What I've Learned about Creativity

If you asked me ten years ago if I was creative, I would have said no.

To me, creativity meant artistic talent, original ideas, perfection in making things. And I didn’t feel any of those applied to me. I considered myself imaginative. I wrote stories, had conversations with myself, could look at something and see it a different way. But creativity and imagination weren’t the same thing, at least I didn’t think so.

My journey of creativity began as a child. I loved to color, but not draw. Stick figures were my go-to and when I attempted something else, the proportions were always off. I remember watching Bob Ross on Saturday mornings — I even got out paper, paint, and brushes — and becoming more convinced I lacked creativity because my trees never looked happy; they were blobs of green with streaks of brown for a trunk.

I loved to read and write stories so I took that to mean my only form of creative expression was words. I majored in journalism, continued to write, read stacks of books, and journaled and made lists about everything. Free time in my college and early married years continued to be focused on books and writing. Then I went to a ladies church activity where we made jewelry with beads and wire and fancy clips. I bought some supplies at Hobby Lobby and made an assortment of earrings and necklaces, but it didn’t seem creative to me. I was just following someone else’s pattern and idea.

When my daughter was about two, my crafting adventures really took off. She loved all things cutting, pasting, coloring. When my mom would visit, they would sit and watch Pinterest tutorials and create a dozen different animals with paper plates, suncatchers from tissue paper, paper chain snakes, and colorful cards. My daughter’s skills increased with age and soon, she could figure out how to make just about anything she thought up, no instructions needed. 3D flower arrangements, ballerinas that twirled, her own puzzles; I was blown away by her creativity and ability to make her designs a reality.

But it also forced me to think about what creativity means. Even though she was gifted at visualizing how to put something together, she still had to learn to hold scissors, she had to try and crumple and start again. And sometimes she was copying an idea or pattern, but it never looked exactly like the example. Her own take on it was always present.

Around the time my son was entering the craft age, I read “Life Creative: Inspiration for Today’s Renaissance Mom.” I’ll admit, I felt like anything BUT a Renaissance mom. I was spending my time on laundry, feeding my family, trying to keep the house clean, learning how to homeschool a kindergartener with a toddler who wouldn’t let me out of sight. I barely managed my favorite pastimes — reading and writing — let alone the variety of pursuits I attributed to a “Renaissance Woman.” However, even though I loved being a mom, I enjoyed being with my kids and watching them learn, I still found in myself a desire to learn something new. And that’s what drew me to the book.

The authors talked about balance, how we create in different ways, the importance of our kids seeing us try…and fail…and try again. So much of it resonated with me. So I decided to step out and try things I’d written off as having no talent for. My daughter and I made cards with scrapbook paper, baked together, tried oil pastel crayons. Some things we tried once and decided to move on but other endeavors we kept coming back to.

That leads us to 2020…the year of infamy. With all our plans and schedules scratched out, the future a question mark, I had trouble concentrating. I wrote in my journal and read but my mind was always wandering. With spring flowers blooming, I found myself drawn toward anything of beauty. I randomly stumbled on a YouTube channel with simple flower doodles. Even with my limit stick figure drawing skills, these flowers looked doable. So I tried and kept watching. The channel included introductions to loose watercolors and that seemed doable too. I ordered the cheapest supplies and started.

I was amazed how relaxing it was! Watching water and color pool and move across the page. I needed practice but I enjoyed every bit of the process, even when my flowers all looked the same. I searched for other beginner watercolor sites, watched videos on color mixing, blending, brush types and holds. I wrote out Bible verses and framed them in watercolor vines and leaves and rosebuds.

My kids watched along and joined in. I wondered what other things I might enjoy that I had never taken the time for, assuming they were too hard for me, that I wasn’t talented enough, that I would be wasting my time trying. I set up a game table in the basement and pulled out a puzzle. Last spring, Tommy cut a section of our background grass out and I filled it with flower seeds, hesitant because I knew nothing about gardening but drawn to the appeal of nature and beauty and outdoors.

Now, I want to say there is such a thing as natural talent. No amount of practicing my violin will turn me into Hilary Hahn. However, unlike how I used to think, you don’t have to master something or be perfect at it to be creative or enjoy the learning process. Part of creativity is experimenting, trying something just to see how it turns out, learning what is fun and relaxing and enjoyable.

I have loved the process of creativity for myself! I feel no pressure to master a certain skill; I just learn and enjoy the process. When people used to ask what my hobbies were, I would say reading. Which, don’t get me wrong, I still love to read. But now I also like to watercolor, doodle, garden {flowers, not vegetables}, work puzzles. I have friends who make amazing crafts and decor, who knit and crochet, bake bread and sweets. My daughter loves origami and drawing and sewing. So many creative outlets!

