Welcome, Mercy House Fans!

I'm very honored to be a part of the Mercy House Kenya auction that's taking place today. Here is the specific post for what I am auctioning. I wanted to go ahead and post this so it would be here, as I have a toddler and an infant I am running after all day!

I am auctioning off 5 hours of editing services to benefit Mercy House Kenya.  In the past I have edited e-books, e-courses, and the Once a Month Mom menu cards. I was also a professional copy editor for three and a half years, working on Bible studies, and I still do that occasionally for my former employer.

If you have any questions about my work or credentials, please feel free to email me or send me a message on Twitter today and I will try to get back to you as soon as I can.

Thanks for visiting and happy bidding!



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The One Where I Wax Poetic

As I drove home in the late afternoon on Sunday, I noticed the trees for the first time. Those limbs that had just three weeks ago held vivid oranges and reds were now turning brown. The glorious time of Fall was over; the trees hummed of a long Winter to come. …

Read the rest today at The Gypsy Road--one of my favorite posts there.

Family Recipe Fridays: (Somebody's) Grandma's Mac and Cheese

A couple of years ago I had the privilege of working on a Bible study called No Other Gods by Kelly Minter (as I may have mentioned once or perhaps a dozen times on this blog). It was a new thing for LifeWay, both a young adult and women's study, complete with recipes and a Web site. I loved it and was so excited to throw myself into the project.

I led a test group for it, I wrote the leader's guide, I was the copy editor of course, and then I cooked every single recipe in the book. It took me a day and a half and then I served a gigantic and varied buffet to some co-workers.

And then I cried at the dishes.

Anyway, this macaroni and cheese was my favorite recipe from NOGs (although the black beans and brown rice are a close second!). We had a big family dinner at my grandma's apartment this summer the night before my grandpa's funeral and I offered to cook. I made apricot pork loin, salad, green bean casserole, and this mac and cheese. The family then decided I am never to show up without it again. So I think that makes it a family favorite.

Grandma's Mac and Cheese
from No Other Gods by Kelly Minter

1 lb. ziti or penne rigate
2 10 oz. bars of extra-sharp cheddar cheese (like Cracker Barrel brand)
1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs

Slice cheese to medium thickness. Slice butter about the same width as the cheese. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a shallow 9x13 dish with cooking spray.

Boil the pasta for 3-4 minutes--you only want to cook it partially. Test by biting one piece: once you can leave an imprint of your teeth, the pasta is done. Drain.

Take the baking dish and place half of the pasta on the bottom of the dish. Dot with half of the butter squares and half the cheese. Add some of the milk--come up to about the pasta layer or a little bit above. Repeat layers once.

Put the dish on a cookie sheet to catch any overflow. Bake in preheated oven for 50 minutes.

After this, top the dish with Italian bread crumbs, then cook for another 10 minutes.

7 Posts for the Price of 1

Is it Quick Takes Friday, or Write Your Random Thoughts in a List Day?

No? Oh well.

1

I am fed up with pumping. It only took six months. I am tired of feeling frustrated because I can pump for half an hour and only get 3 ounces of milk. I am tired of shutting and locking my door and having people come and knock and yelling at them to go away. I am tired of spending so much of my working day leaning awkwardly against my desk.

I'm thinking that starting tomorrow I am going to pump once a day and supplement whatever else she needs while she is at daycare with formula.

There's a whole other post here: Yes, I am totally pro-breastfeeding; but no, I don't think it should drive you insane; no, they didn't give formula back in the Olde Times, but they didn't have pumps and there were not working moms and there were also wet nurses. Hrm. Anyway, that's that.

2

It's hard for me when I write several posts that I think are good, quality writing and I get no or maybe one or two comments. Why? Blogging builds up narcissism in its own way, where I think my writing is so very good and I don't understand why it doesn't provoke more people to tell me so. I read many blogs that I don't comment on. There is SO MUCH quality writing out there. This is not something which should measure my self-worth.

And yet, it made me really happy when Robin commented on this post like she did.

3

YUMMMMM. Following Southern Living on Twitter makes me really, really hungry.

And Megs is coming over tomorrow night and cooking me Pioneer Woman crispy yogurt chicken. Love.

4

I've been kind of avoiding this subject somewhat, but not a single person has come to see our house yet. Not one.

