by Sharon O | Jul 5, 2012 | Uncategorized
I am always unsure at first.
My first step into the canoe is one of nervous beginnings.
This trip a new life jacket helped with my confidence.
The positive affirmations from many around me that it would be a good trip helped too.
The coolness was a bit of concern and then as we moved into the darker sky it made me wonder what was ahead of us.
Above us the darkened sky opened up and about three quarters into our trip we were rained on.
It poured a torrential rain soaking up everything in sight.
We grabbed rain gear and tried to keep dry.
It poured and pounded and with the wind at our backs we had to row to the shores edge.
There was nothing anyone could do but to keep a ‘positive’ attitude and get to a dry place as quickly as possible.
Our hopes for a nice ‘day outing’ changed to a wet and damp boats interior.
Along with wet clothes and shoes and soaking hair too.
There was an opening along the bridge and we stopped to take cover and eat our lunches.
At first I thought we were done and thought to myself… “wow that was quite an adventure.”
Then they reminded me our cars were far away and we had another two hours on the water to get to them.
This is not a good picture of me.
I was wearing wet jeans, soaked coat and was trying very hard to be kind to everyone.
This is a no makeup… no fancy… anything look.
The life jacket makes me look huge.
I am wearing my hubby’s extra large rain coat and had a firm grip on my camera bag.
The plaid hat is my ‘canoe hat’ tradition.
No one will let me on the canoe unless I have it with me.
After we ate a bit and the rain slowed to a nice ‘mist’ we had to return to the river.
Singing hymns and songs of praise we rowed to our next destination.
God is good and every circumstance we encounter is a teachable moment for us.
The key is our reaction to it.
James 1:2-4
Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have it’s perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Lord we trusted in you and we had your protection.
Your majesty and greatness was all around us.
We praised you even in our storm.
by Sharon O | Jul 4, 2012 | Uncategorized
Here we are beginning our first day of canoeing.
The water was calm and it was very relaxing.
We had our old cooler with our lunch in it and I was just taking in the beauty of God’s creation.
The trees were majestic standing along the rivers edge.
The water was quiet.
All one could hear was the sounds of nature and the swishing of the paddles against the water.
Each turn of the river we saw different viewpoints and we were in awe of the beauty.
The clouds were dark moving above us changing with each passageway
It was still very peaceful.
{pictures taken by Sharon O scenes from Oregon}
by Sharon O | Jul 3, 2012 | Uncategorized
When we relax and let our spirits just listen to the quiet we learn many things about ourselves.
I learned I could be challenged and come out on the other side more resilient and with more strength.
Beautiful Lord we rejoice in you…
for you are majestic and full of all glory.
by Sharon O | Jul 3, 2012 | Uncategorized
We just got back from a four day camping and canoe trip.
It was quite the adventure.
I must say my late 50’s has changed my perspective on life.
Never would I have enjoyed this out door adventure if my choice was to stay home.
Will post more later.
One of the scenes from the water.
Central Oregon
photo by ‘me’.
by Sharon O | Jun 27, 2012 | Uncategorized
The writers challenge has ended and I am few days late in sharing my thoughts.
The reason for the pause.
The 15th day challenge was harder for me to understand and grasp and if I can’t get wrapped around it how would I be able to share it with others?
His word for us was serve.
He said, “A great writer is a servant who doesn’t look to his own needs as a writer but to the needs of others who might be reading.”
“Write the first draft with the door closed and the second draft with the door open.”
Serving the audience of readers is learning to do things differently.
There are three ways of doing that according to the challenge.
Solve problems…answer questions…help people.
Each of these are new for me.
I don’t understand them.
He said to write to solve problems your audience might be having.
This might include telling a story about an experience of yours if it would help them to see the answer.
Answer questions basically means to write in such a way you would want if you were reading something.
Help people means do something for the audience of readers without them asking for it.
As I said before I don’t understand the meaning of this.
I realize the challenge is for us to step up and learn a new style or a skill but this last one confused me.
His challenge for us:
Do a give away. Find a product line or a special item to draw in more audience.
This is not my style.
Do a survey. Ask questions of your audience how you can do different.
This is not my style again.
Do an exchange if they subscribe you will give them something in return.
This is not my style again.
His next advise I can easily do.
Do not ignore your readers.
Answer all correspondence.
If someone takes the time to comment on your writing then you take the time to thank them.
He said we do this to be generous.
The art of writing is earned slowly and gradually.
The more known we become the more others will read what we have to say.
The more audience we receive we will begin to show growth.
To risk means to write the hard stuff along with the easy.
To risk is perhaps to move away from what is comfortable for us and challenge ourselves to do something different and new.
Are you comfortable when you do something out of ‘your box’ or way of thinking?
