Now who wouldn’t be cheered up by that promise!
Happy New Year, Donna!

After those treats, they’ll all be ready for naps which may help eliminate some griping too.

Cool – like, totally.

Donna,
Called to create! I love it. I’m feeling called to organize so I can create. I’m writing a memoir of my experiences as a caregiver. Over the weekend, I attempted to write the opening chapter/scene and found I was confused over some details. I have notes on calendars, in notebooks, on loose paper. Time to pull it together in an more organized fashion so I can write without stumbling over the details. I want to type it up in sequential order. I’ve also been straightening some drawers and sorting things to give to charity. A little at a time!

Here’s to creativity! Keep that energy flowing!

Beautifully said!😊👍😊

love you! Thank you!

 Hi Donna, This wouldn’t open for me to comment.  Loved it though.Linda Andersen Join me at “A Writer’s Playground”www.lindamartinandersen.wordpress.com

I think of them more as goals than resolutions too. That way, I can keep trying after setbacks. I want to finish my WIP (my first draft and at least one good revision). I’d also like our house to have more grace and joy in it. Less bark. More wag. :) Happy New Year, my friend!

It’s fixed now! Thank you for hanging out with me on my blog!

Same brain. Seriously. :)

Do I get to remind you of this post in the midst of pitching said hissy?

*sticking my tongue out at you*

This is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I love you and am so thankful God blessed your daddy and me with you!

Thank you! You’re welcome to lead grace anytime in my presence!

How precious! Thank you. Blessings to you also!

That dragon’s too cute!

I agree! I want to make one soon. I posted the link beneath so you can see how she did it. :)

Have you seen the crocheted tea sets? Adorable. I won one once but didn’t really know what to do with it so I donated to a fundraiser auction.

I tend to be creative by moving furniture and other decor items around. And gardening. But my big project this year has been to paint my deck and all my lawn furniture in some vivid colors. I am determined to have color in my backyard during the gray days of winter.

Regarding organization – not sure if this is helpful or not but I am thinking I might buy this book for right brained people. It’s about business but I think organization must surely figure in there.

Thanks!

Ooooh! I probably need that book. I will have to have my hubby help me put it in a place I won’t lose it, though. I do that, ya know. I buy organizational books… then misplace them!

I want to make the animals! You’ll have to show me how….gotta show me how to crochet first.😜
Love you soooo much!😊❤️❤️😊❤️❤️

I want to make them, too! When I come down for my writing retreat in January, we’ll take the time to crochet. Cause you KNOW I’ll need a break from all my typing! :)

Donna, amigurumi are so adorable! I could never make them. The best I can crochet is a small lap blanket:) I like to quilt when my hands let me or I make wreaths. I do find that my writing brain always seems to work better after doing crafts like that :)

That Walmart comment. It happened to me last night at my parent’s house. I stepped outside to take garbage to a compost pile and thanked God for the privilege. And the tears came. I won’t get to do that task forever. My mom is gone. My father will go. The house will be sold. I want to treasure every moment in that place. The vacuuming of floors, changing of beds, cleaning commodes. And especially the chance to care for my father.

This has been a year of grief for me. Somehow I hadn’t expected to have more sorrows with age although I guess it makes perfect sense. Thanks for sharing your heart. I am sorry for your losses, too Donna.

Beautifully said sweetheart.

Donna, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. I lost my Godfather in January and I am losing my father through mental illness. I completely get the crying for no reason. I have done a lot of that in my car lately. It is so comforting to know that no matter how tear streaked I may look or how angry I may be at a situation, God is still willing to hold me-even if I don’t feel it at that moment. Thank you for this moving post.

Lovely post. The first anniversary of my father’s death is looming and I have been thinking a lot about grief. Thank you for this great way to think about the process.

Grief has a life of it’s own. that’s what I learned after my first husband died over 30 years ago. ANd subsequent griefs can rip open that wound– unexpectedly. But as Joyce said, being raw to grief also can help us treasure the present. Because we never know when we might lose it. I am sorry for your losses; but understand your grief. But even better–the Lord, who has experienced ALL our pain and sorrow–understands it.

Thank you… and AMEN!

It is so hard, all those ‘firsts” after those we love are gone. I am praying for you. And if you need to talk – you know where I am. :)

I love you. :)

Thank you for sharing, Kathleen. Losing someone to mental illness is a hard, hard sorrow to bear. I’m so sorry. I’m praying!

*Hugging you* I’m so glad you have these moments right now, and the ability to take care of your daddy. And thank you for sharing your heart. I am praying for you, my friend.

Donna,
Youth ministry is vital to a church’s mission and to the children of the church. What a great idea to post ways to retain youth ministers in their positions. So many leave after a short stay and kids are heart-broken. Thanks for passing this along and for adding your ideas.

Sounds like a great conversation with your students. There’s also great application to Sarah’s obedience to the Lord. THink about how she is heralded as an example to ALL women in 1Peter 3:5-6. She is commended for how she called Abraham Lord. “Whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.” ALso (because of the writer in me) it made me think about the choices she made–and the choices our characters have to make. Thought provoking post, Donna!

Donna, this post strikes home with me. My daughter will be independent and off at college next Fall and I so worry about how she will be treated. I know the Lord will watch over her, but I worry anyway. Thank you for sharing this, Donna!

Still not sure what Jibo does for me – but yeah, there’s a story there. Gonna write it?

I don’t know, All I can think of is HAL from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey :)

Walleeeeeee.

Will Jibo be under our Christmas tree? Not this year, but who’s to say about the next or the next?

CUTE!

Donna,
Just the kind I’d like to meet and invite to our annual family hayride.

I hope we learn about his friends.

This is so cute!

Thanks, y’all! It was fun. I’m working on another one, now, about one of his friends. :)

Fun!

That was adorable and funny! I loved the last line!

A fun way to sharpen your writing skills, huh?

Picture is worth a thousand hurtful words. So important for bullying to stop. Thank you for posting this.

Is this a request for photos regarding bullying?

No. if you follow the link you will see the photographer who took this. My daughter was the model she used to paint on the special effects.

Thank you, Kathleen. I think the photographer did a great job of telling a story and capturing what bullying does to the spirit.

Beautiful!

Bwahahahahaha! I didn’t see that coming at all!

Donna, I finally finished my book, “Slave to Slave Master” and it is to be published before December. It is short but the photos and epilogue add to it. I want it to encourage everyone to be a victor and not a victim. Blessings, Jan

LOVE this, Donna, and so will my boys! = )

Donna,
Lots of artistic talent in your house. Way to go, 17, and growing more artistic every day. Congrats!

Donna, your daughter is very talented! I hope she has a very happy 17th bday! I am always so amazed by people who can draw like that. My daughter loves to draw Manga characters and I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler! :)

Color me IMPRESSED!! Is she creating stories to go with these amazing drawings? Looks like talent runs in your family big time!

THank you!! She is working really hard to create a portfolio for college in two years. She’ll be taking an honor’s art class starting next week. She’s never had any formal training for drawing, so I’m really impressed with how hard she’s worked to get to the level she is. Gifted… and hard working! :)

Really great talent and potential!

Katie, these are wonderful!!!! Keep at it, girl! :) Hope you had a fabulous birthday!!!

LOVE IT!!!!!

Donna,
Thanks for listing some of the great things about summer worth looking back on.

Love this post, Donna! And I love that you pray for me when the world seems scary. :)

Donna, My book “Slave to Slave Master” should be printed in November. Blessings, Jan

And I love that you pray for me! *hugs*

Congratulations, Jan!