Lydia Howe's Blog, page 34
August 24, 2015
Third Draft Shivers
I'm sitting here munching cold, salted green beans like they're potato chips and musing about the lack of motivation I feel for writing right now. And when I say 'writing' I mean the whole deal: editing, re-writing, emails, blogging, brainstorming, studying about writing and the list could go on.
A few weeks ago I experienced a strange phenomenon. I was so excited about working on When Life Hands You Lymes that I was almost giddy. I even neglected my blogging because I was so enthusiastic about WLHYL that I wanted to spend every moment I could work in it. I got a ton done and even sent it out to the first round of beta readers. It was glorious.
Then the critiques began coming in. I'm so very thankful for everyone who is taking their time to help me by reading the book and giving me suggestions and people have been quite considerate with their comments, but me oh my. There is a lot of work I need to do on this darling little book of mine. And I do mean a lot of work.
Instead of letting myself be consumed with feeling overwhelmed at how much I have staring me in the face to be accomplished during the next few months I took a walk out on a beautiful country road, looked up at our brilliantly azure sky and breathed deeply.
Instead of worrying about how I'm ever going to get WLHYL to a reasonable state of coherence (that's an exaggeration), I'm smiling at my newly cleaned, organized and rearranged office. It's so much fun working in a sparkling workspace.
Instead of letting weariness take over me at the mere thought of all I still need to do on the book I'm taking a little break from it to give myself some distance. I have plenty of other work I need to do right now, including work for my non-writing job.
So, pretty much this blog post doesn't have a conclusion. It's just the thoughts that are marching around inside my head.
A few weeks ago I experienced a strange phenomenon. I was so excited about working on When Life Hands You Lymes that I was almost giddy. I even neglected my blogging because I was so enthusiastic about WLHYL that I wanted to spend every moment I could work in it. I got a ton done and even sent it out to the first round of beta readers. It was glorious.
Then the critiques began coming in. I'm so very thankful for everyone who is taking their time to help me by reading the book and giving me suggestions and people have been quite considerate with their comments, but me oh my. There is a lot of work I need to do on this darling little book of mine. And I do mean a lot of work.
Instead of letting myself be consumed with feeling overwhelmed at how much I have staring me in the face to be accomplished during the next few months I took a walk out on a beautiful country road, looked up at our brilliantly azure sky and breathed deeply.
Instead of worrying about how I'm ever going to get WLHYL to a reasonable state of coherence (that's an exaggeration), I'm smiling at my newly cleaned, organized and rearranged office. It's so much fun working in a sparkling workspace.
Instead of letting weariness take over me at the mere thought of all I still need to do on the book I'm taking a little break from it to give myself some distance. I have plenty of other work I need to do right now, including work for my non-writing job.
So, pretty much this blog post doesn't have a conclusion. It's just the thoughts that are marching around inside my head.
August 21, 2015
When Life Hands You Lymes #84
Hey Everyone! Yes, yes, I know this post is rather late. It seems to be the theme on the Friday posts, but it's up! Welcome to the 84th segment of my fictional story, When Life Hands You Lymes...
“That’s when the trips to the doctors began. There were so many of them. Different doctors had different responses. Some doctors we went back to, others only took one visit for us to know they weren’t going to be helping with what we needed. It was also during that time that I began to realize people weren’t understanding what was going on. Because I still looked fairly healthy and normal, I began being pegged as lazy. As a snob. As someone who didn’t care about her friends any more. “I tried to explain what was going on, but there was no diagnosis. Even my closest friends tried to rally me out of my silly, sick mindset. They thought that if I just made up my mind to be better, then I would be. I remember one particular time when I had a handful of my closest friends come for a sleepover. I’d been looking forward to the party for weeks. My happiness knew no bounds when I actually felt well and enjoyed hanging out and playing games with them. That was until they gave each other knowing looks then gathered around me in a half circle. I asked them what was going on, what was wrong. They told me that they loved me too much to let me keep on being sick when all it was was my mindset. They told me that they wanted me to start hanging out with them all the time again because they knew that if I actually got up and did stuff, then I’d feel better. That I was making myself worse by allowing myself to imagine something was really physically wrong with me. After all, the doctors couldn’t find anything, right? My little world of happiness fell apart right there. It was a sting deeper than any physical pain I’d ever felt to hear my closest friends tell me that. They were just like the rest. They thought I was lying, they thought I was putting on a show because I was lazy. I determined there and then that I would hide it. I would grit my teeth and bare it whenever possible, and when it wasn’t, I would hide out by myself. “I became an expert at finding quiet nooks to curl up in when I couldn’t talk my way out of going somewhere, but more often then not I either stayed home or retreated to the car as soon as I could find a chance. I went into survival mode. I learned how to cope and deal with what I had to. I learned to be content being by myself. I learned to expertly avoid people. But I never learned to deal with the pain. I never learned to get over the deep desire to have someone who truly understood me. “I’d lie in bed at night, though the long, lonely hours of darkness and pray, begging God to give me someone who would be there for me. Who wouldn’t consider me to be lazy. At first I had people in mind when I prayed, but at last when person after person let me down, I gave up on suggesting names. I spent those years feeling so isolated. I often wondered what happened to the happy-go-lucky Madalyn of the past, but I couldn’t find even a figment of her in the loneliness of my reality. “Then came the day when I decided it was useless to continue feeling sorry for myself and so I decided to snap out of it. It wasn’t easy, but I made it. But by that time, even when I did want to be around people, I often didn’t feel well enough. I can remember going to my aunt’s house and lying up in the guest bedroom, ears straining to hear the conversations that were going on downstairs as my body rebelled against me and tied me down with exhaustion and pain. “Eventually I learned how to deal with that, too. My aches, my migraines, my stomach-clenching pain and my constant fogginess of mind became my norm. I was happy. I learned how to push through. Getting up and working for several hours a day was a victory and one I was happy to celebrate. I was the happiest I’d ever been in my life because I learned to rejoice even when things didn’t go my way. I was content. I even told God that if He was going to allow me to be sick for the rest of my life, then I could deal with that, I could find joy in living the life He’d given to me. “Then we changed some medications and I would go through spurts where I felt well. I was thrilled. I couldn’t do enough. I worked until I fell exhausted into bed and then I would lie there, heart racing and hands shaking from pushing my body too hard. I had to learn the lesson of being content all over again. As soon as I could work, I put my identity in what I could accomplish, not in who I was in Christ. It was a long, slow lesson, but eventually I began learning it.
