Blogging Questions and a Few Introductions {a blog hop}

This is the post where I take part in my first blog hop. I was invited by Alia Joy of Narrow Paths to Higher Places. June felt like a good time to take the blog speed down a notch and focus not so much on the words I pray for but the friends I’ve made. This is the post where I answer the blogging questions and make a few introductions.

Blog hops scared me – I turned this one down a few months ago because of timing and  fear of all the platform building hoopla. When asked I’d just written this. I’d caught myself trying to be everywhere just for the sake of being in the mix. It didn’t feel authentic and the spirit check was necessary.  Still, I don’t want to shy away from the work of promoting myself.  I want to walk in humility but I’m learning to give myself permission to lovingly put work into building a community, to share my life and words and tell you that I’m doing it – as long as I stay mindful of Him.

We’ll start with the questions…. 

What am I writing or working on?

I’m a member of Story 101 which is an online writing course offered through Story Sessions. I can’t tell you the level of brave bold writing I’m being exposed to. Think…rocking my world. It’s a paid subscription offering and worth every penny. Reading the words of these writers is pushing me to want to go deeper… Birthing a desire to press past my ordinary. It’s pushing my writing to another level. I want more from myself, if that makes sense. During the 10 week session I’m working on completing a project I started a few years ago. I’m writing a book about our adoption/infertility journey through a lens of faith. Tentatively titled Broader Scope of Love, it’s a passion project and I’m excited about completing it. Putting the finishing touches on it while processing the Story 101 course feels like the best kind of writing synchronicity.

I’m getting my feet wet as the new host for #GiveMeGrace…formerly known as Deidra Riggs’ Sunday Community. It’s been fun but interesting to acclimate myself to an already established group. I’m figuring out how to be myself, write my truth – in my voice. And it’s beautiful and hard and brings me to my knees each week. But its growing. I’m growing … and that’s been my prayer. Rising to this challenge, this online exploration of bravery is all good.

I’m also excited to be featured as a monthly contributor at 5 Minutes for Faith. This will be my first experience as a contributor and I look forward to sharing my words/work with their community.

As far as maintaining the blog goes, I’m working on establishing a solid routine. Having taken on the link-up I find my usual Monday post has suffered. Either I just haven’t gotten around to writing it or I’m fried from the weekends online rush. I also want to be more committed with my newsletter which at this point goes out when I get around to it. When I have bloggy questions Kat Lee’s, How They Blog series has been helpful, along with the resources from Tribe Writers. And thanks to Caris Adel, I’m working out a few of the technical and branding (ooh did I say that word?) kinks on the back side of the blog.

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

Good question. I started my blog as an encouragement for women facing infertility and 3/4 of my followers are from that time. I worry that I’ve abandoned them but I know God’s called me to other conversations, other stories. It’s grown into an online journal of faith where I talk about life in the city, homeschooling, blogging, my marriage, race and motherhood. My desire to continue the thread of talk about fertility and faith birthed The Last Girl on the Hill blog series. Now, I open the blog for others to share their stories.

So how am I different. I still don’t know. There, I said it. But I guess what sets me apart is me. I am my differential advantage. I think I have a unique perspective on life and offer a taste of something new. My life in NYC, as a homeschooling mother, my creative pursuits and somewhat outspoken words on the need for diversity online – all make me…ME.

Why do I write what I do?

I found my voice in my mini van while waiting for my sons science class to finish. That was the summer of 2012. I’ve journaled and written in my head my entire life. In high school a teacher red lined my paper with the words “streams of consciousness” and I began to doubt my self. Still…I love streams of consciousness…really what could be wrong with a stream of consciousness. Anyway, I know part of my writing, especially when I started, was part of my healing. I wrote words to process the journey I’d survived. Sharing it openly helped others experience their own. I’m grateful to have walked with them through the rough patches. I write for me, I write for others. I write to wrestle with questions of faith and life. Writing is my song. My creative expression of a real life faith, my partnering with God to lift some of the heaviness of life. And I’m learning. From my first post to the brew of words boiling just under the surface as I type – I want to pour out His grace. Be a real live participant in the movement that is Christ online.

How does my writing process look?

