Introducing....yours truly!

A week or so ago, my dear amazing bloggy friend Kristen participated in an "interview meme" and invited friends to participate. So...here I am. Kristen has interviewed me, and I'm posting her questions, and my answers, below. Read below this exclusive interview if you'd like to play along too!

Tell us, what do you want to be when you grow up? Funny you should ask this question, Mrs. Schiffman. I was just thinking about this the other day. More than anything, my greatest desire is to be well-rested when I grow up. I've been working at this for years, and somehow, I don't seem to be getting any better at it. Hoping it's one of those talents that is caught, rather than taught. I'll be sure to let you know.

Oh - and besides that, I would love to be a published Christian non-fiction book and novel author who is impacting the world powerfully for Christ. (but if I had to choose between one or other, I suppose I'd settle for the author thing. Rest is overrated - or so I've heard!)

If you could choose one fictional character to best portray you, who would you choose and why? Kristen, where DO you come up with these questions? I had to think on this one long and hard, and I'm still not very satisfied with my answer. But, I asked my loving husband, and after much thought, he came up with the Star Trek: Voyager character Neelix, and the more I think about it, the more I can agree. He has a very optimistic personality for the most part, and loved to try to make others happy and encourage them. He was friendly and protective of those he cared about. And though I do not look like him (LOL at least I hope not!), I think our interactions with others have some similarities.

Why did you start blogging? It was completely, totally, and entirely peer pressure. Back in June, my dear dear dear DEAR friend Patty Wysong (AKA peejiepoopers!) had just started Friday Fiction on her blog, and was trying to convince some friends to participated in it. Well, more readers for my fiction ALWAYS sounds good. At the same time I was contemplating a place to write about my progress on my nonfiction book - somewhere to keep myself accountable. So, (almost) kicking and screaming, I started my blog with this "oh-so-optimistic" post.What do you think about it now that you are officially a blogger? I love the blog world, and being a part of it. I've made lots of amazing friends (including and especially YOU, Mrs. Schiffman!), and learned incredible truths from the incredible bloggers out there. I've also found a home for my ponderings, accountability for my book-writing progress, and yet another place where I can encourage folks.

If you could share one piece of advice with us, what would it be? My advice is not my advice at all, but something I've picked up from my Heavenly Father. For the past five years or so, it has been my life verse from His Word. In the words of the Apostle Paul, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) And, in the words of Joanne Sher: don't worry - just pray. :)

AND if I could offer one MORE piece of advice, I would encourage you to "plod on." If you can't accomplish big things in your timing, take it slow. As is evidenced by my "325-word-a-day" book writing, slow and steady truly DO win the race. (FYI, 325 words a day is almost 120,000 words a year!!) Press on!

Share your favorite song and the lyric line from it you love the most. I LOVE hymns especially. I don't listen much to current music - I've either got kids' music, my hubby's 80's stuff (I like it too!), or silence (when I have the chance - on occasion!) on in the car, and I don't really listen much any other time besides at church (when I also sing along!). So, I'd say my favorite at the moment is "It Is Well With My Soul" by Horatio Spafford. This song almost always makes me cry. My very favorite verse (and the one that is most likely to get the waterworks going) is

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

(and since you asked, here is an awesome video that gives the history of the song, with the beautiful music in the background. Don't miss it!)




Now...I would love to interview you and you and you. So here is what you do:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

So come on--let's get to know each other better. And do not fear potential questions--I promise to play very nice.