Jun 26, 2013 |
On the heels of yesterday’s Penny Parable post, I’m excited.
I’m excited because, first, I found two pennies yesterday morning in a place they previously weren’t: a side pocket in my bag. I know they weren’t there, because I use this bag all the time. But yesterday morning, after posting The Penny Parable, there they were. Later, I found another penny when we finished our shopping at Target (I was successful in not buying needless things, either! Points for This Girl!).
I’m working on frugal craft and recipe ideas for the July newsletter, which will be emailed on the first so y’all have time to see if there’s anything you want for your Fourth of July table. I recently purchased a cell phone camera mount and tripod so I can venture into the world of making better videos. Let’s face it, you don’t need the camera shaking just because I can’t stand still, right? [If you haven’t subscribed to the monthly email newsletter yet, click here. It’s full of great, exclusive content that always include Faith, Family, Food and Fun!]
And my Writing Partner is soon on her way to adventure. Big adventure. The kind of adventure that, if she were anyone else, I’d be spittin’-nails-jealous. But since it’s her, and I know I’ll live vicariously through her, all I can say is, Happy Travels, Megan. And come back very soon. With dragons and jewels.
I received a really great email yesterday morning: The Unemployment Cookbook, Second Edition, has been forwarded to the Judges Panel for the Writer’s Digest 21st Annual Self-Published Competition. Now I wait until October to see if I won.
Wish Me Luck!
So all these things have been going on. And I haven’t really promoted my newest Kickstarter project. Which is where you come in. I really need help getting the word out. This time around, I’m offering both the First and Second Editions, and a set of both. Easy orders. Easy shipping.
But as you surmised by this post’s title, the funding isn’t where I need it to be. My goal is small, quite reachable, but only if people know about it.
Will you help get the word out? The photo at the bottom of this post will lead you to the Kickstarter campaign where you can read all about it including Project Updates and FAQs. There’s also this link to my Q&A post on the Blog which, hopefully, clarifies everything.
Feel free to share this post through any and every social media site you have. Tell your family. Your friends. Your neighbors. Your trash collector. Your People’s people. Just please help me get the word out!
If you have any questions or ideas, leave them in a comment for me.
As always,
HAPPY EATING!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
TUC, x2
Jun 25, 2013 |
The Penny Parable
Anyone who knows me knows I have an affinity for pennies. As a child, finding one made the world amazing. Lucky. Blessed. Finding a penny was like opening a door to adventure. I would look around for the unexpected second, and very rare third penny laying about. Finding just one made any kind of day miraculous.
I’ve kept that magic with me. To this day, I still revel in the joy of those small and simple copper coins, but for other, deeper reasons.
As a person who continues to struggle with making ends meet on a regular basis, I take to heart the phrase “counting my pennies”. I make conscious decisions on where my resources go. When any situation arises that seems overwhelming, I learned a long time ago that when I can’t, God can.
I admittedly lose bits of my faith at times. I wonder how I can make my way in this world when it seems so impossible to accomplish the tasks set before me. How will I find enough hours in the day to finish the chores, write the stories, have quality time with Dot? How can I pay the bills when my monthly income is staggeringly less than what I need? How do I stop worrying and just believe? How do I continue trusting in Him? How?
In my darkest moments, in those times of despair and confusion whatever the cause or reason, He unfailingly puts a penny in my path. And I, unfailingly, feel refreshed.
IN GOD WE TRUST.
Most of us still make the effort to pick up that stray coin when we see it. Why?
The penny is the beginning of American currency. It is one cent. It’s no longer useful except to pay taxes and collect in jars. Yet we still reach for it, still hold onto it, still feel like Something Good can come of it. Because One is the beginning of all things.
For me, the penny is a symbol of hope and a future; it’s the beginning of a foundation. It says right there, embossed without the possibility of being erased, “In God We Trust”.
And He cares enough to bring that to my attention. Over and over and over again.
As in the Parable of the Talents [Matthew 25:14-30], I believe God will continue to bless us with bigger blessings as we strive to be faithful with the Little Things he entrusts to us. After all, how can we expect Him to shower us with those once-in-a-lifetime moments when we can’t recognize Him in our daily lives?
Many people are so consumed with the Big Miracles they neglect the Everyday Miracles all around us. Too often I find myself wishing for the winning lottery ticket instead of taking stock of the wealth around me: Dot and I have a roof over our heads, reliable transportation, food to eat. Our family and friends are always blessing us with their company and conversations. We have so much to fill our lives.
It’s when I take stock of these things that I realize how God is already taking care of us.
It’s with faith the size of a mustard seed that mountains are moved [Matthew 17:20]. This doesn’t always mean a sudden shift in the cosmos, or a blatant turn-around of a situation. Having faith takes endurance. It’s a task of longevity.
Let’s face it… if faith were Shake-and-Bake Instant, we wouldn’t have struggles, would we? We could just believe and make it happen.