“Then we found out I had Lyme disease. My word suddenly became a brighter, happier place. I had hope. I had a light at the end of the tunnel. They warned me it would be a year or so before I was better, but they could have told me five years and I would have been equally as ecstatic. Just knowing that I had words to describe what was happening to me was more than I had been able to hope for. Now I no longer had to be ashamed of not feeling well. Now I could say that I was going to get better, but it was a process. Now people would understand. Or so I thought….
“That’s when the trips to the doctors began. There were so many of them. Different doctors had different responses. Some doctors we went back to, others only took one visit for us to know they weren’t going to be helping with what we needed. It was also during that time that I began to realize people weren’t understanding what was going on. Because I still looked fairly healthy and normal, I began being pegged as lazy. As a snob. As someone who didn’t care about her friends any more. “I tried to explain what was going on, but there was no diagnosis. Even my closest friends tried to rally me out of my silly, sick mindset. They thought that if I just made up my mind to be better, then I would be. I remember one particular time when I had a handful of my closest friends come for a sleepover. I’d been looking forward to the party for weeks. My happiness knew no bounds when I actually felt well and enjoyed hanging out and playing games with them. That was until they gave each other knowing looks then gathered around me in a half circle. I asked them what was going on, what was wrong. They told me that they loved me too much to let me keep on being sick when all it was was my mindset. They told me that they wanted me to start hanging out with them all the time again because they knew that if I actually got up and did stuff, then I’d feel better. That I was making myself worse by allowing myself to imagine something was really physically wrong with me. After all, the doctors couldn’t find anything, right? My little world of happiness fell apart right there. It was a sting deeper than any physical pain I’d ever felt to hear my closest friends tell me that. They were just like the rest. They thought I was lying, they thought I was putting on a show because I was lazy. I determined there and then that I would hide it. I would grit my teeth and bare it whenever possible, and when it wasn’t, I would hide out by myself. “I became an expert at finding quiet nooks to curl up in when I couldn’t talk my way out of going somewhere, but more often then not I either stayed home or retreated to the car as soon as I could find a chance. I went into survival mode. I learned how to cope and deal with what I had to. I learned to be content being by myself. I learned to expertly avoid people. But I never learned to deal with the pain. I never learned to get over the deep desire to have someone who truly understood me. “I’d lie in bed at night, though the long, lonely hours of darkness and pray, begging God to give me someone who would be there for me. Who wouldn’t consider me to be lazy. At first I had people in mind when I prayed, but at last when person after person let me down, I gave up on suggesting names. I spent those years feeling so isolated. I often wondered what happened to the happy-go-lucky Madalyn of the past, but I couldn’t find even a figment of her in the loneliness of my reality. “Then came the day when I decided it was useless to continue feeling sorry for myself and so I decided to snap out of it. It wasn’t easy, but I made it. But by that time, even when I did want to be around people, I often didn’t feel well enough. I can remember going to my aunt’s house and lying up in the guest bedroom, ears straining to hear the conversations that were going on downstairs as my body rebelled against me and tied me down with exhaustion and pain. “Eventually I learned how to deal with that, too. My aches, my migraines, my stomach-clenching pain and my constant fogginess of mind became my norm. I was happy. I learned how to push through. Getting up and working for several hours a day was a victory and one I was happy to celebrate. I was the happiest I’d ever been in my life because I learned to rejoice even when things didn’t go my way. I was content. I even told God that if He was going to allow me to be sick for the rest of my life, then I could deal with that, I could find joy in living the life He’d given to me. “Then we changed some medications and I would go through spurts where I felt well. I was thrilled. I couldn’t do enough. I worked until I fell exhausted into bed and then I would lie there, heart racing and hands shaking from pushing my body too hard. I had to learn the lesson of being content all over again. As soon as I could work, I put my identity in what I could accomplish, not in who I was in Christ. It was a long, slow lesson, but eventually I began learning it.
“Then we found out I had Lyme disease. My word suddenly became a brighter, happier place. I had hope. I had a light at the end of the tunnel. They warned me it would be a year or so before I was better, but they could have told me five years and I would have been equally as ecstatic. Just knowing that I had words to describe what was happening to me was more than I had been able to hope for. Now I no longer had to be ashamed of not feeling well. Now I could say that I was going to get better, but it was a process. Now people would understand. Or so I thought….
August 20, 2015
Whirling Thoughts
This morning I had a spiral of thoughts whirling around in my head and so I decided to share some of them. Welcome to my brain...
The world is so full of possibilities. It seems like each day I feel at least a moment of overwhelmed amazement when I think of all there is I could or want or need to do. The list is mind boggling and could never be captured and expressed much less experienced in the short window of time commonly known as life.
This morning I was looking up at the sky, the seemingly endless expanse of gray hovered closer to the earth than normal and created the sensation of autumn being just around the next bend. I'm throughly enjoying summer but the first hints of autumn always throw my memory into a tizzy with a flood of happy memories.
Re-reading certain books is like revisiting old friends. There are some books that I read once and never have the desire to pick up again. There are other books that are like a warm and comforting hug on a cold winter night and need to be curled up with and re-read at least once a year. When When Life Hands You Lymes is published I want it to be this kind of book for at least a handful of people.
