Our next gathering

Our next gathering will be Tuesday evening, April 14th, at 7PM in the small conference room at Living Word...
Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Another Snow Day?????

I must first start out with an apology for the infrequency of posting!
Once again I have found myself in this place, the place of begging for another snow day!
The last couple of weeks have been insane, you see my 14 year old daughter has somewhere over the course of the last year or so, really developed a life of her own, I still have somewhat of a role in that life, she does share quite a bit with me and we do have a really good relationship, however I have mainly moved into the cook and chauffer positions. Last weekend was crazy busy. My husband had to work (Friday, Saturday, & Sunday) so he was not available to help out with anything at home (he works 12 hour shifts). Sooooo, Friday evening, there was a movie and a sleepover, Saturday, she went to a friend's house for the afternoon, Saturday evening, we went to a dinner for her lacrosse team and Sunday, well, she had 3 lacrosse games at the opposite end of the county.
On the way to the dinner, her friend's father and I were talking and saying how we really do like going to the lax games and watching them play, but, boy, if they were cancelled due to bad weather, we would certainly be okay with it. It was at that point that I started to realize how truly exhausted I had become again. So, that evening, I found myself again praying for a snow day(and yes, I know that it is officially spring and the chance of a huge massive snow storm is pretty much zip- but hey, I know that God is big, really really big and He can do the snow thing any time He wants). Well, obviously, I did not get my snowstorm. We made it through the day and through this past week. Did I slow down at all though? Nope, I didn't. And what has been the result of all of this busyness? Well, let's see, I have been cranky, overly sensitive, irritated and irritating and well, I'm sure you get the general idea. So today, is my snow day, or maybe I should say probably more of a time-out day. I am going to sit quietly and reflect upon some thoughts and things that I know God has been wanting me to hear. I am going to take some time to write and work on a pastel drawing that has been floating around in my head for way too long. I may even take a nap, who knows? The day is wide open, my blinds are closed and as far as I am concerned, there is a blizzard out there!

Read INKLINGS online!

Yes, you read correctly! INKLINGS is now online and you can read the "hot-off-the-press" April-June edition by clicking here!

enjoy!

grace & peace ~ deAnn

Writing Prompt

Today's writing prompt:
What is your favorite fruit? Go into detail, describe it's color, texture, scent and taste....
Most importantly, keep writing, don't stop, write for at least 20 minutes. Don't worry about your grammar or spelling, just keep going! ;)

Time Bandits....

Thank you to the ladies that came this past Tuesday! Here is a brief recap of the evening...
The "free write prompt" was "a bat circling the sky". I wanted to share this with you. It was written by Rosa:
A Bat Circling the Sky
Out of the box I fly
To circle in the sky
I can see so much
Of spiders, bugs, and such
Mine is a merry life
Carefree, empty of strife
I’m nature’s Orkin man
Eating as many bugs as I can
I, also, eat small frogs
Scoop them up off logs
I am free to fly away
Yet, I will sleep all day

We then took some time to reflect on the following quotes that I found on time:

“Creativity represents a miraculous coming together of the uninhibited energy of the child with its apparent opposite and enemy, the sense of order imposed on the disciplined adult intelligence. “ Norman Podherotz


“Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.”
H. Jackson Brown, Jr. quotes (American best selling writer, author of Life's Little Instruction Book)

“Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them.” ~Dion Boucicault

“Time is making fools of us again.” ~J.K. Rowling

“The time you think you're missing, misses you too.” ~Ymber Delecto

“Time is what we want most, but... what we use worst.” ~William Penn

“You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” Charles Bixton


Do any of these quotes speak to you? I know that they do to me. Personally, I stink at managing my time. I have no idea where it goes. I always start my days with the best of intentions. I have some time actually blocked out for writing or art, and on my way to my space, I see some dishes in the sink, a quick load of laundry to be done, an email or 2 to answer, some dust to be swiffered, and the list goes on and on until it's time for me to go pick up my daughter or start dinner or for my husband to get home...

I have no idea why I allow all of these other things to intrude on my "creative me time". Seriously, none of my above said time bandits are emergencies that have to be dealt with before anything else, I have plenty of dishes, and certainly plenty of clothes, no one is going to die if I don't immediately respond to an email, and well, if I were really that much of a clean freak, I wouldn't be seeing any dust to swiffer now would I?

Take some time, reflect on the above quotes and then think about what your "time bandits" are. Try to be more aware of them and see if it changes your day at all. Will you have a few extra minutes for yourself and your writing? Or your art? Or a few extra minutes to spend quietly with God?

Our Next Gathering

Reminder...
We will be meeting Tuesday evening, March 10th at 7PM in the worship arts area at the church... Just bring yourself, some paper, a writing utensil and be ready to write....
I am looking forward to getting together again...
If you have any questions, just shoot me an email cshafer@comcast.net

Writing Prompt

What is the most bizarre food you have ever eaten? Why did you try it? Did you like it? Would you ever eat it again?

