Here’s a great quote I read this week, that I thought applied well to our Beth Moore study of Living Beyond Yourself:

“All the fruits of the Spirit which we are to lay weight upon as evidential of grace, are summed up in charity, or Christian love; because this is the sum of all grace. And the only way, therefore, in which any can know their good estate, is by discerning the exercises of this divine charity in their hearts; for without charity, let men have what gifts you please, they are nothing.”

I am behind this week on our study. Actually, I haven’t even downloaded the video or the homework yet. (YIKES!!) I’ve been so busy wrapping up the Mother’s Love writing contest that ended here on Monday. And I’ve been corresponding with my FOUR wonderful, unbiased judges who are helping me, as well as reading through nearly 40 fantastic essays and poems. I’ve laughed, cried, and have been a bundle of emotions all week.

There’s also a lot of stuff going on in LIFE right now that has cut into my computer time — in a major way! I’ve been running around town getting ready for a book signing at a local bookstore, attending my daughter’s second grade field trip, coordinating our family’s summer schedule, and preparing for a busy weekend.

I’M GOING TO MEET THE FLYLADY!!!!!

LBY Friends: Thank you for your prayers. I feel such support from you in the group! Hopefully, next week will allow me time to catch up and visit your blogs to see how God is working in your life. For now, I must Live Beyond the Blog and try to keep up with this insane pace of life around here.

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice

My high school reunion committee has been asking us to find old pictures to send for a slide show, and I ran across this VERY OLD picture from my college days. Can you figure out which one is me? [Hint: top left corner, wearing ivory.]

I asked my husband if I could post this picture, and he said it might provide an interesting cultural study — here’s what it was like to be a freshman at a state university in the Deep South in the late 80s.

I was 19 years old in this picture.

This event was called “Old South,” sponsored by the Kappa Alpha fraternity. I’m realizing with a bit of embarrassment that I worked just as hard at getting that invitation as I did on my grades that quarter. I was “networking” even in college!

I really wanted to go to Old South — everybody talked about it. So I started asking around, and a friend who was dating a KA knew a friend who didn’t have a date yet. I think we met for a Coke at Mcdonald’s and he asked me to go.

I lived in a women’s dormitory all four years of my college experience, and the first year my dorm was all freshmen. The Old South buzz was wild that last weekend of April — we giggled, traded dresses, and sunbathed on the front lawn trying to get a quick tan for the “ball.” Then the rumor started.

“They’re coming. Today. This afternoon. Be here.” (Everyone whispered.)

They came, a dozen or so young men on horseback, wearing gray Confederate soldier uniforms. They stopped their horses in front of our white-columned dormitory.

The squeals down my hall were rampant. “They’re here! They’re here! Let’s go!”

Everyone rushed down the wide stairway, through the grand lobby, and outside. I had no idea what they were going to do, but gradually, each Confederate-clad young man slid off his horse and walked over to the girl he’d invited to attend.

My date got down on his knee in front of me and handed me a rolled-up parchment, tied with a bow. It’s in my scrapbook, so I’ll type here what it said, in black calligraphy:

“You, as a Belle, must rise whenever ‘Dixie’ is played and do whatever is necessary to preseve the honor of Lee, Davis, Jackson, and the Southern States and Cause. Your intimate charm and affection will reflect the tradition of Southern hospitality in the presence of those poor, less fortunate, and unreconstructured ‘D— Yankees.’

So it be known to you, fair Belle, that the right honorable (his name) being a member of Kappa Alpha Order has publicly expressed the pleasure of escorting (my name) to the Old South Ball, and who will give her reply by adorning the above said Southern Gentlemen with a gentle kiss.”

After that, all of us doubled on horseback and rode all over the President’s lawn. I’ll never forget that spring day — it was too funny to be riding horses, emitting rebel yells, on the pristine grass of the university’s most important resident! I think we had permission. I hope we did.

I’ve kept up with some of the girls in this picture, and hear about others through the grapevine. We’re all approaching our 40s now, most or all of us married with children. Those were exciting days in the spring of our youth, but I wouldn’t go back there for the world.

I’m happily married now to a man whose ancestors fought for the Confederacy, and we even have a picture of him dressed in a Civil War uniform when he gave a school book report on Stonewall Jackson.

My looks have changed, but I’ll always put sugar in my tea and be a true Southern Belle.

There are many of you out there who love to write, and I wanted to pass along a few writing opportunities I’ve heard about recently that you may be interested in. I’ve gathered a short list of authors and publishers who are actively seeking stories with deadlines coming soon. (Please contact the websites or editors listed below and not me directly — this is all I know!)

