The kids and I are officially signed up now. We all came up with user names, read all the FAQs, and browsed around the sites a bit. They chose the length of their novels (50,000 words is not required for the Young Writers Program), and we all have a general idea of our stories. I'm sure they'll change a lot over the month.
I have been thinking about the logistics of this project. How will we fit in writing every single day? How will the three of us manage with just the one computer? The boy plans to write by hand - somehow after years of struggling he's found he's pretty quick at it, and it no longer hurts - but at some point it'll have to be typed up. And there will be a lot of spelling to be corrected, but I don't want to think about that right now.
I saw Barbara Frank's post about the Alphasmart Neo portable keyboard and did some exploring online. I have a similar product by the same manufacturer (ordered used on Ebay) coming my way and I can't wait to see it. That will give us two keyboards, and if it's as super fab as it looks, maybe we'll get another.
Oh, my user name is Mrs. Blackberry, if you are NaNoing and want to get in touch there. Thanks for the messages of support about that. That name has nothing to do with the well-known mobile device, by the way. It has to do with the fruit. And nothing to do with my book, so far at least. Hmmmm......
Come on, November! We're ready for you. I think.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
NaNoWriMo: the beginning
NaNoWriMo begins in 16 days. My kids still want to do it. They still want me to do it. I still am not into writing fiction - I never even made up stories for my kids when they were little; I just read to them. At least, that's how I remember it. They keep telling me I made up stories about a mouse but no one remembers anything about them or even the mouse's name, so I think they created a memory. Will they be in therapy in years to come because I didn't make up stories for them?
But anyway, I'll go for it. I tried to take the first step yesterday by signing up on the website. But my preferred login name was taken! Who else would be Marbel? (That's pronounced "marble" by the way, and is an old family nickname.) So now I'm stumped. I can't come up with a name.
And if I can't come up with a user name, how will I write an entire novel?
But anyway, I'll go for it. I tried to take the first step yesterday by signing up on the website. But my preferred login name was taken! Who else would be Marbel? (That's pronounced "marble" by the way, and is an old family nickname.) So now I'm stumped. I can't come up with a name.
And if I can't come up with a user name, how will I write an entire novel?
Saturday, October 16, 2010
On my meme-free week
So last week I didn't participate in any of my usual memes. Oh, I guess I did one that just fit in with what I was blogging about anyway. I noticed:
I didn't miss it a whole lot.
I didn't visit as many blogs as I usually do. Just the ones in my reader, no new ones. I didn't go to the memes since I didn't post.
Traffic is way down (not to say it was ever high), but comments are mostly up.
My house is a little cleaner.
My laundry is a little more caught up.
Memes are fun. They give something to write about for those of us who like to write but don't always have anything to say. They bring people to the blog, but those people don't always come back.
It's fun to see the sitemeter numbers go up. Not so fun when they go back down. I'll admit that. But I like it that people are talking back to me more. So keep talking!
Why do you blog? Is it in the hope of becoming well-known, or making money, or promoting a cause, or simply as a venue for writing? They are all valid reasons. Tell me about your blogging philosophy. If you read blogs but don't have one yourself, what stops you from jumping in?
I didn't miss it a whole lot.
I didn't visit as many blogs as I usually do. Just the ones in my reader, no new ones. I didn't go to the memes since I didn't post.
Traffic is way down (not to say it was ever high), but comments are mostly up.
My house is a little cleaner.
My laundry is a little more caught up.
Memes are fun. They give something to write about for those of us who like to write but don't always have anything to say. They bring people to the blog, but those people don't always come back.
It's fun to see the sitemeter numbers go up. Not so fun when they go back down. I'll admit that. But I like it that people are talking back to me more. So keep talking!
Why do you blog? Is it in the hope of becoming well-known, or making money, or promoting a cause, or simply as a venue for writing? They are all valid reasons. Tell me about your blogging philosophy. If you read blogs but don't have one yourself, what stops you from jumping in?
Saturday morning joural
Mornings have been a mess around here. I've been sleeping too late and feeling rushed every day, even if we didn't have any place to go. (Though stay-home days are pretty rare right now.) I'd let the kids sleep until the moment I felt like they should be up and ready to be productive, and expect them to jump when I called them. It wasn't working, They wanted a little time in the morning to ease into the day. Why shouldn't they? I always do.
So we made a deal: on "school" days their time is mine at 8 am. (Yeah, I know, pretty late by some folks' standards.) If they want free time at the beginning of the day, they need to be up earlier. They asked me to call them at 7:30. I did, and it worked. We actually ended up having a nice breakfast together with a lot of discussion. It turned out to be a pretty productive day.
That shouldn't have been so hard to figure out!
They asked me to do it again this morning even though it's Saturday and we have no agenda other than chores and watching Shane. So I have about three minutes to finish this up.