Unfortunately, the Real World doesn’t work that way. Or maybe it’s fortunate. Without perseverance, we wouldn’t learn hope. And hope can be the biggest miracle of all. Hope leads to possibilities. Hope says, “Yes!” when the world says, “What?!” Hope says, “Let’s try!” and “Try again!” Even when we’d rather give up.
HOPE IS WHAT KEEPS US GOING.
Every foundation begins with one. One plan. One base. One step. And then another.
The penny is not insignificant. It’s a start. Pennies are everywhere.
When I see a single solitary penny in my path, I pick it up. Because it’s a message from God that tells me I’m loved enough to have His attentions. The penny tells me He still cares about me, even when I feel invisible or worthless. The penny tells me, I have a foundation to build upon. And little by little, I’ll make my mark.
And just like that single solitary penny, I am valuable. And I may be only one person. But I can make a difference.
Little by little.
One penny can’t do much. But soon enough, they add up. Enough pennies can buy a loaf of bread. And to one person, one loaf of bread can change the world.
Hyacinth for the Soul.
That one penny reminds me that God is always nearer than I think. He is always taking care of the tiniest details, so I don’t have to. He’s my foundation.
It starts with One. And grows.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
More or less: 29 Words
Poverty: My Story
“Be Not Afraid”. Yes, I’m talking to YOU.
What I Learned on Women’s Retreat [The Big Whammy!]
Praying for a Miracle I’ve Already Received
EXODUS: Keep On Keepin’ On
Jun 21, 2013 |
Five Things Friday at Frankly, My Dear…
Just under two weeks ago I went to the monthly meeting of the local California Writer’s Club. If you’re into writing, I suggest you check your state listings for Writers Groups in your area. Whether you aspire to be a professional writer or just jot words on paper for your own enjoyment, a Writer’s Club can help you develop your skills and give you a community of like-minded people to offer feedback and encouragement.
In our last meeting, we discussed poetry. In particular, we spoke of ekphrastic poetry: using art to inspire. It stems from the Greek ekphrasis: literally, description; from ekphrazein: to recount, describe. Wikipedia states “The word comes from the Greek ek and phrasis, ‘out’ and ‘speak’ respectively, verb ekphrazein, to proclaim or call an inanimate object by name.”
We discussed the works of Vincent Van Gogh, and each table was given several postcard versions of his works to select from. I looked carefully through the choices, and found myself consistently drawn to one that had beautifully deep shades of blues and yellows. While I tried to look earnestly at each painting, this is the one that selected me.
Observation Worksheet
Terrace of the Cafe at Night
Our assignment was first, to complete the Observation Worksheet. It asked questions such as “What is happening in this artwork?” and “What sounds, smells, feelings, tastes could you associate with it?”
Once our observation time was over (only five minutes, a very crude and immediate sensory experiment), we then selected those words that stood out more and constructed a poem based on the totality of our observations.
I titled my poem, “OLD / LIFE”:
Cobbled steps, wearing.
Whispers and smiles and hushed tones
Greet.
Day turned to twilight.
Still life sparkles.
Embracing life and beauty as seasons
Strong and subtle
Meet.
And that’s the first of my Five Things Friday offerings, with this week’s theme Poetry. Here are the rest:
2. I love poetry. I don’t know much beyond the basics, but I’m learning. I think one of the most beautiful appointments in the country is that of the U.S. Poet Laureate. If I could ever educate myself enough to hold such a position, I’d be forever giddy.
3. I used to write lyrics. I don’t know how to write music, so I would hum my own tunes, and the words would spill out. I always enjoyed the idea of writing songs, even if no one else heard them.
4. One of my favorite poets is my friend, Monique Teal. She was one of the first people to nudge me toward self publishing, and has herself published a great collection of her poetry: In Between the Trees is an emotional and compelling journey through grief and self discovery. Check out her amazing company at Storylight Publishing. I don’t tell her enough, but she’s been very instrumental in my writing and in my personal life. Her stories of endurance, love, trust, faith, and family… she just inspires me completely.
5. I should love to win the Nobel Prize in Literature for poetry. Alas, that runs next to #2 above, and I’m certain I may never be that educated and talented this side of the green grass. Still, I’ll strive for that because even in the learning, there’s enjoyment on the journey.
Are you a published poet with a book to share? Have a rhyme or two for the comments? It’s time to share your Five Things Friday!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
The Friday Five – STORIES
Five Things Friday – TRAVEL
Five Things Friday: Everything Old is NEW Again
If you link up a Blog post, make sure to add the button/backlink to your post so your people can find you here along with other great contributors!
Jun 17, 2013 |
Every so often, I like to give a shout out to my favorite TV Show, Canada’s FLASHPOINT.
If you’ve been around the Blog any length of time, you understand how this wonderful show has affected me. Sounds silly, right? Or over-dramatic? Yah. From the other side of the fence I’d agree with you. But on the inside looking out, all I can say is you don’t know what you’re missing.
Right now I’m all wrapped up in Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix. But it still doesn’t feel like it does when I watch FLASHPOINT. Even though they ended production after five seasons and I’m relegated to reruns and DVDs.
