Upside Down (OctPoWriMo Day 5)

Capturing in words a relationship where love runs deep is a challenge--NOT because there is nothing to say but because there is SO much to say and because, honestly, ANY one emotion could be pulled out of a bag and be used to describe any number of events and moments in that relationship. That's really the beauty of deep relationships.

I must admit, I did not write this poem today. I wrote it a few months ago--a poem about the relationship I have with my husband, the one constant love of my life. We've had our moments, our days of struggle, but these are insignificant compared to our years of living life together--from travelling and working overseas with minority language groups to raising kids and being forever parents. I am forever grateful to God for bringing him into my life.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall (OctPoWriMo Day 4)

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Why do these wrinkles come to call?

Throw to me some magic beans

That reverse time, give youthful sheen.

Or let me rub Aladdin’s lamp

To wipe off crow’s feet, time’s tell-tale stamp.

Perhaps the Fairy Godmother

Could wave them off like none other.

Or King Midas with his golden touch

Could fill them in with shimmer dust.

Call Jack to take his famous cloak

Swoosh them invisible with one stroke.

But note in fairy tales long told

There’s no discrimation between young and old

Age matters not in being bold

Or finding life’s worth in more than gold

Obsessions only turn hearts cold

So why obsess with growing old?

Mirror, mirror on the wall

I’ll keep these wrinkles, I’ll keep them all.

Showing Up to Discovery (OctPoWriMo Day 3)

It has been a difficult year for my family with a sick young-adult son. Some days were harder than others and sometimes I felt like I was all alone, carrying the weight of everyone else's despair--as if I wasn't allowed to get discouraged. Why did I have to be that one? Why did I always have to show up? And yet, all the while I was never alone. A rainbow that arrived in the sky at a crucial time reminded me of that.

                                                                       drained
                                                      sucked dry by the demands 
                             of the one who sees only despair--on verge of depression
                while I cling to hope--hope in                        Jesus' color-spectrumed gift,
       neonic reflection and refraction                                    in unseen raindrops flooding
  my soul with hope in His                                                              power, His presence, His love.
It can be my                                                                                                                      only response.

Movie Views (OctPoWriMo Day 2)

Movie Views--a Scene from the movie, "Short Term 12."

Child-like flowers, bright
and cheery encapsulate
her spirit, her soul.
He sees her inner self when
she cannot. Oh how he loves.

Clouds (OctPoWriMo Day 1)

Clouds

Cloud creations,

like mood formations,

“Both Sides Now”

falls short to try.

Cirrus feathers,

in happy weather

With cumulus popcorn

floating by.

Nimbostratus

gloomy-mood status,

when darkened thoughts

trouble my mind.

Cumulonimbus

intense, wild, harshness

cold-hearted pillars

release my cry.

Cloud formations

mood foundations

So many facets

to the one called “I.”

For the Writer in All of Us

I have a poem in this anthology--a tribute to the writers group that I am a part of.
Lots of helpful insight and information for the writer in you.

New Inscribe Anthology!

Posted: 27 Jul 2015 03:00 AM PDT

'7 Essential Habits of Christian Writers' (published by Inscribe Press) is now out in ebook format.

Here is more about the book:

Could your personal and writing habits be holding you back from becoming a successful writer? There comes a time when every writer must develop the gentle art of discipline - establishing certain practices, or habits, that make it easier to carry out the right and good thing. 
This anthology deals not so much with the technical or how-to aspects of writing but rather, with seven key areas that are seen as essential for Christian writers to succeed. They are:

* Time with God 
* Healthy Living 
* Time Management 
* Honing Writing Skills 
* Crafting a Masterpiece 
* Submitting 
* Marketing 
The contributing writers are InScribe members. Coming from all walks of life, they write in various genres for a range of audiences. Collectively, they bring to this anthology an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience. Through fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, such as devotionals, essays, and articles, they generously share their own discoveries, success stories, and their hard-won lessons to encourage and support you on your own writing journey. 

Endorsements: 

“I love seven things about this book: It is practical. It is affordable. It is encouraging. It is worth highlighting, underlining and dog-earing. Plus it made me forget about my toothache. Whether you’re a newbie or a veteran writer, you’ll discover 7 Essential Habits of Christian Writers to be jammed with instantly actionable advice that will make you a better writer. Dig in.” 
—Phil Callaway (www.philcallaway.com) is the best-selling author of more than 25 books, a popular speaker, the host of Laugh Again Radio, and a grandpa. 


“7 Essential Habits of Christian Writers is an absolute gem! I love that it covers all the basics a writer needs to know, making them simple and practical. I also love that the book has many authors, giving us ideas and suggestions from their own writing journey. I highly recommend this book to anyone seriously considering writing as a vocation or even an avocation, particularly those writers who see their work as a ministry—which it certainly is!” 
—Kathi Macias (www.kathimacias.com) is an award-winning author of more than 50 books. A wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Kathi lives in Southern California with her husband, Al. 

“7 Essential Habits of Christian Writers is loaded with actionable advice that will make you a better writer. Whether you are a multi-published author or a beginning writer, this book will benefit you.” 
—Shelley Hitz, author coach and best-selling author 
www.ShelleyHitz.com 


“This book is a beautiful blend of faithfulness and craft. It will help you answer the practical questions of what it means to be a writer while honoring what you believe. I wish I’d read this when I got started.” 
—Jeff Goins, Best-selling author, The Art of Work 


“There are hundreds of how-to-write books on the market, but none that I know of touches BOTH of the vital aspects of writing as a Christian better than this anthology from InScribe. The practical AND the spiritual are woven into a whole by a remarkably creative group of writers who are in the trenches as we speak. I intend to snack on this fare again and again.” 
—Nancy Rue, best-selling Christian author and creator of Shadow to Shelf, a mentoring program for writers. 

 As a special promotion, the book will be FREE on July 31

!

The Ugly and the Beautiful

Sometimes inspiration comes in the form of what Ann Voskamp calls, "the ugly-beautiful." The difficult events/situations that happen personally or the sadness felt over something. That's what inspired me to write the Palm Sunday Parable. Jesus is hailed with hosannas and yet rejected and He looks at Jerusalem, at its people, and weeps.

Then Good Friday and more ugliness. However, the ugliness does not win. The victory belongs to the resurrected Jesus! Death dies and Life lives--which means true life, abundant life, is offered for us all. And THAT is beautiful!

Palm Sunday Parable (Luke 19)

Nobility arrives at a distant

Country to claim his kingship. His subjects,

The ones he loves, hate him—reject his gift,

His benevolence, seeking false freedom,

Blinded by fear. And the king takes and gives.

Nobility arrives on unbroken

Colt to offer His Kingdom. Commoners,

The ones He loves, offer cloaks, branches—yet

Leaders reject Him, choosing fundalit

Laws, age-old shackles. And the King He weeps.

Easter tanka 

Empty tomb. Kairos

re-configuring chronos.

Death died. The double

negative makes positive.

Life lives—Victory is one.