Raising Arrows

Keeping the Kitchen Clean

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Time for a shocking confession from me...

My husband's friend Dan taught me how to keep my kitchen clean.

Most women would be embarrassed that a man taught them how to clean a kitchen,

but I am..

not...

well...
not really..

ok...
maybe a little bit.

Most of you know how much I struggle with the kitchen. My entire married life my kitchen has rarely been clean more than a handful of days at a time (usually surrounding a visit from my mom).

In fact, prior to baby #4, it wasn't uncommon for me to be so totally overwhelmed by the dishes that when company would come I would quickly throw large tea towels over the piles near the sink to give the appearance that they were drying under there!

*gasp*

After #4, I didn't even bother with the tea towels.

*another gasp*

So, really, in the grand scheme of things, Dan teaching me to keep my kitchen clean is much less embarrassing than letting my dishes rot under tea towels.

So, what's the trick Dan taught me that has revolutionized my kitchen?

I'll tell you in a second, but first I must explain something about myself in the hopes that ~~I will not feel totally stupid~~ someone out there can relate...

I didn't know HOW to keep my kitchen clean.

I couldn't get from Point A - Messy Kitchen to Point B - Clean Kitchen on my own.

It could be because I'm a very visual person and couldn't see what needed to be done. It could be I'm too flighty. It could be a million different things, but the truth of the matter is that if something isn't described to me in tiny baby steps more than likely I just won't get it.

For instance, my mom says,

"You just clean the kitchen as you go."

My brain hears,

"As you cook, your dishes magically become clean."

See the disconnect here?

So, I was quite grateful to Dan for his patience and ability to keep a straight face as he walked me through how to keep my kitchen clean. (This method assumes you have a dishwasher and a garbage disposal. If not, adjust accordingly...just don't ask ME how to make those adjustments...remember, I'm the one who thinks dishes magically clean themselves!)

1. Start your meal preparations by emptying your dishwasher...every.single.time.

2. As you cook, take any no-longer-used dishes and utensils directly to the sink, rinse foodstuff down garbage disposal and IMMEDIATELY place items in dishwasher.

3. When dishwasher is full (or semi-full), run dishwasher.

4. Repeat.

Yeah, I can hear all of you in bloggy land snickering at me, but that's ok. I'm a big girl. I can take it.

Actually, I'm going to blame it on my artsy nature. I can describe a rose, but I totally miss the fact that it is a rose! I'm more concerned about what kind of basket my fruit sits in. My dishes being clean and off the countertops really only matters to me because it might detract from my basket.

So, that, my friends, is how I keep my kitchen clean.

And if you're really nice to me I might even let you in on the step-by-step instructions I was given on how to get a meal to the table and actually eat at the same time as my family! (No, that tidbit of info did NOT come from Dan!)

Let me know if Family Table instructions even remotely interest you, because frankly, one time of totally embarrassing myself this week is plenty!

The Winner of the SpellQuizzer Giveaway is...

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:15:00 +0000

MommaBlogger!

Thanks to all who entered!

And stay tuned...

I have another great little giveaway coming up soon!
(HINT: Remember THIS POST?!)

Final Day to Enter Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:00:00 +0000

This is it, folks! The last day to enter the SpellQuizzer Giveaway! At midnight tonight, it's all over. Winner will be announced as soon as Random.org spits one out for me.

Hope you are having a bright and productive Monday! (no, really...I mean it...I LOVE Mondays!)

Creative Writing - Choose Your Words Wisely (A)

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Part 3 of The Creative Writing Crash Course.

If you are just joining us, you can read the introduction to our little Creative Writing Crash Course and then start with Part 1 of the series.

*****

I've written for newsletters and magazines, on blogs and for radio. I've presented research papers in conference rooms and read poetry in coffee shops. Each venue is just a little bit different, and you have to be aware of those differences.

For instance, radio needs to be quick and concise, using meaning-rich words that get your point across to a reader who has only the amount of time it takes to say the words over the airwaves in order to process what is being said and create an image in their minds. There is very little room for error.

Poetry is at its best when the words have multiple meanings and are so descriptive you cannot help but feel you are there. I firmly believe poetry is never meant to be read once. It must be read again and again for years and years before you should ever be able to fully grasp its meaning.

Research papers can be quite interesting if the author has a large and well-defined vocabulary with a solid sense of how to make words flow. I know, "interesting" and "research paper" are oxymorons to the general public, but I participated in a reading of research papers done on classic literature several years back and it was fascinating! Really!

The point I am trying to make here is that what is going to make or break your writing are your words. I'm not being flippant. The difference between a good read and a boring read is all in what words the author uses to piece together the message.

We've talked about what your message is, we've talked about ways to grab a reader's attention, and now we must talk about the real meat of the subject...

Choosing Your Words Wisely
lesson A

1. Build your vocabulary.

Ask This:
Do I have command of the english language? Is it difficult for me to precisely and concisely describe things to other people? Do I need a thesaurus? Do I need a dictionary?

Know This:
At the mention of vocabulary words, my children groan. I'll admit, I was never a fan of those quizzes in 4th grade where we tried to recall all the "Power Words" the teacher had crammed into our brains that week. (However, I do remember quite clearly the words "regurgitate" and "puce"...does that speak volumes about me or what?)

So, never fear, I am NOT going to ask you to start an index box of cards with a running list of vocabulary words on them. Not that those don't have merit (and you can start one if you like), but most of us simply don't have time for that sort of thing. But, here's a little story about me to help you see the importance of having command of a large vocabulary...

Words have always been my thing. But, one day when I used the word

be·nev·o·lent (b-nv-lnt)
adj.
1. Characterized by or suggestive of doing good.
2. Of, concerned with, or organized for the benefit of charity.

to refer to someone who was very mean and rude, I could tell by the looks on the faces around me that I had either lost my mind or I had used the wrong word. Thankfully, the next time I mixed up words, I had the good sense to keep my mouth shut. That was when my professor (you'll meet him in a bit) began talking about the

et·y·mol·o·gy (t-ml-j)
n. pl. et·y·mol·o·gies
1. The origin and historical development of a linguistic form as shown by determining its basic elements, earliest known use, and changes in form and meaning, tracing its transmission from one language to another, identifying its cognates in other languages, and reconstructing its ancestral form where possible.
2. The branch of linguistics that deals with etymologies.

of words and I wondered what in the world BUGS had to do with it! (as in, I thought he meant "entomology"...the study of insects!)

So, anyway...using a word incorrectly is embarrassing to say the least.

Do This:
Every time (and I mean EVERY time) you run across a word you have either never heard before, or you only *think* you know the meaning of, LOOK IT UP! Get yourself a good dictionary (not a children's and not a teeny tiny one) and USE it, or use an online dictionary like The Free Dictionary. Google has an awesome tool in its toolbar where you can actually double-click a word on a web page and then click their little Definition Icon to get a quick dictionary definition of the highlighted word. Very handy!

Now, here's the tricky part...
If you look up a word, use it in a sentence as soon as possible! Even if you have to come up with something off the wall and say it to the children who will look at you funny and then go back to playing Legos...or perhaps you could write a quick email to your husband at work and use the word (you might even impress him!)