Have you been blessed when you have done it?
Shall we challenge each other to be open to a new process
even if that process for us doesn’t involve writing?
We always have opportunity to learn something new.
Instead of closing the door let’s open it and challenge ourselves to a new adventure.
by Sharon O | Jun 24, 2012 | Uncategorized
Wait passionately for God, don’t leave the path.
He’ll give you your place in the sun while you watch the wicked lose it.
Psalm 37:34 msg
photo by Laurie H from Oregon
used by permission.
Joining Deidra on Sunday community Jumping tandem
by Sharon O | Jun 23, 2012 | Uncategorized
On day fourteen of the writers challenge the word for us is brand.
He said every writer needs a brand that is recognizable for others to notice.
He said it is an impression or mental picture of who we are as a writer.
A brand is the most important thing we can use.
It tells the reader who we are and what kind of writing they will experience when reading our work.
Anyone knows that to be true.
Some people are known for poetry.
Some are known for their mystery writing style.
Others are known for deep prayer type of writing.
Each writer has a style and brand of writing that represents who they are.
If I see a certain symbol or code I know which reader is behind that writing.
It is very important.
His challenge was to create a name then be consistent and use it always.
Then to create an image and be consistent with that too.
Then to create a voice as in how you communicate with others and how you sound.
This is interesting to me.
A few years ago when the idea came to me about writing anything
I felt the Lord was telling me to create a symbol for my writing.
Then the idea for a picture to represent the blog.
Then a name came after much prayer.
Then a style of the kind of writing the blog would present.
I have to say the style has changed from the beginning to now.
Writing is always a learning process.
The same as any other ‘hobby or interest’.
We improve with time and practice.
Have you figured out your brand yet?
When my sister made a handmade quilt for our dad she had the quilter put his ‘brand’ from his farming days
throughout the finished work.
It was his brand and symbol we all knew and loved.
It represented ‘him’ and added a lot of meaning to the quilt.
Our writing is not too different than that.
We all have a special symbol that represents us.
Are we ready for the challenge to figure it out?
by Sharon O | Jun 22, 2012 | Uncategorized
On Fridays Lisa-Jo
has a group that shares specific words and then bloggers write about it.
The rule is to write for five minutes straight with no editing.
Today I am joining for the first time.
Taking a risk.
I have learned all about taking a risk when this blog began.
Being a private person by nature I would write in journals kept only for myself or for ‘chosen trusted ones’.
I would journal and write and then one day the Lord lead me to the blogging world.
I took a risk and created one.
I took another risk and pushed publish.
I took another risk and continued to write and sometimes invite others to join me in the process.
Then I took another risk and started to comment on others blog sites.
Then I took another risk and this year I opened the blog up to a public status.
It is all about risk taking.
Removing control and taking the RISK to be known.
Becoming less private and still being careful about what is shared.
But learning to write openly and honestly and seeing that some people are blessed by it.
I think I did that in five minutes or less with no editing.
by Sharon O | Jun 21, 2012 | Uncategorized
On day thirteen of the writers challenge the word for us is publish.
He said great writers do well because of perseverance not necessarily because of talent.
He said they understand the concept that unless it is published and in print it is not as valued.
He said often times new writers are fearful of having new readers or even having their writings read for fear of rejection or other comments.
Get over it.
He said it is not enough to write a blog.
If someone wants to be bigger and go further they need to be able to write well enough to get it published. He said it might be for a magazine.
For a newspaper.
A book.
He said for us to pick the project we are most afraid of
then do it.
I always thought it would be interesting to write something for guidepost magazine or even readers digest.
It would take determination to try.
A willingness to stretch myself and a time commitment to write the post.
So are we up for this new ‘challenge’?
by Sharon O | Jun 21, 2012 | Uncategorized
On day twelve of the writers challenge the word for us is provoke.
Dictionary.com said it means: to stir up. to incite. to stimulate to action.
He said great writers should provoke us to think and perhaps even make us
uncomfortable when we read something they have written.
He challenged us to quit screwing around and get serious with our writing.
I don’t like that ‘word’ but I understand what is trying to say to us.
There is risk involved.
He said if we want to be a great writer we must be willing to break a few rules.
His challenge for us was:
Tell the ugly truth about something.
Pick a fight and challenge someone about what is wrong with our ‘world’.
Injustices are not fair stir the reader to think about why.
Don’t be afraid to take a risk.
Write something hard and dangerous.
(Something you have not written before).
He asked if we were ready.
He said in order for us to push ourselves into the real world of writing
we MUST be honest.
He said the world is full of lies.
Being honest sets others free to be honest too.
When we learn to write honestly and from our hearts we allow others to believe they can do the same.
So the question for us is:
Are we ready to provoke?
