The Writing Life

So today I was emptying out purses and bags I used on vacation. As usual, there were lots of little bits of paper, business cards, receipts and the like with notes and web addresses written on them. Once and for all I want to get organized and ALWAYS carry a notebook with me. It would just make things so much simpler. So, I took 3 minutes and stuck the front of an old notecard on a dollar store hardback 5"x7" spiral notebook. Voila. My inspiration book. I will carry it with me. I will try! Really I will.

One of my scrawled messages said "Churchill courage quote". I saw the quote framed and displayed in a gift shop, and loved it. But I didn't want to stand there and write it all down. So...today I googled it and here it is. "Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." I like that!

On the back of an ATM receipt I have written "Mark Buchanan". I borrowed a book of his "The Rest of God" from my sister in law and read a few chapters on the beach. Again - loved it. So, I found his website, and will look for his books at our local used bookstore or library. He's a most excellent writer - insightful and a delight to read.

Another bit of paper said "uprcseliv". Potentially very exciting. I'll blog about that soon.

Reading good writing makes me want to write. I've been too busy to write much recently, and I miss it. When I don't write my brain gets bunged up.

For anyone interested in the writing life, and/or being published I highly recommend Mary DeMuth's blog. It is cram packed with excellent information, guidance and inspiration. The woman is a gem. I'm off now to empty more sandy bags.

Home...The Perfect Nest

I bought this little sign in Port Austin, MI last week. We had a great time, but it's always good to get home to our own little nest again. Not for long this time, though . . . I'm heading out soon to Chicago for a "girlfriend getaway". It's been a long time since I've seen the 4th of July fireworks over Navy Pier, and I'm looking forward to it.

Our vacation was lovely in every way. I brought home another little souvenir that I'm less pleased with - 7 extra pounds! All week we ate like "horses at a grain bin" as my husband would say. Oh, but what grain it was! My sisters-in-law are all wonderful cooks, and the daily fare was delightful. Maybe I'll share some recipes here.

For most of our married life we've lived far away from all of our relatives and many of our friends. We've driven thousands upon thousands of miles over the years in all kinds of weather to visit them, and never have had so much as a flat tire. God is good.

Break Time

Yes, it is a case of blog neglect, and it's about to get worse! The summer is off to a busy start! We enjoyed a lovely weekend in Toronto with my brother's family and my parents (visiting from Ireland).

Soon we're off to cottages in Northern Michigan for a grand family reunion with my husband's family (over 30 of us!) After that it's a girlfriend getaway weekend in Chicago, a week in Canada at a Bible Camp distribution thingy and then another Chicago weekend for the big birthday celebration of an old friend.

Before we know it, back to (home) school will be here! Isn't summer grand?

Winners for the life:beautiful contest

I've posted the winners here:
http://www.eleanorjoyce.com/2008/05/life-beautiful-magazine-contest.html

Thanks to everyone who entered.
Have a great weekend!

I was completely blindsided yesterday by a migraine. Being somewhat prone to the occasional common migraine, I can usually head them off with Excedrin Migraine and a bit of rest. But this one came barelling in like a freight train in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, and I was pretty much completely incapacitated until late last night. It was the full blown classic variety - with nausea, dizziness, vision problems, pins and needles in my hands and feet, and of course, a very sore head. Quite major. It's been at least 7 years since I've had one like it. All that to say...I am extremely grateful that it left just as quickly as it arrived...late last night. I've no idea what that was all about, but I am glad it's gone.

Today is the last day to enter my giveaway contest (see sidebar). Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I will choose a random winner for my extra copy of life:beautiful.

It's a very stormy, thundery morning here in PA. Here's a trivia quiz - which two disciples (they were brothers) of Jesus were called "sons of thunder"? Their house must have been a noisy one growing up.

Happy Birthday to Me...

And it IS a happy birthday. I am richly blessed to have the best family and friends that a person could ever hope for. Thank you all very much for all that you are and all that you do.

Do you care?

While tidying up some papers the other day I came across the most precious little scrap. It was a small piece of white paper, with some doodling on it, signed by my two nieces. It was obviously something they had pulled from Nana's bible to draw on during a long sermon! But here's what I treasure, especially since their Nana, my dear "other mother" went home to be with the Lord just a few weeks ago. In her distinctive handwriting, in the middle of the paper is written:

"Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care." I know the saying did not originate with her, but she really did exemplify the truth of it in that she cared for everyone, and was loved by everyone that knew her. Several people have told me that she was the nicest person they had ever known. Wouldn't that be a lovely thing to have said about you?

So today I've been thinking a lot about that little saying. It really can be applied to so many situations~and boy is it challenging! I, for one, need to talk less, and do more.