Our next gathering

Just an early reminder, we will be meeting next Tuesday evening, March 10th at 7PM (we will be meeting at the church, just perhaps a location other than worship arts~I will let you know soon where that will be)

Where did that sparkle go?

Last night we were watching the show, Rita Rocks. If you are not familiar with it, it's a comedy about a wife and mom that lives a typical suburban life but on Friday evenings, she gets together with a group of various people(her mail carrier, an unemployed neighbor, and her teenage daughter's boyfriend) and plays in a garage band (literally in her garage). I had never seen the initial episode before and it happened to be the one that was on last night. Anyway, there was this great scene where Rita is sitting on the floor of her closet at 3AM looking through old photo albums. Her husband wakes up and finds her in there and asks her what she is doing. Now I don't remember the dialogue exactly but basically she said, "Nobody knows me as Rita anymore, I am your wife, the girls' mom, the teenage daughter's probation officer, I don't know who I am anymore". When he asked her what she was looking for in the photo albums, she said, "I am looking for my sparkle, you know that sparkle I had in my eye when I was in my Bengals Tribute Band."

Anyway, she ends up getting her old guitar out of the garage and she and her friends play an old Otis Redding song, "Try a Little Tenderness". When she first starts, she is very hesitant and tentative but as the song goes on, she loosens up, lets go and really gets into it and is having a blast, then realizes that her husband has been standing there watching. She stops and becomes very self conscious. He tells her that she has her sparkle back...

Now, I have just done a hurendous job of describing the show, and have totally made it sound corny and you will probably just be better off watching it yourself(you can probably find it on hulu, or on demand, or on a re-run---it's on Lifetime network at 8PM)

So to bottom line all of this and get to the point, I totally identify with this character. She is a woman, who has lost herself, not by any tragic event, but just by living life, and a basically happy life at that. She has everything she could ask for, a great husband, 2 daughters, a home, and friends. What more could she ask for? She realizes though, that in being everything to everyone else, she has become nothing to herself. She wants her own identity, her own voice, her sparkle back....

We all get that special sparkle in our eye from something, Rita's is music, mine comes when I am writing or sketching. What about you? Have you lost your sparkle? If so, consider spending some time reflecting on what is missing... Did you use to write? Sketch? Paint? Sculpt? Sing or play an instrument? Can you make some small changes to allow time for these activities once again?

Writing Prompt

Okay, well I guess you all can probably figure out what my writing prompt is for today....
Snow Days!

What is your favorite thing about snow days?

What would your ideal snow day be?

Would you go back to bed and sleep in?

Would you start a fire in the fireplace and snuggle up with a great book and some hot tea or cocoa?

Or would you sit by the window with your easel and paints and start a new painting?

Or maybe, you would get all bundled up and go out for a long walk?

Or perhaps even be a smidgen more adventurous and go sledding? When was the last you time you had a real belly laugh from flying down a hill at a high rate of speed with the snow and wind hitting you in the face?

There are no wrong answers or ideas, remember this is your snowday, do with it what you want...

Rainy Days and Snow Days

Rainy days and Snow days! I absolutely love rainy days and I love snow days even more! I am probably worse than a kid when it comes to hearing that we are to get a snowstorm, seriously. I get so excited that I can hardly sleep. And yes, I am one of those people out there stocking up on all of my groceries and toiletry items! There is nothing better to me than waking up and opening the front door and seeing nothing but white stuff out there (just for clarification purposes-I am talking sooooo much white stuff out there that the question of traveling anywhere does not even for 1 second pop into my mind). Why, might you ask do I love these bad weather days so much? I have finally realized that they give me permission to do nothing. Rainy days prevent all outside chores and snow days prevent all traveling, therefore no errands to run, no activities to attend, no schedule to adhere to, no anything. Aaaaah. I love them..... I can sit quietly by the fire and have some quiet time, I can have some hot cocoa (the real stuff, not just the instant with hot water), I can read a book or I can journal. I can get out my sketch book and sketch or I can paint. I can eat whenever I want because no one has to be anywhere at a certain time. I can even take a nap. I can rest.....

"Because we do not rest we lose our way...Poisoned by the hypnotic belief that good things come only through unceasing determination and tireless effort, we can never truly rest. And for want of rest, our lives are truly in danger." Wayne Muller

"Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." Mark 2:27

Sabbath: a day of rest and worship~a time of rest

Rest: freedom from activity or labor~peace of mind or spirit

Rejuvenated: given new vigor~restored to original or new state

What comes to mind when you read these quotes, scripture, or definitions?
For me, I think, oh my gosh, I am soooo tired, physically, mentally, emotionally, and yes, even spiritually. I need to rest. Really, I do. But, for some reason, I do not. At least not normally, I always have good intentions of resting, healing, and rejuvenating, but that is usually as far as I get, I intend.... That's why I am so crazy for my bad weather days. I love that verse in Mark, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" How true it is, a day of rest was made for us, for me, for you... a day of rest so that tomorrow we are rejuvenated...

