August, 2009

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Like a spaceship, only quieter. And less smoke.

Monday, August 10th, 2009

It’s LAUNCH DAY over at (in)courage!

I cannot WAIT for y’all to read the beautiful posts that are already up. Sheesh. I’m running with some writing big dawgs, that is for sure.

So hop on over to http://www.incourage.me/. And what I find particularly helpful is that there is a place to subscribe to their posts, so you don’t forget. [Especially because, oh I don't know, your blogista here might possibly have a post going up tomorrow.]

Today, I personally have to deal with a lot of things that are full. And some that are empty.

My inbox is full. Time to reply to some of the sweetest blog comments ever. And my friends. And the spam [and by "reply", I mean hitting delete with a scowl on my face because spam? It is of the devil].

My YouBlog queue is full. So it’s time for me to do some post writing. Mainly about you. [As always, you can sign up by emailing me. The queue will only be full for about 9 more minutes. Then empty, and ready for your bloggy self to jump in there.]

My purse is full of receipts. My personal method of finance is, “just don’t look and it will take care of itself”, which, you may already know, is a ridiculously stupid plan. So it’s time to balance ye old checkbook.

The word document that should be full of words is, alas, empty. I’m still learning how to do this freelance writer life thingy, and it comes with its fair share of challenges. Like, oh, maybe, no boss to boss me? And my personal lack of discipline in other areas is spilling over into my writing.

[That's a sentence that will make a mama proud.]

But I’m working on it. Seriously. I am.

We aren’t even going to deal with the parts of my heart that feel full and empty. I only let you see my guts once a week or so, and I still haven’t recovered from Friday’s guts post.

Also empty (praise the Lord!): my laundry basket, the dishwasher, the trash cans, and my DVR. It was a productive Sunday.

So today, I’m continuing the Sunday trend and taking the things that are full and emptying them. I’m also taking that which is empty and *hopefully* filling it.

And probably eating a burrito for dinner.

That’s my Monday.

Amen.

Posted in (in)courage | 4 Responses »
Tags: (in)courage, YouBlog

Romans 5:5

Friday, August 7th, 2009

I sat on my friends’ back porch last Monday night. And I cried. [What's new. These people put up with my tears all the time.]

We were talking about my writing life and where that was taking me with God. See, here’s the thing. I love the Lord. A lot. And in the last few months, He’s become more than just best friend, husband, provider, confidant. He’s also become my business partner.

Do you get what I’m saying? This whole freelance writer/trust God to provide financially thang has thrown our relationship into an entirely new arena where we “work” together. And I don’t know how to do this.

So it got weird. I started focusing so much of my prayer life on business stuff and not personal stuff that it started to feel like a work relationship.

I sat on their porch, tears pouring down my cheeks saying, “It just doesn’t feel like He KNOWS me anymore. And it’s all business. God’s Word says He pursues us. And I’m not experiencing that right now.”

Possibly, the next direct quote *may* have been “Does God love me anymore?“. [But that sounds really heretical and un-Christian, so let's pretend I didn't question His love for me. Okay? Okay.]

I walked out of their house in pieces, after finally saying out loud the question that I was afraid to admit. But sometimes, I’ve come to see, God reveals a lie I’m hearing and believing and let’s me sit in the sadness for a bit. Kinda leaves my life in shambles and allows me to feel like I have completely lost my way.

Then He bursts onto the scene with truth. Like Superman.

While at SheSpeaks, the (in)courage girls got together and received a few little gifts- one of them being a super cute posy pin by Lindsey. We all pinned them onto our shirts and looked around. Amazingly, each posy pin matched the oufit perfectly. Like, PERFECTLY. So we laughed about it. And then I looked down at mine.

My jaw dropped. I looked over to Nester and said, “Is this what your posy says?” Nope. It didn’t.

Just mine.

Is. That. Not. Amazing?!?

There’s deeper issue in me regarding this, and trust me- I dealt with some serious conviction about remembering that God’s love isn’t dependent on my feelings. I closed my eyes later that day and prayed, thanking God for His unfailing love, asking forgiveness for my faithlessness, and prayed that He would increase my faith.

May He increase your faith today, too. And may you hear, as I heard again last weekend, that you are SO LOVED.

Romans 5:5

Posted in Ze Bloggy Goodness | 36 Responses »

VictoriaBlogs

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

Here’s another installment of YouBlog- where I introduce you to one of your fellow blogmies. Remember the goal is to get to know each other! Many of you readers/commenters were born to be friends- I just know it. And I’m out to prove it!

Today I want to introduce you to Victoria.

Seriously. What a name. So fancy and beautiful. I actually got to meet her last weekend and she was super sweet. I mean, one meeting doesn’t make people b-fries, and I don’t know her super well, but what I do know of her is quite fancy and wonderful. Victoria blogs over at Let The Son Shine and her writing is absolutely lovely and inspiring.