For instance:
Recently, I visited the blog of someone who had left a comment here. The name of her blog was Fraise Lachrymose. I had heard the last word before (the first word I knew from my days of studying Spanish...some of you might know it from your days of studying food. No, it's not a Spanish word, but if you know your etymology...not your entomology...you would see the similarity between the French and the Spanish words), but that last word I couldn't quite conjure up a definition for. Thankfully, the blogger was kind enough to have written a post explaining her blog name and my memory was jogged...memory because "lachrymate" is a word my husband has used before (I believe he was cutting an onion at the time). So, now as I sit here typing variations of the word "lachrymate", I am reinforcing the word in my mind. I won't soon forget this word.

2. Learn to love your thesaurus.

Ask This:
Do you even own a thesaurus?

Know This:
Words are very precise. The more ways you know to say something, the more you can clarify your meaning.

Do This:
Dust off your thesaurus or familiarize yourself with an online version.

Look at one of your blog posts that you just aren't that impressed with. Find a couple of verbs within that post that are boring, everyday words like "talk" or "said" and use your thesaurus to find a new and improved word. Begin to look for new ways of saying the same old thing as you write.

3. Avoid clichés and overused words.

Ask This:
Are your descriptions inventive or do they rely on other people's observations and words? Do you use too many "empty" words?

Know This:
You shall now meet my professor. I can't remember his name because I always called him Dr. Who (as in Tom Baker's version of Dr. Who)

He ALWAYS wore a long scarf and his hair was curly (although several shades lighter than Tom Baker's). In addition to this, he wore brightly colored socks and Birkenstocks. When he smiled, rocking back and forth a bit with his hands in his corduroys, I thought I'd been in a time warp and truly expected to see K-9 come scooting out from behind his desk. He was a delightful teacher and I learned much from him, including how to recognize clichés and how to learn to write without them.

So, what are clichés? Well, to take from the Cliche' Finder Website:

"A cliche is an analogy characterized by its overuse. It may be true ('Fat as a pig'), no longer true ('work like a dog') or inscrutible ('right as rain'), but it has been overused to the point that its sole function is to mark its user as a lazy thinker." Expressions you and your friends make-up one afternoon can't be cliches for this very reason.

The site suggests that if you start the phrase and know exactly how to end it, it is a cliche'. See the 'Fat as a pig' in the above quote? You can easily say,

Fat as a [what?]

and know the answer is pig. It is best to avoid clichés because they tend to be empty words. They've lost good solid meaning and true-to-life descriptive ability. However I will admit, even I, schooled by Dr. Who himself, still use a smattering of clichés.

Do This:
Familiarize yourself with common clichés. HERE is an excellent list I ran across. Take the time to read through it. Recognize yourself? As the title of the page says, learn to "avoid them like the plague." (which, by the way, is a cliché).

Next, take a look at your writings. Are you an avid user of clichés? (use that handy search feature on your blog to search for some of the ones listed in the link!) Rewrite one of your posts, replacing each cliché with a more inventive, more original grouping of words. Here's one of my sentences from "When the Roller Coaster Begins to Slow":

And after I had given out words of wisdom, I was going to breathe a huge sigh of relief and say, "So glad that is over!"

"Words of wisdom" and "sigh of relief" are both clichés. I could have shaped this sentence with a lot more accuracy and meaning, if I'd said:

And after I had pontificated, I was going to exhale loudly and say, "So glad that is over!"

(Remember, sometimes clichés serve a purpose in blogs. See the "paddling upstream" reference in my post "A Day To Celebrate" or the fact that my Dog Days of Summer post includes a picture of a sleeping dog. Clichés, if used rarely and done in good taste, can make for great irony and photo captions! )

Would you like to take the Creative Writing Crash Course?
Read the following posts:
Introduction: Let the Creative Juices Flow
Part 1 - The Message
Part 2 - Grab Their Attention & Keep It (A)
Part 3 - Grab Their Attention & Keep It (B)
This post is Part 4 - Choose Your Words Wisely (A)

McLinky Link (if you care to share!):

Just a Quick Reminder

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:43:00 +0000

Don't forget:

The SpellQuizzer giveaway ends on

Monday, November 9th at midnight!

I'll see you back here on Monday for the Creative Writing Crash Course. Until then, you can catch me on Twitter.

Enjoy your weekend!

Family Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:41:00 +0000

"Stop making that face, Lia!"

"Keian sit still!"

"Everyone smile! No, not like THAT!"

These were phrases heard repeatedly during our photo session at the Kraft's house on Wednesday.

Family pictures for a large family can easily reach nightmare proportions. You have no idea how thankful I am Lynnette has a large family and isn't easily irritated by the antics of 5 children.

Lynnette is editing frantically and sending them as she does. It is so fun to open each email from her! They are all so fun and beautiful! (However, I do think I might ask her to "edit" about 20 pounds off of me! lol)

I wanted to share with all of you some of the photos I received last night...

More to come!

Playdough Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Keeping little hands busy during school hours is always a challenge.

Many mamas cringe at the idea of playdough, but this homemade recipe is really great at sticking together, thus creating less opportunity for teeny-tiny crusted pieces of dough all over your floor. And of course, it's non-toxic.

Homemade Playdough
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 Tbsp oil
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup cold water
12 drops of food coloring

Add all ingredients except food coloring to saucepan. Whisk together to eliminate lumps.

Turn heat onto medium. Add food coloring. Stir continuously.

After a few minutes of cooking the dough will form a ball.

When the dough loses its "wet" appearance, remove from heat and transfer to storage container (we use a plastic container with a lid).

Allow to cool (although my children do not let it cool too much...they love how the warm dough feels).

Now, let those imaginations soar!

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, CLICK HERE.

While the Mommy's Away, the Toddlers Will Play

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

So, the ~~mice~~ toddlers are playing nicely as you begin your school day; however, 2 minutes into teaching square roots, and they have disappeared. An eerie calm overtakes the house. You hear squeaky laughter intermittently escaping from somewhere down the hallway. You follow said laughter only to find all family members 3 feet and under sitting in the bathtub playing happily, covered in bubble bath.

Sound familiar?

So, what's a mom to do?

Well, here's my Top Ten List of

What-the-Toddler-Does-While-Mom-Homeschools
(plus a giveaway on another blog!)

1. Sleep
This one works great when you have elementary aged children and younger. School does not take as long in those early years, so it can easily be fit into the toddler's nap schedule. For years we homeschooled at 1pm every day because that was when the toddler napped.

2. Play Pen
My toddler LOVES to keep his younger brother company in the play pen. No, it's not a cage, but hey, even if it was...what toddler doesn't love a cage?!

3. Pretend School
My toddler has his own crate and box of supplies just like the big kids. He spends a goodly amount of time sitting right beside us "working" away.

4. "Quiet" Games
These can be everything from clothespin games to file folder games to bears and a balancing bucket. (see giveaway at the bottom of this post!)

5. Lauri Puzzles
and other toddler activities suggested by My Father's World curriculum.

6. Cardboard boxes
Need I say more?

7. A box of toys just for school time
It could be soldiers, it could be horses, it could dress up clothes...but whatever it is, it is ONLY for school time!

