Out of the Blue

Nov. 17, 2009 - NaNoWriMo Day 17

Word Count: 30,842

As the leaves closed in around them they heard Blake's scream, "I'll get you Ainsley. I'll find you and your brats and hang each and every one from the nearest tree!"
Kira shivered, and urged her horse to go faster, realizing that she also was included in that statement.

So, how have I been doing with NaNo? Well I'm no longer as far ahead of schedule as I was a week ago. I am now only one day ahead, and trying to work my way up to more so I won't fall behind during Thanksgiving.

I've been surprised at how easily everything has been coming together, I haven't truly been stuck once. There was a day, or two when I had to stop and think about where I was going, but I never got that frantic writer's block feeling, I was just pondering. The other days I haven't written it was simply because I didn't feel like it, not because I couldn't.

I know November isn't over, but so far it's all gone incredibly smoothly. Maybe it's because I'm not crazy busy like a lot of my other friends doing it?

Whatever the reason, I'm glad my first NaNo hasn't given me to many challenges. Yet.

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Nov. 16, 2009 - Multitude Monday ~ 1 - 20

Posted in Multitude Monday

My interest was immediately perked when I noticed this banner at the beginning of Breezy's post over at a bowl of moss and pebbles. After reading the post I was even more interested.

Giving thanks for everything God has given me in my life is something I've been trying to work on. I'd much rather thank Him for the things I have then think about all the cool stuff I don't have. That just breeds discontent.

So almost the minute I saw the above banner I decided to join the Gratitude Community, and I encourage you to do the same.

Today I'm Thanking God For...

1. A roof over my head

2. Parents who love the Lord

3. Our kitty

4. My Daddy's job

5. Blogger Friends

6. Instant Messenger

7. Letters in the Mail

8. Horse magazines

9. Crunchy leaves

10. A library in walking distance

11. My contacts

12. Netflix

13. A sister who makes me laugh

14. The color green

15. My laptop

16. Being homeschooled

17. 27,300 words

18. Sunny days

19. Choir

20. A working camera

What are you Thankful for?

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Nov. 14, 2009 - Clive Staples Award

Posted in My Everyday Topsy-Tervey Out of the Blue Life

Being a writer, I love to read. Being a christian I like to read books written by other Christians, and once again back to being a writer, I like to read their blogs. After all, you never know when they'll throw out a juicy tip, or two.

So I was reading L. B. Graham's blog. Author of The Binding of the Blade series. (great books, if you haven't read them you should) His latest post was about Clive Staples Award. Okay.... what's the Clive Staples Award?

This is an award giving you the opportunity to vote for your favorite christian author/fantasy book! So, head on over and check out the website, and if you so desire, vote for your favorite.

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Nov. 10, 2009 - NaNoWriMo Day 10

Word Count: 20,903

"How could anyone throw away this happiness? How could anyone reject such joy?"
~ Wynn Ainsley

Well I'm still plugging away, boosting my word count by the thousands every night, and every day when I wake up setting myself an impossible goal I know I can't reach, but I do anyway.

The plot is coming along nicely, I've been rather surprised at how easy this story has been to write, then again it's been waiting for November for the last seven months.

Its been amazing discovering more about my characters, and the places they live in. Each day of writing I find out something knew and exciting about one of them.

I expected to grow tired of my book title, my names, and my characters, but instead they have gotten even more interesting to me, and I'm still totally in love with the name Wynn Ainsley.

There have been moments of stress, in fact just the other night I was in near panic because I couldn't get the NaNo website to load, therefor making it impossible for me to update my word count. Since I had just breached the 20,000 mark it was rather disappointing I couldn't do it right away. After a few more tries however, all was well.

So, that's how my NaNo has been going. If your interested in reading the progress of other NaNoers here are the links to friends of mine who are doing it as well.

Nov. 5, 2009 - The Happy Things

Posted in My Out of the Blue Thoughts

I'm not sure why I finally decided to post about this. Maybe it was because of my Mum's post about happy memories. Perhaps.

I could say this has been on my mind lately, it would be the truth, but I could be more accurate if I said, this has been on my mind for awhile. Awhile as in, a year or two. There have been a few things going on that have really brought this thought forward, making me remember, and feel more strongly about it then ever.

So, what am I talking about? I'll put it simply, the happy things.

I have realized that many, fights, grudges, contention, feuds, arguments, rivalry, and quarrels come into being because somebody, or maybe even everybody, wasn't remembering the happy times.

Let me explain. More then once Eyebright and I have been angry with each other. There have been the times when she has taken the best for herself, leaving me with second best. There have been times when we've yelled at each other, and times when we haven't wanted to speak to each other at all.

However there have also been times when we have laughed so hard together we made each other sick. There have been long walks filled with sisterly conversation, the times when she has given me the best being content with second best for herself. There have been times when she has been so happy and excited for me she didn't have time to be jealous. Times when she has comforted, reassured, and supported me. I didn't mean for this post to be a tribute to my sister though.

My whole point in this was, there have been good times and bad times. Which paragraph was more pleasant for you to read? I would hope the second one. If it's Eyebright reading this, I know the second one.

I have the good and the bad memories of every person in my family. When I've grown up and moved away, which ones will I want to remember the most?

Many a time I have seen, or heard of complete families breaking up because someone didn't remember those happy times. Someone didn't remember how much time the person they are angry with put into their lives. Someone was only thinking of those times when, as a human, they slipped, and did something not so happy.

I don't want this to happen to my family, I want to always remember the happy times and even if some of the unpleasant family experiences stick with me, I don't want them to blind out the other times.

