Blog of the Week and Some News

When I was in the third grade, I wrote my first poem. I called it Secrets and Friends.

"Secrets are secrets. Friends are friends. Friends don't tell secrets that other friends tell them."

I no longer write poetry. I am not surprised that you are not surprised.

But I do still have friends. With a few select friends, I'll share some secrets. But to be honest, I do not have many secrets. But I do have lots of dreams, hopes, fears, struggles, triumphs, and prayers that I share with many friends. One such friend is Karen Hossink and she writes the wonderful blog Surviving Motherhood. She and I have never met in real life. I read her blog and she reads mine. But what makes me consider her my friend is not the fact that she knows some personal details about me. I consider her a friend because she is someone who has taken time to encourage me, pray for me, laugh with me, and offer me moral support. She is someone who cares about me...and other moms. In fact, in her words, she blogs to "encourage and uplift women in their roles as mom and daughter of the King." She also adds with a grin, "And sometimes to blow off steam."

If you do not already know her, then I encourage you to visit her blog and read her books. Here is a review I wrote a few months ago about her first book, Confessions of an Irritable Mother.

I would also like to use this post to bring up something a tad personal. It does contain a prayer request.

For the next 21 days I will be doing a fast modled from the book of Daniel. I may share more about that as time continues...and I may not...I write that, because I do not want this to become a pride issue. I want to keep my motives pure. I am fasting as a spiritual discipline and as a time to grow closer to Christ. So prayers that my heart will be guarded would be so appreciated.

In addition to adhering to a diet of mostly fruits, vegetables, and a few types of whole grains and oats (and very small portions), I will be fasting from the time I sped social networking. I am only going to allow myself one hour a day for this luxury. For me that includes Twitter, Facebook, and Blog Reading/Commenting. I will still write and post my devotional style peices, as the time I spend writing those posts is a time of fellowship between me and God.

Blessings to you for a beautiful Sabbath.