Well, since it’s “I Love to Write Day, ” I just have to get back to my blog and write a post about writing. Have you written anything today? What did you write?

Today I was in my closet getting on my shoes to go pick up my kids at school, and I looked over and saw some old notebooks, my journals. There’s nothing spectacular about them; they’re only ink on white pages. But I flipped through one and saw where I’d recorded a few ordinary events, some snippets of conversations, and some of my wonderings — that simply turned Godward as prayers because I wrote them down.

This particular journal was from when my oldest son was five, so it was four years ago. What seemed like such a plain ol’ ordinary day then is important to me now. I wrote about how I’d taken my kids to an exhibit of their artwork after they’d been through a week of art camp. My son told me, “I’d better stand here next to my paintings in case anybody has any questions.” I’d forgotten to bring my camera, so I tried to memorize that moment then write it down with words.

Do you jot down things like that? It’s the most important thing you can do — record your memories with words. Some ladies are amazing with their awe-inspiring photo albums (I used to be one of those scrapbookers…used to be!) Now I’m too busy with other things. But I’m still my family’s historian.

You don’t need a fancy clothbound journal, though it’s nice to see your words wrapped between pretty covers. But I urge you to write something that only you and God know about. Pour out your heart to Him because He’s listening. Tell Him things you wouldn’t even dare blog about!

Then open up His love letter to you. I read these verses today: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on your works and consider all your mighty deeds.” (Psalm 77: 11, 12 NIV).

Your life and your family are God’s greatest works! When you write your musings down, it causes you to meditate on them — now and maybe years from now. I read one time in Terry Whalin’s blog one of his favorite quotes — maybe it’s a Chinese proverb: “He who writes tastes life twice.” Don’t you want to taste the good times twice? The fun little things that you’ll forget if you don’t write them down. And even the sad things — can be savored when you see how God met your needs.

Well, journal writing is the most important and my favorite — though blogging is fun too. As a “professional writer,” I’m thinking of two more people — my editor and my reader. Today I corresponded with an editor about a magazine article I turned in yesterday. It was hard work, a ton of interviews and notes and files, but I enjoyed piecing it together into a story. I also wrote a book review this morning, which forced me to think more deeply about a book I enjoyed. And I got another review copy in the mail, which I looked through while in the pick-up line (a great place to read). Someday, I’ll finish it and write my thoughts on it!

So, that’s my life today as a mom who writes. How about you? What happened to you today that seems mundane now, but might be something you’d want to “taste” again a few years from now?

Write about it!

I recently listened to a CD of a workshop about blogging, and I learned that my type of blog is called “Personality-Driven,” as opposed to “Topic-Driven.” So, that means I’m free to blog about anything I feel passionate about. Well, today I’m going to take a break from blogging about books and write about something I also have an interest in.

The topic near to my heart today is adoption. And I think it’s timely because according to somebody, it’s National Adoption Month — so there are stories everywhere about adopting.

I talked to a good friend of mine a couple of days ago who is a new parent to two young brothers she adopted from Russia. Her heart is so full, it’s absolutely overflowing, and I enjoy hearing the details of how her sons are learning to speak English quickly. Last week, her seven-year-old wrote her a note that said, “I love you, Mama.” (How sweet!)

When my friend began to feel like God put this on her heart (a VERY long story that I’m hoping to write more about someday), step after step led her to Russia. She made several trips to visit this orphanage, alone and with her husband. When she saw these two brothers, her heart about stopped. She fell in love immediately and knew she could give them a better life than they had where they were.

At the time, the oldest boy didn’t even have a decent pair of shoes. He was wearing ill-fitting girls’ Sunday shoes. The orphanage does the best it can do, but the kids spend most of their lives in only a few rooms. When the boys reach a certain age, they’re sent to a different place, and a high number of them are assaulted and molested. Then when they reach another age, many are drafted into the army. Others turn to drugs or even commit suicide. It’s very sad.

