Quick Friday Takes

• I haven't blogged in so long, I've forgotten how...almost!
• I spend most of my online time on Facebook, or email, or researching for my class I'm teaching (Reading and Writing).
• I'm thinking about a break from Facebook.
• By deactivating my account.
• Just during the weeks I'm grading research papers and finals.
• Because what I discovered is, if I have to, I can work hard when the computer is off.
• I'm behind on my Wives of Faith editorial stuff.
• Just looking at the emails piling up stresses me out.
• I'm about to take my dog to the groomer's.
• We're settling into life here in our new state.
• It's pretty much just as busy as everywhere else---school, work, chapel activities, base activities.
• Except surrounded by mountains and trees changing colors to suit the autumn.
• We're fine.
• Really.
• I do miss my friends in the "lower 48" a lot.
• I'm making new friends.
• But that takes time.
• I haven't been writing and I feel all pent up with words.
• I also feel like I'm missing opportunities for expression.
• But I'm not sure.
• I still fight the spectre of insecurity, the sin of not trusting.
• But in many other ways, our life is blessed, and happy, and busy, and good.
• How about you?

Shouldn't this be catch-up week?

I'm sort of thinking, yes.

Yes, this week between Christmas and New Year's Day should be catch-up week. I need to catch up on so many things: book reviews, blogging (here and at Wives of Faith), paperwork, bills...

So look for a plethora of new book reviews as I clear out the "review" box, and a few other year-end wrap-up posts as well.

I'm also working through my 2010 yearly theme...more on that later. God takes His time with those. Last year it wasn't cemented until New Year's Eve, so I'm not worried...we have a couple of days! 2009 was the year of being Brave, and while I think it was a success overall, part of me is a little disturbed at my own use of the word "success." Having "Brave" as my theme helped me overcome a few fears and step out of my comfort zone more times than I would have liked, and with good results. It forced me to trust outside myself, and let God have control more than I might have otherwise.

And so, begin today with a prayer and a smile, and great hopes for a nice end to the new year.

Yep, it's real now!

I received my textbook in the mail today, The Creative Writer's Handbook.

It's really sinking in that I'll be in school next semester. In fact, I begin four weeks from today!

No pain, no gain

Last month I attended a women's health conference at the local university. I attended because as a part of my job, I coach women about healthy eating and making good food choices. I also attended because good health is something I often take for granted.

While I was there, I talked to a woman at a booth where they were recruiting volunteers for a number of medical studies for the prevention of breast cancer. The lady seemed quite interested in me. You see, I do not have any breast cancer in my family for at least three generations. None. In fact, the only cancer at all in my family has been of the skin variety--all small, all treatable.

I made it through several screenings and ended up going in last week for blood tests. Then on Thursday I went in for two painful procedures. They mentioned "moderate discomfort," but to be honest? If I'd known it would hurt so much and for so long afterward, I don't know if I'd have continued. (I'm a pain wimp.) I still have bruising, too.

I am taking 2 pills a day for a month. I don't know what I'm taking, but the study is studying the effects of Vitamin D and Celebrex. So I am either taking Vitamin D and Celebrex, Vitamin D and a placebo, or 2 placebos. I will never know.

In a month, I'll be repeating the above, and the only advantage I'll have is that I should be able to take ibuprofen then. I can't now, because it will interfere with the study . . . which is too bad, because it always works for me.

So, the first question people ask me is "How much are you getting paid for this?" The answer is nothing. I am doing this just because I want to help people. It's what I do. It's who I am, really. Who God made me to be.

Would I do it again? I'm not sure, knowing what I know now, and how much I still ache four days later. But I'm in now. "In for a penny, in for a pound." I will continue taking my two mysterious white capsules each day, and next month go through it all again, hopeful that it won't be quite as painful the second time around. Then it's over, other than a phone call each year for life (it's a longitudinal study).

Which brings me to my title: No pain, no gain. Without some pain, there would be no bio-markers for the scientists to study. No concrete data from which to determine which course of treatment might, in fact, prevent breast cancer. Yes, it's invasive. Yes, it hurts. But the potential gain? Priceless.

