tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45271463642923965042024-03-18T21:00:17.883-06:00Diane Marie ShawDiane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-21645874518390167872014-03-23T19:53:00.000-06:002014-03-23T19:53:33.151-06:00Icky Stuff
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Change:</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">›</span> something that rattles around in the
bottom of your purse or in your pants pocket,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGx71YYgWJ7Lka4fBpi8sIuvZx_1qqzuzhQd6jxih90phRe2GkqZ5h89s8IfxyjQ0va0sLQdLXZAf-ednIOmeeNN2FtaqiwZC-3nKz1ZL7TdugiUFfwNYj58ONQN8F4SH3mW69c6RiE0/s1600/coins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGx71YYgWJ7Lka4fBpi8sIuvZx_1qqzuzhQd6jxih90phRe2GkqZ5h89s8IfxyjQ0va0sLQdLXZAf-ednIOmeeNN2FtaqiwZC-3nKz1ZL7TdugiUFfwNYj58ONQN8F4SH3mW69c6RiE0/s1600/coins.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">›</span> something you do to a baby when the
odor is distinct,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pfeOlRFXjaIRAvm4kU9-OPptltqPPW6wUvXf6PAUdImioGxutt75WdHpX4WBGLdsy-bFzmp-zbShtmhWnuY_2CAOZkdAQhflChC2sLKJkcegQDLMs5FpApN4gicRyv86nVLy2QJBZCA/s1600/100_4211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pfeOlRFXjaIRAvm4kU9-OPptltqPPW6wUvXf6PAUdImioGxutt75WdHpX4WBGLdsy-bFzmp-zbShtmhWnuY_2CAOZkdAQhflChC2sLKJkcegQDLMs5FpApN4gicRyv86nVLy2QJBZCA/s1600/100_4211.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8puNTr96QPIGXccVNgolQbdWJylznTvcZ1rJLOouIR3bQqLarF3IIAqKkx_UGPB668cMVnDC5OReiHPxWygSAQ3ztkWnTIRi20wEGrv1j4igweoEXSSlSMzgi1gs_8ohDZ8PUlWmECG8/s1600/acura+tire.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8puNTr96QPIGXccVNgolQbdWJylznTvcZ1rJLOouIR3bQqLarF3IIAqKkx_UGPB668cMVnDC5OReiHPxWygSAQ3ztkWnTIRi20wEGrv1j4igweoEXSSlSMzgi1gs_8ohDZ8PUlWmECG8/s1600/acura+tire.JPG" height="148" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">›</span> something you do to your tire when it
becomes flat on one side, the side in contact with the pavement,</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">›</span> something you do in the morning so
your worst nightmare doesn’t come true and you end up at work in your pajamas.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7MNV5GoTIwPz12X5CqwvikV0QLGWh7-vVZPriJ_59JkxvCt2_GfTkZfzcCy7QxM0emvR7U-tOe-ifwmoTeSH4odfCHzEi_0QKBQ1TvqTwJGBeFO1wLosb6lU7e5MydOtXKejobOcwTU/s1600/100_7257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7MNV5GoTIwPz12X5CqwvikV0QLGWh7-vVZPriJ_59JkxvCt2_GfTkZfzcCy7QxM0emvR7U-tOe-ifwmoTeSH4odfCHzEi_0QKBQ1TvqTwJGBeFO1wLosb6lU7e5MydOtXKejobOcwTU/s1600/100_7257.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Hey you can handle these types of change…although you might
grumble a little about the baby and the tire, they're both messy jobs.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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But what do you do with the changes that inflict physical
manifestations: breathing becomes shallow, heart rate increases, knees become
weak, and your tongue sticks to the roof of your mouth. Your mind repeats a
mantra, “I don’t want to, I don’t want to.”</div>
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This unwanted course is imposed on you when God says, “Prepare
yourself, change is coming.”</div>
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As if that’s not frightening enough, when you ask Him to
elaborate, you hear only crickets.</div>
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Status Quo – remaining in your present condition may be
preferable to entering the unfamiliar, even if the status quo is making you
unhappy, at least you know what you have to face each day.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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That “change” thing – who knows what that will mean – a new
job, a move to another state, a change of churches, a change in a marital
status, an internal change, a new car, a new house.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Personally, change is hard for me. When I left Illinois
after nineteen months and returned to Colorado God told me to expect change. I
still don’t know what that means but God has impressed a word on my mind—trust.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Not trust in the world or myself but trust in Him,
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entrusting the details to Him.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, that I think I can do.</span></div>
Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-33689791503077955922014-03-21T19:52:00.000-06:002014-03-21T19:55:02.674-06:00Enough
Life has its joys and sorrows. Each day has its ups and
downs, <br />
crazy turns and sudden stops.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOPJ3j-k3RgxzZQ74A_4DL2hA-UDP2PKFyeCHlSjy6cyBjH-5hjZoIzaHoDfnilDh8tDaHK_Z-YpdDH7u848QO0xfixp3svH0VdKCUCd0irfnqQZj-441wNTMZtQWQAD8R2IkBC8RvpM/s1600/TwisterII_ElitchGardens-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOPJ3j-k3RgxzZQ74A_4DL2hA-UDP2PKFyeCHlSjy6cyBjH-5hjZoIzaHoDfnilDh8tDaHK_Z-YpdDH7u848QO0xfixp3svH0VdKCUCd0irfnqQZj-441wNTMZtQWQAD8R2IkBC8RvpM/s1600/TwisterII_ElitchGardens-150x150.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elitch Gardens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Some days we would prefer staying in bed, covers over our
head and blinds closed. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMJTLk80vBkGTgnRVvriHZU86Xs-bV126vZG7MEM5oFcshqNIF3l5kL8lWnzcJeIpUOLEi5lfSYqjkFJM8wtzaNcqz_AVqLKL66kr5Tx2DGReT_bsJ6KOG2-Ro8CQWSJNdLzZQiWglxE/s1600/Window+with+closed+blind.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMJTLk80vBkGTgnRVvriHZU86Xs-bV126vZG7MEM5oFcshqNIF3l5kL8lWnzcJeIpUOLEi5lfSYqjkFJM8wtzaNcqz_AVqLKL66kr5Tx2DGReT_bsJ6KOG2-Ro8CQWSJNdLzZQiWglxE/s1600/Window+with+closed+blind.JPG" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Diane Shaw</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Unfortunately what we are hiding from won’t go away while we
retreat from the world.</div>
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But, that day in bed, that day closed off from what’s out
there waiting for us, may be exactly what we need to do.</div>
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A day of rest is NOT a wasted day.</div>
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Bury the guilt, turn off your cell phone, <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqizLUDMcjeGN5Jk9Luo6BhToRtL6bGTiW_wcbU229hefu11BuRpvRl602LOsv5FFBwylET2hF7Bd-VCdR4SXDzWi7aOzOb6Yk175BT-7RH_FzICYlDjZVLrNSIdW8zBmNoun3lvqmLQ/s1600/turn+off+cell+phone+sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqizLUDMcjeGN5Jk9Luo6BhToRtL6bGTiW_wcbU229hefu11BuRpvRl602LOsv5FFBwylET2hF7Bd-VCdR4SXDzWi7aOzOb6Yk175BT-7RH_FzICYlDjZVLrNSIdW8zBmNoun3lvqmLQ/s1600/turn+off+cell+phone+sign.png" /></a></div>
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silence the ringer
on the home phone, send the kids to grandma’s and the husband on a camping
trip.</div>
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You will be a better, stronger and emotionally healthy
person.</div>
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Renew your strength, it is a good thing. Even God rested.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“He gives power to the
tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. Even the youths shall be
exhausted, and the young men will all give up. But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they
shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31 The
Living Bible</i></div>
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<em></em> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvDeyXgZZNTiDu5q2YSH1CcFnGh1MQdDKojzhiCFmgwUCvifZoJ0jcbuihJUujyIFGiQZIZLW80stf_-A5lqZfr-lI5Hdc3JBMOD3ouo2YbXCQcEipuyz2hO5V6-oaMJfG75H6MdpNtE/s1600/Bald+Eagle+taken+by+Marietta+Kappel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvDeyXgZZNTiDu5q2YSH1CcFnGh1MQdDKojzhiCFmgwUCvifZoJ0jcbuihJUujyIFGiQZIZLW80stf_-A5lqZfr-lI5Hdc3JBMOD3ouo2YbXCQcEipuyz2hO5V6-oaMJfG75H6MdpNtE/s1600/Bald+Eagle+taken+by+Marietta+Kappel.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bald Eagle photo by: Marietta Kappel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p><em> </em></o:p></div>
Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-17264234068765084962014-03-14T09:00:00.000-06:002014-03-14T09:27:27.758-06:00Heart Beat<br />
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HEART BEAT<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuVwbVj09mtRjzpE7F6XYq7SXAH9eLmkWIcBOF_-PUbvA3m87jScarCyXeRFUKw2MnIjfywSAQBzxVHJn0G-B9VN8QyiufHIj4pagUCIrHIw70jw_47jYkmw4w8BtVCPL7XMWbCnWJ2E/s1600/IMG_4685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuVwbVj09mtRjzpE7F6XYq7SXAH9eLmkWIcBOF_-PUbvA3m87jScarCyXeRFUKw2MnIjfywSAQBzxVHJn0G-B9VN8QyiufHIj4pagUCIrHIw70jw_47jYkmw4w8BtVCPL7XMWbCnWJ2E/s1600/IMG_4685.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
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Lift my heart Lord<br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the despair within.</div>
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Fill me with your presence</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Show me your
light.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Night time needs to be over,</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need the glories
of your Sun.</div>
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The pain is deep</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And brokenness overwhelms
me.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Your challenge is to trust</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am weary from
the battle.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Can you see my unshed tears</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bottled so deep
inside?</div>
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They want to be shed</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But something I
don’t see or </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understand stops
them.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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I am tied to this place</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With invisible
chains.</div>
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I want to break free</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what if when
the chains fall</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing
left of me but dust.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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I return to you, my true refuge</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gasping for air,
for peace and</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For my heart to
beat without pain.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Heal me Lord as only you can.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put my feet upon a
clear path.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Surround me with Love.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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By Diane Marie Shaw (Being Real)</div>
Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-33039106420268325532014-03-12T15:08:00.002-06:002014-03-12T15:08:24.660-06:00The Note<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Daughter, you don’t
understand my love, you think it has to do with what you do and don’t do. That
is not it, you just don’t get it. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">What do I have to do
to show you my love, wasn’t giving my son on the cross enough. Wasn’t a crown
of thorns on his head enough, wasn’t a cross enough. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">What would be enough
to show you how much I love you? I can’t do anymore, you receive it, believe
it. I can’t do more, I have done it all. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">It grieves me when you
don’t believe me, I weep for you to understand. I will never leave you or
forsake you, but you leave and forsake me. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">You go around with
thoughts running through your mind that you are not good enough, that you have
nothing to offer, that you are not real, that you are fake and if anyone knew
the real you they would not like you. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">You go around trying
to get everyone to like you, they already love you. You don’t know how many
people love you including your husband. You touch hearts for me. I have put
love in you and you know how to love but you don’t know how to receive love. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lay your head in my
lap and let me heal the hurts, some are ones you have inflicted on yourself
because you don’t believe me. I want to heal them all to make you whole,
nothing missing, nothing broken. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">You are broken right
now, there is pain in you right now, I did not put it there, you have it
because you receive it, you put it there yourself because you refuse to just be
who I created you to be. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">You are a wonder.
