Simple Living, Christian Style

Thank you for visiting my blog! In this place, we will discuss the simpler things in life. The simple things that God touches me and you with every day. I hope you enjoy it and comment often. I am here to listen.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Simply Me

I returned on Monday from the 2008 American Christian Fiction Writers Conference in Minneapolis. What a glorious gathering of writer's for God. I will forever remember the fun I had, the friends I made, and the God moments that will transform my life forever.

Of all the classes I attended and lessons I learned, one stuck out to me: Allie Pleiter's Late Night Chat on "Getting It Done." Allie taught me the Finding Nemo personality test, and believe me, it was eye-opening. Here is the gist: Marlin's are goal-focused and stay on task until the goal is complete. Dori's (oh, sweet Dori's) tend to be more spontaneous and a little more "all over the place," but in the end get the job done allbeit scattered in bits in pieces throughout the day instead of in one long haul.

God made me a full-time writer in May. Since then, I've had dreams of a writing schedule. My "writer" self would sit firmly in my desk chair from noon to four every afternoon creating prolific prose destined for greatness and transformation. However, my "human" --who tends to lean more toward reality than my "writer"-- would write for a few precious moments and then flitter and flutter away from the computer screen to play with cats, wrestle with dogs and wander into the front yard to see what the flowers had been up to that day. In a nutshell:

I am not a Marlin. I am a wanna-be Marlin trapped in a Dori body.

And now oddly, as I embrace my inner Dori, I've completed tasks, e-mailed e-mails and accomplished astoundingly more than I would have trying to be who I am simply not -- A Marlin.

I am who I am. In that illustrious quote from Popeye the Sailor Man falls all the love, imagination and grace that our Father could pour out in one vessel.

You are who God made you. Fearfully and wonderfully made as shocking as that may be. Be it. Embrace it. And love your inner Marlin or Dori. You and the world will be the better for it. Simply be YOU! Thank you, Allie, for revealing my Dori-ness and letting it shine.

With a task complete, I am off to flitter and flutter. :o)

DMM

Friday, September 5, 2008

Congratulations to Leanna Ellis and her new book Lookin' Back Texas




A devoted wife and mother must return to her hometown of Luckenbach, Texas, to help her mother plan her father’s funeral. Trouble is – he isn’t dead! And neither are the secrets she buried there years ago.

No, I'm not switching from Simple Living, Christian Style to country songs and funeral parlors, but I wanted to shift focus for a moment to congratulate my friend on the publication of her second book.

That's right! It's finally out and on bookstore shelves! My friend and fellow Texas writer Leanna Ellis' new book, Lookin' Back Texas is ready and waiting for you to pick up your copy today.

To learn more about the book, read the first chapter teaser and see a fun trailer, click here.

Congrats, Leanna! May this be the first of MANY more to come.

God bless and READ ON!

Dawn Michelle Michals