Guest Post at Faithful Bloggers!

I'm excited to share that I am a featured guest blogger over at Faithful Bloggers on their devotional page! It's a post I shared here on my blog a few weeks ago. I hope it will bless you as you take the time to read it. Please feel free to share the link.



I will be back on Saturday with my Week of Thankfuls as I continue the countdown to Thanksgiving.

A Simple Country Road

I've been spending a considerable amount of time over at my other blog these last several days. I made an interesting discovery... I think when I wrote "Broken Places" I did it on auto-pilot... sort of a self defense mechanism. Now, doing the edits and letting the story be viewed in a public setting, I am awash with emotions. Letting myself really feel what Gracie, my main character feels. Revisiting those places of hurt. I keep saying that Broken Places is NOT my bio but it certainly comes from a place of authenticity. There is a little bit of me in each of those chapters. And while I have come SO far in the healing and being made whole, it does take a lot out of a person to go traipsing back into the past. No wonder I have been so exhausted and fighting flu-like symptoms.

Yet it's a story worth telling because of the redemption factor. If just one person reads this and finds the courage to leave an abusive situation... if just one person reads this and finds healing and hope... if just one person reads this and meets Jesus..... than it is all worth it.

The other day I took a pleasant stroll down a quiet country road. It was a gloriously sunny day with fresh breezes and not a soul in sight. the lighting was fantastic and the walk was refreshing.

In some ways the walk was much like the rewrite I am doing on the novel. 

Walking a road I've been down before but never by foot. Seeing things I've seen before but from a very different angle. Having time to stop and really look. Seeing God's hand in all that is around me... His perfect creation, even as our sinful nature corrupts it. It was a simple walk but I came back refreshed.

Time with my God does that. 

and I got to see a moo-cow to boot!!

Feeling Accomplished!

Despite the eye, it's ended up being a Very Good Day. I have been ignoring my other blog for quite some time, lacking inspiration for writing a short story and dragging a suitcase full of procrastination around to prevent me from working on stories already written.

Until today. Today I got busy. In between cleaning my house both physically and spiritually, I decided to start the rewrite on the novel I wrote 2-- no 3 summers ago! I have decided to work on a chapter at a time, posting the novel in installments on This Robyn's Nest.

The novel is called "Broken Places" and while it is NOT about me, I certainly was able to draw from some true life experiences in writing the character of Grace, a young woman trapped in an abusive marriage. I don't necessarily like dwelling in the past but the writing of this story was therapeutic in many ways. And it's a story that needs to shared because the healing journey Grace embarks on really does resemble some of my own struggles to gain wholeness and the redemption our God gives is always worth telling.  If you are interested in following please hop on over to http://littlebitsofrobyn.blogspot.com/ and sign up!

Sits With Sunglasses

the poke in my eye with the sharp edge of a piece of paper has done nothing for my attitude the last couple of days. I can deal with a lot of things, including pain,  but ongoing pain, especially in the eye, is almost too much. thankfully our eyes tend to heal fast but I have found being outside, where moving air and light are strongest, is too much. Even starting at the computer screen adds strain to my poor eye. It's been an uncomfortable two days. I am sitting in the my house, wearing my sunglasses, administering eye drops every couple of hours and alternating Ibuprofen with Tylenol to try and manage the pain.

it's not working all that well.








On the lighter side of things, I did manage to be productive with a HUGE box of produce hubby brought home the other night. Beans and more beans stacked the bottom of the box, along with several over sized zucchini, some heads of romaine, a passel of carrots, rutabagas and onions and some snap peas to top it off. The first thing I did was sort it all out on my back deck. There were 3 types of beans so I sorted the yellow from the green and the re-sorted the yellow as there were skinny ones and fat/flat ones. From sorting came snipping, followed by washing. Finally they were ready to be blanched and frozen. I prefer freezing over canning and I don't have a pressure cooker anyway. But my freezer has limited space so it was a jigsaw puzzler's challenge to make it all fit!! Along with all the luscious berries and corn on the cob that has gone in in weeks previous, getting in my freezer is a little daunting. But we'll eat well this winter. And some of those berries will be coming out in the next few weeks for jam making. Yum!

