2620 posts and counting… seriously people?

 I’ve just got back from a whirlwind trip to Dubai (to teach dance workshops) & Qatar (to catch up with family). Yes, me! Can you believe it. This home girl who has never been off African soil. If you don’t count the boat trip with my granny when I was 15 where we sailed from Durban, into international waters for a few hours, then to Cape Town.                               

It was fabulous and I was spoiled thoroughly in every way. I even rode a camel… (Thanks Kirsty!) His name was Shadeen and he was a true camel gentleman. In fact, the whole experience was a little reminiscent of pony rides for big people.

As for the rest of it, don’t get me started – you’d be snoring or crying with boredom by the end of my story. I landed home last Wednesday at 8:30pm, smack into organising my 5yo’s party on Friday for 22 kidlets and a ladies tea for about 100 on Saturday. Though I had some seriously motivated and organised ladies sorting that in my absence, all I really had to do was show up with food for my table and not forget my steps. So I’ve been a teensy bit busy.  

Not as busy as you lot though. According to my inbox, I have 2620 blog posts to catch up on! Seriously people? That is going to take me the next 3 months! I’m thinking this is what most agents feel like on a regular day. *makes a mental note to stop harrassing agents who haven’t responded in 24 hours*

I will pop in and see what you’ve all been up to… but until I get to you… Tell me your news!

 

Dancing kittens

Or should that be… dancing AND kittens.

My writing has had to wait a bit this week for two good reasons. Technically four.

We’ve added 3 kittens to our household. I know… 3! Eek! But the equation is simple maths – 3 kids = 3 cats. It’s the only way it’s ever going to work. We intended getting 2 (for the older girls) but they went and fell in love with the 2 gingers. The little grey splodge in the middle stole my heart. Hmmmm. Problem. So we decided to take all 3 and in hindsight, it was the best thing to do. The older girls are very possessive and the littlest would have been miserable. Now they are all happy. Mom included.

Reason 2 is Shekinah, my dance group. We’ve been involved in a Bouquet of Dance over this week. So instead of weaving words, I’ve been sewing ribbons, which you can see here. Last two shows today, then I can hopefully find normal life… and get back to the world inside my head which I’m so fond of.

What have you been up to?

Goosies and salty tears

My heart has a way of recognising truth long before my mind catches up. When truth hits home inside of me, two things happen – I get goosebumps all down my arms and I find myself blubbing like a baby. Without fail. Every time.

As a writer, I get excited when I go goosies. Simply because I know that what moves me – will touch my readers. Maybe not all of them, but thats okay. Us creative types are ‘moved, to move’. Rory Noland describes this dynamic beautifully in his book The Heart of the Artist. To paraphrase… when you watch a movie, hear music or see a painting that makes you want to weep – its because the artist felt deeply about what he was creating.

I felt this when I read Jim Zee’s post Two Heartbeats Wanted – Apply Within. I caught a glimpse of the heart of the man – the things that matter to him and reading it moved me.

I heard a song yesterday that had me undone for most of the day. Why? Because Matt caught the heart of the Father and sang it over me. Over you. Over a broken, hurting world. I’ll leave you with the song…

Life as a Sponge…

One of the things I love most about being a writer is living life as a sponge…

We absorb everything: the pitch of the irritated lady’s voice in the queue ahead..  the sad creases of disappointment around a little person’s mouth when mom say’s no! to his nagging for a sucker. The flush on the cheeks of a smitten teen.

Life is never boring when you are constantly surrounded by techni-colour material that will breathe life into your next bit of writing.

Even our own insides become grist for the mill… Think about it – we have ringside seats to what churns inside when bad news comes at us down the phone.  How about the adrenalin thumping, squeal-inducing good news we’ve been waiting for?

I’m training myself to savour and ABSORB each moment – good and bad – analyze it, tag on some appropriate words, then file it away in my mental filing cabinet for the ‘write’ moment.

Life is truly a delicious array of  inspiration. Good and bad. All of it can be used.

May you find much opportunity to get thoroughly soaked this weekend!