So here I am today, encouraging you to remember the happy things with me.

Nov. 4, 2009 - NaNoWriMo Day 4

I've been pretty happy with my progress with NaNoWriMo so far. I'm three days ahead of schedule, and my plot is coming together rather nicely. I wouldn't say it's one of the best things I've ever written, but I didn't expect it to be. That's what second, third, fourth, and so on drafts are for.

Before NaNo started I had this idea in my head that I wouldn't have time for anything else this month. I would just be writing. My reasonable side however kept telling myself this can't be true since people with full time jobs and children have succeeded in the challenge.

So I was not all together surprised to find out I still have time to live. It's a good thing too because I only have two weeks till my first big choir performance and practice is a very good thing. I've also been working with Kekoa on selling Christmas wreaths. We haven't sold one yet, but we haven't really done to much attempting. Not because of NaNo, but because of other things in the schedule.

An hour, or two everyday writing and I am above and beyond my word count goal for that day. Before November I thought the people shooting for 100,000 this year were crazy. Now I'm beginning to see they are simply giving themselves more of a challenge. I've been challenged, it's juts been an easy one.

So far.

Nov. 2, 2009 - NaNoWriMo Day 1

Well the first day of NaNoWriMo has come and gone leaving me with a word count of 6,066. Since this is a good almost three days worth of writing, I decided I would be done for the night.

I am incredibly pleased with the way things are turning out so far, and was amazed to discover how much this story would write itself. There are way to many turn of events I didn't expect to count them all.

I tried to add a word count widget to my sidebar, but for some reason I'm having trouble with it. I might try again later, but for now if your interested in following my word count you can at my NaNoWriMo profile.

Now I'd love to stay and talk, but I've got a word count to keep up, and my characters are calling.

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Oct. 30, 2009 - 1 Day...

This is the cover art I made for my NaNo novel this year. Georgianna Penn is my pen name.

Oct. 29, 2009 - 2 Days...

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Oct. 28, 2009 - 3 Days...

Once again I thank Kylie for the beautiful photograph.

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Oct. 27, 2009 - Forever, Holy, Unchangeable, and Loving.

Posted in My Out of the Blue Thoughts

I decided to take a break from my NaNo count down today. For all those interested, don't worry it should continue tomorrow.

A few things about God have really been standing out to me lately and I wanted to share them with you.

~ God is forever.
Psalm 90: 1-2
Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.

~ God is Holy
Isaiah 6:3
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.

~ God is unchangeable
Psalm 102: 25-27
Of old hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed: But Thou are the same, and Thy years shall have no end.

~ God is loving
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Oct. 26, 2009 - 5 Days...

Wonderful photograph taken by Narniagirl

Oct. 24, 2009 - 6 Days...

Oct. 23, 2009 - 7 Days...

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Oct. 22, 2009 - 8 Days...

Oct. 19, 2009 - Imagination

Posted in My Everyday Topsy-Tervey Out of the Blue Life

Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create.

~ Albert Einstein ~

Oct. 14, 2009 - I Love...

Posted in My Everyday Topsy-Tervey Out of the Blue Life

My loverly sister Eyebright tagged me. If your a regular reader of my blog you'll know I don't normally do tags, but this one looked like fun, and like I said, my sister tagged me.

In Spring, I love the smell of the wind as it plays with my hair and makes me feel like the world has emerged from a deep cave after so many months. I love the sun as it warms up the earth, it's rays spreading heat and happiness. I love the the small blades of new grass, poking their head above the dirt, reaching up towards new life. I love the clouds of horse hair that go sailing into the wind after a good brushing. I love Jesus!

In Summer, I love the smell of parched air and dust. I love the cracks in the dirt that crunch when you step on them. I love the big blue sky stretching for miles and miles. I love the smell of warm leather, and warm horses. I love long trail rides in the cool of the mountains, and I love crisp, freezing ice water. I love playing crochet in Grandma and Grandpa's yard in the green, lush grass. I love motor home trips to Washington to see good friends and watch air shows. I love ice cream and popcicles, and refreshing relief that comes from the sun as it sinks below the horizon. I love the Lord!

In Fall, I love the cold wind that blows in, making you realize it's time to dig out your collection of sweaters. I love pumpkins, and the colors orange and brown. I love carmel apples and earlier nights. Hot apple cider, and a whole day set aside to give thanks for what I've been given. I love pumpkin pies, and left over turkey sandwhiches. I love Jehovah!

In Winter, I love the blankets, and books, and hot drinks. I love the feeling of the holidays hanging in the air. I love the the beutiful snowy landscapes outside my car window on our way to see family. I love days of sledding, and mittens and coats. I love cousins and aunts and uncles, and Christmas candy. I love Sunday morning music, and babies giggling. I love the steam that rolls off horses back as they huddle together to stay warm. I love the smell of wet horse blankets, and I love hiding my hand behind Angel's main until it's no longer num with cold. I love the King of Kings!

Now that I’ve told you my favorite thoughts of the seasons I challenge you to a tag. I’m going to tag four people to follow my thoughts of the seasons and have them tell me theirs.

I tag….

1. Alison's Writing Corner

2. living up to my sleeves

3. Witty Words

4. Little House in the Big World

Even if you’re not one of the four bloggers chosen above, feel free to post your feelings with a link back to my blog.

Rules of the tag

1. Tag at least three people after your post.

2. Post back to the blog that tagged you.

3. Post the rules of the tag and please don’t post the things you least like about the seasons, but what you like best

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Oct. 12, 2009 - NaNoWriMo Here I Come!