I have not  heard anything from the Post Office. I debated contacting them and decided I would wait until Monday, which would make it exactly two weeks since I got my letter with the news of the job. I do recall the man who I met with saying that there was other paperwork shuffling that was taking place in another part of administration and there was no 'usual' time frame to quote me as to when I might hear more. But he seemed confident that I would hear something by that week's end.... and nothing happened. Meanwhile, I have enjoyed this week with no thought of going to work, other than wondering when it would happen.

This week had it's highlights, that is for certain. Monday was the lunch with the girls from high school-- still sighing with delight over that one. Not rushing anywhere all week has been a gift, even if we had monetary setbacks and stresses. Yes, even the pain in my eye cant compete with the peace of knowing God's in charge of ALL THINGS.

my sister and I at the Columbia River, fall of 2010

One more thing I want to mention to wrap up this week.....

A very fun thing I had had the pleasure to be a part of, is helping my SISTER create her own blog!! Using skype to connect and tutor her on blogging has been satisfying and I am just delighted with her launching out this way. You will find her theme of light quite illuminating, if you'll pardon the pun ;) I am sure she would welcome a visit so feel free to pop over to AniLouMinary and take a look.



Have a marvelous weekend friends!

Blogger Award Part 2

(part 1 can be read  here )

I am breaking the rules here... I am a bit of a rebel after all!!  The Versatile Blogger Award says to pass this award on to 15 other blogs. Honestly? I do follow a lot of blogs but I can't read them all so I skip around and catch them here and there, but there are a handful of special ones that I do read each and every post. So, I narrowed my choices down to picking one out of the handful.  And the winner is......

Anna at Living the Leviner Life

Anna's blog is Very Versatile. From crafts to recipes to what she did last weekend, and my current favorite her pregnancy highlights, this blog is really a sweet visit. So, hats off to Anna!

Blogger Award

I received this award today via a comment left on my post from Thursday. To be perfectly honest, I have not participated much in things like blog hops or blog awards  but am very grateful for Janice at Janice's Footsteps  from whom this award comes. So thank you Janice. Very nice! I am not sure what versatile blogging I have done but I accept and am proud to display this on my page! :) :) :) 

Of course, with awards come responsibilities... so here goes!!

 1. Thank the Blogger who nominated you. DONE! (see above.)

 2. Include a link to their site: YUP-- click on the link above to check out Janice's blog.

 3. Include the award image in your post. DONE.

 4. Give 7 random facts about yourself. ....see below.....

 5. Nominate 15 other Bloggers for the award. 

 6. When nominating, include a link to their site.

 7. Let other Bloggers know they have been nominated.

OK....

7 Random Things about ME.

1. I prefer shopping alone. I do enjoy shopping with girlfriends but I really enjoy wandering and pondering all by myself. no pressure, all pleasure.

2. Being an introvert, I need a lot of down time to recharge my batteries.

3. the older I get the longer it takes to recharge these old batteries. 

4. I'm impulsive but am learning to temper that with some prayer before hand. ("I'm going in Lord, cover me!")

5. I want to be kind but snarkiness sometimes gets the best of me. 

6. I can get a little OCD about random things. really random things. 

7. I just recently (like 3 days ago) started to Tweet. 

Nominations.... are going to have to wait.... I have to go to work!!

what did i get myself into?

I know I must ask myself this question a dozen times a week. Seriously. I tend to be impulsive by nature though lessons learned the hard way have kind of helped curb it a bit. I'm moved by empathy or sympathy-- or stupidity-- and before I know it I have volunteered my time and energy for one more thing.

but, it's all good. If it's for God, it's always good. And more than that, God always redeems the time in His Awesome God-like ways.

A few months ago, my husband and I were approached by this young (young) couple at our church and asked if we'd mentor them. We'd never done this before and we were not really sure what mentoring would look like but after talking/thinking/praying about it we plunged in.... and you know what? It has been SO Awesome! We can't take credit because it's been ALL GOD but wow, it's been rewarding to be allowed this front row seat of what God is doing in their hearts and lives, both individually and as a couple. Powerful stuff!!