So, my friend became mother to these children a few months ago. The whole process has been amazing. I was privileged to play a small part because she asked me if I’d write a letter of recommendation to the adoption agency. Would I? Ha! I sent them practically a novel on how wonderful this family is. The interesting thing — though many adoptions take years to process, her paperwork was fully complete and acceptable in less than four months.

I met her sons a few weeks ago and got to watch them ride bikes for the first time in my driveway, and the smiles on their faces were so huge, it was a wonderful moment I’ll savor forever. Joy indescribable!

I started reading Day 1 of Becky Tirabassi’s book yesterday, and it brought back memories of my college roommate, Amy. She had such a huge influence on me, and it’s only now, many years later, that I’m realizing it.

Here’s what Amy did. She started going to Campus Crusade for Christ meetings — and invited me to come! And why did I go? Because she told me there would be cute boys there! Even cuter than guys in the Lamda Chi fraternity! (No way…no way!)

At that point in my life, my keenest ambition was to become a Lamda Chi little sister. (Ha! Remember, Shannon?) Interestingly enough, I later became chaplain of the Lamda Chi little sisters — (OK, and it was fun.)

So, I followed her to a CCC meeting, because Amy made me laugh — we laughed all the time. And at the first meeting, there WERE lots of cute boys — and there was a group of them up front dancing around in raisin costumes to “I heard it through the grapevine.” (Um…I suppose it was some kind of skit.)

A couple of years later, Amy became engaged to one of those cute boys — and — of all things, he wanted to join the marines! So, to prepare herself to become a military wife, she started going to bed VERY early (before 10 pm), and getting up at 5 am to pray. I mean, she got down on her knees beside her bed in our dorm room to pray. Every morning!

Well, this new schedule was hard for me to get used to! I was a night owl, an English major with tons of books to read and papers to write. I had to find other places to stay up late to study — sometimes even hanging out in the bathroom, so I could have a light on.

Every morning…5 am. Amy’s up. Praying. One hour. She prayed for one hour.

What has God done with Amy’s life? She’s been married to the same godly husband for nearly 14 years, and they have five beautiful children. Because of their life in the military, they’ve moved all over the country — to many different states. In every home they’ve established, they’ve become leaders, godly influences on their children, and all those around them.

We’ve kept in touch, and I’m seeing now how precious she is to me — and how God put us together in the same room for two years because she had a burning heart then, and still does now.

Today I’m thinking — what kind of mom would I be now if I hadn’t lived with Amy? I watched her pray (out of the corner of my sleepy eyes); I’ve seen how she dug in roots during those long, quiet hours of prayer.

Her faith strengthened mine; is there anyone around me who needs an Amy?

Do my children see me praying on my knees? Is my faith influencing theirs? Are they going to grow up and remember one thing about their mom — that she prayed?

Not yet. That’s why I’m reading THE BURNING HEART CONTRACT. Something’s definitely going to change in my life by the time I finish it. I’m on Day 2, out of 21.

How about you? Has anyone seen you get on your knees in prayer lately?

Did you know the month of October is Family History Awareness Month? It is! (Now you know.)

At some point, you’ll want to tell your kids stories about their ancestry. It will help them know who they are today by knowing where they came from.

Author Carol Kuykendall talks about this topic in her book, Five Star Families, which I recently read and LOVED. (You can read my review of it for Christian Book Previews.) If you’re a mom of a preschooler and have ever considered joining the MOPS organization, this is your year to do it because they’re studying this awesome book!

It’s really fun to read – I think every parent and grandparent needs to own it! (My mom borrowed mine, and I already miss it!) I have to add that the cover is lime green with hot pink stars — and it coordinates well with Target fashions — in case you must stuff in it your purse and still want to look a bit trendy.

So, what are some practical ways you can teach your kids about their roots? Here’s a tip that was on the MOPS radio broadcast from yesterday:

One mom hosted a birthday dinner for her father, and placed a piece of paper with a question under each plate. During the meal, each grandchild asked grandpa one of these questions:

Did you have any pets growing up?
What is your favorite time of year and why?
What kind of car did you drive when you first got your license?
What was your first job?
What mattered most to you when you were 16?

