Hope Wilbanks

Days of Change

2010-02-27T13:20:00.001-06:00

The last several months have been a whirlwind of change in my life. Aside from all the moves I’ve made (and I’m not talking about dance moves, either), there has been a lot of shifting within me. This is the biggest reason why I quit blogging. I’ve mostly been trying to hang on for the ride, and keep myself steady through all the changes. And there are more to come soon. The thing I am most

Life’s Little Moments

2009-10-28T10:08:00.001-05:00

For a few weeks now I have been overwhelmed with current events. Every day I found myself glued to the news (mostly online), checking for the lastest stories to keep me abreast on what’s happening around the world and here at home in the U.S. I’ve been disheartened with what’s going on. Yet, at the same time, I feel my spirit dancing because I know this world is not my home, and one of these days

Are you ready?

2009-10-22T07:01:00.001-05:00

With every passing day, there are more and more events happening and plans being set into motion that confirm the Word of God about the end of time. It seems like the last few weeks my awareness has become much more astute than ever before. Growing up, I always heard older people talking about the rapture. I heard them say many times that Jesus was coming soon. And I’ve always believed that one

When God Tells You To Ask

2009-09-29T05:54:00.001-05:00

“Moreover, the Lord spoke again to King Ahaz, saying, Ask for yourself a sign (a token or proof) of the Lord your God [one that will convince you that God has spoken and will keep His word]; ask it either in the depth below or the height above [let it be as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven]. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.” - Isaiah 7:10-12 War was

What’s on the agenda

2009-09-28T06:29:00.001-05:00

This morning I’m sitting here thinking about all the things I need to do and all the things I want to do this week. The last few weeks have been especially interesting around here—mostly because I have been struggling to find balance in my life amidst a lot of stress. I have totally disregarded schedules and planning and I think that is only contributing to my stress levels. I like order. I like

I Almost Let Go

2009-09-21T13:50:00.001-05:00

< How many times has this been my song? I can’t even begin to count. The last week has been a really tough one for me. I have lost so much sleep in the last six months or so, and it finally caught up with me. My body started ignoring me, deciding it was time for me to listen to it and slow down and rest. My mind began to fail, as my emotions took control of me. Finally, over the weekend

How do you know when you’re in the will of God?

2009-09-17T07:35:00.001-05:00

This is a question I’ve asked myself many times. Is it even possible to know the will of God? How can I be sure I am in the will of God? At one point, I even felt like this was some elusive, supernatural subject that I simply would never comprehend. So I pretty much gave up on trying to figure it out. So…can you know if you’re in the will of God? Definitely! Trust me, when you aren’t in His

Thank God For The Broken Pieces

2009-09-14T10:57:00.001-05:00

Last night my pastor preached an awesome message, under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. For a brief summary, he preached that God has provided the broken pieces in our lives so that we can be saved. But all too often, we worry about the broken mess in our life, and become frantic, feeling like there’s no way we can salvage the brokenness. We’re barely treading water, so we can’t see or

Home Management 101 – Part 1

2009-09-11T08:18:00.001-05:00

Read the Managers of Our Homes series to learn more. As I created my Household Notebook, it opened my eyes to how I had been allowing some things to slip through my fingers because I either wasn’t paying attention to them, or hadn’t thought of them in the first place. Another thing I learned was that that are many facets to running a home, and my diamond needed some polishing—ASAP. So my HN

Managers of our Homes – The Series

2009-09-11T08:15:00.001-05:00

If you missed any of this 3-part series I’ve been writing, about managing our homes, here are the links to all three parts: Managers of our Homes – Part 1 Managers of our Homes – Part 2 Managers of our Homes – Part 3 I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic!

