writing

Five Things

Hello! It has been almost a week since I last blogged and I’ve missed this little space.

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This week has been busy with work and pet sitting, but I found a little chunk of time to pop in and share five random tidbits from my life lately!

1. I was thinking yesterday about how listening is a dying art in today’s culture. I know I’m guilty of being a bad listener at times. I’ve caught myself thinking of something I want to say before the person I’m talking to has finished their sentence. Ugh.

Feeling and knowing that I’m heard and understood is important to me. I’ve been making an effort to listen, really listen, to others when they communicate with me. Our culture is full of distractions that pull us away from true, deep connection. When someone talks to me, I want to always give them my full attention.

2. I’ve been enjoying The Language of Flowers lately. It was recommended to me by Amy (and probably ten other people) and I’m wondering why it took me so long to pick up this book. It’s fascinating.

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3. I looked up Youtube videos on how to tie baby wraps so I could bake and hold Malcolm at the same time. I used a big beach towel and it kind of worked. I’m still eyeing up cat strollers on Amazon.

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4. Pet sitting has been randomly busy for me lately. I so enjoy the company of animals. I constantly go back and forth on whether or not I want to pet sit full-time. It’s a tough decision, mostly because the income isn’t always steady. Speaking of pets, I took Lola to the vet on Tuesday because she has an ear infection. Poor girl!

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5. My cousin sent me this picture of her adorable daughter, Macie, the other day. Ten minutes later, my aunt sent me the same picture of Macie.

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I had some suspicions about the reasoning behind the influx of baby pictures, so I texted my mom to discuss.

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Jimmy and my mom are convinced if I ever become pregnant that I’m going to have twins. The thought of twins scares the living daylights out of me. It’s easy for me to think I can’t do it when I think about babies in general. The truth is that I can’t, but God will equip me for whatever He has in store for my life. Whether it’s writing a book, passing statistics, raising a family, or something totally different. God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Children are something Jimmy and I talk about often. Whether we adopt, foster, or have biological (or all three, or none) is something we pray about diligently. It’s a huge responsibility and privilege to raise a human being. We trust that God will guide us and equip us for whatever His plans are for us 🙂

Tell me a random tidbit from your life lately!

Passion and dedication

I’ve been thinking about passion and dedication lately. Since starting to write a book, I have learned a lot about myself.

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When I first began drafting the plot, creating characters, and outlining the book, I was very passionate about what I was doing. I thought about my book all. the. time. I was diligent about writing every day and downright giddy about the storyline.

Feeling so passionate about something was beautiful. I’m passionate about my faith, my relationship with my husband, animals, and coffee. Passion makes me feel purposeful.

I have been working on my book for six months now. I’ll be honest and say that some days, the passion to write just isn’t there. I can find a million other things to do besides make up a story that no one is reading besides me. It’s easy to doubt myself, and feel like what I write isn’t good enough.

Sometimes I avoid writing because I don’t think I can write the story that’s in my head in the way I want it to be written. Basically, I want what I write to be perfect because I’m so passionate about the story.

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That’s where dedication comes in. I’m dedicated to writing this book. I may not feel passionate about writing all the time, but I am absolutely dedicated.

When I feel uncertain about my abilities, I remember why I started. When I’m tired and don’t feel like writing, I choose not to give up. I consciously decide to stay dedicated in spite of my feelings. Our feelings are constantly changing. I may hate what I write one day, and then love it the next. The passion may be there today, but not tomorrow. Whatever the case, I am dedicated.

Sometimes I am passionate, but I am always dedicated.

What are your thoughts on passion and dedication?

What are you passionate about?