My husband has been talking about the creation account with our kids during family devotions, and I love to think about how creative God is, to give us the plant, animal, and geographic variety that surrounds us. He made such beauty and diversity, all with a word. When we display our small attempts at making, we are mirroring our Creator. We are acknowledging the design and purpose he has given everything. Out of all the things he created, humans are the only ones capable of creating close to the same way. No, we can’t make something physically appear just by speaking. But we can imagine a project or item or idea and set about forming it, using clay, wool, paper, words. Creating something for our enjoyment and the enjoyment of others.

Now if you ask me if I’m creative, I would say yes. I’m not perfect at any one thing, I haven’t mastered any of my hobbies. But honestly, is that even the point? I’m here to encourage you to pick up a paintbrush, grab some embroidery floss, sharpen a pencil, or buy that French pastry cookbook. Maybe it’ll look more like a Pinterest fail the first few attempts. But find something you love, something that forces you to slow down, and simply try. Creativity is part of everyone, just in different ways.

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

What is Success?

One of the hardest things in my writing journey is the waiting.

I outline, I write, I research, I pray about, I think about, I talk about. Writing is something I only have small amounts of time to dive in and do yet I’m always thinking about how to phrase sentences, how to word my thoughts so they’ll make sense to others.

I dictate into my phone app while folding laundry, I journal while sitting by my kids at bedtime, I underline and mark quotes while reading. The topics I’m passionate about writing on never leave my mind, even while I’m focusing on other things.

But for all the writing, sharing, and talking, I don’t know how all those thoughts and musings will turn out. Will one person read my blog post? Will the manuscript I’m working on ever be a book in someone’s hands? Will my words make a difference to anyone? There are a lot of writers out there, many who communicate with greater clarity than I do. What will make someone want to read my ramblings?

One thing I’m learning about any creative endeavor — painting, drawing, sewing, writing, music, anything creative — is the effort isn’t wasted, even if it seems like no one cares. And why? Because every creative endeavor I do is changing me. I am learning, even if no one else is coming along for the ride.

Last year, when I challenged myself to draw a doodle a day, I wanted to see if I could actually do it. Could I draw something that others would be able to recognize? I definitely had a few rough ones, doodles that I grimaced at. But through them, I learned. I learned I draw too small, where to put lines, how to make shadows, the realism of plants not being symmetrical. And I took that acquired knowledge and made the next doodle better.

It was just as much about me trying to learn a new skill as me sharing beauty with others. Because not all those efforts were beautiful. But they were still worth doing. And I’m learning that the same is true about writing.

I might not achieve writing success by the world’s standards — a best selling author, published in multiple languages, books in all the stores. Maybe it’ll come down to me self publishing. Maybe it’ll always be this small blog. But the lessons I’m learning, the things I ponder and pray about and research are benefitting me. The things I learn about parenting are helping me steward my motherhood and disciple my children. I’m interacting with friends and women in my immediate circle of influence and learning from them.

Nothing is wasted. Instead of wishing for a different kind of success, I am learning to appreciate these moments and grow from them.

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

The Running List

I am a list keeper.

Even as a child before I could spell words, I would fill notebooks with lists of squiggles {ask my mom; she remembers throwing away mountains of scribbled paper}.

And once I could write, I was all about journals, lists, to-dos. When I started high school and got my first day planner, I wrote EVERYTHING down. Every assignment, every sports game I attended, who I ate lunch with…I was kind of obsessed.

With each new school year brought a new planner. August became my favorite month. And as I moved into adulthood, lists and planners followed. I have a notebook in my purse at all times, along with several colorful pens. I have a planner and lists on my desk. I keep a separate planner with lists in the schoolroom. I have scraps of paper by my bed,

I’ve found lists to be extremely helpful and use them for so much more than groceries. One of my favorite things to list {just for my own reflection} are gratitudes. The older I get, the more I realize how much there is to be thankful for. And while some of the things I list are incredibly small, the act of writing them down helps me to pay attention to things around me.

This idea isn’t new or unique to me. Books have been written about the value of cultivating thankfulness and recording them in journals or lists or photo snippets. But as with many things, you often don’t really understand the value until you put it into practice for yourself.

I list people, places, things, events, memories. I’ve found when I’m actively looking for things to be grateful for I can go on and on, much longer than I thought. And the simplicity of writing them down in a list means I can pull them out, return to those items listed, and remember to be thankful all over again, even when times are rough.

