Reflecting On the A to Z Challenge

A to Z Challenge:  Reflections:  

A to Z Reflections

The A to Z Challenge really started for me back a few month in preparation for April. I began tracking the A to Z challenge website and gaining tips and tricks for how to prepare, as well as how to get and give the most in the challenge.  And I did learn oodles from that daily check in.  I practiced daily what I was learning, like visiting blogs of those on the list and prewriting some of the A to Z entries.  Both of these were huge helps.  In fact, if I participate next year, and right now I think I will, I’ll start even earlier and try to not only get most prewritten but also pre-posted, which I did not do until we got very close to the kick-off.  

Starting off in April wasn’t too tough.  I was able to get a week’s worth of pre-posts ready to go, and so the daily 5 new blog visits and revisiting those who became blogging friends or those blogs that really intrigued me or those that were kind enough to stop by my blog was not initially too difficult.  However, as I began to fall behind on the rest of life, running to catch up, and as I didn’t have a week in advance ready anymore, if even a day, and as the revisits mounted up, well the CHALLENGE of the event began to challenge me.  

I imagine I am not much different than others in this regard.  At that point I not only had to catch up some days with life outside of the blogosphere, I started to feel like I had to catch up with life in blogland as well, because I am fanatical about keeping my commitments, and I made a commitment to visit as well as write my own entry.  So by golly, I was going to do it!

In spite of the stress in the second half, what a joy it has been connecting with the  like-minded, coming to understand the not-so-like-minded, visiting places and people from around the world, being inspired by the young, the old, and the simply inspiring, and so much more that many of us would never have been exposed to.  It has been a truly growing experience.  Not only writing everyday in this way, but also connecting in a way that is, well, out of this world in more ways than one, I have found myself very deeply contemplative on some points and prayerful for new people.  The fun, the inspiration, the challenge, have all been a healthy stretch.  

I am very grateful that God laid it on Arlee’s heart to get this off the ground those few years back.  It is incredible how many people’s lives around the world A to Z has touched and how it has connected so many of us in such a good way.  Recently I was listening to a speaker who was addressing the current state of our information age that we know so many things that in reality are trivial and unnecessary to our daily lives, and yet we don’t know what is happening in our neighbors lives.  True and sad.  Yet this challenge brought lives together in an explosion of discovery.  Perhaps some of it was trivial and unnecessary, but I have to say I do feel like it did add to the quality of my life, my personal development, and my relationships across the spectrum of this world and the cyber-world.  Thank you Arlee and thank you to all of you who have connected with me through this A-Z adventure.  

A to Z Challenge Reflections

Insecure Writer's Support Group: Who Am I?

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

It has been such a busy month trying to keep up with the A to Z Challenge.  Now I have whirling around in my head that I want to make the next hurdle and post on the reflections link.  And will I make it?

I am not a novelist, but I love to write.  I primarily like to share things that I have learned or that I believe the Lord is teaching me that someone else might benefit from.  I am a counselor, a home school teacher, a mom, a wife, not necessarily in that order.  I have been a newsletter editor, a speech editor, a program editor, among my various editorial experience.  But who am I to think I can even be part of an "Insecure Writer's Support Group?"

It has been a real high being part of the A to Z challenge and rubbing words with all of you real writers.  Who am I?  I write my thoughts down in a blog.  I write devotionals for our home school newsletter.  I write in my journal.  I think about writing more extensively, but barely have time to keep up with the pittance I am already executing.  A to Z was a real CHALLENGE for me to fit in while keeping up with all the rest of my responsibilities.  I am no writer.  Am I?

Who am I?  I am not any one of any notoriety and probably never will be.  I am a pretty joyful, Christian wife and mom.  I am happy to be serving my family, the church, and the community in the capacity that I do.  But is the Lord really calling me to write?  Do I have something to say that needs to be heard?  Who am I?  

So while I came away from the A-Z Challenge really excited for all that I learned and everyone I met and what I was able to accomplish, I also came away with that sense of "what am I doing here?"  Who am I?

