(in)courage

...now browsing by category

 

Top 5 Friday: (in)courage

Friday, September 9th, 2011

TOP 5 FRIDAY is when we each list five of our favorite things, depending on the topic. Feel free to join in via the comments or by posting on your own blog and linking back here. Play along. It’s Friday.

. . . . .

I clearly remember when my friend Shannon introduced me to Holley and Stephanie in January of 2009.

Fast forward a bit… and the next thing you know I’m one of the monthly contributing writers for (in)courage. If you aren’t sure what (in)courage is, take 3 minutes and 54 seconds to learn.

And if you haven’t read my articles over there, and you have absolutely nothing more pressing to do right now and you are spent on Pinterest, here’s all my (in)courage pieces.

So today, for our Top 5 Friday, I want to tell you the Top 5 things I love about (in)courage.

#1. The writing that these women do.

I read (in)courage everyday because I love the writing. It’s varied and inspiring and just plain good. I’m a better writer because of this community of women.

#2. The books these women write.

Somehow, many of the (in)courage bloggers became writers who became authors. [See #1... it probably has something to do with that.] There’s Angie and Emily and Ann and Lysa and little ol’ me and Holley and the list could go on and on.

Publishers are seeing what (in)courage peeps already know- these women are really fine writers. They have brought the English language under submission and they rule over it for the glory of God.

#3. Beach weekends.

We have touted (in)courage as a beach house for your heart and twice now the magical fairies behind (in)courage have made that a reality for the writers. I was there last year [proof in these two posts], but they are gathered together right now and I’m missing it. [Whah whah.] But it is a wonderful weekend where computers are set aside and real life hugging and eating and crying happen. I look forward to 2012.

#4. Online friendships.

You know, there is really something to be said about the ability to build friendships through the computer. I think that is true of you and me, right? I mean, I write, you comment, I reply, and we are friends. And the same is true over at (in)courage [though you're like, my BEST internet friend, seriously]. Somehow (in)courage has built this space where women feel free to say what is on their heart and be open and honest and I love it.

#5. Real life friendships.

Man oh man has my life been changed by (in)courage. I think of the weekend in June that I spent with Emily and Nester. The part I didn’t tell you was we went out to dinner one night and over a burger I spilled my guts about a boy and my heart and heartbreak and lack of resolution and all that means. They listened, they suggested, they spoke into it. There are a small handful of people on the planet that know the details they know- because I love them and trust them both. Their family is very very dear to me- grandparents, kids, all of it. And (in)courage is the house where the friendship was built. And there are other girls and more stories than I have space for. But my real life has been shaped and changed by my (in)courage sisters. I’m super super grateful.

So why talk about (in)courage today? 

Because they made a HUGE announcement last night that I’m excited to share.

(in)courage is have a conference that EVERYONE can attend.

On April 27 & 28 we’re having (in)RL and it will be in every city that an (in)courage reader wants it to be. Crazy idea, huh? But it’s going to be awesome.

[What I'm also saying is, there's gonna be a BIG ol' party in Nashville.... Jessica and I are throwing down and we want all the Nash-gals to be there. So if that's you, you're invited.]

Read through the website to get a full understanding and you can play a version of Where’s Waldo and see how many times you can spot my face and that one purple shirt that I wore a lot in 2010.

Yay for (in)courage and yay for online friendships and double yay for (in)RL!!

. . . . .

YOUR TURN!

You don’t have to list 5 things [but you always are welcome to], but I’m wondering how your online friendships have blessed your life? 

And if you read (in)courage, why do you love it?

Posted in (in)courage, TOP 5 FRIDAY | 7 Responses »

Who talks about packing?

Saturday, August 27th, 2011

Me.

Apparently.

I never swore I’d be interesting.

But. I did try to be honest and interesting [mildly] in my most recent (in)courage post – The Challenge of Packing. I’d love if you would pop over there and tell me your thoughts. [Also- the last line is missing a word... I've told the important people. It shall be fixed.]

[You know I have the privilege of writing for (in)courage, right? Pretty much, it's a dream.]

Also. Because I love you, I’ll give you some insider deets. I did manage to pack too many hoodies, very little fleece [you are welcome, Amber Lehman], and a pair of shoes that don’t belong to me. [More on that next week.]