Some of my most challenging lists of gratitude were during quarantine in 2020. When you can’t leave your home, everything is cancelled, and the future looks like a big empty void {remember, I love to plan and my new planner in 2020 went from full to empty for weeks on end. It was crushing}, it wasn’t surprising that finding reasons to be thankful didn’t flow easily from my pen.

However, when I looked, when I thought and concentrated for just a few minutes, there was always something.

Health

Sunshine and a yard to enjoy when all the parks closed

Technology to see friends virtually

Food

Family games and movies

I’m sure you get the idea. There’s always something we CAN be grateful for, but sometimes it takes a little more effort and thought. And now I have list upon list of gratitudes, even for 2020.

I still have running lists — groceries, gift ideas, birthdays, projects, writing ideas, school resources — but the one that continues to help me the most is my list of thankfulness.

Photo by Paico Oficial on Unsplash

What I've been Doing....

It is July and summer is moving fast!

I always have a list of things I want to accomplish after school ends and before the next school year starts. Because I homeschool, there is only so much I can feasibly get done while also seeing to school each morning. So summers are not slow down times, just a change in focus. Here are a few highlights!

New Office!

In June, we wanted to make a few changes to the function of our house and that involved moving a lot of furniture, painting several rooms, and reorganizing some spaces. I was able to use Tommy’s former office space for my desk and books and it’s been wonderful to have a room with just my crafting, writing, and reading things all available. The kids still bring their toys in and make background noise for my writing efforts but I honestly didn’t think that would change.

Writing!

I have slowly been researching, reading, and making notes about rest. I’m considering things like why it’s important, why it gets pushed away, how an attitude against rest is harmful, biblical examples and implications, and more. It’s definitely been a challenge and growing experience for me because I’ve struggled to rest for years. I feel like I’m wasting time, not being as profitable, etc. Studying the biblical purpose and necessity for rest has been eye opening. I hope to share more in future posts!

Newsletter!

I am not tech savvy. In building and modifying my website, YouTube was my mentor and Google was my friend. I’ve been wanting to start a monthly newsletter for quite awhile but it’s turned out to be more complicated than it seems! {Maybe it’s just me.} With some help from Tommy and again turning to YouTube experts, I think we’ve got it figured out! I will hopefully have a form on this website soon where you can sign up!

My purpose in having a newsletter is multi-faceted. It allows me to connect with people who are interested in what I write even if they aren’t active on social media. It also is easier to post links to things I’m using and loving, articles I learned from, and other random tidbits.

Homeschool!

Summer wouldn’t be complete without planning for the new school year! I’m going to have a pre-preschooler, second grader, and fifth grader in the classroom. I’m nervous {fifth grade math is more complicated than I remember!} but also excited. I’m planning some fun new things we haven’t done before {more coming in a future post!}, my kids requested more art projects, and I hope to incorporate some fun poems to our day. Planning the school year and researching materials is always fun for me. Just a little more and I’ll start ordering our supplies!

So that’s the summer so far! We also went camping in April, piano recital in May, finished AWANA, hosted our church family for a backyard picnic, enjoyed playdates, family movie nights, days in Grammy’s pool, the library summer reading challenge…and we still have July!! I hope your summer is off to a fun start!

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

Stretching Myself

One of the things I ‘resolved’ about this year was that I didn’t want to spend time moaning about what I can’t do. I want to seize opportunities and do my best to have a year I won’t regret.

This doesn’t mean I have a laundry list of things I want to accomplish. Rather as I think of things or hear of things, I want to make space for them and actually stretch myself to try them. My kids have been a huge encouragement to me along these lines because they are always looking for the next thing. They have such dreams and interests!!

There is some fear that comes along with the adventure. Fear of failure, fear of something not working out, fear of others seeing my efforts and rolling their eyes. I’ve always been very aware of what other people think of me. This can be good or bad — there were definitely times growing up where I did the right thing because I didn’t want to be seen doing the wrong thing, not because I wanted to make the right choice. This mindset has also kept me from trying new things. I don’t like failing; I hate letting people down.

But always wanting to ‘put on a good face’ and have success in everything was partly pride and partly fear. I wanted to look great to anyone who was watching {sounds pretty prideful} and I didn’t know what I would do if I tried something and it didn’t work out {there’s the fear}.

So at the end of 2020, I signed up for an online month long writing seminar. Even though I’m not turning in assignments, there are weekly videos to watch, handouts to work through, and a focus on goals. This might not sound scary to you but I’m the person who gets butterflies in my stomach driving to a new place by myself. I don’t do things out of my comfort zone, I don’t particularly like change. But I have greatly enjoyed this month of learning and honing my writing skills and thinking through the creative process.