Managers of our Homes – Part 3

2009-09-10T12:49:00.001-05:00

How to Become a Mom, CEO (aka. Home Manager) Now that we’ve laid a foundation for this series, I am going to discuss some things I’ve personally begun doing in my own home. I’ll probably also share ideas of ways I plan to continue building on this. I’m not saying I have the answers to all this; I’m learning as I go. One thing I know for sure, since I started embracing the role of Mom, CEO of my

Managers of our Homes– Part 2

2009-09-10T12:16:00.001-05:00

Laying the Foundation To become a manager, or land a supervisory position in the “real” working world, there are certain measures you must take. Unless you are super special, you won’t land a managerial position until you have knowledge and experience in that field. You have to have a proven track record that shows you can actually follow through and do what your resume says you can do for

Managers of our Homes – Part 1

2009-09-10T11:52:00.001-05:00

Introduction I was originally going to direct this thought towards stay-at-home-moms/women, but then I decided this isn’t only relevant to at-home women, but to all of us women. We’ve all read and studied the Proverbs 31 woman, and I’ll be the first to admit that so many of us have discussed it that sometimes it seems a tad redundant. But if we seek to be more like Christ and follow His

Clutter Dump

2009-09-09T05:45:00.001-05:00

This morning I stumbled across this blog post, where the writer started a 10 Things Challenge, in an effort to get rid of ten things per week. I really like this idea. I’ve been ignoring an urge to dig through closets and boxes and do a huge clutter dump from my house. Reading that blog post sparked the courage in me to get started this week. I’ve been ignoring and procrastinating this because (

5 Reasons Why I’m A Better Person Today

2009-09-05T05:13:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I feel self-doubt creep in and start to question myself. Have I really grown? Am I refining myself like I need to? How am I changing into a better person? Most of the time when I start doubting myself, it’s because I have allowed outside circumstances to dominate my mind and time. One of the best ways to stop myself from heading into a tail spin is to define ways I’ve changed and grown.

I have a testimony

2009-08-27T04:33:00.001-05:00

Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony…” The devil has been trying his best to attack me this week. The best place to find strength this morning was in the Word, and this scripture popped up first thing. I need to overcome Satan right now, so I'm going to share a testimony with you. (In your face, Satan!) Several years

Personal Themes

2009-08-03T04:49:00.001-05:00

After reading about my friend setting a yearly theme for herself, I pondered on that idea for quite some time. I read the article she referred to, but it still needed time to sink in. This morning I realized that even though I didn’t consciously set a yearly theme for myself for 2009, I’ve actually had one (or more) all along. Make new friends. This is something I’ve struggled with for several

My 33rd List

2009-06-18T22:42:00.001-05:00

I’ve been having a pity party for a couple of days now. Between turning 33 yesterday and another major important event in my life all happening at once, it has been extremely overwhelming. I have to admit I haven’t handled it very well. If not for my children I would have stayed in bed both days. So tonight I’m sitting here working on some things and thinking about what’s been bothering me

Letting Myself Go

2009-06-15T09:34:00.001-05:00

It's one of those days. After lots of great family time last week, it all ended Saturday night when we had to take Robert back. Then I got the news yesterday about what day they'll be leaving and that has just thrown me into a huge tailspin. I've known this was coming for months. I kept telling myself this time would be easier. It isn't. In fact, it's worse. I feel like there's so many things

Digging It Out Of The Trash

2009-05-29T08:16:00.001-05:00

My life has been a whirlwind of insane events over the last two months. Every ounce of me has been uprooted and changed. And I don't like it. I've been "just dealing" with everything that's been happening, telling myself to just keep putting one foot in front of the other and make it through another day. But I don't want to just barely survive. I want to live. I have avoided blogging for

One Step At A Time

2009-04-15T16:01:00.000-05:00

When I decided to go back to college last year and finally get a degree, it was a huge leap of faith. Several months into my education, I became incredibly unhappy with my classes, but couldn't understand why. My grades were great (except for the last class I had), but there was something missing. I was excited about the prospect of earning a college degree. But the excitement of what I was

Books that surprise you

2009-04-15T06:20:00.001-05:00

I can’t keep it a secret any longer. I am officially a Stephenie Meyer fan. Specifically, a Twilight fan. I didn’t want to be. I tried my best not to be sucked into the vortex. Alas, I failed. :) After watching the Twilight movie this past weekend, I was too interested in “what happens next…?” I had to grab New Moon to find out, and ended up reading it in less than 3 days. I love it when

One hour at a time

2009-04-15T05:47:00.001-05:00

I’m at a time in my life when I am faced again with living in the moment. I literally have to mark my life one hour at a time. I am having trouble sleeping at night. I don’t feel afraid, just leery of closing my eyes. I hate this. The time passes slowly, when I wish it would fly. When I’d like it to slow down, it moves too quickly. It’s my Catch 24 right now. I’m sure it sounds like I’m