Right now you are refusing to receive it, you don’t feel worthy, you reject my
gift to you. Just receive it. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Open your heart, it
won’t burst, stop or bleed to death. Jesus already took the sword to his heart,
so yours could be whole, healed and bursting with love, not condemnation. Never
condemnation. If that is there it is not from me. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I convict where I see
sin but I never condemn. You do that to yourself, you think less of yourself
than I do. I see a…yes you must type it…I see a beautiful, holy, gracious,
loving creation made in my image to do good, good, good works for me. You are
able; you are created for me, for me. Not your husband, not the world but for
me. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">You and I have a pact,
you come to me and I speak to you like I am doing right now. We are one, I in
you, you in me. Feel it, you are whole, wholly mine, forever mine. Don’t leave
me again. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have work for you to
do. I will, I will use you to write for my kingdom, for my glory. Hear my
voice, listen to my spirit. I will give you the words, the ones that will
impact and change lives. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t worry, don’t
work so hard, it will come and it will come easy. It will not be like others
because I have declared that I need what you will do. I know that you are a
vessel that I can trust. Your heart is pure and holy I can use you. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Go now. I love you. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Daddy”</span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I journal and God speaks back to me and I write what He
speaks. This was from a journal entry of September 21, 2009. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As I read this today I was touched by God’s love but also
pricked because He could write this same letter to me today because nothing has
changed in me. Sad isn’t it. It is time for me to take up God’s image of me. He
made it very clear how he sees me it is time for me to see myself this way too.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Reread this note from God, could He have written it to you? </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Do you have a Godly image of yourself or have you allowed
your image to be distorted by the world, your past and your doubts?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-21486381501525503392014-01-13T17:49:00.000-07:002014-01-13T17:51:19.723-07:00Question for Bloggers<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you have recently had a death in your family are you
having a hard time blogging?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Do you feel empty?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Do you feel you have nothing to write about?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Are you avoiding blogging because you don’t want to bring
others down because you can’t think of anything to write about but how awful
you feel?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My mother passed away in September from Alzheimer's. I spent the last year and a half being her 24/7 caregiver in her home in Illinois.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>I seem to be in a fog. </em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KkLdwXET-dgA8t7_7oErYUbdehHVfBdnUvfOvscaSFN5K6lVI51OFFCcWjgpD28T4kc4m__C7yEELpI2ZB1u6i1eCV22Xutf3QHjQDRVRmU5nkQULzcrADs8f8wFoV2Hdx8SOhM1VSQ/s1600/IMG_4024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KkLdwXET-dgA8t7_7oErYUbdehHVfBdnUvfOvscaSFN5K6lVI51OFFCcWjgpD28T4kc4m__C7yEELpI2ZB1u6i1eCV22Xutf3QHjQDRVRmU5nkQULzcrADs8f8wFoV2Hdx8SOhM1VSQ/s320/IMG_4024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>The only writing I am able to do is journaling and trust me, you wouldn't want to see what is written there.</em></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I could use some help in getting over this hump so any input
would be appreciated. </span></div>
Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-57264285826954371112014-01-01T23:21:00.000-07:002014-01-01T23:21:26.616-07:00Two Inches Tall and Growing<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I haven’t blogged in a long time, depression probably was
the main culprit that kept my fingers still. I guess caring for my mother 24/7 could
have contributed to my lack of productivity too. The Alzheimer’s that slowly
destroyed my mother’s brain took her life on September 19<sup>th</sup>.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I’ve been back home in Colorado for four and a half weeks,
those weeks have been filled with grief but not just for the loss of my mother.
Disappointments that have plagued me for years and years are being faced for
what they are and I’m making choices. I can allow my life to be stagnant…just
continue on the path that has become a rut or I can step onto fresh ground,
ground that God has staked with signposts saying, “come this way.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
One of my Christmas gifts from my daughter-in-law is the
book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Start</i> by Jon Acuff. I’ve only
begun reading it but already my spirit is happy. Jon tells about the five
stages that will take you from Average to Awesome. They are: Learning (happens in
your 20’s), Editing (your 30’s), Mastering (your 40’s), Harvesting (your 50’s),
and Guiding (your 60’s and up).</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
According to this I should be guiding but since I’ve not put
all my energies into the path I should be on I’m starting at the beginning…Learning.
So even though I am in my 60’s by the calendar, because I am beginning a new
course I’m back in my 20’s. Woo Who, I like that!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I’m looking to discover who I am as God sees me. I’ve
learned my self-perception has been viewed through filters that are not true. I’ve
pressed down so much of myself that I feel about two inches tall. Discovering that
all that is wrong in my life is not all my fault has been freeing.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I’ve got a lot of work to do to unlock the prison I have put
myself in from wrong beliefs but at least now I know I can have a different
life. A life more pleasing to my Lord Jesus.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Writing is my path and I jump on and off it not taking it seriously
as my call from God. I want that to change and the gift from my daughter-in-law
is a nudge from God telling me to “Start.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Looking at my “writing bookshelves” I searched for a book
that would encourage me to begin writing again. I picked out <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Behind the Stories – Christian novelists
Reveal the Heart in the Art of Their Writing</i>, complied by Diane Eble. As I’m
reading the stories of some of my favorite Christian authors and their ups and
downs on their path to writing for God I want to put the book down and pick up
my pencil.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This morning I opened my emails and at the top was a blog
post from writer Jeff Goins putting out a challenge to writers to commit to
writing 500 words for thirty-one days. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Okay God. I hear you, I know it’s time to get serious. There
is work to be done.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I may stumble and fall back into my rut but I have a
daughter-in-law who believes in me and a God who won’t give up on me. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
If you’d like to take Jeff Goins challenge you can find the
information on his blog page.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://goinswriter.com/">http://goinswriter.com/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-13634839870528775762013-02-21T12:33:00.001-07:002013-02-21T12:33:45.742-07:00Downton Abby Withdrawal Cure
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHOCIpzgGfVvU-lBcllABCstSMSrKF-cvvwkasG2Vh1xqmq037gndmyGOxs8xcV-swRnPr9TbiQKI243U54IWeJafZuEMseg9f5ft-6RUm1ivM4wNjxaOWYmnJmSTGzZmn0VIAZtqXY8/s1600/downton+abby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHOCIpzgGfVvU-lBcllABCstSMSrKF-cvvwkasG2Vh1xqmq037gndmyGOxs8xcV-swRnPr9TbiQKI243U54IWeJafZuEMseg9f5ft-6RUm1ivM4wNjxaOWYmnJmSTGzZmn0VIAZtqXY8/s200/downton+abby.jpg" width="189" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Downton Abby is over for the season. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
If you are suffering
withdrawal symptoms I can recommend some reading material to feed that need to
go behind the scenes of the rich and those who serve them. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Olivia Newport has written two delicious, historical books that take
place in the United States. Set in Chicago Illinois on the prestigious Prairie
Ave. in the 1890’s, pre Downton Abby time frame.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The first in the series is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Lucy-Banning-Avenue-Dreams/dp/B00A189ZES/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361474099&sr=1-3&keywords=olivia+newport#_">The Pursuit of Lucy Banning.</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKS2RYhpX37fSWzgfPxdM_iaADFbbeFpfhW-WLBAtaHG5RA2SnpK4MVgI-QR4MHJjAgBrpWwaW7oN5OlAC2KxbA_CagXnTPRCqxptKDIWONqNLjQ3BRRXxZX6ejliIw1WlwyokdTKXlaI/s1600/Cover-Lucy-Banning-193x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKS2RYhpX37fSWzgfPxdM_iaADFbbeFpfhW-WLBAtaHG5RA2SnpK4MVgI-QR4MHJjAgBrpWwaW7oN5OlAC2KxbA_CagXnTPRCqxptKDIWONqNLjQ3BRRXxZX6ejliIw1WlwyokdTKXlaI/s1600/Cover-Lucy-Banning-193x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em>Lucy Banning may live on the exclusive Prairie Avenue among
Chicago’s rich and famous, but her heart lies elsewhere. Expected to marry an
up-and-coming banker, the son of family friends, Lucy fears she will be forced
to abandon what matters to her most—her work at the orphanage and the classes
she is secretly taking at the newly opened University of Chicago.</em></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><em> </em></o:p></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em>When she meets Will Edwards, an unconventional young
architect working on plans for the 1893 World’s Fair, Lucy imagines a life
lived on her own terms. A new young maid brings her own secret to the Banning
household, and Lucy must choose between deeply held values.</em></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><em> </em></o:p></div>
<em>Can Lucy fine love and live out of her compassionate heart?</em><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
The second in the
series <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dilemma-Charlotte-Farrow-Avenue-Dreams/dp/0800720393/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361474283&sr=1-4&keywords=olivia+newport">The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow</a> focuses on the lives of the servants.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJ9wknajjmGJorEAdjadNmJuJ7UYr9bISQRkAmCclAtjDWZSDb5hpkPpOFkZyyuNqCKG4aaKi2MpURHkBPAf1yAW2DmURNTCpjow2MJXkIM3YZVxuJq1j17_BM4IJ8L8fMLBKJsdIDKg/s1600/The+Dilemma+of+Charlotte+Farrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJ9wknajjmGJorEAdjadNmJuJ7UYr9bISQRkAmCclAtjDWZSDb5hpkPpOFkZyyuNqCKG4aaKi2MpURHkBPAf1yAW2DmURNTCpjow2MJXkIM3YZVxuJq1j17_BM4IJ8L8fMLBKJsdIDKg/s1600/The+Dilemma+of+Charlotte+Farrow.jpg" /></a></div>
<em>The whole world is coming to Chicago.</em><br />
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><em> </em></o:p></div>
<em>Charlotte’s whole world is coming down around her.</em><br />
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><em> </em></o:p></div>
<em>
While the rest of Chicago focuses on the enormous spectacle
of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, Charlotte Farrow’s attentions are
entirely on one small boy—her boy—whom she has kept a secret from her wealthy
employers for nearly a year.</em><br />
<em>
</em><br />
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<o:p><em> </em></o:p></div>
<em>
</em><br />
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<em>When the woman who has been caring for her son abruptly
returns him to the opulent Banning home, Charlotte must decide whether to come
clean and face dismissal or keep her secret while the Bannings decide the child’s
fate. Can she face the truth of her past and open her heart to a future of her
own? Or will life’s struggles determine her path?</em></div>
<em>
</em><br />
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<em>This compelling story of courage, strength, and tender
romance captures the tension between the glittering wealthy class and the
hardworking servants who make their lives comfortable.</em></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
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These two books come from Olivia’s Avenue of Dreams Series.