The way God works through His children is truly astonishing. There are times when I sit back and try to catch my breath as I ponder the thought that the Creator of everything loves me and is pouring out His blessings on my life and working through me. It's so amazing I can't even find an adequate simile to describe it.
Today is a busy day at my non-writing job and I'm wholly looking forward to it. The feeling of being part of a team and belonging is so beautiful I sometimes find myself becoming almost philosophical as I try and figure out how to describe it.
Having wonderful friends is one of the greatest blessings ever. My friend gauge is filled with laughing over the weirdness, the spontaneity of long-distance conversations, exploring deep thoughts, working together, encouraging each other, being so random a passerby would probably run and hide and making memories. It's a beautiful thing.
* * * What's on your brain today?
The world is so full of possibilities. It seems like each day I feel at least a moment of overwhelmed amazement when I think of all there is I could or want or need to do. The list is mind boggling and could never be captured and expressed much less experienced in the short window of time commonly known as life.
This morning I was looking up at the sky, the seemingly endless expanse of gray hovered closer to the earth than normal and created the sensation of autumn being just around the next bend. I'm throughly enjoying summer but the first hints of autumn always throw my memory into a tizzy with a flood of happy memories.
Re-reading certain books is like revisiting old friends. There are some books that I read once and never have the desire to pick up again. There are other books that are like a warm and comforting hug on a cold winter night and need to be curled up with and re-read at least once a year. When When Life Hands You Lymes is published I want it to be this kind of book for at least a handful of people.
The way God works through His children is truly astonishing. There are times when I sit back and try to catch my breath as I ponder the thought that the Creator of everything loves me and is pouring out His blessings on my life and working through me. It's so amazing I can't even find an adequate simile to describe it.
Today is a busy day at my non-writing job and I'm wholly looking forward to it. The feeling of being part of a team and belonging is so beautiful I sometimes find myself becoming almost philosophical as I try and figure out how to describe it.
Having wonderful friends is one of the greatest blessings ever. My friend gauge is filled with laughing over the weirdness, the spontaneity of long-distance conversations, exploring deep thoughts, working together, encouraging each other, being so random a passerby would probably run and hide and making memories. It's a beautiful thing.
* * * What's on your brain today?
August 19, 2015
Quotes and Jokes
I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the end and I think, "Well, that's not going to happen." -Anonymous
source“Whatever you are, be a good one.” -Abraham Lincoln
source“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” - Oscar Wilde
source
"I don't tell my men how to do something, I tell them what to do and watch their ingenuity go to work." - General Patton
source“Whatever you are, be a good one.” -Abraham Lincoln 
source“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” - Oscar Wilde 
source"I don't tell my men how to do something, I tell them what to do and watch their ingenuity go to work." - General Patton
August 18, 2015
To China and Back - Book Review
To China and Back By Anthony Bollback
Find it on: Amazon Goodreads
First Person One-Point-of-ViewNon-Fiction130 Pages
About the Book From the Backcover Blurb
Hardly yet able to communicate in Chinese, the Bollbacks were foxed to flee China and to continue there missionary careers in Japan and Hong Kong. And always, there was the unusual and unexpected. The multi-faced ministry of Anthony and Evelyn Bollback affirms that God intervenes in the everyday affairs of those who love Him and habitually seek His guidance.
Why I Choose This Book
Our family has been friends with Mr. and Mrs. Bollback for years and Mr. Bollback is one of my writing mentors. After a recent visit with them I decided to re-read Mr. Bollback's books and to finally get around to reading several that I haven't read yet.
What I Thought about the Book
Mr. and Mrs. Bollback's incredible faith and dependance on God has long been inspiring to me. Their stories are by far best when shared in person, but reading about the exciting and sometimes scary adventures are the next-to-best thing.
This book is like a birds-eye-veiw of the years they spent getting ready for the mission field and then in China, Japan and Hong Kong. While reading this book in the comfort of my home I was reminded, yet again, at how much these amazing and dedicated followers of God gave up to spread His truth and love.
One of the most note-worthy aspects in the book is that Mr. and Mrs. Bollback decided early on in their ministry that they would never tell anyone besides God when they had a need. That meant that they had to rely solely on Him. They shared how God always met their needs, even if that meant all they had to eat for weeks were beets.
Conclusion
As always there were a few little things here and there that I wouldn't agree with, but over all it is a great and faith building book. It's also written in a family-friendly way without any disturbing details, even though they lived through hash and hostile situations.
Rating
I am giving To China and Back Four stars and I recommend it to anyone.
Find it on: Amazon Goodreads
First Person One-Point-of-ViewNon-Fiction130 Pages
About the Book From the Backcover Blurb
Hardly yet able to communicate in Chinese, the Bollbacks were foxed to flee China and to continue there missionary careers in Japan and Hong Kong. And always, there was the unusual and unexpected. The multi-faced ministry of Anthony and Evelyn Bollback affirms that God intervenes in the everyday affairs of those who love Him and habitually seek His guidance.
Why I Choose This Book
Our family has been friends with Mr. and Mrs. Bollback for years and Mr. Bollback is one of my writing mentors. After a recent visit with them I decided to re-read Mr. Bollback's books and to finally get around to reading several that I haven't read yet.
What I Thought about the Book
Mr. and Mrs. Bollback's incredible faith and dependance on God has long been inspiring to me. Their stories are by far best when shared in person, but reading about the exciting and sometimes scary adventures are the next-to-best thing.
This book is like a birds-eye-veiw of the years they spent getting ready for the mission field and then in China, Japan and Hong Kong. While reading this book in the comfort of my home I was reminded, yet again, at how much these amazing and dedicated followers of God gave up to spread His truth and love.
One of the most note-worthy aspects in the book is that Mr. and Mrs. Bollback decided early on in their ministry that they would never tell anyone besides God when they had a need. That meant that they had to rely solely on Him. They shared how God always met their needs, even if that meant all they had to eat for weeks were beets.