I am struggling because I want to trust God completely on this. He has a super plan for us and led us to a job where I think Mr. V will be really, really happy. So certainly He will provide a way for us all to be there together. Eventually.

It's difficult to be in that transitional stage and not know when you're moving on.

5

I am so in love with this little girl. Last night I refused to make dinner, needing to snuggle her instead. This morning, I had a very hard time leaving her at daycare. I forgot to fill out the form they make me do every day because I was just distressed.

She's such a sweetie.

6

I ate all my carrots and now I am only have celery to snack on. BLEGH. The carrots were so good, big old fat ones I bought at the farmer's market as part of my Eat Whole Foods plan.

7

And now I am going home. I will be driving the speed limit all the way home as I managed to leave my purse at home this morning (?? so strange!). Let the snuggling and eating of leftovers commence.

Transported to the Scenic City

Some of y'all may have guessed that our rapid trip to Chattanooga on Monday was for a job interview for Mr. V. While I was having a fantastic omelet and great coffee at Aretha Frankenstein's with Robin from Pensieve, Mr. V was undergoing a whole day of interviews at a local high school. We are VERY happy to announce that he did get the job and we're going to be Chattanoogans! (Chattanoogites?)

The last few months--since November, really, when his application process began--have been such a downer for us, and we are so relieved to know where we'll be. At the same time, it's incredibly bittersweet. We still won't be near any family; we will miss our life and friends here in Nashville so much; and honestly, I'm not sure how I'll function as a stay-at-home mom, even though that is what I have dreamed and desired to be! I love my job and I will be sad to leave when the time comes. Also we will have to undergo the stress of trying to sell our house in a less than desirable market.

I've decided I won't share where Mr. V will be teaching since I just don't think that's necessary information and don't want a bunch of high-schoolers finding my blog. :) I also don't think I'll be the changing the name of it--we'll always be proud of our Vanderbilt connection, and I don't want to undergo the hassle.

Thank you for your prayers during this time.

Will you please also lift up a prayer this morning for my friend Monica? This dear, sweet woman just lost her little son—she was 6 months pregnant. I am so grieving for her this morning and I know she covets prayers.

Creative Correction

One of the neat things about working where I do is that I'm often given copies of our products. Some of them I keep for myself, some I give away, some I've listed on PaperbackSwap.

When one of my favorite bloggers, Laura, recently declared her love for Lisa Whelchel's book Creative Correction, I decided to offer her a copy of the Creative Correction Bible study to give away on her review blog. It's the complete set with member book and DVDs! So hop on over there and leave a comment to get a chance to win this great study.

I've Been Off

The other day, I cursed out loud.

That is something I NEVER do, y'all. In fact, you better not tell anyone, for fear I might lose my job. I'm just glad it was just to myself.

It was yet ANOTHER one of those days. I had more things stacked on my plate that I could possibly take. I left work, went and got Libbie. I'd forgotten to pick up some recipes I needed off the printer. On my way to get Mr. V from school, I remembered the breast milk that had been in my bag to give to daycare was still in there.

After a day of running around trying to get things prepared to go out of town, being away from home the night before, chasing reprints at work, and trying to fix a meal for someone who lived far away without going home first...it was too much. I cursed.

I immediately recoiled and asked for forgiveness from God, but it still amazed me I had gotten to that point.

It seems almost every day lately I feel like the stupidest person alive. I guess it's the 10-second-Mommy-memory. The packed schedule. The sleep deprivation. How many of those days can one girl take?

I don't want Libbie to have a stupid momma. The thing is, I'm NOT stupid! It's so frustrating to have this abysmal memory for details. Maybe I need to start doing more brain games or something.

What are your tools for battling mommy brain?

Oh, and the breast milk? I left it in the car overnight.

Helpful Grammar Hints for Bloggers

In one of the great sessions I attended at Blissdom, the topic of how important good grammar and punctuation is on a blog came up. It appears Shannon from Rocks in My Dryer is a grammar-a-holic. I knew I loved her!


I am a copy editor by profession. So please take what follows not as what the general population thinks about your blog but what I and other crazies might think. But really, you don't want some simple punctuation errors to drive someone away from your blog, do you?