I thoroughly enjoyed both books and hope that there will be a third in the series.</div>
<br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p>Olivia is a versatile writer so if historical fiction is not
to your taste then you must read her first book in the Valley of Choice series.</div>
<br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Accidentally-Valley-Choice-Olivia-Newport/dp/1616267127/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361474467&sr=1-5&keywords=olivia+newport">Accidentally Amish</a> is the story of Annie Friesen, a software
creator, living in Colorado Springs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBaCesFhyS5e5PPMaUryWUW1TmiaGJvGbMbVkxKgO1SXPuZLXA1hnMUuQDQvd58DaIBhIPZiDGizajrwF-O0jKaExg1a0LfLlDRtwqgTycYtIXVPWxVIJyLxx0kbO1H8JXn9XK4PDT2Y/s1600/Accidentally+Amish.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBaCesFhyS5e5PPMaUryWUW1TmiaGJvGbMbVkxKgO1SXPuZLXA1hnMUuQDQvd58DaIBhIPZiDGizajrwF-O0jKaExg1a0LfLlDRtwqgTycYtIXVPWxVIJyLxx0kbO1H8JXn9XK4PDT2Y/s1600/Accidentally+Amish.png" /></a></div>
<br />
Annie makes some huge life changing choices;
I’m not going to spoil it for you. You must pick up this book and enter a world
were simplicity is not as easy to grasp as you might think. <br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
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The second book in this series <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Plain-View-Valley-Choice/dp/1616267135/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361474467&sr=1-1&keywords=olivia+newport">In Plain View</a> comes out in June 2013 and I’m
hungry to read it.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stop by your local bookstore, pick up these wonderful stories, fix a cup of tea and settle in for a good read.</span></div>
Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-46845330207440447222013-01-14T16:02:00.001-07:002013-01-14T16:03:55.117-07:00Enough or Not Enough<u><span style="color: #0066cc;"></span></u><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
When is enough, enough…or not enough?</div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
When I sit reading emails, blogs and Facebook guilt creeps
in with statements like, “You should be doing something productive.”<br />
<br />
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Cleaning the kitchen, getting dinner in the crock pot, doing
laundry and straightening up is not enough? Of course not, because there is
always something else that shouts, <br />
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<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVfNT8QWhmn7BRDnKT-zgUmuVqBnl_erRtFQl6tcnKLyC0c3sbNsWvlnbxdNQN9D82QoM4IyTROz7BVmc1_ZIi5bEMf3KSx3F5BWpJ97LFQvdt0x4wCDr4v7nBs5ac9Z1QFzfzM0hnXI/s200/100_6747.JPG" width="150" /></div>
</a><br />
“This is more important. You should start
cleaning out cluttered drawers and closets; you have way too much stuff.” <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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So if I cleaned out two drawers and a closet today, would
that be enough? Of course not because I have a dozen other drawers I haven’t
touched and there are nine more closets that need attention.</div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfAu2TIgV7ZQbdThkPIo5Y4Pbdg8MZk_awquzXuRJjjbZgou7c5IUbU0B2dW6DWQrTsHAY5Qadw9Kju2PNNg4hTeK0LftUligAlgMMcauTnVjhjGQon4oNSBUdpKcLg4cd4oG8C2NY_0/s1600/100_6749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfAu2TIgV7ZQbdThkPIo5Y4Pbdg8MZk_awquzXuRJjjbZgou7c5IUbU0B2dW6DWQrTsHAY5Qadw9Kju2PNNg4hTeK0LftUligAlgMMcauTnVjhjGQon4oNSBUdpKcLg4cd4oG8C2NY_0/s200/100_6749.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Should I feel guilt about being on social media or curling
up in a chair reading? Not when my calling is to write and those social media
sites belong to authors I follow and posts by fellow writers sharing their
journey.</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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No one criticizes me for not having clean closets…except me.
Is it because I don’t take this writing life as seriously as I should?</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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If I were working outside my home I would be giving eight
hours to that profession; in the remaining hours of my day I would be cooking,
cleaning and doing laundry. Why is it so difficult to allow myself the time to
feed my mind with writing tips, do’s and don’ts and words of encouragement
about this writing life?</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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Could it be that since I am not currently working on a novel
I do not consider myself a writer?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Am I the only writer who torturers’ herself this way?</div>
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</div>
Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-38015549554634312172013-01-11T22:06:00.000-07:002013-01-11T22:06:11.333-07:00Cupcakes and Church<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6-CtfoDk2b1iYyv8hEFGAApkOpHFMKXsdpp5GEuziA_xoa_LuZbQ-KNd62gyraQc8MthYTKzUCb8Jq8-smybzzVIYHx8wTWuY1C6sUYPXEzDTMC1z845VVy5surN5c7QbWpzzsMR_oI/s1600/cropped+cupcakes+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6-CtfoDk2b1iYyv8hEFGAApkOpHFMKXsdpp5GEuziA_xoa_LuZbQ-KNd62gyraQc8MthYTKzUCb8Jq8-smybzzVIYHx8wTWuY1C6sUYPXEzDTMC1z845VVy5surN5c7QbWpzzsMR_oI/s200/cropped+cupcakes+2.JPG" width="138" /></a></div>
<br />
Today I stopped at a small bakery to buy myself a treat. I chose a mint chocolate cupcake; mint is one of my favorite flavors. The cupcake was smaller than I expected for $2.50 but it was probably a good thing, I really didn’t need the calories of one the size of a soup bowl.
<br />
<br />
The cupcake looked so pretty. The frosting was tinted green and it swirled up and up. Mini chocolate chips dotted the mountain of icing.
<br />
<br />
At home I prepared a large cup of hot chocolate, I added mint extract. I was going to saturate myself in chocolate and mint.
<br />
<br />
I removed the cupcake from the plastic container and peeled off the liner.
<br />
<br />
With fork in hand I sliced through the mound of green icing down into the chocolate beneath. I slid the forkful into my mouth, anticipating the burst of flavors and moistness I was sure would be there.<br />
<br />
My brain signaled something was wrong. My expectation of a moist, light cupcake was dashed by the denseness of the treat. I tasted something that didn’t seem right, so with my next bite I only took cake and what I was tasting was...bread. That stumped me…how could a sweet treat taste like a loaf of white bread.
<br />
<br />
The artfully applied frosting was a disappointment too. I couldn’t distinguish what kind of shortening/butter/margarine it was made with but it had a heavy consistency. <br />
<br />
I finished the cupcake but found I got more enjoyment from my cup of hot chocolate.
<br />
<br />
Just as it would be foolish of me to decide to never purchase a cupcake from any bakery ever again because of one disappointment wouldn’t it be foolish for someone to never attend any church again because of a hurt or disappointment experienced in one church. Yet this happens over and over.
