Back to Business

I had a wonderful two weeks away from home. My last post was about the giveaway winner thirteen days ago, so that was a long break from blogging for me! I hope you’ve all been doing well.

To be honest, I am still a little out of it. I’m trying to get back to my daily routine of working, teaching martial arts, and meeting with friends; Bible study, exercise, writing, and all the other things. Writing is proving the most troublesome, but I am anxious and eager to get back to it. I’m in the position where so much “needs” to be done (which also includes planning for England and working on garments) that I can’t get myself to relax enough to work creatively on my stories. It’s like being unable to fall asleep because your thoughts jerk you back to wakefulness every time your body lets you go. I’m not discouraged yet because there is time for creativity, and I just have to settle back into it. Anyway, my next big literary goal is publishing the second Six Cousins book, England Adventure, and that has to wait until after I get back from England, so there’s no hurry right now. For so long I’ve felt the urgency of writing that right now I need to tell myself it’s okay to let myself slide a little; or else I’ll be depressed because I’m not story-writing. Thank goodness for the word projects that other people are depending on … and for the Emily of New Moon series which is making my heart for writing pump (Emily is a passionate writer). You see, my balance is temporarily out of whack; I’m dizzy after two magnificent weeks of God’s blessings that gave me new experiences and a much needed break from routine.

The occasional break is necessary, I think you’ll all agree. Especially one that lands you in the Black Hills of South Dakota, surrounded by the inspiring land of the West, or that puts you in one of your best friends’ houses where you enjoy endless like-minded fellowship, or that gives you one of the best weeks of your life at a Bible camp where your spirit is refreshed, you meet dozens of fascinating people, and you have the chance to minister to others and strengthen your walk with God. Such was my break … and with a break like that, who could be discouraged if everything else isn’t going quite according to my desires? The Lord is good. My life is ahead of me, and it is full, thanks to Him. I am so blessed.

What do you do when you feel like you can’t write, either because you’re too busy or uncreative, when simply plodding on isn’t an option? Do you feel abysmally discouraged or do you take it in stride and look for other worthwhile things to do until you get the spark back?

To round out this post, how about some pictures? (I didn't get too many of Camp Yeshua, personally, and I ran out of time to look for others!)

My "tribe," Gad

My friend Laura and I