Conclusion
As always there were a few little things here and there that I wouldn't agree with, but over all it is a great and faith building book. It's also written in a family-friendly way without any disturbing details, even though they lived through hash and hostile situations.
Rating
I am giving To China and Back Four stars and I recommend it to anyone.
August 17, 2015
One of My Writing Heroes
Back when I was a cute little seven-year-old with missing teeth and pigtails my grandma sent our family a book that had been written by a man who lived in her retirement village. It was called
The Tiger Shark Strikes Again
and was a mystery involving four kids in Hong Kong.
My parents were leaving for a week-long trip and so after they pulled out of our driveway my oldest sister sat us all down in the living room and showed us the book and told us that for a treat while Mom and Dad were away she would read us a chapter each day. We were happy and settled down right away to hear the first installment.
Several hours later my sister finished the last page and we all sighed in contentment, happy with how the mystery had panned out. (So much for reading a chapter each day! It had been to enthralling to put down.)
Fast-forward eight years and I was one of those bookwormish fifteen-year-olds who had devoured the book several times over and enjoyed it each time. After years of having our grandma come and visit us, we were finally going to visit her. We were excited not only to get to see her, but also at the thought of maybe meeting Mr. Bollback, the well-loved author of The Tiger Shark Strikes Again.
I was beyond thrilled when our family not only got to meet Mr. Bollback (he was a deacon at the church there and came up and introduced himself to us), but then we became friends with him and his wife.
Over the last seven years I've had many delightful conversations with the sweet couple, heard almost unbelievable accounts of their years spent in China and Hong Kong (you should really check out these books he's written: To China and Back , Exiles of Hope , Red Runs the River ,).
Mr. Bollback also played a big part in encouraging me with my writing, especially early on in my writing career. He not only gave tons of advice, answered lots of random questions, told me I could do it and spurred me on, he also read several of my books, gave me feedback and inspiration to continue on even when it got difficult and even wrote an endorsement for one of my self-published books.
I was delighted to get to visit with Mr. and Mrs. Bollback again last week and came away feeling encouraged and inspired. Despite having a few health issues they are still standing strong for Jesus and work at spreading His truth and love. At an age when most people feel like they can sit back and do nothing, they are still hosting Bible Studies and helping people learn more about God. (They just celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary, how cool is that?!?)
I am so thankful to have people like Mr. and Mrs. Bollback in my life. They have done so much that will count for eternity and I feel blessed to call them my friends.
* * *
And, I thought I'd share with you the sweet endorsement Mr. Bollback wrote for my book, Dusk .
Dusk is the first book in the Turglar Trilogy that promises to be an outstanding and fascinating series.
The author, young Aidyl Ewoh, is a young woman with an unusual spiritual depth to her writing far beyond her years. After reading two or three chapters I was struck by the impression that this is a modern day Pilgrim’s Progress series in the making.
There are many books appearing on the market by aspiring authors who hope to be a success, but in order to accomplish that they often stoop to a low level of morality. This book is just the opposite. Rather than stoop to such a level, the author lifts you up to a higher plane with a story that is at once fascinating while at the same time instills a sense of peace and joy as you read.
The land of Turglar was taken over by a harsh and cruel ruler who eliminated the royal family, but two decades later the rumor was confirmed that Princess Shalom survived. With keen understanding of human nature and the Bible, this story reveals the deep longing of the inhabitants of the land for the joy of once again freely reading and possessing God’s Word, the Path Book.
Families will profit immensely by reading this book together and discussing the spiritual implications of each chapter. Get ready for a spiritual treat that will lift your spirit and fill your heart with anticipation for the fulfillment of God’s plan for our world.
* * *
Check out all of Mr. Bollbacks Jack and Jenny Mysteries here: Smugglers in Hong Kong, Mystery of the Counterfeit Money, Hijacked, Rescue at Cripple Creek, and The Tiger Shark Strikes Again.
My parents were leaving for a week-long trip and so after they pulled out of our driveway my oldest sister sat us all down in the living room and showed us the book and told us that for a treat while Mom and Dad were away she would read us a chapter each day. We were happy and settled down right away to hear the first installment.
Several hours later my sister finished the last page and we all sighed in contentment, happy with how the mystery had panned out. (So much for reading a chapter each day! It had been to enthralling to put down.)
Fast-forward eight years and I was one of those bookwormish fifteen-year-olds who had devoured the book several times over and enjoyed it each time. After years of having our grandma come and visit us, we were finally going to visit her. We were excited not only to get to see her, but also at the thought of maybe meeting Mr. Bollback, the well-loved author of The Tiger Shark Strikes Again.
I was beyond thrilled when our family not only got to meet Mr. Bollback (he was a deacon at the church there and came up and introduced himself to us), but then we became friends with him and his wife.
Over the last seven years I've had many delightful conversations with the sweet couple, heard almost unbelievable accounts of their years spent in China and Hong Kong (you should really check out these books he's written: To China and Back , Exiles of Hope , Red Runs the River ,).
Mr. Bollback also played a big part in encouraging me with my writing, especially early on in my writing career. He not only gave tons of advice, answered lots of random questions, told me I could do it and spurred me on, he also read several of my books, gave me feedback and inspiration to continue on even when it got difficult and even wrote an endorsement for one of my self-published books.
I was delighted to get to visit with Mr. and Mrs. Bollback again last week and came away feeling encouraged and inspired. Despite having a few health issues they are still standing strong for Jesus and work at spreading His truth and love. At an age when most people feel like they can sit back and do nothing, they are still hosting Bible Studies and helping people learn more about God. (They just celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary, how cool is that?!?)
I am so thankful to have people like Mr. and Mrs. Bollback in my life. They have done so much that will count for eternity and I feel blessed to call them my friends.
