Bluebirds and Birch trees

 Because at the moment, I have two very good reasons why I will probably never be able to live alone.  1. I can forget to drink water for several days, unless I am reminded. Which I just know will end up with me, being visited by a friend, and them asking me: Friends asks, "When was the last time you had water to drink?" To which I reply, "Yesterday with lunch, and I know that because that was Tuesday and I had an important thing I did that day." Friend will look at me very disappointed, "Mae, this is Friday."  More or less how I imagine the conversation playing out.  2. I have tendencies to open up a jar or box of snacks and carry it around with me until I am not longer hungry. Which would lead to a friend or family member showing up and asking if I ate anything healthy that day. To which, I would probably just play it off saying I had a very consistent amount of food that day. (But I'd probably still be holding the empty snack contain...

 My hands smell like paint. My heart is beating faithfully, and the music in my ears––is building steadily.  While life might throw things at us every single day, you do have to look for the good things in life that are able to bring joy in such simple ways.  My hands smell of paint and soap. The room is dusty, but the books are full. The music is raging, and the love is pouring.  I might not always be able to see you, my friends. But do know this––you bring with you a joy that can reach into my heart. When I am sad, you cheer me up. When I mourn, you cry with me. When I laugh, you laugh with me.  Most importantly, when I praise our King and Savior, you praise with me.  And I feel blessed to have such friends as you. I pray the Lord will bless you as much as He has blessed me. Love, and hugs,  -Mae

 The thing about being melancholy, is that I am homesick for places I have never been, and missing people I have never met. Yet all at once, I melancholy all the same, because I am missing those I have yet to see again.

 So despite the fact that I am supposed  to be going gluten-free in my diet, over the past short while my family and I have been trying to get down to the actual root of what it is that messes me up. At the moment, the contenders are;  white and other highly processed flours, corn and most corn products, and milk.  Now, while I could go on a long talk about the differences between gluten intolerance and wheat intolerance, lactose intolerance versus lactose sensitivities, I won't, because this is a recipe.  Now, because I've already had to explore options out in the gluten-free and dairy-free range, I can tell you right now––many things in those two categories taste awful. But, when you look at alternative foods to eat, then you're talking!  I made granola (with a good amount of help, because I'm not very kitchen savvy yet) to try to have as an alternative to regular cereals or toast for breakfast. (Rice cereals are still on the menu however) And so far, ...

 Many people struggle with many different things when they are writing. Plot holes, languages, governing systems, or just plain ol' sitting down and not being able to write.  For me it mainly deals with the successful naming of characters. Now, I have had to name so many characters for so many different things that I would hope, over time, I would come to find it less daunting. Not so however. Though, inspiration does tend to strike at odd times.  I do know, that during my first Camp NaNoWriMo I managed to write the first two or three chapters from a first person perspective, without giving a name to the main character. Mostly out of curiosity to see how long it would take me, and also to try and give me some time to actually come up with a name to give him. I did finally give him a name, and it stuck rather well. However, if I had tried to give him one at the start, it might have been an awful fit of a name, and I would have struggled even longer to try and find the r...

 So, it's that time of year again! Pumpkin! ...oh, and NaNoWriMo prep. So if you're over on NaNoWriMo, and are a teenager, do check out the forum Christian Teens Together . We're a crazy bunch, that much is true. But we're pretty lively for a writer's group, and if you need someone to talk too I can guarantee you'll find someone there who can give you some help.  The NaNoWriMo website was wiped in time for the crazy masses of writers and prep work that are now swarming the internet. I am one of those crazy writers, simply because I am.  Back to the subject; the Gates of NaNoWriMo's very own Christian Teens Together forum.  For those Chriteno's of you reading– and I know you're out there –and my other readers as well, look forward for some crazy posts that might revolve around anything from random inspiration, crazy conversations and pep talks, to ernest bouts of writing rants that could go on for ages.  I look forward to sharing another NaNo...