Keep Calm And Write On

"Where do you see you see yourself in ten years?" Well...I'd be almost 31, (gosh, I got old.) Where will I be? Six years out of college, still teaching most likely. The only question is where. I'll probably be done with my master's, maybe a second bachelor's. I would probably get a second bachelor's in biblical studies, and a master's in special ed or higher ed. I'd hopefully finished a few books, and have a total of five or six books finished and published. But most of all...most of all, I want to be still be a follower of Jesus Christ, still looking for ways to brighten the day of those around me. Still be laughing, still be creative, still be writing, drawing, figuring out this thing called life. Seasoned in adulthood now, but still...still filled with childlike wander at the simplest things. Maybe I'll finally be a missionary, be sharing the gospel in hostile countries, boldly proclaiming the name of Jesus. Or maybe,.. Maybe m

I've been thinking a lot about what I would like to accomplish in my life, and I've come up with a list. A lot of these will hopefully be done this year or next. (I'm all about crossing things off a list.) -Pay off next semester's tuition -Finish writing and editing Arising -Write Surfaced -Publish both books -Have a section on my shelf for my own books. *grin* -Finish "The Girl And The Coffee" -Finish the unnamed WIP. ;) -Finish College -Earn Second Bachelor's Degree -Begin making interest payments on student loans -Pay off student loans -Go on a mission trip -Work a paid summer internship -Earn a Master's -Start teaching -Finish reading the Psalms -Read through the New Testament -Read through the Old Testament -Fill up current journal So there you have it. There's my bucket list for now. I'll update it every so often and mark what's completed and what I decided to add. Until then, friends. - Shannon

"Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?" almost every job interviewer asks this question. But whats the real answer? In 2020, where do I think I will be? Who will I be? What will I do? Five years from now, Lord willing, I'll be a Geneva graduate, (Go Tornadoes!) I'll be midway through my second year of teaching, and about to celebrate my 26th birthday.  (how did I get so old?) I'll have a good chunk of my student loans paid off, and probably be living in a cute little studio somewhere. I'll have some kind of pet, probably a lab or a pit bull. I'll be a special ed teacher, probably in Pennsylvania or Ohio. I'll make a point of encouraging my students, and if I teach in a christian school, in reminding them of the gifts God has given them. I'll still be supporting my child, Edison, and will hopefully have added another child as well. I'll still be writing, and hopefully will have a couple more books under my belt by then.

Words. So many little letters All lined up in a row When we have something to say We line the letters up just so Words can wound Or words can heal. Words can talk Or words can feel Through words we express our thoughts Unleash our minds on the world. Through words relationships are deepened And lives are unfurled. Sometimes words evade us They just won't appear So we line up a bunch of letters on paper And we can say it all without fear,

The last few months have been a wild ride. The semester is almost over and I am filled with relief. Thanksgiving break starts tomorrow and it is not a minute too soon. I miss my family, I miss the card games and chess matches with my siblings and I miss my mother's cooking. Oh how I miss my mother's cooking. But mostly, I just miss my people. I miss talking theology with my dad and everything under the sun with my mom. I miss watching the Three Stooges with dad, Gilmore Girls with mom, and countless, countless cartoons with the siblings. I miss the feeling of home, that these four people have my back no matter what. Tomorrow. Tomorrow is only a dayyy awaaayyyy. Now then. On with the business of the post. Currently...drinking coffee. Ask me which number cup this is and I will plead the fifth. College upped my caffeine tolerance. I don't have a problem... listening to...DC Talk, which is basically a given. I've also been semi obsessed with tenth avenue north and pen

Sunday night, I attended a local church for the third time. It is vastly, greatly, humongously different from my old church back home...but I love it still. Being new, I don't know many people at this church, but that's okay. that will come in time. After the announcements, we sang a few psalms. Not hymns, not contemporary music. Straight psalms, What used to seem odd to me is now beautiful, a coming together of many voices, praising our God with the very words he gave us. There's a simple solemnity about it all, a breath of fresh air, really. I'm suddenly struck with the privilege of it all. Every day, across the world, people lose their lives because of the words we sing in church. The gospel. They lose their lives for daring to believe the truth. This hurts me. It fills me with a sense of determination. Something must be done! What can be done? I don't know. I guess for now, it starts with wholly applying myself to worship, not taking for granted the priv

