I was able to say, "I don't want any of this if it's not your plan for me." 

Because his plans for us are so great. Much greater than we could ever imagine for ourselves. I've always said God puts the desires in our heart so we'll ask him for them...so we'll ask for the things he wants to give us...because he's a gentleman, and he doesn't force his will on us...

And every time he gives me something other than what I asked for (like my husband, for instance) it always turns out for the better. 

God may be doing something in your life today...and it may not be what you asked for or expected. Ride the wave...on the other side of it, you'll see the reasons why. And it'll make sense. Keep your arms open and your face heavenward...

And seek. 

Faith Friday {What if...?}

The last time I scheduled a Dream Day I ended up in the hospital, so I'm staying away from labeling today anything even close to that... but I am spending some time with my journal, with my coffee, with my Jesus. 

Asking questions that start with:

I'm hoping not to have a brain spasm this time. 

I find that a lot of great story ideas start with these two little words... What if...? Sometimes I'll be driving across town, zoning out (because you know I never remember driving from one place to the other. Freaky, actually.) and an idea will pop into my head... always starting with "What if...?" 

What if someone found an old scrapbook right after their mom died? And what if it was full of people the daughter had never met and stories about a place she'd never heard of? What if she had no idea who her father was and this scrapbook was the only clue she had to finding him? What if she found him and a whole lot more...?

Have you been to Sweethaven yet?

But these two words are powerful for other reasons.

Last night, I had coffee with a good friend of mine, and while we were talking, she said to me: "You have to challenge your beliefs." 

My beliefs about myself. About God. About life. What do I really believe...? Am I believing lies? Am I allowing myself to be lured into that yuck place of comparison and jealousy? Am I straight with what God's doing with me. Because that's unique to me...it doesn't look like what's he's doing with anyone else. 

I had never looked at it that way, but it's powerful. 

What if you did write that book? 

What if you did start a photography business?

What if you did go back to school?

What if you did get that promotion?

What if you did audition for that show? 

What if? What if? What if?

So, if you're one of my Scrapbooking Your Faith/Faith Friday people (and even if you're not)...that's this week's prompt. I'm a little behind so I'm going to be working on this with you...but what beliefs are you challenging today? What question are you asking yourself today? What question is begging your attention? 

Sit down and let your mind wander around the "What if...?" and see where it takes you. Create a page or journal about these two words...then come join our Scrapbooking Your Faith Facebook group (or post a link in the comments here).

Let's find our way together. 

PS, there's still time to join me over at Big Picture for my Scrapbooking Your Faith class. And if you're already signed up, I hope you'll say HI! :) 

Live Well {In Honor of Julie Cannon}

I was early for Ethan's school pick-up so I parked in the carpool line and clicked my phone on. I had a book, but I hadn't started it yet...and if you're going to start a new book, you need a good hour or at least 45 minutes. 

Not the five I had. 

Facebook Mobile for the distraction. 

I went to my newsfeed and found a note there from my agent. We have a group for her clients that makes it easier for all of us to share news and communicate. It's come in handy more than once and helps me feel connected to these writers walking the same path I'm on. 

But today, the news that had just been posted made me gasp. Cover your mouth with your hand kind of gasp. 

Last night, one of my agent's clients died in her sleep.. 

Just. Like. That. 

I didn't know Julie Cannon well. Last year, she was looking for help promoting her Christmas book, I'll Be Home for Christmas and I did a blog post about it, including it in my Christmas giveaway. I remember how grateful she was--and how humble. 

This year, I've been following her because her most recent book was released around the same time as mine. 

Order Twang here. 

I suppose maybe I should feel competitive with my fellow authors, but right now, I feel more of a kinship. More of a we're all in this together. More of a you understand me in a way that most people don't. 

It's hard to explain. 

In college, I was in a sorority. It was nice to feel like you automatically fit in somewhere... especially being away from home for the first time in my life. I tend to be somewhat homesick, so in a lot of ways going Greek made sense to me. 