Three mornings a week I write in my car. I get up to move it from one side of the street to another for Alternate side of the street parking. On my street it’s between 8:30 and 10:00 am. If I can’t get it together writing I use the time to respond to comments, check email, engage on Facebook. I also write during the mommy hours..,the late night posts that are crafted when the house is quiet. Usually well after 10:00 pm. I listen to God throughout the week for a word or phrase that calls me. That is usually my #GiveMeGrace post. Typically I’ll connect it to scripture or a song and share what’s going on my life in relation to it. I’m slow. I can’t crank out a post in 30 minutes. I usually dump it out and before you see it it’s gone through at least 10 edits before I hit publish. It seems once I have the idea I need time to let it marinate and for God to gift me with revelation. I only hit publish when I feel released. I tend to write longer posts and struggle to be brief. This post is sure to be over 1500 words (lol). I have at least 5 posts in my rotation of unfinished pieces.

I watched a presentation by Rob Bell the other day and realized my writing process is a lot like what he describes. Watch this and you won’t feel bad about the length of time it takes to craft a post.

So here’s the fun part, where I get to introduce you to a few of the friends I’ve made online and why I think they’re so special. 

Martha and I met over at Deidra Riggs place and to be quiet honest she’s the perfect person for me to connect with. I know God is in the middle of our online relationship. She’s whip smart, funny and engaging. I know Martha would have me cutting up over something if we found ourselves together…in a car, in church, on a front porch. She’s the seasoned veteran I love to bond with. With stories to tell from years living in Jamaica and the wisdom she’s gleaned from a life of faith lived well. Martha is the real deal. Find her at grittygrace.com. I know, isn’t her blog title gangsta? Just another reason I love her.

My name is Martha Grimm Brady. I’m a wife-46 years, mom of 3 daughters and grandmother of 7. I’m also a nurse and pastor’s wife. Retirements have changed those roles. But I have been those things far too long to pretend I wasn’t. They are part of who I am. Now, I’m a writer. I’ve blogged since 2007. GrittyGrace.com has been my home since 2010.

Our lives have been lived in many places both inside and outside the US. I’m comfortable around all kinds of people…except those who prejudge me. Seven delightful years were spent in Jamaica in the 70′s where our girls were born. It was truly life-changing!

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What can I say about Chelle? I can be honest with you all, right? Well I look for other women of color online. It’s sometimes a little lonely like that in cyber space, particularly in the Christian community Gods called me to. So finding Chelle and her blog Treat Me To Feast was an answer to prayer. We have so much in common. From dance ministry to writing, from our faith and middle age… our sisterhood is tight. And I don’t just mean “sista” (even though she is that) but Chelle is a mirror image of me online and in life and I like that. Chelle lives in New Jersey and we plan to meet this summer.

I’m the girl clutching inherited pearls while tossing my dreadlocs. I am hymns, anthems, jazz vespers and hip-hop Gospel. I blog here, tweet here, and muse on FB. I went from writing as something to do to replace a big job that went away, and watched it evolved into the thing I can’t not do. Mine is an admittedly quirky but reverent perspective on God and Grace. I believe that God created and called me to fall down; sometimes really hard, so family, complete strangers, friends, and friends I haven’t met yet might appreciate the limitless Grace that God gives me (us) to stand up, over and over, all while living and writing at the intersection of Life and Faith. I know no other way than to rise, no matter how hard it seems; no matter how often I fall. My Beloved (husband) and I share more than 20 years of wedded bliss, two beautiful children, and a gorgeous Boxer named Sando who taught me so much about Faith, Love, and Trust that I wrote a book about him-Lessons Learned From My Downward Facing Dog. Find me at www.CirclesofFaith.org, www.GodSizedDreams.com, and now 5MinutesForFaith.com

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I want to have a smoothie and walk around in cute flip-flops with Dara Schultz*. Some of you may know her from Five Minute Friday, where she posts pretty regularly. She writes about fashion, family, faith and fun at Living My Someday. She’s someone I watch for inspiration. She keeps her blog fresh and tight with new content in different formats. I like what she’s doing.

*I’m tagging Dara but she just gave birth to a precious baby girl. I don’t expect her to respond to these questions but she’s just so fierce I thought I’d introduce her anyway.

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I’ll also link/tag this post to Esther Marie Emery who tagged me in a similar love festival at Story Sessions.

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Lisha Epperson