Call for Submissions

Mothers are amazing people. They’re caring, selfless, energetic, optimistic individuals brimming with unconditional love. When you think of all the experiences you’ve shared with your mother, is there one special moment or incident that stands above the rest?

This is a unique opportunity to acknowledge one of the most important people in your life, and to share your experience with an appreciative audience.

Adams Media, Inc., publishers of A Cup of Comfort and The Rocking Chair series, is compiling a second anthology of stories, written as letters, for a new book tentatively titled Letters to My Mother: Tributes to the Women Who Gave Us Life—and Love, to be published in Spring 2007. Letters to My Mother follows on the heels of the highly anticipated anthology Letters to My Teacher: Tributes to the People Who Have Made a Difference which was published in April 2006.

Like its predecessor, Letters to My Mother will contain true stories written by people of all ages — who celebrate the valuable lessons learned from the mothers in our lives. They are letters that demonstrate how great an impact our mothers have had on our lives, as they worked tirelessly to help us in our journey toward becoming better people …

Letters should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, and be approximately 500-750 words. Contributors whose letters are included in the book will receive a payment of $10. The author whose letter is chosen as the most inspirational will receive $100. The best letter submitted by a child will receive $50.

Of much greater value, our contributors will receive national writing exposure with a major publisher, a complimentary copy of the book, and bragging rights.

For guidelines and samples check out Writing Tips and Submission Guidelines, Letter Samples, and Letters Written by Kids. If you have additional questions or would like to send a submission please email us at barbnrick@cablespeed.com

Deadline is June 1, 2006

Happy Writing!

Hello Writer!

Adams Media is creating another devotional book in their Cup of Comfort series: A Cup of Comfort for Moms. I’d like to invite you to consider being part of this project. A CUP OF COMFORT is Adams Media’s flagship inspirational series.

Adams has known stunning success to date with these books of devotionals and stories. Their commitment is to bring uplifting stories by “ordinary folks” to the marketplace. (For series information, see http://www.cupofcomfort.com).

To complete the project we’ll need 180 devotional pieces. We will choose the pieces that best fit our needs from all the devotions submitted, and those authors will receive $20 – $25 per devotion used. You will receive one free copy of the book, we’ll print your bio, and you’ll get author discounts on any copies you purchase through Adams. (Payment will be upon publication). For this project, we are only seeking submissions from women-sorry guys!

Adams is eager to get this book processed quickly. Deadline for all submissions is May 15; however, we can start using submissions immediately to meet a May 1 partial-book deadline.

Please feel free to pass this along to your other Christian writing friends. May you experience God’s inspiration as you share His comfort with other moms.

Contact:
Jeanette Gardner Littleton
Author/Editor, for Adam’s Media
3706 N.E. Shady Lane Dr., Gladstone, MO 64119
CupofComfortforMoms@earthlink.net

From author Trish Berg of Simplifying Motherhood:

Calling ALL Moms….

I wanted to let you know that I have 2 books that are scheduled to be released in early 2007! God has opened amazing doors this year for my writing, and I am looking to all of you for your help…

Rattled – Surviving Your Baby’s First Year without Losing Your Cool is scheduled to be released in March of 2007 by Multnomah, and Supper Swapping – Faith and Friendship through Co-op Cooking is scheduled to be released in May 2007 by Cook.

I would LOVE to get as much input as I can from moms (and dads) whether you are in the midst of mothering young children, have older kids in your home, or are a grandparent. You all remember that first year of motherhood!

I am working on the manuscript right now. It is due July 1st…so time is of the essence…

I would love quotes from moms (and dads as well…) about your first year as a mom (or dad).

If you could forward this information to as many moms as you know, and ask if they are interested in sharing a story or quote with me for possible inclusion in the Rattled book.

Anyone who would like to submit a story or quote from their first year of motherhood, can simply e-mail it to me at trishberg@trishberg.com.

If I use their quote in the book, I will let them know, and get their formal permission in writing.

So please include your name, mailing address, phone, and e-mail with each submission so I can get back to you for notification and formal permission.

Sample questions below: (Dads, answer each from your own perspective…)

1) How did you find out you were expecting? How did you tell your husband?

2) What was the best advice someone gave you on motherhood? The worst advice?

3) What surprised you the most when you became a mom?

4) What was your labor and delivery like? Any funny stories?

5) During the 1st year of motherhood, what changed the most in your life? How has becoming a mom changed you as a person? Changed your marriage?

6) What is the funniest thing that happened to you that first year you were a mom? The best? The worst?