I wish they had let me teach a (very) short session on at least proper punctuation at Blissdom. I am honestly not too uptight about poor grammar when it comes to blogging. Many bloggers write the way they speak, and I think as long as you are aware you are putting prepositions at the end of your sentences (as I often do), it's OK. But it does sometime baffle me that even very "big" bloggers make some simple mistakes over and over again.

I was never taught grammar or parts of speech in school, and maybe that's the issue--we have a generation that missed that. I think it was a backlash from too much grammar, too many diagrammed sentences. Perhaps they've gone back to teaching it.

Here are a few simple things that will really polish your writing, and it would make me extremely happy if you could remember just one. If you ever decide to write a book and turn in your manuscript so it follows simple grammar rules (AND USE SPELLCHECK), I promise you will make your editor a happier person. I promise you I see all of these things, and much worse, on manuscripts I get from popular, established authors.

1. Put the period and comma inside quotation marks.

This is probably the most common thing I see on blogs. Please, please, PLEASE try to do this. Even if you are quoting someone else, the period or comma goes inside. Here is an example.

Marlene said, "Let's just be friends," but I wanted more.

Jo-Lynne, who is cute as can be, was around when I was ranting talking about this at Blissdom. I know it can be confusing, but here it goes.

Periods and commas always go inside the quotation mark. Semi-colons and colons go outside. For question marks and exclamation points, it depends on whether they are part of the quotation or not. If it is (like, "What did he tell you?" I asked) it goes inside. If it's not (like, I can't believe he called me "white trash"!) then it goes outside.

2. Please remember the difference between ITS/IT'S, YOUR/YOU'RE, THEY'RE/THEIR, etc.

ITS is possessive, i.e., The book lost its cover.
IT'S is always a contraction for IT IS. It's rainy outside.

YOUR is also possessive. You lost your boots in the rain.
YOU'RE is a contraction for YOU ARE. You're going to wear that?

THEIR is possessive. They lost their boots in the rain. (They must be pretty dumb to all do that!)
THEY'RE is a contraction for THEY ARE. They're running home barefoot because they lost their boots.

3. You do not pluralize with an apostrophe.

This is at least as common as the quotations thing. I think a lot of people just do not know this.

The plural of movie is not movie's, it's movies.
The plural of pony is not pony's, it's ponies.
The plural of something that ends in s is generally that plus an es. Like glass becomes glasses.


I am really not trying to be catty or offend anyone. I just think if people would follow these simple grammar rules, it would bring a new polish to their blogs.

If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Leave your e-mail (it won't post here), or I will answer in the comments.

The Dread

Well, I sat there and looked at those words for several minutes. I don't think I've mentioned it here, but I go back to work on Monday. I'm not even sure what to write about it. In many ways, I think it might be a good thing for me to go back. I get very antsy here when it's just me and the baby. I'm not suited to sit around and watch TV and be online all the time. I think when the baby is older and can play it might be different, but I just get insanely restless being at home a lot. I am looking forward to going back because I do love my job and I like the people I work with and look forward to hanging out with them again.

On the other hand, I just can't stand the thought of not being with my baby whenever I want. Right now she is quite asleep on my chest, the sweet smell of Johnson's Bedtime Bath wafting from her head. It's so precious to be there to see every smile and coo. I can't stand the thought of not being there the first time she rolls over or talks or laughs.

Right now I just don't have a choice to stay home, although I am hoping in the future it will be an option. I'd really like to find paying opportunities for writing and editing at home, and I'm hoping being a freelancer will work out for me. But for right now, it's what I have to do. Luckily Libbie is in a daycare one block from my office where I can go over and nurse her at lunchtime.

But I still hate it.

Any advice?

As of Late

Just realized I hadn't posted anything since Wednesday. Sorry, I have no news. I am wondering if something is going on with baby as I've been having strange waves of nausea for two days. Not hopeful, but who knows? Maybe some mild contractions?

Thursday night we had Bible study here (usually Tuesdays, but someone had a conflict). I felt like it went really well and we had great conversation about the week's topics. I've really enjoyed our study of the Psalms of Ascent so far!