<br />
<br />
If this is you or you know someone who has taken this stand I hope you will share my cupcake story with them. There are many churches, just as there are many bakeries and I’m sure there is at least one bakery that will have cupcakes I will swoon over. <br />
<br />
Give God another chance this Sunday, try another church, see if the texture and flavor fits your needs and desires.
Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-42574959442358675222012-10-29T16:14:00.001-06:002012-10-29T16:15:37.611-06:00NASCAR NaNo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MGcPm9xi8O_9Zl1ord2Q5gyDbl2armQfhkSFNBevRtNO7jGWjh7rmacDMQVpZMpyam3MrPMByE4-0Pk7ifw2GjH9K5B9ODomb1Z026kN2ikqa5mXr20la_4G20k3gRv1Mo-6CVoEoi0/s1600/Nascar+cars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MGcPm9xi8O_9Zl1ord2Q5gyDbl2armQfhkSFNBevRtNO7jGWjh7rmacDMQVpZMpyam3MrPMByE4-0Pk7ifw2GjH9K5B9ODomb1Z026kN2ikqa5mXr20la_4G20k3gRv1Mo-6CVoEoi0/s1600/Nascar+cars.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’m at the starting line, revving
my creative engine, ready to release the brake, hit the gas and take off.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have one roadblock,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know where I'm going. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have 2 ½ days
to think up characters, and a plot. </span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Something has to develop, </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don’t
want to look like this on November 30th.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWskFkgBGrCY23n5ejNJm0I56BNqJU4nH1_8Hs8QzAr180s7rPfN7VK4tIRwf-y2Ydl7SPWmIbABBYdMjQs3MfBRM8_2s0Ami5tDQsbjMtwshyphenhyphenDo4DSyJYYCLuxuynY491A8-J0qy_KE/s1600/old+truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWskFkgBGrCY23n5ejNJm0I56BNqJU4nH1_8Hs8QzAr180s7rPfN7VK4tIRwf-y2Ydl7SPWmIbABBYdMjQs3MfBRM8_2s0Ami5tDQsbjMtwshyphenhyphenDo4DSyJYYCLuxuynY491A8-J0qy_KE/s1600/old+truck.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you are participating in NaNoWriMo do you have your story
sketched out?</span></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-82325886723275787772012-10-17T19:55:00.001-06:002012-10-17T19:55:57.123-06:00Broken<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno1CcM_DQkM-G-HPtZmME6TiestkBUhjDD9gpUsdsaFfaHvSmKg67SM5R9dp62EniQ_uv2kjieRE2d0yE6TAIWTIeBVYZcjsZNJp0nl4rWpdDeBXAtdey6tl8o1nfip-F87HRhPZaRiU/s1600/alzheimers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno1CcM_DQkM-G-HPtZmME6TiestkBUhjDD9gpUsdsaFfaHvSmKg67SM5R9dp62EniQ_uv2kjieRE2d0yE6TAIWTIeBVYZcjsZNJp0nl4rWpdDeBXAtdey6tl8o1nfip-F87HRhPZaRiU/s200/alzheimers.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today I am
down, have the blues, am depressed, whatever you want to call it. I sit quietly
seeking why. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At first I
thought it was for selfish reasons, being away from home, my husband, children
and grandchildren. That wasn’t the reason and it would have been a lot easier
if it was because then I could have a good strong talk with myself and tell
myself to get over myself.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The source,
which I now see as pain, is watching a woman lose herself and knowing I can do
nothing to stop it. </div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The past two
days I’ve seen a change in my mother, and it saddens me. There is more
confusion, responses to questions don’t make sense and the loss of words and
using the wrong word increases. I ignore the incorrect; I will not shame her by
pointing out her errors. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She is
bitter, angry and finds no pleasure in life which makes caring for her a
challenge. I lose my temper when she speaks hurtful, untrue words about others
(she believes they are true). I stop her ranting, telling her I don’t want to
listen to this.</div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Everything
I say to her has to be repeated twice even if I have her attention the first
time I say it. Unfortunately the second time I say it my tone is harsh. Today
I’ve worked on repeating it with a lilt in my voice, oh, if only I could do
this every time.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Watching
her today I wondered what her shrinking world was like. She can’t hear, can’t
understand, she forgets, she thinks we are all thieves and want to take her
house away from her. She hates crowds (anything over 2 or 3 people is a crowd),
she can’t stand noise (even restaurants are a trial because of conversations
all around her she can’t track with anything). My sister and I attempt to bring
some enjoyment into her life but unfortunately she can’t find pleasure in
anything, all things are bad. We keep trying. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Her world
has become so small and I know it will shrink more and more. I want to cut away
the chains that are wrapping tighter and tighter around her mind, destroying it
bit by bit but I can do nothing. Alzheimer’s is a foe that cannot be subdued.</div>
Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-44297736343284543062012-09-11T14:23:00.000-06:002012-09-11T14:23:57.860-06:00Curb Your Steps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIVLOjNKJKGDLteWZwHxdCtlZtNwWONViVWRGnOvzD1Q0MrBHmkJdc0aE0tgTXcABILtAeb_Ou-O7M3hPoXyzeku3dkjCoLVk6scgALnSMTmQ8E7EQ1gADugW4tKBOTAdt3KEOT1yEHw/s1600/100_6250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIVLOjNKJKGDLteWZwHxdCtlZtNwWONViVWRGnOvzD1Q0MrBHmkJdc0aE0tgTXcABILtAeb_Ou-O7M3hPoXyzeku3dkjCoLVk6scgALnSMTmQ8E7EQ1gADugW4tKBOTAdt3KEOT1yEHw/s320/100_6250.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">On Saturday I stumbled over
something I did not see. I wasn’t able to see the six inch high parking curb
because I had no light. If I had seen the danger in front of me I would have
taken evasive action, at least I like to think I would.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Walking in the dark is dangerous,
but a small light, aimed on the path, changes the dynamic drastically. Light
shows what is ahead: pot holes, trees or…parking curbs. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">How much safer it is to have
illumination.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">On the path of life choices, God,
by His Word and by the Holy Spirit, offers me all the light I need, why then do
I close my eyes to His direction and end up stumbling when I don’t need to. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My heavenly Father surely is
shaking His head as He watches me risk injury as I stumble in darkness when He
has provided light. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Angels were on each side of me that
day because I didn’t fall, miraculously, with a little bobbling, I remained
up-right.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope my near accident will open my eyes to
be attentive to the obstacles in life that God’s Word is anxious to deliver me
from.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jesus once again
addressed them: “I am the world’s light. No one who follows me stumbles around
in darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.” John 8:12 Message Bible<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-51846130067916187562012-09-08T21:32:00.002-06:002012-09-08T22:40:19.606-06:00Who is the Real Winner?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFem9tVh3yDBG01lqw2SqyiLzaJjFYlW2uJY3jmvn4LZoooesQnLYccBOKk2WkbzZBJV71_V3Vara8-VWT3yaGGP5n1qBQ_3JA05ep0Ki2GNZ8-AY_hpHY18ueUougnKjQxYI55GKUoE/s1600/IMG_1908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFem9tVh3yDBG01lqw2SqyiLzaJjFYlW2uJY3jmvn4LZoooesQnLYccBOKk2WkbzZBJV71_V3Vara8-VWT3yaGGP5n1qBQ_3JA05ep0Ki2GNZ8-AY_hpHY18ueUougnKjQxYI55GKUoE/s400/IMG_1908.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Saturday morning I watched a young woman line up with a
group of fit men and women of all ages, each one determined to conqueror a
fifty mile race. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After eight hours on the trails she had to relinquish that
goal, admitting that today it was not to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She arrived at the finish line in a car instead of running
through the finish chute. There were tears and slumped shoulders as she was
embraced by the director and co-director of the race and words of encouragement were
spoken for her ears only.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Some might say she failed today – that defeat won – but I
say she exhibited a champion’s spirit when she toed the line at six a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Not many of us have experienced the physical and emotional
pain that comes when you have reached your limit and gone beyond, mentally
thinking…one more mile…when it is no longer possible, she has. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Indika, in my book you are a real winner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-9487821104563229852012-05-04T08:59:00.001-06:002012-05-04T08:59:57.931-06:00Deck Sitting<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Mom and I are making good use of a beautiful day. After
weeding and lunch we are settled on the deck. Mom is reading and I am writing.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I don’t know if she spends much time outdoors but she will
while I am here. Sitting outside is on my top 10 list of things I enjoy doing.