7) What advice would you give to a new mom? Someone who is expecting her first child?

Any other comments, stories or quotes on that first year of motherhood?

(I cannot pay for submissions, but will give you the byline in the book if I use your story or quote……)

Thanks so much for ministering beside me on this motherhood journey! I look forward to reading your wonderful stories! Keep them coming!

Blessings in Christ,

Trish Berg

I am working on a chapter that deals with raising adult kids, for my new book, Fantastic After 40 (Harvest House), so if you have a story already written — or one you long to tell, please share it with me. All I need are shorter illustrations—between 2- 5 paragraphs (no more than 2 pages). It’s like a story that packs a punch (or punch line) — things that make the reader laugh or brings them to tears.

Here are some topics I’d love illustrations on:

— Marrying off a child (any mother’s of the bride/mother’s of the groom out there?)
— Having to set boundaries with a prodigal over 18
— Happy ever after story of an adult child returning to the faith (what was the thing you did (or didn’t do) that you believe helped them turn around?)
— Ideas for coping with your own feelings as you learn to let go and release-or as you deal with disappointment, anger and frustration!
— Forging new family traditions as kids get older, marry, begin their own families.
— Working out in-law relationships — how to build a bridge to your new on or daughter in law’s heart, etc.

I also need stories of single women over 40. If this is you, please contact me, and I’ll send you a survey. Thanks!

Also, if you have survived something huge since your 40th birthday and you’d like to tell me how God brought you through it— email me and let me know what it is and I will see if I can use it.

It’s not a paying gig, but if you are used in the book, you’ll get a copy and discounts on it if you want to buy extra copies for gifts or for sale at your book table. Let me know if you any anyone else in the story wants you to use your real names; otherwise I will change everyone’s names to protect their privacy.

Please send with your mailing address as well. (If I use I will send you a permissions form to sign too).

I am excited to offer this opportunity — as many of us who are authors of numerous books started out with just a story or a devotional in a book — then God gave the increase! And for those who are authors, being in other’s books is great free advertising for yours!

ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE NEEDED BEFORE MAY 14.

Contact Pam Farrel of Ferrel Communications.

From author June Varnum:

I am soliciting stories for my book tentatively titled Get Up and Go: Inspirational Stories of Seniors Who Found Their Silver-Lined Retirement. My premise is that God never offered a 401K plan but asks retirees to keep going, to give back to mankind from past experiences.

The giving back may consist of volunteering at a hospital, library or school, fulfilling a long-term dream or working on a new dream, going back to school, taking art/music lessons, working at an archaeology dig, teaching English to refugees or learning a new language, writing your life story and hundreds of other ways of basking in God’s retirement plan.

Just by their example, these senior retirees encourage others to get up and do something. They can find renewed value in their lives and encourage others to get up and do something for their community and for themselves. Everyone can do something.

One editor is very interested in the book, so I’m looking for stories that include: who or what circumstance led you to the activity you are doing; is it a new experience; do you love doing the activity; will you continue or try something else; have other job opportunities developed from this one; are you making new friends, discovering what you can still do, enjoying happiness and fulfillment.

Tell me about yourself as well as what you are doing. No detail is too small or unimportant. I will write the stories so they will be consistent. Please include your age.

I am a published author of short stories, magazine articles and devotions. I don’t have a contract yet, so I can’t offer payment, but I will promise a copy of the book. I truly believe in this book and the editor is enthusiastic. My deadline is May 31, 2006. You can contact me, June Varnum, at jvarnum@psln.com or PO Box 236, Loyalton, CA 96118. Thank you for considering my request and I look forward to receiving your stories.

From me, here at Mom 2 Mom Connection:

If you’d like to continue learning about future writing opportunities, there are many places that post upcoming needs and deadlines.

Three that I recommend are:

The Spirit-Led Writer ezine, published by Lisa Crayton. This ezine is always full of encouraging articles and writing opportunities. Lisa Crayton is an author and speaker who has a passion for developing talent in new writers, and her magazine is one of the best I’ve seen.

The Dabbling Mum. This site offers great articles on dozens of topics, and you can also sign up for a newsletter that is full of writing opportunities.

TWV2 online writer’s group. This is a Yahoo group that is moderated by published authors, editors, and agents in every genre. It started last month, and the group is open to anyone who has an interest in Christian publishing. Each week, a different topic is presented, and the members leave posts about this topic, which are moderated by the panelists. It’s a great way to connect with other writers, editors, and agents.