This morning I've been reading about a golfer who was born male, went through the gender-reassignment process, and now is suing to compete as a female. Wow.
From that I skipped over to an article about the new "Democratic Free School" that is hoping to open in Philadelphia soon. I was talking about that with a friend over coffee last night (actually I had hot cider with way too much whipped cream); she is a fellow homeschooler and has more positive feelings about the concept than I do. I feel even less enthusiastic about it after reading this:
So we made a deal: on "school" days their time is mine at 8 am. (Yeah, I know, pretty late by some folks' standards.) If they want free time at the beginning of the day, they need to be up earlier. They asked me to call them at 7:30. I did, and it worked. We actually ended up having a nice breakfast together with a lot of discussion. It turned out to be a pretty productive day.
That shouldn't have been so hard to figure out!
They asked me to do it again this morning even though it's Saturday and we have no agenda other than chores and watching Shane. So I have about three minutes to finish this up.
This morning I've been reading about a golfer who was born male, went through the gender-reassignment process, and now is suing to compete as a female. Wow.
From that I skipped over to an article about the new "Democratic Free School" that is hoping to open in Philadelphia soon. I was talking about that with a friend over coffee last night (actually I had hot cider with way too much whipped cream); she is a fellow homeschooler and has more positive feelings about the concept than I do. I feel even less enthusiastic about it after reading this:
Friday, October 15, 2010
Reading the Bible in a year
In my Bible reading plan, it's July.
I am so conflicted about my Bible reading. Everywhere I go, people are telling me I must, and my children must, read the Bible all the way through every year. I am told of the great spiritual benefits of doing this. I don't disagree with that, exactly. But when I try to do it, it feels like cramming. I'm just reading as quickly as I can to check off the day, but not getting anything out of it.
But last December I decided to at least do my reading systematically, if not yearly. I found a chronological reading plan. I thought about it and prayed about it and came to the conclusion that I'd read daily, but wouldn't try to finish in the year. I'd take my time and read deeply, but not quickly. (I am sure some people can read both deeply and quickly, so if you are a yearly Bible reader don't think I'm telling you you're not doing it right.) But as we approach the year's end, I am starting to feel the guilt come back. I find myself trying to catch up, even though it's impossible at this point, unless I go away to a hotel for a weekend to read.
And so I think of Janet. She is a dear woman who gave me a lot of encouragement (and, yes, guilt, though I don't think she meant to) about reading the whole Bible every year. She was not proud, but she frequently ticked off the years she'd been doing it herself. Last time I talked to her, I think it was 26. 26 times through the Bible in 26 years! Wow. That's impressive.
And then I thought about Janet's age. She must have been in her mid-70s when I knew her. Let's say, 75. That means she started her reading habit when she was 49, thereabouts. I am pretty sure her kids were up and out then. I am pretty sure she was not homeschooling then. I don't doubt that she was busy, but I think she was out of the thick of childrearing by that time. (Some of us, at 49 and above, are still in the thick of it.)
So maybe I'm just rationalizing my own lack, but I am resolving to put this guilt aside once and for all. I'm going to keep following my Bible reading plan, but not worry about the date. Some days I might read many chapters; some only a portion of one. I'm reading Isaiah now, and taking it slow. I have a commentary I'm reading along with it so that slows me down, but adds much to my reading. I have a commentary on Esther that I'll pull out when that time comes.
My kids will continue their slow pace in their own Bible studies, which, in effect, I'm doing with them, since we discuss everything.
Do you read the Bible in full every year? Do you follow a plan, or just read from start to finish? Or are you a slacker like me who can't seem to manage it? Tell me about it.
I am so conflicted about my Bible reading. Everywhere I go, people are telling me I must, and my children must, read the Bible all the way through every year. I am told of the great spiritual benefits of doing this. I don't disagree with that, exactly. But when I try to do it, it feels like cramming. I'm just reading as quickly as I can to check off the day, but not getting anything out of it.
But last December I decided to at least do my reading systematically, if not yearly. I found a chronological reading plan. I thought about it and prayed about it and came to the conclusion that I'd read daily, but wouldn't try to finish in the year. I'd take my time and read deeply, but not quickly. (I am sure some people can read both deeply and quickly, so if you are a yearly Bible reader don't think I'm telling you you're not doing it right.) But as we approach the year's end, I am starting to feel the guilt come back. I find myself trying to catch up, even though it's impossible at this point, unless I go away to a hotel for a weekend to read.
And so I think of Janet. She is a dear woman who gave me a lot of encouragement (and, yes, guilt, though I don't think she meant to) about reading the whole Bible every year. She was not proud, but she frequently ticked off the years she'd been doing it herself. Last time I talked to her, I think it was 26. 26 times through the Bible in 26 years! Wow. That's impressive.
