Genesis Moments - A Writer's Journey

Why is Everyone Getting Out of Here But ME?!

I seem to be one of the few I know - just staying put. I've had friends flying to Nashville for the Blissdom blogger's conference and other friends driving to the same hotel for the TEA Party Conference to hear the illustrious Sarah Palin.

I on the other hand have chosen to stick with my frugal ways and just stay home. Not that I don't love meeting with others who do what I do (blogging) and think the way I think (I've been Taxed Enough Already!).

But, I have to tell ya, this weekend has been heavenly. Watching the lovely soft, white snowflakes fill our yard and driveaway. Relaxing in my PJs ALL weekend as school is called off early, church is canceled and everyone hibernates (but is totally all over Facebook).

Yes, I was invited to the Social Media Moms conference in Disney and I know several women going from here but it is not happening for me. February isn't a month to be flying all over the place. It's SNOWING, for Pete's sake and not just a little bit. We are being snowed IN. Flights are being canceled. Meetings called OFF. I'm NOT going anywhere. I am staying HERE. RIGHT HERE. (And MORE snow is coming.)

So stop by. Have a cup of hot chocolate, coffee or maybe something stronger and we'll talk. One-on-one. Not in the middle of a conference, not in a busy airport or hotel lobby, but right here, by my fireplace.

I don't know what's on your mind but tell me. While you are gathering your thoughts, I'd probably tell you that one kid of mine had her first ear infection at age 11 on Friday (woke at 1:30 crying) and that the other is growing up way too fast (12 1/2 going on 20). I'd probably tell you that I have been writing an article on the National Day of Prayer for our local Christian paper, The Voice of Grace and Truth and that I finally finished.

I'd probably tell you that I am now working on an article about the necessity and purpose of women's ministries in our local presbyterian churches and that I need much prayer because it is for a newsletter going out to all 11 of our local PCA churches and I am a little intimidated by the request.

I might even tell you that I want to pursue my doctorate in Communications, maybe at Regent College (the initial information request just arrived in the mail- YIPPEEE!) and that my husband wants to know WHY-WHY-WHY? I enjoy academics and research and the teaching that will pay for it all. I think this is new to him. I guess I should have told him that marrying him 15 years ago thwarted dreams I've had for 20+ years -- but I love him and now he needs to let me do this because he loves me.

That's what I'd probably tell you but I am wondering, what's on your mind? What are your worries, your fears? What are your goals? What are you doing about them? I like thinking through the bigger picture. Maybe I can help.

While you are thinking, here's a few pictures of the snow for you to enjoy!

 
 
 
 

Yum-Yum! Black Bean Soup with Coca Cola

In my attempts to make the best ever black bean soup, I've tried numerous recipes with all kinds of extras and I've simplified it to the ingredients below (and it turned out GREAT so I am sticking with it). I would love some beta-testers though. If you love Black Bean Soup, I think you will love this recipe so PLEASE let me know if you try it and tell me what you think:

Ingredients:

 

3 cups (18 oz.) Dried Black Beans or 2 cans (29 oz.)

6 cups water

1 hardwood smoked pork butt (or one smoked ham hock)

1 onion coarsely chopped

4 cloves, garlic or 2 tsp. pre-chopped

1 cup cola soda

½ tsp. salt

Juice of 1/2 lime

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. coriander

 

Garnish: Sour Cream, Chopped Fresh Cilantro

 

1. For best results, soak dried beans in water over night and drain. (For a quick substitution, open two cans of black beans). Put in heavy pot with water, smoked pork butt (or smoked ham hock if you want the flavor but not all the ham), chopped onion, garlic and cola. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 ½ hours.
2. Remove pork butt and dice. Set aside.
3. Scoop ½ beans and liquid into a blender or food processor and puree. Pour back into pot with rest of ingredients. (Stick masher may be used instead of a blender or food processor.)  Add diced ham. (Note: My ham seemed super fatty so I only diced about 1/4th to put back in soup.) Cook for ½ hour.
4. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges to squeeze into soup as guests enjoy each bite.

 

Optional additions to step 4: Add sweet corn, chopped cilantro, chili powder and much more to create your own version.