Make Sure You Know Your Mouth

2009-04-08T04:50:00.001-05:00

I've had a cavity that I let fester because I haven't had dental insurance. I had already went beyond "pain." It had hurt for so long that I guess I just ignored the pain. Until part of my tooth broke off last week. Yeah. When I went to the dentist, hoping he could wave his magic mouth tools and fix it, he shook his head and told me that I'd either need a root canal or pull the tooth because the

Making a Household Notebook

2009-04-07T07:00:00.001-05:00

Over the last couple of days, I did a lot of researching and printing. I have learned quite a bit along the way about creating a Household Notebook. (By the way, there is lots of advice online about doing this. Just Google "Household Notebook" and you'll get a ton of links to blogs and websites on this topic.) I decided to begin by creating these sections (not necessarily in this order in my

Managing My Home & Finances

2009-04-05T13:09:00.001-05:00

After a pretty rough month last month and a well-deserved break, I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get back to work. I've been letting things "go" just to maintain my own sanity, but enough is enough. Now it's time to get back to the land of the living. I am starting April with a new outlook on my personal life. My sister has encouraged and motivated me to step up and fill my own shoes. I've

Finding My Footing

2009-03-30T19:15:00.001-05:00

I haven’t blogged in a few weeks because I’ve been trying to find my footing. I also don’t find it as easy to blog about personal matters any more. I used to blog about everything from screwing up my weight loss to missing my husband while he was in Iraq. Now I find it difficult to open up and share very much, for fear it will be somehow used against me. I’ll set aside those apprehensions for now

Longing

2009-03-07T19:31:00.001-06:00

I feel like the last three months of my life have been a whirlwind that I was swept up in. So many changes, so many things happening. And when I feel like I just might have a handle on things, something else happens to trip me yet again. Somehow I manage to get back up, though. The last few weeks have been particularly challenging for me. Without going into great detail, I have questioned many

Pay It Forward

2009-03-03T07:59:00.001-06:00

If you have a few extra dollars and want to do something nice for someone else, click here to read Jenn’s post. It’s a good cause for a little boy that will be positively affected by your generosity. No amount is ever too small.

It makes my world go 'round

2009-02-15T06:03:00.001-06:00

When I got up this morning, I found a note from my husband on my laptop. (Smart fella, figuring out the right spot to leave me a note. *wink*) I couldn’t help but smile as I read it. He apologized twice for not having a card to give me (yesterday). I couldn’t care less about not getting a card. The idea that he took the time to sit down and write me a note before he left for work this morning

Thank God for You

2009-02-14T07:08:00.001-06:00

I thank my God every time I remember you. -- Philippians 1:3 I know today is a day for sweethearts. It’s a special day to remember to tell your sweetie how much you love him/her. But this morning, my heart is in a different place. Today I’m thinking about someone very special to me that isn’t on this earth anymore. So I just want to take a few moments to remember her. Cindy Martin

Figuring it out as I go

2009-02-06T16:07:00.001-06:00

I’ve been MIA for a while now because there’s been much going on in my life. The kids and I moved back to Louisiana after a month. Mississippi was great—Emily’s school was wonderful—but it just wasn’t home. We were all sad and homesick, and after suffering through a few weeks, I finally made an executive decision to come back home. Right now we’re coming off a week-long sickness. First I got

Longing For Something To Happen

2009-01-13T08:14:00.001-06:00

Have you ever had that feeling like you are just dying for some sort of change in your life? That’s where I’m at right now. I feel like I’m on the cusp of…something. I don’t know what. I’m dying for something good to happen in my life. I long for a change—a positive one. I’m longing for something to happen. I’ve been praying for God to use me…for whatever His purpose may be. I’m also praying for

What's Your Word?

2009-01-08T07:48:00.001-06:00

Your Word is "Peace" You see life as precious, and you wish everyone was safe, happy, and taken care of. Social justice, human rights, and peace for all nations are all important to you. While you can't stop war, you try to be as calm and compassionate as possible in your everyday life. You promote harmony and cooperation. You're always willing to meet someone a little more than halfway.

