I was reading a book at Barnes n Noble the other day…(my favorite store in the whole world). It was called Wild Succulent Women by SARK. Sark is an eccentric, fabulous author who is creative and SO inspiring. Her writing style frees my creativity more than anything else. (planetsark.com)

She says that “human beings are nothing but a story with skin around it.” You are your own story! I love this! It’s like we have no choice but to tell our story, because we’re living it.

She incorporates all sorts of wonderful quotes and things to get you writing.

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough, or a book long enough to suit me.”

-CS Lewis

I couldn’t agree more.

So I’m in Florida right now with my good friend Ashley. It’s awesome because we’ve had time to really relax, sleep in, celebrate my 22^nd birthday, and I’ve gotten to write a lot. I went back and read a lot of my journal from this past year (I try to fill a whole one up between each of my birthdays). I realized how many of my prayers have been answered, especially the one about God directing my path and directing me to the right people. I prayed a lot about my desire to be a writer, but not knowing if that’s right for our young family right now. I prayed about guidance, and truly this past year God has guided me so perfectly and so directly.

- I’ve been able to share my vision to write books and start a ministry for kids coming from a family with divorced parents.

- I’ve shared my vision to write a book for women who want to find their identity in Christ rather than in what they look like with so many women and girls who struggle with self image, and I cant wait to share my story and God’s healing with everyone I can.

This vision-sharing and dreaming with others about our futures has spurred me to actually sit my butt down and WRITE! I have outlines, sermons, and paragraphs in process. I’m so excited to share them with the world. I’m focusing on the divorce ministry right now and I will hopefully study it this semester for my senior project. (the spiritual aspect of Christian marriage/divorce, etc.) I’ll share what God is doing in my life through these writings, and maybe I’ll post small sections to get your feedback! I really appreciate your comments….and I need positive and negative feedback.

-“if you limit your choices to only what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise.”

I want to write an autobiography someday, bur first I have to make my life auto-biography worthy…

SARK inspired me to write some acrostic poems in the margins while I was brainstorming the other day...they’re really fun! You just write a word vertically, and then fill in a describing word horizontally for each letter. Some connect to the next word, and some stand alone. You can totally just go crazy. You can start with words, names, places, anything!

Detrimental
Reckless
Idiotic
Noisy
Kinky
Interesting, &
Never
Great

Kind.
Ideal.
Never
Dry.
Entertaining
Races.
German.
Allows
Repeats.
Terribly
Euphoric
Naptime!

Colorful
Racy
Entertaining
Abandon
Totally
Innovative
Vicarious
Ingenious
Trecherous
Yonkers!

Wonderful!
Outstanding!
What?!!?!

Jewish
Emphatic.
Sinner-lover.
Undercover
Savior.

Assorted
International
Routes
Pressure
Olivia is sitting in one right now…free wireless yay!
Rarely
Timely

I dare you to write your own acrostic poem and post it!

Joy and Pain

Yesterday, I was talking to a wonderful woman that I have done some babysitting for. A few months ago, we talked about how she was starting depression medicine because the chemical imbalance in her head was so bad. She had finally come to terms with being a Christian, believing in God's healing, but still needing this medicine to help when someone in her church small group made a comment about Christians not having faith if they take anti-depressants. Being extremely sensitive to the topic, she immediately withdrew and was unable to confide in these friends.



I asked her yesterday how the medicine was helping and her response was hopeful! She said it has been working wonderfully and she hasn't had any deep bouts of depression, in fact not many mild ones at all. However, she was a little discouraged because she is an extremely joyful person most of the time, and the medicine seemed to dull this joy. It made me really sad to hear, because feeling joyful is such an amazing gift of God, and she truly was one of the most joyful people I've ever met! She still seemed to have joy, but to hear her say that she can't feel it as vividly was just awful.

It made me realize that I should cherish my moments and days of joy. They are so many...and I fail to recognize the blessing it is to have such profound happiness and joy. Some days and nights I have a 'low,' but now I know what it feels like to have both and I need to cherish them both.

It's like the seasons. It sucks right now to live in a freezing cold winter wonderland...(probably 10 inches today in Chicago) but when the spring, summer, and fall come...we can LOVE and enjoy the variety.

I'm definitely not saying that some people don't need medicine to help regulate their brain chemicals, but if you don't need it, you should be thankful and blessed. Even and especially when you have a day in the valley...

on that day you can pray this prayer from psalm 6:
7"My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes."

8"Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping"

9"The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
the Lord accepts my prayer"
or from Psalm 5

"Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, My King and My God for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation..."But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple."

God is so good...and will bring us joy!