 

"What's In a (Blog) Name?"

Click over HERE for my article at MomSpace today on "What's In A (Blog) Name?"

Win a year’s supply of Suave Kids® products & a $100 gift card to Build-A-Bear Workshop

How might you ask?

Click HERE to enter the Suave Kids “Wash Them Grow” Sweepstakes where you can win a year’s supply of Suave Kids® products & a $100 gift card to Build-A-Bear Workshop NOW through February 18th! If you didn't get that, click HERE NOW!

BUT, I'm not done. Suave Kids® and Moms Select has teamed up for more fun over at WashThemGrow. See the details below:

One of our favorite brands has set out to add some fun to an activity every household is familiar with -- bath time!   The Suave Kids® Wash Them Grow campaign encourages you to recognize your child's bath time routine as an opportunity to teach, nurture and transition your child through the stages of growth and cleansing.  And since Moms deserve to have a little fun as well, we're making a "splash" with an awesome twitter party, sponsored by Suave® Kids!

We'll be swapping stories, sharing tips, and of course, giving away awesome prizes- including great made-for-kids body wash guaranteed to leave your little one's precious skin feeling baby soft and smooth.

Suave® Kids /MomSelect Twitter Party

Date:  Monday, February 8th, 2010
Time:  8  p.m. - 9 p.m. EST
Location:  #WashThemGrow
Host: @MomTalkRadio (Maria Bailey, Founder of MomSelect)

Mark your calendars and get ready for some good clean fun! And don't forget that you have  tons of opportunities to win great prizes even before the party.  Simply head over to WashThemGrow.com to play a fun online trivia game and receive an automatic entry into the Suave Kids® Wash Them Grow Sweepstakes for a chance to win awesome weekly prizes of a Family e-Keepsake Kit (that includes a video camera, laptop and digital camera) or the Grand Prize, a family vacation to Orlando!  You can enter daily until February 22, 2010 and literally watch your baby grow online as you progress through the milestones of clean.

And, as usual, we have a great pre-party prize up for grabs! We have a  Disney Online Store $50 gift card for one lucky winner. To be eligible to win, make sure you complete the following:

• Click HERE to RSVP
• Tweet out  the details of the #WashThemGrow party between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the day of the party

We are so excited to party with you! Be sure to follow @MomTalkRadio, @ResourcefulMom, @MomSelectAmy and @SuaveBeauty throughout the evening for updates, prize information and contest details.

Warm Regards,

Your Friends at Suave® Kids and MomSelect

If you are interested in participating in future MomSelect sponsored events and programs, register at MomSelect.com!

Want to be inspired? Listen to an inspiring writer speak.

Last night, I invited the president of the college where I teach to speak about his weekly column in the local paper. WOW.

After years of writing sermons and weekly Bible studies, Dr. Meyer shared with us that his column is a work of commitment, discipline, creativity, and passionate curiosity. At this point, he has written for more than 365 weeks of "Think About It" and is considering a book with a page for each day. Each year, he publishes a collection of the articles for the year. Each student received one for the 2008 year last night.

Dr. Meyer is not a large man in stature but his interest in the world and intensity for life were bigger than the room last night. He shared both scriptural quotes and ones he appreciated from inspiring authors.

Some of the quotes included:

"If you read good books, when you write, good books will come out of you." Natalie Goldberg

""Who am I writing for?" & "Decide what you want to do. Then decide to do it. Then do it." (Get on the plane.) William Zinsser

"We are writers and we never ask one (an)other where we get our ideas; we know we don't know." Stephen King.

Dr. Meyer also shared how he writes in spare moments, how writing plays into both his personal and work life regularly and how he uses his love of photography to compliment his work.

Judges 19:30 says "Everyone who saw it said, 'Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Think about it! Consider it! Tell us what to do!' "

In the same way, Dr. Meyer uses his local column to encourage people to stop, consider, think and ask more questions. He encourages creativity in a godly way that I found truly inspiring.

His four questions we discussed included:

What About Intent?

What About Content?

What About Process?

What About Improvement?

