Hi. My name is Emily and I am spontaneous. I blame that word for the lack of a real post today because the kids and I (heavy emphasis on I) spontaneously decided to visit my parents and The Nester this week. I even packed dirty clothes because I did not have time to wash them before I came. That is how very spontaneous I am. Unfortunately, the Internet service at my parents house is also spontaneously not uploading the photos I need to include to show you about all the spontaneity. Stay tuned, because I’m taking a chance and living the wild life, baby. You won’t wanna miss it. (Andy Davis, anyone?)
fiction
October 12, 2008
What began as a favor to a friend (sure, I’ll read the first book in that series by the end of November so you will have someone to see the movie with even though I’m not sure if I will be interested or have time), has turned into a two week long fascination (I’ll read every spare moment I can find until I finish this book because I am so incredibly interested).
I should have told myself this would happen. Because when Myself gets involved in a story, Myself cannot put said story down. Well guess what? Myself has gotten herself involved. So involved, in fact, that what was supposed to be one book has turned into four.
I have now read all four books in the Twilight series. I know.
I’m still processing what I think of them and will talk about that in a separate post (sorry to drag this on for you who haven’t read these books). But one thing reading so much fiction lately has me thinking about is what makes a good story.
Stephenie Meyer says on her website that the idea for Twilight came to her in a dream a little over 5 years ago. The morning after her dream, she was compelled to record as much as she could remember of it, only to discover as she went about her day, more of the story would unfold.
The story continued to demand an outlet: “Bella and Edward were, quite literally voices in my head. They simply wouldn’t shut up.” Her fictional characters came to life in such a way for her that the very mind who conceived them could hardly keep up.
Writers of fiction are fascinating to me. I believe with my whole heart that fiction is the most difficult genre to write. Rephrase: good fiction is the most difficult genre to write. To create a story that is compelling, that moves, that is both believable and magical: grounded in the facts while flirting with the fantastic. It feels risky and vulnerable, the thought of writing fiction. I think we owe a debt of gratitude and respect to those who are willing to take that risk and allow their imaginations to be exposed to a world full of critics.
Now I’m off to work on my critique of the Twilight series.
kimba’s in town!
October 10, 2008
Lucky me got to have brunch with Jen, Kimba, Jill, Nester, Kendra and Lauren. This is the after shot. Before brunch, I was about 20 pounds lighter. Seriously. And we are working on Jill to get a blog because it is no fun to not have your name highlighted. We had a great time together and I am so happy to have met Kimba in real life.
the grocery
October 9, 2008
The Family.
The Kids.
The Mom.
(aka: several moments of weakness in a row)
more fall
October 6, 2008
As I said yesterday, my fall decor is pretty lame. I lack confidence in the decorating department. What can I say, I have The Nester as a sister. Who can live up to that? Still, looking at all your homes on Kimba’s Mr. Linky has encouraged me to share in the fun anyway. After all, it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful, right?
Take this festively decked out door, for example. I am so creative. And beginning with that will make everything else look better.
The beautiful thing about these mums with no pots is that they were really cheap at the farmers market: only two dollars.
Another cheap, potless mum. Pots are so much trouble. See? Lame.
Here are the things on my sideboard in my dining room. I found these sticks and acorns in our yard and stuck them in these jars. If I were to zoom out, you would notice that my mirror is not hung on the wall yet and one of my sideboard lamps is missing a light bulb. So I couldn’t zoom out. You understand.
That’s about the extent of it, folks. My fall isn’t even very fall-y. It looks a bit more like spring in this photo. I get a little more brave at Christmas. Can’t wait to cover that banister with garland.
the year’s last, loveliest smile
October 5, 2008
Kimba over at A Soft Place to Land is having a Fall party today. I was planning to post some of my fall decor, but I’ll be honest…its pretty lame. I’m thankful to her for forcing me to stop and think, though.
The seasons to me are God’s gracious reminder of time passing swiftly by. I need to be reminded of that sometimes, as it is easy to forget wonder, to ignore beauty and to strangle the silence with the loud. Somehow, the sharp, confident coolness of the autumn air brings clarity of thought and heart. Clearing out the heavy, humid drudgery of September, autumn ushers in change.
The trees exchange their green summer shawls for more colorful fanfare, a reminder that even the deepest roots don’t guarantee stability. Change must come. There is a time for everything. A new school year. A new President. Fresh episodes of The Office and Pushing Daisies. New. Different. Change.
I don’t want to be pushed along by time, flailing and trying to keep up. I want to move with the rhythm of it, to respond to my Creator, to breathe in this cool, crisp air. I want to take time to notice the deep and the detail while living in the obvious and the practical.
According to writer William Cullen Bryant, “Autumn is the year’s last, loveliest smile.” And so I reflect along with creation, as it bids a golden farewell to the year that has passed. A lovely smile indeed.
cheap talk
October 3, 2008
I don’t talk about politics here. But all the talking heads have got me thinking about the big picture. The thing about election season is that all the candidates have an idea of what they are gonna do. The problem with that is, it is easy to say what you would do if you were in charge. Sometimes things change when authority is actually given and you are the one responsible for all the consequences.
Decisions are rarely 100% one way or the other. Sometimes you have to work with a 49/51 balance. At least that’s what my dad always tells me. It can be hard to justify that 2 in the face of 49 reasons not to.
When I was young and single, I said I would never go out in public without taking a shower, I would always have my hair fixed and I would never, under any circumstance, wear socks that did not match. I would be the mom who never let herself go. The one who cared what she looked like, no matter the cost.
That was back when I was still number one.
I agree that it is important to care about what we look like, to take pride in our appearance. I agree that political candidates have to talk about what they will change and how they will change it. It’s one thing to say it, it’s another thing to do it. And that’s all I’m gonna say about that.
