Who

Words are only painted fire; a look is the fire itself.
Mark Twain

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

I couldn't resist.  December 1st, today and in so many ways, I'm glad November is behind me. I've been away from here for a while because I participated in NaNoWriMo. And I 'won'!  The experience is one I'm so grateful for and one which will take me who knows how long to process.  

Going in, I almost thought of it all as a joke- for me.  How would I write a novel, a brand new novel with all else in my daily life? But God, in His amazing way, found fit to bring to me an idea, to give me time off from my school, to come every day to where I wrote, and to teach me of Him, further and deeper.  It was all a gift. Whether anything happens ever with my story, I know that it was an avenue He used to strengthen my relationship with Him.

And in the midst of that beautiful gift, my home life went haywire. Thankfully, not due to all my time writing. But circumstances, hidden, God chose to reveal last month and here, there are not words to describe the feelings behind the happenings. And I don't understand the timing anymore than I understand the circumstance,but I know that as I wrote about a girl seeking Jesus, Jesus sought me.  

And so I don't know what the future holds. But I know Who holds my future. 

wonderland

November Looming

I'm wondering what November's going to look like for me.

I still feel conflicted on the subject of blogging every day.  In a certain sense I feel a little free when I let a day go by without coming here.  But then I grow inexplicably worried that if I don't write here every day something will happen.  What, I don't know.

I did have a clarifying realization recently: blogging is something I've really been able to stick with, without growing bored.  Yes, I've experienced days of burn out or frustration and even writer's block but not boredom.

This is a big deal because my interest does wane easily.  Case in point, the paper mache flowers I was so gung ho on making Thursday night, which have been laying unfinished and untouched ever since.  I'll get back around to it someday.  Maybe.  The point is, that often I start out excited about a project or an undertaking and I enter in full force only to lose my desire half-way through.  Not so with blogging.  So I wonder, does this mean I should be doing it? Or is 'should' not even an appropriate word? And then I come across things like this:

and it resonates.

  But too, I need to look at Ann Voskamp's Blogger's Prayer, often.

And now November is here.  Which means what? It means that with Thanksgiving, two of the children have birthdays, I start a new class tomorrow....and I'm signed up for NaNoWriMo.

K.D. Storm describes it as, "NaNoWriMo is where somewhat sane people come together in November to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. There is no spell check, editing, or any other form of polishing. It is writing at its purest form. The whole idea is to sit in the chair and write until your heart is content (or you succumb to madness). "

A whole new exciting problem project!

 I was pretty positive that I'd at least give it a shot this year.  Until I saw the math. 50,000 words in one month equals close to 1700 words per day.  Per day.  With school papers and blogging?  And kids and life?  And housework and homeschooling and husband care?  Hmmm.

But, I gotta give it a go.  There's a good chance that by November 2nd, I'll have come to my senses.  Then I'll just try again next year. I'm pretty sure there's no penalty for repeated attempts.

And so, it will be interesting to see what November brings.