I’ve also started taking more steps with my writing. I wrote a blog schedule, I have carved out time to work on a book idea and a book proposal to send to agents, I’m brainstorming more content and looking into writing a newsletter. These are all things I’ve consistently been pushing aside because I’m afraid or proud. But I’m finally taking that next step with help and encouragement from my family.

I’ve also continued to try watercolor painting, hand lettering, simple drawings, and doodling. It’s been amazing how relaxing and enjoyable it is. I’ve never been an artist. I usually get no farther than stick figures! But thanks to some YouTube tutorials and Pinterest inspirations, it doesn’t seem impossible anymore. I’m not ashamed to show people my feeble efforts as I learn. I’ve also included my kids at times and we’ve practiced new skills together.

You never know what God is going to use in your life and how he can use even the smallest things to grow you. It’s impossible to try everything in one lifetime but as opportunities arise, I’m not afraid to step out there {within reason} and give it a go to learn something new.

Have you stepped out and tried anything new this first month of 2021?

Photo by Olia Gozha on Unsplash

Life Lessons in a Journal

I’m a fan of journaling.

I love buying them, receiving them as gifts, using them.

I write in them about my life, my memories, my fears and desires, my frustrations and my thankfulness. I brainstorm and outline and connect thoughts and put together fragments.

Journals are all over my office, stacked on shelves and bookcases and in bins in a closet and under beds. I might be a little obsessed.

I started journaling when I was 10 years old with a diary that had a lock and a small set of keys. I didn’t have a lot going on in my life but I wrote about my cat dying, school work, vacations, summer fun, and lots of “Today was great. The End.” type entries.

When we moved, journaling was how I documented my sadness and frustrations and new friendships and starting school and hating biology.

My mom encouraged me to keep a journal whenever I traveled so I could write about the culture and adventures and what I saw and experienced. And I’m so glad she did. Through various missions trips and school trips and family travels, I would take a different journal and try to write in it at the end of each day. I was recently reading over some of those and of all the things I remember about those trips, there is so much I forgot. But thanks to my journaling practice, I can relive those forgotten moments again.

Through getting married and starting jobs and moving and becoming a mom I’ve kept journals — not as regularly written in but still precious — and it’s a habit I continue to foster.

The thing about journals is what you record in that moment in what you are feeling, thinking, experiencing. And over years of documenting these things, you can look back at the person you were and marvel at who you are now. Sometimes we change for the better, other times we see ourselves still struggling with the same sins and issues. But we see a picture of who we once were, maybe in a way that we’ve forgotten.

When I look back on certain periods of my journal writing, I notice I only had complaints to write about. I didn’t do this well, someone else got the award, a trip was canceled. I find it hard to believe that for weeks on end nothing good or happy happened to me as a teen-ager. But that’s all my 16 year old self wrote about. But I’ve noticed that — while sometimes sad and discouraging and hard things still happen to me — my more recent entries are focused on gratitude and thankfulness. Maybe it’s my older self realizing that optimism is more enjoyable and things that used to ruin my day aren’t that big of a deal.

I encourage people to journal, even if you don’t enjoy writing, because it’s a interesting lens to see yourself through. No one else has read my journals. I’m not keeping them on the off chance I need material for my autobiography. I’m keeping them to see God’s grace in my life. How experiences and trials have shaped and grown me. How relationships have stretched and challenged and molded me. The things I’ve learned in life and my Bible reading, the prayers lifted and answered.

It’s a habit I plan to continue. I still have empty journals to fill. And I still have lessons to learn and remember.

Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash

Learning from the Past

My sister and I gave our parents an interesting gift for Mother’s and Father’s Day this year. A chance to write their memoirs!

Through an Instagram ad, I heard about a company that asks questions to your loved ones throughout the year and then prints a book with all their answers, pictures, etc. for a family keepsake.

Both of my parents have been talking about writing their childhood stories and family information so we didn’t give them the option to back out!!

I’m a big lover of stories and it really is true that fact is stranger than fiction. While I read my parents’ weekly excerpts, I’m consistently struck by the reality that they are writing about real people. Sometimes things that happened to them, sometimes stories of grandparents or other relatives. But it’s history, it’s reality.

We are so inundated with stories. Fiction, non-fiction, the news, TV shows, movies, books. I sometimes wonder if all these things have made us immune to the truth of what has happened. We hear of other people’s experiences and thoughts so much, sometimes I think we ignore the value of the stories closest to us. We fail to ask about the experiences of our own family because we’re too interested in the more exciting stories of the people down the street.