Isn't that also how God works sometimes? He prunes the branches, He puts us through the fires of purification, He disciplines those He loves. But it all turns out for His good, for His purpose, for such a time as this. And in the end, what we gain is so worth it.

No pain, no gain.

I've gotta go back, back, back to school again!

It's true. I'm headed back to school next semester, this time as a student! I'll be taking Creative Writing at the local community college.

This accomplishes two tasks: One, I will have an additional three credit hours which will allow me to reclaim my Missouri teaching certificate. Two, I will be able to teach this class myself someday, having taken it.

This also fulfills a dream long asleep. I have always wanted to take creative writing! But as an undergrad, I wasn't able to fit it into my schedule because of all the education classes. And as a grad student, there wasn't time or energy.

So there you have it!

(PS: Did you catch the movie reference in the title? Cheesiest movie ever, but a good opening song!) (edited to add, since I only had one commentor, it's the opening song to Grease 2!)

What is it about Thursdays?

Thursdays find me more introspective, I guess. I am woefully behind on all things book review-ish, and even more behind on National Novel Writing Month.

I have reason to feel scattered, which I'm not ready to release to the blogosphere just yet; let's just say I have several good reasons!

I imagine in my mind that my 2010, my year of being forty, will be an adventurous, more tightly focused, less cluttered year.

But then again, what do I know?

The Swiss Courier Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for THE SWISS COURIER!

This wonderful story is the first collaborative effort by veteran novelists Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey, both of whom have many books to their credit as individuals. I certainly hope this is not their last collaboration.

About the book:
It is August 1944 and the Gestapo is mercilessly rounding up suspected enemies of the Third Reich. When Joseph Engel, a German physicist working on the atomic bomb, finds that he is actually a Jew, adopted by Christian parents, he must flee for his life to neutral Switzerland. Gabi Mueller is a young Swiss-American woman working for the newly formed American Office of Strategic Services (the forerunner to the CIA) close to Nazi Germany. When she is asked to risk her life to safely "courier" Engel out of Germany, the fate of the world rests in her hands. If she can lead him to safety, she can keep the Germans from developing nuclear capabilities. But in a time of traitors and uncertainty, whom can she trust along the way? This fast-paced, suspenseful novel takes readers along treacherous twists and turns during a fascinating--and deadly--time in history.

About the authors:
Tricia Goyer is the author of several books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Montana. To find out more visit her website: http://www.triciagoyer.com/

Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of dozens of books, including the bestselling Every Man's Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California.To find out more visit his website: http://www.mikeyorkey.com/

Pattie's Review:

Oh my goodness! What a great book! I have been talking it up at work and at the dance studio, it's so good. It's a spy story, a thrilling thriller, a mystery, a little science--and best of all, there's enough history in it to make it absolutely plausible.

I've always loved stories from World War Two. This one is no exception.

Gabi? Love her. LOVE. HER. She's spunky, smart, and brave. She's how I imagine my grandmothers might have been, had they been in her shoes. (As it was, I had one who worked to support her siblings, and one was a single mom who worked as a welder to support her two small children).

The Swiss Courier is a collaborative effort, but it's a seamless one. You cannot tell which writer wrote which part, as has been evident to me in other collaborations. This might seem like a weird thing to say, but I think it's worth noting.

I think this is a story for many different kinds of readers.

CONTEST (and this includes CHOCOLATE!)
Psst...pass it on! Help Spread the word about #SwissCourier on Twitter and enter to win a signed copy &Swiss Chocolate!

Just tweet this: The Swiss Courier by @triciagoyer fast paced and suspenseful! Don't miss out! http://tr.im/Ahjs RT #swisscourier and we'll enter you into a drawing for 1 of 5 SIGNED copies of The Swiss Courier!

To purchase the book, click here.

To read other people's thoughts about the book, click here for the rest of the tour.

Special thanks to LitFuse Publicity Group for a review copy of this novel.

Random Wednesday Thoughts

Good morning to my few but faithful readers!

I haven't been blogging a whole lot lately. I struggle with the desire to write in a public forum, and yet for many reasons I must keep a lot of my life private. The ghosts of past fears and wrongs done to me online also continue to haunt me years later, cautioning me to think and rethink posts in my head.