However…sitting outside in dry Colorado is very different than sitting outside
in hot, humid Illinois.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Check back with me later in the summer to see how my deck
sitting forays are going.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wb91idhyphenhyphennUQFT4GxQ4IcbUC2wXkAxmR1P7uHtBFT0poCN6o_kPszxS_cjU0OKxomGB5hp1uwnXhpq8gvg4a1M0klZZHy-QdA6xtvq8vggeF4vDKH-t8EJXMCPqB5m6OM5i5KX3ozf1Y/s1600/IMG_1071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wb91idhyphenhyphennUQFT4GxQ4IcbUC2wXkAxmR1P7uHtBFT0poCN6o_kPszxS_cjU0OKxomGB5hp1uwnXhpq8gvg4a1M0klZZHy-QdA6xtvq8vggeF4vDKH-t8EJXMCPqB5m6OM5i5KX3ozf1Y/s320/IMG_1071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-55378652495522059972012-05-02T15:31:00.000-06:002012-05-02T15:31:43.185-06:00Garden Lesson<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
A dry, warm day has arrived in Illinois. My mom and I spent
several hours pulling weeds, I pulled, she bagged. There is a lot more to do
but it is a start.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I love pulling weeds, there is something about removing what
does not belong to allow what does, more room to grow. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
How like our lives. When we allow worldly things and
busyness to fill our lives there is no space for the God things to grow.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMlieKQTGgADo1GTKSzxNJgzQ8EoJthhyphenhyphenQ5ResncCS39cLNxTNuZ02OwkrJP8suxsZERXhD1fmsjZKZMWLF9Wj766JQTv7ivoq62Pxuv44K4IobeKPVE20A1Xu8X7KN_VaLr7cU_V3Lw/s1600/thumbnailCAPK2XYB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMlieKQTGgADo1GTKSzxNJgzQ8EoJthhyphenhyphenQ5ResncCS39cLNxTNuZ02OwkrJP8suxsZERXhD1fmsjZKZMWLF9Wj766JQTv7ivoq62Pxuv44K4IobeKPVE20A1Xu8X7KN_VaLr7cU_V3Lw/s1600/thumbnailCAPK2XYB.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Is it time for weeding?</span></div>Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-63333231640872165202012-03-23T05:00:00.023-06:002012-03-23T08:19:10.550-06:00You Thought it was a STALLLife has its stalls; <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygBGWGVe1IG2iXmFVEU-yTzCTqcfwv2QjQMweHYmEYoO8P0BFdp1J4U_7IPXMcxQU8nSWjr-EhLWQ2fAzl8YTvvTTdeMyF9ud_XF4UyrvGCLHyn0J-tUqOa88Ni1mIVO1y5CS75z84hc/s1600/stall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygBGWGVe1IG2iXmFVEU-yTzCTqcfwv2QjQMweHYmEYoO8P0BFdp1J4U_7IPXMcxQU8nSWjr-EhLWQ2fAzl8YTvvTTdeMyF9ud_XF4UyrvGCLHyn0J-tUqOa88Ni1mIVO1y5CS75z84hc/s200/stall.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> no forward motion, <br />
no backward motion, <br />
a standing still. <br />
It can be okay, less stress, <br />
but there is curiosity about why. <br />
It is not a happy place <br />
or a sad place, <br />
only a place. <br />
<br />
You want to move forward <br />
but where you put your foot, <br />
the next step, <br />
is not there…yet. <br />
<br />
So you wait and wonder. <br />
<br />
<br />
When the hints start arriving <br />
the magnitude of the motion that begins is unknown. <br />
<br />
How fast, how far?<br />
<br />
<br />
Faster and farther than you imagined, <br />
or wanted to go, <br />
<br />
but the momentum has begun <br />
and there is no stopping it <br />
because God is the one propelling you. <br />
<br />
You put on the brakes <br />
because the destination is frightening, <br />
but you are leaving parts of you behind...<br />
<br />
so you allow the force to carry you, <br />
swallowing your fear <br />
<br />
trusting God will take you <br />
to your destination unharmed <br />
and He will be there when you arrive.<br />
<br />
<br />
I have been in a stall for months,<br />
not a self-imposed stall <br />
<br />
but a God-imposed stall. <br />
<br />
It is over now <br />
and I am roaring towards God’s radical destination for my life.<br />
<br />
Extreme obedience is what is being required of me. <br />
<br />
And I say yes <br />
<br />
to God’s gentle command <br />
for He did not hesitate <br />
to send His Son Jesus to deliver me <br />
from the destruction which would have been my end. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5dzZBpIWfF_4mm9M1EPiH7yCJiysps1blrzHX0TBADHp0JK1Nb4JQDiXKeS1Aa4sLFpWMWt8jUMCm1Yl7dfkII6YoD0qWnqrMNXTop7jh_EmMGvd1oBcTC5cagXGbeaqsPRrVrHa_DI/s1600/falling+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5dzZBpIWfF_4mm9M1EPiH7yCJiysps1blrzHX0TBADHp0JK1Nb4JQDiXKeS1Aa4sLFpWMWt8jUMCm1Yl7dfkII6YoD0qWnqrMNXTop7jh_EmMGvd1oBcTC5cagXGbeaqsPRrVrHa_DI/s200/falling+cropped.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>His cross, <br />
<br />
giving his life, <br />
<br />
has now become my cross, <br />
<br />
giving my life for another. <br />
<br />
Not the shedding blood kind of giving of my life <br />
<br />
but laying down <br />
what is precious to me. <br />
<br />
Leaving behind my <br />
husband, <br />
children, <br />
grandchildren, <br />
friends, <br />
writing group <br />
and my church <br />
<br />
and packing up for a move to Illinois <br />
<br />
to become a twenty-four-hour in-home caregiver for my mother. <br />
<br />
The woman who cared for me has a need. <br />
<br />
<br />
As my mother was celebrating her 91st birthday in February<br />
I did not know an insidious disease <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsla3X_YD7bmacZ_3kS7Yi_m0v9WgNbffFM020LnSpZOzrYiAoVi0xSW-KTUHWGIEU5evKO8FXZamm6UYPaeMVpb36sjQJ5PVHEhuNi98jCe2KUIb63hHxvccl76hMgbDKcFrsWRH7d2I/s1600/me+and+mom+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsla3X_YD7bmacZ_3kS7Yi_m0v9WgNbffFM020LnSpZOzrYiAoVi0xSW-KTUHWGIEU5evKO8FXZamm6UYPaeMVpb36sjQJ5PVHEhuNi98jCe2KUIb63hHxvccl76hMgbDKcFrsWRH7d2I/s200/me+and+mom+cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>was beginning to make its presence known. <br />
<br />
No, it’s not cancer, <br />
<br />
but another dreaded name: <br />
<br />
Alzheimer’s.<br />
<br />
As I’m studying about this affliction, <br />
and making my packing list,<br />
<br />
the tears linger.<br />
<br />
Tears for what I am leaving behind <br />
<br />
and tears for what I am going towards. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At times my heart seems to stutter, <br />
<br />
I breathe deep and declare, <br />
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Such a conflicting time, <br />
<br />
Yet the peace of God is present.<br />
<br />
<br />
I have no time frame<br />
of my return to my home in Colorado. <br />
<br />
God has that information and He is not saying. <br />
<br />
<br />
Obedience is what He requires.<br />
<br />
He has said, "go."<br />
<br />
So I shall go.<br />
<br />
I’ve not been this way before <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifT4CA991tAVEfRBY-Tu-UiMOEdEjxSKKMgvi4Rlcex_ES5FneknmGVK4iC9mwHDkl260tYxTEZoJpS1_haEJ322fyDU5_riTyd95lT0VAfujuoK9J7K3oAfYpLMZVCP7Pejjl32FLhHA/s1600/100_2215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifT4CA991tAVEfRBY-Tu-UiMOEdEjxSKKMgvi4Rlcex_ES5FneknmGVK4iC9mwHDkl260tYxTEZoJpS1_haEJ322fyDU5_riTyd95lT0VAfujuoK9J7K3oAfYpLMZVCP7Pejjl32FLhHA/s200/100_2215.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>but God knows the path <br />
<br />
and He will not take me to a place <br />
He has not already been <br />
and isn’t already there. <br />
<br />
<em>My thoughts, says the Lord,</em><em>are not like yours, and my ways are different from yours. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways and thoughts above yours. </em>Isaiah 55:8-9 GNT.<br />
<br />
<em>I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. </em>Jeremiah 29:11<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/ja2XaS_JeDk/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ja2XaS_JeDk&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ja2XaS_JeDk&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Are you in a Stall or does God have you racing to a new destination?</div>Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-84819061292489978272011-12-01T12:23:00.000-07:002011-12-01T12:23:38.960-07:00Reflections on National Novel Writing MonthYesterday, November 30, <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/dashboard">NaNoWriMo </a>wrapped up for another year. I again joined the almost 300,000 people from all over this globe, setting aside life for thirty days to challenge mind, body and spirit to a task that sounds doable at the beginning of the month. A task that takes guts, especially if you broadcast to family, friends and co-workers that you have jumped into the pool.<br />
<br />
I hugely admire those who have full time jobs, children, marriages, volunteer jobs, and/or health issues. How have they accomplished this monumental task: by stealing hours from sleep, using lunch hours, writing while the kids are at their sporting events, dictating into a recorder while driving. I’m sure this list could be pages long, they used whatever moment they could because they had something to prove to others, maybe to themselves or perhaps there was a story in their heart that had to be put on paper. The reasons for writing a 50,000 word novel are as varied as the individuals doing the writing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I became a NaNo winner for the fourth year in a row. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckPNC2qan3agCF0aIrydwSF_2IlZj1T111DWhKRhyphenhyphenMKlvmavGnNEU6pKJTxOzcuJWUdMYuq8GQ_UL16GHvnB1heavaZOdDnNUyKpN0vq4kVEL7JN1OaOODOTHy2atiXzcnEWNwUnqadg/s1600/NaNo+11+mini+winner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckPNC2qan3agCF0aIrydwSF_2IlZj1T111DWhKRhyphenhyphenMKlvmavGnNEU6pKJTxOzcuJWUdMYuq8GQ_UL16GHvnB1heavaZOdDnNUyKpN0vq4kVEL7JN1OaOODOTHy2atiXzcnEWNwUnqadg/s1600/NaNo+11+mini+winner.png" /></a></div><br />
I now have four partially finished novels, one with a word count of over 83,000 words. What I have learned and how my writing has grown is the prize I focus on in this moment.<br />
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Philippians 3:12-14 in the Message translation says it so wonderfully.<br />
<em>I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.</em><br />
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After this, my fourth NaNo, I will say:<br />
<ul><li>I am well on my way.</li>
<li>I do not count myself an expert in all of this</li>
<li>I’ve got my eye on the goal</li>
<li>I’m off and running</li>
<li>I’m not turning back</li>