A to Z Challenge: E is for Enow, Energy Solutions

A to Z Challenge:  E is for eNow.

eNow

eNow is a company putting technology to work to provide energy saving solutions for the trucking industry.  This company has solar energy solutions that reduce the need for truckers to idle their vehicles to keep cold perishable goods,  and to power other systems within the truck, which ultimately saves fuel and protects the environment.  The clean renewable energy reduces operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.  

eNow was one of the exhibitors at the Annual meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition put on by the Technology and Maintenance council in Nashville, TN in March. Here is a company putting their entrepreneurial skills to work to create real, practical and economically smart solutions for caring for the environment.  These are the kind of small business ventures that we need to get the word out about. 

A to Z Challenge

A to Z Challenge: D is for Days of Praise

A to Z Challenge:  D is for Days of Praise, 

Days of Praise

I like sharing resources, so today I would like to let you know about “Days of Praise,” a daily Christian devotional published by Institute for Creation Research (ICR).  I have used it for years and have found it to be one of the most inspirational daily devotionals I have come across.  It is available online or in quarterly booklet free from ICR.  May the joy of the Lord be your strength.

A to Z Challenge

A to Z Challenge: C is for Carson, Brave Ben Carson.

A to Z Challenge: C is for Carson, Brave Ben Carson.

Ben Carson

I am one of those who is excited about Ben Carson and the solutions he is offering for our country's ills.  I think Dr. Ben Carson is a brave man of honor and intelligence.  He has been willing to put himself out there to express his views on solutions to some of our country’s woes.  He is inspiring and seeks to build up rather than tear down.  What a breath of fresh air.

When asked if he would run for president, he said he would only run if God clearly guided him to it.  What a great answer!  He isn’t out for power or himself.  He is a genuine good and godly man.  

Now that he has been on the scene discussing the issues and ruffling feathers, the attackers have begun pecking at him.  Being the gentleman he is, he has continued to keep his focus on the issues and not get pulled into the mud.

There is talk about Ben Carson running for president of the United States.  Apparently it isn’t a new idea since someone has had a facebook page “Ben Carson for President” which has been up for several years.  I know I liked him from the first time I saw the movie, “Gifted-Hands” about his life.  Beyond the inspirational value of a life well lived, he is definitely a man with some ideas worth considering.  He has my vote right now if he runs for president, and I hope he does run.

Go Ben Carson!!!

Ben Carson:  The Faith of a Surgeon 

Who is Ben Carson  

 Carson Scholarship Fund 

Carson’s speech to the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast  

A to Z Challenge

A to Z Challenge: B is for Balancing The Budget

A to Z Challenge:  B is Balancing the Budget

Image Source

The United States is headed in the direction of other countries that have allowed their appetites to exceed their funds.  What is the purpose of government?  Is it to give us all we want?  Is it to take care of us from cradle to grave?  Well, unfortunately and sadly many Americans have come to believe and expect that government is there to give them whatever they need or want.

This thinking is not good for the country, for those who think this way, or for those left footing the bill.  It is time to educate our people in economics and the Constitution.  It is time to inspire our people to pursue their own happiness and not to expect the government to provide it.  It is time to bring our countryman together to appreciate one another and the abundant prosperity we can create if we seek to be the best we can be and to bring out the best in each other.

We have got to bring our expenses as a nation under control in the same way we must control our personal finances.  Let’s get together and support a balanced budget.  If you would like to find out more or are willing to get involved, then check out these websites:

The Path to Balance the Budget Petition

Heritage Action for America 

National Priorities Project 

Americans for a Balanced Budget Amendment

A to Z Challenge

A to Z Challenge: A is for Anniversary

A to Z Challenge:  A is for April Anniversary.  