Getting back into routines

2009-01-07T16:49:00.001-06:00

School started back Monday. Although the first day in her new school didn't go so well for Emily, yesterday and today were much better. (Actually, school went fine--they put her on the wrong bus Monday afternoon.) Now that she's back in school, I am adjusting to having Elijah at home with me all the time again. He was in Pre-K in Louisiana. They don't have that here in Mississippi. So for now

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009

2009-01-01T16:39:00.001-06:00

I'm ringing in the new year in a new home. The first few days were hectic and very emotional, but we are beginning to settle in and I think things are going to be just fine. I have been so busy with the move that I've had very little time to reflect on 2008. Today was sort of a lazy, quiet day, though, and I've had plenty of thinking time on my hands. 2008 was very much a year of inner personal

I Survived "The Move"

2008-12-29T18:49:00.001-06:00

I'm happy to share that I've survived the 12-hour trip and our official move to north Mississippi. To say this past weekend was long, stressful, and emotional would be an understatement. But I survived to tell the story. LOL! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

When a parent's job gets harder at Christmas

2008-12-17T04:23:00.001-06:00

Every year Emily attempts to guess what's under the Christmas tree. The last two years she's gotten pretty good at it. What I didn't realize is that she also can't keep a secret anymore. Last year she wanted a laptop. I thought it was a little too soon. She was only 8, after all, but Robert insisted she have her own laptop. All the presents were wrapped under the tree, and of course, Emily

Sickness, go away!

2008-12-17T04:01:00.001-06:00

I'm still struggling to get better. I woke up with a terrible sore throat about three days ago. Two nights ago I slept all night, but last night was another rough one for me. I'm beginning to wonder if this crazy illness will ever go away. The weather here isn't helping things either. Last Thursday we received 5"+ of snow. By Sunday, the temps were warming again. Monday we were back in the 70s.

Book Review: Reflections of God's Holy Land

2008-12-13T07:48:00.001-06:00

Reflections of God’s Holy Land is a remarkable, wonderful book that has broad appeal for every Christian. Eva Marie Everson has created an amazingly beautiful book, filled with photographs from her journey across the Holy Land. Hardcover and filled with full-color photos from her life-changing journey through Israel, this book is an investment you will be pleased with for years to come. The

In My Skin

2008-12-12T05:26:00.001-06:00

It feels good To be in this skin Of mine. No worries no more About what you think, say or do. I never realized how much I let you get to me. Until now. I love you. But I don't care anymore what you say or do. I'm me. Just me. Love me or leave me. I love this skin of mine.

Brief Update

2008-12-12T04:49:00.001-06:00

I'm slowly--finally--beginning to feel better. I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has been praying for me the last couple of weeks. I've felt your prayers wrap around me like a warm blanket, and it was just what I needed while I was sick. I got my first full dose of meds on Tuesday. They're finally kicking in, I suppose, because yesterday evening I could tell that I felt better.

I've Been Sick

2008-12-09T05:43:00.001-06:00

I haven't meant to be away from my blog for so long, but I've been incredibly sick. About three weeks ago I started with a cold. I took OTC meds, hoping to cure myself because I don't have medical insurance. It didn't work. I only got sicker. I went to the doctor the week of Thanksgiving and was told I had an upper respiratory infection. By then, I had a constant cough that was more than

What are you wearing?

2008-12-02T13:23:00.001-06:00

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." - Colossians 3:12, New International Version In the intoxicating rush of the holiday season, do you find yourself almost running on auto-pilot at times? Do you walk by the bell ringers without so much as a sideways glance? Do you rush past fellow

Book Review: Joshua's Hope

2008-12-02T06:35:00.001-06:00

I have been reading through ebooks like crazy lately. My latest favorite read is Joshua's Hope, by Carol Ann Erhardt. Hope's Review Hope Courtland has survived an emotionally abusive marriage and is fighting for the one thing that made it all worthwhile--her stepson, Joshua. She's frustrated with God and feels like He's just not listening to her prayers. Zack Stone is a small-town sheriff,

Neglect Not The Body

2008-11-29T06:28:00.001-06:00

"For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself." - 1 Corinthians 11:29 I receive several quotes and scriptures daily via email. When this one landed this morning, I sort of skimmed over it. I've heard this scripture used many times, most often during communion services. Just as I hit the delete button to trash the email with