As a writer, this group of authors, my many ways, is like my sorority. I watch their careers. I cheer for them from the sidelines. They lift me up when I'm discouraged. Even the ones I don't know so well are still part of this group--we're all in this together... 

So watching the grief ripple through this group at the much-too-soon loss of one of our own was both tragic and surreal. It's hit the perimeter of my circle and wound its way around. 

And seeing people I love in such pain is heart-breaking. 

Last night, I found myself sitting on the couch watching The Adventures of TinTin with my family and feeling overly thankful (is there such a thing) for every breath. For every moment I get to spend with these precious people--my people--who God has tucked around me for the duration of my life. 

(Sophia was already in the shower at this point.) 

The reminder was a somber one, but it's left me feel more deeply and more certain than ever that I am called according to a purpose. It's made me want to live more intentionally. To hug my kids more often and to feel it when they say things to me like "Mom, you're the best mom." 

It's made me want to be present every moment, every hour, every day... and to get on my knees before God, hands upturned, and ask him to fill me up. 

Because I can't do one bit of any of this on my own. 

You know how often people say they are so sorry for your loss? This isn't my loss. 

It's all of our losses. 

But the best way I can think to honor someone who has passed away is to live well. 

And today, that is what I vow. To make every moment matter. To pay more attention. To be more present. 

Because none of us is promised tomorrow. 

Praying for Julie's friends and family today...and feeling grateful for her well-lived life.

When God Does a New Thing {and you don't like it}

Growing up in a charismatic church, I spent a lot of time listening to prophecies and words of knowledge. I was always so enamored with the idea that God still spoke to his people in such a direct manner. But I also believe that God will speak directly to your heart if you ask him to, and over the last several years my goal has been to know his voice so clearly that I don't question it's him. 

I'm still working on that. 

Over the course of all those years, I can't tell you how many times I heard the words "God is doing a new thing." This declaration was met by cheers and applause and the person with the mic (or not) would fist pump the air to excite the crowd.

"God is doing a new thing!" He'd shout it now, to seal it in, to make sure the magnitude of the words were understood. 

More cheers. More applause. More excitement.

I've heard this phrase so many times that it's gotten to the point that the words have kind of lost their meaning. 

In my experience, they aren't the kind of words that should necessarily elicit cheers, applause or excitement.

In the last three or so years of my life, I've only known "a new thing." It's exciting right? To be on the precipice of something new. New. But I can tell you in no uncertain terms that "new" is never, ever "easy."

You beg for that change you've been seeking, and on the backside of it, it looks shiny and pretty (because it is) and you see why you had to make that change even clearer than when you were getting ready to go through it in the first place...

But let me explain something..."new" is "hard." If God is going to do a new thing, he's going to use it to teach you something...and I hate to say it, but it probably won't be easy. 

What you try not to let yourself think about is how you had to sell and/or rent homes, get ripped off by the moving company, tell bosses you were leaving, spend extra money on things like dumpsters and moving vans and gas to get across the country (twice). You pretend you didn't mind leaving your family (and later your new friends) or the home that you worked so hard to remodel...and that none of this had any affect on your kids.

You look at where you are right in this moment and you know it was God doing a new thing...and you've all gotten to the point where everything has turned out better than you could imagine... because you and the rest of your family are really, truly happy and thankful. 

You drive through town--a town where you've put down roots--and you get excited about being back. You're thrilled to see someone you know in the grocery store because for two years, that never ever happened to you.

It's clear that God's new thing was the right thing for you. 

But was it easy? 

Not a chance. 

Not for a second. 

My point is this...God is always doing a new thing...and he's always willing to teach us, but my friends, if you celebrate and ask for it and want it...you have to be ready for what's coming. 

Because there is nothing about "new" that's easy. 

All that said, on this side of it, the other side, the side where the ugly stuff is mostly behind me, I can tell you, I wouldn't trade one bit of it for anything in the word. 

New may not be easy, but when God's in it, it's definitely right. 

