Ever Feel Like Giving Up?

May 16, 2012 By 16 Comments

I have.

For me, it’s been about writing, but it could be about anything near and dear to your heart. Anything you struggle with. Relationships, a career, maybe a dream.

Giving up starts with a single negative thought. I entertain a flicker of doubt.

Who am I to think I can write?

Thoughts gather. Circle like buzzards.

Why in the heck would anyone want to read this?

It’s an awful lotta work. With no guarantees.

Discouragement settles over me like a summer cold.

What if it’s all for nothing?

What if I missed God?

I should probably quit.

Before I make a fool of myself.

Before I fail.

So…..

Saturday morning, Rick and I watched our son Thomas, his girlfriend Brittany, and her brother Shooter run a Chick-fil-A 5K. Brittany and Shooter’s mama watched too. :-)

It was Thomas’s and Shooter’s first race.

We cheered them on at the starting line and were waiting at the finish line. One by one, as they came into view to run the final yards, we clapped, whistled, screamed, “You can do it! Come on! Almost there!”

Holy chills ran down my neck as I witnessed what happened next–the kind where God seems to say, Pay attention.

Rounding the corner toward the homestretch, each one of them did the very same thing.

They kicked it into high gear.

Turned it on big time.

Gave it all they had.

(Thomas above, Shooter below)

 

(Brittany above)

As I saw their determination– jaws set, legs pumping harder, faster, eyes fixed on the goal, I felt the glorious fire ignite inside my heart again.

I can’t quit.

Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. Isaiah 50:7 NIV

Stay the course, my friends! Keep running!

If you feel like giving up, let me know. I’ll pray.

Love,

Julie

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Being a Mom, Glimpses of God, Inspirational, Where are You, God?, Writing Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Bit of Culture and a New Friend

May 2, 2012 By 27 Comments

Books are some of my dearest friends.

When I was a little girl, they introduced themselves to me on the way home from the library. I ran my fingers along their plastic-lined covers, inhaled the scent of the pages, and fell in love with first sentences.

Thursday night, it happened again.

(On the porch at Ivy Hall)

Mother and I attended a book signing and teaching time at Ivy Hall in Atlanta by Carol Wallace who wrote Leaving Van Gogh, a historical fiction based on the last two months of Vincent Van Gogh’s life.

Carol, writer-in-residence at SCAD Atlanta 2012 ,(Savannah College of Art and Design) is married to Rick Hamlin, our GUIDEPOSTS‘ editor.

As Carol described Vincent Van Gogh’s years of mental illness, Mother and I glanced at each other.

Quite possibly, Vincent was bipolar, like my brother. Van Gogh was difficult to live with, painted obsessively, and never quite fit in.

Carol Wallace had my heart.

So did Vincent Van Gogh.

Before writing this novel, Carol considered weaving the story into a thriller. Then she went to the house where Van Gogh died and spent a few moments “alone with her heart.”

Sitting in his lonely bedroom, Carol knew she couldn’t write a thriller. Instead, she decided to lean into his difficult life and write from the compassionate point-of-view of Van Gogh’s personal physician, Dr. Gachet, who specialized in mental illness.

Mother called early Monday morning. She’d just finished reading Leaving Van Gogh.

“I didn’t think I had the intellect to appreciate it,” she said, “but I read every word. Holding it, the novel felt like satin, yet strong, but not too heavy. The pages turned like windblown leaves.”

“It’s a work of art,” I said. “And I’ve never liked historical fiction.”

“Me neither.”

“But Carol took me there,” I said. “Just think about her research. And what about the power of her nouns and verbs?”

“She describes Madame Chevalier’s walking as…’She stumped back into the house.’ Stumped! Isn’t that wonderful?” Mother said.

“Wonder if Carol wrote and rewrote? Or if she ever got frustrated?”

“She makes writing look like a tidy process,” Mother said. “The book is absolutely perfect. Just like Carol’s blue toenails. They matched her book cover, you know.”

“I didn’t notice, but what about her dialog! I underlined conversations all through the book. In pen,” I said, feeling a tad guilty.

“I wanted to underline, but it’s such a masterpiece I couldn’t mark in it. Not yet anyway.”

                                                                                 * * *

Leaving Van Gogh and even Van Gogh himself have become cherished friends of mine.

The magic happened the moment I began to care about him.


Do you make friends with books or characters in novels? :-) I sure hope I’m not the only one.

Love,

Julie

 

Filed Under: Friendships and Mother/Daughter Relationships, Glimpses of God, Inspirational, Writing Tagged With: , , , , ,

My Friend Lisa’s Journey to Joy

March 21, 2012 By 26 Comments

I’d like to introduce you to my friend Lisa Buffaloe. Her journey to joy fascinates me.

Lisa says, “I’m not a perfect wife, perfect mother, or perfect at anything. I keep a fairly clean house, cook semi-decent meals, and love to write. I’m a real life mom with real life problems.”