I believe sometimes the younger generations have a reputation for not listening to or caring about the history behind them {and for some, that’s unfortunately true}. But the twentieth century saw some incredible changes! In our grandparents and parents lifetimes, we had some of the largest leaps in terms of technology, inventions, how life was lived, etc. And those experiences of living without much technology and growing up without the world in your palm will never happen again.

I for one find history fascinating. The things I completely take for granted — air conditioning, easy transportation, indoor plumbing — are relatively new when you think about the history of the world. Yet it’s hard for me to imagine growing up without them.

It’s so important for us to learn and listen from other people who have been through different experiences than us. We understand and appreciate things when we see them from various perspectives. But we never know a perspective besides our own unless we ask someone for theirs and listen.

Once we stop assuming we know everything about someone, we might find out some incredible things. Like my mom grew up on a farm and had to help thin and pick the cotton. She walked the fields barefoot and climbed trees to pick cherries. My dad went to Detroit Tigers double headers with his family, competed in football competitions, and taste-tested his mom’s homemade sauerkraut.

All these things are simple, small details but sometimes those are things that get lost and are underappreciated and yet, they have a bearing on memories and lives and decisions made. God uses even the littlest circumstances and we need to appreciate that in our lives and in the lives of others.

So, my challenge is to take time to write about your memories and childhood. You might it’s uninteresting or will never be read, but it is valuable. And take time to ask questions of others and listen to their life stories. I can guarantee you will learn something!!

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

The Balance of Mothering and Creating

For years, I’ve had this struggle: finding the balance between being a mom and being a creative.

I love my kids and I love homeschooling them and watching them learn and grow. I’m so thankful for the things they have taught me and the ways they have stretched me. But I miss working on a project without interruptions. I wish I could sit and write when the inspiration hits instead of scribbling disjointed thoughts on a paper that lays beside my computer for weeks until I get to it. It’s hard to pursue what I love while fully giving attention to the people I love.

I don’t think this is an unusual struggle. I think moms everywhere are trying to find a balance. Maybe for you it’s painting, photography, baking, DIY projects. There’s something you love that inspires you and pulls on you. But you are reminded daily {hourly?} that there is a more important pull, one that won’t always be there. The desire to play and create with your kids, to teach them new things and read your favorite stories aloud. To answer their questions and comfort their fears. You know they won’t always run to you or climb in your lap. So you put your dreams aside with a sigh and embrace the joy before you.

In my quest to spend my time wisely and make room for my hobbies, I’ve read books and blog posts about this delicate balance. They all suggest working while the little ones sleep, rising early, dedicating Sunday afternoon/evening to your craft. But sometimes those aren’t possible. Kids who don’t nap, seasons of sickness and transition when you have to grab any rest you can get, obligations that take the first of your limited free time. These are all real struggles. It doesn’t mean you aren’t seizing every moment. Sometimes there aren’t many moments to seize.

The last few years have been the most difficult for me. Two children in a row that didn’t nap or sleep well at night left me exhausted. Going from two kids to three upped the laundry, cleaning, cooking, argument settling. Changing up our homeschool routine meant I needed to spend more time planning and prepping and overseeing. My desire to write never left or diminished. It just got pushed to the side. And while I’m okay with that because I love being with my family, there’s still the urge to journal and research and read in every moment of space — no matter how small. I’ve been known to stand at the stove, stirring sauce with a book in my other hand. I carry a notebook in my purse and sometimes scribble a question or thought before I climb out of the car to grocery shop.

I have no great advice on pursuing your creative dreams and desires while balancing mom life. I haven’t found a magic formula, a golden hour, a tried and true routine. When my family needs me, I try my best to be there. I try to put them first in my time and energy, even when that means I don’t get ‘creative space’ every day. But I also acknowledge that they can join my creative pursuits. I take my pen and paper outside while they play, I tell them my ideas while we eat lunch together, I turn the music loud so they can dance behind me while I’m typing. It’s not perfect. But we make it work. And I continue to wait. And write. And trust God to meet me where I am.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash.

The Importance of Story

I love a good story. There are some genres or styles that I prefer, but if there are well developed characters with a compelling plot, I’m all in.

I’m not only interested in fiction stories, however. I love hearing about someone’s life stories and experiences. Many times, I’ve been completely surprised to hear the jobs people have had, the things they’ve seen or places they’ve traveled. It’s one of the joys in talking with friends and meeting new people. You can’t tell someone’s story with just a quick glance. It takes time, effort, and genuine interest.