8. Board Books
Not just for reading. My children create the most amazing "book houses" with their board books. You might have to show them how to do it once or twice, but after that their plastic McDonald's toys will be living in the lap of luxury.

9. Playdough & Paint
Yep, I just saw a couple of you cringe. Get washable paint and use the recipe for playdough I posted and I promise you, it isn't that bad. It could be worse...it could be glitter! (anyone else DESPISE that stuff???)

10. Let 'em run and clean up later
Some days are just like that.

So, you wanna win your very own file folder game?
Visit Peace Creek on the Prairie and sign up!

and don't forget the SpellQuizzer giveaway ending this coming Monday, November 9th!

For more ideas on keeping toddlers busy:
Raising Olives
Smockity Frocks
Too Many Kids in the Bathtub
and
Miscellaneous Musings of a 5x Mom
(whom I am indebted to for compiling all these great links!)
Productive Parenting sends a daily age-appropriate suggestion to your inbox

Being a Quitter

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

After we brought Baby #4 (who just happens to be the little guy in the picture above) home in January of 2006, I sat on my couch and stared into nothingness, thoroughly overwhelmed and wondering what I had done. Every routine, every cleaning schedule, every aspect of my life suddenly stopped working. I felt inept and unable to do anything about it.

That's when I became a quitter.

First to hit the chopping block was the time I spent outside the home. Prior to Keian's birth, I had been involved in 4 different homeschool groups, taking field trips and attending meetings for each of them. I realized I could not keep that pace. I quit 3 of those groups. However, I did not pour that extra time and energy into the remaining group. I poured it into my time spent at home with the children.

The next thing I quit was my cloth diapering business. What had begun as a fun venture with a friend was quickly becoming an exhausting chore. I found I was spending time and money I didn't have. I was selling one diaper only to buy fabric of equal value (if not more). My piles of fabric and unfinished projects made me cringe every time I walked by them. In addition, I found the old adage of "the cobbler's kids go with shoes," had become "the diaper maker's kids go without diapers." I had no time to sew for my own household because there was always one more product to promote or one more order to fill. I felt confined and bogged down. So, I quit.

From there I quit many other things that overwhelmed me and kept me from doing the job I needed to be doing at home. I methodically worked my way away from simply "parenting" and back to "mothering." I re-prioritized and re-grouped. Quitting was essential to finding my way home.

As a mother, have you ever thought about what your goals are? Have you weighed your day against those goals? Do they balance? Is there something in your life that has become a chore? Are you overwhelmed by something? Are you hindered from being the mother you need to be?

The saying,

"Winners never Quit, Quitters never Win,"

isn't entirely true.

I am a quitter and I am winning by making this decision.

Need Spelling Help? SpellQuizzer Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Homeschool moms tend to have a love/hate relationship with spelling. It's one of those must-do subjects that bore most of us to tears. That's why I am game to try anything that lightens the burden when it comes to teaching spelling.

Enter SpellQuizzer!

This downloadable spelling software has multiple possibilities from supplementing other curriculums to studying for spelling bees. Not only can you enter in your own lists from other spelling or vocabulary programs, but you can also import one of their many free downloadable spelling lists.

This program appeals to different learning styles as well, and is especially helpful for those children who are auditory. The program is uncluttered and easy to use and quite homeschool friendly. (although, there are multiple benefits for the non-homeschooling family as well)

To get a better understanding of how the program works, watch the video demonstrations found HERE. But to give you a real life understanding of how this program can work for you, let me give you two examples from our homeschool:

Blake - age 11
Blake uses Phonetic Zoo from IEW's Excellence in Spelling. Every few weeks, Phonetic Zoo has the child work on what are called "Personal Spelling Words." These are words that the child is struggling with in his every day writing and reading. Phonetic Zoo uses audio to teach the child his words, much the way a spelling bee would be set up.

I have very little involvement in the curriculum. However, when it is Personal Spelling Week, I have to give the words and sentences and correct spellings, taking time away from the other children for a subject that is usually done independently.

With SpellQuizzer, Blake can continue the Phonetic Zoo format! I simply start a running list of personal words on SpellQuizzer and add to it as I find more words he is struggling with. When it comes time for Blake to do his personal spelling words, I have a program that is set up to quiz him with the same format both of us are used to.

Megan - age 8
Megan isn't doing a formal spelling program because her spelling is quite good already; however, in her main curriculum, there are several vocabulary words listed each week. I am not a big fan of quizzing vocabulary words as it is one more thing I have to add to my already packed schedule. However, with SpellQuizzer, I can enter in the words, add the definitions, and use the program as a way to quiz her on her words throughout the week with minimal effort from me. Way more fun than an index box full of cards!

This program does work best if you have a microphone to add the audio to each word. Many computers come with microphones, but if not, you can easily purchase a small PC microphone for very little money.

In fact, because of the built-in spell checker feature, you could even allow your child to type in his own spelling lists and add his own audio...what a thrill that would be!

In addition to all of this, there is a forum where spelling lists from other families can be shared along with tips and tricks to making the most of SpellQuizzer.

It really is a no-nonsense, easy to use spelling program that offers many teaching possibilities to the homeschooling family.

**Now for some great news!**

One of my lovely readers will receive a
free one-year license to SpellQuizzer!
That's a $29.95 value!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. If you blog, facebook, or tweet about this giveaway and leave me an additional comment saying you've done so, you get one extra entry.

This giveaway will end on Monday, November 9th at midnight and a winner will be announced on Tuesday.

So, take a gander at the SpellQuizzer site! Let me know what you think and you could win your very own copy!

Disclosure Statement

Creative Writing - Grab Their Attention & Keep It (B)

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Part 2-B of The Creative Writing Crash Course.

If you are just joining us, you can read the introduction to our little Creative Writing Crash Course and then start with Part 1 of this series.

I also wanted to mention again the fact that these creative writing exercises are not solely for the purpose of your blog. These relate to just about any writing project you might have. So, don't feel confined to your blog when using these lessons...branch out!

*****

1. Don't beat around the bush (aka Just come right out and say it)

Ask This:
Is my audience lost? Am I lost? Why are we lost? Am I getting the message out within the first sentence or two or am I holding back?

Know This:
If your audience isn't drawn in by the first sentence or two, you will more than likely lose them. No, you don't need to get your entire message out in the first paragraph, but you need to get enough of it out that your reader knows what and why they are reading.

Do This:
Randomly pick one of your posts. First of all, look at the title. If it were on another blog, would you stop to read a post with the same title you chose? Why or why not? Now, look at the first 3 sentences. Is there at least a hint of your message there? Would someone reading it be able to give a good definition of what your post was about or would they totally miss the mark?

2. Repeat with a purpose.

Ask This:
Is there a phrase I can repeat throughout my writing to drive home my point?

Know This:
I recently attended a Crisis Pregnancy Center benefit where JJ Jasper was the keynote speaker. He told a story about taking his children to the circus shortly after Cooper died and how the children wanted to ride the elephant (by the way, this is precisely what we did after Emily's death...took the children to the circus AND rode the elephant). JJ apparently balked at the $8 per rider price until his daughter reminded him over and over again, "Dad, it's an elephant." He referred back to those 4 words several times during his brief speech, but there was a purpose in his repetition. As he closed his time with us, he used those 4 words to motivate people to give to a worthy cause like the Crisis Pregnancy Center because "Folks, it's a baby." He took the four words his daughter uttered and turned them into a way to drive home his message. This was repetition with a purpose.