MOPS also shared the idea that “many families gather at family reunions and videotape the members of the oldest generation describing their lives. The videotape then becomes a priceless keepsake for generations to come.”

If you’re a grandparent, what can you do to help teach your grandchildren about YOUR parents and grandparents, whom they may not know personally? You have to make the deliberate choice to share pictures, memories, and stories with them. It’s up to you.

Now might be a good time for you to sit down and label pictures, put them into a creative scrapbook full of your journaling, or take a course on how to write a memoir. (You may not be famous, but your biography is immensely important to your family!) P.S. I’ve got a great book on that — just ask me.

It’ll be fun for you and help pass on your legacy for future generations. Plus, you’ll help tired, busy parents who don’t have time to scrapbook not to feel so guilty. (I speak for myself!)

OK, here’s something on a different subject I just could NOT resist. Do you like novels? Would you like to have a part in NAMING a character in a fun, chick-lit novel? Eva Marie Everson, author of THE POTLUCK CLUB, is seeking input in writing a sequel. So, put on your sequel-thinking caps and check this out:

WANNA WIN A BOOK?

Then help me name a character for the THIRD installment of The Potluck Club! She’s young (about 16), works in a bookstore in the mountains of Colorado & owned by her family, is homeschooled, and loves to read about history. Email me from the Homepage at this website and tell me what you would name her! I’ll mention your name in the book AND send you a free copy of The Potluck Club!

Go visit Eva Marie’s site — you can email her from there. Some other time I’ll have to tell you about how she FELL into the Bible — in Israel — she fell into the ashes where Joshua burned Jericho!!!

I just have to add that last week Eva Marie sent out an email requesting us to send her what kind of make-up products and beautifying supplies we use. She’s working on developing her characters and wanted some details…details! So, I brought all my favorite stuff into our home office to write about it — and discovered some shocking things about myself. I told Eva Marie that women who are moms of young kids probably buy their make-up at Kroger, along with cheese cubes, juice boxes, and diapers. Then again, maybe it’s just me who buys super-cheap make-up!

Have fun naming that character! Writing your memoir! And reading great books!

P.S. I think Eva Marie’s Potluck Club trilogy might actually be considered “hen-lit” since her characters are not darling 20-somethings working in posh New York ad agencies — they’re older moms and grandmoms — who are beautiful, fashionable, and great cooks. Her books even contain their recipes!

A couple of days ago, I took my fourth grade son on a special outing, leaving the others with their grandparents. He needed a new Cub Scout uniform, which I could have ordered online, but I decided it might be fun to let him pick everything out himself. The shop is about an hour from our house.

As we drove, he finally had my complete attention. He brought his Star Wars card collection and told me about each card. We stopped for lunch along the way at the mall. When we walked in, we saw Border’s Bookstore, and my heart was racing – I don’t get there too often. “Mama, can we please go in there first, before we eat?” he asked me.

“Sure. I’ll let you pick out one book today. How’s that?” I told him.

So, guess what he wanted? A book about U.S. coin collecting. We asked the guy behind the counter where the coin books were, and it was like literary heaven for a 9-year-old. Rows and rows of coin books. While he browsed, I peeped over and saw the writing section. I CANNOT read enough books about writing. Thankfully, I didn’t see the word “blogging” on any of the covers, because of course that’s my latest passion, and I have SO much to learn. (i.e., you’re not supposed to delete an entry you later change your mind about!)

Well, I thought I would just browse. But there it was. This giant, red & gold, newly updated…Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations! I have never owned this book before. I don’t see how I finished an English degree without needing a quotation book, but now I’ve been wanting one so badly. I mean, you can look up quotes online, but it doesn’t compare to reading the pages, flipping through different subjects.

This quote jumped out at me off the back cover:

“You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.”
(Maya Angelou)

I love that. I looked up the rest of the poem online here. That’s it! This is the poem I’ve had in my head since I heard a speaker at a conference perform it for us, telling us this was writing with soul. I didn’t know the poem and have thought many times about emailing him and asking him what it was that had “I’ll rise” over and over again. If you like this poem, you’ll love this one, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”

I have lots more to tell you about things I found, but I’ll save it for another entry. As we were paying for our new books, I asked the clerk which of those little round chocolates were the bestsellers, and he said, “Oh, definitely the hot pink ones. The raspberry chocolates.” So I bought one. Chocolate and a new book…amazing.