One more note from me: 🙂

A few people have written me to ask how to get started in publishing. I wish I could answer each of you individually, but my schedule has gone haywire this month with the end of the school year!

The best ways I’ve found to break into publishing are to take writing courses, attend a writer’s conference, and join a writing group. You can take courses at your local community college, online, or through the snail mail. The feedback you’ll receive from a writing teacher or mentor will be extremely valuable and motivating.

It’s absolutely essential that you own a copy of Sally Stuart’s Christian Writer’s Market Guide. This lists all the magazine and book publishers and what they’re looking for. How else will you know where to send your writing if you don’t have a market guide? It’s worth every penny. The first article or story you sell may pay for the cost of this book!

In the past few years, the trend from many book publishers is to only work with authors who have an agent. This is not always the case, but most of the writers I know who publish books year after year have agents who represent them. The only way to get a good agent to look at your work is to have something professional-looking to show him or her! And it helps to have smaller writing credits to prove that you’re capable of following through on assignments.

If you have the chance to attend a writer’s conference, this is also helpful, as is joining a writing or critique group! There may be a group in your hometown where each person contributes by writing and critiquing each other’s work. Check your local newspaper or community guide to see if anyone is advertising, or start asking around at your church. American Christian Writers has a database of hundreds of local group contacts.

It takes time and persistence, but if this is something you feel God is calling you to do, the right door will open if you keep on knocking. If you show yourself faithful in the small things, God will open the door for bigger things. You’ll never know until you try!

If you need a real dose of encouragement, the new May issue of Christian Women Online magazine is hot off the press. I can’t wait for you to see it because guess who is the new “Book Buzz” columnist? Me! I’ve found a fun place to buzz about the latest, greatest inspirational books for women.

There are plenty of cool things going on at CWO for bloggers — I hope you’ll join the party if you haven’t already. First of all, you can join the CWO Blogring and you’ll be linked to the site. Here’s what the purpose of the Blogring is:

The Christian Women Online blog ring was newly created to unite women of faith via the internet. Web users can use this unique list to easily find other women that share the same faith, without having to waste hours searching through secular blogs that may hold little or no interest to them.

This is a great way to stay connected to other like-minded bloggers. And once a month, CWO will feature a “Pick of the Month” blog, offering you the opportunity to introduce your blog to tons of new readers! This month’s feature is the beautiful My Prairie Rose blog, where “Carolyn shares her life as a 47 year-old Christian wife, mom and grandma who loves to read, scrapbook, and other crafty things.”

Besides the Blog of the Month, the May issue of CWO features a free book drawing and writing contest, as well as inspirational columns and articles on growing in your faith, scrapbooking, home organizing, eating healthy, homeschooling, parenting, new recipes, and more! I hope you’ll go check it out. Best of all, it’s free!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our first annual Mother’s Love Writing Contest. I’m amazed at the power and beauty of your words. We received such a wide variety of submissions — Thirty-seven daughters and one son wrote about their moms, from six different countries!

What shocked me most of all was going to many of your sites and reading comments from your friends, family members, and even your moms in response to your words. THAT, my friends, was the whole point of this contest. I was grabbing my box of tissues while I read your positive words of love.

Now it’s not even 9 am, and I had to go to the store this morning to buy a big bag of greasy potato chips and comforting sour cream dip. Because this is stressing me out! Some of you dipped into a deep well of pain to write your essays, and from it you found forgiveness and even joy. What overwhelms me is the grace many of you give your moms. As adults, you realize she wasn’t perfect, but now you’re able to surround her with love. One of you wrote, “When I was a child, my mother knew nothing. When I became a mother, she suddenly knew EVERYTHING!” We should write this sentence on a bookmark and stick it in our Bibles, for those days when we feel unappreciated!

I hope this will inspire some of you moms who have children at home who may not be RISING UP to call you blessed. In fact, they may be telling you to GO AWAY. Well, there’s a message of hope from this contest, and that is — one day, they’ll appreciate you. So hang in there!!!

I’ve compiled all of the submissions into a file called, “Stories of Our Mother’s Love 2006,” which will be available to anyone after the contest. Please email me next week if you’d like a copy of this file. All of the submissions are under copyright of the individual authors, and I’ll add a little copyright sign to demonstrate that. For privacy’s sake, I’ve removed the pictures, and I’ve included only the name you have available on your blog. For some of you, that’s only a first name or a pen name.

It’s my personality to say, “All of you are winners — woohoo!” But I know we must choose only one winner — and you’ve made it very hard. I’m glad I’ve got other people to help me judge, and we’re going to use a point system that is used in other writing contests to make it a systematic process. This will force me to take off my blogger hat and put on my old English teacher’s hat and see if it still fits. We’ll post the winner here next Monday, May 8th.