Yesterday we had what I will lovingly call "forced fun" at my manager's house. We grilled, ate, and most people played football. Well, yeah. I definitely can't play football. And even being a spectator required hopping a fence. Not gonna happen! I enjoyed talking with my coworkers and being outside on such a nice day. Stopped at the mall on the way home and managed to exhaust myself trying to find a robe. No luck there, but I did find some PJs, a nice sweater I can wear open to keep warm until baby is born and will still be cute afterward, and a few things from Motherhood (soft nursing bra being the most important!).

I feel like I am getting more nervous as the days pass, knowing it could be at any time now. Tonight we're going to the theater and I was almost in tears thinking about how it could be our last pre-baby date! I am so excited for her to be here and yet extremely nervewrecked--fear of the unknown, I guess. I sat in the nursery and cried today over thinking about dressing her in little tiny baby socks. I've officially lost my mind.

Off to the theater! We're seeing Damn Yankees, which I've not ever seen before. I am sure it will be awesome!

The Hormones, They Rage

Reasons I have wanted to or have cried today:

1. Dropped my mom off at the airport. That made me near-teary. Then I heard this sappy song on the Christian station after I dropped Mr. V off, and I lost it. Bawled all the way to work and had to compose myself just to come inside!

2. As soon as I got to work one of my coworkers came in and sort of ranted at me for something that happened while I was out of the office at the video shoot last week.

3. All of that made me very sick to my stomach and I teared up in Carolyn's office just thinking about it all.

4. I don't have my regular purse and I did not have my beloved Orbitz Sweetmint gum. I did, however, have at least 4 tubes of lipgloss.

5. I have to run an errand after work. There is still little gas in Nashville plus I am exhausted. Whine, whine.

6. My co-workers gave me a lecture on how I don't need an AngelCare monitor. Now I don't know if I want it or not but I don't know what monitor to get. And I don't want to worry about SIDS. I also don't want to worry about Libbie getting the cord wrapped around her neck and dying in utero, which is what I have been doing today. Why am I crazy??? (And please...tell me what monitor I need!)

7. I am so tired of being hungry I really did almost cry over it today. Half an hour after getting back from lunch I was ravenous. I don't understand!! If I don't stop eating I am going to gain another 30 pounds but I can't not eat when I am hungry. Arrrgh!

I need to go home and sleep.

Life

Oh, life. It does get in the way of blogging, doesn't it? I've been running around like a crazy woman since Thursday. Thursday I was cleaning up, trying to get ready for a Mom visit (as much as I can clean...which isn't much!). I had an eye doctor's appointment, and then was driving out to Lebanon (45 min to an hour drive) for our first night of video shooting.

You remember my extreme excitement over having food from the infamous Sunset for dinner?

We didn't.

They should not be allowed to do that to Pregnant Lady. Libbie almost crawled out and smacked somebody. But they did feed me, so I shouldn't complain too very much.

The video shoot has gone very well despite the "gas shortage" in Nashville (AKA everyone in nashville is apparently psycho because there is a rumor we have no gas--which has only been accelerated by the fact that there are only about 2 stations within 10 miles that have any gas--which equals insane lines at those 2 stations. Look it up on CNN. This is not happening anywhere else. I don't get it.) AND a gigantic accident that shut down the interstate yesterday afternoon. Mom and I had a major adventure trying to get to Lebanon. I don't really like major adventures when I'm driving. Especially when I have less than 1/4 a tank of gas because there is no place to fill up.

Anyway, the video shoot has gone swimmingly, it is over now and we're at home. I have a baby shower tomorrow and then one on Tuesday! And then I guess I putter around for a few weeks waiting for Baby to get here. It's a good thing real TV is coming on again!

Enough babble for now. Enjoy your Saturday evening.

I Want to Be a Joshua

I had the great privilege of attending the Going Beyond conference this weekend. It is Priscilla Shirer's conference for LifeWay, a Friday night and Saturday morning deal. Your typical LifeWay conference--worship music and a fantastic speaker. Only I had never BEEN to a LifeWay women's conference before. I am not sure how this has happened, since I not only work there, I work on many of the authors' products who speak at these conferences! But I suppose they like to see me strapped in front of my computer, editing until my eyes glaze over.

