This Series Was For Me

When attending a writer’s workshop, I heard an author say, ‘writing a book is like birthing a baby.’  And now, even after just  17,000 words, I get that.  I have had some labor pains as I’ve worked on this series, a few sleepless nights even.  It’s bittersweet that today is my last post for Do You […]

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We Should Be Better Prepared

As I sit here at my keys, thinking about the last couple of posts I need to write for this 31 Days series, my fingers are silent.  I promised to close out this month with a personal story about my journey of searching to belong.  And even though I’ve tried to be transparent as I’ve […]

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I Am Like Them and They Are Like Me

Today is Day #28 in this Write 31 Day challenge, Do You Belong, and I’ve invited a friend to speak in my place.  I first met Elizabeth Murphy two years ago at a writer’s conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Elizabeth is an enthusiastic encourager of women, a gifted storyteller, and an accomplished public speaker.  Elizabeth […]

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25 Ways to not BE-long

Be the center of attention Be a conversation stealer Be thinking of your answer Be a bad listener Be thinking about yourself because it’s ALL about you Be bossy Be the expert all the time Be entitled Be manipulative with flattery Be a grudge-holder Be unforgiving Be self-righteous Be right all the time Be demanding […]

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It’s Good To Be Me

One day I had lunch with an old friend, and we were catching up with everything our young adult “children” were doing.  We had been close when our children were babies, but hadn’t stayed in contact as the kids grew older (we all know how that goes — life just gets busy.)  But that day, […]

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Afraid To Be Me

Is fitting in the same as belonging?  It might be interesting to “unpack that bag” and see what we find.  I’ve quoted Brene’ Brown several times during this series, but she is the expert in the field, and no conversation about belonging is complete without her valuable research data.  Today, all quotes are from her […]

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Let’s Buy Some Whimsical Pillows

As we look around and search for our place of belonging, the world can be a very confusing place.  How can we find a place to belong when people are so divided?  Do I have to be “all in” to fit in?  Is conformity the only way?  Everything seems very sorted out.  Black and white.  […]

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Get Out There and Meet REAL People

This past summer, I attended a writers/speakers conference in Grand Rapids.  Throughout the two days duration of the conference, we were able to schedule one-on-one conversations with authors, speakers, editors, and publishers.  I was privileged to talk with 5 mentors.  Three of the 5 were what you’d typically expect from such brief professional encounters — […]

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It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

My grandson loves an app called Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.  Do you recall that name?  It’s a spin-off from Mister Roger’s Neighborhood (1968-2001) hosted by the endearing Fred Rogers.  Funny – his Mama LOVED Mr. Rogers when she was a little girl.  Even when I thought there were more entertaining, animated TV shows to watch, she […]

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What Makes You Tick?

Recently I was challenged to define my core values.  I mean really define them.  Put them on paper, and explain in detail why they define me.  I’m not good at these games.  I don’t really like introspection very much.  Or application questions.  I just like to fill in the blanks with generalities.  So this challenge […]

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12 Tips To Make That New City Your City

I read recently about a woman who was raised in Houston, and knew that city like the back of her hand.  A job promotion moved her family to Dallas, and with a trusty GPS, she traveled around her new city with no problems.  However, after 2 years, she still didn’t really know Dallas — she […]

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Don’t Steal Someone Else’s Perfect Place

I walked into the church cafe, and as I poured my coffee, I saw a woman who is normally in my small group on Sunday mornings.  “Hey,” I said, “we missed you upstairs this morning.”  She smiled and almost giggled when she said, “I’m trying a new endeavor.  I’m helping in the children’s department.  It’s […]

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Everyone Loves Good Fruit

You will know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:16       The Fruit of The Spirit   As I continue with this series, Do You Belong, I am reminded of the gifts God give His children as we attempt to find our way while we are here on this earth.  Spirit-led people have these wonderful […]

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Maybe Kindness is Within Our Reach

I typed “bullying” into the search engine on YouTube and over 9 million videos were listed.  9,360,000.  I just sat there and looked at that number.  Next I turned to Amazon’s book section.  After typing “bullying” again into the search engine, I watched as 101 pages of books were listed.  Not 101 books — 101 pages of […]

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Where Shame, Mercy and Grace Collide

Shame.  Mercy.  Grace. How do all these words tie together?  And do they have anything to do with our sense of belonging? These are deep concepts that are hard to handle in a simple blog.  By a simple person.  But because my post from last week (Does That Shame Really Belong in Your Baggage) touched on these […]