Today... I had fitness class (RIP precious knee cartilage. RIP) I discovered the wonders of being able to print wirelessly from anywhere on campus. This is a glorious thing, my friends. And right now, I'm eating lunch and attempting to work on an assignment that's due tomorrow, but I'm stuck. I'm supposed to write five elements about my culture and describe them. What are the things that surround me? what has shaped me into who I am. my faith, of course. Family, ditto. But what else? Perspective. I've seen enough of life to know that it can change in an instant, and so we try to be thankful for everything, and not sweat the small things. Work ethic, persistence, stick-to-it-iveness. It goes by many names. Determination. My parents very rarely look on something as a hopeless situation. There's always something we can do. There's always a bright side, something to be thankful for. Creativity. It's always been encouraged in my family. Drawing

College so far has been mostly a blur of meeting new people, attending classes, and studying, ALWAYS studying. And working. Almost, but not quite, to the exclusion of all else. All in all though, I feel that it's going pretty well, so far. As long as I remember to give myself grace. Grace for feeling peopled-out, allowing myself to hole up in my room and do what needs done, instead of forcing myself to interact with people. Encouraging myself...to meet new people when I can. To find this life-balance that is so coveted and so rare. Worrying...about classes, And grades. And clearances and tests. But also doing fun things, like spelling bees and sidewalk chalk art contests. (third place, thank you very much) Trying...to have a good attitude, and to be grateful, and to take full advantage of all the opportunities offered to me. Trying to balance studiousness with "the college experience", and pushing myself every day, socially, mentally, academically. I look ar

Ahh...September. You've brought so many new things to me. You kind of blended right into August, If I can be honest. I can hardly believe it's time to do one of these again. So here goes. Currently.. listening. ..to my very, very eclectic version of a playlist,  featuring The Waiting, The Afters, Brandon Heath, Blondie, The Clash, and The Bangles, All Things New and Matthew West. planning ...the rest of today, and tomorrow. And trying to leave the rest in the hands of my Savior. celebrating ...A good grade that I in no way expected. recovering ...from the first speech of my college career. I feel accomplished. And exhausted. procrastinating... LAUNDRY. 'nuff said. Not sure how one person makes so much...maybe it has something to do with the fact that I walk a minimum of three miles a day and change my clothes about as often as a pageant girl because THE WEATHER THOUGH. trying... trying to be brave. Courageous. If I had known what I was getting into when

Since today is my first day of classes, I hope you'll all forgive me a scheduled post. I thought I'd continue where I left of yesterday, with the snippets of the story that still has no name. :)                                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~ "You went somewhere else, are you alright, dear?" Betty, the nice old lady who had played organ at the church for my dad for the past eon had possession of my left arm, as of she'd be able to keep me from falling if I toppled, I took a deep breath and tried to ignore all the people around me, and just focus on breathing. "Maybe I'd better take it from here." my big brother Caleb whispered in my ear. I nodded and let Betty lead my back to her seat. But just before I turned around to sit, I saw something. Two people standing in the back of the church. A tall, willowy man and a petite woman. It couldn't be, It wasn't possible. Or maybe...maybe it was possible and my suspic

Hey everybody! I have some time before I have to leave for church, so I thought I'd pop on over and give you a blurb from my newest little project, yet to be named. It's just a skeleton of an idea thus far. But here goes! "A local couple was killed Tuesday in a freak car accident, leaving their five surviving children orphaned." That's what the news blurb said. It's also what I was told. But i was believing it less and less. From where I stood at the podium during my parent's memorial service, I surveyed the mourners gathered in the church my father had pastored for the past twenty-odd years. I had grown up in this church. These people knew me, and knew me well. And yet none of them were suspicious about the accident as I was. I had stood here for too long without speaking. Speak, you imbecile! "As you all know," I began, shuffling my sparse notes. "My parents have served this community humbly for as long as I've been alive. It was

watching...Nothing. because the cable is being cantakerous. Grrr Listening to...The steeler game, or trying, Mostly failing, But i'm trying. Living...The first week of my first year of campus life. Breathing...deeply. and often. Calming breaths. Every. Single. Day. Researching...the church I will begin stalking  attending tomorrow morning. Praying about...A job application I have in at a place that would likely be a very good fit. reading....nothing at the moment. Because time. And college, And busyness. making...goals to blog more often,,..to read more often...to be more open to meeting new people. And I make an effort. I do. But it's difficult to find a balance between introversion and extraversion, people time and quiet time, and talking versus hiding in my room like I'd like to. ...Still working on that, actually. I guess that's all for now. I like doing these currently posts. I think it's a neat way to get a snapshot of life even when I'm

Currently... working...what feels like a lot of hours saving ... some money. But not a lot. Not enough. Paying...tuition payments for fall. ouch. counting...the days until I leave for college. Too many, and not enough writing ...  the third book of my series. editing...the second book of my series. trying * not*  to count...all the things to be done before leaving for college. trying not to freak out. Trying to remember to breathe. Trying....to be courageous.