A Sip of Inspiration

2008-11-27T14:21:00.004-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-26T06:47:00.001-06:00

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." - Marcel Proust During a time of year when the pace of life increases, remember to take a few moments to express your gratitude towards the ones you love. Rather than focus on people who might create negative feelings or emotions, spend time with the ones who love you and

A Cough That Won't Quit

2008-11-21T16:10:00.001-06:00

I've been fighting a horrible cough all week. Monday started out okay. Tuesday I thought I felt better. I actually felt well enough to sit down and complete all my class work for this week. My goal was to do that so I'd have the rest of the week to focus on my research paper. Only, I've been so sick since Tuesday that I can barely sit up straight, let alone research and prepare notes and an

When "Stuff" Happens

2008-11-19T10:44:00.001-06:00

I've been fighting some sort of nasty crud since the weekend. While I'm feeling better than I did a few days ago, I still have a horrible cough. Someone gave me a tip this morning (rub Vicks vapor rub on soles of feet, then wear socks) so I decided to make a quick run to the store. About half-way there, an 18-wheeler flung a rock into my windshield. It didn't bust a hold all the way through, but

Bearing Fruit

2008-11-18T07:46:00.001-06:00

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." - John 15:4 (NIV) Have you ever attempted to do something that you knew in your heart wasn't right? You probably struggled against the grain, trying to prove to yourself and everyone else that you could do it. But in the end, you

Cup of Hope now available in paperback!

2008-11-17T11:12:00.001-06:00

I took the plunge last week and decided to self-publish Cup of Hope, Reflections from my heart. It is available in paperback and e-book formats through Lulu. Here's a brief excerpt: "The word of God is our bread of life. I have learned the times I feel weakest are when I’ve neglected my daily prayer and bible study. Just as we need nourishment for our physical bodies, we also need

Take Inventory

2008-11-15T10:21:00.001-06:00

When was the last time you took inventory of your life? Do you ever reflect on the past, to determine if you're getting anywhere? Is your life moving forward, or are you still stuck in the same crevice you were in three years ago? This morning I pulled out a couple of my older backup discs, in search of a particular file. I ended up spending over an hour digging through old writing files. I am

NANO No-Go

2008-11-14T08:57:00.001-06:00

As much as I'd rather not "out" myself here, I have to admit that I've slacked on my NANO novel...again. I haven't written a word since last weekend. I've been working on assignments for my Ethics class, among other things. I'm not giving up on my book, but I just might not get in the entire 50,000 words by the end of the month. I'll try to make a big push this weekend to add to my word count.

Finding the Good

2008-11-13T05:56:00.001-06:00

This past week has been a struggle for me. When I find myself in this spot, I have to be even more diligent in forcing myself to find the good in everything, because it's just easier to see the bad. Then I received an email newsletter yesterday that provided me with just the boost I needed. All too often, when we're down in the slumps, we just stay there. We focus on all the stuff going on

Square Pegs Don't Fit In Round Holes

2008-11-09T18:28:00.001-06:00

I've had a very long weekend of sickness in my house. Since I completed my assignments earlier in the week, I decided this was the perfect opportunity for me to catch up on some reading. Lately I've been trying to break out of the box and broaden my horizons. During my last few trips to the public library, I've chosen books I normally would have passed. I still have my personal boundaries of

Comic Relief from Sonic Drive-In

2008-11-06T10:40:00.001-06:00

I absolutely love Sonic's commercials. They're unique and hilarious and I hope Sonic keeps them coming! This is one of my favorites, but they're all funny. Hope this provides you with some comic relief today. I know I needed a good laugh. :)

Incompatible Plans

2008-11-02T21:13:00.001-06:00

"We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it." - Proverbs 16:9 (The Message) I've increased my personal prayers lately, with regards to God's will for my life. So many times, I am led astray by my own desires and dreams. To be honest, I'm tired of stepping outside His will, just to follow after my own. I can look back over my 32 years on this earth and give

NANO - Day 1

2008-11-01T20:17:00.001-05:00

I've officially made it through the first day of NANO 2008. I wrote a little over 1,200 words today. I wanted to write a little bit more than that on my first day, but this is a decent start. I'm happy with it. I have a pretty good outline so I think I should be able to get through this book this month.