Here we are last weekend. We were totally born to be friends. Look! I’m wearing a super cute posy pin. More on that particular accessory tomorrow.

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I particularly enjoy when Victoria writes poetry. This post called REJOICE really stands out to me. A friend asked me recently if I ever write poetry. My answer is that I do sometimes for fun, but I’m not near refined enough to be a poet. Victoria, on the other hand, is for certain a poet. It’s absolutely lovely.

So hop on over to her place and say hi- tell her AnnieBlogs sends her sincerest regards. [I mean, that sounds fancy, right?]

Do you wanna be featured one week as the YouBlog-ger? Just email me at annieblogs [at] gmail [dot] com and put “YouBlog” in the subject line. Or leave a comment. I don’t know… just get in touch with me.

Posted in YouBlog | 4 Responses »

It’s time you heard about (in)courage!

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

I am TERRIBLE at keeping secrets. Especially ones that are highly awesome. So it has about made. me. lose. it. to keep this from you. But no more…. [somewhere, drums are rolling] ……

I’m so excited about being part of new project called (in)courage! You’ll be hearing more about it soon and it officially launches August 10th at www.incourage.me! So though patience isn’t my greatest strength, I’m excited that you only have to wait until next Monday to see the whole thing explode before your eyes. Explode in the party kind of way, not in the bomb kind of way. You know the difference.

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Pretty much, here’s what (in)courage is, in a nut shell. (in)courage is part of the DaySpring company (the Christian branch of Hallmark). But it’s WAY more than that. (in)courage is a place for women of all ages to congregate and communicate. You’ll be encouraged [or (in)couraged if you so desire] and inspired; you can be real, you can be funny or sweet or hurt or whatever. It’s a place where you can be you. And I can be… I? Me? Moi? Whatevs.

(in)courage is a vacation home… for your heart.

A bunch of my favorite bloggy-girls are a part of (in)courage as well, either to write (like me!), or to make products that are GORGEOUS and particularly made for you. [In fact, head back here Friday to see how God used a (in)courage product to speak to my heart.] So there are about 20 of us. And that’s part of the reason I LOVED SheSpeaks- about eight of us (in)courage girls got to hang out (including Jen, who probably sent some of you here- welcome!). And it was SO. FUN.

So now I’m equally excited to be a part of this because I get to work with a bunch of my friends. [If you just can't resist knowing who all is involved, I'll give you a sneak peek here- you'll definitely see some familiar faces. Besides mine. Obviously.]

Right now I’d like to introduce you to one of my friends. Jessica blogs at The Mom Creative. I’m excited to send you her way- please pay her a visit so she can tell you a little more about (in)courage and introduce you to another one of the lovely ladies on the team…

And join us next Monday. Trust me, it’s gonna rule.

Are you (in)?

Posted in (in)courage | 17 Responses »

Dear Nashville,

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

Happy anniversary. One year. What am I supposed to get you for a one year anniversary? Paper? Silver? How about just a blog post? Sounds good to me.

Today I went back and watched the first video I made here and I cried all over again. It still feels. Know what I mean? There’s a deep place in me that will never forget THAT feeling. At the end when I said, “I hope I survive this”, in that moment, I wasn’t sure I would. I was so scared of you, Nash. And I missed Marietta all the time. In fact, here’s what I wrote two days later:

“I’m heartbroken and I miss my life at home so badly it physically hurts. But somehow, God will be enough for me. I don’t know what that will look like or feel like. I have no idea how. I truly don’t. But His promises are sure, even when my heart is so sad and my keyboard soaked.”

I’m sorry, Nashville. I didn’t trust. I didn’t trust that you were the best thing for me. But let’s be honest. We had just met. That’s a lot to ask of a girl who completely lacks bravery and courage. And Marietta had loved me well for 28 years. That’s a serious commitment.

Yet somehow, in one year, Nash, you have stolen my heart. For realz. Your skyline. Your people. Your coffee shops. I’m a better me now that I’m with you. You hear that? The city that used to be the source of my insecurities is now the home of my confidence. The place that used to hurt to arrive in now hurts to leave. You, Nashville, are my Ebenezer stone- my point of faith I can come back to as a reminder of God’s help in my life.

Thank you, Nashville. The people that live here have changed me forever. The skyline that comes in to my view with I’m only 10 minutes from home brings a smile to my face. I’ve become a legit writer here, Nash. You’ve been a part of my dreams coming true. And I’ll never forget it.

Nashville, I have no clue what our future holds, if we are short-term or long-term. I just know that you were right for me for now. I’m so happy here.