FPTO Farewell [courtesy Angelo Barovier]
It still feels like community.
Maybe I’m overly lucky. I was in the right place at the right time and cyber-met some amazing people. The people who cheer me on, share my chocolate, talk about toast, and continue to inspire and support me in so very many ways. And let me do the same for them. The people who have become My People.
When I watch FLASHPOINT, I feel connected to family. Can a TV show do all that?
Of course not.
But a community can.
FLASHPOINT is the only show I have never missed an episode of. It’s the first mainstream show I’ve known to have a truly interactive online community (thank you, Facebook and twitter!). My list of friends expanded exponentially when I opened myself to FPTO.
I get traffic on the Blog every single day for search queries for “FLASHPOINT” and its various characters. How amazing is that? This award-winning show with its ueber-intense storylines and intricate personalities. I always get caught up in the show for the first five to ten minutes before the title theme starts. The commercial breaks served to let me catch my breath. Now that I’m watching the show via Netflix and DVD, I get no breaks. It’s 44 minutes of pure adrenaline and breath-holding. So I guess it’s a good thing I only watch one or two episodes as I’m heading to REM slumber.
Of course it’s more than a show. When I’m on Facebook or twitter, I check in on My People. We’ve formed real relationships. We’ve met. We’ve socialized. We’ve encouraged and supported and cheered and been there for each other in a variety of situations. These people are My People.
And that’s why I still love this show. Because the show may have ended. But the community hasn’t.
I hope that someday I’ll write a script as worthy of the same kind of kudos that FLASHPOINT has received in the industry and from its fans. I have a glimmer of a goal to be the kind of writer and producer who continues to appreciate the community built around my Blog and other writings. To introduce people to each other in a way that is special and bonding. Not a casual “hey it’s been fun” moment that ends when the series ends. But real, ongoing, honest “how are you” friendships. And I strive to open up to strangers and expand my horizons with stories full of such friendships and adventures and character.
Because of the generous, supportive, encouraging people I’ve met through FLASHPOINT, I am reminded each day that I can do anything. It starts with an idea that spreads to a goal that leads to a step that builds a foundation.
When I give a shout out to FLASHPOINT, I’m really saying “thank you” to Jaye and Kate and Mary and Angelo and Sharon and Victoria and Joy and Beth and Laura and Nanette and so many others who continue to add spice and seasonings to This Girl’s life. And hoping in some small way I’m already returning the favor.
Yes. A TV show can do all that.
When I say, “FLASHPOINT inspires me,” I’m saying I get it. And whatever your community, I wish you the same. From the inside out.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Follow Flashpoint Team One on Facebook and twitter.
You may also enjoy reading:
Hello/Goodbye: How Flashpoint Keeps Hitting the Mark
Do You Know FPTO?
KEEP THE PEACE, Part I
Jun 16, 2013 |
It happened again. I couldn’t understand someone on the phone. There was a language barrier. And because I tried to explain I don’t speak their language, they reported to my Boss that I’m “racist”.
In the same week, a local business accused my Boss of training racists because we didn’t stand up for them in what was clearly an issue that didn’t involve us.
It bothered me. It bothered me a lot. It bothered me because I don’t understand why I’m expected to be someone I’m not, and how someone else’s issues have become my responsibility.
I love helping people. I really do. I’m The Girl who feeds the homeless and smiles to make a sad stranger feel better. I can’t write murder-mysteries because I don’t know how to get that gritty. I don’t brag about my Good Deeds because that’s between me and whoever and I don’t do things to earn Worldly Brownie Points.
Yes, I make mistakes. No, I’m not perfect.
I am a Good Person.
And for someone to suggest otherwise is like a cold, steely dagger gutting me. It’s painful. And confusing.
It goes deeper than a personal attack on me. I’ve noticed a tendency of certain types of people to feel “entitled”. There is not one group or ethnicity or culture that does it. Rather, it’s individuals. Just as some people are born with brown eyes or some students grasp math over English. Some people are unable to take responsibility for their own actions, responses, and thought processes.
And because of that, I’ve been labeled “racist”.
I don’t speak a second language. If a phone connection is not very clear, I have a hard time with the conversation. When people mumble, I don’t hear. And I politely say, “I’m sorry; I’m having a hard time understanding you.”
And because of that, I’ve been labeled “racist”.
I’m not hear to argue “If you’re in my country, speak my language”. That only goes so far. When I finally have a passport and money to travel the world, I won’t be able to learn 26 different languages. I’ll try to speak Italian and get past the baroque of the Irish. I’ll carry my Berlitz interpretive dictionaries. I’ll be thankful for the natives who will help me. And I’ll understand when they say they can’t understand me.
But I won’t call them “racist”.
I am a Person. An individual. I do the best I can, and I believe that most others do, too.
I don’t believe any class of people is less important to the World than another. I believe individuals make choices, and at times are unable to make responsible choices.
That doesn’t make me “racist”.
Does it?
Expand Your Horizons
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
Hypocritical / Christian
Word of the Year: 2013
Am I One of “Those” People?