Gearing Up For NaNoWriMo 2008

2008-10-31T06:40:00.001-05:00

This post is mostly about how I came up with my idea for this year's NANO. Warning: It could bore you to tears. :) I've been on break from school for two weeks now. During this brief intermission, I've worked on world and character building for a novel I'll write during NANO this year. I'm starting with a book idea I actually began writing several years ago. When I found the file folder and

I Have Hope...?

2008-10-30T10:32:00.001-05:00

There's a song I like that talks about having hope in every situation, no matter what comes or goes, there is always Hope. And yet, despite my own name being Hope, there are so many times when I feel hopeless. I've been wondering...why is that? To hope is to be optimistic. To wish and be full of expectation. To act upon the possibility of something positive happening. I used to be full of hope

I Feel Myself Going Through The Change Again

2008-10-29T06:31:00.001-05:00

No...I don't mean THE change. I'll explain... When my husband went to Iraq the last time, I was a nervous wreck. We'd just had our son, so he was not even a year old when my husband's unit was activated for deployment. To top it off, he became violently ill after my husband left. Our daughter was still at home and had not started school yet. To say I had a lot on my plate is an understatement.

Beginning Again

2008-10-28T05:36:00.001-05:00

When I killed off this blog a couple of years ago, I never thought I'd resurrect it. But I was wrong. :) After several turns of events (and losing a "new" personal blog I'd started again on my personal website), I decided to come back to good old Blogger and continue my personal blogging here. This blog won't have a specific theme. It's always been personal, and it will remain that way. One of

Choices

2006-10-01T13:37:00.000-05:00

One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And, the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.Eleanor Roosevelt

To share, or not to share

2006-04-19T10:48:00.000-05:00

I have been rethinking this whole blog thing. I've asked myself what is the purpose for keeping a blog? It seems that over the last two years or so, my blog has evolved. At this point, I'm not sure what my purpose is for blogging.There's the issue of getting too personal. Sharing too much information isn't always a good thing. I do have the tendency to lay everything on the table, because I think

Fiction turn-ons and turn-offs

2006-04-18T06:03:00.000-05:00

I started reading a book several days ago. This one's been sitting on the shelf for three years, waiting to be read. Yes, three years. I picked it up at a book carnival the summer that I was pregnant with Elijah and never got around to reading it. I was a few chapters into it and decided to bring it along for the roadtrip. Over the weekend I read through about 3/4 of it. On the way back home I

I'm home!

2006-04-18T04:14:00.000-05:00

We decided to come back a day early. Emily has TCAP testing, beginning tomorrow. I wanted to make sure she is well-rested for the tests and traveling the day before testing probably wouldn't be a good idea. We had a really fun weekend. Emily (who has only seen plastic easter eggs) had a ball dying and hunting "real" eggs. I'm so glad we were there this weekend. I felt like she got to experience

Long weekend

2006-04-13T16:45:00.000-05:00

My family and I are traveling this weekend. I will resume blogging on Wednesday. Have a fun, safe Easter weekend!

The big 3-0

2006-04-12T05:43:00.000-05:00

In a couple of months I'll turn 30. Just looking at that number feels weird. I feel like I'm moving to a new phase in my life. It's scary, yet exciting.I've been thinking about all the things I want to do. For some reason, there never seems to be enough hours in my days. Or maybe it's just that I waste too much time.So I'm making a plan. I have just over two months to do all sorts of things

Practice

2006-04-11T04:47:00.000-05:00

"It's not necessarily the amount of time you spend at practice that counts; it's what you put into the practice." - Eric Lindros I do my best to "practice" writing every day. Some days I write up to 10 pages before I stop. Other, only 2 or 3. But whatever the page count, I write by hand.While writing my daily practice pages several days ago, I realized something. Most of my pages are blather.

Life goes on

2006-04-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's been a full week now since all this craziness occurred. I still feel troubled. I feel unsettled. But I'm trusting in God to be in control of all this. It's been a full three months since Robert's homecoming. Some days I have to remind myself that he was ever gone for so long. Then there are those days when I see that faraway look in his eyes and know that the battle scars are there. I was

Prayer request

2006-04-03T05:30:00.000-05:00

I can't much here right now, except to ask for your prayers for my family. There's a lot going on and we really need direction from God. As soon as I can talk about what's going on I'll update, but for now please remember us in your prayers. Thanks!