The Bible is replete with repetitions of key points. Why not try this literary tool yourself?

Do This:
Try writing a post using a repetitive phrase. Be careful to avoid OVERusing it, but you will find that repetition can provide poignancy and beauty to your posts if used well.

Here is an example from my post "This Time Last Year".

3. Be sincere.

Ask This:
Am I passionate about what I write? Do I truly care what my reader takes away from it?

Know This:
We've already explored who you really are in Part 2-A, but even if you are real with your audience you can still manage to be insincere. Sincerity is when you really want your reader to take something away from what you've written. It's when you truly care what the person reading finds within your words. It means you care deeply about what you are writing and you want to share that passion with your reader. Yes, it means you are opening yourself up, but beautiful writing begins when you bare your soul.

Do This:
This is an exercise I did in acting class years ago. It just helps you to find the emotion and passion behind things. It is not meant to teach you sincerity (as that is not something that can be taught), but it is meant to teach you to reach deeper within yourself to understand what events God has placed in your life and how those events have affected you and your world. If this is too intense for your blog, feel free to write your list privately. You are also welcome to only do a partial list. I do not want anyone writing something they are uncomfortable sharing.

For each of the emotions listed below, give a brief description from your own life as to where you draw the deepest expression of that emotion. What is the story behind that deep expression?:

1. Love
2. Anger
3. Sadness
4. Surprise
5. Joy

Here is my list:

1. Love - My husband and I have been married for 13 years and have been through a lot...2 deployments, the loss of a child, the loss of a parent, many moves and job changes. I love him dearly and fiercely.

2. Anger - private story

3. Sadness - The loss of my 7 month old daughter.

4. Surprise - Finding out I was pregnant with our 4th child. I believed it was difficult for me to get pregnant and here I was pregnant just 6 months after delivering my last child!

5. Joy - Each of the births of my children has brought me such joy, but my own rebirth in becoming a follower of Christ is the number one event I draw joy from.

*****

Today's Final Assignment:
Now it's time to begin creating! Besides working on your topic post, begin using what you've learned in the last 3 lessons to write other posts. Choose topics you know and hold dear. Try different methods of grabbing your reader's attention. Keep evaluating what you are writing, ask others to evaluate with you. Are you seeing improvement? Are you feeling more satisfied with what you write? Keep working at it!

Link up your answers to this lesson and any other blog posts you've done that you'd like others to take a look at! (Separate links for each post, please. )

Links to other posts in this series:
Introduction
Part 1 - The Message
Part 2 - Grab Their Attention & Keep It (A)
THIS POST IS PART 3 -
GRAB THEIR ATTENTION & KEEP IT (B)
Part 4 -

Don't Forget! CWCC

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Those of you who participated last week in the Creative Writing Crash Course, don't forget this week's is up and awaiting your links! If you are participating privately, I'd love to hear from you about what you've been doing. I'd also welcome any questions or feedback!

A Mustard Plaster for Your Chest Cold

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

In this season of H1N1 and all other sorts of yucky bugs, I thought I'd share a recipe shared with me several years ago. It is your basic old fashioned mustard plaster. (and in case you are wondering...it's safe for children too!)

Mustard Plaster
10 level TBSP of flour
1 level TBSP of dry mustard
Mix with enough water to form a paste.

Put olive oil on your chest area and then spread the paste on top of that.

Cover with a towel and go lay down and relax. (I prop myself up on pillows so I can breathe easier.)

Leave on for 15 minutes or until skin starts to turn pink (prior to the 15 minute mark). Rinse with mild soap and water. Repeat up to 2 times per day.

It does start to burn after a bit, but nothing unbearable. However, DO NOT try to leave it on any longer than 15 minutes!

We are all finally well here! Praise the Lord! But, I know so many others who are still suffering through with various bugs.

I must admit I am more wary of being out and about in public places than I can ever remember being in years past. So, before leaving me a comment, please be sure and wash your hands thoroughly. ;o)

The Annual Pumpkin Patch Trek

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

WARNING: MY CHILDREN ARE ADORABLE SO THIS POST IS PICTURE HEAVY!

Several years ago, some friends of ours began an endeavor known as Harvest Farms. They were just plain ole farmers with a vision...a vision to keep the farm afloat with pumpkins...lots and lots of pumpkins!

We visited the farm the first year they were up and running. A few months later, we moved away and had not been back until this year.

Let me just say WOW!

The business has grown tremendously and we were thrilled to see the fruits of their labors. Our friends told us that the week prior to our visit they had sold 19,000 lbs of pumpkins and seen 2200 people come through the doors. For a tiny town in the middle of nowhere that is utterly amazing!

Here are a few of the "attractions" we enjoyed at the Farms...

The Hayloft Slide

The Tractor Derby

The coolest bike ever!

A horse just the right speed for Keian.

Later, we headed out to the pumpkin patch to choose our pumpkins. Megan found this "little" number.

At $.25 a pound with 5 children buying pumpkins, you have to do some weight guess-timation and some mental math along the way. Ty asked me if I thought it weighed about 8#. I tugged at it and said, no, probably more like 10#. AHEM....it was

26.4 POUNDS!

Word to the wise...pumpkins weigh more than they look!

Following Megan's lead, Keian was off to find his perfect pumpkin...

Ever hear of "Sour Pumpkins?" lol

But, all was well, and everyone found their perfect pumpkin, including little Micah.

And thus ended another pumpkin patch trip! What a blast!

How We Homeschool Preschool & Kindergarten

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Over the years, how we homeschool has changed as we've changed in our philosophy and style. One of the biggest changes has come in the area of how we school our preschoolers and kindergartners.

I began homeschooling when my oldest was 4 1/2. I sat him down at the table with a long and involved (and rather teacher-intensive, I might add) curriculum and purposed to teach him to read within 2 months or else. We made every craft, took every field trip, and read every book that curriculum suggested. By the end of the year, he was reading and

I was exhausted.

However, my next child threw me for a loop. She's the polar opposite of my oldest and so I figured I would wait to school her until she showed more readiness. However, one day she announced she could read the word "office" (and every other word for that matter) and we realized teaching her was going to be an absolute mystery. She still just suddenly learns things and hates having someone actually "teach" her.

Now, I've added #3 to the mix. She's somewhere in between. But, there is something they (and all children) have in common...

They are sponges.

My first child is the kind of sponge that wrings himself out quite often, so you are never in doubt as to what he knows. My second child is the kind of sponge that rarely wrings herself out, only to suddenly and without warning get you all wet. My third child is just happy to be a sponge.

So, how has this knowledge changed how we homeschool?

Well, we've relaxed...A LOT, and we've learned to school them through everyday LIFE.

So, here's a taste of how we homeschool our preschool and kindergarten aged children...

Organization:

Each child has a black crate ($2.50 ea) with their name on it. The crate contains their books, their pencil box, and a folder with each subject velcroed to it.