In today’s ‘me’ focused culture, I’m afraid we’re losing our love for story. Sure, we are thrilled to share OUR story and experiences with everyone, but how often do we actively ask and listen and pursue the stories of others? Sometimes experiences shared with others are hard to hear. Real life doesn’t come with guaranteed happy endings and often our greatest moments of learning and growing in life come because of difficult things. But that’s why it’s so important to listen and care about the stories people share with us. They are giving a glimpse into themselves. And often the passions, values, and traditions of people are a direct result of their experiences.

Another benefit I find in listening to others is hearing their perspective. We all have our own voice, our own way of perceiving the things around us. I love listening to my kids tell about their day. The things they choose to include in the nightly report and the details they give tell me something about them. Often my takeaways from the day are much different than theirs, and we’ve been together all day, doing the same things! Yet their perspective and voice are not mine. Some events are so shattering that we all experience them. Pearl Harbor, the assassination of JFK, 9/11. For the people who were alive during those events, they each have memories, a story, a perspective on where they were and how things changed after. Unless it is shared and recorded, that perspective will be lost.

So how do you start sharing your story or appreciating the perspective of others? For yourself, start a journal. Even if you write sparingly, record your strengths, fears, thoughts about life, and memories. Then start asking questions from the people around you and listen — actually listen. Listen with interest and intention. I believe if we start appreciating the stories of others and investing time in those around us, we will grow closer to each other and learn more.

Photo by Wu Yi on Unsplash.

Writing and Waiting

A little over a year ago something amazing happened to me.

We were in the midst of putting our house up for sale, we had an offer in on a house we loved, and we had a one month old baby in addition to our two others kids. There were ministries at church, homeschooling, making family time, and trying to stay sane.

I hadn’t started this blog because writing seemed like a far off dream. Definitely something I couldn’t give daily time to. Then — out of the blue — I received a message from an acquaintance who I had written a few questions about writing. She was a published author and I knew her from several different circles but our correspondence had been limited. She asked in her message if I would be willing to contribute a few devotionals for an upcoming publication meant to specifically encourage moms. And she needed them by the end of the month.

I showed the message to Tommy, too stunned to reply. Even though the schedule was packed, he said he thought I should do it. He volunteered to help out with whatever I needed in the coming month. I took a few breaths and wrote back asking for more information and that I was very interested.

Over the next few days, I thought about what encouraged me as a mom and how it related to gospel truth. I wrote using my phone in every small moment I could grab. I dictated ideas and Bible verses while packing boxes. With Tommy’s help and lots of grace I was able to write two devotionals and get them sent in on time. Just in time for Mother’s Day last year, the booklet was published and we moved into our new home.

Then a busy summer hit, and we started homeschool in the fall and life just took off again. And my writing once again took a backseat to everything else in life. In our new home, I have a beautiful office in a spare bedroom and a few times a week I carve out enough time to write a blog post, pursue a new idea, journal some thoughts.

Although my efforts seem small, my goal is to keep going. To keep doing what I love and feel called to. Sometimes we look at what others are doing and imagine the joy of being there ourselves. But it seems impossible because of different circumstances and life stages. We wonder when this will pass and we can pursue the next thing — the thing we really want. I’ve had those moments. The wondering when my baby will sleep through the night so I have energy to wake up early and get things done before the kids join me. The waiting as I query publishers about a project I’ve been working on for years.

But the truth I’ve come to recognize is that even when we are in seasons of waiting and it looks like our passions will remain dormant forever, we are still growing and learning. And in that personal growth our passions and desires grow too. I might not be able to sit and write as often as I want but when I get the chance, my fingers have learned to fly! The number of words I can pour onto a page in an hour is much greater than it used to be. My experiences have changed what I write and the tone I use. Feedback from editors on the few projects I’ve done has sharpened my skills and helped me recognize errors I’m prone to.

The waiting is not wasted time. The writing I scribble into journals and dictate into my phone on walks is not wasted. It is all used to teach me and grow me and change me so that when the time is right, I’ll be better equipped to use my passion for God.

Photo by Neven Krcmarek on Unsplash

Finding Our Creativity

I wrote last week about why creativity is important. {If you didn’t see that post, click here to read.} So today I want to piggyback off of that thought and address you specifically. Are you creative? Well, if you read last week’s post you know the answer is YES! Everyone has a creative side - just in different ways.