</ul>Not a bad vision to have in front of me as I set my goal to finish the novel I am presently working on. I don’t have a title for it but I do have the chapter titles, they are taken from Ecclesiastes 3.<br />
<br />
<em>There is a time for everything, and everything on earth has its special season.</em><br />
<em>There is a time to be born</em><br />
<em>and a time to die.</em><br />
<em>There is a time to plant</em><br />
<em>and a time to pull up plants.</em><br />
<em>There is a time to kill</em><br />
<em>and a time to heal.</em><br />
<em>There is a time to destroy</em><br />
<em>and a time to build.</em><br />
<em>There is a time to cry</em><br />
<em>and a time to laugh.</em><br />
<em>There is a time to be sad</em><br />
<em>and a time to dance.</em><br />
<em>There is a time to throw away stones</em><br />
<em>and a time to gather them.</em><br />
<em>There is a time to hug</em><br />
<em>and a time not to hug.</em><br />
<em>There is a time to look for something</em><br />
<em>and a time to stop looking for it.</em><br />
<em>There is a time to keep things</em><br />
<em>and a time to throw things away.</em><br />
<em>There is a time to tear apart</em><br />
<em>and a time to sew together.</em><br />
<em>There is a time to be silent</em><br />
<em>and a time to speak.</em><br />
<em>There is a time to love</em><br />
<em>and a time to hate.</em><br />
<em>There is a time for war</em><br />
<em>and a time for peace.</em><br />
<br />
So with the month of November behind me but much writing ahead how am I feeling today? Tired, discouraged, frantic, disappointed. Most of all fearful that I will once again end up with a partially finished novel; I count that as failure. I know that some novels don’t deserve to be finished, however, unless I am able to write The End, even to a lousy, stinking piece of garbage how will I know that I can do this. God has called and whom He calls, He equips, so it is not God’s failure but mine if I don’t press through. He gives me an answer.<br />
<br />
Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 Contemporary English Version<br />
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<em>What do we gain by all our hard work? I have seen what difficult things God demands of us. God makes everything happen at the right time. Yet none of us can ever fully understand all he has done, and he puts questions in our minds about the past and the future. I know the best thing we can do is to always enjoy life, because God’s gift to us is the happiness we get from our food and drink and from the work we do.</em><br />
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He doesn’t promise it will be easy. Contentment waits for me at The End.<br />
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Now with Christmas twenty-five days away my focus shifts to the holidays, decorating the house, sending cards, cooking, shopping, wrapping, cleaning, family time.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRFMNQflxZ9KPsLfEU-175TMt_3Tt3nH-dWouJC732Q48XT_xw5f1NCD8gZC8YEaEwJYSShgMkkLE4ctgJwfCm8vzs2Awz7ApomL_iKPmKWs4plc_E6eIBOkzeDFeBR-YV_VURdk2MX8/s1600/Christmas+tree+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRFMNQflxZ9KPsLfEU-175TMt_3Tt3nH-dWouJC732Q48XT_xw5f1NCD8gZC8YEaEwJYSShgMkkLE4ctgJwfCm8vzs2Awz7ApomL_iKPmKWs4plc_E6eIBOkzeDFeBR-YV_VURdk2MX8/s200/Christmas+tree+2.jpg" width="150px" /></a></div><br />
Today I feel sad, tomorrow may be a day of dance.Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-1994058807304347432011-09-30T09:33:00.000-06:002011-09-30T09:33:51.958-06:00Story SettingIt is said that an important part of a good story is the setting. I am claiming that an important part of a writer’s life is to have a good setting to write in. <br />
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I am on the deck of my brother-in-law and sister-in-law’s home in Illinois. This is a setting to be inspired in.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC9exDM3hup3hfJ86jeDHIuH4nU6CwyQemGGP5umqEJ2qv1CsJ1CVAbSWOTV-I22rI7SoR3TDudD3S7QEpSRG_MXZBU1_QLNcvRMMHBcfShPEClGtCjTtLmbvIqopD6ZWS8DOV4FE78o/s1600/100_4890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC9exDM3hup3hfJ86jeDHIuH4nU6CwyQemGGP5umqEJ2qv1CsJ1CVAbSWOTV-I22rI7SoR3TDudD3S7QEpSRG_MXZBU1_QLNcvRMMHBcfShPEClGtCjTtLmbvIqopD6ZWS8DOV4FE78o/s320/100_4890.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
I’m thinking of asking them if they need a house sitter when they go out of town. I would relish a week in this place by myself to soak up the quiet and inspiration. I love the sound of water and if I can't be by a beach a waterfall will do. This one is beautiful.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb96IL9kLeGfxbOpYA58rC44O5t320piJ5VaCdjJip1HZpZk9BGJKkXrGoTvbardKa3b5nFy3Zvf3rAyJHAw086eFHDLX5u-URqBqFSJsmh6AlBiszEHW13jHZDZx5moKmi_KVMLNYDi0/s1600/100_4887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb96IL9kLeGfxbOpYA58rC44O5t320piJ5VaCdjJip1HZpZk9BGJKkXrGoTvbardKa3b5nFy3Zvf3rAyJHAw086eFHDLX5u-URqBqFSJsmh6AlBiszEHW13jHZDZx5moKmi_KVMLNYDi0/s320/100_4887.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
Why does it seem so difficult to be inspired at home? Is it the laundry screaming to be done or the dog’s hair that floats across the floor when I enter a room. <br />
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“A writer should be able to write anywhere,” I get it, but my spirit craves a setting like this. I realize that part of the appeal is not having the pressure of a schedule. I understand why some writers run off to cabins in the mountains or cottages by the sea. I admire those who produce quantity and quality in the midst of caring for children and a work schedule. I also will not condemn myself for needing a solitary place to write. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndAUw8eNBXRgxvb8GAgEqd1-rjNg6w93h5mxqq_YZedN2Jk-OmYSoX-dI5HlLFB2qf-4JoKY9Xg84LocqbrwLnTu055f4LEhRjOlokpLT-iED0kxmGUjQjEOhmjn57oQ7eIKz7rGqHsw/s1600/100_4889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndAUw8eNBXRgxvb8GAgEqd1-rjNg6w93h5mxqq_YZedN2Jk-OmYSoX-dI5HlLFB2qf-4JoKY9Xg84LocqbrwLnTu055f4LEhRjOlokpLT-iED0kxmGUjQjEOhmjn57oQ7eIKz7rGqHsw/s320/100_4889.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
I thank my God for giving me this time, even if it is only for a few hours. I relish it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwLjV2PzvxUadRG3vPrYRpRElaoh_rD1FQTMzbn-UiGyujI9u8nL6xShn-qxag0nL07jQBxGSnL8FH_4Oya5qhoJ8QtbZTygU6NVsLLQgNRvatgABLR1GVGIUuGaYl1Vu94QM5lj9rqc/s1600/100_4888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwLjV2PzvxUadRG3vPrYRpRElaoh_rD1FQTMzbn-UiGyujI9u8nL6xShn-qxag0nL07jQBxGSnL8FH_4Oya5qhoJ8QtbZTygU6NVsLLQgNRvatgABLR1GVGIUuGaYl1Vu94QM5lj9rqc/s320/100_4888.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div>Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-90002819737615641352011-08-16T12:39:00.000-06:002011-08-16T12:39:58.090-06:00I Have an Addiction<br />
I’m on a high, writing, learning craft, writing, learning craft. Going to writing workshops, seminars, writer’s guild meetings, fellowship with other writers. I love this lifestyle. Runners get a high from running, when a writer is writing the adrenaline flowing can be addictive, a good addictive. <br />
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I challenged myself in my last blog to set a goal for my writing. I haven’t gotten as far as I would like but I am working at it. Taking a huge step in the right direction.<br />
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Today, like many of the wonderful summer days we are experiencing, I am sitting on my deck working on my craft. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1vLHtgq9geAm9XQunox7h-RYEixFfmoE15WfLqUI8OB0ZOgWvG9-TK_mr2oReTJWtuX5UQup-O-sZHfkyde8hvJr9Y0yCBgBe8Kkd0ctISctFLUo1H3utxe_Dx2Y3flTf-vVtL4IfZ4/s1600/100_1763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1vLHtgq9geAm9XQunox7h-RYEixFfmoE15WfLqUI8OB0ZOgWvG9-TK_mr2oReTJWtuX5UQup-O-sZHfkyde8hvJr9Y0yCBgBe8Kkd0ctISctFLUo1H3utxe_Dx2Y3flTf-vVtL4IfZ4/s320/100_1763.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This is what things typically look like:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;">notebook, mechanical pencil</span> (my favorite writing instrument, I have them all over the house. Sam’s Club sells them in bulk), <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN4IsjKuOg7hH_Yl71Sw9lC4ufZVHn7WyzxPhm8eYQ7xf-dSfRump53hYvhJxCg8AXkxfIbF2IUhA54FBRwe07-WtnoBGT6W_jQkwWUQcVPAQzhayezLCx8NeEZgnzbUFiQVN3NXqqL0/s1600/100_1765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN4IsjKuOg7hH_Yl71Sw9lC4ufZVHn7WyzxPhm8eYQ7xf-dSfRump53hYvhJxCg8AXkxfIbF2IUhA54FBRwe07-WtnoBGT6W_jQkwWUQcVPAQzhayezLCx8NeEZgnzbUFiQVN3NXqqL0/s320/100_1765.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">cup of tea,</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GQ_ajnlEjklhARzyZNXfjlbYnMQa1THzlJ0iabLd_KxKNP748q7_3JPSlK1kf5NHHjyG63ErTgsVWIh3MIn3EK3-qymc0L7bHwd1as123vOaFSx5QSPG2_qXAQJGqQy6r4tTlVCjzuM/s1600/100_1764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GQ_ajnlEjklhARzyZNXfjlbYnMQa1THzlJ0iabLd_KxKNP748q7_3JPSlK1kf5NHHjyG63ErTgsVWIh3MIn3EK3-qymc0L7bHwd1as123vOaFSx5QSPG2_qXAQJGqQy6r4tTlVCjzuM/s320/100_1764.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">writing books</span>,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XFQKmWcvmY6G-D4o1pDGtkK07WpdOQjs8_uW11JCNqeyrwhQLA3KrZDVEStxeuIUiIUyF-DZVEtLxtGmUkvPrtmC-Kt99EVc7-pjLRCmo2Odkp3axdoabD3KPLp8i9qUsPX-GV6AW6U/s1600/100_1767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XFQKmWcvmY6G-D4o1pDGtkK07WpdOQjs8_uW11JCNqeyrwhQLA3KrZDVEStxeuIUiIUyF-DZVEtLxtGmUkvPrtmC-Kt99EVc7-pjLRCmo2Odkp3axdoabD3KPLp8i9qUsPX-GV6AW6U/s320/100_1767.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">reading glasses</span> (does anyone else need these?), <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AxA5_SFr6LQ1nfOiRpcEUuYKy0nRsnIu1p-OBDDUg990-0hYaPnoi7A2q8pxk7wKUlYfdfXS3IJeFbau0A_kPB4BZYXQOxYr9uEtTJRBEeJspi5c8IaqnRRC9NGA5JOQaom1DJQrMBQ/s1600/100_4670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AxA5_SFr6LQ1nfOiRpcEUuYKy0nRsnIu1p-OBDDUg990-0hYaPnoi7A2q8pxk7wKUlYfdfXS3IJeFbau0A_kPB4BZYXQOxYr9uEtTJRBEeJspi5c8IaqnRRC9NGA5JOQaom1DJQrMBQ/s320/100_4670.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">my camera</span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QbK7KxGc7fyTeTE0XvcjJyOIjbLl-OwazjjDdp75ONEnE5HRU8osNOtKvGq65t6NDmo6GhrjOMUav1Ws22OnqQA14kTSzv7w8AN4kJEVduK-ZAi-gIXG15AhiWLq6roQtXKxYE0kit0/s1600/100_1766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QbK7KxGc7fyTeTE0XvcjJyOIjbLl-OwazjjDdp75ONEnE5HRU8osNOtKvGq65t6NDmo6GhrjOMUav1Ws22OnqQA14kTSzv7w8AN4kJEVduK-ZAi-gIXG15AhiWLq6roQtXKxYE0kit0/s320/100_1766.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div>and my Netbook or my laptop spread out on the table. The umbrella on the table is up to block out the scorching sun or I couldn’t sit out here. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My companion Sammy</span> remains close by.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxPiEIOhPoFDJMH9bxmuvJpV4y-5MnLU1M8P0xjIhhODM_PM9yXJKqmPRVdSharbW9La7GTrCokFNDOo8AqWURg-nuydpOBO9-wObdm4ljyOozPQZ5xIv36UVoamrggECp-QMX0EVj_Y/s1600/100_4671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxPiEIOhPoFDJMH9bxmuvJpV4y-5MnLU1M8P0xjIhhODM_PM9yXJKqmPRVdSharbW9La7GTrCokFNDOo8AqWURg-nuydpOBO9-wObdm4ljyOozPQZ5xIv36UVoamrggECp-QMX0EVj_Y/s320/100_4671.JPG" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