* * *
And, I thought I'd share with you the sweet endorsement Mr. Bollback wrote for my book, Dusk .
Dusk is the first book in the Turglar Trilogy that promises to be an outstanding and fascinating series.
The author, young Aidyl Ewoh, is a young woman with an unusual spiritual depth to her writing far beyond her years. After reading two or three chapters I was struck by the impression that this is a modern day Pilgrim’s Progress series in the making.
There are many books appearing on the market by aspiring authors who hope to be a success, but in order to accomplish that they often stoop to a low level of morality. This book is just the opposite. Rather than stoop to such a level, the author lifts you up to a higher plane with a story that is at once fascinating while at the same time instills a sense of peace and joy as you read.
The land of Turglar was taken over by a harsh and cruel ruler who eliminated the royal family, but two decades later the rumor was confirmed that Princess Shalom survived. With keen understanding of human nature and the Bible, this story reveals the deep longing of the inhabitants of the land for the joy of once again freely reading and possessing God’s Word, the Path Book.
Families will profit immensely by reading this book together and discussing the spiritual implications of each chapter. Get ready for a spiritual treat that will lift your spirit and fill your heart with anticipation for the fulfillment of God’s plan for our world.
* * *
Check out all of Mr. Bollbacks Jack and Jenny Mysteries here: Smugglers in Hong Kong, Mystery of the Counterfeit Money, Hijacked, Rescue at Cripple Creek, and The Tiger Shark Strikes Again.
August 14, 2015
When Life Hands You Lymes #83
Happy Friday, people! I'm quite pleased to finally be home after being gone for the past sixteen days. It's quite a bit cooler here than when I left home and I'm reminded that September is right around the corner. Crazy thought!
I hope y'all enjoy the 83rd segment of my fictional story, When Life Hands You Lymes. I'm excited about sharing these last few segments with y'all and am trying to think of some way to celebrate when the story has all been posted...
New Chapter
“How are you feeling?” Julia asked as I lick the envelop shut after sticking in a letter for Grandma. I used my most fancy penmanship as I added Grandma’s address. “It’s not too bad.” I kept my voice chipper. “Which means you’re in pain but you don’t want to complain.” Julia blew on her nails. “Is there anything I can do to help?” “Naw.” “Which means you’d like to be left alone so I’ll just be quiet now.” Julia was correct, so I didn’t say anything. I had known for a long time that in order for me to have a best friend I would need someone who understood my need for solitude. Julia, friendly and out going though she as she was, was perfect at giving me my space. After finishing Grandma’s address I put away my writing supplies and went to the kitchenette to begin getting ready for the night. First I flipped the switch and turned on the electric tea kettle. Next I peeled a clove of garlic and crushed it between two spoons. I set my timer for fifteen minutes and then pulled four glasses out of the dish drainer and added an inch of water to three of them. After that I went through and added the various powders and tinctures to three of them. I drink the first one and then time it for five minutes when the next one would be ready. Opening up the cupboard I pulled out the asparagus tea packet, tore it open and dumped it in the forth glass. Spinning the Lazy Susan around I gathered up the five vitamins the doctor had me taking, so very thankful I wasn’t taking ten times that many any more. By this time the water had boiled so I poured three inches into the glass with the tea, then quickly added a couple inches of tap water. Looking at my phone I timed it three minutes while gulping down the contents of glasses number two and three. When my alarm went off I took the spoonful of garlic and swallowed it as fast as possible, followed by a spoonful of honey. At last I drank my asparagus tea and I was done with my regime for the night. I washed up my dishes and tidied the kitchenette then headed into the bathroom to take a bath with cleansing salts in the water. “Feeling better?” Julia looked angelical in a fluffy white robe over her pajamas. She was perched in my bed, surrounded by a pile of white pillows and my down comforter. I climbed up on the other side of the bed, moving slowly because my joints are aching. “Mentally, yes. Physically, no.” “Which bothers you more?” I tilted my head, once again thankful that I somehow ended up with such a thoughtful friend. “It depends.” I went over the question in my head. “It’s the worse when I am physically doing almost ok, but mentally can’t concentrate or get stressed out around people because then I feel guilty about it. At least when I’m in actual pain other people can understand then they feel like they can relate to me and I don’t feel so alone.” “Do you ever despair about feeling better? Wondering if the day will ever come?” Julia turned off all the lights besides the white Christmas lights that are around the border of our room. I had decided to leave them up because they’re so homey. “How sleepy are you?” The bath relaxed me and I’m ready to have someone to talk to. “As sleepy as you want me to be.” Julia leaned forward, “Do you want me to put water on for tea?” I nodded. Julia was back five minutes later with two steaming mugs of tea. I took mine appreciatively and wrapped both hands around it, savoring the warmth of hot tea and friendship. “Thank you.” “My ears are yours.” Julia sat back against the pillow and assumes a relaxed expression on her normally excited features. “This is going to sound like the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard.” I felt tears coming on, but fight them, trying to act jovial. I’m not ready for this. I am so not ready to actually speak the words that have been making me cringe with shame. Julia’s blue eyes softened with sympathy. I turned my back to Julia so I couldn’t see her. My words come out slowly but surely. I didn’t stumble over them. I’d rehearsed them so many times in my head as I tried to convince myself that they weren’t true that I have them memorized. I’m just an actress on a stage, performing a comedy, but if that was the case then my heart wouldn’t be tearing apart and I wouldn’t be feeling so alienated from the human race. “I’ve been sick for so long. It started when I was fifteen. I’m eighteen now. Lyme disease stole the second half of my childhood from me. I went from being a vivacious, out-going girl into a hermit. I remember loving to be around people. I remember when the only thing I wanted was to be surrounded by throngs of people all the time. They called me out-going. People said I was the life of the party. I was invited everywhere and I never turned down an invitation. My life was practically perfect. I loved who I was. I loved every single aspect of being me. I can’t even remember struggling with how I looked because I had the deep assurance that God really had made me just the way I was and that He thought I was beautiful. That was enough for me.
