COPING WITH CHANGE

            My homework for my Florida writing class told me to write about coping with change. I said, “Nary a problem. I like change. Those new adventures. Look at me, I live in an RV for most of the year. In the wintertime – I’m in a park model in the Sunshine State.

Doesn’t get any better than that, does it?

Change. I’m coping just fine. Or so I thought…

January 2016 changed my thinking on how well I cope with change. And the GREAT news I received ripped me out of my comfort zone. Limb, by limb, by ever-loving limb.

I’m hearing the words I’ve longed to hear that a publisher wanted my manuscript, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to let it go and told my hubby, “Ray, I can’t send it yet. I have to go through it one more time. Do that Find and Replace thing with those extra words I’m not supposed to use. Example: was, that, think—”

“Hon, I get the idea. As Moses said, “Let my people go. In your case it’s ‘let your manuscript go.’”

As most of you know I did ‘let my book go’. But the whirlwind since Early Birds came out has made me realize I’m not as outgoing as I once thought. Hocking my wares (books) in front of people at craft fairs and stepping out to do the ‘Publishdom’ Party at the park we live in Florida has almost sent me over the edge.

But through all of fear of putting myself out in front of people and telling them about my book I’ve realized three things:

1)      It hasn’t killed me.

2)      I haven’t lost any limbs.

3)      I’m having the time of my life.

Guess you can say I’m coping with change and loving the journey the Lord has put me (us) on.

Blessings!
Janetta

See Links for my website and my book!

   
PS: And if any of you have marketing ideas on ways to sell books, let me know – I’ll consider everything.

FYI: Not sure how this post from a few years ago appeared again. Maybe the Lord wanted to remind me how important friends are. Enjoy!!!

The Lord never ceases to amaze me. I’m in awe of the dear friends He’s given me. Through each of them I’m taught important lessons. Some are so small, almost minute –but miracles nonetheless.

Take last Tuesday; I’m invited to a birthday lunch for a friend who turned the Big 50that day. The funny thing was, I received the email for the party and the sender stated it was a surprise party for me, too (my b-day being 3 days before). Seems she forgot to take my name off the sendee list. (love it, love it, love it). Anyway, I attended the party, had a blast and received lots of wonderful gifts. One being a daily devotional for writers.

For the next three mornings, I read the devotional and each touched my heart, but on January 10th the verse the writer used in her entry stopped me dead in my tracks. “Complete the work you have received in the Lord.” (Colossians 4:17)

WELL, let me see. There’s the novel I keep saying I’m going to get back to. And, there are the stories I want to send to a contest that are still sitting on my desk. If truth be told, I’m not sure what I’ve completed over the past year, but I’ve sure complained along the road of not getting anything done. Do I hear an AMEN!!

Then to drive the point home - another friend sends me an email. At the end of it she tells me her “word from the Lord” which she said was inspired by the ACFW loop Topic of the Week. The word was FINISH. She went on to say she wrote a one line resolution and taped it beside her desk – Purpose to finish well, but above all else FINISH.

Okay, Lord, I get it. I’m going to take both of my friends’ advice and finish the work I’ve received from You. Hey, does anyone want to come along? There’s plenty of room for all of us to finish what we’ve started.
nettie

TIME...

To get my novel, Early Birds written I had to manage my time, but as we all know:

Time…is something we waste. Time…it gets away from us if we’re not careful. Time…we must get some control of it to make the most of each of our days.

The one thing I’ve found that works for me: Writing out on a piece of paper what I need to do that particular day.  

I know it sounds like I’ve got this thing figured out. Hardly! I’m a procrastinator, but I've found out I'm good at making a list. The reason: I LOVE to cross things off of them when I finish the task.

When I make my To Do List, I’m less likely to spend time playing computer games (Panda Pop and Witch Saga 2). I can’t imagine the hours I’ve wasted trying to save the ‘babies’.

When I make my To Do List, I’m less likely to spend hours on one project. My hubby says I can get lost for days. He used to ask me when he got home from work if I ate all day. Sometimes I’d have to admit I hadn’t.

When I make my To Do List, I’m less likely to overlook my quiet time. Yes, I write it on the sheet of paper too. I don’t know about you, but it’s the most important thing to add to your everyday.

Time…we don’t know the number of our days. But with the hours we’re given, let’s make the best use of them.

Now I’m off to market my book!!! Time is of the essence…

Blessings,

Janetta