With each point, Dr. Meyer shared stories from his own writing life and inspired students (and ME) to consider each step of the process and be open and transparent with others.

Excellent!

The circus is back in town!

Come experience

Ringling bros. and Barnum & Bailey FUNUNDRUM!

playing Wachovia Center February 24-28!

 

A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU!

Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday shows,

or receive $4 off weekend tickets by logging onto www.ComcastTix.com and entering the coupon code: MOM.**

 

 

Philadelphia Show Dates:

Wednesday, February 24: 7:00pm

Thursday, February 25: 10:30am & 7:00pm

Friday, February 26: 10:30am & 7:00pm (

Saturday, February 27: 11:00am, 3:00pm & 7:00pm

Sunday, February 28: 11:00am, 3:00pm & 7:00pm

Check out the new plus-size Steve Madden model at Macy's

Okay, there's not really a new plus-size model at Macy's - Just me trying on some of the awesome Steve Madden coats on SALE at Macy's. My excursion today began with a little  e-mail from Macy's about their big coat sale 50-75% off - which is amazing. SO time to shop (even though I need a new coat kinda like I need a new purse or new shoes. WELL, things do wear out, get aged looking.)

Flipping through their online stash, I see this coat (pictured below) and think - OH, HOW CUTE and only $54.99 plus whatever in shipping (since FREE shipping is for THOSE people buying $125 or more.) 

 

And, then I tweet this:

Now, that's cute: Steve Madden Coat, Plaid Shawl Collar Belted - Coats - Women's - Macy's http://ow.ly/11kW1

To which, I get from @SteveMaddnLaura: (my tweet retweeted followed by) "~sure is! :)"

And I respond:

@SteveMaddnLaura Thanks for the RT! I may have to go get that coat now.

Who then says:

RT @GenMom: @SteveMaddnLaura Thanks for the RT! I may have to go get that coat now. ~if u do...then I want a twitpic! :)

Sooooo, not one to back down from a potential adventure,  I head down to the mall with my camera tucked into my purse to see if the coat is on the rack b/c I just needed to be surrounded by clothes - new ones - today (after being home-bound with a horrible cold all week). I needed to see the variety of textures, smell the multi-colored newness, feel the soft furs and eyeball the colorful new leather purses in lime, purple, Coach . . . Okay, back on track here. . . .

Unfortunately, the coat in question was not there, BUT I did try on these shown below. (Forgive the lack of make-up or hair job for this particular photography shoot which was obviously self-taken. I am the modern convergent media model - I wear the clothes and take the pictures of myself - which is why I think the "fashion" category on this blog has only been used once before.)

What do you think? Which one - if I go back? They are normally just over $200 now selling for $79.99 and I bet I can find a coupon in the paper this weekend. I like a little color but I'm thinking the black is truly the most flattering.

Thanks to ShopRite & General Mills: Now YOU can have your face on a cereal box (like me!)

Last Fall, ShopRite partnered with Bloggers in Caring to promote hunger awareness through Blog It Forward during which over 3,000 boxes of cereal were donated to local food banks in ShopRite’s trading area!

Each blogger received a special edition Honey Nut Cheerios Box with a mosaic of faces (including my own - like WHERE'S WALDO? - only WHERE'S SARAH?)

Check it out! Look close, now!

 
  
We actually got a whole box of goodies which was very nice . . .

BUT, keep reading. A new program is starting and YOU can participate this time!!

This time, ShopRite Partners In Caring, together with General Mills, has launched a video contest, Expressions of Hunger, that challenges everyday people to submit videos using song, poetry, dance or dramatic reading that creatively express the plight of the hungry or offer solutions to the issue of hunger.  Up to six grand prize winners will have their stories and photos featured on a special-edition Cheerios box available exclusively at ShopRite stores in September 2010!

Head over to Expressions of Hunger for the complete contest rules.The contest is open for submissions from January 1 through March 1, 2010.

Entering The View Moms Sweepstakes

Check it out: The latest very cool news from Stacy DeBroff over at Mom Central:

Mom Central and ABC Daytime are excited to announce the opportunity for one lucky Mom to enter for the chance to win a trip to New York City and tickets to The View.  You'll also have time to enjoy taking in the sites and exploring one of the nation's most exciting cities.