Anyway, Priscilla's message about Going Beyond was about the Israelites traveling to the promised land (which is--amazingly--what her next product, Going Beyond, is about!). Saturday morning she talked about Joshua taking over from Moses as the leader of the Israelites, and their different styles. And man...I want to be Joshua. Here are her points from the Saturday morning session:

1. Act immediately in obedience to God. While Moses questioned whether God was really sure He wanted him, Moses, not say, Aaron, Joshua did exactly as he was told--both when Moses asked him to lead the army against the Amalekites and when God told him to cross the Jordan River, even though it was raging and they had to step in before the current would calm. Like Abraham when he was ordered to sacrifice Isaac, Joshua performed his duties "early the next morning." Even in the face of something scary, Joshua took action right away.

2. Joshua acted fearlessly in spite of insurmountable odds. He wasn't bogged down by fear. It's not that we won't be afraid, but we can't be claimed by a spirit of fear. Since God tells us that He doesn't give us a spirit of fear, if we have one we know it's from Satan. Priscilla shared that she usually knows when she is supposed to do something because she will be overwhelmed with fear about it!

3. Acknowledge God's presence before making a move. God commanded that the Israelites not move until they saw the Ark of the Covenant moving. They had to stay back an appropriate distance so they could see where it was going.

4. Anticipate God's miracles all around you. Joshua had confidence that God would do what He said He would do!!

I've been really feeling for a long time that I needed to be leading Bible study in my home. I've been a part of a home Bible study for a couple years and I love it. The teacher is amazing. So I've been incredibly hesitant to consider not being part of the study. But God's kept laying it on my heart that I need to do this. I do not feel like I am a gifted teacher, and that is my major issue. But I've been trying to act in obedience, and so tomorrow I start the study. I will have two girls here with me unless someone else shows up unexpectedly! I was hoping for more, but I really believe it will be what God wants it to be. Please pray for me, that I won't be held back with fear and that I will be a decent host and not hold back anyone from learning and growing.

Sorry for the ginormous post!! Hope you're having a healthy and happy Monday.

Fun!

I just got an invitation to a baby shower for Priscilla Shirer.
This may mean nothing to many of you, but she is the biggest author I work with and totally awesome to boot.

I am so excited! I love my job. :)

Yes, I'm a Posting Monster

Sorry for the third post of the day but...

I have no idea how to embed video in here. But I had to do this video interview for work the other day and since I don't look like a complete moron AND I was actually wearing make-up (big event in my life) I will allow you to learn more about me and my job by clicking here if you're interested.

Blown Away

I don't talk much in specifics about work 'round here, mostly cause I don't want to get fired if I accidentally insult anyone.

But if y'all have been around for awhile you know I worked on this delightful Bible study about a year ago. I led a test group and wrote the leader guide, met the author, and basically it was a giant pet project for me--the only project I've been quite so involved in since I came to my position over 2 years ago.

Well, a couple weeks ago we heard the exceptional news that Beth Moore herself was promoting No Other Gods as her summer Bible study on the Living Proof Ministries blog. If you happen to be a Southern Baptist, I am 95% certain you know Beth Moore is our little celebrity. Her Bible studies sell insanely, she speaks at all kinds of events, etc, etc.

I clicked onto the blog today as the online study technically begins tonight. The idea is for women to do it in small groups throughout the US, then come back and report as blog comments.

When I looked at the post that was for "signing up," there were 1500 comments.

1500.

I am so amazed. We've depleted our stock on the study already and had to reprint it, much to our excitement!! I am so thrilled Kelly's message is going out to a large group of women all across the country. It is a phenomenal study and I can't wait to see what people have to say about their groups meetings. I am dying to lead a small group in study but I've already committed to a different study for the next few weeks. Maybe later in the summer. If you're in Nashville and might be interested in a late-summer study group, let me know!

And hey, if you want to check out another exciting process I'm a part of, go over to Open Access!

A "Blessing" Day

I know it's a hard day at work when I put in John Waller's CD The Blessing. Usually it perks me up a little. I think it's something I got for free at work or I never would have been exposed to it, but his song "The Blessing" is just awesome. The whole CD is mellow and wonderful.