My advice? Celebrate cautiously when you realize God's doing a new thing. Instead, spend your time gearing up for battle...it just might be a bumpy ride. 

A Question for you: Do you welcome change or do you fight it tooth and nail? I'd love to hear how you handle the "new things" in your life...

The Key to the Pursuit of Passion

That's what it all boils down to, isn't it? 

Are we willing to do the work? I've been thinking about that lately, especially after my talk last night about pursuing your passion...

It sounds so flighty to "pursue a dream"...like you're whisping along on a cloud or something. It's not though, is it? It's really about doing the work. 

It's not about getting a hand-out or "falling into" the right spot. It's about buckling down. 

Immersing yourself in knowledge. 

Studying. 

Learning. 

Growing. 

Seeking. 

Working. 

Today I'm facing it...and I'm asking myself... Am I willing to do the work? 

Are you? What's holding you back? 

###

As a side note, I'm doing a giveaway over on my Facebook Author Page. I'm really excited to have the series complete, so I'm offering the book of your choice to three different winners. And there's a fun question attached to it too. 

I want you to come to Sweethaven...so even if you don't win...join me there for a cup of coffee and a slice of apple pie. 

You can start your vacation by clicking HERE.

I'll wave to you from the front porch of my cottage. 

In Pursuit of Passion {I Have a Question For You}

Tonight I'm heading out to speak to a group of local ladies, and my stomach is a bit wobbly. 

I was a theatre major in college, and I competed on the Bradley University Speech Team...and yet, speaking sometimes still gets me feeling all askew. 

I discovered awhile ago that the trick is to tell myself I'm just "having a conversation with some friends..." and then I feel better. Then I can relax a little bit. Even if I've never met any of these women before. 

We'll be fast friends, I'm sure. 

In preparing for my chat, I've realized a few things about myself, and I'm hoping these ladies can relate. 

See, I've always been a dream chaser. I subscribe to the idea that we should follow our passion--that it leads us in important directions...to where we should be going. But last week I read an article that suggested passion-following as a goal sets you up for disappointment. Or at the very least, an insane amount of stress. 

What if you haven't discovered your passion? Do you then feel pressure to do so if you have any hope of being happy? 

The truth is, I don't think we need to overanalyze it so much...this coming from me, the queen of overanalysis... but I think passion is also known as gut instinct. And if you follow it, it won't lead you down the wrong path. 

At least I think it won't. 

But the older I get and the more people I meet, the more I realize that many of us aren't following our passion. We bury it, hoping maybe its whisper will go away... 

So, in an effort to prepare myself fully for this talk tonight, I need your help. 

Do you have a passion for something? And if so, are you pursuing it? If not, What is it that keeps you from doing so? Is it indecisiveness? Time? Money? Fear? Something else?

Would love to hear your thoughts... 

Choose Your Battles {Stubborn Parenting of the Stubborn Child}

Yesterday should have been a day of celebration. My third book was officially released, and though many people had already received their pre-ordered copies (go you!) October 1st was THE date. 

The date the Sweethaven series was complete. 

I woke up feeling, of course, like I hadn't done enough to spread the word (after all, no one can buy your book if they've never heard of it)...I pretty much always feel that way. But in my experience, it seems that you do what you can and then you have to  let God take care of the rest. 

My release day joy was soon squelched when my daughter appeared in my room with that look on her face. 

You would think that wearing uniforms would eliminate the arguing over clothes, but that's just a myth created by private school principals. 

I love my kids in their uniforms. They're adorable. 

But I've discovered it's not so adorable when you're a sixth grader in between sizes. 

To help things run smoothly, I keep the uniforms separate from the rest of the laundry. So, Saturday, I told both kids to get their uniforms in the basket. Plenty of time to get them done before Monday. 

This is riveting blogging, folks. Stay with me. It's about to get ugly. 

Ethan, in a rare display of obedience, grabbed his uniforms almost immediately and filled the basket. Sophia did not. 