Because of chronic illness, for almost eleven years, Lisa rarely left her home except to attend Bible study and church. She attended occasional writers’ conferences, but came home exhausted. Lisa wouldn’t want to relive her dark, lonely years, but she wouldn’t trade them for anything. During this difficult time, Lisa discovered day-by-day dependence of God.

In 1999, Lisa and her husband were living in Illinois and went hiking in the woods where they observed a deer. Later, Lisa found a tick. “It was so tiny,” she said. “Nothing compared to the ticks we’ve seen in Texas.”

While gardening in October of 2000, Lisa felt as though she’d been hit by a sledgehammer. Unable to see or walk, her husband rushed her to the emergency room. She was misdiagnosed with labrynthitis, meaning an inflammation of the inner ear.

“Over the years, I was poked, prodded, and diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, swollen jugular vein, autoimmune inner ear disease, kidney infections, kidney stones, and hearing problems. One doctor thought I had a brain tumor. Another considered multiple sclerosis or lupus. I’ve had constant use of steroids to try to stop the unending dizziness, tumors, cysts, numbness, headaches, bleeding problems, eye problems, nerve damage, and the list goes on and on.”

Finally in January of 2006, a neurologist made an accurate diagnosis.

Lisa tested positive for Lyme’s disease. After being referred to an infectious disease specialist, she began thirty days of IV antibiotics. She soon felt better and hoped she was well. Two months later, she met someone with Lyme’s who asked her a few health-related questions. Her new friend suggested she might still have active Lyme’s. Lisa traveled to a Lyme literate doctor and began taking antibiotics again, but this didn’t cure her illness. Soon she battled a blood infection that nearly took her life.

Lisa wouldn’t have made it without her Bible, God’s love, and her husband and son. Her family gave her a reason to get up each morning.

Lisa’s struggles extended beyond Lyme’s disease. She discovered by putting her experiences on paper, God brought light to the darkness of her past. By writing honestly, Lisa was set free from memories of sexual abuse. Wanting to help other women, in February of 2007, Lisa started a personal blog. Daily, she writes from her heart. She considers her blog a filling station where readers come, fill up, and gather strength.

Lisa Buffaloe’s story to wholeness gets even better. In August of 2011, after suffering from a three-day long horrific migraine, she prayed for healing. Deep in her soul she heard God say, “You are healed. Be healed little one.”

Instantly she felt a rush of heat go through her body. Her headache vanished and she knew, without a doubt, she’d been healed of Lyme’s disease.

Recently, Lisa experienced another surprise. A childhood desire she’d all but forgotten has come to pass. Growing up, her family moved often. Though blessed with a few friends, she was a loner. Lisa remembers going to bed at night as a child with a tiny plastic radio-shaped pillow. More than anything, she wanted to be a deejay. Following eleven years of isolation and after much healing, Lisa’s dream came true.

Lisa Buffaloe now hosts her own radio show called, “Living Joyfully Free.” Every Monday morning, she airs a new interview. Her program is about finding freedom, hope, and joy in the journey.

Lisa wondered after being quiet for so long, if she’d know how to talk to people. The Lord seemed to say, “You’re a host. You’ll be listening.” This thrills Lisa. She’s all about listening to people and loving on them.

God is faithful. Often, He brings about our hearts’ desires–even those unspoken childhood dreams.

To find out more about Lisa, visit her website and blogs, Fliterary and lisabuffaloe.blogspot.com . Be sure to visit her radio show too!

Lisa Buffaloe lives in Idaho with her husband and son. She’s an author, speaker, blogger, and radio host. Her favorite quote is, “In my deepest wound, I saw your glory and it dazzled me.” St Augustine

Filed Under: Friendships and Mother/Daughter Relationships, Glimpses of God, Inspirational, Writing Tagged With: , , , , ,

My Friend Peggy’s First Book–Dieting with my Dog

November 9, 2011 By 5 Comments

I’d like to introduce a dear friend, Peggy Frezon. Peggy and I met at a Guideposts’ writers’ contest workshop in 2004. We both won spots to attend. After five days of learning and growing as writers, a few of us formed an online writing group. Peggy is a member of this group.

Peggy’s first book, Dieting with my Dog,  just came out. Peggy and her dog Kelly went on an adventure together. They lost weight and got healthy. I’m honored to interview her.

Welcome, Peggy. Tell us about your wonderful book cover. Is this really you and Kelly?

Yes. The picture was taken in my living room by photographer Ric Easton. The pose was actually my own idea, although we wanted to use slim sexy legs (not my own! haha!) and the publisher wanted fat legs. I wore some baggy sweatpants because I’d lost the weight by the time we took the pictures. We posed in front of a white sheet. The photographer did the Photoshop work, adding in the checkered floor. And the publisher did all the rest of the design work, title, and background color.