I was on overload. I started talking to everybody! I feel this tremendous camaraderie with other parents pushing strollers and LOVE asking them about their children. While we waited in line for lunch, I noticed a man in a bright orange “How may I help you?” toy store shirt. What a job! He looked tired, so I asked him what were going to be the new big toys this Christmas.

His whole face lit up. “Oh, for sure, the Tumble Tigger. You know, the one that does cartwheels and flips.” He waved his hands through the air, doing wrist flips. “And of course we’ve already sold out of Holiday Barbies. Had to place a new order. I’m glad I already got mine. Then there’s the Angel Rocks from Bratz…those are going to be BIG.” He raised his eyebrows and made a “big” gesture with his hands.

Interesting. Finally, my son whispered, “Mama, you don’t have to talk so loud to everybody!”

Oh! I was becoming an embarrassment. It’s just that reporter in me. Or maybe the marketer. I love hearing people talk about their passions. EVERY person in the world has a passion and an expertise in something. What’s yours?

After lunch, we headed to the Cub Scout store. I can’t even begin to describe that fabulous place, so I won’t. All I can say is — if you have a boy…he will love being a scout.

If you have a son, try to do something just the two of you every now and then. And then write about it, so you won’t forget. They grow up fast, don’t they?

P.S. If you’re a mom of a son, you will love Jean Lush’s book, Mothers and Sons. It’s one of my favorites.

Well, I did it. I went to the Beth Moore book study yesterday, and I have YOU to thank.

Let me explain. It was really gloomy outside yesterday – raining sheets. I just didn’t feel like getting all the kids dressed and loaded up. My two-year-old had preschool, but the others are home for fall break. They of course stayed up too late the night before and didn’t want to get up.

Here are a few choice phrases I heard from their bedrooms: “We don’t want to go to a BABY nursery! That’s boring! Why do we have to get up early when we don’t have school? That church has only a preschool for BABIES! It’s raining outside…”

So my high hopes began to wear. I had to bathe my two-year-old because he had school pictures and his hair was poking up everywhere. Got everybody fed breakfast, but…the time had flown, and we were running late. Then I noticed I needed to rebraid the girls’ hair. The baby spit up. Five more minutes passed, and I began to lose my resolve to go. So, I sighed and decided, once again, it was too hard to get out of the house on time, and so I should just forget it.

Then a little voice said, “What about your blog readers? You told them you were going.”

So, the voice and I had a little discussion about how you really only exist in my mind – but guess what? I lost. So we loaded up, and I arrived at the church 20 minutes late. By the time I got everyone in the right classroom, I was 30 minutes late. When I opened the door to the meeting room, I knocked over a trash can that someone had put in the door to keep it cracked so moms could hear their babies.

So much for a quiet entrance. The video had already started. But within 30 seconds, several ladies smiled at me, someone gave me a workbook, and someone else pulled me up a chair. A girl next to my seat leaned over and showed me how to fill in the answers I’d missed. “We just started,” she whispered. “You didn’t really miss anything.”

So, wow. I was there. I haven’t heard Beth Moore speak since my first son was born, way back when we were in a different city and I wasn’t so busy with life and endless housework and having five babies in a row.

The first minute I looked up at the video, Beth stared straight at ME and said, “If God is moving you to a leadership position, the first thing you’re going to need is a deeper faith.” Oh! How did she know? I’m not really a leader yet, but in my little pretend blog world I have imaginary readers who want to hear what I have to say!

Then I thought, well I’m a mom, so I AM a leader. And you are too if you’re a mom, dad, grandmom, granddad, aunt, uncle, whatever. If you’re older than ANYone, you’re in a position of leadership! We all have a huge responsibility before us to help raise the next generation!