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When Your People and Your Place Are New to You

During this two day hiatus from the Write 31 Days challenge, I’d like to share two books that are valuable resources if your place of belonging has actually changed to a new location on the map.  These pages offer wonderful insight during times of transition.  Both of these books will help anyone move ahead in a […]

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Once You Are Real

On this 14th day of the Write 31 Day challenge, I am sharing a quote from Margery Williams Bianco’s book.  It is a wonderful reminder that it is always easier to be real, vulnerable, and risk takers when we know we are loved. “REAL isn’t how you are made,’ said the Skin Horse. ‘It’s a […]

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Does That Shame Really Belong in Your Backpack?

When I was a sophomore in high school, a boy decided a good nick-name for me would be Tank.  That’s right, Tank.  Just what every 15 year-old girl wants to be called.  I’ve never told another living soul that until now.  I use to hide from him at school.  If I saw him in the […]

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Its Time To Put On Our Capes and Be Brave

I’m working on being brave.  I’m working on my courage.  I want to be a superhero. My granddaughter is one of my superheroes.  She can see the kids on the fringe.  She is sensitive like that.  She knows when girls aren’t fitting in.  About a month ago, a new girl showed up at her youth group.  […]

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I Tend To Hug The Wall

You don’t have to search long to find a discussion about the differences between introverts and extroverts.  It’s a popular theme of many blog posts and articles.  Even Facebook has joined the debate, and you can play a short game to know definitively whether you like to be with people or not.  Like we need […]

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Her Head Knows, But Her Heart

I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about this blog post.  And to be honest, I thought the best thing to do was to just delete the series and pretend it never happened.  I don’t want to play anymore. I can’t solve deep issues like “being enough” here on this silly blog.  […]

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I Am Never Enough

I am finally typing.  I’ve been resisting all morning.  Finding so many ways to procrastinate.  Facebook.  Online shopping.  Email.  What else can I find to do before I hit the keys?  This is a hard topic.  Do you belong?  Do I belong?  And if not, why not?  To look deeply into this issue can be […]

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It Wasn’t Ever Going To Be My Home

The table was cluttered with scraps of colorful fabric and long lengths of ribbon.  Thread clung to my shirt and littered the floor.  I am a messy seamstress.   In the corner, on top of an old, creaky ironing board, a steaming iron hissed, ready to press the seams of my newest creation.  The ironing board […]

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If We’re Honest

Sometimes we build the walls that keep us from fitting in.  Walls nobody can get through. Sometimes we’re pretending to be somebody we’re not. Only when we are transparent enough to be who God created us to be do we find our place, our people. You can catch the previous post here (All I Know […]

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All I Know Is I’m Not Home Yet

On Day 2 of this 31 day writing challenge, the title of my post was, This is NOT Where I Belong.  Ever since that post, I can’t get this song out of my head.  Today I am going to put the song with lyrics right here for your enjoyment. Click here for previous post. God […]

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Is Green Acres the Place for Me?

Recently a new friend, a mentor actually, confidently said, “I have a deep need to belong”. My first thought was, ‘Wow, did she just say that out loud?’ I, too, have always had a deep need to belong, but I thought something was wrong with me.  Like I was insecure or just too needy.  So […]

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The Pages of The Story Keep Turning

So here we are, real characters in this ‘grand epic’, this amazing story of God’s.  Do you ever feel like you didn’t get here during the prologue?  Like you’ve arrived in chapter 2?  It appears that everyone, but you, already has a role.  Everyone knows exactly what’s going on, but you can’t find your lines?  […]

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A Grand Epic

When I am looking for a good summer book to read, I like to find a nice long novel.  I want to hold the actual book in my hand, and I want it to be thick with pages.  When I turn the book over to read the back cover, I want the description to say, […]

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This is NOT Where I Belong

Adam and Eve were placed into the Garden of Eden.  It was where they belonged.  One wrong decision changed their lives, and set them on a different course.  I left off in yesterday’s post questioning if they could ever find complete peace and contentment after they had been banished from their home.  I think a […]

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Created Into Community

Right from the get-go, man had community. Once upon a time there was a man named Adam and…  well, the animals.   That’s a community, right? There is a bit more to the story than that, but man was created into community.  Adam “belonged” even before his eyes beheld any of the newly created beauty around him.  […]

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