The Separation of Church and Hate

2006-03-31T05:19:00.000-06:00

Discovered this awesome article through Lisa's blog. A quote from the article:"We havent even learned how to love the sinner in our midst, much less the one outside. We need to put a face on sin. Homosexuality is easy to condemn, until you come to know and love a gay person. Abortion is easy to march against until you find out your best friend has kept hers from you."Read it...very interesting!

An update

2006-03-24T08:48:00.000-06:00

I guess some of you who know me and keep up with me on my website have wondered what's going on with me. Honestly, I didn't want to share here. I wanted to keep it on the down-low and not broadcast my personal issues online. In all truthfullness, I was afraid of what people would think or say about me. After thinking about it for a while, though, I decided to share anyway. People will think what

The best love stories

2006-03-16T05:16:00.000-06:00

If you want to read a good romance you needn't look on any bookshelves in a book store. Just open your bible and start reading. The bible is full of romance and love stories. There are stories of redeeming love, grace and love, forgiving love, hopeful love. This morning as I searched for another scripture, I got sidetracked in the book of Ruth. Ruth isn't just another love story though. As I read

Positively Mom

2006-03-11T07:06:00.000-06:00

I'm taking a break from blogging here right now, but you can still find me at my mom blog, PositivelyMom.com.

New essays

2006-03-08T17:48:00.000-06:00

I have some new essays added to my column, A Long Way From Home, over at JustForMom.com. Click here to read them.

Time off

2006-03-06T08:38:00.000-06:00

I'm taking some time off. I'm not sure how long I'll be away but I won't be blogging here for a little while. See you later!

Let's catch up

2006-03-03T06:46:00.000-06:00

Husband went to the doctor Wednesday for his follow-up from a previous appointment. Found out the nagging "cold" he's had for over a week is actually tonsillitis. Got a shot and is finally beginning to feel better. Went back to work this morning.Was up all night Thursday night with a sick boy.Daughter woke up yesterday morning running fever.Took both kids and myself to the doctor yesterday. (You

Doctor, here we come

2006-03-02T12:21:00.000-06:00

No time to chat today. Sick kids, sick husband. Will write more later.

Change

2006-03-01T06:04:00.000-06:00

"Any time you sincerely want to make a change, the first thing you must do is to raise your standards. When people ask me what really changed my life eight years ago, I tell them that absolutely the most important thing was changing what I demanded of myself. I wrote down all the things I would no longer accept in my life, all the things I would no longer tolerate, and all the things that I

Enjoying the weather

2006-02-28T15:41:00.000-06:00

The sun's shining and it's 70 degrees today. It's been a beautiful day. Windows are open, kids are playing, all is well. I love these pre-spring days!

Friend of mine

2006-02-27T09:45:00.000-06:00

I've been sitting here, enjoying my "peas and quiet" while Elijah naps this morning, thinking about what I could blog about. My attention has been diverted for a few weeks now. Sometimes one just needs to step away from the rat race and take a breather.I've been thinking about my life. Over the last ten years, friends have come and gone. Very few (less than three, in fact) have remained and

Sorry!

2006-02-25T21:10:00.000-06:00

I know I've neglected my blog. It's all good though, I tell you, ALL good! I've been totally consumed in art for the last couple of weeks. It's my release, the one thing that I can do without thinking. It actually helps me not to think--which is a good thing, if you know what I mean!So anyway, know that I'm here. I'll share more pictures in another day or two. Right now I need to do this for me.

New batch of ATCs

2006-02-23T11:32:00.000-06:00

I've been doing artwork for about a week now to refill my well. These are some new ATCs (artist trading cards) I made during this week of art splurging. Most are available for trade. (Click on the mosaic to go to my Flickr page where you can view them individually.)

