2010 is already going way too fast for me. How about you?
The Watson household is in deep alteration this year. Not just physically with a hoped-for major main floor renovation, but mom and dad (being Phil and I) after years of skirting it have finally plunged into the leasing-a-horse mode for our two oldest daughters. It's actually a large pony they are leasing and preparing to show in the A-circuit around here. This means major change around the home-front.
It means that mom is at the barn five afternoons a week watching said daughters ride Penny, said large pony, and girls are building major thigh muscle and toughness with a new coach who loves no-stirrup work. My crock-pot is getting work-out in all of this, too.
So, not only am I busy drawing up possible floor plans for our new kitchen and location of current kitchen, family room and dining room, along with scouting possible contractors, I'm at the barn way more (starting to sound like my teenage daughters here--scary!)
The interesting thing about all this is that I am at peace with it all even though it has put my writing on the back burner. So I've deemed 2010 a year of horses, renovation inside the house and renovation of old works of writing. Although I'd planned in late 2009 to write a teen novel for my girls early this year, that's going to have to wait. The plot wasn't meshing like I'd hoped in my mind and so it needs more time to knit together as I continue on with 2010. Who knows, perhaps I need to experience the A-circuit living to find the missing pieces since it definitely has equestrian life in it for my girls to enjoy.
I'm starting with revisions and edits of The Unlikely One (that's the story that finalled in the Genesis contest). It'll go slow, I have no doubt, but again, I'm at peace with that. If I get it polished and ready for submitting by the end of the year, I'll deem my writing for 2010 a success.
Of course, that's what I say and feel today. God reserves the right to drive me differently at any point in time. And I say to God, "Bring it on my Master. Lead me, mold me, use me to Your Good Works. Amen."
My question for you all today is this: What are you feeling peace about lately?
(P.S. I'll try and get my girls to send me a picture of beautiful Penny and add it to this post tonight so you can see the newest addition to our family that is becoming very time-consuming.)
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
35 comments:
My ONLY peace is that I know the one who leads me. Sounds like your year is shaping up to be a busy but productive one. I can't wait to hear more about your YA novel. I hope you get around to it. Your girls will appreciate it so.
Sounds like you have good priorities!:)
I'm at peace more than I was before about our financial situation. I know my husband should go to school now as he is so much happier than I've seen him in two years!
I am trying to be at peace that for awhile I am helping others with their works and let mine sit abit.
Definitely want to see that picture. What a cool life! I'm so happy for y'all and your daughters!
I'm at peace with moving, actually. I'm ready. Definitely ready for something to happen, but ready to begin this new life as well.
Your girls must just LOVE Penny, what a wonderful gesture for you to do. Maybe you can incorporate the horse-life somehow into your story, or even the YA story, since it's such a big part of your lives? Enjoy!
New horses and Renovation...all at the same time? You're a much braver woman than I. God be with you on this journey.
I'm glad you're at peace with your writing, Eileen and that you're not giving up. I've been thinking about you and wondering what direction you're heading. So I'm gald to hear that you're still plugging away. Blessings to you, my friend!
I'm glad to hear you're sensing God's leading! Let's see...what do I feel peace about...homeschool. That's definitely a priority in our home right now, and I know it's what we're called to do.
Hi Eileen,
Wow - major undertakings! Especially the home renovations. I don't think I'd have the stomach for it.
It's funny that you've decided to revise old works. That's the path I've chosen this year, too. Hopefully it's the right one for both of us.
Have fun with your pony!
Sue
Sounds like this will be a great and busy year for you :) Your girls are lucky! I never succeeded in getting my parents to lease me a pony when I was in my riding phase. Hope the girls enjoy Penny and I'm excited to see pictures!
Oh how fun! I showed saddleseat for years, but our horses were in our backyard. Here it is twenty years later, but instead of having a barn in my backyard, I'm building a go-kart track in my front yard,lol! Thanks for your well wishes for my sore arm - I appreciate them!!!!
Hi Eileen -
It's nice that you've prioritized and are not stressing.
I've got two major projects going and a couple of smaller ones. The job scene is unchanged, so I'm praying about my next step.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Well, I'm at peace that you won my blog contest! Does that count? :D 2010 sounds like it's going to be a very busy year for you. Good luck!
It sounds like you have a lot going on and it's so encouraging that you have peace about it all.
Right now I'm feeling very peaceful about the fact I can't get EVERYTHING done when I want to get it done. I'm a big daily planner, but sometimes things don't work out how you want them to. And you know what? That's okay!