Another reason? The insecurity of knowing I am not the writer I want to be, or that others are, often silences my fingers and my voice. That is a type of fear, I think. Not at all in keeping with my theme of being brave.

So, as my thumb has continued to heal, typing has gotten easier for me. I am grateful to the Lord for that, and a good doctor who reassured me I was taking good care of it (as he also took pictures of the poor prodded thing with his BlackBerry!).

It's been a cool and wet fall here in the northern plains, not the warm-cool combo I grew to love in the Missouri I consider my home state. The leaves fell while still green, so with few exceptions it hasn't been a pretty autumn here, after a much cooler and still wet spring and summer. I still try to find beauty where I can, and enjoy the sun during the moments it chooses to shine.

As a landmark birthday approaches, I have been challenged by more than one person to make a "bucket list" of sorts. I have not done that, playing the avoidance game I'm becoming so adept at doing. So I avoid, and I wait, and I avoid some more.

I continue to journal my spiritual walk, and on the days I miss, I can feel it. On the days I begin in the Word, it's just that much better. Funny how that lesson keeps on giving.

I will be writing during National Novel Writing Month again this year. I can't seem to back down from that challenge. Beginning a new Word document each November 1st has become a tradition. I've only reached the 50K goal once, last year. But what a great exercise in discipline and in writing.

I don't write as often as I should, and I still feel as scattered to the four winds as ever in terms of narrowing my focus. I can either beat myself up about it (bad) or choose to be a "jane-of-all-trades-mistress-of-none" kind of woman.

And those are my random Wednesday thoughts! Thanks for reading my blog, and I hope to have more to offer in the days and weeks ahead.

No Excuses Now.

I won the Writers Market Deluxe Edition from Christina "The Writer Mama" Katz's wonderful giveaway!

No excuses now...time to get crackin' on writing as a second (third?) career.

Fearless by Max Lucado

I am thrilled to be participating in the blog tour for Max Lucado's newest release, Fearless.

What is this book about? From the publisher's website:

Each sunrise seems to bring fresh reasons for fear.

They're talking layoffs at work, slowdowns in the economy, flare-ups in the Middle East, turnovers at headquarters, downturns in the housing market, upswings in global warming. The plague of our day, terrorism, begins with the word terror. Fear, it seems, has taken up a hundred-year lease on the building next door and set up shop. Oversized and rude, fear herds us into a prison of unlocked doors. Wouldn't it be great to walk out?

Imagine your life, wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? If you could hover a fear magnet over your heart and extract every last shaving of dread, insecurity, or doubt, what would remain? Envision a day, just one day, where you could trust more and fear less.

Can you imagine your life without fear?

Frankly, this book came to me at a great time. My faithful readers here at Fresh-Brewed Writer know that I am working on trying to be braver this year, both in my life and in my work. Yet, just as recently as yesterday, I succumbed to my fears. Confessing what scares me, what my fears are, in tears.

This book brings to mind much of what the Scriptures tell us about fear, and gently chastises me for my lack of faith, while also encouraging me to take bolder steps in my life.

"Fear creates a form of spiritual amnesia" (10).

"If quantity is any indication, Jesus takes our fears seriously. The one statement he made more than any other is this: Don't be afraid" (11).

If fear is something you've ever struggled with, even on a temporary basis, please check out this book. You won't be sorry.

To learn more about this book, visit Max Lucado's site, Fearless Times.

Special thanks to Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read this book and review it.

Catching Up a Bit

Before the whirlwind of the school year which begins on Wednesday, I thought I'd catch up on a few things here.

• Spiritual journaling is going well thus far. I feel much more focused when I begin my day with the Word and writing down key verses, thoughts, and tags. The tag idea? Genius.
• Everything Austen challenge, not so well. I'm only one-sixth of my way through!
• Other reading challenges: by the wayside. I've been focusing on all my book review books lately!
• Writing: nonfiction, going okay. I've been waylaid by some editing for my husband, but he more than met his deadline; now for my own! I have two pieces to work on this week, deadline is next week. AHHH!
• Writing: fiction, nonexistent. Maybe November? (snort)
• Summer List: Well...not too terrible. But not great either. I guess some of those were more long-term goals than I originally anticipated.