I hear adults say all the time, “I’m not creative. I could never do the things you do.” But I want to stop you right there. As I mentioned above, there are differences of creativity. Some people look at a room and can visualize the perfect colors, styles, furniture for the space. Others see a collection of objects and know how to fit them together to make something. Maybe it’s looking in the pantry and throwing together a gourmet meal or a beautifully decorated cake. Or planting just the right flowers to fill a space with a variety of height and color. Or maybe it’s following the directions and pattern from someone else but putting your own flair on the finished product.

The product of creativity is all around us. But most of us still insist, “I’m not creative.” I believe much of this is thanks to the internet. It’s hard to consider your own efforts when you look on YouTube or Pinterest and see the amazing things people are able to create. We immediately think we could never do that {I’m guilty of this also} and bemoan the fact we didn’t get a creative gene.

But wait! We did! We are all capable of some form of creativity - even if we feel like we’re all thumbs. Maybe we have to practice at things that come naturally to others. Maybe our product will never look good enough to sell on Etsy. But we can do it! I offer myself as an example.

I was always more into the writing creative process than the art/craft/drawing creative process. And somehow my creativity with words seemed less stunning than a watercolor painting done by a friend. But as my daughter got older, it became clear that she was going to be a crafter. Coloring, drawing, cutting, and gluing were fun for her. While she did dress up and play with dolls, those things always led to a craft {“I need to make a paper rug for the dollhouse”, “I want to make a tiara”, “Let’s make a paperchain necklace”, etc.}. I found myself attempting a whole list of things I never thought I’d be creative enough to do because my daughter wanted to try. And I wanted to encourage her interests.

Now I’m not a master crafter and it doesn’t bring me quite the joy it brings my oldest. But I have discovered ways to let my creative side out that I never tried before being a #momofacraftqueen .

So what is stopping you? Even if you feel your creative brain is running on empty, I challenge you to give it a try! And let me say that being creative doesn’t mean being the first to come up with something. I am terrible at coming up with paper plate craft ideas, but my kids love making things from paper plates. A quick Pinterest search gives us loads of options of animals to make by cutting paper plates just so and then we get creative by decorating them how we choose! Let me encourage you with a few things I’ve done.

1. Start with coloring. The adult coloring phase is still going strong! You can find books with detailed pictures or just geometric shapes. Grab a book and some Sharpies, gel pens, or colored pencils and go to town!

2. Watch tutorials on YouTube. You can really get sucked in here! Think of something you want to learn {knitting, painting, doodling, sewing…} and search for “XYZ for beginners” or “Learning XYZ”. I’ve watched several tutorials on handlettering, watercolors, and drawing flowers. I’m no expert yet, but these gave me a start to begin practicing.

3. Ask. If you know someone who does something well, ask if they can teach you. I recently asked a friend if she can teach me and my daughter to knit. This becomes a fun time together and a chance to learn something new.

4. Start journaling. Even if you don’t know what to write, even if you think you have nothing to say, grab a beautiful, inexpensive journal from Marshall’s or Ross and just write! Write about what happened today, what you learned from your Bible reading, funny things the kids said or the dog did. Describe the weather or what you plan to do tomorrow. Once you start, it’ll become easier.

I could go on but you get the idea. The only thing holding your creativity back is you not trying. Even if you can’t visualize a project on your own and you need directions start to finish, you are making it and that makes it unique. Don’t let the fear of failing keep you from trying. Made in God’s image we have the ability to create for his glory. And when we do something we never thought we could, we can be quick to bring all the credit to him.

Photo by Elena Tudor on Unsplash

Why I Changed What I Write

When I was a child library trips were a weekly event. I knew which shelf my favorite authors were found on in three different libraries. I would return home and spend the afternoon in my room, usually finishing one of the books I had just picked out.

But I not only enjoyed reading what others put together. I loved to write my own stories and thoughts and questions. I started simple - a daily diary - and moved on to journaling, short stories, a few poems. It didn’t always make sense and almost always made my parents laugh but I loved writing.

In the years after I got married I tried to improve my skills. I read books about various styles and elements, I read different genres to compare them, I did worksheets and wrote scenes and brainstormed characters. I was focused on novel writing because that was what I read most frequently. But in 2016 my mind began to shift.

As a pastor’s wife I started reading more Bible studies, getting into theological conversations, and being asked to recommend authors. I found that the women in my church were hungry for more spiritual substance than many books written for women were giving. And as I read and researched I discovered it wasn’t limited to my church. There was a cry for Christian living/Bible study books written by women for women that contained more than “How do you feel?” questions. Books that dove into real study of the Word and made you ponder truths about God.