Occasionally I have to stop to take a picture of the wildlife around me. <br />
Two <span style="font-size: large;">precious fawns</span> grabbed my attention.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZziirwZ2Plu9AMD9w3NtcqaB2m_4VlBMmqMtl0i0HBCkG7DS1_nPyvGe_2GdWc0Y4xgSz8_IFTk_vgne9IbJFRVAsy8BD1tHJbUgAh7yOM8GgYcWlOc8htP8rYbuIPfChNkfL56XTSAA/s1600/100_4669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZziirwZ2Plu9AMD9w3NtcqaB2m_4VlBMmqMtl0i0HBCkG7DS1_nPyvGe_2GdWc0Y4xgSz8_IFTk_vgne9IbJFRVAsy8BD1tHJbUgAh7yOM8GgYcWlOc8htP8rYbuIPfChNkfL56XTSAA/s320/100_4669.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
Like many writer’s I struggle with not trusting my writing. If it all depended on me I should be worried but God says write and He will provide the inspiration to make it into something worthwhile. My job is to show up daily and see what He drops into my spirit for that day. It may be to add to my story, maybe to write a blog or perhaps I need to read one of my many <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">books on the craft of writing</span>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZL7bLtvluWRwZmC5VM50ls434TFAepFbyzoQO-uNDiaeBTf7rY8_4ZCgg68f8hRv9Rv75NU1eVOOu5CoeGxr-RM71ZSynqctHHBcAVsT0XD_xHiPeawZpJITyNh8yaQaQi3J5H5pVLU/s1600/100_1768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZL7bLtvluWRwZmC5VM50ls434TFAepFbyzoQO-uNDiaeBTf7rY8_4ZCgg68f8hRv9Rv75NU1eVOOu5CoeGxr-RM71ZSynqctHHBcAVsT0XD_xHiPeawZpJITyNh8yaQaQi3J5H5pVLU/s320/100_1768.JPG" width="240px" /></a></div>It is all a part of this business called writing, and <span style="font-size: large;">I LOVE IT.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>“When I am writing I am doing the thing I was meant to do.”</em> Anne Sexton</div><br />
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Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-84965031307925427702011-06-29T05:00:00.011-06:002011-06-29T05:00:04.748-06:00What Will it Take...<div style="text-align: center;">This weekend my daughter Coleen completed the <a href="http://ws100.com/trailcourse/profile.htm">Western States 100 mile Endurance Run</a>. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/mB0yAr9VB6s?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Coleen Voeks crossing the finish line and receiving her finisher's medal.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This race began at 5am on Saturday and the runners must have completed it in under thirty hours. This involves running up and down mountains, through snow and heat, through the day and night. This is not her first 100 miler but an important one to her. Her father completed this race in 1984. Coleen finished in 28 hours and 46 minutes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCYoMzr_Sa64cfObCblV7uApbuDFUfLVmIzHKfo3cfHYdLotDj-xJmj2S_ZwUx7P9gDx9Wtb0gW6b0womA2k3rrkCCu48Xge7jGC0TSRFm7p9sl-h140Bx4dlByrkZw10MI984T-1mV8/s1600/coleen+and+bob+at+western.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCYoMzr_Sa64cfObCblV7uApbuDFUfLVmIzHKfo3cfHYdLotDj-xJmj2S_ZwUx7P9gDx9Wtb0gW6b0womA2k3rrkCCu48Xge7jGC0TSRFm7p9sl-h140Bx4dlByrkZw10MI984T-1mV8/s320/coleen+and+bob+at+western.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coleen, 11 years-old, at Western States with her dad when he had completed the race in 1984.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">As I thought about her accomplishment I began to think about the <span style="color: #f1c232;">goals</span> she had to set, the <span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">preparation</span> and <span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">discipline</span> it took to complete this race. The principles can apply to any goal. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Coleen’s accomplishment inspired me to set goals to <span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">finish my first novel, <span style="color: black; font-size: small;">(sadly I have three particial novels), a</span></span>nd have the finished novel ready to present to agents and publishers at the <a href="http://www.acfw.com/">ACFW </a>conference in <span style="color: #741b47;">2013</span>. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Getting a novel written and ready to be seen by agents, and publishers, is not a sprint but a <span style="font-size: large;">long distance</span> endurance run so, I think, I hope, I have set a reasonable goal. That gives me <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>twenty-six</strong></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>months</strong></span>. I have begun my calendar of check-points to reaching my goal. Those who have finished a novel and presented it to agents please let me know if I need to allow myself more time.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Who am I going to surround myself with to help me reach this lofty place? <span style="color: #cc0000;">Other writer’s</span> of course. My daughter has her group of running friends; some went with her to California and paced her through the last part of the race. That is the kind of friends I need. Those who won’t let me quit and won’t let me put in any performance but <span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">my best</span>. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I’ve been involved in a wonderful <span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">writer's group</span> for three years and have attended two excellent <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">writer’s </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">conferences</span>;</span> my bookshelves are loaded with books on the craft of writing. I have the <span style="color: #bf9000;"><span style="font-size: large;">tools</span>,</span> now I need to apply them as I let my fingers fly across my keyboard. I hope there will be more "fingers flying" than "head banging."</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Along this road to my dream, another goal I have set is to lose weight and get physically strong. I turn sixty-five on Thursday and I don’t want to look, or act, like a person of age. I am <span style="font-size: large;">young at heart</span> and my body needs to be able to keep up with where I want to take it.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">It is time that I seriously begin the journey God has called me to, it is one I will be on for <span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">the rest of my life</span>.<br />
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This is the prize Coleen received for finishing her race. A large belt buckle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsZ5O-FwMWfS8MjaXdv7OJNw0hD8Osew2AnGPxTIdffvGjAIWY5OKtjCb2cCgeR728EyNl1B1gf1zGiRdRJUp3vAKg-IgXv43Yh9ZB_sk7LRzZXDGGdFIv9bTlRejISAHbdeNXuQ8a1M/s1600/Western+states+buckle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsZ5O-FwMWfS8MjaXdv7OJNw0hD8Osew2AnGPxTIdffvGjAIWY5OKtjCb2cCgeR728EyNl1B1gf1zGiRdRJUp3vAKg-IgXv43Yh9ZB_sk7LRzZXDGGdFIv9bTlRejISAHbdeNXuQ8a1M/s320/Western+states+buckle.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
My Prize? A published novel.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">What goal have you been pushing back, thinking, I’ll start tomorrow? <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The clock is ticking</span>. What hints can you give to others for accomplishing the thing that won't let go of them? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-71456482796285800222011-06-26T05:00:00.004-06:002011-06-26T05:00:05.663-06:00Stop the Pain<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Pain</strong></span>...sometimes it creeps up on you and you have to decide what to do with it.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">I’m not talking about bodily aches but the <span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">knife in your heart and twist it pain</span>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">The, <em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><strong>take your breath away</strong></span></em>, pain. What do you do with it?</div><br />
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You allow it to stay and you hold it up to the light and <span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">study it</span>, <span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">turning</span> it this way and that, checking out every angle and <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">facet</span>.</span> The pain deepens.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Or</span>...you accept that it is there but decide not to allow it to linger. </div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
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</div>You offer it to God as a <span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>sweet</strong> </span><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">smelling</span></strong></span> sacrifice, knowing He loves you and will never leave you and that He has carried your sorrows.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgHbHzZVpiPibRKOu14D7aEZ7GJImLW4nOWRvF2lHX0AXV8XxoumR6Wotd8qfL_iL3c1Jv-Ty_DuscSvXZMzkhkXtXymdTonosnj2TzKW5S6k8Enn1q5f65Dv4Qil6oe2VcyxwOWhb1Q/s1600/potted+flowers+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgHbHzZVpiPibRKOu14D7aEZ7GJImLW4nOWRvF2lHX0AXV8XxoumR6Wotd8qfL_iL3c1Jv-Ty_DuscSvXZMzkhkXtXymdTonosnj2TzKW5S6k8Enn1q5f65Dv4Qil6oe2VcyxwOWhb1Q/s320/potted+flowers+2.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: right;">I choose to do the latter. I know the pain will return but each time I <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>hope</strong></em></span> to send it away quicker.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">So I take a deep breath, even though it is a painful breath, and <span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">REJOICE</span> </strong></span>in my God.</div><br />