But I remember after one of our first get togethers with them, I looked at my husband and thought "what have we gotten ourselves into?"   I can chuckle now because, again, it's been all God, displaying His goodness and grace in such beautiful ways. All I can do is point heaven-ward and sigh with happiness and relief!

some of the commitments I take on do come back to bite me. Take my job for instance. I feel blessed to have found a job, in this economy and I feel blessed that the job is one I didn't need much training for, since it's an area I know well. Still, with in days of my accepting the position I found myself scratching my head, going, "what was I thinking?"  It's a fun job and for the extrovert it is the perfect job. For little closet-introvert me however, it can be a real struggle to keep my head above water and keep the right perspective.

I volunteered to be in charge of the church bulletin board, I spoke up and said I'd be happy to help coordinate small groups in our church and most recently I said yes to a request to help with a new church blog. All exciting stuff, using my gifts and talents and I squeal with delight over the possibilities it presents me....

uh, huh.... squealing with delight, yet squawking with Freak-Out inside.

 I DO laugh at myself. Yes, I do. Because I know that  I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME. In fact, His power is perfected in my weakness.

What a great reminder. It also helps me to remember to divide things into smaller chunks. A friend of mine is going to participate in a fundraiser this summer where she will BIKE from Seattle to San Diego. PEDAL ALL THE WAY. And while the big focus is San Diego and the finish line, the present focus has to be about miles she will pedal just that day. 

I need these reminders so I don't get overwhelmed.
It's one day at a time...
one moment at a time...
or my favorite....
one sip of coffee at a time...
savor each sip!! 

A Gift to Myself

a birthday celebration from 2006

I wasn't kidding when I said only 15 shopping days till my birthday. Well, ok, maybe I was kidding about the shopping part. I have mellowed in my advanced years so I am not obnoxiously making lists and sending everyone copies anymore.

Still, being a December baby, I tend to get a little territorial about the day. No Christmas decor until after my birthday. No birthday presents wrapped in Christmas wrap. No Merry Birthmas combo presents please. I got enough of that growing up which is why I developed this attitude about my birthday. it's self preservation baby.

anyway, enough about that. I decided today to launch something I have been thinking about doing since I first started blogging.

Another BLOG!!! Ha ha, this one is for my short stories!! I love the exercise that participating in Faithwriters allows me but I don't always enter the weekly challenges. And I have stories itching to be released that a weekly challenge doesn't always incite. I do need a little incentive and prodding to make it happen sometimes.

So.... introducing This Robyn's Nest, a blog that will feature short stories written by me! And to launch it, I have posted one that is near and dear to my heart, the story of my grandmothers faith in me in my youth, as a writer and the gift she gave me to prove it. I hope you'll check out http://littlebitsofrobyn.blogspot.com/  and be blessed.

Facebook

Sigh.

I know most of us struggle with change. And that change is good for you, especially if you're a baby. And I know that there has been a lot of whining and complaining and outrage over changes made at Facebook, especially the most recent ones. So, I'm jumping on the bandwagon and letting my frustration be known.

But, as I whine, I am also struck with conviction at the realization that with something as (dare I say it) *petty* as facebook should have me all in a dither!! I know I spend far too much time there when I could be, oh, I don't know, cleaning or studying or writing or -- the big one-- Praying.

Facebook is an important social connection and it does serve that purpose well. If I want to get the word out there quickly, then Facebook is the way to go. If I want to share pictures, see others pictures, hear a prayer request or know about an upcoming event... well, if you are on Facebook, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Last night I read a blog for writers that encouraged us to have a Facebook page for our blogs. So I created one. And then when it was all said and done I wondered if I had just created another monster for me to cringe over.

I guess the real crux of it all is admitting I have an addictive personality. I don't have dangerous addictions like gambling, alcohol or drugs. But I do seem to be obsessed with the little tab up above what ever other webpage I am on, showing a number that tells me a new comment has been posted and racing over there to see who said what.

What's really rather ironic is that all last week while we were on vacation and unplugged from cell service and internet (except for the 2 trips to the Library-- hallelujah!) I didn't think about Facebook or phone calls or any of those things. (Nope, not even my soap opera) I was just fine without it. Amazing huh?

When I was working I had very little time to check out facebook. I was on my computer a lot during the day at work and by the time I came home I was actually kind of tired of staring at the computer screen so I limited my at home use of online time. And I was probably happier and healthier because of that.