This is also funny: EVERY DAY I worry about repacking and making everything fit, especially since I’m coming home at Christmas and I want to bring gifts. Apparently I love to worry about things that matter NOT AT ALL right now.

I found one thing that I want to bring home that I absolutely can’t. Out Of The Blue. Gracious. I saw them perform yesterday and it was an absolute pleasure. So for your weekend, I present to you a song by the boys that will not fit in my suitcase, no matter how hard I try.

P.S- anyone who knows the Stoltzfus family- doesn’t the lead guy look like a missing Stoltz brother? I. KNOW. I thought so too.

P.P.S- totes sorry about missing Top 5 Friday. Why don’t you read back on some oldies and play along today?

P.P.P.S- Happy weekend. :)

Posted in (in)courage, Sounds good to me. | 4 Responses »

The weekend.

Monday, June 20th, 2011

Oh man.

What a great weekend.

You may remember last November when I spent a weekend with Emily and her sister, Nester. It was fun. Like whoa fun. Like soul-touching fun.

So a few months ago when Nester and I were chatting, the conversation went like this:

Annie: Hey Nester, remember how much fun we had?

Nester: Yes.

Annie: And you know how much I want to hang out with your boyz and meet your hubs?

Nester: uh… yeah….?

Annie: So what say I come visit for a weekend?

[Because dear internet, I invite myself over a lot. Consider yourself warned.]

insert Emily here: I’ll come too! And bring my kids!

Nester: Sure, if you wanna.

Annie & Emily [in unison]: WE WANNA!

Annie buys a flight to North Carolina.

And…. scene.

And now I’d like to thank (in)courage for building the kind of beach house that allows the writers to build the kind of friendships that makes us want to fly around the country to see each other.

[Orange County and Arkansas, I'm comin' for you in 2012.]

I’d also like to thank (in)courage for having skype meetings where it is possible for us to have side chat conversations… and now I’d like to apologize for having a side conversation with Nester and Emily during our skype meeting. We’re like the girls who pass notes during class.

Sorry Lisa-Jo and Holley.

Back to the weekend. To put it simply, we laughed and ate cake. Cake from CostCo. That means it was delicious.

The kids were a joy to be around – I think it helped that I brought fourteen fake mustaches. Nester’s youngest boy wore a grey grandpa mustache like he was BORN with it. Classy. For sure. Lots of card games, including Old Maid.

@thenester's instagram-ing skillz

You got that right. I’m an Old Maid shark. I’m an Old Maid who is afraid of sharks? Yes and yes.

Anyways. I loved the weekend and the only other place I wanted to be was with my daddy for Father’s Day. Big thanks to Nester and Emily for loving me well and making me feel at home every time we are together, whether homes are involved or not.

Today I hop on a plane again and fly from Charlotte to upstate New York where I’ll get to meet up with my Scottish pal Esther- who flew over from Edinburgh- and drive her around to business meetings for 4 days. She doesn’t exactly “know” how to drive on our side of the road and our side of the car, so I get to be her chauffeur.

I know. My life is weird. And hilarious. And bizarro.

But it’s mine. And I’m grateful.

. . . . . . . . . . .

How was your weekend?

Posted in (in)courage | 9 Responses »

Smile and Link, Wednesday.

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Kinda like “smile and wink” – get it?

Of course you do.

The main picture I have for today is something that my co-worker Jeff did without my permission. We like to call her Bald Annie.

If that doesn’t make your Wednesday better, I don’t know what will.

And I’ll tell you this. If I ever go bald right in the middle front of my head, I am totally growing my hair long like this. So prep yourself.

Here are some links that I think are awesome:

My dear pal Steve Moakler is a dreamer [and an incredible musician, by the way]. He’s brave and smart and he’s starting something new called Free The Birds. You can watch him explain it here and read more about it here.

I wanna be like Steve.

Also.

My sweet friend Stephanie Bryant did an interview with me about self-publishing. Check it out.

Speaking of, did you know I wrote a book and you can buy it on Amazon?

And if you have read it, will you review it on Amazon? That would be super cool of you.