COURAGEOUS Little did I know, when I chose this word of mine, that it would turn my world upside down and ruin my life. Of course, by "ruin", I mean "change and enrich beyond my wildest dreams" You guys. Things I've really never dreamed of before are working their way to the forefront of my mind, begging and screaming for attention. Things that require resources I'm still not sure that I fully posses. Resources like certainty, confidence, trust, patience. And. The scariest trait of them all, courage itself. If I want the life that God wants me to have, I have to be willing to step out and do things, instead of being content with sitting on the couch and watching life happen. I have to realize that not only can I not do it all, I don't have to and I shouldn't try. But the thing I can do, is what I must. I have to take a deep breath, hold on tight, and keep being brave. "The only way we'll ever stand is on our knees with lifted ha

Today, dear readers, I have a treat for you. Last time, I reviewed the wonderful novel, The Sound of Diamonds. Today, I get to reveal the cover of its sequel, The Sound of Silver ! *insert fanfare here* "The stalwart saint and the redeemed rebel. One is fighting for faith, the other for honor… After Dirk rescues Gwyneth from the Iconoclastic Fury, she discovers that faith is sometimes fragile—and hope is not as easy as it may seem. Gwyneth continues her quest to learn more about the love of God preached by Protestants she once distrusted. Meanwhile, Dirk’s quest is to prevent his sullied name from staining hers. Will his choice to protect her prove the undoing of her first faltering steps toward a Father God? Once separated, will Dirk and Gwyneth’s searching hearts ever sing the same song?" -Back cover blurb They say not to judge a book by it's cover, but this sequel's cover is so gorgeous I can't help but be certain that it will live

"Her only chance of getting home is trusting the man she hates. With the protestant Elizabeth on the throne of England and her family in shambles, Catholic maiden Gwyneth seeks refuge in the Low Countries of Holland, hoping to soothe her aching soul. But when the Iconoclastic Fury descends and bloodshed overtakes her haven, she has no choice but to trust the rogue who arrives, promising to see her safely home to her uncle's castle. She doesn't dare to trust him...and yet doesn't dare to refuse her one chance to preserve her own life and those of the nuns she rescues from the burning convent. Dirk Godfrey is determined to restore his honor at whatever cost. Running from a tortured past, Dirk knows he has only one chance at redemption, and it lies with the lovely Gwyneth, who hates him for the crimes she thinks he committed. He must see her to safety, prove to the world that he is innocent, prove that her poor eyesight is not the only thing that has blinded

                                                          (comic found on The New Yorker facebook page) Internet! It's been so long! Linking up today with  Dearest Love Currently... Wearing  one of the many, many, many rubber-band bracelets my big-hearted little sister made me when she got a band loom a few months ago. sipping Mountain Dew Throwback. It's a weakness. wishlisting   this.  Because a girl can *never* have too much yarn. writing  a little here, and a little there. But mostly beta-reading for two awesome books. exploring  all the ways that I can be useful and make a difference...right where I am. Jumping a little further out from the comfort zone, Hoping and praying to make an impact. Also.... Falling in love with another four legged friend. Our recently adopted Piper is keeping us on our toes. (and then she licks them.) :) Trying *SO* hard not to stress out about college stuff. And health stuff. And life stuff. And basically everythi

Presently...It's been a long week, filled with work, homework, appointments, and Bible study. Presently...I'm trying to blog and there's a dog sitting on me.  I'm going about my day and I'm grateful for less pain than last week, thankful for exercises and chiropracors. I'm looking at my new dog and I'm thinking, "Maybe there can be more than one best dog ever." I'm beta-reading for two authors, and I'm thinking how beautiful it is that God gave us the written word.  I'm looking back on my life, and I'm wondering at the me I used to be. So timid, so afraid of looking stupid, so afraid to speak... So afraid.  Too afraid.  " for God gave us a spirit not of fear but o f power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV.  But now I'm learning that I can only do what I'm called to do if I let my fear go. As one of my dear friends would say, let go and let God . So, if this post is a

