Life has been a whirlwind in recent months and I don’t see the winds dying down for awhile. So I do what I do…make lists.
I hope some of these things I’m loving right now will resonate with you and perhaps even prompt you to consider your own surroundings along with the many blessings tucked in between your days.
Spacious places. Psalm 18:19 is my go-to verse with this next move. “He brought me out into a spacious place…”
DW Home Hand-Poured Candles. Vanilla Bean, to be specific. I purchased every last one TJ Maxx carried – to the tune of 35.00+ worth. Yes, they’re that delicious.
My church. It’s a church that loves well, no matter what.
My great-grandparent’s bible. Its underlined scripture hints at the legacy they would leave behind.
Peppermint Snow. Dee Dee Parker’s Christmas novella that’s sure to be a best-seller one day!
Exchange Coffee.My local coffee shop makes the best lavender lattes, hands down.
Pride & Prejudice, A&E version with Colin Firth. And only this version. Swoon-worthy.
The original scent of Downy softener. It reminds me of my grandmother’s laundry days.
A charm bracelet with each of my grandchildren’s names forged on a separate heart. {They are my heart.}
Vintage VW vans. Because everybody has a little hippie in them!
My well-loved cookbooks.
Blogging. Absolutely. Love. It.
Soft breezes on scorching hot days. A reminder that refreshment can rise even on the driest of days.
Owls. Maybe it’s a throwback to the ’70s but I love them.
Tiny houses. {Especially as an Airbnb on our future property!}
Chickens and goats and rabbits, oh my!
Pastures & ponies. These two ‘p’s’ equal a third: Peaceful.
My bible. I’ve had it since 1991. Its pages paper-thin and lovingly marked.
White walls, chalkboards, and Mason jars decor. {Does that count for 3?}
Girl gatherings. It’s been a while since I’ve hosted one of these but once we get moved preparest thou!
Chenille blankets. Vintage chenille blankets. Soft, warm, and plush comfort. {Especially on snowy days.}
The way my grandchildren smile when we first see them. {Be still my heart.}
Music. The gift of music meanders its way through the soul like nothing else.
Rainy days when I don’t have to be anywhere. Showers falling, coffee in hand, and a good book. {Exhale.}
Do any of the above items trigger your own love-fest? I’d love to read 25 things you love, so if you decide to do the same on your blog please let me know. Even if you decide not to publicly share your list, I encourage you to make it anyway.
It will do the soul good. Very good.
Did I happen to mention the cupcakes at Exchange Coffee? Okay, that makes 26.
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on” – Albert Einstein
It’s true, right? There’s an inexplicable synergy that takes places when two or more creative beings come together for a specific purpose. In fact, there are few things I love more than a good brainstorming session. Whether it’s with a group of ministry-minded peeps or with fellow writers, it matters not. A little later in the post I’ll share a few tips on how you can enjoy your own b-storming session.
But first…
When it comes to writing sessions, my go-to girl is Dee Dee Parker. She’s not only the other pea in our “strange little pod.” She is also one of the most creative people I know. So it’s only fair that I share her creative goodness with you.
In honor of our two peas status, I’m asking Dee Dee two questions. Let’s get started!
Me: Where do you find your creative muse?
Dee Dee: My creative muse, my inspiration, depends on what medium I am working in at the time. Inspiration for my non-fiction often comes after my morning devotions, Bible study, and prayer time with the Lord. A Bible verse will grab my attention and a devotion or article is born. My Appalachian fiction muse is often the elders of my hollow and mountain town. I overhear a conversation and an idea for a story comes about. The dialect is so rich here and the people have such a strong sense of place and deep faith that I will never run out of ideas. Of course, Cathy, you and I brainstorm often and that starts the creative juices flowing in many creative endeavors such as our Two Peas In One Strange Little Pod videos. 🙂
Me: What secret talents do you have? (I snatched this simple but insightful question from Edie Melson’s interview over @ Writing Prompts, Thoughts, and Ideas…Oh my!)
Dee Dee: I love to paint, especially watercolors! As a matter of fact stayed tuned for an announcement of my new project coming later this summer. I am very excited about working on the details of a card line with hopes it will be a blessing to you, and one you will enjoy sharing with others.
Thank you, Dee Dee!