I want to apologize that the link kept changing every day, so if you linked to the “Writing Contest” post, it kept changing. Sorry about that! I didn’t know how else to keep the post at the top — and I didn’t want to take a week and a half off from blogging! So here’s the PERMANENT LINK to the contest, if you wanted to update it in your archives.

If you wrote something in your blog or at this site for your mom, I hope you’re able to show it to her or give it to her for Mother’s Day. I’ll probably never know all the behind-the-scenes stories, but I know without a doubt this is something that has been on my heart from God. I REALLY appreciate each of you taking the time to write and submit something that I know took a lot of time and emotional energy. Thank you again! {{{{{GROUP HUG}}}}}

I’m working on a post that will announce several writing opportunities from authors and publishers who are seeking stories and poems like these. I’ll plan on posting these on Thursday and include links to the publishers’ and authors’ sites. So be sure to check back in and see where your story might fit. I believe many of these stories will be published in print form someday!

I also want to pass along the news that Sallie of Two Talent Living has gone on extended maternity leave, so she’s also taking a break from sponsoring the Carnival of Beauty. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to write for this Carnival and fellowship with like-minded women bloggers! I had signed up to host in May, but I think it’s best to respect Sallie’s desire for a time of rest as she prepares for her baby. I’ve met so many of you through this Carnival — it’s certainly been a blessing!

If you’ve been a participant or a reader who has enjoyed this Carnival, it would be nice to leave Sallie a note to thank her for all the work she did in sponsoring. I’m sure she put in countless hours responding to emails and answering questions since last December. I know that many of us in the Beth Moore Living Beyond Yourself study met through the Carnival of Beauty. It’s been a nice way to connect with Christian women who enjoy writing online.

Final update 5/1:
Today’s the last day! These stories, letters, essays, and poems are incredible! I hope you can take some time this week to read through these. I worked over the weekend gathering them into one file to make it easier for the other judges. We now have an accomplished poet, school teacher, and a professional writer who are going to help with this. You are all already winners for taking the time to give honor to your moms with your words.

What’s New? 4/29
Only two more days left! We’ve had new entries come in from Slovenia and Germany, so that brings our contest up to SIX countries represented so far! I’ve also found a wonderful, experienced teacher who is going to help with judging. And here’s the best news: I know of several book publishers who are looking for stories like these! Check in next week, and I’ll be posting several opportunities that have upcoming deadlines. I wish I could contact each of you personally and encourage you to submit your story or poem for publication, but God will have to prompt your heart. I do think some of you will see your stories in print someday. What an amazing way to bless your moms with positive words!

Made me smile, 4/28:
Thanks for hosting this contest. I probably wouldn’t have written anything if you hadn’t. Now I have something to give my mom on Mother’s Day. LOL.

Latest, 4/27:
There’s been big news in the publishing world about the Harvard teen author who may have plagiarized passages in the novel that has made her into an overnight sensation. You can read about this here. I felt like I should make this clear that all contest entries are under copyright of the author who submitted them. No one may copy and paste these stories or poems without the author’s permission. And that includes me! I own the rights to my own words, but not anyone else’s. I just thought I’d better make that clear. There are some great submissions here — and I do know about a lot of needs in the publishing industry for first-person stories like these. But I wouldn’t submit anything to a publisher myself — the author would have to do this. THANKS!

Update 4/26:
Thank you to everyone who has submitted so far. We’ve had entries from at least four countries: Japan, the Philippines, Canada, and all over the U.S. I’m enjoying these stories so much! There’s still time if you’ve been waiting for a moment of inspiration! (This also makes a great writing assignment for students if you are a teacher!)

I got an email yesterday that reminded me of the whole purpose of this contest — the strengthening of mother/ daughter relationships through words of affirmation. Someone emailed me this:

Hey Heather,

The Lord wanted me to answer that in my own heart, and offer that back to my mom on Mother’s Day. I don’t know how she will respond, but I am glad I took this step. Thank you again for all that you do …

This note blessed me so much! My dream is that if there is anyone out there who hasn’t spoken to your mom in years — or maybe your relationship hasn’t been all that great — why not use this Mother’s Day as a chance to reach out and show her love? Wouldn’t you want one of your kids to do the same to you someday?

Thanks for your support, bloggy friends. I know you’re tired of seeing this post pop up first every day — but I don’t want it to disappear until everyone who wants to has the chance to write something! Only four more days until the deadline!