Two more times I told her "I'm doing uniforms. I need yours." Both times I was met with that grimace that said "Oops. Didn't do that yet." 

So imagine my surprise when, hours later, I sort through the uniforms and discover I only have boy clothes. My first thought was "Well, I told her..." She'd have to find out the hard way that if she wants her uniforms clean she has to do her part. 

Sophia is mostly a great kid. A little flighty when it comes to bringing homework home or putting clothes in the laundry...but mostly good. So, I'm compelled to ask myself "Why was this a battle you chose to fight?" 

Later that night, she did bring her clothes down, but by now it was Sunday evening. Adam threw her uniforms in the dryer by themselves but he failed to include one crucial thing. 

Sophia's prized navy blue undershirt. 

And friends, that is when it all started. 

To tell you it was like World War 3 in my house yesterday morning would be an understatement. This child had an epic meltdown. Over a shirt. I can't say I didn't understand. I get how it feels to not like your clothes, but in all my trying to reason with her, I overheard myself say "Next time you should put your uniforms in the laundry when I tell you to." 

It was a valid point. At the heart of this WAS her choice not to do as she was told...

But after the fireworks went out and I was left with the quiet of my book release...I found myself thinking Was that really the issue here? What I heard in my own voice was pride... that how dare you not do what I say...

And I didn't like it. 

As I replayed the morning's scene, I thought to myself, "Couldn't I have looked ahead to morning and said 'There is no way she's going to start her week off without everything she needs...'"? Could this whole thing have been due to my inattentiveness as a mother? 

I think sometimes it's hard to step back from this "growing little people" business and say "in the grand scheme of things...what's the better option?" And I should be able to do that by now, shouldn't I? 

I should be able to choose my battles...and if a battle is going to go global, I should find a way to avoid it, find another way to teach the crucial lesson. Find a way to set everything else aside and say "What is it that she really needs?" 

When I picked her up from school yesterday, I informed her of her punishment. While I had to take some responsibility for the lack of undershirt, I didn't take a bit of responsibility for the slammed door or the smart mouth...

But I did apologize. 

And as I did, I watched that stubbornness in her face melt away. I said "We can both do better, Soph." 

And I meant it. 

And it helped. 

Because while I want my kids to be respectful (of both people and things) I also want to set my kids up to succeed...and this weekend, I didn't do that. 

And if there's a battle I need to choose wisely, well, that's it. The battle with myself...to let go of my own pride if it means I'm setting her up to succeed. 

Time to do better...

 

A Sweethaven Christmas Releases TODAY! {Win the whole series!}

And just like that, the series is complete. 

I've officially written a 3-book series. 

It just feels crazy. I have a feeling the next few months may be jam packed, and that's a good thing... though I keep overwhelming myself mentally trying to wrap my brain around it all. 

It's surreal. 

Sometimes I still step back and think "I'm an author." 

And then just as quickly think "That can't be possible!" 

I'm working on putting together some really fun Sweethaven inspired events over the next few weeks, and I hope you'll join in the fun. If you haven't noticed, I like to give stuff away, so I'm sure I'll be doing more of that... 

But also looking into a local Christmas inspired Scrapbooking retreat and some other things I'm cooking up. At the same time, I'm trying not to overwhelm myself. 

I have a tendency to do that. 

And also to forget I have to cook dinner every night for four people who, unlike me, think dinner should consist of more than a cup of yogurt and a salad. (Where do they get these insane ideas?!) 

How would you like to WIN the whole series?

Today you can head over to my Facebook Author Page and enter to win this entire series along with a Starbucks gift card (and yes, I do wish it was a gift card to the Main Street Cafe, but we take what we can get, right?) 

All you have to do is tell me which of the Sweethaven characters you'd most like to have dinner with (and I'm a little shocked that so far, no one has said Luke!) :) 

I hope you'll join me in celebrating the release of my newest baby...you can read more and order your own copy HERE. 

Happy Reading!