A few weeks ago, I shared with you a seriously hard season I was pressing into and begging to get out of. I also wrote an article about it on (in)courage called Just Breathe. Thanks for giving me the courage to share more deeply about that time.

And finally, why would I ever make a face like that at Shelby? Sheesh. I was out of control at Easter lunch apparently.

. . . . . . . . . .

Well, I smiled and linked at you. Link back at me! [Still rocking that link/wink joke. Nice, huh?]

What’s cool out there on the internet that I should be reading or seeing or watching or hearing? [Also feel free to link to your own blog here if there is a post you think we would love.]

Posted in (in)courage, Smile, Wednesday | 20 Responses »

Oh. So. [fill-in-the-blank].

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

I want to say AWESOME. Oh. So. Awesome.

But my friend Harry from Scotland would not approve.

Not one little bit.

Harry is the coolest Scottish guy you don’t know. You want to know him, I’m sure. He was the cook at our summer camp in Scotland in 2007 and late one night he stormed into the counselors’ hangout room and, through gritted teeth, pretty much told us that we were WAY too loud.

[It was totally my fault. My voice is abnormally loud.]

And even though getting in trouble is my #1 fear, somehow we survived that and Harry and I have been friends ever since. Now he and his wife Anne are like family to me. I adore them.

Oh silly me. You already know Harry. He took me to the Glasgow Rangers game. Duh.

Anyways, he says I should erase AWESOME from my vocabulary.

I wrote about it over at (in)courage today- the importance of Saving Awesome.

. . . . . . .

In other news that is close to awesome but not awesome because I’m not supposed to use awesome:

I posted on (in)courage’s Bloom Book Club yesterday some encouraging words for small group leaders and let them know about the free leader’s guide that goes along with my book. And my gracious those leader’s guides have been FLYING off the AnnieBlogs’ shelves. [If, you know, inside the blog guts there were actually shelves. Pretend there are- I think that's cool.]

No kidding- HUNDREDS have been downloaded. WHOA to the max. I did NOT see that coming. I can’t wait to hear how small groups use the resources in the guide. It’s almost awesome.

. . . . . . .

Also- my amazing blogboss Lauren has made it possible for me to respond to comments INSIDE the comments section [you can do it too]. So you can look there to hear from me- should be better than my inbox backing up like Atlanta traffic and you thinking I hate you because I haven’t responded to you in days weeks. It’ll look like this:

It gives you a little face smash, but no biggie. It’s like a massage- it may hurt at first, but it’s going to feel great in the long run. Anyways, so look there to hear from me [and other bloggites that hang here] after you leave a comment.

. . . . . . .

And finally, in the as-close-to-awesome-as-you-can-get category, my friend Rock.

Yep, his name is Rock. [Nashville is that trendy, people. Deal with it.]

I’ve started a little photography series with Rock.

First up: Rockin’ Shades. Rock In Shades.

Second: Rockin’ Chair. Rock In Chair.

I don’t know how many more of these I can think up, but I’m seriously on a roll…. a Rock n’ Roll.

BOOM. You. Are. Welcome.

Leavin’ on a high note. See y’all tomorrow.

Posted in (in)courage, Scotland | 9 Responses »

Tuesday round up!

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Gather round, cowgirls [and you cowguys out there]. Let’s round up some Tuesday things.

Today at (in)courage, I’ve posted an EXCLUSIVE excerpt from my book. So ride on over there and check out Lead With Laced Up Tennies.

When I read books, if I like the book, I try to email the author and say so. For the same reasons, if I have great service at a restaurant, I tell the manager or if I love a concert, I email the band. It’s just how I roll. So last week I emailed Erin McKean who wrote The Secret Lives of Dresses and sent her a link to my blogpost about the book. She wrote me back. So we’re pretty much besties now.

[People complain to authors and waitresses and managers and teachers and parents all the time. I like to be on the team that tells then when something goes RIGHT.]

If you like country music [you are a cowgirl after all], then let me HIGHLY recommend Cheryl LuQuire’s new EP. Five songs for $4.95? That’s a deal, y’all. I’ve had this EP on repeat for a few days and I am loving it when the sun-roof is open and the windows are down. She’s good. Real good.