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<em><span style="color: #0b5394;">I </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.</span></em> Jeremiah 29:11 MessageDiane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-27683264977203984442011-06-10T05:00:00.001-06:002011-06-10T05:00:10.398-06:00Used Books and Writing PromptsThe library is my friend. Not only do I check out books from their vast shelves but I also check out the shelves with books to purchase. Our local Friends of the Library has a continuously changing array of donated books for sale and they are cheap. I appreciate cheap when on a limited budget. <br />
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This week I purchased several books, the title of one of the books is: Writing Short Stories for Young People. <br />
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I pick up any books I find on the subject of writing, I'm building my personal writing reference library. I was also lucky enough to find a copy of Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul, which made me very happy.<br />
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When I opened the book on writing short stories I found a card in the front of the book. It was a birthday card with a hand written note to Polly. I chuckled; my mom’s nickname is Polly. <br />
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I think God has a wonderful sense of humor. He knew I would be picking up this book and that I would appreciate a card addressed to Polly.<br />
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Have you found notes, shopping lists, sales slips or the like in books? I image we all have. Have you ever wondered about the story behind those little treasures?<br />
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What tales we writers could weave about those snippets from someone’s life. <br />
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Instead of throwing out these random pieces of paper, what about creating a file folder labeled <em>story ideas</em>. Who knows what could develop. <br />
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When you are being interviewed about your published book and they ask, “How did you come up with the idea for this story?” You can smile and answer, “I got the idea from a sales slip.” Watch for the puzzled look on your interviewee's face.Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-57721529218776113172011-06-08T05:00:00.001-06:002011-06-08T05:00:07.372-06:00View From the Treetop<em>The slats of wood nailed to the trunk shifted as I grabbed one over my head. As I grasped the bit of wood above me I lifted one foot onto the lower slat. I kept reaching and stepping until I touched the platform nestled into the crook of thick branches in the middle of the huge shade tree. When I pulled myself to the place I was seeking I sank with a sigh to the rough floor beneath me. My place, my hideaway. Peering through the leaves I could see the houses across the street, I wondered if they could see me through the leafy shade.</em><br />
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Do kids still build tree-houses?<br />
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It was a wonderful way to wile-away a lazy summer. <br />
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Building a tree-house wasn’t something accomplished in a day.<br />
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You first had to find the right tree and get permission to build in it.<br />
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Then there was time scrounging in the garage for wood that could be used.<br />
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It might involve a trip to the grocery store for discarded orange crates. Those had to be dismantled so the wood could be used for a new purpose.<br />
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Begging dad for permission to use his tools with the promise that they would be returned or suffer the consequences of the rest of the summer locked in your room.<br />
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Securing the steps was key to getting up into the tree. Then tying a rope to the tree so that you could haul up the lumber needed for the platform. This is definitely where a friend came in handy. <br />
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Somehow we were able to get the wood stable and secured. We didn’t have carpentry skills or an adult supervising us, just the desire to make this dream come true. Friends working together can accomplish almost anything.<br />
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There were several styles of tree-houses to choose from. You could go with the very simple platform or you could add sides, have a door opening and widow openings and a roof. The latter style took a lot more lumber than we usually had. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMt55bbKxljQdo5iOn0gvl5426W9xqsaAzKsXPpfMZ1snfSDoDw5x3mLnlrClo0sPAKDzIjM0o-IFihEFMKTksIFfO3d-Qz0paGUhhF7Ilu-8ma263EVg22Htfa4CumOz5ska0kqJcmBE/s1600/tree+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMt55bbKxljQdo5iOn0gvl5426W9xqsaAzKsXPpfMZ1snfSDoDw5x3mLnlrClo0sPAKDzIjM0o-IFihEFMKTksIFfO3d-Qz0paGUhhF7Ilu-8ma263EVg22Htfa4CumOz5ska0kqJcmBE/s320/tree+house.jpg" t8="true" width="230px" /></a></div><br />
The tree-house was a wonderful meeting place for friends, “I’ll meet you at the tree-house,” was spoken over telephone wires or shouted across hedges.<br />
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Games were played, books read, secrets told, lasting friendships made in that place amongst the leafy canopy.<br />
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As an adult I miss the laid back, free from a schedule, time of childhood summers.<br />
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How about you? What summer memories do you miss?Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-39289657756723946372011-05-25T16:13:00.000-06:002011-05-25T16:13:49.936-06:00Happiness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquyRDPQ7rnIAJxpfGvM_9707D0TFJbqrfFrhB8-bgu4YxGIY5rCGAnl_Wc8ABvx2k5aE9w4l3i10s-jmfEvNa8k4u2h7xzQKC9-3VI5WiYAYZauPFiuy-RiDg5XjRtAW2gbi8Uly73eU/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquyRDPQ7rnIAJxpfGvM_9707D0TFJbqrfFrhB8-bgu4YxGIY5rCGAnl_Wc8ABvx2k5aE9w4l3i10s-jmfEvNa8k4u2h7xzQKC9-3VI5WiYAYZauPFiuy-RiDg5XjRtAW2gbi8Uly73eU/s320/butterfly.jpg" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nathaniel Hawthorne</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Be Still Be Quiet Be Motionless</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Simple, but difficult.</span> </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shhh, hush, be still.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happiness may be passing and it is looking for a soft place to alight. </span></div>Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527146364292396504.post-55144762262424123472011-05-11T15:01:00.000-06:002011-05-11T15:01:59.511-06:00Pull Up Your BritchesToday is May 11, 2011 and there is snow falling and accumulating on my deck. I know everyone says we need the moisture, but can’t it come in the form of rain?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESH_JlkSzpu-aadNdXmJEMObQnxtPP0D6vD4zc8guWnUOujmAU7tG314-x165xm_czxWN2dKjK7TDfenJNw0POwhkq8awno9V5YbAWglvpsPESe1_Ct7M3H2XVZXj0uf92f0wV123R00/s1600/May+11%252C+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESH_JlkSzpu-aadNdXmJEMObQnxtPP0D6vD4zc8guWnUOujmAU7tG314-x165xm_czxWN2dKjK7TDfenJNw0POwhkq8awno9V5YbAWglvpsPESe1_Ct7M3H2XVZXj0uf92f0wV123R00/s320/May+11%252C+2011.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
God has promised us the seasons and they do show-up, but sometimes there is a teasing that the next season has arrived only to have it snatched away by a sudden reversal.<br />
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This happens in our lives too. <br />
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A dark season that has been hanging on seems to be ending, light has begun to spill through and we turn our faces towards it, feeling the warmth. With our eyes closed and our face lifted to the heat, a shadow suddenly chills our heart. <br />
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We open our eyes to see the clouds have once again rolled over us. Discouragement digs its tentacles into our mind and we are tempted to shut the door on hope. That is the one thing we must never, never do. Hope is our anchor. <br />
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Just as I know in the next few days the sun will be shining and I will be outside in my yard planting flowers I know the despondancy that thinks it has a hold in our life will melt away like the snow. <br />
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We are filled with questions, screaming for answers which may or may not come. God has His reasons for not revealing all His plans to us but He gives us hope through His promises. As God guarantees that the seasons will continue He gives us assurances in His word concerning our lives. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering. You will turn back to me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. You will worship me with all your heart, and I will be with you and accept your worship. Then I will gather you from all the nations where I scattered you, and you will return to Jerusalem. </em>Jeremiah 29:11-14 NCV</div><br />
My choice: Do I throw a pity party and call all my friends to join me or do I take a deep breath, pull up my britches and call out to God: <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Good morning Lord, I'm reporting for duty, what do you have for me today.”</span></div>Diane Marie Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03365346835912314686noreply@blogger.com1