“Looking back now I remember being sick one summer after we’d gone horseback riding. At that time, and for years afterward, I thought it was just some kind of summer flu. No one else in my family got sick, but that didn’t bother me much, I figured I’d caught it from one of my friends. That must have been when I got the tick bite though, we just didn’t know enough to look. My health slowly faded during that summer, but it happened so gradually that it took us until school was about ready to start before we became concerned…”
I hope y'all enjoy the 83rd segment of my fictional story, When Life Hands You Lymes. I'm excited about sharing these last few segments with y'all and am trying to think of some way to celebrate when the story has all been posted...
New Chapter
“How are you feeling?” Julia asked as I lick the envelop shut after sticking in a letter for Grandma. I used my most fancy penmanship as I added Grandma’s address. “It’s not too bad.” I kept my voice chipper. “Which means you’re in pain but you don’t want to complain.” Julia blew on her nails. “Is there anything I can do to help?” “Naw.” “Which means you’d like to be left alone so I’ll just be quiet now.” Julia was correct, so I didn’t say anything. I had known for a long time that in order for me to have a best friend I would need someone who understood my need for solitude. Julia, friendly and out going though she as she was, was perfect at giving me my space. After finishing Grandma’s address I put away my writing supplies and went to the kitchenette to begin getting ready for the night. First I flipped the switch and turned on the electric tea kettle. Next I peeled a clove of garlic and crushed it between two spoons. I set my timer for fifteen minutes and then pulled four glasses out of the dish drainer and added an inch of water to three of them. After that I went through and added the various powders and tinctures to three of them. I drink the first one and then time it for five minutes when the next one would be ready. Opening up the cupboard I pulled out the asparagus tea packet, tore it open and dumped it in the forth glass. Spinning the Lazy Susan around I gathered up the five vitamins the doctor had me taking, so very thankful I wasn’t taking ten times that many any more. By this time the water had boiled so I poured three inches into the glass with the tea, then quickly added a couple inches of tap water. Looking at my phone I timed it three minutes while gulping down the contents of glasses number two and three. When my alarm went off I took the spoonful of garlic and swallowed it as fast as possible, followed by a spoonful of honey. At last I drank my asparagus tea and I was done with my regime for the night. I washed up my dishes and tidied the kitchenette then headed into the bathroom to take a bath with cleansing salts in the water. “Feeling better?” Julia looked angelical in a fluffy white robe over her pajamas. She was perched in my bed, surrounded by a pile of white pillows and my down comforter. I climbed up on the other side of the bed, moving slowly because my joints are aching. “Mentally, yes. Physically, no.” “Which bothers you more?” I tilted my head, once again thankful that I somehow ended up with such a thoughtful friend. “It depends.” I went over the question in my head. “It’s the worse when I am physically doing almost ok, but mentally can’t concentrate or get stressed out around people because then I feel guilty about it. At least when I’m in actual pain other people can understand then they feel like they can relate to me and I don’t feel so alone.” “Do you ever despair about feeling better? Wondering if the day will ever come?” Julia turned off all the lights besides the white Christmas lights that are around the border of our room. I had decided to leave them up because they’re so homey. “How sleepy are you?” The bath relaxed me and I’m ready to have someone to talk to. “As sleepy as you want me to be.” Julia leaned forward, “Do you want me to put water on for tea?” I nodded. Julia was back five minutes later with two steaming mugs of tea. I took mine appreciatively and wrapped both hands around it, savoring the warmth of hot tea and friendship. “Thank you.” “My ears are yours.” Julia sat back against the pillow and assumes a relaxed expression on her normally excited features. “This is going to sound like the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard.” I felt tears coming on, but fight them, trying to act jovial. I’m not ready for this. I am so not ready to actually speak the words that have been making me cringe with shame. Julia’s blue eyes softened with sympathy. I turned my back to Julia so I couldn’t see her. My words come out slowly but surely. I didn’t stumble over them. I’d rehearsed them so many times in my head as I tried to convince myself that they weren’t true that I have them memorized. I’m just an actress on a stage, performing a comedy, but if that was the case then my heart wouldn’t be tearing apart and I wouldn’t be feeling so alienated from the human race. “I’ve been sick for so long. It started when I was fifteen. I’m eighteen now. Lyme disease stole the second half of my childhood from me. I went from being a vivacious, out-going girl into a hermit. I remember loving to be around people. I remember when the only thing I wanted was to be surrounded by throngs of people all the time. They called me out-going. People said I was the life of the party. I was invited everywhere and I never turned down an invitation. My life was practically perfect. I loved who I was. I loved every single aspect of being me. I can’t even remember struggling with how I looked because I had the deep assurance that God really had made me just the way I was and that He thought I was beautiful. That was enough for me.
“Looking back now I remember being sick one summer after we’d gone horseback riding. At that time, and for years afterward, I thought it was just some kind of summer flu. No one else in my family got sick, but that didn’t bother me much, I figured I’d caught it from one of my friends. That must have been when I got the tick bite though, we just didn’t know enough to look. My health slowly faded during that summer, but it happened so gradually that it took us until school was about ready to start before we became concerned…”
August 13, 2015
Reading as a Writer
I haven't read any books this month.
Amazing, right? I was pretty thrilled when I realized that. Of course I've read little bits and pieces of books here and there, but nothing even close to a full book. And it's already almost the second week of August.
Of course a totally out-of-the-ordinary announcement like that needs an explanation because let's face it: I'm a huge advocator of reading. Books add so much to life and I'm pretty convinced they should be experienced by everyone. I've learned so much through reading and I want to help others get involved in their own reading adventures. (I'm a writer, for crying out loud! Books are a huge part of my life.)
