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Monday, March 31, 2014

Intentional Mondays


Quote: "Mothers shouldn't get sick." (Me)

Write Every Day... In spite of being plagued with the plague since last Wednesday, I have managed to get some writing done and am closing in on the halfway mark of this current manuscript. This feels good, though I have my concerns as to the quality of writing I've done while my brain has been (more) addled (than usual).

My One Word... AFFIRM. Can't seem to find a promise that everything will always go well and that I'll be healthy all the time or else I'd love for God to affirm that one! In the meantime I'm trying to rest and get well and trust that even in being sidelined there is a plan at work. Have I mentioned that I'm not good at being sidelined, or resting?

Listening To... the Billy Joel channel on Sirius XM. Love that they gave him his own channel, even if only for a limited time. Just heard Goodnight Saigon. What a powerful song.

Sharing Stories... Read (no, more like devoured) Chevy Stevens' forthcoming book THAT NIGHT about a young woman set free from prison for the crime of killing her sister. What really happened that night? Who really killed her sister? Now that she's out of prison, she's determined to clear her name and put her life back together, but a lot stands in her way. A true pageturner, this book comes out June 17 so put it on your summer reads list!

Randomness... being confined to bed is fun for about the first 12 hours. Then it gets real, real old.

In The Kitchen... My husband has really stepped in on the cooking front, running to the grocery store to pick up items and throwing together easy meals while I'm out of commission. So other than choose wisely who you marry, I have no kitchen advice this week.

Plans... my plans for this coming week? To get better!

Loveliness... would be 36 hours without fever. I've made it 24 hours, but can't seem to get past that.

Photo of the week:

I used to love my bed. Now we've spent too much time together it seems
and instead of a place I long for, it's a place I long to escape.
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Monday, March 24, 2014

Intentional Mondays


Quote: "I love the outsets, despite the fear and uncertainty that attach to all beginnings... I have already begun a thousands lives this way." Rainer Maria Rilke

Write Every Day... Kept at it this week. Hit 30,000 words on this new project. Am loving the story so far and find I miss the characters when I can't be with them. This story has so much potential... now to live up to it.

My One Word... AFFIRM. Had a great conversation with the author of MY ONE WORD this week who AFFIRMed my one word. :) Good friends are hard to come by, and something to be grateful for.

Listening To... Heard "This Is Not America" by David Bowie and Pat Metheny this weekend on the 80s on 8 Top 40 countdown. This is why I love listening to the countdown-- you hear songs you don't usually hear. This song was featured in one of my favorite 80's movies, THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN, a dark drama about two young men who got pulled into espionage during the Cold War, based on a true story. As Alan Hunter pointed out, it's especially interesting to hear right now with Russia back in the news.




Sharing Stories... Finished GOLDEN by Jessi Kirby this past week and loved, loved, loved it. This YA novel combined a good message with an entertaining mystery that held my attention till the very end. If you love YA, or know someone who does, give this novel a try.

Randomness... I have to start eating better. Today kicks it off. I have an accountability partner who I am so grateful for that I think will make all the difference. We're going to hold each other's feet to the fire and make consistently better choices that will result in being ready for summer and-- gulp-- the pool and beach!

In The Kitchen... Let's not talk about the kitchen right now, ok?

Plans... This is a busy week. I have a doctor appointment, a dentist appointment, sub at my son's school twice and teach two story workshops, plus I intend to get my writing done every day as well. I'm also baking for and preparing a raffle basket of books for a neighborhood fund raiser for a dear neighbor recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. These folks lived across the street from us for 8 years. If you would like to contribute, please do, or if you're in the Charlotte area and want some good bbq and a fun time, here's a link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1427397994169904/permalink/1433374976905539/
I'd love to see you there-- our whole family will be there!

Loveliness... The coming of spring and the ensuing lovely days were just what I needed this past week. Of course they're calling for some icky cold weather this week. Grrr...

Photo of the week:


Running under an impossibly blue sky on a gorgeous 73 degree day. Bliss.



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Friday, March 21, 2014

Divergent, A Review


I missed the Divergent craze entirely. Didn't read the books, though I tried once. I heard all the buzz, and downloaded a sample. Made it through the first page and a half and then remembered, "Oh yeah, I don't read dystopian YA. And I have a stack of books to read for She Reads soooo..." That was the end of that.