The preschooler's crate has 1 coloring book and his pencil box which contains washable markers, 2 fat pencils, crayons, glue stick, and preschool scissors.

The kindergartner's crate contains her folder with 1 math sheet and 1 handwriting sheet tucked inside, her reading book (Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons), and her pencil box with the same contents as the preschooler's.

On the outside of the kindergartner's folder are these velcro tabs:
AM CHORES, CHORES, MATH, HANDWRITING, PHONICS
As she completes each one she moves the velcro tab from the outside of her folder to her chart on the pantry door.

Her completed worksheets go back in the folder and the folder goes into the COMPLETED box where I can check them and reload them each night.

(This system began as a modified Workbox System for large families that I found at Peace Creek on the Prairie blog. I have since modified it even more to fit my family's needs and preferences.)

Workbooks:
My kindergartner has only 2....Horizons Math - K and A Reason for Handwriting - K.
My preschooler has a coloring book. (The $1 kind from WalMart)
I load one sheet per workbook, per day into the kindergartner's folder (the preschooler has free rein of his coloring book). If she wants to do more, all she has to do is ask and I tear out another for her.

Schedule:
I hesitate to even call the way we school our littles a "schedule", but for lack of a better term, this section describes the basics of what their "school day" looks like.

After everyone finishes chores, we begin school. Usually that means everyone starts in on their workbooks. The bigs do their independent work while I work with the kindergartner on her 1 math sheet and her 1 handwriting sheet. Occasionally, one of my older children helps her if I am busy with baby or finishing up in the kitchen. My preschooler works at the table alongside everyone else cutting and coloring and gluing his coloring book. (yes, I allow my preschooler to cut AND glue)

After the kindergartner finishes her workbook lessons, she and the preschooler and I move to the couch to read. They love this time and I cherish the snuggle time I get with them. Usually we begin with Leading Little Ones to God, followed by child-friendly books I've gathered from various book lists (more on those sources in a bit). By the time I am finished reading to them, the preschooler has had enough of sitting still and goes off to play. At that time, I do 1 reading lesson from 100 Easy Lessons with my kindergartner.

That marks the end of anything resembling formal schooling. It takes about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Life Lessons:
Here's where the true schooling takes place. My littles spend copious amounts of time with me in the kitchen, outside, and on the couch. We cook, measure, talk ingredients and life while we work in our teeny-tiny kitchen. Outside we make contraptions from rope and buckets, build campfires, read, and explore nature (yes, there is nature in the city!) On the couch we cuddle and read and read and read. Life is a running dialogue with God's awesomeness at the center of it all.

That's what homeschooling is all about.

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Deuteronomy 6:7

Now, for the book list sources I promised to talk about.

I'm a book junkie...a bibliophile, if you will. Since I was in grade school, I've made lists of books I would someday read. I still have some of those lists! (this LIST being one of them)

For my littles, I use lists from several different sources. Here are a few of those sources:
1. Sonlight curriculum catalog
2. Honey For A Child's Heart (I got my copy from Paperback Swap!)
3. Old Fashioned Education book list
4. Ambleside Online book list
5. The Well-Trained Mind resource list
6. Five In A Row Series List

It's very easy to use lists like these. Simply take the list to your library and find several of the titles listed. As you read them to your children, check them off the list. Also, don't forget to engage your child as you read...point out things in the pictures, ask questions, have them tell back to you what you read. You will quickly see a LOVE for reading develop, and reading opens all sorts of doors because books can be about so many different subjects.

As you can see, homeschooling preschoolers and kindergartners need not be daunting and scary. Grab some good books, find a place to curl up together, and enjoy each other's company. There really is very little extra they need.

(Micah "snacking" on the the name tag from his older sister's crate)

Awards & A Few More Jewels

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Right here and now I am going to admit something...

I am TERRIBLE at doing anything that involves blog awards. I just never seem to get around to it because frankly, I am overwhelmed by the stipulations behind the awards. However, I've received some very wonderful awards from some very wonderful bloggers over the years. Recently, I've received the following awards...

from Audra at Penny Pinching Penguin

from Heather at My Red Apron

and
Kara @ Home...With Purpose

from Angela at Eternal Outlook

Because I just have to be different and not follow the rules, I'm linking back to them and also adding links to a few more jewels I've found lately. Thank you for the kind awards all, and here are the links...

1. Falling Apart Just To Hold It Together from Eternal Outlook

2. The Life and Death of Mary Anaya from The Omaha World-Herald.

3. Step Away From the Beanbag Chair and No One Gets Hurt from Crumbs on My Floor

and a...

Just visit THIS POST to find awesome giveaways from several different blogs. Our very own At The Well is giving away Vision Forum CD's!

Creative Writing - Grab Their Attention & Keep It (A)

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Part 2 of The Creative Writing Crash Course.

If you are just joining us, you can read the introduction to our little Creative Writing Crash Course and then start with Part 1 of this series - The Message.

*****

First impressions are important. The first few words you utter upon a page are crucial. They will determine whether or not anyone keeps reading. They either whet the appetite, making the reader want more, or they make the reader yawn with mediocrity and walk away from the rest of the page.

However, you cannot simply grab your reader with one ferocious shake at the beginning and expect them to sit through 17 more paragraphs of ordinary, everyday blah, blah, blah. So, this creative writing session is all about how to:

Grab Their Attention & Keep It
lesson A

1. Tell a story and refer back to it

Ask This:
Do I know any good stories that help convey my message? Are they quick to the point and engaging? How can I kick them up a notch so people will want to read more? What aspects of the story can I use along the way as I write the rest of my post?

Know This:
Some people are natural story tellers. You know them...they tell story after story about all these outlandish things that you are just sure could never happen to any single person, but you know they aren't lying. The same thing could happen to someone else and the story would be excruciatingly boring, yet when it happens to Mr. Storyteller, it has drama, excitement, tears, and laughter. What Mr. Storyteller is good at is "kicking it up a notch." A story is only as good as its storyteller, so what you need is an arsenal of descriptions and stories that capture your audience. Then, as you continue to write you are able to weave the story into the tapestry of your writing so as to hold your audience's attention.

Do This:
Come up with 1 funny story and/or 1 serious story (preferably from your own life) and write down the basics of it. For instance:

The lights during the wedding dance were shining right past the bride and groom and directly onto my husband and I.

Now, take each noun and see if you can add more description to it that makes the story pop (remember not to overdo so people don't start rolling their eyes).

The blinding lights from the DJ station at the wedding dance shone right past the blissful, (and thankfully, oblivious) bride and groom and directly onto my husband and I, who were sitting ever-so-casually against the far wall.

Now kick it up a notch. No, I don't mean lie...I mean take what happened and make it worth reading. I'll do it and then explain how I did it:

The blinding lights from the DJ station at the wedding dance shone right past the blissful, (and thankfully, oblivious) bride and groom and directly onto my husband and I, who were sitting ever-so-casually against the far wall. Staring into those two bright lights, neither one of us could resist...my husband slowly brought his hands, shaped to resemble antlers, to the top of his head as I turned sideways and proceeded to make shadow puppets on the wall.