And as for my theme, being brave, well, I've been (figuratively speaking) stepping out a bit more on faith in a few things. :)

Spiritual Journal

Anyone who knows me in real life has probably received a journal from me at some point. I love journals! I have been a diarist/journal-keeper since around fifth grade or so, but not consistently through the past 25-plus years. I've been more faithful to the craft since around 2000, when I first read Nicole Johnson's Fresh-Brewed Life: A Stirring Invitation to Wake Up Your Soul. This was an important book to me (revisit the top of this blog and see its title to see how much!).

Unfortunately, this year has not been a good journaling year. Normally I'm halfway through my second blank book by mid-August, but this year, I still have plenty of space in my journal. I just haven't been writing as much by hand. While that saddens me, I didn't do anything about it.

Until today.

Stephanie is one of my Women at Home friends, one of those gals who's walked through fire with me but whom I've never met in person. I visit her blog regularly, and yet, I missed this honey of a link before today, when I accidentally clicked on it in the margin of her blog.

Journaling as Spiritual Discipline.

Oh my goodness!

I was amazed. How did I miss it before? I don't know. But what I can say is, I've had as a goal all summer to read and study the Word more closely, but I just haven't gotten it done. I just haven't, and no excuse is good enough. But this blog, this entry, reawakened the desire in me to track my spiritual life so I can STAY on track with my spiritual life, and not let it go by the wayside, neglected.

I found an unused journal in my box of unused journals that closely matches the size of my Bible. I printed out portions of the journal entry so I'd have a couple of the examples and the suggested guidelines, and glued them into the first several pages of my journal.

Then I began:


Ann Voskamp? I don't know you, but I thank you.

(in)courage

In courage. Encourage. Homophones, both with the same root word of courage. I love that!

(In)Courage is a new blogging community and it looks to be a great (pun intended) encouragement for women. The website is www.incourage.me/ (which I also love! "encourage" me, give me courage.)

For the six or so people who read my blog, you know that my 2009 theme continues to be BRAVE. I am trying to be braver in my life. (If you are new, you can click here to read my original December 2008 post about brave).

The (In)Courage gals want to know what encourages me.

That's a tough question.

Because I see myself as the servant, the one who builds others up, the one who comes alongside to strengthen and encourage others.

What encourages me? Words of affirmation. And it's not like I don't hear them--I do. I have some cheerleaders in my life, and they are important. But often in the muck and mire of life, those voices are silenced by the negative voices in my head, the ones that say I am not smart enough, or that I'm not good enough, or that I never finish things anyway so why start something new at this point.

The best encouragement, however, is from Scripture. Psalm 139 says it all best. He searches me, and He knows me. He loves me, He knit me together in my mother's womb. He made me to be a bit neurotic about details, and made me excited about new projects and not so enthusiastic about finishing things. He made me to love my family and friends wholeheartedly, even when it means I am the one who is hurt.

And that, my friends and readers, is that.

Julie and Julia

It's the eternal question: If you had an afternoon to yourself, what would you do?

I took myself to the movies. The newer and nicer of the two local movie theaters had a matinee of Julie and Julia, and a British gal who comes to the Curves where I work pronounced it a "brilliant film." She was right.

I loved it! I laughed (a LOT, I might add...out loud...often as the only one laughing, even though the theater was about 1/3 full). I cried. It was, indeed, brilliant.

Meryl Streep was amazing as Julia Child, and Stanley Tucci was perfect as her husband. In many ways, his supporting husband reminded me of Nathan Lane's supporting husband to Bette Midler's Jacqueline Susann in Isn't She Great. He completely supported his wife's desire to do SOMEthing (emphasis Streep's). He should play more nice guy roles...he's good at them!

