Be of Good Cheer

It's been awhile since I posted a blog post. If you follow Quirky Faith on Facebook or Instagram you know I haven't completely disappeared. However, finding time to sit and write has been on the bottom of the list lately.  I've had quite a bit of work at my actual job and I had the great joy of speaking to five different groups for Quirky Faith about the power of words.  It was a lot of fun but took the time I normally put toward the blog.  

The last two weeks I've been completely focused on all the color of Christmas.  We decorated early - a week before Thanksgiving.  Don't be mad and judge now.  I love Thanksgiving.  We had a houseful and fed them well - turkey and sausage stuffing, pie and green beans.  We prayed and talked about gratitude. We focused on being thankful.  But it happens to be that one of things we are most grateful for is the Christ Child so the Christmas decorations added to the thankful hearts in our home.  Jesus coming is not a distraction. 

Then my eldest daughter and I and a group of friends got up at 4:30 am and joined all the crazies in the frenzied sock buying festival that is Black Friday.  It was fun.  I had not yet purchased any Christmas presents for anyone so I was a shopping machine. And then a wrapping party broke out.  Then Christmas cards.  Then preschool bell choir.  I love the preschool bell choir.  The kids this year were intent and joyful.  I cried.  But writing didn't happen.

So this morning I'm sitting with my laptop  under a fuzzy blanket next to a glowing tree. *my English professor would not be impressed with that last sentence. Too many prepositions.  I'm currently reading "The Intelligent Conversationalist".  The last chapter was about how now to embarrass yourself with grammar mistakes.  Split infinitives. I have heard of these my whole life and never knew what they were.  Dangling participles. These grammar issues seem like diseases.  If you look them up on WebMD you'll likely be convinced you are dying.    

 My spouse just handed me a cup of coffee.  He wins. Perhaps this post will loop into something clear now that I'm adding coffee. Perhaps not.

One of the problems with not blogging in awhile is the pressure in my head mounts. My inner critic starts to preach a lie that the next post has to be phenomenal because I've been so absent.  So then the little thoughts I have and want to write about don't seem like enough.  So I don't post.  And the time goes longer.  And the pressure mounts.  

So this morning I'm just writing. Just to rip off the bandaid and get something out.  Sometimes the best way to get past a block is to take a step forward.  Any messy but courageous step.  

Good morning.  It's Saturday.  Christmas is coming.  Be of good cheer.