So why the excitement over not reading?
If you've been following my blog for a lengthy amount of time you may have noticed that this year I've read (more like inhaled) an immense amount of books. We're talking about 105 books in the first 210 days of the year. That's approximately one book every two days and since each book averaged 252 pages, that's 126 pages of reading per day. (Gulp.)
And, if you're reading in-between the lines what that means is: I haven't felt the best this year and so I've spent a more than average amount of time resting and reading. Therefore, when I do feel well enough to actually live like a normal human it makes me happy. (Of course I still read even when my health is at optimum capacity, just not quite so fast or ferociously...)
So, if I've only read a couple of pages each day, what have I been doing during the past few weeks?
*Editing and sending When Life Hands You Lymes off to beta readers (and the world rejoices)*Visiting family out-of-state (and playing lots of card games with them, oh happy day)*Editing more *Walking*Making blankets for crisis pregnancy centers *And of course living this thing called "Life" (in case you haven't noticed, this takes up a good amount of time...)
Back to the subject of reading though. Reading is amazing. I have learned so much through my rapid reading phase. When I look back at my writing from the beginning of last year I cringe in embarrassment and wonder how I ever thought it was public-worthy. Devouring large amounts of words is a way I can grow myself and my craft even when I'm not up to writing or editing like I wish I would be. Therefore reading is wonderful.
When I think back to the struggles I had early on with my writing I'm practically speechless with delight. See, a lot of those problems I dealt with aren't even on my radar any more because the correct way of writing is so ingrained in my brain that it happens naturally.
When I read a book I take note of sentence structure, descriptions, word pictures, vocabulary usage, foreshadowing, plot and sub-plot lines, character development and of course what parts grab me in and make me beg for more. Some books make my mouth drop open in amazement and my heart pitter-patter happily at the beautiful way the words are arranged. Other books literally make me embarrassed when I think of them being published and therefore available to the public.
I have read advice from a lot of successful authors and quite often one of their top tips for learning to write better is to read a lot. I'm glad I took their advice because guess what? It works.
* * *What about you? Do you like to read?
Amazing, right? I was pretty thrilled when I realized that. Of course I've read little bits and pieces of books here and there, but nothing even close to a full book. And it's already almost the second week of August.
Of course a totally out-of-the-ordinary announcement like that needs an explanation because let's face it: I'm a huge advocator of reading. Books add so much to life and I'm pretty convinced they should be experienced by everyone. I've learned so much through reading and I want to help others get involved in their own reading adventures. (I'm a writer, for crying out loud! Books are a huge part of my life.)
So why the excitement over not reading?
If you've been following my blog for a lengthy amount of time you may have noticed that this year I've read (more like inhaled) an immense amount of books. We're talking about 105 books in the first 210 days of the year. That's approximately one book every two days and since each book averaged 252 pages, that's 126 pages of reading per day. (Gulp.)
And, if you're reading in-between the lines what that means is: I haven't felt the best this year and so I've spent a more than average amount of time resting and reading. Therefore, when I do feel well enough to actually live like a normal human it makes me happy. (Of course I still read even when my health is at optimum capacity, just not quite so fast or ferociously...)
So, if I've only read a couple of pages each day, what have I been doing during the past few weeks?
*Editing and sending When Life Hands You Lymes off to beta readers (and the world rejoices)*Visiting family out-of-state (and playing lots of card games with them, oh happy day)*Editing more *Walking*Making blankets for crisis pregnancy centers *And of course living this thing called "Life" (in case you haven't noticed, this takes up a good amount of time...)
Back to the subject of reading though. Reading is amazing. I have learned so much through my rapid reading phase. When I look back at my writing from the beginning of last year I cringe in embarrassment and wonder how I ever thought it was public-worthy. Devouring large amounts of words is a way I can grow myself and my craft even when I'm not up to writing or editing like I wish I would be. Therefore reading is wonderful.
When I think back to the struggles I had early on with my writing I'm practically speechless with delight. See, a lot of those problems I dealt with aren't even on my radar any more because the correct way of writing is so ingrained in my brain that it happens naturally.
When I read a book I take note of sentence structure, descriptions, word pictures, vocabulary usage, foreshadowing, plot and sub-plot lines, character development and of course what parts grab me in and make me beg for more. Some books make my mouth drop open in amazement and my heart pitter-patter happily at the beautiful way the words are arranged. Other books literally make me embarrassed when I think of them being published and therefore available to the public.
I have read advice from a lot of successful authors and quite often one of their top tips for learning to write better is to read a lot. I'm glad I took their advice because guess what? It works.
* * *What about you? Do you like to read?
August 12, 2015
Traveling Update
I'm on my way home from visiting out-of-state family and will, Lord willing, arrive home tomorrow evening. I got a ton done on the second/third draft of my book during this trip and I'm excited about how it's progressing. As productive as these last few weeks were, my blogging, unfortunately, suffered quite a bit and I'm eager to being back in my cosy office and blogging regularly again.
I'm looking forward to being at home for the next couple of weeks. I don't have any planned trips away from home until I get to go caving in Tennessee the second weekend in September. (I am so excited about caving again!) It will be nice to have some time to be in a routine at home.
A few weeks ago I counted it up and tonight will be the 222 night of the year and it will also be my 111 night away from home. Considering the fact that we barely ever traveled when I was growing up, I still sometimes have a hard time realizing that this is actually my existence.
I feel so blessed to get to see so much of the world and experience different cultures and meet people from all over, but it's so rewarding to get back home.
I'm looking forward to being at home for the next couple of weeks. I don't have any planned trips away from home until I get to go caving in Tennessee the second weekend in September. (I am so excited about caving again!) It will be nice to have some time to be in a routine at home.
A few weeks ago I counted it up and tonight will be the 222 night of the year and it will also be my 111 night away from home. Considering the fact that we barely ever traveled when I was growing up, I still sometimes have a hard time realizing that this is actually my existence.