There have been days recently that I have contemplated pulling the plug on my facebook page. Just to rid myself of the hassle, the dependency, the familiar tug to go and see, the time consuming-time wasting yet entertaining and informative cyber jungle that has so completely captured so much of the world. And yet.... I stay connected to my daughter, my grandkids, my sister, better and quicker with this tool. The new gals in my life via Dream School--and even DRS itself-- will be using Facebook to help us stay connected during the week.

I think about pulling the plug and starting over so I can simplify my list of contacts. OR going through my list of contacts and deleting all those but the ones I really *need* to be in touch with. Then I have to DEFINE *need*.

sigh.

And let's not even think about this new one... google+   

which I had never heard of till this morning.
So I googled it.

Hey this looks kind of cool....

oh dear. perhaps some intervention is needed...

Recorder of Truth

A few posts back I was laboring over the what and why's of my blog. This morning in my devotional time God gave me a verse that brings things back into focus... and it's always exciting to me when God speaks to my heart!!

From Jeremiah 1:4-5: The Lord gave me a message. He said, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesperson to the world."

While these words are obviously to the prophet Jeremiah, as he is being called by God, are we not all called by God for some specific purpose? Did He not know us before He formed us? And did He not form each one of us in our mother's womb? Each one of us is stamped with our own personal DNA and as Christ followers that DNA has specific purposes built into it. So, am I not also set apart and appointed by God for the specific work He has for me? And as a follower of Christ, am I not also appointed to be a spokesperson to the world about what My God has done for me and can also do for you?

Through my writing I can be a spokesperson to the world. A Recorder of Truth.

This isn't a brand new thought by any means. It was just a fresh reminder of my purpose. So I am enthused and grateful for the reminder and the affirmation. And if any of you fellow bloggers for the faith struggle with occasional doubts about what you are doing in your blog, I hope this will encourage you as well....

Blessings,
Robyn

I Don't Get It or I Can't Do It

such negative words.

I hear a lot of them lately from my mom as she continues recuperating at the care facility. "I can't do that, I can't do this." "I don't understand." "why do they want me to do this?" "that makes no sense!"

Yet even as I wish she had a more positive outlook on life, I find myself asking some of the same questions about things going on around me.

I wrote in an earlier post that I was taking a break from blogging for a bit. I didn't really exit for very long because I really do love to write and there were fun things going on in my life which I wanted very much to blog about. But I am questioning what I want my blog to BE or DO.

It started out as a way to record our mission trip a year and half ago. Maybe I should have started a new blog when we got back from the trip so I wouldn't feel so compelled to keep my blog somehow in tune with the missionary theme. I think often of shelving this blog and starting a new one. Why? Does it really matter? (It's ok, I'm just thinking outloud, you don't have to answer)

Some blogs have a specific theme: cooking, recipes, babies, crafty stuff, politics, books, and writing. Others are the things a birds nest is made up of: this that and the other thing. And they are all grand.

It's a lot of work too... trying to read all the other blogs that I follow and leaving comments... and responding to anyone who leaves a comment on mine.... and some days I just don't have the time I need to devote to it properly. I'm sorry.

I guess I am trying to define What and Why and for Who I blog. Am I doing this to gain a following? Or is it just for me and if anyone else reads it, whoop-whoop? Do I want to have one specific focus or can I hop all over the map? Some blogs have a follow me button and some bloggers have eliminated that option so they won't have to live with the agony of the lack of followers or the sinking feeling that comes if a follower cancels their subscription.  I know a lot of blogs get read anonymously... we may never know who has read our words.

I love the comments but  I don't want that to be my motivation. I want to write for the sheer joy of writing, a free-fall into creativity, a way to record my life and my feelings. Blogging is a step away from a journal which remains private and sacred. When I blog I know this will be read by someone else and it may cause me to sensor myself. Or it may cause me to stretch a little as I try to 'show' my world through words alone. I don't want to get stuck in a rut writing only about one thing. I don't want to commit to a 'I post only on *** day's" or, on such and such a day my theme is this and on the next day my theme is that. I need spontaneity. I'm too restless for anything but. 

taking a break

I am purposely taking a vacation from the blog world  (and facebook) for awhile. I need to refine some things and re-define some other things. I will be back... just not sure when. 