Only it wasn't. Because then I saw the trailer for the movie and thought, "Well now, that doesn't look half bad." Keep in mind, I neither read nor saw any of The Hunger Games hoopla. Fighting to the death? Totally not my speed. If I want to watch fighting and lots of angst, I need only look to my children in their never-ending Battle of the Siblings. (I jest... sort of.)

But suffice it to say I wasn't into Hunger Games, so my interest in Divergent surprised me.




The other night I got the chance to see the new movie with my 14yo daughter--who also wasn't sure she was interested. She hadn't read the books, saw the first Hunger Games movie and proclaimed she was never seeing one of those again. She also doesn't like fighting to the death so that movie disturbed her.

So to say we were two skeptics walking into that very crowded, very amped up preview is the truth. Before the movie started, my daughter whispered that she was actually nervous to see it. She was afraid of more violence and anxiety akin to her Hunger Games experience. I told her I didn't think this would be that way.

And when the movie was over? The house lights went up to reveal the biggest smile spread across her face. "That was one of my favorite movies I've ever seen, ever!" she proclaimed. This is a child, I must say, not given to demonstrative declarations. She plays it cool and close to the vest. But Divergent left her unable to do so. She chattered about the movie the whole way home. This is the same child who, I must say, I was having trouble getting to talk on the way to the movie.

See that smile?


Me? I really enjoyed it too. Shailene Woodley does a superb job as Tris. Ashley Judd is great as her longsuffering and gentle mother. And yes, when Mekhi Phifer appeared Eminem's lyric did run through my head.

If you're taking kids, just know while there are no fights to the death, there are some intense fight scenes. But they are necessary to show the commitment these "intiates" are making, and the unbelievable choice they've been presented. The fact that there is no way out only intensifies the whole situation, and makes everything that transpires that much more gripping. To me none of it was gratuitous and there's some clever weaving of story threads throughout the movie.

I have to say I recommend the movie. If you've got teens or preteens (depending on their threshold  for intense scenes and violence) you will earn points if you take them. And I promise, you won't be bored either. You might even surprise yourself and like it. No one was more surprised than me.



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Thursday, March 20, 2014

Muppets Most Wanted, A Review


Last Saturday I got to take my 8yo daughter to the new Muppet movie. It has to be said, I love the Muppets because they bring back memories of being a kid, laying on my stomach in front of our big console television with my chin propped in my hands, my brother beside me, singing along to "It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights," as an assortment of creatures paraded across the screen. I loved Beaker and the Swedish Chef, the grumpy old men, the celebrity guest stars, and Miss Piggy's relentless pursuit of Kermit.



Well they're all back in this movie. The Muppets of our childhood are now available to our children. It's smart if you think about it. And an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours with your kids. They like it. And you don't hate it. Believe me, I've done other things in the name of entertaining my kids that I flat out did not enjoy.

One of the things I appreciated most about the movie is the stream of jokes directed at the adults. There were many times I laughed as my daughter looked over like "What's funny?" And of course I loved Ty Burrell as the finicky, refined French detective. (They get in some good digs about the Europeans. Truly funny.)

The other thing I really enjoyed about the movie is the series of cameos from celebrities. They just keep coming in this movie, and in some very interesting ways. It's worth the price of admission just to watch Ray Liotta (Shoeless Joe, anyone? Goodfellas?) dance and sing as a prisoner in a Siberian Gulag. Tina Fey is great, of course. And just wait til you see who that is inside the porta-jon (at least I think that's what it was). Maybe it was supposed to be some form of portable solitary confinement? See for yourself and decide.



My daughter said to tell you that this one is better than the other one.(And she loved the other one. I can't tell you how many times we sat and watched the video for "Am I A Man or a Muppet?" after we saw that movie.) She has spent this week quoting little lines and asking if I remember certain scenes. I'm sure this is good for her brain development somehow. It has to be.