How did your mother show you love while you were growing up? What did she do to make you feel special? If she’s alive now, how do you know she still loves you?

With Mother’s Day around the corner, Mom 2 Mom Connection is hosting our first annual “Mother’s Love” Writing Contest.

Sometime between now and Monday, May 1, tell us how your mom showed you love growing up or how she continues to show you love now. All you have to do is submit something in the comment section here! Then everybody will be able to read about your mom.

If you’ve already written a great post in your own blogs about your mom, be sure to give us the link here so we’ll all click on over to your blog and read it.

In the process of reading about other wonderful moms, many of us who are just starting out our mothering journeys can learn what really counts when raising our children. And if you’re a grandmother, here’s your chance to “advise” us younger moms on what’s most important in life. We’re ASKING for your advice here!

After the deadline on May 1, I’m going to ask several writer friends I know to help me choose the winner of our “Mother’s Love” contest. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a free copy of the book, From a Daughter’s Heart to Her Mom: 50 Reflections on Living Well — signed by the author, who happens to be ME!

This book is a photo essay full of inspiring ways to express love to the woman who raised you, who loves you no matter what. The pictures are soft sepia tone, featuring mothers and daughters of all ages doing those things we love to do together — having tea parties, shopping, gardening, cooking together, hanging out at the beach, and enjoying life in all its important stages. Along with the photos, each page contains a short letter from a daughter to her mom on a specific topic, an inspirational quote, and a scripture. If you’re in any type of women’s ministry hosting a mother/ daughter event, this book would give you lots of ideas!

I’m sure it will be hard to pick only one of your contest submissions as our Grand Prize Winner — so we’ll offer other awards for Most Creative Mom, Funniest Mom, Most Inspirational Mom, and a host of others that we can think of.

Won’t it make a nice gift to your mom to give her an award and let her read something you wrote about her online for the entire world to see?

It doesn’t matter what age you are — if one of your daughters wants to submit an essay, please tell her to do so. Writing about our moms brings honor to them, in a role which is often underappreciated in our world. Whether your mom is still living or has passed on, your words will always be a legacy to her.

Here are a few inspiring quotes from the book (There are over 50 quotes like these, from a variety of women):

So, jump on in and tell us why your mom is special! The Grand Prize Winner and all the runner-ups will also be published in a special “Mother’s Love Essay Winners” post a few days after the contest. This link will be sent to the publisher, Thomas Nelson in Nashville, Tennessee, as well as the designer, Whisner Design Group in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Many people worked on putting this book together besides me, and it will be a nice way to express our appreciation for creating a product that celebrates the awesome glory of motherhood.

P.S. This post will remain at the top of my blog until the deadline, May 1, 2006.

P.P.S. Brownie points if you tell other people about this contest!

If you live anywhere near Chattanooga, Tennessee, you’re in for a real treat. Marla Cilley, the FlyLady, will be speaking at her first Christian Women’s Conference called “Life in the Balance.” This women’s event will be held May 5-6 at the Abba’s House Worship Center of Central Baptist Church.

Here’s what the press release says:

This dynamic conference is designed to encourage all women as they attempt to manage the daily responsibilities of life at the same time they seek to pursue the heart of God with all their might. It is designed to help women as they seek to open their souls to God’s best even as their homes, careers, and relationships all cry out for undivided attention,” said representatives.

This church is going to be rockin’ the first weekend of May! I wish I could go meet her! Now, FlyLady is very gentle in the way she shares her faith, but I’ve always believed she might be a Christian from a few things she’s said. Though only God knows each person’s heart, if FlyLady will be speaking at a Baptist church in Tennessee, whew Baby! She’s speaking my language!

Here’s more about FlyLady’s role in the conference:

Holding three sessions on Saturday is nationally known author and mentor, Marla Cilley, or “FlyLady.” Ms. Cilley has a powerful testimony of God’s grace, and has helped millions across the world with her practical advice, challenge, and insights regarding home management. Besides writing and providing support for her email list of over 300,000 devoted subscribers and her web site www.flylady.net, her wisdom and common sense approach to running a household has been featured in the Washington Post, Ladies Home Journal, Parade, Time, USA Today, and countless other national publications.”

Even if you can’t attend, if you’re a Christian woman who has been impacted by FlyLady’s teachings, let’s pray for her. She has a HUGE platform — how many Christian publishers do you think would be interested in a writer and speaker who has 300,000 readers per day? I for one would love to read a book written by Marla Cilley published by a Christian publishing house. She has an awesome gift of encouragement, and I would LOVE to hear her testimony.

