Writing

“Some days you must learn a great deal.
But you should also have days when you
allow what is already in you
to swell up and touch everything.”
– E. L. Konigsburg

How are you, friend? I hope you’re not stuck in the snow!

The weather can’t seem to make up its mind here lately. It was 20 degrees last week, but yesterday it was all blue sky and birdsong. After we got back from church, Kevin climbed up to the loft in the barn to work on his latest paper for school and I sprawled out on our porch swing with our baby. We sat out there for hours, and when the temp finally did start to drop, I wrapped a fuzzy blanket around our feet and legs until we were ready to call it a night.

What else is new since the last time I logged in? Hmmm. Oh! My phrase of the year is ‘one step at a time’. I thought I had chosen it, but I think it might have actually chosen me it’s popping up so much! Have you ever had that happen? Feels like a God wink every time. 🙂

I started the anti-anxiety diet on January 1st (no sugar, no soy, no gluten, no dairy and no corn) and it seems to be helping…my waistline at least. 😉

I’ve been listening to my friend Lisa Jo’s Out of the Ordinary podcast whenever I can lately (two thumbs up!) and I just started reading my friend Erin’s book, Make Something Good Today. I’m only on Chapter 1 but boy is it a page-turner!

And speaking of books, I haven’t blogged as much this year because I think I’m actually, finally, writing one. Maybe. I’ve been approached by a handful of publishers in the past, but the topics and titles they wanted me to write around never did feel like home. Then toward the end of last year, a very talented and kind and encouraging literary agent suggested that I “just write” to see what falls out. That sounded more ‘me’, and less formulaic (blech!), so I decided to take her advice and dubbed last month “Just Write January”. Starting on the 1st, I woke up (almost) every day before the sun came up and pounded out whatever tickled my fancy from day to day. I ended up liking the experience so much (the writing, not the waking up early) that I have been doing it every morning in February too. But unlike last month, when I was practically allergic to writing about one thing in particular (ha!), I have found that this month, I am inspired to write with more focus. So I guess this is “Focus More February”? We’ll see. 😉 Just wanted to let you know why it’s been a little quiet around here lately. I’m still writing every day…just in a different way. And who knows…maybe all these stories will swell up together and touch somebody else’s hands one day.

Hope you are well and enjoying your week!

Layla