{Stay tuned, fellow Blue Ridge friends…Two Peas in One Strange Little Pod Productions has one last blooper reel coming your way tomorrow!}
Don’t be afraid to fail. Years ago, I attended a weekly ministry-driven brainstorming session. Ideas flew fast and furious. You see, the pastor encouraged us to remember that there was no such thing as a stupid idea. We knew we were in a safe place. It didn’t mean we used all the ideas. In fact, we used only a few, but one idea would spark another, and so on. I felt free to fail and through that freedom emerged ideas that wouldn’t have occurred otherwise. Edwin H. Land sums it up best: “The essential part of creativity is not being afraid to fail.”
Move outside. Due to distance Dee Dee and I usually do our brainstorming sessions via phone but whenever possible, move your creative b-storming outside. Take a walk together, or go to a zoo or museum to get those creative juices flowing.
Know the rules. State upfront any guidelines you might want to observe, such as… there are no wrong/ foolish statements, or perhaps, no cutting remarks if you disagree with something that’s suggested, etc. Agree that you’ll take everything in, write it down, and allow the information to marinate before making a definitive decision. Rules and creativity don’t always go hand-in-hand but in this case, it’s actually freeing everyone to be their best creative self.
Dee Dee Parker infuses wisps of Southern grace throughout both her writing and speaking. She is the author of a children’s book, Josie Jo’s Got to Knowwritten to benefit breast cancer research. She has contributed to numerous anthologies, such as Chicken Soup for the Soul, Clothes Lines and Christmas Presence. Dee Dee writes for Christian Devotions US, Guidepost books, Guidepost.org as well as Focus On the Family’s Clubhouse Jr. magazine. Her first Christmas novella has landed in the hands of her agent and she eagerly anticipates its publication in the near future. Dee Dee lives snuggled among the North Carolina Appalachian Mountains with her husband Jim, a retired minister, and their spoiled Schnoodle, Greta.
Talk about creative! Today’s featured image is courtesy of the talented Paul Foreman of Mind Map Inspiration. Visit his site for mind blowing graphics as well as much inspiration!
I love quotes. And they love me. Pithy, thought-provoking…it’s all there. So in the midst of this blazing summer heat, I thought I’d offer refreshment in the form of a fistful of favorites. In addition, you’ll find a quick sip of thoughts. As you read the following five quotes, is there one in particular that resonates with you?
So how do we fuel the curiosity within us? One way is through play. Who says adults have outgrown a playground or that our playground must consist of a slide and a swing? I admit that I’ve not always been good at playing as an adult. In fact, I’m still working on it. But playing, whether it’s through a sports activity, dancing free-form when no one can see you {cue 70’s music}, or simply daydreaming, it empowers us to be creative, free-thinkers, and more flexible.
Self-doubt is a danger to creativity. But more importantly, it’s a danger to our souls. Our testimonies. Our calling. When I began attending the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference I found my validation as a writer in receiving awards. I’d never won anything as an adult. So each time I heard my name called and the roar of applause that followed, I felt a little more like a “real” writer. I know now that my worth — as a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, friend, and writer, must be grounded only in the person of Jesus Christ. He alone is where we find our confidence. When we rest in this truth, self-doubt quietly slithers away.
Oh boy! I’m still not sure what to think about this quote but I couldn’t exclude it. It was just too darn intriguing. Maybe it’s the term ‘stealing’ that leaves me unsettled. Edie Melson and Vonda Skelton, who led our writer’s group for years, often reminded us that there is nothing new under the sun. I don’t know about you, but that’s a relief. I used to beat myself up because I couldn’t think of something to write about that no one else had already written. Now I know that my inspiration and perspective are unique…and so are yours. I pray the Lord will open our spiritual eyes as we anticipate fresh insight from Him, even on the most hum-drum of days.
Don’t you find this to be true? I learned this while participating in the 31 Days Blog Challenge a couple of years ago. The challenge? Choose a theme and dedicate 31 consecutive days {October} to blogging on that subject. I thought for sure I’d run out of ideas within the first three days. What I discovered, however, was quite the opposite. Creativity was at every turn! Thoughts came quicker and from unexpected places.
My heart’s desire: to take what God has made and shape it and use it to make Him look great. For He is worthy! How about you?
Now it’s your turn! Was there a quote or thought you especially resonated with today? Please share. I’d love to know.
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Notice anything different? Hope so! I’ve made some changes to this place I’ve called home since 2008.
