I love to write. I love using my words to capture emotions and tell a gripping story. I’m excited that my stories are being shared! I’ve been invited to share my writing at two community events over the next two weeks.
Event #1: This Sunday, June 12th, I’m selling my novels at Fellowship Baptist Church’s summer picnic in Nevis, Minnesota. So far, sixty people have signed up to attend the picnic, and several have expressed an interest in my novels. I’ll set up a stand for people to browse through my books while they enjoy their meal.
Event #2: Yesterday, a friend told me about an art and writing festival taking place in Dorset, Minnesota, on Saturday, June 18th. Joan Grover, owner of Antiques Stop and the Dorset bookstore, invited me to set up a book stand at the festival. She told me this event is a great way for local authors to sell their work and gain public exposure. I can’t wait to meet and ask questions of the other authors.
In many ways, I’m going back to my roots by selling my books at events. When I was six years old, I set up a “story stand” at my parent’s garage sale to sell picture books I’d written. Later, when my family moved to Nevis and my dad opened an automotive shop, I set up a story stand in his office and sold stories to many of his customers. I was eight years old.
I work full-time as a physical therapist assistant, so I get plenty of time away from my computer screen. I’m thankful. I love to work with my hands and exercise my body. And I enjoy working with people. Every day I’m blessed with opportunities to listen to others’ stories and help people get stronger physically. I thank God that I get to help people and show them His love. Loving God and loving others brings me joy.
I think of every accomplishment, every material possession, every experience I could have… and then I compare these things to love and relationships. Which is more valuable? Maybe it’s just me, but if I didn’t have love, everything else would seem meaningless.
My heart mourns the love I lost this spring. A heartbreak is painful. I cry every day, whenever I remember, whenever a sad song plays on the radio. Will my heart ever heal? I don’t want to be stuck in the past. But more than that, I don’t want to stuff my emotions and lose my ability to feel.
This is quite the summer for me. Many opportunities, yet so much loss. Such hope, but so much uncertainty. I pray for God’s direction. Sometimes I wonder why God allows certain things to be taken away, and certain things to be blessed. I don’t know the answer. But I know that God is far wiser than I can imagine. I cannot put Him in a box. His ways are beyond searching out, and He alone knows the end from the beginning. I can trust Him.
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!” Romans 11:33
Write What You Live 