It's been a long.... ...day? ...week? ...month? ... year? X....All of the above. Sometimes I feel like my mind is being pulled in six different directions. School, work, family, this, and that, and the normal-getting-my-ducks-in-a-row-adult-life stuff. And the writing that I used to love, but just hasn't been a priority lately. I've had neither time nor inclination toward writing. And that scares me, because I've heard the old adage "use it or lose it" more times than I could count. What if I lose it, my joy and affection for the written word? On the other hand... what if I don't?  What if a break is just what the doctor ordered? What if it's okay that sometimes writing is just one more thing to worry about? But I wish it wasn't. I wish to go back to the days of yore, when responsibilities were few and words were many. But maybe that's just now how it works in the real world. Maybe we have to realize that the things we lov

We have a problem that plagues Christians and "free spirits" everywhere. This problem (and dare I also call it a threat) has the potential to destroy all of our individualism and personal achievements. Evidently, it's been an issue for centuries untold. It was evidently so prevalent in the early church that Paul made sure to address it in his letter to the Romans.  " Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2) If Paul was talking in today's terms, he might say. "Hey guys! Wake up! You can't live for God and still be the same as the rest of the world, it just doesn't work that way! If you don't let God transform you and your thinking, then you won't know how He wants you to live!" Complacency has always been a tempting trap. "Someone else will take that

Okay, so I'm just spit balling here, but when did the duck face become attractive? What went into some teenage girls mind to make her think; "If I manipulate my mouth to look like a beak and pout like I'm on the cover of vogue, then I'll be beautiful." Maybe this new trend is caused by wanting more likes on facebook pics, and unfortunately it works, but not for the reason you might think. I'm sure I'm not the only one who hits like on these pictures merely because I appreciated the laugh. But really, this society-wide practice of duck faces and selfie taking is no laughing matter. More than once I've considered writing a book in which the duck face becomes illegal and all those who do it must be required not to wear makeup and hair product the rest of their days. That'll learn 'em. Seriously speaking, I've long felt the desire to look every young woman in the eyes and tell them. "You are beautiful. You have worth." Too many

Hello all! I suppose I'm just in a generous/self promotion kind of mood,because I decided that it would be fun to share part of my new(ish) book, Underground, which you can purchase in paperback form on  Createspace . With no further ado, The Author's Note, an introduction to Asurga. Imagine for a moment, what would happen if your world as you know it now ceased to exist? What if your beliefs put you in mortal danger? What if you had to fight for those who were helpless? Welcome to Asurga, the only remnant left of an association known as The Council of Nations.  In the early part of the twenty-first century, the super-power known as America flourished. Almost everyone had an education and enough to eat. But other countries had significant threats looming over them. The people of Israel desperately needed rescued from their Muslim attackers.  The Council of Nations debated for many years whether or not to come to Israel’s rescue. By the time they decided in the

In the past few days, I've realized that 2015 will be the year that makes me pull my hair out. The year that makes me bang my head against the wall. And perhaps the best year of them all. Because this year, I'm saying "no" to fear. And I'm saying "YES" to courage. This year, I took a deep breath, and started my first college class. Two weeks in, and I can already tell this new college experience will be a good one. But oh, so challenging. This month, this week, has held so many quiet victories. This is the week I achieved perfect scores on quizzes in two different classes. (Yes, they were open-book, but it still counts...right?) This is the week I told God "Wherever you send me, I will go." This is the week that I have told myself so many times that this college thing is actually worth it. This is the week in which I had to teach myself to format a paper in Turabian Style. All in all, a good week indeed.

I have friends who have heartily embraced the idea of choosing a word, just a  single word, as their anthem, even a battle cry, for the coming year. One of these is  Rachelle Rea, who is EMBRACING the new year  with her one word. This time last year, I read the blogposts, saw the reasoning, and decided, that's not for me. I was, at the same time, fed up with my former way of handling new year's resolutions. So I went halfway. I didn't make the page-long list of years past, vowing in the coming year's time to erase all the bad habits and improve on basically every single aspect of my life. This year, I'm looking at the new year, a tiny girl lost in the fathoms of space-time, and I'm dreaming of what is to come. And I see big things ahead. My one word this year wasn't chosen with long periods of reflection and prayer. I didn't search through the dictionary for a word to claim. It popped into my head one day, and many times thereafter. Everytime I