Writing For a Greater Purpose

Check out this website called, "Your Writers Group - Writing for a greater purpose." There are a lot of great links, encouragement and advice for the writer in you.

Enjoy the journey! ~deAnn

Gathering Tonight

Hello Everyone,
Just a very late reminder, Reflective Souls will be meeting tonight in the Worship Arts Area at 7PM. All are welcome, just bring some paper, a writing utensil, and willingness to write!

Recap of our last gathering

Thank you to the ladies that made it to RS last Tuesday evening.
It was wonderful connecting with everyone again.
We started out the evening with the writing prompt "He was skating on thin ice. That's all I can say." Try doing a free write with this as your beginning sentence and see where it takes you.

We then took a little break from writing and talked about why we attend RS. What draws us here? It was amazing to hear everyone's story and realize that as different as each one of us is, there was one common thread woven through all of us. We had all loved to write when we were growing up and as life progressed and responsibilities increased, the creative part of ourselves digressed and decreased. Why does that happen? Personally for me, I was always told that a writing career is not practical. I wouldn't amount to anything or get anywhere in life with it. I should have a job as a nurse or teacher or something like that. So, as I went through school, I loaded my schedule with sciences and maths and things that did not feed my creative soul at all. And I continued my life that way, loading it with practical things and ways until I couldn't even remember having a passion for writing. However, in the last couple of years, something has been changing. God has been reminding me of these old longings and desires, and slowly, I have begun to write again.

We also talked about the "Longings Blessing" that I posted on RS earlier. After reading it aloud to everyone, I asked everyone to take some quiet time and reflect on it and what was God saying to them in it. Below is one of the writing pieces that came from it... Thank you Em for sharing it...

Hope

A beginning
at the edge of the ending.
A new direction
with the risk in the jumping.
A new perspective
from the One who walks along side us.

An awakening
of the one who was always there.
A stirring
of deeply hidden desires.
A fire
to be intimate with the Creator.
A need
to use these gifts fulfillingly.

Blessings and Peace,
Carol

Mondays---A Little Writing Prompt

Mondays.....
What comes to your mind when you think about "Mondays"?
Do you totally love them? Are you excited that a new week is starting? Or are you thinking, "Ugh, Monday. Already? Seriously, where did my weekend go?"
Try taking about 15 minutes and just writing about "What your perfect Monday would be like".
Would it be breakfast in bed? Or maybe, the heck with breakfast! How about lunch in bed? Or waking up and finding the cleaning and laundry fairy had been in over night and everything is perfectly spotless and tidy?

Now just write! Write for 15 minutes-no stoppping to edit-just go with your thoughts. You can always come back and edit later. The idea is to just get yourself writing.
I would love to know how this goes for you, feel free to send it to me (carol) or better yet, bring it to Reflective Souls tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 7PM. Hope to see you there!
Peace and Blessings,
Carol

Longings

This blessing was written by John O'Donahue,

from his book entitled "To Bless the Space Between Us"

For Longing

"Blessed be the longing that brought you here
And quickens your soul with wonder.

May you have the courage to listen to the voice of desire
That disturbs you when you have settled for something safe.

May you have the wisdom to enter generously into your own unease
To discover the new direction your longing wants you to take.

May the forms of your belonging ~ in love, creativity, and friendship ~
Be equal to the grandeur and the call of your soul.

May the one you long for long for you.

May your dreams gradually reveal the destination of your desire.

May a secret Providence guide your thought and nurture your feeling.

May your mind inhabit your life with the sureness
with which your body inhabits the world.

May your heart never be haunted by ghost-structures of old damage.

May you come to accept your longing as divine urgency.

May you know the urgency with which God longs for you."


I love this blessing. I really do. The first time I read it, I think I was speechless, and not just the audible external type of speechlessness, I mean I was speechless inside too. My mind is constantly racing at 1,000 + thoughts a minute, sometimes a second, (it feels like that anyway) and for the first time in a long time, that stopped. I just had to sit with this, with these words. Quite honestly, I am feeling completely inept right now even as I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face trying to describe to you how this passage has spoken to my soul.

Does this blessing speak to you?

Is there a longing that is deep within your soul?

Is there a dream that is in your heart that is gradually revealing itself to your true destination?

Are you feeling the urgency with which God longs for you and that ache in your heart to be revealed?

Take some time to sit with these thoughts. This Tuesday, January 13th, Reflective Souls will be having our first gathering of 2009, I invite you to come.

Peace & Blessings to you...
Carol

January Writing for Women

It's winter, it's cold, it's bleak. The holidays are history for another year. It's January and it's a time for a new beginning. I'm not one for "resolutions," per se. But this year, I have a list of "THINGS I WANT TO DO (BETTER)." Sure, I write. I just want to do it better and with more frequency.

The good news is, Reflective Souls picks up again this month! Our January Gathering will be Tuesday, 1/13 from 7-8:30 PM in the Worship Arts Office. I hope you will bring your writing tablet favorite writing utensil and join us for a time of reflective writing - it's always a journey with an unknown destination.

See you there!