I liked Amy Adams as the blogger Julie Powell, and while I'd heard of Powell's book, I have not yet read it. Many of the things she said and wrote resonated with me, particularly her penchant for not finishing projects and her fear of having developed attention deficit. I admire that she and her husband stuck things out (and from what I have been able to skim online, they've weathered much worse than dropped casseroles since the events of the film ended) and worked on their marriage and stayed together. In a culture of prevalent divorce, this is something unique and admirable. I loved how Eric (played by Chris Messina) devoured all of her cooking and was also supportive (up to a point, and even beyond that point, I might add) of his wife's endeavor.

All in all, I left the theater smiling and feeling very full and happy--even though I did not eat during the film.

Simplify, simplify.

One of the first online friends I ever met in person was author Ann Kroeker. She wrote the book The Contemplative Mom, and if you are a mom longing to find more time with God and haven't read it, I recommend it.

Well, I follow Ann on Twitter and found out she has a new book out this month! It's called Not So Fast, and it looks to be a fabulous book. You can find out more about it here on Ann's book blog.

Naturally, the little writer in me said "Hey! Blog about this!" So here I am, my few but faithful readers, to talk about slowing down.

This is actually funny, because last night I was thinking it's time to kick up the workouts a notch; all the ice cream and vacation eating has settled where I'd rather it not be. But I don't think that's what people mean by slowing down and taking time out and simplifying life . . . do you?

The first thing that came to mind was the quotation I used as the title for this post: "Simplify, simplify." Do you know where it comes from? Dr. James Saucerman. OK, not really (he was my grad school American Transcendentalism professor at NWMSU, in case you wondered who he is!). Really it's from Henry David Thoreau's Walden. I'm not recommending we all sell everything and live in the woods in a cabin we built for $28.12 1/2, but the principle is still a valid one. Why else would we all have "declutter" and "recycle" and "donate" in our blog posts this year, in a less-than-sterling (pun intended) economy?

Begin another month, begin a new habit, break an old habit, make a new resolution. It's all good. Just don't beat yourself up about it if you miss a day, like I tend to do.

Here are a couple of resources for you:

• Online Organizing.com -information about what it can mean to simplify and some other links to other online resources.
• The Debt Free Adventure blog has some other practical tips.
• Of course, Ann's brand-new book, Not So Fast!

Additionally, on Twitter through my friend Carmyn I found a challenge from author Laurie H. Anderson to write fifteen minutes a day. Today's post fulfilled today's 15 minutes and then some! :)

it's not all about books

I realized as I scrolled through my recent blog posts that they've all been about books or for book blog tours! That might lead one to think I do not have a life. So here's a bit of my life and my Friday felicities, as well.

So, we got the stairwell and living room painting done, as well as the new wood laminate flooring installed downstairs, and await only one trim piece for around the fireplace. It looks good, and with all of my stuff (books, scrapbook and craft supplies) stashed out in the shed or in the garage or under the stairs, well, the living room is quite large!

Remember I lost my 7-ft. bookshelf downstairs; it nearly didn't survive our last move, and I had to nail it together. Literally, the books and videotapes stored in it were holding it upright. Now it's gone. So, without all my books and "stuff" the living room looks pretty good. But I can't find anything, because I remember where it "used to be." Sort of like when you move, and you remember where things were in the old house, but not where they are in the current house!

I still don't know what I'll do with all of my scrapbook stuff. I guess at some point I'll need to bring it back in, sort it, and either use it or get rid of it.

So that's what I've been doing when I haven't been reading or reviewing books!

So now, my Felicities.

• Sales and Clearance at Old Navy. We saved a LOT of money there today.
• Military discounts. One of the reasons we saved at Old Navy today!
• Starbucks triple grande vanilla latte on a rainy afternoon.
• Downsizing the girls' clothing. We have two bags and a large box full of clothes they either don't want, or clothes that no longer fit, and in the case of the younger, the clothes her sister passed down that are not her style and she will never wear. We're getting rid of far, far more than we brought in to the house today. Chaplain Hubby should be a very happy man.
• The cooler weather really is a blessing, because we discovered that our AC does not work. Heh.

Not well

That is the response to the unasked question, "So, Pattie, how do you handle stress?"

Not well.

I just read a blog post by my friend Dana about changes she's endured in the past several months. It gave me an idea about some changes I would like to make but am not really sure how.