The real story is...we didn't make a spectacle of ourselves like it sounds. Everyone was watching the happy couple (we think...these lights really were very blinding so there's no telling how many were watching us too), and my husband's antlers and my shadow puppets lasted all of a nano-second. It really wasn't much of a show. But, kicked up a notch, it makes for a good story.

Now, you try!

2. Be real, but encouraging

Ask This:
What part of my life can I share that my audience can relate to? How can I show the real me without making this the most depressing post ever? What has happened in my life that I have learned from and can share with my audience as a way of encouraging them?

Know This:
When your reader can relate, they read. When they see themselves, they read. When they find encouragement, they read.

Do This:
Go back and look over the list of posts from #1 of Creative Writing - The Message. Chances are those posts were more you. What about them spoke of you?

Now, make a list of who you are in real life...what makes you you. This is NOT a list of who you wish to be nor is it a list of all your negative traits. Be real.

Lastly, randomly read a few of your blog posts and consider if your reader is getting a true picture of who you are. Are they edified by what you have to say or does misery love company?

Here's my take...

My blog posts:
Obviously, what makes my grief posts real is that I really am grieving. I really do miss my little girl, and I really do struggle with so many things pertaining to this grief. It pretty much just pours out of me in these posts. The quiverfull posts are similar. Being quiverfull has not been a simple road. I have walked it with years of no babies and years of many babies. I am passionate about what being quiverfull truly means..."letting God control your family size." I've witnessed first hand how very little we have to do with it, so there is a lot of emotion behind my quiverfull posts.

Who am I?
I tend to be both sarcastic and silly.
I am a thinker and an over-analyzer.
I have a one-track mind when I need something resolved.
I am a reader and a writer.
I love my children and my husband fiercely.
I am reverent in all things pertaining to my faith.
I'm too efficient for my own good sometimes.
I think out loud.
I often have to have the obvious stated to me.
I am forgetful.
I am an introvert married to an extrovert.
and the list goes on and on and on...(ever read my profile...I really cannot sum "me" up in 1200 characters, so you'll just have to keep reading my blog to figure me out! lol)

A random read reveals...
I definitely see myself because this blog has always been very Amy-ish (wow, I say that word out loud all the time, but to see it written down, it looks peculiarly like "Amish" doesn't it?). However, at the other blog (that I no longer use, by the way), I see evidence of someone I don't know. She is someone who thought she had to sound all put together and polished. She only appeared every now and then, and I even wrote a post about her, but I honestly don't know who she was and I hope she stays far, far away from this blog!

As for being encouraging...
I know my grief posts are pretty raw at times, but for the most part, I think I manage to avoid being a disparaging mess from beginning to end in most of my posts. The comments I receive from all you lovely readers tell me I'm headed in the right direction.

3. Shock 'em and then pick 'em up off the floor

Ask This:
Is there something I can say that will really grab the reader's attention without overstepping my boundaries?

Know This:
Have you read The Daily Poop? Sandy knows precisely how to shock a person; however, she doesn't leave you there all shocked and stupified. She picks you back up and explains things to you like a good slap in the face. (lol...love ya, Sandy!)

Now, shocking your reader doesn't mean you say something rude or mean. It means you say something off the wall to grab the reader's attention and then you explain yourself. Hopefully, the next exercise will help you see what I mean...

Do This:
Take this phrase and build the bare bones of a post around it...(this post can be about anything)

I've Had Enough!

Notice this isn't some rude, horrible thing to say, but it is something that catches the attention. Your readers are going to read that and think, "What in the world has happened???" So, tell me...what have you had enough of?
(I'm not going to build a post around this because I don't want anyone inhibited by what I write.)

*****

Today's Final Exercise:
OK, folks, time to start formulating your posts...you know, the ones you talked about in Part 1 of this course. We've got some interesting topics on the table...some serious, some fun, some informative. Start thinking about how to begin your post so that you captivate your reader's attention.

Part B of this post is coming soon with more ideas on how to grab and keep your reader's attention! Link up your answers to these exercises and any posts you've done that you would like to showcase or have other critique. (Do separate links for each post, please).

Links to other posts in this series:
Introduction
Part 1 - The Message
THIS POST IS PART 2 -
GRAB THEIR ATTENTION & KEEP IT (A)
Part 3 - Grab Their Attention & Keep It (B)
Part 4 -

I Just Wanna Be Right

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

"Lord, make him less selfish so he can see my way is right."

That was my prayer.

And I was serious.

I knew my way was right. I knew my husband's way wasn't going to work. If his way did work, it would only be by some fluke, which would really be

aggravating.

Thankfully, it only took me a matter of seconds to hear how selfish my own prayer truly was, but that hasn't stopped me from finding myself in this situation many more times since.

Human beings just wanna be right. Even when nose to nose with God, they wanna be right. They want to twist what God says by removing words and changing meanings all so they can be right. Now, that is

aggravating.

God is the same:

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. His Word didn't change to become more

Relevant, Sensitive, Tolerant

It is what it is...which is Right. Read it. Live it. Whether or not YOU are right really has very little to do with it.

So, what do we do when faced with situations where we want to be right?

God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

1 Peter 5:5d

Grace and humility...couldn't we all use a dose of those two?

And what about when we think we know better than God?

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.

Isaiah 55:8

Our view is distorted. That's why we have to be in the Word because when we do things on our own, well...

There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.

Proverbs 14:12

Enough said?

How to Make a Grapevine Wreath

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

As a child, I used to follow my mother deep into the woods near our lake cabin and harvest long strands of grapevine. Our feet would crunch deliciously on the leaves underfoot as we drug those vines back to our home in the cool autumn air. A few weeks later, those vines would become beautiful wreaths for the holiday decorating.

Decorating with grapevine is a beautiful, natural way to decorate your home during any season, but for the holiday season, it just seems perfect.

When we lived in the house with the nice front porch, I would go into those same childhood woods and harvest from the same trees my mother and I harvested from. I would take those vines and thread them over and around the railings on my porch in large frolicking loops. With golden garland to shine in the daytime and twinkling Christmas lights to shine at night, I created a festive atmosphere from grapevine that didn't cost me a dime.

Grapevine grows wild just about anywhere, but it is rather fond of evergreen trees. The picture at the top of this post was taken next to our lake cabin (note the characteristic leaves for those of you worried about accidentally making a poison ivy wreath--don't laugh, I know someone who did just that!). I also found a goodly amount of grapevine growing wild on my chain-link fence right here in the city!

I carefully pulled the long strands from the fence and laid the vine out on the ground. This time of year is good for harvesting grapevine because it is still fairly pliable. If you wait much longer, you won't be able to get a tight wreath from it. However, if you are going to use it the way I did for my porch, you can harvest well into November.

Next, I plucked all the leaves off the vine, which my daughter gathered into a lovely bouquet.

After the vine was stripped of its leaves, I wrapped it over and over again in a circular shape to create my wreath. As you can see here, I only had a small amount, but I'm using mine as decoration for a candle. If you are going to make a wreath, you will need as much as it takes to create the thickness you desire.

I took my "wreath" inside and let it dry in that shape for about 2 weeks. It turned brown and became stiffer, holding it's shape quite nicely.

