Moody Monday's: Time to say good-bye to 2014

tlpoague

Wow, where did the year go?

It seems like only yesterday I sat at my computer to post my first blog. Now, here I am posting the last one for the year. Time is flying by, and yet, I don't feel that much older.

This year has been a challenging one for me, both physically and mentally. All day I have contemplated what to write about. (If this was a short story, I would be done by now.) So, after much thought, and many re-writes, I will focus instead on twelve things that have impacted me this year. 

12. Kicking fear to the curb and taking the chance to start something new. I have sat with this blog being stagnant for a couple of years because I didn't know what I was doing. I'm not very tech savvy so this was a big step for me to learn something new. I am glad I did it. I have met many people that have become friends and learned quite a bit.

11. Learning how to develop myself as a writer. I have found that when I write online vs. my off-line creative writing, I tend to be pretty shallow with my writing online. (Unless it dealt with family drama.) I don't know why that is but it is something I have picked up on. In the future I will have to find a way to remedy that if I continue to write online.

10. March was a month of challenges. My faith in God, family, writing, and supportive husband helped me to keep my sanity in March with the birth of our grandson, death of my mother-in-law days later, and writing challenges. (The family was still recovering from the previous year with similar events when these happened.) I seen myself grow in many ways during this time. 

9. Selling our business and taking a vacation. (I had forgotten what it was like to sit back and relax.) I love the time I spent visiting with my son and family.

8. How faith, scripture, prayer, and a bucket of humor helps to deal with life's little box of craziness. (Of course...don't forget the family...or a loving supportive hubby.)

7. Learning to cope with someone that has cancer. I have found strength where I didn't think I had it when I found out my mother has cancer. That same strength has helped me to deal with my dad and husband's health issues. (I have seen the power of prayer working many times during this year.)
6. Planting a garden and going back to my roots. So many memories as a child involved harvesting our own food, whether it was fishing, hunting, or gardening. This year my hubby and I planted a garden and enjoyed canning it. We also enjoyed making snack sticks to munch on this winter.
5. Sometimes it is okay to take a break. With so much going on in my family, I had to step away from writing online for a bit. I felt guilty about it, but at the same time, I knew my writing would suffer if I felt I wasn't giving 100% to it. I also took this time to begin editing my novel I wrote six years ago.
4. Letting your light shine will help others to shine their's. This year I wanted to focus on my crafts as much as my writing. Along the way I was able to help others learn a craft or get back into the crafts they use to do. This has created a closer bond between us. I feel that I have learned a lot from them while helping them.
3. The friends and acquaintances I have made during this writing journey. I have wrote off and on online for five years now. I have come to know many writers during that time. This year showed me a group of writers that went the extra distance to show how much they care. From simple personal messages online, midnight chats, to taking a moment to send a card...I have developed a special bond with these people I have never met. Thank you! You will never be far from my mind and have a special place in my heart.
2. Life is crazy. Things happen. It is how we deal with it that develops our character. It has taken me a long time to see past the negativity of things that happen and look for the positive. As warped as my humor can be sometimes, it has helped me to get through some dark moments. (I am very grateful the Lord blessed me with bucketfuls of humor.) I also feel blessed beyond the worth of material possessions with the family I have. (I love spoiling my grandsons!)
1. Growing with Christ. I had my eyes opened this year to new literature I had come across. Things that I thought I knew had been erased. Things I never understood before now have a new meaning. I am excited to explore more of  these amazing avenues. For once in my life things make sense and my questions are getting answered. In this excitement, I see my writing developing into something more. Into the direction I knew I wanted to go but didn't know how to get there. If you have never heard of LA Marzulli, Rob Skiba, Steve Quayle, or Tom Horn, be sure to take the time to check them out. Amazing stuff there!
And that wraps up this year's last Moody Monday.
Due to family health issues, I will be taking a break again for awhile. I will never truly give up writing online (since it is so addictive) but it will be less consistent than my goals were this year. I have enjoyed this year of learning, growing, and developing deeper friendships. I will always appreciate the fans, readers, and writers that have been a part of this journey.
Take care, stay warm, and enjoy the new year!

Today's Throwback Thursday March 13, 2014

photo by tlpoague

I asked this question yesterday to see how others would answer...Have you ever had one of those days were you just want to crawl back in bed and start the week over?
I have been struggling this week with the pressures of FAMILY DRAMA. Coming from a large family it doesn't take much to set off the honeycomb. I don't know about others, but in my family, when this happens it will set the bees buzzing for hours. Sometimes this will make for some interesting stories to write about. Other times, if allowed too, it can affect one's writing. This is where my struggle began.
I have set a goal in my writing. I knew this would be the most difficult thing for me simply because I have a large family and things happen. To avoid some of these issues, I have begun to set rules. But again, things happen.
To simply put it, this is how my week has went so far. (Take a deep breath...)
Thursday of last week, while my daughter was visiting-and wondering if she would ever have her baby-we received news concerning my mother-in-law. She has been sick with a quick acting leukemia. Family was called in to say their good-byes.
Friday my daughter had her beautiful baby. (If curious how that went check out Silly Sunday.)
Saturday was family bonding hour with the new baby and a rambunctious 14 month old.
Sunday started with a phone call that my mother-in-law had passed. This posted a delay in my writing since the family tree on both sides of the family needed contacted. (Have you ever tried a five way phone call that lasted over four hours? It can be done!)
Just when I thought I had a handle on things and was enjoying telling the story of my grandson, I received another disturbing phone call. My brother, with his kids, had been in a car accident. No one was hurt but the trailer and equipment behind it. This set the bees buzzing again. By the time I had called one of my sisters-once again-she answered...without even a hello, "if this is more bad news, I don't want to hear it till tomorrow." It was...a friend of the family had passed.
I couldn't help but question where I would find the time to finish my writing. Amazingly, without more interruptions, I did.
Monday was spent with a trip to the doctor, in a town, five hours away. I did manage to find time to write my first hub of the month for HubPages.
Posting the hub was another story. Have you ever spent an hour, working hard on your masterpiece, only to click the wrong button, and watch it disappear before you eyes? I did! I wanted to have a stroke. I had forgotten that the work was still saved. It just moved to the bottom of my list. In my wild state of panic, I couldn't find it, so I started the whole process over again. Then, I did what I usually do...I called my sister, Momster. She is always helpful when it comes to finding humor through the negativity. It was during this phone call that I realized I had forgotten she was out of town. She had taken her son in for surgery. He needed pins put in a finger he had broken, while at school. That was my Tuesday.
Wednesday, I had the perfect topic picked out. Wordless Wednesday's word for the day was going to be frustration. It was frustrating that I couldn't get my words to flow. I started two different articles, but still, I couldn't find the humor in them. (This is how I deal with trauma...I mean drama....writing and humor!) I finally found my voice only to be interrupted. My daughter was bringing the grandboys over. And so...I didn't get to finish my articles, but after asking for help on Facebook, I did figure out how to find my little bit of humor.
Today is a funeral for a friend in the family. It is also going to be spent going, out of town, to the doctor's again for another family member. (This is what happens when you live in the sticks.) I am taking along my trusty notebook and a well sharpened pencil, with the hopes that I can find my next story lurking around the corner. If by chance I don't find the time to post my Friday story, know that I am attending my mother-in-law's funeral, and thinking about when I can get back to writing.
"How do you keep you sanity in all of this?" You ask. It is my faith I have in my Lord and Savior. When times seem difficult I reflect on the scripture, Philippians 4:13, "I can do all thing through Christ which strengtheneth me." Then I did deep and seek the humor.
tlpoague 2014