For those of us who love a little jolt of nostalgia, and who have kids who enjoy a fun little outing with mom or dad (or both), The Muppets Most Wanted is not a bad way to spend some time. And I can't say that for every kid movie I've ever sat through.
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Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Intentional Mondays (On A Tuesday)


Quote: "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." ee cummings

As I'm raising older kids, I'm seeing this played out in front of my eyes. There are a lot of messages out there for young adults. Messages of what they should do and how to go about doing it. Confusing messages. It's hard to break out of the status quo-- it takes courage. I want to raise kids with no regrets-- kids who grow up to become who they really are, not who someone else (even me-- gulp!) tells them they are.

Write Every Day... I did it! Last week I wrote every single day. What a great feeling of accomplishment that is. I love watching the word count go up, up, up. I may not be writing a perfect book-- but I'm writing a book. And that feels like progress.

My One Word... I found this book as I was searching for a Bible study to do on my own. I'm thinking that it goes quite nicely with my one word for this year, AFFIRM. I'm planning to order it asap.

Listening To... My Pandora "Carolina Beach Music" channel

Sharing Stories... Finished The Winter People this week. Creeeeepppyyyy. Not my usual type of book, but it kept me turning the pages until the bitter, creepy (did I say creepy) end.

This month at She Reads we are featuring Sarah Addison Allen's Lost Lake, a sweet tale about a young widow seeking a fresh start in life-- and finding some surprises along the way. If you haven't checked it out, be sure to stop by She Reads to learn more about the book, and its author.

Randomness... Got to see the new Muppet movie this past weekend, and am taking my daughter to see Divergent tonight. Reviews forthcoming for both!

In The Kitchen... This looks like a quick, easy, and tasty meal. And I've got another recipe from Eat At Home on my "to make" list. I think it'll be a quick dessert to whip up this coming weekend.

Plans... Saving Mr Banks is out on video today. I hope to do a family movie night this weekend and watch it together. We missed it in the theater... and now I'm kind of glad. A low-key night at home with just us sounds like just the ticket.

Loveliness... My new book cover! (Below)

Photo of the week:


http://www.amazon.com/Bridge-Tender-Sunset-Beach-Novel/dp/0310338409/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1395159649&sr=1-1
My new book! I've been waiting to be able to share this with you guys-- isn't it lovely?

 
 
Emily must realize that her dreams didn't have to die with her first love.
 
When Emily Shaw, a young widow, learns that her late husband's last surprise for her involves returning to Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to realize an old dream of theirs, she reluctantly embarks on a summer of discovery in the midst of grief. There, in the oasis of the beach community, she meets a host of townspeople with their own broken dreams and unexpected situations. As the island citizens divide over the fate of a nostalgic bridge, Emily happens upon a man who just may be the one to restore her faith in dreams, hope, and possibly love.
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Monday, March 10, 2014

Intentional Mondays


Quote: "It's easier to do trivial things that are urgent than it is to do important things that are not urgent. And it's also easier to do little things we know we can do than to start on big things that we're not so sure about." John Cleese

Heard this quote in this talk on creativity, which was referenced in a post on Writer Unboxed that I just loved. This quote stands out because I am so prone to checking and responding to emails or seeing what new pins are on Pinterest or reading my news feed on Facebook than to dive into the writing that needs to be done. And speaking of writing...

Write Every Day... While I didn't increase my word count, I did accomplish a huge task in that I finally finished planning/plotting my new book. This was a big deal for me and a necessary step I should take with each book before I dive into the writing. I know that not all writers have to plan/plot before they write but I do. The work on the front end makes the writing go much easier. In theory.

My One Word... Affirm. Spent some time this week journaling some of the ways I've seen God affirm His activity in our lives of late. A good exercise and something I'm going to try to keep doing with some sort of regularity.

Listening To... Reptile by The Church

Sharing Stories... I am reading Body of Work: Finding the Thread That Ties Your Story Together by Pamela Slim. I do several things in my life that seem unconnected and this book is helping me see that they aren't necessarily random. I'm surprised how much I'm enjoying it and getting out of it. While this isn't fiction, she does share lots of stories throughout the book. So that counts.

As for made-up stories, I'm listening to, and loving, The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon. Creepy and gripping. Not sure where she's going with the story but I'm enjoying the ride.

My daughter is excited for a new Nancy Clancy, coming soon, and a couple of new Heidi Heckelbeck titles for her Kindle.

Randomness... I made it through last week! I taught all the classes and ran all the errands and did all the laundry and made the meals and even worked on my new book, which I totally did not expect to do. It is possible, though I am loathe to admit it, that I actually accomplish more when my days are structured than when they are not.

