Blog Challenges are Good Discipline
I have determined that participating in blog challenges is good discipline as a writer. Even on days when I’m NOT doing any other type of writing (which is infrequent), it’s enjoyable to write in blogs – more relaxed and no specific format to follow.
Actually, even on days when I have to do other structured types of writing, blog writing is a nice change of pace.
Not only that, but I’m learning more about effectively using social media for promotional purposes, along with – well, socializing! As someone who works at home full time, it’s nice to interact with others who have similar interests.
So far, I have been involved, or am currently involved, in these blog challenges:
*Ultimate Blog Challenge: Thanks to this one, I got this blog up and running in January, and have kept at it. Now I’m doing this challenge again, but using it to work on my Words of Encouragement blog.
*31 Days Blog Challenge: This one began on March 1st and runs until April 12th, taking weekends off. I have continued to work on this blog with this challenge, but plan to go through it again in June with a different blog (not sure which one yet).
*A to Z Blog Challenge: This one just started on April 1st (no fooling) and runs six days a week, so we end up with 26 days – one for each letter of the alphabet. I’m using my eLearning 4 Life blog for this challenge (posts so far are A is for Always Learning and B is for Books).
Do YOU want to “pump up” your writing skills and online visibility? Consider joining one or more of these or other blog challenges!
*******
The essence of true friendship is to make allowance for another’s little lapses. ~David Storey
A friend accepts us as we are yet helps us to be what we should. ~Author Unknown
*** Quotes from 
***
Related articles
- (A)nnouncing an April A-Z blogging challenge (staceyarcher.wordpress.com)
- Confessions of a really new blogger (e1evation.com)
- Everybody is blogging, are you? (hatmancando.wordpress.com)
- Why Writers Should Have A Blog (Part 2) (diamondpublicationz.wordpress.com)
- Blogging As a Discipline ~ Putting One Word in Front of the Other (bridgestothewords.wordpress.com)
Taking Tips from Magazines for Your Blog
No, in spite of this being April Fool’s Day, this is not a joke.
Say what? Yes, today’s task in the 31 Days Blog Challenge is to study a favorite magazine and take some tips on what makes the magazine attractive and effective; then determine how we can incorporate some of those ideas into our blogs.
The majority of magazines I have around here are about crafting and quilting. I think my favorite out of all these is one called Quiltmaker. These are the features I like:
*Beautiful full color photos.
*Interesting and relevant articles.
*Interviews with experts.
*Thorough explanations and step-by-step instructions for projects.
*Challenges to entice you to step outside your comfort zone and try something new.
Well, would you look at that – I think most, if not every one of those, is applicable to this blog challenge and the ideas that have been presented so far! I have learned a lot from this blog challenge, and others, so I look forward to being even more diligent about incorporating important tips and ideas into my blogs!
A traditional quilt design called Trip Around the World.
[Speaking of blog challenges - check out my first post for a NEW blog challenge:
OK, so we’ll just have a couple of “joke” quotes to go along with the day:
You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. ~Abraham Lincoln
It is the ability to take a joke, not make one, that proves you have a sense of humor. ~Max Eastman
*** Quotes from ***
Related articles
- Crazy Quilt or Crazy Quilter? (dreamzhappenquiltz.wordpress.com)
- Quilt Blogs … (dreamzhappenquiltz.wordpress.com)
- 30 day blogging challenge – Day 2 (beoomi.wordpress.com)
I Need Your Input!
One of my top posts that received the most views and the most comments was the one describing my near death experience that occurred back in 1985. I also mentioned this experience in January, when I was discussing my goals for 2011.
I want to write my first book using that experience as the storyline. Here’s where I need your input.
*First of all, if you haven’t read that post yet, please do, or if you need to refresh your memory, here it is: My Own Personal Nightmare at 327 Elm Street.
*Secondly, I’m trying to decide if I should write it as a first person account (as I did in my post here about it), or third person (as an eyewitness type of account of what occurred), then revealing my personal connection at the end of the book, as the epilogue.
So YOUR “mission” – should you choose to accept it – is to please leave a comment with your opinion as to which direction to go and why – would first person offer a stronger presentation, or would third person with the revelation at the end offer that surprise “zinger” that I, the writer of the story, was in fact the person who lived to tell the story?
I also have been debating tentative titles – I’m thinking something along the lines of “Angels Among the Flames.”
I look forward to reading your comments and receiving your input! Thanks.
Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance. ~Bruce Barton
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
*** Quotes from ***
Related Articles
- Out of Body Experiences and Soul Beliefs (genealogyreligion.net)
- Brain Injury Awareness Month 2011 and Self-Awareness Part 1 (secondchancetolive.wordpress.com)
- Surviving traumatic brain injury (tricitypsychology.com)
- guardian angels (metamorphosisofthemind.wordpress.com)
- Angels in the midst…. (misswhiplash.wordpress.com)
Birthdays and Blessings
So as I alluded to in yesterday’s post, today is my birthday. Considering I nearly didn’t live to see my 27th birthday, it is a blessing to make it to almost twice that age (or as my mom-in-law put it, I’m “40+13″ today!)