I was asking and studying a lot on my own. Questions spurred on by my husband’s preaching through Ephesians and conversations with others. As I outlined and wrote and had “wow” moments, I realized I enjoyed it more than creating my own universe in a novel. Studying God’s Word, learning, and then attempting to write and explain what I was learning became all I could think of when I sat down for writing sessions.

Now, I still love novels. I still have a notebook of ideas and half written scenes waiting for my time. And maybe someday I’ll return to them. But for now studying the Bible and writing my discoveries and sharing my “wow” moments is my passion.

As I’ve studied and read I’ve found some wonderful books by women for women that helped me greatly in studying in the Bible. That’s a post for another time. And I’m not saying my writing is better than most things out there. But I feel strongly that God is leading me in this direction for now. And I’m happy to follow.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

On Writing in Motherhood

I sit at my desk, laptop open. A blank page flickers on the screen. I position my hands above the keyboard. And the baby cries. Or my son rushes in asking for a snack. Or my older daughter needs help hot gluing a craft together. And so ends my brief escape into writing.

Despite the many interruptions they bring, I don't begrudge my children for needing me when I would rather be writing. They are far more important than anything I could hope to put onto paper.

But that doesn't mean I give up my love of creating and writing and shove it aside until the children are out of the house. Even the small, short moments I carve out to write my blog posts are special to me and needed. Some people unwind by watching a movie or running. I turn to words.

Just about any friend I've had for any length of time knows I'm passionate about books - both reading them and writing them. As a child, after reading every Nancy Drew the library had, I wrote my own mystery-style books. When I felt sad I tried my hand at poetry. I have journals from high school through today chronicling my life. I received a journalism degree in college and wrote for the school newspaper. Clearly, written words and thoughts and stories have always been a part of my life.

Having children didn't change that dream. It just modified it. I have to be intentional about the time I get to write. I'm scribbling this post on my phone while my youngest naps in my arms. I've written scenes for novels in doctor’s office waiting rooms. I've dictated ideas to a phone app while walking through the neighborhood with my kids in tow.

And I've realized that just because something looks different than you imagined it doesn't mean it can't happen. I always pictured myself at a desk typing away for hours at a time. Maybe sometime life will look like that. But for now it's a baby on the floor of my office, two kids running in and out asking questions, needing help. It's writing pieces of the same post or chapter over three different days. And sometimes it's not getting any writing done for a whole week.

But I wouldn't change this version of my writing life. In the midst of frustrations, my children are a source of love, joy, and laughter. So my writing creeps on but my life is all the deeper for the interruptions.

If you want to see how I juggle my writing with three young kids, click on my Instagram handle at the bottom of the page and search for #mywritermomlife

Photo by jeshoots.com on Unsplash

Grace. Hope. Everyday.

If you’ve seen my author Facebook page or my profile on Twitter, you might notice that the banner simply reads, “Grace. Hope. Everyday”.

One of the things I’ve learned from different author friends is the importance of a tag line. This is a few words that ‘sums up’ what you write or why you write. Besides giving readers a quick idea of what to expect from the author, it also serves to keep the author on track with his or her message.

Coming up with a tag line is more difficult than you’d think! I wrote dozens of ideas down and then filtered my current writing and stack of possible future stories through each option, looking for the perfect tag line to ‘brand’ my writing with.

Even though I write a variety of genres - I have contemporary novels, a devotional book, and a Christian living book all sitting on my hard drive - when I sat and thought about the main focus, they all came down to two words: Grace and Hope. Really, the more I thought about my writing, the more I realized the reason I write everything I do is because of grace and to give hope. And the more I looked at the world around me, I understood why these two words are so important to me.

Without God’s grace, I have nothing. And it’s this same grace that He has extended to everyone through the death of Christ on the cross. If the Creator of the universe can forgive and be gracious to me, how much more should I seek to show grace to others?

Without the hope of an eternity with God, everything I did on earth would be pointless. When life hurts, disappoints, and discourages me, I have hope for the future. Not a bland, pie in the sky hope but a promised hope from the All Knowing God Who knew me before I was born.

When people read anything I write - a post, a blog, a book (someday!) - I want them to walk away encouraged in the God we serve. I want them to see His grace can extend to the lowest of sinners. I want them to know hope for tomorrow is possible in Him. And since we are daily learning, growing, walking this Christian life, I wanted to remind readers, these aren’t one time words. We don’t get grace once. We don’t feel hope once. It’s a daily process of seeking Him, leaning on Him, and asking Him to help us. To give us Grace. Hope. Everyday.

Photo by michael baird on Unsplash