For some reason I am just insanely tired today. Well, I can think of one possible reason! But I had a decent night's sleep after lounging on the couch for several hours last night. Why should I really be tired? But several people today have commented on how I look tired (maybe they could tell me I look like a hippo too, that would help). The last two days at work I've felt like I could collapse on the floor and nap. I haven't felt like that since early in the first trimester. I usually account these times of tiredness and itchiness to baby growth spurts, and I guess they are. I'm looking forward to have a really good and LONG night's sleep. And maybe followed by a nap!

Oh, the Insanity

The first day back to work after vacation is usually a little frantic, with e-mails and such. And voicemails. Except I didn't have any, and I just remembered I forgot to change my voicemail back so it still says I'm on vacation. Hrm.

But today was totally insane. I had been back for all of half an hour when I starting panicking insanely over all of the deadlines I have coming up. I *think* I have about two weeks to finish the project I am working on currently, but the editor-in-chief is a little insane and not only tried to make me feel guilty about going on vacation but also is trying to make it sound worse than it is. And trying to keep me from doing what I need to do, which is not altogether that helpful.

I have two projects I don't even know the deadlines for because they are for Mr. Unhelpful at work, who is very kind but not the easiest to work with either. (My husband says it must just be me, because I think so many people are hard to work with. I just think we have an ususually large amount of quirky people on my relatively small team.)

Then the project I want to be working on is being pushed aside. ACK!

And this week I have meetings, a half-day required work picnic, a doctor's appointment, and next week am at a conference in Colorado for four days.

It's enough to make my head spin.

Warbles

Usually I am in bed by now, but I am trying to wash clothes so I can go on my trip tomorrow! It's for one of the MANY baby showers I will be attending in the next few months. It's for my cousin's wife. This cousin and I were born about six weeks apart, he got married two weeks after me, and had we gotten pregnant when I wanted to, our kids would have been born about the same time! So alas, they will be 5 months apart instead. I totally trust in God's plan for our childbearing so I am sure there is a reason I wasn't able to conceive right away. Even if it was just to have me work on certain things! I am really excited about a project that we are starting now and will be finished up after I return from maternity leave. It really works out perfectly that way.

We watched the new Sweeney Todd movie with Johnny Depp tonight. I had watched it in a movie version (no music) a few months back and for some reason I thought maybe they made it funny with musical numbers. Not so. Gross, gross, and more gross. I think I preferred the non-musical version, which must have stuck to the book because the story line was very different. I am pretty sure it was a BBC made for TV movie or something. I saw it on Comcast on Demand. Anyway, I was pretty disappointed. Anyone have any movie suggestions? We are thinking about getting rid of cable soon so we might up our Netflix to three at a time. I mostly like comedies but not slapstick, some foreign films, anything romantic. I can appreciate a good drama, I just don't like lots of violence or overbearing cursing.

Enough random rambling for now, I suppose.

Chatty Cathy...I mean Jessie

I am usually a pretty quiet person, depending on how well I know you and how I feel about the topic we might be discussing. I have a long history of major shyness. For the most part I feel like I keep to myself except for a few people who I tend to let loose to.

And yet I feel like I spent the majority of today in conversation. It is kind of weird! I talked on the phone to my doctor's office, my insurance people, Carnival, and Priceline trying to figure out doctor things and how it was being paid for and then whether or not they will let us go on the cruise in three weeks due to lack of any paper evidence. It was exhausting and slightly infuriating.

I also caught up with an old friend from my last job after lunch and we stood in the hallway and talked for half an hour. Then I talked to Joyce. And Stacey. And where did my afternoon go?

So then I had a long drive out to take dinner to Todd and Angie. I talked to someone on the way there and someone on the way back, and Angie for a good half an hour in between. I also talked to Mom in the grocery store because I couldn't find something. And of course, being four states away, she would know where it was (she did).

I am talked out. I will practice monk-like silence for the rest of the night.

Just for anyone who cares--we had our 12-week appointment with the obstetrician today. Everything looks normal so far; we heard the baby's heartbeat and heard a little tiny kick on the doppler! I am so relieved. I know a lot of people who have gone in for this appointment and had there not be a heartbeat. I can't wait for the point where I will start feeling movement, even though I know that morphs into painful kicking! Right now I don't really feel pregnant because I'm not sick, I don't look bigger (I am, but it's not really noticeably bigger), and I can't feel any movement. But I am!! It's so exciting to think about my little three-inch child swimming around in my tummy. :)