And then I thought about Janet's age. She must have been in her mid-70s when I knew her. Let's say, 75. That means she started her reading habit when she was 49, thereabouts. I am pretty sure her kids were up and out then. I am pretty sure she was not homeschooling then. I don't doubt that she was busy, but I think she was out of the thick of childrearing by that time. (Some of us, at 49 and above, are still in the thick of it.)
So maybe I'm just rationalizing my own lack, but I am resolving to put this guilt aside once and for all. I'm going to keep following my Bible reading plan, but not worry about the date. Some days I might read many chapters; some only a portion of one. I'm reading Isaiah now, and taking it slow. I have a commentary I'm reading along with it so that slows me down, but adds much to my reading. I have a commentary on Esther that I'll pull out when that time comes.
My kids will continue their slow pace in their own Bible studies, which, in effect, I'm doing with them, since we discuss everything.
Do you read the Bible in full every year? Do you follow a plan, or just read from start to finish? Or are you a slacker like me who can't seem to manage it? Tell me about it.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Blog List
I've updated the blog list in my sidebar. It now reflects what's in my reader. There are a lot, aren't there? I can't keep up with them all.
I also took out a few blogs that had gone inactive. I almost feel like I'm being disloyal but, hey, it's a tough blogging world.
I also took out a few blogs that had gone inactive. I almost feel like I'm being disloyal but, hey, it's a tough blogging world.
If you serve in a women's minsitry...
I would love to hear about it.
Somehow I am now on the women's ministry committee at my church. I didn't exactly sign up for it; but I'm happy to participate. We are a small church and our congregants are friendly but we don't have a cohesive group of women. Yet. We're working on it.
I just finished reading, for the second time, J. Ligon Duncan and Susan Hunt's wonderful book, Women's Ministry in the Local Church. I received it five or so years ago while at a leadership conference. This is a practical book with real ideas for starting and maintaining a useful, lively women's ministry. It is also the place I first encountered the term "complementarianism." This is the idea that men and women are different, with different gifts, skills, and talents, and thus have different roles in the church and in life. Here is Ligon Duncan on the concept:
This forms the basis of the book: a church needs a women's ministry because women and men are different, with different needs and different gifts. The book expands on that ("the apologetic") and then goes on with practical help for leaders, but is also written for the male leadership of the church and explains their role in it as well.
Both Dr. Duncan and Mrs. Hunt are part of the Presbyterian Church in America, which assumes male headship in home and church. You will not find a female pastor or elder in a PCA church. Nor will you in my denomination, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. (They are very much alike; we were members of the PCA before we moved and the seminarian could serve in either denomination when he graduates.) People in denominations where women do serve in leadership might not like everything this book says, but it might still be valuable for the information specific to women's ministry. Or who knows? Maybe it will change your mind about the roles of men and women in the church. I found it very useful, and plan to pass it on to my sisters as we work together to serve the women in our church.
Tell me about your women's ministry!
Somehow I am now on the women's ministry committee at my church. I didn't exactly sign up for it; but I'm happy to participate. We are a small church and our congregants are friendly but we don't have a cohesive group of women. Yet. We're working on it.
I just finished reading, for the second time, J. Ligon Duncan and Susan Hunt's wonderful book, Women's Ministry in the Local Church. I received it five or so years ago while at a leadership conference. This is a practical book with real ideas for starting and maintaining a useful, lively women's ministry. It is also the place I first encountered the term "complementarianism." This is the idea that men and women are different, with different gifts, skills, and talents, and thus have different roles in the church and in life. Here is Ligon Duncan on the concept:
Complementarianism gives the relational framework for men and women to live out their covenantal privileges and responsibilities. The complementarian position acknowledges that God created men and women equal in being but assigned different - but equally valuable - functions in His kingdom and that this gender distinctiveness complements, or harmonizes, to fulfill His purpose.He contrasts this idea with egalitarianism, which "asserts that there is no legitimate difference of role and function between men and women in the home and church..." I also love this: "[Egalitarianism] wrongly equates any acknowledgment of role distinction with inequality and discrimination."
This forms the basis of the book: a church needs a women's ministry because women and men are different, with different needs and different gifts. The book expands on that ("the apologetic") and then goes on with practical help for leaders, but is also written for the male leadership of the church and explains their role in it as well.
Both Dr. Duncan and Mrs. Hunt are part of the Presbyterian Church in America, which assumes male headship in home and church. You will not find a female pastor or elder in a PCA church. Nor will you in my denomination, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. (They are very much alike; we were members of the PCA before we moved and the seminarian could serve in either denomination when he graduates.) People in denominations where women do serve in leadership might not like everything this book says, but it might still be valuable for the information specific to women's ministry. Or who knows? Maybe it will change your mind about the roles of men and women in the church. I found it very useful, and plan to pass it on to my sisters as we work together to serve the women in our church.
Tell me about your women's ministry!
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