The US Men’s soccer team plays tonight in Nashville and I am GIDDY about it. As you recall, I heart soccer mucho. I’ve never seen Landon Donovan play in real life. And I’m going to wear my Glasgow Rangers scarf. There are six of us going and I’m probably going to make 5.5 of them crazy. [I make myself crazy half the time.] But I can not wait.

Matt Wertz is so cool. I want to think up awesome stuff like he does. People in this town are doing rad stuff and I hope some of that rubs off on me.

I mean, how cool are these shirts?!?

I want an orange one. Real bad. And if you think I’m ashamed to have my friend’s name plastered across my torso, you are Wrongy McWrongerson.

If you want one, Matt’s store has all the options and I’ll be darned if you won’t have to narrow down your choices because you’ll want more than one.

That’s all for today. Circle up your ponies. Sing a campfire song. And I’ll see y’all tomorrow.

[I literally have no clue where the cowgirl theme came from today, but gosh I like it.]

Yee-haw!

Posted in (in)courage | 9 Responses »
Tags: , , , , , ,

Mondays are for winners.

Monday, March 28th, 2011

I think if I keep repeating this to myself, it shall soon become true.

I had an absolutely awesome weekend. My sisters were in town, some friends came to town, we watched a lot of basketball and had about forty people over to the house for BBQ. We saw Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors in concert. We ate like we were on death row [meaning good, like REALLY good food that is super bad for you but we didn't care]. And we did a lot of this…

Which leaves me with absolutely nothing to complain about.

Except the weather. It. Is. Freezing. But because Mondays are for winners, I refuse to dwell on the winter temperatures. Because I’m a winner and winners don’t dwell on negative things but pardon me, if it is 40*F in March, doesn’t that equal -20*F in my soul?

I’m just saying. It’s science. Look it up.

So… my first two (in)courage Bloom Book Club posts are up! It makes me sweaty to think of being the center of attention over there for the whole week, but it seems to be going okay so far. [Ummm, the "center of attention" part isn't what I hate- who are we kidding? I actually love that. So maybe just running the show somewhere outside of this little corner of the internet sky is what makes me nervous.]

You can check out the posts here–

Meet Annie Downs [you already know me, but you can pretend like you don't]

An Interview With Annie [thanks for the questions!]

There will be a new post there every day this week, so be sure to check it out. I mean, if you wanna.

Also, my sweet friend Ashleigh blogged about her Marine coming home from deployment and I love them. Thought you might want to love them too.

Also, it makes me mad that Charlie Sheen stole “WINNING!” from the rest of the world because it is a word that I wish I could have used a few times throughout this post already. But he high-jacked it and I’m mad.

I think you need to see this picture as well.

Know what this means? It means I’m getting ready to start writing again… in a major way. Know what that means? It means I’m about to start writing my next book. Know what that means? You’re about to have to PRAY.ME.THROUGH.

I’m spending the next few weeks honing my craft, reading books that make me think and write and make my heart feel like it is going to explode out of my chest. I don’t know what God is doing, but I can’t quit thinking about being a better writer and the excitement of starting something new. It’s kinda fun… kinda scary… and kinda awesome.

Someday, when I haven’t already written 474 words, I’ll tell you why your prayers mean so much to me when I’m writing. But for now, I’ll just remind you how I finish writing a book.

I’ve done it before. I can do it again. And hopefully, I’ll finish this one on a Monday.

WINNING!

[Ugh, see? See what he did? It's not even fun anymore. Sigh... back to your Monday, my friends.]

How was your weekend? And also- how is the weather where you are? And also- are you mad that Charlie Sheen stole “WINNING!” from the rest of the English-speaking population?

Posted in (in)courage, AnnieWrites, I heart books. | 16 Responses »

Questions for me.

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

Sorry I have been bloggy absent. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by The Camera Incident of 2011 and the fact that in the last five days I have located TWO GRAY HAIRS on the crown of my head.

TWO.

Meaning that as of today, I am officially older than I feel, act, or admit.

[Kidding. I'm 30. I promise. And proud of it.]

I kept the first gray hair. It is in my change purse and I keep showing it off. Gross or not, it’s my life.

Now. Less about me, more about you.

I need your help.