But one quick thing, Nashville. Sorry to tell you this- it’s not about you. Actually, this hasn’t been about me either. This has, and will always be, a story God is telling about Himself. How He loves. How He leads. How He pursues. How He provides. How His dreams for me are far greater than any I can conjure up myself. He is faithful and trustworthy and good. All the time.

Trust me, Nash. I wish it was about me, too. But I guess, if I was really honest, I’m glad we’re just playing the supporting roles. Because when this show is over, there is only One who deserves the standing ovation. And it ain’t us.

Happy ANNIE-versary, Nashville. I can’t thank you enough for being in this story with me.

psalm 107

Posted in Nash-livin' | 36 Responses »
Tags: God's love, Nashville

SheSpeaks: Ze Recap 09

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Oh man there is such. pressure. to recap well. Let me tell you this first: SheSpeaks is a Christian womens conference put on by Proverbs 31 for writers, speakers, bloggers, and women’s ministry workers. So that’s where I was.

The other pressure is to link to all my friends and make sure that you get to see their blogs cause they are cute and fun and wonderful ladies.

The pressure. It is stressing me out.

So I’m going to do the best job I can recapping and not link up to anyone yet- as I see great recap blogs, with super sassy pictures of me that are very informative, I’ll send you there. Obviously.

In honor of my dear friend [I wish] Julie Andrews, I’m going to tell you “a few of my favorite things”:

1. Raindrops on roses.

2. Whiskers on kittens.

Ok. I kid. But for realz. Here’s why SheSpeaks ruled this year:

1. My friends. Sophie and Melanie kept me in STITCHES the entire weekend. Having Shannon on the East Coast was a serious thrill. Making new friends and catching up with old bloggy-buddies was awesome. I am the biggest fan of communal living and retreat like situations. So having all these friends in the same hotel for a weekend was bliss for me. [I'm a simple gal. It doesn't take much to please me.]

2. Meeting blog readers.I totally love putting faces with your names. We’re doing that with YouBlogs, but it’s a whole different thing to get to hug. I met Beth, a reader and one of the people who prayed for me while I wrote my book. Also Mary, Sarah, Victoria. It was just awesome. Because it’s a conference full of bloggers, it’s not weird to meet people who read your blog- bloggers read blogs. But none the less. I love you guys so much, you blogmies, so to see you live, and hug your neck, just makes me happy in my soul.

3. Seeing and talking with Lysa TerKeurst. She’s a hero of mine- in ministry, in writing, in blogging, in life. She invests in my life over and over again and it is changing who I am. In a good way.

4. Learning some amazing writing stuff. With book #1 totally done-ski (still waiting on a publisher- pray it up!) and book #2 (a children’s picture book) with my agent, it’s time to get rolling on #3. Mary DeMuth, whom I already LOVED, taught a class on writing a proposal that totally re-energized me for book #3. There were a few classes that I just adored and I’m excited to implement what I learned into my writing.

And there is more. So much more. But forgive me as I take a few days to download the information into my mind. And my heart. Cause God’s doing somethin’ in there. And it’s good.

So, as the week goes on, I will continue to sit on my couch, watch Shark Week, and tell you new things I know thanks to SheSpeaks. Deal?

Oh, before I go…. something really cool called (in)courage is launching this week. I’m going to tell you more about it Wednesday, but you can read as some of my friends talk about it today!

Sarah Mae

The Nester

Posted in Ze Bloggy Goodness | 15 Responses »
Tags: (in)courage, BigMama, BooMama, SheSpeaks

I’m calling a quick family meeting.

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

And you’re invited. Cause we’re just one big happy up in here.

A couple of items of business we need to address:

1. I don’t know if we’ve ever discussed this, but there are two little boxes to the left of the header (that’s the top pretty part of the blog that says “AnnieBlogs”) – click the one shaped like an envelope and you’ll get my blog posts emailed to you. Click the orange one and you’ll be subscribed to this blog.

2. Which, if you aren’t using Google Reader (or another feed reader) and you read more than 10 blogs- you need to. It was save you So. Much. Time.

3. If you haven’t SIGNED UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER, do it this weekend. The inaugural edition will be hitting inboxes next week. [I know I said before July 31st, but then I decided to do something a bit fancy and professional, so that added to the time. Sorry bout it.]

4. There’s a bit of confusion, so let me clear it up. To be featured as a YouBlogger, there are only 2 requirements:

You read my blog.
You have a blog.

That’s it. So just let me know. I’d love to show you off to our little corner of the internet sky.

5. I’m having a blast at SheSpeaks. More detailed thoughts to come.

6. Here’s a REALLY COOL POST about the opening of the preschool we worked on when I went to Cape Town with the Mocha Club.

7. I hope I haven’t forgotten anything. That’s going to make me really mad.

8. Happy Saturday.

Posted in Ze Bloggy Goodness | 14 Responses »