Image via Wikipe
I’ve had a pleasant day, starting off with a card from my hubby before he went to work, followed by a call from my youngest daughter.
I did make it to Planet Fitness for a walk on the treadmill, and then was able to stop in my eye doctor’s office to finally order my new glasses (yes, folks, I have bifocals!) I treated myself to some new workout clothes at Walmart, then came home to do some housework (I wasn’t going to, but I really wanted the house clean today!) – then another errand, and home to calls from two more of my kids.
I have been quite overwhelmed throughout the day with the outpouring of birthday wishes and greetings today – in addition to the calls from three of my four kids (and the fourth one posted on my Facebook wall), literally dozens of people also posted on my Facebook wall – may have even hit 100+ posts – I lost track!
My mom-in-law stopped by with a card and some gifts, and my darling hubby gave me another card and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. He also ordered pizza from the corner store just a few miles up the road, so I didn’t have to cook (then we’ll go out to dinner this weekend).
So thanks to all of you who have shared my birthday with me in one way or another – I really appreciate it!
My birthday flowers and card from my darling hubby.
Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again. ~Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Wisdom doesn’t necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself. ~Tom Wilson
Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened. ~Jennifer Yane
*** Quotes from ***
Related article
- Happy Birthday To Me! (lifewithsarcoidosis.wordpress.com)
Reviving an Old Post-Anticipating a New Year
I am attempting to participate in the 31 Days Blog Challenge, although I’ve had interruptions and distractions along the way. Today’s task is to revive an old post, so it seemed appropriate to snag one from last August about a new month and new opportunities, since tomorrow is my birthday and it’s the end of March, with April approaching fast.
It’s interesting to see that one of the topics in that previous post, I’ve since written about in a new blog, regarding letting go of the past. Now to assess my three main previous points:
*Spiritual health: Yes, still enjoying my morning devotional quiet times – I’ve even added a wonderful book to my repertoire: Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. I see in visiting her site just now that she also has Ending Your Day Right – think I’ll buy myself a birthday present!
*Physical health: Still need to work on this one; I have lost about 25 lbs. since posting this last August – but I have about 40 lbs. to go! My goal tomorrow morning is to get back on a regular fitness routine like I used to follow: go to Planet Fitness at least three times/week and use the treadmill, along with a few of the exercise machines. My health is somewhat better overall, since getting my asthma under control and more consistently using natural vitamins and supplements.
*Mental/emotional health: Still working on this one, too, trying to reduce stress and find ways to be more productive. As I continue to battle “brain fog” more than I’d like to admit, I do get sidetracked and lose time getting things accomplished, resulting in last-minute rushes and missing deadlines. That has to STOP. Another goal for this new year of my life. I did manage to write about 2000 words for articles today – over 2000, counting this blog post – so there’s some progress!
Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. ~Judy Garland
Every time you don’t follow your inner guidance, you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness. ~Shakti Gawain
*** Quotes from ***
Related articles
- week twenty-one. (fitness4fatties.wordpress.com)
- Joyce Meyer Transparent Evangelist (abcnews.go.com)
Divine Accident?
On this Sunday, after going out to breakfast with my darling husband for an early birthday celebration, I have spent the day reflecting on the wonderful partner God gave me – truly the love of my life, even though I thought I would never find true love after my nearly 20-year marriage ended with my children’s father.
Dave and I met through – of all things – online dating (specifically, a site called LoveAccess). We spent most of December 2002 chatting online every night, and several hours on weekends. On New Year’s Eve, we chatted online until after 11pm, then Dave asked if he could call me. We talked on the phone and “saw” the new year of 2003 in together.
We met in person on Jan. 4, 2003, when he drove from Maine to New Hampshire – in a snowstorm. The rest, as they say, is history, as we have been together ever since. I ended up moving to Maine, since he owned a home here. We married in February of 2006.
Dave has encouraged me and supported me as I’ve explored educational pursuits and career opportunities. I can honestly say I have never before felt so loved and cared for, cherished, and appreciated. Dave overlooks my flaws and just accepts me for who I am, without trying to change me into who HE thinks I should be.
Yes, I love my husband! Divine accident? More likely divine intervention, according to His divine plan!
“The most wonderful of all things in life, I believe, is the discovery of another human being with whom one’s relationship has a growing depth, beauty, and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing; it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of divine accident, and the most wonderful of all things in life.”~Attributed to Hugh Walpole, Sr.
Airline vs. Military Family
What would YOU do?
Think about it – your marine son is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan next month. Of course, you want him to get one more visit home before he has to go into a dangerous situation overseas, to protect our freedom in America.
He purchases his ticket, costing over $1000 – I can’t believe a soldier would need to pay that kind of airfare to begin with, actually, considering his service to the country. Then his deployment gets moved up to an earlier date – his Mom tries to change his ticket – the airline rep says it will cost more than twice as much – over $2300!
This marine’s mom happens to be my friend, Becky. This is the struggle they have encountered this past week. When Becky asked for some consideration for the situation, especially since this is a marine getting ready to deploy, she said it seemed like the airline – and this rep in particular – didn’t appear to care or have any desire to try to accommodate them.