I'm finally feeling at peace about my life since my husband died. For quite some time I felt very unsettled, not wanting to go back to teaching elementary school again, not sure where God was leading me. I feel I now have some direction -- I'm planning to get a new degree in nursing if God allows. And I'm no longer frustrated about all the uncertainty I now have. I'm OK with leaving my future in His hands.
Eileen: you are one busy family, but I'm happy for you that you're at peace with the pony.
Yes, DO post some photos of the girls, please!
I'm at peace with not rushing my books to a publisher before they are ready.
I've missed you, dear!
What a beautiful roadmap for 2010! We all have to be flexible with the seasons of life, and our family needs us at different intervals.
I love that you gave the Lord full reign of your life!
You've jumped off the fence and hopped on the saddle, eh? Very cool!
Sigh. I'm working so hard to balance hubby's cataract surgery and a trip and the new proposal and the Bible study preparation and dinner--a little lacking on peace lately...More prayer needed!
Patti
www.pattilacy.com/blog
We are feeling peace about an addition to our household as well. I can't say more than that. :)
Love the fact that you have found peace in the middle of life :) All the best with those goals this year.
Without Jesus, there would be no peace for any of us. With present state of the economy, we all have to rely on Jesus for that peace.
Blessings on you and your family.
"I say to God, "Bring it on my Master. Lead me, mold me, use me to Your Good Works. Amen." I love this from you.
Not sure I am feeling peace. Am working on it.
I think it's wonderful that you're at peace with where God has you. Blessings to you on the renovations and blessings ont he revisions!
Finding peace about the novel at my publishers - I was losing sleep worrying whether they'd like it - but, I decided to let it go - if we're looking at cover images, it must mean they like it!
What a wonderful feeling to be at peace with chaos. I just started a new job and am entering an extremely busy tax season, but unlike last year, I'm at peace with it. I know that the writing part of my life will not be first or second in my life for three months, but I'm okay with it.
Good luck with all the renovations and the horseback riding!
Have fun with your new 2010 endeavors:) Blessings!
Oh my daughters would be so jealous of the horse/pony. Soph is saving up for one, although I haven't the heart to tell her it may never happen! I'm at peace knowing that I'll be concentrating more on my family/homeschool life the next few months and not feeling guilty about my writing!
Can't wait to hear more about the renovation plans.
Eileen, I love your priorities and I have to say, leaving the right to change those priorities to God is AWESOME! Therein lies the peace! I'm at peace with our house being on the market for soooo long. It will sell in God's time, and I am at peace with it. :)
I know exactly what you mean about putting writing on the back burner. It's just life. I'm definitely at peace with that. Good luck with your horse and your revisions. Minus the horse, I'm in the same boat.
That's what it's all about, Eileen, His leading. I'm so glad you have peace about this season. You never know it might be a very fruitful time after all, in many ways. Two years ago I was spending a lot of time on a horse farm caring for all the animals when the owner was away. I laugh now, but when mucking out the stalls I got some pretty good story ideas! You never know how our new experiences will help our writing. Good for you on the goal of revisions. Maybe that's the perfect thing for you to be doing, writing wise. Btw, I love creating floor plans and doing house rennovatins. I hope we get to see some pics along the way. Enjoy!
Eeek! Somehow I missed getting over here yesterday. Sorry about that. :-)
Your plans sound pretty good to me. I feel peace about my rate of writing. It's not the most it could be, but I'm peaceful that I'm doing the best I can without stressing anyone, which works for me. LOL
What a blessing that He has given you peace during this busy time in your life! Awesome!
Not really at peace myself right now--but plotting always makes me anxious. I need to learn to chill out more and give it to God.
Can't wait to see pics!
Love your blog, Eileen. I know it will become one of my favorites. This 58 year old still dreaming of having a horse woman wants to know more about leasing a horse. Sounds like a dream for me. I would love to see photos. By the way, your love of God is evident in every word you write and every sidebar on your blog.
Winona Cross
http://winonacross.blogspot.com
Lead me, mold me, use me to Your Good Works. Amen." I love this from you.
Work from home India
Whew! You certainly have a lot on your plate for the beginning of this year, Eileen! But it's so wonderful that amidst all the business going on at your house you've managed to find peace within yourself. And congrats on finalling in the Genesis contest--that is a FANTASTIC accomplishment right there!
Thanks also for visiting my blog . . . your words are encouraging. I wish you also the best of luck in all that you have planned for your writing in 2010! :)
How fun! I'm glad your daughters will have this opportunity. You never know, maybe you'll be able to use the time to draw up houseplans or even, gasp!, plot? Best wishes to you!
I'm sure there was some disappointment in having to put your writing on the back burner, but I think that arranging your schedule so that you had some control over this, rather than it just happening, will help to produce some of the peace for you. Wise decisions.
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