On June 17th, my phone rang and even though I didn’t recognize the number, I answered it. When the voice on the other end of the line said, “This is Casey Herringshaw . . . ” Well, honestly, I don’t exactly know what she said after that because there was only one reason for her to be calling me and I couldn’t quite let myself believe that it was possible until she confirmed she was calling to tell me that Covert Justice was a finalist in the Short Novel category of the Carol Awards. I don’t actually know what I said after that, but there was a lot of laughing (I’m calling it laughing…Casey might call it maniacal giggling). Other that that, it’s pretty much a blur—although that might have been because of my tears of joy. I generally try to act like a professional, but I must say, it was way more fun to enjoy the good news. Which leads me to the next thing I learned…

2. It is REALLY hard to keep good news a secret! I had to wait 10 days before I could tell anyone about the Carol final. It was *killing* me! I wanted to ask my friends if they had finaled (and quite a few of them did!) and I wanted to share it with the world. But I kept my mouth zipped up tight (no small feat for me) and waited not-so-patiently for the announcement on the 27th. 

4. I love to read the Psalms in the summer. I run to the Psalms when I am frustrated and frazzled, and summers are challenging for our family. Children who thrive on routine can struggle mightily in the free-wheeling, carefree days of summer, and that makes it hard on this mama. Without being consciously aware of what I was doing, I just turned to Psalm 1 and started reading . . . and realized I’ve done this before. My Bible is marked up in pens, pencils, and all sort of random notations, but there is nowhere that I can remember what I was feeling when I highlighted a particular passage as when I re-read the Psalms. 

The post What I Learned in June appeared first on Lynn H. Blackburn.

Two of my favorite bloggers (Emily P. Freeman and Modern Mrs. Darcy) do something toward the end of each month that I always look
forward to, so I’ve decided to jump on the bandwagon.

I know, it sounds silly, but it’s been a big deal for me. I
don’t consume a lot of peanut butter, even though I love it. Most people who
make the switch to “healthier nut butters” go straight to almond butter. For
the past couple of years, I’ve use almond butter and I like it. I just don’t
love it. But cashew butter? Yumminess. 

I think there might be a larger lesson
here. Something about not trying to force yourself to love something just
because everyone else does? Or maybe about how it’s better to keep trying new
things instead of assuming they are all basically the same? Come to think of
it, that seems to be a theme for the entire month. Read on. 

I gave up coffee in January. After 7 straight days of
headaches, I finally broke free of the caffeine addiction. The coffee
addiction, however, seems to be here to stay. I love a great cup of coffee in
the morning, or with friends, but now I’m drinking decaf. Even at 6 a.m.

Ok – that’s it for now. I actually have five more things,
but this post is already too long. 

I’d love for you to leave a comment and share
one, two, or twenty things you’ve learned so far this year.

The post What I Learned in January and February appeared first on Lynn H. Blackburn.

Image by TheCulinaryGeek via Flickr

Most mornings I need a jolt (or two or three) of caffeine to keep me on my feet.

So the other day, I fixed myself a cup of coffee, poured in a generous portion of french vanilla creamer and ran out the door. As I pulled out of my driveway, I took a sip. And almost spit it out.

It was too sweet.

I’ll say that again, in case some of you think that was a typo.

It was too sweet.

You cannot begin to imagine my shock.

Nothing is ever too sweet for me.

When people are complaining—crazy people like my husband—about how “rich” the cheesecake is. Or about how the peanut butter pie in the Oreo crust is “too sweet” to eat more than a small bite, I’m the one scarfing it down.

But, apparently, when it comes to my coffee, my tastes are changing.

And I know why.

I’ve had to back off on my creamers and sugars because my jeans don’t fit. It turns out that what you can get by with when you drink an occasional cup of coffee doesn’t work anymore when you’re sucking back three cups a day.

So I’ve been weaning myself. Trying to drink my coffee a little closer to black. (Let’s note that “closer” is a relative term. My “almost black” is still a nice caramel color).

When I got home, I poured it out and made a new cup with far less creamer. And as I sipped, I started thinking about other things I’ve been weaning myself from.

Some TV. Some books. Some web browsing. Some crafts.

Not that any of these things were bad in their own right.

But they don’t fit anymore.

As I’ve chosen to respond in obedience to the call to write, I’ve had to make tough choices about how I spend my time. What used to be okay just doesn’t work anymore.

I only have so many hours in the day. I spend my days hanging out with my favorite little people and my evenings hanging out with my favorite man. That doesn’t leave a lot of time to write.

But, to my surprise, I don’t miss the shows I’ve given up. And most of the time, my choice to surrender and spend my “free” time writing brings me joy.

I think this is what the Psalmist was talking about when he said “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” It’s not that God is some cosmic genie prepared to fulfill our three wishes.

It’s because when we choose to obey, we find that doing His will fulfills us in a way nothing else can.

So what about you? Are you feeling led to do something, but don’t think you have enough time? Or will saying “yes” to Him mean saying “no” to some things you don’t think you can give up?

Can I offer this suggestion?
Try it.
Try it His way.

But be prepared.
One morning, you may wake up and discover your tastes have changed.
For the better.

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Psalm 54:4 ~ Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. (ESV)

Until recently, I was a social coffee drinker. I love a good mocha with friends or a frappucino on a hot day. But all that changed a few months ago. Concurrent with the birth of my third child, I became one of “those” people. The ones you shouldn’t mess with until they’ve had their first cup of coffee and who aren’t really awake until they’re on their second.

I guess it was just a matter of time before coffee went from being an occasional treat to a morning ritual. I haven’t slept through the night in almost a year. And the more sleep I lost to midnight and 3AM feedings, the more caffeine became my friend.

Prior to our most recent addition, I would have described my life as a three-ring circus. Lots of activity, but with a reasonable amount of order. Now, I’d have to say my life more closely resembles a hurricane. Swirling and buffeting, with high winds generating huge waves.

People ask me how I do it. My response? I don’t. In my own strength, I can do nothing. On my own, the hurricane would overwhelm the shoreline of my life and nothing, not even a strong cup of French roast, would be able to get me through my day.

There are still times when I fall into the trap of thinking that I have to hold everything together. And the more I think that way, the more everything seems to fall apart.

But when I lean into my Heavenly Father, He pulls me into the eye of the hurricane. The peaceful spot in the middle. The one place where I can catch my breath, even as everything swirls around me.

He is the one who holds me, and my life, together. The coffee helps get me going in the morning, but it is His help that carries me through each and every day.

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