In The Kitchen... Meals planned for a whole week. A true sense of accomplishment. My college girl is home for spring break and wants some home cookin!

Plans... This week is a lot freer than last week. I will have my two classes to teach and will be aiming to write at least 1000 words in my nice shiny newly planned novel. But beyond that and normal life stuff (laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, etc.) I am not booked out. This makes me very happy.

Loveliness... The sound of rain on the roof. We've had enough rain in recent days that I decided I better find something lovely about it.


Photo of the week:

Someone got a haircut and can now see again.
Working that errand into my week this past week was a huge accomplishment. Huge.
Love her dapper bandana.
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Friday, March 07, 2014

Mr Peabody and Sherman Review


I got the chance to take my kids to see Mr Peabody and Sherman the other night-- a fun little diversion for an otherwise ordinary weeknight. Sometimes it's fun to shake things up, depart from the normal.



Which is actually what Mr Peabody and Sherman is about. I mean any time the premise of the movie is a dog raising a boy, well, you know you're in for a departure from normality.

What I loved-- and what, I expect, all parents will love about this film-- is the way the filmmakers brought history to life, showing kids how relevant and engaging history can be. I've written before about my aversion to all things historical because of one too many classrooms that involved dry readings from stiff textbooks about a time I could in no way identify with. This film helps kids see that history is filled with excitement and true characters. Marie Antoinette, Leonardo DaVinci, and a host of Greek warriors come to mind. At one point a particular time period came on the screen and my 11yo son, with a knowing smile on his face leaned over to me and whispered, "We just learned about this in school."

I also loved Ty Burrell as Mr Peabody. And I loved the little "aimed at the parents who are sitting through this film for the sake of their kids" one-liners. There were several moment when all the adults in the packed theater laughed loudly while their kids remained silent.

So this weekend if you're looking for something to do-- a little departure from your normal-- go see Mr Peabody and Sherman. Your kids will enjoy it and you, surprisingly enough, will too.



Mr. Peabody, the most accomplished dog in the world, and his mischievous boy Sherman, use their time machine - The WABAC - to go on the most outrageous adventures known to man or dog. But when Sherman takes The WABAC out for a joyride to impress his friend Penny, they accidentally rip a hole in the universe, wreaking havoc on the most important events in world history. Before they forever alter the past, present and future, Mr. Peabody must come to their rescue, ultimately facing the most daunting challenge of any era: figuring out how to be a parent. Together, the time traveling trio will make their mark on history.
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Monday, March 03, 2014

Intentional Mondays


Quote: "The upside is that, as a result of that experience..."

I read this quote in an essay by Jodi Picoult, a fave author of mine, and her phrasing made me grab a pen and underline. She was referring to having her book adapted to film but the phrase itself could be applied to so many situations in life. And what a healthy, wholehearted way to look at situations that, while not pleasant, taught us much. I think it is a sign of progress to be able to say "the upside is that, as a result of _____, I learned, or I make sure to or I _____" (you fill in the blanks).

Looking for a journal entry prompt? This would make a great one.

Write Every Day... I will this week. I will. I will. I will. I have a story I need to tell. It's all planned and all that's left is to write it. Things are really busy this week but I've pledged to myself (and my husband for accountability reasons) that I will not go to bed at night until I've written every day.

My One Word... Feeling very hopeful and positive about some things even though on paper it doesn't make sense. Trusting that God AFFIRMS His promises and that our circumstances aren't the final answer.

Listening To... Silence. After two weekends back to back spent with women I have used all my words. My husband didn't think that was possible but it turns out, it is.

Sharing Stories... This week I'm sharing stories via the journalism class I'm substituting for and the story workshops I'm giving at my son's high school.

Randomness... This is going to be a very busy week. The kind of week you begin and are already tired just looking at the filled-in blocks on your calendar. I am going to try to find the joy in the busy fullness of life. Will let you know how that goes.

In The Kitchen... Easy is the name of the game. (See above)

Plans... Teaching, writing, cooking, cleaning, driving, listening, praying.

Loveliness... The light dancing across the water as the waves roll in. (See below)


Photo of the week:

The view from my window this past weekend.
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