The airline rep told Becky, a marine mom, that she was “offensive” for making such a suggestion. When Becky asked to speak to someone higher up, the airline rep claimed they don’t have phone numbers and she hung up on Becky!
Wait, WHAT??? Unreal. So this marine’s parents contacted their local news station, who ran the story: The Price of Deployment.
It’s a sad commentary, in my opinion, that this kind of situation should happen to a soldier and his family.
This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis
What we need are critical lovers of America – patriots who express their faith in their country by working to improve it. ~Hubert H. Humphrey
*** Quotes from ***
My Own Personal Nightmare at 327 Elm Street
I’m not trying to steal the horror movie’s title – but I legitimately could use it to describe the horrifying experience I encountered 26 years ago today at 327 Elm Street in Lakeport, New Hampshire within this exact time frame of this posting (at least from the time I started the post).
At that time, I was engaged in a life and death struggle to save three little ones ages 3 and under (my own son, 3 y.o.; my baby daughter, 4 mo. old; and a 2 y.o. autistic girl I was caring for) and myself from the raging fire that trapped us in our apartment!
Here are some photos that tell the story (I have blurred out people’s faces, other than my own and my kids) and given photo credits for the ones I know – not sure on a couple – and I’m sorry for the quality, but these are OLD photos, and a couple are newspaper clippings.
I’m just so thankful for God’s hand of protection and the angels He had surrounding us on this day 26 years ago. I still don’t remember a lot of the events of the day – but witnesses say the fire was a wall of flames behind me as I stood at the window dropping my children to the police officers, and that as soon as I fell out the window, the flames shot out behind me!
I nearly died – I sustained a scalp laceration, resulting in a major loss of blood – linear skull fracture, concussion, broken neck (crushed C7 vertebra), and multiple torn ligaments, bruises, and other lacerations.
By the grace of God – I survived and suffered no major long term effects, other than frequent headaches, limited range of motion above my head (get a weird twinge in my neck) and joint stiffness now setting in more than is “usual” for my age.
That was MY day in history for March 25, 1985 – one that I think you can agree qualifies as a real life nightmare at 327 Elm Street in Lakeport, New Hampshire.
*******
In 2008, my son – who was only three at the time of the fire – tracked down one of the police officers responsible for saving our lives that day – just to say, “Thank you.” At the same time the paper published my son’s meeting with former officer Tom Drouin, it republished two other original articles from 1985:
*“Jesus, Help Me” was Fire Heroine’s Prayer
Angels are all around us, all the time, in the very air we breathe. ~Quoted in The Angels’ Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994
Angels are never too distant to hear you. ~Author Unknown
*** Quotes from ***
Researching for Writing is Educational
In the process of writing articles for private clients this past week, I have added several sites to my bookmarks! Researching for writing projects always proves to be an educational experience, as I’ve discovered along the way.
Here are just a few of my “finds” that may be beneficial resources for some of you blog readers and writers out there:
*FREE ebook: 13 Business Blogging Mistakes and Their Easy Fixes
*10 Ways to Simplify Your Workday
*Getting Started: The First Steps to Freelance Freedom
*Is your blog a NoFollow or DoFollow blog? I found out the difference today, thanks to Lisbeth’s post that led to Josh Garcia’s blog!
Image via Wikipedia
(Are you scrambling to check your blog now? I know I did!)
***
Related articles
- Why Writers Should Have A Blog (Part 2) (diamondpublicationz.wordpress.com)
- Newbie Bloggers: Commanding Authority With Your Blog (famousbloggers.net)
- How to Increase Traffic to Your Blog Through Dofollow Links (webupon.com)
Spotlight on My Most Prolific Reader-Commenter
It’s Day 22 of the 31 Days Blog Challenge – and the task for today is to shine the spotlight on one of our blog readers. SO … drum roll please … I’d like to introduce you to my most prolific reader-commenter, “Bailey,” who has a grand total of 56 comments posted (so far!) Thanks for your support!!
Not only is Bailey a consistent reader and commenter on my blog (setting a good example that I need to follow!) – she maintains at least three of her own blogs, which I will now highlight out of gratitude to her – thanks, Bailey!!
*Craft Attic Resources: Are you a crafter who enjoys crocheting, knitting, stitching plastic canvas projects, and making doll clothes and stuffed animals? Then you will want to visit this blog of crafting resources, including patterns and great photos!
*Sheltie Times: If you love these beautiful little dogs who are miniature versions of collies, you will want to check out this blog to learn more about them, read stories (sometimes told “from the sheltie’s mouth”), and see the beautiful photos.
Image via Wikipedia
*Sorting Through Life’s Lessons: If you are a parent of school-age kids, a homeschooling parent, a teacher, or anyone who values education, this is a blog to visit and follow. Bailey provides resources, thoughtful posts, and links to articles about education, curriculum, children’s crafts, and other useful information.
Thanks again, Bailey – let’s hear a round of applause – or maybe we’ll just do the wave!
By the way – I appreciate ALL of you who take the time to read, post, follow, and/or promote my blog!
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ~William James
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. ~Edward Everett Hale
*** Quotes from
***
Related articles