Wait a minute — this conference is only $30! And it includes a box lunch and childcare for children six weeks to age five. WHAT! I feel like I want to go just so I can tell you all about it! You can register online here. This event is NEXT weekend!!

To my LBY friends: I’ve decided to count this as my post for the week on the topic of peace. Since I’ve just discovered this, I feel like I can’t think about anything else. The WEIRD thing is — yesterday I was thinking I’d love to interview Marla Cilley for a story for a Christian magazine. But I thought, “How would I ever be able to talk to her?” Then I checked my email a few minutes ago and found out about this conference.

For me to arrange childcare and drive to Chattanooga on a whim would be living WAY BEYOND MYSELF. What should I do?

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice

A few minutes ago, I was standing at my kitchen sink washing the breakfast dishes, and I read through FlyLady’s Eleven Commandments list, which is taped to my window. (Yeah … that’s where I knew I’d actually read it.)

I gave #9 a good bit of thought:
“Work as fast as you can to get the job done. This will give you more time to play later.”

I’ve got two distasteful chores that I must do today — and this 9th principle is going to help me get through them. The first thing I have to do that I don’t want to do is mop my whole first floor. This involves clearing everything off the floor, sweeping out all the cracks and crevices, filling up my bucket with water and cleaner, and MOPPING. Yuk. Boring. But I gotta do it.

The second thing I must do is clean out my car. Over the past week, we’ve been to the pool twice — ALREADY!! That, plus all the hauling here and there has built up a mountain of trash. I’ve got to get a trash bag in there and fling my way to clean.

So, how can I make this kinda fun? Well, of course it won’t be really fun. But I can trick my mind into thinking it’s sort of pleasant by using the following five tips:

1) Follow the 9th commandment and work as fast as I can to get it done.

2) Bring my timer into the car with me, set it for 15 minutes, and work fast. Clean out clutter, shake out car mats, and Mr. Clean the sticky spots. (If you don’t have a timer, maybe you could listen to music, and play a game where you try to get it all done before three songs are over.)

3) Remind myself that there are at least one billion other women out there in the world who are having to do the exact same things. Maybe not mopping and car decluttering, but at least having to do time-consuming housework chores.

4) Fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. He will enable me. He will give me the energy I need. (Hebrews 12:1-3).

5) Think about the FUN task ahead that I’ll reward myself with — if I get it all done!

My multi-tasking GRAND plans for Sunday afternoon if I get this work done:

1) Sit out in the sun wearing mild sunscreen and a straw hat. Purpose: to get some color on my legs to hide my absolutely hideous varicose veins. Yep — I’ve got ’em BAD. Medals of motherhood?

2) Read Karen Kingsbury’s new novel.

3) Drink something cold, filled with ice cubes, and maybe even a straw. (Pretend that someone brought it to me while I’m lounging on the beach, by the sea.)

4) Watch the kids play out of the corner of my eye.

5) Nap a little bit, when I get the little ones down for their naps.

Aahh…

OK, I’m off to the races. How about you?

Update: Do you know how difficult it is to mop floors with a very mobile and sociable 13-month old around — who is OUTGROWING her beloved morning nap? I eventually had to put her in her highchair so she could watch, but not be in the way. Then the car. Exhausting … but done. Now our house is clean and smells like oranges and lemons, and I’m needing a shower!

This morning I listened to Focus on the Family on the radio, and once again I’ve got to blog about it. There are so many great things going on in the world! Why is the news always so full of negative stories?

I learned about an organization called HANDS, Helping Americans Needing Disaster Support. Leisha Pickering spoke. She’s the wife of Congressman Chip Pickering (MS) and lives in Mississippi, along with their five children. She talked about the ongoing needs of Katrina victims.

There were nearly 70,000 homes destroyed when Katrina hit last August. Say that number slowly. SEV-EN-TY THOUSAND. Homes. Think what your home is to you. These homes were wiped out — completely.

She said at first there was so much help, as volunteer organizations mobilized and drove over to help with immediate relief. But now reality has sunk in for many of these victims, and they’re struggling with getting on with their lives. Many have lost hope.

So she founded this organization, HANDS. I hope you’ll be able to visit their website and watch the introductory video with your kids. There is so much we multi-tasking moms can do. Mrs. Pickering said her volunteers have compiled data on thousands of families, so there is a detailed list of their needs. She encouraged radio listeners to consider partnering with a family and seeking ways to bless them with whatever you feel led to do.