I'm not going to give you concrete examples of what you can do with your grapevine other than the few ideas I've offered here because really the possibilities are limitless and your imagination is the best guide of what you can do with this lovely bit of nature. In fact, even if you do nothing but add a candle or put a bit of ribbon around it to hang outside your door, there is something elegant in its simplicity. One of God's little creations that makes me smile.

Want to see other Do-It-Yourself Fall Projects?
Click here:

Oh, Desi?!

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:15:00 +0000

OK, she's probably going to hate that I'm singling her out, but I have to tell her and you something. First of all, I am really enjoying her posts from The Crunchy Mommy (I'm on the crunchy side too, ya know!)

Her latest post, Rambling Thoughts, is WAY more than just rambling thoughts. It is a well thought out post on reaching the lost by *gasp* LOVING THEM!

So, anyway, since she showed up at my blog a few days ago, I've been trying to comment on her blog or email or find some way to get a hold of her to let her know that I can't comment or email (there have been a few of you having this problem with your blogs I know), but that I want to!

Also, she's joining in the Creative Writing Crash Course and started with THIS POST. So, Desi...if you're out there...I would LOVE to hear more about Making a Small House Fit Your Family! (and I think others would too!)

And to everyone else joining in the Creative Writing Crash Course, I won't be adding the next lesson until Monday, so keep thinking through the questions from Lesson 1 and let us know when you've added to them on your blogs (for those of you who have started, but not finished! :) )

Do We Really Want a Simpler Life?

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Remember my post on The Simple Life?

The things I listed there were things I have to do on a regular basis to keep my life simplified. However, I often wonder if those of us seeking after simpler lives are truly serious about simplifying things?

Living simply isn't some easy thing you just wake up one day and do. It is a culmination of many, many choices made each and every day. Most of those choices are anything but easy.

Sure we feel serious. We stomp our feet, raise our fist to the wind, and vow to change everything by Friday.

But living simply is not that simple.

How about #8 on my list of How To Simplify...

Rid Your Home of (or at lease keep a tight rein on) Distractions

Now, let's think hard for a second. Are we really willing to get rid of things in our home that distracts us? Or do we kind of like the distraction they create? Is there any distraction we *think* we have a handle on, but we know in the back of our minds we really don't? Are we hanging on to something that is crowding for our attention because we're not sure we can (or want to) do without it?

So, let me ask you this...

Does living simply require sacrifice?

I believe it does. The simple life is the self controlled life.

While simple living is not a God-mandated thing, self control is. I do not believe you can have a simplified life that is not characterized by self-control. Excesses are reined in, distractions are held back, and the important things in life are clear and in focus.

So, take a moment to ask yourself if you really do want a simpler life. Are you willing to sacrifice and practice self-control the over the things that are hindering you from that simple life?

It's not easy and it's not something that happens over night. It's baby steps toward the things that matter and away from the things that don't.

Here's what I'm doing this week to lead a simpler life...

Reading to the children outside in the fresh air.
and
Changing my computer habits.

What are you doing to simplify?

{ps-don't forget to join us for the Creative Writing Crash Course. We'll be taking it at a slow and simplified pace so you can enjoy the ride.}

Creative Writing - The Message

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:01:00 +0000

To read a short introduction to this crash course, click on the picture or HERE.

Is everyone here? Raise your hand if you're not...(don't all good teachers use lame jokes?)

Welcome to Part 1 of The Creative Writing Crash Course. Can you feel the electricity in the air? (Rub your feet along the carpet and touch the person nearest to you...trust me, there IS electricity in the air!)

If you are able to spare an uninterrupted moment, I would highly encourage you to read this post straight through. That way you have a "big picture" in your mind when you come back to this post and work through all the little snapshots.

You'll find I refer mainly to the content on your blog, but this isn't necessarily only applicable to blogs. There are many different venues for creative writing and the basic principles are the same.

Ready to start creating? Here we go...

The Message

1. Who is your audience and what is your purpose?

Ask This:
Who reads your blog? Who do you want to read your blog? What past posts have gotten the most traffic? What kind of posts on other blogs do you enjoy reading?

Know This:
Everything written has an audience (even your diary!). You don't need to change who you are and write things just for your audience, but it does help to know who is reading. If you are writing mainly to young ladies, then your tone will be different than if you are writing to seasoned mothers. You will use different analogies and assume they have a different knowledge base.

It's best to concentrate on the audience you already have. They are there for a reason and ignoring them while you seek after new readers just isn't nice.

Do This:
Go back through old posts and find which ones had the most comments. While this isn't a sure-fire way to find out what topics are most popular, it is the easiest. Study those posts and comments and figure out what made them special and who the audience was/is.

The posts I have written that have gotten the most traffic have been those on Grief and those on being Quiverfull. There are several other topics that get a fair amount of traffic as well, but these are the biggies.

2. What do you know?

Ask This:
What does my day consist of? How is my life unique? What things do I know that could help others? Have I seen another blog post about something I do, but in a different way?

Know This:
No one wants to toot their own horn, but for most of us, we aren't even sure there is a horn to toot. Stop thinking about it as telling others how to do something and more as sharing what you've learned, imperfections and all. Be real.

And no matter what, know your subject. I once walked out of a book signing when I realized the author knew nothing about the subject of the book she had written. The book was an adventure about photographing polar bears. She had never seen a real polar bear and she wasn't even a photographer. She had no credibility in my eyes.

Similarly, I could never write a post on adoption because I've never experienced adoption. I have no credibility and it would be ridiculous to act like I do. However, if I were to start the process of adopting a child, it would be a wonderful idea to blog about the process in order to share with others. I wouldn't have to know everything about adoption, but it would need to be personal.

Do This:
Brainstorm your life and come up with a list of 5 topics that are part of your life (hopefully, some of them coincide with the list you made in #1). My list looks something like this:

grieving the loss of a child
freelance writing
homeschooler for 7 years
larger than average family
all things crafty

3. Is the topic worth discussing?

Ask This:
Is this interesting to anyone? Can I find enough to say on the subject that will make a worthwhile post? Am I too emotionally involved with this topic and will find it difficult to keep my emotions from running this post (emotions are good, but not when the reader has trouble wading through them)? Would it be better to just keep my thoughts on this topic to myself? Will my talking about this serve any worthwhile purpose? Is what I want to say God-honoring?

Know This:
Not everything needs to be written about, and not everything is easy to write about. If you find yourself having difficulty writing a particular post, let it go for a while. Come back to it later and make sure it truly was something worth writing about.

Do This:
From either the list you made for #1 or the list you made for #2, pick a topic and begin brainstorming ideas for a post pertaining to that category.

For instance, someday I'd like to write a post on Hospitality in a Large Family.

4. What do you want your readers to feel and know after reading what you've written?

Ask This:
Do I want my reader to DO something with this information or do I want them to FEEL something? Am I able to take this topic and clearly convey a message?

Know This:
Not every topic is easy to work with, but just about any topic can be transformed into a good post depending on the viewpoint you choose. The spots on my carpet and the fact that I have no idea how to get them cleaned up is only going to hold my reader's interest for a short time. However, if I can take that topic and parallel it with something much deeper (like how we are unable to remove the spots in our lives on our own and thus need the saving power of Jesus), THEN I have an awesome blog post in the making. More on this in #5.

Do This:
What would I like my reader to know about the topic I've chosen?

