Final Part of Your Questions Answered

Katie asked…What advice to do you have for making a good blog better?

I think the best thing you can do is write your passions. What makes you mad? What makes you glad? What one thing drives you crazy or sends your heart soaring? When you are true to who you are, you will be writing your best. I’m not necessarily talking perfect sentences. That helps, sure, but I’m talking heart. Little things like design and font size help. Stay away from black backgrounds with white letters. Hard to read.

Above all, heart matters most to me.

How did you become a speaker?

By saying I’m available to speak. So word of mouth. I’m still on the newbie side of speaking compared to many(I have no formal training), but I love every opportunity I get. God always shows up when I speak. I dream of being a part of a women’s speaking ministry team someday. Only God knows if that’s His dream or mine. Until then, I do my part and offer my services and leave the rest in His hands.

Or so I try to leave it there! 🙂

afewminuteswithmichelle asked…
I would like to know if you had to make a “mission statement” for your life here on earth, what would it be?

I had a life coach for 5 weeks as a trial while my friend was finishing up her degree. Wow, what a gift her services were to me. Thanks, Gloria. One of the things we did together was create a life purpose(mission) statement.

Here it is: “I am a lens that helps people focus on what really matters.” I haven’t changed this statement in years even though I’ve tried making it clearer. It feels like me. Probably doesn’t say enough. People may wonder “what matters most?” I have my answers. But that doesn’t make for a short statement.

Also I liked someone’s idea of making it fun so- if you could be an animal, what would you be and why?

I’d have to be a colorful song bird. Funny? I know I should pick an eagle or something majestic, but I love music too much. Songbirds fly and make sweet melodies. Something about them inspires me, especially when they are uncaged and outside with nature. They trust God to feed them. They are free to sing and free to fly. I think I enjoy them because for much of my life, I’ve felt shut up and bound to the ground.

It’s time to fly and make music for the glory of God, don’t you think?

Heart2Heart asked..
What are your three favorite smells and why?

This is off the top, not sure they are my three favorites.

Rain.
Fresh brewed coffee. (yep, I drink coffee more than tea.)
Babies after a bath. (love the smell of their lotioned skin and shampooed hair, so innocent and clean)

September asked…Can you list some of your favorite blogs for us to visit?

I have too many favorites to list. Many of my favorites on my profile page. These are friends I follow when I have time to visit blogs. If you have a topic of interest, let me know and I will connect you to my favorite blogs that match your interests.

And…What Season of Motherhood have you found women find the most difficult?

Hard one, I’d say the baby/preschool years. Only because moms get so little time to themselves. Their personal space is almost none, considering most moms with young ones can’t even go to the bathroom without interruption. And the younger the kids are, the more they need their moms. These moms sleep less too. I see more exhaustion and burnout and guilt during these mommy years. And yet, these years are also most rewarding. Babies grow up so fast. Toddlers are so fun and funny!

However each season of motherhood contains its own set of challenges and rewards. The bigger the kids, the bigger the problems can be. I’m dealing with a teen and preteen now. They are more independent, so I have more free time, but their problems are more complex. I often tell my son who’s 16 that I have no clue how to parent him as he grows up because I’ve never done it before. He’s my first, so it’s all new to me. Every challenge is a learning opportunity for both of us.

So we learn and fall together.

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Thank you to all who took the time to ask me questions. I enjoyed answering them. Hope you are enjoying summer! I will be writing for Laced with Grace tomorrow. I’ll post the link if you are interested.