To Simply Write

Its so easy for me to fall into the subtle trip-up game of comparison. I follow blogs--& read historical fiction--to be encouraged, gain inspiration or just for enjoyment. The Prince of this world is so quick to trip me up & pull me off the narrow path onto the twisting path of comparing myself & what I write to others, & then...I find myself in doubting castle. In the chamber of cynicism, pessimism & self-pity. Far away from the place of quiet confidence, trust in the Lord & joy. I've been there...but the times of being in "doubting castle" far outnumber the times of holding a quiet confidence in my Lord--realizing that writing is a gift from Him! A gift that in His timing, He will take care of "getting it out there".
But I'm getting ahead of myself......

***

I've longer aspired to be a published fiction author than I have a non-fiction writer. My first "novel" was close to 100 pages, inspired & written, between the ages of nine & twelve. During third or fourth grade, one of our year long writing assignments was to keep a fictional diary as if we were girls living in the North or South during the Civil War. Self-righteous little girl that I was (and can be still, I admit to my chagrin) I chose to write as if I was a young lady from the North...since that was the "side" that won. Having only one little brother at the time, I inserted an older cousin & father into my diary as the men on the battlefront.

Being quite the romantic, silly, little miss that I was am, I also created a love interest for my character--Margaret O'Brien-- who was a handsome red-headed guy named Connor who wanted me to court him even while he was away at war. You read that right...Margaret O'Brien. Granted, not many people know that Margaret O'Brien is a child star from the golden era of film, so I kept that name...you ALSO just read that the guy Connor asked if I would court him uh... if Margaret could court him. Back then, it was typical for the guy to court the girl...not the other way around. In my happy-go-lucky childhood authoress stage, I was oblivious to the actual, pertinent, historically accurate details--be still my-now-anal-about-details heart!--but none of that mattered. It was in that year of school, & the years following, that I fell completely in love with the Civil War & writing. 

It was a dark day when Mum deleted my carefully typed out story, outline & cast of characters document from the computer...then emptied the recycle bin! Yes, I still hold the teeeeniest grudge! 

But since then, God  has graciously blessed me with maturity & hindsight; I realize that my re-write of my very. first. story.--the version bound/printed upon its completion, now  hiding treasured in my hopechest--was a good move & it turned out better, than it was.

Did I mention it took me weeks to decide on an appropriate title? Its called Amongst the Roses& is currently being completely re-written...the characters are really THAT close to my now more cynical, detail-oriented.....romantic heart. 

***

I began writing articles for publication around the time the sister of my heart & I connected. When she was an editor for a young ladies magazine, I sent in a few pieces (this was a while after she was appalled at my 13 yr. old-written short story called Prairie Hope entered in a contest.) one of them was published. I guess that was my first "official" publication...though I did share my 8 year old thoughts a few days after September 11th & it was published in our newspaper. 
I wrote occasionally for Mum's blog, My Simple Blessed Life, before, just a year & a half ago, I was permitted to create my own personal blog. My thoughts have ranged from preachy, repetitive, random, silly, familial memories, small joy-filled moments to cherish, & everything else in between which the Lord has prompted me to write.
In this past year, the Lord has grown ME, taught me, & also fleshed out my writing style here on my blog & in my novels in the works. Above all, He's really given me more confidence than I have ever experienced before...especially concerning my writing. His gift of writing. Speaking of which....

Did I mention that I received word that my short-story submission to a contest through our library system is a finalist and is being published in an anthology of the 65 other finalists? 

The same short story I, yes, wrote in a day...but did not mask my faith & wrote straight from my heart.

Oh yes...there was screaming, jumping up & down, & humble realization that God cares even about our wants as well as our needs...He desires to completely surprise & bless our socks off!!!