For a post on Hospitality in a Large Family, I would want my reader to realize that there is no need for a mother of a large brood to quit having people into her home. However, her expectations must change and her definition of hospitality must be redefined.

5. Choose an analogy and make it the driving, yet subtle, force behind your post.

Ask This:
What kind of things go along with my topic? Can I take one of those things and make an analogy that makes sense with the message I am trying to convey?

Know This:
A vision for the direction your writing is heading in is imperative. A good theme or analogy makes the subject "pop" and brings to life what you are trying to convey.

Do This:
Brainstorm anything and everything that comes to mind when you think of your topic. (this is just like a word association game) Choose one thing from that list that makes a good analogy for your topic and then brainstorm all the ways you can make that analogy "work" for the message you are wanting to convey.

For my topic: Hospitality in a Large Family, a brainstorming list would look something like this:
teacups, fine china, wedding dishes, candles, fireplace, warmth, soft glow, lively conversation, Mary vs Martha, my mom, family atmosphere, comfort, small kitchen, antique table, mismatched chairs, casserole, desserts, coffee, good friends, joyful noise, etc.

I could take something like my antique table and make a list that looks like this:
My antique table is large like my family.
The wear and tear of my antique table is what makes it beautiful and familiar.
It's imperfections are endearing.
My antique table is the centerpiece of my home just as I want hospitality to be a centerpiece in my home.
Those who gather at my antique table are not there to admire my table, but are there to enjoy what my table represents.

***Once you have some thoughts down, try writing a post. Don't get carried away with your analogy, but make sure it is subtly there and you use it to your advantage.

*****

Now, one last exercise:

Why is a Raven Like a Writing Desk?
This question, asked by the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, is the perfect example of taking random everyday stuff and meshing it in a creative way. So, here's how it works...

1. Look up from your computer. What is the first thing you see? (ugh...my daughter's stuffed monkey...this should be interesting! lol)

2. Pick a room in your house. (my kitchen)

3. Answer this question: Why is [the room you chose] like [the item you saw]?

My answer: My kitchen is like my daughter's stuffed monkey because it is ugly.

Did you follow along with these exercises and want to share? Add your name and post to the McLinky below! Be sure and leave comments on the other posts, so we can all learn from each other!

**To clear up any confusion...
If you do a post containing the exercises you've done here, then link to it, so we can all share. There's no right or wrong way to do it and you are welcome to add the button to the top of your post.

Links to other posts in this series:
Introduction
THIS POST IS PART 1 - THE MESSAGE
Part 2 - Grab Their Attention & Keep It (A)
Part 3 - Grab Their Attention & Keep It (B)
Part 4 -

Harvest Blog Party

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0000

So, Lynnette at Dancing Barefoot came up with this spur-of-the-moment blog party and since I am all about spur-of-the-moment, I thought I'd join in! Those of you doing the Creative Writing Crash Course should join in too...it will help get those creative juices flowing!

1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while you're blogging?
milk chocolate chips and peanuts (mixed together in a glass bowl)

2. What is one thing you wouldn't want to live without?
my Bible...it's pages contain my life scrawled out in notes and underlines

3. Beach, Mountains or Farm? Where would you live if you had a choice?
well, if I'm want my husband to come with me, it had better be the mountains!

4. What's your least favorite chore/household duty?
cleaning the kitchen

5. Who do people say you remind them of?
someone they know

6. Prefer parties and socializing or staying at home with the fam?
hmmm...like them all!

7. What's your all time favorite movie?
Gone with the Wind

8. Do you sleep in your make up or remove it like a good girl every night?
yikes...do I have to answer this? yeah, well, there's your answer. *blush* (pun intended!)

9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something that you've never had a chance to learn? What is it?
I've always wanted to learn to play the guitar.

10. What's one strange thing you're really good at?
popping my cheek while singing the song, "Lollipop, Lollipop, oh, Lolli, lollipop..." My kids marvel at my talent.

11. What first attracted you to your spouse?
the puppy he was holding

12. What is something you love to smell?
cinnamon (oh, and I really like the smell of gasoline too)

13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.
my forgetfulness

14. When you have extra money (HA!) what's the first thing you think to do with it?
buy books or fabric or hit the thrift store (where you can sometimes manage to buy both those things plus much more!) I'm all about the biggest bang for my buck!

15. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest?
somewhere in between...I laugh the hardest when my husband and I get together with friends. My husband is just naturally funny and everyone gets to feeding off each other and we end up laughing all evening! I love it!

16. Where is your favorite place to shop?
A thrift store in Kingman, Kansas our family calls "Granny's Store." Ty's Granny goes there every Friday, so when we can, we try to join her.

17. What's one thing you'd do more often if you had more time?
Scrapbook

18. Are you a big spender or frugal?
I'm schizophrenic

19. Who is your favorite character of all time (from a movie or book)? (Can't be real)
"Melanie Hamilton" from Gone with the Wind...long ago, I would have said "Scarlett", but I've grown up and Melanie's quiet grace is much more appealing to me.

20. Would you want to be famous?
nope...but almost famous would be good (I just don't want "Take a Look at Amy's Flab" splashed all across every magazine in the checkout line, ya know?)

Free Kitchen Planning Forms

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:00:00 +0000

I've told you before how much I enjoy a grocery list with pretties. Well, if you'd like to have pretty lists and don't have the time to work them up yourself, Sheri at Nourishing Heart & Home has fun downloadable Fall and Winter Planning forms for FREE on her website!

Get them HERE!

Also, take a moment to check out Finer Things Friday. I linked to my post on SIBLINGS.

Let the Creative Juices Flow

noreply@blogger.com (Raisingarrows) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:00:00 +0000

In 2000, I graduated from a liberal arts college with a degree in English. Writing has always been a passion of mine, but it was the classes I took and the professors I came in contact with while attending college there that really honed my skills as a writer.

But guess what?! You don't have to go to college to work on your creative writing skills! All you need are a few exercises you can practice right at home to train your mind to think creatively and then write creatively.

With Georgiann's comments on my post about Logic as an inspiration, I'm offering a crash course in creative writing here on the blog that will hopefully inspire you to write with more meaning and feeling and beauty. Not that I have the market on creative writing (trust me, I don't), but I do enjoy the written word immensely. I love the way words look and feel and taste (yes, words do taste!), so I figure anything you are that passionate about ought to be shared.

There is a button in the sidebar you can grab to put on your own blog to get the word out. We'll be starting on Monday, October 19. I'd like to keep it nice and informal and as un-scary as possible. If you want to link up, fine. If you don't, fine. If you want to have your writing critiqued, fine. If you'd rather just work on things yourself, fine. Creative writing is something that is uniquely you. I guarantee you will see progress whether you join in publicly or privately.

So, crack your knuckles (never mind, don't do that...it's really bad on your hands!), start your engines, and let the creative juices flow!

Would you like to take the Creative Writing Crash Course? Read the following posts:
THIS POST IS THE INTRODUCTION
Part 1 - The Message
Part 2 - Grab Their Attention & Keep It (A)
Part 3 - Grab Their Attention & Keep It (B)
Part 4 - Choose Your Words Wisely (A)
Part 5 -