I feel so blessed to get to see so much of the world and experience different cultures and meet people from all over, but it's so rewarding to get back home.
August 11, 2015
Life: A Gift and a Responsibility
Recently the subject of life has been on my mind.
There is so much in our world today that seeks to cheapen the priceless gift of life that God has given to us. Our culture as a whole has numbed itself to death and bloodshed. Books, movies, and video games often times glorify violence and make it commonplace.
In Psalm 11 it tells us that The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hates.
Human life is precious. We are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and we're loved by Him. I'm guessing there aren't very many of Noveltea's readers who would argue this point. If we found out that someone we knew was going to be murdered, we would be aghast.
What hit me recently, though, is that there is so much death and murder going on all around me that I hardly even considered or took note of.
If you've spent much time on the internet recently then you've doubtlessly come across some of the horrific information about abortions that are happening each day all around us.
An unborn child's life is just as marvelous and real as your or my life, and yet I've done nothing, except an occasional prayer here and there, to work at saving these precious and beautiful humans. That thought hit me pretty hard and I've had to ask God's forgiveness.
Psalm 139:13-16 says:
This month I've been working at stepping out and doing something for these babies, and their mamas (who are precious in God's sight, too!). I am so thankful for all of the pregnancy centers and organizations that want to help give these babies a chance to live and be born and grow up.
With knowledge comes responsibility and I cannot sit back and be silent and still.
I still need to do a lot of research, but for now I've started making blankets to give to these mamas and their little ones. As I make each blanket I've been praying for the child and mother who will receive it. It's so hard for me to wrap my mind around that each one of these blankets that I've made will one day be wrapped around a little baby who someone wanted to murder.
Here are some of the things I've been praying for:
*That the baby will grow strong and be healthy
*That the mama will be healthy and not overwhelmed with the responsibility a new baby brings
*That the mama will find God's peace and love
*That the baby will grow up knowing about God and His love
*That if the baby is adopted his/her adopted family will be prepared to welcome the new little one
*For the crisis pregnancy center workers to have wisdom, love, peace and grace and adequate funds
I'm so excited about getting to be a voice for these little ones whose cries can't be heard yet! Today while I was buying more baby yarn (quite a cart full) three ladies behind me in line asked if I was working on a project. I joyfully told them I was making blankets for pregnancy centers for babies who's mothers had considered abortions but then didn't want to kill their babies.
(Yes, that might sound harsh, but aborting a baby is murder.)
As I'm working on these blankets I'm filled with a love for the ladies who are having the babies as well as the babies themselves. I can't imagine how hard of a situation some of these mothers are in and I want to do all I can to help them out.
Life is precious and I am taking a stand to defend it and be a voice for those whoes voices can't be heard.
Suggested articles to read:
(Warning: Some of content might not be suitable for children.)
When Does Life Begin by Dr. Tommy Mitchell
Fighting Abortion - The Measure of a Just Society by Tony Perkins
Abortion: Is it Really a Matter of Life and Death? by Paul F. Taylor
There is so much in our world today that seeks to cheapen the priceless gift of life that God has given to us. Our culture as a whole has numbed itself to death and bloodshed. Books, movies, and video games often times glorify violence and make it commonplace.
In Psalm 11 it tells us that The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hates.
Human life is precious. We are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and we're loved by Him. I'm guessing there aren't very many of Noveltea's readers who would argue this point. If we found out that someone we knew was going to be murdered, we would be aghast.
What hit me recently, though, is that there is so much death and murder going on all around me that I hardly even considered or took note of.
If you've spent much time on the internet recently then you've doubtlessly come across some of the horrific information about abortions that are happening each day all around us.
An unborn child's life is just as marvelous and real as your or my life, and yet I've done nothing, except an occasional prayer here and there, to work at saving these precious and beautiful humans. That thought hit me pretty hard and I've had to ask God's forgiveness.
Psalm 139:13-16 says:
For You formed my inward parts;You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
This month I've been working at stepping out and doing something for these babies, and their mamas (who are precious in God's sight, too!). I am so thankful for all of the pregnancy centers and organizations that want to help give these babies a chance to live and be born and grow up.
With knowledge comes responsibility and I cannot sit back and be silent and still.
I still need to do a lot of research, but for now I've started making blankets to give to these mamas and their little ones. As I make each blanket I've been praying for the child and mother who will receive it. It's so hard for me to wrap my mind around that each one of these blankets that I've made will one day be wrapped around a little baby who someone wanted to murder.
Here are some of the things I've been praying for:
*That the baby will grow strong and be healthy
*That the mama will be healthy and not overwhelmed with the responsibility a new baby brings
*That the mama will find God's peace and love
*That the baby will grow up knowing about God and His love
*That if the baby is adopted his/her adopted family will be prepared to welcome the new little one
*For the crisis pregnancy center workers to have wisdom, love, peace and grace and adequate funds
I'm so excited about getting to be a voice for these little ones whose cries can't be heard yet! Today while I was buying more baby yarn (quite a cart full) three ladies behind me in line asked if I was working on a project. I joyfully told them I was making blankets for pregnancy centers for babies who's mothers had considered abortions but then didn't want to kill their babies.
(Yes, that might sound harsh, but aborting a baby is murder.)
As I'm working on these blankets I'm filled with a love for the ladies who are having the babies as well as the babies themselves. I can't imagine how hard of a situation some of these mothers are in and I want to do all I can to help them out.
Life is precious and I am taking a stand to defend it and be a voice for those whoes voices can't be heard.
Suggested articles to read:
(Warning: Some of content might not be suitable for children.)
When Does Life Begin by Dr. Tommy Mitchell
Fighting Abortion - The Measure of a Just Society by Tony Perkins
Abortion: Is it Really a Matter of Life and Death? by Paul F. Taylor