In the mail

2006-02-21T17:17:00.000-06:00

Dated 2/23/92 (I was 15 when I drew this!)Crystal recently found this and I'm so glad she did. It's probably the only physical piece of my past that I now possess. I smile when I look at it because it reminds me of when I discovered my love for drawing, and how good I really was at it (at the time I thought this was "junk"). A good reminder to never throw anything away, especially if you think

I see the light! (I think)

2006-02-21T09:21:00.000-06:00

I've been battling a certain problem that I haven't fully disclosed here. I think I've probably briefly touched on some of my symptoms. I don't really like to talk about personal issues here though.Anyway, I've known something was "off" with me, or more specifically, with my body. I just couldn't place my finger on the what. Then a friend called me one morning and started telling me about an

Something fun

2006-02-18T06:13:00.000-06:00

Just popping in for a minute to post this real quick. Got this from Angela, who got it from Java Diva.Choose 6 words that you think describe me. Then you'll see how I view myself, and others view me.

Immersion

2006-02-17T05:54:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I dabbled in my art again. I started by coloring in a Strawberry Shortcake coloring book. It was fun to just let the crayons glide across the page. Last night I pulled out the altered book I started quite a while back. I stopped working on it because my perfectionism issues got in my way the last time. I always have an image in my mind when I set out on a project like this, but the end

Love grown cold

2006-02-15T05:57:00.000-06:00

I have a confession to make. My love for writing has grown cold. I don't know why. It's been an on again, off again relationship for a little while now. I'm wondering if this doesn't have something to do with all the ups and downs I've experienced in the last year-and-a-half.Whatever the reason, I'm not happy about this. Not at all. It's like a personal relationship that has turned south. It

Love

2006-02-14T05:06:00.000-06:00

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is

Perfection

2006-02-09T06:19:00.000-06:00

I woke up this morning thinking about perfection. Some of the things I struggle with mentally are because I am a perfectionist. So I turned to the bible to see what I could find there: "No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race

Taking Care of Me

2006-02-08T06:26:00.000-06:00

After a little "meltdown" Sunday night, Robert suggested I take a few days off. No computer, no internet, no writing, no nothing."You have to slow down, Hope," he said. And I knew he was right. "Your brain is on overload. You have to take a break."While I knew in my head that I needed--desperately needed--a break, it took a physical and mental meltdown and my husband pointing it out to force me

Blessings

2006-02-02T05:42:00.000-06:00

"Reflect upon your present blessings - of which every man has many - no on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." - Charles DickensRobert and I struggled financially quite a few years. It seemed just when we'd get our footing again, something else would happen to knock us down again. We grew tired. Weary. Frustrated.Between me and you, I got downright irritated. I kept asking God Why

Shhhh....

2006-02-01T07:05:00.000-06:00

"Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand." - Karl Menninger I am blessed with three fabulous, creative friends who listen to me and all my whining from time to time. The last few days I've done quite a bit of it, too. They listen, and then give me the

Catapult

2006-01-31T05:51:00.000-06:00

Many thanks to a good friend (you know who you are) who helped me through a bad day yesterday. Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for listening to me vent my creative and personal frustrations. Thank you for pointing out the obvious, even though I refused to see it. Thank you for understanding. Thank you for being the catapult yesterday that launched me into action last night (I have an

Goalposts

2006-01-30T08:03:00.000-06:00

"In life, as in football, you won't go far unless you know where the goalposts are."- Arnold H. Glasgow I purposefully stayed away from this topic on my blog, mostly because I've been afraid of what everyone might think of me if I spoke it. Then I got to thinking and realized that I am not going through anything that someone else hasn't already experienced. So I will share.I thought I didn't know

Today

2006-01-27T08:16:00.000-06:00

"In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently."- Anthony RobbinsLast year I worked hard at releasing some of the many pounds I've gained over the last few years. I needed a change, to get healthier, to make better food choices, to live healthier. I found lots of

Whirlwind

2006-01-26T06:08:00.000-06:00

This week has been a whirlwind--I can hardly believe it's Thursday! I've been pretty busy all week. Starting a new career is challenging, at best, and you really have to keep your nose to the grind if you're going to get somewhere, especially in this career.Pardon me now, while I blow the dust off my blog...

The boy

2006-01-24T06:38:00.000-06:00

"Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees."- Victor Hugo"Do I have to pray out loud?" the boy asked his grandfather."No," the grandfather replied. "God hears you just the same if you pray inside your heart, as He does if you say your prayer aloud."The boy chewed on this thought for a while. Then came time for family