My 27th wedding anniversary is this month, April 5th.  27 years I have been married to an amazing, affectionate, boyish man who has done all he can to captivate and charm me, winning my devoted delight.  Engaging and endearing, my friendly, good-natured, handsome husband, is irresistibly jocund, kind-hearted to a fault, lovable and loving.  Marvelously magnanimous and noteworthy in his originality, this personable, quick-witted, resourceful sweetheart is my treasured soulmate.  An understanding man of high virtue, he will always be a whimsical youth to me, a bit zany but always adorable.  My beloved, a chivalrous, demonstrative, eccentric who is frisky and gracious all rolled into one. He is always an honoring, impressive, and jovial leader, missional yet naturally obliging and pleasant with his rare style.  Thoughtful in all he does, Colin is an uncommon visionary who is guided by warmth and wisdom and a zealous love for his God and his wife.  I am blessed. 

A to Z
Thank you, Lee.  We all owe you a debt of gratitude.

Being Delivered from the Negatives of Critical

The Five Minute Friday Word for this week is REMEMBER.

Artist: Steve Hanks

One of the things that is a strength for me is also a weakness.  I see things that need fixing.  I am a fixer.  Doesn’t that sound nicer than I am critical, but alas, that is part of who I am.  I tend to see what is out of place, what needs repair, what is still left to be done.  

Until a few years ago, I saw this as only a negative.  I remember hating this about myself and always wanting to change.  Then one day I had a conversation with a friend who suffered from the same ailment.  She pointed out how we need people who are able to see what needs to be fixed.  It is only bad if you don’t see it in yourself and temper it with appreciation.  It, like most traits, just needs to be managed in order to be a blessing rather than a curse.  Well that was much more pleasant.

Since then I have learned more about gifts of the spirit and how being able to contribute constructive criticism is often called for.  My children have mentioned on more than one occasion that they appreciate constructive criticism because it helps them improve and they truly dislike false praise given just to make them feel good.  Further confirmation that this trait is not totally to be despised.

However, I also have realized that my critical nature has been a stumbling block to me, and it is good to keep that in perspective as well.  The Lord has been teaching me about love of late.  It is my word for the year.  I am already seeing how very much I have to learn about love.  It is a humbling journey to see how much criticism has kept me from loving or how the lack of love has cultivated a critical cynicism.  I thank God for continually humbling me, because it is in that humbling that He is showing me where I need to repent and how I can become more like Christ.  

STOP.  5 minutes up.

It never ceases to amaze me how I think I know something, and God clarifies how little I really know.  I am also grateful for that.  It has given me perspective along my life journey.  I have many humble, tearful, joyful rides with the Lord these days.  It is life-changing.  It is life-enhancing.  It’s liberating.  The tears shed, are tears of joy as the Holy Spirit not only shows me the error and sin that have been my stumbling blocks, but concurrently delivers me from them.  What a gracious loving God.  As He sets free, everything else becomes richer.  It’s like the smoker who gets a new appreciation for food once she quits because the taste or rather her ability to experience the taste is intensified.  

Ah the renewing power of the Holy Spirit brings love to life and leaves the fixing to Him.

But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.  Deuteronomy 4:29

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::

Remember…

Also linking up with:

Blog Blitz Linkup - A Great Idea!

Cruising Altitude 2.0

D.L. Hammond at Cruising Altitude 2.0  has started a blog linkup he has called Blog Blitz.

Here is what D.L is suggesting, 

“What would it be like if the support, encouraging nature, and community spirit of the blogosphere were ever focused on a single blogger?”  

His idea is to get a list of bloggers together to ‘blitz’ a selected, deserving blog on a specific date so that the blogger will get a large number of commenters at one time and feel the love of the blogosphere community in a special way.  I couldn’t help think, “what a great idea!”  Wanna know more?  Hop on over to and check out the rest of the story on Blog Blitz.

So go on over to Cruising Altitude 2.0 and linkup.  It will be fun to be a part of a blessing team blitzing a deserving blogger.  Who knows, you just might get your chance at being blitzed yourself at some point.

   

Thanks D.L. for coming up with a super linkup.