***

When, at one time, I despaired of ever being published, that is not my current goal with my writing.
My goal--with everything I set my mind to--is to glorify the One who blessed me with the gift of writing, & not hide my light/faith under a bushel.
 After a lovely, bolstering talk with Aunt Patti & Gabrielle (one of many during my stay in Idaho!) I've finally relinquished my control-freak worry-wart fretting about getting published.
Okay, so not totally...but I have a peace & my faith has been strengthened that God will work through everything I write for His glory...in His timing.
He's in control of my novel(s) being published one day, & until then, all He asks is that I trust Him to take care of the details.
And also to simply write for the sheer enjoyment of it...as well as the tearing-your-hair-out-writers-block-gnashing-of-teeth-feeling that I experience way too often! (Jaz-I know you can relate!)

Back to the Word document that is 67,000+words in counting, & not even half overhauled.
Aaaarrrrrgh!!!! (For the record: love the story, excited to overhaul it & all, but there is A. LOT of overhauling yet to do!)
Hey...its my story & I'll scream if I want to!

Peony

She's a shadow of her brown eyed sister...

Who loves to blow bubbles...

and is ever so inquisitive!

Silly, not so little anymore...

I have a monkey for a baby sister!

One moment can be sweet and girly as can be...

and the next, be the adventuresome cowgirl...who loves almost any animal!

She's my peony...my reading buddy, my sweet girl with  dimples that match mine.
My baby sister who loves to transport herself to different worlds, dressing up in a wide array of characters!
Just yesterday, we laid down on my bed together, and we perused Tea Time magazines, and her Princess Cupcakes cookbook!
All the while she was dressed like an Indian from Peter Pan!
I love my pinkalicious, ticklish, sweet, funny, silly, giggly, Anna Lydia Peony Lucy Love.

Carry Me Back to Good Old Pittsburgh

I've been home sweet home--for 3 days--after two wonderful weeks with Gabrielle and her family in Idaho. 

After:

boarding a plane in Minneapolis after a 4hr.+ layover...

watching the clouds below the airplane wing...

reading a fun, chick-lit book that distracted me from my ears popping

Finally stepping off the plane, into the concourse and down to baggage claim!

Descending the escalator and seeing my parents' faces beaming at the bottom.

Tears, hugs and words that cannot describe reuniting with my parents.

I'm back to the joyful chaos, humidity and full life that is mine, here in Bethel Park, with my three siblings and our crazy-great parents. More milestones to be crossed shortly: 18th birthday on Sunday, finding a part time job soon...seeking the Lord's will about the latter! 

          More writing to be done here soon! Now I'm off to cook dinner for my family and admire our newly redecorated room. 

Kathryn Albertson Park, Boise Depot & Table Rock

Finally catching up on this weekend spent gallivanting! Yesterday was a wonderful day, seeing some of the Gardner's favorite sights of Boise.

This fetching little daisy was found in Kathryn Albertson's park, a park where the Gardner's spent many hours during their homeschooling years. As you will see, its a beautiful, tranquil park. 

Cattails around the pond...up until this park, I cannot recall ever seeing them!

A canopy of greenery around the pond with many lily pads...luckily for me, I didn't spot any toads.

Gabrielle and me in front of the glass-like water.

More glorious creation...

Buzz around, buzz around. Keep a'  buzzin' round! (Sorry...old 1910's song!)

Me & Gabrielle...on the very warm, sunny day.

Old glory and Idaho state flag

The old, gorgeous Boise depot and park. 

This building was, to me, a classic symbol of the difference between West and East. The style of the depot was had distinct Mexican influences as far as exterior which I found quite intriguing compared to the much older, stone buildings back East.

The view from Table Rock...behold, Boise!

The cross that can be seen for miles up on Table Rock! What a witness. 

Down the steep mountain into the valley...

Working on my Irish tan (that's a nice way to say lobster burn) on Table Rock before we all went to Sonic's happy hour  to get some cool refreshments from the hot sun! It was a truly lovely day!!

Antiques & Tea!