Well, all I can say is that Beth Moore’s teaching was powerful, and I was about to cry the whole time. (I did some and hope nobody saw me.) What is WRONG with me? Well, I do know…but that’s a topic I’ll talk about next week. This study is great for moms. I don’t know about you, but I have trouble with my mind wandering. One minute I’m concentrating; the next minute, I’m thinking of my grocery list, then I remember something I need to return to Home Depot, then I wonder if my cell phone is turned off (and I check and realize I must have left it in the car, then I worry maybe I lost it) and then I remember this deadline I’ve got coming up and…pretty soon I’ve zoned out.

With Beth Moore, you can’t do that. There are blanks to fill in. I’m just so hungry for this rich teaching! Honestly, I’ve struggled to get enough spiritual feeding since having kids. On Sundays, I’ve done this and that…kept the nursery, taught 2-and 3-year-olds. Nursed babies and missed sermons. So I’ve had to fuel my faith mostly at home, reading 90 million books and listening to sermons on the radio. Now I’m loving Beth’s intense teaching, which is perfect for women like me.

On my wrist, I’m wearing a lovely, royal blue plastic bracelet, symbolizing my commitment to grow in my faith over the next 18 weeks. Even though this is only a 9-week study, our group leaders have decided to lengthen the time since most of us are preschool moms…so we’ll watch the video one week, then discuss it the following week. And we’ll spread the homework lessons out over a two-week period too. That means I’ll be part of this group until at least February or March.

We also had a time to share prayer requests. Wow – these women are going through some major things. A soldier’s death overseas, someone’s friend died of suicide, job changes and moving, building houses, selling homes, health problems, and relationship issues. I guess Beth Moore knows all this when she’s writing her books.

So, I feel the urge to say to you, my dear mom reader whoever you may be:

Please don’t give up. Whatever you have going on in your life right now — it will get better. If you’re a mom of a young child, NOBODY can understand you like another mom with young kids. Even those women who raised wonderful children to adulthood. They forget what it’s like to endure the sleepless nights and the worries and inadequate feelings and weird hormones and the sheer exhaustion of getting out the door in the morning.

Anyway, thanks for reading. And for holding me accountable at least in my own thoughts. God bless you, whoever you are.

My husband’s parents have bought an old cabin and are in process of moving it a few miles down the road to the family farm. It’s a rustic-looking homeplace with a tin roof and deep porches, built around 1870 by a man who’d returned from fighting in the Civil War.

Last night, we went to look at the grassy spot where the cabin will rest. There were eleven of us, all walking around, imagining what the cabin will look like…where the driveway will come in and which way the porches will face. We could hear the creek gurgling nearby, and a V-shaped flock of geese flew over us.

“I like it out here,” my sister-in-law said. “It’s going to be really dark at night, so you can see the stars.”

I have to say, seeing stars is one of the best advantages of living out in the country. Our bedtime skies are pitch black, studded with brilliance. When we returned home, we stood in our own driveway, staring up at the night. We could see the white swirl of the Milky Way overhead. The kids all danced underneath the October sky, enjoying the cool air and display of lights.

How about you? Can you see the stars at night from where you live? Do you take the time to look up at them? A missionary, Jim Elliot, once noticed the stars and took the time to write down these words:

Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on Earth! I care not if I never raise my voice again for Him, if only I may love Him, please Him. Mayhap in mercy He shall give me a host of children that I may lead them through the vast star fields to explore His delicacies whose finger ends set them to burning. But if not, if only I may see Him, touch His garments, smile into His eyes — ah then, not stars nor children shall matter, only Himself.

Jim Elliot lived from 1927-1956, dying at the hands of the Auca Indians in South America, the people group he was sent to serve. His wife, Elisabeth Elliot, went on to become a well-known writer. I’m thankful Mr. Elliot took the time to record his words because I thought about them last night as I watched our “host of children” enjoying the stars.

My two-year-old sang at the top of his lungs, “Jesus loves me! This I know! For the Bible tells me so!” This is all I can do as a parent — teach my children that yes, Jesus loves them. Nothing — nothing at all — gives me greater purpose.