so, i kind of finished a book (i am rural america)

i compiled a few pieces into a bit of a book this summer. oh, just so i could say i compiled a few pieces into a bit of a book this summer. here's the opening piece:

introduction (i am rural america)

my driveway is over a mile long

with a graveyard midway

the closest grocery store is a twenty-minute drive

leaving our mountain is called going to town

and our largest employer is the school system

i know the terms

chester drawers

sonker

yonder

and

sigogglin

i can prepare

fried chicken

biscuits

corn bread

sweet tea

and

pound cake

i measure rain in a gauge

because it matters

i preserve

green beans

potatoes

strawberries

squash

and

tomatoes

long conversations in parking lots are normal

everyone knows my parents

aren’t you one of the twins?

and even though i struggle to pronounce the word,

i

am

rural

america

how about you? if you wrote this piece, "i am...." what would it be?

linking with jennifer and emily

from my corner, on a day off

writing for five minutes on view

i'm sitting in my spot -

in which you see morning me....

the corner of the living room couch -
and i have all the accoutrements  
of a summer day off -
glasses
books
laptop
coffee
water
and when i look up i see
laundry. one load. unfolded.
jack's backpack contents. strewn.
four footstools. empty of feet and even socks.
summer time tree leaves. sunlight spangled.
blue birds. taking turns on the nest.
cardinal. standing sentinel on a garden post.
and when i look in i see
me and more
writing
word-reading
thanking
and
joy

what do you see? ya know, right now?

linking with-

the gypsy mama for five-minute-friday, michelle for caffeinated randomness, studio jru for sneak peek friday, grace for FYBF, beholding glory for faith-filled friday, cheryl for true vine challenge, barbie for freshly brewed life

unfriending the world



me with moses at the animal shelter

in the red letters today james and john, sons of thunder,
caught up to jesus on the dusty road
teacher, we want you to do us a favor
we want to sit in places of honor next to you
the audacity!
the presumption!
petitioning for places of power?
they are certainly friends with the world,
elbowing their way to the top
but am i any different?
asking for recognition in this world?
guide me to a book outline
help me increase my blog traffic
a different james wrote
that friendship with the world
is enmity with god
ouch
but just two verses later
comes the promise
he gives us
more
grace
and so that's what i'll ask -
for more grace
as i seek to
unfriend
the
world

how about you? in what ways or areas are you seeking to unfriend the world?

continuing to count his gifts to 1000 -

581. a new dog!!!! his name is moses, and he is gentle
582. a soon-to-be-finished chicken coop
583. my husband who is building the chicken coop
584. red bud trees and snow bell trees and dogwood trees
585. students stepping into maturity
586. colleagues
587. my girl, the one i mentor, she's persevering
588. my brother, allen, acting as judas in a living last supper
589. a high school baseball game in a minor league stadium
590. my siblings

linking with:

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, l.l. for on, in, and around mondays

joan for sharing his beauty, richella for grace imparted, laura for playdates with god

jen for soli deo gloria and shanda for on your heart tuesdays

i'm gone

I have six days of work left this year, but in my mind, I've had to go to summer already. I've started my...

1. Summer reading - Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquirel. I'll finish tomorrow, so if you have any suggestions, please, please, please leave a comment.
2. Summer cleaning - my "computer" room, which really has become the wireless router and all kinds of junk room since we have laptops.
3. Summer writing - I think it's a novel. That perhaps will be in verse. I hope to meet the rest of the characters soon!
4. Summer comparisons - wait. I refuse. I will not fall into the trap of measuring myself against others' minds OR bodies. I will enjoy Kendal.