I Can't Get No Satisfaction

My writing is not pleasing me. I want my blog to be significant. More than just a photo journal or what I did today, although those things are not out of line. But I also want to record deeper things, things that make us all think and that isn't happening all that much lately.

I want my stories, whatever short story I concoct, to bring pleasure. My words strung together like pearls on dross. That doesn't seem to be happening much either.

It's not writers block. I have ideas and thoughts and feelings bubbling up and over onto the page. I do not lack for words. It's just that my words are so many and the conveyance so vague. 

Yesterday I was driving to visit a friend and the little light came on on my dashboard that says 'low fuel' and as it did a light came on in my head reminding me that my car wasn't the only thing running on empty. When was the last time I sat in contemplative silence, read my bible, journaled and prayed, I wondered.

I got up before dawn on Sunday, our last day at the lake. I woke up around 4 and could not go back to sleep so I finally gave up, pushed off the covers and cast about for my flip-flops. I lit the gas stove and boiled water for a fine cup of pour over drip coffee. I took my coffee and a blanket and sat in my beach chair on a little sand dune, facing east and watched as the sun came up. And I was contemplative. I was prayerful. It was a holy moment and it carried me along all day. It was a fill up of premium gas in my spiritual tank.

But I am a gas hog when it comes to burning this kind of fuel. Sunday was a long time ago and this week of coming home and getting back into the groove has been difficult for some reason. And I have neglected my usual morning devotional time. No wonder my little tank is sputtering.

This morning I got up late and accepted the left over coffee in the pot that my husband made several hours ago. I was out of cream and the day was cold and wet looking. I sat in my living room chair and ignored the outside scenery because it was cold and wet looking. But I reached for my bible and flipped it open to read. I was only going to read one chapter but ended up reading several. I didn't journal but I did contemplate.

And now I sit here in my little library nook, wondering. The song "I can't get no satisfaction" is running through my mind and I am blogging hoping that pearls on dross will grace my page.

The Write Perspective

Oh Joy of Joys, I have been writing all week... journaling, emailing, blogging, fictionalizing and loving every minute of it! For such a long long time all my pens were out of ink and the pencils broken and my muse was on strike and a piece of me curled up and nearly died inside of me. But Day of Hallelujah when the inspiration and desire to return to the page and write, write, write came back!

Yes, there was a period in my life when I could not write. No matter how hard I tried and no matter how desperate I was to create, it wasn't happening. It wasn't writers block as much as a dried up well. I had used my writing to escape from the hell my life had become but when the person who was making my life hell forced me to destroy the very words that were giving me life... well, yes. something died.


There is something incredible soothing about stringing words together into sentences into something that makes you smile and breathe in deep and sit back and say: wow, look what I just said! For me the pen has always been mightier than the words  sword (no let's stick with words-- its got all the same letters just arranged differently is all and in my case I don't like swords but I do love words!!!)

I love to read and I love to write. The reading entertains and feeds me. Writing feeds me deeply. Blogging has given me a powerful outlet, as has FaithWriters . Knowing someone else is reading your words can be a vulnerable thing but the feedback is such a gift! Whether its a positive remark or a corrective suggestion, it can make my whole day! (a negative comment can leave me fretting for days however and I am working on getting over that.)

Sometimes I write without anything to say but I do it anyway because it often takes me to a place I didn't know I  was going and when I get there I discover some good stuff.

These beautiful reminders came to me this morning in my Quiet Time. I will close this post with them, choosing to embrace the positive no matter what may lay on the other side. Happy Friday!

Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. Phil 3.13b

Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Phil. 4.8

Dream Space

So, I just created a blog for Bruce to help showcase his business. (and I expect I will be managing it but that's OK by me)

We are calling it Dream Space and it will be about building stuff of course! From whatever current project he's working on to whatever he's thinking about building.

Please feel free to check it out!

qualityshelters.blogspot.com

Crafty Time

I participated in the Handmade Hog at bouffe e bambini! I like to make crafty things via publisher or powerpoint and that is how I made my own banner (top of page) for my blog and below is a variant of this.

I am still learning about blogging things like making my own blog button and participating in blog hops and such. Sometimes I am ON TOP OF IT but often I feel I have fallen behind....  Ah well... it's all in great fun and for me it is really about feeding my creative streak.