She talked about how one group had come down and actually built a new home for a woman who had lost her family, home, everything. Another time, her organization knocked on the door of a man, and when he opened the door, all he had in his apartment was a mattress. Two kids and a mattress. They offered him things he needed and came back the next day.

This time when he opened the door, he said, “Yesterday, I had nothing. Today I have hope.”

So, I started thinking — maybe there are some of you out there in Sunday school classes or other organizations, and you might be interested in helping out in this way. I mean, here’s where our faith goes into action. It’s important to read the Bible and learn the principles of Christianity, but an active faith also serves others.

Here’s my idea: I think this is something that would be wonderful for teens to get involved in. When I was a teen, I just wanted to hang out with my friends and do fun things to relieve the stress of school. What if teen groups partnered with families victimized by Katrina? There’s plenty they could do. Beyond the tangible donations, they could use their knack for understanding technology to give people hope.

Our church takes teenagers on mission trips every year, and they come back changed. Go look at that HANDS website. We don’t have to fly overseas to find a third-world environment. It’s right in our own backyard. What can you do to help?

I’ve been a stay-home mom for the last ten years. I’ve never held a job outside of my home except for volunteer work through my church. A couple of years ago, a friend invited me to join a club that does community service projects.

She introduced me to a whole new world.

I had no idea why these people were so organized and interested in volunteer projects that had nothing to do with church. What was their motivation? They were organizing races for charity, helping with various fundraisers, and connecting needy people with services. And they weren’t older women with grown children; they were young.

At first I thought everybody already knew each other, and I felt like an outsider. Then I started asking people questions and found out there were several tired moms like me who enjoyed getting out of the house for a useful purpose. About half the women stay home as a career and half work at out-of-the-home jobs. It’s a nice mix.

I’ve discovered I’m the kind of person who does better socially when I’m part of an organized group than when I wing it alone. It’s hard for me to pick up the phone and call someone to plan something. I don’t know why! (Must be a hangup of mine — haha.) I like being part of a group. I’m still drawn to books and quiet things, so I’ve volunteered at the library, helped collate cookbooks, and emailed people.

When I first had children and gave up working outside the home, I joined several mom groups — I went to playgroups and attended mother’s club meetings. We talked about mom things while our kids played together. Later, I was in a homeschooling group, and our meetings revolved around our common endeavor of educating our children at home.

Now I’m entering this new phase, and I’m not exactly sure what it is. Since I have a blog, I thought it worthy of writing about.

The other night, I went to this building, below, for a board meeting of the officers in this organization. I got dressed up in decent clothes that didn’t have peanut butter or spit-up on them. I walked down the hallway to a meeting room where there was a long, polished wood table surrounded by women sitting in those swivel kind of chairs. Outside the door, a gold-plated sign said “President’s Room.”

After I sat down, a server dressed in black and white came and brought me ice water in a crystal glass. She gave me a gold damask napkin with silverware wrapped inside. I put the napkin in my lap.

Then while we discussed community projects, the server came back with a basket of rolls and rosemary butter. She handed me a black folded menu, and I ordered green pepper and cheese quesadillas. During the meeting, I dipped tortilla-wrapped vegetables in salsa that someone else prepared for me. I didn’t have to cut anyone’s meat or tell someone to quit humming or to sit still. We didn’t play high/low.

In fact, there was no mention of kids at all once the meeting started. My job is to lead the devotions at the beginning of the meeting, and so I read a poem. Then all the other officers shared what projects they were working on.

When I finished eating, the wait staff came and took my plate and crystal glass of water. My bill came to $8.

What will I be doing in the next month as a club member? There are two women in our group who just came home from the hospital with newborns. My job is to encourage these postpartum moms in an organized way. I’ll do this by contacting the new mom and asking when a convenient time is for us to deliver her a meal. Then I’ll contact our meal rotation group captains and ask them to coordinate a meal, either cooked or purchased, to take to the new moms’ house. Then I’ll write up a small report for our newsletter, which involves sending one email.

I also plan to help our children’s librarian cut out a paper fairy tale castle to get kids excited about the summer reading club. I like to help out at the library. It’s a quiet place.

As I left the building that night, I felt refreshed. No stress at all.

There are many ways women relieve stress — some work in the garden or exercise. Others scrapbook or play bunko. Some women may feel so overwhelmed they seek help from a therapist and possibly medication. But for me, this volunteer group is what I need right now. I can’t handle the responsiblity of a full-time job, yet it’s still important for my wellness to do something every now and then without children around.

If you’re a little shy, like me, it’s nice to be a part of an organized group. And it’s especially nice to be treated like a lady.