Dieting with My Dog is full of so much love. You even have Kelly’s autograph alongside yours. Could you have lost the weight without her?

I’m glad that people feel the love in the book. Often, we do something for those we love that we wouldn’t do for ourselves. I started out losing the weight FOR Kelly. I never would have made the effort if I hadn’t made the connection that my lifestyle, my eating, and sedentary habits were also hurting her. But we ended up supporting and motivating each other.

My favorite thing about Dieting with My Dog is your honesty. Did you struggle with writing so openly?

As you and I have learned by writing for Guideposts, the only way to truly connect with the reader is to get nekkid: be open and vulnerable. I didn’t have any trouble opening up–the only times I wanted to be careful was not to hurt anyone else. Before the book came out, I had to tell my mom a few things to soften the blow. I said, “Mom, I hope this doesn’t hurt your feelings, but I said we were both short and round and fat like two apples that fell from an apple tree.”

Your relationship with Kelly seems divinely orchestrated. Have you experienced this deep inner connection with each of your dogs?

I’ve always felt a deep connection with my dogs. I’ve written about my first dog, Happy, in various Sweet 16 stories and Chicken Soup for the Soul books. He was a once in a lifetime dog. Each dog has had its special place in my life. Kelly joined the family and helped fill the empty nest, and ended up as so much more. She loves to jump on the back of my living room chair and curl around my neck. She’s always right here at my feet when I’m working. That’s one reason why I take walks during the day–so we both get some exercise. And that’s an important part of the book. When I just sat at a desk all day, my dog and I had health issues. Once we both got up and got moving, we become became healthier.

Thanks, Peggy. Blessings on your book! Congratulations on your weight loss–both yours and Kelly’s. Does anyone have a dog like Kelly–the sweet kind who wants nothing more in life than to love and be loved by you?

 

Love,

Julie

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: , , , ,

From Across a Crowded Room

September 28, 2011 By 12 Comments

I knew better.

When I started writing, I pretended I’d never have to speak. In 2006, I was invited to teach at the North Texas Christian Writers Conference. It wasn’t what I had to teach that scared me. It was standing in front of people–all eyes on me–and not knowing for sure if words would actually come out of my mouth.

To be honest, I’m shy. I prefer talking one-on-one to being in a big group.

That Friday night, we had a staff meeting. Me staff? I’d rather be serving on the kitchen committee or cleaning bathrooms. There we stood, fifteen or so of us, introducing ourselves. Everyone smiled as I said, “Hi, I’m Julie Garmon.” After we closed in prayer, a pretty redheaded lady with electric-blue eyes darted across the room.

“I’m DiAnn Mills . You look a little shy. Could you use a friend?”

Have you ever heard more beautiful words?

We hit it off immediately. This past weekend, we roomed together at the ACFW conference . Here we are checking out a new feature on DiAnn’s computer.

Julie and DiAnn ACFW 2011

Once again, she’s leading the way with grace, gentleness, and confidence. Meeting DiAnn reminds me of that scripture when Jesus talks to Nathanael.

“I saw you while you were still under the fig tree….” John 1:48 NIV

Has there been someone who’s noticed you right where you were? Who reached out in love? Rekindled your faith? Lifted you out of your fear?

Thank you, DiAnn. I’m forever grateful.

Love,

Julie

 

Filed Under: Fear: A New Way of Thinking, Friendships and Mother/Daughter Relationships, Inspirational, Writing Tagged With: , , ,

If a Sparrow (or a Hummingbird) Falls to the Ground…

August 10, 2011 By 8 Comments

As a writer, sometimes the harder I work, the more a story eludes me.

One August day last year, near 100 degrees, my writing wasn’t coming together. I’d worked on the same article for days.  At 4:30 that afternoon, I did something very un-Julie-ish. I took a break and went to the pool at the Y. I plopped in a lounge chair, but my brain kept working.

My cell rang. “You won’t believe what I’m doing,” my husband said “This poor hummingbird got stuck in the shop. She’d been flying around the ceiling, wearing herself out. Probably dehydrated. I stretched out my hand and she landed on it.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope. I asked one of the guys to make her some sugar water.”

Bless my husband’s sweet heart.

“She sat in my hand and drank from the lid of a bottled water. I took her outside and she flew away.”

If my husband, the mechanic, cares about a worn-out hummingbird…

I sensed God saying, Julie, you’re just like that hummingbird. Relax. Take a break. I’m here.

I swam in the pool for a while. Then I closed my eyes and rested in the sun. I didn’t work anymore that day. A couple of days later, the missing piece of my story came to me.

“But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.” Matthew 10:29 (NLT)

Anybody tired and ready to give up? Rest is a gift, even a form of trust.

Love,

Julie

 

Filed Under: Glimpses of God, Inspirational, The Pitfalls of Perfection, Where are You, God?, Writing Tagged With: , ,