This is another one I made in power point. The picture is of our beautiful Twin Sisters and was taken from along Hwy 9, looking north at the Twin Sister Mountain range. We live in a spectacular place!

Because I started this blog to write about the mission trip we went on a year ago (!) I went with the name How Beautiful because it fit so well with taking the good news of Jesus to others. I have toyed with the idea of changing the name of my blog to 'the robyn's nest' or starting a new blog with that name... but like I said, still learning about all the bloggy-techie stuff... and prefer to keep life simple.

Again... it's about enjoying life, recognizing the beauty of life and bringing beauty when there isn't any to be found.

One Year, Two Years

I just realized I have been blogging for a year now! In fact, I missed the actual blog-a-versary date which is so unlike me, who remembers each and every occasion for celebration!

I have been trying to spend more 'quality time' visiting and reading other blogs. It's not always easy because of time but I do appreciate my fellow bloggers. We all have something important to say!

Speaking of having something to say..... Today I had lunch with a couple of my gal-pals. (And we all had something to say! lol)  These are two very special ladies that came into my life as a result of owning/operating Curves. One was a member and the other was an employee. And I love that we have a friendship independent of what originally brought us together. And that is has continued post Curves! These two ladies have given me fresh perspectives on life and love and laughter and continue to do so. What a gift!

I am by nature pretty content in my own private company and I could easily slide into a hermit lifestyle, if not for my hubby who needs much social interaction. Even though I love my friends, I do have a tendency to gravitate towards just doing things by myself. I need a lot of down time but I also need the comfort and companionship that having girlfriends provide for me. Sometimes I have to be prodded to remember that.

It's been 2 years this month, since I sold my Curves club. I learned a lot about women while I was running it. I learned a lot about myself while running it! I look back on my time with mixed emotions. I am relieved to no longer be involved. I don't regret doing it but I am happy to be done. Like I said, I met a lot of wonderful, amazing women because of it and some of them are still in my life. Again, gifts.

Last night, we had dinner with a group of friends and one of those women was another Curves connection. The friendship that is growing from this connection shows promise and potential as our husbands have connected and ideas are popping between all of us about some interesting-- possible-- life changing-- things!

So, here's to the things that bring the gifts of  friendship into our lives. Celebrate the gifts!

blogging along

join the fun! follow follow follow....

Blog Award?? My Very First!

I just received my very first blog award and I must admit to feeling both honored and clueless. I  follow several blogs and see blog awards posted often but never really have understood the whole etiquette of it. Oh, dear, someone help!! LOL.



Not to worry, I'll figure it out.

*Copy and paste this award to your blog

* Thank and link to the person that tagged you with it.
* List 7 facts about yourself
* Give the award to 5 other bloggers and tell them they have it.

thank you to Melody at: http://melody-mae.blogspot.com/

7 Facts about Me!

1. I recently went 'cold turkey' and quit watching the (only) soap I have watched for years (and even quit reading the daily synopsis)
2. I love~LOVE~love having my feet massaged.
3. my love language is touch.
4. I struggle daily with insecurities.
5. I like flannel sheets on the bed, year round.
6. I don't 'love' camping as much as my husband thinks I do....
7. I have an entrepreneurial streak (despite knowing first hand how hard owning your own business really is.)

Now.... 5 blogs who I shall give this to:

http://aboveblessings.blogspot.com/

http://brailleblazer.blogspot.com/

http://princessofhercastle7.blogspot.com/

http://shirleymcclay.com/

http://rossfamilyadoption.blogspot.com/

these are all beautiful blogs-- please visit them when you have some time!

Valentines

Yes, I rearranged and redecorated my blog. Again. I love a fresh look don't you? And since I can't do very much rearranging or redecorating in my home these days, I have to have a project to play with! And it is almost Valentines Day!

I was sitting in my cubicle at work the other day and realized just how gray the walls of the cubby are. And I thought... this space needs brightening up! It needs personalization! So, I am on a quest to bring color and light and personality to my work space. I have some ideas....

I have added a few personal touches already... a couple of pictures of the grandkids and of Bruce and I. A favorite mug and a candle but those walls!! Something has to be done about them! Like I said... I have some ideas! Stay tuned!

And.... Happy Valentines Day ( a couple of days early)