2009 has not shaped up to be what I thought it would be. My two very best friends have both gone through immense changes in their lives this year (one dealt with her husband's brain tumor, almost losing him, and then miraculous healing and ongoing recovery; the other nursed her husband through a stroke, only to have him file divorce papers. It became final a few days ago). What does that have to do with me? Everything. Because I haven't been nearby. I haven't been the friend bringing casseroles, or pizza, or taking the kids for a day, or just giving hugs.

We chose to have some remodeling done, and that's taken much longer than I thought it would (the results are going to be worth it, though, hopefully today...). Friends here are moving right, left, east, west, and south (none north...tough to move further north than we are, unless it's Alaska!) and every day seems like another goodbye.

So today I found myself falling apart after being asked the simple question, "What's wrong?"

Was it cathartic to "lose my cool"? Yeah, of course. Emotionally draining. I feel . . . human. I'm an imperfect human with unrealistic expectations placed upon me by . . . me.

And I just don't know how to stop.

I need to learn to make some good and healthy changes in how I react to things. Situations. Crises.

So I pray.

Psalm 66:19-20 tells me:

But God did listen!
He paid attention to my prayer.
Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer
or withdraw his unfailing love from me.

Amen.

checking in

I thought I'd check in on my summer goals thus far...

I finished Season 1 of Grey's Anatomy. It turns out that doesn't take much; it was a midseason replacement so it's only 9 episodes long. Now I'm in Season 2. I didn't begin watching the show until February sweeps of that season, so most of this is new to me. It's been fun watching the characters and their relationships evolve from the beginning (and thanks to Swapadvd.com I am not out a whole lot of money on rentals!).

I read four books last week. Not bad, especially since I worked several shifts.

Doing better on the Bible and journaling. Not great, but better.

Walking the dog ended up being stymied by weather and my own allergies/cold/loss of voice time at the end of the week. Today it's raining.

I had to clear out the downstairs coat closet in preparation for having the carpet ripped up. So it's pretty much empty at this point. Looking forward to organizing it better!

So far, that's the state of all things Pattie for now. This week begins summer dance in addition to the other summer stuff......

The Summer List

Once again, I'm inspired by my friend Dana. She made a "Summer 30" list. Like her, I love a good list. Also like her, I don't always finish the lists, but that never stops me from making one!

So in no particular order, here are some things I'd like to do during the summer months. For my purposes, "summer" is June 1-August 25. Periodically I'll go back and update this post, so the original posting date here is June 1, 2009.

1. Read the Bible - no particular time frame or amount, just more than I'm doing now.
2. Journal every day.
3. Read 25 books.
4. Organize books.
5. Walk Princess Buttercup (the overweight cocker spaniel) at least five times a week. Ideally this will be daily, but hey, it does rain sometimes.
6. Get my Curves jeans hemmed.
7. Organize my photographs into boxes.
8. Burn digital photographs from old computer onto CDs.
9. Finish moving teaching floppy disk data to old computer, then burn to CD.
10. Save all digital photos to the external hard drive.
11. Watch Season 1 and Season 2 of Grey's Anatomy. Done! Now watching Season 3.
12. Clean out and reorganize the linen closet.
13. Organize my scrapbooking supplies.
14. Reorganize the downstairs coat closet.
15. Go through review book box and notebook, and make sure all reviews are posted.
16. Write. Write. Write!!!
17. Watch The Office that I borrowed from my sister. Finish Season 1, watch Season 2. Watch Seasons 3, 4, and 5

I need a plan...

I need a plan.

The newness of the new year is over. I've made some major headway in some areas of my life (reading goals: check! attempts at bravery: check!) and have slacked in others (decluttering something every day--oops!).

Overall, though, the neverending winter of the northern plains, coupled with concerns over flooding in the area, have conspired to make me feel ennui instead of joy.

So I need a plan. I need to formulate a better way of dealing with the clutter and the cleaning of the house. We're hoping to get our downstairs carpet replaced with wood laminate soon, which has motivated me to go through my lone overstuffed bookshelf downstairs and pack up my books. It's sad, but necessary. I've pulled a few which once I've read them, I don't plan to keep them. But I can only read one book at a time...