Back then, I began blogging at the prompting of Rich Butler, a friend, and fellow co-staffer at the time. Each week as a church staff we came together to design, if you will, our weekly services. It was my favorite hour of the week. To experience God bringing to life those creative ideas for His glory felt much like Eric Liddell must have felt when he said:
I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.
Bringing creative elements into the telling of the Gospel has always felt natural to me. After all, the Bible is crammed full of examples of how God uses our senses to reveal more of Himself to us.
Psalm 34:8 – Taste and see that the LORD is good!
Proverbs 20:12 – The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, God has made them both.
Matthew 8:3 – And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Genesis 8:21 – And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.
There are numerous accounts in the Gospel of Jesus using tangible “takeaways” when He taught. He was the Master of metaphors and multi-sensory teaching. The Tabernacle, Passover, The Lord’s Supper…the list goes on. Jesus knew the power of our senses {as our Creator} and He harnessed them all for the Father’s glory. And this is my desire as well.
You see, earlier this year, I sensed God nudging me to become more intentional with this little corner of mine. I prayed, I watched, and I expected. I soon realized that since becoming a student of the Word years ago, I’ve gravitated towards adding a creative element to the studies I lead, to the gifts I give, and often to the gatherings I create. That was it!
I could learn and share how to cultivate creativity in every day life, reflecting more and more of His image in the process.
From there, Fistbump Media {Dan King and Susan Stilwell} hopped on board, using their own creative gifts and talents to make this site feel more like home — a place where we can come together as a community of believers, bloggers, and whomever else God decides to bring.
My hope is that you will find this to be a place of encouragement and inspiration as we seek to cultivate creativity through our home and families, writing, meaningful gatherings, and our stories of faith…all to the glory of our Creator and King.
For a more detailed look at the “why” behind this intentional move towards creativity, visit my About Page here, or click the tab at the top of the page.
Beginning next week, I’ll post once a week and believe me when I say…you don’t want to miss next week. God revealed Himself in a subtle but meaningful way a few weeks ago. I can’t wait to share. Until then, thank you for stopping by today. I don’t take you or your time for granted. You are a blessing!
If you like what you’re reading, you can subscribe today in the right-hand margin. My weekly posts will be delivered to your inbox. Also, feel free to share with a friend! Thank you. 🙂
I’m no expert when it comes to blog hosting sites or knowing all the technical details that goes along with the process. (Just ask Dan King @ Fistbump Media, the most patient man on earth.) I did, however, know that it was finally time to make the change to WordPress.
Here are just a few reasons I decided to make the switch:
Self-hosting WordPress offers more ownership. Google has the right to shut down your blog without notice, although I’ve never known that to happen to anyone I know. With self-hosting WordPress (.org) bloggers pay for their hosting services. This brings in accountability, and though there is a small cost involved, I know I’m paying for my own space in the blogosphere.
Better SEO Capabilities. I’m still learning about the power of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) but the simple addition of Yoast has helped me to visually see where I need to improve my title, images, and content for improved optimization. A sidebar button that resembles a traffic light moves from red to green as I type, letting me know the specific ways I’m increasing my SEO. Talk about immediate gratification!
There is no support at Blogger. Period. Got a question? You either have to figure it out for yourself, visit a Help Site, or know a Blogger guru. Seriously. Since making the switch, Fistbump Media has offered stellar service with Dan King and Susan Stilwell promptly addressing any technical issues in a very timely manner.
With Blogger, I had major issues (of my own doing) with Feedburner that were never resolved. It’s for this reason I chose to leave Feedburner, along with the mess, and start over with a new subscriber system (MailChimp) in WordPress, which is a very scary thing to do. I basically had to start over with 0 subscribers. Thanks to those of you who have already re-subscribed.If you’ve not yet done so, please take a moment to fill out the form in the right hand column. I appreciate it so much! It’s an honor to lock arms with you, moving forward in all God has in store for us.
Maybe you’re like me. Your heart beats for community, for uniting bloggers and readers for God’s ultimate glory. To this end, if you have a blog/site, I’d love for you to share your blog/web address in the comment section. If you’re a reader, I’d love to hear from you too! Is there anyway I can pray for you today?
{If you’d like to register a domain, learn more about Fistbump, or check out their latest tweets, you can view all this and more at Fistbump Media or click the Fistbump Media button located in my right-hand sidebar.}
Reference: One of my favorite sites, Gina Alyse, shares why she switched from Blogger to WordPress.