Here's how the sweepstakes works:

1. Click here to enter The View Moms Sweepstakes
2. One lucky Mom will be randomly selected to win an all-expenses paid trip (with a friend!) to New York City to visit the set of The View and tickets to sit in the audience for a show taping!*
3. Sweepstakes will be open until February 28, 2010.  

We welcome you to spread the word to your communities about this exciting opportunity. Good luck!

Warmest,

Stacy

*~*~*~*
Stacy DeBroff
CEO, Mom Central Inc.

Weary but Joyful: Letting-down After the Prayer Retreat

Let-down is imminent after you've run a big retreat. You are nervous, anxious, worried about the details. And then the day comes. And, then it's over.

This last Saturday I ran our 2nd annual PresWIC (Women in the Church) Focus on Prayer day retreat for the 11 churches in our presbytery. We had about 47 women from seven of our churches plus individuals from other local churches. Women enjoyed a light breakfast followed by a time in the sanctuary with special speaker, Pat Moyer who shared with us the treasures we have in Jesus. She also shared about God's presence in her own life as she dealt with two daughters having cancer. Both are alive and well today, praise the Lord! I couldn't help tearing up. I have two girls too. I never want to go through what she did but God used that experience in so many ways and now she can share about it which is beautiful.

After the morning announcements, singing (which is so NOT my talent so I am eternally grateful for those with musical gifts), an offering for our annual WIC Love gift and announcements by our WASC leader (or Women's Advisory Sub-Committee leader - my "boss" in our PCA- Presbyterian Church of America - denomination -don't you love all the acronymns?!), women spread throughout the church to pray with the scripture and topics we gave them.

There is nothing more I love than to see individuals spread out in quiet prayer, in time alone with the Lord, hovered over their Bible - blessed as the Holy Spirit touches their hearts by a particular scripture or word of inspiration. I love to see it at youth retreats, women's retreats, any retreats and this day was no exception.

Lunch followed; after which I shared what the Lord has done in my life in the last couple of years. I'll have to share that in a post all by itself. I wanted to get it up before the weekend (as practice) but it was just too much to do. Several more women shared what they felt the Holy Spirit leading them to share and we broke out into group prayer by churches - letting individuals join the smaller churches. We praised God for who HE is, we silently confessed things that weren't right with God, we thanked God what He has done, and then we had a time of intercessory prayer when we could lift up our requests in Christ's name. I gave the ladies scripture to use if they needed it and we closed with the Lord's prayer. It was indeed lovely and moving.

Suddenly, we came to the last 1/2 hr. of the day, sang, listened to Pat wrap up the day and we were done. The cold I had been fighting off all day went full blown by the time I hit the bed at 4:30 PM. I didn't get up until 6:30 AM.

I am weary but filled with joy. Yes, one woman complained that we charged too much ($20 for breakfast, a notebook chock full of excellent materials on scripture & prayer w/ a journal included, lunch and a special speaker); yes, I didn't get in all the details on the recipient of the offering that I wanted to; yes, I probably spoke too fast; yes, I didn't let my friends know how much it would have meant to me for them to show and so most didn't and so I am sad about that; yes, I was frustrated when people called out sick; BUT, I do KNOW that God is working and women were truly blessed by the experience and it is my prayer that this event will grow and change lives and help women focus their eyes on Jesus through the year by beginning with a day dedicated to prayer. I know God is working and for that my heart can only be happy and let go of the negatives that threaten my spirit. I know this is worthwhile. It is a good thing and I was so blessed by those who did come to help make it happen. What prayer warriors we had -- who inspired me immensely! I really can't ask for more.

Time to start planning for next year!

"I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with  power through His spirit in Your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you , being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Ephesians 3:16-19

(Upcoming: I will be sharing how God has been working and how I shared it at the retreat with the great object lesson I found to use. I will also be adding a post about going to see Lovely Bones in which I was hoping my daughter and I showed as background extras. I think I saw a brief flash of us in the mall but I will have to buy the DVD and pause it! The experience was still worth wondering and waiting! Movie was pretty good too.)