Thursday, December 29, 2011

All Things "New"



My good friend and blogger, Pam at 2 Encourage has a great post called Newness. Read it, then come back for a writing exercise.





Writing Exercise: Write about one of the following questions. 
1. What do you like that is "new"?
2. How does the word "new" fit with your faith?
3. What excites you about the upcoming "new" year?
4. Extreme Challenge: Try to tie questions 1-3 into one writing!

Please share in Comments Section. 

I was up for the Extreme Challenge! See mine is below.


Colored Pencils
by Dawn M. Hamsher

New colored pencils would brighten up my day.
Color all the world, on pages they would stay.
With my coloring book open, I'd carefully fill.
Once every nook was done, then I could be still.


For hours I would toil. Soft strokes of love.
Castles, landscapes, Snoopy, even a dove.
The accomplishment and joy it brought.
To color the world through pages, I thought.


And now, those pencils are from memory's haze.
Instead, I color the world in different ways.
I write and I teach and I share God's great love.
For it's his box of pencils I'm now to speak of.


The green is everlasting life and red is for the blood.
The white is for the newness, given from Jesus with love.
The blue is for his depths of care that he will never leave.
And orange is for the fiery passion he gives to those who believe.


He's given me many colors, of which I am to use.
What color is my favorite? Oh, I could never choose.
All I know is, colors can become dull locked inside their case.
So, use them in the new year and be filled with peace and grace.


Monday, December 26, 2011

New Year's Resolutions

I don't usually do resolutions, but this year I have three (and I have a plan for keeping them)!


1. Create a budget and work on paying off debt.
My biggest focus will be on our food budget. Food budget will be $100 per week for our family of three (that includes going out to eat...my husband is in shock.).

2. Revise my novel.
I signed up for Holly Lisle's course How to Revise Your Novel. I was unable to revise my novel myself (it was overwhelming and I had no idea how to go about it), so with Holly's clear guidance and organizational system, I'm already on the way!

3. Exercise on a regular basis.
I have joined a gym and have been going to water aerobics. I already walk 3x a week, so the added class will really help me to stay fit. My goal is to go 2x a week.

Q: What are your resolutions? How will you ensure you do them?

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas

From the Baby Jesus

and Barlow

(This is the baby doll we use in Walk Through Bethlehem.)
 

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas, Friends! 
May the joy and love of Jesus fill your hearts and shine to everyone around you.


Q: What is the best Christmas gift you ever received?



A:  For me, top four...
1. Getting an art set and easel from my parents as a teenager.
2. Getting my college ring as a graduation/Christmas gift from a close friend.
3. Giving my newborn daughter her first Christmas gift (a wind-up music stuffed bear dressed in Santa clothes).
4. This year's gift from my hubby is pretty awesome. He bought me a an on-line course called How to Revise Your Novel. I'm so excited! (Yes, I'm a nerd.)

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Whoopie!

I was excited to hear that a debt-free tip I submitted was published in America Saves Newsletter!

It's in recipe form. Check out page 3.

http://consumerfed.org/pdfs/fall2011newsletter/fall2011newsletter/

Saturday, December 17, 2011

New Blog Design

Do you like my new design?

I'm ready for a bold new year! Who knows what's in store?

I'll have a hot cup of tea or coffee by my side and I'll be ready to write.

I'm going to take a writing class from Holly Lisle (a Christmas present from my awesome hubby), so I'm getting pretty excited about writing!

What are you going to do new for 2012?


Friday, December 16, 2011

I'm back!

Walk Through Bethlehem is over. We had 1,005 people attend, which is a little more than last year. It was a great! We are still putting WTB stuff away. LOL. It will take me awhile to get back into blogging, so bear with me.  I think I'm also going to change my blog design soon...start the new year off fresh.

I'll leave you with a few photos from WTB.