Okay, perhaps snob is a little harsh, but I am a bit of a persnickety reader.
I admit I’m not an avid reader of fiction, and when I do read it, the pages turn slower. I prefer the feel of a book in my hands over the strain on my eyes reading my e-books, but I still have plenty of those as well. I prefer new books over used ones. They smell better. Is that bad? I tend to buy books based on covers and Amazon reviews. And finally, I prefer to purchase books instead of borrowing from the library only because I love to mark up my books. Fiction or non-fiction, we never know when an idea will spark, or when we’ll run across a new word we want to add to our ever-growing notebook of words. {Okay, maybe snob isn’t such a stretch after all.}
Finally, I refuse to read (or finish) anything that doesn’t hold my attention. Life’s too short. For this reason, and many more, I’m especially excited to share what I’m reading these days, mainly due to the first one.
Allison and her uber-talented mom, Jane, attended our local writer’s group a few years back {when this book was in the works}. They drove from NC (an hour) to attend so their dedication to doing the work was never in doubt. I was excited to be a part of her critique group for this book and you can only imagine my surprise when I discovered my name in her acknowledgements section! {Thank you again, Allison!} We never know what blessings will come from being a part of a critique group. 🙂
Finding Grace, Allison’s debut novel, is one of those books you can’t put down, which is saying something from a sparse fiction reader. Her attention to details and the fluidity of the story is superb. You are sure to fall in love with “Grace”. I especially love the fact that the novel is set in Shady Grove, NC. Bravo, Allison!
With a tremendous decluttering effort on the horizon, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the book but it was the word “Simple” that initially caught my eye.
As a sentimental semi-hoarder {did I just admit that?} I found a few pointers especially convicting enlightening: “You are not your stuff and your stuff does not define you. Your stuff is not your memories {Ouch!} Your stuff is not your friend–he or she may have been with you or given it to you, but your friend will not vanish as a person if you get rid of the stuffed poodle.” Nothing really new here, but it’s a good (and quick) read.
Okay, so this one just arrived in the mail last week, but I had to include it. I may not be able to share what I’ve read or learned, but I can give you the reasoning behind this purchase.
I love this line on the back cover: Secrets to making home the place your family longs to be. At first glance, I felt it may not be a good fit since our kids are now grown with kids of their own, but our season in life doesn’t diminish my desire to make my loved ones feel loved.
This introvert has much to learn so I was delighted to stumble across this find, especially one with such rave reviews (5 stars). 🙂
Okay, your turn! What are you reading these days? Do you think you’ll try one or more of the above books?
And don’t forget….
If you’ve never tried Herbal Rose Tea, you’re in for a treat!
Imagine sipping tea in a rose garden. {No fancy gloves required!} Because this is one of my all-time favorite teas, I had to share a canister with you in this month’s giveaway.
To enter, simply leave a comment on today’s post sharing your favorite flavor of tea, or ways I can pray for you, or both.
{I’m assuming you’re a tea drinker if you’ve read this far.} Next
Wednesday, March 2, I’ll announce the winner of the random drawing done
via Random Name Picker.
For each comment you leave between now and next Monday’s post, I will
add your name to the list for drawing. Thank you and good luck!
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Dee Dee Parker infuses wisps of Southern grace throughout both her writing and speaking. She is the author of a children’s book, 
Self-doubt is a danger to creativity. But more importantly, it’s a danger to our souls. Our testimonies. Our calling. When I began attending the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference I found my validation as a writer in receiving awards. I’d never won anything as an adult. So each time I heard my name called and the roar of applause that followed, I felt a little more like a “real” writer. I know now that my worth — as a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, friend, and writer, must be grounded only in the person of Jesus Christ. He alone is where we find our confidence. When we rest in this truth, self-doubt quietly slithers away.
Notice anything different? Hope so! I’ve made some changes to this place I’ve called home since 2008.
I’m no expert when it comes to blog hosting sites or knowing all the technical details that goes along with the process. (Just ask Dan King @ Fistbump Media, the most patient man on earth.) I did, however, know that it was finally time to make the change to WordPress.
Better SEO Capabilities. I’m still learning about the power of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) but the simple addition of Yoast has helped me to visually see where I need to improve my title, images, and content for improved optimization. A sidebar button that resembles a traffic light moves from red to green as I type, letting me know the specific ways I’m increasing my SEO. Talk about immediate gratification!