This past weekend found us all gallivanting!! Here is a peek of our Saturday...two of my favorite things: antiquing and a lunch at a tearoom! Here are a few snippets in pictures and words of our fun girl's day out. Really, it was our second...the first was a day at the mall shopping for clothes this past Thursday! Suffice it to say that both days, I found some steals that I am thrilled with!

A tea cup I was tempted to purchase...but there were SO. MANY. OTHER teacups! It was hard to choose!

The 1938 "June Bride" issue of the Ladies Home Journal. 

An 'ancient' hand crank phone. My grandmother has a case that looks identical to this hanging in her kitchen, holding her more modern telephone.

A gorgeous German-made bread plate I could not pass up. Someday I hope to display it as a central piece in my kitchen or dining room.

A silly hat! A silly hat! You wear it on your head because that's where its at! 

Quilts, quilt tops I was aching to buy to finish...but they exceeded my budget.

Ah, antique books...how I love thee! I'm also obsessive about looking at the copyright dates inside!

Tea cups! 

Did I have FUN digging through this basket to find one for my collection! The one I chose had a monogrammed cut-work, pink, "M" at the corner surrounded by embroidered pink flower buds. 

I LIKED this hat! LOL Wish they were still in style...I especially love fascinator's or hats with veils. Half of the hats could barely perch on my thick head of hair, though!

Does this picture not make you want to time travel back to the 1940's? *Sigh*

I almost cried when I saw this...yes, odd...but there's two explanations for that! The first..."every so often" I'm overly emotional. 'Nough said. The second reason was, that I am almost positive this is exactly the dressing table my Baba had in her bedroom. It held scarves and costume jewelry for Sara and I, as little girls, to play with when we visited. 

Then Aunt Patti and I picked up Gabrielle, showered her with hugs after her morning at work, then went to Miss Tami's tea room. Absolutely gorgeous!! The decor was reminiscent of the Victorian era, while the music playing was 1940's jazz. The food was out of this world! As it was HOT outside, we all opted for a cold drink. My iced green lemon ginseng tea hit the spot!

Naturally, there were tea cups everywhere! I was in heaven yesterday...and wishing I was born in a different era!

I asked the night before, if Gabrielle minded us matching. Obviously not...and that day was such fun, with two of my favorite gals, Gabrielle and Aunt Patti. It was also beautiful......beautiful antiques, hats and linens, the cottage where the tearoom dwelt, the decor and atmosphere inside, but the most beautiful thing about Saturday, was the abundance of memories we made together. 

My Adventure into the Varied Landscapes of the West!

Boise, Idaho, has a very atypical "western" look about it. Brown hills scattered with sagebrush surround the downtown Boise area and surrounding townships...all on gloriously flat land! Boise scarcely has clouds in the summer months, and only gets 12 inches of rain per year. This Eastern, Pittsburgh gal was happily shocked at the difference!

Because of the flat landscape, the bluer than blue sky seems to stretch on for miles, and the sagebrush covering the rolling hills against the sky's backdrop makes for a gorgeous view along with the dozens of farms I've spotted! Suffice it to say, this trip--I am thoroughly enchanted with the west and my inner country girl is imagining the setting for a story!

Gorgeous snow capped mountains we spotted when we stopped for a break.

The 2nd half of the scenery driving up to McCall! The 1st half was much more desert.

Gabrielle and I stretching our legs at a gorgeous scenic stop. 

The foliage was absolutely gorgeous!

A creek we found on the way to the lake! Reminds me of Narnia

On a rickety old bridge!

Absolutely gorgeous weather! Fluffy clouds, cool breeze up in the mountains...marveling all day at  God's creativity and beauty!

A field full of wildflowers surrounded by a forest of evergreens!

Lake Payette! Cooling off in the cold water and sand!

Gorgeous Gabrielle

I SO wanted to go swimming!

Lovely day filled with laughter, sunshine and marveling at God's beautiful handiwork. Praising Him for the blessings of my time in the west, and making precious memories with Gabrielle and her fabulous family!