Next week, I am the featured author on the (in)courage Bloom Book Club [squeal!yay!woot!]. And I’m just wondering if there are any questions you’d like me to answer…. like, you can interview me. I mean, I could just interview myself- I’ve done it before- but before I do that, I figured I’d check with you.

Anything you’d like to know about:

  • the book
  • the process of writing my book
  • blogging
  • Nashville
  • my dating life [answer: like the Lochness Monster- I believe it exists, but it is just hard to see]
  • Nail polish colors
  • future plans
  • past mistakes [answer: be gentle.]
  • what’s next for my writing
  • my middle name
  • my favorite things
  • anything else that has been burning in your soul

If you can’t come up with anything, I’ll be forced to interview myself and it always ends up getting way more volatile than I intend.

Help me? Help me help you? Help me help you help me?

Amen.

Posted in (in)courage, AnnieWrites | 18 Responses »

What I’m reading….

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Holley Gerth did an amazing post on (in)courage called Cyber Sabbath. Let me recommend you read it and let me recommend you live it. [I'm starting to take the Sabbath seriously. I think we all should.]

This post on Rabbit Room about authors having small houses in which they write makes me jealous and excited and makes me love my profession because we are a weird and beautiful lot. [And yes I want one.]

Emily Freeman has been doing a series on art and I’ve been devouring it. Today’s post, One Secret to Honest Art, is so good it makes me a little sick [in the good way].

Today is the first birthday of my friend Jenny’s blog- Dinner A Love Story. I read it every day.

Seth Godin released a free e-book today called SXSW Pokes. Download it and read it. [I mean, I'm not the boss of you, I'm just saying I think you'll enjoy the stories.]

Jon Acuff, of Stuff Christians Like fame, has started a new blog and I love it.

Offline, I’m currently reading the Bible and my March Real Simple magazine.

What are you reading?

Posted in (in)courage, I heart books. | 12 Responses »
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

A Monday List.

Monday, February 28th, 2011

1. Thank you for all your prayers on Saturday. It was a good day. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t my best showing. It was a good reminder that God’s strength is made perfect in my weakness. [It feels stupid to say that; I know it is true, but it feels like a cop-out way of saying "I failed."] It just could have gone better- my part, that is.

To say it politely- I’m not perfect. And I got a four star reminder of that.

BUT. It was great to see my friends and it was a wonderful event. I was super glad to be there.

[Big sigh. Moving on.]

2. I drove back to Nashville on Sunday night and for once, I decided that I would make myself listen to FULL albums, no skipping, no This American Life, just albums start to finish. And I made myself sing every song. [I love singing. So this was the easier of the two requirements.]

Here’s what I listened to:

I don’t know that this list matters to you at all. But here it is. It felt like a real accomplishment to listen to five straight albums. Very un-Annie. [I'm a shuffler. A major shuffler.]

3. My (in)courage friend, Heather, is raising money for her daughter. Some of our (in)courage sisters got together and donated a few items. The (in)courage email said “if you have a craft or a book you’d like to donate…” and I was looking to my right and to my left and then suddenly I was like, “Oh, you mean ME? Oh yeah! I have a book.” It my pleasure to donate a few books to help– so check out Heather’s Etsy site and buy some stuff, yo.

4. Speaking of books, my friend Seth Godin has a new book called Poke the Box releasing this week and the KINDLE VERSION OF POKE THE BOX COSTS ONLY ONE AMERICAN DOLLAR [until the end of TODAY]! $1.00. Seriously. So buy that puppy- it will change how you do business. I promise. [You may know the girl he talks about on page 1. I'm just saying. I died- in the good way.]

5. Also- this happened on the drive yesterday. Hair mustaches are all the rage in 2011.

[Do you love my serious face or what? I know. I'm a class act. Fully deserving of being in Seth Godin's book. Or. Possibly. This picture may cause him to rewrite the first two pages of the book, because I'm a nut job.]

6. Speaking of people who shouldn’t associate with yahoos like me, my (in)courage friend Ann Voskamp hit the NYT Best Sellers list last week with her AH-MAZE-ING book One Thousand Gifts. You need to read this book.

7. I miss Scotland.

Posted in (in)courage, I heart books., Sounds good to me. | 8 Responses »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »